Endgame Thoughts

[Roadkill]

I wanted a discussion on who, exactly, everyone is... (BIG SPOILERS)

First, all the NPCs - my impression is that they are real people who are getting pulled into the forest via Alta's inner turmoil. They all seem to represent some angle of what's going on with Alta. A few examples:

- The Demon Hunter - continually grinding even after the demons have been defeated

- Gerald - getting hurt due to blindly following a nonsensical goal

- Bat from Often Farlands - lives under strict rules, but wants to try new things

- Ren - represents her warrior spirit, the respect she gets from it, but also how unhealthy it can be.

- Monster - clearly a stand-in for Alta as a child

Does that jive with others? (I don't think the NPCs are just facets of Alta, mainly because Nana is so concerned for Monster in particular - I don't think that concern would exist if Monster was just a part of Alta.)

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Second - who are Boro and Nana (and the tea shop)?

Based on the ending (wherein the tea shop itself disappears), my thought are that they are fragments of the forest. In the same way that Alta's self is split in two, Boro, Nana, and the tea shop are all facets of the forest who have been pulled into being by Alta's inner conflict.

It would explain how Boro keeps finding Alta passed out in the forest (even though he never otherwise leaves the shop). It also explains how Boro and Nana seem to know each other for a long time.

There are many places where Boro talks about his "younger self" and I wonder if some of those are just about life as a small forest.

Anyways, just had some thoughts and wanted to get a discussion going.

[Svintoo]

I like your interpretations of the customers. I also think they are real people.
Nana also says that the forest is focused on Alta right now, so everything that happens (what customers that visits, when customers stop talking, and more) is the forest changing the environment to what Alta needs.

I do not agree with Nana and Boro being part of the forset. To me what they are can be read literally from what the game story tells you. They are people who are just more in tune with the forest, and can come and go, and be, as they like.

My theory is that Boro and Nana are are people who have find themselves, are very down to earth, and are therefore not affected by the forest so much. There are no big worries or issues with them that the forest can accommodate or help them with. so the forest just let them do whatever.

[Svintoo]

About the shop disappearing in the end. I believe the shop did not really disappear. It is either another field they are looking at, or the forest is just visually not showing the shop for them. Mostly for Alta, to point out that returning to the shop is not what she should do now.