Mason´s dilema - what I chose (minor spoilers)

[Valkyrie]

Hello everyone

This is my opinion on how to choose whether to kill the leader of Salvation or not, in the catacombs. I am sharing this, so that I get to hear some of your opinions as well, so please comment.

I decided not to kill him . First of all, the general reasons:

- he was unarmed , pleading for mercy
- he was clearly a puppet , he did not fight back, even the weakest members in the organization will fight back, no matter how strong you are, he only stood and pleaded
- he presented no danger to anyone, for as I said, he was but a puppet in the hands of Elysion

One of the main reasons that led me to believe he was not relevant for the organization, was that when we enter the room, Elysion summons the undead with complete carelessness about his followers. Some of them seem to be only people from the capital, that had no idea what they were getting themselves into. Also, let us not forget that it seems like the Dragon keeps coming back, people are desperate, and are easily manipulated into believing that the Arisen brings it back (I mean, at that point, they would be ready to believe anything). Others were there for the sake of curiosity only. Remember the guard in the capital, that says he is not enough of a fool to go to the catacombs? Also others said they took it as a joke. Not so many of them actually took it seriously.

Also, Mason is suposed to be some sort of spy. Now, think of this, you are the archenemy of this organization. Their ultimate goal seems to be to kill you and worship the dragon. Yet somehow you manage to infiltrate their organization and Mason fails to do so. What kind of a terrible spy must he be, really? He is either very bad, or used you as a canary to see how dangerous it would be to infiltrate their ranks. Not only that, he clearly had more information than he let out. He knew to go to the catacombs, he was able to capture the leader. He said the leader confessed everything to him and then orders you to kill him and leaves. So after baitting you, he leaves, shares not even a single piece of usefull information with you, and on top of that gives you a kill order? At that moment I considered him as hostile. And if he hadnt disapeared after killing the leader himself when you are leaving, I would have killed him on the spot.

What are your thoughts on this?

[Snowskeeper]

and are easily manipulated into believing that the Arisen brings it back

They're not entirely wrong, either.

Yeah, Salvation's a classic doomsday cult. The majority of its members are just ordinary, scared people, not monsters in the dark. I think you made the right choice.

[Valkyrie]

Originally posted by Snowskeeper:

and are easily manipulated into believing that the Arisen brings it back

They're not entirely wrong, either.

Yeah, Salvation's a classic doomsday cult. The majority of its members are just ordinary, scared people, not monsters in the dark. I think you made the right choice.

I still didnt finish the game, but I think they may be right. However, for the wrong reasons. I will come back to this when I completely understand what is going on :D

[JustTony]

I usually kill the cultist myself, because that's still better than leaving him to Mason. Also you can revive the cultist with a Lazarus Stone after the cutscene with Mason.

Same goes for Viper when he and Mercedes duel; I always interfere by killing him and revive him with a Lazarus. Viper will turn himself in.

[Snowskeeper]

I need to be more creative in how I use those stones; jeez

[JOHN HELLDIVER]

Originally posted by JustTony:

I usually kill the cultist myself, because that's still better than leaving him to Mason. Also you can revive the cultist with a Lazarus Stone after the cutscene with Mason.

Same goes for Viper when he and Mercedes duel; I always interfere by killing him and revive him with a Lazarus. Viper will turn himself in.

You can also romance him in his jail cell lol

[Mr. Mannperson]

My dilemma is what skill to use. Do I bring arc just to pancake him or do I give a poke on, do I equip a hammer and Smough his ass with a jump attack? I always have a brick in my inventory.
Throwblasts are dime a dozen and always a hoot. Toss a dragon spit and watch him sizzle?
Can you cast bolide in there? I ALWAYS have a goddess cameo handy.

...Can you kill people with pies?

[Sabaithal]

I kind of wonder who exactly mason is and what his agender is/who he works for. He clearly doesn't like this cult, and clearly is cold-blooded when he needs to be. Somehow I doubt he opposes them "for the greater good."

[Valkyrie]

Originally posted by Sabaithal:

I kind of wonder who exactly mason is and what his agender is/who he works for. He clearly doesn't like this cult, and clearly is cold-blooded when he needs to be. Somehow I doubt he opposes them "for the greater good."

I read that he has some connections to the faith, despite his behaviour and ruthlessness. Nevertheless, my opinion sorts of changed from when I wrote this comment. When I played first time, I thought the leader of Salvation was this inocent man, being manipulated by Elysion through fear, unaware of Salvation´s doings on the background, but that is not entirely true. He was aware of Salvations doings, seeing as he had to order some himself. And considering all the stuff that silly cult has done, all the people hurt and killed for nothing, I realized that even unarmed he is dangerous and quite ruthless himself. So I gladly kill him now.

[Snowskeeper]

I read that he has some connections to the faith, possibly explaining his behaviour and ruthlessness.

Fixed
(This setting's version of the faith is in part responsible for the perpetuation of the cycle, remember.)

[Cyber Von Cyberus]

Originally posted by Mr. Mannperson:

My dilemma is what skill to use. Do I bring arc just to pancake him or do I give a poke on, do I equip a hammer and Smough his ass with a jump attack? I always have a brick in my inventory.
Throwblasts are dime a dozen and always a hoot. Toss a dragon spit and watch him sizzle?
Can you cast bolide in there? I ALWAYS have a goddess cameo handy.

...Can you kill people with pies?

Have you tried killing him by crushing his head with your pawn's booty ? Afterall isn't that how how he would've liked to go out ? crushed by a thicc butt ?



Anyways back onto the topic, I think the right choice is still to kill him. Mason would've done it anyways and I'd rather have Mason (even if he is a rather shady fellow) on good terms rather than have him angered at me and risk having him shank me in a dark alley or something (although he probably woouldn't succeed considering I killed a bloody dragon and I am followed 24/7 by a harem of armed ladies). The cult leader has simply nothing to offer me, no guarantees he won't just go back to his cult activities and hunt me down and he's also ugly.

[Juicy Lime]

That was just some random crazy though, not a leader... Didn't stop me from cutting him down either.

Didn't mean to rhyme since that's oft an effort that takes some time, however, it's sublime so it will stay for the sake of prime crime.