Dak'kon – Character Analysis (Spoilers)

[black_cape]

May the Lady's shadow pass you by!

I've always wanted to write a comprehensive analysis of my favourite character arc in the game. If you're interested and/or feeling nostalgic, you can check it out here[medium.com].

Excerpt:

Unique, bizarre companions remain among the most memorable elements of Planescape: Torment’s design. Each one is an embodiment of Planescape’s strangeness, usually a rebel or misfit in their society and, most importantly, someone who is mentally trapped in a sort of paradox and whose inner conflict ties them to the protagonist. Of all seven of them, I’ve always thought that Dak’kon works best in so many ways — as a certain archetype, a setting-specific character, a companion and an individual. What makes his arc especially complex and powerful, though, is that these four aspects are not only fully developed but also completely subverted.

We encounter our companion very early on in the game, so he is likely to follow us for the major part of our journey. There’s a strong reason for him to join our party — and, arguably, an equally strong one for us to accept his companionship. We can eventually discover that we had met him even earlier and he had accompanied us throughout many lifetimes. Through our conversations with him, we get quite an elaborate first-hand insight into the githzerai culture, including their belief system and language. Both Dak’kon’s arc and his relationship with the Nameless One prove to be thematically relevant, dynamic and often surprising.

Feel free to comment and share your thoughts!