is the Penitent one good or evil? heroe or anti-heroe? (spoilers)

[er.tz]

This is a question i have had since finished the game the first time. I think there are valid arguments for both.

For example, the penitent one is kind and caring with a lot of people he met (Albero town, the crazy monk etc ) and help them. He even pet a dog. The sword absorbs all the sins and in the end he sacrificed himself with it.

In the other hand he is member of a sect that follows the miracle (an evil entity)
and his journey is triggered by a civil war between the official church and his decimated sect (but both were from the same religion).

So what do you guys think?

[crispy_gin]

The more you hear and see of "The Grievous Miracle" the more I think his mission to put an end to the miracle can't be a bad thing. Then again this game leans heavy in the Spanish Catholicism (at least in 1 DLC) which I know nothing about but if it's anything like some other forms of Christianity he's a neutral force because The Miracle is all things and his actions are proof of The Miracle.

Him sacrificing himself is the "good" ending, in the other ending the hill of ash eats him and his helmet is added to a stack of others.

[Supermarine]

There is no good or evil.

Apparently, only survival.

Those few with a strand of selflessness, like the Penitent, are still doomed to suffer, and in the end nothing can defeat the twisted human nature.

[LastDefender]

I have not completed the game yet but everything points to the fact that he/she is just a soul stuck in limbo (Cvstodia) that has to go through atonement of sins made during life.

It is not possible to choose ironman mode (only 1 life) before starting a new game.
Because when you "die" in this game, you don't die. Instead, you lose fervor.

Evil souls are not even allowed to access limbo.

I'm very far from completing the game (22%), so I could be wrong.

[Sachimi]

Penitent is neutral. He just follows his task, which is to kill a corrupted church authority. Just like a real god, is righteous or evil depending on who you ask.

I love that, and the fact that uses a mask and never shows emotions besides when he/she pets a dog.

[Hotel Security]

The more you hear and see of "The Grievous Miracle" the more I think his mission to put an end to the miracle can't be a bad thing.

It's best to not pretend the Miracle is a "bad guy." The things you see are blessings...we can't relate this stuff to our own lives or ways of thinking. And it is NOT the Penitent's One mission to take out the Miracle in any way.

Penitent is neutral. He just follows his task, which is to kill a corrupted church authority.

Greatly disagree. The Penitent One is a servant of the Miracle...and is as devout and loyal to him as anyone.

The mission is not to depose a priest or the Miracle or whatever. The Mission is to turn the throne back to the people and become a new symbol of the Miracle so the people become pious again and the age of darkness that was used to punish a faithless people can end. The Penitent One is doing as the Miracle wills and becomes his new Twisted One.

The problem is that folks think either Escribar or the Penitent One are opposing the Miracle when evidence shows that both of them are clearly favored and blessed by the Miracle for their actions, despite them facing each other. The Miracle agrees with Escribar's actions to turn the throne away by summoning creatures to further punish the people...likely because the Miracle felt people were unfaithful in that time and needed punishment. But the Miracle also clearly supports the Penitent One with the Golden Visages to give him power to restore the throne.

Both are also the will of the Miracle as both serve his purpose. Escribar serves his role and, after some time, the Penitent One's role to become a new symbol takes precedent.

and in the end nothing can defeat the twisted human nature.

The ending shows otherwise. Penitent's actions lead to a new age of piety and belief in the Miracle. The age of darkness ends...though it likely is temporary and the need to punish nonbelievers may rise again.

[Griever]

If I remember correctly, the Grievous Miracle isn't the actual deity, but was an event brought about by "the father" at the behest of the woman at the beginning. It was an event that changed and warped everyone in Cvstodia; grossly exaggerating their defining characteristics in their own unique ways. It is unclear whether it is "the father" or something else, as the game is very ambiguous when it comes to the actual deity at play, here. Or at least, that was my take.

[RadioMars]

Depending on the ending he's either a fool or a messiah. The Miracle turns everyone into cronenbergs and the best ending at least let people breath for awhile. He's good no doubt