Spoiler-Alert!
This article contains mild spoilers about the game GreedFall.
This article is about a quest from the RPG “Greedfall” by the French developer Spiders from 2019. The setting, which is strongly reminiscent of the 17th and 18th centuries, immediately grabbed me, as it stands out strongly from the usual medieval fantasy. The setting has a certain seriousness in dealing with various issues, such as colonisation, social injustice and suffering, which can be seen in the environment from the very first minutes of the game.
In the game we play a young nobleman of the Congregation, a neutral trading state, who has been appointed envoy and is to travel with his cousin, the son of the prince and ruler of the Congregation, to the newly discovered island of Teer Fradee, where the latter is to become governor. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to play the game very far yet, which on the one hand has the advantage that I can’t spoil much here, and on the other hand has the disadvantage that I don’t know all the connections yet. Maybe I’ll add to the article once I’ve played further, or there will be another article, because the story and the setting still offer a lot of material.
This article is about a side quest from the beginning of the game, from the prologue, so to speak. After our main character, Sir De Sardet, has said goodbye to his mother, who, like many others, suffers from the mysterious disease Malichor, he is supposed to say goodbye to the ambassadors of the two major factions. These are, on the one hand, for the theocratically governed Mage State of Thélème, Cardinal Antonius, and on the other, for the Bridge Alliance, the Honourable Ambassador and Doctor Sahin. Both of them give us a small task which they had hoped we would be able to complete before we left. When I entered the Thélème Embassy, it already aroused my interest as a theologian, because Cardinal Antonius reminds me of a cardinal of the Catholic Church, not only in title but also in appearance. Not only because of this, but also because of it, this is to be about the story that the side quest tells us, which we are given by Cardinal Antonius. I will first retell it and then draw attention to a few things that struck me. However, I will gladly leave final judgements to you. For this reason I have also attached a transcript of all the dialogues related to the quest and Thélème at the end of the article.
When you say goodbye to Cardinal Antonius, he wishes you good luck and expresses his confidence about how well you will be able to cope with the task. He then adds that he regrets that you are leaving so quickly (our character talks about an hour, although it takes much longer even without the side quests). When we ask, the cardinal tells us that there are heretics in the city who pose a danger to “the easily shaken prudence of our faithful”. He clarifies that he is aware “that your uncle tolerates the presence of pagans within his city walls” or that heresy is not a crime in Sérène, probably in contrast to the theocratic Thélème. De Sardet assures him that his uncle would certainly listen to his request anyway, but this would take too long for the cardinal, as the heretics have already found a smuggler and are planning to leave the city. You agree to see what you can do.
After some questioning and a break-in into the prison of the Nauts (a seafaring faction that is also quite interesting) and into a warehouse of the same faction, which you can enter either by using secret entrances or with a disguise, you find the heretics, a man and a woman who strongly resemble American Pilgrim Fathers, in said warehouse. The first surprise comes when you speak to them and the subtitles do not say “heretic” and “heretic woman” but “historian” and “historian woman”. This directly shows something that you encounter in many quests in Greedfall and also in many other role-playing games: History has two sides and it is up to you to decide which one you believe.
The historians now report that they are not actually heretics, but only historians who had the misfortune to have made a discovery in the holy scriptures that they wanted to publish, but that the censor did not like. If you ask what kind of discovery it is, they tell you their story. When Tar Fradee was discovered, they wanted to find out if it was perhaps the island that the sacred writings speak of as the Eden of Saint Matheus and his final resting place. A theory, incidentally, also heard from Cardinal Antonius. To find out, they wanted to study the original writings of Saint Lucius, a disciple of Saint Matheus who returned from his last journey to Thélème. These writings were well preserved for a long time, but probably never studied in depth. When the two historians made up for this, they were not only able to show beyond doubt that Teer Fradee is the last resting place of Matheus, but they also found out something that shocked them. For the two, despite the Cardinal’s accusations and persecution by the Inquisition (or the Ordo Luminis as it is also called), are believers in the Enlightened One, the creator deity worshipped in Thélème, whose greatest prophet was St Matheus, as their blessings show. In the writings, however, they discovered that a voice from the depths was reported to have moved Saint Matheus to remain on the island, which sounds, as De Sardet notes, “more like the power of a demon than a saint”.
If one asks the alleged heretics whether they could simply renounce their knowledge and forget it, they report that they have already tried to do so and even signed a document stating that they had misinterpreted the scriptures and had never even seen the real scriptures. However, that was not enough for the Inquisition and they still want them dead. It is now up to the player how to deal with the two. You can let them go, suggest asking the ambassador of the Bridge Alliance for help or try to arrest them. In the latter case, they resist and you have to kill them.
If you tell the cardinal that the heretics have been caught, he finds it regrettable that they preferred death, but is pleased that the problem has been solved. If, on the other hand, you let the heretics escape in one of the two ways and report to the cardinal that they are gone, you can choose between telling him the truth about how they escaped or lying to him. In the former case, the cardinal is very angry and says some interesting things. If you lie to him, he is disappointed that the heretics escaped, but at least he is not angry with De Sardet.
The quest has some interesting aspects for me, which I would like to touch on briefly below. However, I would encourage everyone to read the transcript of the dialogues for themselves.
First of all, there is the aspect of the “two sides of the same coin”, which I have already mentioned briefly. Both Cardinal Anthony and the historians present us with their view of things. From this respective point of view, both positions seem to be fundamentally legitimate. The historians have an interest in bringing the truth to light and presenting it to the public without weighing the consequences. It is written “in black and white” in the scriptures, so everyone should know about it. A very legitimate position, which I will return to later.
The Cardinal’s position is not completely absurd either. He speaks of the fact that the faithful could be unsettled by these teachings; in the background, for me, hovers that there is uncertainty, differences and disputes in Thélème, which is already reeling from the war with the Bridge Alliance and the rampant Malichor disease. He also claims that the “historical truths [of the heretics] […] are nothing but made-up nonsense designed to undermine the foundations of Thélème”. Perhaps he is right and then his position would be justified.
It is now up to the player to decide which side of the coin he considers more justified or more weighty. Possibly other aspects also play into the consideration, for example gaining a powerful ally. However, in my opinion, there is one detail that ensures that the two positions are not in balance, but that the cardinal’s position is completely illegitimate. This detail is the fact that the Inquisition and the Cardinal are trying to kill the two historians, even though there is actually no danger from them, because they do not want to spread their teachings. Of course, the latter could also be a lie, but nevertheless, no alleged false doctrine or falsification of the truth is worth wiping out one or two human lives for. Moreover, the question of who is right and who is wrong, with regard to the findings of historians, can only be clarified by looking at the holy scriptures themselves. However, this is not possible within the framework of the game (at least not up to the point I played).
But this shows another aspect that becomes clear to me in the quest. Thélème is not particularly open about his sacred writings, on which her faith is presumably based. But that is precisely a mistake. Sacred writings or revelations should not be kept secret, otherwise they risk being instrumentalised, as is already evident with Cardinal Anthony. They must be openly accessible so that it is possible to check what is being claimed and so that individuals cannot usurp the sovereignty of interpretation. Cardinal Antony clings tightly to this interpretive sovereignty and the power that comes with it, so tightly that he is prepared to walk over dead bodies to maintain it.
A final aspect concerns the conflict between the Bridge Alliance and Thélème, which you learn about when you ask the two ambassadors about it. The reason for the conflict, which has been going on for a very long time and has already engulfed the entire continent in war, is the Thélème’s desire to proselytise and the rejection of this proselytising by the Bridge Alliance. Judging by that alone, I think the Bridge Alliance would be in the right, if there can be such a thing in war at all. For it defends itself against missionary attempts, which apparently do not shy away from violence, which seems to be the reason for the war. In my opinion, however, both have nothing to do with mission and cannot be the correct concern (of course, I don’t know much about the Thélèmian faith, but somehow everything reminds me too strongly of the church, which is why I inevitably have it in the back of my mind). Mission cannot succeed through coercion and must not make violence the means.
However, it doesn’t seem as if the Bridge Alliance is solely concerned with defending against disproportionate mission, because Thélème is spoken of in a very derogatory way and the same fanaticism that the Thélèms seem to display in missionary work can be accused of the Bridge Alliance in fighting Thélème. It seems that the defence has become a crusade in its own right, and this casts both factions in an even worse light than the war already does. For fanaticism, in whatever guise, is not a legitimate means of combating fanaticism.
So much for my thoughts on this quest and some aspects of the setting that have revealed themselves to me so far. Maybe I’ll get around to writing about other interesting aspects of the game in an article sometime. Until then, I encourage you to read through the dialogues I have written out and let them have an effect on you.
Transcript of the dialogues
These dialogues were originally transcribed in German. This is a translation of the German transcript.
First conversation with Cardinal
De Sardet: Greetings, Your Excellency!
Cardinal Antony: Sir De Sardet! To what do I owe this honour?
DS: I have come to inform you that my cousin Constantin and I are leaving for Teer Fradee in an hour.
KA: Ah yes! I have already heard that you and your cousin will follow a higher calling! Allow me to congratulate you! Were you not appointed Envoy of the Congregation?
DS: That is right, Your Excellency. I thank you!
KA: This is an honourable post, which I am sure you will fill with flying colours! Mother Cardinal Cornelia will be delighted to work with you and your cousin in the future. My only regret is that you are leaving so suddenly….
DS: Really?
KA: To be honest, I would have hoped to have your help in a rather delicate matter …
DS: Tell me more about it and I will see if I can take care of your problem before I leave.
KA: All right … A small group of dangerous heretics have found refuge in Séréne. We know that your uncle tolerates the presence of pagans within his city walls … But you must know that it is these who threaten the easily shaken prudence of our faithful (the subtitles say faithful). We would consider it a special favour if you could arrest them and hand them over to our guard.
DS: Séréne knows no crime called heresy, you know that. But I am sure my uncle would listen to your arguments … So why do you ask me for help?
KA: I’m sure the prince would give us his blessing, but it would take time, far too much time … According to our sources, the fugitives have already made contact with a smuggler who could take them who knows where!
DS: I see. You hope I can intervene before they reach an enemy city. If your heretics plan to board a ship, they will be at the docks. I will see what I can do …
DS: Can you tell me something about Théléme?
KA: With pleasure! As you already know, our glorious nation is guided by our faith. We follow the teachings of Matheus, our founder and greatest prophet. And we thank the Enlightened One every day for giving us magic. The high dignitaries of Thélème are therefore at the same time our spiritual leaders, advocates and Grand Magicians.
DS: I have heard that there have been disagreements in your nation recently?
KA: You surely mean the debates that have divided the Ordo Luminis and the more political parties. Lord Luminis has an extremely pure vision of our faith and follows the words of our Saint very closely. But there are other, more open currents in our nation… They believe that a more open dialogue would win more souls to our faith… But their differences are purely theoretical and do not threaten the cohesion of our nation, I assure you.
DS: What do you think about the relations between our two nations?
KA: As Thélème’s ambassador, I can only be happy about our trade agreements. We are also happy that your uncle has welcomed our missionaries! Thanks to your support, more and more believers are wandering through your lands! The Congregation is our most valuable ally! To be quite honest, we have only two complaints … That heresy is tolerated and that your treaties with the Bridge Alliance remain in place.
DS: What is Thélème’s position on Tar Fradee?
KA: We have built a wonderful city, San Matheus, on the west coast of the island. Do you know that certain historians believe it may have been the final resting place of our Prophet? Our missionaries are numerous and not a day goes by without new islanders joining our holy faith! There is, of course, some opposition. There is talk of a demonic cult, of deviant creatures … But I am confident that the Ordo Luminis will be able to put an end to these horrors. And we have high hopes that eventually all the natives will be accepted into our ranks.
DS: What about the conflict with the Bridge Alliance?
KA: Your territory is unfortunately the only one that has been spared the devastating effects of the war on the continent. We are fighting on every front, but without much success, it must be said … But what other choice do we have? These so-called scholars not only reject the light, but are determined to fight it.
DS: And on Tar Fradee?
KA: To my knowledge, no one has ever seen a real fight there … The bridge has managed to enrage the natives and has enough on its hands to keep them at bay … This gives us more freedom to settle in peacefully and pursue our missionary work.
DS: I have to go. Farewell, your Excellency.
KA: May the light guide your path, De Sardet.
Conversation with the “heretics”
Historian: Damn, we’ve been discovered! I told you that smuggler couldn’t be trusted!
De Sardet: The man you speak of was captured and put in prison, but told me your hiding place.
Historian: That traitor!
GSin: So you want to hand us over to the Inquisition? Please, please, have mercy on our souls. We are not guilty of any crime! We are not heretics, we are historians!
DS: Then why is the Thélème ambassador so concerned about your teachings? Why is the Inquisition looking for you and why are you in hiding?
GSin: Our mistake was the desire to make our work available to the public …
GS: That is the truth! We presented our research, the censor didn’t like it and now we are here.
GSin: We fled all the way to Sérène because we thought we were safe there … But the Inquisition wants to silence us so much that they followed us here.
DS: Tell me about your research. What is so terrible about it that it could cause such an uproar?
GS: Our work deals with the teachings of Saint Lucius.
DS: The disciple of Saint Matheus? The one who returned to Thélème after travelling with his master?
GS: Just that one. His transcripts were carefully preserved but never thoroughly studied.
GSin: After the discovery of Tar Fradee, we thought it was extremely important to look at the original writings! We wanted to check whether this island could be the distant place he had reported … the Eden of Saint Matheus.
DS: And? What did you find out?
GS: There is no doubt: Tar Fradee is the land where Saint Matheus and his disciples were. But the scriptures we dealt with were quite different from what we expected.
GSin: In the original text, St Lucius does not speak of an Eden as the paradise of the enlightened … He tells of a voice that spoke from the depths of the earth and convinced St Matheus to stay there.
GS: It was there in black and white! And no doubt this original text was written in Lucius’ handwriting.
DS: I now understand the price you must pay for this text … This voice from the depths – it sounds more like the power of a demon than a saint …
GS: The scriptures are always difficult to interpret, but what is written is written.
DS: Who did you hope would give you refuge?
GS: We had hoped to reach Al Saad … The Inquisition would not pursue us into the innermost enemy territory.
GSin: Our research will not interest the Bridge Alliance, at least I doubt it, and at least we would be safe there!
DS: If you enter Al Saad secretly, you run the risk of being mistaken for spies.
GS: That would be better than being burnt at the stake.
DS: Have you tried talking to the censors? You might … forget what you have discovered?
GS: We have already signed a document swearing that we misinterpreted the sacred writings of St Lucius. We were even prepared to say that we had never seen the original text, or anything else they would have wanted to hear!
GSin: But it was no use. They want our lives.
DS: I see … Well you have no choice but to flee and seek refuge in hostile areas.
GSin: I beg you, do not hand us over to them! Let us continue on our way!
[If it is suggested to speak with the ambassador of the Bridge Alliance.]
DS: I could speak to the Honourable Doctor Sahin, the Ambassador of the Bridge Alliance. If he could be persuaded to grant you sanctuary, you would be saved.
GSin: Your kindness honours you! May the Enlightened One always light your paths!
DS: If I succeed in convincing the messenger, you must refrain from such blessings! Stay here, I will come back.
[After persuading the ambassador of the Bridge Alliance.]
GSin: We owe you our lives! We are eternally grateful to you!
DS: It was only natural. I hope you will settle in well in your new home.
GS: If you allow me … I would like to give you this. It’s not much, but it’s all we have.
DS: Goodbye.
[If let go].
DS: I can’t bring myself to hand you over to the Inquisition, but there’s not much I can do to help you either. Your smuggler has been imprisoned, perhaps his gang members will help you … Proceed carefully and inconspicuously, and you will survive!
GS: Thank you, sir, you are a righteous man. May the Enlightened One protect you.
GSin: Thank you for hearing us and helping us! You are most kind-hearted!
[If you want to arrest them.]
DS: I am sorry for you, but I have to arrest you, and hand you over to Thélème’s ambassador.
GS: We may only be two helpless historians, but we will not surrender to death by fire without a fight!
Second conversation with the Cardinal
[When the “heretics” have escaped.]
Cardinal Antony: Sir De Sadet! To what do I owe this honour?
De Sardet: I regret to inform you that the heretics have already escaped.
KA: Curse them! How could this happen?
[If truth be told.]
DS: After they explained their view of things to me, I let them go.
KA: What are you saying?
DS: They convinced me that your accusations against them are not based on heresy. And that their only crime is to expose historical truths denied by Thélème.
KA: And you have believed the lies of these blasphemers? Their historical truths are nothing but concocted nonsense designed to undermine the foundation of Thélème. The very act of spreading such atrocity tales proves that they are heretics. I fear your youth and good heart have blinded you, De Sardet. This is a shame, I had expected more from a young envoy who seemed subtle enough for our magic.
[When lying.]
DS: Unfortunately, these renegades found shelter with the Bridge Alliance ambassador. I could not have seized them without risking a diplomatic incident for which my uncle would have had no sympathy.
KA: The bridge! I already figured that the heretics would turn to them. But I had hoped that you could intervene quickly enough to stop them … That is most unfortunate. Then there is nothing left for us but to pray that the Enlightened One will protect us from their lies.
[When the “heretics” have been killed.]
DS: I have succeeded in finding the heretics you seek. Unfortunately, they have preferred death to captivity.
KA: How unfortunate, though it does not surprise me. What have you done with the bodies, my son?
DS: I left them in the warehouses of the Nauts, but I’m sure they’re only too happy to let you have them.
KA: Good, good … you have done our nation a great service that we will not forget. And I would be pleased if you would accept this humble token of our appreciation …
Conversation with Doctor Sahin
De Sardet: There is a delicate matter I would like to talk to you about ….
Ambassador Sahin: I am listening.
DS: Some historians have recently made a discovery concerning Matheus, the founder of the legendary Thélème. And it seems that this does not find favour with the Enlightened One, or at least with his more ardent admirers …
BS: These evil hypocrites surely want to burn the scribes at the stake.
DS: Undoubtedly. And that is why these poor people ask to be allowed to take refuge with you.
BS: I have volunteered to take them under my protection… but one hand washes the other….
DS: You want me to take care of your quack for that first …
BS: I am sure you will prove to be an excellent envoy.
DS: Would you be so kind as to tell me what you know about the Bridge Alliance?
BS: With pleasure! An envoy should know the history and strengths of his allies… The alliance was sealed some 200 years ago by several nations of the bridge. Al Saad, the largest of our cities, became the capital and a council formed by the various nations took over the reigns. This covenant was actually made to better resist our desire to conquer our neighbours. But our ancestors quickly understood that the agreement also strengthened us economically and culturally. And of course, the exchange of knowledge was strongly encouraged from the very beginning. Today, it is by no means an exaggeration to say that the Bridge Alliance has the world’s best scholars and researchers. Every day we understand a little more, in every single field.
DS: And what about your war with Thélème?
BS: It just doesn’t end … It’s actually been going on for years! It’s madness. If these fanatics hadn’t had the idea of converting the whole continent, we wouldn’t be in this situation! But that is the way of the world. We will stand firm, here and also on Tar Fradee!
DS: Did you fight any battles there?
BS: I’m told that Thélème was wise enough to set up the colony far away from our town. Direct confrontations rarely happen … But one day they will be unavoidable!
[When you have fulfilled your mission.]
DS: Now that I have taken care of your business, will you assist the previously mentioned historians?
BS: We will gladly grant them. Where are they now?
DS: At the port of Sérène. They had hoped to get to Al Saad as stowaways.
BS: Very well. I will immediately send an escort to escort them to a safe place.