The humble crew of the LIttle Snail could not have known what they were getting into.
A simple, kindness had led them towards danger and mystery unknwon. A fallen tower. Undead dragon cultists descending on them in the dark. An ancient prophecy written by the light.
And a sanctimonious solivagant stolen into shadow
Yet faced with this chaos, they continued. Making their way north, first to the bridge they’d rebuilt only days ago and then turning towards the seaside city of Calstega Bay in search fo answers. All around them, Perpetua awed with its beauty. The sea breeze sweeping across Tidaline’s plains. Life all around them, blossoming and chirping. And the daytime sky giving way to the stars.
And so they were on the cusp of unexpected discovery: Because though they did not know yet, what we do about the Stars, they would soon find out just how they echo….
Redolencia. Alteros. Ichoria. Springsong. Armidirge. Imago. Genesika. KosmoKairosis.
It would be the first of these—Redolencia, announcing itself with buzzes and yelps—that they would encounter on that journey to Calstega Bay. On its face, it may have seemed like a distraction from their primary task—but in truth, it was their first glimpse into a world beyond—or a world before—the Perpetua they knew.
A lesson here, for those who study their journey: It is only a fool that sticks to the charted course. One never knows when a hill is worth the climb, a dance is worth a stumble, or a rose is worth its thorns.
This week on Perpetua: Journey to the Bay Pt. 1
So far, Celestial Echoes seems like they’re a series of side quests, but I have a feeling they’re actually really important—like either late in the campaign you’ll have to go around to do all of them or else maybe the true ending is locked behind doing them?
In any case, they come in two versions: Unstable and Stable. Both are a part of the map affected by “Celestial Laws,” which change some basic gameplay rules in BIG ways. What separates them, then? Well, Unstable Echoes are normally mini-dungeons or miniboss fights, while Stable Echoes (which you can make by completing the “Ritual of Stellar Restoration” in an Unstable Echo), tend to just be lore-focused map locations. Both offer a lot of unique loot, plus unique music and character interactions! Oh, also, supposedly if you don’t do the ritual, Unstable Echoes can “spread” across more of the map, but I haven’t tried to let that happen during this first playthrough (obviously).
While I’m including the basic stat blocks for all the Celestial Echo enemies, NPCs, and bosses in the NPC & Monsters section (search for PNMS but with brackets around it!), I’m keeping their longer entries here because I think most people will turn here to learn about the Echoes!
Redolencia is probably the first celestial echo you’ll find (though you could go around it and reach Capstone from the Prelude if you were willing to grind a little). As such, it’s got a mix of combat (a pretty cool boss fight) and dungeon/puzzle gameplay. And its Celestial Laws are pretty basic. It’s sort of like playing a game with wayyy less focus on spells.
The level and enemy design here is so weird It’s like someone swapped the game palette with a sicker one. All the colors are like *too* colorful, but also too dim? I don’t know anything about art, I just know it feels weird. And the music is SO intense given that it’s just a bunch of flowers and bugs. Anyway, here’s what you’ve got in store:
Celestial Law: Alchemical Tilt: Spells heal half damage. Skills and Items heal twice as much.
Celestial Law: Unstable Magic: When casting a spell, you fumble when 1s or 2s are rolled as a pair (i.e. rolls of 2 or 4, but not 1+2 or 2+1)
Scalewings [NMSCW]
Typical Traits: fluttering, territorial, lover of beauty, scientific
Stats: DEX 10, INS 8, MIG 8, WLP 6
Attacks: Beetlehorn Spear
Special Abilities: Scale Shower, Flying
In-Game Description: An echo of a butterfly-like person, attendant to the Vampire Orchid. Flutters like a stuttering shadow.
They’re more like colorful moths than butterflies, in this FAQ-writer’s opinion. They have big gross wings, and can spread poison with their Scale Shower ability. I’d love to know what the rest of their world was like, given that they use a huge beetle horn as a spear! Do you think the whole world was smaller or that everything small on it was bigger? Did humans even exist there?
Starter Tip: Simple! Use fire!
Vampire Orchid [NMVOR]
Typical Traits: Rapacious, Hungry, Gorgeous, Fragrant
Stats: DEX 8, INS 6, MIG 10, WLP 8
Attacks: Vine Drain, Pollen Dusting
Special Abilities: Plant: The Vampire Orchid is immune to dazed, enraged, and shaken.
In-Game Description: Tendrils of green, petals of black and yellow, and a column of deep red. Though one might wonder where the latter color comes from.
A giant hungry plant—where have I seen that one before! On one hand, its weakness to both ice and fire means that your party should be able to do great damage to it! On the other hand, the Celestial Echo that increases the chance of spellcasting fumbles means that it’s easier to have things go totally off the rails all at once.
Starter Tip: Remember: Elemental Shards don’t require any sort of spell casting roll! A cheap way to get a TON of damage during this fight.
Hosted by Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social)
Featuring Ali Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Art Martinez-Tebbel (amtebbel.bsky.social), Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social), and Andrew Lee Swan (swandre3000.bsky.social)
Produced by Ali Acampora
Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp)
Cover Art by Ben McEntee (https://linktr.ee/benmce.art)
With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint
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