#obscura vn

[mostlygayrage]

OBSCURA: Trailer Analysis

SPOILERS AHEAD!!

In the trailer/video that goes with Chapter One of OBSCURA (Here. Watch it on your own, sub to Rotten Raccons) is PACKED with details and all sorts of information. Let's start with the first thing we see when the video starts.

Cirrus:

This is a snippet of Cirrus' CG in game with some things added. The text in the top left is what we're interested in. "18. presbyter//ecclesia lunaris" What does the number mean? Well if we take it in terms of Major Arcana for Tarot cards. the moon in number 18.(XVIII) Fitting for the lunar priest, but the deeper meaning also fits. Usually meaning hidden danger or enemies, deception to darker forces at play. Then we have the Latin. If we take the dashes and an indication of a break, then the translation is roughly "Preist// height of the moon" But if we take it as one sentence it translates to "Priest of the Lunar Church" Keir:

Again, staring with the number. 20 (XX) is Judgement. I find this fascinating. With obvious associations to justice, scales, balance etc it;s an interesting connection that I wouldn't have originally thought of to Keir but it fits well. The card itself means reflection, reckoning and awakening. Usually taking a look at oneself to see where an imbalance lies so you can fix it and move forwards while reversed can mean a lack of self-awareness, doubt and self-loathing. (yikes) The latin here is interesting too. Instead of having the dashes like everyone else, he had the latin next to the number and then a separate, less visible one at the bottom center of the screen. "Cavilator Fur" translates to "Scornful thief" and the dimmer, less noticeable word is "Cultelluss" or "knife" and it's pointing to where his dagger in on his belt.

Oleander:

The Number 11 (XI) is Justice. Meaning cause and effect, clarity and truth and the reverse meaning opposite. Oleander is a character who knows the effects of his actions. They are measures and precise. He is aware of the cause and effect. And in his neutral and good endings we see him bring his own form of 'justice' or balance. When Lord Valentine tried to have him killed, he simply returned the favor personally, and succeded. "Nerii//periculosum scurra" when translated as a sentence means "A dangerous clown". This obviously references the way Vesper calls him a clown when they first meet and telling us directly that he is dangerous. Francesco:

The Wheel of Fortune is what is assigned to Francesco, meaning change, cycles and inevitable fate, greater forces as play that are pushing towards and ultimate and unavoidable end. This theme goes along with theming that he is running out of time. THere is a reason for him coming to the underground, for rushing Vesper and the tailor so he can experience as much as he can. There is something pushing him forwards.

"Francisium//innocentes nobiles" At a first glance it looks like a latin version of his name, and "innocent nobiles." The second part is correct but the whole phrase means "The innocent nobles of France" which is FACINATING to say the least. The connection to France is interesting to me and brings my mind to the French revolution. Another detail I think is interesting is that his secondary outfit we see him in, the jewelry that is around his neck is right where a beheading would happen and once I saw it I couldn't unsee it.

Thats the first portion. Later in the video we get some images that flash across the screen with more latin and numbers. The numbers correspond with the numbers we were given previously. Again, in the order of how they appear in the video: Cirrus: Snake Skeleton

Latin first. "Obsequium// ducit as caelum" means "compliance leads to heaven" This connects to his entire theme. To get the best end with Cirrus, you don't question him. You don't question his motives or hesitate, you just comply. The imagery of a snake skeleton is interesting too. The obvious imagery and symbolism with snakes, deceit, lies, danger. But also connections to the story of Adam and Eve. The snake that tempts Eve, causing her fall from grace.

Keir: Scales

The Latin here is obscured a bit but it says "Fatum// vestrum vel extaneus" meaning "Your fate is at stake". This one leaves me wondering quite a bit. It says 'your' as if it's talking to the player, to us. To Vesper. This could tie into how Vesper is roped into Mouse Hole, how they are forced to get a noose around their neck like the rest of those living in Mouse Hole. They have to perform well in the heist that happens otherwise they risk death that comes a lot sooner than would be caused by fractum anima. They also risk the lives of Keir and those in Mouse Hole.

The imagery here is super interesting too. Scales are usually associated with justice which happens to be Oleander's tarot card. Scales, are obviously associated with balance, with equilibrium, and fair deals. While we mostly see one side of the scale it seems to be balanced. And in combination with the Latin, I think it's referring to the delicate balance that is Keir's life. A balance of his line of work being risky but lucrative, but if it's too much of a risk, he not only risks his life but all the others in Mouse Hole.

Oleander: Human Skull

"Pantiantur// sicut habes" roughly translates to "Let them suffer as you have" which, WOW. OKAY. Again, Oleander delivers his own form of justice to Lord Valentine by delivering the same thing Valentine tried to do to Oleander, but more personal. Let them suffer as you have. It brings to mind the "eye for an eye" metaphor. An eye for an eye and the world goes blind. But Justice is blind is she not? The skull imagery is interesting as well. This is all painting Oleander as a very dangerous man. Charming and witty, with a flair for the dramatic, yes, but dangerous all the same. A man who can kill. In the neutral ending he says, "For now you are safe with me. If you want to stay like that, you need to follow my lead." If he doesn't have the same attachment to you as he does in the good ending, you are an asset to him and he doesn't spare you the same kindness.

Francesco: Hour Glass

"Tempus//decurrit" means "time is running out". His is the shortest and simplest of the secondary ones. He is running out of time. He rushes you at the tailor to get an outfit made because he can't afford to wait. He wants to get as much as he can, done in the time he has left. No time to waste. The hourglass is the same message. Time is running out. It makes me wonder what is causing his time to run out. Here's the thing, Vesper's time is also running out with Fractum Anima, and interesting connection and it would be interesting if he also had it or something similar but I don't think that's the case with the other things we have seen. With the other things, the "innocent nobles of France" bit and the Wheel of Fortune, It feels like it's alluding to an execution to something similar. But that's purely speculation. That's it! That's what I have! (Thanks to Atlas on discord for great resources and helping me connect the dots with the numbers and tarot!!)

[rottenraccoons]

for scientific reasons, can oleander call me a good boy? I promise I've been good

"Well, if it's for science, who am I to disagree?"

"You have been a very good boy, my anonymous friend."

[kaouyana]

abandoned house in the middle of the woods.

photographed with an OLYMPUS E-M5II and retouched with GIMP 2.10.30.

[pininiu]

“Maybe if you bleed gold, you’ll be able to afford what you need”

When you get consumed by the soundtrack more than anything, and I also can’t get the idea of the golden blood in greek myth out of my head

So yeah I drew my own Vesper, I named mine Wisp

[cursed-nyxan]

this reminded me of them

[myun5508]

Reference art:The kiss(Gustav Klimt)

(I’ve posted on Twitter(X)before)

[aieevee16]

Need I say more?

[ariawins]

This scene.... changed my brain chemistry...

Thank you from the bottom of my heart Rotten Racoons for making Obscura and creating Cirrus 😭

[sowffskrungliez]

All according to keikaku.

IM FINALLY DONEEEEE!!!!! This took me so longggg cries,,, there's still stuff I would change.... But I'm definitely ready to move on and so happy with how it came out 🥺 I love Obscura SO much!!! Its genuinely one of my favs atm and Oleander is my special silly guy that makes me kick my feet and giggle, so I wanted to do fanart that would sorta do him justice hopefullyyyyy. AND I also adore Rotten Raccoons posts to tumblr about the game and the characters <3 Ya'll are so nice and funny and amazing and talented. Thought I would pay homage to the famous and well used Oleander meme ehehe uwu Also heres different versions of it without some layers :3

[tamagoyaki5]

Oh Keir how you’ve stolen my heart….

Quicker sketches than I would have liked (which most definitely caused some costuming mishaps- I’m sorry to Oleander for mucking up your mask and hair I’ll do better next time TT), but I hope to at some point get a nice finished drawing done, one not as shitpost-y lol

and thank you to the Rotten Raccoon team for such a beautiful game ^^

[picrossmimi]

我喜欢所以再发一遍

[skinkkk]

(Fran doesn't know what happened)

[rottenraccoons]

Griff you better stop acting like a little shitstain, or I might just stick my tongue down your throat.

(for perhaps the first time ever, Griff sounds intimidated)

"You... you know I have a girl already, right? You wouldn't do that a guy who's already got someone, right?"

[maymaisu]

cirrus supremacy. that’s all, thank you.

[peachiiiprince]

Vespersona again!

[strunmah-mah]

Obscura is weirdly high stakes for a visual novel. Most vn's the end you get is an accumulation of the decision you make, Obscura? Make one wrong choice and you're DEAD.

Anyway, in unrelated news, I've somehow managed to get the bad end in 3 out of 4 of Obscura's routes. Whoops.