#which i suppose worked since so many people were confused mdfnksjf

[northern-passage]

ok all of first screaming and crying over the new update etc etc. all of SECOND quick lore question(s) about blood pacts! (forgive me if there is a codex entry i overlooked just point me that way and i will head on over lol) how are they perceived culturally? i can’t quite tell from the flavor text when clem makes a deal with you if it’s intended to come off as “fairly standard/commonplace practice, if a little unusual in the specific context” vs “immediately very strange/extreme”? basically, How Weird is it supposed to be that clem offers that to you? is there any circumstance where it’s normal/expected to see them used? are all blood pacts magically binding? are there differences in cultural perception in the north vs south? upper class vs lower class? thanks!

the handshake is pretty universal; i actually had a conversation planned with Clem while you walked to the isolation district, but i had to cut it for pacing (and i plan to have a similar conversation later instead now) so there isn't really any indication in game yet, aside from the hunter's reaction when Clem offers it.

in the codex entry for magic, blood magic is briefly touched on and how in certain instances it's "allowed," like healing magic. the handshake is similar, it's just treated like signing a contract, and like you see here in this conversation most people don't even consider it to be blood magic, it's become so disassociated with it. it's also not really called a bloodpact in game - that's just the easiest thing for me to call it but that name makes it sound more serious than it is.

it works more like a pinky promise than a "pact"; you can't intentionally break your side of the deal, and neither can Clementine. if you do, you can be injured/will lose something equivalent to the value of the thing you promised. this kind of magic is very loosey goosey; it very much is connected to the person's intentions and whether or not they are genuine. if something did happen to Clementine despite the hunter's best efforts, they wouldn't necessarily be punished to the fullest extent possible if they were truly trying everything in their power to protect them.

when Clem asks the hunter to shake on it in that way, they're basically ensuring that the hunter will not lie or turn on them, because now if they do there is the potential for the hunter to be punished as well. and vice versa, the hunter can assure that Clementine won't try to give them the slip without paying them again, so it's beneficial on both sides. it's not exactly uncommon, but it can be considered a little extreme or offputting in certain situations. it does actually make sense with Clem and the hunter - considering Clem just admitted to having never planned to pay them for their original deal, and the fact that they don't really know each other well, a handshake like that is an easy way to protect yourself when making deals with strangers.

and this is definitely a "working class" kind of gesture. rich people are too evil to ever be able to successfully fulfill a bloodpact. lmfao. it's definitely seen as "gross," demeaning, and insulting in higher class circles; and i would say far more malicious, too (as in if someone like Duncan wanted to make a bloodpact with you, it would almost definitely be a way for him to trap you in some kind of Situation) whereas a shake between two people just trying to get by together feels far more sincere and is seen more as just covering all your bases than trying to take advantage of someone.

however, all of that to say: when it comes to the trade with Duncan, the hunter doesn't understand what's happening, nor do they immediately get angry or suspicious of Clem afterwards, because what happened in the courtyard... let's just say a handshake shouldn't be able to compel the hunter in that way.

#tnp spoilers #this is stuff that will be explained in game as well like i said i just had to move the conversation back #but it is very much meant to be confusing both to the hunter and the reader at this point #i did put the handshake early in the game w little explanation intentionally #i wanted it to feel casual bc for the hunter it is and they don't think much of it #which i suppose worked since so many people were confused mdfnksjf #i felt like if i emphasized it people would immediately be sus #i mean clem IS sus but i didnt want it to be too obvious too fast i guess #this conversation will now probably happen maaaybe second half of the chapter? or ch3 #not entirely sure because i am once again fighting with the pacing lmfao #ask #pearsharks #lore