#titan spawn

I think about this line a lot.

Of all places Toby could have put this line, I find it interesting he chose the Titan Spawn fight. Enemies described as mindless beasts, that don't even possess the self-preservation to stop you from killing them. They're one of the only enemies the game allows you, expects you to kill.

But you don't have to. You can banish them, purify them. They don't understand mercy, but you can show it to them. And the game will remember if you do. They aren't sentient, they aren't people. You can kill them, and the game will keep track of it. But it doesn't penalize you for it. They're mindless beasts, and you can put them down as they are. But if you choose not to, can they become something else?

And of course the line applies to more than spawn. Identity is clearly a major theme of the game. Each main character has a role projected upon them, one they are expected to be. And yet they want to be more.

Ralsei thinks of himself as an object. He views himself first and foremost as the "prince alone in deepest dark". He struggles to see himself as a person, sees himself as lesser. He's told that his life has value but can't believe it. He wants to make his friends happy, want's to go against the purpose he was created for even if he doesn't think it's possible. He doesn't even know what being himself means.

Susie, who was viewed as "the monster". Something scary, something cruel. Something you can only befriend as a joke, and she believed it. Only recently letting herself get close to people, let herself slot into a new role, "the girl with hope crossed on her heart", only to find out that role too leads to tragedy. And yet she fights to break it.

And of course Kris. Kris, who goes on grand adventures, makes friends, becomes a hero, saves multiple worlds. But, is it really them doing that? They're the "cage with human soul and parts". They still have their soul barking orders in their ear. And when they rip their soul out, they're still not free. They just go from one voice to another. Soul to caller. And they seem to enjoying it even less. Even when they have no strings they're still a puppet.