hold your horse is

I installed Baldur’s Gate II along with, of course, Throne of Bhaal, even though I don’t particularly like it (aside from well, duuuuh, timestop + massive horrid wiltings) and started playing through it again. Not as fast as I usually do, admittedly, but I’m trying to stretch the experience a bit more. I find that while I can’t really get into the Icewind Dale games, Baldur’s Gate (I and II, although I greatly prefer the sequel) just sucks me in and makes me lose track of time oh-so-easily.

But really, I’m sure no-one wants (or needs) to hear any more praise of the Baldur’s Gate games from anyone, let alone me. No. The main reason I decided to make mention of my re-installation of BGII was an observation I made while going through Irenicus’ dungeon for the nth time in my 20 years of existence, namely that of me feeling a bit of an attachment, for lack of a better term, towards Imoen, and towards all the things she talks about during the slog through said dungeon (namely, the moment where she reminisces about Candlekeep).

Perhaps it’s because I’ve played through BGI as well (although not as much as BGII): I’ve gone through thick and thin throughout the course of two lengthy RPGs with her in my party, I know what she’s talking about when she mentions Candlekeep and “home” and all the “musty tomes” and, well . . . I dunno. Maybe it’s due to her character as well (no, not the fact that she’s female), but rather the way she is, you know. Unlike Jaheira (and Viconia, for that matter), she’s really the type of girl a guy (or anyone, perhaps) could learn to like and eventually see as a younger sister or something of the sort (which she kind of is). She’s pretty much the “girl next door” of the Baldur’s Gate series. Albeit one that, you know, eventually turns out to be more like “Bhaalspawn next door.”

I “get” her, her fears and her emotions (from the starting dungeon to the post-rescue moments right through to the end of the game) and, while I admit that she does get annoying a lot of times, I seem to always be ready to let it all slide (unlike, say, with Tidus in Final Fantasy X . . . but yes, I know, two totally different games and levels of quality). I (and other players) know what she’s gone through—loss of innocence, death of foster father, etc—mainly because the Main Character’s gone through the same things and I guess this helps in making her so . . . I dunno, likeable? Fuck, I’m sure there’s a word for it, but I can’t think of it right now.

No, I’m not in love with her, if you’re asking. That’d just be silly, falling in love with a videogame character (“But, Azzief, what about Yukari from…” “Oh, shit. Yeah.”) What I am in love with, though, is the developers/writers, for somehow managing to create a non-player character that I can actually really like, and not because they’re attractive (shallow, I know), significantly powerful, loaded with incredible spellcasting ability (Edwin, I’m looking at you), funny as hell (Minsc! <3) or any combination of the above. It’s partly her character itself, partly the plot of the games (which continues, in case you don’t know), partly Melissa Disney’s voice acting and a bit of . . . god, I’m not sure myself.

I wish I could end this pointless post with a kicker, but I can’t think of one.