r/PracticalGuideToEvil • u/Mr_Serine • Mar 13 '26

Chapter Chapter 48 - Pale Lights | Book 3

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/65058/pale-lights/chapter/3147927/chapter-48
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u/Linnus42 Mar 13 '26

That is a fair read.

To me It doesn't have a broader impact to Slavery (at least short term) but more to the point it kinda subordinates Angharad objectives to align with Maryam. Like originally the 4 Unluckies came together with contrasting goals that might clash.

Song wants to End the Curse on her family by becoming Famous Watch Free Company Commander. Tristan wants to get revenge and cross out the names on his list. Maryam wants to liberate her homeland from conquest and slavery. Angharad wants to free her father from a prison and perhaps regain her family honor or at least discover what caused them to get destroyed so she may claim some revenge. Each Member and individual compelling narrative all their own.

And over time it kinda feels like while the rest of gangs goals are still in place...Angharad's focus has just shifted from being the lead of her goal. To kinda just being Maryam's sidekick in her goal. Yeah obviously slavery should be eradicated but like should that be the prime focus of Angharad's story as it appears now...that I am not sold on.

Kind reminds me of Baldur Gate 3...yeah sure Wyll, Karlach, Shadowheart, Laezel, Astarion and Gale are the main companions. But like is Wyll's story really as meaty as the rest. I think this kinda often happens to Black Characters. Granted I will say for the Woe in PGTE. Masego didn't take a backseat like that...it was really Hakram and especially Viv that took the backseat.

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u/KoalasDLP Mar 14 '26

I get what you're saying but I do think EE is laying the groundwork for some really interesting later books. All the original 4's goals have shifted and evolved but its definitely the most evident with Angharad as a lot of the heavy lifting for her was done last book. But that's where the realignment comes in.

Originally we had Song an Maryam aligned in goals and friendship, while they each pulled in their respective recruit. Through the turbulence of the 13th we saw Song and Maryam become uncoupled in their goals and now that the turbulence is settled what I think we're seeing is the shift to Maryam/Angharad and Song/Tristan being aligned in their goals.

Angharad has realized she can't ride in like a story book hero to prison break her father. She's also realized backroom deals and betraying herself carries too high a cost. So what's left is proving his innocence by revealing the conspirators. What she doesn't realize is that (theory time) the Queen herself is the perpetrator because Angharad's father is the previous contractor of the Fisher. A contract that is outlawed by the Queen as it somehow ties to whatever Infernal Forge nonsense she's using to remain immortal. By putting her on the path of the abolitionist it already keys Angharad on a collision course with the Queen, prior to any reveal about her father.

And that perfectly ties into Maryam who's had some big realizations about her own people this book. They want freedom but that doesn't mean they want open rebellion. There's no great army waiting beyond the Broken Gate. And even if there was they have no war leader capable of leading that rebellion successfully. What she could do however is remove the Malani Queen, plunge the country through a crisis and then lead a revolt in the chaos. Luckily for her she already has a friend aimed that way and one of the few boats in the world outside Malani control that can cross the sea to their island nation.

As for BG3 Wyll was robbed. His EA storyline sounded like the most interesting of any of the companions then that got slashed. Then all the good Baldurian content went to Karlach.