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Ruthless Route Discussion Thread

A topic by Minoh Workshop created Aug 22, 2021 Views: 7,163 Replies: 67
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Developer(+3)

We don't expect many people to play the Ruthless Route, but a number of people seem to want to know what happens in it. For that reason we're setting up this thread for people to discuss and exchange notes about.

(+2)

Talk about a heel turn, huh?

The ruthless route is the speedrun of revelations of Minotaur Hotel, isn't it? Poseidon's Gift, the narrator's identity, the truth about Argos, all in a condensed little, painful story about toppling tyranny.

I can't help but empathise with Dominikos thinking he might have caused it by being too good a deciever. So, I'm glad the Master gets his comeuppance by the snake's hand (in one way or another).

Also, aren't you guys glad this wasn't just a bunch of scenes of the Master being a bad guy over and over? Imagine how drab and/or depressing that would be.

Developer(+3)
Imagine how drab and/or depressing that would be.

Imagine actually writing that! It seems that people erroneously expected that out of the route. Sometimes I wanted to drop more hints but we decided not to show our cards.

Also, just think how much fun we had writing all the Argos content before the Ruthless Route with all the reveals and twists in mind.

(+2)

The ruthless route ending is absolutely amazing, it's very easily my favorite "segment"  of the game so far and it's extremely well written.  It pays off on a lot of mysteries set up before and fit a ton of hints on the true nature of the way the hotel works and everything about Argos, and previous scenes/plot points (like Argos's reaction when you trick him twice, the oddities about the many Argoi that came before) fit perfectly with the execution.

The things that jump out to me a loot though, and that i genuinely think will be major points later in the story were the narrator reveal - which was incredible, and extra props to the writer - and the much deeper detailing of how "magic and gods"  wok. This latter, specifically, I suspect will be a key part in loophole-ing Asterion out of his sentence, even beyond what is already done in the good route. 

All in all, it's a amazing payoff for going through the route, and do get me much more hyped for seeing how the other paths will wrap up.

ughh, I'm so curious about who the narrator is, but I can bear myself to hurt Asterion for it...

(+3)

Just finished some of the ruthless routes in minotaur hotel. I didn't expect to have so many feelings. It was very powerful and reminded me of old Greek tragedies. I enjoyed how it changed and the many call backs to elements of the original story and Greek myths as well (even if I'm not that knowledgeable about them). It was great to see it all unfold, and to know what things lay in wait for the future of the kind master's hotel. Though I'm sure I can't play it again, I can see why the Ruthless route needed to be made and how it plays to drive home the message of the hotel. Good work all around minoh team. Now, to make the moos happy.

(+2)

I'm sorry if this is very spoiler heavy D:

I gotta say, doing the ruthless route made me deeply uncomfortable after having played the nice route first. Seeing Asterion in so much distress really bothered me but I really enjoyed the writing. It really does a good job to unsettle the player if they've done the Nice route first. Reading what the effigy did to Asterion just made me so sad and unsettled, like holy hell, and then seeing his mental break. Superb job on the writing! 

(1 edit) (+4)

I wasn't sure if I was going to do this route, but what convinced me besides mention of it being some of your strongest writing was finding out Argos didn't want it in the main route. I'm so happy it was focused on Dominikos. He's a precious thing and I feel terrible for his suffering. I've found 3 of the 4 endings, but no clue on how to get the final one. Guess I'll keep being evil. 馃檭


Nvm, found the right path. Appropriate name for the achievement. And now let us lay that version of us to rest.

Ugh, I played through a couple of ruthless endings (I think Ive got 3 out of 4?). The writing is good, but I felt horrible doing it. :( 

Why doesn't P & storm come to the hotel in the scenario where the main character survives?

Asking as someone who has NOT played Ruthless yet: are there plot points in the Ruthless route that would otherwise be withheld from those sticking to the Nice route? I can see that certain facts, like the narrator's identity, are revealed in the Ruthless route but have not yet been mentioned in the Nice route. Is this information meant only for those who have played the Ruthless route, or is it an earlier reveal of information that is planned to be given to us in the Nice route?

(+1)

It CAN be hinted in the nice route but it takes quite the hoop jumping.  The identity of the narrator I mean.

For me,  ruthless route was very hard to deal because of I've beforely played the nice/romantic route, and my brain betrayed me, imagining mister Blas Garcia's voice as Asterion's (I recommend you watch the scene Tai Lung vs Shifu in Kung Fu Panda dubbed on Mexican Spanish). I've unlocked 3 ending, and wow, that's a very good way to explore Argos' story and his legacy. I hope to discover the fourth one.

It's better a reply than an edit. I unlocked all 4 endings, now I can't stop searching for Argos' true identity in the main route in other backgrounds. He is a good snakeman, and I loved how he develops himself in both main and ruthless routes. The hardest ending to find, for me, was Asterion's ending

Developer(+2)

Try tricking him all the times it's possible — the more you do it, the more he'll appreciate and reveal himself to you.

If you play your cards right you can even get him to confess it all  before Chapter 18!

Trying again and again to find the bare minimum I have found the fork.  Or A fork I guess.  You lot are ALMOST thorough and I LOVE it.

At least "It's in better shape than when I received it".  ... Or was it "then"?

HOW DO I GET THE OTHER ENDINGS HOLY HELL I've played the route so many times already hearing that sickening squelch of flesh and blood makes me want to hurl my dinner out and  c r y. I've only ever gotten the "Dust and Silence" ending. Please tell me so I can end mine, Asterion's and Dominiko's suffering and to sate this vile curiosity of mine!

Developer (1 edit) (+1)

Hey Luke, sorry you had to sit through that. There are four endings, and six ways to get there. This is determined by two factors: your choice at the end of act 1 (agree with Argos' plan, deceive him, or make no promises), and whether you act abusive towards Argos and Asterion throughout the ruthless route's content. If you act abusive enough, you'll always end up on Dust and Silence, just through three different means. If you don't, you'll get the other three endings depending on your choice at the end of act 1.

*edit: don't feel compelled to keep going for the sake of an achievement. If this is content that distresses you, it's completely optional.

(+1)

Thank you!!! Also don't get me wrong, I very much enjoy the Ruthless Route so far - makes me love Dominikos a lot more! And I'm not just doing this for achievments! Heck, I almost never care about those, I mostly just use them as guide to what content I can experience (thus hidden achievements are the bane of my existence "orz). It's just those specific gruesome stuff that make me quessy.

Just got all 4 endings, and dang.

Loved the writing and how you guys conveyed just how cruel your character's actions were, and while it made me pause frequently with guilt, I have to say I actually really enjoyed it and all of the variations between the endings.

Thanks for the internal turmoil, it was a blast lol

(-1)

How did I get the worst possible ending? I thought I was doing okay what choices made me such a bad person apparently??

What ending did you get? All of them have their downsides

(-1)

I dunno how I got locked into this bad ending where I have to be shoved into a death pit or my character goes crazy and shoves one of the other guys into it. 

Developer

Chances are you'll go down this route the more you send Asterion out to the valley. Try starting from the beginning and don't send him to the valley under any circumstance.

(+2)(-1)

OHHHH that's what it was.. I forgot you can choose that or not- so that is what happened. 

Well now I finished all the routes, very fun game.

I keep not getting the 4th ending where apparently Argos gets trapped in the hotel any walkthrough to get to that route?

What's your best friend's name?

Nemesis.

(+1)

Those who braved the Ruthless route would you lend me some time to ask how it went. How did the mc turn into such ruthlessness or where did the route clearly started. Major changes to the main game etc. I know im asking a lot, but i dont want to see the pain from my own hands ;-; just out of curiosity 

(1 edit) (+2)

It depends. There's a couple ways to end up in the ruthless route. If you want the most painless way: Lie. Tell Asterion you won't ever send him to the valley and then send him during Chapter 11. He will call you out in the most meek and quiet way, but as much of a gut punch as it is, it is nothing compared to what you get sending him out when Argos asks you to command him to come out. It's awful, and because it's something you can eventually make amends for, you still have to send him out again to confirm this is the path you want to go down.

That scene after sending him out with Argos immediately is worth seeing if you want to see Luke in a more nuanced and mature light. He's a "trooper".

ETA re: character - He's justified things to himself. There's one way you can "redeem" yourself in the ruthless route, but it's not an erasure of harm. However, the biggest takeaway without giving too much is that it's not about you. None of Minotaur Hotel has been about you. You are a catalyst/vessel and play a major part of this story, but this is not your story. It's always been about looking outside of yourself to see the humanity in others and that stays true in the ruthless route, as well.

(+1)

crying atm ;-; I can totally see that. From how raw the game is and for it to unveil the darkness in every character. I fully believe the ruthless route is what you would do to get a better glimpse at that. I would think this route is not about breaking the chain but being come the chain and following the cycle. In which is humorous in sorts that the game constantly mentions a roundabout in everything and everyone. 

(+1)

I feel like the ruthless route is what would happen if this were real 95% of the time, since I'd argue a chain is destroyed, but instead of being broken in a natural and harmonious way, it's instead severed by the scraps of what was available. It works, but it's messy. I still found a couple of the endings in ruthless satisfying, but they're absolutely raw. Some are certainly cruel. At least 2 have funny moments depending. The speedrunner loop route having one of my favorite lines. Just absolutely petty in the, "really??? Still?" sense. So I'm glad ruthless exists to really add weight to doing right by Asterion and the hotel.

(+2)

Honestly, i expected worse. The MC was merely drunk in power, arrogant and disregarding of others, in one word selfish. It helped putting a layer of separation and not thinking of him as a self insert. Plus, the actual protagonist of the route is Argos, if anything you get to appreciate him more, after going through this route. You do have to watch Asterion despair, and those are the hardest parts to read.

(+1)

I love that the MC is something you can don't have to be relatable. Having choice is what brings this game its uniqueness. My curiosity is sated for now, but i bet it was painful to read. After getting his best route i say it would be gut spilling if it wasn't for how well made it all sounds.  

(+2)

"gut spilling" indeed, hehe

(+2)

>:(((((((((

I remember I once sent Asterion with Argos and never sent him to the valley again, but in the next metting with Argos I answered with "I'm a sadist" and automatically I went to ruthless route, even if I haven't sent Asterion to the valley. In speedrunner background I sent him by accident in the chapter 12, and I went to ruthless again, but this I haven't saved my progress. Fortunately I found all endings, so I started again. I don't want to feel the same experience.

the idea of accidentally picking a bad choice makes me shudder. I save at almost every choice to read what reaction it may be and go to the more desired choice. Yeah it may be tedious, but I want to pick the best route if I can. But the pain you went for knowledge I give praise. 

You can sometimes rollback, but after send your staff to tasks.

(+3)

I just finished the ruthless path, I have to give the writers credit, I have never felt like such a bastard in a game or VN before and I'm glad it wasn't just 'do the evil option and get the sad dialogue'
It's actually worth doing after a normal playthrough since it adds a lot to the cast and world and made me appreciate Asterion more, genuinely broke my heart to see him go from numbing himself to cope with things to breaking down and crying when he sees the only thing that gives him any joy or purpose destroyed for nothing.
I'm sorry, moo-man.

(1 edit) (+1)

Ya know... I remember back in the builds before this one, there were a lot of people posting about how hot Argos was and how much they wanted more of him, to date him, etc. Gifs of petting and proteccing the snake boi. I was wondering if those people were just like... not actually reading the content and considering any of the implications of this psycho torturer or what, but now I just have to ask, were any of those sockpuppets or shitposts by you guys as the devs or anyone else in the know? I didn't want to stir shit but I wanted to how the heck people were stanning this mustache twirlingly evil snake that is literally wearing Asterion's pelt as a trophy, like are y'all that horny?

The route is tough but tells a good story, thanks goodness for the perspective shift and revelations that come in Ruthless 2, would've just been too hard without it. Heck, it was still hard to read, even knowing the MC at this point sealed his fate and is going to not have a happy ending for his actions because we still see Asterion's suffering in full. 

I plan on writing up a more detailed summary of the route for those who don't want to walk it themselves. Are there any parts you guys as the Devs (Nanoff and MinoAnon, since I haven't seen Awoo, Kangarube, or Nemo around, unless all of y'all sharing the main account in which case hi) would prefer to not be spelled out in such a summary because you'd like it to be a surprise later in the game for anyone who doesn't go down this route? Obviously that can't stop anyone else from dropping those deets, but still figured I'd ask, since everyone has been a little gunshy on the full details of the spoilers to this route so far.

Developer(+2)
were any of those sockpuppets or shitposts by you guys as the devs or anyone else in the know? 

Nope! The only exception is probably the writer for Nerus, Roddorod, he's a friend of ours who knew what was going on. With that exception, no one knew about what was up with Argos. Some people just really liked him, and you can be sure we were laughing when those posts rolled in.

To be fair, I think there was a trend here. If you tricked Argos twice (with the contract and with the challenge of making a sacrifice) he becomes a lot more friendly and open. I think that a good deal of the posts you saw were coming from people who caught the implication that there could be a way to make him more decent.

Are there any parts you guys as the Devs (Nanoff and MinoAnon, since I haven't seen Awoo, Kangarube, or Nemo around, unless all of y'all sharing the main account in which case hi) would prefer to not be spelled out in such a summary because you'd like it to be a surprise later in the game for anyone who doesn't go down this route? 

Not really. When the game released we put an embargo of sorts in the Mino Hotel Wiki for a week or two, which has already been lifted. As far as we are concerned people can talk about all of the Ruthless route with no restrictions. This includes the more revealing things about the narrator, if you want. In fact I think this will be a good thing, I'd like to see how people who played the Ruthless route discuss it with those who didn't.

Just please put a spoiler warning, as a matter of courtesy.

(+1)

Spoilers: A Summary of the Ruthless Route (Chapter 1)

Hey everyone! As I put above in big bold heading, I'm going to summarize and spoil the Ruthless Route here in a series of posts. Reading about Asterion's trauma here in this route is very difficult and not for everyone, so I wanted to break down its events and revelations for anyone who wishes to know the details on what happens in these chapters without reading it themselves. To be honest, I wish chapter 2 was more accessible, as it has the most interesting lore and is not nearly as dark and depressing since Asterion is not shown at all. If this summary intrigues you, you may wish to find a Let's Play video of this part and see all of its writing in full.

For the each chapter up to the story branching in chapter 3 and each ending 'pair', I'm going to make a fresh post in this thread that is split into two halves: the first will give the summary of the route and will feature as few spoilers as possible to tell its story well, while its first reply (and assumedly, other user's replies) will have a warning but otherwise be full spoilers. If you want to know what happens without learning tidbits and knowledge that might otherwise be revealed on the 'Romantic' route later, only read the 'top' level replies for these summaries - it is simply me guessing, however, so no promises that I can keep all surprises relatively secret.

These replies to the summaries, meanwhile, will go into much greater detail of the more mysterious events. I'll try to mention all of the spoilers I had hidden in the summary and other new information we learn in this route that might be relevant later - important facts and truths we learn to uncover the mysteries of the game - but it's also a good space to have those interested talk about a specific chapter or ending. 

Also, I say ending 'pair' because there are 6 endings to the route, but only 4 epilogues: there is a major choice at the end of chapter 1 that has three options and leads the story in three different ways, but the Master's actions along the way determine if you get the 'regular' version of that ending, or the _Dust and Silence_ 'alternate' version.

The Ruthless Master Chapter 1 General Summary:

While you could argue the Ruthless Route starts as early as Chapter 3, sending Asterion out to the valley, it doesn't doesn't diverge from the events of the main route until the end of Chapter 12, Asterion's concert, so that's where we'll begin. A week has passed since the concert, and Luke and Kota meet up on the hotel roof to discuss how much everything has gone to shit. The Master has been sending Asterion out to the valley on the daily, and Asterion comes back chewed up, glassy eyed, and nearly catatonic every time, withdrawing into himself more and more. Guests are leaving and no new ones come in to replace them, and any attempts to raise concerns up to the gradually manic and contemptuous Master get brushed off, as he has locked himself away in his office, separating himself from the hotel. Luke and Kota agree it's time to abandon ship, but they want to convince Asterion to leave with them, willing to go through the Master if they have to. As they agree on this conclusion, however, something suddenly feels wrong and they no longer feel alone on the roof. They call out, but we cut away before we see what it is.

We shift to the Master, who has become obsessed with the labyrinth, its secrets, and powers of the gods that must be out there. Asterion's sentence is to be a sacrifice, so what's a little more for him to sacrifice? "Sending the minotaur out is right by the gods, edifying for humanity, and profitable for you. What is the pain of one for the benefit of all?" The Master hasn't even needed any prompting from Argos to do this, so the sudden ringing of Argos' flute wakes them from their haze and pulls them outside. Athena's statue seems to smile brightly at the Master, but the snake at her feet has seen much better days: Argos weakly slithers out from behind the statue, bloodied, filthy, coughing, and with gauze and dressing wrapped around his missing left eye, though none of his struggles look fresh. Here the player gets the first choice on the route that can have consequences: "You look like shit." or "Are you alright?". The former locks you into the Dust and Silence version of your ending (chosen later), the latter does not. 

Argos tells the Master he has been performing "great works" while the Master has locked himself away, leading to his current injured state. To that end, he pitches an idea: automate Asterion's sentence and suffering so the gods are forever pleased and the Master has more time to do other things. He has trapped a monster (the Effigy) in a pit to the north, and shoving Asterion into said pit would be a nice, final act of worship for the Master to perform. To tempt the Master for this plan, he has an offer: "an elixir made from the God's own ichor, which is said to expand the lifespan of any who consume it." As this is coming from Argos, the Master is suspicious and calls him out, but Argos swears up and down that this is true, and that he cannot drink the elixir, as his life is already tied to the labyrinth. The player is then presented with the major choice of the route. Three choices, each choosing your eventual ending  that will either play out 'normally' or have the Dust and Silence 'alternate' version: "Agree to the snake's plan." (Ending: Shackled), "Deceive the deceiver." (Ending: Welcome to the Minotaur Hotel), or "Make no promises." (Ending: As You Are, I Once Was). Whichever you pick, the Master leaves to go get Asterion, and the first chapter closes.

Spoilers: Full spoilers from Chapter 1

The only really expunged spoiler from the summary is some of the information about what appears on the roof to Luke and Kota. However, we are not given a clear answer or description of what it is. I have 2 guesses, but first I'm going to exactly quote what the game says. For context, Kota has just called out "If there's anyone there, then show yourself...!"

It can be seen, prowling like a starved beast just out of sight. It can be heard, thrumming in the air like the fading voice of a lyre's plucked string. It can be felt, smelled, tasted. Like the chill of ice and the warmth of fire sinking into one's bones in turn. Like the sour stench of rot masked by floral perfume - crocus and asphodel. Like the coppery sting of blood mixed with the burning sweetness of wine. The Labyrinth leaves its mark on everything.

I have two guesses: either this is similar to whatever smell the Master gets in the finale of Chapter 18 when P and 'Jean' are acting crazy (thus may be the influence of another God) and thus what landed on the roof is the agent of that God that also caused Chapter 18 (I have to make a different spoiler thread about birds, we've had a few come up in the story that didn't immediately attack Asterion (normal birds should) and I think this is thus a bird since it landed on the roof and all) OR it could possibly be the Narrator, Nemesis showing herself to those two. Mostly the asphodel smell makes me think it may not be as evil as my first theory, since they're so tied to Hades, but why we don't get to see more about this creature if it were Nemesis, I don't know.

(+1)

Spoilers: A Summary of the Ruthless Route (Chapter 2)

Ruthless chapter 2 starts with the words "One week earlier" and has a PoV switch to a character praying out to any of the Gods who will listen; a character who has been calling out for the entire evening and into the night to any god who would answer his pleas. It is Argos, living in moderate conditions if his first contract trick was not caught by the Master, or a base cave if he was (he did not have the powers to summon things until yesterday in that case - This split of how good he is at summoning/how often he remembers to summon things continues through this whole route and is a nice touch). And Argos is praying to the gods to come and serve justice upon the Master for his wrongs against them! He has been praying to each god in turn, and finally ends up calling out to one that answers. Not only has this god heard his pleas and responded to him, it is this god who is revealed to have been our Narrator all along! They are one of the 17 gods who provided the power to create this realm, and they have appeared before Argos to question his motives, but also to provide a way forward to justice against the Master. A path that this god cautions will not be without its own price - Argos has sworn an oath as the Foreman of the Labyrinth, which he would be breaking to see justice done. The role is to bring torture to the prisoner; it is the hubris of the Argoi to try and push the Master to do good by being so cartoonishly evil. Argos is the rebel digging for loopholes in this land's principles and laws, and not all of the gods are displeased at the Master's actions so far... yet "the wishes of the gods are many, [Argos], and there may be a place for your breed of justice." The Narrator will help Argos through this costly act, but on one condition: That Argos' Overseer must not be informed about any of this. Said price makes Argos pause, but he decides to accept anyway. In return, he secures the Narrator's guidance and a one-of-a-kind artifact that will be key to achieving his new goal.

In the morning, Argos sets out through the valley to a very hidden place mentioned to him by the Narrator. He skirts by some monsters and eventually starts reciting some lines to himself to focus his thoughts and distract from the exertion of the journey. These lines eventually prompt a flashback to his youth: He is Nikos (Dominikos), slowly waking up (at his mother's calls) for an important day after spending all night rehearsing his lines. Today is his big audition, and if Nikos can perform well enough, he might be chosen to participate in the Trials. He might get a chance to play the role of Argos Panoptes. His Mam脿 has made his favorite food for breakfast, and his Bamp脿s asks for a sneak preview of his audition, to which Nikos eagerly accepts. His parents dote on him, claiming that he'll make his Papouli proud, wishing that he was here to see this day. In turn, Nikos prepares himself to act out a monologue from Oedipus, getting ready to "Put on the costume. Speak the lines. Perform the role, and let the role become truth." He then delivers his lines excellently, and his parents continue to dote on him, until Nikos wakes out of the flashback to be Argos once more, nearly at his destination.

Said destination is a hidden cleft in one of the cliffs in the valley. He squeezes through to eventually find a shine to one of the gods hidden away deep inside the cliffside. While shocked to see this, he and the Narrator reflect how Argos' boss directed him to hint about the existence of these godmade shrines, which he did in the second meeting with the Master. This shrine holds a powerful Gift for Asterion, one that would provide him freedom from this realm, if they can retrieve it. However, the shrine is incomplete due to the way the realm cannot generate certain substances. This is what the artifact given by the Narrator to Argos is for, but it alone is not enough, the Gift is only supposed to be revealed to Asterion. However, Argos finds a loophole and is able to sacrifice the Asterion pelt he wears, giving up the heirloom and symbol of the Argoi and his Papouli. In return, the shrine gifts Argos with a glass sphere swirling with light, the key to Asterion's freedom if they can get it to him.

Once Argos leaves the hidden shrine, he is immediately attacked by the Effigy as it is seemingly trying to ram its way through the rock toward the sacrificed pelt. In Argos' panic and haste to get out of the way, the Effigy clips him and gores out his left eye. Pained and reeling, he limps away as the Effigy continues smashing at the rockface hiding the shrine, ignoring the snake entirely. He dresses his wound and, after a moment to collect himself, forces himself onward, asking the Narrator what's next in their plan. They respond that the Master must be tempted by some task that will separate the jailer from the prisoner, that Argos may deliver the Gift. However, the Narrator again cautions that it will come with great sacrifice to Argos if he truly wishes to continue. Argos hesitates, but thinks on how broken Asterion looked, how vile the Master has acted, and how his own actions pushed the Master to commit terrible things from playing the role of Argos too well. This steels his resolve and he commits once more to bring justice "no matter what". The scene fades out.

We rejoin Argos at the shrine plateau for Zeus and Athena (where Argos directs you for exploration day 2 to get the wine), a blade, a vial, and a bottle of Asterion's healing wine in hand after stashing the Gift back at his home. Rather than the statues, Argos actually stands in front of the cairn Asterion placed near the beginning of his sentence, whatever power it may have had long gone since its abandonment. However, the Narrator believes a ritual here may be enough to summon the one thing the Master may be baited with: an elixir of extended life. Not immortality, but something to stretch out his lifespan beyond a normal mortal's means. However, it will cost a sacrifice of time to create, one that Argos will have to pay. The Narrator questions Argos' commitment to this path, which he affirms before starting the ritual. 

During the ritual, Argos out in prayer for an ancient goddess to come and answer his pleas for justice. When one responds and bids him speak, Argos explains how the Master is a defilement on the world, thumbing his nose at the gods and torturing Asterion, the cairn's old caretaker. He bids for an elixir of time to lure the man out to face divine justice. In return, the goddess responds, "AN EXCHANGE    TIME FOR TIME    LIFE FOR LIFE    BLOOD FOR BLOOD". Accepting, Argos drives the blade into his side to make a large gash, and fills the vial half-full with his blood, placing it on the altar as his offering. In return, the goddess wills Argos' wound closed, and transforms the vial of blood into the elixir of extended life, then bids him to go. 

Exhausted, the snake returns home and stashes the elixir with the Gift and the last bottle of healing wine that he knows of, and passes out into a dreamless sleep. In the morning, he heads to a specific tree in the valley to harvest its sap. It is a virulent poison, one exceedingly deadly for any who drink it. Argos carefully mixes this sap into the elixir, which has a presence overpowering enough to hide the poison inside. Next, he heads to where he will build a great pit, one that will hold the Effigy for the cruel Master to cast Asterion in to, but with a hidden tunnel that Argos may ferry Asterion away in secret. However, after his sacrifice of time, Argos is now easily exhausted and barely makes any progress. Frustrated, he asks how he will accomplish this when the Narrator again speaks up: using the Gift as a catalyst, another source of power could be channeled through Argos if he so wishes. Having no other options, he accepts, and returns the next morning with the Gift in hand. The Narrator warns that this will be unpleasant, then channels the power through the Gift into Argos. In an instant, day becomes night and Argos suddenly hunches over in pain and fatigue, yet the pit is suddenly one fathom deeper than before. It exacts a painful toll on Argos to be a conduit like this, but he commits to his work and they repeat this process over the next few days, each evening finding him exhausted and damaged as he wakes up from the work that was channeled through him.

Eventually, the pit is complete, secret tunnel and all. Next, Argos carries the Gift with him to find the Effigy. As he goes, the Gift's light pacifies and stupefies the monsters that he passes, until he finds the Effigy. Though at first he is concerned it won't work, the Gift's light also pacifies the Effigy, and it follows Argos, transfixed by its light. He tricks it to falling down into the pit, lamenting how the Gift's light was not enough before to save his eye from its fate, but soldiers on regardless. This work finally complete, he returns to his home to finally rest for a time.

Argos dreams this night, picking the flashback back up from where it stopped before, Nikos having just performed for his parents before breakfast. Nikos questions about trying to replicate his Papouli's approach to the Argos role, asking if it is the right way to go about it. His parents are convinced that it is: this time, the Fates will pick a kind and virtuous Master that the Argos can mold into being an exemplar of humanity, and Nikos can "Play the villain to make him into a hero." With breakfast ready, they ask Nikos to say grace before they eat, which he does. 

As the family eats their breakfast, his mother and father continuing to give tips to Nikos about keeping the role on the stage natural and believable. 'What does Argoes want?', they posit, and Nikos replies "Argos wants, first and foremost, to fulfill the will of the Gods. [...] Argos will want to test [the Master's] character exhaustively, to make sure they're worthy of the role and responsibility they've been given. [...] But he will want to never lie, nor bring about harm himself. All that he does is in service to the Master, the Labyrinth, and the Gods." His parents are proud of his reply and reaffirm that Nikos will do wonderfully. Nikos closes his eyes...

And Argos opens his. For the first time since taking the role, he is homesick, missing the life he left behind for this demanding work and what it has turned into. He must soldier on, however, and he steels not just his resolve, but fully immerses himself in the role of Argos. He must feel the truth of Argos' every word and deed. "Put on the costume. Speak the lines. Perform the role, and let the role become truth." Then, with a little bit of ending narration from our Narrator, Chapter 2 comes to a close.

(+1)

Spoilers: Full spoilers from Chapter 2

Uh, there are a lot of these, since as I said, this chapter has some of the most meat on its bones. I'll try to list them in order, and we can split into further threads to discuss more if needed.

The Narrator is revealed to be Nemesis, one of the triad goddesses of justice. Argos prayed to each of the twelve, plus Hestia and Hades, before praying to the Eyrenies, 'those winged spirits of vengeance'; then finally this triad of goddesses: Dike, Themis, and Nemesis. She is called the Tilter of Scales and is a goddess focused more on vengeance and retribution, especially to those who suffer from hubris and arrogance before the gods. Thus her very brutal plan for Argos makes a lot of sense: in his own way, Argos and the whole Argoi role is its own form of hubris, and Argos must prove himself in trials to redeem himself and be worthy of her help. Vengeance is also a very brutal form of justice, and can easily spiral into cycles of its own, which definitely fits the themes of Minotaur Hotel.
Also, she often (only?) refers to Argos/Nikos as Orestes, in case you see that name thrown around.

Argos' Overseer, in case you didn't figure it out from Chapter 18, is Hermes. Which has really sad implications for Argos, since Hermes tries to get Argos killed in the favor of speeding up Hermes' plot(s) during the Chapter 18 climax. Protecc the Snek.

The godmade shrine that Nemesis directs Argos to is Poseidon's: It is a large body of water that was supposed to be saltwater, which would make it fall within Poseidon's powers of the Sea. However, the realm cannot generate salt in large quantities, so the shrine is incomplete and cannot grant the hidden Gift. This is where the artifact that Nemesis gave to Argos comes into play, though it isn't exactly clear yet what it is. Here's the text from the game:

He unwraps the artifact we gifted to him from the cloth that swaddles it, freeing that hunk of cursed rock from its hiding place. Dark as obsidian. Dark as the still waters stretching out within that underground cavern. Dark as the ichor which runs in the god's veins. It was no easy matter to steal it away form its origin deep within the bedrock of the realm. But by our contract with this usurper was that single shard granted.

With the conversation we had over in the spoiler thread about the importance of blood and Ichor in the game's mysteries (link here), I suspect it might be the actual drop of Poseidon's Ichor that was spilled to make the realm - thus it is one of a kind, as dark as Ichor (because it is Ichor), and it explains how it specifically allows the shrine to be completed.

While I didn't hide that much of it from the summary, I did gloss over a little bit of the ritual and Nemesis' explanation about it and Asterion's cairn shrine: 

Perhaps [Asterion] thought one of the old goddesses of his Minoan ancestors would grant the mercy refused to him by the Olympians. Uncountable are the years since libations were made at this little makeshift altar. First the ancient Masters refused the bull his private worship, and then Joseph the Merciful made it forbidden - along with all other rites to the "pagan" gods. Now, whatever power once lingered within it has long flickered out like an untended flame. But the prisoner's faith remains to this day, and a belief so ancient and wholehearted is no trifling matter. If you stir these cold ashes with your unshakeable belief, Orestes, something may manifest within this forgotten husk. It will be just like ancient times, before humanity grew too great; a single worshipper praying in a time of exceptional need so a god may be born.

And indeed, the ritual creates a new god, as when the speak (in caps), they are called Nameless Goddess and do not have a textbox decorator pattern like other spoken roles. (Oh and by the way, Nemesis never has one either, can make it a little hard to tell when she's talking, just musing, or narrating)

The power that Nemesis channels through the Gift into Argos to magic timeskip the pit digging is her own. I don't know if that means she doesn't have a godmade shrine here to channel through or otherwise write rules for the realm in, or if Poseidon's Gift is just that good a conduit, but I left out that it's her direct power she's flowing through Argos in some way.

What's left.... I think just that it's a little blink-and-you'll-miss-it that Argos/Nikos and his family are some flavor of Catholic, since they specifically say grace before they eat. That comes into more detail/hints both later in one of the endings, and in Chapter 18 if the MC figures out that Argos is the same Dominikos that claimed to be a preacher and befriended Asterion via text. I assume we'll learn a bit more on how that all works later in the story if we hangout with Nikos as a staff member.

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