Post by Minoh Workshop in Where does the healing wine come from?

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Lately I haven't been answering many questions because it kind of spoils the fun, but this time I'll answer a thing or two.

Bottles of healing wine are spontaneously created at a somewhat regular interval, but no one knows where they'll show up next. That's unpredictable. Because of this, Asterion used to stash them whenever possible. The bottles stopped appearing during the time Asterion was alone in the hotel. The bottles cannot be commanded to appear, not even by the master. In old times, when Asterion was being tortured, they used to appear much more frequently.

It is possible to make the healing wine, but only the Argoi know how. Not even Asterion knows it. Originally we planned to show how it's done during the Ruthless Route but we ended up cutting it.

The current Argos, despite knowing how to make the wine, does not understand the logic behind it. He does not know why it works.

If Asterion drank the healing wine while he's not injured he'd feel great. He used to do it every now and then in special occasions. There would be no negative consequences to it. He becomes inebriated by it but it leaves no hangover.

Asterion does not allow anyone to drink the healing wine. It does not heal anyone but him and, in fact, can make others terribly, violently sick.

cue5c3 years ago

Does Asterion know this? He offers the wine to you at one point before he drinks any himself.

Kenta3 years ago

assassination attempt!

peterfell3 years ago

*gasp* oh my imagine how he felt later in the runs. that would be worrisome XDDD

Minoh Workshop3 years ago

I'd have to check where in the story it happens. Might be an inconsistency in our part.

Kenta3 years ago (1 edit)

I believe cue is confused, I believe the part he's talking about is when MC and Asterion is in the restaurant/bar and he fabricates a normal bottle of wine and asks if you want some

cue5c3 years ago

You're correct! I don't often replay that part, so I forgot you gave him the wine before meeting Argos. He materializes the wine, drinks it at the same time Hestia's flame is kicking in and then the next time you see him he is half-healed.

Prq3 years ago

Cool! Thanks for sharing all this info! I've been thinking about it for some time now, so it's nice to learn more about it!

TrinexxSlayer3 years ago (1 edit)

well, my new theory from this, is that the wine is made with Asterion's blood (or something like that, something spilled from his suffering), and because he is part divine, that ichor is poisonous for mortals. i mean, this is the best i can do to correlate his punishments with the wine appearance rate along with it being poisonous for most but not him.

Prq3 years ago (1 edit)

[SPOILERS]

I am curious if MC drank the wine while wearing the ring would the ill effects transfer to Asterion, or vice versa if Asterion drank the wine while wearing the ring would the benefits transfer to the MC, or would the bond make the wine harmless to MC?

Also MinoWorkshop implied that the wine 'can' hurt others who drink it, but the wording made me wonder if there were exceptions to that or ways to at least prevent the wine from harming someone who drank it (besides Asterion) while not giving any extra benefits other than being alcoholic in nature.

TrinexxSlayer3 years ago

that's not how the armband works though, the contract says it will rip you arm off if asterion is sent to the valley (even if someon else does it), there is no benefits for the master other than your employees trusting you won't abuse your power over asterion. but, according to my theory, divine beings could be able to drink the wine with no harm. of course if that is incorrect then it's pointless speculation without further evidence.

Kenta3 years ago

what if it was Dionysis's gift and that could only heal Asterion specifically? I've not seen his vote yet, but it would make sense

TrinexxSlayer3 years ago

it can still be dionysus gift, at very least the system that creates them should be. but would he really make wine that only heals asterion arbitrarily like that? for what purpose? makes more sense that what is used to make the wine would be able to cure asterion, it just so happens that it would poison others, and is likely a limited resource

Kenta3 years ago

I can hazard a guess that it could be like that to stop masters and others keeping them for themselves by making them useless if not toxic to them

TrinexxSlayer3 years ago

they gave enormous power to the master, why would this one cross the line specifically? could it make you immortal? if so, doesn't that implies into divinity anyway? wouldn't ichor qualify just aswell?

Kenta3 years ago

In Greek mythology ichor is poisonous to mortals as it's usually described as blood of a god, it's either intentional they added ichor to the wine as a way to stop mortals stealing the wine from its intended user or it's just bi-product of its process to making the wine. It could cross the line as it would be an insult for a mortal to even attempt to consume a divine substance.

TrinexxSlayer3 years ago

yeah, that's what i'm saying. ichor would fit this property of the wine. the idea that it's made with asterion's blood specifically makes for a self sustaining production, the more he gets hurt, the more healing is available to him. the one blindspot i'm still unsure is why production ceased when the hotel was abandoned, there may be something else caused by other people being around to make the wine.

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Prq3 years ago

I went back and re-read that section with the armband and I don't know why I thought it created a bond between the two of them. 🤦🏻‍♂️ I don't know where I came up with that haha!

TrinexxSlayer3 years ago

it is a binding ring, i can see how you confused the concept. but yeah, personally i'm still worried that it may come to play a moment Asterion will have to go to the valley not by the master's will and the contract would still server his arm. i wanted to contest the terms of it but you are railroaded to do that contract as is.

Cyclopropane3 years ago

Hi! This is a cool question, I actually decided to finally make a real account just so I could throw my hat in the ring with this!

It's too bad to learn that main character can't drink the special wine that helps Asterion. Ever since I started the game I've been hoping that main character and Asterion would share a tender moment where Asterion offers main character some of this special wine as a way to show how close the two have become and how he now trusts main character with something as important and useful as the wine. He's willing to give main character some of the wine even though there is so little of it in existence, and it's one of if not the only thing that can heal him, which is why sharing it with someone else would be so profoundly meaningful to both Asterion and main character.

Anyways that's my two cents!

Minoh Workshop3 years ago(+2)

Fun fact: in the original draft of the story what you suggested happened, precisely! I still think it would be a great moment. If the story ever allows it and Asterion finds a way to do it safely, I will put that in.

Cyclopropane3 years ago(+1)

Well I'll keep my fingers crossed! I'd love to see something along those lines towards the very end of the story, it would be a nice way to end the novel. Asterion and main character relaxing in the lounge after a long day helping guests, sharing Asterion's wine as they plan for their future and the hotel's future together! :)

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to my comment!

Prq3 years ago (1 edit)

Aww that's really a sweet idea. I do like the thought of leaving the end of the novel 'open' where all of the plot threads have mostly been wrapped up, but where we see Asterion and MC planning for the next days. I don't want it to feel like it just stops, and is like:

"Okay we've reached the end that's it goodbye..."

I want to feel like there's more to their story that we don't necessarily see, where it feels like the characters will continue forward even after we are done with the virtual novel. I hope that makes sense lol.

I also love love love the idea of the two of them sharing Asterion's wine together as they look forward into their own futures together and at the future of the hotel! (I'm sure the Devs can figure out a way for MC to be able to drink it, they're plenty creative!)

I definitely think that if Asterion escapes the labyrinth or finds a way to break free if it but still use it's power, he will still find a way to keep the hotel running. I can't imagine he would just walk away from it. His character cares too much about others to just abandon them like he was abandoned in the original labyrinth in Crete.

itch.io

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