Reth Appreciation Post (Palia)

Introducing Palia 

 I'm not sure about you but I have been drowning myself into very chill games lately. It seems that every day there is something new to be upset, fearful, and/or anxious about. I'll probably make an entirely different blog post about this, but cozy games can literally save lives. Okay, let me dial it back a bit, they can definitely help make life feel a little more calm and magical. Lately, I've been diving into the MMO RPG Palia developed and published by Singularity 6 Corporation.

This game is currently still in beta so it's got its glitchy charm and other issues the devs are still working on. Nonetheless, it is still very much playable. Palia is available on PC and the Nintendo Switch for free, huzzah! 

To give a quick summary of the game: Palia is a peaceful explorative MMO RPG that combines aspects of farming, crafting, and plenty of social interaction. Players are thrown into this whimsical world (seemingly out of thin air) and are greeted by a colorful ensemble of non-playable characters with invigorating lore. This game is my absolute everything! The only other "real" MMO I believe I've played is Elder Scrolls Online developed by ZeniMax Online Studios but that experience wasn't nearly as satisfying as my experience in Palia. If anyone is interested in learning more about the game, definitely visit their wiki page and join their subreddit on Reddit @ r/Palia. A lot of nice people are on there :)  

As you can see, I am pretty much invested in this game and enjoy logging in to play every day. However, there is one particular character that I just couldn't help but fall in love with almost immediately. His name is Reth.

Before I get into it, I just want to shout *GAME LORE SPOILERS AHEAD* you have been warned :) 

Who is Reth?

                              Image sourced from my gameplay of Palia developed by Singularity 6

The charismatic "soup boy" if you will. Reth works at the Inn along with Palia's godfather Ashura (I gave him that nickname). Upon speaking with him, he seems like this guy who just cooks soup, loves soup, and is soup (he's seriously all about soup). He is immediately warm to us players.. unlike some other characters cough, cough *Haissain* cough. So it is super easy to talk with him and level up your friendship, therefore, leaving room to build a romantic connection if you want. I can't recall how quickly I figured this out but Reth is related to another NPC named Tish. She is super bubbly and sweet and they are both extremely open about being siblings. The cutest thing ever to me is seeing both Tish and Reth hanging out together at Jel's clothing shop in the evenings. Side note: I did see a Reddit post about Jel being rumored to be dating Tish, spicy! 

Reth is the eldest of the siblings and once you get closer to him, players realize he cares a lot about his sister and would do anything legal or illegal to make sure she is okay.

Great Character Traits of Reth 

- Charismatic 

- Comedic 

- Confident 

- Bold 

- Provider

Reth has some pretty good things going on if you ask me. I will say I did initially view his confidence as arrogance but once I started romancing him I started to look at it as confidence... I mean two things can be true at once. 

Image sourced from my gameplay of Palia developed by Singularity 6. He did not let me down easily here. You have to reach lvl.3 friendship with villagers before gifting them romantic items, unless you want to be turned down like this. Lesson learned.

What warmed my heart about Reth is the pride he has in being Tish's big brother. Both of their parents are gone so they just have each other in the village. Reth explains Tish was the one who took up the family business of carpentry while he decided to become a cook. Reth expresses great appreciation and admiration anytime he talks about his little sister which is just so freaking lovable. One major thing about Tish that both she and Reth reveal is she had (or has) a medical condition. If you talk to Tish or Reth enough, this is disclosed to players pretty early in the game. However, upon getting closer to Reth specifically, we discover that Tish may still be dealing with this medical condition unbeknownst to her :( 

After working at the Inn, Reth sneaks out every evening and apparently engages in illegal activities. Did I mention magic is actually banned in Palia? Whatever Reth is doing to keep his sister healthy definitely involves a little bit of magic and other strange activities which could get him in serious trouble with Mayor Kenli and especially the magistrate Eshe - husband and wife duo, there is even mention of a government council of some sorts called The Order and they seem extremely strict! However, as his friend and romantic partner, I do help Reth with the upkeep of his shenanigans (trust me, I would not do that in real life but I tend to be the complete antithesis of myself when I play games). In my specific gameplay, I am pretty much Reth's ride-or-die. I just can't help it! I did kind of snitch on him once but it was to Tish which I consider fair since they're family. 

I will say any loved one who is willing to go above and beyond for someone they care about is truly commendable. Perhaps it would be safer for Reth to just ask for help or find better ways to do things but it seems his impulsive nature and boldness have allowed him and his sister Tish to survive this long without their parents. He does have quite the reputation around Kilima Village as many NPCs tell players he's trouble but it definitely put a goofy ole smile on my face when godfather Ashura had some sweet things to say about my character associating with Reth. 

Image sourced from my gameplay of Palia developed by Singularity 6. Ashura: But I've seen the way he looks at you - and talks about you. He'd hang the moon if you asked him to. Aww 😭

Conclusion 

Palia has been an overall great experience in terms of interactions. Not only are players given the space and opportunity to chat with one another and work together, but we also have an abundance of non-playable characters who bring different qualities and perspectives to the game. Many of these characters have flaws like normal humans do and some pretty heartbreaking backstories, I'm talking to you godfather Ashura.  This makes these characters much more relatable and likable like the actual people we may meet in our day-to-day lives. There is truly a lot to dive into when it comes to Palia, the good and even the areas of improvement. However, I honestly just wanted to write about Reth. That guy is an absolute gem and one of my favorite NPCS right now. 

Image sourced from my gameplay of Palia developed by Singularity 6. He is volunteering to make my dinner!

As of right now, we are a happy couple... I think? Relationships aren't exactly exclusive in this game since you can romance a few different folks at a time, guilty! Have you played Palia yet? If not, please take this as your sign to do so. If you are playing Palia, who are you currently romancing? Reth is my number one and I got his pin first but I am also romancing Nai'o and even Haissian who is actually such a shy cutie after he stops being shady towards you. Perhaps he is an entirely different conversation for another day.  Either way, feel free to share your thoughts! Happy cozy gaming.