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No. 41864
"The funny thing about Wakfu villains is that, despite being less dangerous, the minor antagonists are arguably the most detestable of the bunch. Kabrok, for all the label "Wakfu Hero" implies is still a man directing his middle-age frustrations on his fellow merchants, the Princesses are quick to revert to their snooty attitudes and practices after their curse is lifted, Sybannak is an intolerable old woman who is willing to feed children and the elderly to her pets if they displease her, Gonard/McDeek is just plain greedy, Choquette tried to bring ruin to the son of the man she loved out of a twisted sense of courtship, and Grufon, minor shushu that he is, was indirectly responsible for the misadventures (and by proxy all the danger encountered during them) that spanned over 5 episodes just to spite his owners, all to name a few.
All minor antagonists embody an overarching theme of mercenary pettiness, and how destructive such shallow motivations can be (greed, jealousy, vanity, lust etc.) when given the power and means to satisfy their inconsiderate whims. Brakmar is a city whose vices are so pronounced that one cannot help but notice the undercurrent of childishness beneath the sexism and skullduggery. The Shushus and their King, the supposed epitome of evil in the Krosmoz are little more than a pack of grotesquely strong cowards and bullies (Rubilax in particular) whose ambitions outside of general mayhem are underwhelming (Ombrage/Shadofang brainwashing an entire village for the sole purpose of combing her hair).
But what about the major villains, the recurring foes that make it their business to make themselves as antagonistic first impression is possible? What about Kriss, what about Remington, what about Nox? Unlike many of the small time fiends (excluding the likes of Smisse Monde and Riglesse) these individuals are rather up front about their ruthless aims and abilities. Nox makes it a point to introduce himself as a power hungry bandit, and Remington's Boomerang Dagger to the face made Eva know that he was anything but friendly. And yet, for all the genocides, larceny, and murders, they come off as infinitely more sympathetic and even admirable than their lesser peers. Sometimes its from a parting scene (Kriss bidding Yugo farewell), subtle, consistent displays of nobility (Remington's relationship with Grany), or in Nox's case, a combination of the two. You may argue that their appearing more than once helps in this matter, and it does, but frequent appearances do not beget character development as despite appearing numerous times in Wakfu and Dofus related media, Rushu has been a pretty static and unlikable character all throughout.
At the heart of this contrast is of course Yugo. His being a fairly young and noble protagonist works to the villains' advantage in two ways: Their willingness to grievously harm a 12/13 year-old boy shows how ruthless and wicked they can be, and Yugo sympathizing with and sometimes forgiving them can suggest a kernel of goodness in beings we would otherwise find irredeemable (ex. Mandhal). This is especially prevalent with the three reoccurring villains. For example, despite Kriss nearly putting an end to his quest, Yugo feels no ill will towards the Brakmarian athlete, going so far as to admit that the Sacrier is pretty cool.
Conversely, he pretty much accepts Evangelyne's claims that Remington is bad news without question (plus the whole throwing her off of a banister thing) and spends much of the 7th episode ignoring the Rogue to fawn over the supposedly 'heroic' Justice Knight who had, with little justification, wrongfully imprisoned him and whose entire mission is something of an anachronism in a world where ten year old boys can own demonic longswords as pets. Upon finding themselves (and Grovy) stranded in Rushu's World, Yugo is chastised by the career criminal when he claims that he can't create a portal to help them escape highlighting the man's determination, and is ultimately shocked when Remington, the vicious highwayman, refuses to leave his imperiled brother behind, submitting himself to certain doom rather than abandon his sibling, contrary to Yugo's casual deserting of Adamai earlier in the season.
His encounters and interactions with Nox are even more complicated. The Xelor's ravenous, phantom rampage across the World of Twelve has resulted in the fall of nations, the deaths of countless, and many of the miseries that have befallen Yugo. Though we are allowed to see that Nox is not entirely without good in him, all the boy can see is a villain whose "heart is as cold as his armor" that "destroys everything beautiful", despite our knowing that this is far from the truth. Unlike the reckless wanton turmoil the more feckless felons inflict, there is a greater agenda to Nox's crimes, an honorable if selfish purpose to right a single wrong, and thus exempt the world from his machinations entirely. He was ready to do anything, except live with failure, which he had to briefly endure. And what of the Eliatropes whose fire he had stolen, Yugo's race who had perhaps not maliciously but decisively drained the world of the Lu-Fus, leaving their home dying and their minds open to Orgonax's offer of vengeance? They are venerated in song and legend, whereas Nox shall be reviled as a madman, a monster in a vindictive and fallacious history penned by Evangelyne. However, like his father before him, Yugo managed to see Nox's humanity, his remorse, and let him leave in peace. The former king was not unscathed by his good deed, haunted and unsure, now knowing that the world, its champions and its monsters are far more complicated than his bedtime stories led him to believe.
And yet, it's these well-intentioned malefactors that suffer the most, and their punishments do not always fit the crime. As mentioned, minor villains like Kabrok and Choquette are almost never brought to justice, but the fates of Remington and Nox are oddly cruel given the lighter destinies of The Voice Thief and Rubilax.
A sense of wrongness permeates the World of Wakfu, aristocratic demi-gods murder mercenaries for entertainment, there doesn't seem to be a country-spanning body of authority to maintain order, bounty hunters condemn people for even the pettiest of crimes, cheating is a celebrated facet of the world's most venerated sport, monsters prey on the unsuspecting with wrongdoers preying on everyone else, blacksmiths can craft weapons with infernal entities and sell them in boutiques, and even the divine wreck terrible mischief on those they promised to protect.
Beneath the cute, kiddy veneer is a worrisome, conflicted core of murky morals, destructive heroes, and victimized villains. It presents a question never outright stated, that may never be addressed but still bears asking: Populated with people who are incredibly easy to deceive (ie not being able to see through obvious disguises), difficult to forgive and susceptible to committing injustices themselves, Does this world deserve to be saved? Or should it get what's coming to it?
"I think of Ogrest, of this terrible demon I knew from legend. The myths of the beast’s gratuitous cruelty had long been whispered down. I think of the woeful burden he must carry, of all that suffering expressed in his clumsiness – why would I not believe that Ogrest was the destroyer of whom everyone is terrified? He cries, and by crying, he ruins the World. And yet, he’s not manic-depressive, he’s not a dishcloth, he thinks and doubts, tossed from within by jolting emotions – like all that lives, Ogrest sometimes crumbles. If the choice were given him, should he let the world perish?"
-daryl, Wakfu MMORPG developer
Agree or disagree?
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