Unanswered Questions in the series

[KatieHal]

I sure hope so, with this one slacking off like this!

[wilco64256]

Nope, she's the only fairy godmother ever.  Except for my mother-in-law, who my 5-year-old informed me the other day is her fairy godmother.

[Damar]

Lolotte was definitely high on my list of unanswered questions in the Kings Quest series.  Another that bothered me was trying to reconcile the Realm of the Dead in KQ6 with the Dimension of Death in MOE.  My theory is that the Dimension of Death was a little subsection of the Realm of the dead which explains why the Styx is in both.  Maybe in one of those ginormous pyramids in the background of KQ6.  Maybe it was a sort of barracks for the skeleton guards.  Or maybe the writers for MOE just decided to completely change one of the best parts of KQ6 thinking they could make it better with a little violence and such.

My biggest unanswered question (honestly) was always what was up with the Black Cloaks and who was Shadrack.  So that's just one more reason I'm pumped for the game to keep coming out.

Oh, and another unanswered question from the original KQ1, not the remake.  Who did the treasures belong to?  Yeah, the remake says they were stolen from Daventry, but in the original, King Edward just tells you to go find treasures.  I was always thinking, "Um...don't they, you know, belong to someone already?  But no, you want me to just go find them?  And maybe I'll kill a troll and a witch along the way to my pillaging as well..."  It's kind of disturbing actually.  Graham starts his entire series by stealing treasures and killing citizens (evil citizens I'll grant you) of Daventry.  Until the remake exonerates him at least.

[KatieHal]

Nope, she's the only fairy godmother ever.  Except for my mother-in-law, who my 5-year-old informed me the other day is her fairy godmother.

That is adorable!

[waltzdancing]

I love kids when they are that age. They see the world differently than we do and it fascinates me. I guess that's why I'm going into education.

[Baggins]

Lolotte was definitely high on my list of unanswered questions in the Kings Quest series.

Well she is also explained during the game, during the ending. Edgar either explains her, or his parents in the bad ending. The longest explanation was in the KQ7 hintbook though.
http://kingsquest.wikia.c...i/Backstories_and_Legends

Another that bothered me was trying to reconcile the Realm of the Dead in KQ6 with the Dimension of Death in MOE

The thing about Realm of the Dead and Dimension of Death, is they are not the same location. Roberta ultimately meant for them to be entirely different places. Completely different afterlifes.

Read the Guidebook, and its said that Realm of the Dead is the afterlife in Green Isles legends. Its based on more Greek/Roman and HR Giger. Maybe even perhaps a touch of Dante's Inferno, he's a bit like King Minos who sits at the second entrance to Hell judging the souls of the sinners and assiging them the proper punishment. The difference is that apparently Lord of the Dead does a similar thing, places the souls into the Sea of Souls where they travel on to their next stage of the after life.

Read the manual for the MOE, and it states that Dimension of Death is the afterlife in Daventry's legends. Its based more on egyptian and judeo-christian traditions. Lord Azriel who is both based on Azrael the Angel of Death and equal parts Anubis, uses the Scales of Truth (which are from Egypitian afterlife myth) to judge the souls of the dead, and his job to assign them to where they go in the next stage of the afterlife.

Both are essentially purgartorial realms that lead to the next afterlife. So both Samhain and Azrael serve the same purpose to essentially judge souls of the dead and then assign those souls to the next afterlife. Also location wise, Realm of the Dead is located on an island near the Green Isles and the Edge of the World. Dimension of Death is located under Daventry itself.



What are these next stages of the after life? Both games aren't entirely clear but one would assume heavens and hells.

There are a few times during the games IIRC, where there are exclamations like "thank the heavens", which might imply a belief in a heavenly afterlives. But who knows.I think there were even be a few references to hell throughout the games. There is a reference to a "Spirit-World of Ancient Souls" in Mask of Eternity as well, where the Crystal Mystic/Hector says he goes after you save the Underground Realm of the Gnomes.  

In another interesting bit in King's Quest Companion, there is mention that another place for the dead, Hades, which lies under Serenia apparently, the fiery crevasse in the Old Forest lead down to Hades.

Its interesting to note that in Quest for Glory series we learn that there are apparently at least three different afterlifes as well.

From QFG3 there is the Tu-at, where Anubis reigns and judges the souls of Tarna and Egypt.
http://questforglory.wikia.com/wiki/Tu-at

In QFG5 there is Hades;
http://questforglory.wikia.com/wiki/Hades

There is apparently also Hell, which is said to be a different place than Hades (while in Hades).

It seems that the designers of both series, including Roberta and the Coles, was in a pluralist belief of multiple afterlives, depending on religions and traditions. Much like on earth there are many different afterlives depending on each person's religion or death tradition. In KQ series which takes place on earth of the past (in Roberta's mind) and in QFG series which takes place on Gloriana, all various earth death traditions and various religious beliefs of afterlives all represent individual afterlives.

Oh, and another unanswered question from the original KQ1, not the remake.  Who did the treasures belong to?  Yeah, the remake says they were stolen from Daventry, but in the original, King Edward just tells you to go find treasures.  I was always thinking, "Um...don't they, you know, belong to someone already?  But no, you want me to just go find them?  And maybe I'll kill a troll and a witch along the way to my pillaging as well..."  It's kind of disturbing actually.  Graham starts his entire series by stealing treasures and killing citizens (evil citizens I'll grant you) of Daventry.  Until the remake exonerates him at least.

Here this may help you a little, its the story from the original version of the King's Quest manual.
http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/The_King%27s_Appeal
The weakened king answers, "Sir Grahame, Daventry is now a poor country desperately in need of help to overcome its misfortunes. Recently, I have heard tales of three magical objects that would end Daventry's troubles. I am an old man, Sir Grahame, and my death is near. I am depending on you to search the countryside and find three objects. If you do, the throne will be yours."

They were originally legendary items that Edward heard about, and did not belong to Daventry.

Umm, they weren't citizens they were invaders... The witch kills children, and is terrorizing Edward's land. There is nothing wrong with him making sure she's dead. The troll is not very nice person either, and is another creature terrorizing Edward's kingdom. Also who's to say the troll is dead? They are pretty resilient... Do you know Rosella does nearly the same thing in KQ7, but knocks a troll  (Brutus Bonecrusher) guarding a bridge into lava... He looks absolutely fine. You must be a pacifist... LOL.

[tessspoon]

What I always wondered was who took care of the house and Alexander until he was old enough to work? I don't see Manannan doing it. The spirit servants I guess?

[Damar]

Yeah, I remember reading the quotes that the Dimension of Death and the Realm of the Dead were related to the beliefs of Daventry and the Green Isles respectively, though that never really made much sense with me.  It's a very puralistic vision and makes me wonder about what kind of over-arching theology that creates.  Are all these places completely separate, do they interact with each other, why does Alexander go to the Realm of the Dead in KQ6 if his belief would be more the Dimension of Death?  I think it would actually be easier to reconcile the two with each other than keep them completely separate.  Oh, and as for the afterlife, for the Green Isles at least, it's the Sea of Souls, which I found kind of an interesting way of spending all eternity as this kind of massive separate-but-one entity kind of thing.

Oh, and I'll grant you the witch deserved to die.  Messing with the troll though, I don't know.  Sure he was a jerk, but if it's technically his bridge, what Graham did was trespassing and assault.  The troll has every right to demand a troll toll on his property and Graham had the ability to pay.  I just kind of found it funny (like the fact that the mystical treasures didn't actually belong to Daventry in the original version.)

[snabbott]

What I always wondered was who took care of the house and Alexander until he was old enough to work? I don't see Manannan doing it. The spirit servants I guess?

Maybe he used magic? Maybe the slaves were just for him to torment? Or maybe the cat did the housework.

[Baggins]

why does Alexander go to the Realm of the Dead in KQ6 if his belief would be more the Dimension of Death?  I think it would actually be easier to reconcile the two with each other than keep them completely separate.

By that point his spirit is closer to Realm of the Dead, so would likely be pulled towards it rather than Daventry.

The Sea of Souls is just a waiting ground for until they move on to their next afterlife, it's not the individual afterlife itself.

http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/Sea_of_Souls
http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/Guidebook_to_the_Land_of_the_Green_Isles#Death_Traditions

Sure he was a jerk, but if it's technically his bridge, what Graham did was trespassing and assault.

Wasn't actually his bridge (and there are actually three bridges), he took it over. The island itself belonged to the Gnome. This is more clear in the remake though, where the gnome complains about the troll blocking paths to his island. :p... The manuals said the troll was a bad creature though.

We are told in KQ1 that all these bad guys moved into his kingdom when it started falling into ruin :p... Apparently before then he used to keep them out.

Maybe he used magic? Maybe the slaves were just for him to torment?  Or maybe the cat did the housework.

The game never explains this, neither the manual. You get the impression from the manual that he makes these 1 year old babies do work for him... How he does this who knows... I can't remember exactly, I think the manual says something about him actually refusing to summon spirit workers :p...

http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/Prologue_(KQ3)

[Enchantermon]

The interesting thing about the Realm of the Dead and the Dimension of Death is the conversation between Samhain and Alexander after the latter frees Calaphim and Alaria.

Samhain: Until we meet again, then. I assure you, we will meet again.
Alexander: No offense, my lord, but I hope that will be many long years from now.
Samhain: It is never as long as you might wish, mortal. Now, begone!

Samhain seems certain that he will see Alexander again. Are the Dimension of Death and the Realm of the Dead therefore not aware of each other's existence? That seems to be the only way to reconcile this exchange. Samhain would assume that Alexander will come back to him since he thinks there is no other afterlife.

Or, here's a thought: perhaps everyone who dies appears before Samhain, then after they are ushered into the Sea of Souls they move on to the afterlife in the land of their birth. For Alexander, he would pass through the Realm of the Dead as Samhain promised and then be deposited in the Dimension of Death (or perhaps Daventry's version of heaven, if he was judged as being "good enough").

[Lambonius]

I think you guys are forgetting the means by which Alexander travels to the Land of the Dead.  It's not like he dies and goes there (ignoring the death screen that shows him giving his tickets and passing through the gates )--he seeks out and enchants the Nightmare, and then the horse carries him to its natural home.  So it makes sense that he ends up there, since that was where the horse came from.

[Allronix]

In truth, though? It would have made more sense that he end up with his in-laws on the surface, unable to go on. The death scene we get is a much more low-key spoiler.

[Baggins]

Or, here's a thought: perhaps everyone who dies appears before Samhain, then after they are ushered into the Sea of Souls they move on to the afterlife in the land of their birth. For Alexander, he would pass through the Realm of the Dead as Samhain promised and then be deposited in the Dimension of Death (or perhaps Daventry's version of heaven, if he was judged as being "good enough").

Well Azriel serves the same purpose as Lord of the Dead and Dimension of Dead serves the same purpose of the Underworld and Sea of Souls, spirits come before him, and then he judges them, and they are held into the Sea of Souls in preparation to be moved onto the next afterlife.

The Dimension of Death is not physically connected to either Daventry or the Swamp, although there are magical portals which can be found in each for the purposes of travel. These portals have been silent and unseen for centuries, and are but legend in Daventry. Only recently have they opened--as if in preface to the cataclysm. The Dimension of Death is the holding place of souls awaiting judgment. Here Lord Azriel rules with the aid of his skeleton guards.

Souls going into DoD they are held there until they are judged by Azriel, and then are moved onto their next afterlife.

It seems both Underworld and Dimension of Death are essentially "Limbo" where spirits are judged, before they can move onto heaven or hell. Both Azriel and Samhain share the nickname "Death".

[Delling]

The interesting thing about the Realm of the Dead and the Dimension of Death is the conversation between Samhain and Alexander after the latter frees Calaphim and Alaria.

Samhain: Until we meet again, then. I assure you, we will meet again.
Alexander: No offense, my lord, but I hope that will be many long years from now.
Samhain: It is never as long as you might wish, mortal. Now, begone!

Samhain seems certain that he will see Alexander again. Are the Dimension of Death and the Realm of the Dead therefore not aware of each other's existence? That seems to be the only way to reconcile this exchange. Samhain would assume that Alexander will come back to him since he thinks there is no other afterlife.

...or Samhain knows who will ultimately come before him anyway, and since Alexander then becomes king of the Land of Green Isles and takes up residence there, it seems reasonable that he'll end up in the Realm of the Dead.

[Baggins]

I think there are several bits that say the Green Isles proximity to the edge of the world causes spirits near there to be drawn towards the Realm of the Dead. So unless he kicks the bucket while visiting Daventry, more than likely he will be pulled towards the Realm of the Dead.

I've expanded the article for DOD in the King's Quest Omnipedia. I've also expanded on the behind the scenes section, adding a few more of the mythological references in DOD. Including minotaurs and Mesopotamian and Sumerian bulls. It seems there is a touch of the Mesopotamian "Realm of the Dead" inspiring DOD, as much as there is Egyptian and Christian allusions as well.
http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/Dimension_of_Death

You might also notice that Azriel's head is that of the skull of a bull, which is also a nod to the Mesopotamian mythology.

[Enchantermon]

...or Samhain knows who will ultimately come before him anyway . . .

Possible, but unlikely, especially since Samhain used to be a mortal man. Plus: Alexander did not know at that time that he would become King of the Land of the Green Isles, yet he didn't question the allegation that he would see Samhain after he died.

[Baggins]

I added a couple of references from Ali and Hassan, that mention how life forces near green isles are pulled towards the Realm of the Dead, within the Realm of the Dead article.

[crayauchtin]

...or Samhain knows who will ultimately come before him anyway . . .

Possible, but unlikely, especially since Samhain used to be a mortal man. Plus: Alexander did not know at that time that he would become King of the Land of the Green Isles, yet he didn't question the allegation that he would see Samhain after he died.

But he believed firmly he was going to defeat Alhazred and rescue Cassima at the time, perhaps he was planning on staying even if he did not become king?

[Lambonius]

Not quite sure if this is the topic for this, but I was just thinking about Episode 1 and wondering: Is it revealed somewhere in the episode, or will it become clear later, where Cassima's parents are?  Maybe I missed a bit of dialog that explained it--but I seem to only recall the narrator saying they were away, but not explaining why or where.  Just curious.