Discussion Forgotten Plotline - What Happened To Arlene Grace's Journal

[Sanity Check]

Bam acquired Arlene Grace's pocket from Garam Zahard on the Floor of Death.

Contained inside the pocket was Arlene Grace's journal.

Did Bam forget he has this item? Did SIU forget? Will it become a factor in the future or did it merely not contain information that was surprising or relevent to the plot?

What happened to this storyline arc?

 

[Wha]

Did Bam forget he has this item? Did SIU forget? Will it become a factor in the future or did it merely not contain information that was surprising or relevent to the plot?

Good question. I personally think that all the relevant information was already passed down from garam to Bam, except for the one part she left out. Since he gave him the pocket, i suspect the information to either be deleted or that it never was inside the pocket to begin with.
Or maybe the information is somehow "locked" and he will unlock it in the future.

The pocket could also be some kind of key that Bam will need later on. Hard to say at this point, but i think it will be relevant in the future.

 

[shaheer]

Most likely SIU forgot about it. I guess he reads comments in navier so give some arcs folks will remember it and talk about it and SIU might remember again.

 

[Ripcord]

Given that SIU gave Bam an A rank pocket at the start of S1 that wasn’t relevant until part way through S2, he doesn’t forget about things like this.

It is annoying that we don’t see Bam read through it right away and try to learn from it. My best guess is that Bam has been reading it, but like any historical text it can be hard to decipher real meaning without effort. If Arlene was going crazy her writings would be hard to understand.

Also, Bam may not understand her writings because he still has a lot to learn (about the Tower, the ten heads, shinsoo, maybe spells). It could be that some entries are locked.

Main reason though is that SIU isn’t ready to share the info with us yet. Arlene is connected to FUG in some way, so even though this arc feels like a detour it is related to Arlene. My best guess is that the pocket will be relevant whenever Bam discusses Arlene with a high ranking FUG official. Perhaps Karaka.

 

[toil]

This is one of my favorite speculation points right now.

Given that SIU gave Bam an A rank pocket at the start of S1 that wasn’t relevant until part way through S2, he doesn’t forget about things like this.

I agree completely it’s unlike SIU to forget about this diary and that it will be awhile before it comes up.

One thing I’m not sure about is where it is: in real life you’d expect it to be in a safe in Baam’s home base (whatever that last station ship is, don’t think it has a name). In the tower people “carry” a lot with them, just in invisible mode, so Baam might keep it on his person.

Not sure what is more-natural to expect here.

I think it’s bad plot development at this point if it has major answers for Baam in it—too much gap between when he got the diary and when we see the impact of the information. Maybe it works because he doesn’t understand the implications of something until later, but that’s delicate.

The most natural thing I can see is for it to pop up again when someone else finds it and reads it. How that happens could be basically anything though.

Also: I wouldn’t be shocked if Baam just hasn’t read it (or read much). It’s a bit unrealistic in real life but his apparent schedule makes “being too busy” surprisingly defensible.

 

[Ripcord]

This is one of my favorite speculation points right now.



I agree completely it’s unlike SIU to forget about this diary and that it will be awhile before it comes up.

One thing I’m not sure about is where it is: in real life you’d expect it to be in a safe in Baam’s home base (whatever that last station ship is, don’t think it has a name). In the tower people “carry” a lot with them, just in invisible mode, so Baam might keep it on his person.

Not sure what is more-natural to expect here.

I think it’s bad plot development at this point if it has major answers for Baam in it—too much gap between when he got the diary and when we see the impact of the information. Maybe it works because he doesn’t understand the implications of something until later, but that’s delicate.

The most natural thing I can see is for it to pop up again when someone else finds it and reads it. How that happens could be basically anything though.

Also: I wouldn’t be shocked if Baam just hasn’t read it (or read much). It’s a bit unrealistic in real life but his apparent schedule makes “being too busy” surprisingly defensible.

I bet he has it on him - that is the safest place after all. I wonder if something is under invisible mode - can you find/see it if you use a higher ranked item? Are there S-rank observers? I suppose Gustang might be able to see it’s there.

 

[Echizen_Akira]

It might even come up if Baam has any interaction with the "blue hole" elder. I imagine he'll be the oldest person related to F.U.G/and even not related Baam's met, Gustang and Headon not withstanding.

 

[toil]

I bet he has it on him - that is the safest place after all. I wonder if something is under invisible mode - can you find/see it if you use a higher ranked item? Are there S-rank observers? I suppose Gustang might be able to see it’s there.

This makes the most sense in “tower logic” but the invisible-pocket part of SIU’s world feels like some of the least-solid aspects of the tower.

You need a pocket to translate tower languages (point we’ve seen not once but twice so far, and sort-of a third time recently where Evan spoke some language outside the scope of the pockets).

A pocket can place calls like a cell phone, albeit with unclear range and unclear constraints (higher pockets more capable but other than that...).

Point is with all the hostage-taking going on we don’t get told how pockets get handled. Language issue suggests hostage takers don’t take pockets, but then...why not place a call? Send a text? You can make it work by assuming jammers are a thing but SIU hasn’t spelled it out, yet.

What I’m saying is in tower logic carrying his mom’s pocket around seems logical but then you’d think it’d get taken when he got taken hostage to infiltrate the dog compound. If you see what I mean.

Speaking of S-rank, though, maybe he needs a high-rank pocket at some point and that’s where it comes into play again? You’d think the great warriors would have toppest-tier pockets.

It might even come up if Baam has any interaction with the "blue hole" elder. I imagine he'll be the oldest person related to F.U.G/and even not related Baam's met, Gustang and Headon not withstanding.

I like this idea but devil’s advocate is they don’t (yet) seem to know Baam is Arlene’s son. Maybe they’ll change their tune when they get a good look, though.

 

[Sanity Check]

Given that SIU gave Bam an A rank pocket at the start of S1 that wasn’t relevant until part way through S2, he doesn’t forget about things like this.

That's what I would expect.

Then I think about Akira Toriyama admitting he forgot Launch exists and thus forgot to include her in dragonball Z storylines and I begin to wonder if history is repeating itself.

 

[Jubei_Kibagami]

I will have to go back and reread - but did she actually GIFT him the pocket? I remember her pulling it out. Did she ever say 'this is yours now' or something to that effect?

What would be the point of redacting information in her exposition just to give him the full journal/pocket after all?

In short, couldn't she just still hold on to it?

 

[TheMoa]

I will have to go back and reread - but did she actually GIFT him the pocket? I remember her pulling it out. Did she ever say 'this is yours now' or something to that effect?

What would be the point of redacting information in her exposition just to give him the full journal/pocket after all?

In short, couldn't she just still hold on to it?

She Gave It, he Said something along the lines "no, It must be precious tô you". She insisted and he obligued.

The only Sense I can see is... The info she omited isnt on the pocket and she got It elsewhere or she tampered with it

 

[toil]

I will have to go back and reread - but did she actually GIFT him the pocket? I remember her pulling it out. Did she ever say 'this is yours now' or something to that effect?

What would be the point of redacting information in her exposition just to give him the full journal/pocket after all?

In short, couldn't she just still hold on to it?

Correct me if you re-read and I'm wrong, but IIRC yes, indeed, Garam absolutely gives Baam that pocket (literally transfers physical possession).

Which is why it's one of my favorite plot points to speculate over, because—for now—it just doesn't quite jibe (and it seems tricky to make it jibe nicely, too).

--- Double Post Merged, Aug 25, 2019, Original Post Date: Aug 25, 2019 ---

The only Sense I can see is... The info she omited isnt on the pocket and she got It elsewhere

This must be true, I think.

 

[Jubei_Kibagami]

Ah, OK fair enough.

 

[kkck]

My guess would be that bam has looked at it but otherwise hasn't gotten any more information from it. Or has looked at it but isn't finished with it... If arlen wrote that journal consistently then odds are that there are thousands of years worth of entries.

 

[Jubei_Kibagami]

If I were Baam I'd certainly prioritize reading it. He apparently holds information about both his parents yet he goes around like a lost puppy asking everyone if they knew his mom/dad.

Just read the fucking journal then.

Or, you know, skip to the last entries just like police do with missing persons.

Or, you know, do keyword searches to check all of Arlen's tweets.

Garam must have done something.

 

[Mizaistorm]

i don't think garam left anything out at least what he can learn from the dairy wat she told him wasn't the whole story but she learned from someone else perhaps gustang...but who knows what game he is playing,what baam must know is why was he sealed in that cave if he was meant to save the tower.only rachel can help with that the dairy can help him provide details about the dynamics between her V and the 10Fh they were amready OP so i don't think their journey was thaat interesting.another thing why is baam confident against spell ?

 

[Jubei_Kibagami]

i don't think garam left anything out at least what he can learn from the dairy wat she told him wasn't the whole story but she learned from someone else perhaps gustang...but who knows what game he is playing,what baam must know is why was he sealed in that cave if he was meant to save the tower.only rachel can help with that the dairy can help him provide details about the dynamics between her V and the 10Fh they were amready OP so i don't think their journey was thaat interesting.another thing why is baam confident against spell ?

Interesting you think she might have got more information elsewhere. I do think she said she's withholding from the diary itself, IIRC.

 

[Mizaistorm]

ay im not even mad i surprise myself by how stupid i can be.
arlen pocket is high grade item befitting an irregular so it's highly unlickely for her diary to be altered ,if their is something else significant that can discovered from it she would have mentioned it or risk baam believing in something false which will determine the fate of the tower.
but who knows why did arlen leave it if it wasn't the whole truth all it does is make zhard even a greater villain but we already know that.

 

[Jubei_Kibagami]

ay im not even mad i surprise myself by how stupid i can be.
arlen pocket is high grade item befitting an irregular so it's highly unlickely for her diary to be altered ,if their is something else significant that can discovered from it she would have mentioned it or risk baam believing in something false which will determine the fate of the tower.
but who knows why did arlen leave it if it wasn't the whole truth all it does is make zhard even a greater villain but we already know that.

Don't worry, it's nothing personal, it just reminded me of that Zach Galifianakis comedic bit on it. It's obvious English is not your primary so don't take it in any way other than funny.