In recent months, Luminous Productions has showed off more and more gameplay fromForspoken. Combat in the game certainly looks compelling so far, thanks to Frey’s high versatility in spellcraft.Forspokenplayers will find themselves quickly weaving through an arsenal of spells and adapting to changes in battle with ease. However, Luminous Productions and Square Enix have been a little reserved in another department: the game’s plot. Although fans know thatForspokenis about Frey Holland’s journey into Athia, her battle with the Tantas, and the Break’s looming threat, Luminous hasn’t focused on what Frey’s personal journey will be like or what characters will be the most important to her internal struggles.
A newly revealed scene fromForspokencould be a sign of change in that department, however. Game Informer recently described a scene from aForspokendemo in whichFrey and her golden bracelet companion Cuffhave an argument about whether Frey should help Athia or focus on finding her way home. In the process, Cuff mentions Frey’s mother, which is notable to both Frey andForspokenfans, since she’s meant to be an orphan. This line suggests Frey’s mother will be a core part ofForspoken’s plot, and considering Frey’s abilities she could be affiliated withForspoken’s sorcerous antagonists, the Tantas.
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Frey’s Possible Tanta Connection
For many months now,Forspokenfans have known thatthe Tantas of Athiaare central antagonists in Frey’s journey. The Tantas are a group of sorceresses who once served as the wise and benevolent rulers of Athia, but after the phenomenon known as the Break began to corrupt Athia, the Tantas suddenly turned into tyrants who terrorized their subjects. In order to free Athia from the Break and the Tantas' oppression, Frey will seemingly be forced to battle and defeat each of the Tantas.
Cuff knowing Frey’s mother could suggest that at least one Tanta will have a special affiliation with Frey, however. There’s no evidence that Cuff comes from Earth, so if he knows Frey’s mother, there’s a good chance that she’s from Athia as well. If that’s the case, then it’s possible that Frey’s mother is or was a Tanta. Frey’s inherent knack for magic and her resistance to the Break’s corruption could have been inherited from one of Athia’s most powerful sorceresses.The narrative ofForspokenmay start out focusing on defeating all the Tantas, but Frey’s perspective may change as she discovers familial ties with the group. Depending on where her mother fits in among the Tantas, anything could happen.
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Forspoken’s Narrative Has Potential
It’s entirely possible that Cuff knows Frey’s mother for an entirely different reason, of course. Perhaps Frey’s mother was an independent sorceress whose relationship to the Tantas was always complicated, or maybe Frey’s mother was stolen away from Earth like her daughter. No matter what the answer is, though, it’s nice to get a better sense ofFrey’s place asForspoken’s heroine. The game’s overarching narrative sounds compelling, but it also needs a personal narrative for Frey in order to truly feel rich. Rumors about Frey’s mother offer some wonderful complications to her desire to return to Earth.
Now thatForspokenhas been delayed, it could be quite some time before Luminous Productions sheds light on more concrete details aboutForspoken’s narrative. Odds are that fans won’t know the truth about Frey’s mother until they’re actually able to playForspoken,and even then, Luminous could very well let Frey’s mother elude her daughter as a way of building towards a sequel. HopefullyForspokenfans get at least a couple more narrative details in the coming months, even if Luminous holds onto most of its teasers until fall. For now, Cuff’s surprising knowledge is a good sign for the game’s plot.
Forspokenreleases July 26, 2025 for PC and PS5.
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