| ⚠️SPOILER ALERT⚠️ |
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| This page contains information about plot points and future story developments so read at your own risk! |
"I don't know why but I feel we have a long road ahead of us."
Robert Steltz is a love interest in the book Arcanum.
About Robert
Rob is a detective from the Anti-Narcotics Task Force in the real world, and he finds meaning in his job. He has a strong nature and is consumed by some deep thoughts, which makes him look somber. He is good at reading people and notices the smallest details that helpes him understand the person’s character.
He meets Selena (main character) early in the story when he asks for her collaboration so that he can follow an investigation at the fair organized by her company.
In the parallel reality of Season 1 (Totspel) his profession is not revealed, but he still demonstrates talent for investigation. In Totspel, Rob is the new guest at the Hotel Valle Deliria, where the main character works as a maid.
In Season 1, Episode 5 he reveals to Lilith (main character’s name in the parallel realities) the real reason for staying at the hotel: his mother came to Totspel, stayed at the hotel, and then disappeared. He found out about dozens of people who stayed in the same hotel and then disappeared too. So, Rob decided to investigate this in hopes of finding his mother. The player can choose whether to ally with him in this investigation or not.
In the diamond scene of Season 1, Episode 7 Rob confesses that he has been dreaming about Lilith but as if it were a memory of another lifetime. She is thrilled that he is having real-life flashes. They barely knew each other in the real world, but it was enough to trust each other in Totspel: “They were both lost strangers in the valley of dreams, who found each other against all odds. And they were holding on to that bit of understanding and closure.”
Since his mother disappeared, a void opened in Rob's soul, and nothing could fill it: no investigation, no cigars, no nothing. He suddenly feels a connection with Lilith but can’t explain why, despite everything he knew about her and every warning he got from the citizens, he believes her every word. The connection with her filled him with hope and interest in life again. If you buy the diamond scene with him in Season 1, Episode 10 Rob confesses that he is just like her: pretend to be tough and rude, so that no one gets close.
In the last episode of Season 1 it is revealed what happened to his mother and the other hotel guests. Rob's ultimate fate in this reality depends on the player's choices.
In Season 2, we enter a new world where all the characters play other roles. The story takes place in Valle Deliria (ruled by dryads) and Altergrove (ruled by humans). The two countries are sworn enemies and they fought centuries ago, but the new king of the humans (Damon) demonstrates that he is actually more interested in making trade deals. Rob is Damon's commander-in-chief in this reality.
In this season, Rob is an outcast and arrogant human. He is not too fond of dryads. He thinks dryads are hypocrites while humans are straightforward. However, he is a human with dryad ears. This happens because a long time ago the dryads and human lived together in harmony and gave birth to children. Even though it happened a long time ago, a connection like that may surface again every now and then. Rob thinks he born ugly because of his ears. Humans who look like him are often rejected by their peers. That’s why many are surprised king Damon made him his confidant.
At first, in this reality, Rob doesn't like Lilith, he tries to distance himself from her and end any conversation with her as quickly as possible. But depending on player choices, he may begin to get the feeling that he knows her from somewhere.
Season 3 takes place in the Kingdom of Shadows, that consists of many villages and the capital. In this reality, Rob is Rumpelstiltskin, a gambler who lives in an old mansion on the outskirts of the kingdom. In a diamond scene from Episode 1, you find out that Rumpelstiltskin was once a popular figure in the kingdom, many people searched for him, following rumors of a great power. But his real name remained a mystery and he never revealed the secrets of his magic; he could fulfill even the most cherished desires – his own and others.
Rumpelstiltskin traveled with his people across the land, never staying in one place for too long. Everyone, poor or rich, waited for the moment of his arrive in their village; people would line up for their chance to gamble with him. Many wanted to befriend him, but he kept everyone at a distance. He was surrounded by those he trusted and didn’t need anyone else. His people were devoted to him and admired his intelligence and abilities. But even they didn’t know Rumpelstiltskin’s real name, just a nickname: Rob. His fame preceded him, but in the end, it was also the cause of his downfall.
One day when he went to the most remote village on the outskirts of the kingdom, after attending anyone who had something to offer him in return, one hooded person remained. The stranger revealed Rob's real name: Rumpelstiltskin. This caused the deal Rob had with the Tarot Reader to be broken, as he’d wield his power as long as no one ever spoke his name. As soon as the stranger disappeared from the eyes of the villagers, his face changed, revealing that he was the Tarot Reader himself.
Rob lost everything. Without his abilities, he had no way of making money, so his loyal followers soon left, and his faithful friends also abandoned him. With the last of his money, he bought a mansion in that same village and disappeared from the public eye. Now, he works by trading the valuable items he accumulated during his glory days.
This season begins with Lilith inside a prison at Rob's mansion. Soon she discovers that he is Rumpelstiltskin in this new reality and that she lost her freedom to him as payment for a debt. The main character then makes a new deal with Rob, saying that she will give him her heart (Path of High Priestess 🌙) or her life (Path of Emperor 💀) if she loses the card game. After she wins, Rob is reluctantly forced to fulfill the deal, freeing her and having to take her to the Tarot Reader. Liam, who was imprisoned in a portrait at Rob's prison, asks to accompany them on this journey. Along the way they come across Mary, Bert, Damon, and other familiar faces from the other realities. Rob's ultimate fate in this reality depends on the player's choices.
In a diamond scene of Season 3, Episode 3 you can learn about Rob's childhood in the real world. His father left his mother when he was very young. Rob and his mom lived in a poor area, surrounded by drug addicts, thieves, and killers. One night, Rob found his mother dead with a syringe on the bed floor in the small room above a diner where the two lived alone. Then Rob was sent to live with his grandmother. For believing that in fact someone had killed his mother, he began to investigate the surroundings of his old home to find the supposed killer. One day, a policeman took pity on him and showed to little Rob a footage of his mother buying drugs. The police officer appreciated the efforts of the young detective and encouraged him to graduating from the police academy - which he ended up doing.
To find out about the different possible endings for this character in the story, read the "Possible endings" content further down on this page (contains major spoilers).
Relationships
- Selena/Lilith (MC): The MC thinks Rob is a savage. He thinks she is arrogant. You cannot tell if they are insulting or flirting with each other. In all realities, he is cold and distant to Selena/Lilith at first, but they can warm up the relationship depending on the player's choices.
- Josephine: In Totspel, she appears to be excited to welcome him as a guest at the hotel, but her attitude changes after she discovers the real reason he is there. In Valle Deliria, she works in the palace of Rob's enemy kingdom. In the Kingdom of Shadows, she is the leader of the village Juvenis, and welcomes Rob and his companions into her house with a suspicious interest.
- Liam Salisbury: In Totspel, Liam demonstrates feeling jealous of Rob with Selena/Lilith regardless of the player's choices, but he has ulterior motives for enjoying Rob's stay at his hotel. In Valle Deliria, he is the prince of Rob's enemy kingdom. In the Kingdom of Shadows, Rob won in one of his gambling the portrait where Liam was trapped.
- Bert: In Totspel, he paints Rob's portrait, and they don't seem to get along very well. In Valle Deliria, they don't get along well at first either, but after Bert saved Rob from a Savage, they start to respect each other. In the Kingdom of Shadows, they are strangers to each other and Rob get furious when Selena/Lilith invites Bert to join them.
- Mary Brown: In Totspel, Mary lives near the Valle Deliria hotel, where Rob stays at. In Valle Deliria, she is a Queen's Consuelor of the enemy kingdom. But in both seasons, they don't interact much. In the Kingdom of Shadows, they are both Selena/Lilith's companions in her search for the Tarot Reader, and after initial sceptism they may develop a friendly relationship depending on the player's choices.
- Damon: He is only introduced in Season 2, as the King of Altergrove, the realm where Rob was born in that reality. Rob is his commander-in-chief, and Damon truly trust him. In the Kingdom of Shadows, Damon is a robber, and his gang tries to steal from Rob and his companions on their journey to the Tarot Reader.
- Parker: He makes small appearances in all parallel realities. In Season 1, Parker is as a resident of Totspel. In Season 2, he only appears in Altergrove interacting briefly with Damon. In Season 3, Parker was Rob's loyal follower who after his downfall went poor and became a robber of Damon's gang.
Quotes
- "Sometimes death is the best thing you can wish for a restless soul." (S1, Ep4)
- "It’s a good thing this world isn’t as cruel as you think it is." (S1, Ep5)
- "I don't know why but I feel we have a long road ahead of us." (Diamond scene – S1, Ep5)
- "I’ve learned so much about Lilith, but yet I still trust her. Why?" (S1, Ep6)
- "I can feel it in you because I'm the same." (Diamond scene – S1, Ep10)
- "I want to stop having dreams about you, but I look forward to them every night." (Diamond scene – S2, Ep9)
- "It'd be easy to hate her. But I don't feel hatred for her, no matter how much I want to." (Diamond scene – S2, Ep9)
- "I've been thinking about you the entire time since we left the Valley." (Diamond scene – S2, Ep9)
- "We've met before. In other lives." (Diamond scene – S2, Ep9)
- "I remembered." (Diamond scene – S2, Ep9)
- "You lost your freedom to me." (S3, Ep1)
- "I’m not someone to be taken lightly. Everyone knows that, and for some reason, everyone takes the risk." (S3, Ep1)
- "Ask anyone. Has there been any wish I couldn’t grant?" (Diamond scene - S3, Ep1)
- "This isn’t a request. I’m not a book or a psychic." (Diamond scene - S3, Ep1)
Trivia
- Rob is a private man; he put up walls between himself and the outside world.
- He hates rain.
- He believes that debt is sacred.
- He hates drugs.
Romance path
Season 1:
- Ep. 1:
- "Why not?" [Your choice influenced the story!] and later [Rob is grateful for your cooperation!]
- Escort me if it's not too much of a bother. (💎22) [You and Rob became a little closer.]
- Ep. 4:
- Doesn’t Liam and Josephine’s hobby seem strange to you? [Rob liked your observation skills.]
- Ep. 5:
- You can count on my help. [Rob is grateful for your help.]
- Rob (💎22) [You and Rob are getting closer.]
- Ep. 6:
- I'm sorry, Rob. [Rob is grateful for your sympathy.]
- Ep. 7:
- Excitement. [You like Rob.]
- (Share.) [Your choice influenced the story.]
- Good idea. (Be alone with him.) (💎26) [You and Rob became much closer to each other.] (CGs unlocked) (Kiss scene)
- Ep. 8:
- Note: In this episode, you have two alternatives to getting a prompt with Rob. The first one will only work if you are on the Path of High Atonement ⛓️ (Path A). Or you can get the same information paying for a diamond choice (Path B).
- Path A: Choose "Yes." + "The thing with the burned-out wing of the hotel." + "No, she fears that history will repeat itself." Path of High Atonement ⛓️: [You managed to get the lawyer to talk!] [You've learned some of the secrets of the Salisbury family!] and later [Rob likes your resourcefulness.]
- Path B: Choose "(Threaten him into telling everything.) (💎12)" [You've learned some of the secrets of the Salisbury family!] and later [Rob likes your resourcefulness.]
- Note: In this episode, you have two alternatives to getting a prompt with Rob. The first one will only work if you are on the Path of High Atonement ⛓️ (Path A). Or you can get the same information paying for a diamond choice (Path B).
- Ep 9:
- (Choose somebody else.)
- Rob. (💎29) [You became closer!] (CG unlocked)
- (Choose somebody else.)
- Ep 10:
- I'm not ready to dance yet.
- (Invite Rob to dance.) (💎32) [You and Rob are getting closer.]
- Note: If you chose to share information with Rob in Season 1, Episode 7 you'll get [You warned Rob, and he was on the lookout!]
- I'm not ready to dance yet.
Season 2:
- Ep. 2:
- (Get through to him.) (💎23) [Your relationship with Rob improved.]
- Ep. 3:
- With Rob. (💎30) [You and Rob became closer to each other.] (Note: If you did the diamond scene with Rob in Season 1, Episode 7 you see one CG image from that scene.)
- Ep. 5:
- Rob. [Your relationship with Rob has improved.]
- (Kissed Selena.) (💎52) [You and Rob have become closer!] (CG unlocked) (Kiss scene)
- Ep. 6:
- Take a walk with Rob. (💎27) [You and Rob have become closer!]
- Ep. 7:
- (Go unguarded.) [Your relationship with Rob has improved!]
- Tell me about your life in Altergrove. (💎34) [You acted like a wise queen when you found out about the other side of the coin!] [You and Rob have become closer!] (Note: You see a flashback to Rob's childhood in Altergrove.)
- Ep. 9:
- Note: If you have a close relationship with him, Rob will be excited about the arrival of Selena/Lilith.
- Rob. (💎18) [You and Rob got closer!]
- (Don't let him go.) (💎100) [You and Rob got much closer!] (CGs unlocked) (Sex scene) (Note: Selena/Lilith will remember his touch and bold kisses later in this episode.)
- Ep. 10:
- Note: If you have a close relationship with him, Rob's face contorts in anger for a brief moment after Damon's proposal to Selena/Lilith. She doesn't dare to even look at Rob, afraid to see his feelings. Rob thinks about how he pushed Selena/Lilith away because of her origin but Damon so easily destroyed the centuries of disagreement as if it was all dust in the wind with just one question and without a single doubt.
- "I want to be only with you." [You've decided who your heart belongs to!] (Note: They confess their feelings for each other. This choice lock you on his path and you will no longer have a romantic relationship with other characters.)
- Ep. 13:
- Watch the fate of Rob, Bert and Liam. (💎53) (CGs unlocked: Bert with Rob at war, and a portait of Bert, Liam, Vince and Margaret.)
Season 3:
Tip: While this doesn't take you off Rob's romance route, we suggest that you improve your relationship with Hathor if you want to avoid a scene in Episode 8 that may be uncomfortable for some players. You can check the necessary choices in Arcanum Season 3 walkthroughs.
- Ep. 1:
- Yes, tell me his story. (💎27) [You learned Rob's life story. The two of you are now closer!] (Note: You see Rob's story in this new world.)
- Wait! Stay. (💎27) [Your relationship with Rob improved.]
- Not surprising. (No effect on stats, but the other option for this choice gives a negative prompt with him.)
- Ep. 3:
- (Learn about Rob in the real world.) (💎30) [You got to know Rob better!] (Note: You see Rob's childhood in the real world.)
- (Kiss him.) (💎38) [You and Rob became closer!]
- Ep 4:
- Note: If your love interest is Rob, Josephine will take notice of your closeness.
- I'll be glad to have you join me. (💎31) [You and Rob became closer!]
- Ep 5:
- (And he answered.) (💎28) [You and Rob became closer!] (Note: Selena/Lilith and Rob kiss and have their usual banter.)
- Ep 6:
- Note: If you purchased the diamond choice to learn about Rob's childhood in Season 3, Episode 3, Selena/Lilith understands why Rob doesn't like Mary and you'll get [You managed to reconcile Rob and Mary!] [+1 Redemption ⛓️].
- Come in. (Intimate scene.) (💎97) [Your relationship with Rob improved!] (CG unlocked) (Sex scene)
- Ep 7:
- She wanted Rob to come. (💎26) [You and Rob became closer!] (Note: Selena/Lilith and Rob kiss and he comforts her.)
- Note: If you have a good relationship with Rob, he will offer to take Seth's heart for Selena/Lilith and you'll get [Rob decided to help you.] [You got Seth's Heart.]
- Ep 9:
- Justice. [Your relationship with Rob improved!]
- Ep 10:
- (Recall the moment with Rob that you kept to yourself.) (💎50) [This dreamcatcher will remind you of Rob!] [Your relationship with Rob improved!]
Possible endings
⚠️SPOILER ALERT⚠️
In Season 3, Episode 10 there are six possible endings with Rob if he is your end-game love interest which are directly influenced by your choices throughout the book.
- Path of High Atonement ⛓️: The main character gets the "Nothingness" card and remembers the other realities. But Selena delayed meeting with Rob as long as she could because she was afraid that he would push her away. When she finds Rob in front of his work, he is surprised by her appearance as he thought she didn't want to see him. They tease each other a bit as usual until Selena decides to let him go back to work saying she stopped by just to say she doesn't hold a grudge.
- Strong relationship: When Selena turned to leave, Rob stops her holding her wrist, and asks her to wait. Then both confess that they thought about each other since they met. He feels the connection they shared in the other realities. (CG unlocked)
- Weak relationship: Rob doesn’t stop Selena from leaving. He stands there smoking his cigarette, and she goes on with her life - without him, but remembering with respect and appreciation all the moments they spent together.
- Path of Low Atonement ⛓️ with enough Major Arcana 🎴 (second chance): If you choose that the main character deserves a second chance, she will be on an endless journey through the worlds, and you see a different scene depending on which path you are on.
- Path of High Priestess 🌙: The main character renounces the throne of Valle Deliria and joins the humans to be with Rob. He tells her not to worry about what the dryads may think, and they face the war together.
- Path of Emperor 💀: After trying to imprison Rob in the portrait in Totspel, Liam and Josephine end up dying and Mary escapes. So, the main character begs Rob to leave the hotel Valle Deliria together and he agrees.
- Path of Low Atonement ⛓️ without enough Major Arcana 🎴 (or if you chose death): Depending on your path the main character will react differently to her fate.
- Path of High Priestess 🌙: The main character asks to take one last look at the real world. The Tarot Reader says yes but as a ghost. She sees Rob but cannot speak to him, just watches and be close one last time. When she arrives at the doors of the real other world she doesn't want to leave without Rob, so she stays in front of the doors to wait for him.
- Path of Emperor 💀: The main character kills the Tarot Reader, so she cannot see the real world one last time. But the player sees a scene of Rob in front of his work feeling he screwed up and hopping the main character would be fine. When she arrives at the doors of the real other world she doesn't want to leave without Rob, so she stays in front of the doors to wait for him.
Note: If Rob is not your end-game love interest, the narrative says that the main character spoke to him as if they had only met once – which was the case.
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