- The city of Lumière in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is still suffering from the ramifications of an event known as the Fracture
- The Fracture marked the first sighting of the Paintress, a mysterious deity that paints a number on a massive monolith every year, cursing the city's residents to death. It also saw the settlement get pulled into the sea, isolating it from the rest of civilization.
- The Fracture happened 67 years ago, and the number on the monolith is down to 33 during the game's story.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 takes place in the Belle Epoque-inspired city of Lumière, which is still reeling from the events of the Fracture. As Gustave and company traverse through the game’s high fantasy world, you’ll hear several mentions of the Fracture, starting with the Festival quiz conducted by Antoine. Learning about this event is key to understanding the grim reality of Lumière, one that the titular Expedition 33 hopes to change. With this in mind, here’s the answer to when was the Fracture during Clair Obscur Expedition 33 and everything else about it here.
What is the Fracture in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
The Fracture in Expedition 33 refers to the first sighting of the Paintress. The mysterious deity emerged from the sea alongside a towering monolith and then painted the number 100 on it. With this, Lumière was plunged into the sea and isolated from the rest of the world. The refashioned island now sits just in sight of the ominous monolith, waiting for the Paintress to reappear with bated breath.
These events cursed Lumière’s residents to an ill-fated demise, as the people whose age corresponds with the number painted on the monolith immediately dissolve into smoke and flower petals. Their passing happens at an annual event known as the Gommage. And it’s on days like these that the reverberations of the Fracture are clear to see.
When Was the Fracture in Clair Obscur Expedition 33?
The Fracture happened 67 years ago in Expedition 33. And each year, the Paintress has awoken from her slumber to etch a new number onto the monolith, cursing another batch of Lumière’s residents to death. In response, the citizens have banded together every year for a voluntary expedition to confront the Paintress.
It started with Expedition 0, the first group of volunteers, and by the time of the game’s events, the city had already been down to Expedition 33. Every expedition has disappeared without a trace, turning this yearly tradition into a morbid struggle against an inevitable end.
Besides being an essential bit of lore, the number of years is also the answer to one of Antoine’s questions, which can earn you an Expedition 33 Festival Token.
That wraps up everything you need to know about the Fracture in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Are you checking out the critically-acclaimed RPG on day one? Let us know in the comments below.
