The Ys series has been recounting Adol Christin's adventures across the continent of Eresia for 38 years now, as he battles fearsome foes and explores boundless landscapes. In honor of the series' 38th anniversary this week, we are excited to share that the Ys X: Nordics Limited Edition is on sale for 20% off via the NIS Online Store until June 30th! Plus, anyone who has purchased Ys X: Nordics can now download the Legendary Cleria Armor and Raven Avatar costumes for Adol and Karja for free!
Now, we couldn't miss this opportunity to look back on the Ys series in one way or another. Because beyond just the swords he loses and the ships he wrecks, there is one thing Adol can always count on encountering during his journeys: the humble pikkard. Pikkards can be found all over Eresia, from the deserted Isle of Seiren to the waters of Obelia Gulf, and they make frequent appearances in Adol's adventures. So, in honor of the series' 38th anniversary this week, let's take a closer look at just what these adorable (and delicious?) creatures are all about!
The pikkard is a small, furry creature with a delightfully rotund nature. It is usually brownish in color with dark brown stripes, and a little over a quarter of a melye long (or about 14-18 inches, for our non-Eresian readers). What animal family they might fall into in our world is a matter of debate: while they have the shape of a hamster, their size and color makes them a lot closer to a capybara. Add to that their adorable, almost cat-like faces, and the true enigma of their existence becomes evident.
They appear to live in nearly all regions of Eresia, but this may be due to their utility as livestock animals. Settlements and towns across the land keep pikkards in pens and raise them for…their delicious meat?! Well, I suppose everyone has to eat, but I would have a hard time eating something quite so cute!
While pikkards may be simple livestock to the townsfolk Adol meets in his journeys, that doesn't mean they don't get up to some surprising antics! Adol himself knows this firsthand, as nearly every time he sees some pikkards on the loose, an overworked villager will beg him to help gather them up and herd them back into their pen. For animals with such short legs, they sure are quick!
Beyond just the run-of-the-mill brown pikkard, there are also other, rarer breeds to be found. During his adventures in Obelia Gulf, Adol crosses paths with many different pikkards in peril and takes them aboard his ship for safekeeping—not to eat, mind you, but to keep as pets. These include the shiny Silver Pikkard, the violent Scrappy Pikkard, and the impossibly iridescent Septicolor Pikkard. Such a wide variety of specimens, and all found within the confines of Obelia Gulf!
If there is one thing to be learned from pikkards, it is this: in spite of all their hardships (fleeing from monsters, escaping their pens, being kept for their delicious meat) the pikkard always has a pleasant, untroubled smile upon its face. Perhaps we all should all make like a pikkard and relax?
Well, for those of us who would rather have a little more excitement in our lives, we can always join Adol on his adventures in Ys X: Nordics. In honor of the series' 38th anniversary, you can pick up your copy of the Limited Edition from the NIS Online Store for 20% off from now until June 30th! That sling bag that comes with the Limited Edition would be the perfect size to carry around a Nintendo Switch, or maybe even your own pet pikkard! (Note: Please do not force pikkards into bags, they have enough problems as it is.)
