Can You Let Micah Hang in Strawberry? The Grim Reality of Red Dead Redemption 2’s Choices
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The short answer is no, you cannot let Micah Bell hang in Strawberry in Red Dead Redemption 2. Despite the moral ambiguity and the player’s potential desire to see Micah face justice, the game’s narrative dictates that Arthur Morgan must break him out of jail to progress the main storyline. Micah is an integral part of the narrative, and his presence, however loathsome, is essential to the unfolding events that lead to the game’s climax. While you can delay the mission for a considerable amount of time, eventually you’ll be forced to confront it.
The Unavoidable Rescue: Why You Can’t Avoid Micah
The core of Red Dead Redemption 2 lies in its meticulously crafted story. While Rockstar Games provides players with a vast open world and numerous choices, some narrative beats are simply unavoidable. Micah’s rescue is one such beat.
- Narrative Necessity: Micah’s role as an antagonist and a catalyst for the gang’s downfall is too crucial to the plot to be bypassed. His actions directly influence Dutch’s decisions and drive the wedge that ultimately splits the Van der Linde gang.
- Story Progression: The game mechanics simply won’t allow you to proceed past a certain point without completing the “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” mission, which involves breaking Micah out of the Strawberry jail. The game will actively prevent you from initiating other important missions until this one is completed.
- Character Development: Arthur’s interactions with Micah, however strained, contribute significantly to Arthur’s own character arc. They force him to confront his own morality and the consequences of his actions.
Delays, Not Denials: Prolonging the Inevitable
While you can’t avoid rescuing Micah entirely, you can postpone the mission for quite some time. This allows players to enjoy the open world, complete side missions, and engage in other activities without Micah’s poisonous influence immediately impacting the gang.
- Open World Exploration: The early chapters of Red Dead Redemption 2 offer a vast and detailed world to explore. Take advantage of this time to hunt, fish, discover hidden locations, and immerse yourself in the game’s rich environment.
- Side Missions and Encounters: Focus on completing stranger missions, bounty hunts, and other optional activities. These provide valuable rewards, enhance your character’s honor, and offer unique insights into the world and its inhabitants.
- Camp Upgrades and Interactions: Spend time at camp, interacting with your fellow gang members. This will improve your relationships, unlock new opportunities, and provide a sense of community before Micah’s return disrupts the harmony.
The Consequences of Micah’s Freedom
Rescuing Micah sets in motion a series of events that lead to the gang’s unraveling. His presence becomes a constant source of tension and conflict, and his influence over Dutch grows stronger with each passing day. This ultimately leads to betrayal, loss, and the destruction of everything Arthur holds dear.
- Increased Paranoia and Distrust: Micah’s manipulative nature and thirst for violence create an atmosphere of paranoia within the gang. Members begin to distrust each other, leading to internal conflicts and ultimately, division.
- Dutch’s Descent: Micah’s influence over Dutch accelerates the latter’s descent into madness. Dutch becomes increasingly irrational and detached from reality, making poor decisions that jeopardize the gang’s safety and future.
- The Downfall of the Gang: The culmination of these events leads to the disintegration of the Van der Linde gang. Members are killed, arrested, or forced to flee, leaving behind a legacy of violence and regret.
- Arthur’s Moral Conflict: Arthur grapples with his conscience as he witnesses the consequences of Micah’s actions and Dutch’s decisions. He must choose between loyalty to his gang and doing what he believes is right, even if it means betraying those he once considered family.
High Honor vs. Low Honor: Micah’s Fate
Your honor level in Red Dead Redemption 2, which is influenced by the choices you make throughout the game, will affect your final interactions with Micah Bell. This level of honor directly influences the final cutscene of the game, and as such, the events that follow are quite important.
- High Honor: If you maintain a high honor level, Arthur will confront Micah with a sense of remorse and a desire to make amends for his past actions. In one ending scene, Arthur slashes Micah’s eye with a knife, giving him a scar.
- Low Honor: If you have a low honor level, Arthur will be motivated by revenge and a desire for retribution. His actions will be more ruthless and unforgiving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you kill Micah early in Red Dead Redemption 2?
No, you cannot kill Micah early in the game. He is an essential character for the plot, and as such, the game will not allow you to kill him until the story progresses to the appropriate point. Attempts to kill him before this time will result in him being invincible.
2. What happens if you just leave Micah in jail?
If you leave Micah in jail, you will be unable to progress further in the main story. The “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” mission is required to unlock subsequent missions.
3. How long can you avoid saving Micah?
You can avoid saving Micah for a considerable amount of time, potentially several in-game weeks or even months. However, you will eventually have to complete the mission to continue the main storyline.
4. How do you get a high honor rating in RDR2?
You can increase your honor rating by performing honorable actions, such as helping strangers, donating to the camp, completing chores, and choosing merciful options in missions. Conversely, performing dishonorable actions such as killing innocent people will lower your honor rating.
5. Can you loot Micah’s guns?
After killing Micah in “American Venom,” you can loot one of his revolvers from his corpse. However, even though he uses two, you can only acquire one this way.
6. What is the point of the honor system in Red Dead Redemption 2?
The honor system affects Arthur’s interactions with other characters, the types of missions he receives, and the game’s ending. High honor leads to more positive interactions and a more redemptive ending, while low honor leads to negative interactions and a darker ending.
7. What happens if you kill the mayor of Strawberry?
Killing the mayor of Strawberry will result in a high bounty and a negative impact on your honor. Additionally, you will be pursued by lawmen.
8. Where can you find Micah’s body after “American Venom”?
After completing the mission “American Venom,” you can find Micah’s body on Mount Hagen, inside the outhouse.
9. Can you find Dutch’s stash of money?
Whether or not you can find Dutch’s stash of money depends on the choices you make during the story. If you choose to return for the money with John and Arthur, you will find it in Beaver Hollow, untouched.
10. Why does Micah have a scar on his face?
Micah may or may not have a scar on his face. Depending on the ending you get, Micah might have a huge scar on his eye due to Arthur slashing his face with his knife during “Go after the money” ending with high honor.
11. Is there a cure for tuberculosis in Red Dead Redemption 2?
No, there is no cure for tuberculosis in Red Dead Redemption 2. Arthur’s illness is a central plot point, and his eventual death is an unavoidable part of the story.
12. Can you go back to Guarma?
No, you cannot go back to Guarma after completing the chapter in which you are there. It is a temporary location that is only accessible during a specific part of the main story.
13. What happens if you turn yourself in to the law?
If you turn yourself in to the law, you will be imprisoned for a period of time, after which your bounty will be cleared. This is an alternative to paying off your bounty with money.
14. Why does Dutch shoot Micah at the end of the game?
Dutch shoots Micah because he realizes that Micah was the rat who betrayed the gang. This act can be seen as a form of redemption for Dutch and an acknowledgement of the damage he caused to his gang.
15. What is the significance of Strawberry in RDR2?
Strawberry serves as an early game location that introduces the player to the wider world of Red Dead Redemption 2. It is also the town in which you find Micah and trigger the infamous jailbreak mission.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game about choices, but also about consequences. While you may yearn to see Micah face justice at the end of a rope in Strawberry, his role in the grand narrative is too significant to be bypassed. Embrace the story, make the choices that align with your moral compass, and prepare for the inevitable unraveling of the Van der Linde gang. To learn more about gaming and education, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.