The Grim Fate of the Girl Sent to Iosefka’s Clinic: A Bloodborne Deep Dive
In the haunting world of Bloodborne, every decision carries weight, every path is fraught with peril, and the fate of its inhabitants often rests precariously on the Hunter’s shoulders. One such pivotal choice involves a small, orphaned girl found weeping in Yarnham, desperately seeking her mother. You, as the player, are presented with options: leave her to her own devices, guide her to the Oedon Chapel, or, perhaps with misplaced trust, send her to the seemingly safe haven of Iosefka’s Clinic. But what truly happens if you choose the latter?
The simple answer: sending the girl to Iosefka’s Clinic seals her fate to a gruesome transformation and yields limited, largely unfavorable rewards for the player. This decision leads to the end of her questline, a missed opportunity for potentially more valuable items, and contributes to the bleak, hopeless atmosphere that permeates Bloodborne. The real question isn’t just what happens, but why such a seemingly benign choice carries such devastating consequences. Let’s delve deeper.
The Immediate Consequences
Upon sending the little girl to Iosefka’s Clinic, you can initially return to “Iosefka” (who is, importantly, an imposter) and receive two Lead Elixirs. These consumables temporarily increase your physical defense, which can be useful in certain combat situations. However, this is a paltry reward considering the girl’s ultimate fate.
The true horror unfolds later in the game. After defeating Rom, the Vacuous Spider, and triggering the Blood Moon, the environment of Yharnam drastically changes, and previously safe locations become breeding grounds for terrifying creatures. It is at this point that you can return to Iosefka’s Clinic (via the forbidden woods), where you discover the horrifying truth.
The Transformation and its Limited Value
Instead of the sanctuary you might have hoped for, you’ll find that the Iosefka you knew is not who she seems. The real doctor has been replaced by an imposter, one who’s been performing vile experiments on the citizens you sent her way. Upon entering the clinic after defeating Rom, the little girl, alongside others you may have directed there, will have been transformed into one of the Celestial Emissaries. In this form, she drops the Formless Oedon Rune.
This Rune allows you to hold one extra QuickSilver Bullet at a time. While seemingly helpful, this benefit is arguably the least useful of all the available Formless Oedon Runes. There are multiple ways to increase your Blood Echo count and thus buy more bullets at the fountain in the Hunter’s Dream; therefore, it is generally considered to be the worst possible outcome for her questline.
The Alternative: Oedon Chapel and Superior Rewards
Contrast this with the alternative: sending the girl to the Oedon Chapel. If you direct her to Arianna the prostitute in Cathedral Ward, you’ll get a different, more rewarding outcome. While it doesn’t directly save the girl (she disappears from the chapel between visits and her eventual fate is unknown), it opens up another questline that can lead to useful items. The important difference is that this questline doesn’t end in immediate and horrific death. This is ultimately the “better” choice.
The choice highlights a core theme in Bloodborne: seemingly good intentions can lead to terrible outcomes, and appearances can be deceiving. The game forces you to confront difficult moral dilemmas with limited information, making every choice a calculated risk.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into the Iosefka’s Clinic Decision
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions that clarify some of the more nuanced aspects of this harrowing choice:
1. Can you prevent the girl’s transformation in Iosefka’s Clinic?
No, you cannot prevent her transformation. Once you’ve sent her to the clinic and progressed far enough into the game (post Rom), her fate is sealed. The change is a scripted event that underscores the dangers of trusting Iosefka.
2. Is there any way to save Father Gascoigne’s daughter?
Sadly, there is no way to save Father Gascoigne’s daughter. Whether you give her the Red Jeweled Brooch or not, she will ultimately meet a tragic end at the hands of a pig in the sewers.
3. What is the significance of the Lead Elixir?
The Lead Elixir provides temporary physical damage reduction. It’s a situational item, useful against enemies that deal primarily physical damage. However, other consumables often offer more effective defensive benefits.
4. Who is the real Iosefka?
The real Iosefka is a blood healer who runs the clinic. She is compassionate and caring and initially refuses entry to the Hunter out of concern for their safety. She is replaced by an Imposter Iosefka early in the game, but the original Iosefka can be found after defeating Rom in the clinic.
5. How do you identify the Imposter Iosefka?
The Imposter Iosefka is much more aggressive and secretive than the real Iosefka. She’s also visibly pregnant and covered in slime later in the game. She becomes hostile if you attempt to enter the clinic before defeating Rom.
6. What is the best place to send NPCs in Bloodborne?
Generally, Oedon Chapel is the safer and more rewarding option for most NPCs. While their fates are not always guaranteed, sending them to the Chapel typically avoids immediate and gruesome transformations or deaths.
7. What happens if you don’t send the girl anywhere?
If you choose not to send the girl to either Iosefka’s Clinic or Oedon Chapel, she will eventually disappear from her initial location. Her fate is left ambiguous, but it is implied that she likely perished in the streets of Yarnham. This is generally the worst outcome.
8. What does the Formless Oedon Rune do?
The Formless Oedon Rune increases your maximum QuickSilver Bullet capacity by one. There are three variations of this rune, offering +1, +2, or +3 bullets. The rune you get from the girl is the +1 version, the weakest of the three.
9. Is it worth killing the Imposter Iosefka?
Yes, it is worth killing the Imposter Iosefka. She drops the Third of Umbilical Cord, which is essential for unlocking the true ending of the game.
10. What is the significance of the Celestial Emissaries?
The Celestial Emissaries are a type of enemy in Bloodborne that represent failed attempts at ascending to a higher plane of existence. They are often the result of experimentation and the pursuit of forbidden knowledge.
11. How does insight affect the game?
Insight is a measure of the Hunter’s understanding of the eldritch truths of the Bloodborne universe. As your insight increases, you become more susceptible to frenzy, and new enemies and details become visible in the environment.
12. Where can you find other NPCs to send to safe locations?
Other NPCs who can be sent to Oedon Chapel include the Old Woman and Arianna. The Nun you find later in the game can also be directed somewhere safe. Each has its own potential rewards.
13. What are some other examples of moral choices in Bloodborne?
Bloodborne is full of moral choices. Deciding whether to kill or spare certain enemies, how to interact with NPCs, and which covenants to join all have consequences that affect the game’s story and your character’s progression.
14. How does the game’s lore affect gameplay decisions?
Understanding the lore of Bloodborne, specifically the motivations of the Great Ones and the secrets of the Healing Church, can help you make more informed decisions about who to trust and where to send NPCs. The more you understand the world, the better your chances of surviving it.
15. Where can I find more information and resources about Bloodborne’s lore and gameplay mechanics?
There are numerous online resources, including wikis, forums, and video guides, that provide in-depth information about Bloodborne. Don’t forget to check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for scholarly discussions and analyses of video games and their impact. GamesLearningSociety.org can provide interesting perspectives on the narrative and design elements in Bloodborne.
In conclusion, sending the girl to Iosefka’s Clinic is a decision that reflects the grim and unforgiving nature of Bloodborne. While it might seem like a compassionate act, it ultimately leads to a tragic end and a missed opportunity for potentially better rewards. It serves as a harsh reminder that in Yharnam, trust is a dangerous commodity, and even the best intentions can pave the way to hell. Choose wisely, Hunter, for the fate of many rests in your hands.