G: TL;DR: Drakengard is a deeply disturbing series where war, gods, and human flaws intertwine. It begins as a gritty fantasy war story, but gradually reveals a cosmic horror narrative involving child sacrifices, apocalyptic cults, incest, cannibalism, and time-space ruptures—culminating in a surreal, tone-breaking boss fight in Tokyo that leads directly into NieR.

Overview:

The Drakengard series (also called Drag-On Dragoon in Japan) consists of three main games:

Drakengard / Drag-On Dragoon (2003)
Drakengard 2 (2005, largely non-canon to NieR)
Drakengard 3 (2013, prequel)

Its spiritual sequel series, NieR, branches from the events of Drakengard’s most bizarre ending.

DRAKENGARD 1 (2003)

Setting:

A war-torn fantasy world where gods, dragons, and “seals” maintain the balance of existence. Breaking the seals unleashes catastrophe.

Protagonist:

Caim, a prince obsessed with vengeance, mute after a throat wound. He forms a pact with a red dragon, Angelus, exchanging his voice for power.

Plot Points:

Caim fights against the Empire, a cult-like force aiming to unseal reality and summon a god.
Seals (which maintain order) begin to fail: one is a priestess (Caim's sister Furiae), others include literal objects and even a child.
Allies include:
- Leonard: A traumatized pedophile who blinds himself to repent.
- Arioch: A grieving mother who went insane and eats children.
- Seere: A child who makes a pact with a golem; he stops aging.
The main villain is Manah, a young girl possessed by a demonic force called the Watcher.

Endings:

There are five endings, each progressively weirder:

Ending A–C: Standard tragic fantasy conclusions (sacrifice, loss, transformation).
Ending D: Angelus becomes the new seal, trapping herself in a timeless void.
Ending E (Canonical for NieR): The final boss is a giant floating fetus (Queen-beast). Caim and Angelus chase it into a dimensional rift, ending up in modern Tokyo, where they battle it rhythm-game-style above the city. They're shot down by Japanese fighter jets. This ruptures reality and leads to the world of NieR.

DRAKENGARD 2 (2005)

Generally considered non-canon or an alternate continuity, especially irrelevant to NieR.

Protagonist:

Nowe, a young knight raised by Legna (a blue dragon). He idolizes peace but gets caught in another conflict involving seals and gods.

Plot Points:

The Union has become oppressive. Nowe defects.
His companion Manah (same name, but older and somewhat redeemed) seeks to atone for her past.
Focuses on breaking seals again, but with more JRPG tropes and less psychological horror.

Tone:

More heroic, less disturbing. Taro Yoko (creator) was not involved, which is why it's semi-disavowed.

DRAKENGARD 3 (2013)

Prequel to Drakengard 1

The world is dying from a disease called Goddess Syndrome, caused by chaos leaking from a failed multiverse.

Protagonist:

Zero, an aggressive woman with a flower growing from her eye, destined to destroy her sisters (the Intoners, godlike beings she once was part of).

Plot Points:

The game is about Zero hunting and killing her 5 sisters (One through Five), each embodying twisted ideals:
- Five: Hypersexualized generosity.
- Four: Jealous and insecure.
- Three: Emotionless killer obsessed with dissection.
- Two: Sweet but vacant.
- One: The most powerful; splits herself into One and a boy clone named Brother One.
Zero is accompanied by Mikhail, a childish dragon who reincarnates repeatedly.

Twists:

Zero is not a villain—her goal is to kill all Intoners to prevent a greater catastrophe.
The flower is a parasitic force trying to conquer the world using Zero’s body. The more she kills, the stronger the flower gets.

Endings:

Multiple bizarre outcomes, including:
- Zero dies.
- The flower survives.
- Time loops.
- Everything resets.
One of the hidden endings seems to restart the timeline that eventually leads to Drakengard 1.

META-THEMES & CONTEXT

Creator Taro Yoko deliberately embraces the grotesque and surreal to explore human suffering, cruelty, futility, and connection.
The series subverts fantasy tropes by making all “heroes” broken and highlighting the absurdity of violence as a solution.
Drakengard explores mental illness, sexual dysfunction, apocalypse, and existential horror, often through jarring tonal shifts.
It’s best viewed as a mythos, not a clean timeline.

DRAGENGARD → NIER BRANCH

Ending E of Drakengard 1 → The Queen-beast’s defeat in Tokyo releases a magical contaminant called White Chlorination Syndrome.
This causes a global apocalypse and sets up the world of NieR Gestalt/Replicant.
Drakengard is thus the primordial mythos of the NieR universe.

Let me know if you want a visual timeline, connection to NieR: Automata, or a deep dive into any character or event.

G: Here are a few killer ways to prepare thin-cut chicken breast for hoagie rolls:

1. Philly-Style Chicken Cheesesteak

Prep: Sauté with sliced onions and bell peppers.
Seasoning: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, maybe a touch of Worcestershire.
Cheese: Provolone or white American.
Roll Tip: Toast the hoagie with cheese first, then pile on the chicken.

2. Buffalo Chicken Hoagie

Prep: Sear or bake the chicken, then toss in buffalo sauce (Frank’s + melted butter).
Add-ons: Shredded lettuce, tomato, ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Option: Melt mozzarella or provolone under a broiler just before serving.

3. Garlic Parmesan Chicken

Prep: Pan-fry with butter, garlic, and Italian herbs.
Finish: Toss with grated Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon.
Add-ons: Baby spinach or arugula, thin tomato slices.

4. Chicken Banh Mi-Inspired

Prep: Marinate in soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, garlic, and a little lime. Grill or pan-fry.
Toppings: Pickled carrots/daikon, cucumber, jalapeño, cilantro, sriracha mayo.
Bread Tip: Lightly toast hoagie, maybe remove a little interior for extra space.

5. BBQ Chicken Melt

Prep: Sear or bake chicken, coat with your favorite BBQ sauce.
Add-ons: Cheddar cheese, red onions, pickles.
Pro move: Press the hoagie on a griddle for a crispy crust.

Let me know what ingredients you've got on hand if you want to zero in on one.

G: Basil isn't a great 1:1 substitute for rosemary in roast beef—different flavor profiles:

Rosemary = piney, resinous, woodsy
Basil = sweet, herbal, soft

But you can make it work depending on your goal. Here are options:

If You Want to Stay in the Same Flavor Family:

Use Thyme and add a bit of sage or marjoram if you have them.
Oregano can also help bridge the gap—use lightly.

If You Must Use Basil:

Mix with thyme and black pepper.
Consider adding a little garlic and lemon zest to sharpen the profile.
Use basil near the end or in a compound butter—it doesn’t roast well.

Better Flavor Compromise (if you have these):

Herbes de Provence blend
Italian seasoning (but go easy—some blends are heavy on oregano)
Bay leaf + thyme combo, crushed finely

TL;DR: Basil won't ruin it, but it shifts the dish toward Mediterranean rather than rustic/woodsy. Use lightly and adjust the rest accordingly.

G: Absolutely. Here's how to turn pan-fried ½-inch roast beef strips into a solid barbecue sandwich:

Quick BBQ Roast Beef Sandwich (Pan-Fry Style)

1. Prep the Beef

Slice into ½-inch strips against the grain if possible.
Pat dry with paper towels.
Lightly season with:
- Salt & pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika or smoked paprika (if you want a little smoky base)
- Optional: tiny pinch of brown sugar or chili powder

2. Sear in a Hot Pan

Use a bit of oil or butter (neutral or with a touch of beef drippings if you saved any).
Sear over medium-high heat in batches so they brown, not steam.
Don’t overcook—just a quick crust on each side (about 1–2 min per side max).

3. Sauce Finish

Drop heat to medium-low.
Toss seared strips with your BBQ sauce of choice (bottled or homemade).
Let it caramelize for 1–2 minutes—just enough for the sauce to cling and thicken.
Optional: Add a splash of vinegar or mustard for tang, or a dash of hot sauce.

4. Build the Sandwich

Hoagie roll: Lightly toasted or griddled.
Optional add-ons:
- Pickles or slaw (sweet or vinegar-style)
- Cheese (cheddar or pepper jack melt well)
- **

M: Sorry, I was talking about the chicken

G: Got it—half-inch chicken breast strips, pan-fried, into a BBQ sandwich? Easy. Here's a streamlined approach:

BBQ Chicken Hoagie (Pan-Fried Strips)

1. Prep the Chicken

Slice chicken into ½-inch strips.
Season lightly with:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Optional: a pinch of brown sugar or chili powder

2. Pan-Fry

Use oil or butter over medium-high heat.
Sear in batches if needed—get a good golden-brown edge.
Cook just through (thin strips go fast—about 2–3 min per side).

3. Add BBQ Sauce

Lower heat to medium-low.
Add BBQ sauce directly to pan.
Stir and let it simmer for 1–2 minutes to glaze the chicken.

4. Assemble on Hoagie Roll

Toasted hoagie: Optional but highly recommended.
Layer BBQ chicken strips.

Optional toppings:

Pickles: Dill or bread-and-butter for contrast.
Coleslaw: Creamy or vinegar-based adds crunch and cuts sweetness.
Cheese: Cheddar, provolone, or pepper jack (melt it under a broiler if you want).
Crispy onions or fried shallots: For texture.

Let me know what BBQ sauce you’re using or if you want to build one from scratch.

M: Would it change your advice if I told you the flavor profile was using sweet baby rays original flavor

G: Yes—Sweet Baby Ray’s Original is thick, sweet, and molasses-heavy with a mild smoky tang. So here's how that shifts the advice:

Adjusted BBQ Chicken Hoagie Strategy

1. Chicken Seasoning:

Keep it light—you don’t want to fight the sauce's sweetness:

Salt
Black pepper
Light garlic powder
Optional: touch of smoked paprika to boost depth without adding more sugar
Avoid brown sugar or chili powder unless you're going for heat

2. Pan-Fry with Browning Focus

Use medium-high heat to develop a crust on the chicken strips before saucing.
This helps contrast the sweetness with a savory sear.

3. Sauce Timing & Method

Drop to low heat and stir in just enough Sweet Baby Ray’s to coat.
If you add too much too early, it may burn or get cloying—SBR is thick and sugary.
Add a splash of apple cider vinegar or Dijon mustard (if available) to balance the sweetness and thin the sauce slightly.

4. Sandwich Add-ons (Recommended for Balance):

Crunchy pickles (dill > sweet)
Tangy slaw (vinegar-based > mayo-heavy)
Sharp cheddar or pepper jack (not mozzarella—too bland)
Optional: thin red onion slices or crispy fried onions for texture

Sweet Baby Ray’s is rich and dominant, so every added element should cut, contrast, or balance. Don't double down on sweet unless you're doing full-on comfort food.