South of Midnight: Roux and Kooshma Are a Dangerous Duo

South of Midnight is home to an array of hulking and terrifying monsters, most of which serve as the game’s climactic boss fights. There’s Two-Toed Tom, the giant alligator with an insatiable hunger, Huggin Molly, a spider-like woman who steals children, and the Rougarou, a fierce and fast bird-like creature, to name just a few of South of Midnight‘s biggest threats.

But those South of Midnight bosses don’t hold a candle to Roux and Kooshma, at least when it comes to the threat they pose to protagonist Hazel and her loved ones. Unlike Two-Toed Tom, Huggin Molly, and the Rougarou, Roux and Kooshma don’t have tragic backstories that explain their villainous acts, they simply commit them. And that makes them a very dangerous duo.

One South of Midnight Mechanic Falls Just Short of Greatness

South of Midnight’s gameplay doesn’t match the heights of its narrative, and that’s certainly true for one of the game’s core combat mechanics.

The Lore of South of Midnight’s Roux and Kooshma Explained

Kooshma, King of Dreams and Nightmares

An ethereal, otherworldly entity, Kooshma is known far and wide as the King of Dreams and Nightmares. Kooshma’s only purpose is to feast on the dreams and nightmares of the people on Earth, and it’s developed a never-ending hunger in the process. Though more emotionally-charged dreams can keep Kooshma satisfied for longer, the entity will always find its appetite again.

Kooshma can trace its roots back to Creole folklore, where it was widely believed to be a sort of malevolent spirit that holds an individual down while they sleep, restricting their movements. South of Midnight‘s Kooshma is quite similar to its folklore inspirations, though in many legends Kooshma is represented as a female figure rather than a bodiless entity floating in space.

Roux, Kooshma’s Right-Hand Man

But Kooshma doesn’t work alone. As the entity’s right-hand man, Roux finds people for Kooshma to feast on. In an attempt to find the most powerful dreams and nightmares, Roux preys on the most vulnerable people, luring them in with the promise that they’ll finally achieve their deepest desires.

Once lured in, Roux traps them inside a sort of psychic projection, where they’re forced to relive their dreams or nightmares endlessly. For those who are dreaming, this state of paralysis is at least joyful. But those who are forced to endure the same nightmare day in, day out have no such pleasure.

Roux and Kooshma’s Role in South of Midnight’s Story

Roux is first seen towards the start of South of Midnight‘s story, when Hazel first discovers her Weaving abilities. As a Weaver, Hazel can enter and relive the darkest traumas of those she comes into contact with, and through the use of her innate magic, she can help to cure those lasting wounds. Naturally, this powerful magic makes Hazel a perfect target for Roux and Kooshma.

Though Roux tries to capture Hazel repeatedly while she’s in the dream realm, the two don’t come face to face until South of Midnight‘s final act. Hazel’s mother, Lacey, is captured by Kooshma and forced to repeatedly relive the moment she thought her daughter died in front of her, with each cycle satisfying Kooshma’s ever-growing hunger.

Hazel finds Roux and makes a deal to rescue her mother. Despite agreeing to the deal, Roux still tries to trap Hazel in one of his psychic projections, but the young Weaver manages to break free. Roux then makes good on his promise, and he takes her to her mother at the heart of Kooshma’s realm.