Red Dead Redemption 2 teems with rich detail and lasting consequences for its conflicted characters. Because Red Dead Redemption 2 is such a broad and extensive experience, it can be easy to overlook minor details that may seem insignificant, yet they may have more of an impact further into the narrative. Please note that this article will have MAJOR SPOILERS for Red Dead Redemption 2.
Red Dead Redemption 2's Honor system has a deceptively low impact on gameplay, but subvertly alters dialogue and circumstances in the epilogue. Low or high Honor determines what atmospheric backdrop and symbolic animal players see in Arthur Morgan's visions, for example, and also determines if players may receive certain discounts for different stores. It can be more difficult to discern what Honor is and is not changing during moment-to-moment gameplay, but there are larger effects that Honor has on Arthur's death and legacy in particular.
SeriousAtmosphere853 is the latest fan to find one of Red Dead Redemption 2's implicit, high Honor achievements. Because of its lack of immediate specificity, it is clear that players may miss this detail in an initial playthrough or simply overlook it since many critters and creatures roam freely throughout Red Dead Redemption 2. But in Red Dead Redemption 2's epilogue, a high Honor signifier is awarded to players in the form of a blue jay that politely observes John Marston, Uncle, and Charles Smith while they lay the foundation for and build Beecher's Hope.
A little detail. When the house is being built this little blue jay appears. And apparently it only appears if you had high honor before the epilogue. Made me tear up. from reddeadredemption
Blue jays, like other birds and animals throughout Red Dead Redemption 2, are not uncanny sights and so it is arguable that unaware players may believe that it is simply a random bird that made its way into frame while John builds the house. But this particular blue jay's appearance in the epilogue sequence is one of many indications that the player managed to secure a high Honor standing as Arthur before the epilogue, such as the appearance of Arthur's tombstone and epitaph reflecting the player's Honor level as well.
Many fans believe that this particular blue jay is meant to symbolically represent Arthur, while other fans go as far as to believe that the bird is a literal reincarnation of Arthur. Either way, players may feel a sense of gratified satisfaction seeing the blue jay and knowing that they were capable of maintaining Arthur's character as an honorable man in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.