Hello there, and welcome to my humble HSR theory/meta blog! Despite the name, you won't find any playstyle meta, but rather, examinations and ruminations of my current hyperfixation, Honkai: Star Rail. Here's a quick and dirty to get started:
Mod: Aldia, 31, they/them
Main blog: This blog is a sideblog to @chalabrun
Pay attention to post dates. In many cases, as the story progresses, theories and lore may become debunked or obsolete. Check post dates as they typically reflect the lore at the time, not where it is currently.
Ask questions! If you have a question about the lore, please give my askbox a visit! I'll answer to the best of my ability.
Harassers will be blocked. Given the community's unfortunate tendency to harass theorists simply because our observations don't align with fanon or people's own biases, offenders will be blocked regardless of where it occurs.
Sources will always be cited or hotlinked. I do my best to link sources and credit where it's necessary, especially if it's a reply or referencing another theorists' meta.
Not leak/spoiler-free! However, anything that's extremely recent will be tagged and under a read more until a week after a new patch drops, while leaks speculation will be under a read more regardless.
Perhaps one of the most curious aspects of Ren's immortality is that, despite being Mara-struck (with an arguably "purer" variant thanks to Shuhu), Ren is unable to suffer from the usual effects of Mara, such as a complete loss of sanity or the florid growths that afflict typical Marastruck. Not only that, but Ren experienced de-aging that reverted his body to that of a younger man, presumably back to his former self when he was just in his early 30s. While the true reason behind this isn't entirely known, some ideas have circulated before.
One shell-shocking notion originally came from Lalody's Lore, who proposed the idea that one of the fulcrums to Ren's unusual immortality is that it's buoyed by the Permanence, which makes a great deal of sense when one factors in its unusual facets. While the main variable was purported to be the Dragon's Heart (regardless if it was a literal organ or a manifestation related to a High Elder's power), this hasn't been confirmed or denied as of yet.
One plot point constantly asserted since the debut of Dan Heng IL's companion quest, The Dragon Returns Home, is the assertion that the changes done to the Transmutation Arcanum resulted in the Semi-Draconic Abomination's uncontrollable creation, and while it was a failure after Jingliu had to put it down, Yingxing does display some hints of "inheriting" its properties. While the means that Yingxing assimilated with it is unknown, as a monstrosity that contained both the essences of Permanence (Dan Feng/Long) and Abundance(Shuhu), it affecting him is incredibly likely.
In DHIL, Character Story III & Jingliu, Character Story IV, we're painted a sketchy if interesting picture that led to this occurring.
During the Sedition, after this transformation, it's highly implied that Yingxing not only transformed before the Semi-Draconic Abomination's death, but that he engaged in battle with Jingliu to the point that she was previously injured from their duel while Yingxing protected Dan Feng. Following this deadly battle, Yingxing likely had been transformed simultaneously as the Abomination had been made, his elevated strength level is consistent with the Draught of Draconic Surge, a medicine that combines Long's blood with that of subjects who imbibed it, especially when it's combined with Abundance-affected Long-life Species like Xianzhou Natives.
This is better detailed in Pharmacological Studies on the Draught of Draconic Surge, Disciples of Sanctus Medicus: Collection of Exhibits, which describes experiments that seem to mirror the unique properties of Ren's immortality. In addition, the de-aging that Yingxing underwent is identical to what a scholar named Bernini underwent centuries later.
As expanded on in the Shredded Notes of Scholar Bernini, another aspect of Ren's immortality possibly derived from Abundance and Permanence is the fact that it's constantly asserted how it's only by the power of Long that the Ambrosial Arbor, the pinnacle of Yaoshi's manifested power, which highly suggests the possibility of Abundance being connected to Permanence in some way to create a "balanced" immortality that materialized in Ren.
According to the Adventure Mission Venom Brews, Immortality Looms, Dan Heng IL, Character Story I and Dan Heng's companion quest, The Dragon Returns Home, there exists something known as the "maddened and frenzied dragon," called the candle (or torch) dragon, tied to the Ambrosial Arbor. Whether an actual being or a metaphor, it strongly implies the connection between Abundance and Permanence, as only a High Elder is capable of sealing the Arbor, which is also true of the High Elders for the Hexafleet ships that carry similar Plaguemarks.
As can be read in Pharmacological Studies on the Draught of Draconic Surge, Disciples of Sanctus Medicus: Collection of Exhibits, Ren's immortality is both the result of Shuhu amalgamating to him that made him spectacularly more powerful than the average Marastruck whilst this Mara may have been tempered by Dan Feng's essences that caused him to both de-age to be much younger than he was and prevent the Mara from overtaking him completely, like it most Marastuck.
A cage of Voracity
With the curious amount of ties between Abundance, Permanence and Voracity, perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise that Voracity would be able to both contain/temper an Emanator of Abundance (Shuhu), to outright consuming it. This was revealed in the 4.3 MSQ, The Lethe Below the Living, Primeval and Other Times .
While this says nothing specifically of tempering Abundance, what it does speak of is the ability to contain it, if in a grisly fashion that speaks more of an attrition than true disposal, let alone termination.
In a way, this "attrition" makes sense. As Ruan Mei explains it in Arcadia Of Mystery And Terror, in an unknown period after the Swarm Disaster when Oroboros was said to have disappeared, like cutting off the heads of the mythical hydra, AHA personally sealed countless vestiges of Oroboros' body, suppressed it with Voracity, and powered it via the Path of Voracity.
In Primeval And Other Times, Ren makes his plan clear: Oroboros will serve as the furnace, Abundance as the iron, and their endless undying would be the hammer that culminates in a cage that will contain Shuhu for all eternity.
As I've written previously, there's an extreme likelihood that Long the Permanence may have been a Leviathan like Oroboros. When you double that up with the fact that it's possible that Abundance stems from Permanence, it adds up to an interesting possibility that Ren's immortality, if it was affected by Permanence ala the Half-Draconic Abomination in some way, then turning to Voracity to contain Shuhu does make some sense.
One of the biggest misconceptions I've seen circulating the fandom at times is this idea that only Finality is truly capable of altering the future, and that people like Elio even possess the ability to literally control the fate/destiny of the cosmos through the "scripts" he sees/"writes" when this isn't necessarily the case. Of course, it's not hard to see how this belief arises: Terminus, as one of the few Aeons to be born in the future at the "end" of the universe (like Fuli), moves backwards through time. Because of this, THEY have the unique ability to have their visions/whispers deciphered by those like Elio or the Omen Vanguards who received the blessings of Terminus to "see" those same visions, and "see" an absolute version of the future. But, this isn't always the case.
The truth, instead, lies in something known as the Solitary Waves Theory.
In Antinomic Waltz, by this point, the player had heard of Herta's infamous Solitary Waves Theory that had been her ticket into the Genius Society. In the simplest terms, the Solitary Waves Theory defines fate within HSR universe: that fate is either constant and predetermined with no free will, or chaotic and undetermined.
More than that, Herta gives us another important fact related to it: that any Path at any time can alter the destiny of the cosmos, not just Finality. By knowing this, it explains why there are so many manipulators who claim to be able to alter the fate of the universe, or the fate of a specific planet or event. From Asat Pramad to Yao Guang, fate rests not in the hands of Finality alone.
In Fu Xuan's Character Story I, her conversation with Nous also illuminates this fact. In questioning whether the future is predetermined or not depends on whether a stable constant is followed exactly, or if Paths or actions can change the outcome of any given event. Indeed, the answer is that any Path can exert the power to change the future, no matter who does it.
Examples by Path:
Of course, it's one thing to simply explain this concept as a whole when there's many examples of this in the story. Here are some I've compiled, but this is by no means a complete list.
Elation
In So Laughed the Masses, Serotonin Exposure Phobia, Asat brags about how he can change the "script", which I believe led to the initial confusion that Elation could uniquely alter fate/the "script" within the fandom recently. The reason for this is fairly clear.
In Scene 999: GAME NOT OVER, through being shown the possibilities of Silver Wolf's future that would've come with the uninhibited use of her lvl 999 Cartridge, we're told that the unpredictable power of Elation has the power to interfere with the "script"/Finality.
Over a year ago in Antinomic Waltz, the simulated AHA did something similar at Screwllum's behest, thwarting Polka Kakamond's Knowable Domain, exerted through her power of probability manipulation that allows her to force order and predictability. AHA, by Elation, was also able to foil it.
Preservation
All the way back in Simulated Universe: Gold & Gears, specifically during Supreme Inorganic: Sanguine Condolences (III), we're told that Dongfang Qixing, the co-founder of the IPC, is capable of keeping things in control through omens--believed to be the visions or whispers of Terminus.
The means by which Terminus is likely traced can be discovered in the IPC Cuckoo Clock and the Broken Cuckoo Clock, which visually appear to be the same cuckoo clock. What both seem to imply is that this is the means by which the IPC tracked and possibly gathered divinations from Terminus, implying that the blessings of Finality alone aren't needed to achieve this. As this was done through Preservation.
The Hunt
During The Discreet Charm of a Streamer Girl, No AHA at Full Moon, Yaoguang confides in Sunday what would've happened if she would've donned the Supplicant's Mask: she would've become a "Nous" through the power of the Hunt, of the unique Spiritus she boasts, and locked in Planarcadia's doom. In doing so, it would've spelled unavoidable disaster.
Erudition
In the Simulated Universe: Unknowable Domain, Genius & Prophecy (II), the Erudition's "version" of the Solitary Waves Theory is the Circle of Knowledge. Within it, it governs what is knowable and what is unknown; in surpassing it in some way, new variables are introduced into the state of the cosmos via the new knowledge gained that can potentially lead to Finality if it becomes too chaotic, matching the Theory's difference between predetermined orderliness or chaotic disaster.
In Fu Xuan's relevant voicelines, she also ponders how gazing into the future in a manner matching the Erudition/Nous has the potential to lock in certain fates. Given how the Matrix was canonly inspired by Nous, it stands to reason that this also counts as Erudition.
Remembrance
Another prominent example was in the Myriad Celestia, Exotale: Scene 8, one of the possibilities was that Cyrene would utilize the power of Remembrance to freeze the universe before Irontomb could actualize and destroy it, completely stopping the flow of time so that it would remain frozen until the end of time.
In becoming the 4th Path that could've led the universe to Finality, this is another example of a Path altering the destiny of the cosmos.
Elio controlling the Script?
As noted in Cat Among Pigeons, The Devil in Velvet, Elio doesn't seem to actively control the script/fate so much as divine the future's many branches and choose pathways for the Stellaron Hunters (and Nameless) to follow for the best outcome. We see this detailed in the "bad endings" where Elio is credited as a Script Supervisor/Screenplay Director, and again in Exotale: Scene 8 that showed us a bad ending for Amphoreus he foresaw wherein Remembrance could've become the 4th Path in the Theory of the Four Apocalypses, a doomsday vision that informs much of HSR's current trajectory.
In The Generative Grammar of Liquid Modernity, So Laughed the Masses, the script being a be all, end all is completely debunked. Simply put, while Elio is an undoubtedly prolific seer, it completely nullifies the idea that he's capable of controlling anyone--let alone the Stellaron Hunters--through his scripts. What they are is a road map to achieve the best possible outcome for a given circumstance, not a locked destiny that controls the people it involves against their will.
Conclusion
To summarize, it's not impossible for Pathstriders of other Paths to potentially interfere with the predictions of Finality/Terminus, or for seers like Elio/the Omen Vanguards to be foiled simply because Terminus isn't the only way to see the future via Finality, as we've seen with Yaoguang and the Eye of Istvara or the IPC and their cuckoo clocks; let alone control destiny itself. Nevermind the fact that other modes can reliably foresee aspects of the future (such as Erudition (Nous) or through diviners of the other Paths (ex. Fu Xuan and her Omniscia (gifted by Nous)).
While seers like Elio are undeniably gifted, their foresight isn't absolute and, because of the Solitary Waves Theory, any Path has the potential to alter the fate of the cosmos at any time.
or Dan Heng's Connections to Various Earth Mother Deities and their adjacent deities as of Permansor Terrae's Reveal
Alternatively known as "MilfHeng is Real, the Official Essay." /lh
This particular piece will present the connections Dan Heng has to several Earth goddesses; specifically Bhumi, Houtu, Tara, Cybele, Gaia and her Roman equivalent, Terra / Tellus Mater. This analysis will also mention two other characters — The Trailblazer, very specifically Caelus and Yingxing aka Blade as well as briefly mention Phainon. These connections can be looked at as either platonic or romantic depending on the context you prefer.
O1: Bhumi & Houtu
Our first examples are Bhumi & Houtu. This is because Bhumi was actually namedropped by the ENG variant of the Keeping Up With Star Rail video for Dan Heng PT. This reference also serves as both a Buddhism reference (to the ten stages a Bodhisattva must take to achieve Buddhahood) and also the deity in Hinduism herself (as well as what her name means, which is Ground or Land in Sanskrit).
At first, I believed it was simply talking about the ground, regarding Samudartha with Samudra being Oceans & the CN variant of the title translating to Earth Dragon's Chant. However, I decided to check the origin root word as I believed it could be deeper.
With this, I found Bhumi, the Hindu goddess of the Earth as well as the personification of the Earth itself who also shares Dan Heng IL's lotus imagery and is connected to Pritvi, who does exist in Chinese Buddhism under the 二十四諸天 and was essential to the Buddha's ascension. Further investigation also led me to Houtu, Bhumi's Chinese equivalent and a major thread in this connection.
Houtu (后土) or Queen of the Earth is the personification of the Earth within Chinese mythos and one of the 4 Heavenly Ministers. Very importantly, according to the 礼记 (Book of Rites), she is the assistant deity to Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor — who is connected to Earth via the Wuxing system and is believed to be connected to, if not the same being (but reincarnated as the divine) as Huanglong, the Yellow Dragon (who resides over Saturn, aka Phainon but that's for another time).
This connection becomes more obvious with his splash art, having a gold dragon (and 4 in his animations).
Houtu is also connected to the Yellow River, having installed mountains to redirect the Yellow River into the sea according to the 山海经 (Classic of Mountains and Sea). I believe in this instance, Dan Heng is both Huangdi and Houtu with his dragons as Huangdi's incarnations while he himself is Houtu, the Earth itself. It also references Houtu's origins as a male deity before becoming a female deity later within her worship.
O2: Tara
The second - but in my opinion, most prominent - deity is Tara, specifically Buddhism's rendition of Tārā. Tara not only ties together Dan Heng's connection to the Trailblaze and Permanence but is also prevalent in Dan Heng IL's imagery, (alongside his Azure Dragon connections and link to the Buddha). While the extent of Tara's relations to Dan Heng will have its own post (as it runs extremely deep), the Earth aspect will be discussed in this segment.
First of all, the particular Tārā Dan Heng PT has connections to is specifically Khadiravani (Green Tara), the forest deity as well as White Tara. As shown in his idle 1, DHPT has control over plantlife - being so intertwined that he can be said to be the Earth. Green Tara herself represents the vitality of plant life - encouraging the nourishment of all flowers and plants. Another connection is that Green Tara is associated with protection, being the one invoked when one needs deliverance from suffering. We see this exact parallel with Dan Heng PT being Preservation as well as his 1000 year journey to find Trailblaze, saving them from Evernight's imposed samsara.
In White Tara's case, Dan Heng PT shares her associations with longevity and fertility, being the aspect that looks after all creation as their "mother" - bestowing longevity upon those suffering and being swift to those who need her. This is a characteristic that carried over to Dan Heng PT - especially shown in his lines, magazine entry and his transformation scene.
Tara, especially as Green and White Tara, is a goddess who carries the burdens of others, protect those suffering and hears the voices of billions akin to Dan Heng carrying millions of lives in his soul.
Reminder - this is extremely brief and does not cover all of his connections to Tara (and by extension, especially Yeshe Tsogyal). This will get its own post in the future.
O3: Cybele, Terra and Gaia
I chose to group these 3 together due to shared origins and motifs that DHPT shares. This is also the most obvious as Georios in themself is based upon Terra & Gaia as the living embodiments of Earth itself. Dan Heng carries over this connotation as well, however, it is more emphasised through the Trailblazer - specifically Caelus.
In Roman mythology, Caelus represents the Sky and Terra is the Earth itself, both with intertwined fates and existences. The dromas event even pushes this further with the baby droma having the possible name "Uranus", which references Gaia also being Uranus's creator in Greek mythos (which strengthens the Georios-Gaia connection). Gaia also has the same parthenogenetic "birthing" aspects Dan Heng's species has.
However, uniquely, the Cybele connection appears to be DHPT only (although, Georios has the mountain aspect) and it has to do with DHPT's association with the Permanence. Cybele specifically has a legend alongside a consort named Attis who was given immortality after his demise. Attis suffered for Cybele's love, having died in self-inflicted destruction and revived with regenerative immortality and eternal youth. This aspect matches the story between Yingxing and Dan Feng / Dan Heng, who is revived as a madman with eternal youth and regenerative immortality akin to the changing seasons Attis represents.
Akin to Cyblele who is classified as a Potnia Theron (Mistress of Animals), Dan Heng's connections to animal life is more emphasized than with Terravox and Georios which is reflective in how Gaia and Terra did not maintain as strong a connection to animal life from their progenitor.
O4 Conclusion
I hope this was a fun read! Uh, I do not have much to say after this, the actual proper analysis for Tara is far longer but since I got E2S1 DHPT, I wished to finish it! Thank you for reading!
Something incredibly interesting has arisen when it comes to Asat Pramad and the upcoming 4.3 patch that will assuredly expand on his motives and plan for Planarcadia, that much is known and inevitable. However, an interesting leak arose recently, and I think its ramifications are interesting and worthy of exploration.
The Leak
Via this leak posted on the HSR leak subreddit, a new leaker known as Love Leaks proposed the notion based on a flow chart. While the meaning is slightly unclear, most commenters in this thread have interpreted it the following ways:
That a Masked Fool known as Absenti became Asat Pramad, who became/was Ryusuke & Isee (obviously, not in that order)
Asat Pramad began as a Masked Fool known as Absenti, who went on to manipulate both Isee & Ryusuke to his own ends
Now, if anyone remembers my long post exploring the possibility of Isee = Asat Pramad, then you may remember that one of the common trends among Lord Ravagers is that they usually started out as beings inexorably tied to the Aeons they're destined to target, whether it starts out in opposition (ex. Phantylia is a Heliobus, a Denizen of Abundance, who targets Lan the Hunt, the Abundance's foil/enemy) or from a common thread (ex. Zephyro is a Self-Annihilator targeting IX). My own theory is that Asat, based on appearance alone, was/is an Imagenae.
While most of the Masked Fools we've seen are humanoid in appearance, this doesn't mean Absenti couldn't be both a Masked Fool and an Imagenae, as Imagenae--such as Sparxie--can be Masked Fools. Therefore, Absenti could've been both, but I'll cover both as I go on.
Absenti as Asat Pramad
Now, one thing I probably won't be doing is covering the bases of Isee = Asat Pramad as I've already done that; long story short, I concluded that it's a possibility, and that the truth will need to be seen. Based on that flow chart, I believe this leaker (and more reliable ones before them) may be proposing that Absenti became Asat, and it's not hard to see why.
As noted in Non-Random Treasure Map and Asat Pramad's Dice (Head) (A curio introduced in the DU's Protean Hero), and recently with the revealed/leaked relic set As Navigator Isee Saw It, for the Navigator's Game Die relic, it displays the same sort of aesthetic we expect of the ring in Non-Random Treasure Map, specifically because it aligns extremely well with the existence of a ring that both functions as game die connected to Asat, and an accessory to wear. More than that, a ring that guides the wearer "through a series of coincidences" towards misfortune could fit the idea of the Navigator's Game Die being both similar to the Ring of Misfortune and Isee's due to its ability to lead the wearer to misfortune, something Isee may have done (as the founder of the Omen Vanguards who seek out disastrous predictions to alert those affected).
However, as well as these three align, I do think it doesn't necessarily and unanimously confirm that Absenti was/is Asat Pramad. But, that doesn't mean there's an absence of evidence.
In Bragi's Resignation Letter, a very curious dilemma arises that came from Absenti: a display of cynicism that seems very atypical of a Masked Fool.
Now, my first instinct was to connect Absenti with Aha's Fables wherein a Mourning Actor managed to find AHA where the laughter ends, so to speak. But, that's where a discrepancy arises: nowhere is it mentioned that Absenti was a Mourning Actor or ever associated with them, which renders the association slightly void in the sense that we don't know for sure if Absenti was the same person who found Aha despite being confirmed for hoodwinking THEM, as it doesn't confirm nor deny the possibility.
As I said in my initial Isee = Asat Pramad speculation linked above, while it does confirm that Aha can be found "where the laughter ends" and that Asat's MO is linked to this fact, it doesn't mean Absenti is the Mourning Actor mentioned; what it does confirm is where and how to find AHA, which Asat Pramad would want to know.
This harkens back to Asat's proverbial calling card, as seen in Data Bank, Lord Ravagers — Destruction:
"Destruction is where laughter ends. It is mourning, not celebration." As a quote straight from Asat Pramad himself, what it does posit is the fact that Absenti existed during "rot and decay" of the Second Prosperity, which could mean the end of that era.
Again, as I put in the hotlink above, one of the reasons I can agree with Isee = Asat Pramad is the era and the timing, as it would fit. However, Absenti existing and being "leaked" as Asat Pramad's "true" identity throws a wrench in that notion due to the fact that he could've also existed before 2148 AE, the era before Asat Pramad invaded Benzaitengoku during the Cindearth Era, as he's said to have been around during the Second Prosperity.
Again, referring to my dissection of Isee = Asat Pramad, so much exists in a name, and Absenti's is no different. If anything, his name could fit extremely well with Asat Pramad, as Asat Pramad can be summed up as "non-existence" (like Absens/Absenti) and "frenzy" that would glue together very well. While it's not a perfect 1:1 in terms of etymology, the closeness between Absenti's name and the word "absens" that has a genitive form in "absentis" likely aren't unrelated, either.
While the existence of these puzzle rings are important to consider (or, the Ring of Misfortune/Navigator's Game Die), whether or not Absenti is actually Asat Pramad may be a moot point. What this does open up is the notion that these puzzle rings/die are inexorably connected to him regardless of form, and that they may be the key in manipulating these specific people.
Ryusuke as Asat Pramad?
Once again, this is not an unfounded idea. In places like Catinbluehat's video of Ryusuke's suspiciousness or Twitter users noting how Ryusuke appeared to be manipulated at some point or another, he's noted both for his potential villainy and being manipulated into it, respectively. I'll go through why I don't think he's Asat.
Within History of Graphia Family and Ryusuke's Work Appreciation (Part 1), it seems to establish a bottom line that Ryusuke is a largely mortal man with traceable origins that don't paint him as an immortal being of any stripe despite how he claimed, to us, that he sought many modes to overcome Himeko's Weathering Curse. As we see in Unraveled for Daybreak, Portrait of a Middle-aged Artist, he turned to any means necessary to find a cure for his daughter.
It could also be considered that this was a pressure point for Ryusuke, and a potential means by which he could've been manipulated. Of course, nothing can be proven as of the current date. If Ryusuke was a pawn of Asat Pramad's, then Himeko being used against him is a possibility, but we don't have definitive proof as of yet.
If this pans out that way, if Ryusuke was a pawn of Asat Pramad, then it's incredibly likely that his desperation to save his daughter could've been used as leverage against him.
Controlling the narrative (Finality)
In So Laughed the Masses, Serotonin Exposure Phobia, a rather curious fact arises: Asat Pramad is capable of interfering with Elio's scripts. But, he's presumably not the only one able to do this.
All the way back in Simulated Universe: Gold & Gears, specifically during Supreme Inorganic: Sanguine Condolences (III), we're told that Dongfang Qixing, the co-founder of the IPC, is capable of keeping things in control through omens--believed to be the visions or whispers of Terminus.
The means by which Terminus is likely traced can be discovered in the IPC Cuckoo Clock and the Broken Cuckoo Clock, which visually appear to be the same cuckoo clock. What both seem to imply is that this is the means by which the IPC tracked and possibly gathered divinations from Terminus, implying that the blessings of Finality alone aren't needed to achieve this. As this was done through Preservation, it isn't outlandish to think something similar couldn't be achieved through Elation, too, let alone other Paths.
(It should be noted, too, that even the Hunt is capable of divining through Finality. We saw this in action when Yaoguang foretold Dan Heng and Blade's fate.)
As noted in Cat Among Pigeons, The Devil in Velvet, Elio doesn't seem to actively control the script/fate so much as divine the future's many branches and choose pathways for the Stellaron Hunters (and Nameless) to follow for the best outcome. We see this detailed in the "bad endings" where Elio is credited as a Script Supervisor/Screenplay Director, and again in Exotale: Scene 8 that showed us a bad ending for Amphoreus he foresaw wherein Remembrance could've become the 4th Path in the Theory of the Four Apocalypses, a doomsday vision that informs much of HSR's current trajectory.
To summarize, it's not impossible for Pathstriders of other Paths to potentially interfere with the predictions of Finality/Terminus, or for seers like Elio/the Omen Vanguards to be foiled simply because Terminus isn't the only way to see the future via Finality, as we've seen with Yaoguang and the Eye of Istvara or the IPC and their cuckoo clocks. Nevermind the fact that other modes can reliably foresee aspects of the future (such as Erudition (Nous) or through diviners of the other Paths (ex. Fu Xuan and her Omniscia (gifted by Nous)).
While seers like Elio are undeniably gifted, their foresight isn't absolute and allows beings like Asat Pramad to interfere with these visions and/or scripts.
What about Isee and Asat Pramad?
This does beg the question: with all this in mind, with Isee's to-be released relic set containing a game die ring with the exact same design as Asat Pramad's head (which implies that Asat may be be able to control its outcome ala the Asat Pramad's Die (Head) curio), is it possible Asat manipulated either Isee or Ashveil in some way for the latter to attain his 'Shadow', as was revealed in Unraveled for Daybreak, Real Holy Laughter?
As others have explained prior, the motivation is present due to the deep and inexorable connection between Voracity and Elation as 4.X has gradually revealed. But, while the motivation is there, is it confirmed?
Simply put, it's not. But, the implication is incredibly interesting. While it's still debatable whether or not Isee is Asat Pramad, him (Isee) leading Ashveil to a 'Shadow' that is largely implied to be a fragment of Oroboros is incredibly suspect. If he (Isee) was actually Asat Pramad or manipulated by him doesn't really matter when Ashveil eventually wound up on Planarcadia, a planet infested with Voracity, well after receiving part of that Aeonic power for himself. (Could it also have been a foretold case of fighting fire with fire?)
Shapeshifting...?
In the Cosmic Date Roaming adventure mission, when Trailblazer connects to Penacony during an uplink, Sparkle is ratted out by Black Swan for impersonating Sunday, a fiasco that is discovered by Robin who is disappointed by this revelation.
In the Simulated Universe, we also learn that AHA once disguised THEMSELVES as a human Nameless and smuggled aboard the Astral Express for a year, culminating in THEM blowing it into two.
Now, the main reason I'm throwing this in here is to bring up the possibility that those associated with the Elation, whether Pathstrider or Aeon, sometimes possess the ability to shapeshift. In doing so, could it be possible that someone like Asat has a similar ability to do so, as he disguised himself as a distorted yellow smiley emoji, Mr. Meanie.
With that in mind, could he have disguised himself as people like Isee in order to lure Ashveil close to the Voracity if he's not Isee himself? We just don't know.
Conclusion
All in all, a lot of this remains up in the air. Based on the conclusions I've drawn and theories I've put forth before, aside from the fact that I highly agree that Absenti could be Asat Pramad, I still don't think Isee is Asat Pramad. As I've stated before, Lord Ravagers not only tend to be connected to the Path they oppose, but it seems unlikely that their personalities change exponentially between who they were before and after Nanook gazed upon them. And with Bragi's resignation, Absenti sounds eerily similar to Asat Pramad, nevermind how him rejecting the Elation fits Asat Pramad's own oppsition to THEM extremely well, whereas Isee has no known ties to Elation.
As of writing this, the leak posted above was deleted from Reddit by its OP, likely because of how unfounded it sounds. While I explored it to the best of my ability, we'll just have to wait and see until 4.3 releases to know for sure.
For anyone curious as to how Dan Heng still possesses his Permansor Terrae form that we saw from the 4.3 trailer, and why he can use it outside of Amphoreus, my post here breaks it down in full!
To begin, this meta is built off of a previous one where I not only theorize that Dolly/Isee were the basis of Cyrene/Phainon, but that the Amphorean Experiment, which began in 2147 AE, is off the universe in this specific timeframe.
Of course, as I said there, I'll say here: this won't be a perfect, 1:1 comparison because it's not meant to be.
In As I've Written, δ-me13.exe, Experiment Progress: Era Nova, Underlying Framework, it's confirmed that Amphoreus being programmed to operate at a "classical" level and emulate our Greco-Roman period was not only wholly intentional, but foundational to Irontomb's calculus. Simply put, the aspects of the cosmos at the time it iterated in 2147 AE would encode it in a fashion that wouldn't be consistent with the whole of the cosmos' development.
In saying this, Amphoreus is a snapshot of the cosmos, not a perfect reflection of it. So, when I say that people like Isee/Elio and Dolly are the basis of Phainon and Cyrene, it doesn't mean there will be perfect congruencies. This is also true for Mydei and Ashveil who look and are vastly different from one another. That doesn't mean there aren't parallels I want to explore, though.
Another excellent example would be in their literary coding, as Mydei is based off of mythic figures like Gilgamesh and Enkidu, as well as Achilles. Meanwhile, Ashveil is based on much more contemporary figures like Don Quixote, Sherlock Holmes, and Hercule Poirot. With how Amphoreus and the cosmos were "coded" at the time, this makes perfect sense for both. However, this doesn't fully eliminate the similarities between them.
Ashveil & Tyr
When the gods presented Fenrir with the curiously light and supple Gleipnir, the wolf suspected trickery and refused to be bound with it unless one of the gods would lay his or her hand in his jaws as a pledge of good faith. None of the gods agreed, knowing that this would mean the loss of a hand and the breaking of an oath. At last, the brave Tyr, for the good of all life, volunteered to fulfill the wolf’s demand. And, sure enough, when Fenrir discovered that he was unable to escape from Gleipnir, he chomped off and swallowed Tyr’s hand.
- Norse-Mythology, The Binding of Fenrir
In this first part of dissemination, Ashveil seems to have many striking similarities to the Norse God, Tyr, that go beyond this monumental act of binding Fenrir, especially as it relates to Ashveil and his character.
This myth powerfully illustrates Tyr’s role as the divine legal expert and upholder of the law. In the words of the celebrated scholar of comparative religion Georges Dumézil, when Tyr sacrifices his hand, “he not only procures the salvation of the gods but also regularizes it: he renders legal that which, without him, would have been pure fraud.” The gods had sworn an oath to Fenrir, and the guarantee of their intention to follow through with their pledge was Tyr’s hand (or arm – the percentage of the limb bitten off by Fenrir is irrelevant). When the gods didn’t follow through with their oath, Fenrir was entitled to Tyr’s hand as compensation. By allowing the wolf to claim his limb, Tyr fulfilled the gods’ end of the bargain, grisly and tragic though it was for him.
- Norse-Mythology, The Binding of Fenrir
In Ashveil's 4th character story, his entire motive revolves around justice, much like this old Norse war god. While there is too little on Tyr to fully flesh out his character, he is known as a god of war, law, and upholding justice that fits Ashveil squarely as someone who not only joined a group completely dedicated to pursuing justice against evildoers, but did it to the extreme that he lost part of his body to that selfsame pursuit. While it's not clear exactly how Ashveil lost his right arm (which, coincidentally, is the same laterality as the one Tyr lost), both god and man sacrificed parts of themselves for the same reason to a monstrous being much like a wolf, honorable even to a monster.
Some centuries earlier, the Romans identified Tyr with Mars, their own principal war god. This connection survives in the modern English “Tuesday,” from Old English “Day of Tiw (Tyr)” (Tiwesdæg), which was in turn based on the Latin Dies Martis, “Day of Mars.”[5] (The Romans’ identification of Tyr with Mars also reinforces the point that he was quite a significant god; otherwise they surely wouldn’t have identified him with one of their own major gods.) [...] But Tyr is far from only a war god. In fact, his primary role seems to be that of an upholder of law and justice. Those Roman inscriptions to him as “Mars,” for example, sometimes invoke him as Mars Thincsus – that is, Mars of the Þing, the ancient Germanic legal assembly.
- Tyr, norse-mythology
Mydei & Deimos/Polemos
According to the etymology of Mydei's name and his code name, he's associated twofold with either a Greek god of war (Deimos) or a daemon, Polemos. Deimos, as a god of war, is the progeny of Ares and is often considered the god of war in the Greek pantheon. More than that, while Ares embodies the brutal, bloody aspects of war, Deimos represents the fear associated with it. Deimos also has siblings associated with other facets of war, like his sister Enyo or twin brother, Phobos.
Polemos, as a daemon, represents the embodiment of war and conflict, especially as a divine personification as opposed to just a god.
"Harken! O Alala (War-shout), daughter of Polemos (War)! Prelude of spears! To whom soldiers are sacrificed for their city’s sake in the holy sacrifice of death."
- Pindar, Dithyrambs Fragment 78 (trans. Sandys) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.)
"Many of them [soldiers battling at Troy] dyed the earth red: aye waxed the havoc of death as friends and foes were stricken. O'er the strife shouted for glee Enyo, sister of Polemos (War)."
- Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 8. 424 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.)
Polemos and Deimos alone don't encompass the whole of the mythological figures that inform Mydei's design, such as Gilgamesh (or Enkidu), Achilles, Alexander the Great, and so on. But as the representation of the Hunt in Amphoreus, and for the sake of this meta, Deimos and Polemos as concepts relate to the Hunt the most, and especially for Nikador as the Titan of Strife.
Common links in myth
It should be noted that, from the Germanic point of view, there is no contradiction between the concepts ‘god of War’ and ‘god of Law.’ War is in fact not only the bloody mingling of combat, but no less a decision obtained between the two combatants and secured by precise rules of law. That is why the day and place of battle are frequently fixed in advance… So is explained, also, how combat between two armies can be replaced by a legal duel, in which the gods grant victory to the party whose right they recognize. Words like Schwertding [“the meeting of swords,” a kenning for battle], or Old Norse vápndómr [“judgment of arms”] are not poetic figures, but correspond exactly to ancient practice.
- Jan de Vries, Gods of the Ancient Northmen, Dumézil, Georges
Then shall the dog Garmr be loosed, which is bound before Gnipahellir: he shall do battle with Týr, and each become the other's slayer.
- Gylfaginning, Prose Edda
Now Garm howls loud | before Gnipahellir,
The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free;
Much do I know, | and more can see
Of the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.
- Völuspá
Loki spake:
“Be silent, Tyr! for between two men
Friendship thou ne’er couldst fashion;
Fain would I tell how Fenrir once
Thy right hand rent from thee.”
- Lokasenna
To those who may have seen a past meta of mine, one aspect of Ashveil's motifs that I touch on is how his motifs encompass the myth of Fenrir, not just the Fame Wolf himself. Of them, Tyr is the god who fits Ashveil as a person the most. But, what parallels interestingly with Mydei is not only the fact that Tyr is a war god, but that he does bear some ties with the afterworld like Mydei. Where Mydei was once thrown in the River of Souls as a child, who can resist dying because of his immortality and strength of will, Tyr spent Ragnarok in a pyrrhic battle with Garmr, the hellhound that guards the underworld, Hel. Considering how Mydei often defies death, it seems to bridge the gap some.
In addition, in the Lokasenna, Tyr is also accused of begetting strife due to his nature as a god of war.
"[Description of the shield of Agamemnon :] And he took up the man-enclosing elaborate stark shield, a thing of splendour. There were ten circles of bronze upon it, and set about it were twenty knobs of tin, pale-shining, and in the very centre another knob of dark cobalt. And circled in the midst of all was the blank-eyed face of the Gorgo (Gorgon) with her stare of horror, and Deimos (Fear) was inscribed upon it, and Phobos (Terror)."
- Homer, Iliad 11. 36 ff
"As Ares is when he strides into battle and Phobos (Terror) goes on beside him, his beloved son, the powerful and dauntless, who frightens even the patient-hearted warrior : these two come out of Thrake to encounter in arms the Ephyroi or the great-hearted Phlegyes (Phlegyans), but the two will not listen to prayers from both sides, but give the glory to one side or the other."
- Homer Iliad 13. 298 ff
"So he [Ares] spoke, and ordered Deimos (Fear) and Phobos (Terror) to harness his horses, and himself got into his shining armour."
- Homer Iliad 15. 119 ff
As the personification of the very idea of war, Polemos doesn't just mean that it's defined by the brutality and violence that gods like Ares represent. Instead, it can also mean aspects that entail justice and fair trial, which Tyr himself is dominantly attributed to, too.
Parallels in-game
A defining trait that Ashveil and Mydei have in common is defying death, if for different reasons. While Mydei's defiance of it rebels against the madness that gripped his tyrannical father he ultimately went on to slay, Ashveil's is tinged far more with regret and guilt due to his past with regards to Operation Zulo.
In As_I've_Written, Amphoreus' Saga of Heroes.exe, Champion of Strife, and Mydei and Yaoguang's voicelines about Ashveil, the shared theme of self-annihilation is particularly evident in both Mydei and Ashveil. Whereas the former is the administrative notes of Irontomb and the Hunt-coded "electrical signal", the latter is a tacit divination by the very "eyes" of the Arbiter Generals.
Between Mydei's third character story and Letters to the Detective, accusations of guilt are rife in both Mydei's and Ashveil's pasts, especially regarding their failure to fulfil their roles, whether as the would-be king of Kremnos or La Mancha. And because of this aversion, they are derided as kinslayers who expend the lives of others for "selfish" ends.
In The Sun is Set to Die and Tales That Need to be Told on the Boss of the Galaxy Rangers, there's also a parallel between Mydei and Ashveil in how they face a former friend and ally, and how these people still harbor tenderness for their comrade. Though not monumental, the parallel is still interesting.
Outside of that, other similarities between them are interesting to note, such as the animal motifs that figure prominently with them, such as Mydei as a lion and Ashveil as a wolf, two creatures that are commonly foiled across many mythologies across the globe.
Conclusion
My point to this isn't to say that Ashveil is Mydei, but based on my belief that the Amphorean Experiment, which began in 2147 AE, took a snapshot of the universe at the time and based Amphoreus on that specific era. Whether it's Dolly as Cyrene or Isee as Phainon, I don't think it's ridiculous to think that Ashveil--as the most significant named Hunt Pathstrider at the time--may have informed some of the Hunt-based aspects of Amphoreus' story, possibly even Mydei's. Just as the Xianzhou Alliance "inspired" many aspects of Castrum Kremnos as two Hunt-based societies, I don't think it's unrealistic to wonder if the same was true for Mydei and Ashveil, too.
Have we talked about mydei's jewellery yet? Because I want to
I am armed with two thirds of a classics degree, functioning eyeballs, a massive database of ancient jewellery, and a big fat crush on Mydei, let's do this.
First and foremost, his earrings!
His earring from the 3.1 artwork is insanely historically accurate, and very similar to these two examples from the Bronze Age and the Archaic period, respectively;
The second earring is more stylized, but I can see what they were going for with the design. It is similar to the below examples from the Hellenistic period;
Whether intentionally or not, hoyo have represented two vastly different eras of jewellery in mydei's earrings. Perhaps this symbolises time passing, but that's probably a reach considering the massive time span that would imply (at least a rough ~1500 years, if counting from 2000-300 bce).
What about his necklace?
His necklace is also very historically accurate! We have multiple example of similar necklaces throughout Greek history, like these two;
There is also this example from the 5th century BCE, but it's not as similar as the previous two. I'll include it anyway;
While it seems from the 3.1 art that Mydei might've had another necklace first, he is depicted with his current necklace in the A Trail of Bygone Blood light cone, so I'm just assuming it was simplified for the sake of the artwork.
His necklace most closely resembles the late Bronze Age examples, which are from roughly the same time period as the first set of earrings.
I know, I know. What about the signet ring?
Well, that also has some similarities to real-life examples!
While the concept of a "signet ring" may not have been super common, there are certainly rings of a similar shape and material. Most of these have mythological or every day motives, as opposed to symbols, but there are examples of symbols too!
These rings are from the classical and hellenistic periods, which puts them in roughly the same time frame as the second set of earrings, and the third necklace. Given that Mydei's ring is from Gorgo, it should be much older than his necklace and earrings.
In summary, Mydei is depicted with jewellery from a bunch of different time periods, namely the Bronze Age, Archaic period, Classical period, and the Hellenistic period. While there is a clear chronological difference between his first and second earring, there simply isn't enough support for a connection between his jewllery and the passage of time within Amphoreus, given that the ring, which should be older, bears similarities to rings from a much later period.
So, all in all, there isn't really any connection between Mydei's jewellery and the passage of time, but damn it if he doesn't look cool anyway.
So, this is just a little conspiracy theory of mine, but I honestly think the Omen Vanguards' involvement with the war of independence in Penacony was intentional, especially since it was one of their first major appearances in HSR's timeline after Isee left the Astral Express and founded the Omen Vanguards.
In Cat Among Pigeons, Why Do the Heathen Rage?, the fact of their involvement is confirmed by Gallagher himself.
However, given the fact that it's incredibly likely that Isee would've been leading the Omen Vanguards at this time, and as he would likely see visions well past this point, who's to say that this involvement was intentional? And that fellow Nameless would eventually be sent on course to wind up in a situation where he'd meet the Galaxy Rangers?
In Unraveled for Daybreak, Real Holy Laughter!, Ashveil reminisces on how he once knew Tiernan personally, which makes sense as he, Loretta, and Tiernan were the only ones to survive Operation Zulo.
With this in mind, it feels incredibly likely that this chain of events was intentional, perhaps all lined up by Isee as circumstances that needed to transpire in exactly this way.
Perhaps one of the most hotly debated aspects of Polka Kakamond concerns the myriad Paths she seems to be affiliated with, let alone has encountered in some way, shape, or form in the instances she's mentioned or the lore she's shown up in. So far, two are confirmed: Erudition (as a member of the Genius Society) and Nihility (as the founder of Device IX).
But, what may come as a surprise is the fact that she seems to have ties with the Equilibrium, too.
The Chains of Karma
One of Polka's more unique skills is the ability to traverse along the Chains of Karma. The Chains of Karma, as we come to understand, are connected to the Equilibrium.
According to Equilibrium, Data Bank: Aeons, the chain(s) of karma are described as being a complicated topology, a web of logic created by HooH that allows THEM to sense aberrations within the cosmos that THEY can correct back into balance.
In Vaishnavism, "Chains of karma" symbolizes the repercussions of past actions that trap souls in the continuous cycle of birth and death. These karmic bonds hinder spiritual progress and liberation. Lord Gaura is believed to assist in breaking these chains, offering a pathway to freedom from the cycle and enabling the soul to attain higher states of existence. This concept underscores the importance of understanding and overcoming the effects of karma in spiritual practice.
- Chains of Karma, Wisdomlibrary
This is also a prominent concept within Vaishnavism, a major branch of Hinduism. In addition, is also seems to have some aspects in common with more scientific string theory, too.
String theory is a framework that physicists use to describe how forces usually conceptualized on a gigantic level, like gravity, could affect tiny objects like electrons and protons. [...] String theory turns the page on the standard description of the universe by replacing all matter and force particles with just one element: tiny vibrating strings that twist and turn in complicated ways that, from our perspective, look like particles. A string of a particular length striking a particular note might gain the properties of a photon, another string folded and vibrating with a different frequency could play the role of a quark, and so on.
- String Theory, space.com
Within As I've Written, δ-me13.exe, Experiment Fundamentals: Containment Measures, the chains of karma being connected to string theory seems to make sense, as in these admin notes, she's said to be able to sense "ripples" across the universe. These strings or chains rippling in such a way to alert her could be a power connected to Equilibrium.
In the SU-related adventure mission, Antimonic Waltz, at the finale of the encounter with Polka, Herta makes mention of Polka's ability and how she can appear wherever mention of her name is detected, whether real or simulated, she can appear and even take "possession" of something like a data entity, like the one the SU crew recreated in the SU.
Keeping balance within the Circle of Knowledge
During Antimonic Waltz, something that Polka makes known for those involved is her modus operandi: the reason she kills geniuses like those within the Genius Society and keeps them highly regulated within the Circle of Knowledge so that the universe won't tip towards Finality.
In Recluse's Refined Timepiece, this is further elaborated upon by none other than Zandar himself. One detail I find incredibly curious is the fact that Polka seems to have been operation for some time, enough that she garnered a reputation. Furthermore, although the Genius Society is said to have been founded by Zandar with his ascension as Nous' first Emanator, he's not credited with formally establishing it the way Nyul Iman and Harald Punch were.
This much is said in Genius Society: Research Results, and I believe the deliberate founding of the Genius Society was more in part because of them, but I digress. The timeline isn't important so much as how long Polka has been active, which I believe may have been before the Genius Society was even founded.
In Back to Earth in Evernight, Night, Coming Before Dawn Breaks, Lygus tells us the intention behind the creations of Device IX, and why it was founded in the first place.
Now, what's interesting is the fact that there does seem to some confluence between Equilibrium and Nihility that may inform more of Polka's connections to Equilibrium.
In SU: Swarm Disaster, Lepismat System: Massacre Saga VI, Arbitrators of Equilibrium are demonstrated to have the ability to dispatch elements of Nihility like Shadows of Nihility. Device IX, meanwhile, is insinuated to do much of the same on a grander scale.
During the finale of the Penacony MSQs, Farewell to Penacony, Acheron believes that Device IX has the ability to somehow eradicate IX. While the means is currently unknown to us, the fact that it can is highly significant and a predicator of future plots/conflict, and may hint at Polka's connection to Equilibrium.
HooH & Polka
As a last, possible tidbit, in SU: Gold & Gears, Emperor Rubert II was HooH present when Polka made the killing blow to Rubert I, but not to prevent his death. Instead, THEY slightly righted the angle of Polka's scalpel and let her finish.
As HooH rarely, personally appears, while this simply could've been THEIR predicted involvement in Nous' third moment, it may also inform Polka's connection to Equilibrium and how THEY maybe sometimes personally appear in these drastic moments to correct great unbalance within the universe.
Whether this comes true in the future will simply remain to be seen.
Over a year ago, Ashikai proposed an incredibly interesting theory related to the Godslayer Protocol: that by combining Tayzzyronth's fragments with Yaoshi, those involved would be able to revive Long and essentially eradicate Yoashi. And frankly, it wasn't a wrong theory to make. The way I see it, Ashikai was right about one thing, even if the Godslayer Protocol became something else altogether: Abundance and Permanence are inextricably connected, and it's incredibly likely that Abundance originally derived from Permanence.
Already, I have connected Leviathans with Long/Permanence in another theory I've written. To put it simply, Leviathans and Long both possess the ability to create life, especially from their bodies once they "breach" upon a planet or other celestial body, like ancient Ahatopia eons ago. Not only that, but with the recent introduction of HSR elements in Hi3, bridging this shared universe, some new Long's Scions have been introduced as "spirit dragons that summon life."
For those interested in this specific angle, I highly recommend this video by Homu Labs that covers the full scope of new Permanence lore introduced in Hi3 and how this may eventually impact HSR's lore, especially for those who don't play Hi3.
That being said, what I want to do is connect Abundance to Permanence, and how the former connects to the latter. Without further ado...
High Elders & the Plaguemarks
One of the earliest facets we see of this theory having some credibility is the fact that High Elders of the Vidyadhara--currently the most prolific and visible of Long's Scions--have been uniquely designated as the only beings within the Xianzhou Alliance capable of not only maintaining, but sealing the Plaguemarks.
In Dan Heng IL's companion quest, The Dragon Returns Home, when Dan Heng, Bailu, and the Trailblazer enter Scalegorge Waterscape with the intention of rounding off the last of DH's karmic debts, when it comes time to properly reforge the seals and seal the Ambrosial Arbor, Dan Heng brings to our attention the fact that a High Elder possesses "the power of life" that can reforge the Arbor's seal.
According to Investigation of Ancient Pattern Rubbings from the Luofu, the Intelligentsia Guild scholar known as Todd Riordan made detailed notes while investigating Scalegorge Waterscape on the nature of the Arbor's seals, and how it's an ancient Vidyadhara technology.
However, I should make note of the use of "technology" here. While we commonly associate it with electrical-based tools like computers and satellites, as an example, the word tends to encompass tools, systems, and methods meant to solve problems, usually with a scientific basis. As HSR is a space fantasy, it goes without saying that a High Elder's Cloudhymn spell counts as a form of Vidyadhara technology.
In Dan Heng IL's first character story, it describes how there is a "maddened and frenzied dragon" in the Ambrosial Arbor, and Dan Shu's NPC dialogue (before the Adventure Mission Venom Brews, Immortality Looms) also speak of a candle dragon below (also known as the Torch Dragon in the CN version).
To those that may not be aware, it's highly implied that the Ambrosial Arbor may be based on this specific bronze sculpture of what experts believe is the Fusang Tree:
Rising 3.96 meters, this is the tallest bronze artifact ever discovered from the ancient world. The tree has three levels of branches, each bearing three clusters of fruit and perching birds — nine birds in total. A sinuous dragon coils down the trunk. Many scholars believe this represents the mythical Fusang Tree (扶桑树) described in the ancient text 'Shan Hai Jing' (Classic of Mountains and Seas), upon which ten suns would rest. The tree was found smashed into over 200 fragments in a sacrificial pit and painstakingly restored over years. One branch remains missing, suggesting the tree may have originally been even taller.
- Sacred Bronze Tree, Chinaheritageguide
This was originally brought to my and many people's attention by Lalody's Lore in her video about Dan Heng and Ren's cultural references, and the museum housing this artifact was featured in a collaboration with Genshin a while ago, which lends a lot of credence to this theory. What's most striking is that, at the bottom, near the roots, in the original sculpture, a dragon coils down the trunk of the Fusang tree. This fits as the Ambrosial Arbor is described as harboring a dragon in its roots not once, but twice.
In the most recent MSQ, So Laughed the Masses, during Arcadia Revisted does a brief exchange with Dan Heng confirms that his Imbibator Lunae form specifically reacts to the Abundance, further cementing the notion that Abundance may have originally derived from Permanence.
Of course, Amphoreus can't be left unconsidered, either.
The Dragons of Amphoreus
Within Voice of Constellation, "Pillar of Stone" Georios, we learn an incredibly intriguing fact: Georios, the Titan of Earth, once surrendered their body to become the cornerstone of life itself. As we know, Georios is far from the only being said to do this.
In Species of the Galaxy: Wubbaboo, it details how the Leviathans once created life in much the same way that Georios was said to: by becoming a seedbed for living organisms to thrive and grow, while its dissipating life force became Astral Spirits. This shares parallels with the Living Flame(s) of Georios that can be found throughout Amphoreus.
As the first Flame (located in Marmoreal Market) tells us, it was forged from a fragment of Georios' Coreflame, this anecdote sounding uncannily close to how Leviathan life forces created Astral Spirits like Wubbaboos; as we all know, Coreflames are effectively the soul of Amphoreus' Titans.
More than that, as some of DHPT's voicelines indicate, he has effectively become an arc for Amphoreus' fauna, but that's not the most incredible thing:
Again, to compare the powers of Abundance and Permanence, between Chapter 4 (part 5) of As I've Written's Amphorean Saga of Heroes and the Overview of Xianzhou's Materia Medica, a shared ability between Georios' power of Permanence and Shuhu, Emanator of Abundance can be observed: one manifested real fauna from a simulation, while the other brought a dead planet back to life. Both mirror the Abundance, yet both come from "different" sources of power.
Conclusion
I think it's important to mention that the origination of a Path doesn't mean that an Aeon will come from the same place. For example, while Propagation split from the Path of Permanence, that doesn't mean Tayzzyronth was a Long's Scion or related to Long before THEY ascended. In this instance, I genuinely don't think Yaoshi was a Long's Scion, either, but I have reason to believe that Abundance also split from the Path of Peramence, as the evidence is very compelling.
Of course, things could change, but I have reason to think we'll be told the truth in time.
phainon the fool; anaxa the magician: potential manifested
i’ve had this on the brain for at least 3 months now but i’ve been thinking about phainon and anaxa and tarot, how it mirrors their influences on each other and their own relationship and journey in the amphoreus story. similarly, you could tie the heirs to tarot quite easily, (mydei to strength, cas to death, tribbios to the high priestess etc etc) but primarily i want to talk about anaxa and phainon.
anaxa in his as i’ve written has been referred to as the hanged man very clearly. but the other thing i feel like a lot of people overlook is his role as the magician, the first of the major arcana.
phainon with his title as the chrysos heir of worldbearing and his role in delivering the new world is a clear reference to the world, but the world is simply the culmination of the fool’s journey. more under the cut bc i yapped too much.
let's start with anaxa.
first, his e1 is literally magician, isolated by stars. his other epithet, the great performer also traditionally evokes the image of a magician (or used to anyway) because prior to film being a thing, most people considered magicians to be the ultimate performers. cyrene refers to his card, the scholar by a number of titles, including the grand magician. if you also think about what used to be considered magic, alchemy was certainly one of those things. and what else is anaxa? an alchemist. the magician embodies all of these things in the imagery as well. the wands, cups, pentacles/coins, swords to represent the elements (fire, water, earth, and air, the basic elements required for alchemy) and the suits of the arcana, the infinity symbol (amphoreus), the position of his arms to say ‘as above so below’. the concept of ‘as above so below is’ is also incredibly fascinating because it ties into anaxagoras’ (the philosopher) thought and hsr anaxa echoes: everything is in everything; that we are formed of seeds (atoms) that then take the shape of what we are. on the flip side of it, it is also a declaration of anaxa’s ultimate discovery that the chrysos heirs become titans, that they take on divinity in full.
the magician represents potential, or as i like to interpret it in my own readings, possibilities. being the first major arcana means it marks the beginning of the fool's journey. all of the elements in the imagery, and the magician is the one to distill them and then bring them together. the magician is about separating all the elements and bringing them together to manifest potential. the other interesting aspect of the magician is that the magician brings together the divine and the earthly, which is again referencing something anaxa does in his own many experimentations with his own blood, with cerces, with kephale. and ultimately, anaxa manifests this potential in himself—the latent potential to become a titan. he of all the chrysos heirs is the first to achieve divinity in full—like the titans, he loses his life once he forfeits the coreflame.
the next one that everyone saw and said immediately when his as i’ve written came out was hanged man. which is so terribly anaxa in many many ways, but one of the things to remember about the hanged man is that he chooses to be there to gain new perspective. like odin who hung on yggdrasil for nine days and nine nights, sacrificed his eye for wisdom, the hanged man is there because he wishes to be. from there, he views everything differently from everyone else. anaxa who had a different view from everyone else, being called heretical and blasphemous for holding them and wanting to test his own hypotheses.
the other fun tidbit is that in aristophanes’ the clouds, socrates is depicted as hanging from a basket. there's a whole other tangent one could go into about socrates here in relation to anaxa, but suffice to say there's a number of parallels between socrates’ teachings and how anaxa appears to teach. let us not also forget that socrates was forced to suicide for his impiety (the refusal to worship the gods, same as philosopher anaxagoras) and for corrupting the youth.
subtly but also because the trailblazer is also this, the star. anaxa has been compared to the stars many times, his design elements referencing an eclipse, the stars (both in shape and the void in his chest), but also in juxtaposition with phainon’s sun and cyrene’s moon. and the star is one of the kindest cards in the tarot deck always, gently shining and offering hope, reminding you that within you there is everything you need to keep going.
with regard to phainon, the cards that would describe him best are the fool and the world. the fool and and world sit in tarot as the beginning and the end of the journey through the major arcana, two sides of the same coin, where one ends another begins, and we see this in flame reaver passing on all his memories and his will to phainon at the end of a cycle.
the fool is naive when he sets out upon this journey and traditional depictions normally have him walking toward a cliff. but he also sits outside the major arcana in a very strange way, a part and not. phainon, or khaslana, who sits within the cycles and without. he is at the start and he perpetuates the cycles, but by breaking the proverbial fourth wall and understanding that this is simply a simulation that has run over and over again, he sits outside of it, knowing the truth and trying to prevent the ending. but each cycle he starts anew without the knowledge, pushing forward into a fate he has stumbled upon. also if you’re into cards, you know the fool is also the only other card that makes it into the regular playing card deck as the joker. the joker that can be a stand in for any card, or can be a trump card.
the world is the card of completion. similarly the prophecy makes demands of phainon to bear the world and bring about era nova, thus completing the cycle so a new one can begin. imagery in the rider waite decks also feature infinity symbols (yay more amphoreus references), and a wreath (guess what phainon has ten of!) that is sometimes depicted as an ouroboros. there’s also representation of the four elements in the card, but also if you’ve been paying close attention, the wand held by the magician at the very start of the fool’s journey. if you want a jojo reference as well, ZA WARUDO is a time stop, and that’s what khaslana does. he holds the entirety of amphoreus in a loop, holding it in this slice of time so that irontomb doesn’t awaken. reversed, the world is a hollow victory, a partial success. one could argue all the cycles so far have been exactly that. a victory burned hollow by all the losses that he has to endure.
phainon is very obviously the fool (or we could argue tb is) but also with the title deliverer, the titan of worldbearing, can also be the world. the fool sets off on his journey to learn and understand the world, self-actualise and realise. upon completion, he understands his place in the world. he has gone from a fool that knew nothing to someone who has accomplished a harrowing journey, who learned resilience on fortitude, who gained knowledge and strength, learned to temper himself.
the next question then is what the role of the magician and the hanged man are on the fool’s journey? what role does the star play?
the magician is the first of the major arcana and also the first person the fool meets on his journey. the magician sets the tone for the journey by opening the fool’s eyes to the potential held by the universe and the potential within him, encouraging him to manifest it. anaxa does this for phainon as his teacher, and the (minimum of five!) years phainon spends at the grove go on to shape him and how he views the world. anaxa as a teacher is very much about teaching to think, to question, not to accept things as truth without determining it for yourself. it’s a principle anaxa applies to himself. he questions the unquestionable to draw his own conclusions, and it’s something he encourages in phainon and castorice.
the hanged man sits just after the halfway point at the 12th spot, inviting the fool to have a different perspective on things. another aspect of the hanged man that hasn’t been mentioned yet is stagnation. the hanged man is certainly there by choice, but he is also unmoving. the hanged man in a reading invites you to flip your perspective, but it is also a reminder you need to let go. it is a reminder that you have stood here long enough, that it is time to let go. letting go means falling, and falling means giving up control and bracing yourself for the hurt to come. death follows the hanged man, and death invites transformation and change. the literal depiction of this is when anaxa submits his coreflame at the vortex of genesis, where indirectly, he tells phainon to let go of him just as he himself is letting go. he has hung long enough that he has gained the clarity he needs, and finally anaxa is ready to let go and embrace death. in doing so, he imparts a final lesson to phainon as well.
and the star is hope. hope that comes after the destruction that comes from death and the tower. the reminder that despite all this, you can continue. you know what else is hope? the colour green. what is green? anaxagoras. therefore, in this essay, i will point out all the ways that anaxa is hope to phaino— (no i’m sorry that's a whole other essay) but the point stands. when phainon is at his lowest in his trailer, who is it that comes to him? anaxa. who is it that reminds him that he is his own person and can choose his fate? anaxa. who is it that tells him to believe in himself and have confidence in his choices? anaxa. i would be remiss not to mention the cycle where phainon missed anaxa so much he was imagining anaxa with him at the end when we discuss anaxa as a guiding star. after all, anaxa is reason, but where he fails to reason with phainon/flame reaver, he then becomes phainon’s reason.
anaxa is so vastly important to phainon. when he is lost and in need of direction, he goes to anaxa. from the moment phainon knows anaxa is in okhema he goes to seek his advice, before going on to the debate at the citizen's assembly where he asks anaxa if this is the right choice at all, the trailer where anaxa asks him what his dream is—anaxa has always been the one to focus his thoughts. anaxa is reason, rationalising and questioning, challenging all the established viewpoints that phainon holds.
anaxa’s message in the chrysos interview to phainon also deeply reflects the message of the magician. the magician is about the infinite possibilities of the universe, and that is what anaxa brought out in phainon. he constantly reminds phainon he has other choices and other options, that he does not have to walk the path of prophecy. that he has a choice besides carrying the world and its many burdens, that he can decide for himself. he is the only one who doesn’t refer to phainon as deliverer. but sees phainon for phainon. just another person. not a chrysos heir, not a hero. one of his students but also human and flawed in his flawlessness.
anaxa literally tells phainon to flip his perspective (very hanged man) prior to the citizen's assembly when phainon asks if aglaea was right to entrust this to him. i think anaxa’s words are something he carries for a long time, because it then becomes less about how heavy those hopes and wishes he carries are, if he should be entrusted with them at all, and more about his own determination to take those into the tomorrow their prophecy promises. when he finally vocalises his wish, it is then ‘my wish is to fulfil the wishes of others, and failing that, i will carry them to tomorrow’. it is no longer about his worthiness, it is his promise to anaxa that he will remember and carry it forward.
and finally, hope. anaxa gives phainon the confidence to step out on his own. his message to phainon ultimately is go forward in confidence. he has taught phainon all he knows despite knowing it means phainon will walk away from him and onto a completely separate path. he says as much when added to a team with phainon, even as phainon still seeks anaxa’s guidance.
another fun thing to note is that phainon has gone through all the steps in an alchemical magnum opus. nigredo (flame reaver), albedo (phainon), citrinitas (khaslana), and irontomb has been depicted in red, thus giving us rubedo once the supposed merge with irontomb happens. i would argue that anaxa has been key in all of these stages. he names the flame reaver, he teaches phainon, and ultimately his words guide khaslana’s actions. anaxa is an alchemist and a teacher, what is his magnum opus if not his students, who he has taught and shaped?
i leave you with a final thought: what is the sun but a star? what is phainon but a seed anaxa has planted, sprouted, and nurtured? anaxa keeps haunting the narrative of amphoreus and even though he's been dead for two patches now, we’ve not gone without mentioning him and he still has a role to play. ship goggles aside, his influence on phainon, in guiding and shaping phainon is undeniable. this is not to diminish the influence the other chyrsos heirs have had on phainon, but anaxa, the grand magician, the great performer, demised scholar, allowed phainon to manifest his potential.
anyways, thank you for coming to my ted talk where i yapped about anaxa the magician and the hanged man and his influence on phainon the fool and how he’s led to his journey’s completion.
a collection of potential symbols and references that could be used for anaxa
what hours of research does to a person...this list is mainly laying out some of the potential symbols and references ive both noticed and would like to see connected to anaxa. a lot of these are based in either alchemy or his design. a lot of these are also kind of based on vibes but hey! what works works
Kabbalah, the Tree of Life
okay this is an Intense one to start with but it's the one taking space in my brain the most because. okay kabbalah is heavily associated with alchemy and the likes and anaxa has So Many references to how Kabbalah is visualized on his design
like. you look at this and yeah sure maybe it's just a general reference to alchemy but some of the circles have. text ? on them? and the fact kabbalah is called the tree of life and i guarantee you trees will be important to anaxa trust me on this
the grove also seems to be architecturally use the same shapes im just gonna note that
1b. this specific planetary style arrangement
okay yes it does bear resemblance to how kabbalah is arranged but it's different enough for me so thats why im separating the two but i want to point out how this is a graphic not seen often within the game and the only other times we see anything similar are with fu xuan's kit OR in the vortex of genesis (and fu xuan has ties to erudition)
the planetary array style of the hsr map resembles the pattern on the cracked glass behind anaxa. it also bears resemblance to some other hoyo games
in this video ashikai shows the symbols for a skill badge from hg2 and the alchemy table in genshin. alchemy table. specifically look at the vortex of genesis map actually. the similarities are so close it's driving me insane
even without the similarities to other games the fact fu xuan's kit is one of the only other places i can think of where this kind of symbolism is seen within the game is very interesting to me
3. philosopher's stone (magnum opus)
the philosopher's stone is described as red so the red crystals and accents in anaxa's design could very well be a reference to that (also the symbol on his left sleeve reminds me of the symbol that represents the philosopher's stone. the symbol that represents him in his as ive written. or it could be a reference to the relic screen bg but. not going down that rabbit hole just yet)
4. tarot cards
his card in the as i've written book is very obviously a reference to the hanged man tarot card but he potentially could have references to at least two other tarot cards (i'll further elaborate odin and the hanged man next just wait)
he is referred to both as the fool (mostly in promotional content) and as a magician (by mem) and those corresponding cards (esp the magician) fit him very well
5. odin and yggdrasil
one interpretation of the hanged man tarot card is that it depicts odin hanging from the world tree irminsul. odin, very famously, is missing an eye (and a hand but anaxa currently still holds all four limbs for now) because he sacrificed it for knowledge of the runes
anaxa, very notably, is missing an eye. and anaxa seems to have a history of constant willingness to sacrifice his own soul
honorable mention to the real life anaxagoras (because if i added everything from all that i would be here all day) and his ideas of nous (oh how i sincerely believe anaxa knows of the aeon nous) because i want to wait just a little bit longer before i start breaking down the fragments in relation to anaxa
So, to begin, this will likely overlap with my analysis of Stories That Must Be Told, so some of it might be repeated information. However, some of this is new and just fairly interesting to look at.
On Moria Ecological Island, Ashveil is late on one of his payments. Given the monkey-related context clues, this is likely one of the Rangers that suffered from Dr. Primitive's Degeneration Flow and, of course, turned into monkeys like the Narrator. It tracks since Ashveil is said to be broke from supporting the Rangers of past campaigns, who suffered huge losses from their pyrrhic victories, and there are several who were mentioned in his second character story who suffered such a fate.
Now, on to the next part...
This gives even more context to Operation Zulo and how it was literally a personal vendetta. Moreover, Kronstadt was the hive of Zulo's machinations where he transformed countless people into monsters that became literal hordes that traveled across the cosmos; in the last linked meta also mentions the immense scale of Zulo's destruction across the cosmos, and how this letter furnished a fuller scope of how deeply scarred Kronstadt was by Zulo. How there was nothing left until new immigrants came to patch up a broken world after such annihilation.
With its etymology, there's two possibilities of coding: Kronstadt, a city in Russia, or Kronstadt, the Transylvanian Saxon (German) name for Brasov, a city in Transylvania. Given the heavy mentions of "fur-clad beasts" makes me think of werewolves, ala gothic horror, so I think it's the latter.
I also have a feeling the sender is probably one of the friendlier Rangers like Boothill or Rappa. While some posited the idea of Loretta (one of the survivors of Operation Zulo), I think it might be the new maid-looking woman from the Anti-Destruction Alliance trailer is also a possibility. I do have an idea of who Loretta might be, though...
The heftiest, lore-wise...
The first paragraph seems to connect with the previous letters: Kronstadt was a catastrophically pyrrhic victory that claimed the lives of every Galaxy Ranger involved and resulted in all of them becoming Sin Thirsters, or almost all of them (Tiernan remained in the Dead Sea/Sea of Nihility to act as a ferryman, but ultimately succumbed, too), trapped in the Dead Sea, that we see played out in In Our Time: And on the Eighth Day.
As for mentions of Vonwacq, this also fits because their battles with Dr. Primitive were the inciting incident that led to the Rangers becoming defunct for some time, as many had fallen victim to his Degeneration Flow and turned into monkeys, as shown in the Seat of Divine Foresight's File Repository: Ally — Rangers.
The next is incredibly interesting, too.
Based on the content we have, I actually think this might be hinting at the fact that Ashveil may have jailbroken Yingxing from the Shackling Prison aboard the Luofu, not the Zhuming. The reason I think this, despite prisons aboard the Xianzhou ships all being called the Shackling Prison, is the fact that Yingxing was said to have been incarcerated along with Dan Feng after the Sedition.
During Clouds Leave No Trace & in the achievement, Of Five People Three Are Escapees, it's strongly implied that Yingxing was likely interred briefly in the Shackling Prison, but could have been jailbroken by Ashveil himself. Given the fact that the period after the Sedition and Jingliu finding him is a great unknown, this could be the case.
I don't have much on this, but I do think the One-Eyed Owl might actually be Loretta (as I put in the meta linked in the first paragraph). Not only is she described as a woman, but her vengefulness makes sense given how disastrous Operation Zulo was for the Galaxy Rangers; although, it might also be unlikely given how she may not have lived that long.
I think this might actually lend credence to the idea that Ashveil might have been the Galaxy Ranger who sold Dr. Primitive's robes on Device IX's Dark Web. Or, at the very least, he was likely the one who sold Dr. Primitive's robe on the Dark Web after the operation in Vonwacq, especially as someone likely supporting his Rangers affected by his campaigns and needed money to do so, such as Operation Zulo or their war against Gaius the Usurper, Rubert I/II's successor. This is doubly so, as many believe that Ashveil wasn't involved in the campaigns against Dr. Primitive openly.
This we know from the DU curio The Doctor's Robe, as it specifically says that a Galaxy Ranger sold Dr. Primitive's robes on the Dark Web connected to Polka Kakamond's Device IX.
As for Isee's relic, there's a one I can think of:
The relic might be the Shadow itself or something else, possibly dressed up horribly, seeing as Ashveil himself generated the false flag story of him running away from the Rangers and effectively selling them out, as we hear in his voiceline about Boothill; however, I do doubt that he actually stole something from Isee. There are some relics of the Omen Vanguards (the faction that Isee founded after he left the AE), like the Compound Access Eye or the Broken Cuckoo Clock, but none of them have any connection to him or any Galaxy Ranger, so this is the likelier case.
Stories That Must Be Told About the Boss of the Galaxy Rangers: An Analysis
Due to the newness of this blog, I didn't jump on the bandwagon when it came to examining this article on Ashveil, but reading it gave me inspiration to connect the stories within it to interesting and pertinent aspects of the lore. Without further ado, let's begin.
The first aspect of this passage that stands out is the fact that this is probably the version of events that is told across the cosmos, and the conclusions that it draws are fairly sound. One of them is the notion that "Bear" and "Owl" were very likely denizens of Kronstadt and friends of Ashveil's at the time. However, one aspect that's incredibly deceptive is the scope of Operation Zulo and the optics that paint it as a harrowing but small-time sortee.
In the finale of Amphoreus As Tomorrow Became Yesterday, in Traverse Stars and Stride Cosmos, when Himeko speaks to projections of their allies in a debrief before the final confrontation, Jade brings up an incredibly interesting tidbit: that the Battle of Amphoreus rivals the significance of Operation Zulo. Whether this means scope or devastation doesn't quite matter, but it does paint a clear picture that Operation Zulo was extremely pivotal to the fate of the cosmos; as anyone who played 3.7 can say, the cost and enormity of the Battle of Amphoreus was immense, and for Jade to say that it rivals Operation Zulo is something.
One thing that does throw doubt on the idea of Owl and Bear being from Kronstadt is this section of from Letters to the Detective that mentions how they are among those that frame Operation Zulo as a "private" vendetta, which could mean that while Rangers like Owl and Bear might not be from Kronstadt, but instead answered the call.
In addition, the identity of one of the Galaxy Rangers might already be known.
Again Letters to the Detective, we're told that the One-Eyed Owl is a woman. Coincidentally, alongside Ashveil and Tiernan, a female Ranger was one of the suvivors.
In one of the Assignments where you can receive the Trace Material Thief's Instinct, it mentions a Galaxy Ranger known as Loretta involved in Operation Zulo. Of course, as the people used in Assignments' quotes aren't always alive, this could be a non-sequitur. But, since we don't know if Loretta is dead, it's not unlikely that this could be her, too.
As for the "Bear", I'm admittedly not sure. As for him and Owl being survivors is new information after we were told that only Ashveil, Tiernan, and Loretta survived, this either means the survivor count was higher than initially believed, or that some (like Loretta) could be these pseudonymed Galaxy Rangers.
So, this one admittedly is a little harder to discern. The High-Cloud Squadron is obviously a reference to the High-Cloud Quintet, and Ashveil canonly befriended Yingxing, one of its members.
Otherwise, I don't think there's anything lore-wise going on with this story.
The Dovebrook Grand Hotel Conspiracy is extremely interesting because it actually precludes a series of events that interconnect. As Ashveil confirms that it indeed happened, what I believe this means is that it's the start of matter involving relics and artifacts of Dr. Primitive, one of the Galaxy Rangers' greatest foes.
In Letters to the Detective, it more or less confirms that Ashveil seized Dr. Primitive's effects during this black market auction, but what's more interesting is what became of them.
A DU curio known as The Doctor's Robe details what became of these requisitioned items, one of which was this robe. As the letter accuses Ashveil of selling Dr. Primitive's effects, what's even more impressive is that he managed to sell them on the Dark Web, an unseen network within the cosmos connected to Device IX, the faction founded by Polka Kakamond and one of the major players against the Theory of the Four Apocalyses. The fact that Ashveil was able to locate it raises interesting implications, especially as Dr. Primitive is implied to be connected to it for now.
This story is in reference to Gaius the Usurper, a successor to Emperor Rubert; based on Ashveil's commentary, he was the one who spearheaded this campaign and led to the Usurper's defeat.
This is also reiterated in the Seat of Divine Foresight's File Repository: Ally — Rangers, which details some of the greatest feats of the Galaxy Rangers, including Operation Zulo.
Interestingly, on the timeline, this campaign against Gaius occurred roughly between 2151-2153 AE, placing it 3-6 Amber Eras after Operation Zulo. As Rubert II had been active before then, and with Rubert II a confirmed resumption of Rubert I, this places Gaius as being active after Rubert II's death.
This one I don't think needs much commentary, but it appears to be an anecdote from Ashveil's days on Kronstadt, perhaps as a Ranger before it became a formal, cosmic group that saw its beginnings during Operation Zulo. Otherwise, it seems to just be fluff.
Based on the proximity of these two stories, they seem to be interconnected and relate to the time before Ashveil joined (founded?) the Galaxy Rangers, and how these beasts were former comrades of his that became bastardized by Zulo's dark workings. Based on the sticky note, one of the Rangers who partook notices that the beast he's hunting was a former comrade of Ashveil's hence the accusation of him being a kinslayer that began before embroiling the other Rangers in this war.
Once more in Letters to the Detective, based on the sender's words, Ashveil not only told them about his homeworld, but that this was a memory of his before Operation Zulo ever began. The descriptions parallel each other exactly.
The Mini Xiyan, holographic NPC located in Aurum Alley also details more of this story, including the epic scope of Zulo's cosmic pillaging that Jade (first section) said rivaled the devastation caused by Irontomb and the Battle of Amphoreus.
Ashveil bears many motifs that reference the moon, such as his hair clips and accessories that feature both a crimson crescent moon and a silver one, interlocked and facing away from each other. While this last story is more sentimental, it does seem to drive home the importance of the moon for Ashveil as a motif for his character, whether it's a full moon or the two crescents.
As Fenrir isn't specifically mentioned to be connected to the moon or devouring it (his kin, Skoll and Hati, are the ones who devour the moon and sun), Ashveil's persistent imagery with the moon (whether red, full, or a crescent of either color) may be a callback to Tiangou, China's version of Fenrir.
As a bad spirit, it is a black dog that eats the Moon. According to the legends, as an interpretation of a lunar eclipse, after Houyi shot down the nine Suns in the sky, he was awarded with an immortality-granting pill by the Queen Mother of the West. Before he could eat it, his wife Chang'e ate it, hoping she could maintain her youth. Chang'e felt her body getting lighter and flew away. Seeing this, a black dog that Hou Yi was rearing went inside her room and licked the remains of the pill. He then chased after Chang'e, getting bigger and bigger. Chang'e, terrified, hid on the Moon. The black dog then ate the Moon, along with Chang'e.
After being informed of this, the Queen Mother of the West captured the dog. Surprised to see that the dog was actually Hou Yi's, she assigned him to guard the gates of heavens and bestowed upon him the title of Tiangou. Tiangou spat the Moon and Chang'e back out, and Chang'e continued living on the Moon.
- Tiangou, Wikipedia
I previously wrote on Ashveil's imagery as Tiangou and how it connects to HSR's story (let alone how it informs his involvement in the Shuhu Upheaval Period and connection to Yingxing/Dan Feng), but this seems to be the likely reason why he has so much lunar symbolism and motifs in his design and other visuals, like trailer appearances and other official content.
Otherwise, that covers just about everything in this article, and the last page is simply rounding off the article.
Huge Stellaron Hunter Lore coming with Planarcadia 4.2 along with Silver Wolf reveal as an Emanator Elation. Excited to see him in game!
The Youtuber JorJorEXP recently put forth an extremely interesting idea: that Elio was not only Isee who founded the Omen Vanguards, but that this also led to formation of the Stellaron Hunters as a group that became a kind of successor to the Omen Vanguards, adapted to serve a specific purpose the Omen Vanguards couldn't fulfill.
Isee & the Omen Vanguards
According to Isee's profile in the Cosmodyssey Report, Sentinel of Time, after he departed from the Astral Express and passed on the role of Navigator to Falcon Amundsen, the Omen Vanguards began to appear within the cosmos.
At first, the Omen Vanguards were a rather reliable, active group. According to Gallagher in A Cat Among Pigeons: Why Do the Heathen Rage?, the Omen Vanguards were among those who fought the IPC for Penacony's independence and won. As this took place in the same era as Isee's departure from the Express (2147 AE), it can be inferred that Isee likely had a hand in leading the Omen Vanguards during this conflict.
According to the DU Equation known as Disaster-Halting Mechanism, and in the Curios Talot Doll and Iridescent Black, there seems to be an insinuation that they seemed to have grown somewhat complacent and non-combative in their role, especially due to commonly working with the IPC, a stance that put them at odds with their first notable act after Isee left the Express.
In Herta's Space Station, there is a Memory Bubble known as Pure Faith. While it's not explicitly said to be about the Omen Vanguards, the figures present wearing white robes and beckoning Terminus strongly imply that these are the Omen Vanguards. As one can see, the ritualistic nature of the Memory Bubble implies this is a glimpse into how the Omen Vanguards beckon Terminus for THEIR prophecies, and how this may have fueled Isee's own motivation to found another faction.
Simply put, the Omen Vanguards transitioned from a faction willing to enter wars against the IPC to one that spreads revelations across the cosmos, hoping someone will hear.
However, it's the next prophecy that would likely compel Isee to understand that the Omen Vanguards' methods aren't suitable for the disaster to come, and that a more proactive approach would be needed.
Elio & the Stellaron Hunters
In both the Myriad Celestial Trailer: Fables About the Stars 2 & Theory of Four Apocalypses, Data Bank: Terms, we're told something fairly monumental: the infamous Theory of the Four Apocalypses, we learn that the pivotal conflict to come, the apocalypse the cosmos is hurdling for, was divined by the Omen Vanguards. But, there's more to it.
In 3.6's Back to Earth in Evernight, Traveler, Find Truth Beyond the Illusion, we learn that Elio actually founded the Stellaron Hunters to take a more proactive role against the apocalypse the cosmos is heading towards.
Indeed, as seen in the 4.0 Version trailer, almost all of the Stellaron Hunters possess terrifically high bounties due to the script pushing them towards criminal acts in order to move a sequence of events in the correct direction as Elio foresees, a stern departure. While it could be likened to what the Omen Vanguards were once capable of (such as participating in Penacony's War of Independence), the Stellaron Hunters take a drastically different approach from their seeming predecessors.
Given the parallels between the Omen Vanguards, and their differences, it really does beg the question: if Isee is indeed Elio, are the Stellaron Hunters an evolved form of the Omen Vanguards who exist to take a more proactive approach in preventing the end of the cosmos and the premature coming of Finality?
So, this is something I can't believe I overlooked, but in regard with the original post I made on this matter, I believe I may have stumbled on some more proofs that may back up this theory of Phainon being a version/incarnation of Elio/Isee.
In the epilogue of Amphoreus' finale in As Tomorrow Became Yesterday, of Silver Chariot, Part With That Humanity's Epic, all the Chrysos Heirs gather aboard the Express to bid Trailblazer good-bye. Aside from the fact that this actually occurred before they would begin their respite in the Eternal Page, Phainon expressed a very interesting sentiment: that the Astral Express felt like home, and his own wish to Trailblaze with them and the others.
He says something similar to Trailblazer in his first voice line about them, and the reason I want to include it is because his desires are suspiciously similar to another instance of this happening. Especially in regards to Phainon being a version of Elio/Isee.
To those who may not be aware, this actually isn't the first time this has happened. Well before Amphoreus was even mentioned in-game, there was another instance of an incarnation of another Nameless having a similar reaction when visiting the Astral Express.
As she needs no introduction, that we're all familiar with by now, Bailu is an incarnation of Baiheng, a former Nameless and one of Dan Feng's closest friends.
In Bailu's visitor dialogue, in one of the dialogue branches, I don't know why, but since I left..., Bailu has finally begun having dreams where she didn't before.
According to Bailu's 4th character story, she should've begun having dreams about her past life as is common in High Elders, but hadn't until she boarded the Astral Express and left it, finally experiencing dreams where she was flying. Considering the fact that Baiheng was an accomplished starskiff pilot, it makes sense that she would have dreams of flight.
All in all, these are an extremely interesting set of parallels between Phainon and Bailu, and how boarding the Astral Express awoken familiar feelings within two people connected to the incarnations of themselves that came before (of course, that is if Isee = Elio comes true).
