Viridis is a character heavily intertwined with much of the major plot points in Forsaken. Spoilers below.
[0:00 - 1:11]
The song opens with some fading strings outlining the chords for our song, as we set our stage back nearly 30 years before the events of Forsaken's story. At that time, Viridis is but a child, and despite growing up around many influential people, she always felt isolated and different from them during these years.
In this section, we hear one of the clearest renditions of Viridis' motif, emotionally played on solo violin. Here, it highlights her loneliness, with its drawn out holds and slow cadence.
The separation between the background strings lending itself to that isolation as well. But, in those breaks, there is a tinge of hope. Hope that somehow, some way, she would be connected to the people around her. One that ultimately fades into the next section.
This is the foundation for her character:
Isolation, separation, and the longing to be connected.
[1:11 - 3:06]
Then the piano takes centre stage, playing a clearer rendition of her motif, now far more stark and focused, much like Viridis herself. As, upon her becoming Enlightened at 17, she chooses to forgo her old life and leave in search of a new one.
During her long quest for purpose and self-identity, she only continued to grow and blossom at a truly incredible pace. Over the course of the next 20-30 years, she rises all the way to Azimuth shortly before the events of the story. Then, only a few years afterwards, becomes one of the few Transcendent people in the story.
As the song speeds and swells, it focuses greatly on her own great accomplishment, and her hope and determination to find a purpose for her (so far) lonely and sad life.
Though she had many reasons to set out on this lonesome path, there is one I will highlight here:
Being blessed by Nature, upon becoming Enlightened, Viridis received the memories of all those blessed by Nature before her. In the memories of the most recent incarnation of Nature — a man named Oliver Graves — she saw an intriguing person named "Dusk".
For this reason, Dusk's theme can be heard in the background of the climax here, tucked away in the back of Viridis' mind.
Thus, she spent nearly 30 years searching for a ghost. Only to find he did not exist... and, in fact, was further from anyone she could have expected.
[3:06 - 5:12]
The song abruptly cuts to silence, with only a single pluck of the harp ringing out in mourning.
As, for nearly 30 years, Viridis spent her life chasing the ghost of a man named Dusk, only to find no trace of him. Instead, he didn't exist yet. But when she does find him, she finds a criminal named Ralillith Tiro being executed for his crimes instead.
All her life had been spent to find a mirage, and that devastating revelation changes something in Viridis' mind, and leads to a profound change.
Thus, we hear the harp pluck along to an unfamiliar cadence, as Viridis itself changes.
After its hope was killed, like the man before it, Viridis abandoned humanity and chose to move its attention to its roots. Literally, as Viridis sheds its human form and assumes its transformation: a spirit of nature composed of a shifting blend of animals and plants.
The only lingering hope in its mind being the sight of Ralillith's blood, where a spark of change and defiance could be seen by Viridis, and Viridis alone.
So, it made a grove, a pocket of nature hidden far away from the people and lies of the world. Waiting, waiting for a single man and his allies to arrive.
As here, we not only hear Viridis and Dusk's motifs intertwine, but eventually the arrival of the rest of the New Season's motifs, as the strings slowly come back in.
These strings, and these motifs and not only the representation of the New Season seeking out (and establishing) an alliance with Viridis, but also of that loneliness being washed away by newfound companions.
Prominently, we hear the motifs for Dawn and Kyr blended into the score, foreshadowing for something to come.
These strings build and swell, introducing these fragment motifs as well as building toward a more sombre and dire direction — as now Viridis is fully in the New Season's plot against the Families.
[5:12 - 5:45]
However, before that dire end can be reached, we hear Viridis' melody in full one final time. This time, in 12/8 instead of 4/4, finally giving us a stable time signature to end the song in (as before, it had changed a few times).
This rendition, I believe, is the most... sweet. It is at this point in its life, that Viridis has found people it can call friends, and people who care about it in a way no one else had. Here, we hear a brief introspective reflection into that longing to be found finally be resolved.
[5:45 - 6:58]
Then, the orchestra comes back in, leading the final march toward our story's end.
Here, we hear two melodies:
One, played by violin, piccolo, glockenspiel, and piano (characterised by its high pitch and drawn out notes) blends Viridis' and Dusk's motifs. As, Viridis could never blame Dusk for his past, and only sees the version of him before it: A man shaped by his scars, learning love, kindness, and how to live.
Our second melody, played by viola, harp, and flute, blends many elements of Viridis, Kyr, Dawn, Zenith, and Ino's motifs, making a version of the New Season's theme. This is a reflection of Viridis' role as the anchor for the New Season, and that it could never be taken away.
Then, both melodies are led down a chromatic walk down our chords — with Db remaining in every chord, save for the last. This slow descent is outlined by dread, as the chords and accidentals do not lend an air of optimism.
This section is of the New Season's ultimate end. As, it ends in a dramatic and bittersweet way. Though they succeed, much of it is lost in the process.
The only motifs we hear here are Viridis, Dawn, and Kyr... as they are the only ones to survive and remain in the New Season. Save for Dusk, whose memory not only survives regardless, but who left the New Season for reason not applicable to be put here.
But, rare moments of hope shine through nonetheless. And though the song's second half is grim and dire. It ends on an unresolved chord — as Viridis never truly resolves its story — yet, simultaneously ends on the key's relative major. Leading to an unresolved, yet somewhat hopeful end.
"Do you know what being blessed by Nature means, Dusk? It means being blessed by change. As the seasons change and the wilds shift, I too change and watch the world shift. Before me, I do not see the criminal Ralillith Tiro. But, rather, a man who so desperately seeks change, that he sacrificed himself to get it. That, is why I chose to speak with you. For you, have the blood of change within you."
- Viridis, Frequency: Forsaken, Volume V: Winds Of Change
- - - - - - -
That... is only so much of Viridis' story...
I wrote as much as I could, and what was relevant, of course. But, Viridis' story spans decades (in, and before the story), and there is a lot going on in it.
I feel like I barely touched on its connection to Dusk, as well as not even mentioning its connection to Titan. Furthermore, there's all of the theories and beliefs it has about souls, Frequencies, death, and change.
Beyond that, there's every other character who has a connection to Viridis. Each one unique and different, that could still be rambled on for hours. Like how I implied Dawn and Kyr to be special to Viridis.
Or, even a dozen or so characters I didn't mention here! Or even Viridis' Sacred Name, Eternal Sanctuary, and how it absolutely HATES it!! Or even—
Are you starting to see why this took me a year? :)
Viridis is an immensely important character, and only that has so many moving parts it's hard to summarise its story in any kind of succinct manner.
Also, as a final aside, if it isn't obvious. Viridis' pronouns in and out of story are it/she. "It" is almost exclusively used when referring to Viridis' transformation form (aka, its appearance in most of the story). Whereas "she" is used inversely for Viridis' rare appearances outside of said transformation form, as a regular human.
That's all for now, feel free to ask any questions you'd like, and please tell me what you thought of this one! ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ
I make music not only for myself, but for others to enjoy, and to put in this much work and hear nothing... is a little demotivating. So, please say what you thought of it, and Viridis' character, too :>
Okay, good bye! ヾ(•ω•`)o
(Tag list for music: @diabolical-blue, @aalinaaaaaa. Interact with this post to be added to the tag list)
oh the fucking rage i feel whenever i'm trying to record music and i fail miserably 🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸.
and when my dad is involved.. it just straight up turns me into a fucking death note ass anime villain.
both of my parents seem to be good at nothing that i need them to be good at. they just ruin my days with their moronic incompetence and their loud garbage self centered behaviour. rghhghhhhhhhhhh. what a fucking waste of air. just the most garbage people imaginable 🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
