#tdlc analysis

[plasma-studios]

Further notes on Arverna, spoilers for TDLC chapter 123

EDIT: well I was almost right. Arverna was condemning Deitasterra for being close with Calla specifically

im not entirely sure but it kinda seemed Arverna was also condemning Deitasterra for being close with a select group of people (the disciples) while for the rest of the world, life was helpless and painful: "There was no birth welcomed by hope, there is no life that can be lived the way you want, just as there is no death that is inescapable." Though she also then said she thought this was fair, and that this was 'god'.

As Arverna also condemned the world for easily falling into ruin, I can't help but wonder... does she blame Deitasterra for this instability in the world? Does she believe that hierarchy means stability, and an unstablised hierarchy means an unstable world? She mentioned how after purging the corruption, the world should be rebuilt on new principles. Putting aside the reference to rapture culture, it fits that this new 'world' she established with Lampas is so rigid when it comes to hierarchy as a result.

[plasma-studios]

the false god + the true vessel

lapis on the right, captioned as "the only vessel capable of storing the dark lord's power: her heart." the rightful and true vessel. her right hand over her chest, her left hand outstretched. here she is depicted to be in control. meanwhile arverna on the left. so rarely do we see her devoid of her glories as "the founder of lampas" and "the saviour of humanity". yet here her mouth hangs agape, screaming in agony. the seven pieces of deitasterra's shattered heart crashing through her. her body depicted with greys, as if it is stone being shattered. even as she succeeded in usurping deitasterra's position as an object of worship she could not claim all her power. even in her victory, the pieces of the heart break through her, unwilling and unable to be claimed, leaving her fatally injured. justice in some pyrrhic sense.

and of course how the depicted points of light represent deitasterra's heart: the seven pieces crashing through arverna, and as for the right panel the light in the sky (the unclaimed stars) and in lapis' hand (the claimed stars).

[plasma-studios]

the narrative: that the saint was protecting the people. the dark lord above, attacking. the saint below, defending. countless arrows beside the holy saint, shooting up at the dark lord.

the truth: the holy saint instigated the war. arverna above, attacking. calla below, defending. the arrows shooting downwards as offense; every arrow needs an individual to shoot it. it wasn't just arverna on the offense. the entire continent turned on the disciples.

[plasma-studios]

time to overanalyze the art of TDLC

the very first frame of TDLC. the dark lord shrouded in darkness. is it me or the way the cloak falls at the bottom looks very much like her hair? when I reread I immediately saw the earrings and went "!!! OH MY GOD" Deitasterra you were haunting the narrative from the FIRST frame. Icon.

more importantly though notice the giant sun behind her, the way smaller sparks are breaking off from it. just as how she gifted people with her light.

now look at Arverna. obviously, we see her calm eyes and smirk; she's clearly satisfied. she's lifting her sword upwards, standing victoriously.

look at the symbol behind arverna. the signs in the surrounding rings are all pointing towards her, almost as if she's receiving power from the countless signs; as if the white light haloing her head is being fed.

then we have Calla. her downturned eyes gazing at her chained hands. she knows she's helpless, but there's nothing she's able to do about it. and, of course, the chains go upwards.... as the person responsible for her trappings is none other than the holy saint, positioned above everyone else.

look at the symbol behind her. Long ribbons streak off outwards, almost as if power is being given out. Calla's head isn't in the circle of white, so she's not being haloed. Perhaps because she's only the second Dark Lord, not the first.

look at the symbol on Arverna's chest plate. It's almost identical to the one behind Calla's. Except Arverna's chest symbol has a swollen centre. Calla's one is hollow.

Edit: upon rereading I think there's more to the symbols behind Calla and Arverna. I think they're associated with both "Divine Power" and "Dark Power".

2nd Edit: I was wrong, upon further inspection I think its more complex than that.

3rd Edit: no I was right, it's just that the dark power in question represents all dark power inclusive of divine power. The variation here specifically refers to the curse.