u/amurgiceblade44

So this patch were finally learned the final way to kill an Aeon, force them to turn back on their own path. Most likely then not, this is the probable cause for the deaths of Akivili, Idrilla, and Long. However that is not what I wanted to talk about today.

Rather, I wish to talk about the consequences of Pathstriders turning back on their Paths.

Destruction: The Weathering Curse The reason I started this post. We learn the true cause of the Weathering Curse is that its a consequence of creatures of Destruction betraying their fate. Thing is, this isn't even the first time we saw something like this. The flaws of the Chrysos Heirs very much fits with the description of the curse. Not the same symptoms but it provides a logic that was very much missing to the flaws of the Demigods given how varied they are, each with seemingly a different origin yet is brought up as a consequence of leading the Heirs into Destruction. Going back to the Weathering Curse, knowing its origin we also noe know why one of Himeko's ancestors, Nephea seemingly managed to cure herself through her murder spree. All and all very interesting, however I want to make the argument its not limited to Destruction.

Propagation: Entropy Loss Syndrome The terminal illness of Firefly, which we have learned is a failsafe tied to the Propagation. Used to make sure knights couldn't desert the Empire, it is based on the same phenomenon that occurs to a Swarm when its Swarm King perishes. Its a weird conundrum, why is their such a condition for creatures to exist to create more offspring, why tied to their progenitors, wouldn't this go against the purpose of the Path? In truth, caring about the survival of the species as a whole is the Primum Mobile of the Permanence. Propagation is much more selfish, all originating Tayzzyronth's own self of loneliness. We see this with how Firefly's own wish to live marked her as a Pathstrider of Propagation yet she still suffers ELS, with the implication her own queen has now fallen. The purpose of Propagation is for the benefit for the top from the bottom, and going against it whether intentionally or not you will suffer the consequences.

Abundance: Incomplete Ones Who here remembers Dan Shu? As a refresher for folks, she was an Incomplete One, a Xianzhou native possessing a disability. In a world of high tech science and fantastical magic, Incomplete Ones are called as such as they possess no cure for their ailments. For those with internal disabilities, any attempt to alleviate their conditions will be met with incredible pain as the healing factor of Xianzhou natives will force their body to retain its base state. In her research however, Dan Shu learned that those that embraced the Abundance was able to experience healing they weren't able to before, in fact their existed no Incomplete Ones among the Denizens of Abundance like the Borisin. For Xianzhou Natives to experience yet Denizens being exempt, it is very much the implication that the state exists as a denial to the blessing of Abundance inherent to all the Xianzhou. We see something similar with Foxians and the Moon Rage, it being a deadly condition for foxians yet Borisin suffering no ill effects from the state.

Beauty: Omens of Evil While used as a gag in Argenti's companion quest, it is very much a very dreadful fate intrinsic to the Knights of Beauty. To walk the Path of Beauty is one of ascenticism, at least according to the Knights. If one were to pursue personal gain, indulge in sin, and fall for the allure of power and worldly pleasures the Knight would become a monster. Not a metaphorical monster, a very literal one. This is probably the biggest example of someone suffering consequences of abandoning their path. Their does seem to be an external cause of some kind going by Argenti's character story, something called the Triple Demons but that could also be just a reference to the three poisons of Buddhism. We don't know enough for now.

Nihility: Self-Annihilators So this is an interesting case, as in typically trying to resist the Nihility is the normal state for most Nihility Pathstriders. Especially for Self-Annihilators, those who have fallen into the Shadow of IX and are doomed to fade to nothingness. However the logic still applies even for this Path, because of Acheron. We learn from her that the reason she became an Emanator is that rather then trying to run away from the Nihility, she dove into it further, letting herself get more tainted by the Nihility. Doing so, her fated annihilation was postponed into infinity and she became an Emanator. She embraced the Path and in doing so gained stability even if not fully cured, plus unbelievable power.

Harmony: Dissonance. This is just a minor example, based on how Robin lost her voice. Penacony's Harmony changed to Order and without Gopher Wood's intervention, she became incompatible when residing in Penacony, losing much of her power

Note there is a difference between rejecting your path and acting in opposition of its Aeon. There are mamy examples of characters and factions opposed to the Aeons yet suffer no consequence. Lygus for Erudition, Mourning Actors for Elation, Doctors of Chaos for Nihility, Glamoth Iron Calvary for Propagation, Stellaron Hunters for Finality. They all have an adversarial relationship with the Path's Aeon yet should be noted, they themselves haven't abandoned the Path, continuing to walk on it. Hell you could honestly use this to explain how Phainon had no flaws as a Chrysos Heirs despite being opposed to the Destruction, as he continued to walk the Path of Destruction. Thats just the generalization, all the examples I gave have their own circumstances I know but I leave it at that for now, I can explain more in the comments if needed.

So. What are all your guy's thoughts?

So I've noticed that some aeons have special dimensions, while others don't. This my attempt to explain it

Currently, two Aeons have explicit alternate dimensions tied to themselves, with another thats more a semi-alt.

Fuli and the Memory Zone: A realm composed entirely of memoria, which acts like a vessel for human memory and consciousness. Typically only navigatable by Pathstriders of Remembrance, it is implied to overlay the universe wherever life exists. Speculation on my end but given how Cyrene in creating her Memory Zone was likened to being a Eden of Blessed Insight, it is most likely the location of the real one run by the Garden of Recollection.

Mythus and the Aether/Dark Zones: The foundation for the Aether Network, the interastral internet that allows for faster then light communication. The network functions through connecting to the Aether, a higher dimensional physical structure that encompasses the entire cosmos. Within the dimension, entropy decreases, allowing for effect to procede cause and thus allows for superliminal sharing of information. It is the domain of Mythus the Enigmata, and within the depths of the Aether exists Dark Zones, black hole like phenomenon that is said to house every possibility and possess an instinct to devour everything. It is rumored a Dark Zone has once emerged from the surface of the Aether, destroying and recreating the universe, leaving it in a state to allow the Enigmata to intervene.

IX and the Horizon of Existence: The Border of Nihility, where the boundaries of reality and the Shadows of IX meet. This boundary does not pertain to the material realm but rather signifies the conceptual "end of reality." Normally intangible, the boundary is perceivable to Self-Annihilators and those that walk the Path of Nihility. Its not quite an alternate dimension but rather the transitional zone between reality and the nothingness of Nihility.

These are all the currently known realms and dimensions tied to the Aeons, outside of Path Space which seems to be a shared dimension tied to all the Paths. It is my theory that we actually know more examples of these realms in the game, however they aren't alternate dimensions as we typically think of them. Don't think of these as parallel realities to our own but rather as actual dimensions, additional axis which space is defined.

The additional Aeonic manifestations I believe are the Preservation's Celestial Comet Wall, the Trailblaze's Silver Rails and the Erudition's Instants and Solitary Waves. Each of them interacts with space in interesting ways. The Celestial Comet Wall isolates the universe, creating a wall around an infinite cosmos. The Silver Rails connect worlds, allowing for warp travel between different leaves of the imaginary tree. The Solitary Wave exists in the imaginary background of the universe, always identical at any point across the cosmos and never decayed or become distorted by space/time. It originates from the Instants of Nous, a physical manifestation of their thoughts.

Taking it all together, it becomes clear that even Aeons without a unique dimension to call their own still have a large effect of the spatial makeup of the universe. Outside of these, one can also consider the Hunt's Lux Arrows or the Abundance's Plaguemarks as possible examples though these are harder to place on what effect they have on material space unlike the rest. I would think Stellarons of the Harmony as a possible dimensional structure, especially with how they assimilate and rearrange space. However the Stellarons are a big mystery of the setting so I don't want to jump the gun to soon them.

Other candidates im considering are the Primordial Divine Law, also from the Harmony and detailed in the readable A Letter from an Apostate. The sound that rang throughout worlds of Order that inspired the Beyond the Sky Choir. The rifts created by the Voracity, linked to their stomach. And the entire Equilibrium, who has said to have merged with the fabric of existence. This is just my theory anyway. What are all your thoughts?

Got Eva, praise the pink fox and thought to share

1. We learn the event when Evanescia was imagenated, during the Antimatter Legion Invansion. Before that she was just existing as a tree, vibing and sometimes visiting the dreams of Supplicants to be mischievous. It was only when the Destruction came that things changed, as people offered their wishes to the Ambrosial Arbor which in turn painted Evanescia into existence. She is very much an Imagenae even though her true body is the tree in the courtyard.

2. She does truly only manifest during the Games, much of her time when not being the arbitrator is spent just catching up with media and eterntainment, and just melding into pop culture speak. It actually does seem like she approves of the IPCs pressence on the world, as she has been around since before they came and is very much enjoying all the entertainment they have brought onto the planet.

3. We see one of the instances she has used her power, outside of during the Demon King Invasion which we already know. She used her power when the wish was made for all words and language to run away, you know from the promotional video. It caused monsters to begin to form from the histories of calamities and all technology to collapse as code disappeared from all electronics. She as the tree absorbed all the monsters and cut them apart with her sword, turning them into new words for future generations. When she did this however its noted the world became more yellowed and aged, with mountains crumbling to dust. This along with another part of her character story really points to her Abundance powers being tied to life draining.

4. We learn a little about her past but not much. Her species to seem to have some form of advanced aging, quickly becoming old after reaching the peak of their youth. She became an Elixer Seeker to save them from that fate, becoming known as the Swordsinger to her people. She eventually did make contact with Yaoshi and gained their favor. After this, in a bout of pride she invaded the Xianzhou, going straight to their forbidden area before facing off against whats implied to be Hua and was surprised how strong they are. Apparently lost to the slimmest of margins, her other self remarks on her resisting her true nature, becoming a great eternal tree who can suck all life and vitality though Evanescia counters saying if she became her, she no longer be able to catch up with comics.

Its interesting because her Abundance self is similar yet different from Shuhu. Shuhu didn't drain people but rather they merged with them, becoming a thousand face tree. Their assimilation is also present on Rahu as well given how its described the people of the Cangcheng still being alive as part of the planet. Evanescia though doesn't merge with others, just drains them of life or thats how her Abundance form is described. Could be part of their noted pride, Evanescia did call herself Yaoshi's most luxurious branch. Perhaps her Emanator self doesnt take sharing despite her selfless motive in seeking immortality

Thats basically it, some neat details but nothing to big or was touched briefly upon on the main story.

Anyone have any Flashpoints or story ideas relat3d to the IPS-N? In the core book, the IPS-N flashpoint is probably my least favorite as I feel its just an extension of the HA plot in Dawnline Shore, instead of having its own seperate theater to explore the corpo-state thus feels a bit one note compared to the others

So what plots and story beats have tou used in your games, stuff to make the IPS-N more interesting and have a more central focus for players to rally against or with.

We got a new Readable in 4.2, Letters to the Detective. It details hints about Ashveil's past and I thought I will break it down all here

1st Letter

>To Mr. Ashen Detective:

>Greetings from Moria Ecological Island. We strive to create breathtaking natural landscapes and idyllic climates to provide our clients with meticulous and caring restorative services.

>We regret to inform you that the account on file has insufficient funds to cover the service fees for the upcoming cycle for the guest under your care. Please mail a check to the designated location within one standardized month. Otherwise, we will suspend all value-added services. This includes fresh bananas, rainforest rockeries, and heated baths.

>If you have already made a payment, please ignore this mail. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

For the leader of the Galaxy Rangers, why is Ashveil a bum? This was mentioned a bit by Pearl in 4.1 but its further supported here. Ashveil pays for the treatment for all the infirm Galaxy Rangers, especially those that fell to Dr. Primitive during their conflict in Vonwacq. This is the simplest of the details in the readable but its still very wholesome and show's Ashveil's true character.

Something interesting to note, while it is stated that Rappa dropped off Narrator with Ashveil, his character story actually implies it was originally a whole group. It appears to have been Narrator and his teammates, Robin Hood the Archer, Cole the Poet, and Coria the Musician.

>Character Story II

>He really worries about his companions. Due to severe regression, they can't think or talk as fluently as I can.

>As the boss of the monkeys, he has to warn them over and over:

>"Archer, this city isn't a laboratory. Don't let the noise scare you, got it?"

>"Nana?"

>"Ploos might be yellow, but they're not bananas."

>"Nana?"

>"You can't eat the mechatron either, Poet. That's the second time I've told you."

>"..."

>"And that goes for you too, Musician. No more stealing snacks."

>"Nom nom!"

>He sometimes tells me their stories: how Archer lost their hands in the crossfire while covering for their companions; how the mute Poet used to be so witty; how Musician wielded a man-sized hammer to carve a path through the carnage...

As Narrator says, they seem to have regressed far more then him. Speaking to Narrator and Ashveil in their office, Narrator would mention that Poet and Musician has already left. Most likely then not, what they mean by this was putting them in Moria for care and treatment.

2nd Letter

>Old Man,

>You never went back to Kronstadt after that, did you?

>I remember you mentioning your homeland. You said it was always shrouded in gloomy clouds. You said every step in the alleys was soaked in blood, and that fur-clad beasts were always howling in the withered, blackened wilderness.

>I was passing by that area recently, and guess what?

>A group of refugees has settled there to start anew. They cleared the thickets of thorns, toppled the old churches, and built gardens from the rubble. Soon, they will forget that this was once the bloody den where Zulo cultivated his minions. They will forget the last hunter who hunted every monster down. They will even forget the nickname "Black Church." When night fell, I watched the smoke from their cooking fires dissipate. The candlelight in their tents flickered on, one by one. It was bright yet fragile. A single insignificant storm in the cosmos could snuff those lights out.

>I plan to stay. Maybe just for a while. Don't blame me for making this decision on my own, Old Man. Neither of us has a home anymore, but they still do.

We now know Ashveil's homeworld. The planet Krondstadt, the Black Church. As is a pattern with the Galaxy Rangers, they all have their own specific targets. For Ashveil, it seems like it was Zulo, who ruled his world and used it to cultivated his armies.

https://preview.redd.it/2j7z7p9jggxg1.png?width=320&format=png&auto=webp&s=344fa541ea642d0414d17b0ff466ccb104cee257

Basically, its because he was born on HSR's version of Bloodborne, so that's fun. A decrepit, ruined world, overrun by monsters. It does bring in question, what Path was Zulo connected to? From the sound of all this, it seems like to be Voracity yet Luxbane already fills that role. Did they come after Zulo's death? What if its Abundance or Propagation which are also instinctual Paths? Interesting stuff to speculate about for now. Until then, feel satisfied that Ashveil is indeed Mr. Bloodborne.

3rd Letter

>To my favorite regular:

>Mr. La Mancha, it has been a while, but your name still comes up often in this lounge.

>Half of those talking about you want to find you, and half of those looking for you want you dead. Your admirers call you the Lead Hunter, the solitary First Fang whose teeth once shredded a Lord Ravager's chest. Your detractors call you a kinslaying monster who dragged the Rangers into the abyss for a private vendetta before vanishing. Years back, a Galaxy Ranger who survived Vonwacq showed me his scarred arms and swore to settle the score. I know the feeling, you still owe me for that unpaid tab, after all.

>Even further back, Cloud Knights came knocking, claiming you broke into the Shackling Prison and got someone out. Quite a feat, considering you were supposed to be visiting Zhuming's master craftsmen. You certainly have a talent for finding trouble in the darkest places.

>Lately, word is the "One-Eyed Owl" has picked up your scent. She tracked down the brothers you were providing for in Moria and took their eyes, hoping to see your location through them. I found a prosthetic doctor to treat them, but that lady plays dirty.

>You certainly made plenty of enemies during your glory days. I am not one to judge, but having both of the Galaxy Rangers' Lead Hunters on your tail at once is a special kind of reckless.

>I say "both" because just yesterday, some recruits following the "Heartless Bear" tried to shake me down for information. They wanted to get revenge for their boss.

>They claim you sold Dr. Primitive's archives, stole Navigator Isee's relic, and are now living it up on an IPC planet. Those naive kids actually think they can squeeze a share of the loot out of you.

>There is a young cowboy here with a steady hand who taught them some manners, but he is a terrible liar. He knows where you are, doesn't he? I am trusting him to deliver this letter. Long story short: watch your back.

>And don't you dare die before settling your tab.

>A frantic, handwritten note on the margin: Mister N, keep the doors and windows locked for the next few days.

Now this is the big one, as it explains why Ashveil is in hiding. He is being hunted, by no one else but the Galaxy Rangers themselves. In 4.1, when talking about Rappa and Boothill he denies knowing them, instead saying of the Rangers he knows, one sees him as a traitor and the other as prey. These seem to be referring to the One-Eyed Owl and Heartless Bear, La Mancha's co-founders of the Galaxy Rangers and their current Lead Hunters. Hoyo actually spoke of them as part of promotion for Ashveil, summarizing their story in a fairy tale which I'll show here.

https://preview.redd.it/8gtpgujhggxg1.png?width=320&format=png&auto=webp&s=eceed4ec293e20f69f16a68c8152e1618abd5347

It is unclear who among the two sees him as traitor or prey, nor who the identities of the two are.(though i have seen people speculating the One-Eyed Owl could be Loretta, mentioned in the assignments as a Ranger who fought against Zulo). It looks like the Hunters experienced a huge schism after the fight with Zulo, likely as a consequence of Ashveil unleashing his shadow as it implied to have devoured his comrades alongside his enemies. Given how long ago this was, I'm curious how Rappa and Boothill came to know Ashveil, being part of the Rangers who is sympathetic to him rather then try to hunt him down. I wonder if we will ever learn the story there.

In any case, that is the readable broken down, hope it was enjoyable.