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Image 1 — The mysterious second Isolde of v2.2 artworks [Theory]
Image 2 — The mysterious second Isolde of v2.2 artworks [Theory]
Image 3 — The mysterious second Isolde of v2.2 artworks [Theory]
Image 4 — The mysterious second Isolde of v2.2 artworks [Theory]
Image 5 — The mysterious second Isolde of v2.2 artworks [Theory]
Image 6 — The mysterious second Isolde of v2.2 artworks [Theory]
Image 7 — The mysterious second Isolde of v2.2 artworks [Theory]
▲ 79 r/IsoldeMainsZZZ

The mysterious second Isolde of v2.2 artworks [Theory]

I will speak of something that passed incognito during v2.2 release, most of players not noticing it, even myself. And it is how Colonel Isolde is represented through the version 2.2 artworks and in -game. To introduce you the subject, let's take a look at v2.2 artwork, the first image.

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Part 1 : The official v2.2 artworks. The version artwork and the v2.2 story video tape.

I think most of peoples noticed Isolde in the top corner of the artwork, but surely, many didn't noticed her black Bethlehem flower in hair missing, the fact she doesn't have white roses on her, her clothes changed, even her eyes showing an anomalous color. This isn't an oversight, all the other characters have their correct eyes colors. Seed and Orphie are wearing their Obol squad clothes. Then, why Isolde is shown wearing a black dress showing her arms?

Move to the second image. If we were logical, Isolde would be having at least her blue eyes and her black flower in hair if you consider the floating flower to be her brooch that fell. But where things start being ominous, is the v2.2 story video tape. Your glance may be attracted to the core part of the artwork: The proxies, the two members of the Obol squad showcased, the oil lantern. But the character put in highlight here isn't them. Indeed. What occupy most of the artwork is White roses, water and darkness. The theme of Night and Isolde. But the analysis isn't complete. There are two Isolde, one with red eyes, like the one shown in the version 2.2 panoramic artwork, at the top of the tape. But there is a second, symmetrical opposite of it, at the bottom left corner hidden underwater and for that one we don't know her eyes color.

A genuine question emerges: Why two Isolde are represented? And both artworks insisting on the fact the eyes are red? Why the need to put 2 Isolde on the v2.2 story tape whereas one was already here and perfectly visible? Because there is an intention behind it. It was required. But why ?

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Part 2 : To try to understand what is going on, we have to review Isolde appearances shown during v2.2 version and analysis how that appearance change and what is the context around it.

Please move to third image. The oldest Isolde appearance is the one seen in Magus flashback, she wears a kind of Tuxedo / Officer lady dress. Important things to note, she doesn't have any black flower in hair, she doesn't have any white rose on her, she doesn't have any symbolism of flower on her, she doesn't have her chest rose brooch nor the red scroll/talisman with white writing on it. Her pistol isn't shown, only a Denny Toy Gun, she has her sword but not the yellow Octopus charm. I do a parenthesis speculation here, the person shown near Ramiel in v2.8 really look like past Isolde, entirely possible, Ramiel is 100 years old, and Old capital fall with Agamemnon squad was like 10 years ago. But this hypothesis is speculation, believe or not. It's definitely not Carole Arna.

Now let's use image four. Time passed. Her lover / deep friend Orpheus was dying, Isolde allowed Orpheus consciousness transfer to a gun, creating Magus, as Magus voiced wanting to keep Orphie and not wipe her from existing (Orphie trust events, Magus stating she wanted to allow Orphie to exist), this time, Isolde wears her current Colonel uniform, as she got the promotion from the corrupted superiors for I guess, be the only one surviving, and helping Porcelumex/TOPS saving profits. Weapons aren't shown, and again, notice how we don't see the black flower in hair, nor any white rose. She does have her flower golden locket around her neck, but her back white rose or her chest rose with red scroll is still nowhere to be seen. Not even peeking, which is quite strange, considering that during v2.2, you always have black flower in hair visible and at least one of the three white rose on her visible too.

Speaking of v2.2 look, we now have to use image five to take a look at it. Two elements can be observed: Firstly, Isolde artworks systemically show her black flower in hair. As I said earlier, it also shows her chest white rose. I rechecked Orphie/Magus EP, Isolde is shown with white rose, red talisman and her black flower. But I attract you on the fact that Isolde has her black flower even under Overseer mask. So it's clear now, Isolde obtained her white roses, the red scroll and her black flower somewhere between the Fall of Old capital / Creation of Orphie/Magus and version 2.2 event, we can speculate Isolde is between 30 and 40 years old, maybe 36... and the fall happened 10 years ago. So her flowers were obtained recently, during the last 10 years. Secondly, a detail kind of trouble me, on two of those three v2.2 artworks, 2 hides her eyes. The Interknot one, and Orphie/Magus music Fury On. Doesn't it reminds you something? The v2.2 tape. The hidden underwater Isolde not showing her eyes. The other one have red eyes which isn't the right color.

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Part 3 : Ok, so Isolde appearance is different on the various artworks, and she also changed her appearance with time, wearing different clothes. But does anything else have changed?

We will now use the sixth image. The one comparing Miasma Priest and Defiler forms. If you didn't heard of it let me give you a first intel. Mevorakh, in cinematics wear only one golden mask, the version Miasma priest you fight have three. Maybe a hint at her 3 identities Colonel, Overseer and Research Consultant I guess ? Or to her three forms? Miasma priest, Defiler, Defector ? But anywway this isn't what I want to talk about here.

Miasma priest and Defiler have a Spectral body part. This is very important. It is an hand attached to the back of her spine for Miasma Priest, in the case of Defiler, it is an additional hair ponytail. There is a signification behind it. Both appears once she infused herself with Miasma and not before.

Hand: Think of omniscience, a guide, protection, lending a hand, offering help. That what the Creator does in Miasma Priest fight, it lend a power to the Miasma priest allowing her to resurrect from a massive miasma ball at the end of v2.0. But also the clock attack I did some theory about. The deity is acting through her, it is a support. See it as an extension of her. Just like the Miasma Exuva on her shoulder. This is a trial, a test to see if she can bears the power.

Ponytail: This isn't an extension, it is part of her. A ponytail, taking root in head, mind. The nature of power is different, miasma priest happens in reality, but here, Defiler, it happens in an illusion, an arena at the middle of a miasma sea, moonlight, red Creator tentacles. The deity isn't acting through her, it is part of her. If you read Isolde letter v2.2 or the Porcelumex files to destroy on v2.1, you will notice that Isolde don't give a bangboo about worshiping the Creator. She isn't a worshiper, she even abort refinements, remove human experiments, she ruins what was established by the former overseer. But why the Creator say nothing? Even in v2.5, when Isolde returns as miasma form, she is able to decide to destroy the porcalloy spheres and ruins Creator plans, without any consequence or vengeance from the Creator. It's because Creator is part of her. It is like Sarah after she was saved from dying by Creator, they are infused by some Creator power and the Creator let them do whatever they want with that power. Through, players may ask, why Isolde in Defiler form keep shouting about sacred path, destiny, blasphemy and blessings?

Because like Sarah case, when Miasma is very potent and you use Creator power, the Creator can forces you to spit some blessing to them with your vocal chords. It's plausible, the enemy "Covenant Guardian" is an human corrupted by the Creator to extreme almost like a messenger, it looks metallic, porcalloy like, and can speak, but speak to only shout Creator laws and vows. You can think about miasma cocoon too, drowned ideal trying to convince you to join them. So nah, here I suppose Isolde is still Isolde, but either it was Creator doing, or she was acting because Creator was watching/monitoring her and she felt like it's not nice criticizing someone listening.

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Part 4 : Who is the Colonel Isolde that we meet in v2.2 ?

Last image. Image seven. There are only three persons/entity having ritualist scrolls on them, talismans. And those are: Ye Shunguang, Miasmic fiend unfathomable, Isolde. Those scrolls in chinese culture are meant to help controlling a resurrected entity, they are generally yellow, you can see one on Qiqi in genshin or one on Miasmic fiend. They are basically recreated/resurrected body and those scrolls allow the necromancer who created them to have some control over them. I precise it here, but Miasma drowned Ideal are perfectly able to mimic someone memory, have a personality and interact with you, see Drowned Ideal Manato in v2.3.

The red scroll on other side display an higher dangerous level, a stronger potent magic. You surely know that Void Hunters Weapon are tied to Creator power, but in Ye Shunguang case, she is also possessed by the power like a vessel. When the white form take over, it is a whole different character. And those red scrolls act as a warning to tell you that there are soul binding talismans on her and she isn't made of only one entity. I suspect it is the same idea with Isolde. There is also the idea of branding, Ye Shunguang in white form obtain red tattoos on legs, for Defiler form you do have those red lines appearing on thigh, but I don't know if the idea behind was the same.

Isolde is the Exatlist overseer Mevorakh / Miasma priest. That Overseer resurrected at the end of v2.0 after being defeated by Yixuan. What tell you that what under the coat, Isolde, isn't also a miasmic creation? Explaining why she has this red scroll on chest ? To speculate this you have to take in account everything I said before:

  1. In many artworks her eyes are hidden, to not show their colors.
  2. She obtained white roses, black flower and red scroll talisman in an unknown way.
  3. The body resurrected in v2.0 fight with Yixuan.
  4. The Defiler is chanting blessing and speaking with holy lexical field whereas Isolde hate it.
  5. Defector doesn't disappear in pixels but turn into miasma goo.
  6. Isolde miasma astral projection appearance in v2.5, still able to use Creator power.
  7. Identity unclear, she is a Research Consultant, Overseer, Colonel.
  8. Her actions somehow helped Krampus, stated in 100% Miss Zhao v2.4, v2.2 Zhao.

So what if there are indeed two Isolde, but the Isolde we saw in v2.2 was a fake one made of Miasma, created by Krampus, Exaltists, Creator, TOPS or whoever you want, in order to liquidate Lucro and Lorenz, and to stop Creator messenger in v2.5? The real one being Krampus leader?

Again, think of Drowned Ideal. A copy of Isolde would feel her grief, and maybe because miasma is more attracted to violence, it brew her grief out of control leading to that Drowned ideal becoming the Defiler and Defector, explaining why the game itself refuse to label "The Defector" and "The Defiler" as "Isolde" in Data and VR training? Because it's not her? Isolde being a professional intel gatherer and very talented individual, would surely be able to attract Lucro and Lorenz away without hurting anyone else. What if after the death of London, Exaltists were in panic and they did experiments and cloning and used miasma to make a new overseer ?

Doppelgangers are perfectly able to charge themselves with miasma, miasma infused doppelgangers exist. Foes infused by miasma too. Some do mutate thanks to miasma too changing form, the main example being "Scorched Horizon" boss, in v2.8, able to change its arm form to be any sacrifice including Defiler. This is the ultimate hint, a sacrifice is able to change form.

Imagine Isolde v2.2 as a special type of Sacrifice Drowned Ideal, able to change form if infused by miasma, to become miasma priest or the Defiler. The Black flower in hair or the white roses to me may be the indicator that she is copy, a fake. The miasmic copy thinking it would be cool for her to wear flowers...

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Part 5 : Conclusion

Thanks for reading, this was in my mind since some times. And remember, it is a theory.

A Game Theory.

u/Dark_Hadrian66 — 1 day ago
▲ 519 r/IsoldeMainsZZZ

A New Isolde Mindscape Cinema Design Has Dropped [by zz张zzz on Miyoushe (CN ver. HoYoLAB)]

The artist has enabled authorized reposting permissions, and this post complies with Miyoushe's requirements for authorized reposts.

Source

u/Rotachen123 — 5 days ago
▲ 35 r/IsoldeMainsZZZ

Isolde gameplay proposal. Update 2/2. Effects and W-engine.

**Before getting started, I'm considering making one more post going over the numbers of this idea for Isolde's playable kit, such as going over stats, damage multipliers, the passive, team synergies, W-engine and even a possible drive disk set. However, the reason I'm not too sure about it, is because it would be VERY number-heavy. I'll still provide commentary about it, discussing the 'why' and 'how' of Isolde fitting within the META, but since this isn't a sub where such things are discussed, I'm not convinced it would be interesting for our community. Anyway, if even just a few people are interested in such a post, go ahead and just leave a comment and I'll make it happen. Now, back to the actual topic of this post.**

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DISCLAIMER: As previously stated in the other part of this project; I am no artist. This will be painfully obvious later on, so take any images I provide as more of a visual aid that, along my descriptions, will (hopefully) make for a proper full picture of what my vision is.

Additionally; you'll see me use THIS Isolde character sheet:

https://preview.redd.it/facur0pgah8h1.jpg?width=3840&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f11a2a54e98e29d18152566db400a4e3893f51cc

And if you aren't blind, you probably can see the problem with this render; the texture in the pants is wrong, as it actually is the texture of her back upside-down. I was aware of the problem but this picture was the most comfortable one to work with I could find. It doesn't really matter, as her pants aren't important in this context, just wanted to say it in case someone brings it up.

Enough stalling, let's get started.

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—Miasma State:

https://preview.redd.it/k53d0w2jah8h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0b90cb368bd1fa6165e6421143b2bf74503b369

As you can see, there's a few things going on, so let me break down the details.

Firstly, I didn't want to just copy-paste the miasma aura effect all bosses get when going into it, as I think that'll be too boring and uninspired. Plus, I have some potential lore to justify such change.

For starters, while in the miasma state, Isolde has a crackling, fire-like miasma aura, not entirely covered in it, but noticeable as a constant exhaust of fire around her. This is an important detail, as I think lore-wise, the Miasma State should be smilar to Ye Shunguang's Enlighten State, as in, it's a power up with downsides for the user if used incorrectly or too much​. In the case of Isolde, is the fact she's using miasma to begin with, something that already gave her trouble before by getting corrupted by miasma to the point of being terminally corrupted by the time of the events in Wafei. And remember; she was "blessed" by The Creator with its mark, meaning she probably had some extra resistance to the stuff and still got pretty badly corrupted. Now, she's just a human, so the more reason to be careful with her using miasma and avoid making the same mistake twice. Plus, it also serves to justify why Isolde isn't as powerful or uses as much of her attacks as in her actual boss fight; that was a last resort, no bar hold situation where it was her final stand, so she went all out without regards for her health. Of course, ameplay-wise it's only reflected by her continuously loosing HP in gameplay, but outside of combat, it'll be a state she hardly uses unless truly necessary, much like YS and the Quinming sword, where we can trigger it as much as we want in gameplay without the consequences in lore.

The other side of this state's effect is the idea of "anger" as a primary focus and driving force. While Isolde is not a raging berserker, she definitely seems to hyper-focus on her target when she gets mad, as we see in the story with her going a bit off the rails once the target of her vengeance and rage was in the proper place at the right time. This shows mainly in her eyes, becoming red due to the miasma flowing through her in the state to both show how the miasma inside her is powering up and boosting her abilities and also reflect a "seeing red" mentality. It's not that she has lost control, but she's definitely more focused on her target, perhaps a bit too much, and has no quarrels about throwing everything she can at it plus the kitchen sink. And of course, the crackling fire-like aura also symbolises both her "burning with rage" but also burning herself, as in, she's willing to sacrifice her own health to accomplish her goals.

The last big detail is on her hair, a callback to her Defiler form and the way her hair "splits" into two tails; an actual hair one and a spectral one, a detail I noticed and thought was pretty neat. Though, I'll leave any speculation about it's significance to more suited individuals. So, decided to add it, specially since I consider The Defiler to be more of an accurate miasmic representation of Isolde as opposed to Mevorak, who I see more like Isolde playing a role unlike her just being The Defiler.

The last, smaller details, are on her weapons. Mainly it's her sword as it will be inbued in miasma, while her gun shooting miasma enhanced projectiles, similar to her actual fight. Any cut she performs during this state will also have a miasma effect on it, but it's purely visual and nothing else.

I'll go into the weapons a bit deeper later on, after her W-engine effect. Speaking of…

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—W-engine:

https://preview.redd.it/oagjm1ipah8h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5e67d6df9bddede393ee96e9007838ee00d803c1

So, the main thing about this effect is, obviously, the hair effect. Firstly is the idea behind it, is meant to be similar to most season 2 signature engines for characters like YS, Yixuan, Yidhari or Yuzuha. (Damn, lots of "Y"). By this I mean it should be a sort of metallic texture, the colour of which is meant to be an opposite of how miasma is represented most of the time and with a "vine" aesthetic.

The other thing ​is how both the flower on her front and gun have a blue flame on them, much softer than the fire of her miasma state, which adds a a bit more visual interest.

Here are both effects together:

https://preview.redd.it/cdws4qrsah8h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1d40e16668f3ae9f72f6401a89254acf3345bb1b

And now is time for me to get pedantically poetic and philosophical!

So, her weapons are affected much differently by both effects, and that's on purpose. To me, it seems like Isolde's sword and gun carry much different significance for her.

Her sword is used primarily as a tool for her to carry out the not-so-proud moments. It's how she transforms into The Defiler, it's how she commands her miasma soldiers often and it's often directed infuse with miasma, so the Miasma State shows most on it.

Meanwhile, her gun is most related to her carrying out more "personal" moments, from taking her revenge and bringing justice upon Lucro, to using the denny gun to both help the proxy during the Yuzuha and Alice patch, to tricking Magnus at the end of her duel.

Neither are positive nor negative, but they seem different. The sword is the tool for her to fight, to command. To be a Colonel. It's an extension of her fury and suffering made into a tool.

Her gun is more personal, it's what accomplishes her revenge, and while the denny gun isn't the exact same, it's still a pistol she uses fairly regularly to joke around lightly before Magus and her comrades deaths or in more personal situations, moments where I believe Isolde is not putting on a mask, is not pretending anything, is just being actually her. For this, her gun gets the same blue flame as her flower, almost acting like a representation of her very soul.

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And of course, we have the actual design for her signature W-engine:

https://preview.redd.it/9e0cyf9wah8h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=971bf67d01f9b304be5ba1c4933f8b2ddb82dbd6

Now, other than my poor drawing skills, the main thing behind the idea for a design somewhat like this is the idea of what makes Isolde very special and stand out in the roster if she becomes playable; the fact she has three whole boss fights to her name. As such, I want to pay homage to all three, but first, the basic form of the engine:

Obviously, it's meant to be reminiscent of Isolde's own clothes a bit on the nose but considering how many signature weapons look like or are reminiscent of the intended user, I think it works fine. Plus, it has another purpose, and that's it's simplicity. This engine is meant to look somewhat plain or unassuming, like an A rank engine… because this is meant to represent Isolde quite literally hidding in plain sight from both the player and in-game characters. I'll be referring a post I did not long ago about my views on Isolde's character and behaviour, from which I arrived at the idea that we've never seen the "real" Isolde much because of the circumstances surrounding every interaction we've had with her. This basic design is reminiscent of what I call her "colonel" persona, the professional and dedicated woman who seems just normal, perhaps a bit serious or drawn to isolation, but nothing that could be seen as suspicious or worrying, specially from someone who's been through so much as Isolde has. And so, this is reflected in the design of the engine by being intentionally unassuming without being bland.

Now, with W-engines there's always a shift or animated part to them, we all know and love them, but with Isolde's I've thought of an alternative and more experimental way to make her W-engine, which will sacrifice most animations and instead put the resources on making THREE different alternative forms for her W-engine.

So, this is how it could work: When viewing this W-engine, it is no different than a regular one at the beginning, just slowly spinning until a transition happens and the engine transforms into its "alternative" form, much like how many other engines shift and transform. The important part is that this transitions are essentially the only animation on the engine. After the transition happens, the engine continues spinning and then returns to the original form before the next transformation occurs, where it shifts into the second form, and then the third form on the next cicle.

So while yes; this means the engine cicles through three completely different transformations and forms the way it does it is simple and without much animations, allowing the resources saved in the animations to be used instead for the actual modeling.

Let's begin with the first change, "The Priest":

https://preview.redd.it/59j87if1bh8h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4e8c4ec4930146af81fb55ba1a2b41b2048d0f42

https://preview.redd.it/psq7fgsyah8h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ea0613c653460f229778d745286fdb92e32e712

For the transformation, miasma pours out of the gap on the engine, as the top part lifts slowly and reveals the inside of it. For starters, it obviously Mevorak's mask, broken both because the Exhaltists are and because Isolde's own feelings on the role. I don't think it's a far stretch that Isolde only play the role of Mevorak for convenience and to further her own personal goals as opposed to actually caring at all for their beliefs. On the inside of the open lid is the "clock" or "mural" we see a bunch during the Mevorak fight, and while my lacking arts skills cannot convey it, the surface the mask is resting on would be one made of polished marble and miasma roots, but most importantly; organised. One thing I like quite a lot about the Exhaltists look is how they manage to look both clean and sharp but also creepy and disgusting, mixing elements of both religious piety and miasma, which is a big influence for this one design. From how the lid opens slowly, reminiscent of a holy ritual, a miasma mist pouring out like if about to reveal a holy treasure resting on miasma-infected but clean floors, only for it to be the broken mask of a woman who never cared for their beliefs… I'm just a sucker for religious iconography.

Now, unto the next version, "The Defiler":

https://preview.redd.it/ilhm6646bh8h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=167cc788393c655114bd1edcaa90a479a4d8e202

https://preview.redd.it/pe5rf546bh8h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c9ca3703d8e7a2c76975574000fd05ac357eea3

As opposed to the previous transition between the basic form and the reveal, this one is a lot more violent, with cracks forming on the engine, miasma barely squeezing out before it blows open, where upon, it reveals another mask, this time the Defiler's, resting on a pool of water, the moon on one side and miasma tendrils on the other. This is more leaning towards recreating the arena of the Defiler, but that's still relevant to Isolde's character for obvious reasons. And, of course, this carries the more volatile and angry way of acting Isolde does in the moment. It's not far fetched to say that Isolde was far from calm during this section, so it shows on how the transition is the lid just blowing up.

And lastly, we have "The Defector":

https://preview.redd.it/t3t9iab8bh8h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f49c372dd8a4b5d5fb6422772ed0788b497bc0de

Unfortunately, I couldn't really draw a way to show the transition, but it's actually fairly easy to describe as it would be the top of the W-engine opening like a flower in bloom and revealing the actual flower inside. No miasma to be seen, as this is a representation of Isolde's final moments, but instead the soft glow of the same effect as on her flower and gun in combat while using this engine. This is a time where, I imagine, she wasn't feeling neither proud nor angry, no emotions other than sadness and very likely regret, not because of her vengeance per se, but of how it dragged along with her so many people, including some very close to her. As such this is more of a quiet moment of reflection. The flower is obviously the same one that has become essentially Isolde's in ZZZ, the deny and the knife are also self explanatory.

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And… that's it. I have to say, I think this came out better than I expected, incredibly amateur and with lots of ways to improve the drawings and stuff, but as said at the beginning; they are more of an aid and to be used along with my descriptions to get the full picture. This is technically the last update to this little project of mine, unless there's a few people interested in me making a third instalment with all the numbers and stuff.

Either way, once again, thank you all for the support and for being an amazing community. Have a very nice day and remember to maintain the agenda.

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u/Agile_Payment_7774 — 11 days ago