The Radiant Youth

[C2B]

Regarding the most mysterious charachter in the game: Who is he and what is his gameplan? Obviously he is not one of the old gods but he still has tremendous knowdledge about them, seemingly surpassing the Archons.

 

Its strongly hinted in a hidden lorebook that he is Azunai. Though, that still leaves a lot of questions open nor does it really confirm his identity.

[Starwars]

One of the conversations near the end also seems to hint that he's Azunai (I think it's a convo with one of the Archons).

 

Pretty nice character but his voice-acting annoyed me a bit which kinda ruined the impact.

[HoonDing]

The hero of DS2 was Azunai reborn, regardless whether (s)he was a Dryad, half-giant, Elf or human. Why would Azunai return as a child?

[C2B]

The hero of DS2 was Azunai reborn, regardless whether (s)he was a Dryad, half-giant, Elf or human. Why would Azunai return as a child?

 

Its actually mentioned that he also appeared in other forms. Why he is a child in this case would be interesting to know.

[HoonDing]

In DS2, though, it's never made explicit that the main hero is Azunai reborn. It's suggested by two antagonists only, who even might've been wrong or were trying to mislead the main hero.

 

It's also never made clear whether Azunai really became a god, only that he was worshipped as a god along with other powerful heroes of the past.

[C2B]

In DS2, though, it's never made explicit that the main hero is Azunai reborn. It's suggested by two antagonists only, who even might've been wrong or were trying to mislead the main hero.

 

It's also never made clear whether Azunai really became a god, only that he was worshipped as a god along with other powerful heroes of the past.

 

Those are both in DSIII. The second part is in a lorebook (though more detailed) and its also "just" suggested in this game. Hopefully we will learn more about him in a future game.

Edited June 21, 2011 by C2B

[Chasted]

The hero of DS2 was Azunai reborn, regardless whether (s)he was a Dryad, half-giant, Elf or human. Why would Azunai return as a child?

 

Its actually mentioned that he also appeared in other forms. Why he is a child in this case would be interesting to know.

 

Because it symbolizes new beginnings.

Odo told you that just after you met the Radiant Youth for the first time and then commenting he normally appears as a warrior.

The dude appears towards the person depending on what their destiny will be.

[HoonDing]

Is Xeria ever mentioned in the game?

[Oner]

I1ll just leave this here.

[ShadowScythe]

I remember that concept art. Did they say who that was (i.e. like the Hero of DS2 thus further cementing the Radiant Youth as Azunai?)

[Alpha]

I didn't know he was voiced by a lady until i saw the credits at the end.

[Sabotin]

I'll also just leave this here.

 

The first time we met, you never told me your name.

When I was young... a long time ago... my name was Azunai. I led a rebellion against a tyrant... a monster called Zaramoth.

The people of Ehb revere you as a god. Is that what you are?

I'm not a creator god... they were already gone, long before my birth.

But I'm kin to them, in a way. It's not easy to explain, but I can try.

Go on. I want to know.

Imagine you're staring up at the sun, blazing and bright. The radiance of the sun is like the creator gods of old.

Now imagine that you shut your eyes, and all that's left is a ghostly image of the sun, pulsing and red in the dark, like a memory of its brilliant light.

That image is like me. My power is just a memory of theirs.

I am strong in this world... but I cannot create from nothing, as the old gods could. Nor can I undo their work.

What happened to the creator gods? Are they all dead?

The old gods fell from the heavens, a long time ago. They died then... or soon after.

Most of their works are gone, as well... but not all.

You're not a child. Why do you appear that way to me?

You see me as a child because of who you are. You're a creator, and you're bringing new life to the Legion.

Most legionnaires are soldiers and protectors... or they hope to be, someday. So when they look at me, they see a warrior.

And some who aspired to join the Legion... in their secret hearts, they cared only for themselves, and the glory they might win.

So they never saw me at all, and the Legion cast them out.

Thank you for telling me this. When I saw you in the Mournweald, we didn't have much time to talk.

A part of me is still there, in the forest, even now. The power that sleeps there cannot be allowed to wake... not ever again.

Have you always appeared to new legionnaires?

Yes. Ever since the very beginning, when I spoke to the founders of the Legion, on the Plain of Tears.

That was a very long time ago, but they faced a struggle that was much like your own.

What struggle was that?

 

I've heard parts of their story before, but never the whole.

The old Emperor had been murdered, and the nation fell apart. Everywhere they looked, the founders saw war.

So they traveled from place to place, gathering allies, and seeking brave men and women to build a new Legion.

I guided them, as well as I could. And I judged the hearts of all those who offered to join them.

So the people you judged to be worthy - they became the bloodline of the Legion.

Yes. They were the ancestors of all the old bloodlines, like the Montbarrons and the Guiscards.

But the Legion has always welcomed new bloodlines, too.

Odo is the first of his line to join the Legion, and in the last generation, he's been the most important legionnaire of all.

Are my Trials complete?

Yes. You've passed the Trials, and your blood is joined to the Legion.

[Sannom]

Is that part of the cut material you talked about in the other thread? That's good stuff .

 

Odo's story makes me sad. In DS3, his story is already over. He spent thirty years protecting the Legion, trying to make it so that one day the Legion would be born anew. And when finally the time comes, he leaves everything to the player, while Marten continues his work as second-in-command, but no longer to him. Funny when you consider what his role in the old legion is implied to have been : scout and spy, but also assassin and questioner.

[HoonDing]

"I've heard parts of their story before, but never the whole.

The old Emperor had been murdered, and the nation fell apart. Everywhere they looked, the founders saw war.

So they traveled from place to place, gathering allies, and seeking brave men and women to build a new Legion.

I guided them, as well as I could. And I judged the hearts of all those who offered to join them."

 

This is what I don't really get. I thought Zaramoth (an immortal Uthgard giant) had always been Emperor of the Empire of Stars, until the people rose up against his tyranny (led by Azunai).

 

The 10th Legion backed out of the conflict and fled to Ehb.

[Drewin]

There are many differences between DS2 and DS3, which i can't explain to myself.

 

 

Battle between Zaramoth and Azunai

 

DS2: Zaramoth was Emperor of Stars. Battle between Zaramoth and Azunai was in time, when Empire of stars had existed.

DS3: By the legend Azunai was a human. He was born before Empire of stars existed. So... Was battle between Zaramoth and Azunai before founding of Empire of stars?

 

 

War with seck

 

DS2: Zaramoth created seck. And they took part in war against Azunai.

DS3: Seck bred giant spiders. Silk and eggs of those spiders were expensive at empire. Later they came to Ehb, legion defeated them.

DS1: Main quest was bound with returning of seck.

As I understand: By the lore of DS2 this returning of seck was after they were defeated in war with Zaramoth. By the lore of DS3 this returning of seck was after they were defeated in war, that was much later then the war with Zaramoth. But there is no disproof, that seck took part in wars after defeating of Zaramoth. Correct me, if i was wrong.

 

 

War of legions

 

DS2: When Emperor Veransk III died, Zaramoth became an emperor of stars. Thirteen legions bowed before their new emperor. But 10-th legion came to west, and nobody knows what happened to them (foundation of Ehb? ). With support of 13 legions Zaramoth became very powerful and the war of legions started. Those, who wanted the union of all lands of Aranna under one tyrant, followed Zaramoth. Those, who wanted freedom, resisted him.

DS3: The commander of 3d legion usurped the throne. Emperor was killed. But even in DS3 there are differences in different sources:

• from first source: The legion was created in time of war, to restore peace in Empire. The commander of 3d legion usurped the throne, but then 3d legion was defeated and empire once again strengthened.
  
• from second sores: At the time of Old Empire 10th legion was loyal to monarch. It was called the legion of emperor. (As I understand "Old Empire" was called the Empire before the war of legions. So did 10th legion exist before the war of legions or not?)
  
• from third source: At the end of war of legions the third legion was defeated. Commander of 10th legion showed mercy and gave refuge to survivors in new kingdom of Ehb. (So "New Empire", "Empire, that once again strengthened" is kingdom of Ehb? Is it correct to call it like that?)
  

Plain of Tears

 

DS2: Before first cataclysm plain of tears was green and beautiful land known as Venanda. After Cataclysm it became desert.

DS2:BW: Kalrathia is located in the heart of plain of tears. After second cataclysm Kalrathia began to submerge to the water. Probably, at least part of plain of tears submerge to water.

DS3: At the time of war of legions, plain of tears was barren.

 

Lore of DS3 and DS2 are too different to be parts of one universe. . As i understend, sequence of historical events is:

 

in DS2: Empire of stars -> Battle between Zaramoth and Azunai -> Kingdom of Ehb -> Second Cataclysm

in DS3: Battle between Zaramoth and Azunai -> Empire of stars -> War of legions -> Kingdom of Ehb.

 

 

Stature of agallans

 

DS2: In DS2 we can learn the story of halfgiants' curse. Also we met agallans and halfgiant of first generation.

DS3:TOS: We can see agallans' corpses. This corpses are significantly lower then agalans we met in DS2. This corpses look like corpses of halfgiants of first generation.

 

 

There is no connection between DS2 and DS3 actions

1. There is no reference about first cataclysm
   
2. There is no reference about second cataclysm
   
3. At the end of DS:BW some heroes of DS2, like Taar and Amren, came to Ehb. But there are no references about them. (Also morden riders from quest in DS2 was going to come to Ehb. It is probably, that they died like other mordens in DS2:BW but there is a hope.)
   

[HoonDing]

Funny thing is that the hero of DS2 is in fact Azunai Reborn, and should still be alive at the time of DS3 (especially when the hero is an Elf or Dryad), and yet there is that Radiant Youth kiddie.

[George Ziets]

I think I can clarify this a bit.

 

When we developed DS3, Obsidian followed the DS bible that was sent to us by GPG. It turned out that there were some lore conflicts between the first and second DS games, and the "official" backstory follows the original game.

 

Thus, according to the DS bible, Zaramoth predated the Empire of Stars. He was killed by Azunai, which resulted in a massive cataclysm, followed by a dark age. The Empire of Stars emerged later.

[Nonek]

I was always surprised by how willing I was to do the radiant youths bidding, usually i'm somewhat of an obstroperous fellow when it comes to otherwordly authority figures. But the only time I questioned the youths judgement was with the Gent against Wulf, I believed the old legionnaire deserved a little forgiveness just like Jayne. It seemed I was dabbling too much in the sewers of political maneuvering there. Hard choice, which is probably the highest praise available.