Let's speculate! (I19 Spoilers Ahoy)

So I19 has brought us a lot of new information to munch on, so I figured I'd open up a thread for some rampant speculation, especially since me and some friends have started cooking up some really crazy theories.

Mender Ramiel

It's well established that Ramiel doesn't care for Silos all that much, though still cares about defending against the Coming Storm. As such, he's rather invested in gaining our characters the power of an Incarnate.

At the end of his arc, it's readily apparent that Silos and Ramiel are about a second away from openly asking each other where the other put the Well. Your character then finds another letter that states that "As always, seek me out in the crystal of fire and ice. Or... depending on when you are reading this, you may have merely seen me minutes ago." This immediately puts a big red arrow over Silos or Ramiel, though theoretically it could be any character previously seen in the arc or none of them thanks to the ambiguity of the phrasing.

But...as a friend suddenly noticed as we were discussing the arc: Re-arrange the letters in Ramiel and you get..."mailer". Not to mention that what we know of them is comparable in regards to disliking Silos and wanting to be prepared for the Storm. You also quite literally go to look for him in the pillar, or at least A pillar, in the very first mission of the arc..

So, what about Silos? I doubt he's unaware of the traitor in his own ranks. He's immediately suspicious of Ramiel in the final mission of the arc, and rather interestingly is also the only one who knows of Ramiel's past, according to Ramiel's short bio. I read that to mean that Silos also knows Ramiel's true identity.

So who is Ramiel? I'm sorely tempted to attach previous theories to this one and randomly claim that Ramiel is what remains of the Dream Doctor's original self, but I admit that this is purely wild speculation.

Ramiel's Arc

There are a few interesting tidbits of information I noted from Ramiel's arc, primarily the first mission.

While their descriptions claim they're simply being extracted from your character's own memories, the Echoes are rather curious in their presentation. They constantly try to foil the player character and speak as though they're controlled by an unknown malefactor. They also immediately make one think of the Shadow Shard's Reflections.

Additionally, a large number of them are either explicitly Incarnates, or implicitly Incarnates. Sister Psyche and Positron feel like odd choices until one remembers that Sister Solaris and Daedalus are major players in Cimerora, implying they are a form of Incarnate. Even the non-Hero or AV echoes seen later in the arc are directly connected to Incarnates - 5th Column, Longbow, Vanguard, Rikti, and Arachnos. The only extremely odd inclusion is Glacia, an echo of a member of the Omega Team.

Of course, there's also the unfightable character seen on the mission map: Hamidon. The large green tentacles that gleam with an odd teal slick caused me to think back to a specific piece of propaganda seen in Praetoria, one featuring a many-tentacled roaring beast kept at bay by sonic fences. I think it's pretty safe to say it's him.

One last note on Ramiel's arc: It states that links to the Well appear throughout the universe, and Ramiel also says that it exists throughout other dimensions as well. This opens up a rather sizable can of worms concerning things like the Shivans, the Leviathan, and Rularuu.

Lady Grey

Could she be the mythical Lady of the Lake? Considering her lifespan and supposed power, she definitely seems like a possible Incarnate. But then why does she act so secretive in Ramiel's arc?

Vincent Ross' Arc

For starters, we are told that Blood Coral is, essentially, a more powerful version of Red Coral that is created through a special ritual. One that involves sacrificing a being of pure shadow or pure light. So in other words, Kheldians. Twilight's Son, waaaaay back in I11, told us that the Coming Storm uses Kheldians to fuel their ships. Connection?

On top of that, we now have the lingering question of who or what is the shadowy figure that killed Merulina. (We also still don't know the identity of who was/is mucking with the time stream in the first place.)

Power Cannot Be Destroyed

One of the other choice tidbits comes from golden voice of the Well itself in Vincent Ross' arc. It states that power cannot be destroyed, simply transferred.

Question: The Rikti killed all of their gods. Where did that power go?

Apex and Tin Mage

Haven't done these yet. I'm under the impression they purely focusing on the Praetorian conflict, however, so I'm not sure how many plot snippets they contain.


And now for some theories of mine:

Ramiel's Trick

You travel into the future to experience a memory of your future self thanks to a shard of crystal of ice and flame that Ramiel hands over to you. For starters, this is not an ability previously established that the crystals can grant. It also brings up a lot of questions of what your character was doing at the time. And why go to Ouroboros just after the Storm came and went? Why were the temporal echoes waiting for you? Why did your character just happen to have the crystal ready to give to Ramiel? Why was Ramiel the only Mender left?

This feels odd. Almost as if it was staged. Could Ramiel have faked the memory? It gives him a quick and dirty alibi that puts him above suspicion. Why did he suddenly show up recently? Oh, well, Character Name told him to! Hrm. It's also a very odd story element when you consider that all Incarnates must do his arc in order to unlock the Alpha Slot...

This feels like a manipulation befitting of the letter writer, if the two are one in the same.

The Shivans

You know, we never quite learned what Shiva was, other than a "world devouring god". But we know the Shivans are apparently the envoys of the Coming Storm.

I realized something curious about the Shivans, though. They're made of ectoplasm, a blue/green goo. They have cores that rest at the center of their mass. They come from meteor fragments; rocks that pulse with a strange energy that apparently have some kind of sentience about them. And they use human bodies as a host of sorts.

Ectoplasm with a core at its center? Sentient rocks powered by a strange energy? And they (can) use human bodies as a host.

One detail you left out, from the description for the Stormwatcher badge in Firebase Zulu:

Admittedly it was out of my mind since there was already a thread about it a few days ago.

Plus I haven't gone out of my way to pick up most of the new badges yet, aside from the Monster Island and Abyss ones. (And they didn't have much aside from some weird writing, including a worrying emphasis on Rikti monkey poo.)

Is it possible that shivans are Devouring Earth from another dimension? Praetoria perhaps?

In beta, there was some discussion about that same letter...especially after Lady Grey's "I know all about Incarnates, yes. I'm also only going to tell you what I feel like telling you, and nothing more. Don't even bother asking. In fact, I insist that you don't. And finally, you know how Recluse and Statesman can get possessed by the Well? Notice how that DOESN'T EVER HAPPEN with me? Toodles."

I really doubt an anagram of Ramiel's name will have any meaning. Ramiel is the name of an archangel; I think that path of research would have more importance.

Anyone checked out Branforth the Seer's letter from the Omega Team Time Capsule thing?

There's a few interesting things there:

"The glor'ous monarch will defend, his homeland to the bitter end, An army built to soothe all doubts, but ripples show in upstart bouts, Make you choice: red blue or gray, choose who to spurn and who obey, You'd like to think there's no price dear, but the real world is not so clear."

Obviously refers to Emperor Cole and Going Rogue in general.

"I saw a mirror torn apart, thousand-spiraling work of art, Behind a veil was once a fool, now its creation is its tool, Suffered from a mighty fall, seeks again to consume all, To face it our heroes prep, to win just watch that first step."

Given the mirror and world-devouring this probably refers to Rularuu.

"A peaceful race comes from afar, a living message in a jar, Find they cannot grow any more, into new flesh they are reborn, Silence breaks by the gods thunder, coexistence cast asunder, Now just one culture slow to change, not evil pure but surely strange."

This one is annoying, since it could refer to any of our three alien races: It could refer to the rikti (peaceful before the Nemesis thing) the Kheldians, or the Shivans. All of them are "reborn" into new flesh (Rikti via the transformation of humans, kheldians by taking a host, shivans by reanimating corpses) I'm leaning towards Shivans though, because they're the only ones with a divine connection (in their name, being y'know, shivans)

"Bloated life which has not a peer, gobbles all that mankind holds dear, The hive will grow to rise and fall, all will battle the monster tall, Across the way a mirror flow'r, has no such foes slow its devour, Not placated with scraps to eat, it's rage shall spark leader's retreat."

Refers to Hamidon, obviously, and it's Praetorian counterpart.

"A thousand men with javelin, fight to compound their master's sin, Darkly corrupt by twilight gaze, a secret deal to end our days. Hero, villain, that time forgot, what do they know that we do not? Side-by-side both sides excel, fighting for time-warped parallel."

Cimerora and the ITF.

"Time's river's course is left to run, till shattered by the million suns, Eternal gear comes back to warn, all must beware the coming storm, From ice and flame and tests of will, forgotten deeds one can fulfill, Has he made strong by accident, those whose acts will despair prevent?"

This obviously refers to Ourboros and the manipulation thereof. But who's "He" in this? Silos? Ramiel? The letter writer?

"The iron turns into crystal, their doomsday shall be missed til, When a pair of fives arrives, power flows and power drives, The spinning rod lives again, then destroyed in evil's den, Mere prelude to what bright hell, comes from drinking of the well."

This one is obviously referring to incarnates and the Well of the Furies, but what's the spinning rod and the pair of fives?

"Man kills brother; sets into motion, a hundred lifetimes of commotion, Meticulous manipulation, attempts to take this very nation, Within mirrors glow he finds a pawn, his trick forces them to take us on, We shall fall for his games no longer, that which challenges makes us stronger."

Obviously referring to someone manipulating someone from an alternate reality. Nemesis would be an obvious clue (the Rikti) but I'm thinking of someone else... Maelstrom. And that he might be manipulating Cole to invade Primal Earth.

"The web is formed in careful craft, since fatal rescue on a raft, Wraith- beast- hulk- thief- prepare for war, the mastermind will hide no more, Let loose the tide of villain mix, heroes will gain their own new tricks, And in the end; a world fini, unless the one stops destiny."

Refers to the "Time after Time" story arc, as well as the Statesman's task force.

I decided it would be a good time to go back through the letters to pick out choice tidbits, after remembering a bit about the writer forming their own team to deal with the Storm, which fits with the Lady Grey suspicions.

But yeah, here we go:

From The Pilgrim's arc:

Quote:

Dear Character... While time traveling into the past, you visit a 5th Column base and in a crate you find a hand written letter addressed to you... Hello, Character. Please forgive the impersonal form of communication. I do not yet trust you for an in-person meeting; this was the only way that I could be sure you would still receive this message. Time travel does unpredictable things to electronics, magic and bionetics; otherwise, I would have chosen a more contemporary method. Obviously, we both know that you have begun time traveling. This may be new to you, but for me and mine it is well documented. Ouroboros has made its presence known to your city, likely espousing some rhetoric regarding a 'rapture' or an 'apocalypse' or some other vague, well-crafted phrase from Mender Silos. I am writing to tell you not to trust him or his Menders. They claim to 'fix' the time stream to avoid a cataclysmic event in the future, but do not believe them. You may not believe me yet, that is fine, prudent in fact, but let me ask you this: if there is truly an event of this nature on the horizon, why did they not take you there? Are you not one of the chosen keepers of the secret? Have you stopped to ask what secret they are really guarding? I warn you: do not openly question Ouroboros. That would be foolish. I simply ask that you search for more of my letters and seek me in the pillar. When the time is right, I will make myself known. You will either be at my side, tearing down the enclave or you will be buried under its ruins as it falls into the sea. The choice is yours.

That last part is a little disturbing in light of Ramiel's first mission.

From Mender Lazarus' TF:

Quote:

Dear Character... While time traveling into the past, you visit a 5th Column base and in a crate you find a hand written letter addressed to Character... 'Character, did you even think that you were the one responsible for defeating the 5th Column? When I first learned this, I was equally surprised. I never believed that you had the conviction to see it through, given the moral ambiguities. I underestimated you then, something I've made a point to never do again. I feel that you should know the truth behind Lazarus if you plan to continue working for him. Mender Lazarus is a lunatic, driven completely mad not by his extensive time traveling (as they would have you believe), but because of his "research" into temporal alterations. He meddles with time in ways that others wouldn't even consider. He has a shared temporal consciousness with his other selves throughout the time stream. He has even "volunteered" versions of himself to send off into the abyss to see what lies beyond. I wonder if he has eyes into the afterlife itself. The goggles that Silos made for Lazarus do more than hide the creatures from beyond time, they may well block visions from beyond the veil. This is a dangerous group you ally yourself with, Character. Be wary. Be wise. Be willing to act. Look for my letters and travel well.'

While most of this one sounds a bit trumped up, if Lazarus is attempting to study the afterlife or the abyss, he could be searching for links to the Well.

From Twilight's Son's TF:

Quote:

Dear Character... While time traveling into the past, you visit Atlas Park and in a trashcan you find a hand written letter addressed to Character... Once again, it is rewarding to know that you are reading this antiquated form of communication. Have you rescued Candy's twin sister yet? Not to worry, you will find Candy, Jimmy and even Cyrus very soon. But the busy work of Twilight's Son holds no interest for me. I write to you because I believe that you have the ability to see beyond the smoke and mirrors placed around you. Silos talks of a coming conflict, but with whom? Has he told you or is he protecting his precious causality curve? I would like you to believe that Mender Silos is sending you back in time to change events in his favor, no one else's, but, that is something you may have to learn for yourself. Think on this, who benefits from these 'mends' that you do? Is it the people who are deemed unworthy to know the truth of what will happen to their race or is it someone else? Before I go, I wish to reveal to you an ugly truth regarding Twilight's Son. He is, in fact, the last of his race, but that is because he sold the rest of his kind into slavery. Whether for his own gain or to escape their wrath, I do not know. Unfortunately for him, when the slave masters burned through the Kheldians, they came after him once more and he fled into the past. Perhaps he made yet another bargain with the masters, trading all the Kheldians of the past for his own survival. Again, be cautious of those you speak to about this; the Menders are aware of my existence, but not my time or location and they would not take kindly to you associating with me. All I ask of you now is to do your duty, pursue the truth and look for more of my letters. Travel well.

That first selection tickles my thoughts at the possibility of a Mender war. What if the Coming Storm was Ouroboros itself? That could actually explain an awful lot. Silos' secrecy concerning the Storm's identity, the references to him going back in time in order to fix his mistakes and redeem himself, and the letter writer's clear distrust of Silos (as well as Ramiel's?). It could also be the reason for the Time Echoes in Ramiel's arc.

On the other hand, it's not clear where the Shivans fit into it. Sure, I suppose Pilgrim could've lied about them being the scouts of the Storm, but that just muddles things even worse..

Regardless, it's a good example of the primary tactic of the letter writer: Sow distrust, without offering any proof. Sure, Silos has never revealed the identity of the Storm (the I11 trailer even stresses that the less we know about it, the better, according to him), but the letter writer isn't exactly revealing much either, instead resorting to hearsay.

From Mender Tesseract's TF:

Quote:

Dear Character... While time traveling into the past, you visit President Marchand's presidential suite and in a file cabinet you find a hand written letter addressed to Character... I have posed many questions for you in many other times, Character, but perhaps the most important one is this, 'who is Mender Silos? He claims to be from a future so far in time that his own science would make it impossible. He claims that humanity has been wiped out, but doesn't say who did it. He claims that he is here to help, but who is he really helping? You, of all people, should be able to detect a ruse when you see one. I know that you are currently working for Mender Tesseract. Of all the Menders, I believe her to be the most honest in her ways. If not for Silos' agenda and the dreaded Temporal Scaling, I believe she would have enslaved your time and ruled as empress. Silos claims that she is 'reformed' from her upbringing, but I do not believe it. Her kind was bred to rule, to conquer, to consume. There is no 'high road' along that path. Tesseract is a nightmare given form, a monster with a pretty smile. Pray you never meet her in her own time. Don't allow yourself to be fooled, but don't let yourself be discovered either. Play their game for now; learn everything you can about these Menders. It will aid you later. For now, look for my other letters, Character. I shall see you in the pillar when the time is right.

Nothing stands out, but this opens the probability of Tesseract being an Incarnate. Previous theories have supposed she could possibly be Lord Recluse's daughter, explaining her attitude (and upbringing, as per the letter), her supposed power, and the overall goal of her TF.

Another strange note from her TF itself - Ms. Liberty travels back in time using Ouroboros in order to try and stop you from killing Marchand (and her mother). Mostly makes me wonder how Ms. Liberty did it. Considering that we're putting the timestream back into properly tilt by putting Recluse in power, you'd think the Menders would have prevented her from trying to interfere. Then again, this might just be the usual "Ms. Liberty is kind of an idiot and a jerk" characterization.

From Mender Silos' Hero TF:

Quote:

Dear Character... While time traveling into the past, you visit Striga and in an empty cardboard box you find a handwritten letter addressed to Character... Again, I apologize for my inability to meet with you in person. You may find these clandestine letters frustrating, but it is the safest way for both of us to communicate until we are ready to act. Silos and Ouroboros are dangerous beyond measure and while I have asked you to be vigilant regarding their intentions, I still do not know which side will you choose. On the topic of Mender Silos, I will say only this: He is a silver-tongued serpent in a garden full of innocents with an orchad of apples at his disposal. Do not trust him; he will have you cast out. Do not raise a hand to him; he will strike you down before you can react. Play your part in their garden and claim your innocents, but keep your eyes open to the truth. Character. I pray you have found my letters and you have taken them to heart. It is my hope that you remain quiet and patiently await the appropiate moment to strike. If you have not found my other letters, please search for them. Hopefully, they will reveal the truth behind Ouroboros and guide you towards my path. Ultimately, the choice will be yours. As always, look for me in the Pillar. I will make myself known when the time is right.

The first selection makes me wonder exactly just how loyal the other Menders are to Silos. The second is just...weird.

From Mender Silos' Villain TF:

Quote:

Dear Character... While time traveling into the past, you visit an Arachnos Base and in a crate you find a handwritten letter addressed to Character... While you have not yet met me face to face, I hope you've grown to see the truth to my words and begun to question your Ouroboros masters. You, of all people, should not be bound by their constraints. They have come all across the cosmos, disregarding the law of nature, but yet they bind you to the events they control. Have you noticed how they rarely send you into the future? What secret do they guard there that they don't want you to learn? Mender Silos gives you no choice. It is only I who offer you that simple right. All I ask in return is that you question him, question Ouroboros, question everything - even me. I expect nothing less from you. You are an individual of intellect who will see through their lies and once you do, you will find me at the end of it, offering you the truth you deserve. It is then and only then that we shall truly meet for the first time. Until that time, I trust that you have found my letters and have taken them to heart. Ultimately, the choice will be yours. As always, look for me in the Pillar. I will make myself known when the time is right. Travel well.

More of the same, except for that small promise. Honestly, considering the taunt at the end of Ramiel's arc...I would really like to see us short-circuit the letter writer's plans at some point and confront him sooner than he wants.

From the ITF:

Quote:

Dear Character... While time traveling into the past, you visit Cimerora and in a crate you find a hand written letter addressed to Character... Did you think I wouldn't find you? You were sly, using an Aspect of the Pillar that wasn't linked to Ouroboros. Did you ever stop to think where Montague may have acquired that crystal? Or how? I apologize. This letter was not meant for harsh words or recriminations. I merely meant to remind you that I can find you...anytime, anyplace, anywhere. That is all. Who am I? I know you have been asking yourself that question for a time now. Am I Requiem? Am I Silos? Am I...you, perhaps? You may even be asking yourself which one of those people I am. Have you ever met Praetorian Earth Requiem? He doesn't go by that name, of course, in case you were wondering. Have you, perchance, met the shadow version of yourself? What about the version of Mender Silos from Faathim's reality? It is a paradox. Try not to think about it. But again, my train of thought wanders. I'm writing you to tell you that, as surprising as it might sound, Mender Silos and his time traveling cohorts are actually succeeding in delaying the coming storm. Note, I didn't say preventing. There is still hope. Because of their actions, and likely yours as well, it may be sometime before I can truly extend my hand to you in kinship. There is other work in other places for us to do. As much as I enjoy these letters, I'm sure you will understand that we have more pressing matters to attend. So, for now, I bid you farewell. As always, look for me in the crystal.

We now know the answer to that first question: The letter writer themself is the one who provided the Midnighters with their crystal.

The second selection is terrifying if true, but it could easily be a massive bluff. The letter writer's ability to leave letters in convenient locations could simply be the work of clever use of time travel.

The Praetorian Requiem, eh? Vagabond, a Resistance Crusader contact was apparently an Italian soldier who fought in the Hamidon Wars...food for thought. It's one of the few references to pre-Praetorian society, and I find it interesting that it mentions a location that several villains and villain groups operate out of on Primal Earth.

The Shadow version of ourselves could mean literally anything at this point.

The Silos from Faathim's reality? That one's just odd. Heck, a character that just name-drops Faathim to begin with is notable. But why would there even be a Mender Silos to go along with the Shadow Shard?

And that last part is...very odd. There's still hope that the Coming Storm won't be prevented?

From Dean MacArthur's arc:

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Dear Character... This may be the first letter of mine that you're receiving, or the last. Have you visited Ouroboros yet? I suppose that question does not matter - if you have, then you know to be wary. If not, then you have been warned. You are no doubt wondering what has happened to Ajax. I assure you that you have not been double-crossed - I respect you far too much to do something as banal as 'lie' to you. Yes, I used you to get to Ajax, much like you used Dean to get what you wanted. However, both of us have benefited from this, as Ajax is now where he needs to be. There is a storm on the horizon - one that you are either all too familiar with, or one that you will soon come to know. I am gathering a team of sorts to deal with this - properly. Mender Silos of Ouroboros has his followers who do his dirty work for him. Ajax shall be one of the few who will be on my team I do not use the term 'follower', as that implies I believe myself to be higher than those who aid me - much like Mender Silos does. The time is coming soon when sides must be taken, Character. I would ask that you choose to side with myself when that day arrives. Silos will use you for his own ends - I, however, will do everything I can to work with you, to aid you. As I mentioned earlier, this may be the first letter of mine you received, or the very last. Regardless of that, I shall see you in the pillar of fire and ice, when the time comes. I hope that you will make the right, and informed, choice of who you will support.

The letter once again questions Silos' power over the other Menders. But that large chunk is the most curious. Why would our character be "all too familiar" with the Coming Storm yet? What does the letter writer need with an nigh-invulnerable man?

Dean also stresses that it was a man who gave him the letter, but this could be frivolous. A go-between isn't out of the question, and even if it's true, it rules out very few suspects.

From Ramiel's arc:

Quote:

You notice the paper around the shard is actually... a letter. You read it over... Character, I do not have much time to write. At this point in time, you are either well aware of myself and working with me, or you still have no idea who I am. The Well, as you see, is gone, and the agents of Ouroboros are aware of the other path into Cimerora. When I gave the crystal to the Midnighter's, I imagined this day would come, though that matter is for another time. You have in your hands now an Incarnate shard. It has no doubt opened your path into the powers of the Incarnate. This is one thing that both myself and the agents of Ouroboros share in common; the desire to see you maintain your freedom and grow in power. I must go now, but before I do, I must deliver you a word of advice. You have no doubt heard the golden voice of the Well. Whatever you do, do not listen to it! It seeks only to control any that it can with the promise of power. Perhaps there is a way around it, but for now, its power must be used. Ironically, in all of this, Lord Recluse may be our greatest ally. He seeks a way to bypass the Well, while Statesman opts to try to stay out of the picture. As always, seek me out in the crystal of fire and ice. Or... depending on when you are reading this, you may have merely seen me minutes ago.

Why did the letter writer not have much time to write this one? In theory, with time travel that wouldn't be an issue. Though, if it is Ramiel, he is now under Silos' watch and perhaps can no longer toy around with seeding his letters. Even the presentation is arguably more sloppy, with it just wrapped around the Incarnate shard rather than gingerly placed in an unassuming object.

We are told that by now, we may very well be working with the letter writer, which when combined with the final statement, adds a heap of suspicion on all three - Mender Silos, Ramiel, and Lady Grey.

The part about gaining power and remaining free is a little curious, if only because previous letters seemed to imply that Silos was attempting to bend us to his will. I know it's not what was explicitly meant (it was referring to the Well), but I am surprised the letter writer didn't take another jab at Silos. Of course, the writer also says the "agents" of Ouroboros. It could be that Silos isn't included in that statement. But I'm also quite probably way over-thinking this.

And nearly forgot this from the story on the GR site...

Quote:

"Statesman and Lord Recluse will not be the only ones possessing Incarnate abilities. The most powerful individuals from this point forward will struggle to unlock their inner Incarnate and discover new powers. These new Incarnates have affected the Storm, but we of Ouroboros may have created a different threat through our efforts." "You can't mean Arachnos?" asked Mender Silos. Apparently, this was a concern of his that had leapt to mind immediately. "No," said Ramiel. "Something you will find difficult to foresee in this timeline, because it is not from this timeline," Ramiel smugly declared. Mender Silos thought for literally a second. It was a hundred times longer than he needed. "So the prophecy is coming to pass?" asked Silos. "If that is how you would interpret the prophecy, then yes." "As the tempest dies, so the lightning shatters the mirror, and as the storm skies clear, the reflective shards cut and bleed those who handle them," intoned Silos. "Yes, I know the prophecy. You made us memorize it, remember?" gritted Ramiel. "Yet here we are. Alternate dimensions will begin wreaking havoc on this one, spoiling any victory we could ask for over the Coming Storm." "I hope you have a plan, Silos," said Ramiel. "Always. We can recruit allies within these parallel worlds, and perhaps bolster our own numbers with alternate versions of super-powered beings, or even alternate Ouroboroses." "Do not fool yourself into thinking that alternate Ouroboroses will be as benevolent as this one. They could be led by an insane version of yourself for all we know," warned Ramiel. "Time will tell, Ramiel--time will tell," Silos trailed off. "While you ponder, Silos, I have a favor to repay. Excuse me for a moment," said Ramiel.

I don't have much to say on this, other than that once again the prophecy is infuriatingly vague, if only because we have a dimension of mirrors and storms already, on top of the connotations to Praetoria.

And yet it seems the Praetorian invasion and possibly even the Coming Storm itself are only ancillary to whatever this looming threat is, one that Ouroboros may have unintentionally helped create.

Though the thought of alternate Ouroboroses = squeeee.

I think the key thing is to remember why oborous showed up in the first place. They said they were trying to help us avoid the coming storm all together... through things we were doing. So, if it were just a big bad alien coming from far away that we haven't heard of before... well, nothing the heroes are doing is going to help avoid that.

So, we find out about a helpful well of power (which, obviously silos and the others want for themselves, which is why they were so interested in checking it out when they thought you found it). But, what about the evil one?