THEORY: The Other Realm of Light

(This one isn't a shitpost, I swear)

So, what I'll be describing in this thread isn't so much so grounded in as much evidence as it is speculation, but here goes...



I'm sure most of us think the War of the Realms to be like a war between two states, a war of two sovereigns of their respective homelands and the armies and masses supporting them. Liken Orphion to a king and the Nexus the capital of the kingdom (and likewise with Dern). It is a natural conclusion; does anything really dissuade us from taking to this belief? and it is easy to draw such parallels, when the two forces of Influence are represented by two beings. Whether consciously acknowledging this to be one's truth or subconsciously assuming, I think many could say this to be their view.

Is it, though? What crown does Orphion wear? I say none. What nation, what flag raised does the influence of Light pledge its allegiance to? None. And what place can Light call its home; not the place in which it resides, but the place of identity, and of self? Nowhere, I say.

This leads me to my next statement. There is no "homeland" of Light, no "motherland" and no "holy land" (the Ahms region is rather hole-y, though... heh). So why should the center of Orphion's power be one fixed place, one mother realm?

What if I told you, that there have been many Realms of Light in the past?



Here is my theory: the Light's (and that of the Dark) center realm is never fixed in one singular realm, constantly shifting to other newly conquered Realms.



Let's take a look at the image below:



What do we see? Grass. Flowers. If you were to walk around in the Realm of Light, you'd find many things. There cherry trees, creepers, sheep, and gnomes, among other creatures. Where did these creatures come from? Why would the influence of Light produce cherries, of all things? My explanation is that this realm, now the Realm of Light, was once much like the Realm of Wynn. Only, this realm was taken over by the forces of Light, and thus has been warped with Influence. The Light still makes its mark, however.

Here's another image (two, in fact):



(credits to Olinus10's video on Fantastic Voyage)



The black and purple area in Fantastic Voyage is largely theorized to be the Realm of Dern, or at least a realm heavily influenced by Dern. For this theory, I will just take this for granted.

We do not see as many signs that life once roamed this black and purple landscape. Why is this? It is because it is under much stronger influence. Anything that once existed has been overwritten by Dernic influence.

The Toxic Wastes are also heavily influenced by Dern. Here, a region in Wynn, is arguably more "dernic" than the very Realm of Light is light-esque. Why is this?

My explanation is that the influence of Light in the current Realm of Light is relatively new. This would explain why it is much less conspicuously Light. Dern, on the other hand, makes a rapid invasion into both the provinces of Wynn and Gavel. Dern seeks to control the Realm of Wynn because their own Realm of Dern must be replaced; it is in the state of the above image, or if the area in Fantastic Voyage were to be a realm other than the Realm of Dern, even more so influenced. Dern needs a new Realm of Dern, and Wynn will be it. This explains why Dernic influence is much more aggressive and intrusive than that of the Light. The Light does not need a new realm yet, but Dern does. Orphion still maintains some influence in Wynn, however, to make for easy transfer of Nexus realms when the time comes.



Consider the Eldritch Outlook. It is something of a parallel to the Nexus of Light. The thing is, though: the Eldritch Outlook simply isn't in Dern. Why? Because Wynn is going to be the new Realm of Dern. Considering that there are crumbling structures in the Realm of Light, as shown in the first image I posted, I find it likely that these were not of Light origin; rather, they were built by another civilization, like the Olm, but in the Realm of Light. Where these Light-Olm are, who knows; perhaps they've gone extinct, like their Silent Expanse counterparts.



If we look in this image, we see crumbling pillars and remnants of Olmic architecture. This is much like the above mentioned architecture in the Realm of Light, an artifact from the Light-Olm.



Why, though? Why must they expand and move their representative Realms?

We know that Orphion is a primordial being, driven by instinct and nature, but they also possess intelligence. Wouldn't it be beneficial to both Orphion and Dern Beast if they were to stay put and leave other realms and each other alone? The two may expand by nature, but they have intelligence and control. They can communicate. They are still beasts of Influence, however. Orphion does not express human emotions such as forgiveness or compassion. Alliance and killing are but methods of survival. So, I find it unlikely that Orphion and Dern Beast would expand for abstract ideas such as glory or pride. And to reiterate: why must Light and Dark spread?

The answer is that the forces of Influence are enemies to themselves; Light is the enemy of Light, and Dern is the enemy of Dern.



This is an image from the Secret Discovery, Space Between Realities. It mentions the void, the empty space between realms. In the Silent Expanse, more so in Void Valley as one nears the Portal to Darkness, there are void holes. The influence of Dern, in here, has created tiny rifts, tiny fractures in reality. As the darkness becomes stronger, the plane holding the force of Influence is strained, threatening to shatter and tear apart. Reality is warped by Influence, and eventually it may be even destroyed. This is why the Light and Dark must always move, spread, and conquer.

To stay still is to die. If Orphion or Dern Beast were to never move their respective Realms, then they would eventually fracture and collapse. The realms would become so strained that they would implode and disintegrate, thus leaving the Orphion or Dern Beast without a host realm, powerless in the depths of void.

Like the beasts they are, they stretch out their tendrils for the sake of survival, not for glory or something like national pride.



This has many implications. It would mean that Orphion and Dern Beast are separate entities from the system of realms, separate from their creation, though responsible for their destruction.

TL;DR - The Realms of Light and Dark are not one specific realm; they are constantly transferred to other realms, for the old Realms of Light and Dark eventually collapse.



What do you think? Please give me some of your own thoughts, and feel free to add on or give criticisms.

Thanks for reading!

 

Smh shitpost

 

Wow, that is a really interesting and cool theory!
But stretching it further out, what happens to the "consumed" realms? Do they just perish? And if so, doesn't that make both, light and dern, take a antagonistic position as they are threatening the world and every living being in it?

 

This is cool but i wonder what you make of how Bak'al is surprised at wondering if the Dern Beast 'possibly intend(s) to leave?' - The fact that the dern beast decides to rip out an eye to place atop the EO makes wonder if it is really hard for the beasts to leave their realms? I don't know but it would be interesting to hear your point of view.

 

Well, according to the tree guy in RoL IV, Dern Beast is Dern and vice versa:

• Guardian of the Forest: The Realms of Influence are, themselves, reflections of a Beast- They themselves, a physical manifestation of their realm, as their realm is a manifestation of them.

The Beasts are the Realms themselves. Indeed, this would make the transfer of Realms somewhat awkward, if where the Beast was decided which realm was the Realm of Light/Dark; though if you were to consider the Beast just as a manifestation in one place, being able to spring out of Influence wherever unbound, it could work.