Just looking over Episode 5...(possible spoilers)

[Culix]

Yeah. And I think I heard it theorized somewhere that Slade was mistaking Strata for Kygar like Rhue did in Lide. It could be true, but I've got my doubts. It would stand to reason that Strata used to be or is still a known criminal, given his treatment of Rhue, but...

[Sage Of The Wise]

also, does anyone have any idea who the "You Know Who" is during the credits? it's killing me. Lun knows something that we don't know... (go figure)

"You know who" is the Lord Wyst, the Chancellor of Affairs in Estana. He is the guy who sends Rhue and the others into the mine.

[Berserker]

Yeah. And I think I heard it theorized somewhere that Slade was mistaking Strata for Kygar like Rhue did in Lide

Actually it's the theory I like more, with Slade dead and Strata beaten I don't think we'll find out some new "mega-past-revelation" about them.

I think Lyrra should have died fast. With Lexus, you were like "OMEG!" because she's the first real love interest for rhue after Serena, and the only one in the game, and you can just feel it coming when they're running through the mansion. But with Lyrra, when she finds out (somewhat) about her father and she attacks rhue, you don't know what's going to happen, so when Rhue just guts her, you don't really expect it. I think it's as (if not more. I need to play it again) powerful as Lexus's death.

I agree. Moreover, it fully shows how Rhue is changed after Lexus' death and the revelation about Serena. Before Ep5 I think he would have cared a bit, at least.

[Sage Of The Wise]

Actually it's the theory I like more, with Slade dead and Strata beaten I don't think we'll find out some new "mega-past-revelation" about them.

Remember, you don't have to beat Strata, that story line might still reveal the history behind Strata and Slade.

[Berserker]

That's true, but I don't feel like there's something more behind them.
And with such amazing evidence, I'm sure I'm right

[fwacho]

I'll try to do this without spoiling too much. Why did Lyra die? Hrmm... well lets see hows about dramatic effect, profound symbolism, and to develop Rhue. Without going to far in depth lets just say that Lyra is a self-delusional romantic who ends up on the buisness end of a very existential/realistic (stay with me kids) sword wielder.

Let me break this down into "Gansta Rap" terms so you street urchins can understand: "You gotta get yours before I gotta get mine." Lyra is a relic of the old transcendentalism and romanticism she doesn't have a place in a new realistic existential world.

Okay Cocoa... give me my philosophy books back right now... and quit spoiling the plot... you know what Lun will do if he catches us.

[Culix]

Actually it's the theory I like more, with Slade dead and Strata beaten I don't think we'll find out some new "mega-past-revelation" about them.

I wouldn't count the existence of their history out yet. I mean, I personally don't think there's anything between them, but there could be. We know that Slade was willing to go to great lengths (throwing his own sister into the Pits) to be an instrument of justice for his mother, eventually becoming a Shadow Foot. However, all things considered, what do we really know about Strata? Let's see... I may have forgotten somethings, but in no particular order, he's...

1) A dick.
2) Rhue's nemesis.
3) Lyrra's ex-boyfriend.
4) Cetsa's would-be-boyfriend.
5) That guy Slade may have recognized in Lide.
6) Definitely one of the most powerful guys on the entire Way.

I mentioned in a different topic that every powerful person I can think of either has a damn good explanation for it (Shadow Sword, Blood Lyn training, Shadow Foot training, bandit's life, Pits life, etc.) or has enough other questions circulating about them (Dirk, Gaius*, and Rhue**) to make it seem likely that the explanation will be answered alongside those questions. Now, Strata, as far as we know (which, if you've checked the list, isn't very far at all), doesn't fit into the first group, so, unless the off-chance that Lun created a main character without a history rings true, he fits into the second.

... Sorry for that tangent that seems to not have had a whole lot to do with the original thought, but... well, you can see my point: Strata definitely has a history that we know nothing about and it's quite possible that it includes Slade.

Remember, you don't have to beat Strata, that story line might still reveal the history behind Strata and Slade.

That's true, but I don't feel like there's something more behind them.
And with such amazing evidence, I'm sure I'm right

Umm... Sorry? What evidence, specifically, were you thinking about?

[DSOK]

1) A dick.

I feel obligated to mention this whenever it comes up. Strata is a dick, surely, but he's also much worse. He's a stone killer.

[Berserker]

Umm... Sorry? What evidence, specifically, were you thinking about?

Just kidding, the evidence was that I feel like it.

Anyway, I like the idea of talent and stoneheadness being the only reasons for Strata's strenght.