Yet another theory on the Phantom Slasher.

[Non-Sequitur]

This is from Lun's notes for that scene.

Rhue may question later why Phantom Slasher
busted down his door.\.\. Was it to save him?

[Fredric]

Remember the ending when Gaius wants Rhue's sword. Guess why...

[Impossible]

This is from Lun's notes for that scene.

Rhue may question later why Phantom Slasher
busted down his door.\.\. Was it to save him?

What's interesting here is that Rhue very rarely seems to look back and wonder about any of the crazy and ridiculous things that happen in his life and wonder what the fuck is going on.

[Berserker]

What's interesting here is that Rhue very rarely seems to look back and wonder about any of the crazy and ridiculous things that happen in his life and wonder what the fuck is going on.

Usually these things save his life, I wouldn't wonder about them too.
Anyway, has he ever seen the phantom slasher before then? How could he recognize him/her/it?

[Culix]

What's interesting here is that Rhue very rarely seems to look back and wonder about any of the crazy and ridiculous things that happen in his life and wonder what the fuck is going on.

Usually these things save his life, I wouldn't wonder about them too.
Anyway, has he ever seen the phantom slasher before then? How could he recognize him/her/it?

It's interesting that he's never really thought, "Huh. That really WAS wierd..." some time after the fact because he's had the time. You're right that few people would wonder about it while it was happening, but one has to wonder about some of those things after the fact. Then again, perhaps we just don't see some of it. For instance, after Lide, it says 'several days later', then cuts to the Marna Stretch. Perhaps Rhue did all of his wondering about the wierd possession and other such things during those days that he was on his own.

As for the Phantom Slasher, the first time it's believed that Rhue saw him was at the transition scene between Episodes I and II (i.e. Rhue's sleeping in Episode I while the PS* approaches, then in Episode II, the PS stops before him, Rhue notices him, then the PS moves on without killing him). Further, since Rhue thinks about that event later when he and Traziun find those bodies shortly before finding Gaius again (in one of the wierdest situations to occur at that point in the series), we know that somebody, likely the Phantom Slasher, definitely approached him that night.

* or who we believe the PS to be, at any rate

[ReverentSharp]

I truly believe that the PS is Gaius. If that were the case, I wouldn't mind. But I honestly do not believe it was him. What I took from the scene between Episode One and Two was that the PS drew his sword and started approaching Rhue, thinking he was a simple wanderer. However, after Rhue looks up, the PS seems to recognize him, and moves on, giving Rhue and those asleep in the tent means of sanctuary. Gaius would have known that Rhue and everyone else from that camp. Therefore, he would not have drawn his sword in order to attack, and then withdrew it after seeing Rhue. I hope I am getting my point across.

I also looked, and it does indeed look from the front as though Rhue has his hair parted, with more to one side than the other, just as the PS. That means that we CANNOT rule out all of these theories about the Phantom Slasher being Rhue's dark aura, etc.

With that said, carry on.

[Sage Of The Wise]

Maby Gaius was planning on killing Rhue in his sleep, but changed his mind, or saw that he was awake, and left before doing anything. It could happen.

[Berserker]

Oops, I forgot about ep1 ending.
That scene could go along with the "PS is Serena" theory...
or maybe the PS intended to murder Lyrra's fist without being found out by Rhue.

[ReverentSharp]

And Lyrra's fist is eventually murdered anyhow, so...