Yet another theory on the Phantom Slasher.

[Requiem]

Well, interesting as all these thoughts upon the true identity of the PS are, I still have managed to make up one of my own. Oh, also, if a theory similar to this has been said before, my apologies. I haven't really read through -all- of the PS topics on the board...

So at the end of episode 5, half the original cast having been pretty much killed off, Gaius lets out the big cliff-hanger for this chapter. He simply states that Rhue (Yes, that's right, our very own blue-boy himself) is the phantom slasher.

While it is alltogether a possibility, I believe Gaius is downright INCORRECT!
Why?
Let me shed some light...

Roll back the hand of time to when you played Episode 2. If you can recall, Gaius had some short, but what I believe to be -very- crucial dialouge.
Now, I can't remember the quote exactly, but he said something to the effect of "Rhue doesn't seem to recognize me." And then goes on to say how he wonders if he remembers about the -person they killed-. And if he doesn't... Then this is great.
Now, on an entirely different theory, I believe the person Gaius is talking about here happens to be Traziun's mother. But I could be wrong.
Anyway. So, Rhue -doesn't- seem to remember being part of any murder, now does he? Nope. But I ask you to remember yet another incident...
In the Marna stretch, as you attempt to cross a bridge, a headhunter greets you. And as he departs... He calls you Midian.
MIDIAN!

Bingo, here's a cigar, you win the prize. Sorry for the long drawn out lead-up, but here's the heart of my theory.
MIDIAN is the one who helped Gaius murder someone.
MIDIAN is the one who's been killing people.
MIDIAN is the reason why Gaius thinks you're the phantom slasher.
Apparently there's this Midian guy, out there somewhere, who looks exactly like Rhue. Or close enough to him so that people constantly mistake his identity.

Some may argue, "But in episode 5, we SEE Midian! He looks nothing like Rhue!"
In Rhue's dream. The Midian in Rhue's dream may very well be a fictionally representation that Rhue's mind has made up!
Now, I'm not saying my theory is perfect. I'm sure there are hundreds of flaws and weak-points that I have noticed or hammered out.
For instance, perhaps Rhue just has amnesia. Perhaps he really did help Gaius kill someone, got knocked on the head, changed his name, and forgot all about it.
But it seems unlikely.

Now, for a few speculations...
I think there might be some kind of tie between Rhue and Midian. Be it blood, soul, or something else.
Twin brothers? Perhaps, but that's rather cliched and could be considered an insult to Lun's storytelling skills.
Evil Clone? Doubtful. Very doubtful.
Vile shadowed image created by the the Dark Blade Rhue carries with him? Could be.
Just a dude that looks a hella lot like Rhue? Eh. Unlikely.

Feel free to add your own speculations and point out stuff I missed! I'd be pleased to explain it best I can, or be utterly crushed when someone expertly pins down a reason why this would never work and reveals to all that I am indeed a complete moron.

[Greatchickenman]

Or maybe Midian is the name of Rhue's alternate personality?

[Ernest_]

[quote="Requiem"]
Apparently there's this Midian guy, out there somewhere, who looks exactly like Rhue. Or close enough to him so that people constantly mistake his identity.

Remember something kids! Rhue hates his reflection! Remember that ol' sequence with cetsa in Estrana! Perhaps the Rhue we see is not how he really appears ha ha!

[Large]

Roll back the hand of time to when you played Episode 2. If you can recall, Gaius had some short, but what I believe to be -very- crucial dialouge.
Now, I can't remember the quote exactly, but he said something to the effect of "Rhue doesn't seem to recognize me." And then goes on to say how he wonders if he remembers about the -person they killed-. And if he doesn't... Then this is great.

Gaius says: "I wonder if he rememers about the man we killed. If not, this is great..."

So, no, i don't think Rhue killed Traziun's mother

[Telephalsion]

Apparently there's this Midian guy, out there somewhere, who looks exactly like Rhue. Or close enough to him so that people constantly mistake his identity.

Remember something kids! Rhue hates his reflection! Remember that ol' sequence with cetsa in Estrana! Perhaps the Rhue we see is not how he really appears ha ha!

you might not be to far off with that...

[Fredric]

Maybe Rhue's aura somehow got transferred into Midians body and Midians aura into Rhue's body.

[Telephalsion]

Maybe Rhue's aura somehow got transferred into Midians body and Midians aura into Rhue's body.

Ooooooooooo creeepy oo

[Fredric]

This means that the person Rhue and Gaius killed was Rhue.

[Fitz Tayo]

Wow, nice diagram.

[Snowy]

Holy sheets of paper... In the end it would just be right that he IS the phantom slasher and nothing from what everyone are mentioning .

And to simplfy what Dark showed in the Diagram:
1. Midian and Gaius killed Rhue.
2. After that, from some *unknown* reason, Rhue's dead body ejected his soul, which switched with Midian's soul into Rhue's dead body.

Conclusion - Midian is dead in Rhue's body - and Rhue is alive in Midian's body.

And I thought the phantom slasher thing was complicated... Sheesh!

[blaksun]

Then...but...then...it's all coming together now...ahhh....I see the Light...

What a far-fetched theory.

V.v

[Telephalsion]

Nah it's all wrong in fact Gaius Arua was also replaced into DIppy's aura and vice versa

[Excell]

Might work. Nice sketch thingy.

[Impossible]

Cool picture, but both Rhue and Midian's auras have to be inside Rhue (the one we play as), since we see Midian (or Rhue?) in The City. I think it's more likely that Rhue is Jeruh than Midian, but either is possible.

I also think that it's possible Serena doesn't exist, and she's a combination of Lyrra and somebody else, from two different memories (Jeruh and... Midian, maybe?).

I think there are 2 things that will happen in Episode 6...

2) The Pontifex (which I'm guessing is Gaius) tells Rhue that Serena does not appear in the Book of Sermeot. Then he notes that she does not appear in the Book of Eve either. Or something like that.

You're on to something. you need to ask a and answer a few why questions and you'll be getting close.

I
The "headhunters sensing auras" theory makes sense if you believe that Rhue killed Midian. It's not that far-fetched, given everything that's already happened.

you're close, real close

Dude you're on to something... keep kicking the idea around with the other posters. between you all you're getting close to the truth... just no one has even half of it yet.

also think about another city that was similar to estrana...

Very interesting... There also must be some connection between Janwen and Estrana.

[Excell]

You mean besides their mutual destructions?