Gaius is full of it.

[itsdave693]

At the end of E5, Gaius tells Rhue that he's the phantom slasher and that he wields a shadow sword. This must be incorrect.

I think the opposite is true. I think Gaius is the phantom slasher. If you look at the outline of the PS's face, it matches Gaius's portrait a hell of a lot better than it does Rhue's (unless, of course, Rhue just has to do his hair before he goes on murderous rampages). He's around every time the PS shows up, but he disappears (or makes an excuse to leave) shortly before someone gets skewered. Finally, he was trained as a perfect killing machine by Traziun's old man, whom everyone can admit is really shady.

As for the sword, the shadowy looking guy in an Estrana alley said in E4 that shadow swords were the opposite of the Illuminati and could therefore only kill the innocent. Think about all the things Rhue has killed throughout the game. Jopaga. Countless Blood Lyn, bandits, Blue Scarves, and monsters directly from the Pits. Of course, he's hurt the innocent before as well: Lyrra, Lexus, etc. The only person I can remember him being completely unable to strike is the Harbringer in charge of executing Cetsa. I can't even begin to explain that one.

[Greatchickenman]

THATS BECAUSE TEH HARBGINEGERER IS DA WAY INCARNITE!!!!!!!!1111OMGWTF!!!LOL!111HLP!!!!MAMEA!!!!GK!!!YAYUGH!!!!!111SHIFT+1GJWA



As for the shadow sword thing, maybe Rhue's powerful aura allows him to kill bad guys as long as the sword doesn't take over.

[Impossible]

The Harbringer is supposedly Gaius. So maybe both Rhue AND Gaius have Illuminati, so they can't attack each other...?

Then who the fuck is the Phantom Slasher?

[Telephalsion]

rhues sword is not clearly a shadow sword or illuminati, or maybe the two are the same thing

[Parhelion]

Wait. Why is the Harbringer supposedly Gaius? WTF?

[EmperorJeramyu]

Because the harbringer sprite is on the same sprite sheet as Gaius, and people seem to think that necessarily means something.

[Parhelion]

OK. Thank you.

I don't really place any stock in things only viewable through RM2K. I've never tried using the editor myself, but it sounds like it could be a shortcut for creating new sprite.

Besides, the Harbinger wasn't a major character at all, or even alluded at being one, was he?

[DSOK]

Because the harbringer sprite is on the same sprite sheet as Gaius, and people seem to think that necessarily means something.

Have you ever seen any two of Gaius, the Phantom Slasher, and the Harbinger in the same place?

Honestly, there's no compelling reason to think that Gaius is the Harbinger, but it does sort of feel right. Given Gaius' associations with the Blood Lyn (which must also be kept secret from the Guided), his high level of power, and his behavior towards Rhue in episode 5 (he seems to be trying to get Rhue at his mercy and unarmed, which makes sense for the Harbinger, given what happened when Rhue and the Harbinger faced off), it all fits pretty well.


There's something else to consider about the Harbinger too, though. From http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?b ... r&x=0&y=0P:

harbinger
noun
Etymology: Middle English herbergere, from Middle French, host, from herberge hostelry, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German heriberga
1 archaic : a person sent ahead to provide lodgings
2 a : one that pioneers in or initiates a major change : PRECURSOR b : one that presages or foreshadows what is to come

Sense 2b is by far the dominant one in today's usage. However, the earlier meanings are probably much more relevant in the context of The Way.

For any who fail to see the point here, the entry goes on:

synonym see FORERUNNER

[itsdave693]

I've never seen him in the same place at the same time as the PS, but I'm pretty sure you see him directly before or after he strikes.

And no, the harbringer would not be a major character, except that rhue just couldn't hit him. Rhue's sword is the most powerful object seen in the game thus far, so the fact that it absolutely could not hit the harbringer says something about its identity... what it says, exactly, I have no idea.

[Sage Of The Wise]

The Harbringer has to have some importance, we last saw him interrogating Medmur about the identity and whereabouts of Entrego, and I don't think that story is just going to end there.

[Parhelion]

Perhaps there was some type of magical protection surrounding the Harbinger.

[Impossible]

In E5, someone mentions that the person who dies is the Harbinger, and the executioner is the Harbringer. It's different. But the forerunner thing is nevertheless interesting...

Either the Harbringer (who is most likely Gaius, as there seems to be a bit of evidence relating to it besides the sprite, which is alone a strong point anyway IMO) has some magical protection, or more likely, it was something to do with Rhue's sword. But can Rhue's sword not attack the Harbringer, or can it not attack his sword's owner? I like the Illuminati theory (which is supported in E2 when Rhue knocks the Shadow Sword into the pits), but there's enough evidence on both sides to suggest Rhue's sword is a bit more complicated then that..

[Culix]

the Harbringer (who is most likely Gaius, as there seems to be a bit of evidence relating to it besides the sprite, which is alone a strong point anyway IMO)

I'm not sure I consider the sprite sheet thing to be very strong evidence, personally (coincidences DO happen, after all), but I really think Gaius is the Harbringer. I mean, perhaps speculation on a character that has had only two scenes (fewer, I believe, than any other main character in the series) isn't the best idea since that isn't too much to go on, but let's see what we've got:
Gaius has a tendency to know other people's dirty little secrets (that Kloe killed her old boss and that Rhue killed Lyrra, for instance), likely because of his connection with the Blana Sera (this could also bolster the 'Gaius is the Phantom Slasher' theory, if it hasn't already). In much the same way, the Harbringer accosts Medmur in Ruined Estrana, well aware of his dirty little secret (namely, that he's Entrego).
The Harbringer was assigned by the Guided and, as everyone knows, Gaius is definitely (at least in the minds of the Guided) a part of that organization.
... Umm... And they're both very mysterious, too...

Of the characters that we know, Gaius is really the only person who the Harbringer could be. Unless the Harbringer is a character that we haven't yet seen. But I kinda doubt that.

There's something else to consider about the Harbinger too, though. From http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=harbinger&x=0&y=0P:

harbinger
noun
Etymology: Middle English herbergere, from Middle French, host, from herberge hostelry, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German heriberga
1 archaic : a person sent ahead to provide lodgings
2 a : one that pioneers in or initiates a major change : PRECURSOR b : one that presages or foreshadows what is to come

Sense 2b is by far the dominant one in today's usage. However, the earlier meanings are probably much more relevant in the context of The Way.

For any who fail to see the point here, the entry goes on:

synonym see FORERUNNER

Huh... Veeeery interesting. It could just be a coincidence, but I really doubt that. I do wonder what, precisely, it means, though.

[Flibbo]

the "ps attack" in episode....2 or 3 i can't remember. Anyway a bridge collapses under Gaius, you are told that this is a trap to stop people from following the actual attacker but i always thought that it was an obvious attempt from Gaius to cover his own tracks since you don't see anything and its very conveniant that he was the first person to cross said bridge

[Impossible]

Remember though, it's Harbringer, not Harbinger.

I don't expect everyone to take the sprites as fact, but at least we both agree there's enough other evidence. But Lun wouldn't just accidentally have them like that...

I think it's really great that there are finally some more theories, when there's been so little since these forums were created (there was a great topic on the old board after E5 was released, though). But one thing I don't think many people have examined very closely is Gaius' relationship with both the Blood Lyn and Guided, who are supposedly enemies.

Gaius was mentioned as being Kalmar's perfect weapon to replace Traziun, which explains why he hasn't been chased by then Blood Lyn (remember, he's still going by the same name). But why did Gaius leave? And what circumstances led to his current status with the Blana Sera?

Gaius, despite working for Kalmar and being a former Blood Lyn, has been closely connected to both sides of the Guided. He's been up to something with Velicia, a loyalist, but Sacrifa mentioned him ("The Man from Xor", it honestly couldn't be anyone else - the Rhue theory is stupid) as well, as an ally. I wouldn't be surprised if Gaius is orchestrating the entire Guided rebellion, to destroy them for Kalmar. What plans does he have for Tetzel? We'll definitely at least learn that in E6...