fuck it i ate the opp

you know the story of the child, yes?

of being chosen by Him. A glorious vessel in the making.

However, a vessel would not be enough.

He sought to create a weapon that could operate independently and travel not just the void, but the realm of dust, where it could not reach. one that could "open a door" in the wall so to speak. one who could pluck at and sever the strands of khra as needed. a herald that could lead its forces and leave naught but dust in their wake.

And thus, it required a second child. one that was helpless. one that could not escape.

this other child was never granted the protection the dreams provided. an unknowable amount of time spent subjected to the unpredectable pain of experimentation. poisoned and corrupted, they were infused with part of its own flesh, remade in His image, and turned against those they once loved. (there is a reason their ship was left empty. it is not because the entirety of the other children were rescued, despite what they believe.)

...the fact that the now voidling seemed to have inherited the ability from their creator to manipulate the void into the shape of a realm in which to hide, was, an unforseen (but minor) setback. ultimately, its claws were already deeply embedded, leaving behind wounds of desperation and an aching emptiness.

and within this new realm, the newly born demon rampaged, consumed by the battle inside of them. the war between their uncontrollable emotions and the emptiness that threatened to swallow them whole. it was not long before the denizens (save thrax, of whom the demon was inseparable) grew to fear the great shadow that left behind nothing but dust and bone. the dragon of duviri.

If it hadnt been for the Scholar being able to reach what small bit of the original child that remained, (and temporarily easing the pain from that parent-shaped wound within them) and offer some sort of peace and healing. they likely would have continued on in this state, with the Lidless eye patiently waiting for inevitable moment when the realms protections failed, allowing it to reclaim its spawn.

some notes to speed this up since i cant stop yapping apparently:

- upon the drifters first death in duviri, they are separated from their true nature, and become humanoid once again, eventually forgetting what they are.

- during the events of paradox, with the reclamation of their emotions, they also regain a portion of their powers, allowing them to briefly retake void wyrm form during the last part of the quest and fight the orowyrm on even ground(sky?) before destroying the castle in rage. (and then losing the ability to control the power once again)

- during the new war, they slowly change once again, this time permanently regaining their wyrm power and transforming bit by bit during key points into the "hybridized" body they currently have. (namely, during the archon fights, culminating in them regaining their bladed tail, which is used to finish off the second one.) and with each change they grow slightly more feral.

- THEY FINALLY MEET. IN THE ZARIMAN. AND (briefly) TRY TO KILL EACHOTHER. until drift realizes that they are real (not wally) and backs off. (each had thought the other to be anomaly via wally. and in operator's defense drift absolutely attacks first)

so, how do they feel?

conflicted.

there is a deepset feeling of guilt surrouding the events aboard the zariman (the death of the younger sibling) and being in this origin system (with a surrogate "sibling") allows them to make up for their past actions. (despite the fact that they were being controlled. they dont find solace in this. as if they had been "stronger" it wouldnt have happened.)

each takes to the sibling dynamic fairly quickly (having been the middle child) and they are both playful, in their own way.

on the other hand, there is very little sense of belonging here. they are constantly reminded that they exist almost entirely within their counterparts shadow. only here at all because an eldritch anti-god wanted a toy. and, coming from a realm that literally revolves around them... combining with an already violent fear of abandonment/replacement..... breeds resentment and envy. *gestures to the big sign above their head that says "FULL OF BPD/CPTSD"*

bonus driftwyrm form concept art for anyone who actually read this