Premise

Torendo has appeared in key ways repeatedly, but we never knew much about him. Comparing him with other characters, including other villains, like Azrael, Torendo remained unexplained, yet ever-present. Until HS3. Now, we’re getting proper exploration of him - and he is becoming more and more a part of the Earth side’s story. Ever since S1E4, on Cain’s romance route, actually…

Why would the authors choose to do this? To me, it could all be rooted in Torendo being Cain’s unknown father.

Cain's Background

In HSR, the first and only time we learn about Cain’s father, it’s in S3E4, with his flashback.

[Cain’s narration, about Elisha] Abel had always resembled her more. And I... I didn't know to whom I owed my features.

This quote fits his gift in the Cain & Abel card.

The toy family. The figurine that’d be assumed as the father has its face missing. And the child that’s the smallest, and therefore would also be assumed as the youngest, has part of its face missing, as well. In Cain’s hands, and with the recent plot developments: it’s foreshadowing.

This is relevant to note, as it supports the idea that Vicky’s comment in S2E14, about Cain’s father being Atlantean,, may’ve been included for a reason. Not as a red-herring. Especially given that it is Cain who introduces us to the lore of Atlantis, and to its once-ruler: Atlas.

Some years after Cain discovered the Library of Atlantis, he & Abel developed an unexplainable, yet painless sickness.

It created dark spots and patches on their bodies. Cain’s first narration on it was his belief it had possibly spread to them by Elisha’s grief—by a person. She told Faust they’d seen all the healers, but no one knew the cause. And even though Faust said it “seems” to be that their internal states were manifesting in that way, that’s probably very unlikely. It would’ve been recognizable by healers, at least one, were it something normal.

One day, Elisha noticed Abel had new dark spots on his arm. She noted he’d said it was getting better, and he replied it had been. And that Cain’s are worse.

So, the illness temporarily lessened for Abel, but seemingly not for Cain. Why?

Elisha concluded they can’t wait any longer. Late in the night, she woke them and took them somewhere to meet with Faust. That’s when he examines them.

After her insistence, he admits there’s only one thing he can do. They step out. As we learn soon after, Faust was using a transferring ritual on the boys. As he’d told Elisha, he cast two spells on them - one was stronger, so Abel would receive Cain’s life force. The ritual shows Cain Abel’s thoughts, revealing Cain wasn’t his full brother, which Cain didn’t know.

Abel referred to the act that led to Cain’s creation as “sin.” Thinking it might be better if Cain disappeared.

This seemingly triggered the survival instinct in Cain that Lucifer talks about in HS2, S1E8. Oddly, though, it didn’t do the same to Abel, as he hardly moved.

Cain was driven to drain his brother’s white energy, his body moving on its own - but once the light entered his body, it twisted, darkened—corrupted. Became a red, jagged, cursed power. And after that, the illness disappeared.

The dark spots left - the light darkened. I find it hard to believe it’s coincidental.

And I don’t think the transfer was due to Faust’s ritual (as the case was with Vicky & Malbonte). Because Cain’s power drained Elisha, but she was not connected to the ritual. Moreover, he also drained energy from Baal’s prison Gate, in HSR S3. This could be argued as part of his deal with Baal, but Cain had been searching to free himself of the energies, since they haunted him.

It seems to me that his power is closer to what Hunger changed Vicky’s to. In HS1, with the Angel path S2 stat-check, Sepha told Vicky “fate decided” to give her the power she has. Not him. Sepha believed she didn’t deserve it, because it meant she was the one who’d choose the future of his children. So, fate was beyond the control of this god…whose power was greater than another god’s.

(Likewise, in HS3 S2E4, Siire explains to Sephamalum that he didn’t create the rules of the deals his brother’s use.)

Cain & Vicky do parallel, including in the way they were seen as empty of power. Not just in suffering a non-consensual transfer ritual, meant cause their death.

That’s why I think fate also gave Cain his ability. And that, like Vicky’s saved her from dying, Cain’s saved him. But I don’t think it was only from death - the fact that Baal found him, offering him a deal, is too suspicious, given the illness.

(In HS2 S3E1, Lilith says she met someone who preformed such a ritual, on his own mother. He tried to repeat the transfer with others, but he couldn’t. She suggests it may have worked with his mother because they were relatives.)

In HS3, S1E26, Vicky found Elisha’s letters to Faust, in his home on Flave. This was after finding Faust murdered, wings staked into the wall to prop up his body. Frozen in some exhausted horror.

If War’s alive, he states how he didn’t sense hatred, which usually lingers from a murder. Dino then noted Faust was hanging there for a long time. The very withered state of his body supports this. Lucifer said: when you take revenge, you snap at the object of your hatred. “This looks more like a message.”

Astaroth added: “I would even say a gift.”

That’s when Vicky remembered who directed them there: Torendo. His smirk. “Torendo knew Faust was dead. Maybe he’d seen him die with his own eyes. Or maybe he was the reason for his death.”

Mimi questioned: “But why? Faust could’ve been useful to him…”

Dino agreed, “That's right. He was more useful than Uphir. More stable. He could work systemically. Killing someone like that is stupid.”

Lucifer looked around at Faust’s ruined research. “Or he knew something he shouldn't have.”

Astaroth concluded that he probably betrayed Sephamalum. War disagreed.

Vicky moved them onto searching. In the desk, unlike the first two drawers, the third drawer had resistance. Inside were a stack of letters. Unlike the rest of Faust’s things, these - while hidden - were tied up neatly. Did Torendo truly not think to check the scientist’s desk?

I don’t think that’s likely.

Rather, I think it’s possible this was all a lure for Cain. In HS3 S1E4, on his route, we get the first mention of Torendo: he talked about Cain being very powerful, even for an immortal. This is in response to Lane being worried about Cain. Anna tried to reassure her Cain survived after Baal’s death. If Torendo knew Baal was killed, he could’ve assumed Cain would immediately seek revenge, with his new freedom. Torendo, in S1E20, tells Vicky that Cain & Abel can be lured out with Faust, as they should hate him terribly.

If Torendo intended Cain to find Faust’s body, as a “gift,” why not the letters? In them, Vicky learned about one of the boys’ fathers. Later, in S2E14, looking at Cain’s face, she recognized someone in him. And connected this to the letters. To the Atlantean councilor, of that time. For reference, Atlantean’s were angels.

I don’t think this was Eragon, however. His family ruled their city, Empyrean. It was located where the Academy was, which is completely separate from the Ancestral Lands, where Atlantis existed.

Torendo's Background

In S1E20, we finally learn something about Torendo, beyond sudden reveals of his (always pivotal) evil deeds.

We first learn of his father, who had an obsessive personality. Seeking secret, forbidden knowledge, and true power. Believing it could only be found with hatred and darkness. He sought the god no-one remembered. In the end, Torendo was the one to find him - but how? He must have searched for info.

And, in S1E24, Lane finds an inscription on the wall of the ancient school ruins. It talks about Sephamalum being locked up, how no-one understands his words. That means it wasn’t carved when the school was in use - Atlantis fell before or very early into the first war. I’ve been wondering if Torendo either out it there, or found it while searching for the god.

We know he learned the lost language of darkness at some point, as he makes a mistake and reveals it in HS2 (S1E7). Interestingly, he says “sometimes that’s all it takes” about talking to someone. He tells Vicky he can’t speak the lost language, he wouldn’t be able to hear it as an angel, and I doubt Sephamalum randomly decided to teach him - but if Torendo had known some of it already? Maybe then he would. And that would explain how Torendo understands Titu.

The school is also not that far from the Library. Both can be traveled to from the Portal created by Donovan, after all.

Cain learned that Atlas betrayed Sepha, then was betrayed by Sephamalum. He learned this from the Library; Abel had heard him retell the tales repeatedly as kids. Torendo most-likely found it, too.

And if he visited it still - perhaps, to be sure no one else found it, and/or that there was no damage - he could’ve met Elisha on one of his trips.

The second thing we learn about Torendo: he has a son.

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Connections

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Theory

Shortening this to post it unfinished:

I have a theory that Torendo made a deal with Baal, using Cain, since parents can use their children in deals. And a theory that Torendo & Cain are related to Atlas, which was partially inspired by someone else’s theory on Torendo being royalty through Atlas (I have to dig the link up, but I’ll add it here later!).

Conclusion [And/Or Summary — TL;DR

Intro

Torendo is a character that has appeared in major ways repeatedly, but who we still know little about. Comparing him with other villains in this universe, he’s remained unexplained, yet ever-present. Now, in HS3, we’re getting proper exploration of him - and he is becoming more and more a part of the Earth side’s story.

Why would the authors choose to do this?

To me, he could be Cain’s father.

Visual Analysis

[The screenshots repeat for easier, and specific, comparisons. There’s another lower in the post, with colored arrows added.]

I don’t claim any special skill with this, but I tried my hand at analyzing if these three had any shared characteristics. This started with just Cain & Elisha, and I developed a list for those two. The possibility of Torendo being Cain’s father brought the question back to me.

I found that, curiously, the traits I thought were absent or seemingly only partially from Elisha, fit perfectly with what Cain seemed to perhaps have inherited from Torendo.

I’ll first provide the lists, then explain more.

Note: double pluses = the trait is likely shared. The highlighting (blue, red, purple) refers to who the trait belongs to. If both pluses are in one color, it seemed to me to be an equal mix. That said, if you can’t see the colors, there are also general pluses and minuses for the lists.

>>> Mother's Traits:

++ hair lowlights

+ hair texture (slightly wavy)

+ blue-gray eye color (but as an adult, it changed in vibrancy)

+ hooded eye shape (and size? the shape of his appear a bit different, due to his heavier brow)

+ eyebrow color

+ eyelash color

+ eyebrow shape and smoothness

++ ear shape: possibly her ear lobes and antihelix (going by Abel & Cain sharing them)

+ face shape (soft high cheekbones; not sharp)

++ lip shape (partly; his are indented at the corners, unlike hers. Plus, Cain has slightly more of a cupid's bow, and it seems like there’s a very tiny slant on one side of it)

+ pale skin (likely; theirs are very similar)

+ beauty marks

>>> Different Than His Mother:

- hair color

- brow (Cain has a more prominent one)

- eyebrow thickness

- eyebrow angle (hers were level, his are tilted)

- eyelash length

- eye color vibrancy

- ear shape (Cain’s seems to largely match Torendo’s - but shares traits with Abel’s?)

- nose (her's was less defined; rounder. Plus, the shape of their nostrils differs)

- mouth shape (a mix)

- lip color (hers were pink and matte, with a purple undertone)

- jaw (Cain has a more narrow one, the corners sharper; less rounded)

- chin (again, hers was rounder - his is more pointed than hers. Also, she had a very slight dimple; Cain does not. But Abel inherited it)

>>> Possible Father's Traits:

+ hair color

+ prominent brow

+ eyebrow thickness (remember: Cain gets the smoothness of his eyebrows from his mother)

+ eyelash length

+ eye color vibrancy

+ ear shape (as a teen: the angle makes the shadows deeper. It’s less when he’s older)

+ nose (especially the nostril shape; it's the angle that makes it less noticeable, imo)

++ mouth shape

+ lip undertone (and…glossiness???)

++ jaw (narrower than Elisha's, but a mix)

>>> Different Than Torendo:

- smoother eyebrows

- longer earlobes, plus different antihelix

- different lip color (a pinker hue; though, the orange-y undertone seems to fit?)

- hair texture (not straight)

- slightly darker hair lowlights

- wider face

- softer cheekbones

>>> A Mix of Both:

+ ear shape (features from both, seemingly)

+ hair (Torendo’s color + her lowlights and faint waviness)

+ cupid's bow and slight upturned corners (not too similar to either Torendo’s, nor Elisha’s)

++ jaw (narrower than Elisha's round one, but seemingly not as much as Torendo’s)

To summarize: Cain takes after Elisha more in some ways, but has a more angular face than her. His nose is also different, and seems to match Torendo's. A few traits seem like a mix, but overall, I noticed Cain’s conclusion seemed right: he owed his features more to his father.

At least, when just looking at him. Listing the traits down, Elisha’s genetics appear as the higher number. Also, his expressions (and his brother’s), understandably, are more like hers.

On a related note, when younger, his eye color more closely resembled his mother’s duller hue. The shade became more vibrant only later in life. In reverse, his cupid’s bow as a teen is just a bit more like Torendo’s; it’s now rounder. One side still has a very slight slant (to me). Due to Torendo facing away, it’s hard to tell for sure, but I think he has the same slight slant.

Basically: his eyes were like Elisha’s at first, then developed into being like Torendo’s (in vibrancy), while his lip shape did the opposite. His bow was more defined, then it softened.

Here’s a hidden detail, however: Cain, as an adult, has longer hair than as a teen, which conceals the full design of his ears. In his child sprite, we can see the shape of his helix and the inner area (concha) is like Torendo’s; imo. They both have a sort-of tiny leaf form of the concha, with faintly pointed tips. Their ears aren’t identical, because ears are all unique - more than fingerprints, apparently. Notably for these two, theirs are both are flat and small. They actually seem to be the same size, too.

I don’t have a good closing statement yet, so -

For comparison: a mostly random selection of other protraits, plus Cain’s. Adult and teenage.

Cain & Abel have the same lower antihelix, imo. That’s the curved ridge coming from the inside. Malek has a similar smooth curve, and Rebecca has a sort of “3” shape, while Audrey only really has the upper protrusion.

[Click to swipe through, and for higher quality.]

Romance route

Platonic route

Hints from the HS2 loading screen:

The Metatron River is named after the ancient Seraph who ruled the city of Empyrean.

The Angels and Demons Academy is located in the territory of the former city of Empyrean, which is now called the Ruined City.

As far as l'm aware, we still don't know exactly what occurred in Empyrean. What happened after the city was destroyed, why was the Academy built there, and when? If it was a revolution, why was the city ruined?

Or did Metatron have a defense in place—something that could be turned onto the city and destroy it, to give his family time to flee?

Since it was brought up again, I think it most-likely has some meaning for later events 🤔

It took me some time to figure out what this figurine reminded me of at first glance. When I finally got it, I had many other things on my mind. It was only the above linked post that finally led me to put any of my thoughts down.

With that all said…

I’ve already talked about timshel fitting Donnie.

In this post, I want to analyze the figurine, and share my thoughts on its possible “sister” —

The Maiden statue in Rotkov, HSR S1.

Both statues have the subjects of them pierced by a sword, through the same place on their bodies. To me, they both evoke a sense of martyrdom and/or sacrifice.

But where the maiden of Rotkov, settled calmly on her knees, impales herself - self-sacrifice; mirroring seppuku - the angel in Donnie’s figurine is impaled from above.

Both have platforms beneath them, but only one has taken the space willingly. The other was struck onto the (imo) sacrificial altar.

The sword with the angel is also significantly larger than the ‘sacrifice’ - perhaps visually representing that there was no choice. No chance for the angel to make that decision, personally. Which fits with not having ‘laid on the altar.’ And yet, they face where the sword descended from. There’s no sign of struggle.

An immortal could have tried to get off the blade, couldn’t they? 🤔

Hence: martyrdom - sacrifice for a cause.

In one of Vicky’s Mercy choices, she thinks:

"Eragon only sees us all as pieces on a chessboard. He sacrifices us without looking back." [S1E20]

So, I wonder if the statue in Donnie’s room is meant to represent the members of the Resistance as sacrificial. Like chess pieces.

Combined with the word Donnie seemingly carved in himself, it appears he’s questioning whether they truly still have free-will, and what exactly that means.

And now, fate or the gods have led him back to his origins…to those Eragon would wipe out without an ounce of regret. Out of prejudice and pride. Genocide for being ‘lesser.’ An act of evil - but evil is a choice.

Donnie can choose a different path.

I think these are hints that he will 🤔

Bonus: free-will, and how it fits with the idea of fate and Sepha’s influence of events.

Timshel is argued to be about free-will - how people have the choice to be good or evil. To choose who they want to be.

This fits with God’s Sovereignty, as how “God” can influence events for later good—but that’s all. He doesn’t create them from scratch. He foresees, and either chooses to intervene or not—this is defined as ‘total control,’ because of his level of influence, yet he remains (or remained, in Sepha’s case) just a seer. Same as Sammy; simply with ‘god-like’ resources.

Timshel makes sense for Donnie, given that ever since HS2, his human origins have been repeatedly referenced. And now, in HS3, he has a plot about a missing human sister - which immediately led him to spending a lot more time with the Earth side.

Free-will can be defined in a lot of ways. Some of the positives are hope, redemption, rejection of prejudice, of sin (pride, wrath - which Eragon has been embodying lately).

It also means you can choose connections, understanding, compassion, and atonement.

Central themes of this final book, imho,

The way I interpret HS3: fate and the gods create situations, but it is still up to those involved in those what they choose to do. Who they choose to become. Moment by moment.

Similarly, light and darkness, which make up the foundational materials of this universe, are defined by others. As Sepha can describe, in HS1. If you choose for Malbonte’s reaction, during his battle with Sepha, to be that he Reproached him for what he’d done.

[Malbonte, sad] How can you call yourself light if all you carry is darkness?

[Sepha lowered his fist] Light and darkness are just elements of the Universe. I am the light, whatever I do. I create it, but it is you who give it meaning and power. I am the balloon that you fill with air.

Personally, I’ve always seen Lane’s paths in HSR as emblematic of both free-will and these energies, as well as how the two are necessary for harmony. Her self-acceptance scene, in the finale, is her human darkness and immortal light aspects finding unity inside her.

"Humanity is darkness, the creation of the god of darkness."

"The essence of the chosen one is immortal, created by Shepha, the god who bears light."

It’s one of my favorite details. And I think it’s likely why we get the most information on the combination of God’s Voice + Humanity.

I would think they those two might be invited next time Lane has to go 🤔 however, the god told Lane he’d go to the new temple from now on, instead. So perhaps…if the Squad agrees on telling Sephamalum something about their success - either getting Torendo, or attacking the Resistance - he might ‘reward’ Lane again.

Maybe allowing them to see more of his base?

Perhaps meeting the Astreans? It could still be the second time for Lane, if it did happen at the end of her last episode, like I theorized - Malek may approach Lane, after seeing her fill the Gemstone with the light from Ern’s ring (if indeed it was him, who saw her). Given that we don’t know how much time passed, between it and the Resistance carriage arriving (to force a meeting between Donovan & Eragon), plus the distance on the map between the Wandering Island and Lazarus (opposite ends of Heaven), there may’ve been time for Lane to meet him.

Back to the idea of reporting their success —

I don’t think the Squad would be so foolish, as to tell Sephamalum they found and went to the Wandering Island. And Torendo is also a stretch (I probably should’ve been clearer about that in my other posts; oh well). But they could report that the Order ambushed them, + any injuries they managed to cause (during their ambush). Without telling the god too much information.

Another idea: if they deduce that Torendo isn’t important to the god now, they may decide to claim they were able to trade prisoners. He is living proof of their capability, their value, so it can be a calculated risk to mention him. It’s still a bit of a stretch - they have to choose to risk losing access to him - but it could prove vital.

In some way, they must show their value. Given this task has already been foreshadowed…

Whatever the specifics, a thought I had was:

The bar alluded to before may be the one in the scene spoiler I think could be of CainLane 🤔

(I added a screenshot compilation in the link.)

The question is still the coin, though. Could Cain get it from the Astreans? Might they be how Cain knows there are rentable rooms?

If they’re visiting as some kind of reward or for an event, if the god makes it clear the night won’t end in a feeding (presumably, any report to Sephamalum would be after he visits them, so the next feeding would’ve just occurred), I can see that dialogue playing out. It’s the coin and room that I’m not so sure about, but the lead-up…the spoiler has dialogue that fits the first intimate scene Cain & Lane had in HSR.

Cain’s fantasy, and his comment about “until the morning,” as well as: “I won’t burden you like this the first time.” (Plus Lane’s thought, about seeing his face near her stomach, too.)

Basically, there were hints that that desire they shared - which Cain voiced - would occur later.

And the scene sounds like them, to me. Ofc, the more obvious explanation would be that the bar is somehow in Lazarus or Rotkov. But that’s odd for a different reason: wouldn’t they be treated strangely for basically having a date in town? Donovan hides Lane for her ‘behavior.’

Sonya talked about this in S1E10; Lane has an image to uphold as the Saint. Cain, as an angel. Granted, if Cain is hiding his wings again, there is the possibility - as I also talked about before - that the large population (and maybe the veil he wears), would mean he could pretend to be human. Like in his past on Earth. I theorized it before as how he may’ve gotten Lane’s boots.

Anyway. I may be just wrong about the spoiler.

Regardless, it would be good for the Astreans to interact with more than just Lane. So.

On another note, though:

When Lane spread the poison on her stomach, she learned that it can even hurt Sephamalum.

It was only the small quantity that was an issue.

I’m curious how this will come up again…

Also, on how I’ve been theorizing Lane’s paths might diverge next update: I wonder if Sepha’s light cleansing LM Lane, in her last POV, might give Light Messiah Lane clarity from the sins. At the end of S1, she was struggling with them affecting her thoughts and feelings (the scene where we got three CGs of her, at her vanity). Plus in her first episode of HS3, it was hinted:

[S1E3] Sharp pain tore through my gut, forcing me to my knees. The voices merged into a single roar and sank into the depths of my soul, pushing me out.

It was as if someone was pouring more grains into a filled sieve, making the lower ones fall, disappear. Disappear forever to give space to the new ones.

[S1E27] […] I couldn't hear my own thoughts, and my feelings were replaced by other people's desires that had crept into my mind.

(I also theorized once that the fact the Squad is uncleansed - still having sins - could be why they believed Abel. Why distrust filled them. And perhaps Lane’s presence removes some?)

I thought maybe clarity may lead to her seeing she doesn’t want to go through with her plan. And if she realizes the influence and reveals it to the Squad, that can also push them to go after the artifacts—not just for strengthening the Gemstone—because an influenced Lane is very possibly a truly dangerous Lane, after all.

Not to mention: the friendship route. They’d want to protect and save her, as their friend.

For Dark Messiah, Lane is attached to the sins. And she doesn’t feel the same compassion. I don’t really think the same clarity would occur?