In Defense of Yngya's Agency
TLDR: I don't think that Yngya was ever possessed with the rot, I think it just amplified and corrupted the already present anger at her circumstances
So anyways what do I mean by that? I've seen a lot of interpretations circling around: that her disciples were controlling her to do all these things, that something in the rot possessed her by the end, that she was never truly there in the first place. I'd like to challenge that
I believe that, while it wasn't her decision to be corrupted by the rot ritual in the first place, she still was present and cognizant enough to see it through to the end. She was the one to guide the Lamb in the direction of her flock's souls and wool, and she was the one to guide the Lamb deep into the rot
Her flock had loved her regardless of their actions, they wouldn't have pretended to be her just to manipulate the Lamb into sacrificing themself. Honestly, Yngya's flock was pretty straightforward with their intentions by the very beginning. No, they don't outright say they performed a rot ritual using Yngya's heart, but it's not exactly subtle. They wholeheartedly believed that the Lamb was on their side; there was no reason for them to think they had to conceal anything.
Upon receiving the first lamb souls, Yngya directly introduces herself, and says that the Lamb resurrected the remains of her existence. I consider this the first example of this genuinely being her, rather than a possessed copy.
If this had not been Yngya, the Lamb would not have awoken the power of winter in the first place. Only the bearer of the winter crown is able to do that, and since the winter crown wasn't repossessed... you see where I'm going here
Additionally, all of her disciples' souls aren't even active until AFTER the Lamb buries their wool in Woolhaven. None of her disciples were around to seemingly puppeteer Yngya, so this had to come from her. Yngya mentions the rot before Baraq's wool is even retrieved from its resting place:
Rot is a physical manifestation of grief, pain, and anger. It spreads through the collection of lamb souls and the recollection of their horrific deaths. The more souls you bring back to her, the more she feels their pain and suffering, and the more anger and suffering she feels for them. By taking them home you bare their pain to their god, who corrupts with the rot that burns with rage. She says as much here:
Rot is a corruptive force. Not a force of possession. It amplifies, magnifies, and overwhelms negative emotions because it stems from grief. People who become rotted donât automatically lose all personality or sense of self. They are corrupted, turned into festering wounds and distant thoughts. When Yngya pushes you toward furthering the rot, I believe it is because she has chosen to utilize it. Itâs the last hand she has been dealt, so she might as well use it. Itâs the last choice she is allowed to have
Yes, she does get mixed up and more distorted with all the decaying souls inside her, and she slips into using the pronouns âweâ and âourâ more often as time goes on. But I donât believe this means that she completely loses herself by the end of Woolhaven. She is still the center of Woolhaven. She is still their heart. At MOST she may be in a dreamlike, half awake state. Sheâs still able to speak, even in her final form. She calls to the Lamb still, clearly and coherently. AND TO BE HONEST, she's actually the most coherent a rotted being can be in this game. If you compare her dialogue...
...to Marchosias and other beings infected with rot:
They actually do not really lose their sense of self. They lose focus, they likely have difficulties thinking and reacting, and their body slowly convulses into something unrecognizable, but that's still them in there. There is no complete loss of self
When the lambs all flood inside her heart, that is NOT them possessing her, that is them offering their souls as the final pieces to provide her power. Gods draw power from their followersâ devotion, after all. Had it been that they were possessing her for some reason, she wouldâve stopped fighting and flailing once they were all stripped from her. That end scene is them recognizing the pain they caused, the corruptive festering wound theyâve melted her into. Itâs not them going âfuck we reanimated her corpse and itâs angry.â They are realizing they put YNGYA. IN PAIN. BY DOING THIS. Specifically YNGYA.
Does this mean I think this is all Yngya's fault instead? No of course not. It still is quite clear that her disciples, lead by Sariel, chose to use her heart for this rotting ritual. She did not choose any of this. However, I don't believe it is fair to consider her a mindless, inanimate corpse of a monster by the end, when the same perception is not given to Marchosias, who also becomes a corrupted monster of rotten flesh. He keeps his sense of self, but Yngya doesn't? That doesnât sit right with me
The monster you fight in the rotâs core is STILL Yngya. Despite the rot, despite her death, despite everything that had been done to her, that was still her. And I think itâs very important that it is. Because in the end she did not deserve this much suffering for things she never chose. I think itâs narratively important that she is still at least somewhat cognizant of her situation. It adds more weight to the tragic nature of Woolhavenâs story of perpetual suffering
Her story is so rich and powerful. Let it be multifaceted and nuanced
