Sam the Skykid

1. Memory/Cosmic/Spirit Mantas: Projection vs. Death

Are the mantas in Vault projections or the spirits of dead creatures?

Evidence for Projection:

Remembrance manta projector

Dusk Ember sees their manatee projected

These types of mantas only appear in the Vault

The upper floors of Vault are likely all illusions

Evidence for Spirits

A baby Vault mantas emerges from bones in the 4th floor

They behave/seem like echoes or ghosts {Meaning that the Themes correlate}

Most participants concluded: Vault technology or 'Light magic', enables memories to appear as visible, interactive, semi-corporeal projections.

[In-game photo taken by ThatGameCompany]

To contribute my own Understanding, I would note that Light substance is already largely understood to contain memories and life. Each and every little mote. All Light wants to Be, and it holds on to the memory of that want; this thing we call experience. Projecting out this stored Experience results in yet another Sky term I use constantly in our research, known as “Expression”. The expression generally always involving the Light declaring that it Knows, and that it wants to Be.

And so if what is projected out of Darkstone projections are made of Light, then it would be missing the point of what Light tries so hard to express- to say that these projections “are not ‘alive’ or ‘real’ as it could be.” Adversely, to call them “Spirits” and be done with it also removes a significant chunk of the picture we have the potential and the chance to paint. Perhaps we could just call them their own special light creature- but are they even that? Understanding that all of these ideas and questions are all needed to create the memory manta we pppare seeking for; can help light the way out of the darkness of our own perception. There can always be multiple truths.

2. Darkstone and Memory Lanterns

Proposed Hypothesis

Darkstone can store information, with analogies of CDs/DVDs and "Light engravings" being used.

Various Speculations

The Vault utilizes highly-refined Darkstone to record, store, and project memories.

Light is stored in, extracted from, and even reborn via these Darkstone vessels/capsules.

[Official concept art by Tom Zhao]

3. Light Creatures, Anatomy, and Inner Light

It was proposed that the 'Light cores' of light creatures are the yellow spots marked primarily on the head of in-game creatures, but The Two Embers Part One does in fact disprove this notion, with the core being located in the chest, which is where the Call of most creatures come from in-game.

The yellow markings currently maintain a common consensus as more of a sensory interfaces, and perhaps a nuclear (of cells) control center, similar to what has been discussed in previous conversations. ⁠

[Second picture is a hi-def screenshot captured by @the-aonuma-luca!]

It was also mentioned that Ancestors were not able to share or Express their Light outwards, while in-game interactions suggest that most light creatures can. This will always be important to remember, as it places the Ancestors as a species outside of the usual flow of Light through the Cycle. In order to gain more convenient access to the benefits of Light and its powers, they were prepared to do something that would selfishly harm the ecosystem of our beautiful world…

4. Light Blooms and Darkness' place within the Cycle

Crucial Obervations Mentioned

Light blooms appear in low-yet present exposure to residual Darkstone, such as Prairie Peaks and Hidden Forest

Though Darkstone has been mined out of everywhere across the Prairie and Forest, it is implied that it existed either primarily in these two realms; via empirical evidence of mining efforts and natural and unnatural caves/ravines being within only these two realms and the ocean. (Sanctuary/Treasure Reef)

Darkness plants also correlate directly with medium to higher presences of Darkness, which supports both Chromeskies and LoreCaster's theories on the topic of darkness plants.

Application into Structured Theories

Chrome references their theory that suggests trace levels of Darkness are required in order for Light to form more material, structural forms.

Chrome's ideas align with Tom's conceptual Themes of Darkness being representative of transformations that Light undergoes, rather than being a literal substance. The Themes surrounding these transformations include Metaphysical --> Material/Worldly --> Metaphysical --> Repeat.

[Official concept art by Tom Zhao]

5. Light Motes, Butterflies, and 'Proto-life'

This transitioned back into the age-old, utterly timeless discussion of butterflies as an unstable form that Light takes.

Various Speculations

Butterflies are condensed Light, potentially the 'amino-acids' or building blocks of more complex light creatures.

The Prairie Elder cutscene where the gifted Flame changes into a butterfly was mentioned.

If butterflies can be converted 'back' into 'pure' Light, they represent a liminal state- somewhere between form and energy.

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Tom's Personal Synopsis

The Potential for Biological and Metaphysical Interpretation

Light is not just energy. It is alive, emotive, and malleable, subject to dramatic and profound transformations within a single lifetime. (Of an Ancestor, for measure's sake.) Chromeskies' concept of Darkness being necessary for Beings to maintain a corporeal form results in much potential.

Too much Darkness; Calcification, Decay. Too little Darkness; form dissolves back into motes.

To me, this potentially just brings this back around to the concept of Beings being made of earthly content (carbonic structures) and Light. In this case, the Light would serve as the DNA, expressing, projecting, and animating the carbonic structure that makes up the light creature or Ancestor.

There is a persistent undercurrent that Sky's biology is metaphorical/analogous/Thematic yet rule-bound, with a balance between Light and the non-Light and affected Light that we call "the Darkness". This balance would be the axis around which every creature's survival and transformation revolves, which is why it is so important for us to continue to learn about. Notable Metaphysical Questions The following bullets of this section represent questions commonly asked by new thinkers, that I believe we should look into better addressing in order to help rally collective Understanding on the matter. "Addressing" in this case may often refer to a dissolving of community Doctrine and idea enforcement, rather than encouragement of it.

Why didn't the Elders become Spirits?

Are skychildren Descendants, Ancestors, creatures, or hybrids?

Are the colors of colored Light representative of anything meaningful?

The presence of Dye in all of its environmental variation was called into questioning. (Rarity? Purity? Frequency? Wavelenths? Emotions?)

Are butterflies proto-cells?

Are Vault mantas just memories? Or their souls too?

Recurring Thematic Ideas

Decay as Transformation; nothing dies in Sky's world, everything transitions.

Light as a Fluid Medium; extractable, shareable, corruptible, and restorable.

Projections vs. Spirit; what is a memory to you? What is a ghost to you?

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This discussion is a wonderful example of our ability to appreciate the beauty and nuance of our wonderful Sky world as a community. The most important value I want to instill in this modern era of the community and of Lorechat: is for us to *avoid conclusions*. Being able to keep our minds open, and especially our ears and hearts open, to other people’s thoughts? That prevents getting stuck down a tunnel; getting stuck in biases that I unfortunately will see users lord and gatekeep over one another.

The more we can listen to each other, the more we can let others speak instead of always needing to have the last word; the more this community heals and grows.

The more that we are truly Connected. ❤️🕯️

Lastly, I need to emphasize that recording and archiving this conversation is not a skill. Anyone could go back and read through the rich and vast archives of Lorechat for various ideas. In fact, I’ll make sure you can do just that from this post. Here is the first message in the discussion. Sometimes it's better for people to read things themselves. Well- not sometimes, but all the time. Your personal synopsis might be quite different from mine!

Thank you for reading all of this. I hope you all have a wonderful day or night, and continue to grow in Love.