Phainon Character Analysis
Okay so I meant to post this since I first finished (around 3.4) but it got waaaaaaaaay to much, anyways this is really just word vomit of phainon i wrote at 3 am while listening to this playlist i made cus he QUICKLYYYYYYYYY became my favorite, so enjoy this 2.6K (2,690 to be exact) word vomit of Phainon :3
(also quick shoutout to my bestie for proofreading and creating paragraphs so it's actually readable 😭 @/squiglyline)
Amphoreus is already confirmed to be just data and memoria, not a real planet. However, Amphoreus is a memory that was preserved by Fuli. Fuli is said to record the universe, and then use that information to prepare the universe after it is destroyed. Destruction is a path that believes that the universe was a mistake, and thus, destruction aims to destroy everything. This, however, also applies to the person following destruction. In short, the essence of the path of destruction is to destroy everything, including oneself. Nanook is the Aeon of Destruction, and his backstory is strangely similar to Phainon's. Nanook destroyed his home-planet, Adlivun, when they ascended to aeonhood. The reason they destroyed Adlivun is because Nanook believed that that was how The Swarm would stop destroying their planet. This is similar to how Phainon "destroyed" or killed the villagers from Aedes Elysiae due to the black tide. All of Nanook’s Lord Ravagers seek to destroy aeons of each path. The Lord Ravager Irontomb seeks to destroy Nous of the Erudition. Fuli of the Remembrance and Nous came to the conclusion to create Amphoreus. Amphoreus was created from one of the scepters, explaining why you are unable to see the "planet" without looking for it through light reflecting off of the mirrors in the garden of recollection, which is deeply related to the Remembrance.
While Amphoreus is being run as an experiment from one of Nous' scepters, Remembrance is recording all of the information and running it back, ensuring that Irontomb cannot escape. The flamechase journey is a lost cause, and there is really no point to it. Given that Phainon's only wish has been to fulfill the wishes of others, it makes sense that he crashes out over the fact there was no point in it at all, hence the birth of the Flame Reaver. The Flame Reaver was created as a way for Phainon and Cyrene to save Amphoreus from its doomed fate.
Phainon is upset at Nanook and Irontomb for this. Lygus, who's been pushing Phainon forward the whole time, intends to merge Phainon with Irontomb. Phainon's whole purpose is to be used as a divine vessel of sorts, solely to get Irontomb out of Amphoreus. In the 3.4 cutscene where Phainon fights Zephyro, it's all happening in the simulation of Amphoreus, up until the moment the sky is broken. Zephyro was still a part of the simulation, a way to see just how far Phainon's rage would take him. He broke out of the simulation out of pure spite, pure hatred for Nanook. Phainon hates everything destruction stands for, which is exactly why he is the perfect emanator for destruction. By all means, Phainon should be a preservation character. Preservation path-striders believe in giving up on your goals to fulfill a much larger one, which can be seen in an example of Aventurine, giving up his ideals for the IPC's. Phainon keeps mentioning that he lives for others. He's said that his only wish was to fulfill the wish of others, going along with this idea of "preservation". He yearns for the ideals that everyone else wants, chipping and burning away at his own individuality. However, Phainon's whole existence is the entire essence of destruction. I previously mentioned that the path of "destruction" includes the destruction of oneself, and that is exactly Phainon's goal. Over each cycle, he has grown more and more hateful towards Nanook and Irontomb, going to any length to stop them, to destroy them. The reason that Nanook gazed upon Phainon is because he sees himself in him. Phainon aims to destroy the path of destruction, to destroy Nanook, similar to how Nanook sought to destroy his homeland and himself. Phainon's aim to destroy destruction perfectly aligns with everything that destruction is about.
Phainon's character story says that he will accept the request to "become the one who answers the world's hopes, carrying the wishes of all", however, it always ends up granting Phainon a life in solitary. Phainon has, however, constantly shown his need to believe in someone or something greater than himself, hence why he has given so much to the flame chase journey. He knows that his life is "of little consequence", also going back to the line about him in the Amphoreus book: "how could he love the world if he cannot even love himself." Phainon is constantly trying to give back, trying to be more than he can. In the end, it never works, because Phainon's rage for the emptiness of the flamechase journey will always outweigh his need to be part of something greater than himself. He believes he needs to always be an unwavering force for others to rely on (quote from his character story: ""deliverer, lead us forward". Hearing those words of relief from the weaver, he felt only a bitter ache, a worry he refused to show in front of the crowd"). Phainon will always be putting on a facade to stop others from seeing his worry and his pain, he wants to be someone for the people (quote from his character story: "I just want people to feel comfortable around me").
His tarot card is the "Deliverer", he has the idea that he must "deliver" safety and hope for a new world. However, in doing so, Phainon is destroying himself, albeit unintentionally. Everything that should make him a preservation unit is what makes him destruction in the bigger scale. Phainon is the very essence of destruction itself, delivering destruction through the rage and pure hatred he holds towards the epitome of destruction.
But, Phainon also is not his real name, his real name is Khaoslana. Phainon only translates to "white destruction", and is more-so just a nickname he gave himself. Khaoslana is also called "Khaos" due to this. Now, destruction believes that everything must be destroyed and the universe is a mistake. A major part of Phainon's character is that he has no beliefs. His desire is for everyone to get along, for everyone to be happy. His whole character is based around being a side character. He wants everyone's desires to be fulfilled. So, obviously, upon learning the flamechase journey didn't mean anything, he snaps at Nanook. His whole character revolves around giving himself up for a purpose. And through this, he should be preservation. However, Phainon, Khaoslana, Khaos, however you want to call him, is the epitome of destruction. Khaoslana is literally just codes on a computer, however, his hatred for Nanook is what drove him. "Reckless, wrathful, and destructive actions are manifestations of the path of Destruction" is mentioned in the loading screen under "Destruction" tips. "Wrathful" is exactly what Khaoslana is. He had to watch his friends die for 33,550,336 cycles, and in the end he could not do anything for them, even though he was promised they would not die in vain. Khaoslana, the Deliverer, was meant to deliver a new hope, but in his hatred he could only deliver destruction. Destruction to himself, to Nanook, to Irontomb.
His character story says "How could he love the world if he had never loved himself" and it fits him so much. Why, even, would Khaoslana love himself? He was never meant to be the main character, the savior he was promised to be. He grew up wanting to be a hero for Aedes Elysiae, but he ended up killing the population that lived there due to black tide. When killing those who turned to monsters due to the black tide, they said: “Why, Phainon? Aren’t we the bestest of friends?” Ever since the beginning, Phainon had to destroy the one thing he holds dearest; his friendship and loyalty. But, Khaoslana was never meant to be a hero, only the place holder. He was promised to be a Deliverer of Dawn, of hope, but...he wasn't. He had to stay behind and watch everything he loved get destroyed 33,550,336 times. Had to witness and kill his friends 33,550,336 times, all because of Nanook. He had to watch them sacrifice themselves to a lost cause, to die in vain, just to save a world that could never be saved. Khaoslana's pure hatred for himself and for Nanook literally made him real, allowed a code to break out of a simulation. His whole existence shook the entire cosmos with how burning his rage was. Rather than being a deliverer of dawn and hope as promised, he became the deliverer of chaos, a destruction that he doesn't even want. His hatred stems from never being enough to become what he wants to be, but simply being a placeholder until the time comes. 33,550,336 cycles Khaoslana had to wait for a hero, wishing it were him, wishing he could save his friends and stop them from this fate. But he cannot, all because of Nanook.
He was never destined to be the hero. He was a deliverer, but not of hope. No. While the Trailblazer became the deliverer of hope, Phainon became the deliverer of destruction, just another emanator of Nanook. He's always putting on a face of happiness, always trying to make everyone around him happy and comfortable. He masks with loud talks, smiles, dealing with his pain by throwing himself to deal with everyone else's first. He doesn't care who finds him annoying, as long as he can make them smile. Too much and never enough. He's always trying to be there for everyone, always telling a joke, but over time the jokes land too fast.
A quote from his Amphoreus page: “He saw the creators choke his throat, gurgling and gasping. And in that boundless dream, he mistook them for his own jest.” Phainon is always laughing, always the optimist. Yet, the smile never reaches his eyes, and he still tries to convince everyone he's happy. But how could he ever be happy in this world, doomed to be destroyed. "Destruction is not a process, but the outcome. On the path THEY promised, all Paths and Aeons will terminate in the heat death of the universe." – Data Bank, Aeons. Amphoreus has always been doomed to be destroyed, no matter what, and Khaoslana is destined to witness this destruction alone. “If rage can't burn this twisted fate to ashes, then let me burn with it”.
Phainon cannot even handle this cruel fate he was given. He was simply created as a plaything for the gods to toy with, being in hell yet gazing upon heaven. His entire life is a living hell, and he only knew heaven through the love of his friends. And yet, hate, hate, hate, hate, and utter hatred is all Khaoslana feels to the world now, burning himself to ashes in the light of a false promise of hope. Khaoslana has set himself ablaze for the world, and all he has gotten in return is an icy, still, loneliness. Holding the world on his shoulders, yet it is destined to fall, and he is destined to pick it right back up again with the knowledge it will fall again. Each time the weight gets heavier, breaking away at his humanity until he doesn't know who he is anymore, only identifiable by his hatred. But, the beauty in Phainon's character is that even though he was coded for hatred, he still finds ways to show his love. He is always finding ways to be there for his friends, to show his love to them. Sure, he may not love the world now, but he still finds ways to love everyone around him. He is love and beauty all wrapped in a tiny box that has no outlet.
Phainon's character is like an apple. On the outside, he's sweet, easy going, like the feeling of the sun hitting your face on a cold day. But as time goes on, his core gets bitter, rotten like the world around him. He gives so much to others, never thinking of himself. “He is utterly unafraid to hurt himself”, the words written in his chapter. He does so constantly, allowing himself to be used as a vessel, tearing himself apart to keep this doomed world from falling. Throughout the pain, he doesn't allow himself to cry, how could he? Who in their right mind would let a drowning world witness the fall of the Messiah, their savior? “He once sought out the emotions of sorrow, and walked with the lowliest of people”, “He protected all for the people”, and yet, duty would never drive him to wield his blade. Only hatred could do that. Phainon was coded for hatred, so how does that hatred learn to love? Through friendship, through memories? Though Phainon's memories may be of fake people, the emotions he felt through them were real. Phainon connects with people through emotions, through burdening himself. It's the only way he knows how to feel. But, after so many years of Lygus’ torture, of course he grows tired of it. It's why his consciousness splits into the Flame Reaver, why he has to convince himself his friends are inhuman in order to make killing them easier. It's exactly why he starts avoiding people, why “he even avoids the funerals of the departed, only out of fear that he cannot cry for those in pain”.
Phainon has grown so detached from his humanity to the point that any emotions except for rage has started to grow foreign to him, no matter how much love he still holds. The beauty in Phainon is in his fiery resolve, continuing on when he knows he cannot. “Witness the will of humanity”, Hyacine said when fighting Aquila, and that's exactly what Phainom is a representation of. He's the perfect example of a human. He is human. And humans are complex, complicated beings. “I will never submit to this idea of fate,” Phainon says, utterly sure of himself. He knows there is no point to fighting against it, but he still believes that it is for the best. In the face of utter despair, he holds a resilient front, because who is he to give up? If he gives up, then all of his friends' sacrifices would be in vain. “I still believe there is hope within the deepest dark” Phainon says, and that truly is the only thing keeping him going. Phainon is the epitome of humanity in his resilience, his determination, his utter need for hope. He knows he cannot prove fate to be wrong, yet he continues his fight. “The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.” Phainon is a direct mirror of Sisyphus, he is a warrior at heart. He’s been fighting all his life, fighting for his friends and the people of Amphoreus. The struggles he goes through constantly are what make him human, they’re what give him his incredible resilience, they’re how a 2-dimensional being, coded for hatred, grew to love everything life has to offer. For what is life without struggle? What is friendship if we do not share the blood spilled with our comrades? “He climbed toward the peak, over and over again, only to be shattered”.
Life is an uphill struggle, and Phainon is the perfect representation of why we continue to struggle, even if, in the end, it all ends up being pointless. Phainon’s character demonstrates that life is all about the journey, the memories we make along the way. The endless need to love and to be loved, especially when we feel our love is unappreciated. Even if this love is only in vain. In 3.5, it’s shown that Phainon truly sacrificed himself to stop the black tide. His friends became happier only in a universe without him, and even in Phainon’s absence, his love for his friends still manages to bleed through. He only gets true freedom, peace for the first time, when he decides to utterly destroy himself, sacrificing himself for the future of Amphoreus. He is human, and while being human is utterly exhausting, it is the only way we know how to live.
if u made it this far thank you for reading I really appreciate it!! :333
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