One thing I've noticed during lore discussions is that we all have a rather different idea of how The Echo works. Often, some of our topics actually degrade into talking about the specifics for a while, so I think it's time we make a thread that just gets down to business and makes sure we don't misstate this schist anymore.
Everything we know:
- Existence of the Echo is a sign of apocalyptic change.
This is known to the Sharlayans.Originally Posted by Thancred
Originally Posted by Papalymo
- Some have discerned this change, but are too traumatized to speak of it.
Originally Posted by Minfilia
- The ability is provided by an entity (likely Hydaelyn)
Originally Posted by Minfilia
Originally Posted by Minfilia
- Many report seeing a starshower upon their awakening.
The meaning of the starshowers are surrounded with rumor.
The most common rumors are that:
- they are concurrent with the awakening of the Echo,
- they are an ill omen of something about to happen,
- those who are near where one of the falling stars landsare given some sort of power.
- IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE SECOND ECHO WE SEE IN EACH STORY IS THE MOMENT SOMEONE ELSE WOKE TO THE ECHO? PERHAPS ONE OF THE ARCHONS, OR ASACILIA, EMERICK (UNSEEN, BUT THE SOURCE OF THE ECHO SO HE MUST BE THERE) OR KHRIMM.
Originally Posted by Minfilia
Unlisted:
Several NPC quotes from Fate to White where members of the
Path of the Twelve say they got their echo shortly after seeing a starshower.
- The Echo often comes with "side effects." Everyone is given different gifts.
- The Player's is to breach the language barriers and see into hearts.
- Minfilia's is foresight (prescience)
Originally Posted by Minfilia
CONFLICTING, OR AMBIGUOUS, INFORMATION:Originally Posted by Minfilia
- We do not know for sure if we are entering a copy of the past that we can manipulate and study, or if we are entering the actual past using someone's memory as an anchored doorway.
- If I were to speculate, I would guess that many in-game characters assume it to be the former because nothing can be changed and the person can often catch you messing around in their head. However, in reality it is the latter, which is why you can bring items back and forth and truly gain or lose them. This is one of four major methods of time travel we see in movies. It's not Back to the Future time travel (changes a singular timeline in the past to impact the present), Terminator time travel (changing the past creates separate timelines), or Supernatural time travel (closed loops in time that don't allow for change) -- it's LOST/The Time Machine time travel (go ahead and try to change whatever you want, maybe it'll play out differently, but whatever happened happened).
- For instance, if we look at these quotes from Minfilia and Fernehalwes...
Originally Posted by Minfilia
Originally Posted by Fernehalwes