Chains are present throughout the whole game as old remnants and possibly as part of machinery
However, there's places where they show to have a deeper meaning
Shaded "The True Anoited" Citadel, Holy Ground where memories are cherished, has an unique style of column that incorporates a chain motif
it can be better appreciated on the ruins immediately around the shoreline gate, where they're better iluminated
This pattern is also present on the cabinets
This motif runs older though, much much older
to the time of the Depths
A statue of a humanoid, in the classic stance of an echo, chest binded in chains
A head wrapped in chains, to the point of covering all features
...but with an X breaking the pattern, cutting through the chains
In a way, the progression of the higher levels of karma look more like cutting through a knot or a ring, a visual of breaking the cycle
this already gives in the meaning behind this motif: the chains are the cycle, binding the self to the carnal, ascension being the severing of the cycle to move freely above and beyond
Its entire memory is filled with a mantra repeated... 5061 times - and then a termination verse. It was worn as an amulet, probably together with many identical others forming a pattern on some garment. The repeating mantra is important because it symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and death, and the termination verse is a symbol for ascension above and beyond it. I don't know how familiar you are with the nature of life and death, but I imagine like all living creatures you have some intuitive knowledge? Then you know that death isn't the end - birth and death are connected to each other like a ring, or some say a spiral. Some say a spiral that in turn forms a ring. Some ramble in agonizing longevity. But the basis is agreed upon: like sleep like death, you wake up again - whether you want to or not. This is true for all living things, but some actually break the cycle. That doesn't apply to you or me though, you are too entangled in your animal struggles, and for me not breaking that cycle is an integral part of the design. Our mantras keep repeating.
"(...) and then a termination verse"
What is a chain if not a number of interlocked rings? The Shaded Citadel pattern even looks more like a double spiral, a double helix
The urges are also described as "binding"
fun fact one of the elements in an echo's design is called chains
it's the row of golden flakes bound to the legs
considering the depths statues, maybe part of the rituals in preparation for ascension included binding the body in chains, as a metaphor for the binding nature of the cycle, meant to dissolve in the void alongside the body as signifier of the liberation of the mind
oooh. sorry i misinterpreted that sentence that was my bad. i thought you meant it like "prince is incapable of getting mad at you, the same way as moon is incapable of getting mad at you". sorry for getting aggro so quickly ive just seen so so many people act as if moon is some sort of perfect lady that never gets mad at anyone and cant stand up for herself and never did anything bad and i have lost any patience i may have once had towards it
It's sad/funny to me how some people are so aggressive/mean to Prince. Either because: 1. You are being mean to This (floral baby fuck).
He was born three minutes ago. Give him a sec. 2. The man has never uttered a single mean word towards the player, unlike Pebbles or Spinning Top. He's even incapable of getting mad with the player even though he Should, like Moon. Whatchu saying fuck him for? 3. What he's doing is Literally the same thing that the Iterators were meant to figure out and commit as well (or just in that same vein. also mass """murder""" [ascension =/= death tho]). If one hates him for the Rot spreading across the ripples and making the lizards and shit yelp, then by logic all Iteratorkind should be despised as well for their potential And fabricated destiny/purpose to do the same.
And the Ancients, but they are already mostly despised in the fandom anyway. And the entire point of the dang game/the game itself, but I won't talk about that. Boring old conversation.
4. The presumed fact is that everything would eventually end up like rotted through even if he didn't appear. Because that is how the existence works over there. That's the Cycle on a large scale. It's probably slow and painful- constant deterioration. Here it still sucks, yes, but it's quicker and he had his eyes on an out for everything that the Cycle doesn't have (most likely). There was a planned end with him that he failed to reach (presumably, I'm 99% positive), not infinite torturous looping.
5. The Prince is the perfect means for showing what this world's spirituality is about. He's absolutely Amazing and mindfucky and I love how he addresses the large scale of the world as a story device, while Spin addresses the very intimate and personal of a sapient creature Within that world. Just for how great he is for exposition I can't be personally pissed with him. 6. ,,He's annoying to get to." I recommend doing a Spearmaster all pearls run without any passaging shenanigans. Just walk to a pearl and walk with it back to Moon. As so, the bar for annoying returning to an NPC should be raised and the Throne will be more mentally and emotionally acceptable 👌
bonus: patty cake
Once upon a time there was a woman named Patricia, who worked in a bank. And one day a frog came in, a person-sized one. It wasn't the first time that dear Patty had seen or heard of a frog that big - she remembered the incident in the news: There had been a witch living in the woods, in a gingerbread house. Not a nice, helpful kind of witch or even a decent one who'd mind her own business, but one who hated everyone and everything and frequetly went out of her way to hurt people who couldn't defend themselves. So one day due to her supreme antisemitism God sent the frog that once plagued Egypt to fuck up her house. This, however, was not that frog.
When Patricia asked what the frog was after, he said he wanted a loan. When she asked what he wanted it for, the frog would not say. In return, the frog asked her whether she knows who he is. She could not say that she would, she had never seen this frog before. The frog asked her whether she knows who his father was. She said that she didn't. Turns out that this is the son of the giant frog sent by God. Pat is still not sure what to do with this information.
The frog digs into his suitcase and pulls out a tiny wooden figure, of a crudely carved dragon, and asks whether this is sufficient. Patricia is baffled, and asks the frog whether he could wait while she goes to see her boss and ask her opinion. The frog nods, stating that he was frankly hoping that she would. And to take the figurine with her.
So Patricia goes to her boss, showing her the figurine and explaining the situation, asking whether her boss knows what the wood dragon is or what to do with all of this. As Patricia speaks, her boss calmly picks up a newspaper from her desk and starts rolling it, soon wielding the rolled-up newspaper as a weapon as she addresses Patricia.
"It's a knick-knack, Patty [whack], give the frog a loan. His old man ate Rowling's home."
a yummy pile of blue!
When ur mutuals w/ some cool ass people rb if u agree
Last night, she went to bed crying from hunger again. She whispered, “Daddy, I’m hungry…” And I had nothing to give her. Just silence. Just pain.
My name is Fayez, a father of three children, and we live in Gaza.
We are living under siege and starvation. The occupation blocks food and aid from reaching us. There’s no access to clean water, no electricity, and now we are facing a real famine. People especially children are dying from hunger.
I was injured in the war. But what hurts more is watching my children slowly waste away, while the world turns its face away.
💔 This is not just a message it's a desperate cry for help. From Gaza… to any human heart that still beats with compassion.
We don’t ask for luxury. We beg for basic survival: A meal. Clean water. A chance to live.
I don't hv money to donate, but hopefully I can spread the word!!!!