Minor correction: the reason that Firefly didn't die when she was stabbed by Sleepie isn't because of Ena's protection. As you explain later, Firefly does not have Ena's protection because she's not dreaming to begin with. Ena's protection causes the dreamer to wake up in the dream pool, while Sleepie sends people to Dreamflux Reef. Those are two separate actions, and Sleepie stabbing overrules the protection. Or more accurately, the protection doesn't kick in because what the person is experiencing isn't death at all.
Yup, that is correct. That bit about Ena’s protection was to explain that TB shouldn’t have worried cuz no such thing as death existed in Penacony. I suppose I didn’t separate the explanation cuz I thought it was obvious.
Silverwolf is a good friend, she leaked Firefly's script from Elio, to Sparkle, if I'm understanding things correctly. As some people has said, the only one in Penacony you can trust is ironically Sparkle. Everyone else has their own agenda
First was a scene so gruesome, it looked like death Second was an experience so terible, it felt like death And third was a sacrifice so seemingly hopeless, it makes you think that death is inevitable In a sence, the nature of the third death was thinking you'll die, which can be described as a kind of 'brain' death. So, it works for the bad ending of us not breaking from Ena's Dream too!
If you compare firefly and the trailblazer it shows you that some artificial life forms can dream well as as can’t depend on how they were created and what purpose they were made for Also I think Elio studied firefly when creating the trailblazer
Assuming the Trailblazer does not just have a special body that can be stored in Silver Wolf's reality altering powers and can house a Stellaron (among other things), because remember, in Kafka's companion quest we find out that the Trailblazer used to be part of the Stellaron hunters, so they were not really "created" right before they put said Stellaron in them, perhaps Reborn, but still good comparison, I could just be thinking too hard about this though lol
So here's the question then... what would've happened if Firefly bailed from Penacony without the third death? It was in her script, but... there were no stakes requiring her to fulfill it. It wasn't comparable to the Fontaine prophecy where the stakes were the end of a civilization, by Genshin's bad flood logic... In Firefly's case, it wasn't a choice but a result of the events prior.
She couldn’t just bail. She said she had tried to go against the script, one of them was during the first death when she tried to show TB about Dreamflux Reef. Before she could, Sleepie attacked her (1st death). I think after eleven times trying to go against the script and failing, she knew there was no escaping it.
Nice video, thank you for your work! I'm still a little bothered that we didn't get to witness Firefly second death. I think they didn't show it to us because it was not as important as the first (shock and personal implication of the TB) third one (metaphorical death, defy destiny). But still, make my cry Hoyo. On another note, I bet you are as excited as me that Black Swan might be relevant to the next big chapter. Purple mommies FTW!
Also, as a lore hungry being, I did not miss this optional cutscene with Acheron, or should I call her, Raiden Mei? I played HI3rd before Star Rail, so I pressed Mei Senpai (as K-423 refers to her as) for all the dialog. I also read in it's entirety every readable that opens automatically I come across
Ngl I was going “random bs here we go!!” and that’s how I got this optional dialog. I missed the red text when Acheron asked to team with us and Black Swan the first time (2.0 quest) cuz I trusted her too much lmao. Glad I chose to be insistent this time.
Everything here makes sense, and your explanation is great. I just hope this isn't the case. I am sure its what Hoyo intended though. This was also how I interpreted it. I just feel really disappointed. Not because she didn't die, but because there are now two back to back arcs where the payoff to the build up was awful. All through the Loufu we hear "3 must pay" over and over, then nothing happened. Here Firefly must have "3 deaths" over and over, and then another anticlimactic ending. It was warm and happy, but next region I am not falling for it again.
The thing is that both cases are metaphorical - of the Quintet, the prices the 3 pay aren't tangible - Dan Heng had to have Dan Feng's shadow hanging over him his whole life, Blade would be condemned to immortality, and Jingliu would descend into insanity and eventually be judged by the Alliance. This was all elaborated on in Jingliu's companion quest, even though we never got to witness the last part (though I have a feeling we'll see Jingliu and Luocha again)
Except Firefly’s 3 deaths was never the main point of Penacony arc, and we only heard of it for the first time in 2.2. I get where you’re coming from cuz I was very much confused how Luofu opened up with “3 must pay” but it was never resolved (unless you play Jingliu companion quest). However in Penacony, it’s more about the watchmaker’s legacy, which did get its satisfactory resolution in 2.2. I find Firefly’s story to be more of a subplot, like Acheron being in Penacony is or Aventurine making peace with himself, and the outcome of her 3rd death to be the best. She’s been through a lot, and for her to just die a gruesome death after all that is just unfair and bleak.
The whole “3 must pay a price” is actually happening/already happened. Blade is forced to wander the universe until the end of time thanks to his immortality and also be tormented by the mara and memories of the past. Jingliu is mara-struck, but her punishment is a little different because she wasn’t involved in the Sedition. She considers herself part of the 3 because she’s killed many while being Mara-struck and also betrayed her oath to protecting the Luofu. This is why she turned herself in. Lastly, Dan Feng was tortured in the Shackling Prison and was denied a true rebirth. His punishment carried over to his next lifetime when he became Dan Heng (being imprisoned). Don’t get it twisted. The three are being punished. What you expected was a more direct answer, but the answer was there all along. You just didn’t realize it, and I wouldn’t call any of these punishments lame. Death would’ve been an easier way out. Blade and Jingliu feel like they’re living in hell already, and Dan Feng probably would’ve chosen death if he could because it would’ve been better than being tortured across multiple lifetimes.
@@Rainthority I get that sparkle says it was the third death but that doesn't mean it 100% was. Elio not being transparent about what the deaths would be exactly could've been instrumental towards firefly getting the character moment she does at the end of this chapter.
Yeah, Sparkle said that was the 3rd death because she got the info from Silver Wolf's script. Elio's scripts have always been detailed (e.g. Kafka's in space station quest, Kafka's recruitment to SH story); the ones given to Firefly are the exception (brief, containing a few lines only).
Apparently at some of the live events, that had copies of the buttons that players would be given a chance to push if they wanted to. One of the final trailers for 2.3 actually shows people pushing it. So I think the "More than half the actors pressed the buttons" might actually mean the IRL players who opted to push the button at the events.
What she desires is to be normal. The Aeons all embody an idea or concept, but they’re restricted to that. They’re also worshipped as gods, and I doubt Firefly would want that.
![[2.4] Void Archives: A Stellaron Hunter - Honkai: Star Rail Theory](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5EfJ4cD_ocQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![[2.4] Void Archives: A Stellaron Hunter - Honkai: Star Rail Theory](/img/tr.png)
![[2.2] Penacony Quest Timeline EXPLAINED - Honkai: Star Rail Theory](/img/n.gif)
Fun fact Raiden Mei in HI3 says and relizes the same thing in the same arc Shaoji led the writing team, the Elysian Realm arc
Minor correction: the reason that Firefly didn't die when she was stabbed by Sleepie isn't because of Ena's protection. As you explain later, Firefly does not have Ena's protection because she's not dreaming to begin with. Ena's protection causes the dreamer to wake up in the dream pool, while Sleepie sends people to Dreamflux Reef. Those are two separate actions, and Sleepie stabbing overrules the protection. Or more accurately, the protection doesn't kick in because what the person is experiencing isn't death at all.
Yup, that is correct. That bit about Ena’s protection was to explain that TB shouldn’t have worried cuz no such thing as death existed in Penacony. I suppose I didn’t separate the explanation cuz I thought it was obvious.
Silverwolf is a good friend, she leaked Firefly's script from Elio, to Sparkle, if I'm understanding things correctly. As some people has said, the only one in Penacony you can trust is ironically Sparkle. Everyone else has their own agenda
First was a scene so gruesome, it looked like death
Second was an experience so terible, it felt like death
And third was a sacrifice so seemingly hopeless, it makes you think that death is inevitable
In a sence, the nature of the third death was thinking you'll die, which can be described as a kind of 'brain' death. So, it works for the bad ending of us not breaking from Ena's Dream too!
If you compare firefly and the trailblazer it shows you that some artificial life forms can dream well as as can’t depend on how they were created and what purpose they were made for Also I think Elio studied firefly when creating the trailblazer
Assuming the Trailblazer does not just have a special body that can be stored in Silver Wolf's reality altering powers and can house a Stellaron (among other things), because remember, in Kafka's companion quest we find out that the Trailblazer used to be part of the Stellaron hunters, so they were not really "created" right before they put said Stellaron in them, perhaps Reborn, but still good comparison, I could just be thinking too hard about this though lol
So here's the question then... what would've happened if Firefly bailed from Penacony without the third death? It was in her script, but... there were no stakes requiring her to fulfill it. It wasn't comparable to the Fontaine prophecy where the stakes were the end of a civilization, by Genshin's bad flood logic... In Firefly's case, it wasn't a choice but a result of the events prior.
She couldn’t just bail. She said she had tried to go against the script, one of them was during the first death when she tried to show TB about Dreamflux Reef. Before she could, Sleepie attacked her (1st death). I think after eleven times trying to go against the script and failing, she knew there was no escaping it.
Loved this segment, Rainthority. I crushed that thumbs up marker on your video. Sustain the very good work. Can't wait see more creations from you.
Nice video, thank you for your work!
I'm still a little bothered that we didn't get to witness Firefly second death. I think they didn't show it to us because it was not as important as the first (shock and personal implication of the TB) third one (metaphorical death, defy destiny). But still, make my cry Hoyo.
On another note, I bet you are as excited as me that Black Swan might be relevant to the next big chapter. Purple mommies FTW!
Ngl I wish they’d shown the 2nd death. Make the quest longer, Hoyo!
Heck yeah, more Black Swan the better 🙌🏻
8:33 there is HSR event in the real live and that button is the button that people (real people and real button) push irl.
5:19 i love how you use the flowchart here
Also, as a lore hungry being, I did not miss this optional cutscene with Acheron, or should I call her, Raiden Mei? I played HI3rd before Star Rail, so I pressed Mei Senpai (as K-423 refers to her as) for all the dialog. I also read in it's entirety every readable that opens automatically I come across
Ngl I was going “random bs here we go!!” and that’s how I got this optional dialog. I missed the red text when Acheron asked to team with us and Black Swan the first time (2.0 quest) cuz I trusted her too much lmao. Glad I chose to be insistent this time.
Everything here makes sense, and your explanation is great. I just hope this isn't the case. I am sure its what Hoyo intended though. This was also how I interpreted it. I just feel really disappointed. Not because she didn't die, but because there are now two back to back arcs where the payoff to the build up was awful. All through the Loufu we hear "3 must pay" over and over, then nothing happened. Here Firefly must have "3 deaths" over and over, and then another anticlimactic ending. It was warm and happy, but next region I am not falling for it again.
The thing is that both cases are metaphorical - of the Quintet, the prices the 3 pay aren't tangible - Dan Heng had to have Dan Feng's shadow hanging over him his whole life, Blade would be condemned to immortality, and Jingliu would descend into insanity and eventually be judged by the Alliance. This was all elaborated on in Jingliu's companion quest, even though we never got to witness the last part (though I have a feeling we'll see Jingliu and Luocha again)
Except Firefly’s 3 deaths was never the main point of Penacony arc, and we only heard of it for the first time in 2.2. I get where you’re coming from cuz I was very much confused how Luofu opened up with “3 must pay” but it was never resolved (unless you play Jingliu companion quest). However in Penacony, it’s more about the watchmaker’s legacy, which did get its satisfactory resolution in 2.2.
I find Firefly’s story to be more of a subplot, like Acheron being in Penacony is or Aventurine making peace with himself, and the outcome of her 3rd death to be the best. She’s been through a lot, and for her to just die a gruesome death after all that is just unfair and bleak.
The whole “3 must pay a price” is actually happening/already happened.
Blade is forced to wander the universe until the end of time thanks to his immortality and also be tormented by the mara and memories of the past. Jingliu is mara-struck, but her punishment is a little different because she wasn’t involved in the Sedition. She considers herself part of the 3 because she’s killed many while being Mara-struck and also betrayed her oath to protecting the Luofu. This is why she turned herself in. Lastly, Dan Feng was tortured in the Shackling Prison and was denied a true rebirth. His punishment carried over to his next lifetime when he became Dan Heng (being imprisoned). Don’t get it twisted. The three are being punished. What you expected was a more direct answer, but the answer was there all along. You just didn’t realize it, and I wouldn’t call any of these punishments lame. Death would’ve been an easier way out. Blade and Jingliu feel like they’re living in hell already, and Dan Feng probably would’ve chosen death if he could because it would’ve been better than being tortured across multiple lifetimes.
I’m still very confused. Did firefly actually die?
Nope.
I think that the third death was when she confronted jade and had to face the fact that she wouldn't be the answer to getting her new lease on life.
You should check Sparkle’s message.
@@Rainthority I get that sparkle says it was the third death but that doesn't mean it 100% was.
Elio not being transparent about what the deaths would be exactly could've been instrumental towards firefly getting the character moment she does at the end of this chapter.
Yeah, Sparkle said that was the 3rd death because she got the info from Silver Wolf's script. Elio's scripts have always been detailed (e.g. Kafka's in space station quest, Kafka's recruitment to SH story); the ones given to Firefly are the exception (brief, containing a few lines only).
Apparently at some of the live events, that had copies of the buttons that players would be given a chance to push if they wanted to. One of the final trailers for 2.3 actually shows people pushing it. So I think the "More than half the actors pressed the buttons" might actually mean the IRL players who opted to push the button at the events.
Wait wait was there a stream that i missed??😭
There wasn’t 😅 I didn’t stream this quest.
@@Rainthority ahh i thought i missed one and missed tha chaos
Was planning to bring the nihility to the stream 👹
Lmao. My internet has been cursed by Nihility since then and has not recovered so 💀
I think the 3rd death is kinda lame, especially after we got the banger 2.2 story
If Firefly is older then Nanook the destruction, WHY there's no path of Firefly?
Real.
What she desires is to be normal. The Aeons all embody an idea or concept, but they’re restricted to that. They’re also worshipped as gods, and I doubt Firefly would want that.
I'm gonna be honest the first 2 were impactful the last one was anticlimactic and built up for nothing imo
Acheron just sums up what the Astral Express' entire ethos.