#also general disclaimer because of my own anxiety that this may be disjointed and subject to future change :)

[n7viper]

While there are things I’m not loving about the season so far and new lore that isn’t hitting for me, I’m definitely loving the small changes to the Dreaming City and the info we’re getting about it. I don’t even know if this really talks about everything that’s been rattling around in my skull, but I had to put something down on “paper” before I lost my mind. I was stupidly emotional about updated dialogues and have spent the last few days thinking about it. So anyway, onto the main event — (under a cut for your sanity 💖)

I had a patrolling Corsair say “Sister, lend us your strength” as I was running past her a few days ago, which I feel is new? I do a lot of patrolling in the Dreaming City because it’s a comforting area for me to chill in when I’m stressed, so I’ve heard most of their dialogue at this point. Up until now, as an Awoken guardian, they’ve always called me cousin. Petra also has updated dialogue where she says “It means a lot to the Corsairs, being able to count on you.” When I heard it, I withered instantly.

I’ve spoken about it from time to time because of the content I’m obsessed with, but the Dreaming City is a sort of home away from home for Mae. She leaves the Last City and retreats there after the main campaign of Forsaken and after Riven’s death to help Petra with the curse, having previously earned her favour in the events of D1.

Despite having Petra’s favour, the Corsairs are hesitant to have Mae around at first. The game makes it clear that they dislike having Reef-born Awoken Guardians around because it’s a bit morbid, but I don’t see why they wouldn’t also have issues with Earthborn Awoken Guardians around as well. I can see many of the Awoken sharing Uldren’s views about guardians being careless and ignorant of the world around them due to their immortality. Maybe she’s impressed (or fooled?) Petra, but how are they supposed to believe that she’s there to help them instead of being there for glory?

Mae doesn’t really do much to help change this opinion in the beginning, camping alone in her jump ship and avoiding everyone but Petra as much as possible. But still she persists, going out daily to clean up the Taken and the Scorn and keep them away from the others as much as possible. It’s for countless reasons — she wants to get away from Last City and all of the pain there, a dead friend, a broken friendship with her only other remaining friend, a growing distrust for the Vanguard. But also because she feels responsible for the cursed state of the Dreaming City. After all, “do you have the audacity to wish for my death?” Of course she had, and thus she feels responsible for the Corsairs trapped in the cycle.

When Amrita finally asks her why she still comes out, week after week, it’s the first time one of the Corsairs speaks to her about something that isn’t mission critical. Mae speaks before Lyra can speak for her and tries to reassure Amrita that they have to believe change is possible, before giving her a small smile and promising to release her from the cycle. She fails at this, clearly, but keeps coming back for months anyway.

As time goes on, there is a progression to the way they refer to her — going from Guardian, to Cousin, and finally to Sister. It’s important and significant for Mae to hear, to feel accepted among them as a comrade, but I think it’s gutting as well. It feeds her guilt to be accepted, to know that they respect her despite the fact that she hasn’t done anything to alleviate or outright solve their suffering.