#also i accidentally made henriett a leftie on that drawing

[katyspersonal]

Well, yeah! I haven't done a post on him particularly in that blog, but the boy has some INTERESTING STUFF, okay!! However, I shared some thoughts here, in an ask reply: ( x )

But, basically? He is unique in some ways! He is the only NPC that uses Loch Shield, which was once a thing used by the Healing Church in the rituals in Research Hall (whatever they were...), but then redistributed to Tomb Prospectors of Isz!

Damian is a summon in Isz dungeons against Ebrietas, so this checks up! But also, he uses the biggest amount of Hunter tools out of all cooperator summons - 3 offencive items (Augur of Ebrietas, A Call Beyond and Blacksky Eye) and 1 healing item (Choir's Bell). Blacksky eye is especially interesting one, because it IS associated with Research Hall first of all! Damian might have been around for a really long time, he could have been one of the original Byrgenwerth scholars! This is pretty much my headcanon!

(Ignore the other two xd)

I just want to emphasize how unqiue it is that he is SO well-versed with Arcane tools. Not only that, but him and Micolash using A Call Beyond is a big hint towards interpretation that at first there was just Choir, and School of Mensis separated FROM Choir (probably having felt like Choir's results were dissatisfying or they've hit a dead end). But Damian is additionally a summon for fighting Ebrietas in Choir's ruined base too, not just in Isz version! Summon locations are the best indication of places where this hunter has been at once or where they want to be, since summoning cooperators by bells etrusts their thoughts to the Messengers, and that's how they teleport towards us.

As for School of Mensis, two things. First - whereas Choirlings seem to be hunters AND nerds in one, School of Mensis seems to have a more strict dispersion between those who think and those who fight. Yahar'gul has their very special brand of hunters, and Micolash does fight only with his fists and magic. I think it would apply to other Mensis scholars too... but, Damian is special! He will fight and think both, and I think it is more matter of honour than the past as Isz prospector. He would not subsribe to separate himself from "lower class" Mensis members, would not consider fighting himself "below" him as an intellectual. Micolash would nag him about it sometimes, but mostly because he was worried that Damian might suffer...

I really love the two as a ship, too! It is doomed by narrative, but ALL ships are in this dumpster fire of a game, come oooooon. I shared some cute headcanons about the ship here: ( x )

Damian being a summon against Rom also has some interesting implications. "Killing" Rom would reveal Mensis Ritual, which is NOT a good thing for Micolash, and questionable thing for humanity in general. You see, the ritual is still going even during Rom's concealment; she is not stopping it, but she makes effects very much lessened. Lore says that if Mensis ritual is not stopped everyone will become beasts, which means that while the ritual is active, humans will slowly go insane... Some towards beasthood, some towards Kin. The effect is unavoidable, but it can be a slow poision, and you might even be lucky enough to die before you either become a beast or go insane from cosmic stuff slipping through the cracks! What Damian helps the Paleblood Hunter TO do is to "rip the bandage"; when Bloodmoon is revealed, everyone will go insane or become a beast/Kin quick and painful, but at the same time it is the only way to STOP the ritual.

Some cooperators appear as spirits of the dead, and others are still alive... There is no real way to say whether Damian is a living cooperator or he died, but in both of these cases, Damian did not agree with Micolash's insane plan. He was able to see how far it was going and DID betray him - whether it was by running away from School of Mensis and waiting for the good moment to strike against the concealment, or internally, dying in disagreement. (would not put it past Micolash to murder the "traitor".....). My version is that Damian is alive, but he needed a very long time to truly courage up against Micolash's plan... I think that as a skilled cult leader, Micolash sure was able to instill fear into people so severe that they'd be too terrified to """betray""" him even after his confirmed death! That's why I think Iosefka still keeps his secrets and pretends School of Mensis never happened. Damian had a similar problem, despite being older and stronger than Micolash, not having guts to go against him for a while and not even being able to explain WHY... Irrational fear like this can have quite a strong grip on someone, they will "protect" the bad guy no matter what, no matter how many innocent people will suffer, too. I feel like Laurence had to instill similar fear in Maria's heart, hence why she'd put up with Church's nasty secrets and experiments instead of grabbing Adeline's hand and saying "No, we are going home and NOT playing with the corrupt vicar!!!!!" fdsjhhdfs ARGH!! If only I knew where to look for documentary or literature regarding this particular psychological phenomen! I know this problem DOES exist, but I never had a chance to TRULY peer into it, professionaly, with real HISTORICAL examples!

.......ANYWAY,

He is a very interesting guy, trying to do the right thing. I believe he is open-minded, but sometimes to a fault. He got roped into School of Mensis, and I prefer to think that it was also his own bravery and will to look beyond "only what the Stars let you know", and not just being loyal to Micolash. He is able to have doubts, to better or worse. But at the same time, his inquisitive mind was simultaneously the reason he was able to snap away and not follow Mensis' insanity until the end. He reminds me of my version of Edgar in this way - a man who failed his own covenant exactly because of being too free-willed, too independent in thinking... Though "failing" School of Mensis is probably a compliment xD

Thank you for questioning!

I am CRYYYYYYING, this is such an incredibly meaningful compliment ;-; asjhdhshda Thank you..... I'd argue that I don't know how BLOODBORNE does it, it is almost impossible to be lolrandom in this game because literally everything can be cojoined. But I am soooo flattered?? This made my evening

RARESHIP DISCOVERED Xd (add this on a funny screenshot via soulsborne text generator because idk what image to use oof)

I really do admire your lore digging and gonna say it a lot of times if it's needed!

Bloodborne does this thing and the same do other souls-likes. I wish I could create a story like Fromsoftware do - not saying a even a THING and simultaneously putting the whole lore in details???

Gehrman x Iosefka a REALLY rare shit (I like it)