#this post is brought by the 'it isn't likely rom was given eyes because Kos HATES humans' because like

[katyspersonal]

The trap of enlightenment in Bloodborne

Tbh I think the ‘Kos hates humans’ impression, whereas could be true, might miss some nuances?

According to Simon, Hunter’s Nightmare is a place specifically for blood-drunk hunters - an easy parallel to draw with those that murdered citizens of Fishing Hamlet! It is not supposed to target humans in general, only those indulging in the ‘Hunters’ practice - a thing often hinted in lore as a quest doomed by design but benefiting a kinda corrupt (or ���insidious’ deity).

But also, I feel like Fishing Hamlet residents were pretty comfortable living with their sea mom before Old Hunters ruined everything! From how they speak, they’ve been loyal to Kos ever since she was beached ashore, and aware she was pregnant. Whether mutation was voluntary or not, they definitely resent what hunters done more than what happened to their bodies.

Patients of the Research Hall were trying to get in tune with the ‘sea’, as in earlier Healing Church days, Arcane was associated with the water, and it is very easy to assume that Milkweed was the voice of Kos. It gives me a strong impression that not only Kos encouraged Adeline, who wished Insight enough to wade through horrors that driven other patients crazy, to seek the ‘stars’ for salvation, but maybe herself fallen victim of hunger for Insight - that is stimulated by parasites that possibly sickened her body!

I pointed out already that parasites found within Kos resemble Brainsuckers very much, and I think it makes sense! Tiny parasites resembling a specific type of Kin that sucks your Insight out, you know? The very type that easily could stimulate hunger for eyes.

It is sort of why I don’t think Fishing Hamlet fish-people dwellers were “cursed” by Kos parasite - they look nothing alike, and they seem to be more interested in living in harmony with their Great One than in research for Eldrich Truth. If anything, their mutation seems more like adaptation (similar to spider people such as Patches, with Amygdalas they worship)

We can conclude that Eye is the rune representing the voice that comes from Ebrietas, but also that she is more or less a pawn of the ‘Moon’ on Earth - aware of her twisted role or not. Nonetheless, her resemblance with celestial larvae isn’t accidental, and it goes beyond sharing the way their wings look.

So, essentially, Research Hall patients end up being tortured by whatever they witness in the ‘Sea’, meanwhile whatever the ‘Stars’ are offering are their salvation; nonetheless, the knowledge that Kos (or “ocean” at least) offered Adeline suggests seeking the ‘stars’, and don’t forget the way that OoK cries towards the moon!

Honestly? It feels less like Kos deciding to hate the whole humanity in general, but more like the ‘marine’ enlightenment is not morally aligned (unlike ‘divine’ Star/Moon enlightenment and ‘cursed’ enlightenment Amygdalas and alike offer). If you are a horrible, sinful human being - you will suffer; if you are open and in a way naiive (like Adeline) - you will be mere fascinated by the mysteries.

Moreover, again - it is possible that Kos fell for the trap herself - after all, she has humanoid face, so maybe she herself ascended from a mortal once and came to wish for more knowledge. Or in this case, parasites tainted her with the desire for Insight? We know that the ‘Moon’ is insidious and somehow benefits for the cursed cycle of bloodshed and hunt, yet there is a large layer of ‘facade’ covering her motivations and own depravity, in the form of starry Arcane and Ebrietas and illusion of salvation and Insight.

But all in all, Kos might be not even herself be all aware of the motivations of the ‘Moon’ - so she wishes to be saved from pain and dread that caught up with her even through she herself transcended humanity long time ago! And so even people who waded through all horrors such as Adeline (and Rom I presume) were offered just the ‘seek the Stars for Insight and salvation’. Because Adeline envisioned Milkweed that suggests lumenweed reaching for the stars, and because Ebrietas weeps the corpse that looks much like Rom. Rom also bleeds grey from her head if you hurt her in the Lake area - ‘grey’ blood is very specific for cosmic Kin, too!

Alternatively, Kos is bitter towards humanity, not necessarily hateful. She tells those that try to reach her - ‘Go away and seek the corrupt Moon that governs this world and hunters, maybe this will give you peace!’. But in the middle there are ‘Stars’, that offer illusion of purity and knowledge. Maybe she thinks that by nature humans are not ready for true Insight and the “Sea”, and they are better off (and safer, and kinder) under protection and total control of Stars and Moon... Ignoring what happened to Ludwig and what the ‘Moon’ really wants, apparently.

...or maybe Kos knew of the depraved ‘true’ form behind the ‘Stars’ from the start, Fishing Hamlet priests didn’t know better and had all TOO dignified opinion on her, and Kos and Flora been corrupt lesbians from the start, working against humanity to trap them into vicious cycle from the get go and her “death“ was to curse humanity with search for the Insight and the vicious cycle ( x ) from the get go.

We just don’t know fhhdfs

I guess it depends on how noble and dignified you want to make Kos be?