Why did [spoiler] bother pretending to be [spoiler] in the first place?

[Turalyon]

Not sure why I bothered putting [spoiler] to my title question since anyone who still cares about Sc2 would know about it by now and those who don't care about Sc2... um, don't really care anyway. Anyhoo, the full question is this (last chance for those stumbled in): Why did Ouros bother pretending to be Tassadar in the first place?

Aside from it being yet another example of retroactive continuity and convenient plot device, there's no in-game explanation beyond the assumption (and the writers later revealing behind the scenes) that they wanted someone that Zeratul could believe in when that cockamamie revelation about the Overmind and threat of Amon was revealed. Thing is, by the look of surprise of Zeratul when "Tassadar" appears to him ("But...you died... slaying this cursed Overmind"), it suggests that Zeratul is somewhat disbelieving that it is really Tassadar any way. In any case, Zeratul then just fully believes this "Tassadar" without reservation or proof that this is really who he says he is and believes his vision of the Overmind's vision of Amon's vision without questioning it's validity or how "Tassadar" was able to obtain/know this information.

Would it necessarily have been any different if Ouros just outed himself then and there? Seeing "Tassadar" was unexpected and unprecedented to Zeratul yet he just accepted that and the story he spilled. As such, it shouldn't be any different with Ouros revealing himself instead since that too, would also be unexpected and unprecedented. The story about another evil Xel'Naga would have more merit if it came from a Xel'Naga rather than coming from the unexpected ghost of a friend who should have no knowledge of such things in the first place.

Either way, the decision for Ouros to disguise himself has a few unfortunate implications. The first is that Ouros has such little faith in Zeratul that it feels compelled to deceive Zeratul. It's a rather unwholesome trait for who is supposedly the good Xel'Naga. Secondly, Ouros actually risked it's whole plan of defeating Amon by manipulating Kerrigan into place being blown up in his face if Zeratul ever discovered the ruse since it would foster distrust in the whole story behinds its vision - thereby undermining Zeratul's motivation throughout the rest of Sc2. Third, and perhaps worst of all, is that it makes a total chump out of Zeratul as a character. For someone who was so wise, poetic and experienced just blithely being strung along, having no agency or insight to the manipulation he was under, is kinda depressing. It makes his death somewhat of a mercy-killing.

[Robear]

The easy explanation in defense of it that I can come up with is that Ouros didn't want Amon to know who he was / that he was alive. If Zeratul goes around telling everyone, Raynor, Kerrigan, Artanis random Protoss, about meeting a Xel'naga named Ouros as well as all the prophecy jazz, Amon would surely learn of, either through informants or if he had succeeded in adding any of those main characters to his forces. Maybe Amon would have taken a different strategy or approach if he knew a Xel'Naga was working against him. As is, it can just be written off as some crazy Protoss ancestral memory crap. And reasonable Protoss like Selendis do write him off as being crazy.

Not that this is necessarily the correct answer, but of all of the potential story issues in SC2, this one doesn't bother me.

[Visions of Khas]

It also makes me question the Overmind's role. Did Ouros give the Overmind those visions as well? Was that whole "visions scenario" fabricated by Ouros for Zeratul's sake? How far into the future could Ouros really see? Was the apocalyptic cult in the Frontline story A Ghost Story inspired by Ouros attempting contact with humans?

[Turalyon]

The easy explanation in defense of it that I can come up with is that Ouros didn't want Amon to know who he was / that he was alive.

Hold on. I thought Amon already knows who Ouros is and that he's alive since he's stuck in the void with him. Amon was was also the one to have imprisoned Ouros and is supposed to be aware of everything that goes in the void. You're telling me that some ancient God is so meticulous in his planning to destroy this Infinite Cycle that he can't even monitor/restrict his very own prisoner in a world where his powers are omnipotent or guess that he's only real threat is Ouros? In other words, Amon is a dunce?


If Zeratul goes around telling everyone, Raynor, Kerrigan, Artanis random Protoss, about meeting a Xel'naga named Ouros as well as all the prophecy jazz, Amon would surely learn of, either through informants or if he had succeeded in adding any of those main characters to his forces. Maybe Amon would have taken a different strategy or approach if he knew a Xel'Naga was working against him. As is, it can just be written off as some crazy Protoss ancestral memory crap. And reasonable Protoss like Selendis do write him off as being crazy.

It matters little if Amon knows Ouros is helping the Protoss, since I can't imagine his strategy being any different even if he did know. Afterall, he still apparently targets Kerrigan (the linchpin of Ouros' plan). Besides, if Amon heard that Zeratul was following some prophecy from "Tassadar", do you really think he'd buy that? Amon was the Xel'Naga who uplifted the Protoss and knows how they work - upon hearing of Zeratuls' shenanigans, he would've automatically concluded that this "Tassadar" and "prophecy" would've been a fake and that it was the work of Ouros - you know, the only other Xel'Naga who still exists and opposes him (since Duran is on his side and the others are all dead). Makes you wonder why Amon didn't just kill Ouros in the first place.


It also makes me question the Overmind's role. Did Ouros give the Overmind those visions as well? Was that whole "visions scenario" fabricated by Ouros for Zeratul's sake? How far into the future could Ouros really see?

I can take this two ways. First, the reveal that "Tassadar" is really Ouros gives us a precedent that he is deceitful and lies to manipulate others, so therefore all that he evers "reveals" should be deemed dubious at best. I think most of the Sc2 detractors would like to adopt this position.

The second is that he really is telling the truth when retelling the Overmind's vision and that he just lied about his identity (for some inane reason this thread was made to try and figure out). The revelations about Amon in In Utter Darkness can therefore still have its origins from the Overmind (much to my personal dissatisfaction, mind you). Either way, it's important to note that the vision is a prediction, not true future-sight (if it doesn't actually and eventually happen, then it's not the future per se) anyway, so it doesn't really matter from whom it actually originated from. Whatever it is though, I can say without any reservation that it's rather "on-the-nose" and plot devicey.

[Visions of Khas]

Aside from it being yet another example of retroactive continuity and convenient plot device, there's no in-game explanation beyond the assumption (and the writers later revealing behind the scenes) that they wanted someone that Zeratul could believe in when that cockamamie revelation about the Overmind and threat of Amon was revealed.
Some of the Protoss had already created a cult of personality around Tassadar, dubbing him the "Twilight Messiah." Ouros could have presented himself as he was, yet another alien with an unknown agenda in darkening times; or assume the guise of a friend of Zeratul, making use of Tassadar's apotheosis in Protoss culture to ensure a following.

Also note that Ouros outright calls the Protoss, Zerg and Terran all "primitives," only displaying any real interest or respect towards Kerrigan. In a way, Ouros is just as selfish as Amon: though he takes a more mutualistic strategy, Ouros' only goal is to perpetuate his race's existence. I'm having some Richard Dawkins' Selfish Genes thoughts running through my head now when I think of both Amon and Ouros.



In some unused script in HotS, Kerrigan mentions Amon is seeking some kind of "redemption," though whether it's for himself or his former race is unknown. The more I think about him, the more I see a parallel between himself and Kerrigan. In this light, we may gain a little more understanding about him if we view his taunts in Amon's Fall as his psyche projecting onto Kerrigan. He sees himself in her: she's a murderer of millions, had turned her back on her own kind, and sought power for petty revenge. Perhaps he was all of these things too, and retained his own "Queen of Blades" persona post-ascendancy. With an expanded mentality and awareness, he saw the havoc he wrought, and blamed his actions and everything leading up to them to be the fault of the Xel'Naga. However, this very expanded mentality made him incapable of seeing the smaller picture, unable to empathize with mortal lifeforms. This would lead him to making the same mistakes in ascendancy as he did in mortal life.

[ragnarok]

Also note that Ouros outright calls the Protoss, Zerg and Terran all "primitives," only displaying any real interest or respect towards Kerrigan. In a way, Ouros is just as selfish as Amon: though he takes a more mutualistic strategy, Ouros' only goal is to perpetuate his race's existence. I'm having some Richard Dawkins' Selfish Genes thoughts running through my head now when I think of both Amon and Ouros.




Personally I felt Ouros shouldn't have called the Protoss that, since the only reason they couldn't ascend was due to Amon's uplifting which changed their essence. It's not like the terran race is ready anyway, Kerrigan was merely ahead of the curve.

For keeping his race alive, that's nothing really new. If you recall from back in the Blizzard Q and A after WoL, but before HotS, they specifically said the Overmind's plan for infesting Kerrigan in the first place was merely to ensure the survival of the swarm, he didn't care if Amon killed everyone else.

[Turalyon]

Some of the Protoss had already created a cult of personality around Tassadar, dubbing him the "Twilight Messiah." Ouros could have presented himself as he was, yet another alien with an unknown agenda in darkening times; or assume the guise of a friend of Zeratul, making use of Tassadar's apotheosis in Protoss culture to ensure a following.

So? This is Zeratul we're talking about. He wouldn't buy into this stuff or use/see Tassadar in this way since this kind of stuff is what he was railing against with the Conclave.

Ouros is not just another alien - he's a Xel'Naga. Protoss can recognise Xel'Naga can't they? At this point, Zeratul doesn't even really know that the real threat is another Xel'Naga (the Overmind's vision comes later) nor that Xel'Naga can be evil. There's really nothing stopping Ouros from revealing himself or any reason for Ouros to doubt that revealing his true self would impact Zeratul negatively in anyway.


Also note that Ouros outright calls the Protoss, Zerg and Terran all "primitives," only displaying any real interest or respect towards Kerrigan. In a way, Ouros is just as selfish as Amon: though he takes a more mutualistic strategy, Ouros' only goal is to perpetuate his race's existence. I'm having some Richard Dawkins' Selfish Genes thoughts running through my head now when I think of both Amon and Ouros.

I don't mind that depiction of Ouros (not that we can prove it anyway) but if that were the case, that would normally give more support for Ouros revealing himself as he was since he'd be self-assured that this "primitive" being before him would trust in his "divine" words since they're seen as "gods" by these "primitives".


In some unused script in HotS, Kerrigan mentions Amon is seeking some kind of "redemption," though whether it's for himself or his former race is unknown. The more I think about him, the more I see a parallel between himself and Kerrigan. In this light, we may gain a little more understanding about him if we view his taunts in Amon's Fall as his psyche projecting onto Kerrigan. He sees himself in her: she's a murderer of millions, had turned her back on her own kind, and sought power for petty revenge. Perhaps he was all of these things too, and retained his own "Queen of Blades" persona post-ascendancy. With an expanded mentality and awareness, he saw the havoc he wrought, and blamed his actions and everything leading up to them to be the fault of the Xel'Naga. However, this very expanded mentality made him incapable of seeing the smaller picture, unable to empathize with mortal lifeforms. This would lead him to making the same mistakes in ascendancy as he did in mortal life.

That's interesting speculation. I would've been inclined to read into it more like you had they made Amon more interesting as a character.

Don't know about the "expanded mentality making him incapable of seeing the smaller picture angle" part though. It's an overused trope in Sc already to have yet another someone corrupted by power and then apply it to something that is supposed to be as alien as the Xel'Naga. There's enough humanising (or Terranising) of everything in Sc already without having to also interpret Amon as someone who is just psychologically projecting or is like Kerrigan. Do we really need another Kerrigan? Ugh, one's enough already!

[Visions of Khas]

I'm of the opinion that Ouros' use of Tassadar was the right thing. Both Zeratul and Kerrigan are aware of something happening even before they uncover the Prophecy on Ulaan. Kerrigan claims the Xel'Naga are returning, and they bring destruction in their wake. Zeratul's "Perhaps" is reluctant agreement.

Remember, legends claim that both the protoss and zerg murdered Xel'naga, so who knows how the Naga will feel on their return.

Making use of Tassadar's likeness side-steps these issues the ambivelance and builds onto the positive mythology of his legacy, as well as his established bond with Zeratul.

[ragnarok]

I'm of the opinion that Ouros' use of Tassadar was the right thing. Both Zeratul and Kerrigan are aware of something happening even before they uncover the Prophecy on Ulaan. Kerrigan claims the Xel'Naga are returning, and they bring destruction in their wake. Zeratul's "Perhaps" is reluctant agreement.

Remember, legends claim that both the protoss and zerg murdered Xel'naga, so who knows how the Naga will feel on their return.

Making use of Tassadar's likeness side-steps these issues the ambivelance and builds onto the positive mythology of his legacy, as well as his established bond with Zeratul.

I don't think Kerrigan knew about the return of the Xel'Naga. By the time Ulaan happened, it seemed Zeratul was the only one who knew about the hybrid threat, at least in terms of magnitude. That the swarm was able to kill off the Xel'Naga did NOT make the Zerg unstoppable, more likely Kerrigan knew something was about to happen with the Xel'Naga, she just didn't know exactly what.

We knew she did fear their power. This was something Narud was telling Raynor at the end of the Moebius Factor in WoL. So it's just a bit too vague to know just WHAT Kerrigan knew about the prophecy by the time of WoL.

[Turalyon]

I'm of the opinion that Ouros' use of Tassadar was the right thing. Both Zeratul and Kerrigan are aware of something happening even before they uncover the Prophecy on Ulaan.

This can be used both ways. Seeing that there might be some misdirected animosity against the Xel'Naga, Ouros wouldn't have degined to use subterfuge to trick Zeratul because he knows that Amon essentially pulled the wool over the Protoss and by using deceit, he'd be no better than Amon.

Like I said, I wouldn't mind if Ouros/Xel'Naga in general were all actually a bunch of actual dicks, but in LotV were trying to be sold that Ouros/Xel'Naga in general are good/doing the right thing whilst Amon (and Duran) are the only supposed outliers.


Kerrigan claims the Xel'Naga are returning, and they bring destruction in their wake. Zeratul's "Perhaps" is reluctant agreement.

Why would Zeratul (being part of a race who would know the most about Xel'Naga second only to the Xel'Naga themselves) ever trust Kerrigan's (a mutated human who is known to lie and are expected to be ignorant about the Xel'Naga) opinions about the Xel'Naga, let alone anything else?


Remember, legends claim that both the protoss and zerg murdered Xel'naga, so who knows how the Naga will feel on their return.

If they were all-powerful and vengeful, they would have just comeback to kill them in their infancy not wait this long. Besides, if the real Xel'Naga were kind, open and all-things-good as the history suggests, Ouros deceiving Zeratul kinda goes against that imo.


Making use of Tassadar's likeness side-steps these issues the ambivelance and builds onto the positive mythology of his legacy, as well as his established bond with Zeratul.

Ambivalence would've been good - there's hardly any tension, mystery or suspense in the plot as it is. Tassadar's appearance and subsequent reveal that it was fake firmly suggests his inclusion was just for the sake of cameo.

[Visions of Khas]

Seeing that there might be some misdirected animosity against the Xel'Naga, Ouros wouldn't have degined to use subterfuge to trick Zeratul because he knows that Amon essentially pulled the wool over the Protoss and by using deceit, he'd be no better than Amon.
I guess I'm not following. Since there was misdirected animosity against the Xel'Naga, Ouros probably would have wanted to disguise his true nature as a Xel'Naga.


Why would Zeratul ever trust Kerrigan's opinions about the Xel'Naga, let alone anything else?

As I said before, the Prophecy cinematic implies both Zeratul and Kerrigan know something's up, and the Xel'Naga are done hitting that snooze button. Yeah, legend claims the Xel'Naga were peace-loving space hippies who smoked terrazine reefers, but a lot can change after several thousand years.

Say you're a younger Xel'Naga growing up with your own legends: your ancestors seeded the galaxy with life, and that very life turned on them and sought their destruction. You'd probably be a little cautious and bring a few big guns, just in case.


Ambivalence would've been good - there's hardly any tension, mystery or suspense in the plot as it is.
Oh, I definitely agree. I was just talking from Ouros' perspective. But even with my preceding arguments, it is really, really dumb that Zeratul didn't question a damn thing.

[ragnarok]

As I said before, the Prophecy cinematic implies both Zeratul and Kerrigan know something's up, and the Xel'Naga are done hitting that snooze button. Yeah, legend claims the Xel'Naga were peace-loving space hippies who smoked terrazine reefers, but a lot can change after several thousand years.

Say you're a younger Xel'Naga growing up with your own legends: your ancestors seeded the galaxy with life, and that very life turned on them and sought their destruction. You'd probably be a little cautious and bring a few big guns, just in case.


That's more on the cautious side, but it'd make sense. And the Xel'Naga DO kill, as proven back in BW via the Xel'Naga temple on Shakuras. Ok sure Blizzard can argue that it was built by Amon as well, but I don't buy it.

Besides, the Xel'Naga certainly have the means to kill, and if nothing else, they DO require deterrents.

[Turalyon]

I guess I'm not following. Since there was misdirected animosity against the Xel'Naga, Ouros probably would have wanted to disguise his true nature as a Xel'Naga.

You've taken an assumption as a certainty (in the bolded) whereas I didn't. Why is there any reason for Ouros to think there's any misdirected animosity against the Xel'Naga when it knows that the Protoss are largely being manipulated by Amon (the Protoss rampage against them in the early days, which ultimately led to the Aeon of Strife, was due to Amon's direct interference) and that the Protoss actually revere the Xel'Naga as gods? Why would Ouros think that Zeratul would distrust/hate Xel'Naga and by, extension, why would the audience think (the fans knowing that the Protoss revere Xel'Naga) that Zeratul would have a beef against Ouros/Xel'Naga if he revealed himself from the start?


As I said before, the Prophecy cinematic implies both Zeratul and Kerrigan know something's up, and the Xel'Naga are done hitting that snooze button. Yeah, legend claims the Xel'Naga were peace-loving space hippies who smoked terrazine reefers, but a lot can change after several thousand years.

So? The knowing if "something's up" is not much better than, nor does it trump, those legendary claims you mentioned. At that point in time, it's ALL just hazy stuff. A bonafide Xel'Naga giving up the exposition has more weight than some ghost of a friend who has no reason to know this stuff at all nor should still be alive in any capacity. Zeratul is actually incredulous that "Tassadar" is alive and yet goes on to believe every word he spouts thereonin... huh.

Either way, even if Zeratul was selectively distrustful of Ouros revealing himself then and there at the Overmind's corpse, it doesn't change anything since what else is Zeratul going to do? Is he just gonna ignore these portents of doo(ooo)m and risk the total destruction of all life in the K sector just because it wasn't Tassadar/a trusted friend who told him this info? Seems silly to think so (and depressing since it's damning to Zeratul's characterisation) but that's where your position is leading toward.

Also, we don't even know at that point in time that the Dark Voice is Amon or even a Xel'Naga then, so Ouros is "in position" because he has an advantage of outing himself as the good Xel'Naga before revealing there's a bad one that must be fought by using the Overmind's vision. Cue appropriate and expected feelings of ambivalence from Zeratul that we should have got the first time round. Then, having Zeratul eventually being resigned to follow this course through despite those reservations (a God is telling me to do such and such or otherwise the galaxy is effed. Do I have a choice?) would've made for fantastic exploration of his character compared to the non-entity plot device he became in the Sc2 we got.

[Visions of Khas]

Zeratul is actually incredulous that "Tassadar" is alive and yet goes on to believe every word he spouts thereonin... huh.

I agree that Zeratul's lack of scrutiny on the matter is pretty dumb.



Why is there any reason for Ouros to think there's any misdirected animosity against the Xel'Naga when it knows that the Protoss are largely being manipulated by Amon
... Precisely because they're being manipulated by Amon?

#MakeUlnarGreatAgain

[ragnarok]

I agree that Zeratul's lack of scrutiny on the matter is pretty dumb.


Blizzard didn't know how else to make Zeratul believe the Overmind wasn't what he once thought, and their idea was poorly executed.

[Turalyon]

... Precisely because they're being manipulated by Amon?

But he's talking to Zeratul.... a Nerazim.... who are free from the manipulations of Amon because they have no Khala. You're asking me to assume that Ouros somehow knows Zeratul well enough to be able to fake being his dead friend so well enough that it "fooled" him but somehow not know that he is a Nerazim/that he can't be manipulated by Amon? Okay....

[ragnarok]

But he's talking to Zeratul.... a Nerazim.... who are free from the manipulations of Amon because they have no Khala. You're asking me to assume that Ouros somehow knows Zeratul well enough to be able to fake being his dead friend so well enough that it "fooled" him but somehow not know that he is a Nerazim/that he can't be manipulated by Amon? Okay....

I'm actually curious on if Ouros even knew that Amon could corrupt the Khala AT ALL. It was never really explained just how much Ouros had observed Amon's actions during the years he was stuck in the Void. We knew he twisted parts of it with his corruption, but did Ouros know anything else?

[Visions of Khas]

But he's talking to Zeratul.... a Nerazim.... who are free from the manipulations of Amon because they have no Khala. You're asking me to assume that Ouros somehow knows Zeratul well enough to be able to fake being his dead friend so well enough that it "fooled" him but somehow not know that he is a Nerazim/that he can't be manipulated by Amon? Okay....

... So I'm not sure if you're trying to deconstruct my argument or reinforce it. However, you do a good job of highlighting the lack of forethought the writers put into the overarching plot.

I'm still trying to puzzle out whether Amon and The Voice in the Darkness are the same entity. If they are the same, then Amon CAN manipulate Dark Templar, though only with great exertion.

Speaking of which, why can't Amon control Nerazim and Tal'Darim? They're both intimately connected to the Void! Though I guess it's easier to understand the Dark Templars' resistance, given their reluctance to use the Void to any great extent. They still rely on solar power for nourishment, only supplemented with the Void.


As for the Tal'darim; given their paleness and aversion to light, they seem to subsist entirely off the Void. And probably burn out as a result.

[Turalyon]

So I'm not sure if you're trying to deconstruct my argument or reinforce it. However, you do a good job of highlighting the lack of forethought the writers put into the overarching plot.

What makes you think I'm reinforcing your argument? There hasn't been anything of substance to explain why Ouros pretended to be Tassadar/didn't just reveal himself there and why events would be any different if he did reveal himself instead of pretending to be Tassadar.


I'm still trying to puzzle out whether Amon and The Voice in the Darkness are the same entity.

Hasn't Blizz already confirmed that Amon and the VitD are not the same some time ago?


Speaking of which, why can't Amon control Nerazim and Tal'Darim? They're both intimately connected to the Void!

Easy, because both are not of the Void (as in, not coming directly from nor being comprised of the stuffs of that void realm) and don't have the Khala.

[Visions of Khas]

I think we're just talking around in circles now. I mean, I agree that it was a stupid premise, I'm just trying to make it work given what we have.




Hasn't Blizz already confirmed that Amon and the VitD are not the same some time ago?

There are so many similarities between Amon and The Voice that there has to be a connection. The act of possession is identical: black eyes, flowing dark "gas" and crackling energy. They both see themselves as gods. Same Void Tendrils. Cthulhu meets StarCraft. I wouldn't be surprised if they later decided to connect Amon and The Voice.

[Nissa]

*is so confused*

This is exactly why I couldn't make it all the way through LotV. This nonsense. Though I admit that the whole "Xel'Naga were a race of cthulhu all along" is the most hilarious thing ever.

[ragnarok]

*is so confused*

This is exactly why I couldn't make it all the way through LotV. This nonsense. Though I admit that the whole "Xel'Naga were a race of cthulhu all along" is the most hilarious thing ever.

Actually Nissa, for this part I think we still have more to explore. I still want to see the Xel'Naga story continue beyond LotV, hence I'm hoping for more DLCs or something to explain it all

[Turalyon]

I'm just trying to make it work given what we have.

So am I, but any explanation I can conceive of is easily countered and ultimately unsatisfactory. It's annoying when the real answer that they just made it up on the spot and wrote it poorly is so obviously bare-faced and undisguised.


There are so many similarities between Amon and The Voice that there has to be a connection. The act of possession is identical: black eyes, flowing dark "gas" and crackling energy. They both see themselves as gods. Same Void Tendrils. Cthulhu meets StarCraft. I wouldn't be surprised if they later decided to connect Amon and The Voice.

Another evil Xel'Naga. Guess that figures since if there's one, there's always potentially more. Wait, what's that sound? Oh, it's just the sound of no-one caring. :p


Actually Nissa, for this part I think we still have more to explore. I still want to see the Xel'Naga story continue beyond LotV, hence I'm hoping for more DLCs or something to explain it all

BEGIN RANT - You've got to be kidding me. They shot what little wad they had of the Xel'Naga's "story" in LotV and it is arguably the least meaningful part of Sc2 since it covered nothing new about them (only about one of them - who was an aberration of their kind anyway) that we didn't already know, drew the least amount of audience sympathy and feel shoe-horned in. I'd go so far as saying the Xel'Naga represent perhaps the biggest symptom of the problems in Sc2. Nothing in Sc is truly dead and they have this habit of continually going backward to move forward making the universe more rarified and locked in rather than truly progressing. That and the over-reliance on plot twists (their constant retroactive continuity is but one aspect of this) makes nothing in Sc worth holding onto since it all of it's just "stuff" happening - RANT ENDED.

[ragnarok]

BEGIN RANT - You've got to be kidding me. They shot what little wad they had of the Xel'Naga's "story" in LotV and it is arguably the least meaningful part of Sc2 since it covered nothing new about them (only about one of them - who was an aberration of their kind anyway) that we didn't already know, drew the least amount of audience sympathy and feel shoe-horned in. I'd go so far as saying the Xel'Naga represent perhaps the biggest symptom of the problems in Sc2. Nothing in Sc is truly dead and they have this habit of continually going backward to move forward making the universe more rarified and locked in rather than truly progressing. That and the over-reliance on plot twists (their constant retroactive continuity is but one aspect of this) makes nothing in Sc worth holding onto since it all of it's just "stuff" happening - RANT ENDED.

The Xel'Naga retcon was a serious problem. Still, it was a shame they never talked about their origins in detail or anything. I had hoped to know more about how the very first Xel'Naga came to be and all that. That's another flaw for the epilogue in that Ouros spent WAY too little time on screen. I had hoped at times his power transfer to Kerrigan was only intended to be temporary so that he could eventually get it back to continue the cycle.

[Visions of Khas]

Yeah, I'd like to learn a little more about the 'Naga too, and the cosmological mythology. Are there multiple universes out there coexisting with Koprulu Prime, or is each universe part of a linear cycle? We have evidence for both scenarios. And are the Xel'Naga directly responsible for the creation of each universe, or solely responsible for the genesis of life in each?

[ragnarok]

Yeah, I'd like to learn a little more about the 'Naga too, and the cosmological mythology. Are there multiple universes out there coexisting with Koprulu Prime, or is each universe part of a linear cycle? We have evidence for both scenarios. And are the Xel'Naga directly responsible for the creation of each universe, or solely responsible for the genesis of life in each?

I'm not sure if they're responsible for creating the universe itself. That might be something the Void does, like pieces of the void breaking off to form a universe and everything. Of course, that's only speculation

[Gradius]

Yeah, I'd like to learn a little more about the 'Naga too, and the cosmological mythology. Are there multiple universes out there coexisting with Koprulu Prime, or is each universe part of a linear cycle? We have evidence for both scenarios. And are the Xel'Naga directly responsible for the creation of each universe, or solely responsible for the genesis of life in each?
What is Koprulu Prime?

[Turalyon]

What is Koprulu Prime?

Ahem, methinks Vok has partaken of the Terrazine again.... :p

[Visions of Khas]

Haha. In cases of parallel universes, it's fandom convention to refer to the primary or "classic" person, place or thing as "___ Prime". For example, Leonard Nimoy's Spock is "Spock Prime", where as Zachary Quinto's is just "Spock".

[Nissa]

Ahem, methinks Vok has partaken of the Terrazine again.... :p

If I partake of Terrazine, will SC2 go away?