Let me first say that I think this is one of the best stories I find in a game, especially considering it is free-ware. It almost reminds me of Xenogears in depth and twists. Thanks Lun!
Currently I am at episode 4 in Estrana, somewhere between missions. Please remember this, before you all start bashing my brains in for not knowing much at all
Shadows, there are a lot of Shadow people in this game. The Phantom Slasher, shadow people in Rhue's flashbacks, shadow people in the pits, a murdering shadow in Estrana (not PS). Then there is a book titled "Shadows of Jenwah".
Could it be that all those shadow peoples are people changed into shadows because of the catastroph in Jenwah? Most of them acting like vengeful spirits, by killing people (Phantom Slasher, the shadow in Estrana who killed the bandits and then the girl, which is not the PS). There is a shadow in the pits that challened Rhue to an "honorable" duel (again, not the PS, neither the shadow killer in Estrana..a third one). Then there are shadow people in Rhue's past. The shadow people in Rhue's past gave him a sword and most likely, somehow are involved with the spirit/body transfer (prolly to keep him alive), unless the sword itself holds the spirit/soul/aura of either Rhue or Jeruh (sp?). Certainly there are two spirits, as there are points in the game he is actually talking/disagreeing with his own thoughts.
So it looks like Rhue's soul is put in the body of Jeruh, Lytta's relative. Since her father was still with her, it should be her brother (later confirmed I believe when Lytta was captured by Dancing Violet). Another point that confirms the body-switching, is that Rhue said he was travelling for a few years on the Way finding Serena..and we know he left right away, not even bothering the talk to his parents. If so, that after 3 years, he should look younger (wasnt he around 6-7 when the hounds attack?), yet he is far into his teens, atleast.
If this is true (about the ages), that means that Serena should be quite young looking still (unless she has her own body switching)
..but I am pretty unsure about the ages to be truthfull, 320x200 graphics doesnt give much details about that. Perhaps Lun can tell us how young they were when the hounds attack.
At first, I thought the masked girl (Scatha) was Serana...however, remembering her lines in the Pits, this is incorrect. She recognizes Jeruh, not Rhue. And her Jeruh is different in some way, using a different name as well (Rhue, instead of Jerhu). This does mean however, that she most likely part of the Landorin Stretch, like Rhue AND Jerhue...perhaps one of the children that was attacked, and thats why her face is disfigured.
Back to the Shadows, it seems the Shadow people have their own agenda, that is different from the Purpose and anti-purpose, which seems to involve Rhue. They also gave him a sword, which acts a bit wierd sometimes. (I read a bit about the illuminati and Shadow Swords on the forums as well). I think that the Shadow People of Jenwah might have given him a Jenwah-blade. Which is unknown in all purposes or alignments, but it might involve destroying all other swords as it seems to have the same powers as the other swords. As Jenwah was indeed the most advanced city ever on the way, their knowledge and power might be unequaled...including knowledge about the Way itself and the Purpose..depending what they found out, they might wanna destroy the Way (and the Purpose in the process), perhaps to "free" themselves
Ah, I wrote too much..but I just wanna share some thoughts..and well, see this length as my enthousiasm to quickly further in eps 4 and then eps 5
Cheers
