Dishonored Decode

The Outsider: Nature and Connection to Art The Outsider is a powerful entity bound to the Void, a supernatural dimension with a distinctly abstract, painterly aesthetic. While he doesn't create paintings himself, his presence and the Void's influence manifest visually in several key ways: Outsider Shrines are physical locations where the barrier between the Void and the physical world thins. These shrines are distinctively marked by disturbing paintings, abstract sculptures, and symbolic imagery (often featuring whales, geometric patterns, and dark materials). These artistic elements serve as visual indicators of the Void's presence and points where the Outsider can communicate directly. The Void itself possesses a surreal, non-Euclidean aesthetic that evokes a living, shifting painting. When characters enter this space, they experience a reality that feels like moving through an abstract, constantly transforming artwork where physical laws are malleable and landscape...

I. COSMIC PERCEPTION: THE OUTSIDER'S TEMPORAL VIEW [From The Outsider's direct statements] : Explicit Description : The Outsider explains his perception of time: "I see all the tomorrows and all that might come to pass." "Time has little meaning to me." "I experience every moment as an endless present." "I see time differently than you do - fragments and possibilities." Limitations Acknowledged : Despite vast temporal awareness, he admits constraints: "I know more than most, but not all." "Even I can't see all possibilities." "Some futures remain obscured, even to me." These statements suggest extensive but not absolute temporal omniscience. [From The Heart's revelations] : When pointed at The Outsider's shrines: "He sees every possibility, every future that might come to be." "He exists in all times simultaneously, yet remains trapped in his own moment." These comment...

  I. WATER AS COSMIC MEDIUM : VOID CONNECTION [From environmental design & symbolism] : The Void's Appearance : Throughout the series, the Void is consistently depicted with water as a primary element : Endless oceans below floating fragments of reality Water suspended in impossible configurations Dripping, flowing, and pooling throughout Voi d spaces Oceanic imagery pervading Void landscapes Transitional Symbolism : Water serves as: A symbolic boundary between physical worl d and Void The medium that exists in both realms A visual indicator of Void influence A constant motif in Void manifestations [From cutscene visualization & transitions] : When characters visit the Void : Water often ripples or distorts as the transition begins Liquid-like visual effects surround the shift Sound design includes submerged, muffled audio qualities The sensation is frequently compared to "sinking" or "drowning" II. WHALES: THE OUTSIDER 'S...

I. THE PLAGUE'S ORIGIN: NATURAL VS. SUPERNATURAL [From in-game lore & audio logs] : Official Narrative : According to imperial records: The Rat Plague (aka "The Dunwall Plague") was a natural disease Originated from the Pandyssian Continent Carried by rats that stowed away on whaling ships Spread rapidly through Dunwall's poor districts before affecting the entire city Hidden Truth : Lord Regent Hiram Burrows' private audio log reveals: He deliberately imported plague rats from Pandyssia Intended as population control for poor districts Plan went catastrophically out of control Became an unintentional pandemic [From The Outsider's commentary] : Never claims direct responsibility for the plague States to Corvo: "The Lord Regent's hold on Dunwall is slipping. The plague has spiraled out of control." Notes the irony: "He imported the rats to clean out the poor districts. The plan worked – perhaps ...

I. THE ARISTOCRACY: INDIFFERENCE AND FASCINATION [From The Outsider's dialogue regarding aristocrats] : General Stance : When observing Dunwall's elite, The Outsider often displays: Detached amusement at their pretensions Particular interest when their privileged positions are threatened Recognition of how their wealth isolates them from consequences Little respect for wealth and status compared to interesting choices Direct Commentaries : On the Boyle Family: "The Boyles have deep pockets and deeper misgivings about the Lord Regent." On aristocrats during plague: "Such privilege – these people never have to face the consequences of their actions." On Karnaca's elite: "Money insulates them from the realities of the Duke's rule." [From The Heart's revelations about aristocrats] : When pointed at wealthy characters, The Heart often reveals: Hidden cruelties beneath polished exteriors Corruption, betrayal, and moral compromise Emp...

  I. PHYSICAL PROP ERTIES: ANATOMY OF THE RUNES [From in - game descriptions & lore] : **Composition **: Runes are carved from the bones of whales (referred to as "leviathans"): Specifically from dense sections of whale skeletal structure Distinguished by their ivory- white color with dark veins Often worn smooth from handling Emit a faint purple-blue luminescence when activated Core Design : Each rune features: The Outsider's Mark carved as the central symbol Additional arcane patterns around the edge s Sometimes wrapped in wire, cloth, or leather bindings Typically palm-sized, though variations exist ***[From visual design elements]* **: Audiovisual Identity : Runes have distinctive sensory properties : Emit a unique otherworldly "singing" sound audible to those with Void sensitivity Produce faint vibrations when touched The singing intensifies when multiple runes are gathered together This sound he...

I. THE ABBEY'S PERSPECTIVE: THE OUTSIDER AS COSMIC EVIL [From Abbey of the Everyman doctrine & texts] : Official Dogma : The Abbey unequivocally portrays The Outsider as the ultimate manifestation of evil: "The Outsider is the source of all corruption and chaos" "He is the Void given form, seeking only to undermine the natural order" "His gifts are poison, his attention is death" "Any who seek him are damned, any who speak to him are lost" Theological Framing : The Abbey's doctrine establishes a clear binary: The Cosmic Order (good, predictable, safe) vs. The Void (evil, chaotic, dangerous) The Abbey's Seven Strictures vs. The Outsider's temptations Human virtue vs. Void corruption [From Overseer sermons & pronouncements] : "The black-eyed Outsider is wickedness embodied, waiting for moments of weakness" "Let no one doubt: the world's misfortunes spring from his twisted hand" "The Abbe...

I. THE OUTSIDER AS A CHILD: THE FOUNDATIONAL TRAUMA ***[From Death of the Outsider lore & cutscenes] ***: The Lonely Boy : The Outsider began as a vulnerable child: Approximate ly 15 years old when sacrificed Homeless orphan living on the streets Describe d as "nameless" and "forgott en" Selected precisely because he had "no family to notice his absence" ** The Sacrifice**: The ritual that created The Outsider was fundamentally a crime against a child: Kidnapped by cult ists Held against his will Ritually murdered while fully conscious Experienced "terror beyond words" during the process [From Death of the Outsider cutscenes] : In visions given to Billie Lurk, we see glimpses of his face as a boy - frightened, confused, and in pain The cult leader describes the boy as "perfect in his innocence" - suggesting they deliberately sought a child for their ritual II . THE LONELY RAT BOY: A MARKED CHILD *** [Fr...