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“They drilled deeper still, creating vertical highways to the great ocean that lay beneath the ice. That is where they harnessed the energy of the flowing water to power their way of life.” -Parallel
In the Parallel universe, the human race had to overcome unfathomable odds to survive their exodus from Earth. Despite fracturing into five different groups, each one still found a way to overcome perilous obstacles and keep on living. With these five streams of evolution adding more context to the game’s main storyline, I thought it would be fun to reflect on each Parallel’s emerging lore and archetypes.
Up next in the series is the resilient Kathari.
Similar to the Marcolians, the Kathari had to rely on their ship to endure the furthest reaches of space. And similar to the Soleil Rouge, the mighty Artemis Proxima did not fail. It punched right through the treacherous surface of Europa and safely delivered everyone to the frozen moon’s inner womb.
Without any sunlight and only limited resources at their disposal, the Kathari started to genetically modify their dwindling food supply. Unfortunately, life still struggled to take hold under the icy surface. But just before the decline in population crossed a point of no return, the scientists made a technological breakthrough and created the first living, breathing clone.
After tapping into this new wellspring of life, the Kathari shifted their focus to modifying their own genetic code. By doing so, their numbers began to flourish once again. Eventually, a robust culture centered on conformity emerged from the unforgiving confines of their subterranean world.
As time went on, the Kathari continued to advance and enhance their bloodlines. The elite scientists developed effects like Cytokinesis, Genetic Correction, and Synchronicity. The Formatician’s Exalt helped amass an army along with their many Progenitor Pods, Nucleotic Synthesizers, and Polyploidian Vessels. Others, like the loyal Archivists, had the duty of keeping meticulous records every step of the way.
It was a stark reality for the Kathari clones, but they embraced their fate as dispensable units. Behind the endless waves of Subjugates, Disciples, and Beloved Donors, self-sacrifice was a welcomed demise. You can even see their eerie smiles just before they willingly sink and disappear into the liquid abyss.
On the battlefield, their daunting size and physical stature made them an even more imposing armed force. With silver tinted skin, phthalo blue eyes, and the unwavering poise of a Viking berserker, there was no mistaking a Kathari clone on the battlefield. Still, if you aren’t one of them, you will never be able to understand them. And that’s part of what makes them such a dangerous enemy.
When reflecting on Kathari lore, I can’t help but wonder what type of world they may have carved out of Europa’s inner mantle. I imagine there are all kinds of bio-luminescent creatures and organisms lurking within the endless folds of stygian caves and deep Cenotes. I also imagine vast seas full of Silver and crystalized coral reefs, all made out of the same substance that flows through a Kathari’s veins.
Similar to some civilizations in the late Bronze Age, I imagine the Kathari also revere water as a deity. Sacrificing clones and other cherished artifacts by offering it up to a body of water is an ancient ritual that brought many humans closer to nature and their loved ones. Similarly, the Kathari are truly one with their unique surroundings. They may exalt the Hydrologists for unlocking the technological secrets of cloning, but the water is still their primary protector and giver of life.
Regardless, all civilizations, no matter how advanced they may become, will face drastic change at some point in time. As we have read, some of the Kathari are starting to wonder if the juice has been worth the squeeze. There’s something rising within the people; a yearning to reclaim the simple ways of life and death they once embraced on planet Earth.
The only question now is how they plan to get it all back.
Official Lore: Click here
Home: Europa (Jupiter’s moon)
Landscapes: Sepulii
Ship: Artemis Proxima
Paragons: Aetio, Scipius Magnus, Gnaeus Valerus
Other Characters: Galli, Magna, Maritus, Ottius, Antius, Chrysus, Drusius, Vitus, Jubia
Effects: Synchronicity, Eye of Galli, Seeing Triple, Genetic Correction, Antius’s Forecast
Relics: Tome of Aetio, Rousing Signum, Hydrolist Chamber, Nucleotic Synthesizer, Beacon of Gnaeus
Card List: Click Here
Play Style: Combo / Midrange
(For this final part, I’m asking an unofficial ambassador to share why their favorite faction is the best. When asking Warden Jake for his Kathari contribution, he eagerly obliged saying, “Marcolians can’t be the only ones that want to win.”)
Perfection. We strove to achieve it and in many ways, we did just that. Over the generations we have perfected our bodies and minds, becoming stronger, faster, smarter, and, quite simply, better. We became in all ways the best versions of ourselves. “Versions” is a fitting descriptor for what we have become – clones iterated to perfection, the ultimate form of human evolution.
But then what is perfection? In our relentless pursuit, we discovered we missed our home and even some of the old ways. So we make for Earth to finalize our quest, to blend the old with the new and find that perfect balance. With our endless numbers and our superior minds and bodies, we will take back our home. We are inevitable. We are legion. We are Kathari.