originally posted in:The Ashen Conflux
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You heard me right, Rezyl Azzir and Dredgen Yor aren't the same person. "But Muzzy," I hear you furiously typing in the comments, "the Rezyl Azzir cards clearly state that Rezyl Azzir became Dredgen Yor!" Yes, you're correct. Rezyl Azzir became Dredgen Yor. [b]Became.[/b] This word indicates that a change of some sort happened and that there is a difference between the two.
I emphasize this word placement heavily because there's an important distinction to be made here. Dredgen Yor isn't a Guardian. Rezyl Azzir is. While this may seem like a small detail to some, this makes a HUGE difference! For one, the personality of Rezyl and the personality of Yor are completely different. Rezyl was a strong and brave, yet weary and doubtful man, whereas Yor was a twisted grin and angry man. If the two were to stand side by side and have a conversation, you wouldn't be able to see any similarities.
And secondly, Dredgen Yor isn't a Guardian. Early on in his new life, Yor forced his Ghost to leave him. Without his Ghost, Yor no longer held the position of Guardian. While an ex-Guardian usually still has their connection to the Light even after the loss of their Ghost, Yor's Light was likely perverted and corrupted beyond recognition by the Darkness and Hive magic within Thorn. This is arguing what class Yor is makes no sense in the lore. He isn't a Guardian, and thus, doesn't subscribe to any of the three classes.
As you can see, Rezyl Azzir and Dredgen Yor aren't the same person. Rezyl Azzir, corrupted by his doubt, and the power of Thorn eventually became the scourge known as Dredgen Yor, but there is a distinct difference between the two. Even Yor recognized this, as he went out of his way to establish the two personas as different people, so as to not ruin the legacy of the legendary Titan, Rezyl Azzir.
The following is edited version of Ghost Fragment: Thorn 3. This is a conversation between Yor and his Ghost shortly after Yor killed Pahanin on Mars. [spoiler][Ghost] You were not always this man.
[Dredgen Yor] True.
[Ghost] Then the math says you do not need to remain this man. You can be other.
[Dredgen Yor] I am other.
[Ghost] You can be better.
[Dredgen Yor] This is better.
[Ghost] That matter, at best, is subjective.
[Dredgen Yor] Then what? Lesser.
[Ghost] Some would say.
[Dredgen Yor] But what would you say?
[silence]
[Dredgen Yor] All we’ve seen and now, here with me, you have no words.
[Ghost] I have words.
[Dredgen Yor] But...?
[Ghost] But you will not like them.
[Dredgen Yor] There is much I do not like.
[Ghost] More now than ever it would seem.
[Dredgen Yor] Heh.
[Ghost] I find no laughing matter in your path.
[Dredgen Yor] Only in the journey.
[Ghost] What brought you here was nobility.
[Dredgen Yor] And my prize.
[Ghost] That is no prize.
[Dredgen Yor] A curse then?
[Ghost] I would say.
[Dredgen Yor] And I would disagree.
[Ghost] You are no longer yourself.
[Dredgen Yor] I am myself. It’s who I was that’s gone.
[Ghost] Who you were held all the value.
[Dredgen Yor] To you.
[Ghost] To the Light.
[Dredgen Yor] The Light...
[Ghost] It is all.
[Dredgen Yor] It is nothing but a crutch.
[Ghost] One that has held you up.
[Dredgen Yor] Only just. And nothing more.
[Ghost] Nothing more? You were a hero.
[Dredgen Yor] And yet people still die. Corruption still exists. Light still fades. And Darkness still spreads.
[Ghost] As it will ever be, that doesn’t mean you give in to...
[Dredgen Yor] To what? Hope.
[Ghost] This is not hope.
[Dredgen Yor] This is peace.
[Ghost] You have blood on your hands.
[Dredgen Yor] How’s that any different than prior?
[Ghost] Innocent blood.
[Dredgen Yor] Matter of perspective.
[Ghost] That’s the shadow talking.
[Dredgen Yor] And am I not.
[Ghost] The shadow?
[Dredgen Yor] Ya know... These past cycles, you’ve made an honorable effort. Tried your best to correct my course. But I don’t know it needs correcting.
[Ghost] And if it does?
[Dredgen Yor] Could be too late.
[Ghost] 'Could be' is a winding path.
[Dredgen Yor] Long way from where I was to where I’m going.
[Ghost] That is my hope. That there is still time.
[Dredgen Yor] For?
[Ghost] Corrective measures. The righting of our path. The cleansing of your shadow and a return to the Light.
[silence]
[Dredgen Yor] Why’d you pick me?
[Ghost] It doesn’t work that way.
[Dredgen Yor] Was I special?
[Ghost] You were.
[Dredgen Yor] But only as special as any other.
[Ghost] You are all special.
[Dredgen Yor] Seems to contradict the word don’t it.
[Ghost] Not in my estimation.
[Dredgen Yor] If we’re all special, are any of us special?
[Ghost] Is that what you want? To be special?
[Dredgen Yor] Heh.
[Ghost] You dismiss, but it’s a very serious question. Is that all you’re after? Is all of the death worth that badge?
[Dredgen Yor] Am I not already more than the rest?
[Ghost] Looking at you here, now. The smoke, ash and bone at your feet mark you as so much less.
[Dredgen Yor] Maybe. And yet here you are.
[Ghost] Meaning?
[Dredgen Yor] You have been at my side every step of the way.
[Ghost] Where else would I be?
[Dredgen Yor] Yet you disagree so thoroughly with my change in perspective.
[Ghost] If only the change was simply one of perspective. Your “evolution” was no choice. This is not you having come to an understanding after careful considered thought. This is corruption.
[Dredgen Yor] The shadows?
[Ghost] The Darkness.
[Dredgen Yor] Maybe so.
[Ghost] There is no maybe here.
[Dredgen Yor] And you think you can save me?
[Ghost] I rekindled your Light, it falls first to me to aid in its survival.
[silence]
[Dredgen Yor] I tire of it.
[Ghost] You must try...
[Dredgen Yor] I tire of you.
[Ghost] Rezyl...
[Dredgen Yor] That is no longer my name.
[Ghost] I will not speak the other.
[Dredgen Yor] It doesn’t matter. This is where we part ways.
[Ghost] I will not leave you.
[Dredgen Yor] I am leaving you.
[Ghost] Without me, your journey ahead will be more than any one Guardian can handle.
[Dredgen Yor] That’s the point. It’s been sometime since you saw me as worthy of walking among those I once called brother and sister. Yet... anymore, I feel as though I am worthy of so much more.
[Ghost] Without me... You will die.
[Dredgen Yor] Someday. Won’t be the first time.
[silence]
[Dredgen Yor] Consider this my last good deed. I am releasing you of the burden of my deeds, both done and yet to come.
[Ghost] I will not abandon you.
[Dredgen Yor] You will. Or I will carve the Light from your shell and leave the carcass of my first and last friend in the dirt of this dull, red world for no one to find.
[Ghost] Then I’ve failed you, completely.
[Dredgen Yor] Not me. Maybe the man I was.
[Ghost] He is truly dead.
[Dredgen Yor] I believe so.
[Ghost] Belief is not fact.
[Dredgen Yor] Semantics I no longer have the patience for.
[silence]
[Dredgen Yor] When you speak of me, use my proper name. Tell them of the man that stands before you, not the ghost of the hero I once was.
[Ghost] You will always be Rezyl Azzir to me.
[Dredgen Yor] If you cannot let that man go, you will forever taint his legacy. All the good I have ever done will be washed away in the fire of who I have become.
[Ghost] If you care, there is still some promise within you.
[Dredgen Yor] If I am being honest, I care only to give hope to the frightened, huddled masses so that when I come upon them they will have more to lose. Their pain will be greater. Their screams more pure.
[Ghost] You...
[Dredgen Yor] Nothing dies like hope. I cherish it.
[Ghost] You’re a monster.
[Dredgen Yor] Finally, you see the truth.
[Ghost] Rezyl Azzir is truly dead.
[Dredgen Yor] So I’ve said. Long live Dredgen Yor.
[Ghost] This is farewell, but you can only run from your sins so far. In the end, you will die alone.
[Dredgen Yor] Maybe so. But I gotta tell ya... I tend to like my odds.
[Ghost] Your tainted “Rose” will not always save you.
[Dredgen Yor] Old friend... It already has.
[/spoiler]
To help better illustrate my point, here's a quote from Obi-Wan from Star Wars that does an excellent job of summing up what I'm saying in this post. [quote]Your father... was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. He ceased to be the Jedi Anakin Skywalker and "became" Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed.So, what I told you was true... from a certain point of view.[/quote] TL;DR[spoiler]While they are the same person in body, they are definitely not in mind.[/spoiler]
Thanks for reading everyone, I hope you learned something new from this. You can find more of my posts in the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/226603797/0/0]Muzzy Archive[/url].
[spoiler]Sorry for the clickbait title. It was the one that fit the most out of all the versions I came up with.[/spoiler]
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That Ghost dialogue was super interesting to read. Thanks for the post man! I always like a nice read.