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Andoain
| NPC | Enemy |
- Given name: Andoain
- Surname: Derived from Greek αγαθαγγέλου (agathangelou, "good angel")
- Pathfinders (formerly leader)
- Pontifica Cohors Lateran (formerly)
- Shrine of Nurtury (temporarily, formerly)
- Nurturer (formerly)
- Friar (incognito)
| “ | I don't presume to be any sort of guide or leader. You may call me by my name, Andoain. If being a leader helps my brothers and sisters feel at ease and points them in a direction, then I am willing to serve as their Guide. That's all. | ” |
Andoain Agathangelos is an NPC in Arknights. He is a deuteragonist of The Blessed story arc.
Background[edit]
Andoain is a Sankta pastor of Iberian origin hailling from the coastal village of Rocamarea. His faith was first challenged after Rocamarea was destroyed by a combination of famine, the Seaborn's invasion, and the Church of the Deep's infiltrations following the Profound Silence. At the time, a young Andoain went to Laterano and begged them to save his hometown, only to get a cold reply that his townsfolk were not Sankta.[1] Dumbfounded that the Sankta of Laterano could spend their lives living in an idyllic paradise with a promise of the afterlife while the rest of Terra (particularly the Iberian Liberi, who were the most devout followers of the Lateran faith) suffered, Andoain became determined to reform Laterano, becoming the Guide of the "Pathfinders", an organization dedicated to carrying out his beliefs and ending Laterano's isolationism.
Andoain shares a long but troubled history with Lemuen, Mostima, and Fiammetta, who would become soldiers from his unit as captain of the Pontifica Cohors Lateran. The first time he met Lemuen and Mostima was outside a chapel, with Lemuen describing him as ragged and quiet like a a statue, even more so than the actual statues. At first Andoain struggled to fit in as an expatriate. One day, he and Fiammetta were the only students left at the Pontifica Cohors' rubber-bullet roulette, the commandos' initiation ritual. After Mostima and Lemuen filled their applications, they became the last four-man squad at that initiation.[2] Eight years ago (year 1091), Andoain's squad was sent on a mission to deal with Sarkaz bandits who were ambushing Lateran caravans. During the mission, however, the group managed to uncover the Black Lock and White Key, only for Andoain to see something unknown within them. Deeply unsettled by what he saw, he turned on his squad and attempted to take the staves for himself, using his Arts to put Lemuen into a coma and leaving her paraplegic. However, Mostima fired on him and took the staves before he could obtain them, albeit becoming "fallen" in the process. Following the events, Andoain felt guilt and fled Laterano, leaving Fiammetta (who was not present when he did the deed) traumatized and deeply resentful of him.[3]
During the five years Lemuen was in coma, Andoain served his sentence at Landen Monastery before being transfered to work at nomadic abbey.[4] It's even implied that he visited the Sanctilaminium Ambrosii at one point, leaving a journal behind where he would recall his experiences.[5][6]
In battle, Andoain fights with his patron firearm which resembles a flintlock pistol, as well as light-based Arts that can be employed to both harm others and defend himself or his allies. He also carries with himself a copy of "The Saints' Travels" that he brought from Sal Viento, with preserved flowers from his hometown inside the pages. However, he prefers to tell the stories within the book rather than the verses themselves; Stories that also accompanied him during his youth.[7]
Story[edit]
Guide Ahead[edit]
During the first Summit of Nations, Andoain returned to Laterano for his to-be plan to confront the Pope, but not before paying the bedridden Lemuen a visit; there is surprisingly little animosity between the two, and Lemuen warns him that Fiammetta would be out for his blood once she knows he's back. Meanwhile, Patia and the Pathfinders have infiltrated Laterano. They try to take custody of Cecelia, but initially fail. Two such infiltrators disguised as sweets vendors are accidentally discovered by Ezell and Cecelia, and later chased by Fiammetta. As a blinding light obscures the Pathfinders from Fiammetta and secures their escape, the Liberi recognizes it as her former unit leader's Arts and shouts his name in rage.
Ezell brings Cecelia to a plain, run-down church located in the outskirts of Laterano where her mother's body lies, intending for her to say farewell to her mother, and to let her comprehend the unfamiliar idea of death, the first time in her life. As Cecelia starts to realize her mother is forever gone, she grieves, and the church's resident priest approaches and soothes her gently. The priest then reveals himself to be none other than Andoain.
While having his followers accompany and talk with Cecelia, Andoain informs a still suspicious Ezell that he never intends her any harm, and, just like Ezell, he wants to give her a proper chance to mourn her mother's passing. A Sarkaz follower of Andoain, Rosella, converses with Cecelia at length, sharing to her what familial joys that even a Sarkaz can experience, and Cecelia, getting emotional from the topic, opens up more and reveals that her father is a Sarkaz (as she recalled him to have horns similar to Rosella's, and singing the same Sarkaz ballad that Rosella sings). Ezell agrees tentatively for Cecelia to stay for the night in the presence of Andoain and the Pathfinders.
As dawn comes, Cecelia takes a spade and puts dirt on her mother's coffin with Andoain officiating the funeral, but the rites are interrupted as a Fiammetta, fuming with rage, barging into the graveyard. Faced with his former teammates, Andoain asks them to cease the fight until the funeral concludes, but Fiammetta fires at him anyway. Andoain uses his signature Arts again to both block and counterattack, and Ezell is separated from Cecelia as Fiammetta pulls him out of harm's way of Andoain's Arts.
Andoain shares to Cecelia, when they hide at her mother's former residence, a final lesson he intends for her: the tale of a Sarkaz man who, despite being viewed as a low-life by his townsfolk due to oripathy infection and alcoholism, still rings the bell when bandits have come at night to ransack the town; and though the town is saved because of his effort, he is killed by the bandits who try to stop him from sounding the alarm. He also tells her that her heritage (of a Sarkaz-Sankta hybrid who still has a halo—a perceived impossibility, as it is believed by all that only two Sanktas can give birth to a halo-donning Sankta) must mean something, and she is perhaps the key to the "change" that he longs for throughout his quest. An inspired Cecelia then, out of her own will, goes to Laterano's Bell-tower of Revelation, and successfully sounds it with a hymn that she sings, startling the whole city and the Pope.
As the Summit of Nations is nigh, Andoain deploys his followers to cause mayhem, forcing the Papal Knights to ensure the safety of the diplomats and leaders that have gathered in Laterano, and seizes this opening to confront the Pope himself, putting forth his beliefs and raising questions that attack the very doctrines of Laterano itself. The Pope tries to get Andoain to understand that the only reason Laterano can be a heaven on earth is due to the innate ability of Sanktas to empathize with each other extraordinarily well through their halos; as the other species cannot attain this (and will remain deceitful, resentful and paranoid to each other), they can never form a Laterano-like society and any attempt to replicate its perfection outside its borders will only cause the resources of Laterano to be spread thin; ironically, at the same time, Laterano has to remain to the believers of its religion a heaven on earth, so that they will have something to hope for, even if that hope only lies in the afterlife. Seemingly separated by two irreconcilable moral systems, Andoain and the Pope abruptly draw their guns and fire at each other; miraculously, neither of them have fallen, despite just pulling their guns on a Sankta and violating the very law that binds all Sankta together.
| “ | Laterano's light shines on only a select few, and its might exists only to project this image of fabricated glory. In that case, I would rather be the torch that burns by the feet of those who are freezing to death. Even if its flame will soon be extinguished. | ” |
| —Andoain |
The Pope then leads Andoain down deep into the catacombs beneath the city of Laterano, and shows him something unseen (but implied to be mechanical and whirring). Whatever Andoain sees in the bowels of earth smashes his remaining faith to splinters as he realizes that Laterano's "Law" and mere existence forbids his quest from coming to fruition, and despairs at the uselessness of his actions. When Fiammetta and Mostima catch up to him, they find him dazed and despondent; Fiammetta angrily demands Andoain to snap out of it, as she can't exact justice on someone who has gone mad, but Andoain apologizes to her before telling her that given a second chance, he would still do the same thing as eight years ago. This gesture infuriates Fiammetta beyond reason, and the final fight between her and Andoain breaks out.
During the battle, Lemuen snipes from afar, the shot knocking the gun out of Andoain's hand, and it is that moment he snaps out of his crushing nihilism, and renews his faith from the ground up: instead of placing his hope on spreading Laterano's "heaven" to the world (which is implied to be impossible from what he saw in the catacombs), he is ready to stay on earth and save those who suffer with his very hands, embarking again on a quest across Terra; he knows it is very likely to be fruitless, but is determined to tread it anyway. He silently thanks Lemuen for shooting the gun out of his hand, content with the notion that this gun will remain in Laterano in place of himself. As Fiammetta readies her shot to finish Andoain, the roof they're on is demolished by Oren under the Cardinal's order, securing Andoain's escape.
Andoain is last seen gathering up the Pathfinders, ready to leave Laterano and filled with newfound purpose. As Cecelia watches him leave, the sight reminds her of a word that she herself doesn't understand, but one her mother taught her the value of – "martyr".[8]
The Masses' Travels[edit]
Andoain is suddenly seen working as the "chosen" nursery teacher at the Shrine of Nurtury, playing hide and seek with the many children. A fellow nurturer comes in and talks to Andoain about the pregnant mother that he and Keph the Matriarch brought to the Shrine, which he states that her survival was indeed a miracle. The nurturer then reminds him that the Shrine of Nurtury will become operational if the Nativity goes as planned.[9] Andoain later claims to Velliv that not only did he met the Matriarch in the wilds three months ago, while he was hiding from a Catastrophe inside an abandoned nomadic abbey, but also found the injured mother and tried to help her, thus deciding to bring her back to Laterano. He argues that the Matriarch still had faith that the mother would survive♦ so he thought that Laterano needs a miracle.[10]
Andoain is invited to a house party by Gun-Knight Patrizion in an attempt to resolve past conflicts with Lemuen and the gang, but is swiftly kicked out by Fiammetta.[4] On the way back, he's ambushed by Pathfinders who infiltrated the Shrine, but the guards came to his rescue. Upon regaining consciousness, Andoain is informed that his attackers were simply "wayward souls" that the Shrine is currently investigating. He then resumes his duties, tending to the weak mother.[11] Knowing she would not survive for long after giving birth, Andoain leaves for an Ecclesia Requietum asking for to prepare a funeral in advance. Patia and the Pathfinders once again locate him, but Andoain says he has never known who they are, leaving Patia shocked. Fiammetta and Mostima arrive and dispatch the attackers. Andoain states his memory after the events of the first Summit was vague and hazy until he met the Matriarch.[12]
At the birth ceremony, Andoain assists the Matriarch in helping the mother. It turns out that they had brought back a pregnant arborbeast, and it has given birth to a child. For a moment he thinks the child to be stillborn, but moments later it is blessed with halos like that of a Sankta; It is a miracle. The Matriarch reminds him of when they took the mother and child to a small room, which quickly spiraled into the grand Shrine of Nurtury today. It was their faith that brought about this miracle, she affirmed. She encourages him to continue his duties, and asks him to help prepare the next ceremony.[13]
Despite the miracle, the mother had passed away like Andoain expected. What he did not expect, however, was that the child was neither grieving nor sorrowful; it even asked him to keep playing with it as if nothing had happened. The absurdity of it all finally hits Andoain, and he awakens from The Law's dream. Fiammetta and Mostima finally finds Andoain, now lucid. He realizes the chamber in which he cared for this arborbeast was the heart of the Shrine itself, to destroy it is to shake the Shrine to the core. With the bomb given to him by Mostima, he blows up the chamber, breaking free from the illusion and obsession.
Patia bandages his wounds and tells him what truly transpired. He was about to depart with the Pathfinders to Iberia, only to be called back by an unknown voice, and became trapped in illusion ever since. Federico and Arturia find him. Seeing the true form of the Matriarch, Andoain knows where her pilgrimage will lead. He informs the Giallos that the basement of the Basilica is where she seeks, and it holds all the answers they need. Patia brings him his old clothes, the ones from back when he was still working in the Pontifica Cohors.
Before setting out to fight the Calamity in Laterano, Andoain met with his former comrades to settle past dues. Andoain agrees with Fiammetta that the time they shared as a team was beautiful indeed. He does not ask Fiammetta for forgiveness, knowing he deserves none of it; still, he affirms that to have had her as a friend was a blessing. Fiammetta does not forgive Andoain, but she agrees to not get in his way. Andoain has decided on his path, he will keep walking it. Lemuen admits to never truly knowing Andoain's heart. With his guardian gun left in Laterano, Andoain bids farewell to his former friends, closing that chapter in their lives for good.
Andoain and the two Giallos arrive at the basement, but the layout is much different from when the Pope first led Andoain down here, and there are now many guards patrolling the space. After running around in circles for a while, Andoain deducts that The Law is deliberately keeping them away from It, so he overloads his Arts to seek a path. In the following flashbacks, it is revealed that the scene he saw at the site where they found the Lock and Key was in fact the moment the Teekaz reached out to The Law, becoming the First Saint. His efforts were effective, but he has blinded himself in the process.
Upon reaching PCS he and Federico find the unresponsive Pope. He connects to PCS despite warnings from Federico and PCS, seeking an answer from God. Since he does not accept the cold logic of PCS, It had translated it into an illusion for him. It now appears to him as the fledgling arborbeast from before. He had placed many hopes in it, only to have it shattered at the funeral.
The beast walked with him on his pilgrim, arguing that he is fixated with death, pursuing his ideals while readily sacrificing all that he has. But his ideal was fake: he had thought the scene he saw was the future in which even the devils are given salvation and ascend, but it was in fact the buried past of the Sankta. All that he sacrificed was for nothing. It argues that Andoain wasn't trying to give salvation to anyone, he merely was trying to save himself, to give himself a decent ending, like that drunkard in the story he used to tell. The Law reveals to him the Assimilated Universe, where all things eventually return, the coffin that buries all, the funeral of all things. It argues that there is no salvation, to be assimilated and become "Angels" in this boundless universe is a blessing, the ideal existence, a decent ending.
| “ | If God wishes me to embrace death as an angel... Then I would rather be born as a human, with all the ugliness, transience, and suffering that entails. | ” |
| —Andoain |
Andoain refuses such an ending. He will not impose any ideals upon any soul, he will not condemn any soul into an existence that is not related in any way to their lives and suffering. Such an empty existence is no way to live, he will never accept such "liberation", he will welcome pain and suffering, so he may walk in lucidity. With his additional input "Rejection", PCS comes to the conclusion that it must be destroyed. Federico and Andoain executes its wish. After the Calamity, the First, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Tribunals hold a trial to determine Andoain's crimes and punishment. He is exiled, never to return to the Holy City. He disbands the Pathfinders, a dozen of whom now works on the mobile monastery that is carrying him out of Laterano. Andoain ruminates, perhaps the Calamity has yet to be resolved, but new possibilities lie ahead. He silently leaves Laterano, embarking on a pilgrimage, intending to never stop.[14]
Gallery[edit]
Andoain's attire as a caretaker of the Shrine of Nurtury during the "Lateran Outbreak" of 1101
Younger Andoain in the past
References[edit]
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