Ep 7 Onyx Storm: Breaking Down Top Theories & Predictions PART 2

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dear Fantasy Reader - Ep 7 Onyx Storm: Top Theories & Predictions PART 2

Introduction

In the seventh episode of Dear Fantasy Reader, titled "Onyx Storm: Top Theories & Predictions PART 2," hosts Hannah, Kinsey, and Carly delve deep into the intricate world of Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean series. As the trio navigates through various theories and predictions surrounding the highly anticipated Onyx Storm, they dissect character motivations, plot intricacies, and the underlying lore that fans have come to love. This episode offers a comprehensive analysis, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps, making it an invaluable resource for both avid followers and newcomers to the series.

---

1. Halden and Auric: Unraveling Existence and Alliances

The episode opens with a compelling theory suggesting that Violet's ex is likely Prince Halden Cam, Auric's older brother and the heir to the Nevarian throne. Carly references a detailed Reddit theory, emphasizing:

[01:32] Hannah: "I think that Violet's ex is Prince Halden Cam, or Auric's older brother and heir to the Nevarian throne."

Key Points:

• Violet's Past: Violet's longstanding relationship with Cam is highlighted through her familiarity with his family, notably her recognition of Arryk's distinct green eyes, implying deeper connections.
• Political Dynamics: The theory posits a potential political alliance or betrothal between Violet and Halden, especially given her rise as the most powerful writer of her generation.
• Character Interactions: The hosts discuss how this relationship could rekindle tension and jealousy, particularly affecting her current relationship with Zaden.

Carly adds skepticism about the age difference between Violet and Halden:

[10:56] Carly: "But that's one of the things that makes me most hesitant about being Halden is the age difference starts to get a little tricky."

The discussion underscores the complexity of potential political maneuvers and personal histories intertwined within the narrative.

---

2. Violet's Second Signet: Truthsayer vs. Distance Wielding

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to unraveling the mystery of Violet's second signet. The hosts explore multiple theories, ultimately gravitating towards the Truthsayer hypothesis.

Truthsayer Theory:

• Definition: A Truthsayer possesses abilities such as compulsion, precognition, and truth detection, allowing them to influence others and perceive future events.
• Evidence:
  • Compulsion in Action: Violet's ability to compel others is highlighted when a Venin stops channeling power after she asserts her authority.
  • Precognitive Moments: Instances where Violet anticipates events, such as sensing an impending attack or recognizing shifts in energy fields.
  • Quotes Supporting the Theory:

    [55:30] Kinsey: "As Carly has mentioned, we see examples of Violet doing all of the things that Carly just explained for us throughout Iron Flame."

Distance Wielding Theory:

• Definition: This signet would allow Violet to teleport or travel vast distances rapidly, akin to speed-based abilities.
• Evidence:
  • Temporal Perception: Violet experiences moments where time appears to slow down, suggesting an ability to manipulate or perceive time differently.
  • Physical Feats: Observations of Violet moving swiftly during critical moments, such as escaping attacks or arriving at battlefields ahead of others.

However, after extensive discussion, the consensus leans towards Compulsion within the Truthsayer framework due to the multifaceted nature of Violet's abilities and the depths they add to her character.

[71:49] Hannah: "Compulsion."
[71:55] Hannah: "But if I had to pick one out of Truthsayer compulsion... Truthsaying has it all."

---

3. Isle Kingdoms: The Mysterious Realm and Its Implications

The hosts shift their focus to the Isle Kingdoms, a pivotal yet enigmatic location within the Empyrean series.

Key Points:

• Violet's Mother’s Whereabouts: The theory suggests that Zaden's mother resides within the Isle Kingdoms, possibly within a noble lineage.
• Political Climate: The strained relations between Nevarre and the Isle Kingdoms add layers of tension, making any alliances or interactions within this realm highly consequential.
• Ecological Mysteries: Predictions about the presence of unique dragons and other mythological creatures hint at undiscovered lore awaiting readers in Onyx Storm.

Kinsey adds intrigue by speculating on Heaton's signet:

[19:59] Kinsey: "I think we're going to have our own Empyrean type structure... and maybe they have other mythological creatures out on the islands."

This segment underscores the potential for expansive world-building and the introduction of new magical elements, keeping listeners eagerly anticipating the upcoming installment.

---

4. Andarna and Violet's Prophecy: Destiny and Destiny's Role

A deep dive into the prophetic elements within the narrative reveals a complex relationship between Andarna and Violet. The hosts interpret cryptic quotes and passages to piece together the foretold destiny linking the two characters.

Key Points:

• Prophetic Waiting: Andarna's 650-year wait to partner with Violet suggests a grand design or prophecy guiding their alliance.
• Shared Traits: Both characters exhibit similar traits, such as a balanced view of nature and strategic thinking, hinting at a preordained bond.
• Quotes Highlighting Prophecy:

  [24:11] Carly: "Andberry was always like, this was her prophecy."

Theories Discussed:

• Precognitive Bonding: Andarna might possess precognitive abilities, allowing her to foresee the necessity of bonding with Violet.
• Strategic Intervention: Andarna's actions, such as orchestrating events leading to their bond, point towards a larger plan to combat impending threats.

This section illuminates the intertwining of destiny and free will within the series, adding depth to character motivations and plot developments.

---

5. The Significance of Violet's Silver Hair: Symbolism and Plot Device

Violet's distinctive silver hair serves as a significant plot device, symbolizing her connection to power and her experiences with the Venon.

Key Points:

• Health Implications: The theory posits that Violet's silver hair resulted from being attacked by the Venon while she was pregnant, either through poisoning or life force draining.
• Symbolic Connections: Silver hair might signify her latent abilities, specifically her potential to wield lightning or her connection to ancient magic.
• Quotes Supporting the Theory:

  [43:21] Hannah: "So I think that her precognition could actually be explained by her first signet's ability to sense energy shifts in the air."

Character Implications:

• Violet's Transformation: The physical change in her hair reflects her internal transformation and burgeoning magical abilities.
• Narrative Symbolism: Silver hair serves as a visual cue for readers to recognize her unique role and powers within the story.

This analysis underscores how physical attributes in literature often serve deeper symbolic and functional purposes within the narrative.

---

6. Final Consensus: Embracing the Truthsayer Theory

After extensive deliberation, the hosts largely agree that Violet's second signet aligns with the Truthsayer archetype, encompassing abilities like compulsion and precognition. They acknowledge the compelling evidence favoring this theory over the Distance Wielding hypothesis.

Supporting Arguments:

• Compulsion's Multifaceted Role: Violet's ability to compel others and detect lies provides critical narrative advancements, making her a pivotal character in unraveling mysteries and confronting antagonists.
• Precognitive Moments: Her foresight into events and sensing of power shifts add layers to her character's strategic importance.
• Narrative Balance: The Truthsayer signet complements Zaden's intrinsic abilities, fostering a balanced dynamic between the protagonists.

[71:49] Hannah: "Compulsion."
[72:03] Hannah: "But if I had to pick one out of Truthsayer compulsion... Truthsaying has it all."

The hosts conclude by encouraging listeners to engage with their theories, fostering a collaborative and interactive community eager to decode the complexities of the Empyrean series.

---

Conclusion

Episode 7 of Dear Fantasy Reader offers an in-depth exploration of the myriad theories surrounding Onyx Storm. From dissecting character relationships and prophetic destinies to unraveling the mysteries of signets and symbolisms, Hannah, Kinsey, and Carly provide a rich tapestry of insights that enhance the reading experience. Their analytical prowess, combined with thoughtful interpretations and evidence-backed discussions, make this episode a must-listen for fans eager to delve deeper into the Empyrean universe.

For more detailed discussions and upcoming theories, listeners are encouraged to subscribe and stay tuned for future episodes as the journey through the Empyrean series continues.

Transcript

[Rebecca Yarros]

Marketing is hard, but I'll tell you a little secret. It doesn't have to be. Let me point something out. You're listening to a podcast right now and it's great. You love the host. You seek it out and download it. You listen to it while driving, working out, cooking, even going to the bathroom. Podcasts are a pretty close companion. And this is a podcast ad. Did I get your attention? You can reach great listeners like yourself with podcast advertising from Libsyn Ads. Choose from hundreds of top podcasts offering host endorsements or run a pre produced ad like this one across thousands of shows. To reach your target audience audience in their favorite podcasts with Libsyn Ads go to Libsyn ads.com that's L I B S Y N ads.com today.

[Hannah]

Dearest fantasy Readers, welcome to the Dear Fantasy Reader Podcast where we travel through the pages of our favorite Romantasy novels, exploring characters and scenes, theories, foreshadowing and more. I'm Hannah.

[Kinsey]

I'm Kinsey.

[Carly]

And I'm Carly.

[Kinsey]

Join us as we take flight into the world of the Empyrean series where we are currently in our Onyx Storm Prep era.

[Carly]

With that content warning and spoiler alert, we will be covering anything and everything Empyrean series to this date and any content Rebecca Yarros has given us. So if you haven't read both already, save this podcast. Go do that and we'll be here waiting for you when you are done.

[Kinsey]

Also, due to the nature of these books, this podcast is rated R in content and in language.

[Hannah]

As Rebecca Yarros says, readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note and prepare to enter Baz Gaieth War College we have made it to part two of our most anticipated episodes yet, where we are covering the following Onyx Storm theories Topics first Halden, Auric, the Isle Kingdoms, Andarna and Violet's prophecy and finally, Violet theories, including her highly speculated second signet. We are starting off with one of my most favorite theories. I think that Violet's ex is Prince Halden Cam, or Auric's older brother and heir to the Nevarian throne. Mamasubs on Reddit has outlined this theory so well we'll link it down in the show. Notes for you Here are a few key points. Violet clearly knew Cam growing up and would know his brother. Violet has some insecurity around Zaden potentially being the Duke of Tirandor and how Cat is of nobility and Violet herself isn't, which would make sense if she was in a relationship that could never have been serious with a prince because she is not of nobility. Further, we know at least one of vai's exes are infantry. And since kings are not typically riders, there is a good chance that Halden was. Is.

[Carly]

Is.

[Kinsey]

Is because he's alive, infantry.

[Hannah]

Also, Jinia recognizes Cam or Arryk's distinct green eyes, which implies that she's familiar with either his father, King Tori, or one of his brothers. Jinia is a longtime friend of Violet's and would likely have known whoever Violet was previously dating, which could be Is in my mind Halden. Now Mama Suibs points out that they would have been dating around the time that his brother. Brother died at his threshing, Zaden, which could have prompted Halden to take his role as crown prince more seriously and break things off with Violet. Now, the most compelling evidence of all of this for me is from Rebecca herself. When she was asked at the Sydney Q and A if Violet dated the prince, she said, I think you should read the third book. Notably, she did not say which one. Which prince. Now, I fucking love this theory. I think it is messy. And as much as I think our lover boy Zaden is going through enough, more than enough. I would eat up a bit of healthy jealousy. To me, Violet is not going to entertain Halden. But I would really love to see Halden come back looking for Auric and see the badass that Violet has become and regret so badly that he ever let her go.

[Kinsey]

She became the most powerful writer of her generation. He'll be like, oh, what was I thinking?

[Carly]

The one who got away.

[Hannah]

What a One that got away, right? Oh, my God. And then seeing Zaden get jealous, even an ounce of what Violet. I hope it's like 15 times what Violet felt about Katie. I just want to see that because I know Violet won't entertain it. I just want to see. I don't know. It doesn't have to be this book, though. I think it will be. I would like to see Zaden be a little morally gray with his interactions with Halden, especially how we see he is with Auric already. So it's like I would eat that up. But there is one more part to mamasoub's theory that I am dying to know your thoughts on Carly and Kenzie.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Hannah]

That there will be a potential political alliance betrothal on the table for Violet and Halden now that she is the most powerful writer of her generation.

[Kinsey]

I don't know if they would do it with a writer, though. I feel like, and this is a Theory I discuss later. But I feel like it would make more sense to have a political alliance between Serena or Cat. Perhaps. But I sure hope not because that like Zaden and Violet have enough to worry about going into Onyx Storm. I really don't think that they need to add a betrothal that she has no control over. Especially because now that her mom is dead as of the end of Iron Flame, like she doesn't really have anyone to help defend her in that regard.

[Hannah]

So their theory goes a lot deeper. The idea is that Violet never wants it and Zaden is encouraging her. I don't buy into it.

[Kinsey]

No.

[Hannah]

And that is because one, they would never want Violet to be all the more politically powerful. She is not a puppet that they could have their hands. She's too dangerous to do that. That's why we don't see kings that are writers. So we know. So I really don't buy into it. I think I would love a fanfic. If anyone's listening, I would read that. I don't expect that that will actually happen, but I do really think that Halden is her ex.

[Kinsey]

So I totally do.

[Hannah]

However it plays out, it would be so interesting. As long as Violet chooses Zaden overall, which there is no doubt in my mind. There is no one else for for Violet.

[Carly]

So 100% agree. I definitely think Violet's choosing Zaden. I also think that if Holden is her ex, though, I don't think there's going to be a political alliance between Holden and Violet. I think Kenzie's right. It has to be between Halden and poor Emil. Or maybe somewhere on the Isle kingdoms.

[Hannah]

Whoa. Halden and Cat. Talk about even messier. Yeah. Geez.

[Kinsey]

Well, she's thirsty for a crown. She wants a crown. She didn't care about Zaden. That's all she wanted was the throne.

[Hannah]

I mean, that would be the connection, right? That Cat would actually get her foot in the door.

[Carly]

So I think it would have to be there or someone with the Isle kingdoms that we don't know about yet because we know they're going to have to re establish a relationship there. But personally I think it's arc and I love this theory purely for the chaos of it. Well, the hatred and jealousy between him and Daden would be absolutely delicious. I will point out Violet never confirms both of her exes were infantry and we know she had two exes. I don't think there's a lot of evidence that it was arik to be clear. I just think dynamics wise it would be so Much fun. And I think one of the reasons why Zaden hates Arryk so much is because he was reading his intentions during the archives heist, and I think he realized that Arryk is into Violet. Maybe he doesn't realize that they had a past, but he realizes he's still into her. Ooh. And to be clear, I don't think they had a real relationship. I kind of think that they just had like a one night stand, a hookup kind of situation. Yeah. And I think it happened during the year when Dain entered the quadrant. So I don't think Dain knows. So I think it would had to have been like when she was 19, after Dane went into the writers quadrant.

[Hannah]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but she says she's had two exes, but she didn't imply that she had only been with two people. Hadn't she said she's romantic?

[Carly]

History is all of two people.

[Hannah]

Ah.

[Carly]

So, okay.

[Hannah]

But it doesn't imply. It doesn't have.

[Carly]

We don't really know.

[Hannah]

Okay.

[Carly]

Okay. Exactly. But like I said, I think it'd be absolutely delicious. I love it. I don't think there's a lot of evidence for either. I just love it. I will point out, though, that the reason why I'm more hesitant for it to be Halden is because of the age. Because Zaden's three years older than Violet. Zaden was the same age as the middle brother. So unless they're twins, the age gap starts to get a little funny.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

So I'll point that out. But that's one of the things that makes me most hesitant about being Halden is the age difference starts to get a little tricky.

[Hannah]

That's fair.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

I think what it boils down to, because I'm also cool with it being ride. It doesn't even have to be that it's an ex. I just think that adds like such a layer. I just want to see Zaden just go jealous Shadow Daddy.

[Carly]

Yes. Like, I think we are on the same page.

[Hannah]

Yeah. I think Dane was. I think we will always have a bit of that with Dane. We see that in Zaden's bonus chapters that he still worries about and is jealous over their connection. But let me be very clear when I say this. I do not want a love triangle. I don't like love triangles. If there is a third person that is a, you know, beacon for jealousy for Zaden, it would never be ever in my head reciprocated on Violet's part. I just would like to see Zaden be so furiously jealous. And not even the interact. Yes. The interactions with them would be incredible. But mostly like throne scene, but, like, reversed one is an option. Or like, on steroids. Yeah. Like, that's the kind of, like, worshipy, like, you're mine shit. I would love. All right, that's all. That's all. That was the point of the whole thing.

[Kinsey]

He already got jealous enough just with Bode sharing his flight jacket.

[Hannah]

Those little crumbs. I want a fucking cake.

[Carly]

Yes. The whole thing.

[Hannah]

A chocolate cake, if you will.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

And I just want Zaden to have to feel a little bit of what Violet had to deal with with the whole Cat thing. There's a little bit of payback. I feel like that is needed in that arena.

[Hannah]

But to Zaden's credit, he did not let her feel it long.

[Carly]

Correct.

[Hannah]

And in the moment she meets Cat, and then they go into that event and he is already like, let me show everyone. I want to see that from Violet. Because she will 100,000% do that for him.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And I just think it would be. But they do have a lot to deal with, so it doesn't have to be this book. Like, maybe let's cure him and then we'll. The next thing that they go through is jealousy. Yes, Jealousy. Jealousy. All right, all right, Moving on.

[Kinsey]

All right, so we still do not know Arryk's signet. At the end of Iron Flame, when General Sorengel had asked, do you have a signet yet? He's like, I don't have one. I don't have one. So at first I thought he might be another secret intensic walking around Basgaeth. But now I'm convinced that if Violet is not our distance wielder, it will actually be Auric. So I've given up on the intrinsic theory. If you're interested in that, go look at my Instagram or something. But the reason why I think he could be a distance wielder is because Arik clearly needed to distance himself from his family and his former identity. I also don't think that Rebecca would have ever included the line about there not being a distance wielder for two centuries if she wasn't planning on somebody being a distance wielder.

[Hannah]

Well, she's confirmed in interviews that we will see it. She said yet. So, yeah, there's gonna be someone else.

[Kinsey]

If you don't listen to interviews and you're just looking at the text, like, the clues right there in the text. Like, we didn't even know that distance wielders existed up until that moment in Iron Flame. So I think she's for sure setting it up to be somebody. And if it's not Violet, it'll be Arryk. I'm, like, almost certain, especially because in the archives heist, Violet thought that they weren't going to make it. And then the chapter just kind of, like, ends.

[Hannah]

Like.

[Kinsey]

It was like Zayden's shadows were reaching out. And then all of a sudden, it's like the next page, and Arryk had made it through the doors right before they shut because she thought, like, Zaden's gonna break his arm. He's not gonna reach him in time. So it's almost like, did it jump? Like, did he distance wield? We don't really know. This did occur a few days after threshing. So that's just. I feel like one of the instances where maybe he could be. I still. Part of me is like, it could be Violet, but I could see it being him as well.

[Hannah]

You just convinced me it's Auric.

[Carly]

Yeah. Kinsey and I have talked about this a bunch, and I think we're both 100%. I think on this that he's a distance wielder.

[Kinsey]

As long as anybody is a distance wielder, not a Venon, I don't care about them. But if any of our writers is a distance wielder, that's all I want to see. I just think it's such a cool signet, and I want to read it on the page.

[Hannah]

This next one. Isle Kingdoms on Vibes alone.

[Carly]

Yes.

[Hannah]

Are we all convinced that Zaden's mom is somewhere in the Isle Kingdoms?

[Carly]

I am, I think.

[Kinsey]

For Vibes, yeah.

[Hannah]

Yep.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Zero evidence.

[Hannah]

None. No evidence.

[Kinsey]

I feel like he would have hunted her to the ends of the earth if she was, like, in Navarre or just on their continent, really. But who knows?

[Hannah]

I kind of an extension of that feel like she's some sort of nobility there, which we're clued into with the fact that that was the agreement made with Fen.

[Kinsey]

They had a contract.

[Hannah]

Yeah. An alliance.

[Kinsey]

And he was a duke, so we.

[Hannah]

Don'T know of much that is positive between Nevarre and the Isle Kingdoms for centuries now. So I'm hesitant to think that an alliance would just have been made with, like, the Duke of Tyrandor, who's not even, like, at that point. He would have been, but that's pretty random, poking a little bit of a hole in that. But if she is in the Isle Kingdoms, I do think she's somewhat important, especially the weird 10 year stipulation that clearly they wanted her back, wanted her to have the option. That's such an intriguing. That's messy. And I'm really excited and I hope we get to know more and I hope we actually get to go to the Isle Kingdoms in this book.

[Kinsey]

I think we will, I think we will make our way there.

[Carly]

Even the back blurb. She's gonna have to go to new places. I think it has to be that. Looking down personally, I really, really hope so.

[Hannah]

It's been teased so much to make us wait another two years for it, you know.

[Carly]

Yeah, agreed. And I think one of the things they're gonna find out there is that there are dragons out on the islands. And I think it's gonna have its own Empyrean type structure. Maybe they won't call it an aperion, but I think they're gonna have their own Empyrean and I think those dragons are going to have beef with the dragons that are on the continent. I think that they are separate for a reason. And I also think we're going to find some other winged creatures. I think we're going to find some other mythological creatures out on the islands. Violet finds a book during the archives heist. It's a book about other winged creatures and I think that's alluding to that we're going to find out there's some other ones. So that's what I think is out on the islands.

[Kinsey]

I do agree that there are some dragons hiding out there. I'm not sure if it's necessarily its own Empyrean, but I think this is where Andarna's breed is hiding. So this is the seventh den and I am kind of just assuming it's a tropical climate type of an island system. But we do know from the dragons moving to Orisha, it had increased the temperature there. So I almost wonder if there are just like so many dragons on these islands and there's just a ton in the den that it made the Isle kingdoms what it is like, it made it that climate. So maybe they're like trying to keep the dragons there because if the dragons leave then they can't produce their food or things like that as well. I don't know.

[Hannah]

That's complex. I wanted to add on because I theorized about the Empyrean and whether or not it was specific to Navarre or all dragons. So if you've been with us since our first season, I only recently connected this on my reread that the Empyrean was established somewhere around the unification of Navarre, specifically in response to dragons choosing to bond riders. And so I actually think that that means that the Empyrean is specific to Navarre and that if there is another dragon government, it is different. I speculated on whether there was a branch higher than the Empyrean that would govern all, and then Empyrean was a tier lower. But I'm actually, after listening to Carly's Dear Dragon Raiders, Dragonkind Deep Dive, have a whole new view on the dragons. And I don't think that they were governed before dragons started bonding riders. And so I feel like we'll find out that either they're wild and they're like, they have, like, their own clan in the Isle Kingdoms, or that they have their own government, but not that they're a part of the Empyrean.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

One side note, it kind of should have went in our rapid fire. But on the topic of Isle Kingdoms, Heaton, they have this signet to breathe underwater that is never utilized in any capacity. And I can't help but put these two very simple pieces together and wonder if Heaton's ability to breathe underwater will finally be utilized in lands where they're surrounded by water. Like, maybe Heaton breaks into a fortress. They were something. They were the only person that could go through the water. I don't know. I'm really stretching there, But I'm also.

[Carly]

Waiting to see that signet be useful. So I think the Isle Kingdoms also makes the most sense, so we'll just have to wait and see.

[Kinsey]

I used to joke that, you know, Heaton, I was like, how dangerous are these bathtubs at Basgayeth? Because. Well, because Bodhi got almost assassinated in a bathtub. So I was like, apparently they needed the ability to breathe underwater in a bathtub. I don't know if someone was dunking their head or what. I don't know.

[Hannah]

But I was just like, oh, you're right. Because it's about what someone needs. So why would you need to.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

I mean, we know there's a lake.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. And a river. So, like, I'm sure there's another reason that Hayden has it, but especially as.

[Hannah]

A mermaid girl, when I was little, that's such a cool idea. But also, like, as a writer, when do you really get to use that?

[Kinsey]

Yeah, you're in the sky. Like, okay, great. Like, if you hit a big cloud.

[Hannah]

Like, maybe if you could also wield water and breathe in it, but, like.

[Kinsey]

That would be cooler.

[Hannah]

Just only being able to. That's not offensive. Like, that's not offensive. Yeah. Saying like that, it's not offensive at all.

[Kinsey]

So, yeah, there's a reason for everything. And I just. I really hope that we get an answer for Heat and Signet soon. And I think that's totally true. Like, it could be related to the Isle Kingdoms.

[Hannah]

I have a feeling we'll be doing a lot of theorizing about the Isle Kingdoms following Onyx Storm. Next, we are going to talk about a theory that I've been building out since season one, where we covered Fourth Wing through the lens of Iron Flame. That and Darna was prophesied to bond Violet. Apparently prophesied is a word and prophesied is not. So that is my clarification there. Anyways, so I've been using the word prophecy, but maybe that isn't quite the word for what is going on. Something is going on, though. First, some context related specifically to Onyx Storm. In an interview with Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon, he asked Rebecca, quote, is there a prophecy component going into the rest of the series, specifically within Darna and Violet? And Rebecca responded that she wouldn't say yes or no because she's in the middle of writing the third book. She didn't say no. And this tells us that maybe Rebecca just hadn't sorted out quite yet whether or not she was going to have any. Whatever's going on with Andarna and Violet, be it official prophecy or not. All right, this is what Andarna says in Iron Flame that is absolutely suspicious. Quote, I waited 650 years to hatch. Waited until your 18th summer when I heard our elders talk of the weakling daughter of their general. The girl forecasted to become the head of the scribes. And I knew you would have the mind of a scribe and the heart of a writer. You would be mine. You are as unique as I am. We want the same things. Violet responded, you couldn't have known I would be a writer. And Darna said, and yet here we are. Are. I think that there are two ways that this could make sense for why Andarna would wait and how she would know that Violet would become a writer. One, because she was told that she needed to wait specifically for a human with specific characteristics. Heart of a writer, mind of a scribe, and that they together would be the weapon to defeat the Venin, or some variation of that. Been calling it a prophecy, foretelling something. Or. I think it's possible that Andarna has some sort of precognition that allowed her to see through Time to know when she would be best needed. I don't know if she knew more details further than that depends on like that ability. I'm not super convinced of that. But something's fucking going on. And Andarna waited specifically for Violet. 650 years.

[Kinsey]

A long time.

[Hannah]

And not without other shit going on that another dragon of her kind who could kill Venon with their fire would not be useful to have around. So all of that says to me that it's bigger than just. And Darna like thinking of this. Oh, this girl would be a perfect choice.

[Kinsey]

She seems cool.

[Hannah]

She seems cool. Like I guess I've waited long enough. 650 years later, not ever getting to meet her family. Apparently she was some sort of conscious in an egg. That fucking blows my mind that she can hear it through an egg. But she never gets to meet her family. Like that is going to come into play. I think this is long term for the Empyrean series. But for Onyx Storm, I think it's going to be huge for Indarna and what we've just learned about the Seventh.

[Carly]

Breed, this is going to be super important. I think I've always looked at it more as like a backup plan than a prophecy.

[Hannah]

Violet and Darna are.

[Carly]

Yeah, like I think Andarna was always kind of a backup plan. I know you've always looked at more of a prophecy, but I have to say you're making me come around to the idea.

[Hannah]

I'm so glad to hear finally I've like what a compliment. Yes. You've done that for me so many times. I'm so glad I could reciprocate.

[Carly]

I do want to expand a little on partially what I think Andarna was waiting for. Whether it's a prophecy or a backup plan, whatever we want to call it. I think one of the first six writers was Sor Andale. In an epigraph in Iron Flame, there is a name, Segar Olson. That is an anagram for S Sorringale, which is spelled differently. But name spellings change over time. This was 600 years ago and the language was changing. And this just happens to be the name of the first curator of the scribe quadrant.

[Hannah]

Oh shit. I didn't realize that.

[Carly]

Yeah. I think Indarna was waiting specifically for a Sorrengale, the heart of a writer, mind of a scribe. Because we know family lines can produce specific signets. We learned that from Quinn, who has the same signet as her great aunt. I think that Sor and Gale was one of the first six riders who could wield lightning.

[Kinsey]

Do you think that Violet will get an additional sickness? I mean, cause like, the original writer couldn't have bonded and Darna. But you just think it's because it's passed through the line.

[Carly]

Yeah, because the sickness have more to do with the rider.

[Kinsey]

Okay.

[Carly]

I don't think necessarily that they were bonded to one of and Darna's ancestors or something like that, but I do think she was waiting for a Sor and Gale.

[Kinsey]

Ooh.

[Hannah]

So we're just basically adding addendums to what we think was included in the prophecy. Yeah, the prophecy that could have literally just been like. I guess what in my mind I picture is like one of Andarna's elders back then being like, hey, girl, we need you to stay around because you're actually the solution to defeating the enemy that we're like, currently in 50 years fighting that suspicious alone. Like, things get complicated with the dates that we are told. But regardless, you need to wait for this girl. She's got a heart of a rider. Mine to a scribe. Silver hair. Did you want to go there, Carly?

[Carly]

Because you told we have that in our Violet section. So I think I'll save it.

[Hannah]

We'll save it.

[Kinsey]

All right.

[Hannah]

But a list of characteristics of all of these things that could be related to the signet that they could have had with the first six. If we consider maybe that one of the first six was lightning wielder. But back then, there was a solution that seems to be pointing to that being a lightning boulder that killed them then too.

[Carly]

Correct.

[Hannah]

I think it's really interesting that. And Darna is actually not the first person that used the phrase heart of a writer, mind of a scribe. Violet's mother did when she handed her the journal of Lyra. Am I correct with that? In Iron Flame, she said, quote, you have the heart of a rider, but the mind of a scribe. So I think that's suspicious. And that, I believe, is why a lot of people think that it could be Papa Sorengale that actually either and Darna overheard talking or had passed the information on to the elders who were discussing Violet, that it could have been what Papa Sorrengail used to describe Violet that got to them. And Darna heard it. She hatched. And that kind of connects all of it.

[Kinsey]

Just to add on that, because I agree with everything that has been said. But even if it's not a prophecy, like, we know that her feathertail gift was the gift of time. Maybe that goes on in the egg. She saw that she was predestined to be Violet's dragon. I don't know. But I do think that Andarna even made some strategic steps to guarantee that Violet would bond with her. This is something that my friend Claudia and I had noticed on our reread. But in chapter 10 of fourth wing, there's an italicized quote that says, but you've already made it this far. Then Violet says, ah, there she is, the little voice that's been riding my shoulder lately, daring to give me hope that I might actually survive presentation. So this is before Violet even meets Sandarna. And initially, I think did think this was Violet's inner voice, like her conscience or something. But now I'm wondering if it could have been Andarna calling out to Violet to encourage her to continue. In a moment where Violet was seriously considering Dain's offer to leave the Quadrant, Literally.

[Carly]

Chills.

[Hannah]

Holy.

[Kinsey]

I just got chills again.

[Hannah]

Are you kidding?

[Kinsey]

No, but, like, there were other moments. I. I should preface this. There were other moments where Violet does acknowledge. Like, this is my inner voice, like, in different quotes, where she's thinking, should I continue to go on? But this one specifically, it was italicized. It said, but you've already made it this far. Ah, there she is, the little voice that's been riding my shoulder lately, daring to give me hope that I might actually survive presentation. Yeah, I got chills again. So maybe. And then later, during threshing, when Violet was frustrated that Andarna didn't fly away during the attack. And Darna says, quote, maybe I was saving you. Which tracks out to Andarna being sneaky and causing events that led up to Violet bonding. Not one, but two dragons. So I. I do kind of think she set it all up because she saved Violet from not leaving the Writer's Quadrant. She would have died if she became a scribe, because she would have found out all of the secrets and probably been killed. And also, if she didn't go on to become a Dragon Rider and she was destined to become this powerful lightning wielder, they would have had really not much of a line of defense against these venom. So, yeah, I'd also like to point out that Violet and Andarna also have very similar ways of thinking, and a lot of their habits are also pretty similar. In chapter 19 of 4th Wing, one example is, quote, nature likes all things in balance. And Darna says this like she's reciting facts, just like I do when I'm nervous. So I just thought, like, we know that Violet recites Her facts.

[Hannah]

That's suspicious. I didn't catch the second part of that. I just knew she always liked to say it. But even the fact that Andarna likes to go around saying all the time nature likes all things in balance is suspicious in itself.

[Kinsey]

Yep.

[Hannah]

Like almost. I'm just gonna go ahead and add that to what I think was included in the prophecy. Thank you.

[Kinsey]

Exactly. Exactly. And then if you guys listen to part one of our theories episode, you'll already know that I think that. And Darna was kind of hiding out with Papa Sorrengail and he probably got some feathertail research from her. So it could have just also been another way to find out.

[Hannah]

But holy shit.

[Carly]

Blew my mind.

[Hannah]

I knew that it seemed suspicious that in Darna at presentation. Maybe not even presentation. I'd figured threshing was the first time she was like super involved and, like, knew how things were gonna play out because, like, she could have flown away. She orchestrated that shit.

[Carly]

Oh.

[Kinsey]

The whole scene.

[Hannah]

And then how. Why would you do that without knowing that you and Violet would be okay? That's just. It doesn't make a ton of sense. But for her to have been like her guiding light essentially before then it makes me wonder. Clearly that would be some sort of bond that she bonded to her before threshing. And I always thought it was interesting that Taryn is the one that gives her both his. It seems like I've always assumed that. And Darna also was giving her relic at the exact same time. But the way it's written is like. Doesn't point that out. So I almost wonder if Andarna's breed doesn't need a relic. And she'd been bonded since she hatched. If she was able to. If we're taking this seriously. If she is able to communicate. That's what that would tell me.

[Carly]

I love this because I know you and I. Hannah had a deep conversation about the relic because we were on very different sides of who gave the relic. And I was like, I really think Taryn's the only one that gave her the rel.

[Hannah]

And I was not convinced until right this moment.

[Carly]

Yeah, we talked about it a lot. And I like the idea that Endarne doesn't even need one. That's a game changer.

[Kinsey]

That's cool.

[Hannah]

That's fucking sick.

[Kinsey]

That's so good to continue on too. Sigaille is also very overprotective of Andarna. So she must have known that Taryn and Sigail were mates too. And it just like worked out like Getting Taryn to bond to her. Like, I feel like Zaden had more to do with that than anything else. But I'm sure Sigeil also had her own interest in protecting this small little golden dragon that's being attacked.

[Hannah]

Taryn bonding. Violet has always been super suspicious to me because of course, Violet deserves it.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

But from the motivations on Taryn's end, doesn't make a ton of sense. 1. Rebecca consistently describes him as this grumpy old man who now has to deal with 20 year olds and. Right. Like, he signed up when he chose to bond her, when he could have just, like, saved and Darna and like, went back to sleep, you know, like, he could have just. Yeah, kept with his life. Now he has to be an active fighter again in a war he doesn't even agree with. He now has to be separated for an unknown amount of time in the future, which ends up being, like, really terrible. And Iron Flame from his mate, when he could have just followed her around everywhere for the rest of his life. Like, he was essentially retired at that point. What on God's green earth would be better for him if he doesn't know something even bigger? I almost wonder if Taryn knows to some extent. I don't believe that. But, like, what made him agree to this shit? Like, it doesn't make any sense. Except maybe he knew in her heart she would never be okay with what Navarre was doing. And he was willing to bond as long as it was not in the name of fighting for Navarre. Like, he won them the rebellion, but he said never again unless it's on the side of the revolution. I see Zayden and Violet being possibly mates or whatever that's going on there. This could work out, but that's a fucking risk to take. I don't know. That's a whole. I'll get off my soapbox about that.

[Carly]

Everything about how both of them chose her is just very intentionally written. Like everything about the language they use with Violet, the way Rebecca Yarros writes it all, it's just all very intentional. And I'm like, there is something bigger going on here. But I will get into the Violet Zaden thing in our Violet Zaden section. I will not even get into that now.

[Kinsey]

But speaking of getting into Violet, let's get into her. I guess that is the Violet Zaden section, isn't it? That would be the Violet and Zaden section because he's getting into Violet. So.

[Hannah]

Yeah, we got what you meant. That is Violet and Zaden's section is in Part three episode Speaking of Violet.

[Kinsey]

And discussing her alone, let's get into her appearance. So this has been a very common topic. I think that Violet's gray hair is the result of her being attacked by Venon as a fetus, either by being drained directly or poisoned by their blades. So if we're talking poison, we have to remember that after the Battle of Resin at the end of Fourth Wing, Zaden described Violet's hair as being a more dull gray color than usual, which makes me believe the poison is partly responsible for loss of color. As Venn and Drain note, Violet's father is skilled in poison. This may have come out of necessity to find a cure and save Violet and Lilith. Or more nefariously, what if he created this poison the Vennon use and the Vennon stole his research? If it's from draining either I think her mother accidentally turned Venon and drained some of Violet's life force instead of channeling from her dragon. Or Violet's mom and Violet were both drained by a Venon in an attack while she was pregnant. I think it's more likely that Violet's mom was secretly Venon because Rebecca had Violet casually mention in chapter 12 of 4th Wing that General Sorrengel's eyes were, quote, bloodshot red. And Violet freaked out so much that she took away the fables from Violet. And in chapter 61 of Iron Flame, Violet says she's in front of us all, her three children, and the very place she sacrificed us and her very soul for. So Venon sacrifice pieces of their soul for power. And here Violet literally tells us that Lilith sacrificed her soul.

[Hannah]

I was already convinced of the red eyes thing was like, that's. That's not just. She wasn't high, you know, or tired. There's no way.

[Kinsey]

No, but that. Yeah.

[Hannah]

I have a question, but we'll.

[Kinsey]

I have an answer.

[Hannah]

Maybe Lilith died siphoning.

[Kinsey]

Yes.

[Hannah]

Not at the hands of. Of ally hilted dagger. But what kills Venin is power. Maybe you can siphon the power out of a Venin and kill them too, is what that would have to mean.

[Kinsey]

I think so. But I also think that just in general, if you siphon all of someone's life force, even the Venin must have an end to their life force. I think if you cut them off, that's why they. They can't.

[Hannah]

They have to feed.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. They can't live in the Barrens anymore because they completely had taken all of the life from there. So they have to continually feed. Right. You take away all their Energy, all their magic, all their power. It's gone. They're gonna die.

[Hannah]

She was Venom.

[Kinsey]

I was already convinced. Maybe she like didn't intentionally steal from.

[Hannah]

Violet, but I don't think she intentionally did. I don't think she realized she could. Yeah, maybe she didn't even know she was pregnant then.

[Kinsey]

Maybe.

[Hannah]

But even if she did, how could she know that that would.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Mm.

[Carly]

I am personally not on Team Lilith turned Venon, but I.

[Hannah]

Then how do you explain those things? I'm very curious.

[Carly]

I think the quote is telling, but I think this could also just be a literary device. That her mom did some very shady things. That's true. In order to keep her children safe. Like she sacrificed other people. And maybe Violet doesn't agree with that decision and that is how she's expressing it. I will say though, it's an interesting quote. I do like it. I just don't think Lilith turned Venon. Personally, I don't think it fits in with her character. That's where I think I'm coming from.

[Hannah]

You're losing me.

[Carly]

I think she has a very rigid set of how she thinks things should be done. And I don't think that's in it.

[Hannah]

The only way I could see her doing it is. Is in the name of saving her family. Which could look like that night at that battle. Whatever she was at, it could be that they were about to raid the fortress.

[Carly]

That that's true.

[Hannah]

Her children were in.

[Carly]

That's just not where I'm going with Lilith. I don't know. I think I'd have to learn more about how the Venin worked. How she could have hit it. How she could have stayed Venon and not looked like Venon and been Venon for that long. And it not be apparent before I could get on that train.

[Kinsey]

I guess something else too that I just thought of is there's an epigraph in Iron Flame where I believe it's a missive to General Sorengale saying like, there is no cure. Like there's only control. Why was she looking for a cure? Because there's no like time or date or anything on there.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

So we don't know if this was referring to Jack. We don't know if she was searching for a cure for herself. She was looking for a cure for something. And what if because she was told there's only control. We also know in fourth Wing during the squad battle when they stole the map, that she had an alloy hilted dagger on her desk. So what if she kept that there as Like a fail safe of like, what if I turn and I have to like self sacrifice or something? If the urge is too great, I don't know.

[Carly]

I guess it's just not where I see Lilith's story after death going with Violet. But maybe I do think Rebecca has.

[Hannah]

Set it up for us to feel like Lilith was Venon. There's no way she didn't know what she was doing by putting the red eyes and then this very soul. She has built a meaning around the use of the word soul in this series and she cannot have done that unintentionally. Whether or not it was actually a clue 4 or just like a red herring, I don't know.

[Carly]

Yeah, no, I definitely think there's evidence for her having been Venon. It's just not where I'm leaning towards. I don't know. It's just not. I don't know. For whatever reason, it's just not where I'm leaning towards. And I think it's more like Lilith was drained while pregnant. Yeah, I think that that is very likely that that happened to her while she was pregnant and that that potentially was partially the cause of Violet's silver hair. I think there's other possibilities. I'm not like married to that being the only possibility for how it caused Violet's hair to be silver.

[Hannah]

That's my top theory on it.

[Carly]

Yeah. But I do think Violet's hair is an omen or a sign that Violet has the potential or the ability to wield lightning when she uses it. In Fourth Wing, she describes her lightning as the bluestreak of silver death slams into the tower. And I think silver death is a clue for her hair. And I think Violet was always meant to be a weapon against the Venon.

[Hannah]

How do you explain the several other characters who have been referred to as having silver hair? So we've got the silver haired Vennon in excerpt, we have Suri, who has a streak of silver hair on the assembly council. We also. I noticed on my reread Felix is described multiple times as silver beard with capital letters Silver beard. Like silver one. Though there is one instance in that same chapter. It's like one of the first in Iron Flame where it's referred as gray. But for Rebecca to choose to capitalize the word silver similar to silver one, that tells me he also has whatever it is that is connecting.

[Carly]

I did look at that. I think that that was actually an editing choice to show that because like a lot of the people's descriptors in that moment before she Knows their names.

[Kinsey]

Are capitalized like Hawk knows.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I agree. But she could have said gray beard.

[Carly]

She could have. I think that there might be some red herrings in the silver hair. I don't think they're all necessarily because silver is a color to describe hair. Violet's hair is specifically metallicy silver. And so I don't know that all of these people have metallic silver hair. And I think it has something to do with how her hair at the ends and all of it, and no matter if she cuts it, it just goes back to the ends. I think there's something very specific there. I think that the Silver Death Line and Violet wielding lightning and her hair being called silver, I think it's all connected personally. And I don't think she's the only one that's ever going to be capable of wielding lightning. I'm not saying that there aren't going to be others.

[Hannah]

It's just interesting that they said, you know, it's been centuries since the last lightning wielder, and all of a sudden there's several people with silver hair. I have a hard time believing that if there's multiple people with silver hair that they'll be for different reasons, but I hear you. I'm trying to convince myself I'm not quite there yet.

[Carly]

You don't have to be.

[Hannah]

All right. I know everyone's so excited to talk about second signet for Violet. I think that there is a lot going on with second signet speculation that is actually related to Violet's first signet. So we're gonna talk about that first. We now know from Iron Flame that Violet is not just a lightning wielder, that she can wield lightning, but that her signet is actually pure power. An example of a second signet theory that's going around is amplifying other signets, like when Ri can finally summon an item through a wall, or Mira is able to shield them at the viscoun, and how Brennan was able to mend a wardstone, et cetera. I think that's Violet's first signet.

[Kinsey]

Fully agree.

[Hannah]

Further, I think that Violet can use her first signet of pure power to sense other sources of raw power, like dragons, Venon and more powerful riders like Zaden through some sort of energy field. It doesn't have to be that, but something like that. This would explain how Violet is sensitive to the energy in the room when Xaden is around. There is a specific one that stands out so clearly in my head. In Montserrat, when he is in the room, she says palpable. I don't think that's just attraction, though. That's part of it. How she can also sense something is wrong or energy shifts in the air alongside the dragons in Fourth Wing. Like when they got to the island and then to Athen and Tarin confirms that he felt those same things. Also, the Venin in resin mentioned being called there by Violet's level of power, though also the lures. That's fishy in its own. But they said they felt called by Violet's level of power, and I think that she consents them in a similar way. I was even more convinced of this after reading the Onyx Storm back jacket excerpt. When Zaden told Violet she needed to learn to find him during an exercise where she was seemingly trying to aim her lightning and he vanishes from behind her. I think that she is able to or is going to be able to mentally locate powerful beings as an extension of her first signet. I kind of think of it as like she can close her eyes and just like put sensors out is like when she's intentionally doing it and almost mapping them out where they're at.

[Kinsey]

That'd be so cool.

[Carly]

I really love that because, like, I also noticed that Violet's power rises up whenever she encounters Venon, sometimes even before she realizes her Venon. And it's as if her signet can sense it when someone is like Venon near her and her signet. I just think like the biggest sign of this is when her signet really makes itself known. When she is at the squad battle and she's angry at Jack. And it says when she like locks her gaze with Jack that she feels the power rising up and we know Jack is Venon then.

[Hannah]

I almost pointed this out, but I held my tongue. Kinsey, last episode in the Theories, Part one, you talked about Brennan.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And how when she's around him, her power rises. Yep. Outside of that suspicious fucking rune scar, that's the most compelling evidence for me that he is Venon. If you're doing a reread currently, pay attention. For moments where she's around someone and her power rises, that is a sign, I believe that Violet is sensing that they're Venon.

[Kinsey]

In the Cosmo sneak peek, when Zaden shows up to take out those Venon that are trying to break into Jack's cell, her power rises up when Zaden appears to.

[Hannah]

Holy shit. And that's what I mean by like, if that's an example of correlated to him being Venon, but like, that happens when Zaden enters and she also will say, like she can. Oh, I just read this part in Iron Flame where she. It's the way of introducing that they can sense each other through the bond. But what if she actually hasn't been sensing him through the bond so much as location wise as her actual pure power? Signa, who can sense other really immense. I wanna be very clear, immensely powerful people. Not just anyone, anyone. I think she can still probably do it if she practiced it, but I think that that's something that as her signet abilities evolve, she would be better. I think she'd also be better at it if she knew she had it and was intentional about it, which is fucking cool. I honestly think a lot of the suspicious shit that Violet is doing in Iron Flame that we're all picking up on, trying to figure out her second signet is actually related to her first signet. And I'm really hopeful that Rebecca really, like, I know she doesn't want her to be overpowered, but like, fuck that. Come on. Like, I want her to be able to do all of it because I want to see it on the page and I'm super excited to see it. We will get confirmation within how many days now? 16 from us filming this episode.

[Kinsey]

Oh my gosh. Can't wait so soon.

[Carly]

I can't believe you said 16. That number is so small compared to what it used to be.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, boy, we're nearly there.

[Hannah]

Should I or should I not mention that it resets for like 2 years? Anyways, we won't talk about that.

[Carly]

That's denial.

[Hannah]

Deep denial onto Violet's second signet.

[Carly]

Yes.

[Hannah]

We're not gonna go play by play of every single theory that is out there Again, a lot of them. I think we're pretty much same page that a lot of the second signet theories are related to our first. So we're just going to talk about the main ones we see the most evidence for. But before we do that, I want to give some context. So in Variety's interview article, when asked about Violet's second signet, Rebecca said, quote, I will tell you that that's third book, but every single hint you would need to know what her second signet is, is in Iron Flame. It's manifested. Read it again and then call me, end quote. We also already explained this in the last episodes covering Rebecca's interviews. But disclaimer that Rebecca never said Violet's second signet is in a single line in Iron Flame. What she actually said was that her editor wanted her to add a line to point it out for us. But Rebecca did not, though she thought it was already obvious. And she didn't say that in just one or two interviews. She said it in three or more, honestly. So I. I feel like that's important context if you are deep in this second signet speculation, like we are.

[Kinsey]

All righty. And for the moment of truth, we think that the top second signet theories are truth saying, compulsion, precognition and manifesting, and honorable mention, distance wielding.

[Carly]

I want to talk a little bit about true sayers and the mythology around them and why we think that is a top contender. There is that epigraph that says that the only thing more terrifying than an intentic is a true sayer. And I think we're going to find out that the reason why is because true sayers in this world are actually a lot more powerful than what we have seen. So in mythology, we have true sayers and soothsayers, and the specific abilities in these mythologies have gotten a little bit interchangeable over time. So you'll see true sayers or soothsayers with abilities from both. So when talking about true sayer, I think we need to look at how it has evolved over time. And a great example of a very powerful truesayer is in Dune. Rebecca Yarros is a fan of Dune. And the Bene Gesserit, which are in Dune, are very, very powerful true sayers. They have the ability to have complete control over their bodies, which I think we could see manifest in Violet as the ability to shield her mind and control her emotions. They have the ability to control or compel people to do what they say, which Violet seems to do throughout Iron Flame. There are many examples of Violet doing this, but the one I find most compelling is when she is at the end, when one of the Venin go to channel and Violet yells at them to stop and they look at her and say, oh, you are a powerful one, aren't you? That was when I got chills when I was reading our Flame. Like, this has something to do. This has something to do with our second segment. And to be clear, the Venin stops. It does not channel the ability to detect when people are lying, which Violet also seems to do in Iron Flame. They have the ability of other memory, which is essentially the ability to gain the collective memories of the other Bene Gesserit, which would be very interesting if we see something similar happen in this series, because Violet needs ancient knowledge to figure out the answers to all these questions. They can also see into the future. And we see Violet seem to know what is about to happen all throughout Iron Flame.

[Kinsey]

We also have to remember her need for developing a signet. She needed truth and she needed control. After discovering she had been lied to her entire life life by everybody she knows and loves. As Carly has mentioned, we see examples of Violet doing all of the things that Carly just explained for us throughout Iron Flame. But if we had to only pick one of the truth saying abilities, it would be compulsion. This includes the ability to compel people to tell the truth and to do things. Not only did she compel people to tell the truth repeatedly, but she was also surprised when people would actually answer her questions. Whereas before she was always kept in the dark, she also knew whenever people were lying versus telling the truth. She seemed to be hyper aware of tells. The most obvious for me was during the the meeting between the generals and the Eurasian Council. She would make a lot of comments like Mera lies just as well as Zaden. How did she know that Meera was lying? She would also feel a shift in gravity after making a big discovery from Massive secrets. This happened when Violet realized that Zaden had a second signet. It also happened when Violet realized and Darna was secretly a seventh breed of dragon. After that massive shift in gravity. It almost seemed like she was centered by the truth and that kind of brought her back to reality.

[Hannah]

I want to take a step back here because you both have recently convinced me. You brought me over to the dark side of compulsion because I didn't really know what it was. When I heard people say truth saying, I just thought you meant like, oh, she's getting people to tell her the truth or she can sense when someone is lying or not. And that felt, hmm, not as exciting. And it didn't seem to explain all of the very suspicious things that she was doing. One, I'd never put the references to gravity like together in relation to her truth saying. That's incredible. I think for me, what finally clicked in understanding the mythology of all of truth saying and then tying it into all of the things that Violet is doing is that it's not just limited to truth detection. Truth saying taken literally, that she's also able to compel people into actions. And Carly, you mentioned the biggest one of all, the thing that sold me along with all of this mountainous evidence is the fact that the Venin listened to her in that battle where it was after Kat that sealed the deal. What I actually think is really fascinating about how multifaceted truth saying is and why I'm absolutely Convinced that if she is not a Truth sayer, overarchingly, she has compulsion. Is that between this and Violet's first Signet being pure power and explaining what is left, I think both of them together explain all of the suspicious things that Violet's doing. And that is why there are so many various theories out there about what her second signet is. Is because it's not just simplified to one exact ability for either of her signets.

[Carly]

Yeah, I agree. And I'm glad we've been able to bring you over to the dark side, because that was the goal. And I will say, like, if she is not an overarching Truthsayer, I am convinced it is one of the abilities within the true Saiyan mythology. And if it's one ability within it, it's either compulsion or precognition.

[Hannah]

Ooh.

[Carly]

And I know, Kenzie, you have some great examples of precognition, because there's a lot. But you have some really good ones.

[Kinsey]

Thanks. Yeah. Let's get into it. So, for one, she knew when she was about to be abducted for RSC training, she was literally scanning her surround things, waiting for someone to jump out at them right before they literally got jumped. When she was told, we'll see you in a week, every instinct screamed at her that they would not be seeing each other. And they didn't. Offhandedly, she thought that Rhiannon would help her break into the Archives if Violet ever wanted her to. Which was way before Violet ever considered breaking into the Archives because she didn't know that she'd need to. She also knew that Chat was going to break the rules about using powers during their Challenges Fight. And she had a vision of Varish before Solas attacked in the caves. She felt a shift in gravity when she realized the Venon attacked would actually be at Basgaeth and not at Samara. And finally, she always says, I will not die today, and we will all make it to graduation. Which, yeah, maybe it's just her determination. Maybe it's precognition. Maybe she's also compelling people to not die and to make it to graduation.

[Hannah]

And guess what that makes her.

[Kinsey]

A Truth Sayer.

[Hannah]

A Truthsayer. And the reason I didn't get on this Truthsayer train for a while is because I didn't understand that it encompassed all of it. I actually think if she's not. If she is not a full Truthsayer and she is a Compeller, or has compulsion, whatever that's called, those are her two segments. Pure power and compulsion. That precognition could be explained through whatever the fuck is going on with Andarna and her ability to prophesize prophecy. Prophecy, something. I'm covering bases here. Right. Because that's what we're trying to do. And that's the way it makes sense to me.

[Kinsey]

I'm convinced she's a truthsayer.

[Hannah]

Not to mention Rebecca Yarris story that she posted, I believe. Was it her niece or was that another post? That was her niece.

[Kinsey]

That was a different post.

[Hannah]

Someone gifted her a napkin in a frame, which apparently is a pop culture reference for something else. But it said sorendale for truth. So at this point, she's either fucking with us. It could be that or she actually is a truthsayer. And it was. It's been right there. Which was also in the blurb, wasn't it?

[Kinsey]

Yeah, I was just gonna say it's also in the blurb. I think so.

[Hannah]

That was when I started getting on the train, but I was like, oh, that just means she can get people to tell her the truth or that she can detect it. And I was like, she's some sort of truthsayer. But even back then I didn't understand what that meant.

[Carly]

Yeah, but then Kinsey and I just shoved you fully onto the show, full speed ahead.

[Hannah]

I'm not mad at it, though. I'm rereading Iron Flame right now and I'm like, holy fuck. There's so many. I think I've said that so many times during these episodes because they're mind blowing, but once you see that, you can't unsee it. And it's. My eyes have been opened to a whole new world. Can you tell we're getting tired?

[Kinsey]

Speaking of a whole new world.

[Hannah]

Oh, perfect. Setting you up.

[Kinsey]

Even though I do think most of the evidence lies in truth saying, a part of me just does not want to give up on distance wielding and I want her to be a distance wielder again. If Auric is a distance wielder, I'm happy. I just need to see it. I just need to see it. However, I could also see reasons for Violet being a distance wielder. I think it could be a power similar to the Flash. After the Battle of Resin, Violet had a need to get faster and distance herself from the Venon. In her nightmares, she also needed to travel long distances with Taryn to see Zaden and Sigil. At the beginning of Iron Flame, she began training with Imogen, and many characters noted how fast she had gotten and were saying they had never seen her run that fast before. And when Zaden and Violet flew to the cliffs before the Wyvern attack, Rebecca Yarros made a special note that they had arrived 15 minutes before Zaden and Sigale. If she's like the Flash and crosses great distances with speed, it also explains why time seems to slow down around her. And she observes multiple events occurring within heartbeats or all at once. Notably, this happens at the Archives heist, when Riddick is shot with arrows. And Luella dies fighting the Venin when securing the luminary. And again at the battle at Baskaya. My favorite moment was in chapter 62 in Iron Flame. Violet thinks, we're not going to make it in time. We're almost there, but everything happens so fucking fast that it's as if the rest of the world slows down. End quote. And then Violet begins counting in heartbeats. So this is either her signet as a distance wielder or leftover gift of time from Andarna.

[Hannah]

Look at us. We're like, it's either all the suspicious shit. It's either her signets or it's Andarna. She's like our fail safe.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

All right. So this used to be my theory. I didn't particularly care for it. It's not something I think that I would enjoy. At least if it's like the Flash, if it's like teleportation, then that's a little different. I think I'd enjoyed that. Not that I wouldn't enjoy it, but compulsion just sounds like so much more fun.

[Kinsey]

I definitely still think it's compulsion.

[Hannah]

Yeah, so. But there's so much. You just outlined so much evidence for it. Another thing that could be is she's getting really, really honed in on her lesser magic. I don't know. I would really like that, because I'd like to see more lesser magic utilization. And with her training with Imogen, who is skilled at speed, I think that would make a lot of sense. But for Rebecca to have said her signet was obvious. This is something that was just like, okay, it's right there a lot, but. And it's doing a lot of heavy lifting. Let me be clear that this is what convinced me out of distance wielding. In one of Rebecca's interviews, she said that if she had a signet, it would be distance wielding, but that we hadn't seen that signet yet. And she has, of course, told us that Vi's second signet is in Iron Flame a lot. So that would mean that we have seen it. If her Second signet is distance wielding. I think that her wording there was intentional. I think you're exactly right. We're gonna get a distance wielder in this book. I don't think it's Violet.

[Kinsey]

I think it's gonna be Arryk.

[Hannah]

I think you guys have both convinced me it's Arryk. I had. I had it as Garruk, but I'm no longer on that train.

[Carly]

That'll be our next episode. But spoiler alert, I don't think she's distance wielding. I do think it is explained by the feathertail gift. Because in Fourth Wing, Violet is telling Andarna, you can stop time. And Andarna responds, and now we can stop it. But in Iron Flame, when she sees Indarna, she says, I can no longer stop time. So I don't know that Violet can fully stop time, but I think she can at least slow it down. I think that explains all of your mentions, Kinsey, of all those mentions of things being fast or slow things happening in heartbeats. I do think she is experiencing time slow down sometimes. I think she has a remnant of the feather heel gift. I don't think she knows, but I think in Darda does.

[Kinsey]

I agree. And I loved when you first pointed that out to me. It's just like she's so sneaky with the words the we changing to the.

[Carly]

I. Yep, she's a sneaky, sneaky dragon.

[Kinsey]

Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky.

[Hannah]

So I do want to take a second and acknowledge that what we have outlined as what we think is going on around Violet signets for this episode is that she can do a lot more with her first signet than we think. She has, like, an umbrella second signet that can do a whole bunch of shit too. And that all the other shit that isn't explained by those is actually explained through gifts from Indarna. That is not in line with what Rebecca has said in previous interviews about not liking an overpowered main character. But that's not enough to convince me that away from all of this, the evidence like, well, and I don't think.

[Carly]

We know the checks and balances on it yet.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, there are limitations in place. We know that she's not using all three of these powers all at the same time. She's not even aware of these powers yet.

[Hannah]

That's what freaks me out, though. Once she knows she could do all of this. This is a lot. These are a lot of abilities. I just had to point that out because in the first season, I was like, no, that would mean she was too overpowered. And now I'm like, she can do it all. She could do it, do everything. But how else do you explain all of it? If it turns out that she is not a truthsayer and that she can't compel people, I don't know how to explain what's going on.

[Kinsey]

I would say precognition probably would explain.

[Hannah]

Her being able to compel people to do things, though. Like she's actually doing that.

[Kinsey]

Well, maybe she's not like compelling it, but she's like manifesting it and like, it's like a form of compulsion because she's like manifesting that this event will happen.

[Hannah]

That's fair. And I think one thing that is important to include from the conversation about compulsion is it's not when she just casually tells everyone to do things. It's written to where she like puts emphasis on it. Like she really has to be intentional about her meaning behind it. Though of course she doesn't realize she's doing it. That is when people actually listen.

[Carly]

And I think Violet could very much be her own check on compulsion. I don't think she's going to be comfortable using that. I think she. I like that she will not be okay with that. Maybe in a life threatening situation. But again, I think we're going to see checks on it with the more powerful Venon, that it won't work on them because we can see the most powerful venom fighting and Darna's ability to stop time and fourth wing. So I don't think it'll necessarily work in that scenario. But I also think Violet will be a check on her own power because she just won't be comfortable using that like on her friends and stuff. She won't just be pulling that out left and right.

[Hannah]

That's a really good point. And you said something to me the other day when we were talking about this that I would love to have brought up. So I'm bringing it up. You mentioned how Violet, if she has compulsion and hasn't known that she's been making people do things this entire time, how that will give her the ability to empathize with Zayden and his use of intrinsic abilities and reading other people's intentions. I fucking love that.

[Carly]

I think it would be good for her character arc to feel and understand what it must be like to have a signet that you're maybe not entirely comfortable with or don't fully understand. And I think to feel like, oh, I have this thing I didn't ask for. I Didn't ask for this. It just happened to me. And I think Zaden's a lot more comfortable with it than she is. But I think there is a level of you didn't ask for it, it just happened to you. You're subconscious for it.

[Hannah]

Yeah, yeah.

[Carly]

So I think it would be important for her to have that empathy for him, and I think it would be nice to get to see that part of her character arc for it. Additionally, I think her having a Mind Works signet like True Sair would be a good counterbalance to Zaden's signet, which is being an intindic. You know, we see that with their first signets, and I'll get more into how that's even more so than we think during our next episode. But I do think Violet being a true Sarah would be a good counterbalance to Zayn being an intenseic, especially if it allows her to completely shield her mind from him, which I think will be important.

[Hannah]

Well, and also, if we think about just their relationship dynamic, his ability to read her intentions at any point is actually like, balanced out, relationship wise in her ability to compel him to do things she wants, which neither of them, ideally, in a healthy, balanced relationship, would do that intentionally. Intentionally. But I think that evens their playing field similarly to how their first signets do. Oh, oh. And this is why we've had four hours worth of raw, unedited footage of Theory's discussion so far.

[Carly]

Holy moly. Okay, guys, final answers. If you have to pick one from the list, what is it?

[Hannah]

Compulsion.

[Kinsey]

Compulsion.

[Carly]

Compulsion. Mine's just true say.

[Kinsey]

Well, yeah, yeah, True saying.

[Hannah]

Okay, if that was the option, take it back.

[Kinsey]

Truth saying with a little sprinkling of compulsion and precognition.

[Hannah]

Yeah. Yes. Truth saying. All of it has.

[Carly]

All of it.

[Hannah]

But if I had to pick one out of Truth saying compulsion.

[Carly]

Yeah. I will point out when I categorized all of the weird things she was doing, precognition had the most. So if it's one over compulsion, I'm not sure which one it is. I like them both.

[Hannah]

Oh, I don't know the answer to that, but I do want to point out she was doing precognition stuff back in fourth Wing.

[Kinsey]

Yes.

[Hannah]

She had instincts way back. So I wonder if it's actually related to and Darna bonding her earlier. So if we're really going to go there. And Darna bonded her when she hatched, when Violet was 18. And she's had precognition since.

[Kinsey]

I think you need to go to bed, Hannah.

[Hannah]

Me too. No, but seriously, if she bonded her earlier, that's the only way it explains. Because she did have precognition back.

[Kinsey]

Oh, yeah, she totally did.

[Hannah]

Fourth wing.

[Kinsey]

She knew that the wyvern were going to arrive at the attack at Resin before they even knew that wyvern existed.

[Hannah]

Part of that, I do think, could be her first signet with the energy field mapping.

[Kinsey]

Ooh.

[Hannah]

Yeah. So I think part of her precognition could actually be explained by her first signet's ability to sense energy shifts in the air. Like, oh, something's wrong. Like, before she gets kidnapped for rsc, she senses it. But that could have been energy.

[Kinsey]

Could have.

[Hannah]

So some of precognition's shit could be perhaps. I'm thinking of it as platters. And I'm like, you go into this signet, and you go into this second signet, and you go into Andarna's.

[Kinsey]

I just really hope that we're not completely crazy and that we get explanations.

[Hannah]

There is no way.

[Kinsey]

There's just so much evidence.

[Carly]

So much.

[Hannah]

I don't understand how any of Iron Flame would make sense to me if she's not able to actually do any of the things that are.

[Kinsey]

I also like to think that Rebecca Yarros just set up the truth saying thing by like, ask me a question. Ask me a question. Ask me a question. So that we would see her demand the truth from him and then be like, that's her signet. She demanded the truth from him. I don't know.

[Hannah]

She really has to mean it, though. So that could explain why she doesn't get the answers all the time.

[Carly]

All right, all right.

[Hannah]

I think we.

[Kinsey]

We've covered enough.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

All right, so we're all on the truesayer train. Kinsey and I have done our job.

[Hannah]

I'm really curious if any of our listeners are still not converted to Truthsayer Train. What are you convinced of? And what is it about that signet that still making you hold on?

[Kinsey]

Let us know.

[Hannah]

I want to know.

[Carly]

Definitely let us know.

[Kinsey]

I love hearing other theories.

[Carly]

I do too. So much fun. And that wraps up part two of our Onyx Storm theories. Thank you so much for listening. If you haven't already listened to part one, go do that.

[Kinsey]

If you are here for Onyx Storm Prep content and want more, we have already released bonus episodes breaking down the Onyx Storm blurb, the Onyx Storm back jacket excerpt, the Onyx Storm sneak peek released in Cosmo magazine, Our deep dive on Imogen, our recap on 4th Wing, our recap on Iron Flame and a two part episode on hints and clues that Rebecca Yarros has dropped in interviews and Q&As for what to expect from Onyx Storm.

[Carly]

And we aren't stopping there. You can expect part three of our Theories episode very soon and then we will be doing an initial reactions episode after we read Onyx Storm before taking flight into our season three on Chapters By Chapter Style Deep Dive of Onyx Storm.

[Hannah]

How many times did you guys say Onyx Storm? Two paragraphs.

[Carly]

How many times?

[Kinsey]

Not enough, dude. I mean I just. I need that book like yesterday.

[Hannah]

Yesterday. If you haven't already, check out our first season Chapters by Chapters Deep Dive on Fourth Wing through the Lens of Iron Flame. There are over 30 hours of binge worthy content to explore, including summaries, theories, easter eggs, foreshadowing, signature speculation, fangirling and more. Beware, those episodes do have Iron Flame spoilers, but if you've made it this far, what the fuck. And it has timestamps in the show notes in every episode if you would like to jump around.

[Kinsey]

As always, we encourage you to email us all of your thoughts, theories and suggestions. Drop them below if you are watching on YouTube or join us over on our Discord and don't forget to follow us on our socials at Dear FantasyReader podcast.

[Hannah]

Until next time. Dearest fantasy readers, prepare yourselves for more Onyx Storm theories as we continue our journey through the Empyrean series.

[Kinsey]

Yay.

[Hannah]

It's only midnight.

[Kinsey]

Ah, that was a lot.

[Hannah]

I think I might like be delirious at this point. That's some of the. That's the most fun I think I've ever had filming.

[Kinsey]

I'm glad.

[Carly]

And we aren't stopping there. You can expect part three of our Theories episode very soon and then we'll be doing an initial reaction and then we will be doing reacting.