Risk of Rain - The Lore Behind Kur-skan the Heretic / The Artificer / N'kuhana's Followers

Hello! Thanks for reading the description.
Please enable captions to help you follow the story.
This video was a lot harder to make than my last one. I went through many drafts of theories ranging from 3 pages long, to being extremely vague. Hope it was worth it!
These are my own theories of the story behind these characters, but it is highly possible that I have made some mistakes along the way.
If you have any questions, please leave them down below!
0:00 Intro
1:10 Kur-skan the Heretic
11:19 The Artificer
15:33 N'kuhana's Followers
23:10 Outro
Music:
Trevor Kowalski - And We Walk After
Hollow Knight - Crossroads
Hollow Knight - Dirtmouth
Hollow Knight - Fungal Wastes
Hollow Knight - Resting Grounds
Hollow Knight - Reflection
Bloodborne - Moonlit Melody
Chris Christodoulou - Through a Cloud, Darkly

[@thegrovetender]

Hello! Thanks for watching! Please enable captions to help you follow the story. This video was a lot harder to make than my last one. I went through many drafts of theories ranging from 3 pages long, to being extremely vague. Hope it was worth it! These are my own theories of the story behind these characters, but it is highly possible that I have made some mistakes along the way. If you have any questions, please leave them down below!

[@jofipa9953]

You should make a video about "Her" next, i know you touched up on it in the last one but a full in depth video theorizing about her would be great!

[@stonesage1586]

thank you for the amount of effort you put in your ror lore videos. I watch these videos literally smiling the entire time. My friends and I always talk about these videos. Keep the work up. If you need confirmation to see if ror lore videos are a good idea, Im that confirmation lol

[@zendakongaming5159]

This is really well done. Do you think you can cover some of the boss's lore? Maybe a theory as to why you have to kill them to teleport? Are the teleporters powered by N'kuhana?

[@thegrovetender]

@@zendakongaming5159 The brothers created the teleporters. N'kuhana is not related in any way

[@zendakongaming5159]

@@thegrovetender Well then why do they require us to murder bosses to pass? Is it related to the gift she gave him? Or is it possible she gifting us the ability to use them in exchange for the sacrifices without us knowing?

[@bugjams]

Interesting to note that in a log from RoR1, the captain of the Contact Light said, "I can hear him coming" before he was killed, but now in RoR2 we know that Kur-skan killed him. So, funnily enough, the captain probably thought Kur-skan was the intruder in his final moments, and never even saw Providence. Neat how that lines up, even though they never could've planed that far ahead when they were writing the RoR1 lore.

[@TheDarkVanitas]

Tbh, i think he was so occupied with Providence that he didn't notice Kurskan coming through the vents until it was too late

[@coolio6855]

The only issue with this is that Kur-Skan is female. Maybe he was talking about Providence and just didn't know she was there, because I'm her log it seems like she was also killed by Providence after killing the captain.

[@stavvik2217]

​@@coolio6855it's unlikely that the captain would have known Kur-skan's gender, because uh, she's a bird. The captain could've just defaulted to "he". On the other hand, he might've called her an "it" if he knew it was her because again, it's a bird not a humanoid. In that case, it could be that the captain knew Providence was coming but Kur-skan just got there first. It doesn't sound like it took long for Providence to show up after Kur-skan got there, so the captain could've known he was coming and his transmission got cut off by Kur-skan's... violent entry to the bridge.

[@queen_simp]

the captain (pilot) did not die

[@nekofrisk1005]

@o330 the captain did, the pilot did not

[@mownta]

The Artificier was scouting the planet before the events of RoR2. She was imprisoned and later "saved" by Safe Travels' survivors. So she joins them, hence the drop pod.

[@gamerh0st]

With the way the game keeps the lore so vague, it is such a treat to see that someone put the time and effort to interpret and visualize it; connecting the dots. I really enjoyed this!

[@draftsky12]

i like it that way tbh it reminds me alot of dark souls lore too

[@La-ld9mn]

@@draftsky12 Absence of content = content lol

[@Sacredsnow2]

@@La-ld9mnit’s not really absence of content. It’s all there, you just have to collect and piece it all together. From there people have theorized on stuff.

[@antoinepfen9904]

I think the "I" in Helfire Tincture's lore snippet is Newt. The Environment log for the Bazaar between time mentions that he is some kind of scientist and explicitly says he is elaborating a tincture. The chamber mentioned is probably the room behind Newt that he quickly closes behind him when the player enters his shop, and his species has strong ties with time, hence the multiple mentions of it. It's possible that as an outcast and a pariah he captured some of his brethren to experiment on them, maybe coerced by Mithrix, or maybe because he acted as his patron.

[@46gallons]

Then it would make sense that it repeats about "measuring the time" 4 times, since Newt is related to time

[@dopeynut]

This would also explain the twitching and blackened arm of the newt in the shop. He might've locked that arm in time to prevent him burning to death

[@TlalocTemporal]

@@dopeynut -- That disfigured arm is what caused the rest of the pod to scorn the Newt, and that drove them to the bazaar. It's still possible that the Newt is responsible for the hellfire tincture rather than Kur-Skan, but the arm predates any involvement with Mithrix.

[@MrAlquimista666]

​@@TlalocTemporalThe interesting thing with Newt is that, for his people, time is not lineal. They can travel through time like we can walk forward and backward. So any form of timeline for him is more like a circle

[@Ben-YesMe]

I like this theory

[@Calamity556]

It's nice to think that, lorewise, Artificer must have been thankful for being freed by the Survivors, which is why she ends up helping them. The experience of Petrichor V after defeating Mithrix also gives her a newfound passion to explore, not just for the Heavenly Plane, but the universe in general.

[@Gekquerel]

i love how you reenacted the N'kuhana segment ingame, such a nice detail. you put a lot of effort into this. good vid

[@TheDominomi]

20:40 you even recreated the scene from the lore of the dagger ingame... this video is a masterpiece. Thank you so much for your work!

[@ezekiel4242]

My favorite part to these ror lore videos is that he gives voices to characters we never see. It also changes my veiw of them (I just came from the overall lore video) like with the Grovetender, the logs are always in caps and the fight always felt more frantic than the others, I thought they were unhinged maniacs but giving them a more level headed and caring voice makes them fit better in the setting of a garden with the wisps as apprentices than unwilling watchers (Little Disciple is a broken wisp that the Grovetender strapped to itself to watch them tend to the garden)

[@hambonepng1152]

its honestly kinda sad that most people will either not look into the lore of Risk of Rain or just miss it entirely because its all pretty fire

[@risingsun9595]

Specifically, when Kur-skan gets that line from Mithrix, it's when Aurelionite shows up alongside her in the final fight, which wouldn't make sense since she was a servant of Mithrix. This explains why he asked "who pulls your strings" to her, since (if we take the theory that Mithrix sent her to the Contact Light) Aurelionite was an enemy of Mithrix.

[@Brass319]

The messages where he calls out the player having the halcyon seed occurs when he steals it, whereas the messages calling out when the player is the heretic happens at the very start. The "who pulls your strings" message happens after he steals it, too. I feel this makes more sense if you look at both being enemies of mithrix, as he would be using "vermin" as a plural since he is understandably very confused that two familiar figures from his past that he thought had nothing to do with eachother fight him at once.

[@nelsonsham2368]

Aurelionite is sealed by Mhitrix due being "imperfect" and "wrong ratio", made by his brother Providence with too much soul and be able to think and feel, which deem risky for Mhitrix

[@harper2606]

This is so well presented. I love the environmental shots - can't wait to see what you'll do with the expansion.

[@mr.cup6yearsago211]

You’ve got good taste in video games, from the look of your pfp.

[@borisalien1882]

I feel confident the bird skull you can find on the very top of the Contact Light in RoR1 is the Heretic's head and a reference as to what happened to her.

[@aureuix4674]

There is actually a reason for her to be on the contact light! In the sirens call logs it talks about a distress beacon or smth that lures ships in, which is the alloy vultures desperately trying to get off the planet

[@user-zw7gj9oh1x]

been wanting to hear about these characters specifically for so long and in just your two videos i’ve learned more convincing theories about this games lore than from any other youtube channel. keep it up man this content’s amazing.

[@DeFriender]

I think we could get more lore about the High Court if we get a paladin type character in the next DLCs. For those that don't know (or don't remember), a poll was held to vote on which survivor would come in the 1.0 update (which became captain). Afterward, another poll was put up to see what archetype of character was liked the most, and the one that won was the paladin. Even though Hopoo said this "for fun" poll wouldn't have an influence on future character installments, I hope to see them implement a character with some religious background so that it connects to the High Court. A secretive organization that pulls strings from the shadows to further their own goal would make for some excellent lore.

[@devolo5947]

Captain is the paladin im pretty sure, good close range offense, healing/supportive powers, cc and the ability to smite his foes from heaven

[@bitzthe8bit668]

@@devolo5947 There is artwork for skill icons in the game code that most certainly look like a paladin character.

[@lodapow173]

There's a mod for a paladin survivor. Not sure if Dev's will add another paladin

[@thrillhouse2114]

I would love for them to make the paladin the successor to the enforcer. A holy shield knight character would be awesome.

[@funnygamer361]

They still managed to make a bandit that is different from the bandit mod so I think they can make a paladin

[@22Mathers]

You’re like the Vaati of Risk of Rain man. Keep up the good work!

[@FEBLUCAXZ]

I think it makes sense that N'kuhana would be the "She" that visited and that Mithrix was jealous of. Mithrix wanted to find other high deities like himself, and would mourn her loss. I'm interested in seeing if the new DLC will introduce more lore and potentially another higher being. The store page got updated, and it says the Void Fiend will be unlocked after defeating a new threat. Sounds to me like a boss, and I think it makes perfect sense if one of these beings were captured by the Reavers and held captive in the void. But now that the void is running rampant and things are escaping?

[@Strxtis]

My god you were spot on

[@the_kombat_wombat9472]

as someone with audio processing issues, i wanna say thanks for including captions! it really does help and mean a lot to us

[@AnimefanD97]

I’m hyped to see if you come back to touch on the DLC lore. These videos have been delightful!

[@diobrando2497]

Oh my god the amount of heart and effort put into these vids! You even did captions too! Thank you so much for making these. I can't wait to see more

[@SuperBamaBear]

Just found this channel and its so high quality??? I love it! Please keep these up, the lore is so interesting and you have the perfect personality and voice to narrate it all! Def will watch anything like this from here on :)

[@Bgppftgrlsgglsrch]

This video is SO GOOD At this moment it have only about 800 views and it was randomly recommended to me, but the quality level is so high and all the effort you put in this, this is just incredible.

[@Hurbs-kun]

This is incredibly interesting, it takes an amazing amount of knowledge and understanding to come up with theories based on so little information.

[@MegamanZ9000]

I loved the effort you put into showing the N'kuhana worshipper, the supposed sacrifice of Morion and so on. Keep going!

[@ZeroN1neZero]

I'm so glad you made this video. All of these characters are so interesting!

[@agiledrunk737]

These two videos are awesome! Thank you for taking the time to piece these together and put out such polished vids

[@Poke1236ok]

Once again, another great video. I love all of the details you use to help visualize the stories.

[@terrarian7910]

Its always nice to see these videos start getting more attention, keep it up!

[@zeldacutiecat]

Would love to see more of these RoR2 lore videos! Even just going deeper into specific item lore could be interesting, but definitely for the lore ahead in Survivor's of the Void. Thanks for the great work, these videos are fabulous!

[@NinDaniel]

The first video was already super good but damn, that recreation scene of the killing of Marion plus all VOs has completely blown me away. Fabulous work!!

[@beerasaurus]

Your channel is definitely going to be a top lore channel for ROR and which ever games lore you choose to create content for.

[@mohamedakka330]

I thought this was a big channel from the effort put into the video quality Amazing work mate keep it up

[@Joaremy]

These videos are so well done and entertaining! Thanks for this!

[@luciddreamliving258]

I want to give you serious props. I bought this game years ago and you've made we want to get back into it. You've captured an energy that is most similar to VatiVidya's Darksouls stories and I've not found that for any other game or at this level anywhere else. I will watch any content you make on risk of rain going forward. Excellent job!

[@dangeroussquirrel1449]

i just found this channel and your videos are seriously some of the best content ive ever watched, thank you

[@Manu.Makes.Things]

I appreciate the game even more after seeing your lore videos! Thanks for the great work!

[@2006Neon2006]

just watched both your vids and was sad to find no more, love the content!

[@FrostmilkDragon]

I loved this video and can't wait for more. There is clearly a lot of heart and love in this video, and I can't wait for the next one.

[@camelshoe]

I didn't realize this was a new channel when i watch the first vid. gotta say love the work. there is a lot of un-explained lore that is hard to piece together even after reading all the log entries

[@aatrix1157]

This is such a high quality video I loved it so much I honestly just stopped myself multiple times to admire the editing! I loved the part where Mythrix measured Kur Skans time and how you voiced "perfect" literally gave me chills!

[@Tuber649]

This was good! I'm subbing, just Imagine what we can see in the DLC. Thanks, man! Really enjoyed it!

[@joshishd1400]

I’m excited to see what you do next man, keep it up

[@ggrittz]

Thanks for both videos, dude. Warmly waiting for the new one about the DLC.

[@doblodoblo510]

the way you cover the lore is extremely captivating, thanks for the explanation!

[@ERROR-ei5yv]

Your channel name The Grovetender fits perfectly, as the Grovetender's monster log details him telling stories to curious Wisps. And you translate that to videos, spinning beautiful tales of Risk of Rain history to Wisp viewers

[@ERROR-ei5yv]

(Im sure thats why you picked it, i just like how much it fits)

[@thegrovetender]

It is indeed! Glad you noticed ^-^

[@Strav24]

Once again amazing job with those voice lines! It really adds character and substance to the lore

[@VM_CheR]

I just saw your full explanation of the story of RoR and RoR 2, and I really like your formatting! especially with the voice acting on the EV logs, it's very well put together, and you do a great job of capturing Mithrix's personality in your reading of him. I look forward to seeing new content from you in the future, and am crossing my fingers for a lore update on the Survivor's of the Void expansion

[@mello998]

It's always heartbreaking when you find a new banger of a channel and they have so few videos 😭 subscribing and anxious to see what else you put out.

[@erikhehexd796]

Man I am so glad I found your channel! Been a fan of RoR since game 1 and it's lore was so convoluted I couldn't keep track. Thank you!

[@Kywu]

I hope to see more of your videos ! I share them in every way i could, you make great work !

[@harmoen]

The effort in this video is amazing and I've always wanted to know more about the risk of Rain lore, because I know there is a lot more than meets the eye with this game. I love it

[@LunarEdge]

Amazing video my dude, Incredibly well done! :D

[@sailorcandymilk5977]

love the lore videos!! ive always been confused and seeing both of them explained nicely is satisfying to hear. i do hope u plan on doing stuff for the void fields, but if not im perfectly happy with what u’ve shared thus far :)

[@mootnt3540]

Love these vids, so well made!

[@vrann]

Your videos are very cool and comfy. Great work :)

[@puffpurp]

this video has immense amounts of quality dude, awesome job on the editing :)

[@cymonin5549]

I really would love a High Court themed DLC - sounds really interesting!

[@commanzo7623]

Yea that would be pretty cool

[@mangomode4646]

Love your content, man. Keep it up!

[@carterwalters5915]

Bro this is sick thanks man! Pls make more!

[@krabulon7575]

just watched your 2 videos, i love the way you narrate things, imma subscribe, give you the like that you deserve, and send the videos to another friend that like risk of rain, keep the good work man

[@midnight5267]

this channel is so good. Thank you for making these videos.

[@TrollPickMan]

Thanks for explaining this twisted and interesting plot!

[@EnderAttack1]

I know these videos are pretty old but they helped me understand so much of the lore. I've fallen in love with Risk of Rain 2 (Haven't gotten around to RoR1 or the now RoR Returns) I've only read a handfull of the logs in-game and thought the lore was really intriguing. You really captured the characters and lore and told this story so well. I'm very excited for the Seekers of The Storm DLC! I applaud you for going through all the lore and putting all of this together.

[@GayBrain]

Oh wow, the acting for the discovery of N'kuhana's power was very good. Very much enjoyed both videos, so well-executed and concise.

[@paintman5620]

I can't believe you've only got two videos up!! You've got the polish of someone who's been doing this for much longer. Loved the vids.

[@ryano404]

Yessss lore video of Risk of Rain 2! Thanks for the subtitle man

[@Moltensheep]

Just watched your previous video a few days ago, good to see I came in at an opportune time

[@voidrius]

Very good production value and understanding of this medium for a new youtuber, I look forward to your following stuff. Keep up the good work!

[@ElGoorg]

i really enjoyed this and your other video. i love seeing these theories brought to light, and it sucks that there isnt anymore of them youve made. was hoping for a surviors of the void video from you. hoping youre just making a new video and just taking your time, cause these are really good :)

[@Gazaster]

Love these videos so far! Id say keep up the good work but also dont overwork yourself

[@xander9866]

Finally someone else as invested in the lore as I am so glad you connected everything I was having trouble understanding cant wait to see what you find in the dlc!

[@CobaltContrast]

I'm loving the lore. I wish there was more. I don't think there is tho. Great videos mate. You off to a great start.

[@saguaro6520]

Holy smokes I love these videos! I can tell all the efforts that went into these. Could we expect more now that there is even more lore?

[@stefanvomscheidt8443]

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THESE VIDEOS! THIS LORE IS SO COOL!!!

[@wannaadoptadogsosomuch]

Your video deserves WAY more views keep up the good work :)

[@Recks95]

Love your RoR videos, man. I hope you'll upload more. You're the only one doing these kinds of videos in the RoR community AFAIK.

[@quoink5659]

While I haven't paid much attention to ROR2's Lore, I gotta say that this has perked up my interest in it. Great video content-wise and edit-wise! I also didn't expect to start hearing one of my favorite video-game soundtracks during it, so good taste!

[@gschmechel25]

This was so good, hope more are upcoming!!

[@GabrielFreirev]

Man, I'm rewatching these before you (hopefully) continue this series, since the DLC adds SO MUCH to the evergrowing RoR puzzle. I'm specially intrigued by the new "construct" enemies.

[@TacticalTrumpet]

Awesome video! Watching this and your previous video is almost like seeing VaatiVidya on Petrichor V

[@thegrovetender]

Thanks! I am honored to be called that ^_^

[@Mimeturtle]

I’m just excited to see what comes in terms of your next vid.

[@skylarpotter1386]

Excellent videos, glad I found you

[@blueraptor1013]

Great video, cant wait for more :)

[@wizard-wr7eo]

need more. absolutely amazing.

[@baumarbeiter]

Nice Video, now im pretty hyped for the DLC and of course ur next Video about the lore within. :)

[@DawnofHope]

Thank you for your story, Grovetender. I look forward to your stories about the Void!

[@DrJigglebones]

I would love to see you do more lore videos, whether it's risk of rain or something else!

[@henrybenziger4854]

Amazing video! Good job!

[@Stridor]

Keep up the amazing work! I've always been interested in the lore but never knew where to start. Your video on the story and now this one were both so well put together and incredibly edited! Subscribing for more :) Edit: ^more of whatever you decide to make that is

[@powerfulgb5163]

you're definitely going to be popular if you continue to do high quality videos like that keep up the good work ☝

[@wickedAberration]

You did a great job!

[@granthaas7673]

its incredible how high quality these videos are for a channel with only 2 total

[@chichukin]

Loved the video, I liked the performance reading the logbook entries, also love how you went through the effort to include captions into KZbin. Though I am wondering, how'd you get those free cam shots whilst keeping the game running? All I can think of is the PhotoMode mod but that freezes the game. Again, great video, will stick around for more of these

[@thegrovetender]

It is the photomode mod! But I'm also using DebugToolKit and using the time scale 1 command

[@mythicharpist4296]

This was so good!

[@destoyer297]

Cannot wait until your video containing the DLC is completed!

[@lovingryza1755]

I really enjoyed both of these videos, I can't wait to hear about the void dlc

[@epicme48]

great videos dude, keep it up.

[@imperiofortis2223]

The video is pure treat, pure display of passion, love and soul you put into this, my only notion would be - please lesser the reverb/echo intensity effects on mithrix/providence, other character voices as it is sometimes making it pretty hard to understand what they are trying to say, especially when you use this video as a background. Much love

[@imperiofortis2223]

It is especially present in the global lore video that i also really enjoyed beside the intensity of these effects

[@wk_vylion]

Followup video let's gooooo I commented this in the previous video, but I think KZbin Shorts for some of the smaller pieces of lore would be cool too. I'm personally a fan of the Parent/Grandparent/Child/Planula life cycle, but I don't think that gives enough material for a full-fledged video, unless you do an enemies' or bosses' compilation (?) Edit: I believe the skeleton you find in the Wetland Aspect is Carney's, not the follower's, as they say they hid his body in the Altar, which is that cave, and he was _big_ -- on the other hand, the pose (comically distraught face, eternally trembling in a fetal position) would also make sense for it to be the remnants of a haunted follower of N'kuhana