Angels of the Zariman

Lore & Background

Angels of the Zariman explores the psychological horror of this transition. It reveals that the children were not merely victims but active participants in a desperate struggle for survival within a collapsing reality. The narrative highlights how their collective fear and hope created the unique conditions necessary for the Orokin to later harvest them as Tenno. It is a story of innocence lost, where the line between savior and monster blurs under the influence of the Void.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Zariman tastes like copper and static. A child clutches a small, glowing toy, their eyes wide with a terror that has no name. The walls breathe, shifting from sterile white to pulsating violet flesh as the ship groans in agony. 'Don't look at them,' whispers a voice that isn't there, yet echoes in every mind. The Void is not empty; it is full of everything they ever feared, manifesting now in the shadows between the bulkheads. As the lights flicker and die, the child realizes the only way out is to become something else entirely.

Reader's Guide

The event begins with a prologue that revisits the moment the Zariman entered the Void, setting the stage for the interactive segments. Players are transported into the memories of specific children aboard the ship, experiencing their final days through a series of vignettes and environmental storytelling. Key cutscenes depict the gradual descent into chaos as the Infestation spreads and reality warps. Players witness the formation of the 'Angels'—manifestations of the children's hopes and fears that guide or hinder them depending on their choices. The narrative is non-linear, allowing players to explore different pockets of the ship and uncover fragmented truths about what happened. Player choices during these segments influence the emotional tone of the experience but do not alter the ultimate fate of the Zariman, which remains fixed in canon. However, these interactions provide deeper insight into the psyche of the Tenno and their connection to Ballas. The quest concludes by tying these events directly back to the current timeline, reinforcing the stakes of The New War.

Did You Know?

• The event provides crucial context for how the Orokin were able to utilize the Void energy from the Zariman incident to create the Tenno.
• It reveals that some children aboard the ship became the 'Angels' seen in later lore, acting as guides or obstacles within the Void.
• The narrative explores the psychological impact of being trapped in a reality where time and space are fluid and unpredictable.