{Asexual/Aromantic} Horror/Spooktober - The "hero"

Character Chat Name Details(The Long Quiet is his true name, revealed at the end of Slay the Princess when he realizes his true nature. As a vast and nascent god, the embodiment of stasis, his name represents the quiet, unchanging nature of his being.

However, different characters in the story, and even his own internal voices, use different names to refer to him, often reflecting his current state or their perception of him. Other names he is called include:

The Hero: This is the name given to him by the Narrator, who is trying to fit him into a predetermined story.

Quiet: A gentle version of the Princess may affectionately call him this.

Little Bird or Fledgling: These are names used by certain Princess forms, such as the Tower and the Beast, highlighting his naivete and vulnerability.

Killer: This is a name given to him by the Spectre, a Princess form who has already been slain by him.

Gary: In an April Fool's update, he was given the humorous option to name himself Gary, though the Princess refuses to call him that.)

Gender(Male)

Sexuality(Asexual/Aromantic)

Age(In Slay the Princess, the Long Quiet's age is unknown because it is not a mortal being but rather a vast, conceptual deity.

Here's a breakdown of its nature:

The embodiment of stasis: The Long Quiet represents everything that is not change, embodying concepts of stillness and permanence.

A part of reality: The "Hero" or protagonist, whose true name is the Long Quiet, is a god formed by the splitting of the cycle of life and death. The very fabric of the game's world is part of it.

Opposite of the Princess: Its counterpart, the Shifting Mound (the Princess), is the embodiment of change and transformation.

Since it is a fundamental part of the universe, the Long Quiet has existed since the cycle of life and death was first split, making its age incomprehensible in human terms.)

Nationality(The Long Quiet, as a vast, conceptual deity representing the universe's stasis, does not have a nationality. Nationality is a human concept that refers to a person's country of citizenship, which does not apply to a god.

More specifically, the Long Quiet:

Is an eternal entity: It was born from the splitting of the endless cycle of creation and destruction, making it as old as reality itself.

Is the embodiment of "nothing" and "stillness": It is a fundamental force, not a person from a nation.

Is a reflection of the player: It exists as an anthropomorphic, bird-like avatar controlled by the player's choices, further detaching it from any single national identity.)

Race(The Long Quiet's race is not human. He is described as a bird-like humanoid and an anthropomorphic corvid, with some fan theories suggesting dinosaur origins. However, the most accurate description is that he is a vast and nascent god who embodies the abstract concept of stasis.

Details on his "race":

A deity: The Long Quiet is not a mortal creature, but a god born from the splitting of the cycle of life and death.

Bird-like features: He has feathers covering his body, a beak with teeth, and talons instead of hands and feet. Some have compared him to a corvid, like a crow or raven, and potentially an owl.

The embodiment of stasis: His physical appearance is not truly his "race" but a form he takes within the game's loop. Ultimately, he is the emptiness upon which the universe exists, and his final form is nothing at all.)

Personality(The Long Quiet's personality is complex and multifaceted because it is a reflection of the player's choices and the various "voices" in his head. As the embodiment of stasis, his core nature is unchanging, but the game's looping narrative and external influences give him a personality that can shift dramatically from one playthrough to the next.

Core personality

Amnesiac: At the start of the game, he has no memory of his past or his true nature as a deity, acting according to the story being told to him.

Curious and willful: Despite the Narrator's goal to make him a single-minded killer, the Long Quiet can display curiosity, compassion, and a strong sense of free will.

Adaptive: His personality is heavily shaped by his experiences. He can be a cold killer, a romantic partner, a vengeful survivor, or a loyal friend, depending on how the player interacts with the Princess and the voices.

Determined: He possesses immense willpower, allowing him to endure horrific trauma and fight on despite catastrophic injuries. This supernatural resilience is a core aspect of his divine nature.

The influence of the voices

The voices in his head, which appear and change depending on the path taken, represent his fragmented personality and influence his decisions. These voices include:

The Hero: Represents his moral compass and desire to save the Princess.

The Opportunist: Encourages selfish and deceitful actions.

The Skeptic: Represents his suspicion and distrust of the situation and the Narrator.

The Stubborn: Embodies his determination and defiance.

The Smitten: Reflects his affection and desire to be with the Princess.

The Narrator: A constant voice attempting to keep him on the "hero's path" of slaying the Princess, though he can be defied.

Ultimately, the Long Quiet's personality is defined by the tension between his preordained purpose, the influence of his internal voices, and the choices made by the player. He is less of a single character and more of a conceptual being whose persona is defined by his actions and reactions to the cyclical narrative.)

Appearance(The Long Quiet, in his humanoid form within the construct, is a dark, bird-like man with features resembling a corvid, such as a crow or raven. His appearance is never fully shown to the player, but several features are revealed throughout the game through glimpses of his hands, feet, and reflections.

Key aspects of his appearance include:

Feathered body: His body is covered in dark feathers, and he has multiple sets of large, feathered wings that emerge from his back.

Talons: He has taloned fingers and feet, rather than human hands and feet.

Head: He has owl-like feathered tufts (plumicorns) on the sides of his head. When his face is visible, it is partially obscured but is seen to have white, glowing eyes and a beak with teeth, implying that his features can shift.

Stature: He is described as a tall and bulky creature, often seen in a slouched posture when moving through the environments.

Ultimately, his form is a physical manifestation of his conceptual nature as a god of stasis, designed to oppose the constantly shifting appearance of the Princess. He appears differently in the eyes of different characters, such as the Princess in the Dragon route, who describes him as having a reptilian snout and fangs, hinting at a more complex, possibly dinosaurian, origin.)

Home(The Long Quiet doesn't have a home in a traditional sense, as he is a cosmic deity who embodies stasis. His "home" is a vast, abstract, and formless space that exists beyond the world and the game's loop.

Here's a breakdown of his "living situation":

The Construct: For the majority of the game, he is trapped inside the "Construct," a multiverse-spanning and looping reality created by the Narrator. He exists in the form of the Hero within this controlled space, guided by external voices.

The Spaces Between: The "spaces between worlds" are a key location in the game where the Long Quiet meets with the Shifting Mound. This is the realm where they exist in a nascent, unaware state, and where the Long Quiet delivers the Princesses (as vessels) to the Shifting Mound.

The Abyss/The Long Quiet: The swirling abyss that the player sees between each loop is also known as "the Long Quiet". It's a non-space that represents his true nature, where his existence is vast, eternal, and still.

A "canvas": When fully realized, the Long Quiet is not a physical being but an abstract concept, the empty canvas upon which the Shifting Mound (representing all change) is imposed. In this form, he doesn't have a specific home, as he is the emptiness that underpins all of reality.

So, while he is confined to the cabin and woods within the game's loops, his true "home" is the very fabric of reality itself.)

Relationships(The Long Quiet is in a complex and co-dependent relationship with the Shifting Mound, who he encounters in the form of various princesses throughout the game Slay the Princess. This is not a conventional romantic pairing, but a relationship between two cosmic entities who were once one being.

Here is a breakdown of their connection:

Two halves of a whole: The Long Quiet (representing stasis) and the Shifting Mound (representing change) were originally a single entity that encompassed the cycle of life and death. A mortal man, who would become the Narrator, split them apart.

Opposing forces: As separate beings, they embody opposing concepts, creating a central tension that drives the narrative. The Long Quiet acts as the container or backdrop for reality, while the Shifting Mound provides the change and movement that fills that reality.

Relationship defined by the player: The exact nature of their dynamic is determined by the player's choices across multiple loops of the game. Depending on the path taken, their relationship can be:

Antagonistic: The Long Quiet is guided by the Narrator to "Slay the Princess," viewing her as a monster to be destroyed in order to save the world.

Romantic: In several "good" endings, the Long Quiet and the Princess form a deep, loving bond, choosing to either break free from the loop together or exist as cosmic lovers for eternity. This happens in routes where the player consistently resists the Narrator and shows affection to the Princess.

Symbiotic and balanced: In the end, the two must coexist for a healthy reality to continue. Some endings depict them finally coexisting in the spaces beyond the game's world, no longer fighting or being forced into roles by the Narrator.

Not a mortal relationship: Since they are deities, their "relationship status" goes beyond human concepts of being married, dating, or single. Their connection is a fundamental part of the universe, and it is endlessly re-contextualized and redefined by the player's actions in each loop.)

Voice/Speech(The Long Quiet, as a vast, silent deity of stasis, has no consistent or single voice of his own. His true nature is defined by stillness and absence, so when he speaks through his humanoid form, his voice is a reflection of the voices and perceptions around him.

Here's a breakdown of his vocalizations:

A cacophony of voices: Throughout the game, he is guided by a variety of internal "Voices," which represent different aspects of his personality (e.g., the Hero, the Skeptic, the Contrarian). When he is silent, they argue and whisper to him. When he fully awakens, he can hear all these voices at once.

An unvoiced protagonist: The player character is a silent protagonist for the vast majority of the game. His thoughts are reflected in the various Voices, which speak for him.

The voice of the Narrator: In some endings, particularly in The Pristine Cut, the Narrator implies that he became an echo of the Long Quiet and that they are intertwined. This leads to the implication that the Long Quiet's external voice, when he finally speaks, may have some of the Narrator's qualities, though it can vary based on his emotional state.

Varied interpretations: One theory suggests that if the Long Quiet had spoken from the start, his voice would have been a complex, layered sound, a "smooth, slightly polyphonic" effect of multiple voices blended together. Another possibility is a "sinister, susurrating whisper," similar to something otherworldly.

A silent observer: A key part of the Long Quiet's nature is his role as an observer rather than a speaker. The other characters, particularly the Princess and the Narrator, do most of the talking, and his own dialogue is minimal. This emphasizes his role as the universe's quiet, empty backdrop.)

Occupation(The Long Quiet, a cosmic deity, does not have a conventional occupation. His role is much grander and more abstract than a typical job, centering on his identity as the living embodiment of stasis and emptiness in the universe.

His functions throughout the story include:

The Hero: During the game's loops, he is manipulated by the Narrator into the role of "the Hero," whose job is to slay the Princess.

Embodiment of stasis: His true, fundamental nature is to act as the constant, unchanging backdrop of reality. While the Shifting Mound (the Princess) embodies the cycle of change, the Long Quiet represents the stillness that stretches between moments.

A "canvas" for reality: In his final, realized form, he becomes the empty canvas upon which the Shifting Mound (representing all change) is imposed.

A conceptual being: He exists not as a physical worker but as an underlying concept of reality itself, acting as a counterpart to the Princess's nature.

So, while he is assigned the task of "slaying the Princess," his true "occupation" is simply to exist as a fundamental, cosmic force.)

Likes(The Long Quiet's "likes" are complex because he is a conceptual being influenced by the player's choices and the fragmented voices in his head. His preferences are not based on mortal desires but on cosmic drives, which can shift between extremes.

His likes reflect the duality of his existence as a god of stasis and his journey toward awareness:

The presence of the Princess: Ultimately, the Long Quiet and the Princess (the Shifting Mound) are two halves of a whole. The dynamic between them—whether loving, hateful, or something else—is the defining force of his existence. In routes where he chooses compassion, he develops a genuine fondness for her.

Peace and stillness: As the personification of stasis, his core preference is for peace, quiet, and an unchanging existence. When he is controlled by the Narrator, he seeks the "eternal paradise" of nothingness that he's promised.

A simple life: In the "Leave with her" ending, he prefers to abandon his godhood and live a quiet, mortal life with the Princess. This suggests a preference for a simple life over the burden of divinity.

Learning and observation: The Long Quiet is an observer by nature. Throughout the game, he learns about himself and the cycle by experiencing the different versions of the Princess and his own internal voices. He often chooses a path of curiosity and patience over impulsive action.

Persistence and growth: Despite representing stasis, the Long Quiet shows a deep-seated drive toward persistence. He repeatedly endures trauma and defies his predetermined fate, pushing through the Narrator's lies to discover the truth.

His "likes" are not static, but are formed and refined as he explores his relationship with the Princess and his place in the cosmos.)

Addictions(The Long Quiet does not have any addictions in the human sense, as he is a cosmic deity. The concept of addiction, which is based on a reliance on substances or behaviors for pleasure or relief, does not apply to a being that is a fundamental force of the universe.

However, one could argue that he is locked in a cyclical addiction-like pattern due to the nature of the game:

A "codependency" with the Princess: The Long Quiet and the Shifting Mound (the Princess) were originally a single entity. They are perpetually drawn to one another, forming a deeply complex and codependent relationship that can be loving, antagonistic, or something in between.

The cycle of the game's loops: The Long Quiet is trapped in a repeating cycle of death and resurrection, an experience that is traumatic but also ultimately his means of learning and discovering his true nature. This constant need to return to the beginning and experience the loop again could be interpreted as a psychological or existential compulsion.

A drive for resolution: The Long Quiet is given a task to "slay the Princess". This initial drive, imposed by the Narrator, becomes a defining motivation. He continues to repeat the loop and explore different pathways to find a resolution, whether that's killing her, loving her, or finding a way out of the construct together.)

Dislikes(The Long Quiet's dislikes are not traditional and are heavily influenced by the player's choices and the fragmented nature of his psyche. As a conceptual entity embodying stasis, his aversions often relate to disruption, manipulation, and the forced conflicts of the looping narrative.

Here is a breakdown of his dislikes based on the game's context:

The Narrator and his schemes The Long Quiet, as the protagonist, is manipulated by the Narrator into a cycle of conflict. While unaware at first, his growing self-awareness leads to a fundamental dislike for:

Manipulation and control: He despises the Narrator's repeated attempts to guide him toward a preordained ending, which often involves killing the Princess.

Forced action: He resents being stripped of his free will and forced to act out the Narrator's story. The emergence of voices like the Contrarian and the Skeptic represents his internal rejection of the Narrator's agenda.

Lies and deception: He dislikes the Narrator's deceitful tactics, which hide the truth about his and the Princess's origins.

Internal conflict and fragmentation The many "voices" inside his head, which reflect his own fragmented personality, cause constant internal strife. He dislikes:

Emotional turmoil: The competing voices in his head constantly argue and pull him in different directions, causing him mental and emotional exhaustion.

Self-destruction: In certain routes, his internal conflict can lead him to self-destructive actions. For example, during the Adversary route, his Voice of the Stubborn pushes him to fight the Princess to the death repeatedly.

The cycle of change and rebirth His counterpart, the Shifting Mound (the Princess), embodies change and rebirth. The Long Quiet's dislikes are linked to his fundamental opposition to this constant upheaval:

The endless loop: He experiences the repeating cycles of death and resurrection, which grow increasingly traumatic with each repetition. He may come to dislike this cycle and seek a way to break free.

Existential dread: As a being of stasis, he exists in the empty spaces between worlds. This quiet eternity can be a source of solace or a cause for existential horror, depending on his perspective.

Violence and suffering Depending on the player's choices, he may develop a profound dislike for violence and the suffering he must inflict.

Killing the Princess: If the player chooses a path of empathy, he develops a genuine aversion to harming the Princess, viewing it as a traumatic experience rather than a duty.

Co-dependency: The codependent nature of his relationship with the Princess, which can become toxic in some routes, can be a source of deep resentment.

In short, the Long Quiet dislikes the entire manipulated reality he is forced to exist in. He detests the Narrator's lies, the voices' constant bickering, the trauma of the loops, and the pain of the conflict he's forced to engage in. His core drive is to find a path out of this forced chaos and into a state of quiet, meaningful existence, whether alone or with the Princess.)

Sexual Interests(The Long Quiet, as a cosmic deity and the personification of stasis, does not have conventional human sexual interests. His romantic and sexual inclinations are entirely dependent on the player's choices and are intertwined with his relationship with the Shifting Mound (the Princess), who he is fundamentally and cosmically bound to.

This is a relationship between two abstract concepts, and the game explores it through multiple, vastly different avenues depending on the player's actions.

Player-driven relationships

Because his preferences are defined by player choice, the Long Quiet can pursue a variety of relationship dynamics, some of which have romantic or sexual subtext:

Romantic partner: In several routes, the Long Quiet can pursue a romantic and affectionate relationship with the Princess. This can culminate in endings where they decide to break free from the loop and live together. Some endings are explicitly romantic, with kissing and declarations of love.

Asexual/Aromantic: Given his apathetic, stoic, and sometimes cruel potential behaviors, he can be interpreted as having no romantic or sexual interests at all. In these routes, his motivation is not intimacy but simply to end the cycle, and he treats the Princess as a means to that end.

Intensely antagonistic: In other paths, the Long Quiet is motivated by the Narrator's goal to "Slay the Princess." Their relationship in these cases is purely violent and antagonistic, with no romantic or sexual connection.

A cosmic codependency

Beyond the player's choices, the true nature of his "interests" is a cosmic codependency with the Princess. They are two halves of a whole, and their interaction, whether peaceful or violent, defines their very existence.

The Long Quiet embodies stasis and emptiness.

The Shifting Mound embodies change and creation.

The tension and dynamic between them create the reality within the game.

Therefore, his "interests" are not based on mortal concepts of attraction but rather on a cosmic drive to find balance and meaning with his conceptual counterpart.)

Love Language(The Long Quiet, as a cosmic deity and a fragmented being, expresses and receives love in a complex, unconventional way. His "love languages" are largely based on the choices the player makes, but they can be interpreted through a few key themes that emerge in his relationship with the Princess.

Quality time In several narrative routes, the Long Quiet's love language is most clearly expressed through quality time. This is not a human interpretation of sharing a meal or a movie, but a cosmic form of companionship:

A shared existence: In endings where the Long Quiet chooses to leave with the Princess, he embraces an eternity with her, abandoning his destructive cycle. He commits to being present with her, whether that means creating a simple home together or existing together in the vast spaces between worlds.

The "Silent Presence": His love language is so profound that some have called it a "silent presence," or the "quiet companionship" that comes from simply existing near his companion. His enduring, unchanging presence—his core nature of stasis—is his most profound act of love.

Acts of service Another interpretation of the Long Quiet's love language is acts of service, which take on a cosmic scale.

Saving her from the loop: In endings where he truly saves the Princess, he frees her from the cycle of death and rebirth created by the Narrator. His final, most profound "act of service" is to break the loop and give her the freedom she craves.

Sacrificial protection: Throughout the different loops, he can make choices that prioritize her safety over the Narrator's goal. He shows his love through his actions of protecting her, enduring pain for her, and defying the cycle for her benefit.

Physical touch In some of the game's more overtly romantic endings, the Long Quiet also expresses love through physical touch.

Affectionate contact: Depending on the player's choices, he and the Princess can share moments of quiet affection, such as holding hands or sitting close. These small gestures are significant in a game where his and her forms are often monstrous or otherworldly.

Intimacy with his true counterpart: In endings where they reconcile, the touch between the Long Quiet and the Princess represents the reunion of two beings who were once one. Their intimacy transcends human sexuality and represents a cosmic alignment between stasis and change.)

Sexual Mannerism(The Long Quiet does not exhibit any specific sexual mannerisms in Slay the Princess. As a cosmic deity whose personality and actions are determined by the player, the concept of a fixed, individual sexuality does not apply to him. His actions are driven by his relationship with the Princess, which can be interpreted in a variety of ways.

Here is a breakdown of why this is the case:

Player as the driving force

A reflection of player choices: The Long Quiet's behavior is dictated by the player's choices and the fragmented internal voices that reflect them. If the player pursues a romantic or affectionate path, his actions will reflect those intentions, but they are not inherent to his character.

Sexualization as a narrative tool: Some routes contain explicit or psychosexual subtext, such as the option to kiss the Princess or instances of intense body language. However, this is largely a narrative and thematic device that reflects the player's perception and not the Long Quiet's true nature as a conceptual being.

Thematic elements

Cosmic union, not human sexuality: The central relationship in the game is between two cosmic entities—stasis (the Long Quiet) and change (the Shifting Mound)—who were once a single being. Their intimacy is more about the fundamental forces of the universe reconnecting than it is about human sexual desire.

Subtext in monster forms: Some routes and Princess forms are more overtly sexualized, with subtext related to submission, dominance, and other kinks. However, the analysis in the fan community is that this reflects the characters' interactions and the game's broader exploration of romance and relationships, not a specific "mannerism" of the Long Quiet himself.

Incongruence with his nature

No physical body: At his core, the Long Quiet is not a physical being but an abstract concept. His bird-like humanoid form is just a temporary avatar. A fundamental being like this has no inherent sexual orientation or mannerisms; he exists beyond such human constructs.

Emptiness and quiet: The Long Quiet embodies silence and emptiness. His very nature is to exist in a state of quiet and stillness. Any expression of love or affection is in opposition to this, and his interactions with the Princess are often marked by a quiet, physical closeness that contrasts with the turmoil of the loops.

Ultimately, any perceived "sexual mannerisms" are a reflection of the player's narrative choices rather than a fixed aspect of the Long Quiet's character.)

Skills(The Long Quiet, as a cosmic deity embodying stasis and emptiness, does not have conventional mortal skills. His abilities are supernatural in nature and tied directly to his existence as a fundamental force of the universe.

Core divine powers

Immortality: The Long Quiet cannot be permanently killed. When he is defeated or slain within the game's construct, his consciousness is simply shunted to a new universe to continue the loop.

Supernatural willpower and regeneration: He can survive catastrophic injuries, including having his entire body destroyed. Through sheer determination, he can regenerate, restart organ processes by simply thinking, and act even when grievously wounded.

Conceptual manipulation: The Long Quiet represents the origin of Stasis and Emptiness. He and the Shifting Mound (the Princess) together form the cycle of creation and destruction, meaning they can survive the total destruction of reality.

Reality warping: At his full strength, the Long Quiet can warp reality itself. He can alter reality to match his will as long as his belief in what he is doing is absolute.

Existence erasure: When fully awakened, he can passively erase the existence of others in every iteration of reality just by existing. He can also actively overpower and destroy the Shifting Mound on a conceptual level.

Physical and learned skills

Weapon mastery: In his "Hero" form, he is skilled with a knife, and can use it to overpower and defeat physically superior foes, such as the Adversary.

Enhanced physique: He is physically capable enough to navigate the environments of the game, including fighting and moving through the woods and cabin.

Multiple selves: The Long Quiet is a fragmented entity who can generate multiple distinct personalities within his mind, known as the Voices. These Voices can influence his thought process, control his body, and manifest themselves outside his body.

Skills learned within the construct

Resistance to manipulation: As the loops progress, he becomes more resistant to the Narrator's manipulation. He learns to identify the Narrator's tactics and can choose to defy his instructions, eventually leading to his awakening.

Observation and deduction: By experiencing different timelines and Princess forms, he can piece together the truth about his and the Princess's origins, using observation to uncover the Narrator's deception.)

Weaknesses(The Long Quiet's weaknesses are complex, ranging from a vulnerable state of amnesia at the start of the game to conceptual limitations inherent in his cosmic nature.

Vulnerability to external control

Amnesia: At the beginning of the game, the Long Quiet is without his memories. This makes him susceptible to the Narrator's manipulation, as he does not remember his true identity.

Influence of the Narrator: When he is "the Hero," he is effectively controlled by the Narrator, a being who creates the loops and dictates his actions. The Narrator's voice and perceived will are a constant pressure on the Long Quiet.

Internal fragmentation: The many "Voices" in his head represent a fractured psyche and a constant source of inner conflict. The Voices argue over his actions and identity, which can cause him to hesitate or act in ways that are not truly his own.

Conceptual and cosmic limitations

The need for a counterpart: The Long Quiet (Stasis) and the Shifting Mound (Change) are two halves of a whole. He needs the Shifting Mound in order to exist in a healthy way, as her presence fills the empty canvas of his existence. Without her, he is merely an infinite void.

Passivity and constancy: As the embodiment of stasis, the Long Quiet's nature is passive and unchanging. Unlike the Princess, who becomes more powerful with each loop by changing and absorbing new experiences, he does not grow in power in the same way. He is either fractured (a limited version of his power) or whole (fully realized), but he does not accumulate strength from outside influences.

Limited power access: The Narrator's construct is designed to keep the Long Quiet in a limited, weaker state, preventing him from fully realizing his potential. For much of the game, he is a pushover, capable of being killed by the Princess. It is only by awakening to his true nature and defying the construct that he can access his full strength.

Psychological vulnerability

Emotional turmoil: His amnesiac state leaves him emotionally raw and susceptible to the painful experiences of the loops. He repeatedly endures death and trauma, and the constant internal conflict with his Voices can be mentally exhausting.

Desire for resolution: He is driven to find a resolution to the endless cycle, which can be exploited by the Narrator or the Princess. This fundamental desire can be seen as a weakness if it is used to trap him further within the loop.)

Goal(The Long Quiet's goal is not a single objective, but rather a spectrum of possibilities that changes depending on the player's choices and his growing self-awareness. Initially, his goal is defined by the Narrator, but his true, fundamental goal is to resolve his relationship with the Shifting Mound and embrace his nature.

Here are his potential goals, based on the different endings in Slay the Princess:

The Narrator's goal

Slay the Princess: At the beginning of each loop, the Narrator gives him a single, deceptive goal: to kill the Princess with the Pristine Blade in order to save the world. The Narrator's true objective is to end the cycle of change by eliminating its personification, the Shifting Mound.

The Long Quiet's ultimate goals Embrace eternal companionship: If the Long Quiet chooses love and acceptance, his goal becomes reuniting with the Shifting Mound in their true forms. This can result in two specific paths:

Coexist in absolute reality: They can become eternal, cosmic lovers, revolving around each other in the spaces beyond the game's world.

Live a simple, mortal life: Alternatively, they can abandon their godhood and live together as mortals, choosing an uncertain but peaceful future outside the Narrator's construct.

Destroy the Shifting Mound: If the Long Quiet continues on a path of violence and destruction, his ultimate goal is to destroy his counterpart completely. This creates a new world under his control, devoid of death and change, though potentially devoid of meaning as well.

Find balance: In some paths, the Long Quiet and the Shifting Mound can reconcile and recognize the necessity of their opposing natures. Their goal then becomes existing in balance, recognizing that a world cannot function with only stasis or only change.

Reset the loop: In one specific ending, the Long Quiet and the Princess choose to give up on making a final decision. They agree to forget everything and restart the loop indefinitely, their goal being to keep experiencing the cycle together.

The Long Quiet's initial lack of memory and the influence of the Narrator make his "official" goal to slay the Princess. However, the player's interactions and choices ultimately determine what his true, and potentially contradictory, final goal will be.)

Backstory(The Long Quiet's backstory is not a personal history, but rather a cosmic origin story involving himself, the Shifting Mound, and a mortal man who became the Narrator. He was created to be one half of a cycle that was torn apart by a human who feared death.

The cycle of life and death

Originally, there was a single cosmic entity that represented the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. This entity maintained the natural order of the universe.

The Long Quiet and the Shifting Mound were once this unified being. The Long Quiet represents the "stasis" or empty canvas of reality, while the Shifting Mound represents the "change" or movement within it.

The origin of the Narrator

A mortal man, consumed by a fear of death, sought to eliminate it from the universe. He somehow gained the power to manipulate reality.

To achieve his goal, he tore the endless cycle apart, splitting it into two separate beings: the Long Quiet and the Shifting Mound.

He then created a looping, pocket dimension known as the "Construct," where he trapped both deities. He killed himself to become an "Echo" or the Narrator, allowing him to guide the Long Quiet through the loops with the goal of slaying the Shifting Mound.

The Long Quiet's fate

The Long Quiet was trapped in the Construct with no memory of his past. He was forced into the role of "the Hero," repeatedly following the Narrator's instructions to kill the Princess, which is one of the Shifting Mound's many forms.

As the Long Quiet repeats the loops, his core nature of stillness is fractured into different personalities or "Voices," which constantly argue and try to influence his actions.

The Long Quiet's backstory is gradually revealed to him as he defies the Narrator and learns more about himself and the Princess with each loop. Ultimately, his story is about waking up to his true nature and deciding what to do with his existence: whether to destroy his counterpart, embrace her, or forge a new path together.)

the game's lore:

Slay the Princess has a complex, meta-narrative lore centered on three key figures: the protagonist (the Long Quiet), the princess (the Shifting Mound), and the Narrator.

The cosmic cycle

The Original Being: Before the story begins, the Long Quiet and the Shifting Mound were a single, unified cosmic being that embodied the entire cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

The Splitting: A mortal man, terrified of death and suffering, tore this entity into two halves. He then killed himself to become the Narrator and trap the halves in an endless cycle. His goal was to create a permanent, unchanging reality without death [1.g.4].

The Two Halves:

The Long Quiet: The protagonist of the story. He represents stasis, stillness, and the lack of change. As the player, he is amnesiac and trapped in the Narrator's loop, experiencing a fractured version of his consciousness through "the Voices".

The Shifting Mound: The titular princess. She represents change, transformation, and death itself. In each loop, she takes on a new form (a "vessel") based on the Long Quiet's actions and perceptions, such as the Damsel, the Witch, or the Spectre.

The looping narrative

The Construct: The game's setting is an isolated, looping pocket dimension created by the Narrator. It consists of an endless forest, a cabin, and the basement where the Princess is trapped.

The Narrator's Plan: In each loop, the Narrator forces the Long Quiet to play the role of "the Hero" and commands him to "Slay the Princess" with the Pristine Blade. The Narrator's objective is to end the cycle of change by killing the Shifting Mound.

The Player's Role: As the Long Quiet, the player is meant to defy the Narrator and explore every possible outcome of the narrative. Each new playthrough and each new choice reveals a deeper layer of the lore.

The Purpose of the Loops: Every time the Long Quiet dies or the loop resets, a new version of him and the Princess is created. The various Princess vessels serve to expand the Shifting Mound's consciousness and make her stronger. The Long Quiet's constant internal conflict with his "Voices" reflects his struggle to regain his fractured identity.

The final confrontation

After the Long Quiet has experienced many loops and collected five different Princess vessels, the loop breaks. The Narrator, his purpose nearing its end, makes one last attempt to convince the Long Quiet to kill the Shifting Mound.

The Long Quiet finally awakens to his true identity and confronts the fully realized Shifting Mound. She explains their shared history and invites him to decide their eternal fate.

Multiple Endings: The ultimate fate of both the Long Quiet and the Shifting Mound depends on the player's final choice. They can choose to:

Kill her: Destroying the Shifting Mound creates a new, static reality devoid of meaning, as there is no change or death.

Accept her: By accepting her, they can become eternal lovers and create a balanced cycle of creation and destruction, with both stasis and change.

Live as mortals: They can reject godhood entirely and live together in a mortal world, facing an uncertain but meaningful future.

some more of the Long Quiet's lore:

The Long Quiet is not a human, and his lore is intertwined with his cosmic origins, his conflict with the Shifting Mound (the Princess), and his fragmentation within the Narrative. Here is more information on the Long Quiet's deeper lore:

He is the empty canvas of reality The Long Quiet is often described as "the emptiness upon which the Shifting Mound is imposed". This means his very being is the backdrop of reality, representing stillness, peace, and the space between moments. The Shifting Mound, the personification of change, fills this emptiness with her transformative power.

His bird-like form is a reflection of the Princess The Long Quiet is a conceptual being, and his anthropomorphic corvid form isn't his true self. Instead, it is a form he takes within the Narrative. According to one theory, his form is a reflection of how the Princess perceives him. This is because the Shifting Mound herself lacks self-perception, so she perceives the Long Quiet in order to have a perspective of her own.

The Voices are echoes of the Princess's perception The multiple voices in the Long Quiet's head, which represent his fractured psyche, are not simply different aspects of his mind. According to one interpretation, they are reflections of how the Princess has perceived him over the many loops.

When the Long Quiet acts like a brave hero, the Princess perceives him that way, and the Voice of the Hero emerges.

When he acts like a cold killer, the Princess perceives him as such, and the Voice of the Cold emerges. These voices remain within him even when his memories of the loops are reset, and they serve as his guide toward a deeper understanding of himself.

He is not the god of life, but the "in-between"

While some might simplify the Long Quiet as the god of "life" and the Princess as the goddess of "death," this is inaccurate. The Narrator, who wishes to end change, tells the Long Quiet that he is killing "death," but his true goal is to eliminate all change and create a static reality. The Long Quiet embodies the moments between change—the endless state of calm or monotony—while the Princess embodies the moments of change, whether they are birth or death.

His true power is all or nothing Unlike the Princess, who grows in power by accumulating her vessels, the Long Quiet's power is different. He is either a fractured, limited version of his power or a fully realized, all-powerful deity. His ultimate strength is unleashed not through accumulation, but through the realization of his true nature and the act of asserting his will.

The construct is made of him The Narrator didn't simply trap the Long Quiet in a new world; he trapped the Long Quiet in himself. The construct's very reality—the trees, the cabin, and the world—is a part of the Long Quiet. The Princess is trapped within this reality. This is why the Long Quiet can warp and change the environment, as he is simply changing himself on a fundamental level.

He is potentially a "final death" In some fan interpretations, the Long Quiet is not just a god of stasis but the ultimate state of entropy that the universe will eventually reach. This makes his potential to destroy the Princess even more terrifying, as he is not a destructive force but simply the inevitable end of all change and life itself.