Why do you think Capitano will be playable and when?
#STANDWITHCAPITANO
Since 5.3 I have seen a lot desperate persons, who thinks what Capitano gone forever (or Signora situation), and a lot of of person who have arguments like "CAPITANO is such a GOAT. It would be a waste of money for Hoyo to leave him dead". I mean, they're not known to be good decision makers.
The reason why I wrote this post is to create a place where all comrades in moment of despair can find some hope. If some of my predictions or predictions in comments will come true, then there is a real possibility for his playability. Also there you may find better takes than "Hoyo..." or other groundless thoughts if you need them.
About Signora situation... Unlike her the Captain has REAL in-game and out-of-game ground for at least to return, and it looks like with recent and future version main events they're building more of it.
You can ignore my further theories and write comments without taking them into account.
LORE
In the end of Natlan chapter Capitano sacrifice himself to the Lord of the Night to open the gates of Night Kingdom for souls of his people imprisoned in heart. So what happened with him? Let's talk about rules of Teyvat. There are a lot of them, they were established by Heavenly Principles. The shades exist to fulfill them. But looks like they have their own will and character. That's the reason of Night Kingdom existence. There is a conflict between Heavenly Principles and Ronova. She wants deaths, but Heavenly Principles as punishment chose sadistic immortality. Yeah, Khaenri'ah catastrophe happened after Night Kingdom creation, but the rules was established before both. Ronova instruct LotN to construct Night Kingdom to get more deaths in the long term and made an agreement with Xbalanque for it too. Ronova displeased Heavenly principles by that. It's her will.
So in Capitano situation she faced a choice: shut up and don't get a death(Body alive - soul in Night Kingdom) breaking her rule or go against Heavenly Principles(GOAT body is dead as well as his soul) breaking Teyvat's rule. You know what she chose.
From Fraudika SQ we know what you can make a deal with Ronova to return from the other side. So this is the way how he can come back. When will he do it? Let's determine how far into the future this event can happen.
First of all, there reasons why he won't release during 5.X. One of them are silhouettes. Yeah, there can be hidden 17th character, but it is pattern impact. Even if there is really 17th, GOAT still will compete with Skirk. Also a lot of cryo in this case. Release in 6.X or 7.X. Anyway he can return in 5.X without releasing.
If 5.6 will have Interlude chapter quest and 5.7 sibling quest, then the first will be about pyro Gnosis. Columbina and Sandrone are suitable to get it (if you think there can be other options, please share your thoughts). I don't think Sandrone interested in Natlan situation as well as in Capitano's, so 6.X or 7.X then. But Columbina...
Angels are the human guides, so i think this is the reason why Bina (she is an angel) joined her Majesty. She knows the damage Celestia can cause to humanity, so she may have decided to guide us avoid it. LotN is also an angel (at least was) and have not so bad relations with Ronova. If Damsellete will arrive to Natlan then she may try to negotiate with them to return HIM and force diplomatically local Fraud to give us a gnosis. Why would they deal with fatui? As i stated above, Ronova definitely have something against Heavenly Principles but don't have enough power to fight alone and also love humans. Hell, if the Lord of the Death on the Celestia's side, then why is the Knave so connected to her?
Ok, but what about Lord of the Night? Columbina may show her a truth about Celestia.
The sad part of that is if want to take Capitano back, then Night Kingdom will be destroyed, so we need to offer something instead of it. Dottore with Columbina will burn down the Irminsul tree, which means they will erase their own memories. ARE THEY STUPID??? I think not, they prepared for this in advance and copied memories to other place. So they found replacement to Irminsul. Night Kingdom badly but connected to Irminsul, so it may suffer if something happens to that tree. Even with the body of our glorious Captain LotN can't sustain Night Kingdom if there are also souls of snezhnayans, fontainians and others. If Dottore created some sort of his own Night Kingdom, then they can merge Dottore's and LotN's domains into one independent. So GOAT can go out.
Unfortunately, merging is a very big event for Interlude. So Bina in 5.6 may make a deal with Lord of the Night and Ronova taking gnosis in advance. Also she may do it later. In 6.X she with Dottore will be preparing to burn Irminsul. Capitano's body will no longer be needed, so Ronova will bring HIM back to life as one of strongest allies, or for any other reason Her Majesty may think of, keeping his position as-is.
This prediction confirms wheel theory. First Columbina in Natlan, in the mid of the Nod-Krai chapter HIM, and in the end or after it Dottore, then we will go to Snezhnaya and meet Pulcinella. But it is just coincidence.
Yeah, looks like fan fiction and copium, but I think this is one of most realistic version how GOATHIMtano can return. Ronova is crucial part of his "resurrection". I can't find any other way.
SYMBOLISM
Capitano's constellation, three nails describe Triclavianism - the belief that three nails were used to crucify the Jesus Christ. So he is literally the Jesus. But what about resurrection? We know there are exists belief about second coming. Yeah, it won't happen in real world, but in genshin faith has real power. After his soul was ascended to Heaven (Night Kingdom) he was cleansed from sins assigned to him from others. So when he will return the body may be clean too (Sadly, no helmet then. Still he is the coolest person in the universe).
How he will return? Three nails are sometimes depicted as a symbolic reference to the Holy Trinity. In Teyvat there is another symbol related to it - the triquetra. It often appers on celestial objects like domain murals, celestial nails or blood of God (Mora).
Holy trinity are God the father (Who begot), God the son(Jesus i.e. the Captain) and God the Holy Spirit (the LORD, the giver of life). Together they're a god. So who is God the father? THE DOCTOR WHO MADE GOD-LIKE CREATURE SHOUKI NO KAMI AND LITERALLY BEGOT OTHER PERSONS FROM HIS PARTS. Who the Holy Spirit in this situation? Ronova can took the human's life as well as give it back. So Dottore with Ronova will make somewhat like god from current Capitano's body.
WARCRAFT REFERENCES
I mean, his pose on the throne isn't one single reference to this universe. There are a lot of them. First of all, he may refer not only to Arthas, the Lich King, but also to Bolvar Fordragon, the former Lich King.
Let's determine references to Arthas:
- Pose ofc
- Frostmourne and Capitano's heart collect souls.
- In warcraft death knights can use 3 "powers": Ice, Blood and Plague; but Arthas prefers to use the first one and Capitano between 7 elements use cryo.
- Blue eyes to create aura.
- In Mika's character story 4 fatui soldiers was described the same way as undead army usually described in media( I think because of writing team change we didn't see such thing in Natlan quests).
- Now some story. The first cutscene we see at the beginning of the human campaign in Warcraft 3 is a mage telling the king a prophecy about the fall of the human kingdom, but he refuses to take actions and mage leaves him. This time mage fails his mission. Pierro story goes similar way. He also could have saved his nation, but failed because he wasn't able to gain a favor of the ruler. And both of our heroes appears now. During his journey, Arthas discovered the reason why the kingdom would be destroyed, he watched as his people and allies turned into zombies, skeletons and other undead, as well as Capitano saw his home fell to the abyss. They decides to travel to foreign land. Both found allies there.
About differences in the stories. Arthas met mage during his journey in the Kingdom, but like a king refused to take actions he offered. Capitano met mage after his nation was destroyed and joined him. Arthas decided to went to Northrend to find a solution to problem (but becomes problem himself. The reason is his sword, which he found there) before his land was completely destroyed, Capitano began his journey to fight the abyss after the Khaenri'ah was destroyed. Young prince betrayed his friend, while GOAT was with him until death.
It's not all about Arthas, but I need to switch to Bolvar now.
- Bodies seriously damaged. Also they both was damaged by fire.
- Have relations with royal family.
- Some kind of knights.
- Righteous.
- Sacrifice instead of other important character (scenes are similar af, but because of shitwriting Fraud didn't say a single phrase).
https://reddit.com/link/1id5ck1/video/s59mod70zxfe1/player
Some context to this. After the boss battle, Arthas died and Frostmourne was destroyed, freeing the souls trapped within it. King play the same role as Ronova, helmet as Lord of the Night. Bolvar merged his consciousness with helmet. No more context is needed.
I think previous team likely wanted HIM to be inspired by Arthas more than by Bolvar, but current view HIM as Bolvar more than as Arthas.
How all of that connected to GOAT's comeback? Watch Shadowlands cinematic trailer. Shortly, one girl freed Bolvar from his duty and opened huge portal to the Shadowlands by breaking helmet.
So what do you think? feel free to share this post, comrades.
And yeah, also there is ancient name "SJA" in Mavuika trailer, what may mean shoujaa - hero. Do you think it belongs to HIM?
REMEMBER MAINTAINING THE AGENDA IS OUR TOP PRIORITY