Hi everyone! I’d like to thank you all for the fantastic response to the latest game in the Folklore series! There are a few things that the ‘Folklore series’ theorists might want to read about. In Part 1, we're looking at the 'Guardians' you can select in 'Only When You Sleep'.

SPOILERS AHEAD – A warning to players, this post will contain spoilers about some of the other Folklore Games and extensive spoilers to ‘Only When You Sleep’ – if you haven’t played it yet, I suggest you do so before reading this 😊

Guardians:

There are 4 different guardians to choose from at the beginning of the game. Most of whom we have already heard about or met in the Folklore series (one of them we’ll get to know very well in mid-September 2024)! They all have their own mini-narratives if you choose them to be your Guardian. If you visit them 3 times in a row, you will learn more about each character, their opinion of you and others who are part of the story.

Each Guardian appears to have their name and a mysterious 'man who isn't there'... attached to them. 'The man who isn't there', will tell you secrets that you won't otherwise find, so it's recommended to play each route with the Guardian you've chosen 3 times to get the full story!

Dracane, the Royal Draconic Mage:

• He is mentioned in passing several times in Bloodlines we are told that once upon a time he served in the Mythic Court, but was sent to the Neverplace for making deals with Pandemonium…
• We find evidence to the contrary in this game (see Ending 6: Hello John for spoilers)…
• We also find out he has been a tutor to a most unexpected pupil (Choose ‘The Draconic Mage’ as your Guardian and continuously visit your Guardian to learn more!).
• Symbolism – Dracane is a puppet master of the Ivory Tower, someone who is capable of pulling strings, but…is he also a puppet too? Why is he strung up the way he is?
• Mythology - Dracane is a Red Dragon – those interested in the history of the now British Isles may be interested in this detail. Is he the dragon on the Welsh flag? A relation of it perhaps? Maybe we’ll find out in the future…
• Important Aside – Dracane made a box that looks suspiciously similar to the one we see in ‘Inside the box’, the incantation to make it open was ‘blood is strong, but love is stronger’. 
• Hint - If you want to learn more about 'the Crooked Man' - choose Dracane as your Guardian.

Arfon, the Royal Griffin:

• He features in Bloodlines, it is revealed that he was once the one who would proclaim the rulers of the mythics. He was also sent to the Neverplace by the current mythic King, Tier.
• He is fiercely opposed to the current King, Tier (if you choose the ‘Royal Griffin’ as your Guardian and visit him in the Abyss 3 times, you will get a sense of Arfon’s hatred for the King). We find out in the Game ‘Sanctuary’ – that he was once very close friends with the Mythic Paragon,  a Barghest named Gregory, who has been left to rot and decay in a ruined Abbey.
• Symbolism – Arfon’s wings have been injured, bound and he is chained… Why has he been restrained in such a way? It is hard to say at the moment…
• Mythology- Gryphons (or Griffins for the sake of clarity) have the attributes of an eagle and a lion (the King of Birds and the King of Beasts) – they have always been considered especially powerful and majestic creatures.
• Important aside-  In Folklore, Arfon is rumoured to be not a King himself but a ‘King Maker’ – that is someone who can bring leaders to power. Yet he hates the current Mythic King and is chained up and bound in the Neverplace…unable to perform his duty. Rumours suggest that a Kingmaker/Queenmaker/Sovereignmaker is more powerful than any King as he would be the source of Power, once he withdraws his support, a King would be nothing. 
• Hint - Arfon appears to try and help you and warn you sincerely.
  

Vikram, the Descendant of the Naga

• You will learn a lot more about Vikram if you choose the ‘Descendant of the Naga’ as your Guardian and continually go back to Daanya Haath.
• Symbolism – Vikram seems barely visible. It is only if you choose his route 3 times that you may see his shadow. Yet Daanya Haath is perfectly visible. Are they linked somehow?
• Mythology- Known as a Nagavanshi, he is a descendant of the  Naga are known for their passion for protecting treasures and things of great importance. Yet in the Neverplace, Vikram appears to have nothing to protect at all…meaning his spirit wanders with little purpose.
• We will learn a lot more about Vikram in the upcoming Folklore game titled ‘The Pursuers of Mythic Truth’. All we know currently is that he and the right hand of Pandemonium appear to be very similar in appearance to one another.
• Important Aside – If you go to the ‘Adorning Chamber’ at the end of the game, you will meet Vikram’s son, Suraj…pay close attention to him! He seems to be protecting lots of things in a room full of desirable treasures.
• Hint - If you want to learn more about Suraj and Vikram, play the prequel to this game 'The pursers of Mythic Truth', which will be released in mid-September.

Robert, the Seer of Alba

• Robert features as a main character in Bloodlines. We discover that despite being much loved by the people of the castle, he is hated by the King, Tier. Tier believes that Arfon, the Royal Griffin, wanted Robert to be King...and so, somehow he mysteriously ends up in the Neverplace (see Ending 6: Hello John for more info). Meanwhile Oculus Sinister seems to be in total control of Robert, we don't see any ghostly images of Robert at all, only a small weak voice. 
• In both ‘Inside the Box’ and this game, Robert is usually referred to as ‘a man who isn’t there'. Whilst 'the Creature' has a name, 'Oculus Sinister'.
• Robert believes he has saved the player in ‘Inside the Box’. (You will learn more about Robert if you choose the ‘Seer of Alba’ as your Guardian and visit Oculus Sinister 3 times).
• Symbolism – Unlike the Draconic Mage and the Royal Griffin, ‘Oculus Sinister’ is not bound in any way. His speech does not degrade the more times you meet him. The Chamber of Adoration is not as dangerous as the other locations. Oculus Sinister almost joins his hands in prayer and worships Pandemonium. 
• Oculus Sinister is so devoted to his service to Pandemonium that he willingly denies himself things (he will never open ‘the box’ and he does not dare enter the ‘chamber of commerce’ – is this devotion? Deception and misdirection? Or some kind of masochism?
• Mythology- Apparently, Robert is a ‘common-blooded kelpie’, apparently when their saddle or bridle is taken, they become obedient to whoever took it.
• Important Aside – Robert was known to be a medium in ‘Bloodlines’ and Oculus Sinister says ‘But in the Adoring Chamber, you are safe with one who loves you. So deeply.’ Does he see himself as the direct link to Pandemonium itself?