The Astral Guardians are a group of entities that have the duty of defending reality and space-time from disturbances or collapse. The Astral Guardians were first introduced with Astra, who seems to be the only living Guardian currently on Earth (both in Alpha and Omega). Their lore was later expanded with the introduction of Harbor, whose bracelet was proven to be an artifact created by the Astral Guardians. Further information came with the addition of Lotus, which takes place in an abandoned city built by the Guardians.
While unconfirmed, the Guardians may also have potential connections to Yoru and his mask, Chamber, and Breeze. While these connections are just theories and speculation, they are still significant enough to be mentioned here.
Lore[]
Astra[]
Astra's Dossier, found in Bind, in Patch 4.07
Astra was the first introduction to the concept of the Astral Guardians in VALORANT. Astra's radiance seems specifically in line with her duties as a Guardian and the gauntlet she wears on her left arm assists her in her job. According to Fade's dossier about Astra, something drew her to a "million-year old crater" (identified as Lake Bosumtwi) where she found the gauntlet she now wears.
When we first met Astra she seemed to be a new Astral Guardian who was not fully aware of the extents of a Guardian's duties, nor the identities of other Guardians in the universe. It is hinted through voicelines that there might have been other Astral Guardians in her lineage as well, who may have left some knowledge for her about Astral Guardians.
To some degree, Astra is able to read the Astral Guardians' language, but still isn't fluent. According to her, the language (and its creators) does not necessarily originate from Earth. Her literacy allowed her to recognize Harbor's bracelet as another piece of Astral Guardian tech, and insist that Brimstone recruit Harbor before REALM could catch him. Astra was also the one who translated the engraved symbols on it.
Radianite Artifacts[]
Several artifacts created by the Astral Guardians have been left behind to be found in the present timeline. Currently, only Astra and Harbor are confirmed to have and make use of artifacts from the Astral Guardians. While each artifact differs in the method of its use, there are several points of overlap.
First, the artifacts seem to be specific on who can use them. On approaching it, Harbor's bracelet 'chose' him specifically to be its user (as seen in his trailer, TURN THE TIDES; see here for more information). From a voicemail sent by Astra, and a voiceline that was added following Harbor's recruitment, it is further implied that he is one of the few (if not the only person) who can use the artifact. Given that Astra was drawn to her own artifact, it suggests she too was 'chosen' by this artifact, and is likely one of few or only people able to make use of it.
This is the one! It has to be! Every mention of the artifact is a match. And, if this runaway can use it - GAME. CHANGER.
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— Astra, Patch 5.07 Voicemail[1]
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"Why those relics chose this one. I'm never gonna know."
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— Astra, last kill on against enemy Harbor[2]
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Another similarity between these artifacts is their material, with both being made of some kind of gold. In the second post of Harbor's social media teaser campaign, Killjoy located Harbor's position by scanning for energy signatures that were similar to Astra's gauntlet[3]; the bracelet was found to be a "48 ENERGY MATCH" to the gauntlet, implying that they are more similarities in their construction that just appearance.
Aside from abilities, the key difference between the two artifacts is in their users, with Harbor as a human and Astra as a radiant. While it is unclear how Astra's artifact aids her radiance, it does appear that it relies on her radiance's pre-existence to function.
The Unearthed: The Bracelet card shows Harbor's bracelet in the cave where it was discovered on a hand sculpture.
The Unearthed: The Gauntlet card shows Astra's gauntlet lying at the bottom of a lake (assumedly Lake Bosumtwi), where it presumably lay until Astra found it.
Lotus, the City of Flowers[]
Lotus is an ancient city that was built by the Astral Guardians on Omega Earth, and serves as a 'Multiverse Nexus' between Alpha and Omega. According to Astra, the city was built in collaboration by the Guardians and regular humans, as stated in Lotus' map trailer. Due to the vast number of lotus flowers in the city (along with them potentially having some effect in the Nexus' functioning), it is referred to as the 'City of Flowers'. For reasons unknown, the Alpha Earth counterpart of Lotus has been destroyed[4]. A popular theory is that the ones behind the destruction of α-Lotus are the Scions Of Hourglass.
While the exact function of the City as a 'Multiverse Nexus' is unclear, it seems to serve as some form of connection hub between the two Earths, that is currently inactive. When Harbor and Astra (with help from Killjoy) analyzed his bracelet after learning its true purpose, they realized that if the Nexus on Omega were to be activated while Alpha's Nexus was destroyed, it would result in a shock wave that could cause catastrophe and a death toll of millions.
In response to the threat, a team of three Agents (Harbor, Astra, and Skye) was sent to Omega Earth in order to ensure Legion would never activate the Nexus. Ultimately, they failed, with Omega Astra activating it successfully in the events of Lotus' map trailer.
Speculation[]
Yoru's Mask as a Potential Astral Artifact[]
Before Yoru got his mask, it was originally a gold or a wooden texture. This can be seen both in the Unearthed: The Mask playercard, and when the mask was originally introduced on Icebox. Between the two there is a degree of inconsistency between the color as the Icebox version clearly appeared brown while the version on the playercard appears more gold.
Regardless of the color, that the mask is included in the Unearthed series of playercards seems to suggest it too is an artifact originally made by the Astral Guardians. Unfortunately, unlike the engravings on Harbor's bracelet, it would be difficult to tell if the same were inside Yoru's mask as he painted over it. Harbor points this out in his voiceline, "So, Yoru, you painted over the priceless samurai mask? Uh. Interesting choice."[5].
Unearthed: The Mask shows Yoru's mask in an opened box, with the snow in the background hinting at a cold location, presumably Icebox.
Yoru's mask also follows the trend of being an object directly linked to its user - the benefits his mask provides, that of being able to "see between dimensions"[6], is only possible in conjunction with his unique form of Radiance; no other Agent is capable of replicating its usage[7].
A Connection to Breeze[]
During the release of Harbor's teasers across VALORANT and the game's various social media accounts, a second B-plot was running in which Raze, Phoenix, and Killjoy went on a trip to Berlin to see a concert. In the aftermath of this concert, Killjoy and Phoenix 'lost' Raze and found that her communicators weren't working. In the next patch, Brimstone received a message from Raze sent on a makeshift radio transmitter she constructed on Breeze. Raze then claims that she has no idea how she got to what she calls the island they found KAY/O at, but mentions the previous night was wild and she can't remember much from it.
Even so, going all the way from Berlin to where Breeze is in the Caribbean is an exceptional journey, one she seems to have made overnight. While this adventure has yet to be further elaborated on, the timing of it may suggest deliberate attention drawn to Breeze with the intention of linking it to either Harbor, The Nexus, or the wider world of the Astral Guardians.
The other element on Breeze that may be an indicator of the Astral Guardians is the collection of murals along the walls of the fort that make up B site. Several of these, including the one of the mermaid in Mid Cannon and the stylized pyramid near Defender Spawn, are speculated to have some connection to the Guardians.
By Extension, a Connection to Chamber?[]
A possible connection between Chamber and the Astral Guardians is heavily based in speculation. Several aspects of Chamber's design match those of Astra's such as the gold of his tattoos matching the gold of Astra's artifact arm and Harbor's artifact bracelet. The patterns of his tattoos also match the pattern on the front of Astra's shawl, and one of the few early concepts shown for Chamber - commonly referred to as the 'Deadeye' concept by fans - also depicts several arrow and diamond shaped markings that match the tattoos on Astra's left arm beneath her gauntlet.
Another element that would connect Chamber with the Astral Guardians would be if Breeze has a connection with them since Chamber was a key party in the creation of the teleportal there.
References[]
- ↑ Astra's Patch 5.07 voicemail regarding Harbor from Kingdom Archives
- ↑ Astra's voiceline towards Harbor - Archived by Kingdom Archives Go
- ↑ The second post of Harbor's social media teaser campaign, showing Astra and Killjoy trying to pinpoint Harbor's location - Twitter Go
- ↑ From the Patch 5.08 Audio Log, a recording of Astra and Harbor's first conversation about the Nexus
- ↑ Harbor's line to Yoru regarding the mask from Kingdom Archives
- ↑ The abilities granted to Yoru by his mask - @playvalorantofficial instagram story Go
- ↑ Narrative Lead Riot ParmCheesy on Yoru's mask and its powers - Discord QnA Go