My opinions.
HUGE SPOILERS!!QUOTE (Flame @ Sep 9 2006, 10:20 PM)

I was just wondering if there are any inconsistencies between Episodes 1,2 and 3 (apart from voice changes and battle system ect. ect. I'm talking about storyline wise). Also if there are any storylines (maybe completly minor) which didn't come to a conclusion.
I havn't finished XSIII yet so I can't comment massivly but the only one I notcied is in Episode 1 Nephillim stresses the importance of Shion going to Miltia. Well nothing major happens the first time she goes back to miltia compared to the time she goes back in her mind and calls abels ark. However, Nephillim says 'She is waiting for you there'.
I had always assumed that this is true KOS-MOS... but still we don't know the true identity of KOS-MOS (at least at where I am, which is past the miltia section). Do you think they had something else planned? Or could 'she' be referring to T-elos?
Anyway, I open it up...
1) I believe the Beach of Nothingness is the psychological cage for the conciousness of those who became Gnosis. The Gnosis are human who rejected the World, unable to return to the Colective Subconciousness (inside U.M.N.). I also think that those that survive the Whitening become gnosis for the very same aspect of refusing their destinies (in this case, becoming Pillars of Salt). So, I believe that is "HELL", that is, eternal solitude, that come from one's own fear, weakness and lack of the ability to comunate with others. (The Colective Subconciousness would then be "HEAVEN").
Cherenkov surely knew that Shion would turn int a Gnosis sooner or later.
2) "She" is Febronia. Remember Febronia shows the ilusionary cage that binds her "sister" and then askes Shion to free them.
KOS-MOS awakening is only at Chapter 9 of Episode III.
QUOTE (Demonwing @ Sep 10 2006, 04:56 PM)

I have a small theory on why Shion never turned into a Gnosis
Spoilers nonetheless
It is said she's the maiden of Mary Magdalene, who is KOS-MOS. KOS-MOS always watches out for her, almost like a mother. Therefore, she might be the daugher of Mary Magdalene in the past life, which might mean she's chaos' daughter, so she might have inherited the anti-crystalization thing he has. They simply didn't give it to her in game because they didn't want it to be obvious
That's kinda of a trip! *sweatdrop*
But it makes some sense though. But I think it is more likely to be related to Shion's condition, her direct mental link with U-DO.
QUOTE (Xerno @ Sep 11 2006, 11:38 AM)

Oh right, another thing I forgot to mention (Episode 3 spoilers included):
Having both Virgin Mary (referred to in the XSI database under the term Marienkind) and Mary Magdalene in the story. Isn't that just a little contradicting? xP This already lead to confusion when we were still speculating about who True KOS-MOS was ("How can it be Mary Magdalene if there's already a Virgin Mary?"). I guess you could explain it as false religious ideas in the XS universe, but it's still a bit strange that they opted to include both of them.
Marienkiend is how the Original Zohar is refered. Meaning that the Zohar is God itself (The Son of Mary).
And like Kininson-kun, said Mary Magdalaine was Christ's parthner (T-elos say that as well). Originaly there were several Evangelions, but the Church chose the 4 that suited it the best, chasing and destroying the others.
The so called Gnostic Evangelions (some are found in the "Dead Sea Scriptures") stated that Jesus was much more human (loving Mary Magdalain, for example). Also the word Gnosis means self-knlowedge. The Church would not allow that texts that said there was no need for leaders (priests) to reach God undermein it's power.
Another Gnostic Evangelion "recently" discovered is the EVANGELION OF JUDDAH.
Keep in mind that NOT ONE EVANGELION were not written by the Aposthles. Actually, they were written after their deaths!
Other stuff:
I believe Wilhelm is LUCIFER. Casted away from the Relm of God, he probably rely on the Eternal Recurance to escape the Destiny of this Relm: "dissipation and vanishing". To beome a Testment is kinda of a Pact with the Devil! XD
About chaos, I typed Yeshua on Wikipidia and this is what came up:
"Yeshua, spelled יֵשׁ֣וּעַ in Hebrew, is believed by some scholars and religious groups to be the Hebrew or Aramaic name for Jesus. It is extensively used by Messianic Jews and Hebrew Christians, as well as others, who wish to use what some believe to be the original Hebraic pronunciation of Jesus' name. This pronunciation and spelling, as with many religious and scholarly issues, are not without its detractors."
It also showed a relation with the phrase "yemach shemo vezichro", meaning "May his name and memory be obliterated"
Anyway, aparantly, chaos is Jesus. If that's so, his relationship to KOSMOS -- or rather Mary Magdalain -- makes perfect sense.
As a cultural note, on the EVANGELION OF JUDDAH, there's is a passage that says that Jesus often behaved as child. But the translator sayd that that same passage can also mean that he sometimes LOOKED/TRANSFORMED into a child! A relation of chaos' eternal life, maybe...
My own doubts (or rather pointing finger at plot holes):
Episode I
1)After facing Marguilus, Ziggy sees a shadow behind him. When Cherenkov turns into a Gnosis, he says "it's the same as that time".
2) The blue Testment turns into a Gnosis on Episode I, but on Episode III, there's something (a Gnosis?) folowing his command and he doesn't transform.
3) The database says that Merkabah appears several times throughout the course of the story, but it was only 2.
4) When KOS-MOS is about to KAMIKAZEly shield the Elsa, she says to chaos "relinquish your pain onto me"... What did that mean?
Episode II:
1) KOS-MOS frame is severely changed. The X-Buster becomes pretty weaker and that enormeous thing doesn't come out of her back anymore. How did the 2nd R&D Division change all that.
2) When Jin's fightin Marguilus he starts to bleed, he says to chaos "it's from earlier". From earlier what?? I don't think it's related to him recueng little Shion.
Episode III
1) Only Mary and Shelley know the code to release the Zohar Emulators, but Junior showed the Emulators personally to you.