Sad Imperium picture. Made with clipart in Pages haha.

So I have a (supremely self-indulgent) fan theory that Perennial and Autonomy Itself are somehow Kamala Cadence and Independence, respectively - and I’m convinced enough about this that I am presenting my evidence! Here! ->

Evidence Piece 1: some repeated and pretty explicit comparisons between Clem as the Witch in Glass and Kamala as the Waking Cadent - see for example this exchange from PARTIZAN 36:

(“is all I’ll say”……….)

Evidence Piece 2: repeated references to a past relationship between Perennial and Autonomy Itself - “your God and its terrible relationship with Perennial” from Chrysanth in episode 30 and this from episode 36, for example:

(“a broken relationship”?)

Evidence Piece 3: the parallel between the pieces of the Exemplar scattered on Partizan and the pieces of Independence scattered on Quire

(and the associated thematic parallels between Autonomy Itself and Independence as these powerful beings that nevertheless are heavily reliant on followers to enact their will)

Evidence Piece 4: the similarity between Perennial’s doctrine of recurrence and some of the beliefs expressed by Kamala as the Waking Cadent - thinking especially about the “nothing was ever truly destroyed” line in TM 45:

(also that line is kind of support for my own whole argument here haha)

Evidence Piece 5: (this one is maybe a coincidence, but) the Divine Cadence being used to send Valence’s broadcast of Autonomy Itself’s message in episode 15:

(“a great name in this moment”?)

Evidence Piece 6: (maybe a silly one, but) “Autonomy Itself” sounds like the sort of thing someone called “Independence” might rename themself if they were trying to start a more positive chapter in their life, imo

Evidence Piece 7: (related, less silly) “Autonomy Itself” could also be read as a reference to the Autonomous Diaspora, where Independence was originally from

(thank you for your time)

I knew you as you were, not as you are

—

Image 1: A drawing of the Divine Independence and Kamala Cadence. Independence is drawn rebuilt in crystalline Glass, with different facets catching the light in a diamond-like array of black and bright white and pale rainbow color. Kamala Cadence is drawn as a large, tall woman wearing a pale blue dress. She has dark pink hair pulled back and falling down her back, and wears a glowing vertical crown in the suggestion of a halo. Independence lifts her carefully. She kneels in his cupped hands. Neither is drawn with facial features visible, but his head is bent towards her, and she looks up towards him. She raises one hand to touch his face.

Image 2: An alternate version of the previous image, with more vivid colors and softened lines.

Original version I made late one night when I couldn’t sleep.

This one was inspired by Imperium’s description in the Road to PARTIZAN; the later version was done after relistening to the PARTIZAN finale.

Bonus design sketches.

My 2021 Secret Samol submission for candidateofloyalty, for the prompt to “show me the backstory of the most obscure Divine pilot you can think of”: Between The Sound Of The Exhaust And The Cacophony Of The Engine There Is A [Symphony] and Gary working with Gumption to design the Mandati medallions.

I’ll be posting Friends at the Table fanart mostly.