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- "There is one that sees what no man sees; knows what no man knows. One that commands all doors, one that commands all boats. It is the Oracle."
- ―An ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic tablet referring to the Oracle[src]
The Oracle was a high-ranking member of the advanced extraterrestrial race, the Sirians. He was one of its select members sent to Earth as part of a scouting party to explore planets that harbored intelligent life, such as Earth.[1][2] He was perhaps the last of his kind shortly after the species became extinct when Mental wiped them all out on their homeworld. While the Oracle appears as a minor character in Serious Sam 3: BFE, he does play an important role in the campaign, as some of the game's events, as well as references to the Time-Lock and the Sirian Mutilator bracelet revolve around him. He also had a major influence in Ancient Egyptian culture.[2]
Biography[]
Sometime between 1378 and 3000 BC, the Sirians sent out a scouting party to explore the galaxy in search of intelligent life like themselves. Upon their travels, they came across Earth, and landed in Ancient Egypt. One of the members of this scouting party was the Oracle.[2] The Egyptians were amazed by the Sirians, given their supreme intellect and advanced technology. As such, they were worshipped and treated like gods. The Sirians took this into account and had the Egyptians build massive structures in their favor. While the Egyptians were busy with such structures, such as the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx, the Sirians began secret construction projects underground.[2]
History[]
Like the other Sirians who lived in Egypt, the Oracle was treated as a deity, as well as a pharoah and notable leader of ancient Egypt.[2][3] He, too, like the rest of his people, made many requests. In return, he would bestow them with gifts and treasures in return. One such request was the tabernacle be built in his favor. Upon its construction, he would show the Egyptians the power to wield the Arrow.[4] Once it was built by Khufu, the Oracle was satisfied. Later on in his life, he bestowed the Arrow as a gift to Amun-her-khepeshef, the firstborn son of Pharaoh Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari.[5] He also knew Sethirkopshef, who served as his Whisperer and Master.[6]
Throughout the remainder of his life, the Oracle had the Egyptians carve hieroglyphs into many stone tablets quoting the latter's words, with many of these tablets making references to the Sirian Mutilator (also known as the 'Arrow'), ancient Egyptian deities, Mental (or as the Oracle called him, the "One Infinite"), interstellar travel, and the Time-Lock. By leaving these hieroglyphs as clues for humanity to discover when they became more advanced, the Oracle hoped that humanity would be able to find out how to power up the Time-Lock and to heed his warning of disturbing Mental from his slumber.[7]
Eventually, the rest of the Sirians died out, leaving the Oracle the presumed endling of his race. Soon, he too, eventually died. The cause of his death is not known, though he may have succumbed to natural causes. Before his death, his final request was that he was laid to rest with the Mutilator bracelet in his possession, and have the gods watch over him. He was laid to rest in a shrine dedicated to him and his people inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, surrounded by four alien statues, and his corpse would not be discovered for another few millenia.[3]
Appearances[]
Serious Sam 3: BFE[]
When Sam struggles a way to open the alien door in the Great Pyramid's secret chamber, he comes across the Oracle's tomb. Inside, Sam comes across his corpse, and notices a strange object on the mummy's wrist. Sam takes it without hesistation, and believes it nothing more than an "accessory" worthy of keeping. Sam exits the Oracle's tomb and, upon using the bracelet he just found to open a strange alien door, comes to the realization that it can be used to access otherwise inaccessible areas.[3][8]
Jewel of the Nile[]
The Oracle is referenced several times in hieroglpyic tablets found throughout the three levels.[9]
Personality and skills[]
As the Oracle is long dead by the time Serious Sam 3 takes place, it is not possible to discern much of his personality or nature. What is known, though, from the tablets deciphered by NETRICSA (which are found throughout the singleplayer campaign), is that he was incredibly intelligent, sophiscated, and respecting of other species that weren't as advanced as the Sirians, especially humans.[3] During his time in Egypt, he requested that the Egyptian people build large temples and the like in his favor. In return for their servitude, he would reward them and show them how to wield the 'Arrow'.[4] Like the other Sirians during his time, he was interested in what he saw in humanity and what they could accomplish, though he felt disdained in mankind, seeing them as primitive, and felt that they were not yet ready enough to use their technology.[2][1]
Like the rest of the Sirians, the Oracle was aware of Mental (also known as "the One Infinite"), and was concerned that humanity would one day awaken him from his dormancy, which would result in inevitable conflict.[2][10] The tablet that references this can be found in the level "The Dark Bride", inside a temple once the player has obtained the key needed to access it.[11]
Appearance[]
The Oracle was very tall, standing approximately 10 to 12 ft, which was twice the height seen in the beheaded Sirian infantry that serve in Mental's army. He had greyish-brown skin and glowing blue eyes, which shined like gemstones. He donned attire similar to those worn by ancient Egyptian nobles; on his head, he wore a Regalia of the Pharaoh, although his was vastly different in design compared to the ones worn by Egyptian pharoahs. On his wrist was the Sirian Mutilator, or more commonly referred to, as the 'Arrow'.[4][3]
Trivia[]
- The Oracle is neither seen nor mentioned at all in The First Encounter. This may be due to the game taking place in a slightly different time period.
List of appearances[]
- Serious Sam 3: BFE (First appearance)
- Serious Sam 3 VR: BFE (non-canonical appearance)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Serious Sam: The First Encounter
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Serious Sam 3: BFE
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Serious Sam 3: BFE level: "The Silent Riddler"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Serious Sam 3: BFE level: "Into the Spider's Nest" (second hieroglyphic tablet)
- ↑ Jewel of the Nile level: "Born Again" (first hieroglyphic tablet)
- ↑ Jewel of the Nile level: "Born Again" (third hieroglyphic tablet)
- ↑ Serious Sam 3: BFE level: "The Dark Bride" (second hieroglyphic tablet)
- ↑ Serious Sam 3: BFE level: "Unearthing the Sun"
- ↑ Jewel of the Nile level: "Born Again"
- ↑ Serious Sam 4
- ↑ "The Oracle said: Men shall build the Boat of Sun and sail across the sea of stars. But they shall awake the wrath of One Infinite. The foes of Osiris shall bring destruction to the realms of men. And the Boat of Millions of Years shall have to be awoken." hieroglyphic tablet found in the level "The Dark Bride"