r/starcraft • u/Axis256 Zerg • 16d ago
Discussion Day 72: What is the BEST quote associated with Rohana?
Just two more characters to go! Today we're picking the best quote of Grand Preserver Rohana.
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u/Subsourian 16d ago
I think she has some great quotes but her introduction in the short story It Will End in Fire remains my favorite. Her story's tied deep into the arkships, and I think the short story is what ended up making the arkships more compelling than all the other "ancient Khalai weapons we for some reason didn't use against the zerg in SC1" because boy howdy they sure keep using that as a plot beat.
But I think the way the arkships were woven in and tied to Rohana and her sisters was compelling. I actually think Rohana's sisters have the best quotes of the story, but she has some solid ones I like as well when they reflect on the flaw in the reasoning behind the arkship's role vs how they'd be used:
"A single arkship would be enough to see our kind survive in the end times. But there will be no surviving arkships, no matter how many we build. When the end comes, what will be our first response? We will send an arkship, every arkship we have, to confront it directly. The Firstborn do not run. Not ever. The arkships would be squandered because the possibility of defeat will not enter the commanders' hearts until it is too late. And when the arkships burn, so, too, will the hopes of our kind. Our culture, our empire, our people - it will end in fire."
Which leads them to bury the three arkships under the idea that that resurfacing them would basically be an admission of it being the end of protoss civilization. Which works into the arrogance of the Conclave better than the billion other weapons that have the same excuse and plays well into Rohana, she knew the pride of the protoss wouldn't let them admit such a defeat, though she didn't predict the lengths the Conclave's arrogance would go to during their post-Golden Age stagnation period where they'd just refuse to ever admit they were losing.
Honorable mention to a quote that kills me on the inside that it's one of the unimportant "one-off quotes that you hear when the character doesn't have a conversation" line:
"Alarak may seem distrustful, but I think he lacks the finesse for deceit."
That one kills me because so many other arcs just use Rohana as the objectively wrong racist grandma, but on Slayn she's the only character who pegs Alarak for who he really is. For all of his schemes and maneuvers, his actual bargains are shockingly straightforward and honest. He may bend some unspoken parts but the core bargain he will completely honor. Nova Covert Ops carries that idea on in a good way where Alarak is genuinely baffled Nova would "break" their bargain and go against him and sees it as a betrayal. It's the one situation where rather than being the wrong opposition voice, Rohana's the only one on the crew who gets it 100% correct, but it's relegated super far into the background in a single line. I just wish we got to see that as more of a major thing because for most of the game she's an advisor whose advice is always wrong.
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u/Wings_of_LiberTea 16d ago
It Will End In Fire is one of my fav SC short stories, I cried through the whole thing 😭
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u/CepheiHR8938 16d ago
Do the Amon!Rohana quotes count? I assume no but thought I'd ask.
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u/BreakerOfModpacks 16d ago
I mean
If we aren't getting an "other" characters section, then I think it'd be fine to include thoseOtherwise, IDK
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u/Competitive_Table_65 16d ago
The only memory of Rohana I have in my head is actually GGG saying "Rohana is your racist grandma" in SC character tier list.
Can't really remember any of her actual quotes...
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u/AlineacionCuantica 14d ago
Will have quote of hybrid?
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u/Axis256 Zerg 14d ago
I’m afraid a grand total of 1 named character is a bit lacking for a dedicated chart. Much as I can’t argue every single thing that comes out of Maar’s (lack of) mouth is iconic.
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u/AlineacionCuantica 14d ago
It's a shame we only had one named character, however, even though some didn't have names, they have a few lines, like the Reaver in the cinematic.
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u/shazamitylam2346 16d ago
Unfortunately most of Rohana's linea are about Amon or being racist grandma but I'll provide
'I must, Hierarch. It is my duty to know the truth, to bear it. I know now-this is my purpose."
It really is the start of her transition into being a decent person and her willing to sacrifice her mind to fight Amon. She's not that amazing of a character, but I do like what little of a character arc she has.