TheRisk of Rainseries is known for its fast-paced, intense roguelike gameplay. While the game may not have a story, and only has a few lines of dialogue throughout its entirety, there’s quite a bit of lore that can be found, if you know where to look.
By reading item descriptions, Monster Logs, and Environment Logs, you can learn quite a bit about the mysteries surrounding Petrichor V, its inhabitants, and the survivors who have found themselves crash-landed there. Below, we’ll take a look at one of Risk of Rain’s most prominent figures, Providence.
Who Is Providence?
Providence is thefinal boss of Risk of Rainand Risk of Rain Returns, and the direct cause for the events that you go through in the game. In battle, Providence wields a large blue sword, and can control two Gilded Worms. He can also summon shadow clones of himself, similar to the one you can summon with the Shattered Mirror Equipment item.
He is also able toinfluence the creatures of the planet, forcing them to attack the survivors. Providence does not have direct control over these creatures, but their reverence for him all but ensures their unwavering obedience.
Providence is one of thestrongest beings on Petrichor V, where the games take place. However, this wasn’t always the case.
Providence is not his actual name, that’s just what Commando started calling him as evidenced by Providence’s Monster Log.Providence’s true name is unknown.
Providence And Mithrix
Long ago, Providence and his brother, Mithrix, lived together on Petrichor V. The brothers are extremely proficient in some form ofcreation magic, able to constructgolems and other life formsusingmass, blood, and soul.
Of the two, Providence had a muchgreater understanding of the souland the actual construction of these beings, whileMithrix could create the blueprintsthat Providence would follow. The two worked together for a long time on Petrichor V, creating a veritable utopia for its inhabitants.
Because Providence and Mithrixcould not travel into space themselves, as leaving the planet’s atmosphere caused someunknown illness, they instead usedteleportersto move between Petrichor V, its moon, and other planets.
Despite being heralded as a hero by different societies he saved from extinction, Providence was not as benevolent as he may have seemed. As godlike beings, Providence and Mithrix were always one step removed from the other inhabitants of Petrichor V, and their immense power led todiffering ideals and philosophies.
While Providence may have saved countless species on the brink of extinction, he oftenused his powers frivolously, as seen in the creation ofAurelionite. Mithrix provided the blueprint as usual, but Providenceinfused the being with too much soul, creating aweak yet vengeful construct.
This is one of the first fractures the brothers face, their opposing philosophies becoming much more violent from then on. To prevent Mithrix from usurping his power, Providence formed a plan totrap Mithrix on Petrichor V’s moon, by changing the teleporter there to a one-way journey.
With Mithrix trapped on the moon, Providence was then free to rule the various inhabitants of Petrichor V as he wished.
Eventually, theUES: Contact Lightcomes looking for Petrichor V, with one of its teleporters on board. Once again trying to protect himself and his planet, Providence teleports onto the ship and crashes it into the planet, setting off the events of the first game.
