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Nocturne

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Sonic, Tails, and Amy at Nocturne

The Nocturne is the central stronghold of Imperator Ix and the Nocturnus Clan echidnas. It appears as the final area in Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood and is used in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games as a course for the bobsled event.

[edit] Pre-Cage

Nocturne before the Argus event.

During the Nocturnus Tribe-Knuckles Clan war 4000 years ago, Nocturne apparently functioned as the capital of the Nocturnus Tribe. The Nocturne in its original form is shown briefly during a movie sequence in Sonic Chronicles, and appears somewhat similar to the echidna pyramid-cities ruled by Pachacamac in Sonic Adventure; ableit more advanced, with glass windows and waterwheels. This picture matches with Ix's comment that the Nocturnus "believed in science and industry, and we flourished"[1]. It is stated by Nestor the Wise that the Nocturne housed (and still does) the Nocturnus Tribe's Gizoid-production labs; as such, Emerl must have been 'born' there.

[edit] Post-Argus

Nocturne fortress in the Twilight Cage

After the near-total destruction of the Knuckles Clan at the hands of Perfect Chaos, the Nocturnus echidnas "nearly colonized the whole world"[2]. However, just as complete global conquest was within their grasp, the Argus Event occurred. Sonic Chronicles shows the Nocturne being torn out of the earth into a portal to the Twilight Cage.[3]

Gameplay screenshot within the Nocturne fortress

This was a violent event, scattering wreckage from the echidnas' fortress all across the pocket dimension.[4] Nonetheless, under Ix's leadership, the Nocturnus were quick to recover and adapt. Trading and fighting with the other races of the Cage, the echidnas acquired fantastic new technologies and tactics. The Imperator states "We had to change and adapt and become who we are today. We had to become perfect!"[5] The Nocturne's appearance changed drasticly, from an idyllic fusion of nature and clockwork, to a brooding techno-fortress, replete with laser turrets and shield generators. It is in this form that Sonic and friends find the stronghold during Sonic Chronicles.

[edit] Notes

  1. ↑ Quote from Imperator Ix, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Chapter 10
  2. ↑ Quote from Shade the Echidna, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Chapter 6
  3. ↑ At least some remnants of the global Nocturnus civilization survived on Sonic's world after the loss of the Nocturne; the movie sequence in Sonic Chronicles displays at least one echidna evading the portal. Emerl certainly avoided the cage, although Nestor states that "All others [the Gizoids] were accounted for". Whether the Argus Event systematicly devastated other Nocturnus centres as well, or whether the survivors dwindled to nothing and died out following the loss of their capital, leader, and military machinery, is unknown. Either way, whatever remained of the Nocturnus tribe outside the Cage did not survive.
  4. ↑ As attested by Nestor, who then sends Sonic and co. on a quest to collect pieces of said wreckage to decorate his Kron colony home.
  5. ↑ Quote from Imperator Ix, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Chapter 10
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