I remember seeing all the Lovecraft references, and then confused at Adam Kadmon for the first time. Wasn't until I looked him up when I started to see the pieces come together. Maruki, his palace, and his personas mixed so well together it's almost perfect.

What is interesting is thaz futaba also jas a lovecraftian persona. Both maruki and futaba are connected to psience. It seems as if there is something inately eldritch about it

I wanna also mention that the devs themselves said they had a major Cthulhu influence with Maruki’s palace because the concept of “Man made Gods” was a big influence with Maruki

5:00 Demiurge is also the name of person 5 strikers’ final boss

every persona game needs a boss battle against a persona user change my mind

This is a small detail I love, I mean the connection between Maruki and Futaba, this being the cognitive science, another example of this is, the first awakening persona of Futaba is the necronomicon, another important part of the lovecraftian lore.

What I’ve always found interesting is Adam Kadmon being Azathoth’s Ultimate form. Isn’t Adam supposed to be some kind of god of infinite wisdom? If so, that serves as a pretty interesting evolution from Azathoth, the “blind idiot god.” And weird fun fact: apparently Adam and Satanael are from the same interpretation of Abrahamic mythology, which adds a certain depth to Joker and Maruki’s contrasting views if you ask me.

Something that stood out to me is how Azathoth matches so well with Maruki's goals. Azathoth supposedly dreams the entire universe into existence and the universe we know as reality is just his dream. Maruki wishes to make his own reality based on his wishes to fulfill everyone in the world's wishes just like how Azathoth made the entire universe in a dream. Maruki's goal AND Azathoth's dream are outright stated in the chorus of Throw Away Your Mask, the former's boss theme where the lyrics are clearly written from his point of view: "Don't sleep through dreams that can come true." This matches with Azathoth's lore, not just Maruki's begging for the Phantom Thieves to accept his reality.

Interestingly. As Lovecraft aged his racism declined. He still held onto it but it wasnt nearly as severe. Given what we know about his. Early childhood, his dad going insane and him going from nouveau riche to abject poverty, amongst other great traumas from a psychological standpoint his racism seems to be his born of agoraphobia mixed with him trying to be separate from others.

I’ve been thinking about maruki’s persona and his confidant storyline in general, what if Azathoth is maruki’s 2nd awakening and Adam kadmon is his 3rd? Hear me out, so his initial use of his persona was way before his introduction in the story, but the full manifestation of it is after he finishes his paper, an accomplishment that would have evolved the persona of a party member if they were in his shoes, the max confidant. It’s my personal head cannon that maruki’s initial persona was Adam, not Adam Kadmon, who then evolved into Azathoth before it’s full manifestation. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk

6:13 That is half right. Hastur is a god, but the Byakhee are supersonic carnivorous Space Vultures( Vultures are the closest physical comparisons I could come up with based on the images on the Lovecraft Wiki)

You are so underrated man. Please keep this series going. I just subscribed to you. Hoping for your success

The fact that his stories are not just relevant to Persona 5, but the entire series, shows how the writings had such an affect on world as a whole. Persona 2 and Persona 5 seem like the games that take most from it, but it's cool that other games do as well.

Will you also do the persona from the characters in Strikers like Valjean and Pandora ? It'd be pretty cool

I think lovecrafts racism and hatred towards things he’s unfamiliar with is very relevant to his work and who he was as a person, if he wasn’t a racist piece of shit his works never would’ve been what they are, he’s as racist as he is because he has a profound fear of things different from what he knows and he channelled that fear in his work, it’s detestable but in that regard he was an incredibly unique man that revolutionized horror because he himself was scared of everything

One of the most interesting bits about Azathoth for me is that it's has reality bending powers. Not Almighty Magic, Reality Bending. It makes me feel of it's connection to it's original pantheon as the head God. It is a God, a powerful reality manipulator based off faith. Faith. With it, Maruki is, really trying to be a God for Humanity. Wishing for all to be eternally happy in false bliss made by him. A false world that -in the plot- falls apart when awoken by 3rd parties.

Some of my favorite games of all time have a lot of HP lovecraft inspiration so there was a massive smile on my face when royal really delved into it for the endgame.

Hey I read this comment on Tumblr about Maruki's personas. they're not his real personas more like parasitic creatures. It would kind of make sense due to him having a different Awakening from the rest of the cast and the personas being unstable and having a sense of autonomy. If that's true then do you think there would be a possibility for Maruki to have a different persona. A true persona where he has a proper Awakening.

Hey great video love this kind of content! You should totally cover his son Nyarlathotep at some point who plays a pretty important role in persona 1 and 2. It’s really interesting they decided to go back to the love craft elements of the series and I’m all here for it

Persona and Lovecraftian beings are definitely a combo I want to see in more Persona games for sure!

This "Gnostic theism" stuff sounds interesting is this the where we get characters like Lilith from?

When Maruki said Azathoth I was like "0 O 0!!! Holy shit bruh this man really got, not only the most powerful eldritch god in Lovecraftian myth, but also Nyarlathotep's father as his Persona." Since I'm familiar with the Azathoth short story, looking back at the the last area of the Laboratory made me giddy because in the story, Azathoth takes a nameless protagonist into the world of dreams during a night when dream and reality merged. The short story's kinda sweet because it's not a doom and gloom plot, it's just one man whisked away from the dull reality into the colorful world of dreams. I'm also fascinated by the fact that there's never a moment when Maruki's eyes become yellow. I think there's a possibility that Azathoth might simply be a god-like entity that posessed him. While Persona Possession, where a Persona beyond the user's level takes over their consciousness, is a concept reserved in manga it would be nice if ATLUS brings it up in their games. That or I'm reading too much into their relationship because hearing Maruki just address the most powerful eldritch god so tenderly by name has me 💓💓💓. I get taken when a boss spares a moment to be soft spoken to a mysterious entity that's about to beat me down. (One gripe: I found the disclaimer about Lovecraft super unnecessary :/ His outdated racism seems to be what everyone wants him to be famous for. Never seen anyone bring up Lewis Carroll's (author of the Alice in Wonderland books) outspoken pedophilia and William Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde's anti-semitism but okay :/ I just find this obligatory move airing out a laundry list of an author's faults just tasteless. If you're gonna put someone's faults on blast, you should air out your own shortcomings as courtesy.)

🎵The beliefs I had my faith in, they never seem to see the light of day...🎵 I'm sorry, I just had to.

This choice of persona for him is perfect. None other would work as well.

I was wondering what a Demiurge was, and you answered that question! Great video by the way! Thank You for making every part of it! :D!

Speaking of lovecraft, I LOVE that they returned some lovecraftian designs and personas for the 3rd semester, we haven't seen that stuff since Persona 2. While Lovecraft himself is honestly, a detestable person his work still intrigues me, and seeing those interpretations in Persona is very cool! Another great video, keep it up dude!

This channel needs to grow. Actually amazing at everything you do. Explanations on point, and always an inviting intro. Keep up the great work 👍👍

Once again, an amazing video from a channel that deserves WAY more views.

You honestly make the content I always dreamed of trying to do, absolutely love your channel! I’ve always looked into this stuff and would explain it to my family and friends and now you’re spreading it to everyone! Amazing video

This is exactly the kind of content I’d like to see about Persona, I’m so glad you showed up in my recommended. Instant sub!

I love reading about gnosticism because so much of it is so confusing and interesting.

All your videos make me wanna play persona 5 again. Feels like I can go in to admire all the stuff you're talking about

This is an absolutely excellent video, thank you. I can't wait to see what comes next, I'm always blown away by the kind of stuff you create and I'm excited about where this channel will go in the future!

This was my first Persona game and the actual reason I wanted a PS4. Am now 10 games (spinoffs included) deep into the series, but Royal stands up top still for how interesting Maruki is and how natural Sumire was integrated (the base game was great too with the tweaks but this is a royal video).

I listened to this video in the background and it's so amazing! I'd love to see you cover personas like Lilith and Maria! Keep up the good work!

Loving this series my guy

This is a video I wanted to see for a long time. God stuff man

Your videos are great! Super well made and good narration!

Perhaps a Cuthulu persona? I'd pay money for that

another banger, keep it up bro

im literally waiting for these weeks in advance

Love your vids bro keep it up!

It literally doesn’t matter if Lovecraft was “racist” or whatever, he lived Pre-WW2, everyone was to some extent.

I very much appreciate you acknowledging your own shortcomings! Not everyone has the courage to...

Okay, not quite what i was expecting next, but also very nice to see

Adam Kadmon in hebrew (אדם קדמון) means "prehistoric man". Do whatever you want with it, idk

This is such a great video. Consider me impressed.

99hh, I'd love to see you do the Persona's introduced in P5Strikers.

Azathoth, "The Blind Idiot God" a perfect symbolic Persona for how Markuri believes what he's doing will save everyone and can't see how his "perfect reality" will just trap humanity in a gilded cage, unable to move forward and creating a stagnate world.

Great video! You've earnt yourself a new subscriber ;)

Great video man, I'd love to see one for Robin hood or Loki next if possible!

Dang this is rly cool

I loved it! Don't ever stop 🖤

So going off what you said about Gnostic theism, any God that human know about isn't the true creator? Just a Demiurge? And the true God is something we will never comprehend?

I always though that azamoth was controlling him or were at least not real persona as in his fight he never has to remove his mask like the other metaverse players and Akechi does he loses his red lenses during 3rd semester

Thank You for the heart! :D!

Damn I didn't know HP Lovecraft was BASED. Truly a legend

@5:18 *Become as Gods*

Nice

1:27 HP chadcraft

You just have to do Mara at some point omg

You really shouldn't have to explain yourself as to why you're mentioning H.P. Lovecraft's works but I guess that's the world now

Another great video! Do you plan on making a video on Yaldabaoth itself?

Ah yes, good content

My only gripe with these personas is that it would have been super cool if they were available in NG+.

Quick correction on Azaoth the waking up bit and ending reality was never in HP love crafts books and has been a common misconception about this lovecraftian horror.

Well no wonder Maruki's Persona is called Blind Idoit God cause Maruki 's rebellious side looks so stupid I'm sorry I had to say it

Something I like to imagine is if he had a third persona like everyone else, except I think it would be more like the first persona and come before Azathoth and that it would be Adam to fit with the theme of the third persona being connected to first weather that be a different name or inspiration

I think it might also be worth bringing up that the Lovecraftian method is DEEPLY tied to Persona’s lore, and simply bringing it up raises a lot of questions.

5:27 hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm where have I heard that before

Will you eventually branch into other persona games like P4G? Loving these vids btw

May Billy rest in peace

I wonder if the cast of P4 saw this happening

Adam Kadmon is the closest being to the Great Will

You made a mistake there. Captain kidd might be the same person as william, but he isnt connected to seiten taisei. Same with robbin hood, loki and hereward. The third tier persona is the true person behind the first persona not the second so adam kadmons evolution would be the same as azathoth

I know this video is old but I feel like it's important to mention that adam kadmon is phonetic hebrew for prehistoric man or the first man, which leads more into the guiding light theme as well.

Do you think you'll cover Akechi's persona Loki?

Wait Raoul is is a third evolution persona for Arsen? or he is an alternative second evolution in place of Satanael?

Okay the thumbnail is messing with my brain.

The video is good and i was thoroughly entertained however I'm not going to leave a like but instead a subscription

Are you gonna do reaper?

I don't know I don't really get it.

I found my copy of the game

Are you still making videos?

Ugh, I can care less about Lovecraft's opinions on people like me, just wanna enjoy the work he and those inspired by him made/make.

I don't see what's the use of the disclaimer about Lovecraft racism; we are talking about his works, not his political beliefs...

I fail to see how Lovecraft's personal thoughts outside of his work are relevant....and why it was necessary to mention it.

Robin hood

It would have been better if it was Nyarlathotep

Persona 5 Battle Royale

Lucky me I never liked that Lovecraft dude

I'm so sucknof people virtue signaling. There's literally no need for anyone to say racism bad because NO CRAP!! So stop pointing out when someone from the past who's freaking dead, it's worthless and wastes time.

You actually had to put a disclaimer that you’re separating the work from the author so you wouldn’t be accused of supporting a racist? Wow, i feel sorry for them.

Stop saying royale (roy-al). It is royal (roy-ul)