Lumen Sage

Lore & Background

Five hundred years prior to the main events of the game, two factions maintained cosmic equilibrium: the Umbra Witches of darkness and the Lumen Sages of light. These groups shared the 'Eyes of the World,' artifacts created by Aesir (also known as The Overseer), the God of the human realm. Aesir granted these eyes separately to both clans after deciding to bestow free will upon humanity out of pity. The narrative reveals that the Lumen Sages were not merely observers but active participants in a clan war with the Umbra Witches, which was followed by a massive witch hunt led by the angels of Paradiso. This conflict resulted in the near-extinction of the Umbra Witches and the mysterious vanishing of the Sages from Vigrid. The game's setting borrows heavily from Dante's Divine Comedy, placing the Lumen Sages within a cosmology that includes Paradiso (heaven), Purgatorio (purgatory), and Inferno (hell). While Inferno contains the demons summoned by witches, the Lumen Sages are intrinsically linked to the light and the angels of Heaven.

In Their Own Story

The plot of Bayonetta centers on uncovering the truth behind the disappearance of these factions. The protagonist awakens with amnesia, possessing a red gem she believes is the 'Left Eye of Darkness,' while searching for the missing 'Right Eye of Light' held by the Sages. As she journeys to Isla del Sol and fights through angels in Vigrid, flashbacks reveal that both halves of the Eyes were split during an event called the First Armageddon, which originally separated Paradiso, Chaos, and Inferno into distinct realms. The story discloses that Bayonetta herself is a child born from a forbidden union between an Umbra Witch and a Lumen Sage. This revelation challenges the rigid separation of the two clans, suggesting that the balance they once maintained could be restored or broken through their lineage. The antagonist Balder, whose motives are tied to these ancient events, confronts Bayonetta with the truth that she is the living result of this union, bridging the gap between the light and darkness that the Sages and Witches were sworn to keep apart.

Reader's Guide

For players exploring the lore, understanding the Lumen Sages requires noting their role as the counterpart to the Umbra Witches. Their primary function was to oversee time alongside the Witches using the 'Right Eye of Light.' In terms of gameplay mechanics related to lore, the distinction is crucial: while Bayonetta summons demons from Inferno, the Lumen Sages are associated with the light and the angels. The narrative emphasizes that the conflict between these groups led to a massive witch hunt by the angels of Paradiso. Fans should note that despite being followers of light, the angels themselves are often the enemies Bayonetta fights, suggesting a complex relationship where the Sages' disappearance may have left humanity vulnerable to angelic aggression. The story reveals that the 'Eyes of the World' were created by Aesir, not the Sages themselves, highlighting their role as custodians rather than creators.

Did You Know?

• The Lumen Sages and Umbra Witches shared two distinct treasures called the 'Eyes of the World' to oversee the passage of time.
• Both factions mysteriously disappeared from the fictional city of Vigrid under unknown circumstances five hundred years before the game's events.
• The artifacts known as the Eyes were created by Aesir, the God of the human realm, who granted them separately to both clans.
• The protagonist Bayonetta is revealed to be a child born from a forbidden union between an Umbra Witch and a Lumen Sage.
• The conflict involving the Sages ended with a massive witch hunt led by the angels of Paradiso following a clan war.