“Daniel, I hate to bother you further but... If you're really going after Alexander, Would you consider- taking me with you? I know that sounds ridiculous, I mean look at me.
”Agrippa
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa is the deuteragonist of Amnesia: The Dark Descent, based on the famous historical figure.[4] Agrippa is voiced by American voice actor Bill Corkery.[3]
Appearance[]
Agrippa's true appearance before being trapped by Alexander is unseen. It is assumed he looked like his real-life counterpart. During the events of the game, Agrippa is horribly emaciated, with his lower jaw completely missing, and his eyes are a lifeless white. He's also shown to have no body hair whatsoever. It is unknown why his body is in such a state.
Personality[]
Despite Agrippa's hopeless and lifeless situation, he is very talkative and friendly. From the start, he is very friendly with Daniel, even making a joke about Daniel's name - referencing the biblical Daniel, a prophet thrown into the lion's den. However, a large reason for his friendliness is, in part, Daniel being the only person who can rescue him. Regardless of this, Agrippa even states that he has no right to ask Daniel on what to do when asking if Daniel will take Agrippa with him.
Should Daniel decide to not make Weyer's potion and/or simply leave Agrippa where he is, he doesn't seem to hold any ill will toward Daniel.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Encountering the orbs[]
As an adult in the early part of the 16th century CE, Agrippa had pursued the mysterious, powerful artifacts known as the orbs for "twenty odd years," according to his letter to Weyer, before finally discovering one. In the summer of 1525, Agrippa had visited the isolated Prussian town of Altstadt and, during an exploration of the woods thereabouts, stumbled on an ancient Mithraic temple nearby.[5][6]
Straight away, the Shadow pursued and caught him, but the guardian ultimately spared the man. He couldn't speak of the incident for another decade out of fear the cosmic beast would return.[5] He and his student, Johann Weyer, came into contact with Alexander of Brennenburg and worked with him to study the mystic relics.[7][8]
It is also very likely that the reason that Alexander decided to claim the ruined castle in Altstadt was because of its secret association with the Mithraic ats and the orb located there. Which had been uncovered by Agrippa in 1525.[5][9] Alexander grew to trust both men to the point where he told them his deepest secrets.[7][8]
Between the late 16th Century and 1704, Agrippa, Alexander, and Weyer managed to open a portal to another world.[10] But Weyer and Agrippa betrayed him, with the former entering the gate. Alexander was furious at the betrayal, and held Agrippa as a prisoner in the Nave to use as a hostage against Weyer.[8] Over time Agrippa’s body failed him, and Alexander had to inject him with Vitae to keep him alive within the husk.
Weyer and Alexander negotiated, with Weyer claiming he could release Alexander from his banishment, but only if Agrippa was released.[8] Due to the nature of Agrippa’s condition, Weyer provided Alexander a tonic with which to free him.[8] However Alexander did not trust either man, due to the previous betrayal, but still planned to make the tonic.[8]
Events of The Dark Descent[]
Daniel encountered Agrippa in the Nave, past the halfway mark of the events in the story. Alexander had Agrippa locked up within the depths of Brennenburg Castle, mutilating his body and at the same time keeping him alive. When Daniel encounters Agrippa, he is asked to create a potion designed by his pupil Johann Weyer, so that Agrippa will be freed from his useless and unmoving body.
When Daniel approaches Agrippa, he will lose some sanity when Agrippa looks up at him. A switch attached to a container must be pulled for Agrippa to communicate further. If Daniel decides not to pull the switch, then upon entering the Nave after escaping from the Cells, and consequently, the Shadow, Agrippa's head will already be removed and he will not talk.
Concept Art "Mug Shot" of Agrippa.
Agrippa's writings on the occult.
Agrippa may be telepathic; when asking questions to Daniel he doesn't wait for his answer, as though knowing what Daniel will say before he can even voice it, which is also supported by his lack of a functioning jaw. Apparently, Alexander also shares this ability. However, it is entirely possible that the game merely omits Daniel's dialogue.
Agrippa is used as a plot device to resemble Daniel's morality. If the player chooses not to save Agrippa, Daniel will be depicted as selfish and hateful. If the player made the effort to save Agrippa with Weyer's tonic, Daniel will be depicted as charitable and sympathetic. These choices also affect how Alexander first responds when finally confronted, and loading screen messages explaining the fate of Daniel's sister, Hazel. If Agrippa's severed head was placed in Alexander's portal at the end of the game and Daniel is consumed by The Shadow, Agrippa's voice is heard, pointing to Daniel's good character by stating that he "deserves so much more."
Possible endings[]
- Main article: Amnesia: The Dark Descent/Endings
Portrait of the real-life occultist Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Daniel could create Johann Weyer's tonic, giving him the option to free Agrippa. Upon being fed the tonic, Daniel was asked to saw off Agrippa's head, which can then be put into the player's inventory.
In the final portion of the game, Daniel can place Agrippa's head into the portal after it opens, where Agrippa was teleported into the Other World. The Shadow then proceed to kill both Daniel and Alexander, but Daniel will be saved by Agrippa and Johann Weyer. The game ended with Agrippa asking Johann to help Daniel and told him everything would be alright.
- If Daniel refuses to help Agrippa, then it is likely he meets his end at the hands of the Shadow.
- If Daniel saws off Agrippa's head but doesn't put it through the portal, then he most likely dies after Weyer's tonic wears off.
Quotes[]
- Main article: Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa/Dialogue
- "Daniel? Like the prophet thrown into the lion's den. Tell me – are you among the lions, Daniel? You want to stop Alexander? Oh, my... so Babylon shall fall, you say."
- " I was once quite important, you know."
- "There he is. Do you see him, Weyer? He deserves so much more. Please, help him, I know you can."
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 "Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa." Accessed 19 May 2022. Last revised 14 March 2022. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Cornelius_Agrippa.
- ↑ Daniel's Note to Self (TDD) – "19th of August, 1839"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Amnesia: The Dark Descent – English credits: "Bill Corkery as Agrippa"
- ↑ Dialogue (TDD) – Agrippa: "Who, me? I am Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa. I was once quite important, you know."
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Letter Regarding the Discovery of an Orb (TDD)
- ↑ Dialogue (TDD) – Agrippa: "I found a Mithraeum once. One which had not been plundered."
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Regarding Explosive Mixture (TDD)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Agrippa Channels Weyer (TDD)
- ↑ Local Folklore, 'A Visit Undone' (TDD) – "Heinrich is known to have passed away in Grenoble some ten years later."
- ↑ Memory capsules: Study (TDD)
[]
| |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||