This is a collaboration theory with Knightmeteor from the Falcom Discord. We will be focusing mostly on late Sen 2 and Sen 3 information, mostly pertaining to Rean and Crow.

Recent Sen III information has brought us the introduction of the Infiltrators, specifically relevant ones being Azure Siegfried and the leaked but still unshown Black Alberich name that came from a website leak. Though he may try to mask it, Siegfried carries a huge resemblance to Crow; and while Alberich has not been shown yet, I feel we can make a pretty good guess at his identity.

First lets look at the names and the tale they come from, Nibelungenlied. In this story the character Alberich guards a trove of treasure, but is defeated by Siegfried. Taking the story as a reference it could be symbolic for the treasure that is the Sept Terrion, and Siegfried defeating Alberich for it. At this point this could only point to Osborne as he has taken over the phantasmal blaze plan. So I believe this opens up two possibilities that either Osborne himself is Alberich or he is employing someone called this. For the purpose of this theory we’ll be going with the latter. I also believe this person could hold the secret to a further link between Rean and Crow, and from here on I have several ideas of how this could be so lets go one by one.

Theory 1: Creations of the Black Workshop

The first idea is that Alberich is another thing Osborne took or ordered the creation of after taking over the Black Workshop. We know with Millium and Altina that they seem to like doing biological experiments, so what if they were also testing cloning technology? I propose Alberich is a clone made from Rean’s dna, and Osborne made him out of wanting a more ideal son. Possible hints to this is Osborne calling Rean worthless in his new character quote. I’m actually not too big into this idea myself but it’s still worth nothing none the less.

Theory 2: The Original and the Replicas

The second idea is that Alberich is Osborne’s original son and Rean and Crow are both cloned from him. For one thing we know Rean and Crow hold a few similarities or contrasting design points (Similar styled hair but opposite direction, contrasting hair colors, reluctant hero and reluctant villain), and generally seem to have a fondness for each other that seems bigger than just being good friends. We also don’t know who Crow’s parents are, he only mentioned them dying young and not if he actually knew them at all (although this could easily be wrecked if they’re ever expounded upon more.)

For the original son part of this, we can find some interesting dialogue from Osborne and Vita. In the flashback scene at the finale of Sen 2, Osborne says “Rean. I pray you grow up strong and healthy. Oh Aidios. If you’re listening, hear me now. Please allow this child…” Now there’s some stuff I could point out here but it’d be a little more helpful if we take a look at the Japanese line too. “”リィン”。。。 どうか健やかに育ってくれ。女神よ。。。願わくばこの子だけはーーー” First interesting thing to note here is Rean’s name is specifically put in quotations marks here, which could possibly work as a hint for this theory that he’s not the real one. Second thing is the second sentence end of “Kono ko dakewa” which if we go for a more literal translation could say “at least, just this child” which could have one of two meanings. It could either be an implication that there were more “children” he had or it’s just suppose to imply his willingness to sacrifice anything as a father, which is what the XSEED line points more to. With only the information we have so far it’s a bit hard to tell if it’s suppose to be one or the other or possibly both meanings at the same time but I’ll include it just in case.

Another thing is Vita/Misty’s line in chapter 5, “I had this feeling I’d seen you somewhere before, but I couldn’t put my finger on where. But it’s “you” isn’t it?” This line has been confusing ever since the game came out, but going by this theory it could start to make sense. Since the thirteen factories were under Ouroboros control and with her being an anguis it’s possible she could’ve know about a cloning experiment going on in the black workshop. Although Vita was only banished from the hexen clan and supposedly joined Ouroboros afterwards 5 years after Rean had already been left in the snow, it’s possible that she still could’ve had contact with them before that and they’re influence is what made her break a taboo in the first place.

And as a small ending point we can say Crow could’ve been made again as Siegfried, or possibly brought back with whatever is in Rean and quite possibly Osborne’s hearts at this point, if we believe whatever that is is infused after death. This process could also be a black workshop experiment.

Theory 3: The Terrible Sons

This one doesn’t really have much relation to to all the black workshop and Alberich parts, but it’s something I thought while looking at all the hints and similarities between Rean and Crow from the last point. The third idea is that Rean and Crow are both Osborne’s children. If this were true then I could see him planning to make a hero out of whoever won in the Infernal Castle. For Crow all he’d have to do is say he double crossed the noble alliance at the last second and was working as a double agent (although this is kind of similar to Rufus now that I think about it haha.) Osborne’s flashback quote can still be a supporting hint to this, vita’s becomes a bit shaky cause she would need to have had some contact with Osborne to know about the two of them which we don’t really have much evidence for to my knowledge. However just based on idea alone this is the one I’m most fond of.

So there we have it, three theories on either Alberich’s identity and if he has a relation to Rean and Crow or just Rean and Crow in general. I’ll admit some parts of this were just random thoughts we had discussing the infiltrators, but I feel pretty strongly the possibilities that could be brought up from these trains of thought.