Wander’s Quest: Wander enters the Forbidden Lands with Mono’s body and the Ancient Sword, a relic stolen from his village. He seeks the help of Dormin, a mysterious, disembodied entity sealed within the Shrine of Worship. The Colossi: There are 16 colossi, each serving as a living vessel for a fragment of Dormin’s essence. They are neutral beings—often passive until provoked—acting as jailers to keep Dormin powerless and scattered across the land. Dormin: A dual-voiced entity (both male and female) that was long ago split into sixteen parts and sealed away by Lord Emon’s ancestors to prevent its return. While Dormin fulfills the promise to revive Mono, it uses Wander’s body as a vessel to reform its original shadow-giant state. Wander’s Corruption: As each colossus is slain, a black filament of Dormin’s soul enters Wander. This physically corrupts him—his skin pales, his hair darkens, and he eventually grows horns, a trait associated with the "cursed" bloodline in the spiritual successor, ICO. The Forbidden Lands: This vast peninsula is isolated by a massive stone bridge. It contains ancient ruins suggesting it was once inhabited by a civilization that worshipped—and ultimately sealed away—Dormin. Connections to Other Games Director Fumito Ueda has confirmed that Shadow of the Colossus is a prequel to ICO. The Horned Boys: The infant born at the end of the game (Wander reborn) is the ancestor of the horned boys featured in ICO, who are sacrificed centuries later due to their perceived curse. Spiritual Trilogy: Along with The Last Guardian, the games share a universe characterized by "show, don't tell" storytelling, similar architectural styles (like the Shrine of Worship), and themes of isolation and sacrifice. Popular Theories Nimrod Connection: "Dormin" spelled backward is "Nimrod," a biblical king whose body was famously cut into pieces and scattered, paralleling Dormin’s imprisonment. Mono’s Curse: Mono was sacrificed because she had a "cursed fate," leading some fans to speculate she might have been intended as a vessel for Dormin, which is why Wander was able to resurrect her only after Dormin was released.