Heart of the World: Difference between revisions

'''The Heart of the World''', also known as '''the Primordial Core''', is a mystical object with a central position in the cosmology of [[the Glade of Dreams]], the world in which the [[Rayman (series)|''Rayman'' series]] takes place. The Heart is mentioned in ''[[Rayman 2]]'' and ''[[Rayman Origins]]'', though its only confirmed in-game appearance is in ''[[Rayman 3]]''. Comprising one thousand [[Yellow Lum]]s, the Heart is a glowing conglomeration of light whose energy sustains the harmony and balance of [[the Glade of Dreams]]. It was originally guarded by [[The First King|the First Grand Minimus]], whose [[Grand Minimus|descendants]] took over the job when he died.

In ''[[Rayman 2]]'', [[Rayman]] can unlock a number of cosmic secrets relating to the nature of [[The Glade of Dreams|his world]] by gathering the [[Yellow Lum]]s. This information is collectively known as [[the Knowledge of the World]]. [[The Knowledge of the World|The Knowledge]] contains a number of statements relating to the Heart of the World. It says that the [[Yellow Lum]]s are ‘the most important ones’, and that ‘one day, the [[Lum]]s focused their energy into thought, and their consciousness brought to life a strange and marvellous creature: [[Polokus]]’. This shows that the [[Yellow Lum]]s – which are synonymous with the Heart – had a significant hand in the birth of [[Polokus]], the god who dreamt [[the Glade of Dreams]] into existence. In ''[[Rayman 3]]'', [[Murfy]] states that ‘the Heart is where all the world’s energy comes from’ – if [[Lum]]s are counted as ‘energy’, this implies that the Heart is wholly responsible for the creation of [[Polokus]], and thus the entire universe. [[The Knowledge of the World]] also mentions that ‘the universe is made of energy’.

At the beginning of ''[[Rayman 2]]'', the Heart of the World is destroyed by the [[Robo-Pirate]]s and their leader, [[Admiral Razorbeard]]. The 1000 [[Yellow Lum]]s which formed the Heart (only 800 in the PlayStation version) are scattered about [[the Glade of Dreams]]. This cataclysmic event destroys the natural order, plunging the world into chaos and robbing [[Rayman]] and [[Ly]] the Fairy of their powers. The shattering of the Heart has serious negative repercussions for [[The Glade of Dreams|the Glade]]; dangerous creatures such as [[caterpillar]]s, [[Spider (Rayman 2)‎|spiders]], [[piranha]]s and [[Zombie Chicken]]s begin to appear and multiply. [[Foutch]], the Guardian of [[Four Masks of Polokus|the third mask of Polokus]], is driven insane. Over the course of the game, [[Rayman]] must gather the 1000 [[Yellow Lum]]s, ultimately reconstructing the Heart and restoring [[The Glade of Dreams|the world]]'s balance.

At the beginning of ''[[Rayman 3]]'', [[André]], the villainous leader of the [[Black Lum]]s, infiltrates [[the Fairy Council]]. He wishes to reach the Heart of the World and convert its energy into an army of [[Hoodlum]]s with which he can take over [[the Glade of Dreams]]. [[Globox]] puts a stop to [[André]]'s plans by inadvertently swallowing him, thus putting the Heart out of immediate danger; for the remainder of the game, [[André]] pursues another power source, the [[Sceptre of the Leptys]]. While the appearance of the Heart is the same in the majority of the versions, in the GameCube version the colors are darker.

While the Heart does not play any direct role, the presence of a vast amount of [[Yellow Lum]]s in [[the Glade of Dreams]] suggests that it had once again come under attack and was split apart prior to the events of these games.

[[Image:R1Intro 002.PNG|thumb|right|316px|class=sprite|The [[Great Protoon]], which appears in [[Rayman|the original ''Rayman'' game]], resembles the Heart of the World in both form and function, and may well be the Heart under another name.]]

In [[Rayman 1|the original ''Rayman'' game]], a mystical orb named the [[Great Protoon]] appears. Like the Heart of the World, it maintains the harmony and balance of the world. When it is stolen by the villainous [[Mr Dark]], the world is plunged into chaos, and unpleasant creatures begin to appear and multiply. After this game, the [[Great Protoon]] is never mentioned, and its position in the story is subsequently filled by the Heart of the World. Since the Heart largely has the same function as [[Great Protoon|the Protoon]] (and even resembles it in ''[[Rayman 3]]''), it has been speculated that they are in fact the same object.