I think I speak for the Warframe community when I say that the announcement of Isleweaver and its delivery have been surprising. For many years, the game has always focused on moving around to different storylines within its universe. Last year, we went from Whispers in the Walls to Jade Shadows, then to Koumei and the Five Fates before getting back on track with Warframe: 1999. But while Digital Extremes has always had many storylines to tend to, 1999 has been the focus, for now, with two straight updates.
Techrot Encore added new protoframes into the mix with a slew of new and exciting weapons (not to mention the Technocyte Coda). Now with Isleweaver, not only has the 1999 storyline been carried forward, but they were also able to bring Duviri into the ongoing narrative in a unique way. Obviously, its story component is short-lived, but no doubt will have a lasting impact, especially with TennoCon 2025 on the way with reveals on what comes next.
A New and Troubled Ruler Atop the Kid’s Throne
The story of Isleweaver is told in bits and pieces as you play through the new Duviri mission node. Neci Rusalka, the previous leader of the Scaldra in 1999, has taken the throne from Dominus Thrax. However, it is very evident that only bits of her get to control her actions and what she says. As she is possessed by the Indifference, and may not be in full control of her actions.
Little bits of dialogue seem directly catered to the Indifference, with clear indicators like “Kiddo” being thrown in. While other lines feel very personal to Neci herself. With a revelation of why she smokes from an efervon pipe, detailing a very sad backstory for her. Part of my main criticism of Warframe: 1999 was the lack of Neci after the story. She got proper screentime during the quest, but we only had Viktor to speak for the scaldra.
Considering Duviri is a spiral-based dream world, I can only wonder if Neci was forced out by the end of each run, or if she simply resets it, similar to Thrax. But while this little continuation of the 1999 and Duviri story is great. Duviri itself has changed in an ominous way in Isleweaver.
Webbing on the Concrete of Isleweaver
Duviri is now just Kings Palace and the new Scholar’s Landing. Scholar’s Landing in Duviri’s lore was the place where Albrecht Entrati landed and began building his lab. It was a place claimed by the Indifference long before the events of The Duviri Paradox, and has now come back in Isleweaver… but changed in very noticeable ways. Obviously, similar to the Entrati Labs in Whispers in the Walls, it is now mixed with sand and concrete, with the Murmur present instead of the Dax soldiers.
This is a very forward continuation with very serious implications. Essentially, no place is safe from the Indifference as it tried to break into the Origin System through the Entrati Labs previously. Now it is giving Neci a place to call home while stealing Duviri away from the Drifter. Where it will try to slip through next is unclear, but seeing a previously sacred place return and ruin the dreamy ambiance of Duviri is ominous.
Scholar’s Landing in Duviri is also home to a few disturbing surprises. A statue of Neci you can kneel to, bodies of Loid, Minerva, and Velimir, with conversation notes that can be found… it is very creepy, and fits the rest of the scene in Isleweaver, especially against the new bosses.
A Spider Skittering Across Fragments
The majority of the new Isleweaver mission still plays out like normal Duviri. 6 objectives with 2 undercroft runs (which I feel breaks the flow immensely). Where it differs mostly is with the new Oraxia boss fight, which felt like a breath of fresh air. With three predictable phases that play out very nicely. She is a great and easy fight to go through. But the final boss is somehow worse than the Orowyrm.
Now, the Orowyrm fight is fine on its own, but it takes so long to get through. It is predictable and easy to take down, no matter what randomized loadout you get in Duviri. But in Isleweaver, the final fight is a duet of the Fragmented One boss fight. You have two very long and bulky bosses to fight at once. With the right loadouts, it’s fine, but some bad rolls can make the fight drag on forever. It’s not a symptom of the damage attenuation system. But it is just a very time-consuming and bitter end. Narratively, it makes sense, but the health of the bosses could have been reduced.
An Omen?
After sitting back and seeing this sudden change in Duviri with Isleweaver. Thrax is in the Dormizone, albeit temporarily for the current clan event. But it begs the question of what more could come in the future. For example, where is Teshin in all of this? If Thrax can enter the Zariman, then so can Teshin, and he could potentially return to the Origin System to help the Operator and Natah.
This very short story of 1999 and Duviri continuity is just an omen of things to come (to me at least). With TennoCon 2025 on the way, it begs the question: “Is Digital Extremes going to pivot into a new direction and go back to 1999s story whenever possible?”. Or will something else put the Indifference storyline on pause, like the Sentients? We will see in just 10 days.
