A vanguard, sometimes referred to as a seer, is a creature from the Dark World that gathers information for the entity to which it is bound.
Description[]
A disembodied creature from the Dark World, a vanguard is a conduit for the monstrous forces from the Dark World.[1][2] Each vanguard is bound to an entity and is tasked to watch through many eyes and gather knowledge for that entity.[1] The answers are not immediate, as a vanguard is not all-knowing; instead, it moves between Earth and the Dark World in search of those answers. A vanguard cannot interact with the earthly plane according to John's knowledge.[1] Because of their ties to powerful entities and their ability to provide answers, vanguards are coveted by those seeking power like Antoine and Wallace Larson.[1][2]
Arthur's Vanguard[]
The specific vanguard in Arthur's Inventory was previously inhabiting the head of Kellin Holeman's sister.[1] John speculated that his sister must have encountered a powerful entity from the Dark World, as the entities "keep many fingers in this [plane] through people like Kellin’s sister."[1] It attached itself to her and used her eyes to gather knowledge; after she died, the vanguard stayed, using her body as a vessel. However, unlike John, the vanguard is not trapped in its vessel; it can leave to return to the Dark World to seek answers.[1]
Choosing not to carry a rotting head with him, Arthur removes a single tooth from her head to serve as the vessel. The vanguard calls Arthur master and does not initially need a mouth to speak; John cannot hear the vanguard's voice.[1] Kayne suggests that the vanguard's ability is underutilized without a mouth.[3]
For information regarding Arthur's vanguard post Part 42, see here.
Questions Asked[]
| Question | Answer | Asked | Answered | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who is Anna? | Anna Stanczyk | Part 10 | Part 14 | |
| Where is Anna Stanczyk? | She is dead. | Part 30 | Part Forty Two | Arthur also considers asking a question about Kayne. John vehemently cautions against asking about Kayne, who is a more powerful entity than the vanguard. |
Known Abilities[]
- Information seeker - its power lays in its ability to look through many eyes.[1]
- Corruption - the vanguard has the power to corrupt its user. It corrupts through "visceral" offerings of answers.[1]
- Multiplanar - the vanguard has one foot in both the Dark World and Earth. This is unlike other entities such as John, who exist fully on one plane.[1]
Trivia[]
- In the Part 4 episode commentary, Harlan confirms it is the vanguard's voice saying "this too shall pass" at the end of Part 4.
- In Arthur's nightmare, the vanguard, still possessing Kellin's sister, is referred to as Samantha.[4]