Lanternist/Lore

Overview

Lore

Cosmetics

Gallery

"Filled with an emptiness, I have nowhere to express my heartache"

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Amanda Gaddis
Name	Amanda Gaddis
Gender	Female
Nationality	Unknown
Career	Lanternist
Character Details
Date of Birth	October 19th
Age	21+
Talents	Painting, humming
Interests	Creating optical exhibits based on crime-themed works
Likes	Crime novels, fairy tales, marigolds
Dislikes	Sleeping, sewing, fanatics
Story Details
Connected Characters	Major: Joseph Desaulniers Luca Balsa Ann Alva Lorenz Philippe Minor: Amanda's Father Eye of Darkness Christina Mr. Leroux (Mentor) "Dogma" (Friend)

Amanda Gaddis, also known as the Lanternist, is one of the 50 playable Survivors added to Identity V.

This page is a compilation of lore and story content for this character.

Backstory

Character Introduction

Hypersomnia haunted Amanda Gaddis all her life. Sudden collapses struck without warning, and hallucinations preyed upon her senses at every turn.
As a child, she grew up alone in a small chamber within the prison where her father worked as a guard. Fearing she might collapse in the path of a moving carriage or encounter other dangers, he kept her close under constant watch.
From an early age, Amanda had to contend with a distorted perception of the world. In her vision loomed a giant eye, fixed upon her every move, so near she felt she could reach out and touch its golden iris. Whenever she grew weak, whisper-like murmurs and shadowy phantoms would circle around her.
Like any frightened child, she instinctively sought comfort in her family. But her mother, deeply devout, could not bear Amanda's "blasphemous" descriptions of what she saw, and chose to leave the household. Her father continued to protect her, yet their bond gradually wore down into something muted, silent, and edged with distance.
Over time, Amanda learned to keep quiet, to look past the things that "should not exist." But her occasional sleep-talking still unsettled her father—proof that his daughter had never truly "recovered."
Amanda's sense of time, too, was fractured. The small prison skylight served as her only window to the outside world, its tiny patch of sky her clock. Yet the changing light was often broken into hazy fragments by sudden sleep attacks.
Her father and fellow guards were tasked with overseeing special prisoners—the most dangerous, and paradoxically, the most valuable for study. Amanda's watchful eyes took in everything: the guards' whispered dealings, small trinkets smuggled in from the outside world, and the litany of crimes attributed to each inmate.
Her quiet observations continued until the day one such prisoner offered her a peculiar gift: a crude optical viewer. Through its lenses, shifting with the turn of a finger, she could watch a streetscape transform in delicate detail—sky changing from noonday blue to the deep purples of night, windows and lamps gradually lighting as darkness fell.
"So that's how people pass a day..."
Amanda's new friend, known in the newspapers as Dogma, was the infamous culprit of the Marigold Murder Case. She possessed strength beyond that of most grown men, enough to commit acts of staggering violence. Dogma was also a prized subject for phrenological research—a critical step, the scholars said, on the path toward ultimate justice.
Dogma answered every one of Amanda's questions, speaking slowly, sometimes pausing to recall details—bringing to life the rhythm of her old work in the flower fields: the spider-silk scent of the air at dawn, the bark and petals dry and warm under the noonday sun, and the labor ending at sunset—when the sky deepened beyond even the marigold's orange-red.
It was then that Amanda knew: she longed for a life that was simple, for all the days and nights yet to come.
But when the scholars' theories reached their peak, Dogma was sentenced to hang. How could a child fight such forces? For the first time in years, Amanda looked straight into those ever-present golden eyes.
"In the gap between her final interview and medical examination... buy her some time."
Her "relapse" caused just enough disruption to trigger the impossible: in her haze, she saw robed figures wearing pendants shaped like cat's eyes—proof that her "hallucinations" were no illusion. When she awoke, Amanda had become one of these Exiles. Living hidden from public sight was a liberation, though their cryptic faith and rituals stirred unease in her.
One morning, Dogma left a short message and disappeared. It was the second time someone close to Amanda had cut themselves away from her life in devotion to some higher creed. From then on, she despised distant, lofty ideals. She resolved to pursue only the goals she chose for herself.
Many years later, Amanda used optical devices to host her own exhibitions—most devoted to crime and nightmare—gathering information she deemed necessary. Her work caught the eye of her mentor, Leroux, who gave her a projection lantern from an old acquaintance. The unseen designer wished its future owner to truly grasp what "image and time" could convey when wielded as a tool.
When Amanda received a mysterious letter—bearing hints of a certain "ritual"—she did not hesitate to visit the destination.

Chinese Character Introduction

Throughout her life, Amanda Gaddis suffered from atypical narcolepsy: unpredictable cataplexy in conjunction with hallucinations that could interfere with her senses at any time.
She spent her childhood alone in a small room in a prison. Her father, who worked as a prison guard, feared the thought of her losing consciousness in front of a carriage again or encountering other dangers, so he kept her near to watch over her.
Amanda has had to handle her "distorted perception of the world" since she was a child. The giant eyeball locked onto her every move looked as if she could reach out and touch its golden iris by merely extending her finger. During moments of weakness, hushed whispers and dark phantoms would surround her.
When frightened, a child will instinctively seek the protection of their family—however, those blasphemous accounts drove her mother, a devout believer, to decide to leave the family. While her father still ensured her safety, their familiar affection slowly wore away, becoming something inextricable, silent, and distant.
Later on, Amanda learned to keep silent at the right moments; to turn a blind eye to the "things that shouldn't exist," but her occasional sleep talking still filled her father with fear—his daughter had never truly gotten "better."
Amanda's perception of time was equally fragmented. The prison's small skylight served as her only way to observe the world outside, yet the shifts in the small patch of sky were cut into indistinct pieces by her sudden bouts of sleep.

Here, the prison guards oversee notable inmates—the most dangerous and the most valuable for research. The frail child quietly observed these criminals and their "bad habits:" those hidden, clandestine deals, those little trinkets from the outside world, as well as the guards' accounts of each prisoner's numerous crimes......
This cautious observation continued until she received a special gift from one of the heavily-sentenced convicts: A simple optical peepbox. Inside, the street view would change subtly by adjusting her fingers: the sky shifted from a daytime blue into the deep purple of night, and the windows and street lamps along the road slowly lit up as time passed.
"So, this is how people live out a day......"

In tabloids, Amanda's new friend was known as "Dogma," the infamous perpetrator of the "Haarlem Plantation Marigold Murder Case." She possessed a physique that far exceeded that of a grown man, capable of committing acts of astounding violence. Moreover, she was listed as an important subject for phrenological research. "Dogma" was a crucial stepping stone on the road to truth and justice.
"Dogma" answered every one of Amanda's questions. Her narration was always slow and gentle, and at times she would pause briefly to search her memory to recall every detail of labouring in the flower fields: The dawn air smelled like cobwebs, while by noon the tree bark and petals became dry and warm. Work stopped at sunset—when the sky deepened to a richer orange than the marigolds.
Back then, Amanda was certain that she longed for such an ordinary life, in every day and night to come.
As her longing for the notion of a simple life reached its zenith, "Dogma" was finally sentenced to the gallows—how could a child ever hope to fight back against all this? For the first time in ages, Amanda once again gazed towards those golden eyes that had never left her.
"Buy her some time during the gap between the final interview and medical examination."
The brief commotion caused by the "relapse" truly brought about a miracle: in her daze, those long-robed figures wearing cat-eye pendants proved that Amanda's "hallucinations" were not merely illusions. When she awoke again, Amanda had become one of these "exiles." The days she spent hidden from sight made her feel incredibly free—though the belief and rituals they subtly spoke of stirred a quiet unease within her.
"Dogma" disappeared one morning after leaving a brief message. This was the second time someone had removed themselves from her life due to profound belief. Amanda held a deep aversion towards those lofty and distant ideals, resolving to accomplish everything she wanted to do.
For a long time afterward, she used optical devices to host her own exhibitions—mostly related to crime and nightmares—as a means of gathering necessary information, receiving the recognition of her mentor, Mr. Leroux. The magic lantern came from one of Mr. Leroux's old acquaintances. The designer, whom she had never met, hoped that the inheritor of this item would truly grasp the meaning that "images and time" could bring as a medium.
Upon receiving that mysterious invitation letter, along with clues about the "ritual," Amanda Gaddis headed straight for the designated place without hesitation.

Character Trailer

Identity V - Lanternist Background Story

Lanternist Background Story

Trailer Transcript

(Piercing)
(suffocating)
With every sudden plunge into sleep (worthless)
time and I are sliced apart
a burden
Oh God (agony)
It's happening again
Poor girl
Tormented by phantoms
even in her dreams (hollow sympathy)
Inside that little box
light and shadow shift
steady
unbroken
No more panic when everything freezes
A complete day
That's how it was meant to be
This gift is mending me
but the shadow of loss always follows right behind joy
Another child of darkness
destined for the noose!
Such grand theories
These people
They all owe her for what was taken
Just a little more time
Look
I did it
my pain finally has meaning!
Justice
No
Vengeance!
He'll taste the same suffering
But where did you go!?
No matter
I'll tear through every layer of time
Until I find you

Deduction Quests

All completed Objectives reward the player with +335 Logic points for the Logic Path. After the character's deductions are completed, their Worn Clothes will be available.

Press "Collapse" to hide the deduction path.

Deduction Quests Conclusion 1. Amanda: A name born from a beautiful verb. Basic Objective: Reach 30% Decoding Progress on a freeze-framed Cipher Machine Advanced Objective 1: Reach 60% Decoding Progress on a freeze-framed Cipher Machine Advanced Objective 2: Reach 100% Decoding Progress on a freeze-framed Cipher Machine Psychological Intervention Record: "I can't stand it! I can't stand... her. Do you think 'hallucinations' could explain a child this young speaking like that? No one taught her, no one! That... that was the devil's whisper." 2. "Dogma": A moniker crafted to draw the public eye. Basic Objective: Freeze-frame yourself 1 times while being pursued Advanced Objective 1: Freeze-frame yourself 2 times while being pursued Advanced Objective 2: Freeze-frame yourself 3 times while being pursued A News Clipping: "Dogma" appears to be linked to a rising sect. In truth, the scene of the Marigold Rack Case was steeped in violence and symbolism. Perhaps in those twisted limbs and ornate decorations, we can find a root psychological cause. 3. An Ordinary Day: A description that sometimes hides an unspoken longing. Basic Objective: Trigger Optical Illusion 2 times while being pursued Advanced Objective 1: Trigger Optical Illusion 3 times while being pursued Advanced Objective 2: Trigger Optical Illusion 5 times while being pursued A Page from a Diary: Her palms were callused and scratched, unlike mine. I imagine that's how she tended the flowers. Maybe one day I'll see those flowers displayed at the market and meet the customers she's forbidden to speak to. 4. Conversation: A practice meant to acquire information with skill and subtlety. Basic Objective: Teammates reach 20% Decoding Progress on a freeze-framed Cipher Machine Advanced Objective 1: Teammates reach 40% Decoding Progress on a freeze-framed Cipher Machine Advanced Objective 2: Teammates reach 70% Decoding Progress on a freeze-framed Cipher Machine A Page from a Diary: Even if she is proven to have done horrific things, that special agent who spoke with the inmates still suspects the killing was done by someone else. His judgment carried little weight, far less persuasive than the theories so popular during the trial. 5. "Auditory Hallucination": A collection of guidance—whispers despised by many. Basic Objective: Use Living Image 1 times to successfully delay damage or control effects Advanced Objective 1: Use Living Image 2 times to successfully delay damage or control effects Advanced Objective 2: Use Living Image 3 times to successfully delay damage or control effects A Note with a Plan: The voice says it's almost time to act. I hoped I was merely a patient, just to prove my mother wrong. But now, I'd rather her hatred and fear have a reason—so long as it works. 6. Exile: A new identity bringing warmth and freedom. Basic Objective: Freeze-frame yourself while being pursued and avoid all damage 1 times Advanced Objective 1: Freeze-frame yourself while being pursued and avoid all damage 2 times Advanced Objective 2: Freeze-frame yourself while being pursued and avoid all damage 3 times Follower's Memo: This escape gave us the perfect candidate for the ritual. As for the young person taken with her, they seem deeply wary of us. She's an unpredictable element—we'll have to let her go. 7. Without Goodbye: A choice: inevitability, or cliché? Basic Objective: Freeze-frame a Rocket Chair while a teammate is rescued 1 times Advanced Objective 1: Freeze-frame a Rocket Chair while a teammate is rescued 1 times Advanced Objective 2: Freeze-frame a Rocket Chair while a teammate is rescued 2 times A Message: I'm sorry. I hope you find a new life; this isn't the right path for you. Still, I'm glad that after this, those nightmares that plagued you are finally gone. 8. Rising Star: A title reserved for one in the spotlight. Basic Objective: Fully decode the Exit Gate within a single freeze-frame duration Advanced Objective 1: Fully decode the Exit Gate within a single freeze-frame duration Advanced Objective 2: Fully decode the Exit Gate within a single freeze-frame duration A Letter: Mr. Leroux, thank you for supporting my optical exhibitions. Perhaps by bringing these "nightmares" and "criminals" into the spotlight, I might learn something, but what I've gathered so far is far from enough. I still don't understand them. 9. Debts: A fate etched into many souls. Basic Objective: End freeze-frame to decode the final Cipher Machine near the Exit Gate Advanced Objective 1: End freeze-frame to decode the final Cipher Machine near the Exit Gate Advanced Objective 2: End freeze-frame to decode the final Cipher Machine near the Exit Gate An Address Page with New Annotation: 111 Linden Street, Saint Mirabel District, Lyon. The past has settled into dust, but does this perversely confirm the theory? 10. Traces: A note concerning the very essence of images. Basic Objective: Use Flywheel Effect to negate damage and control effect during freeze-frame Advanced Objective 1: Use Flywheel Effect to negate damage and control effect during freeze-frame Advanced Objective 2: Use Flywheel Effect to negate damage and control effect during freeze-frame Note: In a freeze-framed moment, we realize the "now" is merely a memory of the future. Some believe the wreckage of the past hides something deeper; others long to use ghosts of the past to forge a new reality. Rumor Trained under Mr. Leroux, Amanda Gaddis became a rising star in the world of optical exhibitions—her focus fell not on pleasant vistas, but on crime scenes and murky, indistinct nightmares.

Character Resources

The additional in-game and external documents for this character include:

• Character Relations
• Quotes & Media
• Mentions

The Character Relations menu shows how certain characters are connected and how they feel about each other. The Lanternist's Character Relations menu has not yet been released.

Quotations

• New Year's 2026 quote:
  • "The world outside is vast, yet the gaps in the bars are too small. I want to capture this rain of fire and project it onto the prison walls of my friends."

Lanternist has been mentioned in the following documents for other characters:

Letters

None

Deductions

None

Backstories

None

Canon Manor Game

We can gather who was in a canon Manor Game together by information in Letters and Diaries, and very occasionally from character quotes during events. However, there is currently not enough information to determine which Manor Game the Lanternist participated in.

Compiled Overview

The following section contains an overview based on canon information.

Please note that some information may be missing as it may not have been provided from official sources. See the given references for further information.

Backstory

TBA

Alternate Theories and Conclusions

The below article or section(s) contains speculation, analysis, or theories which may include unconfirmed information.

When adding content, use references to link or explain legitimate/official supportive evidence for specific theories, otherwise it may be removed.

• Based on her appearance, it is theorized Amanda is part of the same religion as Hermit and "Disciple", worshiping the Eye of Darkness.
  • It is further speculated that she is the writer of Hermit's 2025 Letter given the significance of the writer's visit to Het Arresthuis. Het Arresthuis was where Mr. Leroux showed off his optical device, which is similar to the "optical toys" Amanda is interested in. Given she is his apprentice, it is likely she traveled with him to the prison.
• In her poster, the book she is standing on mentions the Gardener, suggesting a connection between the two.
  • In a fanmade Emma backstory analysis video posted on the developers' official Dashen accounts they also pointed out Emma's name in Amanda's poster and said that more of Emma's fate might be revealed with Amanda's release, further hinting at some connection.

Navigation

Character Navigation
THE SURVIVORS
DEFAULT
	Lucky Guy (Season 0)	Doctor (Season 0)	Lawyer (Season 0)	Thief (Season 0)	Gardener (Season 0)
SEASON 1
	Magician (Season 1)	Explorer (Season 1)	Mercenary (Season 1)	Coordinator (Season 1)	Mechanic (Season 1)
					-
	Forward (Season 1)	The Mind's Eye (Season 1)	Priestess (Season 1)	Perfumer (Season 1)
SEASON 2-3					-
	Cowboy (Season 2)	Female Dancer (Season 2)	Seer (Season 3)	Embalmer (Season 3)
SEASON 5-7
	Prospector (Season 5)	Enchantress (Season 5)	Wildling (Season 6)	Acrobat (Season 6)	First Officer (Season 7)
SEASON 8-11
	Barmaid (Season 8)	Postman (Season 9)	Grave Keeper (Season 10)	"Prisoner" (Season 10)	Entomologist (Season 11)
SEASON 13-17
	Painter (Season 13)	Batter (Season 14)	Toy Merchant (Season 16)	"Psychologist" (Season 17)	Patient (Season 17)
SEASON 18-22
	Novelist (Season 18)	"Little Girl" (Season 18)	Weeping Clown (Season 19)	Professor (Season 21)	Antiquarian (Season 22)
SEASON 24-30
	Composer (Season 24)	Journalist (Season 26)	Aeroplanist (Season 27)	Cheerleader (Season 28)	Puppeteer (Season 30)
SEASON 31-36
	Fire Investigator (Season 31)	"Faro Lady" (Season 32)	"Knight" (Season 34)	Meteorologist (Season 35)	Archer (Season 36)
SEASON 37-41				-
	"Escapologist" (Season 37)	Lanternist (Season 39)	Matador (Season 41)
THE HUNTERS
DEFAULT		-
	Hell Ember (Season 0)
SEASON 1-4
	Smiley Face (Season 1)	Gamekeeper (Season 1)	The Ripper (Season 1)	Soul Weaver (Season 1)	Geisha (Season 1)
	The Feaster (Season 1)	Wu Chang (Season 2)	Photographer (Season 2)	Mad Eyes (Season 3)	Dream Witch (Season 4)
SEASON 5-9
	Axe Boy (Season 5)	Evil Reptilian (Season 6)	Bloody Queen (Season 7)	Guard 26 (Season 8)	"Disciple" (Season 9)
SEASON 11-16
	Violinist (Season 11)	Sculptor (Season 12)	"Undead" (Season 13)	Breaking Wheel (Season 15)	Naiad (Season 16)
SEASON 18-25
	Wax Artist (Season 18)	"Nightmare" (Season 18)	Clerk (Season 20)	Hermit (Season 22)	Night Watch (Season 25)
SEASON 27-34
	Opera Singer (Season 27)	"Fool's Gold" (Season 29)	The Shadow (Season 31)	"Goatman" (Season 33)	"Hullabaloo" (Season 34)
SEASON 36-40				-
	Peddler (Season 36)	"Cueist" (Season 38)	"Queen Bee" (Season 40)
IDENTITY SWITCH CHARACTERS
Novelist ⇌ "Nightmare"		Smiley Face ⇌ Weeping Clown		Evil Reptilian ⇌ Professor
"Little Girl" ⇌ Journalist		Prospector ⇌ "Fool's Gold"		Acrobat ⇌ "Hullabaloo"
Entomologist ⇌ "Queen Bee"		-
STORY RELATED CHARACTERS
Reporter		Detective		and many others...
CUT CHARACTERS
CUT SURVIVORS					-
	Female Driver	Graveyard Girl	Paparazzi	Slacker
CUT HUNTERS				-
	Ascetic Monk	Moon Face	Puppet

Lanternist Navigation
Lanternist	Lanternist/Lore	Lanternist/Cosmetics	Lanternist/Gallery
Tool	External Traits
Projection Lantern	Living Image • Static Projection • Optical Illusion • All Thumbs
Costumes
S-Tier (Gold)	Feast on This Shore
A-Tier (Purple)	Robin
B-Tier (Blue)	Dreamwalking • Paradise Drifter
C-Tier (Green)	Original • Worn Clothes
Accessories
S-Tier (Gold)	None
A-Tier (Purple)	None
B-Tier (Blue)	None
Other Customizations
Graffiti • Emotes • Standby Motions