Lore Book Revelations

[Theodric]

I think that the events of Crystal Tower showed that Nero doesn't have much concern for his own skin. What he is going to turn against Garlemald for is if he isn't made Nero nan Scaeva within the next five years. Full-on, Bwa-ha-ha, "You Fools Doubted My Genius!", Mad Science Breakdown.

Fair point. I do find myself wondering if the events of the Crystal Tower are going to tie into the MSQ's somehow or if it's going to continue to be a side story that's disconnected from everything else. I suppose it may be as simple as a slight dialogue change with Nero based on whether or not it's been completed. Such as how Alisae's dialogue changed depending on whether or not the player in question had completed the Coil storyline.

At any rate the next Live Letter is due on 25th November so we won't have too long to wait until we have more information to discuss.

[Fenral]

With Eureka announced, I'm hoping it becomes something a little more concrete. Doga and Unei have boss forms we never got to see, and I find it really hard to believe that Nero, as a Garlean scientist, didn't realize G'raha Tia's potential as a second Nael van Darnus. There has to be some reason they've delayed his TT card this long.

If wishes were fishes, huh?

[Sounsyy]

Where was the original Ul'dah located? I can't imagine they literally moved the entire city, brick for brick.

Looking at old lore on the King of the Spring, as well as the new stuff from the lore book, I think we can best estimate Ul'dah's original location was somewhere southeast of the Burning Wall, on the edge of Paglth'an. This might be why the Ul'dahns and the Amalj'aa have such a long history of war and violence between the two.

Year 1162
Lalawefu takes measures to secure a stable water source, and is hailed by his people as the "King of Springs". The act deals a serious blow to Ul'dah, as Sil'dih's water supply is diverted from upstream of their sister sultanate's own reservoir.

The biggest river flowing south out of the Twelveswood and Paglth'an, and dividing into tributaries that stretch across much of Thanalan, is the Yugr'am River. Supposing Sil'dih diverted the Yugr'am's flow into the direction it is today and away from Broken Water to the south, it could be used as a rough indicator for where Ul'dah was situated at the time.

As to the how they moved the city, brick by brick, I think the answer might be the enslaved hecatoncheires:

Unfortunately, it was not riches the powder kegs uncovered, but sheer terror, for when the smoke cleared, out poured an army of raging giants from the darkest recesses of the mines. The hecatoncheires - thralls of the lost Thorne Dynasty - were, at last, free from their lightless prison, three hundred years of hate fueling their madness.

Year 1270
Ul'dah relocates its capital atop of the ruins of the fallen Sil'dih.

Year 1272
The enslaved hecatoncheire giants of Copperbell Mines revolt against their masters when the enchantments on their helms wear off, and the miners force a cave-in of the lowest depths to seal the giants within. The mine is shuttered under the pretense that its veins have run barren.

Similar to the giants, the hecatoncheires were also once thralls of the gigas. Some three hundred years ago, however, history tells that these gigants were sold as slaves to the Thorne Dynasty. Their monstrous strength controlled by means of ensorcelled helms, the hecatoncheires were forced to toil with pick and hammer in Copperbell Mines.

Now, granted, the only mention of them revolves around their mining operations in Copperbell, but it's not hard to imagine that these gigants didn't have other uses. The timing of their enslavement coinciding with the relocation of a major city is too much for me to ignore.

[Belhi]

Well, with a more straight up translation from Gamer Escape, it sounds like Zenos is going to be different as in he is such an extreme bastard that no one will actually like him. Villianous ass through and through. I guess that is true. Most villians we have dealt with have something of a logic or argument to their viewpoint that allows you to see how they might think their side of things is justified. Zenos on the other hands sounds like he will just be an evil sadist and all round terrible person. For FF14 that is actually a somewhat different villain to have.

[FJerome]

Well, with a more straight up translation from Gamer Escape, it sounds like Zenos is going to be different as in he is such an extreme bastard that no one will actually like him. Villianous ass through and through. I guess that is true. Most villians we have dealt with have something of a logic or argument to their viewpoint that allows you to see how they might think their side of things is justified. Zenos on the other hands sounds like he will just be an evil sadist and all round terrible person. For FF14 that is actually a somewhat different villain to have.

Have . . . have they not noticed how many fangirls Charibert has? Zenos had better be amazingly ugly or this is going to backfire spectacularly.

I'm a bit disappointed. I was hoping, from what got said at Fanfest, that we were going to roll-up and then the remaining Ala Mhigans who stuck it out would have gone "no, no actually we're . . . okayish? I mean, it's no picnic but it's better than another Theodoric."

Actually given what Theodoric was like maybe that's going to happen anyway.

[Theodric]

That's...disappointing if true. Especially when they made a big deal at Fan Fest about how the situation in Ala Mhigo is supposedly going to be 'morally grey' and will deal with the fact that not all Ala Mhigans may want to be liberated.

Unless, of course, Xenos is disliked by Garleans and Ala Mhigans alike working beneath him and that builds a bridge between them? It still doesn't do any FFXII reference justice though - neither Vayne nor Gabranth were completely evil.

[FJerome]

That's...disappointing if true. Especially when they made a big deal at Fan Fest about how the situation in Ala Mhigo is supposedly going to be 'morally grey' and will deal with the fact that not all Ala Mhigans may want to be liberated.

Unless, of course, Xenos is disliked by Garleans and Ala Mhigans alike working beneath him and that builds a bridge between them? It still doesn't do any FFXII reference justice though - neither Vayne nor Gabranth were completely evil.

If they're going to go full-on FF12 maybe it'll be the Larsa analogue who'll work with us?

[Theodric]

If they're going to go full-on FF12 maybe it'll be the Larsa analogue who'll work with us?

Regula would have worked well for that - but by the sounds of the interview and the fact that it states we're not going to learn too much about him it seems like he's going to die as I feared. I'm going to try and be optimistic but I fear they're set on making Garlemald a generic evil Empire after all and that the only 'good' Garleans will be defectors (ugh) or just killed off for drama and tragedy.

Alphinaud has effectively become 'Larsa' at this point too. So a 'Gabranth' or 'Drace' would be a better fit for a Garlean ally.

I just...don't think I can stomach an expansion based around Ala Mhigans being praised left, right and centre. I really hope there's more to all this and they're not planning on giving Ilberd the 'Ysayle' treatment and then not bothering to do anything with Garlemald to lessen it's perceived bad nature.

[FJerome]

I just...don't think I can stomach an expansion based around Ala Mhigans being praised left, right and centre. I really hope there's more to all this and they're not planning on giving Ilberd the 'Ysayle' treatment and then not bothering to do anything with Garlemald to lessen it's perceived bad nature.

(Man, should we spin this off into a 4.0 story speculation thread? It's not really about the Lore Book anymore)

I think from the way the story is going, the increased emphasis on the what the Beast Tribes are suffering, the fact that retaking Ala Mhigo would encourage rebellion in the rest of the Empire, I suspect that the good Garleans will continue to be defectors but they wouldn't be people who would have defected under Galvus. I doubt Varis has entirely purged the Empire of the people who supported his uncle and his more moderate view-point, there's probably quite a few officers who think the Empire's expansion itself is justified by the peace and order it brings but are now worried that's all in jeopardy because the wrong man's won the throne.

[Berethos]

mind sharing some of the cool MCH stuff, if you don't mind?

Apologies for not responding sooner.

Machinist Stuff:

Limit Break is called Satellite Beam. Uses a "crystal drive unit" so I'm guessing it's meant to be a device that soaks up aether as the battle goes on and can be activated once it has a sufficient amount.

Ricochet uses small Ishgardian Steel plates cast out (to specific points I assume) as reflectors to bounce a shot between targets.

The tech itself for Machinist came about when Stephanivien de Halillenarte (age 30) decided to mix the magitek that had begun to use with the help of Garlond Ironworks (via a contract for "technological exchange" made with Jessie Baler, the Deputy President of GI) with aetherology. Key to that tech is the aetherotransformer, created by Stephanivien.

The side-apron tool pouch of the Machinist's attire carries the transformer, ammo, and other gadgets used.

The firearm Ferdinand uses a "wind crystal-pressurized cartridge" instead of Firesand. Peddled at market as a priceless antique to recoup high construction costs as the design was seen as overly ambitious.

Actual antique, the Pre-Imperial Garlean Revolver was the first to use a cylindrical magazine. Exquisitely decorated revolvers often awarded to those whose rank gained them the title "tol" or higher. This particular model was basically a museum piece kept by the Sharlayans, which is why it can be found in the Great Gubal Library.

Peacemaker - of Allagan make and found at Silvertear Falls, uses lightning crystals to increase a shot's initial velocity.