As much as I am against a lot of, 'Not really dead,' moments, I do feel like Papalymo should be revealed to of survived and have been taken captive by the Garleans.
For one thing, he was never really properly given development the way Thancred and Y'shtola were, and the way Lyse will be given development in Stormblood. For another, he's probably the strongest link we have left to Louisoix, having been his protege, and I don't think that Legacy should be handed over to Alphinaud or Alisae. Finally, there's a disrupt in the narrative where the Archons are concerned, as until this point there has always been an Archon to act as a channel of communication and expertise with the nations of the Eorzean Alliance. While Y'shtola can continue to be the specialist where Limsa Lominsa is concerned and Thancred can maintain his role as a bridge between the Scions of the Seventh Dawn and Ul'dah, the loss of both Yda and Papalymo will leave Gridania lacking in an Archon who has experience and knowledge pertinent to Gridanian interests, as well as the trust and loyalty of Gridania itself.
I can't say I see anyone in the Scions who could fill that bill either. I'm expecting Alphinaud to act as our Ishgard intermediary and Alisae to get some thorough development and become the same for Ala Mhigo or Doma, depending on the role Lyse will take up at the end of Stormblood when Ala Mhigo is liberated.
However, Gridania still needs its intermediary. I think Papalymo is the proper person for that, perhaps even more-so now that Lyse is moving on with her life. Arguably Urianger could step up to fill the role, but I don't feel he has the same qualifications necessary, and that he's best off in his current, existing role.
