Behind The Mask – Battle against Legatus Nael van Darnus [7th Umbral Era Predictions]

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Originally Posted by AdvancedWind

I believe Nael is doing this entirely by himself, with no approval whatsoever of the Emperor.

During the main storyline we are told about the linkpearls the empire has been dropping on the city states, explicitly asking for surrender and aid on their quest to defeat the beast tribes and the primals. This makes me believe that the Garleans are not intersteted in blowing everything up, and would rather take over Eorzea and use the power of the city states to kill the primals than just destroying them all. Why would they suddenly start considering a far more drastic approach to the problem, which is likely to cause massive garlean casualities and prevent them from gathering more people for their army?

Also, both Nael and Gaius never actually mention the usage of Meteor as an order of the emperor, even when Nael is trying to convince Gaius to help him. In fact, I would say that just the fact that he needs to gather "allies" is a pretty solid evidence saying he's doing it by himself.

What I personally think is that, at the end of 7th umbral era storyline, some connection between van Darnus and whatever "greater evil" behind the main storyline plot will be made, to tie both plotlines. I wouldn't be surprised if he was either possessed / controlled by something, or if he was part of that "antagonist group". , and I really doubt the Seventh Umbral era will be a completely side story with no ties to the main plot and will only serve to explain the map changes for 2.0.

As for the battle, I'd bet on a fight against Nael *and* Gaius at the same time, that at some point will become a fight against a powered up Nael (maybe using the runestones to power up) who will ultimately end up killed by Gaius, but not before completing Meteor. I also bet Yoshi-P himself will refer to this battle as a sort of "Final Boss Battle" for the 7th umbral era.

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Gaius states that Nael has permission from His Radiance (the Emperor) to go ahead with the Meteor Project, but he also noticed a change in van Darnus' personality of late, and feels that he is lying to the Emperor about Dalamund's true purpose.

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Originally Posted by Ramesses

...Could the Twelve actually have been Thirteen?

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I actually really like this idea, too. Mainly because we're also getting mythology on the twelve in 1.23. Perhaps it will tie into the Dalamud arc, and we'll learn there was a promathia-esque god that the Allagans succeeded in sealing away. Perhaps his name was Dalamud, even.

Perhaps this god was responsible for the Umbral Eras. It continued to wipe the world clean, and the other twelve gods saw to it the realm was reborn again with the Astral Eras. Unless I mistaken though, the most recent Umbral era occurred well after the Allagan empire had fallen, so those don't really tie together well.

Also, hastily threw this together for all the people that still don't believe Nael Van Darnus turns into that Ultima/Omega weapon. The whole "It's 2.0 concept art, therefor it's showing up in 2.0" is nonsense, as the Chimera and that giant Cyclops/Gigas were originally "2.0 concept art", and they showed up in game way before 2.0 came around.

http://i.imgur.com/JcqJ0.jpg

It's just hard to call all those similarities coincidences. I mean, the texture on the "frame" holding that gemstone is the exact same on both Darnus and the weapon.

Hello again.

With patch 1.23's release incoming later in the evening, and since Yoshida said that we wouldn't receive any spoilerish informations on the new Seventh Umbral Era battles until the very last day, I think it's just a matter of hours before they release the early patch notes with the much anticipated match.

In case other adventurers are left behind with the 7th Umbral Era storyline or are not in Eorzea anymore (in this case, I suggest you to come back to enjoy this one-time only Great experience), I compiled a round-up of the latest missions in my journal, from “Deus ex Machina” to “United We Stand”:

http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com/rc/diary/entry?e=398974


I opened this Topic last January and my original guess was just driven by fantasy, but according to the latest Grand Company missions, it appears quite clear that we'll battle Nael van Darnus, and like I said in my previous prediction, I believe he will offer his own body (flesh) to Dalamud, making “the sin exiled to the skies”, that is actually a Weapon, return once again and lay waste in Eorzea, for an epic final duel.

I still hope we'll battle Nael in human form first, and the next stage being the “Darnus Weapon” (maybe that might get released in one of the lettered patches).

So, today is the day and this was my prediction. I feel particularly excited because I met the Legatus in Camp Horizon last August and followed all the story thoroughly, rounding it up in my blog.
Surely the Seventh Umbral Era 1-year long seasonal event has been a Great experience, and I'm sure the Grand Finale won't disappoint.

If other adventurers would like to give their takes on the final showdown, let's make the lore flowing!

I predict multiple forms.

What? Nael van Darnus is evolving!

Nael van Darnus evolved into Ultima Weapon!

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With patch 1.23's release incoming later in the evening

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Not to be that "guy" but patch is Tomorrow Evening :p.

Hmmm Omega Weapon... sounds legit.

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He says he will offer his own flesh to Dalamud... Could he transform into...?

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to.../79/4703_1.jpg


If you've a keen eye you might notice a slight resemblance.

I'll gather all these new revelations in a round-up for my blog in the near future, but in the meantime I wanted to post this for all the lore-interested adventurers. Cool stuff the 7th Umbral Era, eh? :D

Whatever battle and in whatever will transform the Legatus of the VIIth Legion, I'm sure the final showdown with Darnus in patch 1.23 is gonna be Super Great!

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Its good that people figured out this is weapon. But for it to have a connection to the Van's I dont think so. From many previous FF titles, they were "optional non-storyline related bosses" and were practically to test the strength of a party willing to fight for like an hour or somewhat less without wipe due to "crazy" hp.


This is my imagination here
An optional quest
"The Ancient Threat"
NPC: Have you heard the legend of a legendary monstrosity that came to Eorzea ages before the thinnest of beast that was said to have power to swallow seas and destroy mountains? So terrifying that Dalamud in comparison naught!
Player: ...
NPC: Aye, that be the tall tale, and would bet the prettiest Amalj'aa coin for the life of me!
NPC: There on the southeast edge of Eorzea at blah blah blah sleeps a cave named blah blah blah. There, you must seeketh the "Siren". Her sweet eternal melody keeps the terror in deep sleep! Find the primal, defeat her, and thou majesty shall awaken!
NPC: Thy name is Omega Weapon!
Player: ........
NPC: hahahah! I apologize if i made thee shite like a Cockatrice's arse! Its a tall tale after all!
Now off you go!




http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0...ega_weapon.jpg

Hello once more.

In case other adventurers not in Eorzea anymore are following the Seventh Umbral Era storyline, I've written another journal entry on the final mission, “To Kill a Raven”:

http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com/rc/diary/entry?e=403047


I want to say a few things to the dev team.
Unfortunately we couldn't see “who's behind the mask”, but this final battle was truly as epic as I hoped.
The floating sanctuary of Rivenroad was a Great place and this photo where me and my party members (all showed on the airship cutscene!) were going towards a Dalamud partly hidden by the clouds, really looked like we were going to “the final dungeon”:

http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...TMVFMqODUk.jpg

As for the battle itself, it was challenging the way I like it. I wasn't touching my Monk for weeks and even if I was a bit rusty, I could do my part (at the very end I got hit by 3 consecutive Iron Charios, but my party members managed to finish the White Raven off anyway).

Here's one of the photo I like the most:

http://static2.finalfantasyxiv.com/a...TMU0M4HnzY.jpg

Seeing Dalamud of that size and the Great music resonating in the aether, made the battle even more epic.
And the following part at the Lotus Stand really felt like an ending... although we all know eventually it won't be a happy one...

As for the storyline, I though about the attack the White Raven used, Megaflare...

That's a renowned attack of Bahamut, so I wonder if he has anything to do with it... I remember that quest where I learned that the dragons od Dravania worshipped a god and I thought it was Bahamut.
Could he really be the one sealed inside of Dalamud? Somehow, it doesn't feel right...

My guess is that Nael's being and consciousness was absorbed by Dalamud and that he will turn into a Weapon like I predicted in my previous post.
So whatever remains of Darnus is now inside of the red moon and his plan to offer himself to “him” was completed.


We'll see in patch 1.23a, where a “hard” version of the battle is planned. Yet again, Great Job for a Great battle, Yoshida-san and dev team! :cool: