Dedicated Thread for Patch 2.55 Story Discussion/Spoilers

I haven't seen if anyone commented on my random theory, but in regards to Hydelaen's sudden return...

I'm wondering if Midgardsormr's breaking our link with her had something to do with that. The last time we heard her talk was fighting Lahabrea, as I recall, after she had weakened herself defending us from Ultima and then just before helping us break Thancred free. I'm wondering if Midgardsormr shattering the crystals we had gathered gave Hydelaen enough of a boost to start drawing on aether again to restore some power (the readings from the scholar), and therefore be able to once again talk to Minfillia.

Random question, does the trader differ depending on your starting city?

Is it really necessary for us to mark spoiler dedicated to the events of 2.55?

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Originally Posted by Ilenya

I haven't seen if anyone commented on my random theory, but in regards to Hydelaen's sudden return...

I'm wondering if Midgardsormr's breaking our link with her had something to do with that. The last time we heard her talk was fighting Lahabrea, as I recall, after she had weakened herself defending us from Ultima and then just before helping us break Thancred free. I'm wondering if Midgardsormr shattering the crystals we had gathered gave Hydelaen enough of a boost to start drawing on aether again to restore some power (the readings from the scholar), and therefore be able to once again talk to Minfillia.

Random question, does the trader differ depending on your starting city?

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Yes the trader does differ.

My theory behind the Hydaelyn disappearance is that she really isn't 'gone' but doesn't have enough strength to talk to us/help us as much as before, because we have effectively been draining her aether into Zodiark (the dark blue/purple crystal, Lahabrea mentions their deity (and we know that the crystals are deities, as Hydaelyn is one) is shattered (and we all know that crystals shatter). What's more is that all the attuning crystals for the elemental Primals are bluish/purple iirc, I found this odd at first because shouldn't Ifrit's crystal be red/orange since he is a fire Primal? Well what if those attuning crystals are actually shattered pieces of Zodiark himself? And by using them to summon Elemental Primals from the aether, it is functioning as a tool that is converting Hydaelyn's Aether (so to speak) into Zodiark's Aether (again so to speak), just as we have the Blade of Light that does the exact opposite. The only Primal whose crystal isn't that color is Odin's however if you have completed Urth's Font you learn that Odin--the person on the horse in particular--isn't really a Primal, and that it is the sword that is cursed and absorbing the Aether from the Shroud, not from any kind of crystal, Even Bahamut's heart in Coil is of that purplish color crystal.

So yeah that is my hypothesis on what is going on in terms of the Mother Crystal (Hydaelyn) and more than likely the Father Crystal (Zodiark).

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Originally Posted by OMEGA_HACK

Yes the trader does differ.

My theory behind the Hydaelyn disappearance is that she really isn't 'gone' but doesn't have enough strength to talk to us/help us as much as before, because we have effectively been draining her aether into Zodiark (the dark blue/purple crystal, Lahabrea mentions their deity (and we know that the crystals are deities, as Hydaelyn is one) is shattered (and we all know that crystals shatter). What's more is that all the attuning crystals for the elemental Primals are bluish/purple iirc, I found this odd at first because shouldn't Ifrit's crystal be red/orange since he is a fire Primal? Well what if those attuning crystals are actually shattered pieces of Zodiark himself? And by using them to summon Elemental Primals from the aether, it is functioning as a tool that is converting Hydaelyn's Aether (so to speak) into Zodiark's Aether (again so to speak), just as we have the Blade of Light that does the exact opposite. The only Primal whose crystal isn't that color is Odin's however if you have completed Urth's Font you learn that Odin--the person on the horse in particular--isn't really a Primal, and that it is the sword that is cursed and absorbing the Aether from the Shroud, not from any kind of crystal, Even Bahamut's heart in Coil is of that purplish color crystal.

So yeah that is my hypothesis on what is going on in terms of the Mother Crystal (Hydaelyn) and more than likely the Father Crystal (Zodiark).

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I'm confused. I recall Ifrit's being red/orange and Garuda's being green. I think Titan's is the yellowy color. The only one that I remember being purple is the one from Ramuh, but purple is his color. The only time I recall them not being colored was when Midgardsormr shattered them.

I mean, there's nothing wrong with you theory, it just means that, win or lose, Ultima weapon managed to shaft Hydelaen hard. Lose, and Ultima goes off, and Hydalean loses. Win, Hydelaen just spent all her energy that very well could have gone right to Zodiark.

Oh I mean the attuning crystals, not ones we carried around. The Crystal shards that the Beastmen have adorned in shrine like fashion in their respective strongholds and the like.

Its probably been stated but while I'm pleasantly entertained by the ending of the 2.x plotline it does ask several questions in its own right.

1) Ultimately the fate of Nanamo isn't exactly certain yet. Tho she is poisoned of course there's little time to ascertain her condition especially since Telediji burst in extremely fast (he was probably waiting outside the door for Nanamo to keel over) so its unknown if she is ultimately dead.

2) There's also the fact that why was it set up for the WoL to be the "assassin" expecially considering the fact that implying the WoL was the assassin would basically be setting everyones BS detectors off.

3) Theres also another thing which makes me wonder who in Ul'dah would want the scions out of the way since the scions generally dont get involved in internal political matters only in those that affect the realm itself. It basically leaves questions as to Loloritos ultimate intentions?

A) Is he in league with the Garleans for his own powerhold? It wouldnt be the 1st time they used that tactic it was the same one used to cripple Ala Mhigo 15 years prior to XIV ARR: Weaken a nation with an internal conflict that cripples it and makes it easy to overrun. As stated during the prelude to the Ishgard siege the other 2 city states basically didnt help because they were bogged down with their own problems. That and Ul'dah has already been infiltrated by Garlean infiltrators already.
B) Is he an acian infiltrator? It WOULD be plausible as well since he seemingly intends for the Scions to be dragged into it to be discredited. Theres also their ultimate aim of trying to drain the aether out of the land to revive Zodiac from what we've seen so far so using a political situation to remove or disable the one group actively fighting against them would also be plausible.

Ultimately I wouldnt be suprised if Ul'dah becomes a prominent part of 3.X either during the story or as par of the story post Heavensward. One thing to be expected is they said they got the story planned out for several years so the Ul'dah scenario could be part of a build up to the 4.X series and the one place I can see be expanded to then would be the Ala Mhigo region (tho the likes of sharalyn and the 2 known beastmen strongholds (Ixal/Amalj'aa) are on the main map but currently not accessible).

Ultimately tho.... I wish I had actual lines that I could say even if they were only sayable during non VA scenes. I want personality like the mass effect series (Serious/Positive/Agressive/Trololol responce). Mebbe yoshi and co can sneak that in. That scene where the WoL gets thrown into the room demands a sarcastic witty responce!

I wonder if Raubahn will go berserk and kill the monentarists (that deserves it) and the pipin will be the new Flam Marshal?

Just a thought on the matter.

I see many posts on many forums asking why we didn't just go Hulk and smash all the Brass Blades and Crystal Braves. That should be obvious, cause as it stood the best they had was an accusation from a government body nobody trusts as far as they can throw either half of Telediji. Killing the town guards on our way out would serve only to strengthen the claim of our guilt. Nevermind that outside the personal head cannon of players, the WoL has never acted in a manner that wasn't in the same cloying virtue of a golden age superhero.

To sum it up, Superman doesn't melt the faces off police/military that have come to capture him for a crime Lex Luthor framed him for.

... err... I'm having trouble formatting this as a spoiler, so... beware reading below.

Urianger is an fun one to speculate about. I don't think he's turned on the Scions. A few clues were dropped that I'm hoping I'm purring together correctly:
Urianger is in the Waking Sands. If you go back and talk to him, he says "Never again will our brethren suffer at the hands of our enemies - this I swore to myself after the Garlean raid."
Alisaie is in the Waking Sands.
Alisaie knows the secrets found in the Coil, including that of Phoenix. I have a feeling she shared that secret with Urianger, who used that primal, to spirit the rest of the Scions out of Ul'Dah, when each was about to meet certain death.
She got word of the unrest/plotting in Ul'Dah and made sure her brother, and maybe the other Scions, had a way out of the city.
Tataru is still in contact with Urianger - I'm wondering if she knew something was up, hence her suspicious behavior and searching for good luck amulets.
I'm just not ready to believe that she, or Urianger, are bad yet.

Why do people think Tataru is evil? Just because of her smile at the end her questline?