New Years Poem 2015

Let's interpret!

Take note that these translations are quite rough. Suggest better ones if you can and I'll update.

Is your interpretation different than mine? Add that to the list, too!

Poem Text

Quote:

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Originally Posted by English

To naught by the Ivory Spear shall ebon mail yield,
Yet Her point remains ever trained upon scales of black.
Peer deep into the dust which swirls in our wakes
And know the bloody dance of light and dark to be everlasting.

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Originally Posted by French

La force des lances est requise contre les armures noires
Mais ces fers sont deja tournes vers des ecailles sombres
Le temps est venu de reveler un lourd secret de l'historie
Comme le bien et le mal, la lumiere est toujours liee a l'ombre

The strength of spears is required against black armor
But those irons have already turned toward dark scales
The time has come to reveal a dark secret of history
As with good and evil, light is always bound to shadow

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Originally Posted by German

Der heil'ge Speer vermag die schwarze Rüstung zu durchbohr'n
Doch richtet seine Spitze sich auf dunkler Schuppen Zorn
Allein der Blick aufs Gestern erklärt das bitt're Leid
Vereint sind Licht und Schatter - in alle Ewigkeit.

The holy spear can piece the black armor
But it's peak is directed at darker anger shed.
Look upon yesterday, it declares a bitter suffering
Combined are Light and Shadow - for all Eternity.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Japanese

<Kanji Missing>

If you want to pierce the dark armor, get a sharp lance.
However, the point cannot be directed towards dark scales.
Now is the time to face our eyes to days past.
In holiness there is evil, in light there is darkness. Know that there is always an opposer.

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Simple English Combined Guess:

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Originally Posted by Anonymoose

Ishgard will be needed to combat the Garlean (and/or Ascian) threat,
but their eyes are ever focused on the Dragonsong War.
Re-examine history with new eyes and a dark secret shall be revealed,
Light and Darkness exist in all things, even each other, for all time...

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I agree ebon mail likely refers to the Ascians, but given how Alexander looks in this game I think there is a slight possibility it references him.

http://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/im...Alexander1.jpg

He certainly gave off a darker feel to me than previous incarnations, though perhaps not "ebon mail" level...

Very true, it could be much farther into 2015 than just the Ascian reveals.

On the note that it could be machine-related, Omega might be black, as well, if it's anything like Ultima.

Based on 2.4 dialog I actually wonder what Ishgard could even have that would help stop the Ascians...

The whole Sword of Light/Aether plot to defeat Ascians really made me step back and go "We're going to use the Primals for that, aren't we?". Primals are concentrated Aether and we already have a precedent for such from 2.2 where the Sahagin Priest was "immortal" and promptly made mortal by Leviathan. Add to that the fact that we know Free Companies will one day be able to summon Primals when it makes sense within the story and all the pieces fit, in my opinion. Que 2.5 and The Keeper of the Lake spilling the beans on how to summon Iceheart style...

Now that you mention Omega/Ultima Weapon though, it could simply reference the Garlean Empire; We want Ishgard to join the Eorzean Alliance to stand against the Garleans now that they have a new emperor, but they're focused on their war, which we'll be helping with in 3.0.

Actually... Going back to 2.4 dialog... I recall someone mentioning that it was a good thing the Garleans didn't learn of Icehearts summoning, for if they learned that the civilized races could summon Primals as well, there would likely be no opposition to a new Eorzea Campaign... Wonder if we'll beat the Ascians in 2.5# with Primals, only to have the Garleans find out and start their march in 3.0... "Now is the time to face our eyes to days past", "Know that there is always an opposer"... Yeah... We beat the Ascians and get a new opposer in Garlemald... Mayhaps...

I rather thought the Dravanians would have more information on the Ascians, rather then the Ishagradians. However, ending the war would be a requirement to getting a dialogue going. Giving the implied age of Midgardsomnr, they might have living memory of previous eras.

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Originally Posted by Nalien

Based on 2.4 dialog I actually wonder what Ishgard could even have that would help stop the Ascians...

The whole Sword of Light/Aether plot to defeat Ascians really made me step back and go "We're going to use the Primals for that, aren't we?". Primals are concentrated Aether and we already have a precedent for such from 2.2 where the Sahagin Priest was "immortal" and promptly made mortal by Leviathan. Add to that the fact that we know Free Companies will one day be able to summon Primals when it makes sense within the story and all the pieces fit, in my opinion. Que 2.5 and The Keeper of the Lake spilling the beans on how to summon Iceheart style...

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I still don't understand why they just didn't go with that first, instead of making all this light crystal thing that doesn't seem to work correctly, it's not like killing a primal would be an issue.
Still I wonder if the secret trial will be Halone, considering how religious the Ishgardians are and with the recent return of primals, the summoning of Shiva by the heretics and ascians having a plan regarding summoning primals while using someone as a catalyst.

"In holiness there is evil" Yep. Lahabrea inside the Archbishop.
It is likely that the dravanian horde knows how to end the primal threat which is not something the Ascians want, so they manipulated Ishgard to go to war against them.

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Originally Posted by lololink

I still don't understand why they just didn't go with that first, instead of making all this light crystal thing that doesn't seem to work correctly, it's not like killing a primal would be an issue.

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Do you mean Auracite? I believe it's a focus because it will trap the Ascians temporarily and allow us to hit them with a burst of Aether to defeat them permanently. Lahabrea managed to escape remember.

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Originally Posted by lololink

Still I wonder if the secret trial will be Halone, considering how religious the Ishgardians are and with the recent return of primals, the summoning of Shiva by the heretics and ascians having a plan regarding summoning primals while using someone as a catalyst.

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I wonder... Currently I'm assuming the mystery trial will just be another Ultima Ballad style thing, I recall mention of a Gaius rematch being mentioned a few times so I assume it'll be that. I can't quite see it being story related when it's in 2.5, not 2.51 onwards.

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Originally Posted by Nalien

Do you mean Auracite? I believe it's a focus because it will trap the Ascians temporarily and allow us to hit them with a burst of Aether to defeat them permanently. Lahabrea managed to escape remember.

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Yes, but he didn't got eat by a primal the same way the sahagin priest was, It seemed to be a good way to send the spirit of the ascian to the sea of stars by linking it to a primal so that once it is defeated it takes the ascian with it same way the sahagin didn't come back after it was eat and leviathan was defeated.

I personal wonder if the secret trial isn't Omega. 2.5 is getting a new Frontlines mode. And with the Ul'dah story likely coming to a conclusion before 3.0, it seems they'd try to reactivate Omega, as that was part of the villians scheme. .

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Originally Posted by Grayve

I personal wonder if the secret trial isn't Omega. 2.5 is getting a new Frontlines mode. And with the Ul'dah story likely coming to a conclusion before 3.0, it seems they'd try to reactivate Omega, as that was part of the villians scheme. .

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I thought the new trial will be Odin?

And isn't Omega Weapon a thing of the Allagans? More likely to appear in the Crystal Tower series imo.

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Originally Posted by Ooshima

I thought the new trial will be Odin?

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There are 3 trials planned for 2.5 (Part 1), Urth's Fount, The Revenge of Gilgamesh, and a Mystery Trial which is open to speculation.

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Originally Posted by Ooshima

Isn't Omega Weapon a thing of the Allagans? More likely to appear in the Crystal Tower series imo.

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It is, but the storylines haven't really interwoven all that much so far, and Omega has been referenced only in the events of the Main Scenario as part of Lolorito Teledji's attempt to manipulate the destiny of Ul'dah.

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Originally Posted by Anonymoose

It is, but the storylines haven't really interwoven all that much so far, and Omega has been referenced only in the events of the Main Scenario as part of Lolorito's attempt to manipulate the destiny of Ul'dah.

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I thought that was actually

Aledji-Taledji who was really the one wanting to overthrow the Sultana, and was the one responsible for crafting the Carteneau Reclamation Bill simply to unearth the Omega Weapon, and that Lord Lorolito was just a red herring?

But then I haven't finished the 2.4 story yet so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. :p

A dark secret, eh?

Had some shower thoughts the other day, so I didn't have my darksteel foil hat on at the time... But I'm starting to think that Halone and Shiva are the saaaaaame person. We don't have specific time period for when they both showed up in history. They're both heavily involved with Ishgard. Both are ice aligned.

Yep. Same person. Dark secret. You heard it here first (unless, of course, you heard it somewhere else first...or thought of that yourself).

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Originally Posted by Wolfandre

A dark secret, eh?

Had some shower thoughts the other day, so I didn't have my darksteel foil hat on at the time... But I'm starting to think that Halone and Shiva are the saaaaaame person. We don't have specific time period for when they both showed up in history. They're both heavily involved with Ishgard. Both are ice aligned.

Yep. Same person. Dark secret. You heard it here first (unless, of course, you heard it somewhere else first...or thought of that yourself).

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Halone seemed to exist since the first astral era, they can't be the same.

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

I thought that was actually...

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Nah, you're right. I've got 2.5 material on the brain and Lolorito's most lik-... well, you're right. Thanks for catching that!

<walks away whistling for a few steps, then looks back and sprints>

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Originally Posted by Wolfandre

A dark secret, eh?

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Something something something Battle of Silvertear Skies something Ascians something something Dragonsong War...

I doubt the mistery trial will be Omega. If you remember Omega was inteded by the Allagans to kill Bahamut. As in the city state sized dragon. Omega is likely bigger than Alexander.

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Originally Posted by lololink

Yes, but he didn't got eat by a primal the same way the sahagin priest was, It seemed to be a good way to send the spirit of the ascian to the sea of stars by linking it to a primal so that once it is defeated it takes the ascian with it same way the sahagin didn't come back after it was eat and leviathan was defeated.

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I went back and check the "What little Gods are made of" cutscene, and they explained that the Sahagin was defeated because his "soul" had no place to retreat to, while the Ascians use the Dark Crystals to retreat to their own little pocket dimension. So we need to trap the Ascian (in Auracite) for the Primal to eat them.

Basically I think Auracite is going to become Ascian flavored Pez that we feed to Primals...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lololink

Halone seemed to exist since the first astral era, they can't be the same.

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Ehhhhhh I suppose I'll apologize for that one. My facetiousness didn't ply out well over the interwebs, and in a serious thread, to boot. My bad, y'all.

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Originally Posted by Anonymoose

Something something something Battle of Silvertear Skies something Ascians something something Dragonsong War...

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This is the basket I'm placing my eggs in too. Similar to my joke about Shiva and Halone, though. I'm thinking we'll find that some scandal is what initially sparked the Dragonsong War and that there is waaaaay more to Silvertear Skies than we thought. You know, other than the vast manipulation of the Empire by the Ascians.

Is it just me or is the Ascian gear not very mail-like? I mean, it always struck me as being basically a robe. . .

Now, the renewed Garlean threat, on the other hand, I would reference as ebon mail.

Viridiana, so far no ascian fought us in a melee way, so maybe they're all (those we've seen) mages.

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Originally Posted by Phyllo

Viridiana, so far no ascian fought us in a melee way, so maybe they're all (those we've seen) mages.

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Right? None of them seem to be wearing mail, to include even the ones we saw in their base of operations.

Garleans, though. Well, they at least wear actual armor. English seems to be the only one that specifies mail and not just generic armor, so I'm just going to posit that it's referencing the Empire, not the Ascians.

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Originally Posted by Viridiana

Now, the renewed Garlean threat, on the other hand, I would reference as ebon mail.

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Originally Posted by Viridiana

I'm just going to posit that it's referencing the Empire, not the Ascians.

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I'd buy that as easy as the Ascians. Many Garlean soldiers (and some magitek) are known for black armor, especially centurions and reapers. Granted, you usually see the Garleans in plate, not mail. Ishgard being needed to face the might of Garlemald is a given, and the only thing stopping them is the Dravanians. It makes perfect sense, I just didn't jump to that immediately because it's such old news. That's been the Ishgardian's issue for a long time - seems like a waste to spend 50% of your New Years poem on it... even though it looks like they may have.

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Originally Posted by Phyllo

Viridiana, so far no ascian fought us in a melee way, so maybe they're all (those we've seen) mages.

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We've seen most of them use magicks, and we've only seen two with weapons - THMs and CNJs. I always get curious when I hear something that reminds me of this:

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Perhaps you, too, have heard the legend of the Sixth Umbral Era, and how the great deluge that ushered in the dark age was in fact conjured forth by a band of immortal mages who forged a blood pact with the demon lords of the seven hells to deliver a thousand thousand souls in exchange for sole dominion over Eorzea. I believe that the false prophet Urianger is one of those mages, awoken from fifteen centuries of slumber to complete the fell pact left unfinished so long ago.

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One of several early foreshadows to 2.0 Ascian involvement - but how much of that is true?

The "responsible for the umbral era" part. The "immortal" part. The "mages" part? How about the rest of that - anything in there?

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Originally Posted by Anonymoose

It makes perfect sense, I just didn't jump to that immediately because it's such old news. That's been the Ishgardian's issue for a long time - seems like a waste to spend 50% of your New Years poem on it... even though it looks like they may have.

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It's old news, yes, but the story has breathed new life into it. A new Emperor has claimed the throne in 2.4, and something in 2.5 is paving the way for a radical change in Ishgard. Makes sense to me that the new year poem would focus on the upcoming expansion. :p

Perhaps it's hinting at future patches. The main 3.0 story is about Ishgard, Dravania, and the Dragonsong War. But the 3.1 and beyond patches will be about the now United Eorzian Allience dealing with the Empire. The Aceians remain the puppet masters, not truly confronted yet, but we slowly deal with their schemes throughout 3.0 and beyond.

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Originally Posted by Anonymoose

We've seen most of them use magicks, and we've only seen two with weapons - THMs and CNJs. I always get curious when I hear something that reminds me of this:



One of several early foreshadows to 2.0 Ascian involvement - but how much of that is true?

The "responsible for the umbral era" part. The "immortal" part. The "mages" part? How about the rest of that - anything in there?

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Dang. I really hate not being around for the 1.0 times. Who said this one?
Urianger really IS creepy by the way.

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Originally Posted by Anonymoose

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Perhaps you, too, have heard the legend of the Sixth Umbral Era, and how the great deluge that ushered in the dark age was in fact conjured forth by a band of immortal mages who forged a blood pact with the demon lords of the seven hells to deliver a thousand thousand souls in exchange for sole dominion over Eorzea. I believe that the false prophet Urianger is one of those mages, awoken from fifteen centuries of slumber to complete the fell pact left unfinished so long ago.

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One of several early foreshadows to 2.0 Ascian involvement - but how much of that is true?

The "responsible for the umbral era" part. The "immortal" part. The "mages" part? How about the rest of that - anything in there?

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That... Actually makes me think more along the lines of the Lambs of Dalamud more than Ascians... "Immortal mages" certainly screams Ascians, but everything else (bar Urianger) really does seem more like the Lambs territory... "Immortal mages" needn't even imply Ascians come to think about it, immortality seems to be the natural progression of the Echo based on the Sahagin priest... The Lambs though, they have a strong connection to both human sacrifices and Voidsent... Wonder if Amdapor Keep (Hard) might touch on their lore some more...

If it's Ascians though, then that would mean they were responsible for the fall of Amdapor, and perhaps even Diabolos? Diabolos is a demon lord, right? I wonder if that was just all part of their plan, or if they actually originated in the Sixth Astral Era, perhaps as the Eras Warriors of Light-turned-Dark? Do we actually have and idea how old they are? I hope they're not too old, "We even manipulated the Allagan!" just makes me question how they still haven't succeeded... Part of their plan was "Put a dragon in orbit and wait thousands of years"? That's silly.

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Originally Posted by Anonymoose

I
We've seen most of them use magicks, and we've only seen two with weapons - THMs and CNJs. I always get curious when I hear something that reminds me of this:



One of several early foreshadows to 2.0 Ascian involvement - but how much of that is true?

The "responsible for the umbral era" part. The "immortal" part. The "mages" part? How about the rest of that - anything in there?

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My, my lord Moose, you brought up on the table material that was long forgotten o.o

So... If it's a band of immortal mages, It would mean that the Ascians are a pt that DID listen u-u
Joke aside, if from the beginning they were known as mages it means they always had humanoid forms... In that case what in the hells was that thing?!

http://i.imgur.com/b2kJ8.png

If humanoid appearance was their original form, it means those grim reaper guys are not lesser Ascians like some thought but higher ones maybe?

I don't think that ascians only existed since the 6th astral Era, they talked as if they were here since before the first astral era and they say that we awoke a little after the seventh calamity so that now we can see the truth more, explaining that we don't see them as reapers anymore.

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Originally Posted by Phyllo

Joke aside, if from the beginning they were known as mages it means they always had humanoid forms... In that case what in the hells was that thing?!

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To start with the easy answer,

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Originally Posted by Elidibus

Shadowless, fleshless, formless... What truth there is in each tale is diluted by time and telling. Knowledge dictates expectation, and expectation colors perception.

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Elidibus explains to Minfilia that what you know about Ascians colors how they are perceived. To Tataru, who lacks the Echo, the Ascians are indistinct, and thus did she see nothing. Notice the first two of Elidibus examples? Shadowless and fleshless, or perhaps we might infer... Travanchet and the Reaper. In the five years between 1.0 and ARR, the Scions acquired quite a bit of information with the perspective given by the Calamity. By the time we got back, they knew a great deal about the Mothercrystal and Ascians whereas in 1.0, they knew little as of 1572 (and nearly nothing in the Echoes of 1562). One could argue that this information, added to Hydaelyn's preview of Lahabrea, colored our expectations and thus our perceptions of Ascians, shifting them from shadowless and fleshless to the hyuran mages we see (incidentally, hyurs with shadows... which I think might have something to do with the game not being able to turn shadows off for individual objects).

On the other hand... that 3D model probably took a hefty chunk of resources and time to craft... and both Fernehalwes and Banri Oda-san have kinda glazed over the Reaper when asked about it. I wouldn't entirely count out a better explanation... someday... Until given better food for thought, I'm sticking with my original assumption that the Reaper was part of an Ascian "false flag" operation designed to scare the everloving bejesus out of the beast tribes so they'd put the knowledge of summoning that the Paragons gave them to good use. We know for a fact that The Reaper and the Paragons were both Ascians, and yet, in 1.0, the beast tribes spoke quite highly of the Paragons and fled in terror from the Reaper.

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Originally Posted by lololink

I don't think that ascians only existed since the 6th astral Era, they talked as if they were here since before the first astral era

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Agreed. They discuss pretty openly that they've been responsible for seven attempts at "The Rejoining."

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Originally Posted by Phyllo

My, my lord Moose, you brought up on the table material that was long forgotten o.o

So... If it's a band of immortal mages, It would mean that the Ascians are a pt that DID listen u-u
Joke aside, if from the beginning they were known as mages it means they always had humanoid forms... In that case what in the hells was that thing?!

http://i.imgur.com/b2kJ8.png

If humanoid appearance was their original form, it means those grim reaper guys are not lesser Ascians like some thought but higher ones maybe?

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Well I wasn't around for 1.0 - and I'm beginning to lament it greatly - but it does seem that a lot of weird Ascian stuff is absent from 2.0. The reapers and Travanchet for instance.

So, I think it's become a little more clear what is being said

Quote:

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To naught by the Ivory Spear shall ebon mail yield,
Yet Her point remains ever trained upon scales of black.
Peer deep into the dust which swirls in our wakes
And know the bloody dance of light and dark to be everlasting.

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Line 1 sounds like it's about our friend, the Azure Dragoon
2. The lance will also stay aimed at the dragons
3. ?
4. ?

for me i read,
1 To naught by the Ivory Spear shall ebon mail yield
2 Yet Her point remains ever trained upon scales of black
3 Peer deep into the dust which swirls in our wakes
4 And know the bloody dance of light and dark to be everlasting.

1. we need ishgard to defeat the ascians/zodiak
2. ishgardian zealotry against dragons blinds then to see who the real enemy is.
3. look back into the clouded past war and conflict has written,leave zealotry behind and find the truth.
4. neither light nor dark is innocent for the blood to be shed.

"Peer deep into the dust which swirls in our wakes" I think refers to prior calamities.

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Originally Posted by Zohar_Lahar

"Peer deep into the dust which swirls in our wakes" I think refers to prior calamities.

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I'm inclined to agree. Also, quite a necro for the thread, heh, and given recent story developments I think the intended meaning might be clearer.

At least for the English translation, I think there's a dual meaning, especially with the first two lines. The ebon mail (the scales of black in the second line almost certainly refer to the same thing) is unyielding to the Ivory Spear - Nidhogg and Ishgard. Also, the forces of good (the Warriors of Light) and the forces of evil (the Ascians and

the Warrior of Darkness

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I think it was both a reference to the seemingly unending conflict between Nidhogg and Ishgard and an eternal conflict between light and dark that we've pretty much known about but is seeing new developments, at least as it relates to us as the forces of good.