Possible hint at where Labyrinthos is located.

So if you watch the trailer for the new zone Labyrinthos, you may notice that not much was really shown, besides what appears to be farmlands. Many people speculate it might be under Old Sharlayan, and while that's a valid guess based on what we've seen, the zone theme might be the biggest hint.

https://youtu.be/umBoW_nTLUc

You'll notice the music sounds sorta serene, and then suddenly this weird chirping sound can be heard, in different pitches, then it mellows out into a sorta farm-like melody. Given that Endwalker is paying homoge to FFIV in many way, is there a theme that sounds similar to this one? There is

This shows that Labyrinthos might actually be on, or rather in the moon and the home of the Loporrits. You'll notice that the melodies are very similar, and while its not present in the original theme, the chirping noise we hear in the music sounds like it's meant to mimic talking to the original Hummingways.

What are your thoughts? This seems plausible based on what we've seen, and heard. But I'd like to hear other people's thoughts.

I think the music in the trailer could be fitting for Loporrits, but I don't feel the same way about the architecture.

How do we get on the moon, why are the sharlayan so sure that they will survive a world ending catastrophe?

If you think it further. They will be part of the story because suddenly they realize that the moon is not save. More than that, it is were all started or we can find information to end it and that's why they help us, bring us to the moon and we fight up there.

If you remember, eureka was also sharlayan, so they are used to build bases everywhere.

The theme really doesn't sound like something that would be used for a zone, so this could just be another case of them using a different theme from what's actually present in the zone.

It seems unlikely for the simple reason that - unless there are at least three moon zones - that would make it the final zone and they aren't going to reveal that immediately.

While watching some old media coverage, to get a feel for how they deliver information to us, there was something I noticed. Heavensward aside, since I guess they were still figuring things out, each new zone preview has been shown with its respective music, with one exception. During the zones for Shadowbringers, when they show Il Mheg, the music that plays, at least to start, is the town theme, then it transitions to the normal theme. The bgm for Labyrinthos could be a similar hint. The moon has some significance, but I wonder if the last zone is truly there. We'd expect it, so maybe its not, maybe it's somewhere entirely different.

I could be wrong, it's all speculation. But they way they presented the zone makes me think that it's going to be early in the game. Which being near the new capital city would make sense.

I also don't expect there to be more than two zones on the moon, and they'll likely want to keep the final zone somewhat under wraps like the tempest. I don't expect to see what's actually inside the moon until 6.0.

I think Labyrinthos is actually the space ship in the title card. It is located under Old Sharlayan and is the main reason for their reluctance to join in fighting the End Days as it is their escape from the star. My main reasoning for this is the music in the trailer when Old Sharlayan is shown. Here is the believed lyrics in one of the other threads:

Of Song of Hope, She Dances on the Wind,
Higher! Oh, Higher!
E've our foes endure
Everything for now is strong.
Standing tall in the dark till we carry on.
On Wings of Hope, You rise up through the Night,
Higher! Oh, Higher!
Carrying a song, may you fall into our hearts.
That its chorus might ring for all!

The chorus in the song has a lot references to flying or rising higher. I know it is pure speculation, but it's kind of how I'm putting the story together from what they have shown so far.

I don't believe the moon proper (Mare Lamentorum) is the final zone or zones. It is more than likely towards the 3/4 mark in the story. I think we are going to Thavnair and Radz-at-Han first, then Sharlayan/Labyrinthos second, Mare Lamentorum third, and then Garlemald and the floating islands shown last before finally going to the final zone. That's not to say the moon could not contain the final zone by us returning there.

Based off of previous expansions and the patterns they usually use, the small town comes first this expansion and then the bigger one later. Heavensward, we went to Ishgard (big) first then Idllyshire (small). Stormblood, we went to Rhalger's Reach (small) then Kugane (big). Shadowbringers, we went to the Crystarium (big) first and then Eulmore (small). They also make a point at Fanfest to show these places in that order.

The reason we are going to the moon, I'm still speculating, but my current theory is that after whatever we attempt to do to stop the End in Limsa and Thavnair fails and the only recourse to stop the End is to free Zodiark. This plays into Zenos and Fandaniel's plan and allows Zenos to absorb Zodiark and Fandaniel to kill almost everyone on the planet a la Thanos Snap. I'm still working out what we do to fix it, but that is my current theory thus far. :)

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Originally Posted by DaemonInazuma

The reason we are going to the moon, I'm still speculating, but my current theory is that after whatever we attempt to do to stop the End in Limsa and Thavnair fails and the only recourse to stop the End is to free Zodiark. This plays into Zenos and Fandaniel's plan and allows Zenos to absorb Zodiark and Fandaniel to kill almost everyone on the planet a la Thanos Snap. I'm still working out what we do to fix it, but that is my current theory thus far. :)

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What if...it's backwards? Zenos is actually going to fuse with Hydaelyn, and wants us to fuse with Zodiark. Zodiark was such a powerful opponent that Hydaelyn could only cleave him into parts, making him a dangerous foe that Zenos would want to conquer, and using Hyadelyn would prevent any tricks such as just splitting Zodiark to make him weaker, something he'd be aware we could use against him if we used Hydaelyn. Zenos would have full control over that power, forcing it out of play and could essentially force a fight on the grandest stage of all, with the WoL using a god of immeasurable power against Zenos, who is bringing out Hydaelyn's true power in another form. It would also play as a form of divine irony, we having to use Zodiark, the thing we've been preventing from awakening, against Hydaelyn, the thing we've been actively helping.

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Originally Posted by Fawkes

I think the music in the trailer could be fitting for Loporrits, but I don't feel the same way about the architecture.

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Merge every theory! Labyrinthos is located on the Moon, where Sharlayan traveled and set up a base (and why they're sure they won't disappear), and Loporrits just safeguard the place like Moogle the Curning Mists.
But then an artificial sun must take quite some Aether to run, and I doubt the moon has that much to begin with.

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Originally Posted by Curisu

-snip-
If you remember, eureka was also sharlayan, so they are used to build bases everywhere.

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Eureka was much closer to Sharlayan, it was the Isle of Vale, the very same island we thought disappeared in an Ultima-like spell : it was just yeeted into the lifestream and it came back the other side of the world.

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Originally Posted by RyuDragnier

What if...it's backwards? Zenos is actually going to fuse with Hydaelyn, and wants us to fuse with Zodiark. Zodiark was such a powerful opponent that Hydaelyn could only cleave him into parts, making him a dangerous foe that Zenos would want to conquer, and using Hyadelyn would prevent any tricks such as just splitting Zodiark to make him weaker, something he'd be aware we could use against him if we used Hydaelyn. Zenos would have full control over that power, forcing it out of play and could essentially force a fight on the grandest stage of all, with the WoL using a god of immeasurable power against Zenos, who is bringing out Hydaelyn's true power in another form. It would also play as a form of divine irony, we having to use Zodiark, the thing we've been preventing from awakening, against Hydaelyn, the thing we've been actively helping.

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I'd actually like that twist, if they really go the way of "Zenos is taking control of one".

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Originally Posted by RyuDragnier

What if...it's backwards? Zenos is actually going to fuse with Hydaelyn, and wants us to fuse with Zodiark. Zodiark was such a powerful opponent that Hydaelyn could only cleave him into parts, making him a dangerous foe that Zenos would want to conquer, and using Hyadelyn would prevent any tricks such as just splitting Zodiark to make him weaker, something he'd be aware we could use against him if we used Hydaelyn. Zenos would have full control over that power, forcing it out of play and could essentially force a fight on the grandest stage of all, with the WoL using a god of immeasurable power against Zenos, who is bringing out Hydaelyn's true power in another form. It would also play as a form of divine irony, we having to use Zodiark, the thing we've been preventing from awakening, against Hydaelyn, the thing we've been actively helping.

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I like this theory as well. The only issue I have with it is our character and our allegiance to Hydaelyn. They called this into question in 5.5 with Y'shtola and Krile asking when we heard her voice last. I feel being that we are a reincarnated Azem, we won't align with either Zodiark or Hydaelyn in the fight and we will tread our own path instead a la calling on our reflections in other worlds to join us and becoming more powerful in that way rather than subject ourselves to the ancient primals.

Overall, Zenos and Fandaniel's plan seems to be aligned with releasing the ancient primals by forcing our hand to do it.

I think that Zenos and Fandaniel are definitely going to have it out at one point as well. Fandaniel has made his intentions clear in 5.4 that he wants to die (like truly die as ascians are reincarnated until their purpose is fulfilled) and the only way to accomplish that is to start the final days and release Zodiark and Hydaelyn, ending everything. This goes against Zenos who's intention is to fight us on the grand stage in a final form per say. He would rather keep this fight in perpetuity rather than destroying everything.

I also think the secret Fandaniel holds is what Zenos truly is. He says this at the end of 5.2 by saying Emet-Selch was able to accomplish something relating to Zenos's dreams of the final days since he was a child. My theory is that Emet was able to implant either a part of his soul or an ancient's power into a sundered being's soul. That is what makes Zenos so powerful. Similar to us absorbing Arbert and becoming powerful enough to take down Emet. Zenos and the WOL are basically similar in how they became so strong compared to everyone else. That secret will become very important and give us insight into who Zenos really is.

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Originally Posted by DaemonInazuma

I think Labyrinthos is actually the space ship in the title card. It is located under Old Sharlayan and is the main reason for their reluctance to join in fighting the End Days as it is their escape from the star. My main reasoning for this is the music in the trailer when Old Sharlayan is shown. Here is the believed lyrics in one of the other threads:

Of Song of Hope, She Dances on the Wind,
Higher! Oh, Higher!
E've our foes endure
Everything for now is strong.
Standing tall in the dark till we carry on.
On Wings of Hope, You rise up through the Night,
Higher! Oh, Higher!
Carrying a song, may you fall into our hearts.
That its chorus might ring for all!

The chorus in the song has a lot references to flying or rising higher. I know it is pure speculation, but it's kind of how I'm putting the story together from what they have shown so far.

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I really like this theory! It also would make the New Year's Poem make a ton of sense if they've been planning this long-term.

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Our Progeny may never know
Wherefore we look unto the sky,
Nor why we dig for truths below;
We bear their scorn or watch them die.

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If we take this theory into account it's essentially "We can't tell our people that we're building a spaceship underneath Sharlayan to prepare for the end of the world or we'd all die."

Also in addition to the artificial sun, we saw a dungeon in the showcase that seems to be simulating various seasons and also had some Sharlayan architecture.

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Originally Posted by DaemonInazuma

I like this theory as well. The only issue I have with it is our character and our allegiance to Hydaelyn. They called this into question in 5.5 with Y'shtola and Krile asking when we heard her voice last. I feel being that we are a reincarnated Azem, we won't align with either Zodiark or Hydaelyn in the fight and we will tread our own path instead a la calling on our reflections in other worlds to join us and becoming more powerful in that way rather than subject ourselves to the ancient primals.

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I've been wondering if the reason we now can cure tempering is because we'll need to cure ourselves. Hydaelyn and Zodiark are both primals. It's long been a theory that we might be tempered. Given the way Shadowbringers turned good and evil on its head, I'm wondering if we weren't pre-emptively tempered by a being that knew we were the only thing that could destroy them.

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Originally Posted by GoldStarz

Also in addition to the artificial sun, we saw a dungeon in the showcase that seems to be simulating various seasons and also had some Sharlayan architecture.

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It seems more likely to be the Mare Lamentorum dungeon as it has the same oversized furniture and green/red concept crystals in the walls that Anamnesis Aynder did.

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Originally Posted by TaleraRistain

I've been wondering if the reason we now can cure tempering is because we'll need to cure ourselves. Hydaelyn and Zodiark are both primals. It's long been a theory that we might be tempered. Given the way Shadowbringers turned good and evil on its head, I'm wondering if we weren't pre-emptively tempered by a being that knew we were the only thing that could destroy them.

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Or perhaps Hydaelyn was just letting loose another "chaotic factor". If we look at past WoLs, none have technically conformed to the norms that the people of their eras stood by. Tenzen was friends with auspices that people considered demons/gods, Ramza actively stood against the church, Ysayle was a human who could become a primal at will, and Ardbert and his crew were willing to destroy another world for their own. No WoL shown up to now has ever been normal or conformed with the world, like you'd expect light's passivity to. All have been a chaotic storm in the world, changing and shaping it in new ways, Azem and ourselves included.

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Originally Posted by RyuDragnier

Or perhaps Hydaelyn was just letting loose another "chaotic factor". If we look at past WoLs, none have technically conformed to the norms that the people of their eras stood by. Tenzen was friends with auspices that people considered demons/gods, Ramza actively stood against the church, Ysayle was a human who could become a primal at will, and Ardbert and his crew were willing to destroy another world for their own. No WoL shown up to now has ever been normal or conformed with the world, like you'd expect light's passivity to. All have been a chaotic storm in the world, changing and shaping it in new ways, Azem and ourselves included.

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Or bent on destruction like you'd expect someone actively evil. I don't think they are followers of either side, though they may be used as tools without their knowledge by one side or the other.

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Originally Posted by TaleraRistain

I've been wondering if the reason we now can cure tempering is because we'll need to cure ourselves. Hydaelyn and Zodiark are both primals. It's long been a theory that we might be tempered. Given the way Shadowbringers turned good and evil on its head, I'm wondering if we weren't pre-emptively tempered by a being that knew we were the only thing that could destroy them.

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Zodiark and Hydaelyn's ability to temper others is likely not even comparable to primals we've seen before. Keep in mind that the ability that protects us from being tempered, the Echo, is just a fraction of the original power we inherited from our Amaurotine ancestry while the Convocation, who had the full extent of that power, were all tempered by Zodiark prior to the sundering.

Seems to be more a beast tribe zone music to me.
Sounds too weird for an entire zone.