Tales from the Dawn #2: "In Pursuit of Knowledge" (Erenville)

It's week 2 of Tales From the Dawn, and here we get Erenville's perspective on events in Sharlayan.

https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes.../sidestory_02/

Hmm most interesting especially the last three paragraphs...

I would have liked to hear a bit more about Erenville himself, but what we got is still nice.

Of course he's going to be utterly perplexed and intrigued by Alpha.

And the ending is very much indicating we'll be seeing more of him in the game proper! Perhaps even multiple story threads, between whatever task the Students have for him and then his own plans.

Thanks for making a separate thread for this one, the other one was probably gonna keep with its talk to the point of steamrolling over the next story.

Nothing that's all too new here, although it confirms Erenville was genuinely on our side the entire time we knew him, even if he wasn't letting on. Also neat is the confirmation that Alpha doesn't look like any breed of chocobo around even to the guy that would absolutely know that stuff (no offense to the Ironworks, they ain't biologists).

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Originally Posted by Cleretic

confirmation that Alpha doesn't look like any breed of chocobo around

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I always liked one of the side remarks in the Omega quests – I think it was from Biggs – that Alpha looks like a chocobo in the way that a mammet looks like a person.

it was nice to see more erenville

and its weird to see how... grand everyone sees us. and eccentric lol. besides that it was nice to see erenville stumped by alpha.

It was alright. Honestly not too invested in Erenville, but it was at least heartwarming.

Found it quite boring. Dont really care for Erenville. I'd have preferred Ahewann's journal or something. Would've added more weight to Final Days sequences in EW cause lord knows they need it. I didnt really come away with anything other than "aren't the scions good? Wow look, everybody likes them!"

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Originally Posted by Lustre

Found it quite boring. Dont really care for Erenville. I'd have preferred Ahewann's journal or something. Would've added more weight to Final Days sequences in EW cause lord knows they need it. I didnt really come away with anything other than "aren't the scions good? Wow look, everybody likes them!"

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Seemed more like we inspired them to start their own journey to me.

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Originally Posted by Lustre

I'd have preferred Ahewann's journal or something.

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We still have six tales to go. Ahewann isn't a bad guess to be one of them. (His induction into the truth behind his family's role as satrap would be an interesting one.)

Erenville isn't my favourite either, but I guess a fair bit of my own interest in him is hoping for a bit more insight into Viera culture and mindset rather than wanting to see more of him specifically? We haven't spent enough time with him to think much beyond "he seems nice".

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Originally Posted by Cleretic

Nothing that's all too new here, although it confirms Erenville was genuinely on our side the entire time we knew him, even if he wasn't letting on. Also neat is the confirmation that Alpha doesn't look like any breed of chocobo around even to the guy that would absolutely know that stuff (no offense to the Ironworks, they ain't biologists).

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To be fair, there was really no way for Erenville to know just what Alpha actually is. I mean, he's a chocobo... but he isn't? Honestly that stuff is rather confusing, and the Omegas didn't really go over that all too well aside from reassuring us that Alpha did indeed have a soul and is a person. I think my personal favorite part is when Erenville resolved to not tell his Sharlayan compatriots because he feared they may treat him poorly to attempt to discover just what he is. That was pretty considerate of him.

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Originally Posted by sidurgu-12

and its weird to see how... grand everyone sees us. and eccentric lol. besides that it was nice to see erenville stumped by alpha.

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The "eccentric" part was probably another Azem nod, to be honest. As for the faith, well that's actually one part I think Shadowbringers could have improved upon. Instead of Elidibus cosplaying as a Dissidia NT character (and really, what's with the model rips anyway? What with that and the Cloud of Darkness from NT Eden sure did like copying stuff), it would've been a pretty tense situation to see the Emissary instead use Eorzea's faith in us in particular against us in the worst of possible ways.

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Originally Posted by Vyrerus

It was alright. Honestly not too invested in Erenville, but it was at least heartwarming.

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I think it might've been easier to get invested in Erenville as a character if he had gotten more screen time. We really didn't interact with him all that much in Endwalker, and it made it difficult to really get a feel for his character. I feel the Warrior of Light spent the most time in Thavnair and Elpis by far in the MSQ to be perfectly honest. Garlemald, Sharlayan, Labyrinthos, and Ultima Thule all felt really short as segments.

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Originally Posted by sidurgu-12

Seemed more like we inspired them to start their own journey to me.

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I don't know, it honestly read more to me like Erenville always planned to make an odyssey of himself but got caught up in the work that suddenly became much more dire due to Sharlayan's abrupt revelation about the Final Days. It's a little like what Cleretic said here:

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Originally Posted by Cleretic

Nothing that's all too new here, although it confirms Erenville was genuinely on our side the entire time we knew him, even if he wasn't letting on. Also neat is the confirmation that Alpha doesn't look like any breed of chocobo around even to the guy that would absolutely know that stuff (no offense to the Ironworks, they ain't biologists).

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It's more to me like Erenville was on the "good guy's side" from the start, in that he fights for the little guys. It makes sense, and I'm glad the Gleaners have someone to fight for them since it did feel more than a little bit like they had been being mistreated and taken advantage of by the Sharlayan higher ups.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

We still have six tales to go. Ahewann isn't a bad guess to be one of them. (His induction into the truth behind his family's role as satrap would be an interesting one.)

Erenville isn't my favourite either, but I guess a fair bit of my own interest in him is hoping for a bit more insight into Viera culture and mindset rather than wanting to see more of him specifically? We haven't spent enough time with him to think much beyond "he seems nice".

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Wait, where did you get that idea there are only two empty slots left on the site?

Also, I'm not entirely sure we can even GET Viera culture from Erenville. He honestly comes across as more than a little sequestered and I wouldn't be surprised if he possesses little to no actual knowledge on what Viera culture is like.

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Originally Posted by Cleretic

Thanks for making a separate thread for this one, the other one was probably gonna keep with its talk to the point of steamrolling over the next story.

Nothing that's all too new here, although it confirms Erenville was genuinely on our side the entire time we knew him, even if he wasn't letting on. Also neat is the confirmation that Alpha doesn't look like any breed of chocobo around even to the guy that would absolutely know that stuff (no offense to the Ironworks, they ain't biologists).

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^This. I'm saddened my original thread for Tales of the Dawn got bogged down in all that... unpleasantness... but new story and new thread for it is probably for the best. So thank you Iscah. :D

As for this story, I actually enjoyed it, we got to see a bit of what makes Erenville tick and from the moment I saw him I could tell there was more to that cute bun than met the eye. So now I'm kind of intriguied by what his new adventure will be involving his past, and whether the WoL/Scions would end up crossing paths with him again - I sure hope we will. :D

Hate to be the pessimist of the day, but I honestly don't think y'all have given this thread nearly enough time yet to start lamenting the fate of the old one and celebrating the existence of the new. It has what, 10 replies as of now? This one will inevitably end up like all the others, none are the exception to this rule and such is the fate of the forums....

I guess I just fail to see what purpose mentioning it proffers, beyond a matchstick that the flame hasn't yet met.

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Originally Posted by SentioftheHoukai

Wait, where did you get that idea there are only two empty slots left on the site?

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All the other expansions got eight, and also only started with four slots if I recall correctly.

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Originally Posted by SentioftheHoukai

Wait, where did you get that idea there are only two empty slots left on the site?

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Four this year, four next year at the next Rising. That's how it has worked for years.

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Originally Posted by SentioftheHoukai

Wait, where did you get that idea there are only two empty slots left on the site?

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Originally Posted by Iscah

Four this year, four next year at the next Rising. That's how it has worked for years.

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Also the Lodestone outright says there will be ultimately four stories on the main page:

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Originally Posted by Final Fantasy XIV Lodestone

* Please note that Tales from the Dawn may contain spoilers from the main scenario.
* Four stories are scheduled to be released.

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Erenville’s ‘wait is this a new species’ got a chuckle out of me, and the Emmanellian cameo was both appropriate and amusing. Glad to touch back in with the gleaners and their workers’ rights comp and hints of a new quest involving Krile.

I like Erenville a lot, but even more than that, I love outside perspectives on the WoL and their friends, so this story was a huge win for me—especially the implication that we weren’t done with him as a character there at the end. Really, anything regarding the logistics of how gleaners work and what they were doing during the prep for the Final Days is a welcome addition to the lore!

That was cute.

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Originally Posted by Jandor

All the other expansions got eight, and also only started with four slots if I recall correctly.

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Shadowbringers actually got even more; on top of Tales from the Shadows, we also got the five stories leading into Endwalker that were secretly role quest prequels.


Chewing on this one more, I think it's more interesting not as an Erenville story (not that he isn't quite charming), but that he's very much acting as a window into just how weird the WoL and their friends all are to someone who isn't already used to it. Krile's personable, but most of this story is basically just Erenville boggling vacantly at everyone's shenanigans.

Also, if people want to dissect this stuff: the 'bickering like old lovers' line isn't in the original Japanese exactly, but there's still some clear passion involved in their phrasing. I don't know what portmanteau to go with for those two (Simmanelain? Emmanecard?), but the flame is indeed alive!

Also, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it line, but Erenville apparently named himself after a place. So perhaps someday we'll visit Erenville with Erenville? (Or maybe it's just in Corvos, like everything else that's happening just off-screen in Endwalker.)

Finally someone else has seen it with the name. Or atleast mentioned it finally. I've been waiting

Spitball theory: Erenville was the name of the first town that he entered after leaving the Wood, thus the significance of making it his City Name.

I liked it. Wasn't expecting more from that character. Now where do you think his homeland is? Corvos, Meracedia, somewhere in the New World? I also liked how the small mention of the WoL seemed to fit better in this one then in the first one.

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Originally Posted by SannaR

I liked it. Wasn't expecting more from that character. Now where do you think his homeland is? Corvos, Meracedia, somewhere in the New World? I also liked how the small mention of the WoL seemed to fit better in this one then in the first one.

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Considering the Wood seems to be in lower Dalmasca, the town is likely near Lea Monde, meaning the IVth Legion's territory.

That was nice.

*Sighs in relife that Hydaelyn and Vanet where not mentioned*

A nice little story. Did not add much sure, but it was neat to see the final part of the story through other eyes. Erenville was a lovely character in EW. It was cool they added a male Viera to the story when they added the model to the game. Hope they do the same with a female Hrothgar in 7.0. This seems to be hinting we may seem him again sometime, if he is working with the Students now, and I am intrigued to see what this ‘long-deferred matter’ is…

Definitely a step up from previous story, but regardless is still boring and doesn't add much to the lore, only more waking on how "wholesome™" the sundered are (and this is coming from someone who do like some of the scions).

As for erenville, he's alright I guess. Not that interesting to me.

One thing that make my eyes roll, his description of the ishgard dude and the pirate. "bicker like old lovers", that'll sure make the community more insufferable since they love acting like it's canon ship.

His name did seem a bit...unconventional by male Viera standards.

Now I kinda hope that maybe we'll get to see his namesake some day.

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Originally Posted by Kozh

Definitely a step up from previous story, but regardless is still boring and doesn't add much to the lore, only more waking on how "wholesome™" the sundered are (and this is coming from someone who do like some of the scions).

As for erenville, he's alright I guess. Not that interesting to me.

One thing that make my eyes roll, his description of the ishgard dude and the pirate. "bicker like old lovers", that'll sure make the community more insufferable since they love acting like it's canon ship.

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We get it, you hate gay people, that doesn't make you interesting.

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Originally Posted by KageTokage

His name did seem a bit...unconventional by male Viera standards.

Now I kinda hope that maybe we'll get to see his namesake some day.

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Oddly enough, "Erenville" is actually straight out of the random name generator. There are clearly a few city names thrown in there.

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Originally Posted by Aiden_Gardner

We get it, you hate gay people, that doesn't make you interesting.

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We get it, you lack reading comprehension, that doesn't make you interesting.

(But thanks for proving me right)

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Originally Posted by Cleretic

Also, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it line, but Erenville apparently named himself after a place. So perhaps someday we'll visit Erenville with Erenville? (Or maybe it's just in Corvos, like everything else that's happening just off-screen in Endwalker.)

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Originally Posted by Rannie

Finally someone else has seen it with the name. Or atleast mentioned it finally. I've been waiting

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Originally Posted by Denishia

Spitball theory: Erenville was the name of the first town that he entered after leaving the Wood, thus the significance of making it his City Name.

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Originally Posted by KageTokage

His name did seem a bit...unconventional by male Viera standards.

Now I kinda hope that maybe we'll get to see his namesake some day.

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A strange follow-up to this thread of conversation, because I was reading the story again and I think there's been a stealth edit to the text. I definitely got out of it (as you all did) that Erenville was the name of his home town, but now it doesn't seem to be saying that at all - though unfortunately nobody quoted it at the time to compare directly.

Current text of the relevant paragraph:

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One day—perhaps when his part in their adventures is ended—he will lay to rest a long-deferred matter. That which had confronted him in his faraway home long before he took his new name, and chose to walk the gleaner's path.

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This version makes it sound like maybe something dramatic happened there that forced him to leave.

guess people gotta start quote archiving the stories now too. was it not archived in the wayback machine?

Baaaah why do they do that it was great and interesting to read that... stupid edits

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Originally Posted by Rannie

Baaaah why do they do that it was great and interesting to read that... stupid edits

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Not much use to read a great and interesting thing if it was actually just a mistranslation. Better to keep everyone on the same page.

Anyway, as I said before the thread previously went dormant, the name Erenville is actually on the default name list for Viera so I think it would actually be a weird decision to make it a special name he chose because of a location that was significant to him, because there are potentially a lot of player characters using the same name.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

Anyway, as I said before the thread previously went dormant, the name Erenville is actually on the default name list for Viera so I think it would actually be a weird decision to make it a special name he chose because of a location that was significant to him, because there are potentially a lot of player characters using the same name.

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"Who made that man a gleaner?"

"I did, sir. He's from my hometown."

"Who's he?"

"Erenville, sir."

"Not his hometown. I was asking for his name."

"That is his name, sir. Gleaner I. M. Frahm Erenville. And that's Gleaner Bunboye Frahm Erenville."

"How many Erenvilles do we have in this guild?"

"YO!"

"I knew it. I'm surrounded by Erenvilles."

*puts down visor*

"KEEP FIRING ERENVILLES!"