Where do you think the msq is headed? Spoilers a thoerycrafting

So in dawntrial a few new artifacts were discovered, one being the key which was created by azem and one being spheres crown. Now there was a very interesting lore video by lore lines that questioned if the crown was infact actually a crown or a broken piece of azems mask.

I'm not saying "yes" definitely it's azems mask, but it certainly looks like * a mask * not a crown. Sphene at one point was also regarded as "possessing a regulator" but as an endless she has no use for one, not only that but sphene died before they and solution nine were ever created. So what is the regulator she had(has)? Perhaps it's the crown itself, another Creaton of azem maybe? Maybe the regulators were backwards engineered from the crown? We know azems true power is the ability to connect people and bring them together, he specialised in magics and concepts that brought people together who were separated.

So how does this tie into the key. Well, it may have been created to rejoin the shards together through interdimensional travel, but why would azem the ancient create this? One possibility is that azem did it for after the final days. During the msq and some of the online tales, were told to just assume azem wasn't doing much. That he was just enjoying his last remaining time before the suffering accepting his fate. Doesn't sound very azem does it? Infact even hades was deeply heartbroken that azem "abandoned" then... so why would the hero of the hour do this? After all this is the same soul who risked the lives of himself and his comrades for some stinking grapes... Unless; he knew the sundering was going to work out alright.

During the wols time in elpis a co vengeance of events happens and many ascians meet somebody they think is a concept of azem, During the pandaemonium raid series a line is delivered from elidibus that says "azem is aware of your presence here" as he seemingly doesn't care whatsoever. Honestly msq really has painted this guy as sort of a jerk. But if azem knew that by your presence you would avert the final days permanently that it makes sense why he didn't act. After all you could only be back In elpis a second time is you triumphed against the endsinger. So then what was he doing?

Well perhaps he created this key to be of aid to us in future, if the shards couldn't be rejoined (something neither you, hydaelyn and probably even azem himself don't want) then maybe this key was his way of letting us explore these shards
Its an azems job to explore the world, document its mysterious cultures and report it back to the higher-ups. But it's more than a job, it's part of who an azem is and what makes them such a suitable candidate for the role. Its also our wol's legacy.

So with this information. What do you think is going to happen with msq? Do you think azem will wind up getting a villian arc that so many are asking for? Or might ultima make her return like pandemonium foreshadowed? What could be the promised importance of the crown? And most importantly... WHEN IS ZENOS COMMING BACK

The crown and key are very likely the next MSQ direction but im more interested in Ultima and Meracydia. I want more of what P12S was aesthetically.

I feel like I'd remember if there was a lore bomb about something being made by Azem...

The keys to the gate were made by Sharlayan, as was the lock.

The key to the portal inside that, I've no idea, but it was possessed by the people of the south sea isles. I remember nothing like Azem's symbol on it so I revisited all the cutscenes of it and there is nothing Azem-related on it at all. The lid could look similar but I think it is just meant to be a lid. The Azem symbol is just a circle after all and lots of things are a circle, such as lids...

I think it's a giant stretch to suggest a crown that is obviously just meant to be a crown is somehow a mask. It looks nothing like a "piece of a mask". It looks like just part of her attire really.

As for Azem, Yoshi-P said they would be doing exactly the sort of stuff we're doing. So fishing, crafting and making millions of useless gil and AFKing in their version of limsa with something that shows off what they've done like a title or ultimate weapon.

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Originally Posted by Jeeqbit

I remember nothing like Azem's symbol on it so I revisited all the cutscenes of it and there is nothing Azem-related on it at all.

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https://i.imgur.com/C5siWTr.png
Quest: Dawntrail, Cutscene 2

Firstly, I'd say it's fair to assume that the 'key' will be closely studied by Y'shtola, and probably G'raha, since the closing dialogue indicated that "such a device is well with the Scion's field of expertise".

May also be fair to assume that some method of activating it will be discovered, though to what end remains to be seen - I mean, from what little we've seen thus far it's more a key for opening portals rather than a method of creating them itself.

And in terms of pure speculation - could we possibly come into conflict with Preservation (or the remnants of it)? We never did discover exactly how Robor and Alayla died (nor Cahciua for that matter) but we do know that Preservation were after them.

Shard hopping and Azem and the Convocation stuff. At least that's what it looks like to me.

I think tying everything to Azem is a mistake. At this point I'm hoping it's "our" mistake, as in we are assuming too much. But if not then it's the writers' mistake.

Azem is inherently ascian and everything we did inevitably ties back into the ascian storyline which we are supposed to be done with. Yes, there are in fact open plot lines related to Azem, like whatever we were, or were not doing during the Final Days. Something I remember desperately wanting to learn about back during Endwalker and later starting to think that I guess we'll just... never know.

But so what, am I supposed to assume that the writers decided to ignore this stuff back during Endwalker (when they really could have elaborated more) and are going to instead start shoving more ascian, convocation stuff into Dawntrail AFTER they kept on stating "the ascian ark is OVER, it's OVER I tell you!"

And is the end result simply going to be... us going to other reflections? Like we've done before? Whenever the story called for it? Without any keys?

Nonetheless I would hope that the key eventually leads to a wrap up of the whole First thing. Give it to Y'shtola, let her finally go back to Runar and let her stay there. Same with Thancred. They've been talking about it and searching for ways to go back since forever. Then eventually we'll need to continue with the Void, at least that's my impression. The patches did tie things up in a way that let us ignore it for an undermined period of time, but the story is clearly not "over." That said I don't think this is coming soon.

How is Meracydia going to tie into everything? Seems almost certain that it should be the next destination expansion wise. But why are we going to go there? Was it the Allagans all along? Alisaie was right? Idk. Judging by some of the last interviews, CBU3 also aren't exactly done with where the story is going, so it's no wonder things are still so open.

I think that Preservation will play a role somehow. They keep being brought up, but not like they're a past thing. Another idea is that it's hinted that Sphene managed to fire off the key a bit during the final battle, and it might have affected other reflections. Given that time's constantly in flux between shards, what if one got messed up bad, rebuilt, figured out what happened, pinpointed the Source as the...well...source of the damage, and develop a way to cross the rift (maybe with Preservation's help), and start a war with the Source in retaliation? Eh...bit of a stretch, but an idea.

It is possible the Key can be used more reliably by Ancient Ascians and the flare up of the symbol is recognizing the WoL as near enough to a full Ascian so as to trigger it. Nothing mentions it being made by Azem so that is very much a leap.

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Originally Posted by Ryvick

It is possible the Key can be used more reliably by Ancient Ascians and the flare up of the symbol is recognizing the WoL as near enough to a full Ascian so as to trigger it. Nothing mentions it being made by Azem so that is very much a leap.

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*nods* it definitely reacts to us, but that doesn’t necessarily mean our Ancient self made it. Also, Azem is an office of the convocation… so while the symbol of Azem was last associated with our former self, it was also associated with Venat before us. Could be she had a hand in it, especially knowing what she was planning to do… at any rate, I really hope they will explore a bit of the key’s mystery: who made it and why, exactly what it’s full capabilities are, how the Lalas ended up with it (which could take us to the South Sea Isles, just a hop away from Meracydia in time for 8.0! Please! lol). Instead of just ignore it and now we have a shiny new key (plot device) to travel between shards.

As for the mask… I remember seeing a lot of speculation before release about the Arcadion symbol looking like Altima, while Sphene’s mask and some details on her dress looked more like Pashtarot… suggesting that maybe the original Sphene was a sundered Ancient from the convocation. At any rate the Sphene we knew wasn’t the original, but Ascian or not, it’s possible that Preservation as an organization or even Living Memory itself could’ve been part of an Ascian scheme… whether to prep shards for rejoining or just an experiment to find another way of restoring their lost loved ones.

At any rate, I don’t think Sphene’s mask is related to Azem… they have no problem sticking that symbol on the key, on our crystal, even on the throne in the Crystal Tower! (Which I still don’t think I’ve ever seen an explanation for, though I have theories!) I think if Sphene was connected to Azem, we would have seen the symbol on her somewhere, rather than patterns that seem to point to another Ascian.

no.... more... Zenos...

his time is done. get over it.

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Originally Posted by Kes13a

no.... more... Zenos...

his time is done. get over it.

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Only way I want Zenos back would be a Shinryu summon! lol

In the pampa lvl 100 dungeon quest, there is a line about a legend that say "the great snake will wake up when the world is about to get bigger" (or something like that). My theory is that one way or the other, we're gonna open the free travel between shards, and it will lead to conflict because those shard had been tempered with by the ascian and the effect of that did not stop with the disparition of Zordiark. In that theory, Venat told Azem about your voyage, and what he was working on is a way to help the people of every shards if the final days ended being averted.

I don't care where we're going as long as it isnt with the current writers.

All people responsible for this garbage story need to be fired.

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Originally Posted by Khryseis_Astra

*nods* it definitely reacts to us, but that doesn’t necessarily mean our Ancient self made it. Also, Azem is an office of the convocation… so while the symbol of Azem was last associated with our former self, it was also associated with Venat before us. Could be she had a hand in it, especially knowing what she was planning to do… at any rate, I really hope they will explore a bit of the key’s mystery: who made it and why, exactly what it’s full capabilities are, how the Lalas ended up with it (which could take us to the South Sea Isles, just a hop away from Meracydia in time for 8.0! Please! lol). Instead of just ignore it and now we have a shiny new key (plot device) to travel between shards.

As for the mask… I remember seeing a lot of speculation before release about the Arcadion symbol looking like Altima, while Sphene’s mask and some details on her dress looked more like Pashtarot… suggesting that maybe the original Sphene was a sundered Ancient from the convocation. At any rate the Sphene we knew wasn’t the original, but Ascian or not, it’s possible that Preservation as an organization or even Living Memory itself could’ve been part of an Ascian scheme… whether to prep shards for rejoining or just an experiment to find another way of restoring their lost loved ones.

At any rate, I don’t think Sphene’s mask is related to Azem… they have no problem sticking that symbol on the key, on our crystal, even on the throne in the Crystal Tower! (Which I still don’t think I’ve ever seen an explanation for, though I have theories!) I think if Sphene was connected to Azem, we would have seen the symbol on her somewhere, rather than patterns that seem to point to another Ascian.

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i recommend reading the entries to the "Tales from the " series. newest one mentions azem created the device

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Originally Posted by honest_psycho

I don't care where we're going as long as it isnt with the current writers.

All people responsible for this garbage story need to be fired.

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current writer has been writing since 3.0. he wrote the msq patch where emet was first introduced

Just some rambling thoughts…I feel like Azem made the relic in secret before they were sundered, because they knew what Venat was planning and wanted the future people of the source + shards to be able to find each other again, and to explore worlds beyond their own, if they chose. Then the relic was discovered by the group that would become Preservation, and modified for their purposes. Electrope may have been a “gift” from an Ascian who recognized the power of the relic, but realized that only someone bearing the soul signature or whatever of Azem could open it, so they introduced a method of faking that signature with electrope and forcing it to work. Or maybe the shaman who led the Milala into the 9th was a previous incarnation of our soul, and Preservation modified it later so they could achieve what she did. Regardless of how the relic works and who made it, the first order of business is hopefully to answer these questions. Hopefully this adventure gives us some more background about the 9th’s history and current state, outside of Living Memory.

The msq then, after establishing what the relic is, might turn instead to what the relic means. Knowing what we do, should we make people on other shards aware of this technology by using it to meet them? Is it ethical to open a bridge between the source and the shards, knowing that a shard of some ancient soul could come into contact with its other fragments and merge, on purpose or by accident? Would the difference in soul density between shard-dwellers and source-dwellers be of significance if they met? There are a lot of questions you can ask

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Originally Posted by knaveofcups

Just some rambling thoughts…I feel like Azem made the relic in secret before they were sundered, because they knew what Venat was planning and wanted the future people of the source + shards to be able to find each other again, and to explore worlds beyond their own, if they chose. Then the relic was discovered by the group that would become Preservation, and modified for their purposes. Electrope may have been a “gift” from an Ascian who recognized the power of the relic, but realized that only someone bearing the soul signature or whatever of Azem could open it, so they introduced a method of faking that signature with electrope and forcing it to work. Or maybe the shaman who led the Milala into the 9th was a previous incarnation of our soul, and Preservation modified it later so they could achieve what she did. Regardless of how the relic works and who made it, the first order of business is hopefully to answer these questions. Hopefully this adventure gives us some more background about the 9th’s history and current state, outside of Living Memory.

The msq then, after establishing what the relic is, might turn instead to what the relic means. Knowing what we do, should we make people on other shards aware of this technology by using it to meet them? Is it ethical to open a bridge between the source and the shards, knowing that a shard of some ancient soul could come into contact with its other fragments and merge, on purpose or by accident? Would the difference in soul density between shard-dwellers and source-dwellers be of significance if they met? There are a lot of questions you can ask

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I think this might be a possibility. But, personally, I can't shake the feeling that the key was made by ANOTHER Azem shard. Basically, we may end up fighting ourselves.

Hopefully the Azem key can take us out of Tural for good.

Mao pretty sure MSQs gonna be just carbon copys of MSQs from previous expansions buts with differents coat of paints. Is always same number of dungeons, same number and type of trials, same linear path. Story may be good. Story may be bad. Actual gameplay never varies though. Only tiny differences like maybe new fight mechanics. Mao startings get bored.

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Originally Posted by sindriiisgaming

i recommend reading the entries to the "Tales from the " series. newest one mentions azem created the device.

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Oh I hadn’t realized they had started those for Dawntrail yet, and I’m not finding it anywhere. Can you link it?

With Eden in the picture, the new fusion key... we're just kinda trailing after Azem and it seems like we'll probably try to merge shards into the source at one point without the calamities and massive loss of life.

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Originally Posted by Khryseis_Astra

Oh I hadn’t realized they had started those for Dawntrail yet, and I’m not finding it anywhere. Can you link it?

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They had been released at the end of last year.

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

At the time, the crystal mentioned in the final story didn't seem to have any special significance outside of a reason for Hythlodaeus to be looking for Azem. There's always the chance that it's not the same crystal we've seen in Dawntrail (though it probably is). The story mentions that it was part of a set of 14 travel related concepts that Azem created.

Now that we've been through the 7.0 MSQ, the crystal (and potentially the other concepts mentioned) seem to have an important purpose.

I can see main arc involving creating bridges between the remaining shards -- to rejoin them if you will, but without the mass murder, and destruction.

I think it's going to be more Wuk Lamat

I think we're jumping to conclusions to say that Azem made the key. It reacted to Azem's summoning magic, that's all we know. Azem or one of the previous Azem shards having made the key is certainly a viable possibility, but it could also be made by someone or something else entirely. All we know is that its related to Azem in some way.

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Originally Posted by mallleable

I can see main arc involving creating bridges between the remaining shards -- to rejoin them if you will, but without the mass murder, and destruction.

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Plot twist: it'll be with even more mass murder and destruction.

I'll be happier to return to the MSQ if it can involve a lot less Wuk Lamat. Everyone else seems to stop intervening or making decent decisions or interactions whenever she's there, soaking up the spotlight. Just don't make her a Scion and/or keep her on Tural so we can give a proper crocodile's farewell and head on out of there.

I love how Emet Selch was like "HaVe YoU rEaLlY eXpLoReD aLl Of ThE sTaR?" And so we proceed to heed his advice and go east since we went west before.....

ONLY TO FIND THE KEY TO EXPLORING OTHER SHARDS SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO IGNORE ETHERYS MORE LOL (Potentially)

We have a key to dimension-hopping and are primed for some true adventuring exploration. I hope we wouldn't necessarily do it alone for once, though... it's probably just wishful thinking, but Estinien (both in Dawntrail and often in other expansions) is quite the wanderer himself and likes to explore a whole lot more than the other Scions. Could that be foreshadowing that he's the perfect travelling companion for an Azem Adventurer? It'd be amazing if he took us up on an invitation to REALLY do some exploration with us in different reflections. A buddy (dimensional) road trip type storyline would be awesome.

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Originally Posted by knaveofcups

Just some rambling thoughts…I feel like Azem made the relic in secret before they were sundered, because they knew what Venat was planning and wanted the future people of the source + shards to be able to find each other again, and to explore worlds beyond their own, if they chose. Then the relic was discovered by the group that would become Preservation, and modified for their purposes. Electrope may have been a “gift” from an Ascian who recognized the power of the relic, but realized that only someone bearing the soul signature or whatever of Azem could open it, so they introduced a method of faking that signature with electrope and forcing it to work. Or maybe the shaman who led the Milala into the 9th was a previous incarnation of our soul, and Preservation modified it later so they could achieve what she did. Regardless of how the relic works and who made it, the first order of business is hopefully to answer these questions. Hopefully this adventure gives us some more background about the 9th’s history and current state, outside of Living Memory.

The msq then, after establishing what the relic is, might turn instead to what the relic means. Knowing what we do, should we make people on other shards aware of this technology by using it to meet them? Is it ethical to open a bridge between the source and the shards, knowing that a shard of some ancient soul could come into contact with its other fragments and merge, on purpose or by accident? Would the difference in soul density between shard-dwellers and source-dwellers be of significance if they met? There are a lot of questions you can ask

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i actually think electope is black auracite. think about it. its destroyed eutropes body, it causes the 9th to be destoryed by levin energy and it uses eather to convert the users ambition to power (refer to m4 savage)

Sarool Ja is alive, finds his way into Living Memory, locates Sphene's Crown and gains her authority as ruler of Aexandria while also being able to body hop to Sentries or anyone with a Regulator and proceeds to cause chaos in Solution 9/Heritage found while attempting to manipulate Galool Ja.

The Key plays little to no part in the story until around 7.5 where it leads to some forsaken ruins in the middle of nowhere that suggest something about Meracydia and we go there for the next expansion and during that expansion, we're just following the whims of the Key, and open up a new shard to travel to for the 2nd half of the expansion.

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Originally Posted by Silver-Strider

Sarool Ja is alive, finds his way into Living Memory, locates Sphene's Crown and gains her authority as ruler of Aexandria while also being able to body hop to Sentries or anyone with a Regulator and proceeds to cause chaos in Solution 9/Heritage found while attempting to manipulate Galool Ja.

The Key plays little to no part in the story until around 7.5 where it leads to some forsaken ruins in the middle of nowhere that suggest something about Meracydia and we go there for the next expansion and during that expansion, we're just following the whims of the Key, and open up a new shard to travel to for the 2nd half of the expansion.

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oh god please no more zarool ja. maybe if it was zenos XD

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Originally Posted by Silver-Strider

Sarool Ja is alive, finds his way into Living Memory, locates Sphene's Crown and gains her authority as ruler of Aexandria while also being able to body hop to Sentries or anyone with a Regulator and proceeds to cause chaos in Solution 9/Heritage found while attempting to manipulate Galool Ja.

The Key plays little to no part in the story until around 7.5 where it leads to some forsaken ruins in the middle of nowhere that suggest something about Meracydia and we go there for the next expansion and during that expansion, we're just following the whims of the Key, and open up a new shard to travel to for the 2nd half of the expansion.

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I'd actually rather like that to be the case. To be honest, I feel the story needs to hold back on the key for a little while at least - let the Scions spend some time investigating it and how it works, and be somewhat hesitant to use it initially. I mean, it is a bit of a 'game changer'.

We all know the very first quest is going to be "Speak to Wuk Lamat"

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Originally Posted by Jojoya

They had been released at the end of last year.

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

At the time, the crystal mentioned in the final story didn't seem to have any special significance outside of a reason for Hythlodaeus to be looking for Azem. There's always the chance that it's not the same crystal we've seen in Dawntrail (though it probably is). The story mentions that it was part of a set of 14 travel related concepts that Azem created.

Now that we've been through the 7.0 MSQ, the crystal (and potentially the other concepts mentioned) seem to have an important purpose.

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I see, so probable, but as of yet, not definitively confirmed. Looking at screenshots of the device, I don’t know if I would liken its crystal to a concept crystal, at least not the ones we’ve seen so far. And the design of the housing for the crystal doesn’t strike me as very Ancient-style either, but that could have been added on later. Of course, the concept crystal would more likely just hold the plans/schematics for the concepts she invented, and not be the final product in and of itself.

I do think it’s highly likely that our Azem and/or Venat had something to do with the key’s original creation, but I’m also suspecting it has been modified since, by any number of hands it has passed through between then and now.

Well... judging by the 24m raid its safe to say well unlock some way of using the key in 7.1 as thats likely how well intertwine with XI as a possible shard. That being said hopefully the key doesnt get reduce to side content beyond that...

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Originally Posted by Hanayumi

Well... judging by the 24m raid its safe to say well unlock some way of using the key in 7.1 as thats likely how well intertwine with XI as a possible shard. That being said hopefully the key doesnt get reduce to side content beyond that...

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I'm afraid that's a very likely possibility. Remember Omega?... It's awakening was a huge lore thing that I swore it would be a meaningful plot point for SB's MSQ, but it was just a cue to branch out in the Raid side story.

Australia.