Let's make a bet: Does Gaius van Baelsar survive the game's first main scenario?

[Catapult]

If we haven't seen the last of Gaius (and I truly hope we haven't), he is going to be utterly peeved that he was led around by the nose by someone whose aim was to summon their god. What Lahabrea was trying to achieve through the Ultima Weapon & Heart of Sabik is exactly what Gaius is out to stamp out.

It would be a very interesting conversation that eventuates. We may still not be on the same side, but he is bound to acknowledge a common enemy that takes priority over our international disputes.

[faris]

stuff!

What you're saying stands to sense, though it conflicts tremendously with something else. All Garleans, true blood, have a third eye. Nero shows what exactly it does by knowing exactly what codename Hummingway was- an Eorzean spy. Baelsar is a Van - therefore nobility - therefore trueblood Garlean. He really, really should have seen Lahabrea's intent - the same way he saw Nael Van Darnus wasn't himself before anyone else did in 1.0.

[Naria]

Spoilers!

Okay so re-watching the scene where Nero kills the spy, he says afterwards “The Frumentarium sees all”. There is no indication in the scene or the one with Cid explaining his past that “Frumentarum” is the third eye of the Garlean’s. It could just be a counter intelligence unit or something. According to Google (not the best source I know) “Frumentarium” means “producing grain/concerning grain”. English “Ferment” is probably related to it, but I digress. “Frumentarium” doesn’t really sound like the name of a third eye. Of course, it doesn’t really sound like the name for a counter intelligence unit, but that could be short for something like "separating chaff from the grain". My point is that I think your speculation on the capabilities of the Garlean third eye is a bit premature. If I’ve missed something where it’s explained more explicitly, please let me know.

On the subject on “van” and nobility: we have seen two people with “van” in the game—Gauis van Baelsar and Nael van Darnus. Both are generals and leaders of legions. The two confirmed pureblood Garleans are Cid nan Garlond and Nero tol Scaeva—different prefixes. “Van” could easily just mean the leader of a legion. In 1.0 there was a lot of speculation that Nael was in fact elezen based on his height/movement/connection to Allag/name. Of course this was prior to finding out that the Garleans were a race as well as a people, but that doesn’t necessarily invalidate the idea. Going by movement/body type I actually think that Livia is Elezen as well. From the game’s website/cses I figured that the objection to Rhitahtyn isn’t that he’s a Roegadyn, but that he is from Ala Mhigo, and was possibly born before it was conquered. Again if its stated anywhere that "van” means noble or that Gauis/Nael are pure blood Garleans please let me know.

The thread I’m referencing for the Elezen!Nael theory/Garlean naming and rank speculation is this one http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...987#post983987 if people have not seen it and would like to take a look.

[Catapult]

Garlean analysis.

You need to look at Latin roots rather than English, because:

• English is a mish-mash of too many languages sometimes; and
• Garlemald is modelled off the Ancient Roman Empire, much like how Eorzea is modeled off the Ancient Greek Federation.

In this context, the Frumentarium are an intelligence unit of Garlemald. Essentially their spies.

Now I can't remember my source, but the middle name of the Garlean is indeed a mark of social status, which can be either your nobility or your military rank.
So Van would mean Legatus. Sas is probably cohort commander. Tos is something to do with professor. Zos is Emperor. Nan is imperial minister.

[Naria]

LOL the latin roots are what I looked at. "Ferment" was just speculation. :-)
http://www.latin-dictionary.net/defi...a-frumentarium

[Renvalt]

Frumentarium is to Garlemald what the CIA is to America. It's effectively the secret covert ops squadron that Garlemald uses.

There's a quest that occurs prior to Cid's identity revealed (where he assumes the name Marques), where you are forced to kill a 3rd Cohort Frumentarius just outside the Church. Frumentarii would be a member of the Covert Ops Squadron of the XIVth Legion, led by Legatus Gaius Van Baelsar.

Given Nero's affinity to engineering (Nero was Cid's rival back in Garlemald), I could see him being adept with monitoring technology; thus making him adept as a Frumentarius Commander.

[Naria]

ah cool, I'd forgotten that quest.

[MilitaryVet123]

We don't know yet and this thread can be considered spoiler-free (which it should remain, even after the game is released). What do you guys think? He will certainly fight him, but will this be the end of him or will he retreat back to his home turf in Ala Mhigo? I'm betting he makes it through, but after being humbled.

He does. I'm excited to see him becoming a Scion so we have a PoC Scion finally.

[Tsiron]

while I agree with the sentiment, why would you do this...?

[Brightamethyst]

Despite the troll bump, this is actually a pretty interesting look back at some of the early speculation.