Minfilia (spoilers ahead)

[Raagnar]

So you are saying there is one big echo for most of 1.0 and there are echoes within echoes? You aren't supposed to be able to effect the outcome of an echo but you clearly help and are given credit for stopping the goobbue, and you keep the flower given to you (its even used in the first quest). I think this is more about 1.0 spanning longer then was said and not echoes within echoes.

The last time you see Ascilia was lvl 15 main quest, and the first time you meet Minfilia was lvl 18 main quest where she explains she is filling in for the leader of the path of the twelve. This is where she also explains what the echo is (sorta). I guess the player takes some time off to reflect during that time lol.

[Andaeron]

Hmmm....Doesn't explain why our Archons are still as dashing as ever 15 years later..... :P

"The power of The Echo grants you extra strength..." XD

[Anonymoose]

It must be pretty confusing for new folks who haven't read all the stuff on 1.0 plots.

By the time you get to the last of the A Realm Awoken main scenario quests, enough information has been given that if you weren't already told this was 1.0 information, you wouldn't notice the difference. They managed to wrap up all but two questions left over from that particular set of quests (Introduction Four) and even left the door open to answer the other two. I'm grateful, really. I really, really hope they do the same for Sthalmann and the Lominsan quests. His character had so much potential.

[Vydos]

I have to say that I'm understanding all this yet at the same time doubting it. Obviously I can't rewatch said cutscenes ingame anymore(I know, youtube). Then again, as I'm typing this the pieces are coming together in my mind.

So basically, every cutscene that involved F'Lahmin and Nielle where we saw Ascillia are all echos. But when did Nielle die then? In the past or 1.0 present time? Because I remember a moment where Thancred was playing a card game with Nielle. Unless that's also in the past.

Gah! This is all so confusing lol!

[Anonymoose]

So basically, every cutscene that involved F'Lahmin and Nielle where we saw Ascillia are all echos. But when did Nielle die then? In the past or 1.0 present time? Because I remember a moment where Thancred was playing a card game with Nielle. Unless that's also in the past.

All of those happened in 1562, yes, lol. All you did in Present Day was show up, visit the guilds, talk about things that happened 10 years ago as if they just happened (confusing the hells out of people as you did so), and then pass out, leading one knowledgeable passerby to realize that you have the Echo and introduce you to the Path of the Twelve.

[Vydos]

All of those happened in 1562, yes, lol. All you did in Present Day was show up, visit the guilds, talk about things that happened 10 years ago as if they just happened (confusing the hells out of people as you did so), and then pass out, leading one knowledgeable passerby to realize that you have the Echo and introduce you to the Path of the Twelve.

I think the term "Mind blown" suits my current state now after this reveal lol. But thanks for clearing all that up Moose! I was completely confused when I learned that F'lhamin was Minfillia's(Ascillia) adoptive mother. XD

Quite interesting though. I guess this means that Thancred was the first to have made contact with a city-state. How old is Thancred then lol. He must be at least in his +30. I always took him as around the same age as Minfillia lol.

[Anonymoose]

How old is Thancred then lol.

They all seem to age a little different, lol. I'm really curious to find out if all three city introductions happened at the same time, and whether it was just before or just after the Battle of Silvertear Skies - perhaps just as it happened... clues go in a lot of directions. The one thing I do know is that I'm going to hurry my ass up on the full transcript reconstructions of the Ul'dahn introduction (cutscenes, instances, limited-time NPCs, flavortext, etc.) and crank out a Lore Train to celebrate A Realm Awoken taking the time to clear up a few questions... even though we still have a few big ones left to go.

[WellGramarye]

Considering how short days are in the Eorzian world compared to ours, I think "year" is pretty relative to not all that long; and characters are extremely long lived. Also wasn't it hinted that the Dawn members are basically aspects of the 12? If so they could be practically immortal or just don't age.

[Icecylee]

,,,It must be pretty confusing for new folks who haven't read all the stuff on 1.0 plots. ...

For what it's worth, a lot of the people that played 1.xx didn't really understand the plot anyways, haha. It was terribly complex and convoluted, and never took the time to actually explain itself (although it did leave hints that often sort of made sense in restrospect... provided you had noticed all the connected vague hints scattered throughout the game...). A lot of the communities understanding of how everything went down came out of months and months of discussions and dissecting cut-scenes and quests logs. >>;

[Vydos]

For what it's worth, a lot of the people that played 1.xx didn't really understand the plot anyways, haha. It was terribly complex and convoluted, and never took the time to actually explain itself (although it did leave hints that often sort of made sense in restrospect... provided you had noticed all the connected vague hints scattered throughout the game...). A lot of the communities understanding of how everything went down came out of months and months of discussions and dissecting cut-scenes and quests logs. >>;

All the above is quite true but in S-E defense, they never got the chance to elaborate on the story. FFXI was quite confusing at first too but it seems that's how S-E like to do their storytelling. Give us a very rough basic outline of what's going on. Only to elaborate on it with every expansion(or patch).