1.0 Stroyline Information

[Anonymoose]

So Daybreak refer to the Warriors of Light huh? Never thought of it that way (but then again I never seen the term used outside ST either)

Essentially. It could refer to you as a person, your power, Hydaelyn's blessing, etc. but all of those things fall under the umbrella of just literally you.

The prophecy's seventh verse (the verse for the Seventh Umbral Era), refers to "Valiant blades forged under the Twelve's good grace." Louisoix says that he's looking for one of these blades, which he names Daybreak. Before ARR was released, Yoshida's New Years hint about the upcoming story referred to the Blade of Light against the Blade of Might, with both racing to put down the primals. This turned out to be you, the blade of light, against a blade of might, Gaius van Baelsar. Line this up with the fact that, thoughout the story, you earn nicknames like "Bringer of Light" and "Brighter of the Dawn" because they believe you will cause the rise of the Seventh Astral Era, it all fits together nicely. What is dawn? The break of day. The big reveal that moves it from speculation to canon, in my opinion, is when Hydaelyn empowers you to drive out Lahabrea and says, "If thou wouldst pierce the shadows...make thee a blade of Light."

[Teakwood]

Moose, you're still my favourite. <3 And I'm going to just roll around in your lore compendium for days and days and days on end when you finish it. I believe in you~! (I wish I could help, but honestly, everything I remember from 1.x, I figured out because of your posts anyways...)

[Wolfandre]

Now that we know they're not worthless, there's a storm of people trying to gather them all up and learn their secrets. Rowena got her start working for an Ishgardian noble who was after Allag artifacts. She seems like a self-made woman now, but she's still after Allag stuff. Makes you wonder if they're still in contact. Makes you wonder who he is - what he wants - what he's doing.

It is worth noting, as I'm sure you have in the past, that this same dude wanted primal stuff in 1.0 and has since shifted his attention to Allag relics after hearing about the information that completed the Lunar Transmitter. I'm 100% with you in that this guy is gonna show up soon. Maybe as a contender for a little somethin'-somethin' talked about in the recent story additions? Hrmmm...

I'm also impressed with the sheer amount of wealth that the tomestones have afforded Rowena as opposed to the primal artifacts. She used to stand around, hawking in Ul'dah. Whoever is getting this ridiculous amount of stones is finding some way to turn a profit on them.

As a side note, I sometimes wonder if SE calculates the amount that she receives from the players and changes the outcome of Revenant's Toll based on that.

For all we know, if you earnestly, honestly, zealously believed in a Burrito Knight, and wished really hard to summon it while adding a bunch of aether, it might appear in all of its spicy glory.

This is my new goal in life.

"O MIGHTY BURRITO KNIGHT!! FILL OUR BELLIES WITH THE SENSIBLE CHUCKLES OF SAUCE PACKET ONE-LINERS AND SCORE OUR GUACAMOLE WITH A SCOVILLE COMPARABLE TO THE BOWEL OF EMBERS!!!"

[Morningstar1337]

It is worth noting, as I'm sure you have in the past, that this same dude wanted primal stuff in 1.0 and has since shifted his attention to Allag relics after hearing about the information that completed the Lunar Transmitter. I'm 100% with you in that this guy is gonna show up soon. Maybe as a contender for a little somethin'-somethin' talked about in the recent story additions? Hrmmm...

Like Omega?

I'm also impressed with the sheer amount of wealth that the tomestones have afforded Rowena as opposed to the primal artifacts. She used to stand around, hawking in Ul'dah. Whoever is getting this ridiculous amount of stones is finding some way to turn a profit on them.

Seems possible. but with the sheer amount tomes we get. I must assume that the Allagan empire has as much knowledge and myths (I'm counting fictional works as myths) as the entire planet combined and maybe even more.

As for her money I assume that the buyers are billionaire archeologists, very rich hobbyists, readers, myth buffs and governments (possibly including the Grand Companies and the Garlean Empire)

[Alenore]

I seriously doubt the amount of myth/sold/philo we get is cannon. They had to make a currency for it, and while the fact we trade tomestones to rowena is probably in the story, we didn't farm 13500 for the books and such.

[LillithCale]

Oh wow, what replies! I am going to have fun with this *nodnod*

Eorzeans have a very limited worldview and we know very little about the planet. We know that there's a series of three massive continents that, for the sake of this explanation, you can think of as being like Africa, Europe, and Asia. These are called the "Three Great Continents." The continent in Africa's position would be Aldenard, Aldenard and it's surrounding islands create a cultural sphere called the realm of Eorzea. In the northeast, there's a land bridge connecting us to the middle of the Three Great Continents, Ilsabard, which is in Europe's position. This is where the Garleans are from - Garlemald conquered the northern nations and solidified them into an Empire and then conquered the rest of the middle content. After that, they went east, to the last great continent, Othard, in Asia's position, and conquered most of it. A few independent and strategically worthless cities that are benign to imperial domination still exist on Othard, but for the most part the Far East is subjugated under Imperial rule.
So, back to your question: The Garleans obviously control a lot of land, being in control of two of the Three Great Continents. But there's islands of various sizes all around that seem to be presently free of Imperial rule. There's also the possibility that beyond the Three Great Continents there are others. Maybe there's something where you'd expect the Americas to be, to keep this metaphor going. We only know Othard and Ilsabard in abstract concepts, we don't even know what they look like, yet, so it's all Terra Incognita, and realistically speaking, the Garleans control only a fraction of it (but, still, a respectable chunk).

I feel like the idea that there are other continents than what we've seen or even been given concepts of is a much more viable idea then coming to accepting the fact that Garleans control all of the world but that within Eorzea. Though as you pointed out there are smaller independent areas that evade it as well. Though, I would find pretty strange that a great empire could take over so much of the world, even facing off against Primals not found in Eorzea (if I read that write up correctly), just to get to where we go and have their plans foiled by us rotten kids and our little dog too. So, I think story wise it would make much better sense it's just that the Garleans have taken land in all the areas currently known to us, and unknown, is well, unknown.
　
　
　

There are a lot of reasons all factoring into their present condition at once. Something easily overlooked is the fact that Ala Mhigo waged a war on Gridania in an attempt to expand not long ago. I'm sure that wound isn't entirely healed yet; most of the cities got dragged into it. Then, you have the fact that the Ala Mhigans who live in Thanalan now fall into two groups - refugees and scrappy, patriotic freedom fighters. They're dependent on assistance and being offered work, and many aren't making much of an attempt to integrate into Ul'dahn culture. You can see where the Ul'dahns, who value power and wealth above all, wouldn't treat them very well. In 1.0, Ala Mhigo was even worse than it is now - a few tents in a cave - the only reason they're better off now is that Raubahn integrated well into Ul'dahn culture, dominated the Coliseum, became immensely wealthy, and then used his seat on the Syndicate to restore the Immortal Flames and revive the dying spirit of Royalism (loyalty to the sultana; most on the Syndicate are monetarist, loyal only to profit). The Ala Mhigan brigade of the Immortal Flames and Raubahn's good will probably went a long way to getting Ala Mhigans work and opportunities to take part in the city's defense and maintenance, but most still just consider them a burden unless they can find a way to exploit them. Look at any real-world mass immigration of unskilled laborers; lots of hostility in the American melting pot over the years seeing waves from Germany, Ireland, Italy, and most recently, Mexico.

I recall reading that they did in fact attack Gridania, though didn't they do that under the rule of a pretty nutters king? I mean, I can't speak for everyone, but I wouldn't really hold someone personally responsible for doing the bidding of their king, even if it is crazy. That is part of being loyal, but then again I suppose it can also be said that being blindly loyal is pretty bad, I mean, you can't call yourself a good person if you slaughter children at the behest of your crazy king. You'd be loyal, yes, but I don't think you'd be good in the overarching stand-up-guy kinda way. Though I am rambling, aren't I? Erm, moving on, I had absolutely no clue that Raubahn was from Al Mhigo! See how much I am learning already? The fact that he brought back Royalism is pretty neat, though why did Royalism fade in the first place? Is it because so many became obsessed with wealth?
　
　

Unknown, unknown, unknown aaand unknown. I assume it'll come up again someday, in the story, but for now it's all a big mystery. It's not 100% confirmed, as far as I know, that the primals were sealed. Othard summoned primals just fine before the seal broke, so either only some local primals were in it or it was just an artistic representation of what happens when a bunch of beast tribes are praying to their gods at the same time a massive aether concentration explodes. It sure did look like primals were just exploding out of that aether flood when the seal broke, though. Mor Dhona is the center of the world's aetherial network - whether the Allag made it that with Crystal Tower or whether they built Crystal Tower there because of it is kind of a chicken and egg situation, and depending on that information you can make a few guesses. They were also pretty good at sealing primals... so... unknown, unknown and unknown. But probably Allagans. Because Allagans.

Oh, well then! I guess we'll have to wait to see if it is ever explained. I'm betting that Mor Dhona was always the world's aetherial network and that's why the Allagan's built the tower there. Isn't that how building things is generally done? You find the spot that will support the structure and everything you want to use it for? Also, I'd like to start using 'Because Allagans' as a reason for anything that doesn't make sense in the game. "Why does your Chocobo run faster than mine?" "Because Allagans."
　
　
　

Yes, the skeleton is Midgardsormr, no he was not a primal (the skeleton proves that - primals just dissipate back into aether. Midgardsormr was a king among dragons, which is why the Dravanians tore the Garleans to pieces at his behest. Why he was there, why he was so big, why he was so different from other dragons - all that's up in the air. I'm sure there'll come a point in the story when a dragon or a primal (or that big dragon primal) takes a minute to impart some wisdom about that.

Kinda had a derrrr moment right there. I don't know why I didn't realize he wouldn't be a primal considering the fact that, yeah, there is a skeleton. Though, touching on what you mention down below, do you think it be possible for him to ever come back to life if people (or Dragons) started praying to him and offering him aether like they do for primals? On the note of Dragons, I would really like to see more intelligent dragons. And some non-hostile ones to boot. I'm sure there would be so much those guys could explain to us.
　
　
　

There's no proof we don't. Then again, there's no proof any primals really belong to anyone, or even exist outside of their cultural mindset. The nature of primals is very mysterious. There's an "essence" that latches onto prayers and if we feed it enough aether it gains a temporary form in our realm. What is this essence? We don't know. But it's been implied over and over that you can do the same thing with just about anything, including the Twelve. It's implied that the primals are images - icons - false gods - created by prayers and aether, and that you don't quite get what you wished for. Look to the Moogles to figure out what happens when you summon a mythological figure; the whole thing falls apart when they start behaving just like a primal. For all we know, if you earnestly, honestly, zealously believed in a Burrito Knight, and wished really hard to summon it while adding a bunch of aether, it might appear in all of its spicy glory. And then it would demand lots of aether and try to temper you and start a big feedback loop to maintain its own existence and power. The thing is, the primals have way, way more power than the manifestation of Good King Moggle Mog, so there may be something to this "essence" thing that we haven't figured out yet.

Hmm, that is really interesting. It's like a system that is completely based on belief, and the power of that belief being the fuel for something to come into being while the aether is like the catalyst. In the post above yours, Morningstar makes mention that there is a theory that the 12 are primals, and I think there could be some truth to that. I mean, if they were going to be summoned in the same type of ritual that primals are summoned with, wouldn't that lend credence to such a theory? Though, as you pointed out, the debacle with Good King Moggle Mog does seem to show there is something more to being a primal than just being the visage that has been created via the prayers of those desperate to find something to pray too. Perhaps besides needing the aether to manifest there is a certain aspect,( ie: desperation, hope, fear, anger) that must be present to call upon a certain type of primal?
　

Long story short? A mythical figure that appears around the time of a Calamity to lead people out of it on behalf of the Twelve; though of as an earthly incarnation of the gods. What truth, if any, is there to the legend? No idea, but Louisoix and his best student, Urianger, fit the bill well enough, so that's what we call them. We still don't really know if they called themselves that because there's some truth in the tales, or because it would make Eorzeans more likely to trust them, or if they're doing it to be ironic hipsters who make inside-joke puns because "archon" means "ruler" (in the sense of a head of a group) and Louisoix led the Circle of Knowing, a position Urianger inherited and seems to retain in some degree even though the Circle and the Path combined into the Scions. Enkidoh and I go into it a little deeper here.

So basically, someone who woul be considered an Earthly representation of one of the Twelve, kinda like an avatar yeah? Whether or not they are actually ARE an embodiment of the twelve is a different story, but for what we know, it's just a title for people who are super duper awesome in some way. Though it be interesting to see if the Twelve ever manifest themself through the people we see as Archons.
　

Think of the Grand Companies as an emergency declaration of martial law that happens when a Calamity hits and an Umbral Era begins. It's a traditional, cultural thing. When the Astral Era collapses, the cities entrust a great deal of their power and authority into the Grand Companies so that they might be saved. Until Dalamud started falling, people had no reason to believe the Sixth Astral Era was over. Hell, even when Dalamud was falling there was a lot of denial about it and some figured it'd be a lesser evil to take their chances not declaring martial law (and some were just greedy and power hungry and didn't want to let their influence go until it was that or get stomped to death by magitek and crushed by a moon).

Ahhh, got it. And I take it the reason why they are still hanging around is the fact that every few months we've got a new primal threat, plus whatever craziness is going on with the coil of bahamut (I still haven't finished that yet unfortunately :<)
　

There are connections everywhere. Some are real, some are coincidental, some are imaginary. If you figure out which are which, let me know!

It seems like there is a lot of mystery and speculation surrounding that song. And it's a pretty beautiful song too, it makes me tear up everytime I hear it (Imma wuss), I recall hearing that back when 1.0 was going to be shut down, all of the music in the fields had turned into a distorted vision of answers. Was there ever a canonical reason for that? Like, could the characters in the story actually hear that singing or was it just something they did for shut down?
　

First, they're tomestones, not tombstones. Tome - stone. Like a stone that has a book's worth of information in it. Don't feel bad if you've been calling them by the wrong name. In 1.0, the German client even translated them as Allagan Grave Stones. Essentially, they're pieces of quartzlike material that have been used as an information storage tool. When Darnus showed up, he went looking for them because he needed a few pieces of missing Allagan information to complete his lunar transmitter replication. Unfortunately for us, he got lucky and found it. Cid even handed it over because he figured it was weathered and worthless (GOOD GOING, BUDDY). Now that we know they're not worthless, there's a storm of people trying to gather them all up and learn their secrets. Rowena got her start working for an Ishgardian noble who was after Allag artifacts. She seems like a self-made woman now, but she's still after Allag stuff. Makes you wonder if they're still in contact. Makes you wonder who he is - what he wants - what he's doing.

Wow, don't I feel like a big old pile of derp now!It's funny because I farm these darn things and in all the time I've been playing, I never realized it was an E and not a B. They honestly looked like a lot like gravestones to me even in the icons, as they look more grayish like rock instead of quartz. Oopies. Live and learn! Wait, if she's a self made woman, does that mean she's going to start doing the Manderville? *waits to be bricked*
So Rowena has been working for someone all this time? Or, rather, got her start working for someone. Hmm, that's really interesting and an Ishgardian no less? Isn't that were Shiva is going to be making an apperance? Do we know who this nobel actually is or is he just a shadowy figure we have a vague concept of?
　

It's you! The Champion of Eorzea - chosen of Hydaelyn - the very best of the Warriors of Light. Though spoken of as a sword, symbolically, in the Divine Chronicles of Mezaya Thousand-Eyes, Daybreak seems to be sword in a metaphorical sense - a warrior. The game has lots of throwbacks to this if you read what NPCs say about you and look out for them. You're the "blade of light," "Eorzea's sword in the darkness," etc. Louisoix knew this, and he hinted at it gently, but we left the door open for speculation because Fanon is bad. Doesn't matter how obvious it is, it's not really canon until SE says it clearly and you're sure it's the truth.

It's meeeeee? *gasps and goes wide eyed* Ooooooh!
But on a more serious note, I honestly had no idea. I know we get called the Bringer of Light and what not, but i never really put two and two together, and usually when I did, I got five. Now, is it meant to be that your character and ONLY your character is a Bringer of Light or is it implied that there are more? I recall in one of the opening scenes in 2.0, where you are floating with Hydaelyn and she gives you a crystal, you see other characters wizzing about as well. Are they all echo users and Bringers of Light as well? I know in the old closing and the new opening, we still five characters battling with Louisoix and I get that these are the Heros of Light. Are our characters suppose to be one of these Heros of Light or are we new in all this? I heard someone say once that 1.0 characters who got to a certain point in the story were the ones considered the Heros of Light and characters made in 2.0 were something different from, but likened to, a Hero of Light.
　

What a coincidence! Me, too! Thing is, I also kind of want to finish college and eat stuff and not be homeless, and I also kind of want to play this game sometimes, too, I guess. This severely limits my solo resources, so, uh, we'll see...

I know those struggles well, and I feel for you. Keep hanging in there and you'll be able to accomplish it! Luckily, I have a partner in crime now, between the two of us we manage to bring home the bacon and cook it, which leaves us time to play the game together as well. I suppose I am pretty lucky in that sense! It's been pretty fantastic having this chat with you, as I absolutely adore lore when it comes to just about any game and FFXIV seems particularly rich in it.

[LillithCale]

As a side note, I sometimes wonder if SE calculates the amount that she receives from the players and changes the outcome of Revenant's Toll based on that.

Now wouldn't THAT be something neat? I love it when games do little things like that, it would be like our efforts are influencing how Revenant's Toll grows. So coooool!

"O MIGHTY BURRITO KNIGHT!! FILL OUR BELLIES WITH THE SENSIBLE CHUCKLES OF SAUCE PACKET ONE-LINERS AND SCORE OUR GUACAMOLE WITH A SCOVILLE COMPARABLE TO THE BOWEL OF EMBERS!!!"

I giggled a lot when he wrote this, and now I'm laughing more. I wouldn't mind having a wind up Burrito Knight as a minion :3

[LillithCale]

I seriously doubt the amount of myth/sold/philo we get is cannon. They had to make a currency for it, and while the fact we trade tomestones to rowena is probably in the story, we didn't farm 13500 for the books and such.

*nods* I agree, there is a ridiculous amount of tomestones being farmed at this point across all servers. But it is funny to think about all Rowena swimming in a pile of all those tomestones.

[Alenore]

I feel like the idea that there are other continents than what we've seen or even been given concepts of is a much more viable idea then coming to accepting the fact that Garleans control all of the world but that within Eorzea. Though as you pointed out there are smaller independent areas that evade it as well. Though, I would find pretty strange that a great empire could take over so much of the world, even facing off against Primals not found in Eorzea (if I read that write up correctly), just to get to where we go and have their plans foiled by us rotten kids and our little dog too. So, I think story wise it would make much better sense it's just that the Garleans have taken land in all the areas currently known to us, and unknown, is well, unknown.

There is other continents. We know for sure there's one to the South, Meracydia, that Allag tried to invade at some point.
There's also a "New Continent" recently discovered, to the west. A few thing come from that place, like Nopales or Millioncorn.

I recall reading that they did in fact attack Gridania, though didn't they do that under the rule of a pretty nutters king? I mean, I can't speak for everyone, but I wouldn't really hold someone personally responsible for doing the bidding of their king, even if it is crazy. That is part of being loyal, but then again I suppose it can also be said that being blindly loyal is pretty bad, I mean, you can't call yourself a good person if you slaughter children at the behest of your crazy king. You'd be loyal, yes, but I don't think you'd be good in the overarching stand-up-guy kinda way. Though I am rambling, aren't I? Erm, moving on, I had absolutely no clue that Raubahn was from Al Mhigo! See how much I am learning already? The fact that he brought back Royalism is pretty neat, though why did Royalism fade in the first place? Is it because so many became obsessed with wealth?

In people's mind, it's probably all the same : they attacked, and killed a lot of us. If they're just following orders or not won't erase the fact they were ennemies.
For Royalism, it's much more that Raubahn is the only *real* supporter of the Sultana. His voice usually reflects what the Sultana wants, and he has an important position, so he reinforces her position simply by being here. And yes, it's because of wealth if they stopped caring about it. Gil is the only rule of Ul'dah :P　

Kinda had a derrrr moment right there. I don't know why I didn't realize he wouldn't be a primal considering the fact that, yeah, there is a skeleton. Though, touching on what you mention down below, do you think it be possible for him to ever come back to life if people (or Dragons) started praying to him and offering him aether like they do for primals? On the note of Dragons, I would really like to see more intelligent dragons. And some non-hostile ones to boot. I'm sure there would be so much those guys could explain to us.

The answer to this question is "we don't know". I'd say yes, with the informations we currently have from the summoning of Moggle Mog XII, though it probably wouldn't affect the skeleton itself but create an aetherial being resembling Midgardsormr.
　

Hmm, that is really interesting. It's like a system that is completely based on belief, and the power of that belief being the fuel for something to come into being while the aether is like the catalyst. In the post above yours, Morningstar makes mention that there is a theory that the 12 are primals, and I think there could be some truth to that. I mean, if they were going to be summoned in the same type of ritual that primals are summoned with, wouldn't that lend credence to such a theory? Though, as you pointed out, the debacle with Good King Moggle Mog does seem to show there is something more to being a primal than just being the visage that has been created via the prayers of those desperate to find something to pray too. Perhaps besides needing the aether to manifest there is a certain aspect,( ie: desperation, hope, fear, anger) that must be present to call upon a certain type of primal?

We know "Primals" are called "Primal" because the beasttribe who pray them believe they were the one creating the world and giving them life. This is the same as what we think about the Twelve, so in a sense they're similar.
The fact they can also be summoned put them in the camp of "aetherial beings". My idea would be that if enough people believe in something, it sorts of exist and can be summoned using Aether. You believe in the Twelve? Summon them. You believe in the primals? Same. Take Ifrit, what is summoned is the collective belief of their god, and its representation. Once Ifrit is defeated, this "Ifrit blueprint" goes back to the aetherial realm, waiting to be summoned again. That'd explain why Moogles summoned their King, who looked like a King and everything, without being a primal. This is theory, though.

It seems like there is a lot of mystery and speculation surrounding that song. And it's a pretty beautiful song too, it makes me tear up everytime I hear it (Imma wuss), I recall hearing that back when 1.0 was going to be shut down, all of the music in the fields had turned into a distorted vision of answers. Was there ever a canonical reason for that? Like, could the characters in the story actually hear that singing or was it just something they did for shut down?

I don't recall reading anything showing the music was also heard by the NPC/players. I'll assume it was to add the the (already awesome) feeling of danger and end of the world atmosphere there was at the time. Consider it happened at the same time as Garlemald invaded many areas, the Aetheryte camps were invaded by Atomos, and a big ass moon and meteor shower were falling from the sky.
　

So Rowena has been working for someone all this time? Or, rather, got her start working for someone. Hmm, that's really interesting and an Ishgardian no less? Isn't that were Shiva is going to be making an apperance? Do we know who this nobel actually is or is he just a shadowy figure we have a vague concept of?

Don't start making wild speculations about it. She was already working for an Ishgardian noble in 1.0, and back then there was nothing related to Shiva in Coerthas or anything. They probably just kept that cannon, to explain where she procured the armours and why she sells all this stuff. There's probably nothing more to the story.

It's meeeeee? *gasps and goes wide eyed* Ooooooh!
But on a more serious note, I honestly had no idea. I know we get called the Bringer of Light and what not, but i never really put two and two together, and usually when I did, I got five. Now, is it meant to be that your character and ONLY your character is a Bringer of Light or is it implied that there are more? I recall in one of the opening scenes in 2.0, where you are floating with Hydaelyn and she gives you a crystal, you see other characters wizzing about as well. Are they all echo users and Bringers of Light as well? I know in the old closing and the new opening, we still five characters battling with Louisoix and I get that these are the Heros of Light. Are our characters suppose to be one of these Heros of Light or are we new in all this? I heard someone say once that 1.0 characters who got to a certain point in the story were the ones considered the Heros of Light and characters made in 2.0 were something different from, but likened to, a Hero of Light.

The "Daybreak" itself would probably be you, the hero who gathered the Crystals of Light and used them, along with Hydaelyn power to (temporarily) defeat Lahabrea and put an end to the Garlean progression in Eorzea, thus opening the way to an Astral Era.
Now though, there's other Warrior of Lights around here. Specifically, the adventurers who took part in Carteneau Flats battle. They just call you a Warrior of Light at the end of the MSQ because you're what's closer of it and you earned the title for saving the realm if you're new, or because they genuinely remember you, in case you were in 1.0 and completed the Lunar Transmitter quest (that means in game, you were part of the battle)

[Anonymoose]

Though, I would find pretty strange that a great empire could take over so much of the world, even facing off against Primals not found in Eorzea (if I read that write up correctly), just to get to where we go and have their plans foiled by us rotten kids and our little dog too.

I've always looked at the Garleans as an Alexander the Great kind of thing. Starts with innovative resources, solid strategy, and capable generals, explodes into a mighty conquest of land, and then reaches too far, costs too much, and all starts to crumble when the guy who put it all together dies. The only question from here is what comes after the war of succession? The occasional squabbling over a throne didn't stop England from getting back to business.
　

"Because Allagans."

If your only posts in this forum were an images macro of the Ancient Aliens Guy that said either "Allagans" or "Ascians," you'd still have a pretty good prediction ratio.

Didn't they do that under the rule of a pretty nutters king? I mean, I can't speak for everyone, but I wouldn't really hold someone personally responsible for doing the bidding of their king, even if it is crazy. <snip> The fact that he brought back Royalism is pretty neat, though why did Royalism fade in the first place? Is it because so many became obsessed with wealth?

I definitely think Ul'dahn culture is the primary force behind the poor treatment of the Ala Mhigans. The only reason I mentioned the Autumn War was because if the Ala Mhigans were going to get any respect for being mighty, they tossed that out the window with their expansion attempt. Likewise, I doubt the fact that king was a tyrant matters much. If people don't know much about something, they'll use what little they know to over-generalize. Read the comments on any news article related to foreign policy and you'll see that many people just do not possess the skill to differentiate between the actions of a government and the sentiment of the populous, and the orders given to the military often don't paint a more helpful picture. Still, again, can't stress this enough, Ul'dahn culture is the biggest part of it. And, yes, this attitude is why the Syndicate, effectively a six-man parliament, cares far more about their own profit and power than their loyalty to the crown, According to them, she's just a figurehead and they, the doers are all that matter. Raubahn just realizes the importance of a good figurehead in stability, morale, and loyalty, especially when they're as sympathetic and capable as the current Sultana.

Do you think it be possible for him to ever come back to life if people (or Dragons) started praying to him and offering him aether like they do for primals?

In the same vein what what Alenore said, based on what we know so far, I think it's possible that if a lot of prayers and aether were offered to Midgardsormr's memory and a summoning ritual was performed, something that looks a lot like him might appear. It would also likely then try to temper people and set up a power structure to ensure he get lots of aether and protect anyone who'd offer it to him. I don't think it would actually be Midgardsormr any more than I think Good King Moggle Mog XIIth was really a muderous cult leader (if indeed he was ever more than a legend).

On the note of Dragons, I would really like to see more intelligent dragons. And some non-hostile ones to boot. I'm sure there would be so much those guys could explain to us.

I do think that's coming; SE likes to do that with dragons. They're are on a rampage, we fight them, and then we sit down with some and it turns out they're older and wiser than we are and tell us a lot of what we wanted to know, But then we find out that they think us little more than an annoyance and have no respect for our continued existence and so we fight them some more because I'll show you who's a scaleless fleshbag of short life and no worth, you ass.

Morningstar makes mention that there is a theory that the 12 are primals, and I think there could be some truth to that.

Square Enix really does like the number twelve in this game, but are all the things of which there are twelve related? Are any? Or are they just calling upon a number deeply engrained in society because of the Babylonians? How do the twelve disciples of Jesus relate to the twelve Olympians? Or the twelve constellations? Or the twelve tribes of Israel? Or the twelve days of Christmas? Does it all just go back when (because of Babylonian base-twelve mathematics), things that came in twelves just sounded official the way things that come in tens do now? The Ten Commandments are related to the Ten Plagues of Egypt - but the The Top Ten Best Dressed? Or the Ten Most Wanted?

Notice that there is a connection between some of those. Something probably is up with the number twelve here somewhere - but are there twelve primals? So far, we have the six present-day primals - one for each element on the wheel. We have two elder primals that seem to be unaspected, but might be meant to call on Astral and Umbral polarities. There's the elder primal Belias, the Ifrit of a bygone era. There's also the Meracydian primals summoned to fight the Allag, and the Othardian primals that fought Garlemald. There's Moggle the pseudo-primal (he's not really a primal). And SE says there are primals "we haven't even imagined" on the way. I'd be willing to bet there's no limit to these things.
　

And I take it the reason why they are still hanging around is the fact that every few months we've got a new primal threat, plus whatever craziness is going on with the coil of bahamut (I still haven't finished that yet unfortunately :<)

Correct. Garlemald hasn't been thrown out, yet, the primals are still raising hell, and we don't even know what's up with the Ascians. The leaders can declare the Seventh Astral Era all they want, but this isn't over by a long shot.

I recall hearing that back when 1.0 was going to be shut down, all of the music in the fields had turned into a distorted vision of answers. Was there ever a canonical reason for that?

No explanation, really. Though, when you woke to the Echo originally, you heard the words Hear, Feel, Think just like you do now, but when you tried to figure it out, you claimed to other NPCs that you heard a songstress. The quest in Lominsa was even called "Shapeless Melody." I think it's a fair assumption that it's Hydaelyn's song and if things are lined up right you can hear it. In the part of the song that issues rapid-fire commands back and forth between the two voices, HEAR, FEEL, THINK even come up in that order. Maybe the song was Hydaelyn, aware that Calamity was nigh. I also hear rumours that this song, which we called "Dalamud Answers," made its way back into the game's data library recently... perhaps we'll get some new insight say around November...
　

So Rowena has been working for someone all this time? Or, rather, got her start working for someone. Hmm, that's really interesting and an Ishgardian no less? Isn't that were Shiva is going to be making an apperance? Do we know who this nobele actually is or is he just a shadowy figure we have a vague concept of?

We know very little of her benefactor, or even if he's still involved in her life or if she's in the oddity business for herself now. He's a noble and he was willing to trade away his extensive collection of equipment for mere rocks with symbols of the Twelve carved into them by the Allag. I'm sure he'd have wanted in on the tomestones, and Rowena was just running a tent at the time tomestones came out. I'd say he might still be involved, but Rowena's a ruthless businesswoman, so who knows!
　

Now, is it meant to be that your character and ONLY your character is a Bringer of Light or is it implied that there are more?

The way the game is set up, everyone chosen by Hydaelyn is a Warrior of Light, that's why there are so many of us running around in this MMO. That's why we have connections like Minfilia to help us understand what our gift even is. However, Hydaelyn only seems to have one true Champion and that is whoever is playing the game from the first person perspective.

Are they all echo users and Bringers of Light as well?

No idea. That seems like the most likely case, though the first time I saw them I thought they might be the true Twelve, lol.
An archer!? OH, AND THAT MIGHT BE A MYTHRIL GREAT AXE! RHALGR IS THAT YOU?

Are our characters suppose to be one of these Heros of Light or are we new in all this?

They may have read my old thread on that. It should answer your questions, but if not, let me know, lol.