The 2.5 (Part 1 & 2) speculation thread

[Viridiana]

Are we being tested?

I think it's a combination of testing and guarding. Midgardsomr's reaction to our light shining is to say that he remembers and that he consents. I believe a message was sent asking him to spare us. The "I remember" part could explain his decision not to kill us, but to what do we owe his decision to follow us? I suspect a bargain was struck transferring guard duties to Mid. Especially with the line about "The covenant binds me to thee."

Then we have some of his other comments. . ."Fight and struggle, if it be thy will." "Art thou a pawn, or master of thy fate? What hast thou wrought by thine own hands, mortal?" I think he's trying to get us to move past the role we've been taking, on to something greater.

More troubling, though, are his comments in the last quest:

"Life for death. A fair exchange. Other bargains will be struck." So, who paid the price to spare us?

[Magis]

More troubling, though, are his comments in the last quest:

"Life for death. A fair exchange. Other bargains will be struck." So, who paid the price to spare us?

He is talking about Moenbryda. Her life was exchanged for Nabriales death. I don't recall our lives needing to be "spared" at this point in time. I think he is just foreshadowing that there will be sacrifices made.

I do love that line though.

[myahele]

It's interesting that all these powerful beings have covenants/ devine contract with each other. Makes me think that Ishagrdians broke the covenant they had with dravania; whatever that may be.

Although I kinda have a feeling that maybe dragons and zodiark predates Hydealine or are related somehow. After doing some research Sabik (the core/heart of Ultima) is a star in the Ophiuchus constellation and Ophiuchus is another name for Zodiark. Ultima also looks like a dragon.

[Viridiana]

He is talking about Moenbryda. Her life was exchanged for Nabriales death. I don't recall our lives needing to be "spared" at this point in time. I think he is just foreshadowing that there will be sacrifices made.

I do love that line though.

Oh, that's definitely the main thing he's talking about. But something kept him from killing us, and if that's what he considers a fair exchange. . .

And I guess characters in spoiler tags only count against the 1k limit, not against the 10 required. >_>

[Anonymoose]

I suspect a bargain was struck transferring guard duties to Mid. Especially with the line about "The covenant binds me to thee."

I wonder if you're correct about this another way, as well. Minfilia hints that Midgardsormr was not the protector of Silvertear Falls at the behest of Althyk and Nymeia (deities of water and earth / time and fate), but at the behest of Hydaelyn herself (though, technically the same if Water and Earth are facets of the "white light" of the Crystal). If this is the case, and it's also the case that we as Hydaelyn's champions safeguard the aetherial powers of Eorzea (which once converged at Silvertear Falls), Midgardsormr is obligated by his original covenant to protect us. It's just the part about removing the blessing of light that I find confusing. You may be right about Midge taking off the training wheels, so to speak. If Hydealyn is as weak as it's claimed, we're going to need to stand on our own to see her rise again.

So, who paid the price to spare us?

I was under the impression that Midgardsormr was just musing

on the fact that Moenbryda sacrificed herself (death) to defeat Nabriales, thus protecting the others (lives) from (A) how pissed he was going to be after breaking free of the auracite, and (B) whatever impatient, indelicate schemes he was about to pull to become Zodiark's right hand.

[Viridiana]

If this is the case, and it's also the case that we as Hydaelyn's champions safeguard the aetherial powers of Eorzea (which once converged at Silvertear Falls), Midgardsormr is obligated by his original covenant to protect us. It's just the part about removing the blessing of light that I find confusing. You may be right about Midge taking off the training wheels, so to speak.

Hmm. . .with Mid's actions at Silvertear 15 years ago, the primals were unleashed into the land. Most of our Crystals of Light came from those selfsame primals. You might very well be right about it being his original covenant that had him strip away the power of the Crystals. But, then, if he's stripped away the aether of the Crystals, it would seem there'd be nothing left that we currently have to interest him. Though, he could also be playing the waiting game. Or, heck, it could be aspects of all of the above.

[WyrahFhurrst]

I find it interesting that he stripped us of the Echo, our blessing from Hydaelyn, only to then state that he's going to then start drinking of her power to build himself a new body, but is then stuck to us due to a covenant we're totally out of the loop on.

[Viridiana]

I find it interesting that he stripped us of the Echo, our blessing from Hydaelyn, only to then state that he's going to then start drinking of her power to build himself a new body, but is then stuck to us due to a covenant we're totally out of the loop on.

He doesn't strip us of the Echo, though. Otherwise we'd be unable to understand the Ascians.

[StarDrake]

You trying to say that's teenage Midgarsormr?

As a serious answer, take a look at the head profile (especially the fins) and the scale pattern on the lower part of the neck. Yeah, no question, that's a mount-size 'Sormr. It was a little unclear at the reveal because of the upper neck armor (and confusion over whether it was scales or armor), but with what we know now and the fact that the name was "secret" at the time of the reveal, yeah, it's absolutely Midgardsormr. Can't wait for 2.5.2 to see how this come about.

This also means we get an entire expansion of snarky dragon commentary, don't we. :V

[Anonymoose]

<Reasons why it's Midgardsormr>

Or, if still in doubt, you can just read the minion guide.

...he assures you his current form is only temporary while he awaits the reconstruction of a new corporeal vessel.

aka Midgardsormr Mount ... Mountgardsormr.