Revelations from Patch 2.55 [SPOILERS]

[Fenral]

Here's something for you to mull over, Moose: what if the Scions are dead, or near enough to it, but Minfillia is going to save them anyway? We still need some form of solid answer as what it means to be an Archon. What it really means.

The Scions can't be gone from the story, because unlike Moenbryda, they still have a role to play. Seeing a gap in Yda's mask only solidified that there's still so much we don't know about them, and now that we've gotten rid of the endless political duties that have constantly kept us from getting to know them better, we're finally going to get a chance to deal with them as people, and given our current cosmic nerf, as equals.

I think. I hope. I think I hope?

[Anonymoose]

Here's something for you to mull over, Moose: what if the Scions are dead, or near enough to it, but Minfillia is going to save them anyway? We still need some form of solid answer as what it means to be an Archon.

I agree with that, fully. SE made their courage and willingness to be sacrificed emotional, but they didn't exploit their deaths for impact. I remain hopeful that Hydaelyn was telling Minfilia that she can save (or resurrect) them (perhaps at a cost). Some or all of them could truly end up being dead, and the sadness of that loss will be felt later. Conversely, we could go without them for a while, concerned for their safety, only to have them return to help us at a crucial moment, later, instead utilizing the emotion of a jeopardized reunion.

As for the meaning of Archon, I'm pretty sure that it's mostly a fancy term for people who cherish and preserve history, end up being of great value during an "apocalypse" (Calamity), and are remembered as Angels - divine messengers bringing "input from the gods" to save us on their behalf (but I could be quite wrong about that).

If I had to guess, I'd say that educated history-keepers are often at the forefront of saving people from an Umbral Era, and that the ones from other eras end up remembered as divine beings - angels - messengers of the gods' will - because myth gets bigger and bigger as time goes on. So a new umbral era comes, the history-keepers show back up, and everyone's like "THE ANGELS HAVE RETURNED!" while the old Archon's great great great great great great great great grandkids are just like, "Sure, we'll go with that for now, please just start planning a defense."

EDIT
If you want to get metaphysical/supernatural with predictions, remember that Minfilia is the only one of the with the Echo, an ability that allows the soul to transcend its boundaries (and the flesh, apparently) and interact with the souls of others. Perhaps that could be of some use to the recently dead and/or dying.

[Viridiana]

If you want to get metaphysical/supernatural with predictions, remember that Minfilia is the only one of the with the Echo, an ability that allows the soul to transcend its boundaries (and the flesh, apparently) and interact with the souls of others. Perhaps that could be of some use to the recently dead and/or dying.

Hmm. . .that's an interesting point. Combined with the possibility that she's been getting stronger in the Echo (e.g. she understood Nabriales), perhaps she's about to pull off something impressive. I do think that if they go this route, SE will have it be something like Hydaelyn guiding her in the Echo's use to save them.

On another note, I'm thinking about Elidibus. As we said in another thread, Elidibus seems to be on team Elidibus, as it were. He certainly seems feal to Zodiark, but not necessarily to the other Ascians. If he's discussing the fate of the planet with Urianger, I have to assume that he's doing so to bring about Zodiark's awakening; yet I don't believe that Urianger would act to the detriment of Hydaelyn. Add in the fact that Elidibus believes that when we master the Echo we will see things their way, and I wonder if he isn't taking a roundabout way of strengthening our ability with the Echo. Similarly, if what Elidibus says is true, I have to wonder if it could become a character development point for Minfilia (or even the WoL).

[Fenral]

As for the meaning of Archon, I'm pretty sure that it's mostly a fancy term for people who cherish and preserve history, end up being of great value during an "apocalypse" (Calamity), and are remembered as Angels - divine messengers bringing "input from the gods" to save us on their behalf (but I could be quite wrong about that).

That is about all Ferne has said on the subject, and it seems to be the extent of what we know in game as well. By that logic, I'm pretty sure that that one supposedly unrelated character (who, no, I'm never giving up on) with the same brands as our known Archons, became one with his actions at the end of that story, if he wasn't already. Knowing that everyone we've met with those tats is now in limbo gives me a strange sort of hope for the next expansion, if not this upcoming one.

If you want to get metaphysical/supernatural with predictions, remember that Minfilia is the only one of the with the Echo, an ability that allows the soul to transcend its boundaries (and the flesh, apparently) and interact with the souls of others. Perhaps that could be of some use to the recently dead and/or dying.

It's always irked me, only very slightly, that the localized term "Echo" doesn't nearly convey all of the meanings embodied in the Japanese 超える力. Koeru chikara, literally "the power to overcome." The Japanese term is almost a pun with how readily it's used to overcome death, time, memory, language barriers, repeated wipes on hard boss fights...

I suspect Ferne will pull some transcendent localization card by saying their meanings are meant to be considered together, not individually. I'd actually be disappointed if he didn't.

So even though she plays the damsel-in-distress card a little too easily for a character played by Miyuki Sawashiro, Minfillia should be just as capable of overcoming hardships as our PC. Really hoping the expansion is going to be her time to shine.