Revelations from Patch 2.55 [SPOILERS]

[NoloeTazier]

Lord Lolorito, Niellesfresne and the Sultana Connection.

Ok ok as everyone knows by now I'm still obsessed with the 1.0 Ul'dah storyline and the missing answers. Having said that I didn't make the connection at first, it wasn't till after I went back to watch the CSs again. I'm in the boat that I do not believe the Sultana (or the Scions) are dead. Teledji Adeleji walked into the Sultana's room with his intentions already made clear, the Brass Blades knew their purpose. The problem as we see later on in the cutscenes is the Lady-in-Waiting wasn't his to command, she was Lord Lolorito's. So whatever plan he had made involving the Lady-in-Waiting, such as a poison, is moot. He tried and failed and his life was lost when the Bronze Bull reared his horns. Teledji Adeleji is smart, but clearly not smart enough to not point a finger at Raubhan. Everyone in Ul'dah knows about the Syndicate and the Sultana's relationship. Clearly if she was to be murdered/assassinated it would come from the Syndicate. The announcement of such a murder would drive Raubhan mad, his gladiatorial rage would return, and it did. Teledji fell upon his blades because the Brass Blades and Crystal Braves were not his, he was rich but not Lolorito rich.

Where I'm going with this is that the Sultana isn't dead, as others have stated the Syndicate need the Sultana, she inspires the "little people" of Ul'dah while the rich Syndicate members simply inspire rage. A Syndicate member would never be Sultan to the people, the civil war would really break out then. No, she's still needed. Teledji had planned for her to fall but this is Lolorito's town. Now let me get back to the Niellefresne connection. Niellefresne was another person that spurned/"annoyed" Lolorito. He stole the Heartstrike dagger from him, to be used in a ritual to bring back Warbuton or allow Nielle to commune with the dead Warburton. Now this never happened, he was assassinated. However he dropped the Heartstrike dagger and it broke. The dagger looked like this:

And compare it to the Sultana's own goblet:

This is a bit of a stretch but the jewels (the pink) on both are very similar if not the same, both the dagger and goblet would be made by the Goldsmith guild which Lolorito happens to own. Now it's never said what gave the Heartstrike dagger it's power, but when Nielle dropped the dagger the jewel fell from the handle and cracked. Afterward it was never the same. Now could a goblet be made the same way as a goblet with a similar ability to a dagger that can cause a frozen-death-like-state? The goblet also falls in a dramatic way like the dagger, yes this is a common practice in movies to make it known foul play, but it doesn't have to mean it was a poison in her wine.

Now what would Lolorito gain by keeping her like this? Well the Syndicate need the Sultana, she is an image the smallfolk of Ul'dah can get behind. Ul'dah was founded by a Sultanate, it's part of it's history. Lolorito obtained early on an item that was said to be used by the Sil'dih to have created the zombie army. He would now have 2 influential "bodies" at his disposal for such a spell/item. Niellefresne and now Nanamo. If we'll see Nielle in the future I can't say, can only hope. But Nanamo would be a zombie who could grant him much more power.

Nanamo planned it

So this is basically Teledji and Lolorito were suckered into Nanamo's little plan. It would explain why Lolorito wasn't too happy in his cutscene. Teledji knew that the Warrior of Light had a bottle of poison, so whether he entered the room when the Sultana died or not he could come out a hero. With the Brass Blades at hand he could enter the room and tell the Sultana of the vial we had and proceeded to arrest of for attempting the murder. Either way he had the Brass Blades ready and his plan had began long before we were to meet Alianne. However Nanamo's plan began earlier when she told Kan-E-Senna and Merlwyb of her intentions.

In Nanamo's words (I'll admit you can interpret these things however you want, but this is my interpretation).
Nanamo Ul Namo: Yet that which I propose will entail the tearing up of this city's very foundations. And even Raubahn with all his strength and influence will be hard-pressed to keep his footing on such treacherous ground.
Nanamo Ul Namo: Thus would I ask you to lend him a steadying hand.
Nanamo Ul Namo: You who have endured the wrath of innumerable foes are the one hero in whom I can place my trust. Will you do this thing for me?
Nanamo Ul Namo: I am truly grateful. More grateful than I can well express.
Nanamo Ul Namo: How much we have both changed since that day we met beneath the Sultantree... And the days ahead promise to change us further still. I hope that we will recognize ourselves when all of this is over...

Dissolving the Monarchy wouldn't tear the city up. She already had little say-so in the the daily things of Ul'dah, she was basically a puppet. Perhaps she was hinting about faking her death. Lalafuto III of Belah'dia also faked his own death so he could run away with his mistress, so there is precedent for this. She mentioned to Kan-E-Senna and Merlwyb that she would dissolve the Monarchy, but she never said how. Giving Raubhan a hand is a bit ironic after the fact, that's easy to explain though. The Immortal Flames would need us more than ever going forward. Now here's the funny part, she mentions us meeting at the Sultantree. In the Ul'dah quest line you meet "Lilira" underneath the Sultantree. Lilira was the Sultana in disguise. She dressed up as an average Ul'dahn albeit in lots of pink but in the garb she looked like a normal fair-skinned Lalafell. This is clearly a foreshadowing for the events to come. Faking her death, fleeing as Lilira or under another guise. After all a few scenes later we learn there's only 2 ways out of the palace. The main way or the secret chamber in the Sultana's room. Though we do not see if anyone moved her body, the Scions would have clearly seen her as they fled through the secret tunnel. So she had to have been moved or fled herself before the Scions made their way into the tunnel. Teledji, the Brass Blades, and the Lady-in-Waiting all went into the banquet room meaning all the people who saw the Sultana on the floor were now in this room. No one moved the body because Teledji wanted to act fast and moving the body would have been viewed as tampering even in a corrupt society like Ul'dah. No one even checked her vital signs, it was just a "she's dead - let's move on."

The last line is most telling, why would we change so much that we couldn't recognize ourselves, I know this is just a saying but the Warrior of Light isn't changing. Nanamo is speaking out loud and talking to herself, trying to convince herself that she will be able to remember who she is..she will now be under a different guise and pretending to be someone else. Remember not only has Nanamo done this as Lilira but Princess Edvya has as well. So where she fled too, unknown. Who helped her, unknown. The only thing I can say is their isn't a Sultana in Ul'dah. The Syndicate can try to delay letting the Sultansworn and the people see her, she can only be sick for so long before people do not take 'no' for an answer. Ultimately Lolorito won't have a body to produce for anyone and that is why he isn't happy, the Lady-in-Waiting has laid out that the Sultana is ill but that's all he has to work with for now.

tldr

• Nanamo suffered a Niellefresne-esque "death" via the Goblet, made from the same jewel as the Heartstrike dagger.
• Nanamo planned from the start to fake her death, to flee the city as she once had before as Lilira. Following the precedent set by both Lalafuto III in faking her death and Princess Edvya in dressing up as a commoner.

I'm all over the place with this but since finishing the story on patch night I had these ideas running through my head. I'm sorry if they don't offer too much for the discussions but these are my own views.

[Fenral]

Yay! That proves it! Wahoo! Nanamo's alive, and everything can go back to how it was before! Yippee!

Nanamo: "Sorry I didn't say anything, Raubahn! (teary eyes) I hope it wasn't too hard for you!"

Raubahn: (silent, holding the bandaged stump of his left arm)

Nanamo: "Everything's better now, right?"

Yeah. That's going to go over real well.

[Viridiana]

Why would they frame the Scions in the first place?

An idea I saw over on reddit and haven't seen mentioned here (though I may have just missed it): Lolorito set Teledji up through and through.

If Lolorito's been building it for a while, it kinda makes sense, too. Buy out his informants, have them whisper in his ear of devious plots, let him think that he can expose an assassination and win himself power by deposing Raubahn. Lolorito knowing all the while that, even if Teledji survives and tries to pull off the plot, Lolorito can play him for a fool when it comes time for the climax.

[Eisenhower]

Why would they frame the Scions in the first place?

It could have been out of convenience, shifting guilt to a party outside of the Syndicate consortiums (not wanting to hurt allies) and the Immortal Flames (who could have been much more favoured by the smallfolk). The Scions, although initially sporting ties with Ul'dah, had severed them and tried to create an organization with influence and military might that existed outside of the reach of the city-states and the Syndicate. Such a group would no doubt be meddlesome to the Syndicate's interests. Especially if the Scions were supportive of the Immortal Flames and Royalist agenda.

Besides, the Syndicate has since the start disliked the Scions, going so far as to deny the installation of an Aetheryte in Vesper Bay despite the need of such.

[Alberel]

Judging by Lolorito's look of annoyance in the post-credits scene it would appear things did not go to plan for him. Obviously the WoL escaped but I wonder if that was the only deviation... Personally I think Teledji was just a pawn in Lolorito's game all along, a cover for his schemes, which would make his death rather an inconvenience for Lolorito. I'm curious to find out if Teledji's pursuit of Omega was actually one of Lolorito's manipulations as well and what will become of that thread now.

As for Nanamo, she has to be dead simply because for her not to be would entirely discredit the writers and cause us to dismiss any other death that ever happens. Having said that I could totally see Lolorito attempting to reanimate Nanamo as a necromantic puppet...

[Hillo]

An idea I saw over on reddit and haven't seen mentioned here (though I may have just missed it): Lolorito set Teledji up through and through.

If Lolorito's been building it for a while, it kinda makes sense, too. Buy out his informants, have them whisper in his ear of devious plots, let him think that he can expose an assassination and win himself power by deposing Raubahn. Lolorito knowing all the while that, even if Teledji survives and tries to pull off the plot, Lolorito can play him for a fool when it comes time for the climax.

I think this could be possible. Maybe Lolorito didn't realize just how successful Teledji would be in going through with his initial plot and now Lolorito has to deal with the fallout.

It could have been out of convenience, shifting guilt to a party outside of the Syndicate consortiums (not wanting to hurt allies) and the Immortal Flames (who could have been much more favoured by the smallfolk). The Scions, although initially sporting ties with Ul'dah, had severed them and tried to create an organization with influence and military might that existed outside of the reach of the city-states and the Syndicate. Such a group would no doubt be meddlesome to the Syndicate's interests. Especially if the Scions were supportive of the Immortal Flames and Royalist agenda.

Besides, the Syndicate has since the start disliked the Scions, going so far as to deny the installation of an Aetheryte in Vesper Bay despite the need of such.

There's no doubt that factions of the Syndicate dislike the Scions since they have rebuffed every attempt at being bought out. They could see this as a threat. I feel the Scions would have about as much clout with the smallfolk as the Immortal Flames though. They have a very good reputation to say the least (especially the WoL), and I don't think claims of sorcery or betrayal will change that much. Even Pipin seemed to think the smallfolk wouldn't be turned so easily. Not when the Syndicate seems like a much more obvious player.

[Wolfandre]

For anyone interested in new NPCs after the fact, I found the Unsettled Scholar at X:16 Y:19 in Northern Thanalan. He's broken though, just like Yda and Papalymo from last patch. I submitted a bug report already.

[Kotemon]

My theory Teledji Adeleji planned the assassination. His intention was to frame the scions and use the brass blades as a private army. The full goal being to promote him self as the peoples champoinof sorts that was trying to better the refugees while standing against the aristocracy. Most of the Crystal Braves were in reality Brass Blades sent to fill the ranks and establish a foot hold in the northern lands. However Lolorito had different intentions in mind and used Teledji as a proxy to get the gears in motion. Knowing Teledji's persona is that of an arrogant di.. prick, who cant help but to gloat. His demise inevitable and allowed to happen in order to build reason to remove Raubahn and take over the flames. Otherwise the blades and braves would have protected him better if they were on his payroll. The sultana was poisoned by the maid accordingly and evidence planted on the player* beforehand, unless he took the time to take it to an alchemist before heading to the chamber. Teledji had no idea his men or the maid were following Lolorito's orders. Hence his expression when he realized he was going to die when no one was stopping Raubahn. However considering the story about the sister city. I believe Nanamo is dead, but either her coffin will not be empty or she will reappear having been afflicted by a rare illness and entrusting Raubahn's position to Lolorito. Only later to be reveled that she is in fact still dead but zombified with a lot of make up, strong perfume, and rarely seen by others.

On a side note it's also possible Lolorito could have known her desire to abdicate and establish a republic of sorts. However with all that money and resource. It would have been childs play for the syndicate to make up most of that new government. If she does reappear and abdicates she may either have Lolorito be in charge or he'll make himself the new head of Ul'dah. Then she'll die and be put back into the ground.

[RobinRethiel]

@ Scions

What is their main purpose? The Scions are not the Crystal Braves. The Scions are mainly the guys who can fight the Primaes because of the Echo.

If the Syndicat is working for the Ascians (aware or not) it is clear, why they do this.
If they work for the empire or want to work with them, it would be a good idea to bring some havoc and then go to someone, who may solve this. The great empire saving Uldah by bombing the beasttribe of Ifrit. In addition, since working with the empire would detroy the alliance with Limsi and Gridania, both may also get problems with their Primae. Uldah got only one Primae directly threatening them, Ifrit. Limsi got two, Titan and Leviathan, Gridania kind of four, Garuda, Ramuh, Mogry King and Odin.

With the Scions out of the way (dead? imprisoned? enslaved/turned?) and the Warrior of Light fleeing like a little chicken, the Empire would have it a lot easier, especially since Gridania and Limsi would be separated from each other, Gridania got no sea route to Limsi. With Leviathan killing off Limsis ships (or Limsi having to go to war against the beasttribes), the Empire would conquer them first with their airships and could focus all their strength on Gridania and maybe Coerthas afterwards.

Of course, just a theory, but the leader of Gridania and Limsi should and would consider this possibility. That's why it is strange, that they just wait and did nothing.

[RickiFake02]

First off: SPOILERS

This entire quest made me so mad. Firstly, there is zero reason for any of the Scions to be dead, so I think they *should* how back up. Especially Yda and Papalymo. They kicked ASS back there, there's no way they died. Y'shtola and Thancred could very well have been crushed in the tunnel, but they also could have very easily escaped. Also: Hydaelyn hasn't spone to us since Ultima, so why on earth would she suddenly speak to Minfilia just to have her stay behind? It makes no sense. Also: What happened to that blonde Crystal Brave with the tattoo on his face? He was on our side and he's suddenly gone. And what about the rest of the Syndicate? And how did wyverns break into Ishgard even after we defeated Vishap and saved the wards? This quest really just left too many loose threads and unanswered questions and did nothing but make me angry