Nidhogg and the Monetarists

[Fenral]

I think Fenral was using a metaphor when he said "The Brightest Lights cast the Darkest Shadows, But the Ascians Have none".

"Ascian" means "without shadow." Just making a pun, though I suspect there's more to it than just that.

I'm starting to think that there's more to Hydaelyn and Zodiark than just opposing Deities. What if in truth, neither of them are the real master of the planet but rather two halves of the original from when, "Light and Darkness were one and the same", as Rahmu put it?

Well, if the name "Rejoining" is any indication, the Ascians want to summon Zodiark so they can merge him back into Hydaelyn, re-joining them into their original form as a being of balance, ending the conflict between Light and Dark by eliminating the distinction entirely. But all this begs the question of "what caused them to split in the first place?"

[Cilia]

"Ascian" means "without shadow." Just making a pun, though I suspect there's more to it than just that.

I got the joke, but I've begun to suspect the Ascians and Archons (and, likely, you) have a causal relationship. We're also almost characteristic opposites of each other, thus making us "shadow archetypes" to each other (the Warrior of Light, for instance, is pretty much the shadow of Lahabrea, the Warrior [of Darkness?]).

Well, if the name "Rejoining" is any indication, the Ascians want to summon Zodiark so they can merge him back into Hydaelyn, re-joining them into their original form as a being of balance, ending the conflict between Light and Dark by eliminating the distinction entirely. But all this begs the question of "what caused them to split in the first place?"

My best guess is that the Ascians are trying to make a large enough disruption in the aether to destabilize it, causing aetherial currents to collapse in on themselves. This is coming from Lahabrea's "chaotic confluence of aether" line at the end of the Praetorium; he wants to destabilize the aether to try and summon Zodiark, the god of chaos.

As for Hydaelyn herself, I have a strong feeling she's the original Primal, created by the spoken races in a time long since forgotten. Need to rewatch the Ramuh post-victory scene, but if I remember right he said something like "light and darkness were indistinguishable before man," suggesting something the spoken races did separated the two. Doesn't explain why, but it would confirm that Hydaelyn and Zodiark were originally one being.

EDIT: Maybe Zodiark's world sucked so bad for the spoken races they said "Screw it, let's make our own Goddess, one who's nice and helps us!" And thus Hydaelyn was born. Maybe.

[Frederick22]

Well it's clear Lahabrea is working with Elidibus now, I don't think they're on the same page. Consider the following ("Before the Dawn"):

Lahabrea: "By my will, [Ishgard] shall reap salvation unlike any the world has known."
Elidibus: "By His will."
Lahabrea: "... By His will."

Elidibus acts in accord with what he feels (or knows) is Zodiark's will, while Lahabrea does what he feels is "right" (rather like Nabriales, since he's implied to be Lahabrea's protegé). Elidibus also commented that Lahabrea was "unique" among the Ascians, so that individuality may be what separates him from the rest of them.

What Lahabreah meaned by saing " By my will" ?

[Fenral]

What Lahabreah meaned by saing " By my will" ?

Somebody's going off book...

I'm betting Labby and Eldibby have different ideas on what's best for their ideal world. Actually, that's pretty much confirmed if Eldibby is talking to Archons now. Will we actually beat Labby in Heavensward, or are there truly no limits to his Joker Immunity? Three expansions from now, he'll pop up and be all "bet you didn't realize I was behind all this!" and we'll answer with, "who else could it have been? Of course we knew it was you."

[Cilia]

What Lahabreah meaned by saing " By my will" ?

Lahabrea basically slipped up here and said "I'm gonna wreak chaos in Ishgard because I want to," and Elidibus had to remind him that what they're doing is for Zodiark, not themselves.

[Fenral]

Lahabrea basically slipped up here and said "I'm gonna wreak chaos in Ishgard because I want to," and Elidibus had to remind him that what they're doing is for Zodiark, not themselves.

Gee, that sounds almost like if someone were to do goody-good things by their own will, and not Hydaelyn's, simply for the sake of goody-good! Shame on him!

...

[Frederick22]

Lahabrea basically slipped up here and said "I'm gonna wreak chaos in Ishgard because I want to," and Elidibus had to remind him that what they're doing is for Zodiark, not themselves.

I didnt understand that he meaned Ishgard, all I understand that could be realted is that he is going to try to summon the primals of the north lands

[Cilia]

Gee, that sounds almost like if someone were to do goody-good things by their own will, and not Hydaelyn's, simply for the sake of goody-good! Shame on him!

...

That's what makes Lahabrea the perfect foil to the Warrior of Light, though (I used the term "shadow archetype" improperly earlier); we're both doing things of our own will, but we're a benefactor who fights in the light while Lahabrea is a malefactor who generally works in the shadows.

We were more or less bound to Hydaelyn's yoke until Middy stripped us of our blessing, though. The entire purpose of his little "test" is to see what we really are: are we just "heroes" because Hydaelyn forced us into the role, or is there true goodness in our hearts?

There is, if only because the story won't let us deviate.

[myahele]

Can anyone confirm if the Nanamo's maid had a shadow in all of her appearances?

In 1.0, a suspected Ascien named Travanchet never had a shadow in his appearances

[KarstenS]

I'm betting Labby and Eldibby have different ideas on what's best for their ideal world. Actually, that's pretty much confirmed if Eldibby is talking to Archons now. Will we actually beat Labby in Heavensward, or are there truly no limits to his Joker Immunity? Three expansions from now, he'll pop up and be all "bet you didn't realize I was behind all this!" and we'll answer with, "who else could it have been? Of course we knew it was you."

So from my feelings of all cutscenes with them, I'm the opinion, every Ascian have their own fixed role and task with a fixed personality, like the Smurfs. As they play different parts in that game, conficts are coming up some time. But I'm quite shure, everybody is doing what is intended for him.