Do you think that the Twelve will eventually become major players in the plot?

[Balipu]

Like when Halone appeared to the Ishgardians to tell them where to build their city ?

You think you are joking, but it could be true. For starters we don't have much evidence wether it was really Halone who appeared (if anything appeared at all). And second, Lahabrea and co are playing a pretty long con, so it is reasonable to assume that they had a hand in planting a nation state at the doorstep of the dravanian horde. It's not like the two are waging an eternal war or anything.

[Alberel]

You think you are joking, but it could be true. For starters we don't have much evidence wether it was really Halone who appeared (if anything appeared at all). And second, Lahabrea and co are playing a pretty long con, so it is reasonable to assume that they had a hand in planting a nation state at the doorstep of the dravanian horde. It's not like the two are waging an eternal war or anything.

Regardless of whether it was truly Halone that appeared to the Coerthans before the founding of Ishgard there has to be some true origin to the mythology of the Twelve. It is very likely the Ascians have used the myths to manipulate people since the Twelve departed Eorzea but I find it unlikely that they fabricated the very source of the mythology.

The game is full of hints and nods to the concept that every myth has a shred of truth in its origins. Something of the Twelve is real, whether they're just people, gods, or something else. Bahamut, Shiva and Phoenix are proof enough of this, and Belias' presence in the SMN quest series suggests much the same for Ifrit.

[Balipu]

Regardless of whether it was truly Halone that appeared to the Coerthans before the founding of Ishgard there has to be some true origin to the mythology of the Twelve. It is very likely the Ascians have used the myths to manipulate people since the Twelve departed Eorzea but I find it unlikely that they fabricated the very source of the mythology.

The game is full of hints and nods to the concept that every myth has a shred of truth in its origins. Something of the Twelve is real, whether they're just people, gods, or something else. Bahamut, Shiva and Phoenix are proof enough of this, and Belias' presence in the SMN quest series suggests much the same for Ifrit.

I'm not saying the twelve ain't real. I'm saying that they likely won't appear in a physical form without the Ascian's consent.

[seekified]

This is thin ice. "Accidentally" summoning Phoenix is enough for us to essentially have done something for which we've hunted the beast tribes for years. Summoning the Twelve or in any way manifesting them in the Land would be taking that many steps further, and Louisoix knew that.

[Kaiser-Ace]

Me personally I'm taking Gaius' Garlean View on the Twelve. That being that Eikons (Primal or otherwise) are simply energy sucking monsters masquerading as Gods.

Could the Twelve be real? Of course they could, The Primals spirits as well for that matter. But what is summoned is most certainly not the deity being cried out too.

Lets say we call out to Phoenix again, who says it'll actually be Louisoix this time? He gave up his life to become it sure but Bahamut Tempered his (Louisoix) mortal spirit before He (Bahamut) and The Primal Phoenix disappeared into aether.

So while I believe that the Twelve were some kind of all powerful mortal (Assuming they haven't always been deities) I don't believe that any summoned incarnation of them would actually be The Twelve. Like when the Ascians tried to talk the Ala Mihgans into summoning Rahlger the Destroyer. He might have said he was Rahlger, he might have looked and acted like they though Rahlger was suppose to, heck he might even have a lot more knowledge on the other 11/12 in the Pantheon than his summoners, but I don't believe it would actually be Rahlger himself.

So this comes back to the argument of where the heck these summoned beings are coming from when summoned and going back to after they're defeated. (And also if the Dawn Father and Dusk Mother of Auri lore have the same issue as The Twelve)

[Kuwagami]

You think you are joking, but it could be true.

I was not joking. I'm dead serious on this. Halone appears, war happens, Ascians are sided with the ones seeing Halone ? I just think it's a little too... obvious ("Booooo, bad Ascians!").
Though I believe the mythology to be real, in the sense which everyone of the gods (the Twelves, the primals, Phoenix) and former "people" (in a large meaning : King Moggle Mog XII, Saint Shiva, Bahamut) had a real existence at some point.

So while I believe that the Twelve were some kind of all powerful mortal (Assuming they haven't always been deities) I don't believe that any summoned incarnation of them would actually be The Twelve. Like when the Ascians tried to talk the Ala Mihgans into summoning Rahlger the Destroyer. He might have said he was Rahlger, he might have looked and acted like they though Rahlger was suppose to, heck he might even have a lot more knowledge on the other 11/12 in the Pantheon than his summoners, but I don't believe it would actually be Rahlger himself.

If we are to believe that the primals are a big ass shared consciousness sucking aether dry to maintain a form, it's safe to assume that it takes the form and memories the followers want it to have. In this sense, Rhalgr would have looked, behaved and known everything he is said to have in the mythology of the twelves. Though it wouldn't have made him the real one as all that isn't said in the stories would have likely not been here.

[Kaiser-Ace]

If we are to believe that the primals are a big ass shared consciousness sucking aether dry to maintain a form, it's safe to assume that it takes the form and memories the followers want it to have. In this sense, Rhalgr would have looked, behaved and known everything he is said to have in the mythology of the twelves. Though it wouldn't have made him the real one as all that isn't said in the stories would have likely not been here.

I'm just kind of working on a fringe theory here that "Eikon" (Which I think means something along the lines of false god IRL) is actually a correct term in that it's something pretending to be a god. We've seen Ifrit the Lord of the Infernos but can we say for certain we've ever seen the real ifrit? For all we know Ifrit's mortal form may have been a woman. (Now I'm running along the FF10 Faytes rout too. Gods this is gonna get complicated)

My big thing is that what we are summoning may or may not be who we're trying to call. But if it was a "Wrong Number" so to speak and what ever came out got the job done, now you know exactly who/what to call even if it isn't what you were calling for the very 1st time.

[Alberel]

I'm not saying the twelve ain't real. I'm saying that they likely won't appear in a physical form without the Ascian's consent.

I'm not sure where you're getting this idea from. The true Twelve, the original beings, would not have been aether-sucking primals. They were either people, gods or something else. I don't see why the Ascians would necessarily have anything to do with whether they reveal themselves or not.

If they still live then they are still somewhere out there in the world and we may either discover their location or they will reveal themselves when they choose to. The Ascians would not necessarily have anything to do with that. If they are dead, then yes, the only way they would manifest again is as primals but again that would have nothing to do with the Ascians. Louisoix summoned the Twelve to stop Dalamud and that summoning was entirely outside of the Ascians' plan (they wanted Dalamud and Bahamut to simply wreak as much devastation as possible and Louisoix's actions delayed events long enough for the WoL to mount a counter-offensive to destroy Bahamut).

[Balipu]

Louisoix summoned the Twelve to stop Dalamud and that summoning was entirely outside of the Ascians' plan

Are you absolutely sure about this?

[Risvertasashi]

I'm not saying the twelve ain't real. I'm saying that they likely won't appear in a physical form without the Ascian's consent.

I don't think their consent has anything to do with it. They teach people how to summon primals because it's often in their best interests, but there's no indication anywhere that Ascian support is required.

Are you absolutely sure about this?

Technically, without a dev answer, we can't be absolutely sure of anything. I'd say it's improbable they had anything to do with planning on the Twelve being summoned. But I find it particularly unfeasible/unlikely they had anything to do with the summoning of Phoenix. Shiva also seemed to be an independent operation--although the Ascians are involved with Ishgard, Iceheart is their enemy, so...