Nanamo & Teledji - story discussion [SPOILERS! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!]

[Vydos]

So yeah... (Putting my first post in spoiler tags to avoid people reading spoilers by hovering their mouse on the thread title)

(Edit: Bleh, got the wrong lalafell name. I meant Lolorito)

First of all, totally called it that she was not dead but kept in dead like state! *cough* Sorry...

Anyway, I'm sure people have their things they want to say about this. So I hereby declare the need for a discussion thread. Because I'm sure some people out there thought this was poor writing. (As was already suggested in the pre-3.0 nanamo thread if they went this route.)

I was a bit dissapointed how fast the entire thing got "resolved". Now I'm putting resolved between quotes, because I have this huge gut feeling that we've only scratched the surface on that storyline part. And that it was only added to prepare for the upcoming 3.x story patches.

Things that still bother me and leaves me thinking that we're far from done with Lolorito. Or are just huge plotholes.

- Lolorito looking annoyed at the end of the 2.x storyline about something. Clearly something didn't go as planned.
- Omega weapon case closed? Highly unlikely.
- Mention prior to the "nanamo rescue" about a huge supply of that sleeping drug being ported in. (My memory might be fuzy on that part but I think that was one of their leads. Correct me if I'm wrong.) Which is now either a giant plot hole. Because why bring in such a supply if they were planning on waking her.

I'll admit that I will be sorely dissapointed if everything did get resolved in the matter that it did. Because Lolorito reasons left even me dumbfounded in front of my screen with a "Really?! That was the entire plot reason? Who thought of this?"

[Balipu]

So yeah... (Putting my first post in spoiler tags to avoid people reading spoilers by hovering their mouse on the thread title)

(Edit: Bleh, got the wrong lalafell name. Why do I always forget his name! *goes searching*)

Yep it's Lolorito you want to talk about. Teledji has been cut in half and will not factor in anymore.

[Anonymoose]

Between Before the Fall and Heavensward, I put myself out there a bit by making a judgment and throwing my lot in with the, "But it'd be bad storytelling!" crowd (as I did when it appeared Louisoix was back, though I think they toed that line beautifully, in the end). For that reason, I feel kind of professionally obligated in a way to organize my final thoughts on it, lol.

<takes a deep breath and puts on his tophat>

I'm not going to be lame and walk back on my previous comments; the use of the "death-like slumber" trope was pretty weak, imho. However, having seen the story play out, I would now say that it's not the writing, but the pacing that led to my disappointment, and this is mostly just speaking as someone who played during 2.55 and through 3.00. Playing the Death-is-Cheap card isn't an invalid option, but the way they played it (capitalizing on it as a conclusion and escalation of uncertainty, only to take a short time-out from Ishgard to say PSYCHE! in 3.0) invalidates a lot of the impact, for me. In retrospect, what we thought was a big ending is just a benign cliffhanger, and just when I was praising the Thal's balls it took to do go through with it.

HOWEVER, the expansion is fantastic, overall, and if they had to use a Disney death, this is much closer to best than worst-case scenario, imho.

To future players, that plot arc will be a transition, not a temporary conclusion, and I don't think the structure will appear weak to them.

And then they'll get to the Vault...

But I won't ramble more than I already have. What's done is done; I'm movin' on!




P.S. Speaking of the deathlike-slumber drug trope, the story hinted that the potion used was a creation of the former ALC guildmaster, which really set off my spideymoosey-senses. In 1.0, said ALC guildmaster's son, Damielliot, was plagued by bouts of irresistible sleep that would put him out for ever-increasing spans. Was Faustigeant drugging his own son...!?

[GrizzlyTank]

Loloritho's goal was to have Raubhan kill Teledji in blind rage, but sadly Ilberd decided to make the situation worse by agetating Raubahn even more.

He probably also wanted to keep Raubhan, the Scions and the Warrior of Light in custody long enough for him to dig up the Omega Weapon without any major distractions.

[myahele]

It didn't surprise me (and some others) that there's a high possibility that Nanamo's poison was to knock her unconscious. But still, I am pleasantly surprised that Lolorito/ Teledji was able to find a backup ruler in the form of a Hyur (her maid?) from the Thorne line.

I love and hate it at the same time because Lolorito would have gotten away with it in both cases: If the Scions and WoL were captured then he can kill off Nanamo and install the Hyur Thorne as a puppet ruler ... but since that failed he came up with this plan instead.

He played everyone well and I REALLY hope we can get rid of him.

[Chewy2nd]

Lolorito should not get off the hook for free with this one, his little plot has lead to the possible deaths of the Scions, and to Y'shtola's current condition.

[Cilia]

It was inconclusively resolved. Lolorito essentially said "Psych!" and got away with it.

I'd be fine with that, except he sicced the Braves and Blades on us after Teledji was downed anyway, plus I have a hard time believing the toxin in Nanamo's drink was a sleeping drug after she was choking like that.

... whatever. The rest was good. Hope we find the other Scions soon.

[Velox]

plus I have a hard time believing the toxin in Nanamo's drink was a sleeping drug after she was choking like that.

It does seem odd, but remember that the whole switcharoo was to fool Teledji and the PC. If she would have just passed out, it would have been a lot more suspicious. It's not out of the realm of possibility that another agent was added to the concoction that caused muscle spasms and such.

[Rannie]

I didn't like the fact of how swiftly they resolved the matter. I mean granted I liked how we got to kick ilberd and company's butts. I'm really hoping they go back to everything cause right now lolorito has raubahn by the proverbial balls and i don't really like that

[Naria]

Personally I feel the whole Ul'dah arc in 3.0 was very weak and still as completely contrived as it's begining. Every time the questline took me away from Ishgard I was like "Really?! You want me to leave now?!". I actually kinda wish they had held off to 3.1 for the resolution of the banquet arc, but I understand they needed to resolve it to end 3.0 on the high note of Ishgard joining the Alliance.

I do like Nanamo but the fact that nothing actually changed after all of the Ul'dah drama in 2.0+ has left an even more bitter taste in my mouth than at the 2.55 release (and I was quite bitter at the time). The only things I did like about the Ul'dah arc was the shout out to the 1.0 Alchemist storyline, and that Dewlala actually spoke.

Thankfully, I feel the rest of the 3.0 storyline more than makes up for it. Yes, even Moogle Hell and the Vault.

The fact that they pulled another "psych!" with Niddhogg and the Dragonsong War erks me a bit, even though I figured something like that was coming. At least at the end of 3.0 there has been actual change in Ishgard politically.

Although I agree this isn't the end of it. I really do hope we/Nanamo/Rauban/Pippin/Someone manages to give Lolorito his just deserts.