Additional Kagoshima Producer Letter LIVE Questions Answered (Updated Irregularly)

[Fernehalwes]

Hello guys!

3.2 patch work is finally complete, so as promised, I'm going to try and field some of those questions that were left unanswered at the Kagoshima Letter from the Producer LIVE held earlier in the month.

I have three to start off with, and will try my best to update the post with new answers every week or so.

Please note, these lore posts will assume that the reader is fully up to speed on all previously released content. THERE WILL BE SPOILERS (possibly) for people who have yet to play through certain quests.

-----First Post 2/16/2016-----

Q:
After Bahamut Prime is defeated, it is assumed that Bahamut's regenerating body is dispersed into aether so he can finally rest in peace. Does this mean that Bahamut may once again be resurrected as a Primal in a future patch, should we ever step foot in Meracydia?

A:
As has been mentioned in past quests, most primal summoning comes down to the faith of the primal's followers. That faith acts as a beacon for the primal's dispersed aetherial essence, allowing for the remanifestation of a being whose infinite number of parts were tossed into that giant blender known as the Lifestream. If enough followers of Bahamut (or perhaps Dalamud, which, ultimately is the same concept) were to gather and perform a summoning, then technically anything is possible (with the proper amount of aether to act as the catalyst), and it doesn't necessarily need to be on Meracydia (which, in many places is still a smoldering waste, even today). What needs to be understood is that the state of the believers when the summoning occurs directly affects the manner in which the dispersed essence of the deceased is reconfigured. Tiamat, knows of this first hand due to her failed attempt to resummon her fallen beloved. She and Bahamut's brood knew Bahamut better than anyone, but since their hearts were darkened by sorrow stemming from the loss, coupled with hate directed towards the Allagans, the Bahamut that was ultimately brought back ended up being naught but a twisted shell of the dragon Tiamat remembered. This also explains the differences between the actions and temperaments of other primals spanning from 1.0 to 2.0. The needs and desires of the believers doing the summoning changed following the Calamity, resulting in changes in the primals they summoned, Ifrit and Titan, even Shiva all being good examples (though Shiva's differences span back further than just 5 years ago).

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Q:
Why are Meracydian ruins plastered with the mark of Azeyma, the Warden?

A:
So, as is documented in the adventure log entry for the Azys Lla's Cathedral, the structure was an actual place of worship in Meracydia used by the followers of Sephirot, until it was picked up and moved in its entirety by the Allagans so they could study it (in particular, study the ties between faith and primal summoning). So, if it is a Meracydian structure, why does it feature stone carvings almost identical to those found in the Sunken Temple of Qarn (including the repetition of a symbol that has an uncanny resemblance to the sign of Azeyma, the Warden)? We've officially stated before that worship of the Twelve is something found almost solely in Eorzea. Is this proof that Meracydians also worshiped the Twelve? Or perhaps that Azeyma is a transplant from Meracydia? The answer is, in fact, neither. However, there is an interesting connection between ancient Meracydia, the Sunken Temple of Qarn, and ultimately Azeyma.

As can be seen from existing Allagan artifacts (runestones (from 1.0) inscribed with the symbols of the Twelve), Twelve worship existed in the 3rd Astral Era (before eventually losing steam amongst the Allagans as their civilization became increasingly scientifically advanced). When the Allagans first visited Meracydia, they were surprised to find a symbol almost identical to that used for Azeyma, the Warden being prominently featured in various types of architecture. Further research, however, revealed that the Meracydians they encountered did not worship Azeyma, but instead a deity named Sephirot, the Fiend, and that the symbol was being used to mean something similar, but ultimately different.

The original Meracydian tribe which worshipped Sephirot believed him to be a massive tree. As all plants require light to grow and thrive, it was only natural for the tribe to believe that their god also came into his power by bathing in the brilliance of the sun. The tribe recognized the importance of the sun, and thusly adorned their Sephirotic temples with their people's symbol for it. This lead the Allagan scholars to conclude that the Meracydian symbol for the sun, and the Allagan symbol for Azeyma (goddess of the sun) must have both have the same origins, and that somewhere, countless years in the past, that symbol made its way to several different regions across the globe, the evolution of its meaning differing slightly depending on the location.

Now, as for the runic patterns seen in both the Meracydian Cathedral and the Sunken Temple of Qarn, when the Allagans lifted the Cathedral from its home in Meracydia and brought it to Azys Lla, they conducted extensive studies on the building and its architecture--much of that knowledge making its way (in limited form) to the Allagan populace (much like information on, say, the ancient Egyptians is available to anyone in rural Kentucky with a library card or Internet connection). There were even people who took to copying it in newer buildings (much like modern government buildings on Earth might use a decidedly Roman style of architecture). When the Calamity of the 3rd Astral Era hit and ushered in the 4th Umbral Era (a dark age of regression), much of that knowledge was lost, and only fragments lingered--fragments that the few remaining survivors were ill-prepared to fully comprehend. Knowledge of Sephirot? Meracydia? The Cathedral's purpose? All were lost. What people did see was that many of the buildings that were still standing amongst the destruction wrought by the Calamity were covered in these arcane symbols. Many superstitious people took this to mean that they were some kind of wards that protected these structures (not realizing that a lot of buildings with those designs also were destroyed as well). Millennia later, when Belah'dia was founded with the Warden as its matron deity, they naturally incorporated the symbols associated with the deity (symbols taken from much older concepts--symbols tied to what appeared to be the mark of Azeyma) into the architecture of their temples--the Temple of Qarn being one of those. (It also helped that Qarn was built atop the remnants of something much, much older than the Belah'dian civilization)."

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Q:
How are dragon names decided? Many of the dragons in and around Anyx Trine have names made from words in from the dragon language, but there are others--Vidofnir, Vedrfolnir, Gullinkambi--who have names taken from Norse Mythology like Midgardsormr and his children's are. Is there a reason they have their own unique names? Are names like this earned?

A:
Every dragon has a name in the base draconian tongue, including the more prominent figures such as Bahamut, Vidofnir, Midgardsormr, etc. The 'Eorzean' names have been earned through the dragons' interactions with past civilizations. The elder dragons (especially those of Midgardsormr's first brood) have spent thousand (tens-of-thousands) of years roaming about Hydaelyn. During that time, they have come in contact with many different peoples--some primitive, some advanced. Some with which they warred, some with which they fostered peace. Those peoples gave the dragons names in their own tongues. Some were based on existing words in those tongues, while others were phonetic interpretations, bastardizations, and subsequent degradations of a language that they could not accurately pronounce. These names took hold amongst the people of Eorzea, being passed down orally and in print, and effectively became the second names of the dragons. Rather than fight this, it was ultimately easier for the dragons to simply allow man to call them what they wished. Some of the dragons have even grown fond of these names, choosing to use them even when speaking with other dragons (who would otherwise know them by their draconian names).

-----Second Post 2/23/2016-----

Hello guys! Thanks for all the kind words following the first post. This past week has seen Oda-san and myself begin work on the official lore book that I mentioned at the Producer Letter Live in Kagoshima. We've finished all our meetings regarding the length, content, and layout, and now it's just a matter of writing everything. I can't comment on exactly how many pages we finally agreed upon...but let's just say using the words 'blunt instrument' to describe it wouldn't be too much of an exaggeration.

In between lore book duties, however, I was able to find some time to field another three of the questions from the original thread, so here we go!

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Q:
Will we learn anything regarding the 1st or 2nd Astral Eras, or the nations contemporaneous to the Allagans during the 3rd and 4th Astral Eras?

A:
The further we look back into history, the less that remains in the way of clues telling us about those distant times. If one civilization had existed for the duration of all six eras, there would likely be more information compiled, more hypotheses formed. The problem with Eorzea is that every time civilizations rise, they are not merely toppled by another, but literally wiped of the face of the planet by the Calamities. This 'reset' button undoes everything that came before, impeding mankind's progress into learning its past. Civilizations spend so much time trying to get back on their feet after each Calamity, that by the time they get to a point where they can start accurately delving into the past, it's time for another disaster. But what of architecture? Does anything from the 1st or 2nd Astral Eras remain? Well, considering that very little of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Eras remain, it is difficult to believe that anything could have survived longer than that, especially if those civilizations did their building in stone or wood. Look at ancient Roman ruins. Many are approximately 2000 years old, and most are not in what you'd call the best of shape. Now imagine what they'll look like in another 8000 years. If anything is left after wind, water, and war take their tolls, the pieces will probably look like nothing more than weathered stones--which is more than likely the state of most of the 1st and 2nd Astral Era ruins still existing in Eorzea. That isn't to say, however, that no information on the earliest of the Astral Eras exists. The Allagans did their research, and some of that is just now being uncovered by Garlean and Eorzean scholars. And from what I've heard, their findings are slated to be published in a certain tome of lore scheduled for release later this year.

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Q:
Will we hear about the 2 remaining dragons of Midgardsormr's First Brood during the Heavensward story-line, or at all?

A:
The remaining two dragons of the first brood are alive and well...but remain far removed from all the action in Eorzea. Where are they? Why are they there? Why are they not interested in the happenings in Eorzea with their kin? Why don't their kin in Eorzea mention them? All excellent questions...but unfortunately ones we cannot yet give you answers for, as their stories are being saved for future content. So, what does 'future' mean here? Well, I've spoken Oda-san, and I'm sorry to report that there are currently no plans to have either of the wyrms appear in the Heavensward (3.x) story-line. That isn't to say that they won't appear (you never know what Yoshi-P will bring to a future patch brainstorming session), but chances are decent that you won't be hearing about them for some time. However, you never know what sliver of foreshadowing you might find in the help text of an upcoming item or minion (just not in the help text of a 3.2 item or minion).

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Q:
After looking through the info given to us in game, I am pretty sure Saint Shiva was Elezen. However after studying her statue, I am curious why her ears are shaped that of a Hyurs. Does this perhaps mean she was a Hyur instead? or is it just designed incorrectly?

A:
This actually has quite an interesting backstory. The original Saint Shiva who fostered peace between her people and the dragons was most definitely an Elezen (see: flashback cutscene). Well, then, what about the decidedly round ears on the supposed statue of Shiva located in the western reaches of the Churning Mists? Doesn't this prove that she was a Hyur? Not necessarily, but it does show how depictions of prominent religious figures are heavily influenced by the views/knowledge of the persons creating those depictions. In the approximately one-and-a-half to two centuries of peace that passed following Shiva's sacrifice, the tale of her deeds slowly evolved from fact into folklore and ultimately into legend (remember, this is a time early in the 6th Astra Era when there are not photographs, formal education for the masses is relatively non-existent, and much information was passed down via religious services). When the statues at Zenith were being constructed, the rulers of the colony (now known by the moogles as the Landlord Colony) commissioned talented architects, artists, masons, and sculptors from around the region to carry out those monumental tasks. The Hyuran sculptor who was tasked with the creation of the statue now known as the Mother of the Sheave most likely knew little of the 'true' Shiva--privy only to the legends that told of her beauty and her deeds--and therefore was left to essentially recreate Shiva based on his own ideals. When the statue was finally unveiled, there were more than likely those who opposed the depiction. However, before the issue could be addressed, the the seas of conflict once again swelled and the colony was eventually abandoned.

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[Anonymoose]

I don't know if I should be replying to this thread or if it was intended to be locked - so feel free to move me outta here if need be.

(What appears to be) confirmation that some (Many!? ALL!?) primals are at their core actual remains of actual living things? That's pretty big! Louisoix... a great sea serpent... the old man of the wood... a heretic saint... the empress of birds... Though I suppose that means Ravana was once something more than hypothetical cultural memories of Phantom Ray and the great escape from Azys Lla... and I suppose it means not all of Shiva's essence remains within Hraesvelgr (who is said to have consumed her)...

Also, nice weaving of tales to explain the Qarn textures in with the old Allagan Runestones we collected for Rowena. Confirmation that even the early Allagans believed in the Twelve as divine is likewise huge. That all but guarantees that the story is so old that even the Allagans got the exaggerated, deified versions... or there's more than a few grains of truth in there...

[Canadane]

Every dragon has a name in the base draconian tongue, including the more prominent figures such as Bahamut, Vidofnir, Midgardsormr, etc. The 'Eorzean' names have been earned through the dragons' interactions with past civilizations. The elder dragons (especially those of Midgardsormr's first brood) have spent thousand (tens-of-thousands) of years roaming about Hydaelyn. During that time, they have come in contact with many different peoples--some primitive, some advanced. Some with which they warred, some with which they fostered peace. Those peoples gave the dragons names in their own tongues. Some were based on existing words in those tongues, while others were phonetic interpretations, bastardizations, and subsequent degradations of a language that they could not accurately pronounce. These names took hold amongst the people of Eorzea, being passed down orally and in print, and effectively became the second names of the dragons. Rather than fight this, it was ultimately easier for the dragons to simply allow man to call them what they wished. Some of the dragons have even grown fond of these names, choosing to use them even when speaking with other dragons (who would otherwise know them by their draconian names).

I can really connect with this. Everyone I know calls me King these days. Not my birth name by any means, but it is my characters name (to the surprise of some, it's a name, not a title!). Most of my friends play, my wife plays, other family has played. My characters name is used more often than anything else. When your wife calls you by your character name you know that it's just easier to let her do so than to change it. I like it enough, much like it seems these Dragons like theirs.

[Belhi]

I don't know if I should be replying to this thread or if it was intended to be locked - so feel free to move me outta here if need be.

(What appears to be) confirmation that some (Many!? ALL!?) primals are at their core actual remains of actual living things? That's pretty big! Louisoix... a great sea serpent... the old man of the wood... a heretic saint... the empress of birds... Though I suppose that means Ravana was once something more than hypothetical cultural memories of Phantom Ray and the great escape from Azys Lla... and I suppose it means not all of Shiva's essence remains within Hraesvelgr (who is said to have consumed her)...

Also, nice weaving of tales to explain the Qarn textures in with the old Allagan Runestones we collected for Rowena. Confirmation that even the early Allagans believed in the Twelve as divine is likewise huge. That all but guarantees that the story is so old that even the Allagans got the exaggerated, deified versions... or there's more than a few grains of truth in there...

I cant remember the source exactly but Im pretty sure there is flavour text in game that refers to Revana as being a great warrior from Gnath history. Maybe with the Gods of Eld quest? Flavor text on the Burning Eye of Ravana Anakna maybe?

[PArcher]

I cant remember the source exactly but Im pretty sure there is flavour text in game that refers to Revana as being a great warrior from Gnath history. Maybe with the Gods of Eld quest?

Doesn't mean his form isn't based off the Phantom Ray. Its too close to be a coincidence.

[Berethos]

(What appears to be) confirmation that some (Many!? ALL!?) primals are at their core actual remains of actual living things?

I suppose that depends on if it's the initial summoning and those that follow that leads to a remanifestation of the many infinite parts that have been scattered, or just subsequent summons after an initial creation from (for lack of a better descriptor) generic aether and a particular belief and attitude.

[Anonymoose]

I suppose that depends on if it's the initial summoning <...> or just subsequent summons after an initial creation from

Rocl and I were just discussing this exact thing when trying to decide on the best doors to leave open and closed in that logic.

If all primals are, at their core, the scattered remnants of a specific previously-living thing rematerialized over and over, that's easy to make sense of. One could argue, of course, that the identity of that specific thing barely matters after a while, since the entire observable nature (shape and behavior) is warped by the summoners. Louisoix was a stubborn old scholar intent on preventing a Calamity and he came back as a dreadwyrm slaying firebird that heals wounded landscapes. A thousand years from now, if a people who worship the idea of the Phoenix try to summon it... would it matter that Louisoix was at the core? Would they care? Would it be of any consequence whatsoever? Does it matter that Chieftain Moggle (could have been / was) at the core of Good King Moggle Mog XII, who was nothing like him and as good as a myth made manifest?

However, if it's simply that the scattered parts of one Ifrit make the next Ifrit - but - Ifrit is still an invented aetheric shade, which has less impact on the larger lore, you run into a chicken and egg situation. When he was summoned the first time, the prayers and aether acted as a beacon and catalyst for the re-materialization of what? Knowing what we now know, you need re-confirmation that you can summon something completely fresh. I'd be tempted to use Carbuncles and Faeries as an example of such, but their original summonings are based on your own living aether - they're arcane.

So many answers... just... slipping through my fingers. (Probably because I'm overthinking them.)

[Velox]

snip

But what if it is though? What if such aetheric essence needs a catalyst to latch on to--what if the living aether of the deceased serves as that beacon. That would mean at the core of every primal IS the original essence of the living soul, but it becomes so corrupted by the vision of the summoners, it no longer bears any semblance to the original. I don't think there's much of a difference between primals and carbuncles on the small scale, only the large scale.

In other words, nothing is ever summoned fresh. There's always a lost soul at the heart of it--eternally bound in an aetheric prison called a "primal"

[Anonymoose]

What if such aetheric essence needs a catalyst to latch on to--what if the living aether of the deceased serves as that beacon. <...> In other words, nothing is ever summoned fresh. There's always a lost soul at the heart of it--eternally bound in an aetheric prison called a "primal"

It's like I've spent every moment since Ramuh just circling the rim without falling through the hoop... </facedesk>

<...>perhaps you need a soul to begin with - something forced to act as a vessel for that essence and belief. The creation of Phoenix used Louisoix's, after all.<...>

February 2015

I tossed out that whole theory based on the whole "It's just aether and prayer." from Hraesvelgr. And yet it seems it was partly true. I guess if I just sand half of each of my previous theories off and glue them together, it works, again? We've gotta be getting so close, lol...

I don't think there's much of a difference between primals and carbuncles on the small scale, only the large scale.

Personally, I'm going to maintain a bit of a fence between them (for now - until we information that positively links them). According the post above (as far as I can tell on the vagueries), for primals, prayer acts as a beacon for the scattered bits of something in the Lifestream, rematerializing that thing in a form shaped by faith. However, as far as we know, an arcanima construct is just you splitting off your own aether and shaping it into a bidable avatar using mathematics or the tainted signature something (such as a primal) has left on you. So, summoning Carbuncle would be you splitting yourself in two parts and shaping one with mathematics. Summoning Garuda-Egi would be you splitting yourself in two parts and shaping it using the signature of Garuda, which (having been present at her demise and thus having touched the aetheric mist left behind by her) is permanently etched into (attuned to) your soul.

[Berethos]

In other words, nothing is ever summoned fresh. There's always a lost soul at the heart of it--eternally bound in an aetheric prison called a "primal"

This would then beg the question (at least for me) - what remanifested to create Shiva. Did something else, older than the Shiva upon which Ysale based her beliefs, answer that beacon?