Minfillia Speculation

[Sorata]

What great speculation thread everyone.

I'd like to point out the balancing of the "force" as well. Up until 3.1, we think of the Warrior of Light as part of the Scions and he/she is the counter point of the Ascians, but with the introduction of Warrior of Darkness, we start to see how the "chessboard" is like. So far, it seems like we know, despite whatever philosophy or grey area there might be, there are these opposing forces:

Hydaelyn vs. Zodiark
The Scions vs. The Ascians
Warrior of Light vs. Warrior of Dark

Now, if you think about the Ascians, they are a powerful force. We (at least I) don't know where they got their power from. Assuming it's from the Zodiark itself, comparing to them, the Scions are nothing. Will it be far fetch to think that Minfilia is finally receiving her "power" that is equivalent to the Ascians to counter that, regardless of whatever path that got her there (ie: people has been suggesting if she volunteered or not.)

[Sorata]

Con't...

I am not suggesting this to be a perfect black/white, good vs. evil though. As a matter of fact I really rather it isn't because the Ascian's agenda isn't completely horrible, it's more their execution that is questionable.

[Theodric]

Well...the Ascians are powerful, yes - but we're still waiting for them to get a solid victory that doesn't involve the WoL or Cid plot device overcoming all odds and miraculously beating them back. Final Fantasy games have a long history of antagonists who absolutely thrash the main character and their allies - so we really need more of that to better paint them as a threat and because it's so much more interesting than just having them put down at every turn.

[Alisa180]

snip

To be fair to the Ascians, Ser Zephirin 99% certainly would have killed us if it wasn't for a certain knight. Before the Vault, Lahabrea says "It's time for the Warrior of Light to die." Which means what happened at the end of the Vault was at least partly their idea.

The set-up was perfect. We hadn't regained the full Blessing to protect us, we were taken completely off-guard and with no time to properly react (not even to draw our weapons, which would be needed to, say, pop Hallowed Ground. Also, its implied the spear was moving *much* faster then the cutscene showed). That probably would have been *it* if it wasn't for...you know...

So I guess I'm saying its not for lack of trying. Also, I'm sensing a 'solid victory' for the Ascians would = end of Hydaelyn, so...

[Frederick22]

To be fair to the Ascians, Ser Zephirin 99% certainly would have killed us if it wasn't for a certain knight. Before the Vault, Lahabrea says "It's time for the Warrior of Light to die." Which means what happened at the end of the Vault was at least partly their idea.

The set-up was perfect. We hadn't regained the full Blessing to protect us, we were taken completely off-guard and with no time to properly react (not even to draw our weapons, which would be needed to, say, pop Hallowed Ground. Also, its implied the spear was moving *much* faster then the cutscene showed). That probably would have been *it* if it wasn't for...you know...

So I guess I'm saying its not for lack of trying. Also, I'm sensing a 'solid victory' for the Ascians would = end of Hydaelyn, so...

No wait, lets dont get confused here. Is more than clear that was not that . Zephirin was only tring to avoid that we catch up Thordan. Dont get confused this was not an planified assesination of some kind.

[Belhi]

Zephirin was pretty clearly trying to kill us. If that energy spear had hit us in the back it almost certainly would have been fatal. After all it cut through a shield and right through a person. What do you think it would have done to our exposed back?

[CyrilLucifer]

Can you just imagine how bitter and annoyed Lahabrea was after that?
His perfect plan was foiled by literal plot armor.

I imagine he was seething and sulking on his own for weeks. Hence Igeyorhm harassing you at Bismarck instead.

I wish I could have seen it.

Poor Laha.

[Frederick22]

Zephirin was pretty clearly trying to kill us. If that energy spear had hit us in the back it almost certainly would have been fatal. After all it cut through a shield and right through a person. What do you think it would have done to our exposed back?

tring to kill us and a planified assesitation are two different things.

I dont understand why everyone is bringing this discuccion now. Wast clear what happened on the vault?

We were chasing Thordan, Zephirin tried to stop us with a deadly atack despite we have might survive ( we fighted the orthers knights ) and then Hauchefaun came to save us.

[CyrilLucifer]

I was actually doing some thinking on this topic. I agree that we haven't really seen a decisive, long-term Ascian victory yet. It's disappointing.

I mean, you might consider the Calamity. I suppose. Maybe. But even that wasn't a complete success.

However, Lahabrea gets pretty much exactly what he wants from the 2.0 Ex primal quests. And totally-not-Elidibus is on track to be getting what he wants from Ex (and now normal) Primals in 3.X, namely, for them to be out of the picture.

Which leads me to the blatant conclusion that whenever the Ascians are using you, they are almost guaranteed to get what they want done at utmost efficiency and, therefore, should really be doing it more often. They just need to give you a bit of misinformation, so that you make a few mistakes, and, given your propensity for sucking up Hydaelyn's energy, boom! You'll end up causing the Rejoining all on your own. That's a lot less effort than trying to stop you.
Disclaimer: I actually think this is exactly what Lahabrea was doing in 3.0 and why, for the most part, he was leaving you be. He basically admits to it in ARF, saying you just cause more chaos by constantly eliminating the primals, furthering His purposes. Igeyorhm more just thinks you're a ball of contradictions, so she might not be in on it.
Elidibus also seems to have picked up on this, hence the whole WoD thing. But the WoD don't have our plot armor, so we're still more reliable.

[Cilia]

I did some thinking with what we've seen and the patch trailer and reached another hypothesis.

Matoya: To win a war, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes. To fight, to kill, and if necessary, to die.

In light of this and Minfilia apparently disappearing in meta world, in front of Hydaelyn the crystal, perhaps Hydaelyn is going to sacrifice herself to buy us more time or push back the darkness, and Minfilia is going to take her place as the "core consciousness" of the Mothercrystal, so to speak? We know Hydaelyn is rather weak, and perhaps she knows it's only a matter of time before she kicks the bucket (so to speak), but by having another take her place things will get better?

... yeah, I know, lacking a bit of SAN... but no matter what, I do not have a good feeling about this...