[Spoilers] The general crackpot and head-canon thread

[CyrilLucifer]

Have a theory you're too afraid to post in threads with decent and logical discussion? A theory that's so crazy that you can't let go of it? An theory that is logical, but relatively undefended?

Don't worry, you're in good company. We're all crazy here. This is a place where we can post and not be ashamed at our absurdity.

I simply ask that people be respectful about someone else's crackpot.

[CyrilLucifer]

Well, I suppose I'll get this insanity ball rolling.

When I posted something offhanded in another thread, I realized that we might finally have an answer to an age old question - and some newer questions that build off of it.

Facts:
Reflections are 'held up' by shards of power. No further assumptions made on this for this theory, this is right from the dialogue in-game (3.2).
The goal of a Calamity is to force a Rejoining, which is the destruction of a reflection (3.2).
The Heart of Sabik is a "sliver" of Zodiark's power (2.0).
Ultima Weapon was going to release Ultima, which was apparently powerful enough that Hydaelyn was willing to interfere and literally give everything she had to stop it (2.0), something she didn't even do for Meteor.

Conclusion:
Ultima is bad news bears and it going off would have been the destruction of the reflection - or perhaps multiple.

Which leads us to. . .the crackpot.
1. The Heart of Sabik might have been one of those "shards" that held the reflection up, hence why it held so much of what is specified to be Zodiark's power and Lahabrea's ability to manipulate it. Where else would Zodiark's power be congregated but a shard that is specifically stated to be a part of He and Hydaelyn ("were we then divided") and designed to keep Zodiark away from the Source?
2. The Warriors of Darkness and our echo vision of them in Praetorium. Praetorium, where the Heart of Sabik was used by Lahabrea. A suspiciously unnamed Overlord that was not Lahabrea was there in that vision.
What does this mean? Hell if I know, but because it was not Lahabrea, I think we can assume that the events went differently, and I think this is what we should be looking at.
Did Lahabrea succeed at his goal when he was the one in Praetorium? Hence why Best Ascian was basically just standing there, letting us wail on him and, as Nabriales says, toying with us?

Furthermore, the Praetorium was reintroduced in 3.2.

Krile: A lingering disturbance in the aether─or ripple, if you will.
Thancred: Fortunately, I know where such data can be found: the battleground where [the Warrior] felled the Ultima Weapon.

A direct connection to Hydaelyn remains in the Praetorium, where Hydaelyn interfered with Ultima Weapon. This connection may or may not be mentioned later (the Ascians could very well use it as well, don't you think?), but it's important.

I think the Heart of Sabik is where our situations primarily differed, as Lahabrea's goal all along was the Heart.

Long story short: The Heart of Sabik is what we should be looking at.

[Dualblade]

Really out there without any evidence at all theory, but came to me while reading someone's post (I don't remember who it was or even the context.)

Anything pre-Allagan is pretty much an unknown to us. This leaves us alot of speculation, possibly completely up to the player as it may never be addressed. Thus leading to the thought.



What ended the First Astral Era and brought us to the Second Umbral? Pandemonium Warden thats what. And not an "FFXIV" version, THE Pandemonium Warden, who after taking heavy damage ended up running away only to end up warped (and possibly time-displaced) into our world. The aether of the world was useful in helping to heal (also helping that there was certainly much more then compared to now.), and between that and its initially entrance into the world caused great destruction.

Now, how was it defeated and, in doing so, eventually brought about the Second Astral Era? Absolute Virtue, this one the XIV version. Here a Warrior of Light Dragoon, possibly Holy Dragoon, he/she/it managed to defeat the Warden, but had to seal it away. From then on Virtue was something of a guardian, keeping watch over the next civilization...but something eventually happened, centuries later a still alive Virtue turned on Eorzea, thus becoming the cause of the Third Umbral Era.

Enter, eventually, the Allagans, who in their infancy and led by Xande were able to vanquish Virtue (most likely sealed in fact, though most surviving Allagan records, few as they would be, would imply death to keep someone from trying to free Virtue.) This act helped tremendously in the Allagan Empire's growth. Good press and all that.

If this were to all be true we will eventually end up having to fight both Virtue and Warden at some point...and if XI is still kicking at the time, Warden will once again end up retreating and warping BACK to Vana'diel, were the final event of that game would be its final, complete death. Also if we were to fight both their defeat would result in a great amount of Aether returning to the land...which might have its own consequences depending on how much is returned.

[Morningstar1337]

Could have sworn there was already a thread like this...

The Warriors of Darkness came from a reflection that was destroyed by the calamity, in fact, they are the same people Louisoix sent away before he became Phoenix. But in their universe, Bahamut was early in tempering Phoenix and also managed to temper everyone in Greater Eorzea. The resulting power allowed the Eikon to crystalline its thralls (think l'Cie after their focus was completed), keeping them in the same state as the Meracyian Dragons in Dalamud.

Coerthas, Gyr Albania and Dravania was also affected by this change, with Bahamut's attack empowering Nidhogg to finish The Dragonsong War early in that universe, forcing Ishgard to retaliate in response. Thordian revealed his ace early as well and the King went to attack both threats the First Brood posed. Hraesvelgr's own Brood perished in the crossfire, being tempered by Bahamut, killed by Thordian or slaughtered by Nidhogg's army. all in the span of 5 Years.

Ala Mhigo, still Under Garlean Rule, was forced to even more drastic measures. Varis' predecessor, Solus zos Galvus, eventually led an expedition with Gaius and his legates to the recently uncovered Crystal Tower and Azys Lla, as past and present empires sought to find a way to end the threat the First Brood posed. Of course being headed by a Nihilistic zombie and the head of the empire that sought to conquer the world, the Garleans and Allagans had different ideas on how to contain the threat. With Galvus proposing to merely contain the Eikons (Bahamut and Thordian) an use them to power their war machines and kill Nidhogg, while Xande sought to finish his pact and let the Cloud of Darkness destroy everything, this time using the Warring Triad at Azys Lla in lieu of Dalamud.

As the Dragonsong war raged towards a quick and final chorus. Bahamut went to Nidhogg and granted his brood-brother and kindred spirit a chance at power, enough to destroy Ishgard and take them as his own thralls. The dark wyrm accepted this power, so deep his rancor that his only thought were to avenge Ratatoskr. To him, it mattered not that it was the shade of his sibling, a product of the Allagans misdeeds, that is offering him this power. He just wanted to complete his vengeance before the Garlemald-Allag alliance takes that from him, and knew that toying with them will not cut it anymore. Together the dragons razed Ishgard to the Ground, with Bahamut defeating King Thordian and his Knights Twelve. And then went to the Crystal Tower, and destroyed the now vestigial Allagan Empire and the Empire that sought to emulate them. In this conflict the Triad awakened and joined the fray. The existence of 4 Eikons, 2 Newly minted Primals and the Crystal Tower itself drained enough aether form the land to make life unsustainable for corporeal beings (read, anyone that isn't a Primal, Eikon, or anyone empowered by these beings)

In the interim 5 years while all this happened, the Warriors of Light of that universe, still stuck in the Lifestream and semiconscious, were barely aware of their world's fate. Witnessing their allies and friends turned into enthralled statues, the Dreadwyrm and Malice Striker razing the rest of the realm and the eventual destruction of the world. Their aether only kept together by dark influences. Only to find themselves back in an Eorzea crystallized and beyond recognition. It is only then they were approached by an ebon-clad Paragon...

tl;dr In the Reflection that the WoDs hail from, The Calamity continued. Bahamut tempered everyone at Carteneau and Beyond, turned them into crystal statues. Garlemald and Allag's remnant tries to clean up this mess and Nidhogg gets an early victory for the Dragonsong War, all wrapped up in 5 years an a short Grimdark fanfiction that makes Game of Thrones look like Care Bears

[Enkidoh]

Could have sworn there was already a thread like this...

There was... (although it's now five or so pages back and not really relevant now).

Apart from the crackpot theories I mentioned in that earlier thread, I've since come up with a new one...

That the term for the six races as the 'Sons/Daughters of Man' is actually a cultural memory referencing the fact that the current races of people were all biologically divergent from a 'precursor' race that existed in Hydaelyn aeons ago (read: in the First Astral Era) but has long since died out. What is the name of this precursor race? True humanity... US!!! And it is this race that is referred to in the Eorzean creation story (about the 'early tribes' living in harmony with the Twelve).

Crackpot? No less crazy than the idea that Hydaelyn and Zodiark were once the same entity.

[Zohar_Lahar]

Assorted headcanons:

-The Ascian of the Twelfth Pentacle, as seen in SMN60 "A Flare for the Dramatic," is the same Ascian that possessed Trevanchet in 1.0 and the Masked Mage in the prologue of A Realm Reborn.

-The Manukmanai of Vanu folklore was a Voidsent summoned by the Mhachi during the War of the Magi.

-Nidhogg was stored in the Fractal Continuum as a forgotten museum piece until he broke free sometime in the Fifth Astral Era.

-The floating islands in the Sea of Clouds were a side-effect of the wind-aspected First Umbral Era calamity that have survived until present day.

-The Guardian Tree of the Everschade is of the same species as the sacred tree Sephirot.

-Midgardsormr is Shinryu.

[Berethos]

Main crackpot theory is that nearly all of the Ascians have no bloody clue what Zodiark actually wants, and that the things they want to have happen are related to their own existence and origin. The only one that has been enlightened as to Zodiark's actual plan is Elidibus, who is currently working to manipulate both sides with neither really aware of said plan.

Second crackpot theory is that Hydaelyn believes she won't truly survive much longer and is working to essentially birth a new goddess to carry on the existence that we call home.

[CyrilLucifer]

Main crackpot theory is that nearly all of the Ascians have no bloody clue what Zodiark actually wants, and that the things they want to have happen are related to their own existence and origin. The only one that has been enlightened as to Zodiark's actual plan is Elidibus, who is currently working to manipulate both sides with neither really aware of said plan.

But then why does Elidibus know? This is my crackpot too, I'm just instigating discussion.

[Dualblade]

On the tract of the Ascians having no clue what Zodiark wants, I've had a similar theory in my head that extends this to even Elidibus not knowing what Zodiark truly wants...but he has a better idea then the rest because his connection to Him is stronger than most, similar to how Minfillia's connection to Hydaelyn is stronger than most. It was only recently (as in around the time of the 6th Umbral Era) that Zodiark was even able to contact Elidibus at all, as his confined state put him in a worse state to communicate than Hydaelyn has had.

[Morningstar1337]

But then why does Elidibus know? This is my crackpot too, I'm just instigating discussion.

Isn't it obvious? He's essentially the Word of the Father :P

in less facetious terms, Zodiark allowed Elidibus to merge his essence with him for pretty much the same reason as Hydealyn did with Minfilia, but as a temporary measure until he can materialize in the physical realm. This means that Elidibus knows what Zodiark knows. The twist is that the other Ascians do not know that part, only that his Echo is stronger (Even in comparison to Hydealyn/The Word of the Mother who can only manage that form for a few minutes at best). This also explains his title of Emissary.