So Was Ysayle A Warrior Of Light?

[Anonymoose]

Dare I ask how Cid saw the 2.0 players as a blinding figure in his memories? xD

Dare away, the lore forums have this one on tap at this point.

This one I'm actually rather confident about. The scene begins with Cid struggling to regain his memories; as if he has a word on the tip of his tongue. He uses the phrase, "Just how long have I worn these damn goggles?" as an example, and suddenly the Echo triggers and begins to not only reveal his memories to us, but to him. As we see the images, it all starts coming back to him, scene by scene. When we appear in the glowing light and hand him his goggles, I believe it's a metaphorical scene - we're literally giving him the memory he just asked for; the scene comes full circle and has him say, "Ah, yes! It was then that I first donned these goggles."

He recognizes that the light he saw was you, and muses that perhaps his third eye was to blame, or perhaps it's a lucky guess.
(And then he remembers the flight to slay Nael van Darnus on the Rivenroad if you were from 1.0.)

[Magic-Mal]

The forum has everything!

[TinyRedLeaf]

I think it is more naturally who affects the world the most instead of having the most crystals. They earn their title through actions that bring about Light to the world...

While it's true the WoL has more than earned his title, his power does in fact come from all six of Crystals of Light (now further augmented with the eye of Hraesvelgr), each of which he earned through sheer talent and heroism back in version 2.0.

It's been such a long time ago, that most players have probably forgotten that, in Her very first meeting with a handful of the Chosen, Hydaelyn did in fact explain what had to be done to defeat the looming "Darkness":

The power to banish the Darkness dwelleth in the Crystals of Light. Journey forth and lay claim to them. By thy deeds shall the Crystals reveal themselves to thee.

So, as Anonymoose said, in order to be the Warrior of Light, one must first be among the few blessed with the Echo. You must then be among the select few to be further shortlisted by Hydaelyn to hear Her plea to seek the Crystals of Light. And then you must actually take steps to earn the Crystals through your actions.

Even though Ysayle had the Echo, it wasn't entirely clear whether Hydaelyn spoke directly to her. She very probably did, given that Ysayle possessed at least one Crystal of Light.

But I further think it's implied that the Ascians misdirected Ysayle's zealousness, and tricked her into summoning Shiva unto herself, the very opposite of what Hydaelyn would have intended. From then on, Ysayle went down the wrong path, and was unlikely to awaken further Crystals of Light.

And that, unfortunately, is why she doesn't strictly qualify as a Warrior of Light.

[Mysteltain]

Not to derail, but who all do we know to possess a Crystal, or Crystals, of Light? Off the top of my head, there is:

1) Us, the WoL, with all six. Three from Ifrit, Titan, and Garuda. One from the Sylphs. And two from our run-ins with Ascians.
2) Ysayle, with an Ice Crystal (for obvious reasons)
3) Matoya, with her Crystal Eye. And it is, according to her, far more powerful than any of our's due to its age.
4) The five Warriors of Darkness, lacking the Water Crystal. Likely earned through deeds comparable to our own, on the First.

Did I miss anyone?

[Cilia]

Not to derail, but who all do we know to possess a Crystal, or Crystals, of Light? Off the top of my head, there is:

1) Us, the WoL, with all six. Three from Ifrit, Titan, and Garuda. One from the Sylphs. And two from our run-ins with Ascians.
2) Ysayle, with an Ice Crystal (for obvious reasons)
3) Matoya, with her Crystal Eye. And it is, according to her, far more powerful than any of our's due to its age.
4) The five Warriors of Darkness, lacking the Water Crystal. Likely earned through deeds comparable to our own, on the First.

Did I miss anyone?

That's correct, however - Matoya's Crystal of Light isn't her own. If I recall correctly it's a relic from a previous Astral Era, which is why it's more powerful.

[PArcher]

Not to derail, but who all do we know to possess a Crystal, or Crystals, of Light? Off the top of my head, there is:

1) Us, the WoL, with all six. Three from Ifrit, Titan, and Garuda. One from the Sylphs. And two from our run-ins with Ascians.
2) Ysayle, with an Ice Crystal (for obvious reasons)
3) Matoya, with her Crystal Eye. And it is, according to her, far more powerful than any of our's due to its age.
4) The five Warriors of Darkness, lacking the Water Crystal. Likely earned through deeds comparable to our own, on the First.

Did I miss anyone?

Krile had one, but it was consumed when the Isle of Val disappeared (used in saving her, most likely). There is a possibility that she could acquire another if she needs to.

[Cilia]

While it's true the WoL has more than earned his title, his power does in fact come from all six of Crystals of Light (now further augmented with the eye of Hraesvelgr)...

While the rest of what you said is true, the WoL no longer has Hraesvelgr's Eye. They borrowed it (or rather, Hraesvelgr lent it to them of his own will) for the final showdown with Nidhogg and then returned it; if you pay close attention during the closing scenes of 3.3, as the WoL is flying on Midgardsormr in the Churning Mists alongside Hraesvelgr, he has both his eyes still.

Not doing so would kind of... defeat the whole purpose of the story, not to mention sour the relations with Hraesvelgr we just built.

[RobinMalvin]

snip

I agree with most you said. Ysayle possessing at least a Crystal of Light and the quote she said after we defeated her primal form are proofs that she has met Hydaelyn, and she has done something great enough that Hydaelyn saw her fit to be one of those worthy to hold a Crystal of Light. Like us, she too was Hydaelyn's chosen.

But, as far as I recall, Hydaelyn never calls us Warrior of Light.

The term Warrior of Light is made by men, in honor to those brave warriors who fought to prevent the descent of Dalamud. Only men and Ascians (though in apparently mocking manner) call us with that title.

So in my opinion, Ysayle was, in Hydaelyn's eyes, just the same as WoL, her champions to battle Darkness and had the potential to be seen by people as another Warrior of Light. But because she once fought against us and collaberated with Ascians (likely because Ysayle never got details of who the enemy is before Hydaelyn's silent), no one but probably her followers saw her as WoL.

[PArcher]

But, as far as I recall, Hydaelyn never calls us Warrior of Light.

I'm 99% sure she does call us Warrior of Light a few times during the 2.0 MSQ (I think she first says it in Toto-Rak).

Dont forget there are two types of WoL; the Crystal's chosen champion, and the adventurers that disappeared from Cartaneau. Both apply to legacy players, but non-legacy are only the Crystal's champion

[MiniPrinny]

Did I miss anyone?

Technically, yes. The fifth group would be the people who help the Warrior of Light slay various enemies such as the primals. SE plays fast and loose with this, but its pretty heavily implied the Warrior of Light has 3-7 close allies who possess the echo or extremely strong luck. Not to mention at least 16 other adventurers who are highly skilled and well equipped who aid the Warrior of Light in feats that are well beyond the Warrior of Light's caliber, such as the Crystal Tower or Shadow of Mhach.