[Spoiler] Requesting a Storm of Blood

[Veritas-Ancora]

In Heavensward, I was amazed at the definitions of it.

Heavensward, as a direction.
Heavens' Ward, as in the defenders of the Church.
Heavens' Ward, as in the final boss of Heavensward, Knights of the Round.

Now, I'm a little disappointed in Stormblood.

I was really hoping for an actual storm of blood like they kept predicting, but that never came. And Yoshi P mentioned how weather affected the mood of the game in battles like Susano. So I was really hoping for crimson rain.

Maybe we could see this in the upcoming Stormblood patches? I still don't quite understand what a "Stormblood" is, despite the rhyme.

[Enkidoh]

It's metaphorical - if I remember rightly Ferne explained not long after SB was announced that the Japanese title translates roughly as "Crimson Storm" or something and that he felt it needed something more powerful, more in keeping with the idea of war and revolution and the cost in life it has that is the central theme of SB, with 'Stormblood' being what he settled on. It's not a literal storm, but a metaphorical one, a storm of rebellion against the Garlean Empire that swept up two continents into war, a metaphorical 'storm of blood'.

Someone else would be able to clarify that though.

[Anonymoose]

In addition to the Crimson Liberator side of it, I took Stormblood to be a meeting place between the concepts of warfare (loud noises, chaos, bloodshed) and Ala Mhigan loyalties (the bloodlines of the worshipers of Rhalgr, a lightning deity). It could also in time refer to the royal bloodline (not that the only man possessing it seems to care much for it).

It's also only 4.00. The lingering effects of the Dragonsong War carried on until 3.3 and I don't imagine Ala Mhigo will fare much better. The desire to see the city liberated with one of the only things all the factions who fought for it agreed upon.

What kind of government should Ala Mhigo have? Who decides? Who implements it?

Will those who fought look down on those who did not? What of those who ignored the call? What of those too afraid to defy imperial order but too afraid to fight the victorious Alliance? What of the Little Ala Mhigans who made the move? What of those who made Ul'dah their home? What of all the refugees scattered to the winds? Twenty five years of decisions and consequences, of loyalties and allegiances ... these choices will affect how the Ala Mhigans who converge on their newly-empty city will view one another.

It's 50 new "tribes" of Highlanders. It doesn't bode well. I don't think this is over by a long shot.

[Chewy2nd]

The Ala Mhigan people also worship Rhalgr, who like Ramuh, is a god of storms, so the people of Ala Mhigo are of 'storm blood'.

[Enkidoh]

It's also only 4.00. The lingering effects of the Dragonsong War carried on until 3.3 and I don't imagine Ala Mhigo will fare much better. The desire to see the city liberated with one of the only things all the factions who fought for it agreed upon.

What kind of government should Ala Mhigo have? Who decides? Who implements it?

Ironically a npc in Rhalgr's reach actually hinted at that pretty much at the start - he mentions that he's been musing over just how Ala Mhigo should be governed if the Resistance actually succeeded in liberating Ala Mhigo, whether they should restore Ala Mhigo's original monarchy or go Ishgard's route and found a democratic republic, only to pass those thoughts aside as "that is something to think about when the time comes."

I agree though that things aren't going to be suddenly hunky-dory in Ala Mhigo and Doma, it's going to take a long time to rebuild, the disparate political factions in both have to learn to get along for the benefit of their nations, and the Empire is now suddenly bereft of two of it's conquered territories, along with a now mobilized and war-ready Eorzean Alliance. Interesting times are ahead indeed....

[Anonymoose]

The Empire is now suddenly bereft of two of it's conquered territories, along with a now mobilized and war-ready Eorzean Alliance. Interesting times are ahead indeed....

So, in the end, the Garlean Empire made radical increases in technology in exchange for sacrificing enough resources that an army capable of resisting them had time to consolidate ... thus likely necessitating the use of that new, powerful technology in the near future.

Almost like everyone Elidibus talked to was eager to perform their own role in his plans without considering that there might be others players.

Again.

[Gaiussenpai]

I'm pretty sure Zenos let both nations be taken back. Varis didn't seem to worried about it and I doubt Doma was very important to them considering it was decentralized and had a token force legion guarding over it.

[Daralii]

I'm pretty sure Zenos let both nations be taken back. Varis didn't seem to worried about it and I doubt Doma was very important to them considering it was decentralized and had a token force legion guarding over it.

I think the main point of Doma's occupation was to help exert Imperial influence in Hinagashi. Kugane's a global mercantile port, and by having ears present and a direct chain of communication from there to Garlemald, they'd probably be able to gain an immense amount of intel.

[Zojha]

I dunno. A Storm of Blood seems as appropriate for Stormblood as a House of Wife is appropriate for a Housewife.

Honestly, I feel the name sounds really off whenever I think about it. So I just try to ignore it and go with Crimson Liberators instead - that one fits better.

[Anonymoose]

A Storm of Blood seems as appropriate for Stormblood as a House of Wife is appropriate for a Housewife.

It's helped along by the fact that the game says it a few times.

A DAWN OF LIBERATION
A GATHERING STORM OF BLOOD

A storm of blood approaches fast,
Hells open, Heavens weep.
For no one soul doth lie beyond
The measure of His Reach.

Putter about and try to keep my head down like all the other “Peregrines.” That's what some of the Garleans call us Aan. Means “foreigner” or some such. Can you believe that? I'm a foreigner in my own bloody homeland! Well, they'll get what's coming to them soon enough. You can't keep kicking a woman while she's down and expect her to just take it. Mark me─a storm of blood approaches.

Crimson is the dusk and the dawn, death and rebirth. An ending to mark a new beginning. Echoing her earlier words, Cirina impresses upon you not to shirk your destiny, or to fear the storm of blood that awaits you, for in crimson there is life. In crimson there is liberation.