Idea for a New Expansion: Gaius van Baelsar lives... and he needs your help

[Kyran-Varlsen]

In typical fashion... I have to point out there are a few problems with this. (Yes, even if it's just a dream.)

-What happens during the Hildibrand story is... widely acknowledged to not adhere to the rules of reality. Cyr explicitly questions whether or not he's left the realm of logic during one of his 3.x quests.
-Varis zos Galvus' opinion on van Baelsar is unknown. Given any stragglers of the XIVth were marked for death and as far as we know Varis has not rescinded this order, I do not think he has a favorable opinion of them.

I am glad for clarification on the Hildebrand stuff, or at least as close as we are going to get. I will however seek to remain on favorable terms with the man's father and mother if for no other reason than they scare the bejeesus out of me.

I was also unaware that the XIVth was deemed renegade by the Empire and marked for death. This actually explains Nero's current unemployment. But then how is it that the XIVth stragglers in bases across Eorzea have still managed to hold out for so long? I know there are reasons they can't be removed in-game but the fact that the Alliance has not gotten wiping out these Castrums in their own lands strikes me as ridiculous considering they then launch a full-blown invasion of Imperial Territory.

If any extant character were to serve as our bridge to Garlemald, I would have preferred van Hydrus over van Baelsar. He seemed to be catching on to the idea that, for all their power and grandeur, the Allagans fell for a reason - so why emulate them? Unfortunately he died, and I accept that.

I agree that van Hydrus was a stand-up guy for a Garlean and that his death was unfortunate. It was also quite permanent, his soldiers said he would even get a burial.

[Cilia]

I was... unaware that the XIVth was deemed renegade by the Empire and marked for death. This actually explains Nero's current unemployment. But then how is it that the XIVth stragglers in bases across Eorzea have still managed to hold out for so long? I know there are reasons they can't be removed in-game but the fact that the Alliance has not gotten wiping out these Castrums in their own lands strikes me as ridiculous considering they then launch a full-blown invasion of Imperial Territory.

Everything Gaius did in 2.0 was off the record. He wasn't acting on orders - he took his Legion, went rogue, and tried to conquer Eorzea a second time. (First was before 1.0, when Midgardsormr's unforeseen intervention destroying the Agrius ruined his plans.) As a result everyone in the XIVth was given a kill on sight order by the Empire - and Nero just happens to be the sole surviving important member of the XIVth (because he was smart enough to cut tail and run when overpowered).

As for why the Eorzeans haven't expunged all the stragglers of the XIVth squatting on their lands? Dunno. It's never brought up. My personal opinion on the matter is that the Eorzeans pity them, so they leave them be so long as they don't stir up trouble.

[Kyran-Varlsen]

As for why the Eorzeans haven't expunged all the stragglers of the XIVth squatting on their lands? Dunno. It's never brought up. My personal opinion on the matter is that the Eorzeans pity them, so they leave them be so long as they don't stir up trouble.

Is it ever definitely stated if these legionnaires are still XIV? What if the Empire moved more troops in and these are sanctioned legionnaires?

Again, the in-game reason for this is that these locations are involve in quests or the mobs drop unique crafting loot. But on a geopolitical level, the continued existence and mention of these strongholds in cut scenes really undercuts the commitment of the alliance to safeguard their own lands.

[Cilia]

Is it ever definitely stated if these legionnaires are still XIV? What if the Empire moved more troops in and these are sanctioned legionnaires?

It is not. However, without a statement either way it is wisest to go with what is known - that they are of the XIVth, rogue and defunct as it may be.

For the other bit... I avoid "What if?"s and possibilities. You're on your own for that one.

[The_NPC]

Personally I can see them giving us the "dubble-take" moment at some point with a cutsiene of us getting attacked outa frigging nowere by some legion (Expasion important group) then have that group be jumped by the shattered rouge remains of the XIV's that decided saving us also helps to save them from the whole Exterminus order on their heads (even throw in having a leader dressed in identical atirre to Gaius' from when we fought him in 2.0... to harden the shock by players of "did Garlean's just save us from Garlean's?", doesn't have to be him persay just using idetical gear to be a perceived as him by the troops "he's" killing)

Heck getting saved by just a Gaius doppleganger from whatever Legion decied to jump us would be hilarious & scary... plus if this person just happens to be the person "leading" the XIV's legions shattered remains then even better

edit: also not a lore nut so its an idea I can just see happening at some random point... probably in the xpac that involves attacking them at there home

[HeatedCoffee]

Personally I can see them giving us the "dubble-take" moment at some point with a cutsiene of us getting attacked outa frigging nowere by some legion (Expasion important group) then have that group be jumped by the shattered rouge remains of the XIV's that decided saving us also helps to save them from the whole Exterminus order on their heads (even throw in having a leader dressed in identical atirre to Gaius' from when we fought him in 2.0... to harden the shock by players of "did Garlean's just save us from Garlean's?", doesn't have to be him persay just using idetical gear to be a perceived as him by the troops "he's" killing)

Heck getting saved by just a Gaius doppleganger from whatever Legion decied to jump us would be hilarious & scary... plus if this person just happens to be the person "leading" the XIV's legions shattered remains then even better..

*slow clap*

[EdwinLi]

Such a old thread and yet everything seems to be coming to pass as predicted..........mostly

[Belhi]

/sigh

I always felt Gaius's fandom was more about him looking boss than him actually being a good guy. He might have had some honor and ideal of a greater good but the guy still did a lot of bad stuff and allowed a lot of bad stuff to happen under his command.

[Balipu]

/sigh

I always felt Gaius's fandom was more about him looking boss than him actually being a good guy. He might have had some honor and ideal of a greater good but the guy still did a lot of bad stuff and allowed a lot of bad stuff to happen under his command.

True, but since we the alternative is Crown Prince Elidibus we might have to ally with even worse people. Hell we might have to ally with the real Zenos.

[Anonymoose]

I've no doubt that a number of people merely liked Baelsar because he was a badass antagonist and those always draw certain types of people (even Zenos has a devoted player following...). However...

A Good Character ≠ A Good Person
Having potential value to a satisfying plot doesn't make a character necessarily estimable. I see Gaius a bit like certain iterations of Magneto from X-Men, or The Operative from Firefly (Serenity), Loki from the MCU at times. Hell even the Templars of Assassins Creed are out for world peace and human survival by means of subverting freedom of choice as a shortcut. Potential Tropes: Anti-Villain, Fire-forged Friend, Sympathy for the Devil, Enemy Mine.


As long as his character makes sense and he goes down deserving of having had the game's number pinned on him, I'm happy.