Revelations from Patch 4.2

[Mieck]

Thoughts on MSQ

The instant Asahi turned and gave me that glare, I wondered why he would do that? He must have known we would tell as soon as he was gone - and we duly did. If he still had business with Hien, or any of the Scions, they all now know he is not an honest broker. Therefore, it is safe to say he will not be coming back in that capacity.

But, of course, they gave us the answer, though that only poses more questions.
The whole affair, whether the prisoner exchange takes place or not, was designed to get that mirror into Yotsuyu's hands.

Which leads to the questions; did Garlemald plan for her to lose her memory? A contingency? Was it part of the same technology that augmented Grynewhat? If so, do they plan for her to betray us, as she once did Doma?

I think the Yotsuyu that comes out the other side is going to be a product of both her lives, and that is something that Garlemald could not have accounted for - or, if they did, have flagged it as a risk, but still think it worth proceeding as planned.

I think the kindness Gosetsu has shown her and, after he thinks about executing her right then and there, Hien, too, will lead to a conflicted character - she will betray us, but at the last, and this will be the redemption arc for her, she will do something to upset Garlemald's ultimate revenge.

As for Zenos, well... In 4.1, we saw Asahi's gloved hand doing the angry fist clench. I don't have the script to hand, but in light of the new information in 4.2, maybe he was reacting angrily to the idle gossip about Zenos' wellbeing? He is probably highly classified.

Thoughts on Sigmascape

From the day they showed the trailer, I went back and replayed FF6 - finished it the day before the patch - so that was great to see all the beats of story and fights play out, like the little segment at the end of the Phantom Train fight.
I laughed at the little line you get with Nero when he's quoting things from the final conversation between the group and Kefka right before the final fight. Of course I told him the sort of nauseating thing a hero would say.
The tower of Fiend / Demon / Goddess / hangers-on, was also really well done. Expecting to see that play a much bigger part in Savage. Plus, well, that final phase. And Heartless Angel, too...

Will catch up with the rest tomorrow.

[TheCookieGod]

MSQ Thoughts

Well I'm a little disappointed that Asahi turned out to be a Zenos sycophant. Is it so much to ask for an actual moderate Garlean? Asahi was great when I thought he was just a moderate Garlean suing for peace. I'd even have been okay with him still believing in peace and a more harmonic approach to the beast tribes and curbing primal summonings and just hating the Warrior of Light despite that, but the cutscene with him back on the airship leaves little hope for that.

Yotsuyu's amnesia will obviously resolve itself. Kind of hoping despite all of that, Yotsuyu becomes the wrench in whatever Asahi's plan is due to the kindness and mercy shown by both Gosetsu and Hien.

As for Zenos, it's obviously Gaius in Zenos' body. #BlackWolfLives

[KageTokage]

Thoughts on the MSQ

I constantly doubted that someone with a face that punchable-looking could possibly be a good guy, so I wasn't surprised at all that Asahi was just scheming something the whole time. I'm praying he's stupid enough to try and get his revenge on us personally so we can kick his butt, though I do hope there's more depth to his character then just being blindly loyal to Zenos because he saved his life on a whim, though.

I'm really curious as to what the heck the Empire is trying to accomplish by making it blatantly obvious that they have an ulterior motive to the little arrangement they've made with Doma, because if they were planning on stabbing them in the back, they would've maintained the facade. Though it could be that they don't feel any need to do so when considering that they have a vastly superior military and realistically have little to be concerned about other then the safety of their prisoners.

I'm also not buying that Zenos is truly alive again and think it's just some Ascian foolery to sway things in their desired direction

[Berethos]

*snip*

I think there's a way that makes sense...

I'm wondering if it's a certain group taking advantage of the legitimate goals of a faction within the Empire - as in the Populares are a real deal group that do in fact want to change the aggressive expansion tendencies of the empire, and Asahi and a small cohort are using them to get close to the Eikon-Slayer for their own ends.

[Remedi]

Regarding the new character

They are using the 2 main factions of the republican time of Rome and honestly Brutus was an optimates and not a populares so that was kinda a ringing bell if they wanted to be subtle with the writing (not to mention the obnoxious tone). That said his final bark was kinda stupid I really wonder, quite frankly I was kinda displeased how everything ended since it raised too many questions for my liking but w/e

[Rosenoire]

Regarding a certain ambassador:

I wanted to bend down with my max height Xaela and pat Asahi condescendingly on the head and suggest he come back when he's grown up.

[Chewy2nd]

Regarding the new character

They are using the 2 main factions of the republican time of Rome and honestly Brutus was an optimates and not a populares so that was kinda a ringing bell if they wanted to be subtle with the writing (not to mention the obnoxious tone). That said his final bark was kinda stupid I really wonder, quite frankly I was kinda displeased how everything ended since it raised too many questions for my liking but w/e

MSQ spoilers

Remember how he tried to goad us into attacking him? Maybe he is trying to do that on a larger scale, especially if he is with the Opitmates. It would give them the perfect excuse to attack Doma.

[Rosenoire]

Roman Republic:

I noticed that--they had Brutus with the wrong faction. Not sure it that was supposed to be a tell.

[SicariusSeven]

I am both surprised and unsurprised by a certain someone. *sigh*

[Rosenoire]

On Yotsuyu

From the beginning of Stormblood, I've fount Yotsuyu's character to be problematic. I'm not fond of the "Abuse make you evil" trope in general, but I've seen it done well. Unfortunately, I don't think this is one of those instances. While I understand the idea that Yotsuyu's story shows that Doman society was deeply flawed in ways that had nothing to do with the Garlean occupation, it comes across as giving Yotsuyu a pass for the atrocities she committed. Yes, her life was awful, but is that the fault of the poor guy she killed because he wouldn't shoot his own parents? What about Isse and his sister, who were terrorized by Imperial soldiers under Yotsuyu's command; should they pay for what happened to her long before they were born? And now that she's got amnesia, it's looking like she'll never be held to account for her crimes.

At the same time, the scene with the former brothel owner was frankly appalling. None of the Doman NPCs--Yugiri, Gotestsu, and Hien--seemed particularly upset that one of the Resistance fighters was involved in human trafficking. Hien flat-out says "Well, since I've known him he's been a good man." Really? If you're going to go that route, then at least make the revelation have weight, and not just have the characters say "Huh, didn't know that," and move on to the next story beat.

For me, the issues with Yotsuyu's arc are all the more glaring when compared to Fordola's. She also suffered trauma at a young age, but she doesn't come across as a victim; she has agency, and while the choices she makes aren't good ones, her motivations are more complex than "I've been abused so I'm going to turn into an abuser." She also has to live with the consequences of her actions in a truly horrifying way. I felt like she was a fully-realized character, and not just a collection of overused tropes.