Revelations from Patch 4.2

[Theodric]

Main Scenario Quests:

So, Yotsuyu's tragic backstory turned out to be true. I did not doubt it, mind you - she exhibited many of the symptoms of one broken by the world around her. Asahi being an antagonist isn't surprising, though it is a little disappointing. We've seen the worst that Garlemald has to offer and we've seen glimpses of the best it has to offer...yet those good aspects seem to often be buried away or never mentioned again. Regula is a prime example of that, as are the side quests involving Baut and the fact that we work with Nero on two different expeditions. I should not overlook the crew of the Prima Vista, either.

I can't shake the feeling that Emperor Varis is going to be overthrown and/or killed by Zenos. Elidibus seems to be scheming something though he does not seem to have anybody's best interests in mind - no matter what his honeyed words may suggest. I wonder if he is posing as Zenos or if he is responsible for bringing Zenos back from the dead. Either way, Zenos being alive once more certainly complicates things. He openly denounced Garlemald and tormented his own allies just as often as his enemies, so if someone like him were to seize the throne I could see that as requiring the Warrior of Light's intervention.

Which, incidentally, seemingly benefits the Ascians goals. I think it's likely that Asahi is deliberately trying to incinerate the possibility of peace in an effort to pave the way for Zenos to do as he pleases, which in turn means more bloodshed. Lahabrea and his companion back in Heavensward claimed that war and strife served Zodiark well. Elidibus' actions also seem to be set to ignite another major conflict.

Still, we're long overdue for another Garlean character along the lines of Regula and with inspiration taken from Larsa of FFXII. Someone who is loyal to their homeland and people first and foremost but who is open to negotiating a lasting peace. I also want the legitimate concerns of Pureblood Garleans to be addressed, for once. That they cannot manipulate aether beyond exceptional circumstances made them a prime target for those who sought to persecute them. That is likely still a valid concern in their mind in the present day and a complication in regards to scaling back their expansion efforts and grip upon the territories that they have conquered.

At any rate, 4.3 seems set to be very interesting and should hopefully pave the way more clearly towards 5.0. I enjoyed seeing more of Hien and like that the Doman Enclave is now a proper 'zone' with it's own aetheryte. The lack of Lyse was also a breath of fresh air.

[YianKutku]

Ninja Lore Revelations

OMG! While playing through the MSQ, did you guys see Yugiri use one of her ninjutsus? She created clones of herself to assist in the fights. Do you guys think we can expect this in 5.0 as a new level 80 Ninja skill? Cuz we going Naruto boisss!!

Level 70 NIN Job quest

I did find that a little odd, since the clone (bunshin) technique was clearly from the Forbidden Mudra as stated in the 70 NIN quest, and it is also stated that the Hingan shinobi knew how to do it, but only those trained by Gekkai among the Domans (and Imperials) could do it (assuming they completed the training). So Yugiri being able to use the Forbidden Mudra, despite being quite clearly a Doman shinobi (she came from Sui-no-Sato in the Ruby Sea, then moved to Doma), is a little odd. Did she train under Gekkai before? Oboro didn't know about the Forbidden Mudra, but he's the "dim one", and yet neither did Tsubame or the other NIN NPCs know, so that's less justifiable.

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.

MSQ Ending

Yeah, I was kind of sighing at that. I could totally accept that Asahi really did believe in peace, and just personally hates the WoL, but is willing to swallow that and be a professional diplomat. But that scene of Just As Planned on the airship undermines that interpretation, so now he's another Garlean who's evil and scheming and not to be trusted.

The significant word here, of course, is "another". As in, we know all about Garlemald's terrible side, having myriad examples, but we don't have any indication of why we would ever want to make peace with them, as opposed to continuing to oppose them out of self-defence.

Even Regula keeps condescending and insulting us while he asks for our help, but he was straightforward and did not have an ulterior motive. That was refreshing.

I do wonder if Asahi's words about being personally sent to Doma by the Emperor is true. I thought the presence of Maxima (the pureblood Garlean accompanying Asahi) would support that interpretation, but given that he could also be suborned by Asahi anyway, I'm no longer as certain.

I also don't know what the significance of Asahi giving Yotsuyu a mirror would be. Presumably Yotsuyu would have seen her own reflection sometime before (considering she looks relatively well-groomed for her travails), so this particular very pretty mirror has to be special. Especially since Asahi, who we now know to be untrustworthy, gave it to her and called it a special present. My initial assumptions were disproven when Hien mentioned that the Three Sacred Relics of the Red Kojin (which did include a mirror) were now bereft of aether, or at least bereft of enough aether to cause any more trouble.

[Lunafreya]

Never trust a guy named Brutus.

[ObsidianFire]

MSQ

One of the things I'd been wondering about was what legion Asashi was a tribune of. Looks like we have our answer. Funnily enough, we never seen any of the 12th Legion's Tribunes in the 4.0 MSQ... This also puts a different spin on Yotsuyu being the Viceroy of Doma. I'm really wondering now if it had nothing to do with who she was (other then that she hated Doma) and more to do with what Asashi (and Zenos) thought she was capable of. I'm getting the feeling Yotsuyu and Asashi's relationship is complicated.

Asashi makes me think of Fordola if Zenoes had really succeeded in breaking her. Like, even with everything Fordola went though, the person she really hates after all this time is herself. Asashi... I'm not getting that from him at all. From what we see in the Echo flashback, Asashi was firmly in the "everything would go smoother if Doma surrendered to the Empire" mindset already. Zenos just cemented it by proving he was stronger then everyone else.

TBH, I'm fine with Asashi not being a "good Garlean". It'd feel redundant with what's going on with the Garleans in the Prima Vista. Also... he's not even Garlean? I think the last person we saw who wasn't a Garlean and really supported Garlemald (as opposed to supporting them even when they hated it) was the Ivy. So I think it'll be great in terms of exploring why non-Garleans would honestly want to be the Empire.

And Zenos is back... no wonder Varius didn't react that badly to it. I'll be very surprised if he doesn't show up in 4.3 asking us to do a proper job of killing him this time. *grabs popcorn and settles back to watch all the unwanted rival anime tropes roll in*

I'd almost say Ascians but... Elidibus has had a body since 2.1. Unless yet another new Ascian shows up in 2.55, I personally am not going that route.

Omega

Okay... I think we've seen Midgardsormr actually get pissed for once. Where was this reaction when the Allagans were building their capitol next to Silvertear and killing off the real Bahamut? Making sure they didn't find Hrasvelgr, Ratatoskr and Nidhogg's eggs?

I find it interesting that the data-logs specifically mention that the only way the Allagans got Omega to power down after imprisoning Bahamut was by putting it in temporal stasis and that it took a lot of their resources to do it. What do we need to do, stick Omega inside Alexander?

Nero is totally pulling another "that one time I almost got swallowed up by the Void" isn't he? And apparently Omega thinks he's more worth going after then Cid is...

The Four Lords

So... what exactly determines how long something lives? The way Byakko talks, it sounds like whatever it is that made him special had already started working long before Tenzen met him. Tenzen's Crystal of Light only made him and the other lords even more powerful.

Huh... The way the auspices talk about themselves reminds me of the stories the Vanu Vanu (specifically the Zundu tribe) tell about Bismark and why they know the primal Bismark isn't the real one. Actually, Rhamu fits this even better, as he was the one who gave the Sylphs the Lightnight crystal that they give you. Wonder how many of the other primals could be based on members of whatever species living long enough to become an auspice. Or even things like The Twelve, Nhaama and Azim, etc.

Fractal Continuum

I'm really wondering weather the Ultima Beast came first or all the Ultima Weapon (prototypes). Those horns on it look very familiar (looks at PC's Ultima Horns)...

[Remedi]

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.

MSQ Spoiler

Ye, but even that is kinda stupid he essentially has shown us his hand before the right moment which means we are gonna be wary of anything he does

[Alleo]

About Yotsuyu and that NPC:

They just kinda did the same that they did with Fordola. They showed NPCs that threated the person bad and thus kinda want us to feel sorry for them. Yet even though I can get a bit over them trying to redeem Fordola (still depending how that redemption will truly go) I cant say the same about Yotsuyu.

Yes they showed us what we already know. She had a bad past where her first husband treated her so badly that she got cold and then sold her to the bordel. Its a bit out of nowhere that the owner of the bordel would join the rebellion for safety...I mean couldnt he just take all his money and travel over to Eorzea to start a new life there? I mean the rebellion was kinda small and would have probably not survived an attack without the WoL and her allies..I am kinda fine with them letting him still work for them. First owning a bordel is truly nothing good but its still way less evil than killing someone out of joy..so if we should accept that Hien forgives Yotsuyu for her wrong doings (even with no memories) then wouldnt it be strange if he would not forgive that man?

I still feel that even with the new cutscenes about her past that she should not get a redemption. And honestly I hope that SE goes a different way with her than with Fordola..to show that both sides can happen. That someone can redeem themselves for horrible things if they regret it and suffer for that..and pull it through and do everything to help those people that they hurt but still with the knowledge that not everyone will forgive that (this would be highly unrealistic, especially if its about murder and torment). It should and hopefully will be a harsh path towards Fordolas redemption with her still having some time in prison..Yotsuyu imo should just either never get truly redeemed or just die. Her old self never truly felt sorry for the things she did and she imo did way more horrible stuff than Fordola. Her getting free of this thanks to amnesia would just feel bad..especially since she would seemingly get to live a free life...especially since she would not even have any kind of punishment and its not like she can truly feel regret since she does not even know why she should feel that. But it seems that the mirror will either give her back some of her memories which could trigger some kind of regret and thus at least some kind of redemption through her actions or she could get them all back. Which could either mean that she will betray us (which would imo be the way I will hope it will end) thus making her the opposite to Fordola or her regretting some stuff because she was shown some kindess thus changing a bit and either help them in some kind of way or just get to prison.

I just dont want a situation at the end where both female enemies will get out of their deeds at the end..either by redemption through actions or by memory loss.

[KingOfCheese]

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?

That is not so surprising, given that Hydaelyn's values is rooted more in history than in the present.

Feudal Japan had the concept of Yūkaku, which were regions that had government approved brothels. Not only was it legal, but in some cases even preferable, as the high ranking courtesans (the Oiran) were trained in the arts and given good education. It wasn't until 1946 when the practice was deemed illegal on all accounts.

Given the historical context, of course they wouldn't treat him as a former slave trader, because he was the owner of a legitimate establishment.

[YianKutku]

MSQ

TBH, I'm fine with Asashi not being a "good Garlean". It'd feel redundant with what's going on with the Garleans in the Prima Vista. Also... he's not even Garlean? I think the last person we saw who wasn't a Garlean and really supported Garlemald (as opposed to supporting them even when they hated it) was the Ivy. So I think it'll be great in terms of exploring why non-Garleans would honestly want to be the Empire.

End of 4.2 MSQ

Honestly, I'd be perfectly fine with Asahi suddenly going "HATE HATE HATE" if it weren't for the cutscene after that, on the airship.

I'm not so much looking for a "good" Garlean, as much as a "professional" Garlean. Yes, Asahi can hate the WoL all he wants, and use that to leverage even more concessions out of the negotiations if he so wishes. But he's an ambassador plenipotentiary, which means that if Varis tells him to go make peace with Doma (hypothetically; I know it's not actually a given in this situation), he should suck it up and deal. Being an ambassador and negotiating is literally his job.

As it is, the airship scene shows that he was not negotiating entirely in good faith, which is actually becoming a bit tiresome. It gives the impression of a Garlemald whose bureaucracy and leadership is entirely ruled by their petty emotions and schemes, rather than anything more long-term, ie significantly past their own lifespan.

Having said that, I should also add that the concept of the terrible person who is actually the best choice strategically and long-term is not especially uncommon either; Bioware (among others) has made many examples of it, to the point where if a character in a Bioware game is ruthless and personally distasteful while not being the primary antagonist, they're probably actually the best leader for their particular group.

Sadly, it doesn't look like Asahi is such a character, so we're back to "personally terrible is wholly terrible".

Omega

Nero is totally pulling another "that one time I almost got swallowed up by the Void" isn't he? And apparently Omega thinks he's more worth going after then Cid is...

Omega

Yeah, I watched that scene, and went "Nero, did you or did you not almost turn into a voidsent and get stuck in the World of Darkness the last time you pulled this stunt of not asking for help?"

I do find it a little alarming that the Ironworks cannot keep a stable staff of personnel in the various Omega whatever-scapes, entirely because Omega keeps trying to get a reaction out of the WoL by injuring their companions. With Jessie now volunteering to be next, she had better invest in some major protection, or at least make sure she's never alone. And yes, curiously enough Cid appears to be off-limits for Omega, at least for now.

Also I admit I was tickled by how, after Nero finishes his Iron Nero demonstration, Cid just casually hands him back his shades.

[Draginhikari]

MSQ Spoiler

Ye, but even that is kinda stupid he essentially has shown us his hand before the right moment which means we are gonna be wary of anything he does

MSQ Spoiler

I just kind of took it as him snapping. That he was holding back his hatred for the Warrior of Light for most of the MSQ until he could no longer do so but only expressed it after the deal was already struck and backing out would come with additional complications and further threaten the lives of the prisoners like Asahi himself stated in this taunt. Now maybe that will bite him in the ass later and maybe that was the intention. Hatred like the kind tends to not be particularly rational and can spring at a moments notice.

[LineageRazor]

MSQ Spoiler

I'll admit, I'm honestly perplexed as to just what is up with Asahi. Given that he had is "all according to plan" monologue AFTER baring his teeth to the WoL indicates that the whole thing was deliberately planned on his part. It wasn't a slip of the mask - playing the good ambassador, and then unloading on the WoL was all part of the scenario, not an emotional outburst. There was not a hint of "all according to plan, but I hope I didn't compromise the plan with that outburst". No, it was just "all according to plan". This means that undermining his own trustworthiness was fully intended.

As for the WoL's reaction to the outburst, it left me unsatisfied. When Asahi announced he was a Zenos fanboi, my reaction was more along the lines of smug contempt ("Oh, you poor boy - didn't you know that Zenos was a mad dog that had to be put down? Oh, and by the way, he loved me much more than he ever loved you!") rather than the displayed barely-restrained violence. The WoL is apparently being written as hating Zenos (and by proxy, anyone who adores Zenos), but I just don't feel the same way. Hating Zenos is like hating a hurricane, or a rabid animal - and hating Asahi is like hating someone who worships a hurricane or a rabid animal. He's a looney, deserving of contempt and/or pity, not someone worthy of hatred.

On the other hand, I very much appreciated the fact that the WoL IMMEDIATELY spilled the beans on Asahi's duplicity. There wasn't any schlocky secret-keeping to try to preserve the peace, or whatever drama-enhancing stupidity you might expect to see on a prime-time television show. Hien's and the others' responses to the revelation were pretty sensible, as well: proceed with caution, but proceed nonetheless, since the prisoner exchange and potential peace overtures really ARE a good idea, whatever Asahi's true nature might be.

Still, even this is apparently according to plan. SE's building a pretty tall order with Asahi's and Varis's scheming. I hope they don't let me down!

I was surprisingly satisfied with the MSQ's treatment of Yotsuyu. The characters share my opinion that if Yotsuyu really has lost her memories, then she's effectively a new person (albeit a new person with a lot of baggage).

As for the revelation that Zenos is alive - I don't buy it. I think this "Zenos" is either someone modified to look like him, or a flat-out clone of the guy. (The Alagans loved their cloning, and the Garleans love them Allagans, after all!) Supporting this is the fact that Zenos's "doctor" looked an awful lot more like a scientist than a physician. In either case, though, I get the distinct impression that faux-Zenos doesn't appreciate being used as a pawn, so we could be looking at some betrayal-at-a-critical-moment shenanigans when he finally decides to throw off his shackles and stop playing the Zenos role.