(MSQ spoilers) Asahi

[Ekimmak]

His initial story made me suspicious, reminding me of a quest arc about the Rikti back in City of Heroes, where you were approached by a Rikti reformist claiming that the Rikti traditionalists are evil, and using you to secure a promotion for himself. Turned out the Traditionalists weren't the villains he made them out to be, as the reformists were a military branch going drunk on power.

So I'd like to hear about the two factions in Garlemald from someone who isn't incredibly biased. That was my first thought when I saw him, and it doubled after seeing his true colours.

[Belhi]

I am not entirely sure how to read Asahi yet. His political nature meant that apart from the very end it is very hard to discern what is genuine and what is not. He is certainly a Zenos fanboy and that would explain his hate. He might also be a Imperial true believer but at the same time he might have been genuine about his views on Imperial miss management. I think I want to see the other side before I make up my mind on him. Shame cause Maxima seemed like a pleasant chap.

I think his main reason for being here however has to do with Yotsuyu. She knew something and the Garleans want that. They want it a lot. They didn't know about her amnesia till recently and they still came after her. The fact that Asahi wanted to see Doma Castle added to my suspicions. Remember that there was Garlean research taking place under the Castle and that those labs are now flooded. There might have been something there that the Garleans now want or need Yotsuyu to find.

Things are pretty murky. I will be interested to find out what info on the inner politics of Garlemald Alphinaud and Roel dig up for the next patch.

[Tracewood]

Asahi reminds me of Light Yagami (Death Note) with his angry facial expressions, but yeah while my char was in awe of this sudden burst of anger, I had a hearty chuckle that this spoiled tart is ticked off that we bested his senpai. He shows he was a bit of a coward betraying his homeland, similar to Fordola in his flashbacks. "See, if we pledge loyalty to our conquerors, they'll accept us as their own!"

Oh, as for the Light reference, the CS also had the "just as planned" bit, right down to the smarmy smirk. Just need the glowing eyes for completion.

[Rosenoire]

Maxima was also the only true blood Garlean there (well one that was unmasked anyways). Which kinda made me wonder more about him, is he working under Ashai or is he really working for someone higher up under the ruse of working with Ashai. I wouldn't be surprised if Maxima turned on Ashai for the best interest of the Empire either making Ashai look like a traitor or something. Lets not forget that even though Ashai was given a chance at a Garlean education, is a loyal citizen/soldier, he's not pure blood. For all we know, those who are still in good standing are still treated like 'savages'. I mean look at Fordola's parents they were loyal citizens but no one stepped in when the Ala Mighans decided to kill her father with rocks. Fordola proved her loyalty again and again but was still treated as an inferior by the other Garlean higher ups. Ashai seems like a special case but I still wouldn't doubt if he was looked on with scorn.

I thought Asahi's hairstyle was interesting, with the way his bangs completely hide his forehead and the lack of a third eye. Between that, his coloring--we haven't seen any pureblooded Garleans with dark hair that I can think of--and his height, I'm sure there are plenty of people ready to remind him that he can be "sas Whoever" but he's still just another savage.

[RylaBee]

4.2 MSQ seems sloppy to me.

Asahi is cartoon psycho, motivated by puppy-gay-love for Zenos.

Zenos still being alive is unfortunately clichee as hell, his arc was nicely concluded with Stormblood and dragging him back is lazy protraction of story.
Similarly clicheed is Yotsuiu's convinient memory loss.

4.2 storywise = sloppy and mostly dull.

Hien is still classy thou - one of the bright spots of the story.

[Naria]

His initial story made me suspicious, reminding me of a quest arc about the Rikti back in City of Heroes, where you were approached by a Rikti reformist claiming that the Rikti traditionalists are evil, and using you to secure a promotion for himself. Turned out the Traditionalists weren't the villains he made them out to be, as the reformists were a military branch going drunk on power.

So I'd like to hear about the two factions in Garlemald from someone who isn't incredibly biased. That was my first thought when I saw him, and it doubled after seeing his true colours.

Well we have a lot of Garleans we can ask--the Ironworks, Nero, Lucia, Baut, the Prima Vista crew etc. Personally I think the factions probably are what he says they are and he is just using them for his own means. If it does turn out he was lying about all of it and no one thought to try and confirm the parts of his story that we easily could . . . well another brilliant decision from the team that decided tossing Nidhogg's eyes off a cliff was a sound containment strategy.

[LineageRazor]

Allow me to add my voice to the heap of folks who really feel that Asahi's rant should not have pushed our buttons the way that the cutscene showed. We TOTALLY should have been able to say something smarmy and condescending to the little tool, and feeling honestly threatened or angry by him was pretty dumb.

That said, I have no doubt that Asahi's outburst was carefully planned. For whatever reason, he WANTED to undermine his own trustworthiness at the last minute, and was fully aware that we'd be passing that knowledge on to Hien and the others. Honestly, Hien's response was exactly the way to go in the face of this insanity - play along and keep your eyes open, because whatever the Garleans may be planning, there's at least a shot that actually turning over some hostages might be part of it.

Well we have a lot of Garleans we can ask--the Ironworks, Nero, Lucia, Baut, the Prima Vista crew etc. Personally I think the factions probably are what he says they are and he is just using the for his own means. If it does turn out he was lying about all of it and no one though to try and confirm the parts of his story that we easily could . . . well another brilliant decision from the team that decided tossing Nidhogg's eyes off a cliff was a sound containment strategy.

B-but... It was a BRIDGE! And they threw them OFF it! Nothing can survive that! Have YOU survived being thrown off a bridge??? Of course you haven't! That must mean you're dead! Oh, my God, you're a ghost! I'm talking to a ghost! AIYYEEEEEE!

[WildFire15]

I have to admit I had the slightly outlandish idea that, going off Asahi's almost loving expression when he saw Zenos in the Echo, that this revived Zenos may be a primal of some sort. The cloning idea also has weight and his resonance ability could have allowed him to move into the cloned body (possibly the same way he took control of Shinryu). In any case, I doubt the Garleans had somehow managed to recover Zenos' body from Ala Mhigo.

I do still like learning more about the inner workings of Garlamaud and I think Ekimmak's comparison to City of Heroes' Rikti could be quite close to the mark.

[Haprimac]

I was hoping he'd be our XIV-Larsa. So disappointed. T_T

[Omury]

Well we have a lot of Garleans we can ask--the Ironworks, Nero, Lucia, Baut, the Prima Vista crew etc. Personally I think the factions probably are what he says they are and he is just using the for his own means. If it does turn out he was lying about all of it and no one though to try and confirm the parts of his story that we easily could . . . well another brilliant decision from the team that decided tossing Nidhogg's eyes off a cliff was a sound containment strategy.

To be fair, if it wasn't for the WoD, no one would have been able to survive the swirling masses of aether that the eyes were thrown into.

Asahi is unfortunately the product of what happens to a person who has been properly indoctrinated into the conquering country's mindset, and shows that an honored based leader, like Gaius, can kinda create much better fighters and warriors, a strength and fear based ruler can spawn fanaticism that could be useful with regards to laying the conquered country's resistance low.