Originally Posted by
Sephrick
It seems you're thinking of these two things not only as separate stories, but also as happening at different times.
These stories intertwine and are part of one larger narrative.
I'm commenting on your post as I read it, so maybe I'll eat my words, but I'll say this. Prove it. The story works just as easily as all the SUE events occurring after the r46 mission. This is how I did them and it is how they were released, why wouldn't this be how they are?
Once again, spoilers ahead
NOTE: I used GamerEscape's Wiki to refresh myself on quests I did a long time ago.
Starting off
The initial few main scenario quests introduce game mechanics, special city-state functional NPCs, and unique story-line NPCs. This all leads up to our first encounter with "the Echo." Which leads to the first unified quest.
Level 18
Fade to White
We meet Melfina, learn more about our gift, become a Walker on the Path of the Twelve and select our Path Companion.
Level 22
Together We Stand
A main scenario quest, this is where we are fist introduced to the Imperial threat. Sylphs arrive at the Waking Sands and plea for help. The Empire has taken a specific interest in the Sylphs and are trying to destroy them and their podlings.
Melfina tasks you with aiding the Sylphs in protecting their podlings.
It's in this quest that we first hear mention of the Primals.
Grand Company introductions
The Empire rears its head on other fronts. To kick off our introduction into the Grand Companies, through a series of quests we learn that the Empire is planting roots around all three city-states and is actively trying to stifle their means to communicate and arm themselves.
We also see some familiar faces from earlier in the main scenario who recognize us as well as a shady figure seen around camps starting around the Easter event.
OK, so far nothing that couldn't have taken place after the r46 mission. moving along.
Level 25
Grand Companies continue
Another series of GC quests. This time they start with a brief quest then a speech by the GC leader attempting to unify their city-state as well as making a case for allowing adventurers into their ranks.
These quests move on to unique quests where Cid explains that the Empire has taken a special interest in Mor Dhona, and more specifically the area known as Silvertear Falls. Also, he explains his theory that the lesser moon Dalamund is having an affect on the flow of Aether -- especially around Silvertear Falls.
Just a quick comment, the Empire didn't take a "special interest" in Silvertear Falls recently. They've had a base their since the fall of the Garlean airship fifteen years before the game started.
This series concludes with the player pledging allegiance to a sole Grand Company.
Imperial Devices
Also a Grand Company quest. Foul beasts have been gathering around a place known as The Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak in The Black Shroud. The player is tasked with investigating the occurrence.
Inside Toto-Rak, a Moogle gives the player several items, including a Magitek Cooling Plate and tells the player that Garleans have been investigating the area as well.
Level 30
Toll of the Warden
A main scenario quest, the Sylphs are in a tizzy again. The Amalj'aa and Ixali are at odds and are likely to summon their respective Primals. It's up to the player -- or as the Sylphs say, the Woken ones -- to use their gift and speak to the Beats tribes lest they unleash a devastating power.
With the recent emergence of these Primals, the beast tribes have become unwilling to trade crystals with the five races as they have in the past.
Negotiations end abruptly due to the emergence of a creature known as the Ascian.
Now you can't tell me this wouldn't fit better immediately after the last original mission. The Sylphs waited that long to ask for help?
It Kills with Fire
We've been tasked with vanquishing the primal known as Ifrit!
First we must meet with an Elezen by the name of Louisoix from a group known as the Circle of Knowing. As a throw back to Cid's explaination that all is not well with the flow of the Aether, Louisoix explains that to exist in our realm, the primals draw on the Aether.
As such, they must be defeated before they drain the crystals completely. Otherwise the world will become a wasteland.
Louisoix sends you on a brief quest and through your efforts is able to create an item that will allow you access to Ifrit's sanctuary, the Bowl of Embers.
Upon achieving victory over the primal, the player is greeted by Legatus Nael van Darnus of the Vilth Imperial Legion. He gives a message mentioning the "Crimson Star," -- which, in theory, is the red moon Dalamund Cid spoke of earlier.
Upon returning to Louisoix, the player learns that not only did they not best Ifrit permanently, but the attack by the Imperial likely fed the Lord of Inferno enough Aetheryical power to significantly enhance his strength.
It could just as easily taken Ifrit a good amount of time to build up his power to that level after being summoned. There is nothing that states this has to come right after the main story mission summoning Ifrit.
Level 34
Forever Taken
Back to the main scenario, it is believed you can bribe the Ixali into reopening the lines of trade.
The Sylphs have requested that the player gather unaspected crystal. The player travels to Silvertear Falls and buries crystals in the soil there. After a short time, the player obtains the now unaspected crystals.
Meanwhile, the Path of the Twelve obtained a linkpearl the Empire has been using to spread propaganda, stating that the beast tribes intend to use the "eikons" (derogative for Primals). The Sylphs explain that it was a being know as the Paragon who taught the beastmen to summon the Primals from the Aether.
This is in direct contradiction to your theory. If the Grand Companies had already had several skirmishes with the Empire, why would the general populace believe Garlean propoganda? This mission obviously takes place BEFORE the Grand Companies exist back when the Garleans hadn't made their presence too obvious.
Level 38
Lord Errant
The player and their path companion set out on their own, the Path Companion certain they can reason with the beast tribes.
Things, naturally, don't go as planned and the player is again face-to-face with the Lord of the Inferno.
Ifrit eventually speaks to the player. Albeit cryptically, Ifrit does mention that the Paragon told him that the "godless blessed" should be spared. Hinting at why the player and company were able to overcome the Primal in the GC quest, but why he also saved them from the Legatus' attack.
Another contradiction. If we had already fought him, why in hell would we think we could reason with him? He would still save us if the first Ifrit battle occured after this, and plus he seemed quite guarded in that cutscene. Much like a "we mind each others business" kind of attitude. It wasn't until the Garleans starting progressing their plans (after the r46 mission) that he went on the offensive.
Level 42
Of Men they Sing
A brief mission, the player and their Path Companion save several Ala Mihgan resistance fighters from an Imperial Assault in the Black Shroud.
Level 45
The player is tasked by the Grand Company to investigate the Dzemael Darkhold and to discover why the Empire has chosen this as their base.
You discover a Magitek Dousing rod, which can be used to track down crystals. It is believed that the Empire is searching for Crystalized Aether to aid in summoning a primal.
Not a contradiction per se, but just like the two sylph missions, doesn't the story make much more sense with the two Ala Mihgan Resistance missions occurying one after another? So they ask for help, and we just decide to ignore them until the whole Darkhold business is done with?
Level 46
Futures Perfect
The Ala Mihgan resistance members you saved have spoken with Melfina. They want to steal an Imperial Airship.
Your strong-headed Path Companion and the Resistance members have rushed off to, where else, Silvertear Falls in Mor Dhona to attempt to commandeer an Imperial ship despite the warnings made by Melfina of failed past attempts.
After an encounter with Imperial soldiers, you find that the Resistance has been slain by a lone member of the Empire, The Black Wolf Gaius van Baelsar Legatus of the XIVth Legion.
Your friends from early on in the main scenario and GC quests show up to defend you against the power of the Legatus. However, the Legatus shows off the awesome power of the Empire and makes short work of everyone.
The last thing we know of the story is our friend from our very first few steps in Eorzea that we are not yet ready to fight the Empire.
I don't think we "know them from the GC quests" just yet, seeing as we don't say a word to any of them and kind of shy away from all except the one we DO know from the starting quests...but go on.
Conclusion
One thing you forgot to mention is when you go and witness the GC speeches from the three leaders, you meet and talk with the all the members of the Circle of Knowing, even the ones that (by your theory) you haven't even met yet. If you had never seen them before now and they came up to you to speak about private events, wouldn't there be an explanation for that?
The Grand Company quests and the Seventh Umbral Era events are filling in story so that all story content now can drive toward the cataclysm that creates 2.0.
A semi-valid theory, but one I disagree with. Neither of our views can really be proven, but yours seems to have quite a few more holes than mine.
As can be seen in the above listing, while the SUE events just now are being added, they're intended to have taken place in tandem with the main scenario events. Both quest lines revolve around the Empire's interest in the Aetherial power around Silvertear Falls and their desire to control the power of the primals while attempting to convince the people of Eorzea that the primals are evil and should be destroyed.
But that is the main plot of the game. After 2.0 it will involve the same war, and all the SUE events will be gone. I still stand by my view that the SUE events are simply a side-story that is not important to the plot other than showing why the geography changed, and that the chronological order of events is "Orignal Quests, SUE side-story, 2.0 Quests"
I believe as we move forward, new quests will take off from Futures Perfect.
Well yes, that is confirmed, but after 2.0 when the whole SUE thing is no longer relevant.
There still are many loose threads. What is the Paragon? What is the Ascian? How close is the Empire to summoning a primal, and how can they actually do it? What is the truth to the primals -- are they good or bad? Do primals really drain the Aether or is this more Garlean propoganda -- thus covering for their own misdoings?
All good questions that will be answered eventually (except the last one.) We learn that the Primals sap Aether from the Circle of Knowing, not from the Garlean Empire. The Circle of Knowing is from Sharlayan and are aginst the Empire, so I doubt they would fall prey to propoganda.
To the original point, it is quite obvious that SE has crafted the SUE events to use the main scenario as part of what has been going on.
To you. It is quite obvious to me that it makes more sense when presented in the order the missions were released.
I think moving forward we'll see these move into one storyline, which will make more sense that when 2.0 comes, all the quests will be wiped.
They've already said the main storyline is currently on-hold, so it doesn't "build up toward 2.0" it's over until after 2.0 hits. And if all the quests are wiped, what is their to continue from? I still hold that the only quests that will be wiped are the new SUE quests that will no longer be relevant post 2.0.
As I said before, the story still will be there, but to new players these will just be backstory. As for how characters interact with us in 2.0, I'm sure SE will come up with something. Despite all their recent faults, one thing SE seems to never get wrong is continuity.
I agree with you, SE will probably think of something. But I don't like the idea of new players entering into the storyline with a bunch of important stuff already happening. I was ok with it for the SUE quests, because as I said before, they aren't that important to the over-all game plot.
Also:
There is no meteor.
Cid mentions it directly during the GC quests. Only it's not an actual meteor, that's why it's capitalized. It's the spell Meteor. The Garleans are casting it in order to bring Dalamud down and crush Eorzea and all the Primals with them. Although whether that plan gets realized is still up in the air.
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