The Road to 5.0

[KageTokage]

I wonder if Varis is going to try to backstab Elidibus like Thordan did Lahabrea.

He seems more cautiously optimistic then truly trusting of his methods, though the fact that he's allowing him to potentially stir up dissent within Garlemald by sending Zenos' followers after the Populares is a bit concerning.

[Lauront]

I wonder if Varis is going to try to backstab Elidibus like Thordan did Lahabrea.

He seems more cautiously optimistic then truly trusting of his methods, though the fact that he's allowing him to potentially stir up dissent within Garlemald by sending Zenos' followers after the Populares is a bit concerning.

Thordan could only pull that stuff off because you had already weakened the Ascians in question and he had the eye of Nidhogg at his disposal, and he was an eikon and able to manifest an aetheric sword to go along with it; it was an ideal set of circumstances. Bear in mind several of these things alone would not ordinarily suffice to slay an Ascian overlord. For Varis to pull off a similar feat would be rather incredible.

If you mean outsmarts, he may have greater chances there but again, Elidibus is a very skilled/gifted manipulator. Igeyorhm and Lahabrea were much more direct in their intentions.

[Theodric]

Thordan could only pull that stuff off because you had already weakened the Ascians in question and he had the eye of Nidhogg at his disposal, and he was an eikon and able to manifest an aetheric sword to go along with it; it was an ideal set of circumstances. For Varis to pull off a similar feat would be rather incredible.

In the lore book, at least, he's described as an excellent tactician and someone who has rarely lost a match where a Garlean game of strategy is concerned. It'd be pleasant to see that side of him in-game at some point since so far his appearances have been rather brief and he's been forced to take a backseat as other characters have had the focus. I can't help but see him as somewhat similar to Erwin Smith from Attack on Titan - a man who is exceptionally ruthless out of necessity. With that said, I doubt he will he easy for Elidibus to control and that may very well result in Elidibus deciding to murder him and ascend to the throne as 'Zenos'. This is more likely if he is approaching the final phase of his plan to revive Zodiark, as the need for subtlety would be much lesser at such a point.

[KageTokage]

Thordan could only pull that stuff off because you had already weakened the Ascians in question and he had the eye of Nidhogg at his disposal, and he was an eikon and able to manifest an aetheric sword to go along with it; it was an ideal set of circumstances. Bear in mind several of these things alone would not ordinarily suffice to slay an Ascian overlord. For Varis to pull off a similar feat would be rather incredible.

If you mean outsmarts, he may have greater chances there but again, Elidibus is a very skilled/gifted manipulator. Igeyorhm and Lahabrea were much more direct in their intentions.

I feel like it would be within the capabilities of the Garleans to design some manner of weaponry that's able to focus aether effectively enough to destroy Ascians if they've gone so far as to be able to artificially replicate the Echo (Though there's a rather large chance the Ascians were involved in that).

For that matter, I'm curious as to whether or not the Shadowhunter has been actually killing off lower ranking Ascians somehow, since even those require an extremely powerful aetheric force to destroy completely (If the HW SMN quests were any indication).

[Lauront]

I feel like it would be within the capabilities of the Garleans to design some manner of weaponry that's able to focus aether effectively enough to destroy Ascians if they've gone so far as to be able to artificially replicate the Echo (Though there's a rather large chance the Ascians were involved in that).

For that matter, I'm curious as to whether or not the Shadowhunter has been actually killing off lower ranking Ascians somehow, since even those require an extremely powerful aetheric force to destroy completely (If the HW SMN quests were any indication).

It's a two phase thing, because you basically have to also prevent their aether from 'escaping' and coalescing back into its original form. The lesser ones don't take on a new body, so they're not as huge a challenge to permanently kill. Could the Garleans do so? Perhaps, but they'd also need to weaken it first, and Ascian overlords are formidable foes, particularly without something like the Echo and the BoL, but even with it they're dangerous. Elidibus is also no doubt cognisant of these tricks, is aware of the Resonance and may take measures to ward against them, including ways of disrupting any Allagan-type machinery they try use; I still wonder if an Ascian empowered by something like a Blessing of Darkness is possible, even in Zodiark's dormant state. Elidibus, being his emissary, would be a sure candidate.

However, I don't really think Varis has an intention of killing Elidibus, so much as seeing how he can benefit the Empire. He may have failsafes and one potential plotline could be their failure, resulting in Varis's death. My other suspicion is that Varis takes draws a line in the sand, Elidibus baits him by crossing it, kills him and becomes the new Emperor in Zenos's form. It all depends on how subtle he intends to be.

Again, even Maxima, a ranking of the Populares, thought the fringes of the Empire just needed a firm hand and didn't realize until laying eyes on them that "mistakes have been made".

Good post. On that point, I'm of the view that Varis may have dismissed Aulus (was he guided by Elidibus?) to Gyr Abania, where he could entertain a far more interested Zenos, partly because he was intrigued to see whether Aulus's theories could bear any fruit, without him making a mess of things in the imperial heartlands. Zenos was probably smart enough to ensure that the intel that flowed back to the Empire did not unveil the true extent of his activities, hence why Maxima was taken by surprise.

whatever helps you sleep at night you do you.

I don't think this is a constructive approach and I fail to see what he said that merits it. He's made some pretty good, well backed up arguments here.

It is said of the lore forum that it can be a petty upvote echo chamber. I don't like to believe that, but seeing some of the posters here, perhaps it is not entirely wrong to say so, but it need not be so.

[Anonymoose]

On that point, I'm of the view that Varis may have dismissed Aulus (was he guided by Elidibus?) to Gyr Abania, where he could entertain a far more interested Zenos, partly because he was intrigued to see whether Aulus's theories could bear any fruit, without him making a mess of things in the imperial heartlands.

I really expected Aulus to be revealed to be Elidibus or an underling of some kind. Even the name felt like a clue: Asina... Ascina... Ascian...

Would have made a good pun for the title for head medics being "mal" (a common word root from Latin malus; bad, evil, illness).

[Berethos]

I really expected Aulus to be revealed to be Elidibus or an underling of some kind. Even the name felt like a clue: Asina... Ascina... Ascian...

Would have made a good pun for the title for head medics being "mal" (a common word root from Latin malus; bad, evil, illness).

A doctor engaged in the malpractice of a metaphysical sort?

[Theodric]

I really expected Aulus to be revealed to be Elidibus or an underling of some kind. Even the name felt like a clue: Asina... Ascina... Ascian...

Would have made a good pun for the title for head medics being "mal" (a common word root from Latin malus; bad, evil, illness).

Aulus is a rather odd case. He boasts a fairly unique design and is responsible for research that is very much a game changer. The nature of his research makes it plausible that he could, in theory, easily be written back into the story assuming he also experimented on himself. I was very much expecting him to turn out to be FFXIV's 'Hojo'. The vats used to house his research subjects are also very visually similar to those seen in FFVII.

I suppose it's possible that he was only ever intended to serve as a plot device to justify Zenos' power but I do feel as though he perished rather quickly and with many questions unanswered. Incidentally, that's my beef with Regula as well. I can't help but wonder if both were originally intended for larger roles yet had them cut short at some point during the development cycle.