Patch 4.4 (Prelude in Violet) Speculation Thread! (Possible spoilers [NO LEAKS])

[Ramesses]

Whoa.

Just... whoa... where to even begin?

First: Reactions to the quality of the trailer:

• Excellently delivered and the quality is on par with the type of trailers we should come to expect from launching a full expansion. Bloody well done.
• The music and sound effects were brilliant. How should I say this... Soken and his crew have completely outdone themselves on this one. I was however unable to understand some of the dialogue and anyone who manages a full transcription should please share. Again, brilliantly done.
• The lighting effects and the environs shown were great... serious attention to detail. Love it.
• The exhibition of the characters shown was also solid; compelling and the feel of the trailer gives one the deep dark foreboding sense that something massive is about to occur. It is just loaded with suspense and makes me drum up speculative questions like mad.

The characters:
Y'shtola having prime time in quite a few of the scenes is really great. Remember, she's always been the very first Scion we met even though we all never knew it at the time-- I'm referring to the original FFXIV trailers at E3 2009. What worries me is that when the Devs do something like that, its sometimes bad news... and I have been wondering when the issue with her eyes would be fully addressed. Dunno, maybe just me worrying about her. And I agree, the trailer shows her unleashing some serious energy in front of the House of the Coin (in Yanxia). But is it a portal to somewhere? A shortcut to the Burn? A place for her to get her sight back? Why is she is a lot of the scenes? This is indeed a red herring, I completely agree with Moose on this one... by the way, really great discussion with you in-game last weekend. Yep.

Next is Thancred. Seeing him returning was great to see... and I'm still impressed that he continues to try ever so very hard to prove his excellence and incredible worth. Ever since he was "possessed" by Lahabrea all the way back in 2.0, I think he constantly pushes himself to the limits, perhaps as a way to forgive himself for letting that happen. Dunno.... but its great to see him.

The voice over in the trailer discussing the "dark" stuff... I agree with the Arbert camp. My instincts (and hearing) tell me that is indeed Arbert and the accent is there; which leads me to wonder if we are on a dangerous course that will bring Eorzea to the fate that met the "first" star (WoD team's home). Now that I think of it much harder, the last lines of both verses of the poem from the Rising seems to lead me to think there is a hint of darkness being necessary to quench the fire. Is the "Darkness" from the Ascians or... from us, the WoL??? And is the "Fire" from the future civil war in Garlemald?

Zenos strolling off from his father has a sense of chilling purpose to it... which again makes me glance at the patch 4.4 poster and contemplate the hint of a sly smile on his face. Is he about to go make an example of someone? Some poeple? Some place? A show of Imperial strength? Or he has he just snarled at Daddy never to interfere with his plans ever again? There are so many ways their relationship could go that I am now officially thinking out loud that Zenos just might commit regicide. Varis is an extremely competent chap but Elidibus has been more and more sinister lately. I'd also love to see future flashbacks of Titus and other members of the royal family... after Titus' death, did the rest of them truly swear full allegiance to Varis?

Which, of course, brings me to Varis himself. Thancred discloses that "the empire's more liberal voices are being drowned out by the fearful clamour for retribution". This right here nails down the summary of what could be going on in Garlemald between the Optimates and the Populares. How exactly is he holding his empire together when internal civil war is obviously on the cards, dealing with Elidibus, losing two excellent Legati and the insult of the rebels "attacking" his heir? What could really be going on in the minds of the average Garlean citizen right now? The position of the Garlean Emperor is akin to the Divine in their eyes (since the average Garlean shuns eikons and the Twelve). Thus is stands to reason that they might see the Emperor as their "radiance". This reminds me of a really fantastic thread started by Azury back in 2012 (RIGHT HERE).

Shadowhunter and his camp... I can see the distraught look on his face BUT notice that the dead soldiers are not wearing the same garb as himself and his two "assistants". It does remain possible that they are people he knows but may not necessarily be his men. But where in the heck are they? That area looks suspiciously similar to Dravania... or am I looking too hard?


More random stuff I'll just park here:
Maxima's picture being shown at the end hints that he will have a larger part to play... just please don't be missing. I have high hopes for him being yet another Garlean with tempered common sense (I'm still hoping he's a descendant of House Darnus). Hopefully, its one of those things that he helps us to Garlemald and then he disappears for a little while and returns to our fold. Just don't kill him or Alphinauld... I'm beginning to like their rapport.

Magnai and Sadu are back... excellent. Can they just stop the bickering already and get married? Soon?

And was that Midgardsomr??? That's another character that knows soooooo much and is not telling.

Nero in a very contemplative mood (which is unusual for his trademark witty character) and Cid being very rattled about something truly sinister... is that the "prelude" to the effects of the Darkness coming in to our realm? Will the WoL and Echo users also experience this massive trembling to the physical being? I have to rewatch that part again.