Quote Originally Posted by Brightamethyst View Post
If it does come up again it probably won't be in MSQ. The writers seem to have this fear that people might miss something and they try to keep the MSQ pretty self contained. Anything that happens in sidequest -even important and plot heavy ones likes Coil, Warring Triad, etc- doesn't really count (see also, Unukalhai.)
Estinien says 'hi.' Contrary to popular belief, the Dragoon storyline up to level 50 and your title as second Azure Dragoon are in fact canon as of the start of Heavensward, even if you haven't unlocked Lancer, and are referenced by Estinien, in voiced dialogue, during his time in the party. (Unless that's been patched.)

The actual rule seems closer to "at least one expansion cycle must have passed," as evidenced by the MSQ returns of both Alisaie and Nero at the end of 3.X. Presumably, the idea is to give people who really care a chance to undersize it (well, if it weren't for T9), on the assumption that the rest don't care enough anyway to mind the inconsistency.

For the most part, the quest accepted fanfare is your best indication of which "season" a story takes place in, and as soon as it changes, all prior events become canon whether or not you've done them, though they are almost never referenced immediately, Estinien being the most notable exception. (Conversely, later events have yet to happen, as evidenced by Urianger's presence in the Waking Sands for players who haven't cleared the Binding Coil.)

Unukalhai's time will probably come (soon even, with Urianger down for the count), though I suppose he could always join the ranks of meaningless irresponsible teases like the apparently-not-Eureka that Nero [didn't realize he] found under Syrcus Tower. Hells, if they put us through all that emotional payoff without a plan for him in MSQ (just to shut me up), then he is probably the single most unfortunate character in the entire relaunched canon; doomed not to slumber, but to eternally slouch against our departed Antecedent's desk for all of eternity.

If Phoenix-Egi were to happen (please), the only immediate requirement would be a story development where a more immediate explanation could be presented (or, alternately, the primary explanation could be presented and immediately disregarded a la Nero). The latter seems unlikely in the case of giant firebird Louisoix, though.


tl;dr: Continuity rules are more like guidelines, but who cares if it keeps the story interesting?