Hydaelyn, The Shards & How They Work

[SannaR]

Hmmm. The statue on the moon looks more like a muscular old man with a beard that looks like Zeus's from the Hercules animated film. While the other one looks like an Aern from XI with a face withered in pain/fright along with the halo and wings.

[Harmonea]

and if you watch the sand by their feet, you can juuust baaarely see the beginning of an outline, as if something has made an impression in the moondust...

Moose, you tease. Knowing what's there, I'm dying for the eventual reveal to all. O:-) You are not helping.

[Rosenoire]

Another interesting bit about the moon is that Nhaama, the Dusk Mother of Xaela legend, is essentially the moon. We know that there's a Xaela tribe who worshipped Dalamud. But then EE2 mentions:

"...a swelling of the ranks of those scattered tribes who pledge spiritual allegiance to the Dusk Mother Nhaama, and the abductions that have followed."

This struck me as a bit odd, given that the one tribe we've met who's focused on worshipping Nhaama are the Dotharl. Our friends the Mol mention her a lot too, and there's nothing especially secretive or sinister about them.

[Rocl]

Given the placement of that quote, in the Lambs of Dalamud section, I attribute it wholly to the lost, few remaining Lambs fleeing East and finding a convenient way to spread their misguided faith. Given that (alleged) abductions were a huge part of their MO in 1.X, it all fits that the line is more about the Lambs spreading to Othard after being essentially wiped out of Eorzea.

Also if we can agree the Eorzean name for the moon is Menphina, that means the Eorzean sun is totally Azeyma, right?

[Enkidoh]

Also if we can agree the Eorzean name for the moon is Menphina, that means the Eorzean sun is totally Azeyma, right?

Oh I agree, but again, I think to the average Eorzean, it's is just 'the sun' when used in general conversation, it's certainly never identified as "'Azeyma' has now risen above the horizon, a new day is upon us!", it's always "The sun has now risen" (and I say that as a player whose character is an Azeyma devotee ). Certainly that was the conclusion the lore community arrived at way back in 1.0 in this thread.

Having said that, I can't help but picture a funny scenario straight out of The Simpsons:

Hapless lalafell wearing large thick glasses steps outside on a very sunny day in Ul'dah and looks up at the sun.

"Hello there Lady Azeyma, you're certainly bright today!"
(Sun's rays amplify through the lenses like lasers and quickly set his tabard on fire)
"Raaats!"

[KageTokage]

Given the placement of that quote, in the Lambs of Dalamud section, I attribute it wholly to the lost, few remaining Lambs fleeing East and finding a convenient way to spread their misguided faith. Given that (alleged) abductions were a huge part of their MO in 1.X, it all fits that the line is more about the Lambs spreading to Othard after being essentially wiped out of Eorzea.

I feel like we're going to get a Bardam's Mettle HM in Shadowbringers to address that little issue.

Can't have a bunch of loony cultists misleading the people of the steppe and all.

[ObsidianFire]

That's a great idea for a future Bardam's Mettle HM.

Although I think we don't need to worry about the cultists misleading the tribes that worship Nhaama given that Nhaama is a war goddess... If anything, they'll be the ones asking us to come take care of those annoying cultists who are from Eorzea because they are worshiping their goddess wrong. Probably because the Lambs have a habit of calling up Voidsent and that doesn't seem to be a thing the Xaela would like. On the other hand... I can't see the Xaela being all that impressed (or inconvienced) by the Voidsent either...

[MrThinker]

Tribes like the Dotharl would indeed be unimpressed by the Lambs, but what about that tribe that used to worship Dalamud (the Dalaq?), mayhap they took in the Lambs due to their similar beliefs, and then became poisoned by their more extreme ideologies? Seems like the perfect setup for Bardaam's Mettle HM like Kage said.

[RoroCookies]

Small request but can someone make an outline of the statue on the moon please? My eyes refuse to make something out of the image. : (

[Anonymoose]

Small request but can someone make an outline of the statue on the moon please? My eyes refuse to make something out of the image. : (

/10characters