Revelations from Keynote II

[Lauront]

I can't help but find it a bit curious that Varis is absent from the Shadowbringers art, nor was he noted as being a major player in the expansion.

I'm wondering if Solus's words that he probably wouldn't see him again are an implication that the Ascians intend to get rid of him. It would be simple enough for them to have Elidibus replace him when he's already ceded control of the imperial armies to him.

I thought about that but equally, Gaius is also absent, as are many other key figures. Part of why I think he is, is because I don't believe the Garlean conflict is going to remain the main issue for too long - it may come to the fore when venturing to Dalmasca, but I think it'll fade into the background fast, to give way to the issue of the "twin dooms". Solus's words, and Varis's performance at the second half of the meeting, do make me think he could have been removed from the equation, but at the same time it could just be Solus expressing confidence in Elidibus's plan, so much so that he is no longer required on the Source.

It's absolutely time travel. I don't see how people can support a "we're going to the First!" interpretation with all the hints that Yoshida's been dropping. Specifically, we're going into an apocalyptic future, but also trying to avert it... this will probably mean splitting the timeline, which will justify us being able to go back to visit the alt-future zones even after we've prevented the calamity/flood of light.

They're not mutually exclusive possibilities, though. Also, how much sense does it make to go to the future? If anything, the time travel will be to the past, or it will involve someone from the future coming to the present. The situation on the First may be so dire that it requires it. It could also explain the aged down Minfilia, but the fact that she retains the Word of the Mother aspect to her is in need of further explanation. Unless something else is at play.

I'm pleasantly surprised that they've thus far managed to avoid disclosing any information that really spoils what's going to actually happen at the end of the 4.5 MSQ. There's really only fuel for theories at this point.



There's been multiple instances of non-Echo related soul shenanigans in side quests, such as with Genbu and Soroban in the Four Lords quests and Lalai and Shatotto in the SB BLM quests. You could probably consider what happened with Nidhogg and Estinien a similar case.

It seems like anyone who's powerful enough and has the know-how can potentially linger after the loss of their physical body.

To add to this, we don't even know whether she has it or not - she might. She's an expert on aetheric transfers, though, and probably could figure out how to enter a currently empty body. I think the scene is fairly clear-cut in what is going on (as always, there's potential for misdirection) - scepticism is fine, but simply because we don't know how it's occurring doesn't mean that it's not. The Echo allows for the soul to endure and persist even when untethered from a body, and more besides that. Simple soul transference between bodies is an easier affair, by all appearances.

i think we kill Elidibus as well as Solus releases a light aspected Black rose killing both the Alliance and Garlean main forces and this tips the balance on the source within the maelstrom of death we plead to Hydalen for a way to stop it and we get sent to the source to fetch Minifilia and bring her back but she refuses to leave the 1st to their own suffering and to combat the light there we become the WoD

The problem with that hypothesis is that Solus is interested in resurrecting Zodiark, not destroying a world that the Ascians want to rejoin, through a flood of light. If anything, I think Solus may want to tip the balance back to darkness, but it ultimately depends on how much chaos it would even cause at this point on the First - of course, he'll probably do his utmost. I think there is a good chance that the "absorption" of Light Minfilia is effecting is seeping into the Source and not just into Hydaelyn, meaning both worlds are on the brink. The presence of the Light-aspected beings is as yet unexplained, in terms of their nature, origin, motives etc - maybe they will mirror Voidsent. Elidibus's fate is as yet to be determined. Whilst they may kill him off permanently, I think it's too soon, and hinges heavily on many other aspects of the plot. This soon, I'd consider it to be a waste. I think he'll just leave Zenos's body, and take on another to accomplish his revised agenda. Alternatively, the WoL could "die" and at this point be whisked away for an audience before Zodiark. The soul could return to the body thereafter. There's a lot of variables involved here, including the things I mentioned regarding the true nature of the crystals, so we're stuck with guesswork for now.

I think there is also another issue with this. The lore appears to suggest two methods of spreading light or darkness: either championing one of the two crystals (we know Hydaelyn grants the BoL, but it's unclear whether Zodiark is in a position to grant an equivalent to the Overlords and any other champions of his), or engaging in actions which are aligned to one or the other (spreading chaos or order, as far as I can tell.) Now, the WoL whilst bearing Hydaelyn's blessing spreads light, and I think this is irrespective of what actions he takes. So, I think to become the WoD in such a manner it will be necessary to gain Zodiark's blessing, because I believe the alternative is that you'd have to drop the BoL and engage in actions conducive to spreading chaos, like the Ascians (or I guess the First's WoDs planned to) do. At least based on our present state of knowledge, this is how I see things.

Arbert may appear to be a confounding factor here, but my understanding is he does not bear the BoL as the WoD, and on top of this he and the others were working with Elidibus anyway. Bearing the Blessing of Darkness may be what makes our WoD more effective than him.

We haven't seen any other Ascian hosts looking "corrupted" like that though, so it's more likely to be unrelated and (if it is indeed G'raha) attributable to the Crystal Tower's influence.

Yes, the corruption is probably unrelated to any possession, as such; I brought it up because it explains the odd appearance and such divergences as there are with G'raha's known appearance. It could also be attributed to a certain dark crystal using him as a vessel through his Emissary.

There are many very good reasons as to why an Ascian would want him as a host, mainly involving the Crystal Tower. Although it would need some modifications to allow for a sustained portal to another world (or even timeline), an Ascian would be precisely the sort of individual to know how to accomplish this. They were enmeshed in the Allagan Empire as one of their projects, so they would no doubt be aware of the potential uses the tower could be put to, alongside whatever other uses an individual of Allagan blood could have.

Conversely, he may become relevant just due to that reason anyway, even with no possession, but I think if he is the missing link with the mysterious, echoing voice, there may well be some connection to the Crystal of Darkness, based on how these echoes began - the unleashing of the energies in the House of the Crooked Coin. I don't think the auri NPC's comment on the sliver of darkness she now sensed in the WoL was accidental, and in my mind, this could have been the opening of a channel of communication with Zodiark, or a servant of his. I think you're right that the robes have an Allagan flair to them, and particularly a resemblance to the Dreadwyrm hood of healing, so I will grant that it's not particularly decisive, but I think it's certainly a promising route they could explore if they wanted to via Ascian possession, and maybe take it even further and use him as a vessel for the darkness equivalent of the Word of the Mother, the closest to which at the moment is Elidibus.

For the time being the only certain thing is that they've gone to some effort to obscure his appearance and he has undergone some really puzzling mutations. The Crystal Tower does seem like an excellent prop for any time or world travel that might come into it, albeit it'll need something to power this. Maybe a new use for the Heart of Sabik?