Revelations from the Shadowbringers E3 Trailer

[Lauront]

The arc I desperately want for Solus is to be a man given the secret of becoming an Ascian, and after learning the truths of the world decided to aim even higher and become the true God. As such, he's playing both the Ascians and the Warrior of Light to his own ends—but we'll see. This sort of track was what I had pegged Elidibus for, but how could anyone have guessed the former Emperor of Garlemald was an Ascian? (And honestly if you tell me you called that the former Emperor was going to return to the story in a cloned younger version of himself possessed by an Ascian Overlord, one of the Fourteen, and second Ascian of the Source I'm going to need heavy receipts.) Ascian meddling in the Empire felt obvious once we learned more of the Paragons, but the idea that Solus has been playing them (akin to Thordan ganking Lahabrea) feels so nice to me. I'm a big fan of "history in the reins of man," and while Solus' idea (if this is the case) might be a perversion it's still an appealing 'twist' for me...

It's exactly the direction I think they're taking him in, especially if you attribute Varis's words in the tent to him and not Varis.

What I struggle desperately with regarding Hydaelyn, Zodiark, and the Blessing being Tempering is the Enigmatic Figure's words: "How many years have I waited for this moment... For one possessed of Her blessing... For you..." (Assuming that is him!) Why would he need to wait and seek out a Tempered follower of Hydaelyn to bring back the Night and stop/reverse the Flood of Light? Did he need a rebellious soul? This explanation feels unlikely—if he knew of the impending apocalypse why would he seek out that which would seem to hasten it? Is it because he arrived on the First after Arbert had left and none remain on the First with the Echo? But he wouldn't have needed to wait so long because... because Minfilia is there... she qualifies on the basic Echo necessary level. The Echo can be replicated via the Resonant too—does that mean an artificial Tempering can be made? Something is missing. Something is missing. Something is missing.

I wouldn't necessarily go as far as "tempered" just yet. Whilst it is likely that the Blessing of Light is a form of tempering, from what we've seen of ourselves and the Ascians, there's no indications of loss of free will. It's likelier to be a more advanced manifestation of much the same phenomenon, whereby the subject retains their free will but feels a nudge to answer a higher calling, with the carrot being the substantial power it offers. Maybe the Echo plays that former role and then the Blessing comes as the "reward", with the incidental side-effect of spreading whichever force it's aspected to, i.e. darkness/light.

Regarding the Echo being something that could be implanted artificially, it's worth recalling at what costs. It's not easy to do, it required stripping out souls (the aether) from other beings and the host isn't even guaranteed to survive the process. It has all the trappings of Ascian techniques, as presumably even the Allagans did not know how to do this, and neither did the Garleans until Aulus came along (although it is an elaboration on aetherochemistry in a way), and I doubt it is common knowledge.

I too thought it could be parsed in terms of the Echo, which is more flexible in that both champions of darkness and light can bear it, but it's still bizarre phraseology, since the blessing has a specific meaning to it. What he may be referring to is what you have accomplished with that blessing, meaning you could achieve similarly great things with a darkness equivalent... however, that would either require Zodiark or some artificial version of him, which I suppose is what you mean by an artificial tempering. The trailer mentions the hero harnessing light and dark, which may be where this all comes together.

The Kuribu of Amdapor is most likely based on a Sin Eater, as is their Winged Lion. However, we see animate Kuribu and Lions on the first—though the Kuribu differ slightly (feeling more alive! actual hair, not carved stone, etc!) Did the Amdapori accidentally summon Sin Eaters before? Is the Apocalypse Cow FATE in Eureka Pagos transforming the Holy Cow from dzo to Winged Lion mean that it was a Sin Eater itself? Since the Palace of the Dead features pomanders that turn the player into a succubus and later a very different looking kuribu mean that that it transforms them into a Sin Eater akin to the Voidsent? If Sin Eaters have been appearing for about a century and the Amdapori have depictions of them at least 1600 years old... from whence did they come? I have to image this has more to do with the time between Shards being dissimilar.

Most likely because this is only the first flood of Light of which we're aware. It's possible that it had occurred on other worlds but that the Ascians drove it back before it could go much farther. It's also possible that there are worlds outside the shards, where light or darkness can exist in a purer form, supporting life forms compatible with each - i.e. more complete versions of the void/what the First is becoming.

[Rocl]

The second lorebook established that Amdapoori mages saw visions of beings from a higher plane, which they created golems in the image of. These are the winged lion and Kuribu, the latter of which is differentiated from the real thing by the red gem on its chest that provides the aether to animate it.

Please grant us answers, Koji.

As the person who excitedly snapped photos of his Encyclopedia at Fanfest to post on the forum of this detail, I'm aware of what it says—and it doesn't say this exactly. =P The only explanation of why Kuribu looks like it does is one sentence, and the Winged Lion goes without mention: "To better contend with the voidsent, [Kuribu] is said to have been made in the image of transcendent beings from yet another plane." (Encyclopedia Eorzea II, 150) The first lore book's entries for Kuribu and Winged Lion barely mention the reasoning behind why the constructions look as they do other than 'golems made by Amdapor to kill voidsent' save "A winged lion was chosen for the design so as to engender confusion amongst their enemies" (Encyclopedia Eorzea, 294).

There is no mention of Amdapor convening with Sin Eaters, or the transcendent beings. Given what we know now, that seems likely, yes—but there is no hard confirmation that they met or summoned Sin Eaters.

I wouldn't necessarily go as far as "tempered" just yet.

Aye, it's a term that's been bandied about since the trailer so I chose to use the same. I also struggle to think that the Blessing of Light as a Tempering yet....

It's likelier to be a more advanced manifestation of much the same phenomenon, whereby the subject retains their free will but feels a nudge to answer a higher calling, with the carrot being the substantial power it offers. Maybe the Echo plays that latter role and then the Blessing comes as the "reward", with the incidental side-effect of spreading whichever force it's aspected to, i.e. darkness/light.

Should Hydaelyn and Zodiark be primals forsooth, does this mean the other banshin are capable of bestowing Blessings if they're powerful enough? Could Ifrit give his followers a Blessing of Fire or Blessing of the Inferno? Is it possible Sophia could give us the Blessing of Balance? The latter example chosen because it is markedly harder to reconcile with my idea here—this is all so confusing at best. Likely by design to help hype the expansion, granted. Can Blessings only be granted by the most elder and powerful of Primals?

Regarding the Echo being something that could be implanted artificially, it's worth recalling at what costs. It's not easy to do, it required stripping out souls (the aether) from other beings and the host isn't even guaranteed to survive the process. It has all the trappings of Ascian techniques, as presumably even the Allagans did not know how to do this until Aulus came along (although it is an elaboration on aetherochemistry in a way), and I doubt it is common knowledge.

Aye, I suspect the Ascians helped design the Resonant (and really was why I pegged Aulus as an Elidibus skinsuit until Ala Mhigo). It's difficult though, because it feels like something designed to cause escalation in primal conflicts, and Ascians are just now playing this card? Entrapping/enslaving Primals was used in both the Third and Sixth Astral Eras (though I guess both are Allagan design), it seems weird for them to have a new play here unless the Warrior of Light is truly beyond all their wild expectations and dreams...

I too thought it could be parsed in terms of the Echo, which is more flexible in that both champions of darkness and light can bear it, but it's still bizarre phraseology, since the blessing has a specific meaning to it. What he may be referring to is what you have accomplished with that blessing, meaning you could achieve similarly great things with a darkness equivalent... however, that would either require Zodiark or some artificial version of him, which I suppose is what you mean by an artificial tempering.

In the CGI trailer he specifically calls out the "Warrior of Light" appellation as well, it's just so... bleh. Is it because we have done so much with the Blessing and for 'Light' that our shift to Darkness will be that much more impactful? It feels difficult to think we can play host to a "Dark Echo" or a Blessing of Darkness if they occupy a Tempering slot, as Ifrit says our "frail mortal frame" can but hold one the Blessing of one...compound that with the fact the player character glows with white/light blue aether when cutting through the Flood of Light and bringing the Night in the launch trailer... it's just... mixed messages....

Most likely because this is only the first flood of Light of which we're aware. It's possible that it had occurred on other worlds but that the Ascians drove it back before it could go much farther. It's also possible that there are worlds outside the shards, where light or darkness can exist in a purer form, supporting life forms compatible with each - i.e. more complete versions of the void/what the First is becoming.

Right, my point here was to harp on the fact time has to pass differently between Shards. War of the Magi and construction of Amdapori golems was ~1700 Source years ago, but Sin Eaters are only ~100 years old on the First. Voidsent have a history going back a good five millenia on the Source, so I guess my point was that the Flood of Light is probably more recent than the Flood of Darkness, but it still has to be old—unless there was another Flood that got curbed, of course. As for worlds outside the shards, that's a tricky and confusing notion? Yes, they must exist; Omega's homeworld and Midgardsormr's, there must be others but.... the Sundering and Reflection of the Source are a local phenomena I think? I'm not even sure how the aether of non-Reflection worlds would act... I've always felt dragons being so weird with regards to aether on Hydaelyn was because of their alien nature and the Covenant Midgardsormr made with Hydaelyn.

Is it July yet >:|

EDIT: I just remembered Y'shtola can see aether and that Tempered folk's aether is different and she can tell the difference and you're telling me since 3.0 she's looked at us and gone "hm ok everything's fine here" klasdjklasjdklasjd

[Lauront]

Should Hydaelyn and Zodiark be primals forsooth, does this mean the other banshin are capable of bestowing Blessings if they're powerful enough? Could Ifrit give his followers a Blessing of Fire or Blessing of the Inferno? Is it possible Sophia could give us the Blessing of Balance? The latter example chosen because it is markedly harder to reconcile with my idea here—this is all so confusing at best. Likely by design to help hype the expansion, granted. Can Blessings only be granted by the most elder and powerful of Primals?

I suspect it relates to the fact that although Hydaelyn and Zodiark may be Primals, the crystals they each are linked to are not; they're pre-existing concentrations of aether, one dark, one light. For any of the other Primals to grant such a blessing could tax them too heavily since they have no innate source of aether. Dark and light appear to be the primordial forces in the setting.

Aye, I suspect the Ascians helped design the Resonant (and really was why I pegged Aulus as an Elidibus skinsuit until Ala Mhigo). It's difficult though, because it feels like something designed to cause escalation in primal conflicts, and Ascians are just now playing this card? Entrapping/enslaving Primals was used in both the Third and Sixth Astral Eras (though I guess both are Allagan design), it seems weird for them to have a new play here unless the Warrior of Light is truly beyond all their wild expectations and dreams...

Elidibus took great interest in the WoL due to his raw power, and I think a lot of it has taken them by surprise, including the permanent destruction of some amongst their own ranks, which was hitherto unprecedented. As formidable as the Garleans are, faced with a foe with such a potent Echo and the backing of the crystal of light, the Ascians may have resorted to sharing such knowledge to ensure the Empire does not collapse prematurely. Of course, Aulus may just be a prodigy and have stumbled on it by his own, however the similarities to the Ascian approach leads me to speculate that Emet-Selch may have been doing more than just "resting" all this time, and may have directed this project behind the scenes. After all, assuming that his great-grandson inherited his Overlord aether (which should be feasible given that most beings comprise of both aether and a physical body), removing the impediments posed by the Garlean genome may have been necessary to ensure these traits could be expressed... thus him fostering/guiding this project. Elidibus referred to the whole affair with Zenos as an "experiment" when discussing it with Varis if memory serves, which makes me wonder since it's an odd way of phrasing it all.

In the CGI trailer he specifically calls out the "Warrior of Light" appellation as well, it's just so... bleh. Is it because we have done so much with the Blessing and for 'Light' that our shift to Darkness will be that much more impactful? It feels difficult to think we can play host to a "Dark Echo" or a Blessing of Darkness if they occupy a Tempering slot, as Ifrit says our "frail mortal frame" can but hold one the Blessing of one...compound that with the fact the player character glows with white/light blue aether when cutting through the Flood of Light and bringing the Night in the launch trailer... it's just... mixed messages....

At the same time, it mentions the hero harnessing both dark and light, which I edited in afterwards. I presume we'll find out what makes us suitable as a host for both dark and light later on, since we're likely missing that part for now. There is also the question of how complete Ifrit's knowledge is, aside from the fact that you faced him when you were much weaker. A weaker Primal such as him may be unable to fathom of two such equipotent blessings co-existing and the WoL has grown a lot since they first met... and his reference point would be regular mortals, anyway.

Right, my point here was to harp on the fact time has to pass differently between Shards. War of the Magi and construction of Amdapori golems was ~1700 Source years ago, but Sin Eaters are only ~100 years old on the First. Voidsent have a history going back a good five millenia on the Source, so I guess my point was that the Flood of Light is probably more recent than the Flood of Darkness, but it still has to be old—unless there was another Flood that got curbed, of course. As for worlds outside the shards, that's a tricky and confusing notion? Yes, they must exist; Omega's homeworld and Midgardsormr's, there must be others but.... the Sundering and Reflection of the Source are a local phenomena I think? I'm not even sure how the aether of non-Reflection worlds would act... I've always felt dragons being so weird with regards to aether on Hydaelyn was because of their alien nature and the Covenant Midgardsormr made with Hydaelyn.

It is entirely possible that time passes differently on the shards but I think they risk making it a bit too complicated at that point, if that's the explanation. The word "transcendental" had brought to mind worlds outside the Source and the Reflections.

EDIT: I just remembered Y'shtola can see aether and that Tempered folk's aether is different and she can tell the difference and you're telling me since 3.0 she's looked at us and gone "hm ok everything's fine here" klasdjklasjdklasjd

Ah, but can she see it? Maybe this is too difficult even for her.

[Rocl]

I suspect it relates to the fact that although Hydaelyn and Zodiark may be Primals, the crystals they each are linked to are not; they're pre-existing concentrations of aether, one dark, one light. For any of the other Primals to grant such a blessing could tax them too heavily since they have no innate source of aether. Dark and light appear to be the primordial forces in the setting.

This is an interesting point, and one I suspect we'll see clarified in the expansion. Ramuh muses that Light and Dark might've been given form when man was born—which also might be his explanation of the Sundering/the summoning of Hydaelyn and Zodiark. Ramuh could also be not knowing what he's talking about. That Light and Dark are primordial forces seems likely and I look forward to how the information is finally concretely presented to the adventurer. I'm not entirely sold on the Mother/Fathercrystals being independent of the manifestation of their primals (if this turns out to indeed be true) since both Bahamut and Alexander had a crystalline core and were particularly powerful Primals. That Hydaelyn and Zodiark are Primal beings strong enough to possess crystal core seems equally likely, just on a case heretofore unseen/documented.

Elidibus took great interest in the WoL due to his raw power, and I think a lot of it has taken them by surprise, including the permanent destruction of some amongst their own ranks, which was hitherto unprecedented. As formidable as the Garleans are, faced with a foe with such a potent Echo and the backing of the crystal of light, the Ascians may have resorted to sharing such knowledge to ensure the Empire does not collapse prematurely. Of course, Aulus may just be a prodigy and have stumbled on it by his own, however the similarities to the Ascian approach leads me to speculate that Emet-Selch may have been doing more than just "resting" all this time, and may have directed this project behind the scenes. After all, assuming that his great-grandson inherited his Overlord aether (which should be feasible given that most beings comprise of both aether and a physical body), removing the impediments posed by the Garlean genome may have been necessary to ensure these traits could be expressed... thus him fostering/guiding this project. Elidibus referred to the whole affair with Zenos as an "experiment" when discussing it with Varis if memory serves, which makes me wonder since it's an odd way of phrasing it all.

I would be on board with all of this until 4.5 dropped, tbh. The timeline we're presented with now regarding Val and the Dawn Warriors means Emmerololth was destroyed either before or concurrently with Nabriales, really. Elidibus and Lahabrea make a big stink about "that which should have been unending" being destroyed and what not when the Warrior of Light finally offs Nabriales but Emmerololth was destroyed by the Students at Val either relatively soon after or before (since she was present in the Chrysalis scene and Val's disappearance with the intent to destroy her and Eureka happens somewhere around 2.1 according to Urianger saying he's incapable of reaching the Students of Baldesion; this means she's simultaneously missing since 2.1 but present in 2.3 but also dead somewhere between there).

I'm less sold on Emet-Selch manipulating the Garleans past the War of Succession just because he seemed keen on taking his nap, but I concede it's equally likely he just says that to get Varis riled up. I also want to learn a lot more about Solus and the founding of the Empire and his rise through the ranks before definitively thinking Ascian aether also runs in his bloodline (because there's a lot of things I'm worried about if Ascians can interbreed with mankind).

At the same time, it mentions the hero harnessing both dark and light, which I edited in afterwards. I presume we'll find out what makes us suitable as a host for both dark and light later on, since we're likely missing that part for now. There is also the question of how complete Ifrit's knowledge is, aside from the fact that you faced him when you were much weaker. A weaker Primal such as him may be unable to fathom of two such equipotent blessings co-existing and the WoL has grown a lot since they first met.

My apologies! I saw your reply and grabbed it immediately. The fallibility of Primal knowledge shouldn't be glossed over, you're right. It feels so weird that every Primal knew and couldn't comprehend this though... unless, of course, it's by Ascian design than the rites of summoning were taught to lead to 'incomplete' Primals and thus they're unable to lay their mark on those "blessed" with the highest form of Tempering.

It is entirely possible that time passes differently on the shards but I think they risk making it a bit too complicated at that point, if that's the explanation. The word "transcendental" had brought to mind worlds outside the Source and the Reflections.

I'm very hesitant to think of life in the greater universe and prefer to stick closer to our Shards, but I definitely feel like the Kuribu and Winged Lion being based on aliens doesn't seem right. As for time dilation malarkey, I feel they've all but explicitly stated it with the idea that whole 'in that place between worlds time and space themselves bend and twist,' and we've known Unukalhai to be stowed away in Elidibus' pocket for at least 5000 years. Perhaps the 5000 years, for him, was only a few—which is why he's still immature (mentally, not physically though that is true too). Reconciling Sin Eater iconography from the Fifth Astral Era with the voiceover claiming "a century" definitely feels like it needs addressing.

Ah, but can she see it? Maybe this is too difficult even for her.

It frustrates me to no ends she has a set of Chekov's eyes and does little with them. If there isn't a single line in Shadowbringers that brings this up to say she was unable to see it for some reason I will be SO CROSS.

[JeanneOrnitier]

Not necessarily. For example, there's a Roe wearing red in the Crystarium shown in by some in the media tour who is the exact same Roe who gives the Derplander the leve cards in the 1.0 trailer. Since the Roe is still alive it means that either

1) WoDs journey was in the last 20 years or so,
2) Time doesn't flow anymore and everyone is ageless.

The 1.0 trailer was on the Source, not the First.

[Alleo]

Ahh but there is the rub of it all. This Ascian may not have ever told a lie to us, since we have never met him before but he has lied to an ENTIRE country/race. He also ruled over it and fostered fear and hatred among those people. I mean this is Emperor Solus of Garlemald. Hell he's even lied about who he really was for 60 years more or less?

Second, of all with all the Ascians we've ever met maybe the one who had given us an inkling of truth was trying to lead us around like an ass driven carriage with him sitting in the seat dangling a carrot in front of our noses. The others were just straight up trying to kill us.

True and then you have someone like Elidibus that states in ARR that we would be on his side if we would know the truth, but never tells us the truth and now even tries to kill us because we endanger his balance. (Why would we want to exchange one primal with the other?) But if he wants to restore the world to how it was before and the story about the crystals is true..then why never tell us, the primal slayer, about this, especially at the beginning when we were still new to all of this and might not have had a strong connection to Hydaelyn? Why is he with the other Asicans if those want to bring their primal back, shouldnt they want both death if they want to change it back? Or does this show that there is a difference between him and them?

Why is Solus telling us that?

There's another panel to the right a shot or two after.



The order it's supposed to be read in is the question. Either it's about a complete Rejoining(destruction -> the two crystals and the shards -> singular Will of the Planet), or it's about the Sundering(singular Will, sundering creating the two crystals and the Shards, destruction).

I think its from left to right: Something bad happens, people pray and one primal comes -> people are split in their belief thus the primal is split too -> the last picture is Hydaelyn standing or hitting Zodiarc thus banishing him.

[Lauront]

This is an interesting point, and one I suspect we'll see clarified in the expansion. Ramuh muses that Light and Dark might've been given form when man was born—which also might be his explanation of the Sundering/the summoning of Hydaelyn and Zodiark. Ramuh could also be not knowing what he's talking about. That Light and Dark are primordial forces seems likely and I look forward to how the information is finally concretely presented to the adventurer. I'm not entirely sold on the Mother/Fathercrystals being independent of the manifestation of their primals (if this turns out to indeed be true) since both Bahamut and Alexander had a crystalline core and were particularly powerful Primals. That Hydaelyn and Zodiark are Primal beings strong enough to possess crystal core seems equally likely, just on a case heretofore unseen/documented.

It's possibly a difference of scale, then, however Alexander at the least required external aether to be sustained, which is why he sealed himself up, IIRC, given that he would bleed the land of its aether. Also bear in mind that following the sundering, we have 14 worlds that were born out of their aether. Given what we now know from the Eureka quest line, it seems logical to surmise that the quantity of aether these crystals hold is huge - and equally huge would be the quantity required to restore one of them, hence the drastic measures the Rejoinings require. So even if it's a matter of degree, the difference seems to be huge. So I'm just taking the crystals to be the "batteries" (closer to uranium, if anything), and the statue-like form we've seen of Zodiark in the Chrysalis (and now the paintings of both) to be the Primal manifestation.

Also, I'm going off the fact that the First has lost its elements as the flood of Light progresses; it would seem based on that that for the base elements to manifest, they require that darkness and light be in a state of balance.

I would be on board with all of this until 4.5 dropped, tbh. The timeline we're presented with now regarding Val and the Dawn Warriors means Emmerololth was destroyed either before or concurrently with Nabriales, really. Elidibus and Lahabrea make a big stink about "that which should have been unending" being destroyed and what not when the Warrior of Light finally offs Nabriales but Emmerololth was destroyed by the Students at Val either relatively soon after or before (since she was present in the Chrysalis scene and Val's disappearance with the intent to destroy her and Eureka happens somewhere around 2.1 according to Urianger saying he's incapable of reaching the Students of Baldesion; this means she's simultaneously missing since 2.1 but present in 2.3 but also dead somewhere between there).

I think that one may have more to do with the location than anything else, i.e. being in the Aetherial Sea, since it also killed them off as well; teleporting to that location may have been their proposed method of killing what they otherwise could not, since it was a desperate manoeuvre. Nonetheless, I'll concede that that one has yet to be given a satisfactory answer by the writers, assuming she really did perish there along with the Students.

I'm less sold on Emet-Selch manipulating the Garleans past the War of Succession just because he seemed keen on taking his nap, but I concede it's equally likely he just says that to get Varis riled up. I also want to learn a lot more about Solus and the founding of the Empire and his rise through the ranks before definitively thinking Ascian aether also runs in his bloodline (because there's a lot of things I'm worried about if Ascians can interbreed with mankind).

I mean either way, it's a logical way for the Ascians to ensure the Empire has a leg up in the fight. Whether it was through specific design that Zenos gained this power, or not, is just a side-thought of mine. In terms of whether Ascians could inter-breed with mankind, I'd say probably not in the usual sense of the word, but they are beings of pure aether, and my understanding based on the lore is that aether is passed on in childbirth, so I'd think it would suffice for Emet-Selch to have been possessing Solus at the time, and in the process suppressing Solus's aether, since Ascians seem to entirely erase their hosts for the duration of the possession.

I'm very hesitant to think of life in the greater universe and prefer to stick closer to our Shards, but I definitely feel like the Kuribu and Winged Lion being based on aliens doesn't seem right. As for time dilation malarkey, I feel they've all but explicitly stated it with the idea that whole 'in that place between worlds time and space themselves bend and twist,' and we've known Unukalhai to be stowed away in Elidibus' pocket for at least 5000 years. Perhaps the 5000 years, for him, was only a few—which is why he's still immature (mentally, not physically though that is true too). Reconciling Sin Eater iconography from the Fifth Astral Era with the voiceover claiming "a century" definitely feels like it needs addressing.

I would also prefer to stick to it, but at the same time we have at least some examples of different beings hailing from elsewhere flying around in the setting. I'll grant that it's possible that the floods may distort the passage/sensation of time, as could the mere split between the shards, so time dilation may be in the cards. Loss of night and day cycles alone would distort perception of time, but this appears to be more fundamental than that, if true, i.e. something like 1 of their years equating to 100 or more of the Source's. Whereas in the Void's case you may even have a sensation that time's just... stopped. I guess this is all consistent with the weird ways in which time could be manipulated in the Chrysalis.

Watching the trailer again, it's mentioned that during the time between realms, space and time warped (?) and bend (?) in unexpected ways, so there is probably something else going on here, too. I'm probably missing/forgetting something with regard to the Urianger reference.

I think its from left to right: Something bad happens, people pray and one primal comes -> people are split in their belief thus the primal is split too -> the last picture is Hydaelyn standing or hitting Zodiarc thus banishing him.

Now, I'm curious as to what that something bad might be.

[byteslash]

i'm going on based on what Ramuh said, something to the effect of "in the beginning there wasn't light and dark".
H+Z existed before any sentient being on the planet, so nobody really summoned them...maybe their creator did?
I think they are primals yes but of a different type and the primals we fight are distortions of aspects belonging to H+Z that are tainted by light and/or dark

[Starblessed]

Honestly, the sneaky thing I loved about the trailer was Eden's signature attack from FF8 covering The First. It took me like five watches to realise the symbols in the circles around the triangle weren't of The Twelve.

[Zohar_Lahar]

Should Hydaelyn and Zodiark be primals forsooth, does this mean the other banshin are capable of bestowing Blessings if they're powerful enough? Could Ifrit give his followers a Blessing of Fire or Blessing of the Inferno? Is it possible Sophia could give us the Blessing of Balance? The latter example chosen because it is markedly harder to reconcile with my idea here—this is all so confusing at best. Likely by design to help hype the expansion, granted. Can Blessings only be granted by the most elder and powerful of Primals?

There is evidence of that in some of the Beast-Tribe quests. Several Amalj'aa beast-tribe quests tasks you with destroying what was implied to be (un)holy relics blessed by Ifrit. And the Ixali Air Stones are described as being blessed by Garuda. And then you got the adds in primal fights like Wavetooth Sahagin or the Knights of the Round.