Revelations from Patch 5.1

[EdwinLi]

I'm kind of doubting we're dealing with an actual WoL here mostly because it would mean they decided to trust Elidibus...which wouldn't really make any sense when the Ascians have a long established reputation of sowing chaos throughout all the shards.

The only reason the First's WoLs cooperated was because their world was on the verge of complete annihilation and there's nothing to suggest the other shards are facing a similar predicament.

That and it still seems a bit unusual that Ardbert's body was conveniently missing. Yes, some people have pointed out that this is a younger-looking Ardbert, but we already know Ascians can shape the bodies they overtake for whatever reasons they see fit and I find the notion of all of our WoL's soul fragments looking identical when we don't a bit silly.

Character limits.

this will not be the first time Warriors of Light are created by the Ascians. As revealed back in 5.0 through the Final Job Role Quest, Arbert and his companions are made into Warriors of Light because of Ascians manipulating events to make certain they become Warriors of Light as part of their plan to cause the First to return to the Source. It would have worked as well if Arbert had not refused to finished his final task that would have made him into a Warrior of Light by killing the Shadowkeeper.

So it is possible for Ascians to trick Hydealyn into making Warriors of Light but it is also possible that becoming Warriors of Light may not be involved with Hydealyn as well considering what is revealed in the Job Role Quests involve Arbert and his companion's journey to become Warriors of Light as the result of Ascians manipulating events to make them into becoming Warriors of Light.

[Rannie]

I'm kind of doubting we're dealing with an actual WoL here mostly because it would mean they decided to trust Elidibus...which wouldn't really make any sense when the Ascians have a long established reputation of sowing chaos throughout all the shards.

The only reason the First's WoLs cooperated was because their world was on the verge of complete annihilation and there's nothing to suggest the other shards are facing a similar predicament.

That and it still seems a bit unusual that Ardbert's body was conveniently missing. Yes, some people have pointed out that this is a younger-looking Ardbert, but we already know Ascians can shape the bodies they overtake for whatever reasons they see fit and I find the notion of all of our WoL's soul fragments looking identical when we don't a bit silly.

Character limits.

You're forgetting he has a a few of them already from the 13th shard that he saved

Cylvia already mentioned that there were more than just her and the kid in the rising stones. I think he may have mentioned it as well. It's why I'm thinking that Albert over there is our shard from the 13th

[Dualblade]

You're forgetting he has a a few of them already from the 13th shard that he saved

Cylvia already mentioned that there were more than just her and the kid in the rising stones. I think he may have mentioned it as well. It's why I'm thinking that Albert over there is our shard from the 13th

Adding on a bit from here.

based on what we learned in that quest we also know one body from the First WoL group was not used: Arbert's. Pretty much the easiest proof for this being Ascian possession shenanigans instead of being a WoL from one of the other worlds.

Personally I feel, outside of one other character we already know, we won't be seeing anymore WoL fragments until atleast some point within the next expansion's patch story. Presuming that next xpac doesn't end the ongoing Zodiark/Hydaelyn conflict and even then I just don't seem other fragments being factored in for a bit longer.

For Automata

I have a few theories on the origins of the XIV machines and androids are, some more supported than others as well as some making DrakeNier canon to XIV (unlikely as that is). But the one plot point I know for sure will be true is that the Machine Lifeforms are still going to have been created by beings not of Hydaelyn, and that they also most likely have found out about Omega in some way if not having been created by the same people.

I also don't think the Logic Virus has come into play yet for either 2P or 9S, presuming that DrakenNier and XIV are not canon to each other. The room full of 2Bs is the big thing keeping me from really forming theories simply because...well, we don't have any context for that room using only what we know from XIV. Next raid tier is gonna be a fun ride. Also holding out for best boi Emil!

Pixies

Completed the 5th rank up today, yeah our nightmare fairy is some sort of reincarnation of the previous Titania. The question is whether or not she'll be able to stick around by the end of the questline more than anything. Also whether the Tempest will be used in a future rank up quest.

[Jennah]

Regarding Tempering:

If it's easy enough to un-Temper someone that the Scions, G'raha Tia and a Nu Mou can work it out in a few weeks ... couldn't the Ascians have worked it out over thousands of years? Makes me think that either:

1) It's going to turn out not to be possible to reverse tempering after all or
2) At least one Ascian, probably Elidibus, really is free of Zodiark's will or
3) This will be brought up the next time we're supposed to have sympathy for the Ascians, as a reason not to

[Cilia]

Regarding Tempering:

If it's easy enough to un-Temper someone that the Scions, G'raha Tia and a Nu Mou can work it out in a few weeks ... couldn't the Ascians have worked it out over thousands of years? Makes me think that either:

1) It's going to turn out not to be possible to reverse tempering after all or
2) At least one Ascian, probably Elidibus, really is free of Zodiark's will or
3) This will be brought up the next time we're supposed to have sympathy for the Ascians, as a reason not to

Keep in mind:

As powerful and knowledgeable as the Ascians may be, they are neither omniscient nor omnipotent.

Zodiark is the original primal, and tempering was apparently not something they were concerned with or a bug that had not been worked out. After being tempered themselves, the Ascians wouldn't be concerned with dealing with it, and in regards to their goals it's advantageous for mortals to be tempered (as primals are good for sowing chaos and weakening Hydaelyn).

One need look no further than dimensional travel to see their shortcomings; in over 12,000 years they did not figure out how to jump across the Rift to different shards while still in possession of a physical body, while Crystal Exarch G'raha and the post-8th Umbral Calamity Ironworks were able to do that in "just" a couple centuries.

[Sorciechan]

MSQ

The Ardbert look-a-like is probs one of the 'warriors of light' Elidibus was talking about... but I feel like they are just gonna be "lesser Ardbert" if they don't throw some curveballs.

Jumping in here. Not sure if someone already said, but...

I, actually had the idea that maybe that was Meteor, the WOL in the trailers that takes the place for our character. Thought, maybe Square decided to make him more of an individual, now. Would explain why the Shadowbringers trailer had scenes that didn't show up in the game and why the guy looks like Ardbert (but, may not be Ardbert) in the first place.

[JeanneOrnitier]

Regarding Tempering:

If it's easy enough to un-Temper someone that the Scions, G'raha Tia and a Nu Mou can work it out in a few weeks ... couldn't the Ascians have worked it out over thousands of years? Makes me think that either:

1) It's going to turn out not to be possible to reverse tempering after all or
2) At least one Ascian, probably Elidibus, really is free of Zodiark's will or
3) This will be brought up the next time we're supposed to have sympathy for the Ascians, as a reason not to

It may just be that

They don't want to be untempered. I mean, tempering messes with your mind to worship the Primal who did it. I can't see anyone who's in that state being all "I got to find a way to fix this"; they enjoy serving because they got brainwashed.

[Rannie]

Jumping in here. Not sure if someone already said, but...

I, actually had the idea that maybe that was Meteor, the WOL in the trailers that takes the place for our character. Thought, maybe Square decided to make him more of an individual, now. Would explain why the Shadowbringers trailer had scenes that didn't show up in the game and why the guy looks like Ardbert (but, may not be Ardbert) in the first place.

I highly doubt that, derplander is of the source and would have to kill himself like Ardbert and them did to travel the rift

[Dualblade]

Regarding Tempering:

If it's easy enough to un-Temper someone that the Scions, G'raha Tia and a Nu Mou can work it out in a few weeks ... couldn't the Ascians have worked it out over thousands of years? Makes me think that either:

1) It's going to turn out not to be possible to reverse tempering after all or
2) At least one Ascian, probably Elidibus, really is free of Zodiark's will or
3) This will be brought up the next time we're supposed to have sympathy for the Ascians, as a reason not to

On this stuff.

As Jeanne said there is a very good chance they don't WANT to fix their tempering, and the tempering of the sundered races by lesser primals is a feature not a bug. As far as we are aware the Ascians were probably the first to ever be temepered as well as even if the Guardian Forces are Amarout Primals the only one we've seen of them had noone to temper since the one who summoned it gave up his life to do so.

As well attempts to cure tempering have been going on long before SHB, such as back in the Amal'jaa repeats where one of your dailies is in fact testing a cure for tempering. Tempering and Primals are still a big deal in Eorzea even if its fallen to the wayside for our character since we have threats that manage to be even bigger these days. But now the Scions are in a position to look at Tempering from a different angle, from something that at first glance seems different but under closer inspection has a lot of similarities. And of course its possible that while Tempering and being infused with Light are very similar won't mean that the cure for one actually will work with for the other.

It probably will because SE doesn't fall on the cynical side to much for its heroes efforts but it is still possible.

Another thought on split souls.

So when it comes to sundered souls do they only make up the playable races or do the beast tribes also count when it comes to looking for First counterparts? Cause SE is really laying it on for our new Nu Mou friend to be Matoya's First counterpart.

[JeanneOrnitier]

Another thought on split souls.

So when it comes to sundered souls do they only make up the playable races or do the beast tribes also count when it comes to looking for First counterparts? Cause SE is really laying it on for our new Nu Mou friend to be Matoya's First counterpart.

I definitely felt this too.

Given that Lalas are considered beast tribes on Norvrandt, the term beast tribe is really just a racism thing without actual meaning. The 2nd lore book proposed this too with an in-universe essay. I see no reason why Lug couldn't be Matoya's shard.