Revelations from Patch 5.2

[QT_Melon]

About Elidibus

To us the audience it looks like we have an idea on what he's planning: tip the aetheric balance of the 1st towards light again using the WoLs, maybe recruit some of them and manipulate them to kill the WoD. Afterall, they are "puppets" to him and doing exactly what he's wanting them to. It almost feels like he's doubling down on the Ascian arrogance. I believe that this might end up being his downfall. He thinks he can manipulate the WoLs of the 1st to turn on the WoL, but they might not be so easily swayed and they'll turn on him instead. Or maybe I have a bit too much faith in the 1st?

Honestly ...I think...

This is really "smoke and mirrors" or a red herring. This is a distraction for something else. I mean I could be wrong, but Elidibus has always been a bit more mysterious in his plans over the rest

[YianKutku]

Oh, completely forgot about that. But then they would have to change the german localisation in ARR, because...

... the german version refers to the Astral Era as 'Ära des Lichts', so basically an Era of Light. That's probably the reason I keep connecting Astral with being Light.

Edit: Or maybe not, the Astral Era is usually peaceful and without change, so quite 'static' hm...

Astral vs Umbral:

It's one of those in-universe confusion things that may or may not have been thought out when it was written, but is now possibly the recipient of what Moose calls an "additive retcon", ie further new knowledge that provides new context on old lore.

The actual meanings of the words "Astral" and "Umbral" do imply Light and Darkness respectively. This is because on the Source, people attribute moral weight to "light" and "darkness", because they prefer the former. (Also applicable to RL, hence words like "enlightenment" and "dark ages".)

Whereas on the First, they just call it "Light" and "Darkness" and treat them as polarities of aether, with no commentary on whether either is good or bad. So "Light" isn't good, but isn't bad either, and the same for "Darkness". It just so happens that "Darkness" matches with Astral polarities, and "Light" matches with Umbral polarities.

It's a matter of conflicting semantics, in-universe. Hence why Urianger was going "when I learned the truth I was shook".

So the "Umbral Era" on the Source is supposed to be bad and desperate and people fighting for survival, while the "Astral Era" is supposed to be good and flourishing and people thriving. And then the Source used those words to describe aether polarities (with good reasoning, I personally think), except as it turned out, with the opposite definitions.

So back to E7N, the problem is that by itself, the tooltip description works, in that anyone who comes in without caring about the story reads "Umbral", and immediately thinks darkness and shadow. But in the context of FFXIV's story, it's exactly the opposite, and that was a major plot point. So now I have to wonder if this tooltip description is meant for people who skipped cutscenes.

[Lium]

Eden

It's interesting that this raid series is so closely tied to the MSQ. If what Urianger said is true, then Gaia is basically the Word of Zodiark, much the same way the original Minfillia was the Word of Hydaelyn. (Or Word of the Mother)

There is no way Elidibus wouldn't be drawn to that. If Gaia is actually hearing Zodiark's voice then...oh, man. There's your Calamity, right there. I don't see how Gaia is not used in the MSQ at some point before Shadowbringers wraps up.

/10chars

[Rannie]

I have a small question... putting in spoilers jic

Did I some how miss the cutscene where Cid is spitting up blood and then also the scene where we are there and the scions popping up with Ryne? Or is that part of ex or they havent put it in yet?

[Snugglez]

I have a small question... putting in spoilers jic

Did I some how miss the cutscene where Cid is spitting up blood and then also the scene where we are there and the scions popping up with Ryne? Or is that part of ex or they havent put it in yet?

I believe that stuff is future 5.2x content that isn't with us yet

[Lauront]

Honestly ...I think...

This is really "smoke and mirrors" or a red herring. This is a distraction for something else. I mean I could be wrong, but Elidibus has always been a bit more mysterious in his plans over the rest

I hope so.

The "arrogance" thing grows wearisome after a while, it's been done several times now, and at this point of the story, I scarcely care for it. He is said to be a highly competent schemer, and I'd like to see that of him as it was seen of Emet, who has a more off the wall, daredevil personality, and who praised his judgement.

On Eden...

I am really looking forward to seeing what they do for the final tier, and I am hoping the pointers towards Ultimecia are true, as she is one of my most beloved FF bosses, plus because it's bound to come with an arrangement of The Extreme.

On Anamnesis...

The one thing I was a little bit disappointed about was that they didn't take the opportunity to draw some inspiration from Oeilvert, one of the most memorable zones for me from a FF game. Given the predilection of the ancients to wear masks, something like that here would have been particularly well suited.

[Seraphor]

Anyone found an FF8 reference in E7 yet?
Bit disappointed there isn't one. E1 was obviously Eden itself, E2 was modelled after Elvoret/Elnoyle, so I was expecting the next fight that featured the FF8 boss theme to be FF8 inspired.

[Crushnight]

Anyone found an FF8 reference in E7 yet?
Bit disappointed there isn't one. E1 was obviously Eden itself, E2 was modelled after Elvoret/Elnoyle, so I was expecting the next fight that featured the FF8 boss theme to be FF8 inspired.

The best I can think of is the Lunar cry, with the using a beacon (idol) to control monsters (sin eaters) to strike specific areas (Adel's prison).

But it is a stretch and a half personally

[Cilia]

I have a small question... putting in spoilers jic

Did I some how miss the cutscene where Cid is spitting up blood and then also the scene where we are there and the scions popping up with Ryne? Or is that part of ex or they havent put it in yet?

Those seem to be part of 5.25, which won't hit for a little over a week now.

The relic (Resistance) weapon quest is going to be part of Bozja, which we know is going to be an extension of the Ivalice questline from Stormblood. I would wager the scene of the Scions back on the Source with Cid is just using Trust NPCs as placeholders.

So yeah, we are probably going to have to leave ShB's precious cinnamon roll behind... along with damn near the entire world, since there probably won't ever be much reason to go back and the only key NPCs left will be Ryne and Exarch G'raha (and maybe Gaia). Damn, this sucks.

[Scintilla]

...or maybe Venat never planned to split the source apart since she only talks about keeping Zodiark in check...

On that point:

In the group discussion Venat does say -

"We must ask ourselves a simple question: are we prepared to pursue our chosen course, even should it mean suffering the eternal condemnation of our brethren? If so, I see no further reason to demur"

Wouldn't that suggest that they were very much aware of the consequences of summoning and considered the sundering as a highly likely, if not inevitable, consequence that they were willing to accept? For such a statement to then be followed up by the admittance that they were making the monumental decision even though very few agreed with it, doesn't show them in a favourable light right now.