Predictions for 5.3?

[Eralwen]

Zenos is probably much more than a fallen prince with an artificial echo and his character will severely change the more he pursues his Final Days dream. If we don't kill him for good, he will probably become an antihero. Probably something like Gaius.

Nero will make an appearance in the Weapons trials storyline.

Ryne and Gaia will either both die at the end of the Eden storyline, or they will stay relevant and somehow join us in the source.

[goerahl]

Ryne and Gaia will either both die at the end of the Eden storyline, or they will stay relevant and somehow join us in the source.

I think Gaia was introduced partially because leaving the First means Ryne stays alone, as the scions used to be her only friends. With Gaia present at her side, we can leave the First and Ryne will still have someone to aid her with fixing the realm and whatnot. I believe SE wouldn't kill Ryne, a major character of the MSQ, in a side storyline and those two coming to the Source seem unlikely (at least at the moment), they need to work on the balance in the First. Though I can see Gaia becoming relevant in the MSQ if we decide to tackle the thirteenth shard situation, which seems likely.

[EDIT]
Ima share some of my predictions for the upcoming patches, copypasted from a r/ffxiv thread on 6.0 (the sub doesn't fulfill my loretalk needs):
- Ivalice raids and the recent relic weapon quests fed us with a little bit more information about some of the provinces and I think we will hear of them more, possibly even visit those lands in 6.0.
- Mikoto appeared in both of them and I think she will become a more significant character in the upcoming patches, especially considering her unique echo abilities.
- Estinien and Source G'raha will join us as semi-scions. Other characters that will get some more presence are obviously the few Garleboys we're friends with, so Nero, Maxima and Cid. Lucia seems like a stretch but this would almost certainly mean that Aymeric is reappearing as a more significant character and I Still Have Hope For This. Gaius will get a redemption arc for sure, he doesn't seem eager to become an actual leader but there's definitely a chance.
- This looks like too many characters in the spotlight so we will lose someone from the old crew, even if only temporarily (like most of the scions during HW).
- Asahi is apparently a thing. Sigh.
- We already got an expansion based on ,,1. befriend the people. 2. liberate the country. 3. repeat.'' so I suppose this will be a change from the inside, which means more politics while we try to deal with, you know, another apocalypse.

[Riastrad]

Ryne and Gaia will either both die at the end of the Eden storyline, or they will stay relevant and somehow join us in the source.

I think Gaia will pull a sac play and end up using her powers of time manipulation to speed up the healing of the Empty.

From Tales from the Shadows - A World Forsaken

"With what might be termed “wakeful eyes,” I reviewed the reports made by Ironworks members following their investigations into the Crystal Tower, the mechanical primal known as Alexander, and the interdimensional rift, the findings of which were instrumental in formulating the plan to alter the past. Thus did I discover that each of these missions had one common element: they ended with a key figure entering a form of self-imposed exile, not unlike a deep slumber. At times such as these, when one is to be separated from one’s companions, whether it be by sleep or by death, there is a phrase which I have found to be particularly fitting.

“Good night.”

And after the night comes the morning, as the sun rises to greet the new day. While it may already be too late to mend this dying world, there are those who would strive to create a place where the sun will shine again, not for their own sake, but for those in a past that may yet be saved.

I think this must be what mortals call “hope.”

It is...beautiful."



"Throw wide the Gates that we may pass".

If the Exarch was only trying to call the WoL over to the First, who is the we that needs to pass? I suspect Ryne will stay behind on the First until the final patch of the expansion, where we will be saved or reinforced by a older, more experienced Ryne (who our characters would mistake for being Minfilia until the realization hit us) and a few other NPC's who we helped during our journeys in the First after time between the Source and the First has unsynced.