6.0 Predictions: Will it be Garlemald, Sharlayan, or Meracydia?

[Riastrad]

But we know that Zodiark's summoning is a delay to the apocalypse, not a means to stop it. This was made clear by Venat and other Ancients that summoned Hydaelyn. Furthermore, when we echo to the Crystal Exarch's past and see the "changed" future they are clearly in an apocalypse that comes after the 8th calamity because the WOL is already dead. The beast has to be Zodiark because he is the only thing synonymous world ending destruction.

Light, dark, doesn't matter. What matters is how you use it.

Zodiark is not a slavering beast frothing with rage. If nothing else he was a guardian that served his purpose and outlasted his worth. Hydaelyn has also served her original intention and acted as a bulwark against the forces that sought to bring back Zodiark. Both would bleed all aether in existence in different methods. Zodiark demands sacrifice to fuel his protection. Hydaelyn stops all flowing aether. In both scenarios everyone would eventually die off.

That quote is specifically talking about the two in the room. Ferocious, ravenous, remorseless, is all Zenos. Whereas the beast shall kindle the flames of the apocalypse is all Fandaniel. You know, by fanning the flames of war and unleashing something even worse on everyone. We still don't even know what caused the sound that warped the ancients magic. The thing that Zodiark saved everyone from. That thing, whatever it is, is the one synonymous with destruction.

[Cilia]

Fun Fact: both Yoshi-P and Yasumi Matsuno (the writer / creator of Ivalice) are on record stating that while the game may be stuffed to the gills with references / homages / shout-outs to Ivalice, it is a separate world from the one the Ivalice Alliance games take place in. Yes, even though the stories of Tactics and XII both broadly took place in it. (Or are taking place, as far as XII goes.) Until such a time as this is contradicted, no matter how many such homages (etc.) are paid to the Ivalice Alliance games the world of XIV exists independent of it and every other Final Fantasy world except the generally shared connection to the Rift.

Fandaniel is not Hashmal, who is a separate character both in the Ivalice setting and the setting of XIV. (I don't wanna call it Hydaelyn anymore cuz... y'know.)

As for Fandaniel himself, he doesn't appear to have a goal beyond stirring shit up. Upon realizing Elidibus is (effectively) dead he becomes ecstatic that he's no longer bound by "moldering memories [or] damnable duty" and free to live for the moment, found Asahi's body by chance, and is just using it because the wealth at his disposal is useful for their plans. As others have noted he seems to be the long-speculated Kefka analogue complete with histrionics, which means he probably doesn't actually have an endgame. (I'm of the mind he's just trying to kill Zodiark in order to stick it to the Unsundered. 'bout all I can figure based on what we got so far of him.)

As for where, japes and speculation aside the current signs do point to Garlemald. I won't deny that. That said, the same was true of Shadowbringers and then they threw a curveball at us, so the plausibility of that not being the case remains open. Past that I can only speculate, though 5.4 (the beginning of "6.0 Expansion" Arc) should more strongly hint at things or make them abundantly clear.

[Kesey]

As for where, japes and speculation aside the current signs do point to Garlemald. I won't deny that. That said, the same was true of Shadowbringers and then they threw a curveball at us, so the plausibility of that not being the case remains open. Past that I can only speculate, though 5.4 (the beginning of "6.0 Expansion" Arc) should more strongly hint at things or make them abundantly clear.

I'm not convinced that a Garlemald expansion won't be a rehash of Stormblood. Liberating oppressed peoples of the empire, Zenos as main antagonist, Zenos fusing with Zodiark (instead of Shinryu), attention divided on two fronts (Empire and Ascians, much like Doma and Ala Mhigo), all of the allied forces of Eorzea coming together to liberate a giant city of huge strategic worth, the player character the crucial figure to turn the tide of the war, etc.

Something will need to develop to make this fresh or a Garlemald expansion will be Stormblood 2.0.

[Draginhikari]

I'm not convinced that a Garlemald expansion won't be a rehash of Stormblood. Liberating oppressed peoples of the empire, Zenos as main antagonist, Zenos fusing with Zodiark (instead of Shinryu), attention divided on two fronts (Empire and Ascians, much like Doma and Ala Mhigo), all of the allied forces of Eorzea coming together to liberate a giant city of huge strategic worth, the player character the crucial figure to turn the tide of the war, etc.

Something will need to develop to make this fresh or a Garlemald expansion will be Stormblood 2.0.

Sharing a potential similar structure doesn’t really guarantee a Stormblood 2.0 in and of itself. Stormblood biggest general plot issue was the split that was created between the Ala Mhigo and Doman sections of the story that created large disconnects. This caused an inability to focus as much the region's unique problems like we got with the First in Shb or the Ishgardians in HW. This caused them to have to repeat the 'downtrodden rising up' multiple times just to keep the story somewhat functional due to the heavily split up regions.

At the moment it's hard to say until we know exactly what Zenos and Fandaniel are actually planning to do, it may not be as straight forward as go to Garlemald and beat up Zenos again, though I suspect getting to Garlemald will likely be part of it.

[ObsidianFire]

Garlemald's situation is too different from Ala Mhigo and Doma's to be a rehash of it. For one thing, Garlemald is the aggressor, and there's a lot of conquered nations that would love to see it fall so they could get their independence. And I can see the Eorzea Alliance not really wanting much to do with the continent of Ilsabard. It's far out of the way and getting supplies and troops there through the Empire would be crazy hard. So I would see us having to deal with a lot more politics of the "yes, we get you want to be free of Garlemald; no, that doesn't mean you get obliterate Garlmald either" variety. All while the actual fighting against Zoidark is going to be an issue.

[Jirah]

I'm not convinced that a Garlemald expansion won't be a rehash of Stormblood. Liberating oppressed peoples of the empire, Zenos as main antagonist, Zenos fusing with Zodiark (instead of Shinryu), attention divided on two fronts (Empire and Ascians, much like Doma and Ala Mhigo), all of the allied forces of Eorzea coming together to liberate a giant city of huge strategic worth, the player character the crucial figure to turn the tide of the war, etc.

Something will need to develop to make this fresh or a Garlemald expansion will be Stormblood 2.0.

ugh this is my nightmare, literally Stormblood 2.0 as Zenos is annoyingly still alive and weve fought his fatass so many times in so many ways i think we have it memorized. but 5.4 and 5.5 have their chance to wow us and assure us that "dont worry we arent repeating Stormblood"

as of 5.3 what do we know really, The Empire is in complete chaos due to Zenos and "friend" which motives are still unknown but we can dictate they contradicted Elidobus seeing to how happy he was during 5.3. The Unsundered bided their time and employed varies means to for a calamity I mean i doubt the Dalamud crashing was caused in a day took years to replicate the technology and to approve the plan in the Empire, technology they literally made with Allag eons ago. My best guess is either these guys are less patient and more erratic or they just done care is another solid guess .and Zeons journey to have a blood date with us to quench his bloodthirst bla bla boring boring one note one note.

Unique scene trying to convince the empires patrons that the empire is run to doom humanity, like thancred said War isnt key to mess with the empire subterfuge is

also hate to break it to everyone but Zenos kinda cant die hes been seen body snatching all over erozea like a acsian, to the point of body snatching a PRIMAL.how the hell can we kill that which cannot be killed?

[Wolffriend]

also hate to break it to everyone but Zenos kinda cant die hes been seen body snatching all over erozea like a acsian, to the point of body snatching a PRIMAL.how the hell can we kill that which cannot be killed?

We directly killed two unsundered and severely wounded the third so he can be killed, and also killed a few sundered ascians. Yea, there's nothing we can't kill given what we know now, just takes time and cleverness.

That said, I can't help but have the sneaking suspicion that Zenos and Fandango are going to be dealt with by the end of 5.5, and 6.0 is going to go somewhere none of us suspect, or maybe suspect a bit (Sharlayan my money is on)

[Jirah]

We directly killed two unsundered and severely wounded the third so he can be killed, and also killed a few sundered ascians. Yea, there's nothing we can't kill given what we know now, just takes time and cleverness.

That said, I can't help but have the sneaking suspicion that Zenos and Fandango are going to be dealt with by the end of 5.5, and 6.0 is going to go somewhere none of us suspect, or maybe suspect a bit (Sharlyan my money is on)

The Party doesnt even know about Fandango yet how can he possibly die so soon when we know so little except his VA got super lucky. Agreed if we have the means to kill the likes of Lahabrea its possible to do away with Zenos in theory it would feel blah killing him what the 4th time now? Sharlyan? Since we had a taste of their culture and architecture in HW i dont doubt well go to the motherland but in 6.0? Old Sharlyan if you glance at the ye old world map is WAYY north of Dravania beside the Northern Empty.

In 4.0 we only went to Kugane for a easier passage to Doma ya know logic, Theirs no logical reason to go so far off away from Ilsabard and this being the last expansion for the Zoidoark Arc, it would be super strange for it not to be in ilsabard. and every expansion having 2 hub towns if some sort of base of operations or refuge is in order why not Radz-at-Hans? its how Estinein got to the capital or just brave through the Ghimlyt Dark to Ilsabard. Everything is up in the air until 5.4 really

[Wolffriend]

If we had another whole expansion just dealing with Zenos and whoever is with him, I'd be very disappointed, especially after SHB. But you're right, we'll get a hint in 5.4.

[Erendis]

As long as Zenos does not survive till 6.0 I'm fine with anything really. Not too interested in Garlemald though since architecture is so dreadful...