Revelations from Patch 5.3

[Iscah]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Garleans, with their love of Allagan technology, adopt the term "summoner" for the modern practice of arcanistry.

[Crushnight]

So I finished Castrum and the storyline

So we are absolutely fighting a Queen Gunhildyr primal just the Roe version of Queen Gunhildyr rather than the Hroth one people assumed.

Tempering is back in full force and we had a very noticeable hard time protecting the few people behind us that had it gone longer we would've failed to save even them.

Save the Queen is most likely the primal like Zansetsuken was with Odin however this primal doesn't natively go for tempering its wielder so it may become safe to hold after we quell the queen's manipulated wrath.

Very apparent across whole of the Bozja instance Noah van Gabranth is someone people look up to due to his ideals and gladly give their lives to bring about his country.

There is plenty to go from here Queen Gunhildyr could very well be the 1st boss of the next Castrum instance we still have yet to engage with Menenius let alone Gabranth entering the scenes, so I'll say we will probably get 2 more segments to this storyline and I can't wait.

[Theodric]

I'm enjoying Bozja a lot so far! It definitely has that wonderful nuance to it that Matsuno is known for in his stories as well as some interesting twists and turns. I'm very eager to see how it all plays out in future content patches. I'm tentatively assuming that there will be at least two more rounds. With any luck, it might even carry over into the next expansion given that much of it is a direct continuation of the Return to Ivalice plot threads.

[MrThinker]

I'm enjoying Bozja a lot so far! It definitely has that wonderful nuance to it that Matsuno is known for in his stories as well as some interesting twists and turns. I'm very eager to see how it all plays out in future content patches. I'm tentatively assuming that there will be at least two more rounds. With any luck, it might even carry over into the next expansion given that much of it is a direct continuation of the Return to Ivalice plot threads.

I agree that it will have most likely 2 more rounds of content. We already know what the next one in 5.45 is thanks to Live Letter 60, and depending on how they want events to unfold, there will be one more Bozja-focused story in 5.55 (or we deal with our adversaries full-stop).

If it continues into 6.0, I can imagine a story where a certain legatus takes a more center stage as he defends his base of operations from a combined assault by certain resistance factions. The only problem being that people need to beat Castrum Lacus Litore since it will definitely need the Bozja story finished.

On Bozja, some errors and retcons:

Menenius is now *sas* instead of *rem* like he was in 4.25. I haven't checked previous dialogue or scenes to see if this change has been reflected in those, but now that whole 'power structure' thing is more in line with other Legions.

As an addendum to that, Lion *sas* Helsos is now Lyon *rem* Helsos, again with the previous change, have not checked to see if it is reflected in prior dialogue. Funnily enough, he is still called *sas* by the Resistance in certain cutscenes, so either this an oversight by the Lore/Localisation teams, or they are setting up the Resistance having vastly outdated/wrong information about the IVth legion. Most definitely the former.

More on Bozja, some story revelations:

The lord Nerva, legatus of the IIIrd Imperial legion that was briefly mentioned at the end of patch 5.1, is Nerva yae (or is it wir?) Galvus, son of Titus yae Galvus, and thus cousin to Varis and the only other person with a blood claim to the Imperial throne that we are aware of who isn't Zenos. If the Ist Imperial Legion (who were, if you remember, fighting the IIIrd) has a legitimate claimant for the throne, that might be interesting though. Nerva is noted by Lyon to be 'weak and a coward' like his father. He had sent an order to Gabranth to withdraw his troops to help supplement the IIIrd. Obviously Gabranth has no plans of complying.

Menenius is the adopted son of Lucius sas Lanatus, who served Basch van Gabranth. Lucius married an impoverished Elezen noblewoman at Basch's request and took her child from a prior relationship (Menenius) as his own.

The Resonant has been spread out of Ala Mhigo. Turns out Aulus mal Asina had managed to transmit his research to Garlemald, including, it appears, data from his battle with us. One of his protoges/accomplicies is a scientist for the IVth, Sicinius mal Velletus. It's also why Misija could interact and alter the memory within Save the Queen and subsequently control the Gunnhildr Eikon, she has been 'enahnced'. But on top of that, this opens up the Resonant being played again in the main story, mayhap the main targets (dungeon bosses/trials) of 6.0 will be Resonant-enhanced Individuals?

While the Bozjan resistance was engaging Castrum Lacus Litore, the Dalmascan Resistance (Finally organised under Fran it seems) and the Nagxians concurrently carried out their own operations on claiming Castrum Amicitia and a port critical to the IVth's supply chain respectively. Just like how Bajsaljen noted that the soldiers of Lacus Litore died/retreated too easily, the IVth legion troops stationed at those outposts gave up ground too easily. However unlike with Lacus Litore where Menenius lured the Resistance into a trap, the other forces have withdrawn to Valnain.

Also Gabranth has made his claim of building a new nation official.

[Rosenstrauch]

On Bozja, some errors and retcons:

Menenius is now *sas* instead of *rem* like he was in 4.25. I haven't checked previous dialogue or scenes to see if this change has been reflected in those, but now that whole 'power structure' thing is more in line with other Legions.

As an addendum to that, Lion *sas* Helsos is now Lyon *rem* Helsos, again with the previous change, have not checked to see if it is reflected in prior dialogue. Funnily enough, he is still called *sas* by the Resistance in certain cutscenes, so either this an oversight by the Lore/Localisation teams, or they are setting up the Resistance having vastly outdated/wrong information about the IVth legion. Most definitely the former.

Talking with Marsak on the subject, he has this to say. Spoilers for the Bozjan Southern Front and Castrum Lacus Latore storyline, natch:

Marsak: At present, the castrum is held by Legatus Gabranth's second-in-command, Menenius rem Lanatus, or I suppose I should say Menenius sas Lanatus, if our intelligence is to be believed. It would appear he was recently promoted to commanding officer of the legion's forces.
Marsak: Lanatus is a well-known family with a long and august lineage. That is, until they incurred the ire of the Emperor, tarnishing their name and robbing them of their position in Garlean society.
Marsak: And yet Basch van Gabranth would choose members of their family to serve under him. Mayhap he sensed their desperation to redeem their honor. If that is the case, the road to redemption is long indeed, for two generations of Lanatus have served under the Gabranths.
Marsak: A curious state of affairs considering the information recently pried from one of our prisoners. You see, Menenius is not of Garlean descent─he is an Elezen. Adoption of a non-Garlean by nobles is unprecedented.
Marsak: Only the gods know what inexplicable twist of fate would drive them to do such a thing, but I can understand why they would remain at the side of one who seeks the discarded and otherwise undesirable.
Marsak: Menenius serves as their chief intelligence officer, and as you might imagine, the greater part of his time is spent recruiting and dispatching spies, plotting how best to subvert their enemies.
Marsak: It yet remains to be seen if Misija was a spy from the start, or if they persuaded her to turn against us, but I have no doubt that what has happened was all according to his plans.
Marsak: What I find more concerning, however, is how they are still able to recruit more soldiers to their cause with their empty promises of a new nation.
Marsak: We would do well not to underestimate them, Blade Rabanastre. There is no telling what they may attempt next to thwart us.

I've not found similar info on Lyon, but perhaps he was demoted alongside Menenius's promotion.

[WhiteArchmage]

Minor note because if I DON'T point this, I'll eat me inside. One of the FATE bosses is named Albeleo (whose title I forget) and it's such a very familiar name. From another Yasumi Matsuno series.

Albeleo is a Warlock in Ogre Battle and Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (PSP remake). He's antagonistic in the former, and a recruitable party member in the latter. He uses Water and Fire spells (although his element is water, fitting that he summons Water Familiars). Seeing as Tactics Ogre is why Square originally hired Matsuno to make FFT, it's a nice nod.

[JeanneOrnitier]

Finally got a group that could finish Castrum.

I was shocked to see Albeleo with a piece of auracite; or rather, I was shocked that auracite still works even with Ultima dead. I wonder if any more will come up.
I gasped out loud when I saw Bwagi's hand, because at first I thought it was Ba'Gamnan. Does his reappearance mean Fran and possibly Ashe will be in 5.45?

I also didn't expect to see Gunnhildr summoned as a Primal so soon. She didn't get to do a whole lot just yet but what we saw was cool, though I expect when the time comes to fight her she'll look more monstrous. I also suspect Misija is her descendant.

Overall a very cool story and I'm eager for more. I can't praise enough these character profiles, and I want them to be used more in the game. I just wish they had higher drop rates.

[MrThinker]

Talking with Marsak on the subject, he has this to say. Spoilers for the Bozjan Southern Front and Castrum Lacus Latore storyline, natch:



I've not found similar info on Lyon, but perhaps he was demoted alongside Menenius's promotion.

I just read that info myself, and came to the same conclusion, but thanks anyways Rose.

[KageTokage]

On the subject of the Bozja story's conclusion...

Misija is now on my "needs to die" list for all that Mikoto bullying.

I feel she's liable to be dealt with in the next chapter considering that Menenius seems to still view her as something expendable in spite of the privileges she's been given, and Noah has yet to get directly involved in this mess, which implies he might have bigger plans then simply summoning a primal.

I assume she's likely going to use the blade to perform an incarnate summoning once the time comes...though who knows how that's going to work out with an artificial Echo, considering the side effects Fordola is suffering from. Zenos was never normal to begin with which I assume is why he hasn't had any issues.

I also suspect Misija is her descendant.

The datafile on her actually confirms that that's the case.

[Crushnight]

Talking with Marsak on the subject, he has this to say. Spoilers for the Bozjan Southern Front and Castrum Lacus Latore storyline, natch:



I've not found similar info on Lyon, but perhaps he was demoted alongside Menenius's promotion.

About that Lyon guy

Getting his file from Castrum reveals he was demoted from sas to rem so it is a power switcheroo but Lyon still has Gabranth's respect since he has fought with Basch since Landis and Lyon respects Noah as well.

It is very nice to see a full legion going all out, this feels like an actual war rather than what SB did, Bozja has really highlighted how poorly handled 4.0 was and how much a crux Zenos was to drive the narrative, fear was the primary motivator for people to obey him, he was a monster and still is, we are not facing a monster at Bozja, we are facing different ideals, honest and good ideals and a lot of the legion is more than willing to die to see Noah's country come to fruition.

Man I love Matsuno's work, he has taken the base of FFXIV and made it work while also not making it disjointed from the main game.