Patch 5.4 Trailer, Predictions, and Hints

[Kesey]

Really, Fandaniel's statements are SO 1-1 to Zenos' own mindset that it really makes me question whether or not they're both actually shards of the same person.

Fandaniel talks about being loyal, faithful, and in want of a new master. Zenos never says things like that. Also don't forget that Fandaniel is wearing Asahi's body whose last name is "Brutus". These are betrayal flags from a manipulator. Zenos is more of a overpower you and take it type as a opposed to a plot and betray from the shadows type.

[Veloran]

Fandaniel talks about being loyal, faithful, and in want of a new master. Zenos never says things like that. Also don't forget that Fandaniel is wearing Asahi's body whose last name is "Brutus". These are betrayal flags from a manipulator. Zenos is more of a overpower you and take it type as a opposed to a plot and betray from the shadows type.

Just as you say, he's flagged for a betrayer. And while their methods might differ, Zenos is the same in that regard, he has no true loyalty to anyone.

Beyond that, the fact that they're both obsessed with "living in the moment", having no regard for life, and even share many of the same sorts of lines about being "players on the stage" is very suspicious to me. I mean those are some extremely similar character traits.

They can't be shards of the same soul because then Zenos would (or should) be able to use the Echo without Resonance.

Why would that mean he'd naturally have the Echo?

Further Zenos is not given to the histrionics Fandaniel has displayed thus far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yuCib9jVvI
I know he's spent the better part of his screentime sulking in chairs, but I very much think he is when the mood strikes.

[Cilia]

Why would that mean he'd naturally have the Echo?

As an fragmented Ascian, Fandaniel would be an incomplete reincarnation of the original Fandaniel of the Convocation of Fourteen from the days of Amaurot just like the PC is to Azem. Elidibus' comments when awakening the denizens of the Crystarium to the Echo imply if not outright state it's derived from their soul memory, and of the Ancients the Convocation was the most powerful. If Zenos was a reincarnated Fandaniel (a la the PC and Azem) he'd probably definitely have enough of his Ancient incarnation's soul memory to naturally awaken to the Echo.

Zenos also was alive before Emet-Selch (as Solus) died, and if by some extreme luck his great-grandson turned out to be a Convocation reincarnate I doubt he'd pass up the chance to make use of him.

(Then again Zenos does say he's always dreamed of the Final Days, so maybe...)

I know [Zenos has] spent the better part of his screentime sulking in chairs, but I very much think he is [histrionic] when the mood strikes.

Zenos only really gets going when his battle lust completely overtakes his apathy. What little we've seen of Fandaniel thus far suggests he's like that pretty much all the time.

That may change moving forward, but as it stands now I can't agree the two are different shard reincarnations of Convocation Fandaniel.

[Veloran]

Emphasis on "probably" there, it's just not a guarantee. Not to mention that given the Garleans had no information on the Echo, it's very likely they are physically incapable of awakening it naturally. This would explain the dreams (As his recollection of Amaurot is the most vivid of anyone by far), and also why he never manifested the power.

As to his personality, of course he isn't ALWAYS hamming it up like a madman, but then again neither is Fandaniel, in his first appearances he wasn't nearly so over the top. The point here is that they both share these traits as well, even if they're not perfectly balanced.

Hell it's not like Ardbert was EXACTLY like WoL either, they're very alike in many regards, but also differ in others. Frankly I'd say Zenos and Fandaniel are even more similar.

Of course, it's also possible Fandaniel is simply making his entire personality up just to get Zenos to play along, not that he seems all that enthused about it.

[Kesey]

Of course, it's also possible Fandaniel is simply making his entire personality up just to get Zenos to play along, not that he seems all that enthused about it.

This is crux of their relationship. Fandaniel is setting up a betrayal and Zenos either knows and doesn't care or believes he will gain the upper hand if it the betrayal happens. Either way, Zenos will get what he wants which is a WOL confrontation.

I believe Zenos has the upper hand, as Shadowbringers didn't show the fight where he expelled Elidibus from his old body. It seemed strange at the time to keep this villain alive and not show his growing power when he takes back his body, but if it will affect a future plot point then it's the only reason that makes sense to exclude it.

[Vyrerus]

Zenos only really gets going when his battle lust completely overtakes his apathy. What little we've seen of Fandaniel thus far suggests he's like that pretty much all the time.

That may change moving forward, but as it stands now I can't agree the two are different shard reincarnations of Convocation Fandaniel.

I think Fandaniel will be the opposite. He's crazy outside of battle, but will be dead serious in battle. I was also under the impression that he was going to be the, "exception" that Emet-selch implied in inbetween cutscenes dialogue where he said that rarely non-convocation shards are raised and given the office.

As far as the first two raid fights go, I'm fairly certain that they are going to be memory summons like the primals, except specfically for darkness elemental/aligned creatures to realign the entirety of the Empty. First Cloud of Darkness, and our WoLs are going to remember her based on the minion lol. Then the Shadowkeeper, based on mural or maybe a book picture. Once the Empty has moved back towards neutrality between Light and Dark, this allows Darkness to take the reigns of Gaia's mind and thus the transformations and real bosses come forth.

[myahele]

I think Fandaniel will be the opposite. He's crazy outside of battle, but will be dead serious in battle. I was also under the impression that he was going to be the, "exception" that Emet-selch implied in inbetween cutscenes dialogue where he said that rarely non-convocation shards are raised and given the office.

I haven't thought of that. It might explain why his glyph is inverted