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

[RyuDragnier]

Too bad that means it won't be done proper justice. Probably will be about as riveting as the Ala Mhigan side of SB...that's me giving a worst case scenario btw, I'm REALLY hoping I'm wrong on that.

[Kesey]

Too bad that means it won't be done proper justice. Probably will be about as riveting as the Ala Mhigan side of SB...that's me giving a worst case scenario btw, I'm REALLY hoping I'm wrong on that.

I agree. Even hellscape Islabard is going to be a rehash of Stormblood. Although I can't help but have this feeling that if we invade the Empire, it won't provide the necessary steps needed to finish the Hydaelyn/Zodiark arc.

For example: Where is Venat (5.2 and 5.3 make it very clear they exist as a primal somewhere)? We need to speak with Hydaelyn again--the mere fact we can comment that killing Emet and Elidibus might not have been the correct thing to do, given our origin is suspect. What was Azem doing when Hydaelyn and Zodiark were summoned (the third solution to the sound theory)? The short stories attached to the Rising make Phoenix an Ancient creation by Lahabrea, yet the 12 were summoned by Louisoix to make him Phoenix, while Lahabrea looked on--our understanding of the events here are potentially about to be retconned (also they threw in the Phoenix card to triple triad this latest patch; could be a red herring, but could also be a don't forget about this). Lastly, the WOL's flashback to the Rak'tika cave painting that shows Hydaelyn and Zodiark side by side, implying there is more to their story, let alone that they may have coexisted for a period of time before fighting and sundering the world.

Granted Fandaniel and Zenos (who can speculate is tied to answering the above questions and theories because he keeps dreaming of the final days) will be key, but does going to the Empire really promise to answer these questions? Where does an Empire expansion lead us back to Hydaelyn? How will the Empire connect back to Ancients (especially if Fandaniel doesn't care about that time period)?