Revelations from Patch 5.4

[Fenral]

I actually wonder if Nerva is going to be our Larsa. He is Legatus of the IIIrd, and the "young prince takes the throne" arc was something the series first did with Alus in FF3.

[Iscah]

I actually wonder if Nerva is going to be our Larsa. He is Legatus of the IIIrd, and the "young prince takes the throne" arc was something the series first did with Alus in FF3.

Not sure about "young prince" though - he's Varis's cousin so it's more likely (although not necessary) that he's around that age.

[Rosenstrauch]

I actually wonder if Nerva is going to be our Larsa. He is Legatus of the IIIrd, and the "young prince takes the throne" arc was something the series first did with Alus in FF3.

This is what I'm thinking as well. My memory of FF3's plot is more than a little hazy, but I distinctly recall Alus being something of a weakling and a coward, with his brief character arc having him and Arc (heh) bonding over their similar personalities and experiences. Oh, and he's ten years old. Being that young, or even about the same age as Alphinaud, would definitely explain why Nerva wasn't considered a ready heir circa Kaien's rebellion.

[Iscah]

...would definitely explain why Nerva wasn't considered a ready heir circa Kaien's rebellion.

What's this? Is there additional information somewhere I'm not aware of? As far as I'm aware we've just had two contextless name-drops and the fact that he's Varis's cousin.

Why was there a need for another heir at the time of Kaien's rebellion? I don't remember this ever being discussed. And by time-bubble logic if he was too young then, he's probably still too young now.

Actually, unless "cousin" is being used loosely then he might be the son of Varis's uncle Titus who was the other contender for the throne against him. That would account for Nerva not trying to claim the throne directly last time there was a fight over it - he'd just need Titus to win and that would make him crown prince.

[Rosenstrauch]

What's this? Is there additional information somewhere I'm not aware of? As far as I'm aware we've just had two contextless name-drops and the fact that he's Varis's cousin.

It's from Tales from the Storm: In Darkness Blooms the Lily. The particular excerpt is here:

With Emperor Solus on his deathbed, a clandestine war of succession was already being waged in Garlemald. Solus's eldest being dead, his grandson Varis was next in line to the throne, but the Emperor’s second son Titus had other ideas, and no shortage of support. What he did not have, however, was Varis’s standing with the military, nor less a ready heir─this Zenos.

Now, I would not be surprised if Nerva straight up didn't exist as a concept at the time this was written. Titus had no son, so of course he didn't have someone to succeed him in the event that he took the throne. But whether that's true or not, Nerva definitely exists now (and retroactively always has). So if Nerva's existence and his leadership of the IIIrd Legion is to be reconciled with this statement, the question that has to be asked is "What made Nerva unfit for heirdom?". Him being an actual child, or at least significantly younger than Zenos, could fit the bill.

[Fenral]

Not sure about "young prince" though - he's Varis's cousin so it's more likely (although not necessary) that he's around that age.

I'm around 20 years younger than my cousins, so I don't really consider the word a terribly useful indicator of relative age.


But mostly I'm spitballing. G'raha already ticked most of the "FF3 companion homage" boxes by himself, and they probably won't want to do too much of a retread, but after Owen's sudden out-of-context appearance, I figure it can't hurt to cover all the angles. All we really have to go on right now is a number, after all, and since we've already had plenty of Aria stand-ins...

[Iscah]

If I was going to place "FF3 companion homages" somewhere in the story as a group, I would guess them to have been Salina and Desch's companions - tying into whatever that weird recording from Heaven-on-High was hinting at. It certainly sounded like there was more history to be uncovered there.

[MrThinker]

Actually, unless "cousin" is being used loosely then he might be the son of Varis's uncle Titus who was the other contender for the throne against him. That would account for Nerva not trying to claim the throne directly last time there was a fight over it - he'd just need Titus to win and that would make him crown prince.

In the Bozja questline, he is outright stated to be Titus's son.

[Lium]

Super late on finishing this, but I’ve been in Night City the last couple weeks.

Eden

I was getting some Alexander vibes with the relationship between Mitron and Logrif. It reminded me of Mide wanting to be reunited with her man (forgot his name). And how that guy was inside Alexander, similar to how Mitron was actually Eden. He even wanted to create a moment in time for them to be in forever. Very Alexander like.

The fights themselves were okay. I like the friendship between Ryne and Gaia and saving Gaia’s memories was a nice touch as it gave the last fight meaning. I genuinely wanted to save her because I didn’t want to see Ryne lose her friend and be alone on the First. So that was cool.

My only real gripe is that I felt there was a missed opportunity to reveal that we, too, were a member of the Convocation. But I’m not sure if that info has even been revealed to the other Scions. So it may not have been appropriate to say anything in that situation. But a couple dialogue options would have been nice.

I like getting the option to reveal that we know who Cylva was. But I was not expecting a giant wolf monster.

I thought the endings to both Alexander and Omega (especially Omega) were more emotional, but this was still good. And it focused on a couple of young girls finding true friendship so it couldn’t be too heavy. I feel like we’ll be seeing more of Gaia on the Source.

Nier

Uh... holy crap. That was just tragic. Anogg is... dead? She died saving her brother’s life? And what we’ve been seeing this whole time has been a replicant? I’m now wondering if Konogg is also a replicant.

The only highlight was standing in that command center. Walking into that room and seeing FOR THE GLORY OF MANKIND on the wall had me geeking out for several minutes. But so far this has been the most depressing - and confusing - Alliance raid series to date.

[MrThinker]

Super late on finishing this, but I’ve been in Night City the last couple weeks.

Nier

Uh... holy crap. That was just tragic. Anogg is... dead? She died saving her brother’s life? And what we’ve been seeing this whole time has been a replicant? I’m now wondering if Konogg is also a replicant.

The only highlight was standing in that command center. Walking into that room and seeing FOR THE GLORY OF MANKIND on the wall had me geeking out for several minutes. But so far this has been the most depressing - and confusing - Alliance raid series to date.

In regards to YorHa

My current hot-take theory is that both Anogg and Konogg have never been actual dwarves, but rather some sort of combined experiment by the androids and the machines to see if:

1) They can co-exist with each other

2) They can co-exist with organic life

3) They can gain 'souls'

I mean it can hardly be a coincidence that the two have that black and white theme going on, and that Anogg (the white-garbed dwarf) was coinicidentally the one with the machine replacement (machines that are associated with white clothes). Especially since the digsite chief apparently first found them wandering the tunnels.

Of course, this still doesn't explain anything about where on earth (or space) that the damn robots actually came from.