6.0 Story Speculations

[Tensaihime]

I admit I'm not sure if I should be talking too much about FFIV. On the one hand, not everyone has played it (as you say), and I'm wary about spoilers. On the other hand, it's a 30 year old game, so I don't know how much of it can be spoiled.

Say what you need to say. We’ve got spoiler tags, and whatever gets through... we’ll live with it.

The original version of IV isn't really rage inducing. Those rare items are wholly unnecessary in that version. Not sure about remakes. If you go for the DS version, people say it's hard, but basically it just requires a little thought and making party members play their role/giving Kain Edward's skillset for Haste Song... a singing DRG hmmmmmm... a little more nuance to have him constantly sing rather than hand him a two handed sword that auto berserks him.

I would recommend any of the SNES rom versions. JP has an easier start of things, since Cecil has Dark Wave. The English version people tell you to stay away from, but it's easier in the end game, because monsters had most of their status afflictions neutered. Everything's fairly consistent enough that you get the whole story in both, though obvs the translation on the OG English version fails in a few areas due to the time... like prayers = wishes instead etc.

And if you decide you really love its world, you can get the After Years... which is basically Final Fantasy IV: Guren Lagann Season 2 edition.

Awesome! Thank you for the endorsement, now I just have to tear myself away from the Firmament long enough...

[Vyrerus]

So I was drunk last night, and I was flying to buy some Rhotano Blue dye, and the spiral shells with spikes dotting the Sapsa Spawning Grounds rocked me like a hurricane (also a huge spiral). Maybe those Sharlayans got some Shadow over Innsmouth sorta stuff going on... I mean, didn't Tupsimati have like... Sahagin language on it? But then it got into the hands of Louisoix...

I guess all I'm saying is, is I won't be surprised if Sahagins play some part in Endwalker! :O

[Rannie]

I don't know anything about that Vyrerus... but I feel this is in order... how dare you fly while drunk .. you could have killed someone!!! Shame on you! =P

[EaraGrace]

Apologies if someone else has already pointed this out, but I was watching the Endwalker trailer again (I totally haven’t had it on repeat btw) and was curious what the symbols on the book G’raha was reading were.



After looking around, the eye on the front seems to resemble the symbol of the Scions:



As you can see, it’s also the one G’raha himself has on his arm. Which, if that is indeed what it resembles and isn’t just a coincidence, begs the question.

Why is an old looking book, locked away deep in the vaults of Old Sharlayan that contains some important secret or secrets about the star, adorned with the partial symbol of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, a relatively new organization with a hot/cold relationship with Sharlayan? It’s possible it’s not actually that old and was written after their founding, but that still seems odd given it’s condition, Sharlayans public disinterest with the Scions and its location.

Adding to the puzzle is another aspect of the cover. Placed right in the center of the eye is a red jewel, one which closely matches G’rahas own eye color (or more accurately the eyes of Allagans’ royal bloodline):



And, when one looks at the back cover, the eye is present but lacks a gem:



Now, it is entirely reasonable for the back cover to just not need or have one and that’s that, but once again this feels odd.

Especially given that, in a weird parallel, G’raha also doesn’t have two red eyes (originally), but one red and one cyan. The other turned red after the events of the Crystal Tower raids when Doga and Unei share there blood with him.

So if, once again, none of this is pure coincidence, and it may be, then there’s only one question I can’t answer.

Why?

[Vyrerus]

It's not the symbol of the Scions, it's the Archon mark for Sharlayans. Moenbryda had one on her thigh. They get them when they complete their archon thesis or whatever. It might be a book that explains why Sharlayan considers it such a valuable symbol.

Nevermind, I'm wrong and silly. Got my Sharlayan tattoos mixed up.

[Fenral]

The mark on his arm is the crest of Sharlayan. It is only directly identified in one piece of official artwork, and that is... concept art for the Viangaa. Wow, that gag aged like milk...

To this day, it has only been worn by the Gen 1 Scions, Moenbryda, and G'raha (which proved to be a really drawn out foreshadow).


That's definitely a rendition of the central bit on the cover (good catch!), but it almost looks like it's inside a keyhole.

Kingdom Hearts crossover confirmed?

[EaraGrace]

The mark on his arm is the crest of Sharlayan. It is only directly identified in one piece of official artwork, and that is... concept art for the Viangaa. Wow, that gag aged like milk...

To this day, it has only been worn by the Gen 1 Scions, Moenbryda, and G'raha (which proved to be a really drawn out foreshadow).


That's definitely a rendition of the central bit on the cover (good catch!), but it almost looks like it's inside a keyhole.

Kingdom Hearts crossover confirmed?

It being a symbol of Sharlayan would make sense (I couldn’t translate that bit of concept art so I appreciate that bit of knowledge)! What’s odd is the fact the symbol only starts showing up post calamity. Thancred lacks it on on his collar in 1.0, yet come 2.0 it’s clear as day on his shirt collar. Yshtola is the same.

[Vyrerus]

Oooh, so I had my tattoos mixed up, but it isn't necessarily the Scion's symbol. They did take it from something in Sharlayan. Heh. It honestly reminds me of the Sheikah symbol from Zelda. "The Eye of Truth." or whatever.

[Fenral]

It being a symbol of Sharlayan would make sense (I couldn’t translate that bit of concept art so I appreciate that bit of knowledge)! What’s odd is the fact the symbol only starts showing up post calamity. Thancred lacks it on on his collar in 1.0, yet come 2.0 it’s clear as day on his shirt collar. Yshtola is the same.

It's one of those interesting details that they introduced deliberately on the core cast, gave it to a pair of red herrings, and then dropped almost entirely.


I always think of Neverwinter Nights when I see it.

[Vyrerus]

Crest of Sharlayan...





Sheikah's Eye of Truth (The open eye represents always looking for the truth, while the teardrop represents being willing to go to any lengths to find it)



Neverwinter Night's Cultist Eye (Reptilian?)