Media Tour Information shows that Thavnair has sections with both level 80 and 85 monsters
which explains why we go from peaceful tropics
To an "Asura induced" Hellscape
The Tower of Zot dungeon that takes place at Level 81 also includes Krile. This means that we have to make contact with her at some point before we enter the Thavnarian Tower.
My Rough Guess for the Zone ordering Endwalker is going to follow is something like this:
Early Zone Split to avoid Congestion at Level 80 = Labyrinthos/Thavnair. The former is unwilling to intervene regardless of circumstance while the latter won't bet on our side because they are dealing with their own crisis that we must solve if were to make any progress.
Tower of Zot = Level 81 first dungeon
Levels 82-83 are us going to the heart of the problem = Garlemald. WoL and the Scions decide they can't wait forever/Hear disturbing news of Garlemald so we decide to bring the fight to Zenos. We realize he and Fandaniel have moved elsewhere to enact chaos and proceed with the next phase of their plan.
Level 84 we need information to deal with the massive tower or need a way to get to the moon = Mysterious Floating Islands/ Zeal is that you?. We learn some damning information about Sharlayan that explicitly shows they are related in some way to Amaurot. (Hydaelyn propoganda machine? Nyunkrepf was an Ascian all along? Who knows!) but before we can act on this info
Level 85 Distress call from our near eastern allies! = Return to Thavnair arc. We have to put out all the smoke and fires that the unknown Thavnarian enemy has caused. With this issue solved and Radz-at-Hans full support we can finally direct all our focus towards the nation of scholars
Levels 86-87 confrontation with Sharlayan = Return to the Old World arc. Info we learned from "Zeal" is put bare face in front of the Forum, somehow convince Fourchenault to quit having such a stick up his ... and we devise a means to permanently deal with Fanny and the Thicc man.
With Sharlayan convinced that the world really is gonna blow up for good this time we devise a means to get to space Level 88 = The moon and Mare Lamentorum. We learn some Ancient Lore and probably why Fandaniel is the way he is and with all that put to bed
Levels 89-90 = Final Zone we don't know about. I am not even gonna try to predict the ending of the Hydaelyn and Zodiark Saga I just pray that it's wrapped up in satisfyingly and respects the journey we have been on
Opinions? This is very
VERY barebones as it doesn't factor in specific story beats at all or key characters we need to meet like mysterious white haired lady that's probably Venat or Vrtra but I am still immensely curious on how you guys think the story will pace itself out