6.0 Story Speculations

[Enkidoh]

...in fact, I've just now realized some additional fuel to this Fandaniel idea:

Remember in 5.3, when Fandaniel's face and name were revealed (while in the white outfit, as an aside), and he made a whole big thing about how hurt Asahi would be that Zenos didn't even remember the face of his biggest Fan? That bit is mostly just empty theatrics and playing to the audience, because we do recognize Asahi...

Unless Asahi is listening, in which case it becomes a taunt to a captive audience that White Fandaniel hates!

I'm really sorry to jump back to this, but I really, really like this idea! Oh it would be such delicious irony having Asahi's conciousness still present but stuck powerless to do anything but watch helplessly as Fandangle uses his voice to mock both him and his obsessive crush.

Even better if he gets to watch the WoL, his bitter, hated enemy, destroy Zenos once and for all before killing Fandanglangdinaling (and Asahi again)... but I think I'm getting too many darkside points here so I think I'll stop for now.

[Cilia]

So Ishikawa wrote a whole expansion on un-intended consequences?

Well... yes? Shadowbringers happening at all was not part of the Ascian gameplan.

[Lauront]

Thoughts on the trailer… haven’t read everything here so probably some repetition. I may come back later on depending on further translations of the non-EN versions...

Vision of Amaurot

The interesting thing about this is that it has flesh and blood character models, complete with masks, filled in. Assuming this pans out, I do wonder if this recreation here is casting the sundered races as the “actors” of the play to make it more vivid. So far, even recordings like those in Anamnesis Anyder, as well as the flashback of Azem Emet saw, have been the glowing figures. We know (point 7) they’re not how the ancients looked, but the point is, it’s not mere memory issues which results in this form being displayed, and this scene might be amped up a bit to make the experience all the more vivid. Though with how Venat's face looks, dirtied, without the ethereal glow, maybe it's the actual thing...

Zodiark

Finally, an in-game glimpse of my boy! Looks to me like what we’re seeing is a mere concept outline of him, albeit with modifications to what was seen in the Amano art. If his “rebirth” (re-summoning?) is blocked by the chains Hydaelyn bound him with, and these act similarly to the seal in Silvertear Lake, it might not be inconsistent with Fandaniel’s testimony of him being dormant but with a rage – because Primals return to the Aetherial Sea (or in this case, maybe a cordoned off section of it in his case, within the moon) upon defeat, so it is perhaps that aether-form manifestation Fandaniel is referring to. The entreaty to him in the French version has me thinking, he is being summoned anew, and his purpose re-oriented to fit Fandaniel’s designs. If he (possibly Hydaelyn too) are going to draw inspiration from Necron, an excellent way to replicate the idea in XIV is to have the summoner's intentions affect the primal summoning - a nihilistically minded summoner would thus imprint on the primal much as Kuja influenced Necron's views. I don't think he has any intention to serve or revive him, so much as use him (and Hydaelyn) as fuel for whatever scheme he is concocting, be it in service to some otherworldly being, or not. Particularly if Zodiark's (and Hydaelyn's) removal would somehow unravel the new laws he set in motion for the star - a line in the French trailer, possibly attributable to Thancred, indicates this might play into it: "But if the laws of nature are lost, no one will survive."

It’s still my expectation that the trial won’t be a straight up Zodiark fight, and that any actual fight will be reserved for Pandaemonium, on a what-if basis, but we’ll see.

Anima

My suspicion is it might guard something at this point. It is surrounded by skeletal coffins, and has a most monstrous look to it. Perhaps the guardian to be faced before heading to either the moon or Underworld. Like others said, it appears to have served its purpose by that stage. The lower part retains the look from X, so again I wonder if it relates to the Terminus beasts somehow.

Fandaniel

The lines regarding restoring things to the way they were could date to ancient Amaurot, after the Final Days were halted. Or maybe he is speaking in the same vein as Yotsuyu, where she mocked the Domans using their own philosophical viewpoint to do so. Possibly trying to influence Zodiark/the other Overlords. Who knows. He sounds sincere, esp. in the JP and DE versions, so I'm minded to think this is a glimpse from earlier days.

I do find the concept of him having split personas, mentioned earlier, interesting. The fractured/weak nature of his crystal could lend itself to this. I am not too convinced there is a stark division in personality between when he wears his white robes (treating Zodiark as prey, gleeful about the unsundered perishing), and from his latter ramblings about wanting to destroy all existence, but neither is much of an obstacle to such a theory. At the same time, it is possible they may be splitting the references from different time periods, as mentioned above. I’m undecided on the matter.

Lady of Light

Not an awful lot to say. They’re throwing obvious clues about who she is with how she speaks. Very little to go off beyond that. She looks resigned when she sees the scenes of Amaurot. Remorseful, perhaps, but also content to let fate play out. Not too surprised she’s accompanying the MC as this is more or less what I expected of her. The gifted flower made me think of a lotus (mythological references to this and memory-erasure), but it looks like some other flower (apparently not a Nymeia lily) – she refers to it as being a test and proof of the character’s conviction; walk free, yes, but also bear the light for others to follow. So expectations remain there. Still get Yunalesca vibes from her. Her test is probably more than just philosophical and could serve a purpose, e.g. being ready to take on the role of heart of her Primal... as a suggestion.

Underworld

I was strongly expecting a trip to the Aetherial Sea, and it looks like this will be happening! Have to say I am surprised by the level of detail in the related areas, especially regarding Pandaemonium (first part being Asphodelos, again a reference to the ancient Greek underworld), the crystal paths and possibly that strange looking red sky area with the big dark floating objects – perhaps one of the five rivers of ancient Greek myth, e.g. Styx, Acheron etc? Interestingly, Lethe is the river running through the Elysium fields, also causing one’s memory to go. Some of this all might even involve trips into someone’s mind or memory. These locales have some Memoria vibes to them.

If the narration (comparison between EN/JP and EN/FR; both non-EN strip reference to "your" truth) to do with Hades ties to this, his domain, it’d be very fitting. The whole thing made me think of this, but in reverse sequence, as the MC begins with the "goddess's" gift (one can take “atonement” in a number of ways, e.g. SHB and the way it introduced a total perspective shift.)

Pandaemonium

Really like the design. Reminds me a bit of Mhach. It definitely has the look of some manner of holding pen.

Garlemald

His comments refer to the desire to restore it and whether that will remain the case after the quests - he has stated in prior interviews that the intent is to use this to build understanding and sympathy for the Garleans as they did with SHB for the Ascians, so I feel there is something more going on here than “Garlean bad”, maybe relating to its political order (maybe even the inspirations behind its architecture etc.) Given prior references to his age, and possible allusions to Larsa, I could see the blue-haired figure as potentially being Nerva. Though the platinum-haired Garlean figure is another possibility and closer to what we know of the Galvus family line.

Zenos

His lines suggest a trap. I think he is intent on having the WoL play his game while seating him on that throne (with its strong IX allusion), which is entailed by fulfilling the duty of defender of the star.

Misc

It looks like the Terminus beasts are forming from slain mortals.

The ancients immersed in the darkness – perhaps ancients that were dormant in Zodiark? Very possible.

The reference to the line of making the suffering end… hmm… Magus sisters? In German it is something like: "Let’s make the suffering end. What else can we hope for?"

The new voices are hard to place. Especially when they’re running something of a repeat of events from ancient times. I wonder if some might belong to the other Overlords or to the Forum.

Floating zone remains a huge mystery, and makes me wonder if it’s the point of reference for the "world free of sorrow"/"wonderful world” (FR) thing (the line seems like it's from Fourchad in FR and EN but when comparing the JP versions in the trailers, the similarity vanishes) may be from Convocation's exchanges with Venat, or alternatively, the Forum's with the Scions, depending on what their plans are.

Like others, the larger scale of the MSQ, is leading me to question if we’ll perhaps see an extra zone, and maybe trial and/or dungeon. There’s a lot more to cover than usual.

WOL using the summoning rite is interesting. Aid in distant places (Moon, Underworld etc), I guess.

Alphinaud death flags? I’ll believe it when I see it. I guess they may do it though, it'd be bold.

As an aside, the shift between purple and blue as the dialogue flashes is neat.

Unrelated, purely speculative thoughts

The idea of the ancients originating from another star has been touted a few times now. I think it's an interesting concept, to have the ancients have potentially fled another star, maybe to part ways with the more warlike denizens of the star - much like Sharlayan formed in the aftermath of the cataclysm wrought by the War of the Magi. Omega's star is hinted at having housed a civilisation like this. This could've informed the ancients' stance towards maintaining cohesion. At the same time, they may have encountered beings on the new star as an allegorical reference to the Titans, less willing to play ball/possibly quite sinister, that ended up being imprisoned and having the ancients lean into their powers. Given enough time, perhaps such things were all forgotten and later returned to haunt them given the right opportunity. Maybe something pursued them much later from afar. I find such possibilities intriguing.

With the Beauty and the Beast flower given to us by Venat, all I can really think is how awful the old woman who was actually a resplendent sorceress was to trick the asshole prince. Who for being a stuck up noble, imagine that in a time period where it was expected, she cursed him. Just sort of gave me a vibe like, maybe Venat is sour that she can't control us directly.

Actual Ancients without their hoods and with skin textures. Looks like we're getting another visualization of the old Final Days. Venat had soot on her face even. She has resting bitch face.

I love it. I was joking with Theodric a while ago that with how Hydaelyn sings, maybe the relation between her and her core/controller is a bit like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6L_QQz_5J8

As far as the deadened landscape dungeon looks, it looks like some sort of FFV / FFVI / FFXI landscape mixture. Those black orbs in the sky are reminiscent of the Void holes in the rejoined planet from FFV. The sky looks like Abyssea, but the skeletons all over the darkened ground remind me of Tahrongi Canyon/Attowha Chasm/Promyvion Mea. I bet it's like a hologram or memory of the star post Final Days, pre-Sundering. I think we're going to get the whole picture. Also FFVI - World of Ruin reference.

If that's what it is, it'd be good. A lot of the lines to me strike me as coming from different points in time, and possibly memories.

Sharlayan Robes look like white rendition of Ancient robes. Not too mention all those face veils.

[Veloran]

Are you implying

That you think we're going to go down the Ridorana Cataract and reach the core of the planet? An interesting idea, especially because that shot of Hydaelyn is centered on the Valnard Sea which is where Ridorana is located. I don't understand including the Sirensong Sea screenshot though.

Yes. In fact if you look at the logo and compare to the shot of the planet, not only is the hole roughly where the Cataract should be (and where the ocean is notably darker), but both Meracydia and Othard have continental splits along the same lines as the other black lines encircling the hole. As for the Sirensong Sea, it just happens to be one of the most random MSQ dungeons in the entire game, situated just on the edge of the position of the hole in that comparison, and it's flooded with ghosts and the undead. As we might expect if that's a rift into the aetherial sea.

It's unclear who planted the Ascian soul crystals, but that doesn't mean it was Emet-Selch,

I'm not smoking what Wiz there is and I don't think Emet is alive ("alive"), but come on now.

[Wiz33]

Well... yes? Shadowbringers happening at all was not part of the Ascian gameplan.

Wow, you actually said that with a straight face? I give Ishikawa more credit than that.

[Katie_Kitty]

Wow, you actually said that with a straight face? I give Ishikawa more credit than that.

There's no basis for you to believe otherwise. The ascian plan was to use a flood of light on the first to rejoin it to the source, and it succeeded, which caused the survivors to implement their own plan that involved going back and stopping the rejoining. I don't see where you're getting the idea that any of this was part of an Ascian plot.

Did Emet observe the WoL's arrival and try to work around it? Sure, but that doesn't make it part of his plan. It was a modified adjustment to the plan that was necessitated by our arrival. It wasn't supposed to happen.

[HiraishinNoJutsu]

Lady of Light

Not an awful lot to say. They’re throwing obvious clues about who she is with how she speaks. Very little to go off beyond that. She looks resigned when she sees the scenes of Amaurot. Remorseful, perhaps, but also content to let fate play out. Not too surprised she’s accompanying the MC as this is more or less what I expected of her. The gifted flower made me think of a lotus (mythological references to this and memory-erasure), but it looks like some other flower (apparently not a Nymeia lily) – she refers to it as being a test and proof of the character’s conviction; walk free, yes, but also bear the light for others to follow. So expectations remain there. Still get Yunalesca vibes from her.

Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.

This being an eastern game I'm willing to bet using eastern mythology/theology can lead closer to the truth.

In Buddhism Lotus symbolize many things but one of the most well known interpretation are that Lotus represent the cycle of rebirth and as it blooms it represents enlightenment. Lotus are flowers tethered to mud but are able to grow regardless. So even if people are stuck in the muck and mess of everyday life they are still able to sit beautifully above the surface pure of that gunk that they were born into. Hence why attaining enlightenment and escaping Samsara (the karmic cycle of death and rebirth) can be represented by the lotus flower blooming atop a swamp.

If we follow Buddhist teachings and agree that all humans are born into a world of suffering and that pain is what shapes us into being able to resist temptation and pick the righteous path and not the one that's easiest, that doing so is what makes a truly enlightened individual then it would mesh perfectly as the bloom measuring our conviction.

[Tracewood]

They are being really secretive about that zone, with it wholly absent from the launch trailer and being presented with extremely generic angles that showed basically nothing interesting in the job action trailer.

I'm assuming Sharlayan is probably well-aware it exists but has been keeping a lid on it for obvious reasons, though the whole Final Days situation might convince them to stop being so secretive.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the crystal themed dungeon we saw in the latest trailer? Like maybe this area is in another plane of existence?

[Wiz33]

Etched in the Stars pretty much proof that everything in Amaurot was staged by Emet for your benefit. If the trail of crystal was already in place before Amaurot, that means Emet have already found you worthy and was prepared to hand you their legacy and for you to reclaim the Azem Title. If the trail of crystal was laid after you "defeated" him. That pretty much means he's not destroyed at the end of Amaurot and was able to laid the crystal trail for you in addition to snapping you out of the void in SOS. That's pretty damn powerful even for an Ascian that was supposedly "destroyed" by white auracite.

[RyuDragnier]

Etched in the Stars pretty much proof that everything in Amaurot was staged by Emet for your benefit. If the trail of crystal was already in place before Amaurot, that means Emet have already found you worthy and was prepared to hand you their legacy and prepare for you to take the Azem Title. If the trail of crystal was laid after you "defeated" him. That pretty much means he's not destroyed at the end of Amaurot and was able to laid the crystal trail for you in addition to snapping you out of the void in SOS. That's pretty damn powerful for an Ascian that was "destroyed" by white auracite.

You forgot the middle ground. Remember, during the fight he disappears to let us fight his adds for a minute or two. He likely set everything up during that time frame, realizing we might just have what it takes. If he did do it that fast, then he's a master of Xanatos Speed Chess.