Dear SquareEnix/Natsuko Ishikawa - About Zenos in Endwalker *MAJOR MSQ SPOILERS*!

[nighttimebunny]

Some thoughts:

1. Meteion opened up a path back home for us after singing her song of hope, which seemed to take the shape of a shooting star. Surely Zenos could use this path too? He did explicitly say "I rode the light of the stars to you" when he shows up in Ultima Thule. I also wonder how the dynamis in the space affected him, exactly?

2. Someone was able to get a picture of Zenos's avatar's face behind its hands, and it looks pretty similar to Zenos in terms of facial features. What could this possibly mean? Or is it just a coincidence?

3. I believe we killed the "old" Zenos, and are going to see a new version of him. I think through killing him through our duel, and him still being unsatisfied, it may have led to a change in him-especially since there was so much dynamis in the air. When he turned into Shinryu back in SB, he said "An end to mark a new beginning." This was said by Emet-Selch/Hythlodaeous quite a few times as well in EW, and was one of the many "morals" of the story. By leaving Zenos there with no kind of real conclusion (and new beginning) for him, it completely goes against this moral, and wouldn't make such sense I believe.

[nighttimebunny]

I come back to this thread and see OP has crossed into "Genocidal Maniac is just Scared UwU Bean Child" territory.

Sorry that people like to explore characters in depth? You don't have to read it, lol. Also, yes Zenos is very cute UwU

[Kaliesto]

Oh yes, I've read those theories about the Occuria, that would be so interesting if they went down that particular road and could have so many implications.

What do you think the connection with Dalmasca might be going forward?

That I'm not sure right now, the writers are keeping Dalmasca almost under wraps for the moment.

[Elysidelphi]

Some thoughts:

1. Meteion opened up a path back home for us after singing her song of hope, which seemed to take the shape of a shooting star. Surely Zenos could use this path too? He did explicitly say "I rode the light of the stars to you" when he shows up in Ultima Thule. I also wonder how the dynamis in the space affected him, exactly?

2. Someone was able to get a picture of Zenos's avatar's face behind its hands, and it looks pretty similar to Zenos in terms of facial features. What could this possibly mean? Or is it just a coincidence?

3. I believe we killed the "old" Zenos, and are going to see a new version of him. I think through killing him through our duel, and him still being unsatisfied, it may have led to a change in him-especially since there was so much dynamis in the air. When he turned into Shinryu back in SB, he said "An end to mark a new beginning." This was said by Emet-Selch/Hythlodaeous quite a few times as well in EW, and was one of the many "morals" of the story. By leaving Zenos there with no kind of real conclusion for him, it completely goes against this moral, and wouldn't make such sense I believe.

1. Yes, Zenos could use that path opened by Meteion and ride the light of the stars again, or he could also use that other Ragnarok that is located in that area (Ultima Thule) and that connects back to the Ragnarok in Old Sharlayan. Or he could turn back into Shinryu and just fly back to the star since dragons can just fly through space. Or he could harness and use the power of Dynamis to instantly teleport back home or fly back home or something. I mean, he has a few options.

2. Wow, they got a picture of Zenos's avatar's face behind its hands? I would LOVE to see that picture. And yes, I am also curious about what it means.

3. Yeah, I hope to god that that duel won't be the last we see of Zenos and that it actually helps him start on a path of redemption. I keep talking to people about Zenos and it seems that quite a few people are sad/dissatisfied with his ending and would like to see him back for a redemption story.
And good point to emphasise what Zenos said in Stormblood "An end to mark a new beginning". And yes, both Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus hope to meet again, Emet-Selch says something like "Let the final curtain fall upon this star, so it rises again and we will all have new parts to play." I hope that means that we will see Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus again, as well as Hermes/Amon/Fandaniel, Elidibus, Lahabrea, maybe even Meteion, maybe even Venat, the other Ascians/members of the Convocation...and definitely Zenos. And since he said "new parts", maybe, hopefully, that's a clue/hint that Zenos as well will play a new part, different from what he has done until now, meaning that he will no longer want to just fight us, he will want more, maybe to join us in our adventures.

[Kaliesto]

I'm not sure if Zenos can be redeemed, that guy destroyed so many people directly or indirectly.

Zenos would be extremely hated by everyone.

[nighttimebunny]

Here it is, along with some other thoughts-this is not mine, but EgoCollective's on Reddit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...p8CwxWehk/edit

[Elysidelphi]

I'm not sure if Zenos can be redeemed, that guy destroyed so many people directly or indirectly.

Zenos is would be extremely hated by everyone.

Anyone can be redeemed if they want/seek redemption and work for it. With good writing, it can be done. Zenos is not the worst villain in FFXIV. Arguably, Emet-Selch has done a lot more harm than Zenos and yet Emet-Selch is adored and beloved by the fans/playerbase, having found redemption in the hearts of many.

Zenos wouldn't be hated by everyone. There are still many countries/continents on the star we have not even explored (like Emet-Selch said) that have not even been affected much/at all by Zenos, the people there wouldn't hate him. So no, not everyone. And even with those who would hate him, with proper writing/development, Zenos could earn his redemption.

From A Realm Reborn all the way to Shadowbringers, the Ascians were hated and disliked by many, considered flat characters, boring, annoying, etc. That was 6 years. 6 long years of the Ascians have no redeemable qualities about them, no depth, etc. Then Shadowbringers changed it all for them. The exact same can be done for Zenos.

[Elysidelphi]

Here it is, along with some other thoughts-this is not mine, but EgoCollective's on Reddit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...p8CwxWehk/edit

Wow, thank you so much for this link! Much food for thought, must read and analyse the hell out of it now, haha! Thank you so much!!!

[nighttimebunny]

No problem! It's really a great read! I'm curious if anything stands out for you from it

[Kaliesto]

Here it is, along with some other thoughts-this is not mine, but EgoCollective's on Reddit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...p8CwxWehk/edit

I'm highly suspecting Zenos wants to do something with the World of Darkness (if the writers are really going to continue Zenos), Denizens of the WoD is one of the last big bads left and have direct connection to the Void.

I think the WoD is highly looked over because of its lesser role in the story, and I don't think Cloud of Darkness has been completely defeated.

If this game is following closely with Classic Tropes of Final Fantasy then the final story of FFXIV (one day in the future) should have something to do with the Void itself. I seen what Yoshi-P is doing here, he has followed a lot of classic recurring story beats throughout each expansion and I wouldn't be surprised if the Void ends up being the final story.

Unless he subverts my own expectations, and pulls something out of his hat.