Patch 6.1 trailer speculations

[Enkidoh]

I've got a feeling it's somewhere near Gyr Abania (or at least Rhalgr's section would be), given the suspiciously Ala Mhigan incongraphy in the teaser images (the griffin-holding-a-sword statury seen in Ala Mhigo) that seems to adorn at least part of the raid shown, which again ties in with how Azeyma and Rhalgr's appearences resemble their depictions in the artwork on AST's cards, suggesting the Twelve and the areas they're fought are probably aetherial incarnations of mortal ideas - psuedo-Primals in all but name.

And extending from that, maybe Byregot (who is also thunder elemental), would be in the same area as it makes sense - therefore Azeyma and Nald'thal's battlefields would be theoretically somewhere over Thanalan. I guess we'll find out either way though.

Also, that particular point ties into a really old bit of lore from 1.0 how the citystates of Eorzea each would take a member of the Twelve as their 'guardian', and that wars between the citystates in the past were considered "wars of the heavens" - not suprisingly in ARR that sort of thing was pretty much abandoned or at least forgotten, so it remains to be seen whether the Myths of the Realm raids will revive this idea.

[Cleretic]

One thing I'm thinking of: it's interesting that the alliance raid is called 'Myths of the Realm', when everything we're being set up to look at is just about the Twelve. Not only could that easily have a more pointed name if they wanted it, it's also... well, only one myth, technically.

I don't necessarily think this is a definite (it's gonna be really hard to deny that the numbers line up exactly right), but perhaps the alliance raids aren't just going to be the Twelve. Perhaps we're also going to visit some others mentioned over the game; the Boy and the Dragon Gay, the couple from the story behind the Eternal Bonding, the origin myths of the beast tribes (Leviathan's actually seems suspiciously Zodiark-esque if you check the Encyclopedia Eorzea)...

Granted, if this storyline is basically entirely shackled to Ancient stuff, that angle would kinda suck and cheapen a lot of those stories; 'every myth ties back to the unsundered world, over the course of twelve thousand years no society has had a single original thought' would be one of the worst setting or story details you could add. But it might possibly be a seed of something to not entirely dismiss just yet. Maybe the story reason why it's broken up into three is because the Twelve are actually deities adapted from three different cultures and mythologies, and only this first lineup has Ancient roots.

[Lyth]

Part of that problem comes down to the fact that the Amaurotians are the only ancient society that we actually know about, so it's natural to have the perception at this point that everything traces back to a single homogenous society. I'm sure that as we 'broaden our horizons' as Emet suggested, we're going to encounter other influential groups as well. The Void is a pretty good starting point for this because they're the other known 'unknown' behind Allag/Meracydia, but I'm sure that we'll encounter other independently developed civilizations at some point.

Perhaps the reason for the plural 'Myths' is to suggest that the 'Twelve' were different groups of people in different stories. We have twelve Thavnairian Zodiac Braves. Twelve Archons rescuing people from the Flood and founding Sharlayan. This storyline might unify those various 'Myths' and give them a common thread.

[Cleretic]

Part of that problem comes down to the fact that the Amaurotians are the only ancient society that we actually know about, so it's natural to have the perception at this point that everything traces back to a single homogenous society. I'm sure that as we 'broaden our horizons' as Emet suggested, we're going to encounter other influential groups as well. The Void is a pretty good starting point for this because they're the other known 'unknown' behind Allag/Meracydia, but I'm sure that we'll encounter other independently developed civilizations at some point.

Perhaps the reason for the plural 'Myths' is to suggest that the 'Twelve' were different groups of people in different stories. We have twelve Thavnairian Zodiac Braves. Twelve Archons rescuing people from the Flood and founding Sharlayan. This storyline might unify those various 'Myths' and give them a common thread.

Actually, we know multiple 'lowercase-a ancient' societies that could conceivably have myths and histories we don't know about; Allag, Ivalice, Goug, Third Astral Meracydia, early Bozja, Mhach, Amdapor, Nym, Skalla, Ronka, the people of the Thirteenth. If we go into more recent history there's still Sil'dih, Gelmorra, Voeburt, potentially the Garleans in the days of Corvos. And that's not even counting the Astral Eras we don't know of any societies from; they surely existed, too.

We aren't in a state where every old story has to trace back to Amaurot just because that's the only place that it could trace back to. Kind of a lot of places that can come up with stories, actually, and it'd kinda suck to rob all of them of everything and attribute it to the Ancients.

[MikkoAkure]

We aren't in a state where every old story has to trace back to Amaurot just because that's the only place that it could trace back to. Kind of a lot of places that can come up with stories, actually, and it'd kinda suck to rob all of them of everything and attribute it to the Ancients.

According to the EE, and brought up again in an interview during HW, the Twelve as a religion was being practiced all the way back to the Allagan Empire in the 3rd Astral Era which already puts it as being older than our own world’s religions and an Ancient origin is probably likely at this point, though I’d be happy to be surprised.

[KageTokage]

With them stating this story is meant to be "an epilogue to the Hydaelyn/Zodiark conflict", it gives me a rather strong impression that they are going to end up tying everything back to the Ancients; moreso with the first raid being named after one of the Greek Graces (Aglaea).

I am mostly curious to see if/how they'll explain the whole Azem/Azeyma/Azim connection in this first raid.

[Lucida3b]

Did anyone else think they were in tam tara for the three summoning or interacting with those gargoyle statues?, it looked like that area and I cant help but wonder if the cult of dalamud is coming back into play

[Kordarion]

Did anyone else think they were in tam tara for the three summoning or interacting with those gargoyle statues?, it looked like that area and I cant help but wonder if the cult of dalamud is coming back into play

Considering the fact that they latter showed off the entrance of the revamped To-To-Rak I'm of the same opinion that it has to do with the cult, but in so far as teasing the ARR dungeon changes.

[RyuDragnier]

About the Twelve and their seemingly powerful ability to fight...could they be previous versions of Azem from before Venat? Wild shot in the dark, but the thought crossed my mind. Perhaps Azeyma was in fact the original Azem, and the title passed down from her.

[Enkidoh]

About the Twelve and their seemingly powerful ability to fight...could they be previous versions of Azem from before Venat? Wild shot in the dark, but the thought crossed my mind. Perhaps Azeyma was in fact the original Azem, and the title passed down from her.

You've been reading my headcanon in that thread haven't you? (*approves*)

Just kidding, it's a very obvious conclusion to draw. I'm excited by the prospect either way, and also throw in the Ala Mhigan imagery for Rhalgr, and I admit I can't wait for this.