Story unravelled (sorry SE) (Spoiler: Patch 6.2 - 7.0)

[Kesey]

I think the only thing that is for sure is that Golbez will remove his helmet and reveal himself. They've done this with every villain, except Estinien possessed by Nidhoog.

I'm not sure that most of the connections made by the original post are even going to factor in here.

But I think Golbez being connected to the Ancients is likely given that one of the final scenes of 6.2, which is a flashback Golbez has shows him with what appears to be an Ancient. Plus the 6.1 cutscene claims they've waited nearly 10 thousand years to execute their plan.

[Tetsujin13]

It might also be that since all the elements have been represented or activated clock-wise along the ring of the elemental wheel. According to the Eorzea lore book, the three conquerts and three submissions fit very well to the remaining Twelve gods, if we exclude the gods that have been represented already.

By taking into consideration the three conquerts and three submissions, and the nature of the gods that represent the elements left that are associated with these. I propose this possible relationship.

Calamities x Elemental Wheel Sequence:

Flood of Darkness

(Chapter 1)
Astral Wind
Umbral Lightning
Astral Fire
Umbral Earth
Astral Ice
Umbral Water

Flood of Light

(Chapter 2)
Earth grounds Lightning.
Astral Earth / Sustainability (Nophica) protects against Astral Lightning / Unsustainability (Byregot)

Water erodes Earth
Astral Water / Rivers (Thaliak) protects against Astral Earth / Desolation (Nophica)

Lightning boils Water
Astral Lightning / Ingenuity (Byregot) protects against Astral Water / Flooding (Thaliak)

Second flood of Darkness?

(Chapter 3)
Fire is exstinguished by Wind.
Umbral Fire / Condemned Souls (Nald'thal) is stopped by Umbral Wind / Freedom (Oschon)

Ice is melted by Fire.
Umbral Ice / Emotionally troubled (Menphina) is stopped by Umbral Fire / Peace in afterlife (Nald'thal)

Wind is obstructed by Ice.
Umbral Wind / Depression (Oschon) is stopped by Umbral Ice / Love (Menphina)

Second flood of Light?

[Iscah]

Astral Darkness (Flood of Darkness, Corruption?)

Astral Light (Flood of Light, Stasis)

Umbral Darkness (Flood of Madness?)

Umbral Light (Flood of Ignorant Bliss?)

Darkness and light aren't elements but aspects, synonymous with astral/active and umbral/passive energies respectively.

Proposing "astral light and umbral light" as elemental combinations is in the realm of proposing "dry water and wet water".

And the madness and bliss thing has no canon basis to my awareness.

[Tetsujin13]

I think the only thing that is for sure is that Golbez will remove his helmet and reveal himself. They've done this with every villain, except Estinien possessed by Nidhoog.

I'm not sure that most of the connections made by the original post are even going to factor in here.

But I think Golbez being connected to the Ancients is likely given that one of the final scenes of 6.2, which is a flashback Golbez has shows him with what appears to be an Ancient. Plus the 6.1 cutscene claims they've waited nearly 10 thousand years to execute their plan.

Wasn't it also confirmed that the watchers are followers of Azem?

So maby Golbez is mindcontrolled by an Ascian?

[sidurgu-12]

Wasn't it also confirmed that the watchers are followers of Azem?

So maby Golbez is mindcontrolled by an Ascian?

the guy on the moon watching the seals? hes a simulacrum based on one of venats allies.

[Tetsujin13]

Darkness and light aren't elements but aspects, synonymous with astral/active and umbral/passive energies respectively.

Proposing "astral light and umbral light" as elemental combinations is in the realm of proposing "dry water and wet water".

And the madness and bliss thing has no canon basis to my awareness.

Noted and corrected the comment.

[Necrotica]

Yoshi P: "What am I going to do with all these random plot threads getting thrown around? Eh. That is a problem for future Yoshi P."

Players: "Sasuga Yoshi P!"

[RukoBoshi]

Yoshi P: "What am I going to do with all these random plot threads getting thrown around? Eh. That is a problem for future Yoshi P."

Players: "Sasuga Yoshi P!"

To be honest, i rather have all these dangling plot threads than having everything be answered right away. I wouldn’t have much to look forward to if i wasn't intrigued by all these locations Emet Selch mentioned at the end, or by thinking about what Azem was up to during the final days.

Some may not be answered, or might get retcon into something new, but i always loved when they take something we don't know everything about, and expand on it.

For example the primal and their summoning, during ARR i had a ton of unanswered questions about how these worked. I was really happy when Heavensward and Shadowbringers expanded upon them.

[Iscah]

Yoshi P: "What am I going to do with all these random plot threads getting thrown around? Eh. That is a problem for future Yoshi P."

Players: "Sasuga Yoshi P!"

On the contrary, that seems to be deliberately how they work. Leave plot threads hanging here so they can be picked up and woven into a connecting story later, possibly years down the track.

It's only a problem if they forget to come back to it until the story has shifted so much it doesn't make sense any more.

[Cleretic]

On the contrary, that seems to be deliberately how they work. Leave plot threads hanging here so they can be picked up and woven into a connecting story later, possibly years down the track.

It's only a problem if they forget to come back to it until the story has shifted so much it doesn't make sense any more.

It has in fact been actually stated in interviews that this is how they work. Not entirely willingly mind you, they were basically forced down this road with the 1.0/ARR situation, but at the same time it's also basically the only feasible way to write a long-term story like this anyway, so they would've gotten into this sooner or later.

Fortunately for everyone involved, they happen to be quite good at it.