2024 Rising's absurdly specific backstory pull

[Iscah]

I spotted some more NPCs that I don't recognise – across from the Hawkers' Alley aetheryte, a Lalafell and Elezen adventurer pair wearing ARR-era gear. Their conversation isn't Rising-specific but I don't recall seeing them before, and given Ayoyo's background, is it possible that these two are more old retainers?

I didn't spot any other nonstandard NPCs but I did talk to Alka Zolka and Setoto while at the Marauders' Guild and they've both had updated dialogue post-Endwalker (or at least post-Garlemald). Wyrnzoen also pointed me to realising that Gorge and Dorgono are still at Hidden Falls and they've got updated dialogue as well. Maybe I'll need to do a lap of all the other job tutors I haven't talked to in a while...

[Fenral]

I think it's the lady we talked to during the quest who said her husband was away working on a ship and couldn't be there for the fireworks, so that's him now saying he saw it from the ship.

Ah, okay. That makes sense. I am on Gilgamesh and it was kind of hard to see the NPCs very well during the quest.

I spotted some more NPCs that I don't recognise – across from the Hawkers' Alley aetheryte, a Lalafell and Elezen adventurer pair wearing ARR-era gear. Their conversation isn't Rising-specific but I don't recall seeing them before, and given Ayoyo's background, is it possible that these two are more old retainers?

That could very well be. Or could just be new rookie adventurers since this is the time of year for that, but I like your theory better.

I am presently weighing the pros and cons of clearing the quest on my alt just to see what changes, versus having an alt with no seasonal event clears purely for comparison purposes down the line. (With a side of exploring old 1.0 zones just for the nostalgia. 'Tis the season, and all.)