Revelations from Patch 7.3: The Promise of Tomorrow

[Cassar]

The original answer to this was that they were sending that info through 'Floor Twelve'--which was the portal to the Ninth. When that portal was closed, and Living Memory was shut down, those transfers stopped.

How Calyx was doing it, I couldn't possibly guess.

Ah yes, I had completely forgotten that there was a portal on floor twelve. When Sphene went inside and closed the portal, she could no longer project her image on Everkeep, which checks out.

As for Calyx, I believe he was using the portal on the Cenote to reach the Source (and Everkeep). In fact I believe in 7.3 it was explained that Calyx took control over that portal to ensure it could no longer be closed (because if we did close it, then we would defeat Calyx completely).

The only "weird" thing is that it implies that Electrope WiFi has infinite rage, because the distance between the Dome and the portal in the Cenote was gigantic.

[mallleable]

Lead up until 8.0 speculation

YoshiP is on record for saying that Meracydia is not going to be the setting of the next expansion. While I'm a little disappointed we're not going there just yet, on the bright side it means that 8.0 is an even bigger mystery.

I think we might be finally uncovering the rest of Ilsabard in 8.0. Tuliyollal did enter an agreement with Thavnair, and Thavnair did respond by helping them fend off Alexandria's attack. So it would make sense for Tuliyollal to clue Thavnair in on the peace developments with Alexandria. And by extension, the rest of the Ilsabard Contingent including Garlemald. Alexandria could become allies with Garlemald. At the end of 7.3, you can talk to Alphinaud, and he mentions the political challenges of welcoming Alexandira to our world. I think we could be in for some juicy politics.

And for some more wild speculation, Ilsabard, Bozja, Dalmasca areas have a history with Auracite so my 'Key is Auracite' brain worms are squirming.

[Cleretic]

Lead up until 8.0 speculation

YoshiP is on record for saying that Meracydia is not going to be the setting of the next expansion. While I'm a little disappointed we're not going there just yet, on the bright side it means that 8.0 is an even bigger mystery.

For what it's worth, this isn't quite true.

The actual quote is 'Meracydia is planned, but quite a while away' (and likely said through a translator, so there's probably some imprecision there). Notably, this was a response to a question that he basically can't answer in any other way about future content; realistically, he just had to pick something on the agenda and say this about it, and he happened to pick Meracydia.

It could mean anything from 'it's ten years down the track' to 'it's the next expansion but we don't want you thinking about it right now'.

[mallleable]

For what it's worth, this isn't quite true.

The actual quote is 'Meracydia is planned, but quite a while away' (and likely said through a translator, so there's probably some imprecision there). Notably, this was a response to a question that he basically can't answer in any other way about future content; realistically, he just had to pick something on the agenda and say this about it, and he happened to pick Meracydia.

It could mean anything from 'it's ten years down the track' to 'it's the next expansion but we don't want you thinking about it right now'.

Kinda hoping it's a white lie, and April is 'quite a while away.'

[Carin-Eri]

Lead up until 8.0 speculation

YoshiP is on record for saying that Meracydia is not going to be the setting of the next expansion. While I'm a little disappointed we're not going there just yet, on the bright side it means that 8.0 is an even bigger mystery.

I think we might be finally uncovering the rest of Ilsabard in 8.0. Tuliyollal did enter an agreement with Thavnair, and Thavnair did respond by helping them fend off Alexandria's attack. So it would make sense for Tuliyollal to clue Thavnair in on the peace developments with Alexandria. And by extension, the rest of the Ilsabard Contingent including Garlemald. Alexandria could become allies with Garlemald. At the end of 7.3, you can talk to Alphinaud, and he mentions the political challenges of welcoming Alexandira to our world. I think we could be in for some juicy politics.

And for some more wild speculation, Ilsabard, Bozja, Dalmasca areas have a history with Auracite so my 'Key is Auracite' brain worms are squirming.

I, for one, am hoping it isn't too far away.

Whilst there isn't anything to suggest that we're going 'shard hopping' either, I - personally - am less interested in visiting other shards as I am exploring the parts of the source we haven't visited.

[mallleable]

Calyx knows things.

So we know Calyx summoned Necron using a capital C concept, so we could assume he had control over the finer details like what Necron looked like or even what spells or attacks it uses. Necron used a spell "Grand Cross." Only two other beings have used Grand Cross in FFXIV: savage Neo Exdeath, and Ultima, The High Seraph or at least a version of it. One could just write it off as 'that's what it used in FFIX' or 'it's just a reoccurring big bad spell,' but we have to consider that this Necron was made from a blue print by a character, and so its ability to use Grand Cross means something. Calyx knows about the spell Grand Cross.

[Cleretic]

Calyx knows things.

So we know Calyx summoned Necron using a capital C concept, so we could assume he had control over the finer details like what Necron looked like or even what spells or attacks it uses. Necron used a spell "Grand Cross." Only two other beings have used Grand Cross in FFXIV: savage Neo Exdeath, and Ultima, The High Seraph or at least a version of it. One could just write it off as 'that's what it used in FFIX' or 'it's just a reoccurring big bad spell,' but we have to consider that this Necron was made from a blue print by a character, and so its ability to use Grand Cross means something. Calyx knows about the spell Grand Cross.

I don't think this is actually a clue, looking at the actual fights.

First of all, all three of those bosses use Grand Cross in their origin game, and crucially is basically the same in all three: laying down a truckload of status effects. They're actually three of only four bosses that use the ability (the fourth is the final boss of Tactics A2), and in each example is one of the defining attacks of the fight; it'd feel incomplete to not adapt Grand Cross in every case.

In XIV, all three bosses use Grand Cross completely differently; NED retains the status effect pile, but Ultima's Grand Cross drops the crystals that slowly explode into Bomberman-style plus signs, while Necron's is the stage-morph that creates rotating orbs that shoot lasers. The only connective tissue between the actual attacks is that Ultima and Necron's versions of it make cross shapes, but even then, they do it differently: Ultima's crystals emit the plus-shaped blasts, while Necron's orbs fire intersecting lines.

If we really want to ascribe worldbuilding meaning to every single version of this attack (which I should note is not something the game's ever done before this outside of Ultima the spell, which I think actually does do the same thing every time), I think the simple fact is that they're all named Grand Cross because they all have independent cause to be named Grand Cross.

[mallleable]

I don't think this is actually a clue, looking at the actual fights.

First of all, all three of those bosses use Grand Cross in their origin game, and crucially is basically the same in all three: laying down a truckload of status effects. They're actually three of only four bosses that use the ability (the fourth is the final boss of Tactics A2), and in each example is one of the defining attacks of the fight; it'd feel incomplete to not adapt Grand Cross in every case.

In XIV, all three bosses use Grand Cross completely differently; NED retains the status effect pile, but Ultima's Grand Cross drops the crystals that slowly explode into Bomberman-style plus signs, while Necron's is the stage-morph that creates rotating orbs that shoot lasers. The only connective tissue between the actual attacks is that Ultima and Necron's versions of it make cross shapes, but even then, they do it differently: Ultima's crystals emit the plus-shaped blasts, while Necron's orbs fire intersecting lines.

If we really want to ascribe worldbuilding meaning to every single version of this attack (which I should note is not something the game's ever done before this outside of Ultima the spell, which I think actually does do the same thing every time), I think the simple fact is that they're all named Grand Cross because they all have independent cause to be named Grand Cross.

Worldbuilding

They have treated fight mechanics in a diegetic way outside of Ultima. In Recollection, Sphene is literally giving raid callouts "keep moving," "the sigils channel magic" etc. In Pandaemonium, The Seventh Circle, Lahabrea is there to create a new platform for us to fight on before Agdistis breaks the one the party is currently fighting on. And then in Castrum Merinum, in the fight against Emerald Weapon, Gaius comments on the arena changing to Werlyt. So to me, it isn't too out of the question to consider that Nectron using Grand Cross means something, and that Calyx has some knowledge of the spell, or at least an interpretation of it, to be able to allow Necron to cast it. What it could mean, I don't know, but it is a little suspicious that there are some similarities between this version of Ultima, The High Seraph's Grand Cross, and this version of Necron's Grand Cross (summoning objects to create cross-shaped AOEs).

[PorxiesRCute]

Worldbuilding

They have treated fight mechanics in a diegetic way outside of Ultima. In Recollection, Sphene is literally giving raid callouts "keep moving," "the sigils channel magic" etc. In Pandaemonium, The Seventh Circle, Lahabrea is there to create a new platform for us to fight on before Agdistis breaks the one the party is currently fighting on. And then in Castrum Merinum, in the fight against Emerald Weapon, Gaius comments on the arena changing to Werlyt. So to me, it isn't too out of the question to consider that Nectron using Grand Cross means something, and that Calyx has some knowledge of the spell, or at least an interpretation of it, to be able to allow Necron to cast it. What it could mean, I don't know, but it is a little suspicious that there are some similarities between this version of Ultima, The High Seraph's Grand Cross, and this version of Necron's Grand Cross (summoning objects to create cross-shaped AOEs).

I hope this means something. I love when game mechanics are diegetic.

[Calysto]

Just to vent...

So many plot holes and contradicting lore left and right... How am I supposed to enjoy a story like this ? I read fanfics that were more consistent...
edit : wanted to just edit here but I'll reply