8.0 speculation

[Kukajoo]

I think the whole forced rejoining thing will be solved via using the key to create permanent passages between the reflections, breaking down the barriers between the worlds equating making the world 'one' and thus nulling the need for the shards to rejoin destructively. Though currently our pathways are only seen/useable by us I believe this will change over the course of 8.0, after all the Milalla were able to use the key to mass exodus. In the hands of the WOL its true potential will be useable.

[DeathNoodles]

Re: 7.5 and what we know all together

https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...estory_encore/

"Azem had sought the chief's assistance with the refinement of the fourteenth in his series of concepts to help ease the burdens of travel, which was contained within the palm-sized crystal."

This short story and Pandaemonium convinced me of two things. That Azem had foresight (as we've seen demonstrated to a lesser degree by Mikoto) , as well as being one of the foremost experts on transportation beyond what was known after the Sundering.

[mallleable]

7.5 part 1

I trust The Key even less now. And I now also don't trust Azem.

[Cilia]

7.5 (Parté Numero Uno)

So, the reflections and Source's natural rejoining without a "will of the star" to keep them apart turned out to be an issue after all. And it's going to basically reoriginate the planet, WoW Titan style!

Aaaaand we learned nothing else of relevance, other than that the Key is indeed some sort of Ancient tool called "Ethos." Yeah, yeah, probably an Azem thing... I really should stop thinking so hard because the right answer tends to be the obvious one.

So at this point it's "How do we stop the Solstice other than rejoinings?", since everyone is taking Halmarut at her word. Well, let's see what happens in July. (We already know we're going to the Fourth, both in- and out of universe, and have all the tools to get there; so, other than chasing the Winterers, let's see why.)

I guess getting to see Golbez and Zero again was cool, and Enuo turned out to be... just a random Voidsent warlord easily chumped, to the point they don't last a single quest and Zero expresses confidence she and Golbez could have handled them alone (with some difficulty). Sadge, disappointed.

[Mansion]

If I have only one concern

I hope we avoid a multi-expansion arc of dealing with each Winterer and their own plans for each Shard. If there is one thing FFXIV messes up everytime in my opinion is the sense of urgency, because it can't escapte its videogame shape and you end up having to do X amount of quest to get X amount of XP etc. It's my main problem with Endwalker and a good chunk of Dawntrail, where something dire is on the verge of happening, but we have to do something else at the time (the loporites and Elpis in EW for instance). So I would be disappointed to be shard hoppin in 8.0 9.0 while the whole "rejoining is immininent" is stretching for years.

I'm fine with this new direction of fighting the natural rejoining, but the Void invasions sort of hint at something that is already happening (as Golbez says, it seems natural), I actually liked the last cutscene with Calyx which is I believe one of the first times we see the WoL actually... thinking? Realizing the stakes and how helpless we are right now. I like that, compared to our usual "I can make it" resolve. I'm still finding Calyx a bit shallow but I'm now interested in his own moral compass of what he did vs what the 4th Winterer is doing.

[Pimsan20]

I also wonder if Venat knew about this? As the will of the star and pin that keep the shards in place, must have realize something and left behind a plan or a theory for an alternate solution.

[Cilia]

I also wonder if Venat knew about this? As the will of the star and pin that keep the shards in place, must have realize something and left behind a plan or a theory for an alternate solution.

It's briefly discussed at the end of 7.5's MSQ, with the WoL deciding either she didn't know or did but trusted us to find a way to resolve the crisis.

Either way, the end of humanity's childhood means we have to find solutions to these problems on our own, and blaming Mommy for it isn't going to change anything.

[Cleretic]

It's briefly discussed at the end of 7.5's MSQ, with the WoL deciding either she didn't know or did but trusted us to find a way to resolve the crisis.

Either way, the end of humanity's childhood means we have to find solutions to these problems on our own, and blaming Mommy for it isn't going to change anything.

And , probably more importantly, Y'shtola points out that it doesn't matter. She's not here now and we're the ones who have to solve this.

And I'm with Y'shtola on this one. It doesn't change things one bit if she knew or didn't.

[Cilia]

It is too early to tell, but knowing Evercold is going to have heavy Norse influence makes me think there will be at least some VII references, what with Midgar[d] and Nibelheim (Niflheim) being two of the most important locations in that game's setting.

More importantly, the Key opens up the possibility of taking other characters from reflections along for the adventure. Ryne, Gaia, and Sphene could all - theoretically - join is. A little shakeup in the core cast would be a welcome thing, since other than Sphene being a VIP guest star in 7.2 - 7.4 we've had the same core cast since Shadowbringers (even if Dawntrail underutilized most of them).

[Yuella]

I think what we'll end up doing is transport the inhabitable part of each reflection (along with the people) to the source and then destroy the reflections. So we'll have Treno from the 9th, Norvrandt from the 1st, Zero's domain from the 13th and the floating islands from the 4th (plus whatever is left in 8th and 11th) in the source.