CG Midlander

[Anonymoose]

How does a guildleve allow me to "breach the wall of a person's soul?" Whenever I use the echo, the person I'm using it on is physically present.

I've pondered over this quite a bit, myself. I only have three possible assumptions, and perhaps one day we'll see which is right. Here they are in the order of increasing likelihood:

• This is a very old leve card, the very same one taken to fight the marbol. It carries this powerful memory on it. (Not likely, as it's a Limsa Lominsa leve card. But you never know. Maybe the faction'd it out.)
• A member of the 10 Years Ago Party was recently at The Drowning Wench and decided to see the available quests. Upon seeing his card, he had a flashback to this powerful member, which was then transferred to the card, which then triggers the Midlander's echo. (Little more likely, at least sounds possible.)
• A member of the 10 Years Ago Party is right behind the Midlander having a drink and he never realizes it. (The only thing that seems to directly follow the lore.)

Who exactly is Louisoix? Can it be that he is a manifestation of Thaliak?

At first I had assumed that everyone in the Circle of Knowing was an Archon, and that crazy spriggan girl's assessment of Archons was at least somewhat right on. However, it's still possible that only Louisoix and Urianger are; they're the only ones with facial tattoos, and the word Archon isn't even breathed around the others unless in reference to the other two, and those two are referred to by the title directly, "THE ARCHON Urianger" and "THE ARCHON Louisoix"

As stated above, the Hatching-tide archon summoning was purposely stopped by a hooded woman with a male associate ... Y'shtola and Thancred preparing for the arrival of the true Archon(s)? We know Papalymo and Ypa are often doing their own thing; and they're not so much people of consideration as people of talent. They don't say anything profound or come to any great conclusions (though they are well-informed), but come the first showdown with Gaius van Baelsar, she's the only member of the party who manages to land a blow against him.

Also I just noticed that the translation of the Hatching-tide post says SKYkin and not CLOUDkin when referring to that dodo. SOMEONE'S IN TROUBLE.

Does the CG Midlander have a name, and what is it?

I'd assume they all have to have names, and it's been driving me nuts not knowing. It's just a matter of IF A THEN B. These cinematics have scripts. How do these scripts differentiate between them? Does it say "THE MIDLANDER SAYS" and then "THE ELEZEN REPLIES" (much like my own lore write-up)?

It would be interesting if it did mention clans labels, because the clans aren't represented canonically. This cinematic was made at a time when the subtle differences (ear size, war paint, pupils) were not decided on, but there was a clear binary* (even clearer than we have now). This binary was made a little less black and white over time, and the CG members do not reflect this. These elezen have giant ears, something that only the Duskwight should have, but they lack the blue complexion and tattoos associated with Duskwight at that time. The miqo'te has the complexion and pupils of a Seeker of the Sun but the warpaint worn by Keepers of the Moon.

However, you have to admit, they might just have silly everyday code-names around the office. The script could just call for Hiroshi and Akira to do this while little lalafell Reiko does that... While this doesn't seem likely with SE's depth of lore, it's still possible that they had a conversation equivalent to, "What do we call them in the script?" "I don't know. Bob? He looks like a Bob." and then flash forward to planning The End of an Era, "Okay, Bob's gonna do Steel Cyclone."

* See below
Duskwight = Blue, Wildwood = Tan
Sea Wolf = Green, Hellsguard = Red
Seekers of the Sun = Tan, Keepers of the Moon = Blue
Midlander = Scrawny, Highlander = Stacked
Plainsfolk = Fair/No Gems, Dunesfolk = Tan/Gems.

[Majoga]

At first I had assumed that everyone in the Circle of Knowing was an Archon, and that crazy spriggan girl's assessment of Archons was at least somewhat right on. However, it's still possible that only Louisoix and Urianger are; they're the only ones with facial tattoos, and the word Archon isn't even breathed around the others unless in reference to the other two, and those two are referred to by the title directly, "THE ARCHON Urianger" and "THE ARCHON Louisoix"

If those were the only 2 Archons no wonder why resealing Bahamut didn't work.... speaking of which where the hell was Urianger during all of this? Personally I still like to think as the other 4 as Archons since they still have the neck tattoos although there was no indication of this. It could just be that they're members of the Circle of Knowing, but the fact their tats turned white during the prayers and I feel they were more than that (especially with their performance during "Future's Perfect").

Even if that is the case that'd be 6 known Archons, perhaps the other 6 might have been needed to complete the ritual?

[Warlock]

If those were the only 2 Archons no wonder why resealing Bahamut didn't work.... speaking of which where the hell was Urianger during all of this? Personally I still like to think as the other 4 as Archons since they still have the neck tattoos although there was no indication of this. It could just be that they're members of the Circle of Knowing, but the fact their tats turned white during the prayers and I feel they were more than that (especially with their performance during "Future's Perfect").

Even if that is the case that'd be 6 known Archons, perhaps the other 6 might have been needed to complete the ritual?

Maybe Louisoix asked him as a favor to stay safe and wait for our arrival so he could be our mentor .
Or he shows up at the end of End of an Era trailer in front of Louisoix with Odin (Loui sent Urianger to convince Odin to take action as Bahamut blowing up everything is no good for Odin)

[Anonymoose]

I still like to think as the other 4 as Archons

I do, too - for now - but I'm not entirely committed to the idea. The first four we meet just generally seem less capable than the others; they have to work harder for simpler answers than what we see from the two confirmed Archons. Also, outside of the 7th Umbral Era storyline (though this may just be Tanaka-Era leftovers), they're just considered meddling Sharlayans. If they are Archons, we are also left to wonder who was under the robes at Hatching-tide.

Perhaps, though, it is just because they are less experienced Archons in general. Louisoix is obviously the leader, and in the Limsa storyline, Y'shtola somehow uses the echo to jump back to the exact same moment five times in her life after the Grand Companies are reformed so that they may highlight the importance of what she is explaining to you at that pre-alliance moment (If you're confused, what seems to be happening is that in-the-moment Y'shtola is urging you to commit to Urianger's plans. Then, seeminly via the Echo, another Y'shtola appears... and another... and another. It's possible that 5-days-from-now Y'shtola uses the Echo to jump back to this moment, and then 6-days-from-now Y'shtola does the same thing, and maybe 2-weeks-from-now Y'shtola... etc. all converging on the same moment.) Something tells me that takes some juice, no?

I'm going to remain uncommitted on this, for now. My true view is that the Circle of Knowing and the entire concept of archons are not anything like any of the options we have to choose from now. I think it's mostly lies. For starters, the only two people we know are archons are treated very differently. Urianger is distrusted, hunted down, and questioned - while Louisoix is trusted, accepted, and followed. Personally, I think Urianger has multiple labels, and we may know his actions better not as The Archon Urianger... but as The Paragon.

where the hell was Urianger during all of this?

I had the same question. If he was an Archon, and this is what Archons do, where the hell did he go? Perhaps he was off doing Paragon things ><

Whatever the case, he was left out for a reason. Everyone who matters was gathered for the scene, the same as after To Kill a Raven. They remembered Urianger then, so I doubt anybody at SE was watching End of an Era and suddenly just went, "AHFOCK. WE FORGOT HIM."

perhaps the other 6 might have been needed to complete the ritual?

Most of the releases from SE seem to indicate the same thing: it was the upset balance of aether that was to blame for the failure of the ritual. Louisoix himself alludes, during Living on a Prayer, that the amount of aether required to summon twelve deities would be astronomical and possibly in itself destructive.

By this time, most of the surplus aether of the land has spent. The primals took a bunch, which Nael then fed to Bahamut... our crystal veins in the Darkhold, Toto-rak, and Mor Dhona had a bunch, which Nael then fed to Bahamut... Nael had a bunch (we even see him personally manipulating ground veins in It Kills with Fire), which we then fed to Bahamut... and the rest of it was eaten by Atomos so hard that it tore the fabric of reality and let The Void in.

From what I understand, the archons were just the car, and we ran outta gas. Bahamut, however... had a full tank. Atomos has a respectable amount, now, too, so we'll see what role he plays in ARR.

[Warlock]

~snip~I had the same question. If he was an Archon, and this is what Archons do, where the hell did he go? Perhaps he was off doing Paragon things ><~snip~.

As i said before i believe he was trusted with something by Louisoix...maybe summoning Odin? as he carries the staff of an Arcanist

[Anonymoose]

As i said before i believe he was trusted with something by Louisoix...maybe summoning Odin? as he carries the staff of an Arcanist

That'd be an interesting road to see him take as well... his status as an Arcanist/Summoner is what makes him my #1 suspect for the Paragon that taught the beast tribes how to summon primals, so perhaps there's some connection between him and The Elder to be made. That's one thing that it's just far too soon to tell.

I hope Atomos has a hand in all of this, though. Without larger context, he's just "that thing that royally boned our summoning of The Twelve in exchange for a quick snack." I can't imagine Atomos, one of the most powerful and mysterious forces in Final Fantasy history, has been relegated to some Deus Ex Machina that explains why all our plans fail.

Would be funny, though, wouldn't it?

"FINE. I GIVE UP. I'M GOING TO MAIN FISHERMAN FROM HERE ON OUT."

</casts line, lake is immediately sucked dry; in the center of the empty bowl sits a spiraling tear in reality through which voidsent are pouring>

"GODS DAMNIT, ATOMOS."

EDIT: Oh, man. Idea for new Hildebrand quest. </scribbles>

[Warlock]

That'd be an interesting road to see him take as well... his status as an Arcanist/Summoner is what makes him my #1 suspect for the Paragon that taught the beast tribes how to summon primals, so perhaps there's some connection between him and The Elder to be made. That's one thing that it's just far too soon to tell.

I hope Atomos has a hand in all of this, though. Without larger context, he's just "that thing that royally boned our summoning of The Twelve in exchange for a quick snack." I can't imagine Atomos, one of the most powerful and mysterious forces in Final Fantasy history, has been relegated to some Deus Ex Machina that explains why all our plans fail.

Would be funny, though, wouldn't it?

"FINE. I GIVE UP. I'M GOING TO MAIN FISHERMAN FROM HERE ON OUT."

</casts line, lake is immediately sucked dry; in the center of the empty bowl sits a spiraling tear in reality through which voidsent are pouring>

"GODS DAMNIT, ATOMOS."

EDIT: Oh, man. Idea for new Hildebrand quest. </scribbles>

You talk about the rest of the "Circle of Knowing" not been ordinary people ...now that i remember as Gridania story starts Papalymo and Yda jump off a ship that has taken hit and they descend as red lights , what kind of power is that? and from who they were running away? as their ship was attacked , later on you learn there was more people in that ship and that they all died some were even splattered all over lol.

[Soukyuu]

later on you learn there was more people in that ship and that they all died some were even splattered all over lol.

Hmm, no, there were no other people on board. They only said the airship was scattered all over the Shroud, to which Papalymo faints imagining what would have happened if he didn't listen to Yda when she told him to jump.

[Zenaku]

As i said before i believe he was trusted with something by Louisoix...maybe summoning Odin? as he carries the staff of an Arcanist

Why would he summon Odin? when he going to be a Primal walking around Eorzea and have can fight him? why summon a evil primal into our world seem pretty dumb by the look of things all primal are evil at this point there no good primal yet.

[Warlock]

Why would he summon Odin? when he going to be a Primal walking around Eorzea and have can fight him? why summon a evil primal into our world seem pretty dumb by the look of things all primal are evil at this point there no good primal yet.

Because i assume it is of big interest for Odin that the world isn't blown up to hell by Bahamut and only Odin is the same caliber of a Primal to face Bahamut as far as we know ...not to mention that would explain the horse noise at the end of the trailer people keep talking about.