Nael Van Darnus -- A Love Story

[Alaltus]

So i wanted to read up on ceruleum and i came across this quest dialogue from limsa i have never seen =o

Ceruleum Shock

Cid: Now, let us make this brief. You asked what I was doing in northern Thanalan. Well, I was studying the aetheric currents flowing through the ceruleum gorges on their way to Silvertear Lake.

Cid: I fruitlessly attempted to explain to those brutes back in the cavern, I believe the natural flux of all energy in Eorzea, and the influence it exerts upon its surroundings, has been disturbed by an external force, resulting in the queer phenomena that have been observed throughout the realm.

Cid: As to the origin of this force, my studies point to the lesser moon, Dalamud, as the most likely suspect.

Cid: How do I know this, you ask? Well...it is complicated. And, really...does it matter? Given what it could mean to the realm─to the entire world─you would be better off focusing on what may yet be done and ignoring that which cannot now be changed.

Cid: Time is of the essence, my friend. The Eorzean city-states have only just begun to realize the true extent of what is happening, and are consequently hopelessly behind in making the proper preparations. Garlemald, on the other hand, has been aware of the truth for some time now.

Cid: That is why they have taken up positions all around Mor Dhona. This is no mere invasion, either─though at one time it might have been intended as such. No, this is something different. Something more.

Cid: And a part of me feels slightly responsible─which is why I have chosen to help your city by the sea, along with Ul'dah and Gridania. You see, the machina that the Empire is using to gather information...is of my design.

Is he saying Dalamud was sucking up aether from the current itself or something more like a gravitational effect? was the aether released by the Primals demise going back into the current before being intercepted by Dalamud?(i kinda figured it just sort of floated up there from what i read before this)

I really liked Nael Van Darnus and i'm hopeful we will get another chance to fight him or a copy or some such of him(no white ravens ofcourse). Would be really sad if the new players never get to be whooped by him.

[Anonymoose]

It's a very interesting thought. I'm torn between thinking you're onto something and thinking its perfectly normal for red to complement blue in almost everything that uses one of those colors prominently because the actual complement of green would make it look Christmas-themed. That said, (playful, imaginary) shame on everyone who brought up examples of red v. blue life streams and didn't mention Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.

[Alaltus]

haha yeah Moose i did think of it but it sounded complicated to explain when i looked around to recap so i decided to pass on mentioning it... /grovel please forgive me. ; ;

I took particular notice because when i first saw Bahamut close up in the end of the era trailer(a specific moment before he gets hit by the twelve) i instantly thought of this which is kind of unfair of me to think of as a bad thing since quite a bit of my childhood was spent watching that, still.... it just didn't seem right to me.

[HiirNoivl]

... Who would admit to seeing it? lol

At this point, Cid knows that Dalamud is being summoned. This seems likely because he appears briefly in that cutscene says "Meteor" and then vanishes while you run around and spy on all the city states FOR all the other citystates and rack up all the exp and seals you can muster. So it appears that he's already spoken to Darnus and gotten the message loud and clear about his intentions. By the time you meet with him again, depending on who you're allied with, you find out that he's got his fingerprints not only on the new Machina, but also the atrocities in Ala Mhigo.

Appetite for Destruction:

Lewin: We have yet to learn why the lesser moon has taken on its red stain. But we have uncovered one truth that may prove vital.

Lewin: We were led to it by the whispers of the elementals. They tell us that some moons (I assume they mean Umbral Eras) ago, a great destructive force was sent into the skies.

Lewin: What is the nature of this terrible power? By what means was it sent? By whom, and to what end? When put these questions, the elementals become terrified, and their whispers turn to silence. And so we have taken another path to seek our answers.

Lewin: Arthur is one of mine own men─as able as any I have. At my bidding, he has stolen into Ala Mhigo, and placed himself amongst the Garleans.

Lewin: Why? Because this unknown power, this destructive force, whatever it might be...may very well prove to be the Empire's doing.

Lewin: We have invited the master of the Ironworks himself, Cid Garlond, to aid us in our investigation. There was some risk in this, but we thought it best he hear the reports of Arthur for himself.

******

Unfortunately, Arthur comes back a raving nutcase.

Arthur: Don't touch me!

Arthur: That flare, the airship... You are of the Garlond Ironworks.

Arthur: You fled to Eorzea, fearing only for your own craven hides, ignorant of the atrocities suffered by the people of Ala Mhigo. Atrocities committed by your hand! By the weapons you created!

********

Apparently, Cid has been living in Eorzea ever since Ala Mhigo was conquered or perhaps a bit after, maybe at the time when you saw the Echo-scene of the brainwashed children.

Cid: Aye, I will not deny it. The magitek weapons we created laid waste to Ala Mhigo, and slaughtered its people. Would that I could undo it. But I cannot. And now those weapons are trained upon all of Eorzea.

Cid: What the Emp─what we have done, can never be forgiven. Nor should it. A deed forgiven is too easily forgotten. We knew when we chose to walk amongst you that we would not escape your anger and your hatred.

Cid: But now is the time to fight. We mean to face the coming evil, but cannot do so without your strength. It will be hard, I know, but I must learn what you saw in Ala Mhigo.

Arthur: Liar! Craven! Stay that traitor's tongue before I rip it out!


Cid is clearly Garlean so some might find it confusing to hear a Ala Mhigan (or someone who suffered there) refer to him as a traitor. But Arthur feels that Cid must have been able to do something about what was happening. Maybe he even said he was going to do something and fled to Eorzea instead. We're probably lucky that he did because judging by his nature he would have shot off his mouth and gotten himself executed before the Imperial Devices quest.

[Ramesses]

Whoa... a lot of awesome posts have been added. Had a very busy Friday and I'm only just catching up.

First off, I echo Ataltus' question about whether the Allagans tossed Bahamut (sealed within Dalamud) into space because he was sucking too much aether from the planet... basically keep him as far away from the planet as possible and somehow, to achieve this, the power of the Twelve was needed, right?

Could this also be why the Twelve cannot (or choose not to) manifest themselves in Eorzea? Remember, Sensei Louisoix did mention that the predicament we faced was that the Twelve want to help us but their appearance on the planet will drain whatever little aether remains on Hydaelyn.

Which brings up yet another question: Did the Twelve "sacrifice" a huge amount of their power or their aetherial bodies in order to imprison Bahamut?

And what exactly does Menphina's part play in all this? I ask because if you notice, her symbol is actually of the two moons (she's the keeper of the twin moons and the goddess of love).

And finally, yet another question that has been bothering me since late November last year...when Yoshi said something to Gamewatch about the first Allagan Emperor (Xandes) taking a nap I began to seriously wonder if that was part of Nael's plan all along: Release Bahamut and use his power to wake up the Emperor (who may be the first ancestor of House Darnus?)... and then resurrect the Allagan Empire.

So where does Xandes also fit into all this?

[Alaltus]

Well the last bit earlier i was more running off of the lore stating that Dalamud was Allag's sin (which would make it something they made happen) and Mooses uneasiness over Bahamut being an evil entity. So my thought was that Allag created what was ment to be a new source of energy to solve all their woes, that turned out to be a complete catastrophic mistake. One that was a threat to the mother crystal itself. Because of this they had to send it into space, Bahamut as a elder primal was a fitting vessel to keep the red aether sealed within him and away from the planet or atleast at the time. Thats what i was saying if anyone else lost me on there, one thing that seems to be for certain is that aether that was originally blue turned red when it was sent to Dalamud.

As to why could have any number of explanations including the red aether colouration being some kind of manifestation of Bahamut's utter hatred for man kind. Possibly triggered by something the Alagg did before they imprisoned him like some kind of great betrayal that incensed him to mass genocide. The original Dalamud was said to be of Allagan technology so they made it meaning that the twelve version was likely a imitation though who knows at this point..

Another thought before i head to bed, the apparent evilness of Dragons compared to the other beast tribes maybe attributed to the absense of their Primal to keep the kings in line or even because of his constant state up in space for such a long time. Summoning the Primals is said to taint those who summon them so what if that effect has been building up within Dragonkind for all that time?

[Soul_Blackstar]

Idk if this is somehow related but i think that Dalamud wasn't red in the beginning, here's source from lodestone post
http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...aa7ba5f92b2d49
also from an external source about Dalamud:
http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Dalamud
and some screenshot:
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...alamud_120.jpg
Idk what changed Dalamud color, maybe when Darnus begun his contact with Bahamut? I don't have an answer for this sorry ._.;

[HiirNoivl]

Idk if this is somehow related but i think that Dalamud wasn't red in the beginning, here's source from lodestone post
http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...aa7ba5f92b2d49
also from an external source about Dalamud:
http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Dalamud
and some screenshot:
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...alamud_120.jpg
Idk what changed Dalamud color, maybe when Darnus begun his contact with Bahamut? I don't have an answer for this sorry ._.;

Yes the red moon was not always red but took on the hue. Precisely when the change happened would be interesting to note.



The Darkhold was one Patch prior to Dalamud turning red.

[Beowolf]

this may sound silly, and i'm not trying to belittle the theories and great story telling thats going on here.<all of which i'm enjoying emensly while we wait for ARR>
but...my suggestion for the "stain" is a simple one. Bahamut, sensing he has a possible new puppet to control in aiding his return; uses Mega Flare from inside dalamud to begin his "push" back to Hydaelyn. or he could have simply been just testing the walls of his prison to see if they weakend any.

"sometimes the best explanation is the simplest."

[Alaltus]

And what exactly does Menphina's part play in all this? I ask because if you notice, her symbol is actually of the two moons (she's the keeper of the twin moons and the goddess of love).

Moonstruck http://www.eorzeapedia.com/wiki/Moonstruck/Plot_Details

I'nairoh: It is commonly held that the larger of the two is the embodiment of Menphina, the Lover. The legends surrounding the smaller moon vary, though. While there are some who believe it to be Menphina's daughter, others swear that it is her lantern. However, the most popular tale tells us the moon is actually Menphina's loyal hound, Dalamud, ever vigilant in his watch over the goddess.

And finally, yet another question that has been bothering me since late November last year...when Yoshi said something to Gamewatch about the first Allagan Emperor (Xandes) taking a nap I began to seriously wonder if that was part of Nael's plan all along: Release Bahamut and use his power to wake up the Emperor (who may be the first ancestor of House Darnus?)... and then resurrect the Allagan Empire.

So where does Xandes also fit into all this?

This brings me back to Nael's death and the red stream that floats into Dalamud and the red eyes. While the Emperor is called Xandes i can definitely see this possibly running parralell with Zemus. If we refresh ourselves of what Moose typed out earlier but supplant any mention of Bahamut as his god with Xandes as his Emperor. Nael is a Allag like Xandes who is sleeping, Zemus controlled one of his own kind whilst asleep in stasis. Nael wants to wipe life off of Hydaelyn for the Allag? Zemus tried through Golbez to wipe life off of the planet by waking the giant of babil to make way for the Lunarians (Ancient race sleeping on the moon).

What if we have this the wrong way around and Nael is using Bahamut's body to fulfill Xandes' wishes. The reason Bahamut was sent into space may be as simple as he would never have allowed them to construct the Crystal Tower. Their Babel, defiance of the will of god (the mother crystal) and their way to trump the wheel of darkness.