What if..

[ShadowyZero]

hello lore enthusiasts and roleplayers in this thread i would like to just have a little bit of fun please dont take this as canonical or wishlist etc this is solely just for a bit of fun i saw a similar thread to this a while back an wanted to give it a try
in this What If scenario i want to reach back to ARR so in this scenario the chosen of hydaelyn still continue their journey as usual as nameless adventurers an go to each part of eorzea only this time they dont survive the combined might of the primals when Garuda brings them fourth using sacrifices an they fusion into one ultimate eikon of fire,wind, and earth the adventurers fall but gaius appears still an conquerors it with ultimate weapon this spurs the sahagin to summon leviathan an the selphs to further pray to Ramuh.
the alliance realizes then that blessing of light alone will not avail them Merlwyb wishes to cease fire an hear Gaius out, Kann E Senna can't forgive the empire but is willing to settle if it will spare her people further tragedy but Raubahn proposes another plan to use the free companies as enlistees as well as to consider allowing the gods to be summoned if it will mean providing a distraction temporarily while they strike a key point to weaken the empire's presence the risk is great but Merlwyb is on board for it an proposes they humor Gaius if only too keep him occupied for a moment while their remaining forces gather Cid and Alphinaud are held prisoner alongside the rest of the scions.

the begin to make preparations meanwhile Y'shtola and Yda are looking for allies to liberate their comrades, Y'shtola believes she might be able to rally the pirates an possibly re-unite the famed company of heroes, meanwhile Yda suggests she goes to her fellow ala mhigans for help as they share no love for the empire an may have ideas the two set off to their respective paths
back with the alliance they agree to meet at cartineu flats to negotiate with Gaius Van Baelsar when he arrives he begins his speech about how eorzea is blighted with false gods an weak hearts with no stomach to rule thru might an prove their superiority over the eikon threats to that end he offers the ancient relics of allag to crush the beastmen claiming he has already bested the ixal,amaljaa, and kobolds an will secure the score by defeating the sahagin and sylphs next.
he is immediately challenged by kann E senna first stating that it is not brutality that they seek in ridding themselves of the primals but rather to heal the land and its people that they would like diplomacy above all else in the black shroud
gaius rebukes her stating her dimplomacy is but a fasade an hasn't worked he mentions how the shroud is not plagued not just by the primals but demons from a netherealm of darkness ones much like how emperor solus banished from his own home lands long ago an doubts her ability to rid of her such looming problems to say nothing of the rampant banditry problems he could fix within days, Merlwyb then interjects stating that while conquest is the best approach its not the only option an if bloodshed could be avoided they would like to continue an not throw away lives needlessly or breed further animosity. Gaius then brings up the past history of la noscea an its lawless behaviour an how Merlwyb even now still embraces the pirates in her midst an takes by force the resources of the land from the beat men stating she of all present should already understand his methodology
this is when Raubahn makes his call damning Gaius for his ploy on Ala Mhigo an the atrocities he committed using the empire's foreign technology an dividing the citizens against one another as well as deploy weapons of murder such as that of black rose.
Gaius is stunned but admits he can't deny that the empire has been brutal an that he condones the use of such things as black rose as it goes against the belief of the empire to share boarders an to reform those they conquer he pledges not to deploy such things ever again but Raubahn stays convicted to his beliefs an states he won't forgive the empire not unless they provide substantial refuge an aid to his suffering kinsmen
Gaius re-iterates he will bring order and stability but only if the nations themselves will submit an pledge their assistance in these dealings nanamo chips in here as well she wishes to hear the peoples own voice on the matter stating its not for them alone too decide an would want to call an assembly in each city state to judge wether this alliance should hold Merlwyb and Kann e senna agree and raubahn agrees.
Gaius is visibly frustrated but reluctantly he is willing to give them leaway to call their assemblies but states to make it brief for he will not sit idly an is at the very moment launching a campaign into beast tribe lands to raise them to the ground an will do so with or without them. they conclude this meeting

elswhere Y'shtola has gathered the members of the company of heroes and the pirate lords an informs them that the empire once again threatens their seas and shores an that now is not the time to squabble or make merry but that they should combine forces an give the empire a thrashing they wont soon forget the heroes are willing an able but they fear they wont have too much spirit without their missing leader while the lords need further convincing on how this could benefit them.
Y'shtola states she will seek the heroes' leader an has an idea or lead, she tells the lords that if they secure their seas it will mean not only glory an fame but open seas for them to continue even further what they do best this is enough to convince them an they agree to prepare their vessels.

in little Ala mhigo Yda speaks to the elders they tell her there is one man crazy enough to help her but that not many else have fighting spirit left and wish only to survive on what they do have left she understands and asks where she might find this individual an they state right about now he is probably in amaljaa territory claiming a few heads for bounty an for sport as well an she heads out pinpointing where he may be following trails of blood an dead amaljaa she finds who she is looking for a man from the past one of fearsome reputation among her people Ilberd. she can't believe at first that he's still alive an had heard he hadn't spoken too Raubahn since they parted Ala mhigo after the fall of her own father the leader of the resistance so long ago.
he is just finishing collecting parts to turn in for his bounty he looks to yda a bit confused but he recognizes her mask calling to her as Yda Hex but he notes how she looks slightly off an raises his blade to her demanding she reveal who she really is an that he will show no mercy if she's a spy or assassin sent to off him. she shakes her head an speaks stating she is not the "yda" he knows but that she is someone important to her an has inherited both hers and her father's will an she removes her mask in front of him revealing her real identity this is enough to convince him to trust her an the two then speak about the recent movements of the empire before she states her earnest in still wanting to help her people in anyway she can but she first must give the black wolf a good punch before she can do so ilberd states he will need a short time to consider her proposal an she nods an gives him a map an where to find her hideaway

[ShadowyZero]

in one of the castrum's minfilia is being tortured and interrogated they demand she reveal her power to them but she refuses an insists she will not abandon nor betray her comrades her defience does not amuse livia sas junos she states if she will not talk then maybe enticing her friends will an states she has already slain most the scions but have the rest already clasped in irons an will not hesitate to execute them she is interrupted an told a campaign is to be launched soon upon the sahagin.
frustrated she agrees to go but tells minfilia not to get too cozy as her time here will be short before she is shipped off to the garlean motherland for further study.
minfilia is anguished while alone she laments that she didnt do more for her friends an lost the champions of light to the primals she pleads to hydaelyn silently

in the prison cells of the castrum alphinaud speaks with the others they reveal to him y'shtola and yda are still out there an likely making plans to counter the situation an that they should do their part to hold out for as long as they can but alphinaud worries of Cid's safety he reveals that cid regained his memory an told him the empire approved of his execution at the hands of the Raven an he narrowly escaped death similarly he worries for minfilia as she is too valuable an asset to ignore an must be freed somehow an there is the disturbing missing of thancred to account for but Alphinaud believes that allisae may come to their aid somehow if she has learned of his capture an is prepared to hold out on that gamble.

meanwhile the assemblies are held respectively the leaders awkwardly appear though unhappy they speak to their people an tell them of dire events an how they wish to weather the chaos together an that they haven't forgotten those they lost but must look to the future for not only their sake but for those who yet live an yet to be born an they beg the people to understand their is some dissenting voices but they are calmed by community leaders who say they will always stand by their leader an trust in their judgement an how they've been thru worser circumstances together Raubahn is proud an vows he will do whatever it takes to secure them peace and kann e senna is humbled by her people's strength to face despair together once more.


The empire is in place now is ready for its move Nero is quite eager to bring the ultimate weapon to bear against the other gods to see ultima reach its full potential while rihtatn makes ready for the ensuring conflict an damages to follow, their peace however is short lived as they realize something is amiss an they are under fire now but not from the beast men but armed bands of adventurers an mercenaries the chain of commands shout orders an panic ensues

back in limsa Y'shtola speaks with Merlywb in private about her past an her connection to the company of heroes and its leader merlwyb reflects on things an states this might just be what they need to turn the tables so she agrees that y'shtola has the right idea an gives her some places to look as well as reveals the secret signal to summon the Fool she was mates with long ago on her father's crew y'shtola thanks her and takes her leave

meanwhile back in thanalan yda is now with ilberd and his band they are cutting thru the northern shroud to get to mor dhona where its stated minfilia an others were taken too she states this time she wont run an intends to fight for her home and her friends alike ilberd is relieved to see she has resolve an states he will be her sword and shield as the infiltrate an deal a major blow to the xivth imperial legion.

[ShadowyZero]

Y'shtola finds her man he wasn't expecting a sharlayan lass to be calling him up and asks if she's after some tab he had forgotten to pay or worse if she's after him for parental reasons.. yshtola visibly annoyed but composes herself stating the latter an that she needs his aid that limsa needs him once again Laurence of course retorts saying that his epics were long ago an he has no desire to return to those days but yshtola insists he aid as there is no one better suited then the company an they are more than capable to strike the empires advance an divert them away while she secures a rescue of her comrades who can then defeat the empire an send them packing once more.
laurence however has to retort that they tried that with cartineu an that didnt work out too nice like for em an questions what would they accomplish with a round two? and wether the sacrifices would be worth the cost. Yshtola remembers well the events but she remains unflinching as her mentor did before her she states no matter what they pay it will mean little if the empire has its way an further pushes the realm to its brink this finally makes laurence give in an he agrees to aid her.

back in mor dhona yda and ilberd an ready to spring their trap but hear shouting an fighting erupt they are unsure of the circumstances but ilberd states this is perfect for them to seize the advantage in the ensueing chaos yda is able to find the cells she beats the gaurds effortlessly an secures a key however she confronted by livia who does not intend for this diversion to ruin her standing an the two fiercely spare while ilberd's group is securing the escape route.
but they are beginning to get overwhelmed yda fears her end may be approaching an grits her teeth and clenches her fists livia taunts her trying to anger her but then an explosion is gone off in the direction of the cells she wonders whats going an but she hears ilberd call out saying they have the route ready. after escaping livia's wrath yda rendevous with ilberd they assess the situation an its then they realize a third party has entered the fray a warrior brandishing a great axe clashing with empire forces an the scions are in tow with said fellow but not minfilia yda tells ilberd to leave her behind he is reluctant but nods an proceeds to exit.
the warrior so fierce an brings down many single handily with scions aid they are nearing the bridge to north thanalan but are cornered yda springs into action to assist in the fighting as does yshtola who had arrived not moments ago an liberated Cid as well along the way she states they are to jump on a count and do so flying away upon cid's vessel the scions now re-united.
Gaius receives the news an is disappointed an angered in equal measure that they had deceived him to create an opening for a counter attack he vows to take them all out over his shoulder a dark robed figure appears an states that all is going according to plan an Gaius shouldnt be bothered by the set back an that the full unleashed ultima weapon is without equal.

[ShadowyZero]

the scions recognize the warrior an Alphinaud especially thought him dead after the Garuda incident. the warrior tells them they had drifted in unconsciousness for what seemed an eternity but that the voice of the mothercrystal had spoken out to him an implored him to not give in to defeat and to fight on he woke with in the shroud cared for by a chireogen they was told they was rescued by a young elf lass who a spied his body on a cliff side near the isgardian border an though them lost but on closer inspection she realized he was still breathing an carried him there to the shroud to fallgourd float they didnt get to thank her as she had left in a hurry but was glad for her timely intervention as they would be able to rescue them an fight the empire back.

but alas they were too slow to secure minfilia and she was move to the main castrum the empire didn't want to chance loosing a potential outlet to conquer the primal threat yda had noted that other forces were fighting the empire an suggests meeting them in person to learn what they're fighting for similarly yshtola states she enlisted the company of heroes and pirate lords to divert the empire but notes that she heard the empire had other skirmishes whcih ruined their assault upon the beast tribe lands so the scions agree their next course of action would to be to meet these fighters an ask for whom they fight and why.

meanwhile the alliance is issued a threat by gaius that he will retaliate against them for intervening in his agenda an take eorzea by force starting with thanalan the leaders are concerned but they are given a welcome surprise that the scions yet survive an their champion too this gives them the hope they needed an they begin making ready for war pledging to devote all forces to fight back.

in castrum praetoria minfilia is strung up and bound Nero is giddy with glee to get the chance to study this "echo" for himself but he is cut short by Gauis who enters the room telling minfilia her home will burn but he will give her the chance to appeal to them one last time but she states she would die instead then to give up another home to his ambition he states then he will have no other recourse that when the robed figure appears again stating maybe he can convince though his voice comes at a familiar tone to minfilia she is shocked and in fear then the figure removes the cowl an mask revealign none other than thancred he teases and taunts her telling her be a good puppet an do as she is bid she wrenches in terror an screams in pain.

the scions gain an audience with a leading free company who partook in the special operations the guild master and his trusty advisors approach they are honored the famed scions of the seventh dawn would seek to contact them an asked them to elaborate as too why they explain they were in dire straights with the empire until they appeared an wanted to know from whom they were ordered to march
the leader and advisors look to eachother silently for a moment then nod they tell of the plight of the city states and gaius' threat to annex all of eorzea for empire rule and dominion an were reminded of the brothers and sisters they had lost to the calamity which loosed the dread dragon king bahamut upon eorzea an that they were promised the highest honor an all the wealth the cities could spare for their aid.
the warrior asks then if they will continue their aid for the realm but they are hesitant to respond they state this goes against their code to interfere in national affairs an that the skirmish was already pushing it but the warrior is adament they keep pushing forward that they are needed now more than ever that they personally will lead the charge that all they need is a handful of their best an skilled the scions similarly state they will not sacrifice the adventurers again an intend to stand with them.
the leader smiles real big pleased to hear this an agrees under the condition this is set as a contract an expires the moment the empire is expelled from eorzean soil this would make their intervention non partisan and not affiliated to any one nation. an so a token force is assembled the scions then intend to reach out to they alliance an see if they can provide additional reinforcement and thus is the campaign underway to liberate eorzea

[ShadowyZero]

so to end this off Minfilia is rescued in praetorium, gaius and lahabrea are beaten and eorzea is secured once more. following this the ascians become more involved in the plot though in my twist there would be no teledji stuff still would keep in doman stuff and ishgard stuff but thats a what if for another time

[Rongway]

Please use more meaningful thread titles so we can decide if we want to read the thread without having to open it.

[Iscah]

Please use more meaningful thread titles so we can decide if we want to read the thread without having to open it.

And also so we can remember what it is on subsequent visits after we already looked at it once.

[ShadowyZero]

i figured it was common knowledge that "What if" usually means an alternate scenario or situation etc. my apologies in my next one i place which expansion its on in the title

[Cilia]

With all respect, I'm pretty sure this isn't intended to be a place for posting fanfiction. There are other venues for that.