Minstrel's Song from The Rising

[HaelseMikiro]

An old despair astride a new-shod mare.

I'd interpret that either as 'the primal threat' with Shiva simply being the newest incarnation of it (also we expect her to drop a new horse)
or
less likely it's Lahabrea with a new physical host

[WinterSolstice]

An old despair astride a new-shod mare.

I'd interpret that either as 'the primal threat' with Shiva simply being the newest incarnation of it (also we expect her to drop a new horse)
or
less likely it's Lahabrea with a new physical host

We're getting Shiva in 2.4, so why refer to her when she's being released so soon? They already referred to Shiva in a previous poem.

However it has been hinted that she is behind the Dravinian Heretics in Coerthas...so maybe? Dravinia is at war with Ishgard, so it certainly fits.

[Alberel]

We're getting Shiva in 2.4, so why refer to her when she's being released so soon? They already referred to Shiva in a previous poem.

However it has been hinted that she is behind the Dravinian Heretics in Coerthas...so maybe? Dravinia is at war with Ishgard, so it certainly fits.

Shiva is unrelated to the Dravanian heretics. The events in 2.3 make it pretty clear that her bandit crew are an entirely separate faction.

I'm of the opinion this 'new shod mare' is Lahabrea's new host. The events of 2.5 will likely culminate in us defeating Lahabrea at last and liberating Ishgard in the process. We will NOT be facing Zodiark yet, it's far too soon and there are twelve other Ascians to deal with first.

[Gelesto]

"A growing light o'er all the realm
Fingers bright on highlands white
In an instance, a blade that smites the night.

But ill winds rise as the great gates yawn
Hope rides to meet what naught can cheat
An old despair astride a new-shod mare..."

Anyone else think this sounds like Odin vs Alexander? or New Odin fight alongside the release of Alexander too?

My reasoning:
"A growing light o'er all the realm" - Alexander has always been aspected with Holy

"Fingers bright on highlands white" - Alexander is usually a robot who leans forward onto his hands but has also had an incarnation as a castle (Ishgard anyone?)

"In an instance, a blade that smites the night." - Zantetsuken Odin's signature move in previous titles (and in FFXIV opening titles) he enters at night in the light of a full moon (hoping the in an instance is referring to Odin becoming more than a FATE monster)

"But ill winds rise as the great gates yawn" - In FF7 Alexander fired beams from his mouth to attack (directly in front of him) "Great gates yawn" well it wouldn't be the incarnation of alexander to be a building

"Hope rides to meet what naught can cheat" - "what naught can cheat" has to be Death right? (the effect of Zantetsuken) "Hope rides to meet" In FFXIII what was the name of the little boy who could summon Alexander? (its Hope)

"An old despair astride a new-shod mare..." - Sleipnir Odin's "mare" currently it has too few legs for Final Fantasy (much like Gilgamesh with his arms, of which we already know will be gaining more) "Shod" referring to Horse shoes gonna need them for all those new legs he will have.

or is it just me?

[EdwinLi]

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I don't think it involves Odin nor Alexander.

As of now the song fits more towards Ishagard and events leading to the opening of their gates.

[Myvar]

I would give my input.

The first staza:
A growing light o'er all the realm
Fingers bright on highlands white
In an instance, a blade that smites the night.

This could read more like "The Warriors of Light, who are bringing light to the realm, will take up arms in Coerthas to strike down the threat (perhaps Shiva)."

The second stanza:
But ill winds rise as the great gates yawn
Hope rides to meet what naught can cheat
An old despair astride a new-shod mare...

This could read more like "Then, as the great gates (of Ishgard) open, a threat will rise, and hope (probably the Warriors of Light) will ride to meet this death (which none can cheat) which has long been a despair (possibly referring to the dragons) but is now different in some way."

Alternatively, the last part could mean that "what naught can cheat" is "that which has long been a despair but is now different in some way."