What are the Pathwalkers

[TinyRedLeaf]

Hmm... it seems that Fern spoke off-the-cuff, so I'm not sure how reliable the information is, but I'll take him at his word. So, there are other Echo-users in the Scions besides Minfilia and the main character.

I know for sure that, before the massacre at the Waking Sands, there were at least three Scions who were former Pathwalkers. One of them, a miqo'te mage, was particularly frustrated that none of the other Scions remembered who they were. It's frustrating for her because she and her two companions were among the most senior of the Pathwalkers.

But that trio of Pathwalkers were killed when Livia raided the Waking Sands.

Since then, I haven't come across other Scions who appear to possess the Echo. Hoary Boulder and Coultenet are the only two regular Scions you see at the Rising Stones, and they don't appear to be Echo-users. Some Scions are still based in the Waking Sands, but they don't strike me as Echo-users either.

So, who are the "most of them" who have the Echo? Hmmm.....

[Clawtooth]

Hmm... it seems that Fern spoke off-the-cuff, so I'm not sure how reliable the information is, but I'll take him at his word. So, there are other Echo-users in the Scions besides Minfilia and the main character.

I know for sure that, before the massacre at the Waking Sands, there were at least three Scions who were former Pathwalkers. One of them, a miqo'te mage, was particularly frustrated that none of the other Scions remembered who they were. It's frustrating for her because she and her two companions were among the most senior of the Pathwalkers.

But that trio of Pathwalkers were killed when Livia raided the Waking Sands.

Since then, I haven't come across other Scions who appear to possess the Echo. Hoary Boulder and Coultenet are the only two regular Scions you see at the Rising Stones, and they don't appear to be Echo-users. Some Scions are still based in the Waking Sands, but they don't strike me as Echo-users either.

So, who are the "most of them" who have the Echo? Hmmm.....

What about Hoary Boulder and Coltenet doesn't strike you as echo users? Basically anyone could get the echo - their outward appearance doesn't matter. The Scions of the Seventh Dawn was made up of The Path of the Twelve (Echo-users, Minfilia's 1.0 organisation) and The Circle of Knowing (The Archons, Louisoix's Organisation). In 2.3, Alphinaud added a third group - The Crystal Braves, a grand-company type thing without borders and allegience. I'm not sure if it's supposed to serve as a "military" arm of the Scions or not ... but be that as it may, Coltenet and Hoary Boulder joined the Scions before it was formed ... and since they're not Sharlayan, it seems obvious to me that they have the Echo.

Of course, Tataru throws this into a little disarray. She clearly does not have the Echo (she couldn't see Elidibus back in 2.1). I think she's just a normal person ... but other than her, I think everyone else in the Scions falls into one of these 2/3 groups - depending upon if the Crystal Braves are actually a part of the Scions or not.

[TinyRedLeaf]

What about Hoary Boulder and Coltenet doesn't strike you as echo users?

Point taken. I feel the way I do because of the way the nature of the Echo has been completely re-written in ARR. The Echo used to be more mystical and spiritual in the original version of the game, and the Path of the Twelve often reminded me of real-world Freemasonry, a secret society with semi-religious influences.

But in ARR, the Echo has become a more overt kind of power. It's no longer something innate, but is rather more an explicit manifestation of Hydaelyn's blessing. To possess the Echo is to be specially marked by Hydaelyn for greater things, and it's the chief reason that you, the main character, is so exceptionally powerful.

Of course, it could also be rationalised that you just happen to be an especially adept user of the Echo. But, as of now, no reason has been given as to why you're so special.

So, I've come to believe that simply being blessed with the Echo itself makes you especially strong, a mechanic that shows up during Trials. And yet, none of the present-day Scions outside of the Archons are particularly noteworthy.

Yes, it's true that the Echo manifests itself in different ways in each individual. That was made very clear even during 1.0. But then again, ver1.0 also made it very clear that all the Echo-users in the Path were pursuing personal pilgrimages of one form or another. That distinction is no longer as clear in ARR, especially after the massacre in Waking Sands and the addition of the Crystal Braves, whom I do consider to be the military arm of the Scions, a development that my character, Lyland, is not completely comfortable with.

[Mholito]

Some Scions are still based in the Waking Sands, but they don't strike me as Echo-users either.

I'm pretty sure at least one of the scions that are still at the Waking Sands has the Echo. The half-Ala Mhigan mentiones that he was sent there, after telling someone about a strange dream he had, early in the story.