New Years Poem 2015

[Anonymoose]

Let's interpret!

Take note that these translations are quite rough. Suggest better ones if you can and I'll update.

Is your interpretation different than mine? Add that to the list, too!

Poem Text

To naught by the Ivory Spear shall ebon mail yield,
Yet Her point remains ever trained upon scales of black.
Peer deep into the dust which swirls in our wakes
And know the bloody dance of light and dark to be everlasting.

La force des lances est requise contre les armures noires
Mais ces fers sont deja tournes vers des ecailles sombres
Le temps est venu de reveler un lourd secret de l'historie
Comme le bien et le mal, la lumiere est toujours liee a l'ombre

The strength of spears is required against black armor
But those irons have already turned toward dark scales
The time has come to reveal a dark secret of history
As with good and evil, light is always bound to shadow

Der heil'ge Speer vermag die schwarze Rüstung zu durchbohr'n
Doch richtet seine Spitze sich auf dunkler Schuppen Zorn
Allein der Blick aufs Gestern erklärt das bitt're Leid
Vereint sind Licht und Schatter - in alle Ewigkeit.

The holy spear can piece the black armor
But it's peak is directed at darker anger shed.
Look upon yesterday, it declares a bitter suffering
Combined are Light and Shadow - for all Eternity.

<Kanji Missing>

If you want to pierce the dark armor, get a sharp lance.
However, the point cannot be directed towards dark scales.
Now is the time to face our eyes to days past.
In holiness there is evil, in light there is darkness. Know that there is always an opposer.

Simple English Combined Guess:

Ishgard will be needed to combat the Garlean (and/or Ascian) threat,
but their eyes are ever focused on the Dragonsong War.
Re-examine history with new eyes and a dark secret shall be revealed,
Light and Darkness exist in all things, even each other, for all time...

[Nalien]

I agree ebon mail likely refers to the Ascians, but given how Alexander looks in this game I think there is a slight possibility it references him.



He certainly gave off a darker feel to me than previous incarnations, though perhaps not "ebon mail" level...

[Anonymoose]

Very true, it could be much farther into 2015 than just the Ascian reveals.

On the note that it could be machine-related, Omega might be black, as well, if it's anything like Ultima.

[Nalien]

Based on 2.4 dialog I actually wonder what Ishgard could even have that would help stop the Ascians...

The whole Sword of Light/Aether plot to defeat Ascians really made me step back and go "We're going to use the Primals for that, aren't we?". Primals are concentrated Aether and we already have a precedent for such from 2.2 where the Sahagin Priest was "immortal" and promptly made mortal by Leviathan. Add to that the fact that we know Free Companies will one day be able to summon Primals when it makes sense within the story and all the pieces fit, in my opinion. Que 2.5 and The Keeper of the Lake spilling the beans on how to summon Iceheart style...

Now that you mention Omega/Ultima Weapon though, it could simply reference the Garlean Empire; We want Ishgard to join the Eorzean Alliance to stand against the Garleans now that they have a new emperor, but they're focused on their war, which we'll be helping with in 3.0.

Actually... Going back to 2.4 dialog... I recall someone mentioning that it was a good thing the Garleans didn't learn of Icehearts summoning, for if they learned that the civilized races could summon Primals as well, there would likely be no opposition to a new Eorzea Campaign... Wonder if we'll beat the Ascians in 2.5# with Primals, only to have the Garleans find out and start their march in 3.0... "Now is the time to face our eyes to days past", "Know that there is always an opposer"... Yeah... We beat the Ascians and get a new opposer in Garlemald... Mayhaps...

[Grayve]

I rather thought the Dravanians would have more information on the Ascians, rather then the Ishagradians. However, ending the war would be a requirement to getting a dialogue going. Giving the implied age of Midgardsomnr, they might have living memory of previous eras.

[lololink]

Based on 2.4 dialog I actually wonder what Ishgard could even have that would help stop the Ascians...

The whole Sword of Light/Aether plot to defeat Ascians really made me step back and go "We're going to use the Primals for that, aren't we?". Primals are concentrated Aether and we already have a precedent for such from 2.2 where the Sahagin Priest was "immortal" and promptly made mortal by Leviathan. Add to that the fact that we know Free Companies will one day be able to summon Primals when it makes sense within the story and all the pieces fit, in my opinion. Que 2.5 and The Keeper of the Lake spilling the beans on how to summon Iceheart style...

I still don't understand why they just didn't go with that first, instead of making all this light crystal thing that doesn't seem to work correctly, it's not like killing a primal would be an issue.
Still I wonder if the secret trial will be Halone, considering how religious the Ishgardians are and with the recent return of primals, the summoning of Shiva by the heretics and ascians having a plan regarding summoning primals while using someone as a catalyst.

[Balipu]

"In holiness there is evil" Yep. Lahabrea inside the Archbishop.
It is likely that the dravanian horde knows how to end the primal threat which is not something the Ascians want, so they manipulated Ishgard to go to war against them.

[Nalien]

I still don't understand why they just didn't go with that first, instead of making all this light crystal thing that doesn't seem to work correctly, it's not like killing a primal would be an issue.

Do you mean Auracite? I believe it's a focus because it will trap the Ascians temporarily and allow us to hit them with a burst of Aether to defeat them permanently. Lahabrea managed to escape remember.

Still I wonder if the secret trial will be Halone, considering how religious the Ishgardians are and with the recent return of primals, the summoning of Shiva by the heretics and ascians having a plan regarding summoning primals while using someone as a catalyst.

I wonder... Currently I'm assuming the mystery trial will just be another Ultima Ballad style thing, I recall mention of a Gaius rematch being mentioned a few times so I assume it'll be that. I can't quite see it being story related when it's in 2.5, not 2.51 onwards.

[lololink]

Do you mean Auracite? I believe it's a focus because it will trap the Ascians temporarily and allow us to hit them with a burst of Aether to defeat them permanently. Lahabrea managed to escape remember.

Yes, but he didn't got eat by a primal the same way the sahagin priest was, It seemed to be a good way to send the spirit of the ascian to the sea of stars by linking it to a primal so that once it is defeated it takes the ascian with it same way the sahagin didn't come back after it was eat and leviathan was defeated.

[Grayve]

I personal wonder if the secret trial isn't Omega. 2.5 is getting a new Frontlines mode. And with the Ul'dah story likely coming to a conclusion before 3.0, it seems they'd try to reactivate Omega, as that was part of the villians scheme. .