ishgard

[Chokee]

i admit i made a regrettable mistake of skipping through cutscenes and now have to ask about the stuff i skipped.

can someone tell me why is ishgard locked to us before and now going to open when heavensward comes?

is it that they dont like outsiders and now that the dragons are getting stronger they need help from outside?

[Cilia]

Protip: you can rewatch cutscenes at the Inn.

Regardless, Ishgard is locked off to outsiders because most of the authorities are xenophobic assholes.

The Gates of Judgment are opened because of the dual causes of adventurers like us helping them to defend the Steps of Faith as well as the fact that the Dravanian assaults are renewed and intensifying. With the defensive wards dispelled by Ysale, they need all the help they can get.

[Alberel]

To expand a little on what Cilia said above, Ishgard used to be an ally to the three Eorzean city states (even going so far as to fight to defend Gridania in the past) but withdrew and became very isolationist shortly before Garlemald began their invasion. We still don't know the actual cause of this change of policy but their neutrality is presumably what spared them an invasion of their own.

Ishgard is opening its gates now partly out of desperation, but also because Aymeric (and to a lesser extent Haurchefant) has proven to have a great deal of influence in the city. He has negotiated on our behalf to allow the WoL and their allies shelter out of recognition for all that we've done to help him and Ishgard to date. Depending on how the Ascian influence of the Archbishop plays out I won't be surprised if Aymeric ends up taking full control of Ishgard by the end of 3.0.

[Gamer3427]

Depending on how the Ascian influence of the Archbishop plays out I won't be surprised if Aymeric ends up taking full control of Ishgard by the end of 3.0.

Honestly, I'll be more surprised if Aymeric doesn't turn out to be an enemy by the end of 3.xx. We already had a relatively obvious traitor in our midst when it came to Ilberd, so it would make sense as well that there would be one who's less obvious also working behind our backs. Not to mention that Aymeric has been frankly a little too helpful when compared to other members of Ishgard, particularly for a high ranking member of their religion based government. Despite his assurances of why he's being so helpful exactly, and why he isn't as uptight as we've been shown other Ishgardians are, it still seems suspicious that he would show up when his assistance would be the most useful. Him asking for a favor from us and going out of his way to reinforce good will with us seems like far more measures than one in his position would take without more reason than he's letting on. Then there's the matter of him being called away immediately prior to 2.55's ending of the banquet. That he would be called away just in time to avoid any danger from the major plot points seems a bit suspicious. Especially given that from a story telling standpoint there was no particular reason he had to be called away at that moment for the Dravanian war, when he could have simply left the area at the same time as the Admiral and Elder Seed-Seer for the same reasons they did....

Of course, this could just be my paranoia acting up....

[Samcaesar]

Snip

Oooh gosh.. Totally your paranoia.

No seriously, I agree with you. Aymeric just seems too helpful. Iilberd talked way too much about loyality, he's betray seems almost too clear in retrospect. Aymeric though? He's much too clear with his goals and he's willing to help us in return foster a relationship that'll open Ishgard up to people (Us specifically), while one could think that he's just an honest good person, I don't buy it. I wouldn't be surprised if he's actually being controlled by the Ascians or he's a trial boss that we've got to kill once he sees us with Iceheart or Midgardsormr. He's too perfect in too many ways. For someone who isn't Ishgard nobility and has the position he has, he's managed to get a lot of luck in his life...

[Belhi]

I don't think they are going to play the betrayal card too much otherwise they will overdo it. Personally I think Count Edmont de Fortemps and Aymeric will be our allies in 3.x though it might take some time to win them over. Infact, I think winning over the ruling houses of Ishgard or at least some of them will be key to us ending the war. For all their flaws the Ishgardians do seem to espouse to a kind of noble idealism of justice and honor, its just their zealotry and bigotry blind them to their own hypocrisy. We have certainly meet several Ishgardians that seem to be good people even if their devoutness leads them to be somewhat blind to truths.

[PocketFox]

If I recall correctly, Aymeric was called away because the Dravanians had launched another attack against Ishgard. I suppose you could say that that's a good excuse for him, but it could just be a storytelling device, avoiding a mostly unnecessary wrinkle in the movement of the plot. Things are already awkward enough with the Warrior of Light trying to get asylum in Ishgard. How much more difficult would it have been if Aymeric had been caught in the chaos? Yes, he would probably have used it as further evidence of why the Warrior should be allowed into Ishgard, but I can very easily see the powers that be claiming the opposite: the Warrior should be kept out, to avoid bringing non-Ishgardian trouble into the city-state.

To put it more succinctly, Aymeric's timely avoidance of the climax could just be a mild deus ex machina to avoid dealing with a storytelling complication that honestly doesn't need to be dealt with at all.

(I apologize for being such a spoilsport. :P )

[Gamer3427]

To put it more succinctly, Aymeric's timely avoidance of the climax could just be a mild deus ex machina to avoid dealing with a storytelling complication that honestly doesn't need to be dealt with at all.

(I apologize for being such a spoilsport. :P )

I agree that that is most likely the case, and there is no need to apologize. I was simply sharing my interpretation of what it could mean story wise. SE has always been a little hit and miss with such things. Sometimes they plan stuff out so far in advance that it almost makes too much sense, and other times they have to come up with a deus ex machina excuse to prevent a minor aspect they hadn't really thought through from destroying their whole plotline.....

[The_Last_Dragoon]

i admit i made a regrettable mistake of skipping through cutscenes and now have to ask about the stuff i skipped.

can someone tell me why is ishgard locked to us before and now going to open when heavensward comes?

is it that they dont like outsiders and now that the dragons are getting stronger they need help from outside?

Aymeric isn't a bad guy, and even though his assistant is obviously not Elezen, I'm sure he will be something akin to a GC leader.

Considering the storyline quests that are given in Coerthas, people believe that there could be major corruption of high up officials which is the reason why Ishgard is being slow in joining the Grand Companies in a united Eorzean front. It should also be mentioned that while Aymeric is being more open with you, it by no means represents the opening of the gates of Ishgard. From what I understand, you are a respected hero in Ishgard due to your recent deeds at the Steps of Faith, and it is because of it that they are allowing the Warrior of Light and his/her friends to claim asylum in Ishgard due to the events in Ul'dah. In a sense, you are being smuggled across the border against the wishes of the Syndicate of Ul'dah.

[Dalvy]

Of course, this could just be my paranoia acting up....

Huh, actually I think what negates that is the fact that Teledji was in a mighty hurry to remove any potential interferences. That glare he gets is pretty telling. Our pal would've called Teledji's BS in an instant.

Also, it's not only Aymeric that's being abnormally friendly, but the entire Fortemps leadership is as well. Haurchefant tells us that they catch flak for it often. Count Edmont shares the same sentiments about wanting goodly adventurers to help Ishgard... So that would make the entire Household against us with your theory >.>