How did Alisaie know? [Before the Fall]

[Alisa180]

Apologies if this has been asked before. Something has been really bugging me about the ending of 'Before the Fall.' The merchant who helps the WoL and Alphinaud get away from Ul'dah relates that Alisaie sent him, and that she said, 'her brother was having some trouble down in Ul'dah, and likely needed a helping hand getting away.'

My question: How the heck did she find out this information??? Think about it for a few seconds. The only people who had even a *hint* of what was going to happen, outside of those directly involved with the banquet plot, was Riol and the WoL. And as Before the Fall seems to take place after the Binding Coil storyline, she was wandering Eorzea during this time. Not exactly conductive to being in the loop, so to speak.

Yet, somehow, despite the events taking near everyone else by surprise, she *knew* what was going to happen. Or at least she had a far better idea then the WoL, the Scions, and the other 'good guys.' Enough of an idea to arrange for the getaway carriage.

Maybe I'm missing something, but it's just not adding up for me. Personally, I hope we get to see her re-enter the MSQ proper at some point, and that will answer some questions.

[Yata7]

uhhhhhmmmm, Family Linkshell? That's all i got.

[Shirobi]

uhhhhhmmmm, Family Linkshell? That's all i got.

Honestly thats what I figured too. I dont see why anyone would read more into it than that.

[Frederick22]

She was spying his own brother, to be aware of every one of his movements

[BlurtedNonsense]

Her twin senses activated or she sensed a disturbance in the fo... Aether?

[Delphor]

From what I can remember, Alisaie had two bodyguards with her when she and Alphinaud were discussing the speeches the Grand Company leaders gave in regards to the anniversary of Carteneau. Perhaps she has her own band of informants to keep her in the loop, or perhaps Riol got in contact with her.

[Nalien]

From what I remember, it was implied she was with Urianger in the Waking Sands at the time, and there was suspicious Brass/Crystal Braves activity in Vesper Bay, enough to cause Urianger to cast a glamour on the Waking Sands, at least. Given how close her brother was with the Scions (not to mention Crystal Braves), she must have just figured something was happening when they came after Urianger, and sent the merchant to go check.

[Alisa180]

From what I remember, it was implied she was with Urianger in the Waking Sands at the time, and there was suspicious Brass/Crystal Braves activity in Vesper Bay, enough to cause Urianger to cast a glamour on the Waking Sands, at least. Given how close her brother was with the Scions (not to mention Crystal Braves), she must have just figured something was happening when they came after Urianger, and sent the merchant to go check.

To quote Tataru:

"Anyway, after Yugiri found me, we traveled to Vesper Bay and met up with Urianger. When we told him what happened, he used his magicks to weave a glamour around the Waking Sands."

So, yeah, I don't think that's quite right...Urianger didn't cast the glamour until after the fact.

[Nalien]

To quote Tataru:

"Anyway, after Yugiri found me, we traveled to Vesper Bay and met up with Urianger. When we told him what happened, he used his magicks to weave a glamour around the Waking Sands."

So, yeah, I don't think that's quite right...Urianger didn't cast the glamour until after the fact.

Well, remember that Tataru and Yugiri were already in Coerthas when we arrived. It is reasonable then, to assume that the work was going on to apprehend the remaining Scions before the banquet. Yugiri and Tataru likely arrived in Vesper Bay in time to inform Urianger (and thus Alisaie) before or during the events at the banquet. The alternative is that the Scions were being apprehended at the same time Tataru was being chased, and Yugiri and Tataru traveled from Limsa, to Vesper Bay, then to Coerthas, in the moments we were making our escape... While we were using our own personal taxi service (the Enterprise)... I don't think that journey would be possible, I think they got to Vesper Bay in time to tip Urianger/Alisaie off to what was going on and that's why Alisaie was able to send help.

[Alisa180]

From what I can remember, Alisaie had two bodyguards with her when she and Alphinaud were discussing the speeches the Grand Company leaders gave in regards to the anniversary of Carteneau. Perhaps she has her own band of informants to keep her in the loop, or perhaps Riol got in contact with her.

Riol *might* have gotten in contact with her, but there's absolutely no indication of such.

One of the main issues is one of timing. The time between the sultana being poisoned, and the character emerging from the tunnels, is a few hours at the most. In order for the merchant to show when he did, he needed pretty good forewarning, depending on the in-universe travel time between Vesper Bay and Ul'dah. Possibly before the poisoning even occurred.
But that also throws a wrench into the possibility someone in the GC's knew and informed Alisaie. After all, wouldn't they have *also* alerted the Scions if they had that much forewarning?

Well, remember that Tataru and Yugiri were already in Coerthas when we arrived. It is reasonable then, to assume that the work was going on to apprehend the remaining Scions before the banquet. Yugiri and Tataru likely arrived in Vesper Bay in time to inform Urianger (and thus Alisaie) before or during the events at the banquet. The alternative is that the Scions were being apprehended at the same time Tataru was being chased, and Yugiri and Tataru traveled from Limsa, to Vesper Bay, then to Coerthas, in the moments we were making our escape...

The latter was sort of my assumption. Remember, there was a good deal of travel time after we emerged from the tunnels. First, the merchant delivered us to Black Brush Station. Then Cid flew us all the way to Coerthas. I had assumed while we were escaping, Tataru and the others were also attacked. And then while we traveled first to Black Brush, then Coerthas, Tataru and Yugiri hit Vesper Bay before moving on themselves.

While they beat us there, it honestly didn't seem like it was by much. (Teleportation is a thing, so even just by porting to Revenant's Toll beating the Enterprise to Coerthas isn't that far-fetched. Even more so if Tataru actually attuned to the Camp Dragonhead aetheryte at some point. I'm assuming Yugiri attunned to it since she was in Coerthas during Dreams of Ice.)

And I also think it's odd *no one*, sans the merchant, mentioned her during the events. I would think Tataru informing Alisaie of what was happening would at least warrant a passing mention.