The Heavens' Ward and Other Notable NPC's of Ishgard (Lore Questions)

[Grimmel]

During the 3.0 MSQ the Heavens' Ward members were a pretty big part of it. I was almost expecting to get more information and more scenes including them maybe even background stories. But now that 3.0 MSQ is all said and done with, I can't help but feel robbed of an important part of the new expansion.

We know so little about the Heavens' Ward and it's members and even more so with the members that were not a part of any major scenes or dungeons like Zephirin, Charibert, Grinnaux, and Adelphel were.

I guess what I'm asking for here is more lore on the members of the Heavens' Ward.
Where did these members come from?
What walks of life did they start out on to get to becoming such high ranking knights?
How old are they all in comparison to one another?
How do they interact with one another on a daily basis?
Is/Was there any internal conflict between the members at times?
How did members of the Heavens' Ward react with members of the Temple Knights?
Do any of the Heavens' Ward have any affiliation with the high houses aside from Grinnaux?
Who is Aymeric's mother?
How old was the Archbishop when he helped conceive him?

Please, Fern, Give us more! We Heavensward Lore Freaks need more!

[FJerome]

I'd really like to see this in relation to the fact we've just gone and killed the Archbishop and 12 high-ranking knights and Aymeric seems to have covered it all up (he signs the treaty rejoining the Alliance in the name of the Archbishop, after all). Aren't the knights' families going to start missing them after a while? Inter-house politics means House Dzemael's inevitably going to start asking after Ser Grinnaux soon, if nothing else.

[SirPhoebos]

I'd really like to see this in relation to the fact we've just gone and killed the Archbishop and 12 high-ranking knights and Aymeric seems to have covered it all up (he signs the treaty rejoining the Alliance in the name of the Archbishop, after all). Aren't the knights' families going to start missing them after a while? Inter-house politics means House Dzemael's inevitably going to start asking after Ser Grinnaux soon, if nothing else.

Are we certain the Heaven's Ward are dead? We see Thoran VII croak, but that's it.

And I don't think Thoran VII's death is actually a secret. It's just that such little time has passed that Aymeric hasn't really had a chance to install a new government. Since no new government has been declared, it makes sense to stick with Aymeric representing the Holy See until he figures out how things will be run (especially for someone like Nanamo that always keeps things formal). And if anyone wasn't aware of the change would have at least noticed that neither the Archbishop nor any of his personal representatives were present at a major public event.

[Delily]

Are we certain the Heaven's Ward are dead? We see Thoran VII croak, but that's it.

Right before the archbishop dissolves into aether, we see the Heavensward fall, change back into humans, and dissolve as well. Rewatch the cut scene.

[SirPhoebos]

Right before the archbishop dissolves into aether, we see the Heavensward fall, change back into humans, and dissolve as well. Rewatch the cut scene.

Okay, I suspected I was forgetting something (it was pretty late when I got to that scene).

[Kaiser-Ace]

I don't think House Dzaemal as a whole is entirely antagonistic as much as there are just a few jerks running around. Think about it, Count Fortemps' son were jerks too (Until their day gave them a sound lecture and a firm spanking, lol).

I'd say most of the "I am mightier than though" attitude stems from the historical perspective that set the high houses where they are today. A few thousand years of the "I'm the Lord of the Manor" mentality and naturally the pseudo-nobles are going to call himself Lords, Ladies, and Masters before the Aristocracy starts spitting on the poor for laughs.

Thus Ishgardian Politics, Pick on the poor, abuse the weak, do as you please because the law can't stop you (And pray a Dark Knight doesn't catch you red handed), then go home and feast on your privet stores of expensive food next to your giant fire and laugh while every one else freezes and starves to death.

Dzaemal seems to be the worst of the four because they are the wealthiest and most powerful in the terms of military so they look down on the other houses for being weaker and/or poorer.

No so much antagonistic as just a bunch of spoiled Jack Asses.

[Shirobi]

Thus Ishgardian Politics, Pick on the poor, abuse the weak, do as you please because the law can't stop you (And pray a Dark Knight doesn't catch you red handed), then go home and feast on your privet stores of expensive food next to your giant fire and laugh while every one else freezes and starves to death.

Dzaemal seems to be the worst of the four because they are the wealthiest and most powerful in the terms of military so they look down on the other houses for being weaker and/or poorer.

No so much antagonistic as just a bunch of spoiled Jack Asses.

You dont call any of that "antagonistic"? Seriously?!

There is also the quests involving the darkhold and the machnist quest line that show that the Dyzmaels are pretty darn evil and will stoop to anything to get their way.

[Velox]

Are we certain the Heaven's Ward are dead? We see Thoran VII croak, but that's it.

Their aether was linked with Thordan's, which is what allowed him to summon them at will. When he was defeated, so were they. Because they bound themselves to each other's aether for their special summoning, once it was depleted they all vanished. Their technique was a double-edged sword.

In regards to the topic in large, 3.0 is far from over. The 3.0-3.1 story is only a piece of the pie. We only JUST freed Ishgard from their own close-minded obsession with their false history. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, etc will continue the aftermath and how Aymeric will deal with it. Even though Ishgard has rejoined the Alliance does not mean it's ready to stand on it's own just yet. It's going to take several months to get situated with a new government and new religious ideals (since Ishgardian society is entwined with both). 4.0 is when we will really get to see a new Ishgard and possibly, a new GC to join, with all their affairs being sorted out by then.

[Delily]

I'd really like to see this in relation to the fact we've just gone and killed the Archbishop and 12 high-ranking knights and Aymeric seems to have covered it all up (he signs the treaty rejoining the Alliance in the name of the Archbishop, after all). Aren't the knights' families going to start missing them after a while? Inter-house politics means House Dzemael's inevitably going to start asking after Ser Grinnaux soon, if nothing else.

On one hand, I doubt Ayermic covered up anything. His character is written to be the type to explain the various nobles that the archbishop and the Heavensward became primals and were defeated by the Scions. Also, I doubt the houses will directly act against him, as he has the full support of the Alliance and the Scions. I think for the most part, they, like the rest of Ishgard, are waiting to see what comes next. Then again, I never got the impression the houses were as manipulative as the Monetarists in Ul'dah.

[FJerome]

Also, I doubt the houses will directly act against him, as he has the full support of the Alliance and the Scions. I think for the most part, they, like the rest of Ishgard, are waiting to see what comes next. Then again, I never got the impression the houses were as manipulative as the Monetarists in Ul'dah.

The WoL had the full support of the Alliance and the Scions back in 2.5.5, though, and it didn't seem to help much?

Also, besides the shenanigans going down in the Astrologian and Mechanist storylines, House Dzemael did have Alphinaud and Tataru arrested on false charges just to mess with House Fortemps. Isghardian politics seem just as bad as Ul'Dah politics.