Alexander and tempering

[Morningstar1337]

Okay so I decided to get Alex NM done today and I learned several things

• The obvious: Axes is a primal inhabiting a glorified mammot., The Illuminati/Blue hand is using is and they are intent on using it to hoard all the knowledge (I;m sure they and Sylvestre would either get along swimmingly or become bitter rivals)
• The reason: Alexander is not an actual deity but seems to be an amalgamation of the Illuminati's ideas in the form of the fortress as shown it the Enigma Codex

Which leads me to ask, Is Alex a representation of the concept of Utopia, as the Illuminati and Mide see it, the amagalgination of the illumnati's hopes and dreams, The Codex Deified, Or is it a primal of a different being altogether?

[Frederick22]

Hard to know really :/

Alexander's the first primal that doesn not act like a living being ( for now also, if we dont count the sword of Odin )
There is not enought lore about Alexander so far I think.

But beacuse Cid and that Aura came with us, I vague think that Alexander cannot temper. Like a machine, if no one operates him is not a danger ( I could be wrong, maybe it will become alive eventually lol )

[CyberGoblin]

Well, its stated that Alexander at this point is incomplete, perhaps when/if it does get completed it will be sentient, capable of tempering and probably mildly ticked off

[Februs]

At the moment, this is really the only mystery that Alexander has to offer... which is probably why a lot of people are disappointed with him. The Goblins are the primary threat (at the moment), and we know what their goals are. So, there's not enough mystery and intrigue to keep us interested at this point, and the end cutscene of A4 did nothing to warrant a renewed interest in the story like T5 did with Bahamut (most people could not wait to get into the Second Coil after seeing that).

That being said, it is an interesting question. Personally, I'm assuming that the codex is simply an object, and Alexander is the Eikon. Further, I'm also assuming that Alexander is the means to an end for Goblins. He's what their hopes and dreams are riding on (quite literally); however, I don't think they truly know what they have gotten themselves into.

So far, Alexander has mimic'd Bahamut in his implementation. First stage is dormancy. This was the same for Bahamut. He did not speak to us and all of the threats presented to us in the First Coil were of Allagan design. Second Coil showed us a bit of Bahamut's intent. The menacing feeling of the unknown and suspense was replaced with a raising of the stakes and a concentrated will. Bahamut himself became involved. Final Coil was the show down. Basic story structure 101: Introduction -> Rising action -> Conclusion. I think we can look forward to the same design for Alexander. The first stage of Alexander (suspense/tension and mystery) were utterly lack luster by comparison to Bahamut's version, but I'm hoping that the second stage makes up for it with a deeper sense of threat from Alexander himself. As he becomes more complete and aware of what's happening, he stands to pose a much more troubling threat to the immediate infrastructure than Bahamut did.

[Morningstar1337]

I forgot to this this in the OP (site you know, the title) But I have another question, Do you think the Illuminati are being tempered?

[Frederick22]

I forgot to this this in the OP (site you know, the title) But I have another question, Do you think the Illuminati are being tempered?

Hard to say.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

I think they're just that crazy. If they were really tempered, they'd try to force other Goblins to add to their numbers.

[Belhi]

Tempering appears to be an active thing. Its not something that just happens from being close to a primal. If that was the case, the Company of Heroes never would have had a chance to kill one, let alone two, primals.

Further, I suspect tempering is something that requires the Primal to use Aether so generally I think Primals only do it when necessary or when they intentionally want to. I point to Garuda's attempt to temper the WoL as well as Ifrit. It was an active thing.

For this reason I wouldn't be surprised if the Goblins aren't tempered. Either Alexander isn't aware enough to be tempering at this point or it feels no need to temper the Goblins who summoned it.

The other alternative is the actual Primal may be the central component of the Fortress. I wouldn't be surprised in the least to discover that the actual primal is the heart of the structure rather than the structure itself in the same way Odin uses a host.

[Morningstar1337]

The other alternative is the actual Primal may be the central component of the Fortress. I wouldn't be surprised in the least to discover that the actual primal is the heart of the structure rather than the structure itself in the same way Odin uses a host.

You mean the Primal is the Gordian Knot, the thing where Mide, Biggs and Wedge were in close proximity to? (and the thing that further entrenches my belief that the recurring Alexander is based on Alexander the Great)

[Kuwagami]

Tempering appears to be an active thing. Its not something that just happens from being close to a primal. If that was the case, the Company of Heroes never would have had a chance to kill one, let alone two, primals.

Further, I suspect tempering is something that requires the Primal to use Aether so generally I think Primals only do it when necessary or when they intentionally want to. I point to Garuda's attempt to temper the WoL as well as Ifrit. It was an active thing.

For this reason I wouldn't be surprised if the Goblins aren't tempered. Either Alexander isn't aware enough to be tempering at this point or it feels no need to temper the Goblins who summoned it.

The other alternative is the actual Primal may be the central component of the Fortress. I wouldn't be surprised in the least to discover that the actual primal is the heart of the structure rather than the structure itself in the same way Odin uses a host.

There is no real need to temper for primals too.

Ifrit does it because he wants more power (read here, more prayers). Garuda because she is a friggin' psycho wanting her army of slaves.

Titan doesn't care. He just wants to protect his children. Ramuh and Moggle mog XII are the same. I don't think either of them has even tempered their followers, at least in the game's period (maybe before the MSQ took place, but we have hardly a word on these periods)

Shiva hasn't tempered anyone for obvious reasons

Leviathan is unclear. Seems the drowned pirates worship him, but I lack knowledge on whether they were tempered or just decided to worship him after a miraculous escape from death.

Neither Bismarck nor Ravana temper their worshippers, at least as far as we know it (Ravana doesn't need it though, as he is the Queen of the Hive. Bismarck just goes and feeds on floating islands).

Zantetsuken tempers one poor lad at a time though, and Bahamut tempered a dead guy and a primal so far.

as for Alexander, I think he's the same as the others. He just wants to protect his kind, and thus doesn't need to temper them to ensure their loyalty.

I think tempering is more of a last resort thing, either to gain power at all costs (Garuda, Ifrit) or to protect oneself (Bahamut). It also depends greatly on the personality of the primal.



as for the original question, my theory so far is that Alexander is the fuel allowing the sharlayan structure to move. That would also be why he sucks so much aether, as he gives a lot of energy away. You could say the primal inhabited the core of the engine and didn't take a real form like Bahamut did. Destroy the main engine and Alexander is a gonner.

Though it will remain a wild guess as long as we are kept in the dark by SE on this matter. The only word we had on Alexander is "he is awaken". meh.