Future leader of Apa Mhigo

[Theodric]

The latest Live Letter pretty much implied that some of the theories regarding Regula are correct and that during the Azyz Lla side quests in 3.3 he is going to become corrupted somehow. With that in mind - and the fact that this will be the third time we face him directly - I do wonder if he'll be 4.0's main antagonist or at least one of the expansions' main antagonists. Alternatively he could just be dealt with by the end of the Triad storyline but it seems like 3.4 will have us fight one of the two remaining Eikons whilst the other will likely be defeated in 3.5.

...which is, incidentally, right before 4.0! So either the entire storyline gets wrapped up by then or it plays a part in causing us to go to Ala Mhigo. Wasn't there a mention of the next expansion potentially involving water and a flood? I could see the Triad's power being turned on Ala Mhigo and the surrounding areas to justify us going there.

[Fenral]

At the very least, with Ascian bull[kupo] at the forefront lately, it's going to take a lot more to convince the Scions that some terrestrial conflict in Ala Mhigo is more important than pushing back the Darkness™. Maybe that will be why we part ways?

[Cilia]

All the Live Letter said about van Hydrus was that we were going to have an instanced fight with him as part of the Warring Triad series. Since 3.3's Trial is going to be the Final Steps of Faith (vs. Nidhogg), they didn't have the time and resources to put one of the Triad in, so this'll have to do. All we know about the fight thus far is that it's against van Hydrus... who we've bested twice already, so I'm not concerned. I'm hoping it ends on a better note, because I recognize that the Garleans are generally douchebags but desperately want there to be some good apples in there who aren't expatriates (Cid, Lucia, Nero after character development). Unfortunately I don't see it happening...

The Ascians have actually taken a backseat recently, since aside from telling the Pope about Azys Lla and giving him his Primal Mode, they've taken a hands-off approach for most of 3.x. Igeyorhm stunned us to get the Key, and we had a showdown against her and Lahabrea in the ARF, but other than that they've not directly interfered with us. They're schemers, and since we can only react to their schemes and a war for Ala Mhigan liberation will create an opportunity you can be reasonably sure they'll exploit, we should endeavor to end it as quickly and peacefully as possible.

The Warriors of Darkness, on the other hand, are still a giant enigma.

[Theodric]

We didn't really 'best' Regula. We fought him twice and he held his own on both counts before making a tactical retreat - which is impressive when one considers the immense amount of plot armour surrounding the WoL. If he survives a third encounter then that, to me, suggests that he is in it for the long term. It seems unlikely that he would be corrupted only to be killed immediately afterwards. He's also been hinted as going in the same direction as Kefka - which is a pretty bold comparison for the developers to make given that Kefka himself is a fan favourite.

So with 3.4 and 3.5 likely having us face each of the two remaining members of The Warring Triad it stands to reason that if Regula survives 3.3 he will gradually grow more powerful and potentially serve as a major antagonist in 4.0. That the Triad quests are currently separate to the MSQ's is irrelevant, I think. That was done purely to appease raiders who complained about having to do quests to unlock new duties. Plus Regula showed up in the MSQ's and we know that the Archbishop was lured to Azyz Lla by the Ascians and that Elidibus has stated that the Garleans will 'play their part'.

Things didn't end well in FF6 when the Triad ended up getting involved in the story - and we're set for another major loss to drive the story forward and towards the next expansion after a string of victories. Or at least I hope so. The Scions and WoL are in dire need to being humbled somehow.

[Cilia]

Technically we didn't defeat van Hydrus, no, but close enough. In the first fight he withdraws because he has more important business to attend to. In the second, however, we are directly standing in the way of his goals, and van Hydrus presumably isn't holding back. He makes a tactical retreat that time because he recognizes that opposing us is folly (for the moment) and decides to live and fight another day.

All I can find from the Live Letter updates is that a confrontation with Garlemald over the Warring Triad is naturally inevitable, and seeing as van Hydrus is the CO of the VIth and stationed on Azys Lla right now, that we'd come to blows with him again is hardly surprising. I don't see anything about him being corrupted or descending into madness (though I won't be surprised if that turns out to be the case), and until such a thing happens or we get more hints toward it (or more info via a proper digest), I believe he could go the General Leo route as well. Seeing as 3.3's trial is Final Steps of Faith (vs. Nidhogg), Zurvan (Demon) and Sophia (Goddess) must be 3.4 / 3.5.

(As an aside, Kefka is only popular in the West thanks to his excellent localization. In the original Japanese VI he's just a psychotic moron and not too popular.)

We've done nothing but get humbled over 3.x. 2.55 had us get played for fools in the Syndicate's power games and ended with almost all the Scions ambiguously dead. 3.0 was mostly a long, sad track, learning that we'd been fighting for a false cause and being betrayed by the Archbishop, earning our victory at the cost of Haurchefant and Ysayle's lives and Estinien's autonomy. We, the players at least, also know that Y'shtola was blinded during our escape in 2.55 and is slowly dying as a result of using aethersense in place of eyesight. 3.1 had us learn that Thancred survived as well, only to have become magically crippled. 3.2 we learned Minfilia survived but has effectively lost her autonomy as well, having become a sock puppet Hydaelyn can use to communicate with us in the Astral Aetherial Sea.

... I guess that's not enough to destroy the Warrior of Light's self-esteem, though. They totally had it together in 3.2. /sarcasm

We're in dire need of some hope, not more trauma. Yet we know it's on the way, given Lord Edmont has already said that a new era for Ishgard will come at a heavy price...

[Fenral]

We're in dire need of some hope, not more trauma. Yet we know it's on the way, given Lord Edmont has already said that a new era for Ishgard will come at a heavy price...

And he still has sons left, yeah. The idealism vs. fatalism debate has already played out here, so I'm just gonna stick with Alphi on this one.

I don't see anything about him being corrupted or descending into madness (though I won't be surprised if that turns out to be the case), and until such a thing happens or we get more hints toward it (or more info via a proper digest), I believe he could go the General Leo route as well. Seeing as 3.3's trial is Final Steps of Faith (vs. Nidhogg), Zurvan (Demon) and Sophia (Goddess) must be 3.4 / 3.5.

I think I'm most interested in seeing how the Sophia battle plays out. Will she be "Look how evil I am!" like Sephirot was, or will she be this caring and benevolent figure that van Hydrus can use as an example to say, "See how your wonky Eorzean religion looks to us Garleans?"

A lot would need to happen, but it'd be funny if we make our way to Ala Mhigo with Garlean backing and end up fighting Yda and Papalymo.

[Belhi]

Us working with the Garleans, particularly against our former allies, particularly when the Garleans are still interested in conquest, would require much more build up than what we would get in 3 patches. Further, even if Sophia was kind and benevolent, it doesn't change the fact that her physical manifestation takes a massive toll on the world's Aether. Titan and Ramuh weren't evil Primals. In both cases they were simply protecting their worshipers from very real outside threats.

Unless things go monumentally bad with our conflict with the Ascians, I don't see a powerful enough threat coming out of nowhere that would justify us effectively betraying the Eorzean Alliance and siding with the Garleans particularly since the Grand companies aren't only a thing, but something it sounds like they plan to expand on.

[Frederick22]

Still with this? Varis sous Galvus is NOT gonna become our friend.

[Fenral]

Unless things go monumentally bad with our conflict with the Ascians, I don't see a powerful enough threat coming out of nowhere that would justify us effectively betraying the Eorzean Alliance and siding with the Garleans particularly since the Grand companies aren't only a thing, but something it sounds like they plan to expand on.

Ala Mhigo gains control of the Omega and revolts, declaring war on both the Garlean Empire that subjugated them and the Eorzean Alliance they feel abandoned them. With Omega deployed on the Gridanian border, the Warrior of Light is left to enter their territory via the land bridge from Othard (or vice-versa). How does that sound?

I said it'd be funny, not likely.

[Theodric]

Still with this? Varis sous Galvus is NOT gonna become our friend.

Stranger things have happened. He's likely to die in Azyz Lla but that doesn't mean whoever replaces him won't become our friend.