Thread: [SPOILERS] Revelations from Patch 3.3

Yes, those are my thoughts exactly. All the way through.

Someday. Someday I'll get another Eli scene with more than 2 lines. I felt like the "stinger" wasn't really a stinger at all - seriously disappointed at that; it's as you said, the big deal was the location more than anything, but there wasn't really a hook for the next part of the story. And yes, it seems like that WoD was there to recover the eyes; throwing the eyes off the cliff was probably the worst mistake we've made so far.

Unukalhai told me a lot more about what to expect than that last MSQ scene.

Edit: I don't think Hraesvelgr had his second eye, no. At least he didn't when he flew off after Nidhogg. I think he permanently gave it to us?

Let me return to the Unending Journey, I was quite certain in our ride off into the sunset he did.

3.3 MSQ spoils, obviously

Well, we're on his left side when he flies into the sunset, and he has a left eye. On the Steps of Faith, I thought he was missing his left eye? Blah, confusing. Another permanent buff to the Warrior of Light seems unnecessary but I wouldn't count it out. I was hoping it was just our "plot armor" for the Final Steps so we could reasonably defeat Nidhogg from a in-game perspective. The first time he was weakened, didn't have his own eyes, and enfeebled by Estinien. This time we were empowered by Hraesvelgr and maybe Estinien's will began to enervate Nidhogg

(Also what happened to your Elezen!? For shame!)

I should also note despite being what some may call a fully-grown functioning adult, I still have the damnedest time telling my left from my right.

Weeeell, if you want the truth, I figured I might as well go full 2.0 Epilogue character out of my devotion to Ascians.

I was bitter at how Igeyorhm basically had no impact on the plot and so stole her look.

Well, owing to the fact I slept in unreasonably late yesterday, I didn't get much (if any) sleep and was able to complete it all in one go.

MSQ

As expected, opens with Aymeric suggesting we beseech Hraesvelgr for aid against Nidhogg. As expected, he declines. Unexpectedly, Midgardsormr finally shows up to do something again and advises Hraesvelgr to give us a chance. He does, putting us through the paces in Sohr Khai. Customarily, we pass and rekindle Hraesvelgr's hope, but by that time Nidhogg has already begun his assault on Ishgard. We arrive on dragonback just as the defenses are failing, and Nidhogg goads Hraesvelgr into a fight. He loses, but lends us one of his eyes as a last-ditch effort to help us in our battle against Nidhogg.

After a long battle against his base form, Estinien-Nidhogg, and then "Literally Burning Rage" Nidhogg, we triumph. (Side Note: he has two attacks named in draconic: first Ala Morn (Extinction / Always Kill) which he uses as Estinien-Nidhogg, then a variant of Bahamut's Akh Morn that hits multiple times and has to be soaked up by the entire party in his "Literally Burning Rage" phase.) With the help of Haurchefant and Ysayle's spirits, we and Alphinaud are able to pull Nidhogg's eyes off of Estinien, then cast them into the abyss. (Kind of cheesy and ex Machina-y, but I'll take it.)

Estinien makes a full recovery, but leaves Ishgard to roam as an adventurer, having relinquished the title of Azure Dragoon. A bicameral, republican government system is established in Ishgard with Aymeric as the effective president. Despite appearing to have had one of his wings ripped off in his duel with Nidhogg, Hraesvelgr makes it out fine and we give him his eye back, hope having been restored in him. And we... get an Aymeric doll, a Dragonsong CD, and a spiffy fur coat. Neato.

The stinger shows WoD!Broegadyn apparently having observed our battle and relaying the event over linkpearl to Darklander. Darklander is standing in a wooded area (implicitly the Shroud, but who knows) and identifies WoD!Broegadyn as "Blanhaerz," then notices Alisae eavesdropping on him and Elidibus. Darklander goes to cut Alisae, but Thancred intervenes and saves her. Darklander moves to give chase, but Elidibus tells him not to bother because "they're going to play their part, and we're going to play ours." (If he ever says anything like that to my face, I swear I'll beat his face in with my giant sword while yelling heroic things like "We create the future!" and "Anything can change!")

WoD!Broegadyn, Blanhaerz, has a name meaning "Grand Darkness." Could he be more obviously evil, what with the psychotic smirk and all?

So... mostly the end of the Dragonsong War, not any real future plot hooks.

Warring Triad

Apparently, the reason the Garleans haven't cased the Aetherochemical Research Facility is because Urianger put up a ward on the place offscreen... the plot is kicked off by said ward being breached by Regula and the VIth, necessitating our intervention. After fighting down to the Triad Control Room, we duel Regula at the last minute to prevent him from getting the data. After giving him a thorough thrashing, the others show up, having stayed behind to fend off reinforcements, and van Hydrus finally retreats.

In private, Urianger gets Unukalhai to confess he set up the encounter to get us to off van Hydrus. Back in the Rising Stones, Unukalhai confirms to us that he has the Echo, but notes it's a different variety to our own, before providing exposition on another world that used Auracite to trap primals and bend them to mortal will, but said primal's aether leaked from the Auracite and eventually drove the wielders mad with power, consuming the world and leaving it a barren husk. (A possible different story for how Zodiark became the barren, lifeless moon of today? A more thorough origin story for the Ascians? Whoooo knows...)

Also Unukalhai being a socially inept dork in front of Krile again.

Anyone know what the music for that fight wuz? I'd like to listen to it or something... it was pretty cool.

Anima Weapon upgrades by getting aether sand and umbrite to convert into stuff to feed it. Aether sand is acquired by trading items to the Auri lady added for the quest, umbrite costs 300 esoterics. At 3 points per upgrade (5 if you're lucky) and capping at 240, it'll take quite a long while if you do it at a slow and steady pace. (80 days, if you only do one upgrade a day and never hit 5. Fortunately I'll be swimming in Poetics again ere long due to having raised up WAR close to 50 before the patch hit.)

I picked up the Hullbreaker (Hard) quest, and as promised it's apparently just a training exercise for the Maelstrom. I'll do it and the Weeping City of Mhach when I'm not so tired... tomorrow. Maybe.

EDIT
Got a call and not working tonight, so I'll def make sure to get to those tomorrow. I wanna fight Ramiel Ozma.

This baffles me

So, casually tossing Nidhogg's eyes off a cliff is a proper permanent solution to Nidhogg? What? How stupid can our protagonists be?