The Griffin

[Eloah]

So if you paid enough attention to the story when The Griffin was talking, or at least the Faux-Griffin you'll have an Idea of who he is....

Gallien. He's the one facing you in this image I was able to find

You'll notice that he fits what we've seen of the Faux-Griffin, Highlander & a dark completion, we don't see his hair unfortunately.

Now seeing as how that is the Faux-Griffin we might be able to guess who the real Griffin is...

Meffrid.

You'll notice that he bares a very noticeable resemblance to the Faux-Griffin. And he has some significant involvement in the MSQ at that point. Going by that he is the most logical person. However, there is a second candidate for the Griffin...

Faramund.

but this is unlikely as his involvement in the story at that point is very minimal. Though he still might play a small role in what is to come.

What are everyone's thoughts on this, do you think I am right or am I way off?

[Lunafreya]

I can't see any of those guys being with the ascians, tbh.

[Rhodkr]

Oh oh! I can help with this!

I've been commenting to my friends on the game recently that everyone seems to have Blonde or white hair. So when the Griffin (Fauxe) showed up, I kept my eyes peeled.

See it yet?

How about now?

The question is weather or not this is a trick of the in-game lighting or some sneaky hair.

[Anonymoose]

Note: Just listing evidence, not trying to refute. Speculate, speculate, speculate.

If you go by the "you made some medicine that saved my life at Quarrymill" thing, the identity of the False Griffin is Gallien from the quest He Ain't Heavy.

As for the True Griffin, the primary clues all point towards Ilberd. The journal even uses the same phrasing - the Griffin would do anything to liberate Ala Mhigo. Elidibus says he's possessed of only his rage and thirst for vengeance. If the game wants us to look in any direction, it's towards him.

But I noticed some interesting bits in other references to the Griffin. Some say he has no face but for the scars. Some say he's marked for death by Garlemald. Some say that, were his position known, it would draw a legion. All agree, however, that he's a natural leader; a charismatic man able to sway almost anyone to his cause.

That sounds a lot like someone else with know who'd have an axe to grind with Garlemald's present course. Someone who, for all of his successes, was driven to the margins of influence, made lapdog to a tempered maniac, and left with no homeland support and he took a rogue tilt at Eorzea. And the new Emperor seeks to not annihilate eikons, but bind them, as if their previous course wasn't already going off the rails. And while the Griffin brags about the power he will bring to bear against the Empire, Nero tol Scavea stands above the ruins of the Omega Weapon.

Red herrings, all? Maybe. (Probably.)

But ... again ... speculate, speculate, speculate.

[Naria]

Eh my money is still on Ilberd. Especially with the light hair. It seems strange that he wouldn't show back up again, with the game headed to Ala Mhigo.

. . . oh Hi, Moose.

[Mimilu]

When I saw the Fax-Griffin talking to the real Griffing:
Oh hi, Ilberd. :-D

[Cilia]

All of the characters listed as candidates are still in Quarrymill, and some will even talk about the Griffin now. They mentioned they've heard about and considered joining him, and some of the refugees have even done so, but none have returned or written back. Ominous much?

(Incidentally I only remembered there were Ala Mhigans in Quarrymill because I had been hanging out there doing Palace of the Dead just before the patch to level DRG. I vaguely recalled the False Griffin when he said he had met us before, but I could not place my finger on it.)

We never met the real Griffin, not yet anyway.

Top candidate in my book is still Ilberd. The talk of facial scarring makes Gaius a possibility, but like most things I'm not wont to consider that without evidence. I've been wrong before though, so...

[Ametrine]

I immediately remembered the questline in Quarrymill as it had basically been the lightbulb moment of how incredibly cruel the Elementals come off as. Don't have any skills to offer to aid the balance of the forest? Then get out before we send people to force you to by any means necessary.

:/


Is it any wonder there are so many poachers and bandits?

[Cilia]

Indeed; while Gridania has a reputation as the "hippie city," they are militant hippies.

It's not nearly as nice as it would seem, given you live and die by the arbitrary whims of the Elementals.

[Eloah]

Ilberd is probably the number 1 candidate, though we had no "indication" it's him, yet, beside the text, "the Griffin will do anything". And while Meffrid might not be the high on everyone's list, he at least has a connection to Gallien, who is all but comfirmed to be the Faux-Griffin. We don't know if Ilberd has any connection with anyone from Quarrymill, beside all of them beimg from Ala Mhigo, just because they lived there doesn't mean they ever met. But I will say that if the picture someone showed with the "hair" they found is accurate, it can point towards Ilberd more. But in actuallity, it appears to be a highlight on their jaw bone, the same highlight is on their chin. Hoods in this game usually hide the hair completely. But we wont know anything for sure until maybe 3.5, yay 4 months to wait... T.T