The Griffin

[Nalien]

It's Ilberd, but... The real Griffin probably still isn't the real Griffin... Right now we have two; Gallien as the mouthpiece, and someone as the leader, but do we really know he is the leader? I would expect more in the future... When dealing with these kind of characters, I'm always doubtful when we catch the "real deal"... If the leader is playing their cards right, we'll catch someone who we think is the real one, so that he can slip away unnoticed... That we've already been shown the "real" Griffin has me incredibly doubtful...

This would also nicely do away with what I consider to be an inconsistency if we want Baelsar under the mask... I just can't see him making a deal with another Ascian after last time, but if Ilberd is just the Griffin on the frontlines (who we currently believe to be the real Griffin), taking orders from some yet-unseen real Griffin, then that Griffin could be Baelsar, or Theodred, or Yda's father, or Godbert, or Raubahns reanimated arm... Ilberd can make a deal with Elidiboo because behind that mask he is still an individual, unless he is the true leader, he'd be Ilberd first, and the Griffin second...

That said, I actually think it would be more interesting if there is no real Griffin... There either never was a true leader, or we just never catch him... It would be nice if they make it a mystery that can be answered, but never is... Have the answer somewhere in 4.#, but never blatantly spell it out...

[Frederick22]

I just hope nobody gets dissapointed when we find out that Gaius was not the Griffin and he was infact DEAD.. as last time we saw him >_>

[Rocl]

I just hope nobody gets dissapointed when we find out that Gaius was not the Griffin and he was infact DEAD.. as last time we saw him >_>

At the End of an Era I was content to write both Nael van Darnus and Louisoix Leivelleur off as casualties and was adamantly against them returning in A Realm Reborn in any sort of living fashion. (Even flashbacks, I argued, would cheapen it.)

I was so convinced of their death (especially Darnus, man, dude dispersed into the aether) that when I learned they weren't dead "dead" but dead-dead-mostly-dead I flipped my lid in excitement. So, you know, they've shown themselves to be willing play fast and loose with some degrees of mortality and I'm willing to entertain all possibilities for now. I won't cry myself to sleep when Gaius is revealed to be a rotting corpse in Northern Thanalan, but I would exactly kick and scream if he was shown alive.

(I actually had the same argument for Ysale until 3.3, and realistically I think anyone with a proper grave shouldn't return either but I digress...)

[Qojon]

I prefer Gaius because it'd be so much more interesting. Same with the Ala Mhigans in Ala Mhigo being divided over the Garlean occupation, instead of just GARLEANS=BAD.

I remember Rhitahtyn Sas Arvina mentioned that the Garleans brought a lot of change for the better in Ala Mhigo.

[Theodric]

Yeah, I'm hoping there's more to the next expansion than just slaying Garleans at every turn. I'd like to believe that there will be more Ivalice style intrigue as the plot moves forward but the game seems to shy away from ever taking the leaps required to achieve that. A prominent example is Nanamo's apparent demise. It was reversed and then aside from Teledji being killed pretty much everybody else ended up being perfectly fine. Other than Minfilia...who likely would have run off and helped Hydaelyn no matter the circumstances. Even Raubahn who lost an arm can still fight perfectly well - so we miss out on seeing him humbled and forced to adjust to his condition. Y'shtola is 'blind' but can pretty much see perfectly (and apparently is killing herself slowly but so slowly that it's unlike to result in her demise anytime soon). Thancred can't use magic but...has no problem leaping through the air and blocking a sword or axe with a dagger on three separate occasions.

I don't want the Garleans to be portrayed as weak. Or so cruel that they're hard to sympathise with. Regula seems like a pretty decent guy - there's an honour to him similar to Gaius and his loyalty to his people, homeland and Emperor is quite refreshing when the other Garleans we've seen so far have mostly been defectors. I also hope that they don't just introduce sympathetic Garleans purely to kill them off - like they just did with the Warriors of Darkness. I'm cautiously optimistic that the Ala Mhigans will be painted in a pretty terrible light given how extreme their methods are but that means little if the plot just has the Garleans resort to even more dubious methods.

With that said...I'd prefer this 'Griffin' to be Ilberd rather than Gaius. Let Gaius rest in peace or if he does return then don't tarnish him further by having him consort with an Ascian yet again when it brought about his destruction last time. Plus if he turns against Elidibus then it's just regurgitating the Archbishop's plot point.

[Naria]

Ugh don't me started on the Nanamo plot. I'm a little less aggravated by 2.55 since the events of it has resulted in a great amount of character development for the PC and the Scions (I've been replaying the 2.x series on my alt and Twelve was Alphinaud an arrogant little brat). That said it seems pretty clear that the only protagonists that can die are the ones that will have personal impacts on the PC/Scions and not any sort of effect on Eorzea's stability as a whole. Vidnofir has some pretty impressive plot armor as well.

I'm not enamored with the Garleans or the Ala Mhigans. Ala Mhigo was a mess when Gauis took over, so I'm sure as a strong and competent leader he probably did improve some things, but I don't want the Ala Mhigan expansion to turn into "no the conquering empire is right, prepare to be civilized for your own good". That to me would be a cop-out.

Archadeas and Larsa were done well in XII--the Empire wasn't a caricature evil, but it still wasn't particularly nice or self-aware outside of a few individuals. Something like that would be nice. There is a certain superior attitude (justified or not) that it would seem strange for an expansionist empire not to have. I would like to see to some ordinary Garlean citizens or colonists, people who aren't really invested in politics one way or another and just want to get on with their lives. Depending on how the team played it, you could do several different types of storylines with that, both sympathetic and not.

While I do wish that they had done more with Gauis before they dropped a castrum on him, Gauis having anything to do with the Ascians again just seems odd.

[Cilia]

The thing with Rhitatyn and "improving" Ala Mhigo by conquering it is, Rhitatyn is heavily biased and Ala Mhigo had been suffering under a tyrant (the King of Ruin). While I can't agree with his extremist methods, I do agree with the (False) Griffin when he says they only traded one tyrant for another. The Rebellion overthrew the King of Ruin, not knowing the Garleans were supporting them to destabilize the nation and subsequently conquer it with minimal effort.

Clues and hints point to Ilberd. Or someone new. Trying not to be biased and avoid getting into the "virtues of Garlemald" political debate again.

[Frederick22]

Do you think that the "false griffin" will be our new GC leader
We cannot ignore that his gear is unique, the simbol of Ala Mhigo is on his cloak

Yea thats how I call them, I called Aymeric the same way.

[Cilia]

Griffin too extreme to be a GC leader. Aymeric always moderate and open to working with others, politics notwithstanding; Griffin warmongering and secretive, trust only Ala Mhigan Resistance. (Not wholly unjustified, but even so.)

Maybe if character development. Otherwise no.

[Zohar_Lahar]

I feel the bigger question is what will the Griffin do with Nidhogg's eyes.