Thread: 3.5/4.0 Speculation & Discussion (Spoilers)

Since as far as I can tell by searching, nobody has brought it up yet, I'll just launch into some speculation here. The more I look at Zurvan, the more I'm convinced that he and Ifrit are somehow connected, possibly even manifestations of the same entity.

First, and most obviously there are significant physical similarities between Ifrit and Zurvan's lower body.

In addition, about 20 seconds into the trailer, what appear to be Zurvan's worshippers are visible for a few seconds, and they look a lot like Reptoids. Which matches up with the "race of centaurs" who were meant to follow him (although, the lore book states that Reptoids are Allagan creations rather than a native Meracydian race, more on that later) It's possible given the similarities between the two, that the Reptoids eventually became the Amalj'aa, although unlike the Iskalion/Ixal connection this hasn't been confirmed either way yet.

We know from this post that primal summoning is affected by the temperament of the summoners. A lot changes over the course of 5000 years. Over time, cultural memory of Zurvan's centaur form warped to become the modern, melted down Ifrit somehow; perhaps something to do with the fiery form we've had that one screenshot of.

The lore book entry for the Reptoids states that they were controlled via "a tiny metal box capable of emitting lightning-aspected shocks" brought into use specifically for the Meracydian campaign. It's possible that the first Reptoids to be sent to fight in Meracydia fell under the influence of the Primal, and the control boxes were implemented to try and prevent this.

From the Amalj'aa creation myth; "The world he spawned was filled with filled with beasts bereft of reason or intellect, each fighting an endless, mindless battle for survival. But there was one race of great lizards whose ferocity so pleased the Lord of the Inferno that he bequeathed unto them flickering motes shared from his own primordial flame. This sacred fire took purchase in the lizards' souls, burning away frailty and weakness". This may be recollection of Zurvan's initial tempering of the Reptoids, or burning the control boxes out of subsequent groups of followers.

It's a bit of a crackpot idea...

But what if the reason there was a seal and the reason Midgardsormr was tasked with guarding the area around Silvertear Lake was because it's a wound created by the removal of Zodiark? Such a location might certainly be of interest to the Ascians as part of their long term goals, and it might in part explain why Eorzea as a whole is such an aether rich realm - it's overall closest to a location where the aether of Hydaelyn might find it the easiest to come into and out of our world.

Something that just occurred to me: how exactly is Silvertear pronounced? I don't recall hearing in any voiced dialogue, but I could be wrong.

For a long time now always thought that the tear in silvertear was what happens when you cry (teardrops)

But I wonder if it means tear as in ripped apart. If so such definitions include:

a hole or split in something caused by it having been pulled apart forcefully.

come apart; rip.

pull or rip (something) apart or to pieces with force.

With Hydaelyn splitting (tearing) the world into 14 pieces, then Silvertear could be a result of it?

Originally Posted by Berethos

It's a bit of a crackpot idea...

I'd had the same thought for a moment, but it floated by without me chasing it. For everything that made sense, something didn't; the neutrality led me to just leave it on the "keep an eye out" list, lol.

Originally Posted by myahele

Something that just occurred to me: how exactly is Silvertear pronounced?

涙 = Tears; Weeping
Silver Tears Orchestrion Roll, Diamond Tear, Hraesvelgr's Tear, Deepeye Tears, Ahriman Tears,

ティア (Tia)
Onyx Tears, Greentear

ティアー (Tiaa)
Primal Tears, Silvertear

Aetherial Tear is 裂け目 (Dimensional Fissure)

German and French call the lake by Silver-Tear as in crying.

Japanese uses 泪 for the Tear in Silvertear. It's an alternative form of 涙 (tear; weeping), but one that is rare outside of artistic use.

Originally Posted by Cilia

While the Garleans do not do what they do purely for evil, Gaius himself literally said that he was trying to conquer Eorzea because he could. Yes, they do do this for kicks.



... while how that attitude came about can be explained, that doesn't justify it or their actions. The Garleans are not strictly speaking evil, but that doesn't mean their actions are justified to anyone but themselves - and everyone is justified from their own perspective, so that doesn't really fly.

I think you are missing some earlier points that show Where Gaius and his directs are coming from and the conflict between Eorzea's and Garlemeld's approach. Namely, that Gaius has such a low opinion about the governance and people of Eorzea that he might as well put the rest of it under Garlean rule.

Note their interactions and responses in the face of the Primal question. The Garleans, as far as we know, do not play nice with primal summoning beast tribes, And the existing primals power being recorded was seen as pathetic according to Nero, and Gaius. Eorzea(pre 2.0)we have an already divided country, reduced to temporary fixes and independant negotiation against beast tribes under threat of the local primal flipping their lid and wrecking everything. It took Garlemeld knocking on their door to finally bring up the Grand Company idea, and any outside observer could see they were still well on their way to chaos, and that regime change can only help stabilize the situation before Eorzea was awash in Tidal Waves, Hellfire, and whatever motherly 2hr Nophica might have.

Im not going to state any real life examples here. But assuming one existed, im willing to bet seeing it would not inspire confidence from the "Garleans" that "Eorzean" example is little more than a tinderbox running on hopes and a prayer. Until there is some common ground found between these two, there is going to be a lot of lives lost, and we are on the side who pins stability on one lucky girl/boy and their motley crew...little doubt that such an approach requires convincing from those that aren't so fortunate to have a Warrior of Light, at least one that isn't slaughtering their brave men and women.