Revelations from Live Letter XXXV

[Hinoto-no-Ryuji]

I haven't seen anybody post about this stuff, and we got more than a few Lore Bombs this time around, so I figured I'd make a thread! The official summary thread is here, for anyone who wants to check it out themselves.

Characters
This was the meatiest bit of the Live Letter, lore-wise - we now know the names of all those new people in the key art for expansion.

Hien
The young heir to the throne of Doma, Hien is a charismatic leader beloved of his people. Together with Gosetsu and Yugiri, he spurred his countrymen to rise up against their Garlean oppressors. But when the rebellion was crushed, Lord Hien vanished without a trace...

Here's our Samurai Man, then. Further commentary from the Live Letter suggests that he and Yugiri have a "chemistry" - my money is on Hien being the "Lover Lost" of the main vocal theme. Yoshida was really playing coy about him in terms of commentary, too; they seem to be building an intentional mystery around him.

Yotsuyu
The acting imperial viceroy of Doma, Yotsuyu's grace and beauty belie a heart of stone. A cruel, sadistic ruler, she harbors a deep hatred for Domans. Under the pretext of purging radical elements, she has perpetrated numerous atrocities against her own people. Yet all are the hero of their own story...

I'm very, very curious as to Yotsuyu's backstory - Doman society has clearly wronged her in some way. While the description doesn't leave me too hopeful that she'll be all that sympathetic (outright cruelty is rarely rewarded in this game), it may cast some shades of grey on the otherwise-heroic Doma. Also of note: Yotsuyu is acting Viceroy - apparently, Zenos is still the man in charge, he's just delegating.

But anyways, speaking of shades of grey...

Fordola
A young soldier born and raised during the imperial occupation of Ala Mhigo, Fordola was promised the world─education, training, citizenship─in exchange for service. Scorned as traitors by their people and savages by their Garlean masters, she and others like her struggle to forge their own path in an unforgiving world.

Here's our not-so-patriotic member of the Garlean generation of Ala Mhigans. Though this doesn't seem to be the exact nature of grey that some (Theo) wanted, what with her being neither pro-Resistance nor pro-Imperial, she definitely adds a new dynamic to the story outside the mold we're presumably entering it in; indeed, Live Letter commentary notes that she and hers represent a clash in worldviews between her and the refugees.

(Incidentally, I had a bit of a pet theory that the person who turned out to be Fordola was actually the still-living Real Yda, and the "Family Torn" bit of the vocal theme referred to strife between her and Lyse; this debunks her identity as such, at the very least).

The others - Yugiri, Gosetsu, Lyse, Zenos - mostly just confirm what we already know. There was a bit of commentary for Yugiri that says she'll play a big role in the later half of the MSQ, which only makes me more curious about the order we'll be experiencing each part of the world; storytelling logic points to us ending in Gyr Abania, as that's where our Final Boss is, but now I'm wondering if we don't somehow chase Zenos back east.

Thavnair
This was an interesting tidbit from the Q&A:

Q6: Will the island of Thavnair (Radz-at-Hahn) make an appearance?

A6: Travel to these locations will not be possible yet in Patch 4.0. However there are areas in preparation where you can enjoy the feeling of Thavnair, which you can visit starting in Patch 4.05 once travel is available.

What could this mean, I wonder? Surely Omega Savage (the only content confirmed for 3.05 specifically, at least as far as I recall) won't involve a different location/feel than Story Mode; is this perhaps a hint at further Aquapolis? Deep Dungeon? Perhaps even Eureka? Totally aside from getting confirmation of some sort of non-Savage content in 3.05, I'm very interested in seeing more Thavnairian flair in the game.

We also got a confirmation of a return to Job Gear from Job Quests, the implication of Au Ra children on the Steppe, and the confirmation of Tomestones as the endgame currency (which seems a bit tired, to me - surely we could use a token that has a little more local flavor - but I guess those Allagans were pretty widespread).

[Belhi]

I guessed Hein right, was wrong about Yotsuyu and was half right about Fordola. Fordola I thought might be Ala Mhigan but sympathetic to the Garleans, just having a major gripe with Zenos. Sounds more like she doesn't get great treatment by the Garleans but she doesn't find the traditionalist Ala Mhigans much better.

The Thavnair hints are exciting if they pan out. Thavnair is a place I think would be awesome to hang out in.

Rowena will be hanging out (soon to be merchant queen of the world at this rate). I still want to know the deal with her and tomestones. Is it just that she knows a lot of collectors and scholars who are very specifically interested in Tomestones or is there someone specific who is interested in them. We go through styles of tomestone at a pretty rapid rate.

Plus Yojimbo! I have to admit, I am probably more excited to see him than is warranted. I wonder if he is going to be a primal or something else.

I was right about Zenos being the one behind putting down the Doman Revolt though. Now I am even more sure the reason we go to Doma is tied to him and something that happened over there.

[PArcher]

Also got this little bite of info

Q3: Gosetsu looks like a Roegadyn, but also looks like a big Highlander. Which race is he?

A3: He's a Roegadyn, but one from the lands to the East. Rather than a Sea Wolf, he's closer to the Hellsguard tribe.

[Theodric]

There's a lot that I want to post but time is short for me for now. I'll throw up something more in-depth later. Zenos not caring about friend or foe alike ties into my theory that at least some of his own people may turn against him - and his urge to 'dance with death' makes it seem like he could very well be deliberately allowing the Warrior of Light and his allies to arrive at his doorstep so that he can fight them directly. Since he has access to a spy network he no doubt knows quite a bit about the Warrior of Light's accomplishments and he's likely very intrigued.

Fordola and Yotsuya seem interesting. I believe there will be more than meets the eye to both, especially the latter. Speaking of Yotsuya, I wonder if she could be related to Hein? They're positioned opposite each other in the artwork and share similar features...it could be a stretch, though. Still...

The underwater building from the cinematic also showed up during the swimming segments, supporting my belief that it'll be the location for a dungeon or trial. Yojimbo showing up is pretty great - I had a feeling he'd fit well into this expansion given the aesthetics he shares with aspects of Othard. My initial theory was that Zenos would somehow become Yojimbo, but it seems he's going to be an add during Susano's fight.

Or, given that the benchmark could just be throwing things together for the sake of 'rule of cool' he could be a dungeon boss instead, or he could still tie into Zenos somehow if he does show up elsewhere.

[Mieck]

Or, given that the benchmark could just be throwing things together for the sake of 'rule of cool' he could be a dungeon boss instead, or he could still tie into Zenos somehow if he does show up elsewhere.

I think the chances of him being a unique fight in his own right are pretty good - cast back to the 2.0 benchmark, and there is a fight against several enemies, including a yellow dragon, where the boss of Tam-Tara Deepcroft is.

[Belhi]

I think your right on Fordola and Yotsuya. I have a feeling Yotsuya's attitude to Doma might turn out to have a someone sympathetic reason to it. It might not make Yotsuya's actions any better but it might make them something that makes sense.

As for Fordola, I am going to be interested what they do here. I am very much hoping she sits in a middle ground and calls the Ala Mhigan's out on their own rhetoric. It doesn't seem like she particularly likes Garlemald (apparently they treat her like she is a savage) but as I said, I get the feeling she doesn't necessarily feel the Resistance lot are much better. I suspect we will see Fordola and Lyse play off each other quite a bit. It will be interesting if Fordola challenges Lyse on her beliefs and ideals.

Maybe its the FF12 thing but I still think we are going to find Zenos has some kind of power or powerful backer helping him out. It would be interesting if Yojimbo played into that, maybe as a agent of said power or a being Zenos 'hires' to hunt down the WoL.

[Rocl]

Eh, Minfilia was called "acting" Antecedent in 1.0, and in reality she was just the Antecedent the whole time. I've ascribed too much importance on such a word before, I won't do it again!

Yotsuyu being the viceroy of Doma is neat, as is the fact she's Doman and been mistreated by Domans--I can't begin to speculate what on earth could've happened to her.
With Fordola and the obvious Garlean conscripts in the benchmark (giant Au Ra gladiators don't seem like your standard son of Ilsabard) I'm much more excited about the fleshing out of the Empire. New magitek is neat too. As is new reasons to beat them silly with Zenos' insanity!
Hien feels like Yugiri & Gosetsu's liegelord / the last General of Doma & heir to the throne.

I hope Yojimbo isn't "wasted" as an add in Susano, but I think the underwater city is very likely to be Kojin territory and the Cetus-like creature their tribal mount. I'm not very well versed in Japanese mythology, but I figure those flying spirit wolves will be our primal mounts and the white Fenrir/hoarhound to be some kind of Okami or something? idk, I just hope they give us an Amaterasu like the one from FF:Explorers tbh if we keep going this Far East route. White Fenrir feels like it'll be a giant FATE boss a la Coeurlregina tho

My initial reaction to the Thavnair tease was Blitzball, actually, though I feel a certain alces may have tainted my expectations of such a place.

Also want to point out the Ananta fighting alongside the adventurers against the Garleans!

[Keever]

Eh, Minfilia was called "acting" Antecedent in 1.0, and in reality she was just the Antecedent the whole time. I've ascribed too much importance on such a word before, I won't do it again!

Yoshida made it clear during the commentary that the "acting" part here is definitely important. Apparently, Zenos yae Galvus acts as official Imperial Viceroy for both Ala Mhigo and Doma. Of course, he can only be in one place at once, so Yotsuyu is Doma's acting Viceroy in his stead.

Apparently Zenos was there to crush Hien's attempted Doman rebellion a year ago, but he's back in Ala Mhigo watching over stuff now.

[Hinoto-no-Ryuji]

I'm not very well versed in Japanese mythology, but I figure those flying spirit wolves will be our primal mounts and the white Fenrir/hoarhound to be some kind of Okami or something? idk, I just hope they give us an Amaterasu like the one from FF:Explorers tbh if we keep going this Far East route. White Fenrir feels like it'll be a giant FATE boss a la Coeurlregina tho

I"m actually banking on that FATE boss being a fox spirit/kyubi of some kind, with the Okami being the Kirin/Firebird of Stormblood.

[myahele]

It was confirmed that it was Zenos that was responsible for the razing of Doma, at least we know just what he's capable of doing. I get the feeling that he'll do the same should the Alliance come too close within Ala Mhigo proper.

Fordola and especially Yotsuyu intrigue me the most. Hopefully she will shed some light on Doma's darker side because as it stands the Domans are model citizens.