Zenos Appreciation Thread [Massive Spoilers]

[Daralii]

I always felt like FFXIV has been missing a villain that lasts through expansions and creats a relationship of rivalry with the main character, after the 1st fight with Zenos I was like "yep, this is the guy", but then they ended him too quick :/. It was a good end tho, no "but mommy slaped me in the butt" like Yotsuyu, "I just wanted to save everyone" like Fordola, or "All I do, I do for the great master" like the ascians, nope, Zenos was the way I like, selfish self-centered villain with no background trying to justify his stuff.

Lyse says at the end that Zenos wasn't born a rabid beast, but was nurtured into one. It was obviously speculation on her part, but it's accurate to at least some extent considering what Elidibus and Varis are saying at the end. It seems like he was supposed to be pitiable, like Yotsuyu.

[Nezia]

Lyse says at the end that Zenos wasn't born a rabid beast, but was nurtured into one. It was obviously speculation on her part, but it's accurate to at least some extent considering what Elidibus and Varis are saying at the end. It seems like he was supposed to be pitiable, like Yotsuyu.

Nahh, I don't feel like Varis has anything to do with the way Zenos is right now. During his talk with Elidibus he says something like "monsters are not meant to rule.", meaning that he is not ok with the fact that a monster like Zenos is rulling places right now, but he can not do a thing about it since that is his blood right. Now, ever since Zenos was born he was meant to rule thanks to his blood, so if Varis does not think a ruller should be a monster, then why would he raise a monster to rule? I think he only raised Zenos in a way he could be strong and determined and Zenos by himself turned into the beast that he calls himself.

[MagiusNecros]

Eh I just feel he needed more character development. Compared to Gaius he just seemed lame in comparison.

[Rymm]

Given that he was obviously already a test subject for some very sketchy aether-science shenanigans, I seriously wouldn't be surprised if SE doesn't pull a Kael'thas and resurrect him as some sort of magiteck/allagan aether zombie. I think such a move would be tough to do well story-wise, but isn't inherently bad on its own. Then we could beat him all over again to both end his threat to Eorzea and (depending how they play it, if they do it) put him out of his misery.

[BillyKaplan]

He had a lot of presence and charisma, that was for certain. But his death, as well done as it was, was a waste of potential. He could've easily became a character like Nero, disowned from his homeland due to losing to you but finding new purpose, or rather, dedicating himself fully to his original purpose but now detached from his loyalty to Garlemald which could've made him into the oddest ally we'd have had yet.
Because you know he'd save your ass from whatever just so he could fight you again, and then go on a ten minutes long tantrum about how you even let that thing touch you because only he's allowed to do that.

[RyuDragnier]

He had a lot of presence and charisma, that was for certain. But his death, as well done as it was, was a waste of potential. He could've easily became a character like Nero, disowned from his homeland due to losing to you but finding new purpose, or rather, dedicating himself fully to his original purpose but now detached from his loyalty to Garlemald which could've made him into the oddest ally we'd have had yet.
Because you know he'd save your ass from whatever just so he could fight you again, and then go on a ten minutes long tantrum about how you even let that thing touch you because only he's allowed to do that.

They could have done so much more with Zenos...because he is the ONLY person to have ever bested the Warrior of Light multiple times BY HIMSELF. Nobody else has that honor, and having him stay on permanently, even if just turned into an Ascian, would be amazing. The only one who truly understands that we exist, WE LIVE for battle (we as players and our character), the only one who shares that fondness and can stand toe to toe with us.

[ADVSS]

how did he eat a primal again? or whatever the hell that was. Man if it had been him instead of Estinien in HW Nidhogg wouldnt have stood a chance

Again at that point, I felt like he was gonna be the guy finally. Now its back to ascians, and boring ass Varis

Hope to god the rest of MSQ isnt one big old Scholasticate "what the 2 city states did to cope after" crap. Be some boring stuff. "hey take this merchandise to Kugane" "Lolorito thanks you, could you bring these goods to Rhalgrs Reach?" "Cool you brought the magic sharpies from Kugane, would you mind giving Aymeric this thank you letter" "Thanks for the letter WoL, Lucia wants to send a post card to her family, mind if you Slip it in at the lochs?"

[BillyKaplan]

The only one who truly understands that we exist, WE LIVE for battle

That depends on how you view your chara. We're soldiers in a war we never REALLY signed up for but that no one else can fight because of the Echo, and by default, your chara at least isn't the kind of jerk who'd sit back and let the world burn on their watch. I felt a much stronger kinship with Hien. But again, personal storytelling.
That said, that IS how he views the WoL, finding no other reason why anyone would fight as much. It would've been very interesting to see more than just your character being exposed to that stance. Have the Scions suddenly wonder if they're really allied with a hero, or are you only wearing that title because you kill the things they want you to kill instead of, well, them. But with Zenos gone, I don't think they'd go that much into it. Hell, even choosing the option of accepting him was lackluster imo. I kind of get why - you have to accept him in order to condemn him, as that is not the same as rejection. But different people would choose that expecting different things, they had to kind of brush it aside.

how did he eat a primal again? "

That artificial Echo they have going on. Not unlike how Ysayle 'tamed' Shiva but using Shinryu's body as host rather than the other way around

[Senn]

Have the Scions suddenly wonder if they're really allied with a hero, or are you only wearing that title because you kill the things they want you to kill instead of, well, them.

I think this would have been interesting to see.

[bass9020]