Yotsuyu [Maybe spoiler]

[Draginhikari]

I'm more wonder what's going on in Gosetsu's head exactly. He seems intended to head right back to Doma with her in tow. I'm probably just as curious for his reasons for doing all this as I am with her current situation.

[DynamoAce]

I'm not gonna lie, whatever it was I actually found it.....kind of adorable and heartwarming. I hope I'm not the only one that felt this way. ;__;

[Dualblade]

Amnesia is the most likely culprit here, its not like Final Fantasy is a stranger to it. Said characters also tend to eventually get their memory back, atleast from what I remember. FFIV's Yang had it happen to him once, twice if you count the brainwashing.

Personally expecting her to survive long enough for her memory to return, and thus the clashing of her reclaimed memories and the present kindness of Gosetsu (and, most likely, other characters including ourselves) will be the cause of certain events in...probably 4.4.

[Cidel]

Amnesia would be a reasonable explanation since she was shown to be unconscious at the end of 4.0

For all we know, she could have been trapped underwater in Doma castle for an extended period and suffered oxygen deprivation in the brain.

This is my impression as well. The whole situation reminded me of the Read or Die OVA ending where one of the antagonists suffered pretty much the same fate and ended up an amnesiac and childlike enough for the protagonist to approach and befriend her.

You just know their plans to travel to the Ruby Sea is in all likeliness going to trigger the people she tormented there and then "instant drama" if she can't remember any of it. That'd make her something of a foil to Fordola; someone who literally empathizes with all of her victims versus Yotsuyu who would be unable to even recall any of them.



That or she really is just playing the part.

[alimdia]

Amnesia here as well, if she was faking it I don't think she would take such a massive risk entering Kugane where she would be recognized, or not show even a slight of worry when Gosetsu said they were heading to Doma.

My bet is that her plot will revolve around what the Domans will do with her, as some might see it questionable to punish someone who is incapable of remembering what they did. Perhaps she could gradually regain her memory and return to her vengeance-fueled character.

[Alleo]

I feel like it would be a major disservice to her character for her to have such a sudden change of heart and nature.

I agree with you there. Why write such a character if you either just do the simple way and have her forget her past or change her character completely.

More under spoilers:

We know thanks to the side quest that having no memories does not give you a free pass for the things you did in the past. If they change that approach with her, I would feel like they are playing favoritism because people like her.

She did horrible things and just giving her no memories would just feel cheap.

Her changing because of the actions from Gosetsu would feel bad too. She has a deep trauma and at the same time quite an sadistic streaks. Things like that cant realistically be changed by one good thing. And lets not forget that Hien still tried to kill her, even after knowing her past so why should they sudden no do this again?

I really hope that this is just an act and that she will trick us all into believing her which will end badly. At least that would be a nice twist. Giving her no memories and just taking her back would just feel horrible. Like you can do the worst things in the world but as long as you have some sad stories you will be forgiven and if you have some method to make you lose your memories you are good to go..

[CaesarCV]

Hm....lots of good discussion here! I do have something to ask though, and I'd love to hear other people's answers!

What, in a narrative sense, would the point of Yotsuyu just faking her change of heart/amnesia? Why would it be used with the themes of Stormblood? What would it bring to the story other than allowing a (rather well liked) villain to return? What sort of real challenge would it present Doma, Hien, or Gosetsu for her to just be evil? How would it help the story as a whole? What would it say about Yotsuyu, or how would it improve her character?

I'd love to see some answers, I know that this is a somewhat divisive plot point, and I'd like to hear opinions on both sides of the fence!

[Qojon]

... I don't think so. The Domans, on the other hand... well, mob mentality is a real pain in the ass, and even though Yotsuyu will have figuratively died they'll still want vengeance. We also know the Alliance... doesn't seem to share this philosophy, as if my memory serves me correctly they executed the creator of the Black Rose poison despite him being amnesiac or driven insane by guilt (one or the other).

I'm interested to see how this develops.

And before you know it, there's a shiv in the WoL's backside.

[Rofel]

FFIV's Yang had it happen to him once, twice if you count the brainwashing.

I'll be damned is she recovers it after beinh hit in the head with a frying pan lmao

[Theodric]

-snip-

Well, Yotsuyu is effectively the 'Cersei Lannister' of FFXIV. Or at least she is during the events of 4.0. Both are tragic characters who do awful things as a result of the trauma that they've experienced and are very broken and dysfunctional to the point where they bring further problems upon themselves due to reckless behaviour, a desire for vengeance and self sabotage. I won't spoil anything for those unfamiliar with Cersei Lannister's story in the Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire setting but she is brutally effective when it comes to vengeance even if causes further damage to herself in the process.

Yotsuyu certainly appeared to be completely devoted to the idea of seeking her own flavour of revenge. Even without Garlemald in the picture it would not be unreasonable for her to continue down that path, fooling those around her with a false claim of amnesia until they let their guard down and she makes another attempt at doing something horrible. As I mentioned earlier there also aren't really any obvious antagonists to deal with at the moment in the MSQ's. Most are rather far removed from Eorzea and the Far East for the time being. Which leaves Yotsuyu in the perfect position to cause some trouble.