[Spoilers] Is Hydaelyn a primal?

[Malkria]

I know this has been talked about before, but the last discussion I found was from 2.2.

Basically, I don't trust Hydaelyn anymore. Of course I have a deep seated distrust of authority in general, but in Hydaelyn's case it seems awfully justified. We can't be tempered, which seems to be something unique to primals. She takes crystals for power, and she grows in strength through prayer. ARR's ending showed us that people DO pray to her. Furthermore if the "Warrior of light" could be seen as a proxy for Hydaelyn, so praying to them, or having faith they will succeed, is the same for praying to "Hydaelyn".

Next you have the effect of what happens when Hydaelyn WINS. In Heavenward we meet the "Warriors of Darkness" which actually were the WoL from another 'star' (universe/dimension?). In their world they beat the bad guys and all the primals, which if any stated primal would do would lead to the end of the world. Which, surprise, is exactly what is happening to a world where the light wins.

Finally there is the echo itself. The gift of the echo seem to be able to take stress that would break normal people. Non-stop combat and saving the world? Well if our character shows any signs of straining...I haven't seen it. Even when someone was put through an insidious 'experiment', she seems to bounce back relatively quickly. But someone granted an echo through artificial means? She is on the verge of breaking down already. So something besides the echo itself must be getting imparted, something that wouldn't LET someone with an echo break. Something like...being tempered.

So basically, I feel there is significant cause for concern that the force we have been working for may in fact be the very thing we are working against. Or at least it needs to have some more screen time to explain exactly why Hydaelyn is any different from the primals or 'gods' that we have been going around slaying since day one of the game.

[BillyKaplan]

1. You can get around the 1k limit by posting, then editing the post.
2. Yeah she is a primal. It would explain why so many people with the Echo are popping up all over the place, she's reaching out instinctively, 'tempering' people. Though at this point I wouldn't rule out the WoL being a Primal all on his own either, we're Hydaelyn's champion but I wonder how many people make that distinction and don't pray to us directly.

Well if our character shows any signs of straining...I haven't seen it.

DRK questline

[347SPECTRE]

You can edit your original post to get past the character limit

[Youkulm]

You can pass the limit by editing your original post

[BillyKaplan]

So basically, I feel there is significant cause for concern that the force we have been working for may in fact be the very thing we are working against. Or at least it needs to have some more screen time to explain exactly why Hydaelyn is any different from the primals or 'gods' that we have been going around slaying since day one of the game.

I think the biggest difference is the flow of energy. Other Primals drain the land from aether whereas Hydaelyn gives it freely, she's the source of it all, including our monstrous strength.

[Malkria]

I think the biggest difference is the flow of energy. Other Primals drain the land from aether whereas Hydaelyn gives it freely, she's the source of it all, including our monstrous strength.

There is no evidence she isn't though. Consider this, if you have one small pipe draining a pool from the deepest region, how long would it take for you to notice? As compared to many small pipes all draining from different sections of the pool? It might just be that we haven't seen her effects....or maybe we have. The Garlean Empire might be in the 'shallow' section of said pool, and explain why they can't use magic unlike the rest of the world. It also might explain the burning hatred they have for primals, even if they might have forgetten every reason why. But a primal draining a land to the poin't it's people can't use magic? That would be a very good reason.

[Kukajoo]

I'm really curious about this too, i hope we get more exposition on hydaelyn, and our characters both. Hydaelyn may yet just be a being of immense power akin to a god but not a primal. Kinda like how bahamut wasn't a primal before being resurrected as one. Hydaelyns behavior as of yet goes against the twisted destructive selfish nature of a true primal

[BillyKaplan]

There is no evidence she isn't though. Consider this, if you have one small pipe draining a pool from the deepest region, how long would it take for you to notice? As compared to many small pipes all draining from different sections of the pool? It might just be that we haven't seen her effects....or maybe we have. The Garlean Empire might be in the 'shallow' section of said pool, and explain why they can't use magic unlike the rest of the world.

It could also be the piping in their area is broken. Deserts and flourishing meadows form naturally, think of it like that and that they just don't get enough aether flowing their way. Be it naturally or because Eikons messed it up in the past and that's why they're so against it now remains to be seen though, I agree.
As for Hydaelyn drinking from the pool, she's ultimately the one supplying water into it too.

[Malkria]

Hydaelyns behavior as of yet goes against the twisted destructive selfish nature of a true primal

I'm not sure I agree. While being an adventurer sounds great, think about what we actually do. We go in, upset the status quo, and basically don't do anything really significant towards reconstruction. Granted I haven't quite finished up the next story segments but our involvement in rebuilding Ala Mhigo has so far been rather light to non-existant. For the most part we are a whirlwind of change that doesn't do anything to really pick up after itself. It would be like if the alliance came in, beat the empire, and then just left....how destructive would the aftermath of that be? We may be only one person, but that is exactly why people didn't like adventurers in Gridania when we first started.

In essence, Hydaelyn could be the embodiment of growth and change. Which at first seems harmless, but if left unchecked can still lead to just as much destruction as stagnation and uniformity.

[BillyKaplan]

that is exactly why people didn't like adventurers in Gridania when we first started.

To be fair, Gridanians aren't too fond of most of their natives, either, as is the case with the Duskwights and the Keepers of the Moon. Also us moving around is less by our own design and more plot necessity. Sure, we can help rebuild Ala Mhigo, but our presence would be far more prudent elsewhere. Although let it be said that 4.1 was actually just that, us helping pick up the pieces and make sure Ala Mhigo could even be rebuilt at all, we just didn't do it by picking up a hammer (well, unless you did the GSM questline lmao) but by being the paragon of change and strength and talking to all the right people.