Revelations from Patch 4.3

**Theodric** · 05-25-2018 08:58 AM

The Four Lords:

The new dungeon is very aesthetically pleasing. I like the trend of not tying every new dungeon to the MSQ's as it helps make them feel like genuine adventures. The final boss, once defeated, also heads over the temple beneath Hell's Lid which is a neat touch. The solo duty was great, too. Tataru proves to be fairly useless in a fight - again - so that made for some comic relief. As did her brief time as a cursed hag. We learned more about Tenzen - and it seems like he was a pretty charming, good natured guy. There's an element of tragedy in regards to his auspice companions enduring through the ages without him at their side. I'm looking forward to the 4.4 trial since that will almost certainly be against one of Byakko's companions.

**Theodric** · 05-25-2018 03:57 PM

Construct 7:

Don't worry, our dancing robot is very much alive! If, after defeating the end boss, you run back to the area that you fought him in you can find him happily dancing away. It's a neat touch given that upon his defeat he mentions taking 95% damage.

**Theodric** · 05-26-2018 05:52 AM

Ivalice story stuff:

(Spoilers for original Ivalice included)

It's likely that Delita will turn out to be responsible for the explosion and then the blame will be pinned on Ramza. That's...a very, very simplified version of the Final Fantasy Tactics story, though Delitia was by no means a bad guy. Not at first, anyway. Just someone driven to the edge and Ramza himself was indirectly responsible for getting Delita's sister killed as well as the sister of another character though that was more of a matter of self defence. In both cases, though, it was Ramza's naive streak that created the chain of events leading to such tragedy.

On the other hand, B'gamnan was an outright villain in FFXII, a ruthless and cruel bounty hunter. That isn't the case in FFXIV's take on Ivalice. Ashe and Rasler were also lovers, not twins. So it's possible that FFXIV's Ivalice story will have other differences.

**Cilia** · 05-26-2018 07:51 AM

Clarifying just a little bit more on Yotsuyu (then I'll get off the topic for good because I think I've covered all the bases):

While I do think her actions in the end had positive consequences, her motivation remained fixated on vengeance - just directed at the people who deserved it instead of Domans in general. "Tsuyu" had definitely become a part of her, perhaps more than she was willing to admit to herself - she clearly doesn't want to go back to being the Witch of Doma, but knows that Asahi will never let her have the peaceful life Tsuyu might. Her actions then could be seen both as repaying Gosetsu for his kindness and as a giant "screw you" to Asahi - while she doesn't care much for Doma she still cares for Gosetsu and wants to spare him pain, while Asahi not only died by her hand but also with the knowledge that his carefully crafted plan had fallen to pieces. That Doma was spared another war and Garlemald granted a chance to expose the corruption growing within it were just positive byproducts.

The theatricality she employs before summoning, as well as the need for the add phase at all (and especially the Gosetsu phantom) all strongly suggest that she's trying to convince herself as much as anyone else that she's Yotsuyu the Witch of Doma, though. No matter what she tells herself or anyone else, that simply isn't true - the Witch of Doma died with the collapse of Doma Castle.

... that's what I'd like to believe, at any rate.

Anyway, enough of that depressing crap!

Shadowhunter:

I'd wager the main reason he's carrying around his old mask fragment (if it is indeed Gaius) is as a reminder of what trusting an Ascian cost him. At this point he's lost everything but his weapon, a good majority of it from trusting Lahabrea. He failed to conquer Eorzea three times - once before Legacy, once during, and during ARR - at this point he's likely a disgrace in Garlemald. Trusting Lahabrea's word with the Ultima Weapon, he went rogue and tried to conquer Eorzea only to be rebuffed by the Warrior of Light, marking him as a deserter punishable by death in his homeland. The Ultima Weapon itself proved far more destructive than he desired or intended, which led to his supposed death back in the Praetorium and probably burned / scarred him (notice the bandages on his free arm).

Gaius, at this point, would have little left but vengeance on the Ascians - carrying a reminder of his past life, and how they cost him that life, would be a very good reason. I think.

I doubt he chose this moment to reveal himself - he just helped some Garlean soldiers that had been shot down because, disgraced and exiled as he may be, he probably still loves his homeland. Alphinaud just happened to be on the craft. Coincidences do happen!

Four Lords

I haven't finished it quite yet (my iLvs are a bit too low for the instanced fight, or perhaps I just suck) but...

SON GOKU!!!

Ivalice

Haven't finished the raid, but thus far I'm still not engaged. I'll get to it over the long weekend.

Having to spend a modest amount of time fetching vintage wine for Yasumi Matsuno's avatar character for no real reason did not motivate me, though.

**Theodric** · 05-26-2018 08:30 AM

Shadowhunter:

I have my doubts that the developers would bring back Gaius just to kill him off again. He's almost certainly going to play a major part in the story moving forward, no doubt as an 'Estinien' type ally of the Warrior of Light. Ascians are the ultimate threat as they manipulate whatever they can and sow the seeds of strife and discord in the protest. It begs the question, then, as to how many Ascians exist in Garlemald. The MSQ's seemed to make a point to imply that Elidibus would likely not be alone.

On the other hand, didn't Yoshi-P state that the force behind Garlemald wasn't Ascians? Or could it simply be a case of him specifically referring to the fact that Garlemald's origins and rise to power was not due to Ascian meddling but a mere consequence of being naturally inclined to technology due to their implied origins and natural aptitude?

**Cilia** · 05-26-2018 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Fenral

This is right after you said you were done, but I felt you'd want me to weigh in, given the circumstances.

It's more like...

I'm probably trying to rationalize something that happened that was completely avoidable. This didn't have to happen - if everyone had been more vigilant and thought a bit more, the tragedy could have been avoided. I hate having to kill people when there are other ways to resolve the situation... it makes me feel powerless.

... but what happened happened, and no amount of thought and rationalization will change that. Just gotta keep going. (At least it didn't mess me up as bad as Kuo's death at the end of inFamous 2.)

Originally Posted by Theodric

Shadowhunter:

When I said trusting Lahabrea cost Gaius his life, I wasn't speaking literally. Metaphorically, Gaius lost his life - his status, his friends, his connections, and so on. He's not "Gaius van Baelsar, Legatus of the XIVth Imperial Legion" anymore - he can't be. At this point he's Gaius Baelsar, the wandering Garlean mercenary (it seems) who hunts Ascians as revenge for taking everything from him in their machinations. (Again, assuming the Shadowhunter is Gaius, which is very likely based on present evidence.)

Whether he will be a traveling companion is unknown (no bet). Whether Elidibus is acting alone in Garlemald is also unknown (presently betting yes based on available information).

I don't recall Yoshi-P ever stating the Ascians weren't behind the Garleans (and that's something of a significant bit of information; I'd like a reference if possible), but if he ever did say so it's likely in reference to the past (i.e. their rise to power). It's pretty clear they're going to try to pull the Empire's strings going forward, or at least Elidibus is.

**Jyera** · 05-27-2018 12:23 AM

Originally Posted by Cilia

When I said trusting Lahabrea cost Gaius his life, I wasn't speaking literally. Metaphorically, Gaius lost his life - his status, his friends, his connections, and so on. He's not "Gaius van Baelsar, Legatus of the XIVth Imperial Legion" anymore - he can't be. At this point he's Gaius Baelsar, the wandering Garlean mercenary (it seems) who hunts Ascians as revenge for taking everything from him in their machinations. (Again, assuming the Shadowhunter is Gaius, which is very likely based on present evidence.)

I thought this, too. He was already on thin ice during 1.0, where Nael and the VIIth were withdrawn from Othard and sent to Eorzea, and the XIVth scarcely charged with more than just babysitting van Darnus. He's been under pressure ever since Silvertear--Cid openly roasts him on all this during the cutscene for the "Alive" quest in 1.0.

Then we get to 2.0, and the XIVth are essentially an afterthought in imperial terms, but Gaius' ambition and desperation drive him to accept Ascian interference, taking extreme measures to meet his old goals and restore his dignity and recognised status in the process. And... then Praetorium happens. He makes one last attempt to bring Cid back into the fold, and tries to lure the WoL in as well, which fails miserably. And then explosions!

So what's left for a man

presumed dead
from a failure-spiral legion
who permanently burned his bridges with a young man he considered a son
and
sank to the level of consorting with giggling Hot Topic couture cultists to get what he wanted

?

Running around picking off Ascians, or at least annoying them out of their host bodies, anonymous and without ties until he dies. Sort of a revenge-resignation hybrid. I'm fascinated.

Also, this might just be my eyes playing tricks on me, but the tatters of Shadowhunter's coat really look like Gaius' old regalia, and that bit of armor he's got fixed with a rope around his arm looks a lot like whatever's left of the gauntlet from that side. I'm too interested.

And also very mad that he's attractive, BAHAHAHA

Hopefully my tagging works. edit- YAY IT DO

**Iscah** · 05-27-2018 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by Chewy2nd

I'm hoping that we get to see a

Cid, Gaius and Nero reunion at some point, a lot of tension there!

Yes please!

Originally Posted by Jyera

Also, this might just be my eyes playing tricks on me, but the tatters of Shadowhunter's coat really look like Gaius' old regalia, and that bit of armor he's got fixed with a rope around his arm looks a lot like whatever's left of the gauntlet from that side. I'm too interested.

I thought the same thing! I haven't studied the details but it definitely looks like the same red coat.

Also I feel like I'm missing out on so much character background by not having been here for 1.0.

(Also also: hello twin.)

**ObsidianFire** · 05-27-2018 02:32 AM

Originally Posted by Iscah

Also I feel like I'm missing out on so much character background by not having been here for 1.0.

Here's the best playlist I've found of 1.0 MSQ cutscenes. It's even got the the 1.0 Hildebrand stuff at the end. The cutscenes do add a lot of context to certain character's motivations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAif...d7VO7tCi-3M-hy

**Belhi** · 05-26-2018 04:55 PM

(Four Lords) Am I the only one to find the fact that:

members of the beast tribes can become Auspices a really huge deal with some serious potential lore implications. In the first part we were lead to believe that animals that lived long enough become Auspices. This suggest either the beast tribes, due to their beastlike characteristics, can also become Auspices or maybe literally any living thing can become an Auspice if it lives long enough. Also makes me wonder if the origin of the Beast tribes might be tied to the Auspices.\

On a side note, they seem to suggest that the decent into madness is an inevitable fate of all Auspices. A pretty tragic outcome for them. Die or live long enough to become a monster.

Thread: Revelations from Patch 4.3

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