Zenos the SAM

[Okamimaru]

So Zenos, for all intents and purposes, was a SAM but how does he use SAM skills which require aether manipulation? Is it from the artificial echo or his mystery sword.... both? His suit?

[Anonymoose]

The enchanted swords are one angle, I'm sure. But can someone who can't wield magicks wield enchanted items? That's something I'm curious about. The sword has power, but can a Garlean tap it properly? Manipulate it properly?

However, there's a back-up inference that can be made. When Fordola is introduced to the machine that will copy the Echo onto her, Aulus spends most of his time talking - not about the mysterious Gods-given powers of the savages - but magicks in general. It's possible that Aulus just copied a mage's aetherial signature onto Zenos a while back and then copied the Echo onto him later. That would explain a lot.

[ChaoticCrimson]

Yeah, I just figured that perhaps the Resonance is what gave Zenos access to manipulate aether the way he does, although I couldn't tell you how exactly. Which begs the question: when precisely was Zenos instilled with the Resonance? I mean, yes the Resonance itself wasn't touched on until later in the 4.0 story. But I don't remember anything saying specifically that Zenos didn't have the experiments done on him prior to that point. He could have had it as early as our first encounter with him at Rhalgr's Reach even. Of course, perhaps this was clarified and I've either missed it or forgotten.

[Cilia]

To this, it's important to get the questions answered in order.

When did Zenos obtain Resonance?
-Well... if we're to assume he used the same source Fordola's came from (Krile), it would have to be between our duel in Yanxia and when we returned to Eorzea.

Is Resonance what let Zenos wield his enchanted katana?
-Probably not. Even during the duel with him in Rhalgr's Reach, he was already using the Storm and Swell to produce lightning bolts and bursts of wind. I don't remember where, but one of his bios mentioned he was already augmented before the events of Stormblood; assuming aetherial conductivity is necessary to wield enchanted katana like Zenos does, Aulus probably made that possible for him.

Side note: though he uses the same weapon(s), Zenos fights nothing like a SAM unless you consider some of his techniques to be hyper-augmented versions of SAM abilities (Storm, Swell, Sword being a massively enhanced Midare Setsugekka, f'ex).

[ChaoticCrimson]

To this, it's important to get the questions answered in order.

When did Zenos obtain Resonance?
-Well... if we're to assume he used the same source Fordola's came from (Krile), it would have to be between our duel in Yanxia and when we returned to Eorzea.

Is Resonance what let Zenos wield his enchanted katana?
-Probably not. Even during the duel with him in Rhalgr's Reach, he was already using the Storm and Swell to produce lightning bolts and bursts of wind. I don't remember where, but one of his bios mentioned he was already augmented before the events of Stormblood; assuming aetherial conductivity is necessary to wield enchanted katana like Zenos does, Aulus probably made that possible for him.

Side note: though he uses the same weapon(s), Zenos fights nothing like a SAM unless you consider some of his techniques to be hyper-augmented versions of SAM abilities (Storm, Swell, Sword being a massively enhanced Midare Setsugekka, f'ex).

You do raise an excellent point in regards to Krile (I mistakenly remembered her kidnapping being earlier than it actually was). The other augmentations would make sense as well. I wonder if we'll get more elaboration on the nature of what kinds of stuff he went through in the future, in the light of recent events. Probably not, but it would be interesting to get some more background at least.

[Anonymoose]

The Krile thing was the clincher for me, as well. The reason he leaves Doma in such a rush is because he gets word that they found Shinryu. Until that point, there was no rush, but after that...

[Cilia]

...I wonder if we'll get more elaboration on the nature of what kinds of stuff he went through in the future, in the light of recent events. Probably not, but it would be interesting to get some more background at least.

I'd like to know more about Zenos' past as well; he's written off as nothing more than a monster in human skin, but in the same expansion with Fordola and Yotsuyu (both of who had tragic pasts and were greatly sympathized with by the players) he really stands out.

Not that it would change anything.

[ObsidianFire]

I have a feeling Zenos' past will come up. Either because Elidibus keeps needling Varis with it, or because Fordla can't turn off her ability to see into people's pasts and she and Zenos are in the same region. Or because Zenos kinda likes to talk to/at us a lot and the odds of him letting something slip are good. There's been enough hints dropped of the "your son was an experiment" variety for me to think that it was significant on multiple fronts. We tend to get a front-row seat to those with the Echo...

[Iscah]

It's possible that Aulus just copied a mage's aetherial signature onto Zenos a while back and then copied the Echo onto him later. That would explain a lot.

As well as his powers and timeline, that would add up with the reveal that both his eyes take on the creepy Resonant appearance - he's had the procedure twice.

[Rayo]

I always assumed Zenos' Pre-Resonant Abilities were a combination of owning Magical Katana and the Revolver Holster/Golf bag that allowed for activating the katana