Thread: The Road to 5.0

If there's one thing people around these parts can count on, it's me thoroughly examining every shred of information related to Garlemald, especially when positive elements and nuances are downplayed...intentionally or otherwise.

Baut is responsible for Ala Ghiri's surrender:

As Brazen Brook tells it, a single man is responsible for the Alliance's effortless reclaiming of Ala Ghiri. The problem, however, is they are unable to bring this man in for inquiry. Afraid to speak more on the matter out in the open, he insists you speak with Baut, the person in question.

Baut is startled by your presence, but is soon relieved when you explain Brazen Brook sent you to help. The reason for his initial panic is made clear when he reveals that he is, in fact, a centurion of the Garlean forces. He ordered his men to retreat in lieu of a crushing defeat at the hands of the Alliance, but ran into an unexpected problem when attempting to turn himself in. To better explain his predicament, he insists you speak with the people of Ala Ghiri and hear what they have to say of him.

Source: https://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Out_of_Sight_(Quest)

Sorry, I've been too busy wandering Kul Tiras and Zandalar as an itinerant to weigh in on much as of late (plus 10 hour shifts at work).

Anyway, in regards to Ascian machinations - the Alliance is, to a degree, playing along with their script (more accurately Elidibus' script), but given the Empire has sent one emissary of peace (who was a pretty obvious snake) and their own emissary (well, Doma's) was shot down on his way to parley... combined with the Empire's history of brazen aggression otherwise, what choice do they have but to engage in preemptive aggression? What choice is there other than aggression or annihilation?

Ultimately the problem faced by the Alliance is that the Ascians are essentially entropy incarnate, which means they're given a choice of damnations - play the Ascians' game or be steamrolled by the Empire. Given the current situation, while the former may lead to casualties on the Empire's side, those numbers will likely be lower than the casualties (Eorzean and Garlean) that would arise from an international war. I acknowledge it's not the most honorable way to "win," but letting the truth about Zenos' current condition out is the best option available because it could be the start of a reformation within the Empire - one that could lead to true peace, rather than cold war. (Remember that only we, the audience, and Varis are aware of Solus' true character, goals, and return to the stage.)

The fact that the Ascians feel the need to attack Eorzea, whether or not it's to specifically target the Warrior of Light, rather tells that they feel the WoL and Scions' handiwork is a threat to their goals. As far as we know there are no Ascian players in Eorzea (though there may be), so while opposing the Empire may work to the Ascians' favor not opposing it definitely will - and with the former there's at least a chance to live and fight another day.

It's not too dissimilar to the resolution of Fire Emblem Heroes' Book II - the Askrans can play along with Loki's obvious duplicity or be steamrolled by Surtr and Muspell. With the former, at least, they will live to fight another day and have a chance to break free of the script. The latter just leads to their death.

Baut is indeed responsible for Ala Ghiri's surrender (he was the acting magistrate), and the townspeople were unwilling to give him up because he forbade needless cruelty toward them which returned a sense of normalcy to their lives. However, the reason they were so unwilling to give him up is because they feared the Alliance would execute him - a result of Imperial propaganda claiming they execute all POWs (a verifiable lie). Brazen Brook (the Resistance officer who ultimately takes Baut into custody) dismisses this as nonsense, as he only wanted to ask questions about documents and supplies found in the town; the Alliance was made aware of how Baut had improved life in the town and Brazen Brook admitted they'd likely be lenient on him as a result (a full pardon could not be guaranteed, of course, though Baut is quickly let out on parole for good conduct).

Originally Posted by Theodric

Given that we were told that we'd have no reason to sympathise with Zenos, I'm inclined to believe that he's simply a bad apple. Garlemald values might, certainly, though to a large degree that is out of necessity - Hydaelyn isn't the greatest place to live to begin with and Garlemald's inner territory is a frigid wasteland. Zenos was afforded a life of relative luxury - and it doesn't appear that Varis deliberately went out of his way to nurture Zenos' monstrous nature. In fact, he outright opposed it - just as he opposed Aulus and sent him packing. There's also the possibility that Zenos was compromised by Elidibus and/or Solus and that Zenos being used as a host for Elidibus was planned from the very start of his conception - and that is the sort of thing I do not see Varis approving of at all.

The snippets of the lore book imply that Varis has multiple heirs. If they're still alive or we get further elaboration then how they turned out will be a good way to judge Varis' capabilities as a father figure. He's not exactly emotionless - and the fact that his friendship with Regula spanned decades without wavering suggests that he is capable of long term affection.

I'm going to have to offer a bit of dissent here.

While we were told Zenos wasn't meant to be sympathetic, his last line before his (intended) death can garner the tiniest bit. As someone who grew up without many friends and who excelled at what he was told to (academics), I can kind of understand Zenos a bit - of course, I still don't agree with how he chose to relieve his boredom, but the bit of sympathy is there, intended or not.

Zenos' exact upbringing isn't touched on, but the fact he was given the finest combat instructors suggests that he was, at least in part, shaped into what he was by Imperial society. Varis may have had a direct hand in it or may not have, but it's not certain he was opposed to Zenos becoming what he was. (His only comment on his son, thus far, is that he was an inadequate inheritor due to overindulgence in his particular "hobbies," such as they were.)

We can't say for certain that Aulus was sent out of court on moral or ethical grounds. He simply says that his theories were met with "consternation" - confusion and/or dismay. I would posit that he was rejected not on ethical grounds, but simply because nobody else thought his research worth pursing - why go to the trouble of genetic modification for magicks when you can just build more / better magitek? Furthermore, when informing Varis of Zenos' "death" Elidibus calls him an "irreplaceable test subject" who was "sacrificed on the operating table," depending on the language, suggesting Varis was fully aware of the experiments being performed in Ala Mhigo and did nothing to stop them (or covertly encouraged them). (Elidibus trying to emotionally attack Varis is duly noted, especially in light of whose face was beneath the mask, but the plausibility remains.) Solus' comment that Varis "by his own hands" has "ample means" to deal with the threat posed by the Eorzeans suggests Varis himself may have become Resonant.

Other children from Varis turning out better doesn't preclude him failing Zenos as a father, nor does his friendship with Regula.