Thread: Patch 4.4 (Prelude in Violet) Speculation Thread! (Possible spoilers [NO LEAKS])

Originally Posted by LineageRazor

I've little doubt that Zenos's plans likely include a rematch with the WoL, but I think, for him, it will be a hollow conflict. Nothing can match the euphoria he's already experienced - but, honestly, what else is there to do?

If I understand Zenos at all, there is one opportunity I think he'd be find irresistable:

Taking on the arbiter of Zodiark - Word of the Father - while he is possessing his own fine-tuned Hunt-forged body.

I'm honestly not thinking Zenos is going to have much of a change of character now that he knows he's functionally immortal and would be all too eager to keep throwing himself at us until he prevails, though likely not without some preparation beforehand as it would take time to adjust to a new body.

While I'd like if he ended up having more depth to him, I feel like he's going to largely remain a one-dimensional villain who's fixated on the thrill of the "hunt" as his words in 4.3 didn't indicate a change in his outlook at all

What role the real Zenos has left to play is... something that intrigues me.

What can he do? What narrative purpose does he have left to fulfill? He's already been taken down, and no longer has the power base or resources he did that made him an obstacle. Other than a simple pest and reminder that the Echo can be used to cheat death, I'm not sure why he's still around...

I feel like the Scions might decide to take a more serious look into developing a method/weapon to destroy Ascian overlords completely without need of some manner of ridiculously powerful aether focus once they become enlightened as to the situation in Garlemald. Also, if Zenos can just casually bodyhop any time his physical body is killed, that would make his existence not all that unlike an Ascian so we might up needing such a thing to get rid of him for good, too.

I'm kind of wondering that might tie into the Azim Steppe business, as that weird crystal thing at the House of Crooked Coin is believed to absorb souls and thus end the cycle of reincarnation the Dotharl believe themselves to be subject to. I feel like there is actually some truth to their belief and there probably is/were Echo users with the ability to reincarnate among their ranks.

Originally Posted by KageTokage

I feel like the Scions might decide to take a more serious look into developing a method/weapon to destroy Ascian overlords completely without need of some manner of ridiculously powerful aether focus once they become enlightened as to the situation in Garlemald.

I am kinda hoping that they do that and it backfires hugely. That'd be cool.

Ascian overlords should be a big threat. So I'm not really on board with garbage plot devices to trivialise them.

IF Zodiark ends, then the threat they pose can as well.

Originally Posted by Anonymoose

If I understand Zenos at all, there is one opportunity I think he'd be find irresistable:

Taking on the arbiter of Zodiark - Word of the Father - while he is possessing his own fine-tuned Hunt-forged body.

And dying permanently in the process, with his soul obliterated by not fully comprehending the nature of the Resonance and failsafes built into it, leading to Elidibus pulling the plug. That'd be funny.

We do have a reliable method of killing them, as the steps are now known. It is just costly, and should remain so, whether implemented through current or newer methods. I'd also like them to see make the subsequent overlords harder and harder to defeat, especially Elidibus, if he ever is a boss.

The other option re the method of permanently killing is that it takes a few off guard, and the others figure it out, adapt and counter it, neutralising it, such that it works but only up to a point. An example of backfiring would be that any methods found to prevent Ascian reincarnation, could likewise be used to limit or impair the Scions'/WOL's echo, if the Ascians were to catch wind of it.

Dynamic villains are so much better.

Originally Posted by LineageRazor

I wonder if the House of the Crooked Coin is going to play into this, somehow. If anyone wants to shuffle off the cycle of reincarnation, I'd imagine Zenos does...

It could be that that will be the role he plays, with one of the Scions having a role to play - mayhap mutual gain through researching the nature of Zenos's echo. It's hard to say, as there's plenty of reasons to go there. However, if the Resonance is in fact the Ascian/Zodiark's Echo, gifted to some precious few, which I think it is, it may not work and he may end up having to ask Elidibus to strip him of it, to end his immortality. What can be given can probably be taken back. Could even be something he uses to get him to do his bidding. Now that I think of it, Elidibus shattering his soul would cause him to lose any hold over him he could have, so he may drag it out a bit.