Thread: [4.4 Discussion] "Change the Future"

So... my feeling are that it is still likely to be Arbert.
His specific request to us - "one fool to another" - is to "forge a different path. Choose a better fate." Their quote unquote mistake in the first was just doing what they thought they needed to do to defeat the Ascians, and we see them defeat their final Ascian in the Echo in 3.1. Look what that got them...

Then, here's the WoL in the Source, happily bumbling along, pointed down a path by well-meaning companions. Well, Arbert thinks we're doing a pretty lousy job of heeding his warning. Off we trot to slay all the Ascians! Hurrah! The chances of us actually defeating the Ascians in the Source is probably quite high, and what then? Another flood of light? Mistake officially repeated. Arbert is looking on going, "I gave you one job to do!"


So he starts removing the people who would normally point us the way. Who do we turn to? Most likely Gaiushunter - an uneasy alliance with an old foe.

And... maybe... Elezenos? Nah, I reckon not. He only wants to face the Warrior of Light again, but he's still an unknown in the equation. My suspicion is that Elidibus does not know Zenos is still out there, and there's potential for a big wrench to get thrown in plans because of it.

To wrap up, Arbert says "Light, Dark. It doesn't matter. All that matters is how you use them."
The solution is stalemate.

Now, who do I pass this darksteel foil hat to next?

For all that we did learn from this patch, it certainly did do a fantastic job of raising even more questions. I suspect heavily that the apparent gradual bleed on the world's is almost certainly linked to the mysterious voice "Calling" people's souls. It was a bit suspect in its own right that the voice first interjected after Thancred's proposed plans were agreed upon, but also it was extremely suspect that the two Scions who are both probably the most versed at understanding aetherology were soul-napped almost immediately after deliberating their respective findings on the aether situation.

And while I certainly expected that there were high odds that Ascians were involved with the Garlean Empire's campaigns since Solus' inception as emperor, I NEVER expected that said emperor would be an Ascian himself. Furthermore, I had initially thought that Varis had only been working with Elidibus since his own inception as the new emperor, and was hoping to use Elidibus to further his own ambitions. This revelation turned that entirely on its head, and now it seems like Varis is only trying to maintain the status quo after having spent probably much of his life knowingly being groomed by the Ascians as a figurehead. Yet he does seem to be growing more unwilling to go along with things if his reaction towards Solus' taunting is any indication. I wonder if he could yet be made an ally after all, especially if the Ascians decide he's more trouble than he's worth and use the fact that Elidibus is piloting the crown heir's body to their advantage.

I assume this is going to become our default MYSTERY VOICE thread for the time being, so...

I've been thinking of this on and off all day after Quintalian hit me with kind of a "Duh." observation.

Ahead looms a Calamity.
Ahead looms Light, expunging all form and life.
Twin dooms only you can forestall. Only you.

I kept thinking, "How can it be both?" whereas more likely the point is prevent both separately; do not let either happen.

Who wants that other than Hydaelyn and mankind? It does sound like Arbert. It does sound like something Arbert would say. But [A] it doesn't sound like Arbert in every language of the game, and [B] the rest doesn't sound like anything Arbert would say.

Those points, of course, are what led me to consider that maybe it could be Zodiark. Nothing but Hydaelyn has ever yanked our soul out of our body to have a quick chat in the aetherial sea, and if I had to imagine what it looks like where He is... <gestures broadly>.

Then, of course there was Nabriales. Pay attention to what he shouts at you throughout the fight. I'm going by all four languages here, so it's not going to quite be what you see in English. (Aside: Only in English he speaks of lower-case darkness and the void; is this a localization error?) First, he summons the powers of Darkness from the Abyss to pervade his being and grant him strength; an all-powerful force whose hunger consumes all. But the most important part is when he commands, "in Zodiark's name" for time to slow. "Let expanse contract, eon become instant..."

But if this is Zodiark, I can see why He would advocate for balance. He's certainly having His emissary do the same. And I can see why He'd advocate against a Flood. Nobody wants a Flood. But why would He advocate for preventing a Calamity...? And why would Zodiark, of all "people", say that "only [the Warrior of Light]" could walk this tightrope? That's literally Elidibus's job.

Is it just deception all the way down? That assumption is no place to begin analysis.

Originally Posted by Anonymoose

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Though there has been one question on my mind for a very long time since the game began, " are the Ascians actually following the will of Zodiark or are they simply assuming that they are following his will by causing Calamities so he can return?"

For this entire storyline, no Ascian has actually heard the voice of Zodiark nor actually spoken to him. They have been acting alone under the belief they are following Zodiark's will but what if this entire time they have been unknowningly going against Zodiark's True Will to preserve Balance because they have been blindly causing events that will create a Calamity born from the complete destruction of the Balance (which I assume already happened in the Future because of what the WoL and Scions did in the original timeline).

The Ascians are basically a cult, a powerful one that has great influence in history, but still a cult that is follow a belief that they are following Zodiark's will. However, their dedication maybe blinding them to the truth and actually been causing events that Zodiark never wanted to happen.

Heck, for all we know Zodiark may have willingly sealed himself away and he may be a Good God this entire time but the Ascian's cult mentality and blind worshipping made them act in these ways while using Zodiark's name to justify their actions.

For Seven Hells, how do we know if there are not TWO Zodiarks, with one being the Real Zodiark (the Voice) and a Primal Fake Zodiark being the one that the Ascians worship born from a event long ago that has been completely erased from history.