About the Emperor [Major Spoilers for 4.4]

[Balipu]

Seriously. Big spoilers. This changes everything. Please do not continue till you played 4.4.


For the rest, let's talk about the emperor. No, not the current one. The previous one. The one who died of old age.
The one who shouldn't have died because he is apparently an immortal spirit.

Solus zos Galvus threw everything we knew out the window. The closed window.
Let's see what we know and why that is wrong:

Solus zos Galvus died of old age
Well he claims to have died, but he is an Ascian so he should be an immortal spirit. Speaking of which...

Ascians are incorporeal and can only occupy bodies
Solus was not taken over by an Ascian. He was an Ascian. Yet he could have sex. I mean he has children. And his body aged over the course of his life.

Ascians are named after the Scions of Light in Ivalice
This dude is named Solus zos Galvus. Sure that might be a pseudonym like Travanchet, but so far he is only known as Solus zos Gavlus

Garlean magic users are very rare due to genetics
Since Solus is an Ascian overlord he is probably capable of magic beyond what we have seen before. So his children should also be good at it,

Pureblood Garleans are blonde
Half of Solus' hair is black and he founded the bloody nation.

The ideals of Garlemald are all.....
LIES!!!!! Poor Theo

If you die, that's it
Apparently Solus was summoned back from death by Elidibus when Lahabrea messed up. Wether that was 2.0 or 3.0 we can only guess

Solus may not have agreed with Nael's plan to throw Dalamud at Aldenard
Considering what he is I think he was totally on board with the whole shebang.

The main villain of 5.0 will be Fake Zenos, True Zenos, Varis, The voice guy.........
Nah. It will be Solus.

Did I leave anything out?

[Dualblade]

One thing to remember when it comes to Ascians and "death", the first time Lahabrea died it took him some time to "reform" or something, thus he was absent for a couple patches whenever we saw the Ascian stuff. While less time compared to how long Solus was gone depending on what happened to his mortal body he may have needed time to recharge, and maybe take vacation time. Cause why not?

Also we don't know what happens to a mortal body exactly when an Ascian possesses it for a long time, Thancred was only for a few weeks at most. They probably still age like normal thus Solus would still "age" and eventually "die".

[Theodric]

The ideals of Garlemald are all.....
LIES!!!!! Poor Theo

It's comments like this that make me realise that a lot of people on this board don't necessarily understand what I post. I've long argued that there was more to Garlemald than initially apparent...and that has been proven true time and time again. Garlemald's ideals are misguided, though they're not technically wrong. Eikons are a threat that need to be destroyed. It's but a matter of adjusting the methods used to deal with them.

The Archadian Empire is what I have always seen when it comes to Garlemald. I'm a huge Ivalice fan - and the Ivalice vibes are getting stronger with each new patch. I've been saying all along that Garlemald is going to undergo some manner of reform and that things were much more complex than many here credited. So, if anything, this latest patch has simply supported the point of view that myself and a handful of other posters - such as Lauront - have been stating all along.

[Balipu]

Also we don't know what happens to a mortal body exactly when an Ascian possesses it for a long time,

We don't even know if that is what happened. Solus was already an Ascian when he founded the Empire. Wether he was anything but an Ascian before that, is unknown. Also if he dies he can just reapper instantly. He did that. He is kinda pissed that Elidibus summoned him back.

It's comments like this that make me realise that a lot of people on this board don't necessarily understand what I post. I've long argued that there was more to Garlemald than initially apparent...and that has been proven true time and time again. Garlemald's ideals are misguided, though they're not technically wrong. Eikons are a threat that need to be destroyed. It's but a matter of adjusting the methods used to deal with them.

The Archadian Empire is what I have always seen when it comes to Garlemald. I'm a huge Ivalice fan - and the Ivalice vibes are getting stronger with each new patch. I've been saying all along that Garlemald is going to undergo some manner of reform and that things were much more complex than many here credited. So, if anything, this latest patch has simply supported the point of view that myself and a handful of other posters - such as Lauront - have been stating all along.

But that's a lie. Solus does not believe that. All the ideals of Garlemald are just propaganda for the masses. In truth everything he did was to make matters worse. Sure, Varis is totally on board with the true beliefs and if we take down Solus and he finally becomes Emperor for real he could create a Garlemald that actually follows those ideas, but that is not the case at present.

[Lauront]

If anything, recent lore suggests Eikons/primals are even MORE of a threat than we had previously surmised, as they can be summoned with great facility and very few resources. The OP also has several points that require clarification.

Solus was not taken over by an Ascian. He was an Ascian. Yet he could have sex. I mean he has children. And his body aged over the course of his life.

You're reading far too much into this. He said the founding father of the Garlean empire is an Ascian. Not that Solus was always an Ascian. They are incorporeal - quite clearly, since "Solus" causes the body to re-appear when it is shot. If an Ascian were to use the host, which is corporeal, to have sex, perhaps it remains fertile/virile and can bear children. Will it inherit their powers? Probably not unless they enhance it in some manner prior to possessing it.

Since Solus is an Ascian overlord he is probably capable of magic beyond what we have seen before. So his children should also be good at it,

Unclear. The Resonance is probably the medium by which the Ascians render the host suitable. Some Purebloods, according to the lorebook, can wield magic, but it's rare. It's not an obstacle to the Ascians.

Half of Solus' hair is black and he founded the bloody nation.

It was never suggested that they were all blond - just most. I mean we knew there's white-haired ones. They do seem to predominantly have very light features, no doubt in consequence of their adaptation to their cold environment.

The ideals of Garlemald are all.....
LIES!!!!! Poor Theo

Well no. The lie here is that Solus believed in them. It does not mean the Emperor or Garlean people do not. And this is assuming the Ascian is not lying. I am going to throw in some speculation here, as it's unclear when Varis became aware that Solus was possessed by an Ascian, but assuming it was whilst Solus was still alive and not recently, he probably thought he was done with that whole mess when Titus was killed, giving him the opportunity to steer the Empire in just the direction Solus claimed to want to move it in. This works even if Solus had made his true intentions aware during his lifetime, although the narration in the epilogue suggests that Elidibus brought him back to soften Varis's resolve/resistance, through exposing this alleged truth - only, it hasn't worked.

Considering what he is I think he was totally on board with the whole shebang.

Considering he was an Ascian, big deal. Varis and Gaius's opposition is more significant.

Nah. It will be Solus.

We have no idea but it is probable that it is "Solus", would be the correct answer.

But that's a lie. Solus does not believe that. All the ideals of Garlemald are just propaganda for the masses. In truth everything he did was to make matters worse. Sure, Varis is totally on board with the true beliefs and if we take down Solus and he finally becomes Emperor for real he could create a Garlemald that actually follows those ideas, but that is not the case at present.

"Solus" doesn't. Yet he is an Ascian who was dormant until recently.

[Lauront]

One thing to remember when it comes to Ascians and "death", the first time Lahabrea died it took him some time to "reform" or something, thus he was absent for a couple patches whenever we saw the Ascian stuff. While less time compared to how long Solus was gone depending on what happened to his mortal body he may have needed time to recharge, and maybe take vacation time. Cause why not?

Also we don't know what happens to a mortal body exactly when an Ascian possesses it for a long time, Thancred was only for a few weeks at most. They probably still age like normal thus Solus would still "age" and eventually "die".

Lahabrea lost his control because Hydaelyn assisted in ejecting him from Thancred, a Scion. "Solus" has probably had much more time to perfect his control over his host. I have no doubt Elidibus will achieve a similar level of control over Zenos's body.

[Theodric]

But that's a lie. Solus does not believe that. All the ideals of Garlemald are just propaganda for the masses. In truth everything he did was to make matters worse. Sure, Varis is totally on board with the true beliefs and if we take down Solus and he finally becomes Emperor for real he could create a Garlemald that actually follows those ideas, but that is not the case at present.

It isn't really a lie, though. Varis appears to bear a desire to put the reigns of history into the hands of mankind. His main concern appears to be ensuring that his people have a place in the world - and after all they've suffered, it's completely understandable. Their ancestors did, after all, find themselves forced out of fertile territory and into a wasteland. The only thing that stopped them from being wiped out was the presence of ceruleum - which for a time was simply used as a source of heat and fuel until Solus entered the picture. At which point they started striking back at the 'savages'.

Given that Varis is described as a master strategist in the lore book it is very likely that he will work at improving not only his own position but that of his people. The Ascians will likely seek to oppose him, or even to overthrow him - but with aid, he could easily be the one to usher in reform himself. Especially if he ends up teaming up with Gaius, Alphinaud and the Warrior of Light.

[Balipu]

If anything, recent lore suggests Eikons/primals are even MORE of a threat than we had previously surmised, as they can be summoned with great facility and very few resources.
That much is true. But the part where the Empire wants to stop it, is a lie. Ascians want calamities


You're reading far too much into this. He said the founding father of the Garlean empire is an Ascian. Not that Solus was always an Ascian. They are incorporeal
Well I might be reading a lot into it, but we know very little about the Ascians and have to reevaluate some of them after this patch



It's not an obstacle to the Ascians.
I'm not saying it's an obstacle to anyone. I jsut find it weird that the aristocracy isn't filled with magic users, considering Solus is what he is. Or what he was by the time he founded the empire


It was never suggested that they were all blond - just most. I mean we knew there's white-haired ones. They do seem to predominantly have very light features, no doubt in consequence of their adaptation to their cold environment.
I consider white as a shade of blonde. At any rate, black is a pretty big departure.


Well no. The lie here is that Solus believed in them. It does not mean the Emperor or Garlean people do not. And this is assuming the Ascian is not lying. I am going to throw in some speculation here, as it's unclear when Varis became aware that Solus was possessed by an Ascian, but assuming it was whilst Solus was still alive and not recently, he probably thought he was done with that whole mess when Titus was killed, giving him the opportunity to steer the Empire in just the direction Solus claimed to want to move it in. This works even if Solus had made his true intentions aware during his lifetime, although the narration in the epilogue suggests that Elidibus brought him back to soften Varis's resolve/resistance, through exposing this alleged truth - only, it hasn't worked.

You can argue semantics with a linguist, but you shouldn't. If the emperor doesn't believe in the ideals it is very unlikely that the actions of the Empire actually benefit those ideals. His only intention was to cause chaos and he did it for half a century.




We have no idea but it is probable that it is "Solus", would be the correct answer.

True, we don't know it for certain, but he IS the largest immediate threat. And it is highly unlikely that Elidibus will be removed this early in the game.



"Solus" doesn't. Yet he is an Ascian who was dormant until recently.

How recently? Nothing suggests he wasn't there for a long time. Solus died in 2.2 I think. And Lahabrea's idiocy was in 3.0 As far as we know Solus was there behind the curtains from 3.1 Onwards.

It isn't really a lie, though. Varis appears to bear a desire to put the reigns of history into the hands of mankind. His main concern appears to be ensuring that his people have a place in the world - and after all they've suffered, it's completely understandable. Their ancestors did, after all, find themselves forced out of fertile territory and into a wasteland. The only thing that stopped them from being wiped out was the presence of ceruleum - which for a time was simply used as a source of heat and fuel until Solus entered the picture. At which point they started striking back at the 'savages'.

Given that Varis is described as a master strategist in the lore book it is very likely that he will work at improving not only his own position but that of his people. The Ascians will likely seek to oppose him, or even to overthrow him - but with aid, he could easily be the one to usher in reform himself. Especially if he ends up teaming up with Gaius, Alphinaud and the Warrior of Light.

Oh no argument there. This is probably where the story is moving. But I don't think he has much free will at the moment with Solus and Elidibus watching his every move. And bear in mind that the lorebook is not all knowing. It described Solus as dead and Yda as alive.

[Anonymoose]

It's comments like this that make me realise that a lot of people on this board don't necessarily understand what I post. I've long argued that there was more to Garlemald than initially apparent...and that has been proven true time and time again. Garlemald's ideals are misguided, though they're not technically wrong. Eikons are a threat that need to be destroyed. It's but a matter of adjusting the methods used to deal with them.

Except the part where guy who founded the Garlean Empire and sent them on a crusade against the primals was himself one of the immortal wraiths giving humanity the knowledge of how to summon primals and the motivation to put that knowledge to use, founding said Empire specifically so trick people into going to war at the cost of catastrophic global chaos. I think that part may have skipped through the cracks, lol.

The "Garlemald is also sort of good!" interpretation works mostly because some Garleans were tricked so hard that they wanted to make a better, more stable, more reliable, more benevolent Empire, unaware that that was never the intention or the point. Combine these people with the Populares and those with a lingering idea that the Republic was a better place before Solus got his hands on it, and you have plenty of room for idealistic diversity ... incidentally. Or that could just be more of Elidibus's set-up to have their wars cause Calamity.

Case in point, my man, Gaius van Baelsar: right hand of Solus zos Galvus, slayer of nine usurpers to the crown, meritocrat, aspiring "good leader", mistake maker.
This also suggests Solus just happened to throw Gaius under the bus to Lahabrea.

[Balipu]

Stuff

He is here. Muhahahahahaaaaa