What is the extent of the WoL's powers?

[Kalise]

Well, if we wanna go into the pure speculation field i have my own hypothesis, though it lacks conclusive evidence in either direction.

I call it the "Spirit Bomb On Legs" hypothesis

Well, I think one flaw in this particular hypothesis is that for the most part, the WoL isn't the one getting all the praise.

Like, for ARR, it's the Scions as a group that are thanked, with people acknowledging the role the WoL had in things, but it's mostly hope and gratitude towards the Scions (Give or take a few points in the story where the Scions were not particularly well liked)

For HW, it's Aymeric who's the shining beacon of hope for the nation.

For Gyr Abiania it's Lyse, the Resistance as a whole and to an extent Raubahn (The Iron Bull of Ala Mhigo).

For Doma it's Lord Hien.

Those in the know, are thankful to the WoL for all they've done (Aymeric really wants to be your husbando for example) but generally the WoL doesn't champion themselves as a beacon for the nations they save, they're content to just be part of the Scions and do what they need to in order to save the world. Meanwhile the leaders are the ones to rally the hope within the nations and are who everyone directs the majority of their gratitude to.

[Lium]

Those in the know, are thankful to the WoL for all they've done (Aymeric really wants to be your husbando for example)...

Off-topic, but I wondered about that. Is Aymeric's reaction to you the same regardless of gender? Does he still invite you to a somewhat romantic dinner, and do other NPCs wonder if he's in love with you if you're playing a male character?

I sort of had the same questions about Lyse in SB. Because there was heavy insinuation that Lyse liked the WoL. I mean liked liked. Are these interactions the same regardless of gender?

[Iscah]

I sort of had the same questions about Lyse in SB. Because there was heavy insinuation that Lyse liked the WoL. I mean liked liked. Are these interactions the same regardless of gender?

For a female character, I think it can more easily be read as a close friendship without needing to be romantic. At least I don't remember getting the impression that it was meant to be romantic.

[Grayve]

For a female character, I think it can more easily be read as a close friendship without needing to be romantic. At least I don't remember getting the impression that it was meant to be romantic.

I never thought it was romatic until I read about that on the forums. People that want it to be romantic will read what they want into it.

[Haxaan]

Off-topic, but I wondered about that. Is Aymeric's reaction to you the same regardless of gender? Does he still invite you to a somewhat romantic dinner, and do other NPCs wonder if he's in love with you if you're playing a male character?

I sort of had the same questions about Lyse in SB. Because there was heavy insinuation that Lyse liked the WoL. I mean liked liked. Are these interactions the same regardless of gender?

I can confirm that the scene is exactly the same with Aymeric no matter what gender you are. The scene can be read differently depending on your personal perspective but you also have to remember that the Ishgardian Elezen are based off of real world nobles (english & french I assume) and thus his behavior toward you is not outside of the realm of friendship. But I can absolutely see how people from other parts of the world would read it as romantic (I aint complainin)

[Mansion]

the Ishgardian Elezen are based off of real world nobles (english & french I assume) and thus his behavior toward you is not outside of the realm of friendship. But I can absolutely see how people from other parts of the world would read it as romantic (I aint complainin)

Mmmh. I don't get your logic there. There was romance in nobility too (I'll speak about French and English because I know best but it extends easily to Europe entirely). If we speak about 3.4 dinner with Aymeric, for me there is definitely more that just friendship, although it is not explicit and quite tamed to some extent.

Maybe you're referring to courtship, the slight social teasing that happened in Courts, in roughly 17-18th century? Anyway this is not incompatible with real romance. So I guess it's pretty sure Aymeric has something for the WoL