Revelations from Patch 4.56

**Mieck** · 03-27-2019 07:17 PM

Further MSQ Thoughts

Is Varis actually possessed? At the end of 4.5, Solus/(we presume) Emet-Selch, says he is going to the First:

Originally Posted by Solus

You shall be the capstone in this world, I the anchor in the shard, and together we shall give the lie to this Star's fraudulent existence.

I know we didn't see Solus in this patch, but Solus is also prominent on the Shadowbringers artwork - in fact the only known antagonist featuring there - and the bulk of the expansion seems to be happening in the First. Can an Ascian be in two bodies at once? Elidibus seems to be sticking with his Zenos meat puppet and his old white robed version is AWOL. I can't remember an occasion where an Ascian occupied multiple bodies, but I'd like to know if I've missed one.

Also, the subject of Estinien's leap into the fray... I may be clutching at straws for something that ends up a bit more satisfying than what we got, but I feel like there's room for an equivalent of the ending of Final Fantasy XI through to the start of Rise of the Zilart, and how ambiguous scenes were filled in with their missing pieces...

Probably just a forlorn hope.

**KarstenS** · 03-27-2019 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by Rocl

Which makes me question where he got this information from? Is he still talking to his former master Elidibus?

Good question. Maybe there are more that recognised whats happening with us? Emet-Selch leaving the field right before we leave the world ... the more I think about, the more I believe he does know whats happening next.

Originally Posted by Lauront

On that...

as it is clear that not even the WoL was able to stop Elidibus at this point

Sure? For me it felt like only "the voice" stopped us from killing him.

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**ShadowMeowth** · 03-27-2019 08:38 PM

MSQ, replying to Mieck.

Is Varis actually possessed? At the end of 4.5, Solus/(we presume) Emet-Selch, says he is going to the First:

You shall be the capstone in this world, I the anchor in the shard, and together we shall give the lie to this Star's fraudulent existence.

I know we didn't see Solus in this patch, but Solus is also prominent on the Shadowbringers artwork - in fact the only known antagonist featuring there - and the bulk of the expansion seems to be happening in the First. Can an Ascian be in two bodies at once? Elidibus seems to be sticking with his Zenos meat puppet and his old white robed version is AWOL. I can't remember an occasion where an Ascian occupied multiple bodies, but I'd like to know if I've missed one.

Interesting theory. It is true that only Solus is portrayed as villain, and his position in the artwork is curious from a composition point of view: Minfilia is the central figure of the top, with Solus in the left and Enigma in the right. We know Minfilia is the Word of the Mother, a vessel for Hydaelyn, and Enigma is pretty much tied to the Darkness as he is able to summon souls like the Mothercrystal does and his call is dark-tinged. Perhaps it is meant to symbolize their attitude towards Minfilia: Enigma being an ally, and Solus a threat. Then again, Enigma does want to save the First, and what could be Solus' motives to antagonize the Warrior of Darkness? If Enigma is related to Zodiark, do the Ascians know they are acting against the deity they supposedly serve?

Back to topic, it could be interesting. Assuming Solus is Emet-Selch, he is allegedly one of the most powerful Ascians. Perhaps he is indeed able to travel freely between the First and the Source through a link of sorts by planting a seed or directly possessing Varis, as he mentioned his grandson to be the "capstone in this world".

There is another thing, too. Knowing the Ascians get their names from the Light counterparts of FFXII's espers, I checked on Emet-Selch's counterpart. It turned out that Emet-Selch, Angel of Truth, is Zalera, the Death Seraph's. This is the Esper of Death, and most importantly, associated with the Zodiac Sign of Gemini, the Twins.

"Heretic scion who wrapped the world in dark energies, seeking to take the souls of all living things unto himself. Created in opposition to Emet-Selch, Angel of Truth, and scion of light. Originally tasked with the judging of men upon their deaths, his soul was tainted by the curses of those who raged against the heavens, and seizing one of the gods' servants, a shamaness, as a hostage, he rebelled against his creators."

Given my question about Solus' going against his god's will, Zalera's lore implies he rebelled and took a hostage. Mayhap this could apply to Varis, or being a shamaness, another character. Perhaps Minfilia is on his sights.

**Mieck** · 03-27-2019 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by ShadowMeowth

MSQ, replying to Mieck.

It turned out that Emet-Selch, Angel of Truth, is Zalera, the Death Seraph's. This is the Esper of Death, and most importantly, associated with the Zodiac Sign of Gemini, the Twins.

Which would, I suppose, be a good way to get around the one body at a time structure - that Emet-Selch might in fact be two Ascians.

Much to ponder.

**KageTokage** · 03-27-2019 10:01 PM

More MSQ musings

I think that if Varis really was hijacked by Solus or some other Ascian Elidibus would've been able to tell, but he instead seemed to genuinely not know where the former had gone off to.

I think I'm most curious as to how things are going play out between the villains at this point, with Varis, Solus and Elidibus all seeming to have their own ideas on how to change the world with Zenos poised to throw a wrench into things down the line (Though regardless of whether he intends to reclaim his body and/or his position in the Empire, he's not going to have an easy time of it...).

**Iscah** · 03-27-2019 10:43 PM

I think it's a pity they haven't made the Rising Stones infirmary an actual set piece, at least for cutscenes. Twice now we've had other characters go in to check on the sleeping Scions, while we have to stay outside.

It's one thing to talk about them all lying there comatose, but it would be quite potent to actually see them like that.

It would also make that "waking up after the battle" cutscene a lot stronger. Instead of the bewildered "why am I in Ishgard?" feeling, you wake up and realise you're in the infirmary and can see all the other Scions around you. You were taken, and now you are the only one to have returned.

Originally Posted by Mieck

Which would, I suppose, be a good way to get around the one body at a time structure - that Emet-Selch might in fact be two Ascians.

Much to ponder.

That would be a very interesting way around Solus's slightly-too-fast reincarnation after Varis shot him....

(not spoiler-tagging this because we've wandered off "patch 4.56" spoilers and into loosely-related conjecture.)

**whiskeybravo** · 03-27-2019 11:53 PM

Regarding the reason for Darkness

Haven't read all the posts here, but "sowing seeds of Darkness", with what we already know, sounds exactly like perhaps we must assume the role of Darkness in other worlds, as to balance the flood of light in ours and prevent the next calamity.

Something something?

**Bright-Flower** · 03-28-2019 12:07 AM

Regarding the MSQ.

I'm pretty sure Varis is possessed by Solus. Elidibus asks where Solus is, and it becomes clear that Elidibus doesn't know what he's up to. Then we cut to black and Varis' creepy face.

My guess is that Solus got tired of Varis not committing fully to the war and his 'humanity is so great' grandstanding and decided to just possess Varis and take the choice out of his hands.

I didn't much care for Zenos in 4.0 but I am curious now to see how things go with him trying to 'reclaim what is rightfully his.' He could be an interesting wrench in the gears of the ascians while not being a 'good guy' on our side. Honestly I was expecting him to intervene in our duel with Elidibus in his skin but Estinien got that honor.

I liked Estinien a lot in 3.X but if the're going to have him around IMO they should write him back into the story properly and not just have him be Tuxedo Mask hovering in the background until we need a rescue. I liked what he did in 4.0 because him hunting down the Eyes made sense but him saving us here felt very random IMO.

**Mansion** · 03-28-2019 12:19 AM

About the MSQ:

I don't know about Varis being possessed, it would be a bit too easy and convenient. I think he's more likely to be not far from crazy, and the constant tension of Solus on one hand and us on the other hand is enough to push him further and further in madness. With his mind focused on his ideal of Man, race and power... We've seen people ramble about this without being possessed.
So the zoom in on his face and the dark setting is kind of the "inner Varis" for me, the one that is slowly but surely catching up.

**Seraphor** · 03-28-2019 12:27 AM

I felt this story patch was pretty unfulfilling...

I do wish there had been more conclusion to this last story patch, it just felt rushed out.
I would’ve liked to see some more of Fordola, drag out the conflict a bit more and raise the stakes, so that Ala Mhigo have to stretch their forces further, and Lyse goes back to enlist Fordola and her resonance. Have a Fordola and Lyse vs. Elidibus battle.
Then we see him defeat Fordola along with everyone else, leaving us to face him alone.

Also, after we regain consciousness, we get an Echo vision showing Estinien turning up, we see that entire scene play out, and see a frustrated Elidibus lose his prey and reluctantly retreat after receiving the order from Varis.
Then we go back to Ala Mhigo and get some closure with the Lyse/Fordola’s story arc, before returning to Mor Dhona.

Thread: Revelations from Patch 4.56

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