Revelations from SHADOWBRINGERS

[EdwinLi]

Well the story got a new level of disturbing...

Turns out meol is Sin Eater flesh they grounded up to be called "food" and it get even more disturbing is that the Sin Eaters they use to make Meol are the poor people they bring into the city to be turned and then have their flesh grounded up.

[redheadturk]

Am I the only one who's now actually finding Emmet Selch surprisingly likeable?

[Khavir]

Am I the only one who's now actually finding Emmet Selch surprisingly likeable?

He's fantastic and after the rak tika revelations I sympathize with him. I would love it if he ends up working with us going forward. I dont know if we could ever be on the same side but I really dont want to fight him now.

[YianKutku]

Level 71 dungeon Trust:

Has anyone else noticed that the second boss tends to focus on Alisaie, despite the Tank still having aggro? I tried running Holminster Switch as DRK using Trusts (my first time was SCH in a regular DF party), with the twins and the Exarch, and I noticed that every time Tesleen finished a mechanic, she proceeded to focus exclusively on Alisaie for a bit, despite my still holding enmity.

Not sure if that really is the case, but if so, that's some really interesting Trust interactions.

[Eskuire]

Got something interesting from a level 78 quest, something that goes along the line of Thordan's question when he is defeated...

What, exactly, is our character? Emet-Selch drops hints that our story is far longer than what we think. He tells us we are the "product of 7 Calamities", implying that we have been there back then. Also, while the elevator in Kholusia is getting repaired, Emet-Selch talks to us again and tells us it's a shame that we cannot remember how the world was before the split, implying we might have been around back then. I feel this is really important and it once again questions what, exactly, we are.

I personally thought the MC was sort of like a pseudo spirit version or a reincarnation of Azdaja or Vrtre, that was quickly growing into a very powerful primal. Like Minfilia is the Oracle, the MC is kinda the oracle of w/e the hell happened to those two kids.

[KageTokage]

I just finished the MSQ today, so random thoughts and obvious spoilers.

Overall, I easily liked this MSQ the most out of all expansions.

It was really emotionally charged between the plight of the First's people, Minfilia/Ryne's search for purpose/self, and even your own struggle against the corrupting light in the closing chapter (Seeing the light returned to all the zones bothered me enough to make me want to resolve matters as soon possible), and it left me feeling really good once all was done and said.

We got some major lore bombs by learning the history of the Ascians, which paints them in a more sympathetic light now that we've seen the utopia they once lived in. It also strongly hinted at the true nature of the Warrior(s) of Light, who are very likely to have been disciples of Hydaelyn (Or maybe even just one individual) who were sundered and have had their fractured souls reborn through the ages.

The Sin Eaters were a truly horrifying threat compared to what we've dealt with in the past, and they did a good job of demonstrating that throughout the story.

As far as the villains go, I always knew Solus/Emet-Selch was going to be the real baddie in the end. His stint as "the friend nobody wants" was amusing (Particularly his snark to snark combat with the Scions), and he ended up probably having more depth to his character then any of the other villains to date, which was really emphasized in his last moments where despite all his prior fervor, he chose to simply ask that he and his friends be remembered and smiled as he faded, seemingly having judged us as worthy.

Vauthry was comparatively designed to be a very typical villain who's meant to be hated with virtually no redeeming qualities and ultimately was only worthy of a small shred of remorse for the fate Solus (And by extension, his parents) condemned him to.

Honestly, the only thing I feel kind of disappointed by is that they seem to be pushing towards making Zenos the villain yet again. His motives were always shallow and his willingness to kill Varis simply for his methods depriving him of prey only drove that point home even further. Here's hoping he actually turns out to be more interesting then he initially seemed like Solus...though they already failed back in Stormblood so I'm not too confident.

[silentwindfr]

well soo far this expansion story is the best

but we still have a few thing that bother me in the info we get.
- like the religion before the calamity of light in the First.... it seems almost everyone in the first was praying the light... i was expecting to see a primal of light be around and maybe it is the true source of the calamity.
- the fact that we don't know what was the source of the apocalypse that did destroy the old world.... we know the symptom of it, like how they wasn't able to control them power anymore leading to the world to simply erupt with manifestation of monster and such... but what was the source? it seems the ascian was the most important people and it seems they don't know what did create this situation.... (even if the akademia dungeon show us that the old one was researching without restraint.)
- the fact that we can be the reincarnation of the 14th... in Amaurote, we know the council was 14 people, even if one did drop before the apocalypse. even it's highly possible that the creator of the hyadelin is the 14th.... and one of the shadow say that we have a relation with the old friend of solus.... what i think is the 14th.

[Evraeh]

Finished MSQ as well (SPOILERS):

Yes, it was the best expension ever.

Pretty good in all points, stories, musics, characters, world...

1.The final dungeon and the last battle are just perfect, epic, intense... I was really impressed, the design is made to show you everything of their apocalypse... and that was terrifying.

2. Yes, Zenos who is back... and more crazy than ever, I found it a little boring really, he was from the last expension.

3. At first, I wasn't liking Solus/Emet-Selch, but at the end... I'm just very sad for him, his burden blinded him. I think, I can understand him now, he just wanted to get back his world and his friends, his family... (like us)
At the beginning, I was thinking he was a guy who can not be tursted. But at the very end, when he was asking us to not forget, His face was just sad all along.

For once, for all of people I want to go back, I want him back. I want us to show the true of the "present" and how we'll keep his history. For the first time - even if we can't see him - I want him to live... He is a great character.

Please, make him back at some point.

[Sorimachi87]

Credits are rolling right now. Square Enix! This is hands down the best .0 series you made so far. I doubt you can top this but try as you might for 6.0!

What an epic 5.0 experience. I know this is just a game but the bond you forge with your character grows and grows ever deeper. When my WoD was puking silver blood from the light. I was worried SO MUCH. Being all like please dont turn them into a hostile enemy.

Please Square Enix don't toy with our WoD's this much! My heart...
But honestly. What in the world are we growing into? Our power levels must be through the roof now.

Story, dungeons, grand finale. Everything! Epic!

And once again. THANK YOU for the multiple choice answers. I found an answer every single time i would say, if i was in the same situation.

But our WoD (WoL) needs a break. Seriously.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Aoi

[Raminax]

Finished the MSQ Scenario as well, though admittedly with a lot of Side Quest skipping.

Wonderful. Probably the best storytelling and worldbuilding that I've had the pleasure of enjoying so far in FFXIV. Feels a lot like one of the single player entries; the way you progressively gather party members, them joining you in group content through the Trust System, the small character plots and growths that you get to enjoy during the overarching plot etc.

Seeing as some posts have already said the things I want, I can glean some light on the Healer role quests. Seems Lamitt, or Lamimi as we previously knew her, wanted to save her people from a mysterious plague that caused petrification. However, due to a handful of obstructive traditions, she ends up being exiled despite her good deeds, with all of the victims of the plague following her elsewhere. Sadly, they're caught in the Flood of Light, and she as a Sin Eater/Cardinal Virtue roams about reviving and healing them. We finally defeat her in the culmination of the questline together with the dwarf Giott, and as we see a memory of her before finally fading, she reaffirms that her sacrifice was worth it, and her love for the world (and Ardbert), despite all the hatred she received from her own people for what she did.