Final Boss of "The Twinning" Hunting for lore (Spoilers)

[Ardox]

To be fair, "Rise" is also somewhat present in the Twinning theme "A Long Fall". Specifically, it's the bassline.

The Alexander theme which I don't think made it in was "Metal", which is definitely Goblin-specific.

I just (as in, upon reading this post) realized that given everything we've seen of the First's Crystal Tower via the Twinning, it's highly likely that this beacon device shaped like a gear isn't just a random object imbued with the ability to call forth the Warrior of Light, but is specifically a gear from the Tycoon.

Interesting supposition.. I wonder if it even can relate to this:

I'm not sure how canon this is, but part of The Rising actually includes a message from Biggs III.

Sentimental bits aside, he mentions 'a certain apparatus' and a storage log. Personally I find it kind of odd to refer to the tower as an apparatus but maybe that's just me...

I also wonder if people that haven't finished ShB would see that letter

[Iscah]

I got the final Alexander battle in raid roulette the other night, and was thinking... Rise is a strange thing, even at the time. This is essentially the point where Alexander says "sorry Quickthinx, im not going with your plan any more" and is testing that we're worthy.

(Interestingly, Alexander only seems to rebel after our time-travel trip to three years ago somewhere around A10 - which is actually the point at which Dayan's soul has just been pulled into the core, from Alexander's perspective...)

Separate lore-ish observation: Alexander uses the same kind of attack as Storge's laser blasts, and acquires angelic wings...

I'm not sure how canon this is, but part of The Rising actually includes a message from Biggs III.

Sentimental bits aside, he mentions 'a certain apparatus' and a storage log. Personally I find it kind of odd to refer to the tower as an apparatus but maybe that's just me...

I've been wondering about that too. I think it's definitely canon - unlike the other vague "anonymous observer" letters, this one is from an established character.

I also thought "apparatus" seems an odd term to refer to the tower by, and suggests something smaller... but still large enough to sneak a bottle aboard, apparently, so if the beacon was sent back separately, where's the rest of it...?

Though having a "storage log" suggests there's someone who's going to use it, which makes it more likely to be a deliberately vague reference to the tower.

Even though you can only see the story messages reflecting your current progress, they do just seem to be phrasing it as un-spoilery as possible - no mention of dying futures or changing timelines. If someone who'd just played ARR and didn't know any spoilers read this, they'd probably think "cool, the Ironworks eventually worked out time travel and sent a thankyou note back to us for being heroes".

(Never mind the G'raha Tia minion, anyway... but they're not going to see that if they just found the text.)

Then again, it makes sense in-universe too. He can't guarantee when we'll read it if it gets to us, and warning our ARR-self to expect a time-travelling Crystal Tower is probably not a great way to keep their plan of secrecy on track.

I also wonder if people that haven't finished ShB would see that letter

They won't - it's restricted by your current story progress.

[ICountFrom0]

I also thought "apparatus" seems an odd term to refer to the tower by, and suggests something smaller... but still large enough to sneak a bottle aboard, apparently, so if the beacon was sent back separately, where's the rest of it...?

Though having a "storage log" suggests there's someone who's going to use it, which makes it more likely to be a deliberately vague reference to the tower.

It's the strange "talking device" that you interact with at the end of SB2. It has complete logs of all things in the tower.

[Iscah]

It's the strange "talking device" that you interact with at the end of SB2. It has complete logs of all things in the tower.

By "talking device" do you mean the one with the recorded message after completing the Twinning? I can't think what else you'd be referring to, but it isn't there after completing the quest.

In any case, that device was recovered from the tower, implying it was sent back within it - doubly so since the message was meant for G'raha as he was departing - and it ended up in the First, not the Source, so is unlikely to have been dropping beacons or bottled messages for us along the way.

[ICountFrom0]

By "talking device" do you mean the one with the recorded message after completing the Twinning? I can't think what else you'd be referring to, but it isn't there after completing the quest.

In any case, that device was recovered from the tower, implying it was sent back within it - doubly so since the message was meant for G'raha as he was departing - and it ended up in the First, not the Source, so is unlikely to have been dropping beacons or bottled messages for us along the way.

Right, that is the "inventory" that the bottle does not show up in.

[Iscah]

Right, that is the "inventory" that the bottle does not show up in.

Not necessarily - as far as we know, it's a recording device, possibly a computer - the same design as the Omega datalog terminal currently in Rhalgr's Reach. Not that it actually matters, but all we're told is that there was an inventory somewhere of things they had on board the "apparatus" (presumably the tower / time machine) when they sent it back in time, and it did not have "message in a bottle" listed on it. It could be a paper list for all we know (or need to know).