Is our friendly ghostly making a return?

[Alleluia]

In the media section of the 5.1 site, there is a set of screenshots, one of which shows hoodless G'raha Tia in lakeland. Then above them there are two shots of character models on a white background, one of which is also a hoodless G'raha Tia. This implies that the media, including the model shots, are specifically about post-5.0 content.

My question comes in about the other model render shown: Ardbert. The above logic means that his render being there means he's got something to do with the next patch. Is it possible he's still around? It sure seemed like the symbolism in the final scenes of 5.0 said he was moving on, but now I'm not sure. Not that I'd mind if he's still around. I'd just be pretty surprised.

Or perhaps he's got some past history with the Grand Cosmos and will appear in flashbacks? Do we ever learn where he was actually from?

[JeanneOrnitier]

I sure hope he's still around.

[Theodric]

I hope so, he's my favourite character not only in Shadowbringers but the game as a whole.

[RoseSymphony]

I remember initially seeing that picture of Ardbert before the site got updated but looking at it now, it seems to be gone. I'm not sure if they put it there by accident or if it was just a filler image.

[Lihtleita]

looks like our boi was reincarnated

[Driven]

Maybe it’s just me, but I was under the impression that our souls merged before the final fight. And that last scene with him walking with the other warriors of light was more of an artistic farewell to their characters.

[Iscah]

looks like our boi was reincarnated

"Looks like" but I doubt it. You can see the same boy in an earlier cutscene when you first restore night to Lakeland, and Ardbert's soul isn't "available" to be reincarnated because it's still him.

[JeanneOrnitier]

Ardbert a) merged with us so his soul can't even be reincarnated anymore and b) if he somehow were reincarnated then his reincarnation would have been born just like a couple hours before we spoke to that kid, not 8 years old or however old the kid is.

[Nalien]

"Looks like" but I doubt it. You can see the same boy in an earlier cutscene when you first restore night to Lakeland, and Ardbert's soul isn't "available" to be reincarnated because it's still him.

Technically isn't his soul now us? I expect him to live on as a Fray type character at this point, at least. One who is effectively just in our heads.

[Iscah]

Technically isn't his soul now us? I expect him to live on as a Fray type character at this point, at least. One who is effectively just in our heads.

That too - he definitely won't be reincarnated now.

I think it's quite possible that we'll see him return and continue to exist/manifest as a distinct 'fragment' of ourself.