Thread: The Patch 5.2 Discussion Thread! (Spoilers)

Well, they've already done Ultima in the Ivalice raid. I think it is Hydaelyn, but inspired by Ultima in XII's design to some extent.

Originally Posted by JeanneOrnitier

Well yeah but Ivalice is gonna be relevant again in the relic questline, since it requires completing Return to Ivalice to start it.

You're probably right that it's Hydaelyn though, but it's such a vastly different depiction from usual if it is her.

I thought it was vaguely similar to the art from Qitana Ravel:



Granted, this has a lot more detail.



The last time we saw any depictions of her outside of this was from the ARR CE art:



(incidentally, that does look like the High Seraph from Orbonne! Especially since the statue version of her has the halo)

So I'll grant that it does look a bit different to anything we've seen. It's both adequately similar and different to potentially be a misdirect. I'm placing my bets on it being a depiction of her.

Originally Posted by Erendis

Calamity from the skies? (It reminds me more of that red thingy in the middle)

Interesting take. IIRC, the red thing is meant to symbolise the clash between Zodiark and Hydaelyn which led to the Sundering. This looks more like an outfit or parts of her body, or even being held in the grips of something. You can see her bluish limbs/wings in the upper left and right.

Originally Posted by RicaRuin

Calling it now, Elidibus has nothing to do with the Ardbert body, but it's actually possession that's Hydaelyn related.

I'd be down for that if only because of what an utter wildcard it would be.

Just wondering aswell. In the trailer, Y'shtola mentions that perhaps something could have such an impact thet the memory is pratcically ingrained into an individual. What if that light show we see in the trailer, isn't something thats' going to happen, but rather something that's already happened. What if what we're seeing is a memory of hydalyn being summoned and about to do the sundering.? Back in 1.0 when you start out the opening cutscene shows your character suddenly hearing the voice of Hydalyn. just as this happens your character would look up to the sky and see the exact same lightshow happening.

5.2 trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM3-wh-zUJI 2:36

1.0 cutscenes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU5N24_5VIk 1:00

Could this be the moment of time when our character blessing kicks in? Are they somehow remembering?

Of course these theories has quite a few holes. First off, there's 13 espers and 14 ascians, us supposedly being the 14th, so the numbers don't really match. Also the names of the ascians and Zodiark could be (and most likely are) just a little nod to previous final fantasy games. Ffxiv is no stranger to such easter eggs after all. And the echo blessing could literally be just that, a blessing from the mother crystal. As for the lightshow, it's probabaly just the calamity, whether 1.0's or the ascian's. Still, it's fun think about this stuff XD.

Anyway, I think the mosaic image is indeed depicting Hydalyn, perhaps a more physical form rather than an elemental form as shown in the art in Qitana Ravel.

Originally Posted by ApprenticeSmithy

Anyway, I think the mosaic image is indeed depicting Hydalyn, perhaps a more physical form rather than an elemental form as shown in the art in Qitana Ravel.

My only reluctance with saying it's Hydaelyn (although I do think it resembles her anyway, due to the form the High Seraph bears for her upper body), is that the insect part is a better fit with the lower body of the High Seraph. Still, there's no context to go with it, so I am eager to see when and why it's going to pop up. As for the number of Ascians, because the Esper names and sigils are purely a hat tip to XII, it allows them to keep the 14th's identity secret for now. I am sure the Ascians have elevated someone to this office in the meantime, possibly even a fragment of the WoL's Amaurotine self, although that may come down to how tempering works (i.e. did the WoL's ancient soul summon Hydaelyn, and if so, were they tempered, and would this endure beyond the point of being sundered?) With only 13 Espers but 14 Convocation members, they have free reign to keep the gender, sigil and office a bit vague for now, and map some attributes to your character.

Originally Posted by Lauront

My only reluctance with saying it's Hydaelyn (although I do think it resembles her anyway, due to the form the High Seraph bears for her upper body), is that the insect part is a better fit with the lower body of the High Seraph. Still, there's no context to go with it, so I am eager to see when and why it's going to pop up. As for the number of Ascians, because the Esper names and sigils are purely a hat tip to XII, it allows them to keep the 14th's identity secret for now. I am sure the Ascians have elevated someone to this office in the meantime, possibly even a fragment of the WoL's Amaurotine self, although that may come down to how tempering works (i.e. did the WoL's ancient soul summon Hydaelyn, and if so, were they tempered, and would this endure beyond the point of being sundered?) With only 13 Espers but 14 Convocation members, they have free reign to keep the gender, sigil and office a bit vague for now, and map some attributes to your character.

Hm... I don't think the Ascians have elevated a 14th member. Remember, each of the 13 Convocation Members who summoned Zodiark were tempered, and then sundered. Those 13 are Zodiark's key followers, and Elidibus/Lahabrea/Emet uplifted a fragment of the other 9 sundered Ascians. The uplifted fragments are probably sympathetic to the cause, as they are tempered.

The hypothetical 14th Convocation Member/WoL was never tempered by Zodiark, and is not sympathetic to his cause. The 14th's/WoLs have the Blessing of Light. If anything, it seems like the Ascians would want to kill the 14th/WoL for being the biggest pain in the ass in the history of ever, fighting them and sabotaging their plan to resurrect the people of Amaurot for millennia across 14 worlds. So far, it seems only Emet had an inkling as to WoL's true identity, and he was only willing to tolerate the WoL because he was his friend long ago.

Also, if you look at the Chrysalis, there are only 12 seats (with Elidibus standing in the middle).