Thread: Revelations from Patch 5.2

Gonna be a photo finish as to whether I can do this content before it gets spoiled for me but OFF WE GO!

MSQ (Complete)

Tataru, Maxima just said that he was a "former ambassador" who wants to de-escalate tensions with his homeland, don't just be like, "AS YES, THE DEFECTOR."

The Lyna/Exarch dynamic, being that they both have extended lifepspans, continues to be adorable.

Alphinaud is jumping into this "Warriors of Light" thing at the wrong time... It should have been done by now. Yikes. [snip]

Ah, yeah, see. Ardbert's walking up now and the shaky-cam/facial expression is a definite "bad news" foreshadow. I love how WoL being like, "You see him, too?" has no follow-up or question. Everyone just knows the Hero of Eorzea is riddled with trauma, apparently. Now I'm just going from text tile to text tile with my anxiety through the roof like, "This has to be Elidibus and the other shoe has to be about to drop." Very well-executed scene in a rollercoaster of a story. (I'm glad the WoL at least has a furrowed brow, but after what happened with Hades, the possibility itself is off the table.)

And I'm glad to see that when the story isn't trying to be tricksy, the Scions are quick-witted with their accusations. Triple points for the slow fade-in of the Ascian theme song and the revulsion in Urianger's voice when he hisses Elidibus's name. And the start of confirming when Ascians did(n't) have have vessels, at that!

After a long while of confusion and doubt I'm regaining confidence in my grasp on the story - not that my positions have changed much. From the appearance of Shinryu I've only been able to foresee the largest of plot points. The survival of Zenos, the fact that the Source had a second Overlord, that Garlemald's emperor himself was the Ascian all along - all of that blindsided me. Though it also felt like SE trying to bundle plot points in a story that previously lacked an exit strategy, to be fair. But Gaius is who I thought, and Elidibus is who I thought (though the Ascian math doesn't quite line up now, still working that out), and prehistory is so much MORE than I thought. The need for Garlean reform before peace.

What's left on my "I'm confident, but afraid I'm wrong" plate? That it's worthwhile to be on Team Hydaelyn?[snip]

Elidibus
There is no common ground to be found between you and I. Nor do I require any.

There it is.

LOL - VENAT ... THE GERUN ORACLES ... DAMMIT. They tied that one off well.

All that speculation about what Elidibus meant about new Warriors of Light and that's just what he meant! As soon as it was clear where he was going I got very nervous. Well-intentioned people with high zeal and low doubts are arguably more dangerous than run-of-the-mill villains. As Dean Winchester summed up so elegantly, "God save us from half the people who think they're doing God's work."

I really liked the presentation for tying up the Starshower stuff, though. That all feels very organic and explains a lot of the oddities we've encountered in the past with grace, especially how it can be "from Hydaelyn" and yet Elidibus is doling it out to random Sahagin. I'm actually kind of surprised how close my placeholder theory about it being "jailbreaking the soul" - not adding power, but taking away limitation, was.

I noticed there were Twelve entities before Venat there. 13 vs 13. It's simultaneously exactly what I saw coming (that the Twelve might be seeds of faith left over from the days of Hydaelyn's summoners and perhaps these were the rebel faction) and exactly not what I saw coming...because I expected our unsundered Ancient to be the one leading it, and if indeed we are the missing seat at the table...we didn't throw in with them...? At least not when Venat asked.

So where did we go? What if it's all red herrings? ...Who is the successor Elidibus?

I need to mull this one over a bit, but I'm liking where it's going. I think a lot of my doubt and confusion over the last two years is just from being able to tell that the writers were making efforts to bring together the plot hooks that actually hooked something and position for a resolution that makes sense as much as it is satisfying.

The Sorrow of Werlyt: Cinder Drift - The Ruby Weapon (Complete)

First things first: Ruby Doomsday is a great pun.

So we have Gundam inspiration at every turn, from the pilot/suit matching hair color scheme (which give us an ezpz glimpse into what's to come) to the launch sequence to the small cast of characters having coincidental family drama. It's amusing and spooky how well Gaius fits into that dynamic, as well - but how long has "Gaius is an orphan collector." been a meme for us at this point, from Cid all the way to the art with his hand on Alphinaud's shoulders. Gaius's character arc seems to have a mind of its own; I'm half afraid he'll accidentally take on aspects of a Char Clone by the end, lol.

Did ya'll catch that "synthetic auracite" thing? Confirmation of what Sabik was? Black Auracite after all?

Also, yet another third party holding the Black Wolf's leash... Wonder what this "agreement" is.

Eden (Yet to Start)

DAMMY

First! (below spoiler tag is real, please don't click it Moose)

MSQ

"Echoes of a Fallen Star," or, "Falling Stars Cause the Echo." Wait, huh?

Last patch was a little slow, but this one properly feels like it's setting up an endgame, either for Shadowbringers or Final Fantasy XIV itself. We still got the requisite victory lap through previous MSQ locales, but also, so much cleanup.

The Echo is a power ultimately stemming from the originals, and Hydaelyn merely grants it by awakening a soul's memory of The End, strictly for the sake of granting Hy-Fi access. Hythlodaeus is not Hydaelyn, similar names notwithstanding, but is probably the defector from the 14, and the actual core is the newly-introduced Venat. Weird time to throw a new name on the pile, but also what a name to pick, considering she was the primary antagonist and final boss of FFXII (albeit somewhat indirectly, thanks to the fusion dance).

Also, Elidibus was (probably) sacrificed body and soul to become the core of Zodiark. This is in line with their FFT connection, but also: WHAT? More questions than answers here. And who's this other white Ascian(?) then?

It took 4 hours of questing, but I was relieved to see that Exarch's character development isn't being completely disregarded. His "stake in the outcome" is worded more literally in the Japanese dialogue as pertaining to "his wish," which last we checked was to be able to go on adventures with his hero. Still no idea how he plans to pull that off, and I still think there's room for one last wrench in that plan, but it sounds like he's actually including himself in the big picture, for once. As long as the writers don't have some last-minute hookup with his granddaughter planned for the next patch, anyway...

Lastly, huge shout out to the cutscene team for that last scene at the Pendants. Water that pours, actors playing with little loose bits of the set. And that apple! It was directed like a live-action piece, even though the amount of work required would be exponential for an in-engine game cutscene. I'll need to go back and see the other variants as well, once I've finished the other Role quests.

More in later posts probably. Now I have to go to work.

Weapon Storyline

Gaius has kids?! Adopted but still...

He has kids!

It is sad because now one of Gaius kids is killed by WoL hands and his other kids is seeking a path that will lead down the same fate. God Darn it Gaius has suffered enough and now you're making him choose to kill his own children!

Whole main story quests:

I am not sure what I feel about it. I had hoped for a bit more information. A lot of the time was also traveling around even though it was nice to have a few moments with some of the scions.

Its also great how they showed how pissed of our character is for Elidibus taking over the corpse of Ardbert and how creepy it is that they are taking over death people.

Found it a bit surprising how easily the people believed that the WoLs were nice guys thought that there would be a bit more conflict here and I find it hard to believe that so many people are suddenly wanting to throw away their jobs and responsibility to become WoLs. A lot of them probably dont even know how to fight.

Still sweet how we said goodbye to the new possible WoLs.

It was speculated a lot but we finally have the confirmation that the echo is an ability from the old world and that Hydealyn somehow uses the meteor shower to call out to possible new WoLs. Not sure if we can fully believe Elidibus here but seeing how only the two soldiers straight up went and started their adventure while the others stayed (and there were more people that heard her voice) it does not seem something that forces people to act.

Maybe I am forgetting something but how are the scions suddenly able to understand the speech of the ancients? Also not sure what to take from that visit. Seemingly the 14th was more neutral to that and Zodiark was being a danger to the future of the planet in the view of that new group. But we get the confirmation that from those that survived more stood on Zodiark side..at least at that point. I wonder if that was already after the Ascians told them of the plan to sacrifice the new life? (Is that the danger they are speaking of?)

Zenos was a red herring and was not even there..just a dream. I wonder who that person in white is..could it be Zodiark in some form (maybe the original Elidibus?). Or is it maybe even the new Amaurotine Venat? (I know that she was planned to be the core but we dont know for sure if she was used or not)

Still not sure why its important who Elidibus right now truly is. If the original one was sacrificed and another one took is place afterwards than is it really important who he is? Its not like we have known the old one anyway..

Just a bit sad that we have gotten not a single echo version in the dungeon..other than giving us a name for the one that was on the other side of the rebellion (and I doubt that she would be the WoL since it makes still more sense that its the 14th) not much was imo learned in this patch.

Edit: I wonder how Hydealyn was able to speak through the star shower if that one was summoned by Elidibus? When we have heard her at the start of the game we were floating in front of her and being talked directly to. Yet seemingly they only have heard her voice? (Or do I remember that false?)

Also maybe I am wrong but isnt Elidibus plan just simply to have as many people as possible to become WoLs and get crystals of light thus the balance is destroyed again and another Flood of Light starts? (I wonder why the scions did not thought about that as a possible plan? I mean they even said that Elidibus wants to finish what Emet started)

@Fenral:

Just a bit curious but why do you believe that Hythlo was the 14th? I mean it could happen but seemingly the way he talks about the 14th makes that really hard to believe that.

Originally Posted by Ultimatecalibur

I believe it was mentioned when you first arrive in Amaurot. The ancients speak the "Babel" language that is both alien and completely understandable by everyone.

Minimum post.

Ah thanks, I have already forgotten that.

More about the MSQ

Did I miss it or was that picture of the blue figure not part of the story?

Also I am honestly not really sure what I should take from the 14th being neutral. Seemingly they disagreed with the summoning of Zodiark (so much that they even left their seat) yet also wont help to take him down? You can be neutral in some situations, like when two people have an argument and you try to unite them once more. But in that situation I find it quite strange that they are neutral. Did they have another plan? Because if the 14th is our ancient version of the WoL then they are quite different right now because the WoL never really stood back and only watched.

I hope we get more information on that.

Also honestly I wonder why they ever made Ysthola blind..nothing in her actions or behaviour seems to be hindered by it. With all the reading she is doing I have to remind myself that she cant see normally anymore. Just give her back her eyesight because unlike Thancred she does not suffer direct consequences from it.

Originally Posted by ObsidianFire

Thoughts...

MSQ

Oh boy... where to start. Guess I'll start with the Echo which is the easiest. And very, very weird to the point of being suspicious. For starters, not everyone who sees the Starshower gets the Echo. Which makes everyone on the plaza hearing Hydaelyn's voice very odd just by itself. And speaking of Hydaelyn's voice, why are they even hearing it? Hydaelyn hasn't talked to us since 3.4 at the latest, and even then she needed Minfillia as an intermediary. The last time we actually heard Hydaelyn herself was back in 3.0 briefly. And even then there was a lot of "static" in the way. It boggles the mind that a bunch of random nobodies would hear Hydaelyn's "Hear, Feel, Think" mantra and we wouldn't. I am very suspicions that visual illusions aren't the only kind of illusions Elidibus can make and that he somehow made everyone hear Hydaelyn's famous catchphrase. Except the one person who knows exactly what Hydaelyn really does sound like since when Hydaelyn could talk, she wouldn't stop talking to us (or trying to talk to us in 3.x).

As for why Elidibus would want to wake the Echo up in people... The Ascians have been having issues with getting killed recently. Between us, Ardbert and Gaius, they're down a bunch of members and anyone that does get made into an Ascian needs to have the Echo. Widening the pool of people they can raise up into Ascians is probably something that needs to happen at this point. It also directly attacks the Scions' base on the Source by depriving it of manpower.

About your points

I am also a bit skeptical. Elidibus says that she uses the starshower to reach for people that in turn get the echo (yet some dont? So is that a confirmation that people like the Scions are new souls?) but he is the one using an illusion of it so why would Hydealyn then be able to speak through it?

Interesting point about him wanting more Ascians but imo I believe that he simply wants to get back to their old plan before the Flood happened. There they created WoLs by using huge conflicts thus I think that he simply tries to create more WoLs and over time create another rejoining. He knows that we cant be there forever and he knows that we are still a mortal and that time can run different on the shards. It would be easy to just start new in that part. If it is his plan then I am a bit annoyed that the scions are not even thinking about this as a possibility especially when its them that outright say that he is there to finish Emets plan.

Originally Posted by Alleo

Ah thanks, I have already forgotten that.

More about the MSQ

Did I miss it or was that picture of the blue figure not part of the story?

Also I am honestly not really sure what I should take from the 14th being neutral. Seemingly they disagreed with the summoning of Zodiark (so much that they even left their seat) yet also wont help to take him down? You can be neutral in some situations, like when two people have an argument and you try to unite them once more. But in that situation I find it quite strange that they are neutral. Did they have another plan? Because if the 14th is our ancient version of the WoL then they are quite different right now because the WoL never really stood back and only watched.

I hope we get more information on that.

Also honestly I wonder why they ever made Ysthola blind..nothing in her actions or behaviour seems to be hindered by it. With all the reading she is doing I have to remind myself that she cant see normally anymore. Just give her back her eyesight because unlike Thancred she does not suffer direct consequences from it.

Err Alleo it does have consequences shes using her own aether to be able to see aether and thus draining her Aether in a constant basis. If shes not careful it will kill her like Master Matoya warned her. It may seem like she has no issues seeing but she also cant see the night sky and had to have Urianger describe it to her in his verbose manner. The only reason. Shes even able to read is the inks are pretty much made with the help of Aether...