Revelations from Save the Queen

[Meloncat]

Late coming to the OP, but
"In terms of real-world connections, am I picking up some Persian vibes? The geographical names, the historical themes, even the concept of fancy religious writings on swords! Perhaps this is where that real-world inspiration went now that Thavnair feels closer to India than the Middle East."

This seems like a shift relating to Thavnair since lore book 2 wherein various weaponry of Thavnair are evocative of India and the Uznair we see in Heavensward or Stormblood is full of not-India motifs (namely big ol elephants). Lorebook 2 mentions Thavnair having military castes, use of jamadhars (katars), Bhujs (Indian dagger/knife), Kaman Bow (Mughal). The noble houses can apply to Persia or India or Arabia hypothetically, but South Ilsabard is the place that the same lorebook mentions using Jambiyas (Curved Gulf Arabian daggers). Yet Othard mainland is mentioned using Vajras, which is Sanskrit ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajra ). And right next to Dalmasca is Corvos which is clearly from the little we can gleam Greek-ish (They had a colossus a'la Rhodes). And the Shikari are Indian but originate with Ivalice/Rabanastre (in FF12) and seem Othardic given the Ivalician Shikari vest ingame is, well, Ivalician!

That said, the south-east section of Bozja/Dalmasca/Thavnair seems to be less easily applied to a single Middle-Eastern area and more to the area as a whole.

As to Anonymoose, it's possible or is just my hope this could weave back into the MSQ given we saw how Alexander/Omega (time travel), Crystal Tower (Exarch and time travel) all folded back into the main story. Having this secessionist "Garlean Technology + Eikon weaponization + standard magic" Gabranthian state would make for one hell of a new nemeses, especially if the ever-present Ascian hand is involved.

[EdwinLi]

Late coming to the OP, but
"In terms of real-world connections, am I picking up some Persian vibes? The geographical names, the historical themes, even the concept of fancy religious writings on swords! Perhaps this is where that real-world inspiration went now that Thavnair feels closer to India than the Middle East."

This seems like a shift relating to Thavnair since lore book 2 wherein various weaponry of Thavnair are evocative of India and the Uznair we see in Heavensward or Stormblood is full of not-India motifs (namely big ol elephants). Lorebook 2 mentions Thavnair having military castes, use of jamadhars (katars), Bhujs (Indian dagger/knife), Kaman Bow (Mughal). The noble houses can apply to Persia or India or Arabia hypothetically, but South Ilsabard is the place that the same lorebook mentions using Jambiyas (Curved Gulf Arabian daggers). Yet Othard mainland is mentioned using Vajras, which is Sanskrit ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajra ). And right next to Dalmasca is Corvos which is clearly from the little we can gleam Greek-ish (They had a colossus a'la Rhodes). And the Shikari are Indian but originate with Ivalice/Rabanastre (in FF12) and seem Othardic given the Ivalician Shikari vest ingame is, well, Ivalician!

That said, the south-east section of Bozja/Dalmasca/Thavnair seems to be less easily applied to a single Middle-Eastern area and more to the area as a whole.

As to Anonymoose, it's possible or is just my hope this could weave back into the MSQ given we saw how Alexander/Omega (time travel), Crystal Tower (Exarch and time travel) all folded back into the main story. Having this secessionist "Garlean Technology + Eikon weaponization + standard magic" Gabranthian state would make for one hell of a new nemeses, especially if the ever-present Ascian hand is involved.

I have a feeling this side story may play parallel to whatever story is going to be our Prologue to 6.0 in 5.4 to 5.55 MSQ. This is after all about the war in another front being the Doma side of the War while the Weapon Saga is about the Ala Mhigo side of the war.

Resistance and Weapon both seem to be focus on showing the War progress of the game through the perspective on the two war fronts we learned about back in 4.X being Eorzea (Weapon Saga) and Doma (Resistance) side.

[Crushnight]

Apparently Matsuno is looking for feedback regarding this questline hopefully someone can pass on the questions raised in this raised to him.

[Crushnight]

Apparently Matsuno is looking for feedback regarding this questline hopefully someone can pass on the questions raised in this raised to him.

Thread' sigh goddamnit

[FrightfulNight]

I noticed the Persian parallels with the lore behind the Gunhildrs and the similarities they had with the Immortals of the Achemenid Dynasty, mainly about how they were essentially the royal guard and enforcers and how when one died another would pick up the weapon.

[Rosenstrauch]

Apparently Matsuno is looking for feedback regarding this questline hopefully someone can pass on the questions raised in this raised to him.

You can edit your posts to fix typos/add more text to them after the fact. But yes, that might be a good idea.

[Anonymoose]

Apparently Matsuno is looking for feedback regarding this questline hopefully someone can pass on the questions raised in this raised to him.

I finished and organized the OP a little better specifically for this reason, tbh, lol

[Theodric]

I think Matsuno handled things brilliantly. It was a lot more nuanced and less preachy than some of the plot threads present in Stormblood and it provided a decent amount of insight into various characters and factions. I particularly liked the Hrothgar fellow who made a point of not all Garleans being wicked. Cid falsely attributing Solus and then Varis as being present at Bozja is interesting - perhaps more doubt should be cast on his recollections and opinions of Garlemald in the future?

As for the Varis fight itself, I'm hoping that was his canon fighting style. He was pretty intimidating and impressive. Much more so than Zenos. It's a real shame we never got to work alongside Varis. Playing the FF7R has made me lament the lack of an equivalent of Rufus Shinra and The Turks that serve as something between rivals and enemies without ever being killed off. A lot of people playing Final Fantasy games play them for the sake of the antagonists after all!

Gabranth's plan is intriguing. I suspect we'll end up teaming up a faction within Garlemald to help stop Gabranth from destroying the place entirely - which could very well mean getting a 'Larsa' type figure at some point.

I'm pretty optimistic about the future of the quests - especially if we get to explore more of Dalmasca. I'm really hoping that we get to explore this game's equivalent of Lea Monde!

[YianKutku]

I'm mildly curious how Noah intends to summon Kerrigan and not get himself and his Legion Tempered.

Only mildly, because it would be completely in character for Garlemald to try something like that and then Pikachu Face when it goes horribly wrong.

[JeanneOrnitier]

I'm pretty optimistic about the future of the quests - especially if we get to explore more of Dalmasca. I'm really hoping that we get to explore this game's equivalent of Lea Monde!

Even if the focus is (rightfully) on Bozja, I'll be surprised if Dalmasca never comes up at all. There has to be a reason this questline requires RtI after all. But as much as I want to actually go there, I'd be happy just seeing Lea Monde. I RP my character as being from there so would be nice to at least see what it looks like the same way we saw Valnain at the end of this patch.