Calamities explained

[Vyrerus]

Remember that Nabriales was already on the Source BEFORE Midgardsormr stripped us of the blessing. It is implied he was the one who taught Ysayle how to summon Shiva, and he is seen after our battle with her observing from a distance.

Judging by what he says, it is possible that Lahabrea gave him a way to come to The Source. In the first cutscene with Moenbryda in Northern Thanalan he says, "I suffered the overweening presence of Lahabrea that men might host the power of gods, only for you to undo my hard work."

It's quite possible, similar to how Elidibus gives Ardbert and co. a method to move from a Shard to the Source that the same is done for Shard based Ascians. Though, honestly, it's all a mess. I still don't know if they're ever gonna mention why Ascians no longer use Crystals of Darkness for body possession and the like.

My assumption is that when we beat Nabriales he restates that he may return everyday, for as long as it takes now that the Blessing is undone. He's also shown to immediately return from the rift in that same cutscene. To reconstitute a body without taking a physical host, even. While it is set within the Rising Stones, why would the building itself reject Ascians because we have The Blessing? By that logic, any building we've been in would be sealed to them, and that is incredibly silly.

[MrThinker]

Judging by what he says, it is possible that Lahabrea gave him a way to come to The Source. In the first cutscene with Moenbryda in Northern Thanalan he says, "I suffered the overweening presence of Lahabrea that men might host the power of gods, only for you to undo my hard work."

It's quite possible, similar to how Elidibus gives Ardbert and co. a method to move from a Shard to the Source that the same is done for Shard based Ascians. Though, honestly, it's all a mess. I still don't know if they're ever gonna mention why Ascians no longer use Crystals of Darkness for body possession and the like.

My assumption is that when we beat Nabriales he restates that he may return everyday, for as long as it takes now that the Blessing is undone. He's also shown to immediately return from the rift in that same cutscene. To reconstitute a body without taking a physical host, even. While it is set within the Rising Stones, why would the building itself reject Ascians because we have The Blessing? By that logic, any building we've been in would be sealed to them, and that is incredibly silly.

See edited statement. Also, suffering "the overweening presence" reads to me as "I needed his help to get my plans realized even if I didnt want his help", rather than "he helped me arrive on this world". As for when he returned after his physical body was killed, that was in his spiritual form, not a physical one, which is why it could be bound to an auracite. As for why the building itself would reject Ascians; it isn't, it is a magical protection set over the building by the Blessing of Light because our character considers it 'home'. Think how Voldemort was unable to kill Harry at the Dursely's because of the magical protection residing over his 'home'.

[Vyrerus]

See edited statement. Also, suffering "the overweening presence" reads to me as "I needed his help to get my plans realized even if I didnt want his help", rather than "he helped me arrive on this world". As for when he returned after his physical body was killed, that was in his spiritual form, not a physical one, which is why it could be bound to an auracite. As for why the building itself would reject Ascians; it isn't, it is a magical protection set over the building by the Blessing of Light because our character considers it 'home'. Think how Voldemort was unable to kill Harry at the Dursely's because of the magical protection residing over his 'home'.

I think you mistake his intent on going to the Rising Stones once he realizes we don't have the Blessing as being that he couldn't access the building... for a thereto unforeseen and never again a plot point reason. It makes much more sense if he realized he could now no longer have to worry about Lahabrea or Elidibus shepherding him into a new body on The Source, and allowing him to take part in their plans. Rather, he could fulfill his own ambitions, which is what he is excited to start doing. He detests Lahabera's presence, because he has to kowtow somewhat, since he's only capable of being on The Source until the seal of the Blessing break by Lahabrea or Elidibus's auspices.

As for his new body being his spirit form, sure but it was something Ascians were said to be unable to do without Crystals of Darkness, manifest a body of any kind.

As for the Harry Potter reference, I don't think that's what was going on here at all.

[MrThinker]

I think you mistake his intent on going to the Rising Stones once he realizes we don't have the Blessing as being that he couldn't access the building... for a thereto unforeseen and never again a plot point reason. It makes much more sense if he realized he could now no longer have to worry about Lahabrea or Elidibus shepherding him into a new body on The Source, and allowing him to take part in their plans. Rather, he could fulfill his own ambitions, which is what he is excited to start doing. He detests Lahabera's presence, because he has to kowtow somewhat, since he's only capable of being on The Source until the seal of the Blessing break by Lahabrea or Elidibus's auspices.

Then by this definition, they could have easily done this during times when a person with the Blessing did not exist, i.e. any time before ARR, because the WoL is literally the only person to have a fully powered Blessing.

As for his new body being his spirit form, sure but it was something Ascians were said to be unable to do without Crystals of Darkness, manifest a body of any kind.

I am certain the crystal of darkness was stated to be to how they possess people, rather than manifest a body of any kind.

As for the Harry Potter reference, I don't think that's what was going on here at all.

And in the end, this is what it comes down to, a matter of interpretation, because nowhere else in the story does it imply that the Blessing prevented the other Ascians from journeying to the Source. Nowhere is it stated that the Ascians relied on Lahabrea and Elidibus on providing them hosts to be funneled into to exist on the Source. We can only hope that the other languages carry a more clear meaning, or that this was answered somewhere else.

[Vyrerus]

Then by this definition, they could have easily done this during times when a person with the Blessing did not exist, i.e. any time before ARR, because the WoL is literally the only person to have a fully powered Blessing.



I am certain the crystal of darkness was stated to be to how they possess people, rather than manifest a body of any kind.



And in the end, this is what it comes down to, a matter of interpretation, because nowhere else in the story does it imply that the Blessing prevented the other Ascians from journeying to the Source. Nowhere is it stated that the Ascians relied on Lahabrea and Elidibus on providing them hosts to be funneled into to exist on the Source. We can only hope that the other languages carry a more clear meaning, or that this was answered somewhere else.

Yep, they could have. Why they didn't... well it wasn't in the script.

Crystal of Darkness is how they originally came to possess their hosts, yes,which is how they keep their form manifest.

It's quite literally stated in Nabriales speech, "My kind." What would be the difference between Nabriales and Lahabrea/Elidibus? Sundering. I'm guessing it likely wasn't, since it relies on context we've gained from storylines beyond it.

[MrThinker]

Yep, they could have. Why they didn't... well it wasn't in the script.

That leaves what I'd consider a huge gaping plot hole, and the alternative explanation leaves a smaller one, which is why my interpretation leans that way. They always could have acted on their own volition to get their plans underway, Nabriales just couldn't because the thing he needed for his plan was locked away in a place he couldn't freely enter until the Blessing was gone.

Another example of an Ascian acting on their own for their own ends: Emmerololth, who wanted to get the primal Eureka out of cold storage from the Ilse of Val. That also happened before we lost the Blessing. Granted Emmerololth's actual fate in that endeavour is sort of up in the air still.

[Vyrerus]

That leaves what I'd consider a huge gaping plot hole, and the alternative explanation leaves a smaller one, which is why my interpretation leans that way. They always could have acted on their own volition to get their plans underway, Nabriales just couldn't because the thing he needed for his plan was locked away in a place he couldn't freely enter until the Blessing was gone.

Another example of an Ascian acting on their own for their own ends: Emmerololth, who wanted to get the primal Eureka out of cold storage from the Ilse of Val. That also happened before we lost the Blessing. Granted Emmerololth's actual fate in that endeavour is sort of up in the air still.

No, it actually doesn't. If Lahabrea or Elidibus could have taken Tupsimati at any time before the WoL, then why didn't they? It's best not to try and divest the plot of every little thing, because it will fall apart. Villains that start out leagues beyond the hero could have killed us at any turn, but chose not to, for completely unspecified and no real good reason.

Also, if shard Ascians could touch down on The Source unassisted, free to sow chaos to their heart's content and bring on the next ardor, then why didn't all 13 members of the Convocation do just that once we'd cast out Lahabrea and ruined their plans the first time? To me a restriction on their coming and going makes the most sense.