6.0 Predictions: Will it be Garlemald, Sharlayan, or Meracydia?

[Veloran]

Because taking the over the palace stops the civil war that erupted following the death of Solus. Fandaniel wearing the skin of an influential person allows the people to not question who he is. Giving them control of the Empire and it's resources to say, idk, start the end of the world. The real question is what will they do bring back Zodiark? And why do they need an army to do it? Probably because we are going anywhere but the Empire.

I really don't think taking over the palace stops the civil war. If anything slaughtering people at their seat of governance is more likely to turn everything into total anarchy and lead the Legions to be more autonomous forces, because there's no orders coming from anyone they'd be willing to follow.

Rather than the subversion in 6.0 being WHERE we go, it may be WHY we go there. Instead of conquering Garlemald, it'll be to save them from Zenos' tyranny.

As an aside, I don't think he needs to go anywhere else to get his big Primal battle either - Supposedly there's a gigantic hole in the Garlean capital that happens to lead to the strongest Primal of all time. Why should Zenos settle for Zodiark locked in the moon, already fallen and defeated, when he can take the force that sundered him, which happens to be plugged directly into the greatest font of aether in existence? On this, I don't think it's a coincidence that Venat means "hunter".

So, yeah, if I was placing bets, Garlemald would be number one in the odds.

[Kesey]

As an aside, I don't think he needs to go anywhere else to get his big Primal battle either - Supposedly there's a gigantic hole in the Garlean capital that happens to lead to the strongest Primal of all time. Why should Zenos settle for Zodiark locked in the moon, already fallen and defeated, when he can take the force that sundered him, which happens to be plugged directly into the greatest font of aether in existence? On this, I don't think it's a coincidence that Venat means "hunter".

So, yeah, if I was placing bets, Garlemald would be number one in the odds.

Before I play devil's advocate, where did they say there is a gigantic hole in the Garlean capital? That nonetheless leads to the strongest primal of all time (which isn't Zodiark?? Who is clearly in the moon)? Are you trying to say Hydealyn is under the capital (because she did the sundering and she is in the aetherial sea not the capital)? And they will then use Hydaelyn like a battery for aether (she is severly weakened therefore probably not the font of aether she's cracked up to be?)?

Also, I agree we need to speak with Venat, who will "return in the form of their choice" and yes it means hunter. But this could be a reference not the "hunt" for prey but the "hunt" of knowledge, as the hunter is the symbol that represents the astrological sign for Sagittarius, whose personality's pursue or question truth, knowledge, and new ideas. And for a person that defied the entire Ancient's culture to summon Hydaelyn as her heart because they believed in the idea that Zodiark will still bring the apocalypse, kind of fits. It fits even better when realized that the Ancients were into constellations and named their elder primal after the zodiac. But bringing this back around to Zenos, are you saying that Zenos is Venat or a reference to Venat?

[Rosenstrauch]

This is a bit of a weird tangent, but...

Also, I agree we need to speak with Venat, who will "return in the form of their choice" and yes it means hunter. But this could be a reference not the "hunt" for prey but the "hunt" of knowledge, as the hunter is the symbol that represents the astrological sign for Sagittarius, whose personality's pursue or question truth, knowledge, and new ideas.

This got my gears turning, and I went and looked up the Sagittarius Lucavi to make sure I remembered who it was and what she was known for. Sure enough, it's Shemhazai, the Whisperer/the Betrayer (English/Japanese titles respectively). The clan primer bio for her from FFXII has this to say:

Scion that is both horse and woman, wielding utter control over the souls that wander the underworld, in opposition to the Martyr Igeyorhm, scion of light. Though she once served the gods as a guardian, when Ultima announced her rebellion, Shemhazai went to her, whispering of the gods' hidden weaknesses. She then descended upon the land without leave of the gods, and taught men of destruction and evil. For this was she stricken down and bound.

And having refreshed my memory on this, I can't help but notice some odd parallels between her and Hydaelyn and Minfilia. Hydaelyn, existing at the heart of the aetherial sea, is as close to controlling the souls of the underworld as anything in XIV can hope to be. And like Minfilia, Shemhazai both served as guardian for her patron gods and later on acted as an oracle. But whereas Minfilia parted with Hydaelyn on good terms and was acting in her stead, Shemhazai betrayed her masters and acted against them. Also of interest is the Scion of Light she was created in opposition to—Igeyorhm, who 5.3 elevated above the rest of the Sundered Ascians to some extent.

Again, all of this is a very weird tangent, and none of it has anything to do with what we might be doing come 6.0. It's just cork board conspiracy theorizing, really. But if it's not absolute rubbish, I can't help but wonder now if the mysterious "fairy" behind Gaia's powers is actually Igeyorhm. Aside from certain hard facts—namely that we killed her in an apparently permanent fashion—she potentially fits the bill a bit more than the Ascian I expected it to be. Would be hell trying to explain how she "survived" us, though. Death is but a door, and time a window, I guess?

Gods, I wonder if we'll actually see Shemhazai in a later addition to Bozja. That'd be swell.

[Ceasaria]

Exactly, we would get new villians, since 6.0 is the end of the season 1 storyline it makes sense that we would move on to the next arch afterwards and that includes new antagonist, they have done almost everything they can with Garlemald at this point, having new antagonist would be a great way to start the season 2 arch. Plus i believe Yoshi P. himself said he was looking at incorporating new antagonist so that it is not just the same old same old. Plus if Garlemald is not included in 6.0 then that means all that build up including the 5.3 final cutscene would be for nothing or would just be prolonged another expansion, that's annoying at this point, it has been prolonged long enough. They said SB was the beginning of the end of the Garlean story arch, and ShB was the same for the Ascian and Zodiark storyline so what better way then to have them both conclude in 6.0 since they are season 1 plotlines and it is the season 1 finale, anything else would not be satisfying to me.

I agree with you.

My best guess for beginning a season 2 would be to use the "war between Allagan and Meracydia people" story.
It would be like returning to some of the fundation of the game, + have a use for Tiamat (Azys Lla returns), + a good way to introduce Meracydia lands.
I'm sure there is another brood on this 2nd landmasse (maybe ruling), and I expect Egyptian theme there (like in Lightning Return game).

[Veloran]

Before I play devil's advocate, where did they say there is a gigantic hole in the Garlean capital? That nonetheless leads to the strongest primal of all time (which isn't Zodiark?? Who is clearly in the moon)? Are you trying to say Hydealyn is under the capital (because she did the sundering and she is in the aetherial sea not the capital)? And they will then use Hydaelyn like a battery for aether (she is severly weakened therefore probably not the font of aether she's cracked up to be?)?

Also, I agree we need to speak with Venat, who will "return in the form of their choice" and yes it means hunter. But this could be a reference not the "hunt" for prey but the "hunt" of knowledge, as the hunter is the symbol that represents the astrological sign for Sagittarius, whose personality's pursue or question truth, knowledge, and new ideas. And for a person that defied the entire Ancient's culture to summon Hydaelyn as her heart because they believed in the idea that Zodiark will still bring the apocalypse, kind of fits. It fits even better when realized that the Ancients were into constellations and named their elder primal after the zodiac. But bringing this back around to Zenos, are you saying that Zenos is Venat or a reference to Venat?

I'm saying that because Hydaelyn resides in the aetherial sea, she is directly connected to the source of all aether. If Zenos were to control her like he did Shinryu, he would have straight access to effectively infinite power. And yes, Zenos' obsession with "the hunt", the meaning of Venat's name, and the fact that he's been having vivid visions of the Final Days his entire life can't be a coincidence.

Also, narrativley, I don't really see a scenario where we just beat Zenos controlling a somehow-returned Zodiark, and that's the end of it. There's no way Hydaelyn is just left around either, and I don't see how else thet could send her out considering she doesn't even have enough strength to speak, let alone do some big sacrifice.

[RyuDragnier]

And having refreshed my memory on this, I can't help but notice some odd parallels between her and Hydaelyn and Minfilia. Hydaelyn, existing at the heart of the aetherial sea, is as close to controlling the souls of the underworld as anything in XIV can hope to be. And like Minfilia, Shemhazai both served as guardian for her patron gods and later on acted as an oracle. But whereas Minfilia parted with Hydaelyn on good terms and was acting in her stead, Shemhazai betrayed her masters and acted against them. Also of interest is the Scion of Light she was created in opposition to—Igeyorhm, who 5.3 elevated above the rest of the Sundered Ascians to some extent.

This makes me wonder...perhaps Zodiark and Hydaelyn were once the same being? If each Ascian has a "counterpart" to them like with Igeyorhm and Minfilia (or Gaia and Ryne) creating a balance, then wouldn't it be possible that since Zodiark and Hydaelyn are counterparts, they themselves may end fusing together in the end? We've had 7 Calamities, removing 7 shards. Leaving us with 6 shards (once the 13th is back on its feet) and the Source. 3 umbral leaning, 3 astral leaning, and the Source directly in the middle. Leaving a balanced scale.

[Rosenstrauch]

This makes me wonder...perhaps Zodiark and Hydaelyn were once the same being? If each Ascian has a "counterpart" to them like with Igeyorhm and Minfilia (or Gaius and Ryne) creating a balance, then wouldn't it be possible that since Zodiark and Hydaelyn are counterparts, they themselves may end fusing together in the end? We've had 7 Calamities, removing 7 shards. Leaving us with 6 shards (once the 13th is back on its feet) and the Source. 3 umbral leaning, 3 astral leaning, and the Source directly in the middle. Leaving a balanced scale.

I'd figured that the whole "light and dark were once one" thing was dropped at some point, since it hasn't really come up again since 3.1. But it might actually be the case, yeah. It would be an interesting take on the idea of resolving the conflict between them through reconciliation rather than beating them to death, too. Or maybe we'll have to beat them both to death to make them combine, which... well, I guess that could work, maybe.

[RyuDragnier]

I'd figured that the whole "light and dark were once one" thing was dropped at some point, since it hasn't really come up again since 3.1. But it might actually be the case, yeah. It would be an interesting take on the idea of resolving the conflict between them through reconciliation rather than beating them to death, too. Or maybe we'll have to beat them both to death to make them combine, which... well, I guess that could work, maybe.

I figure it would be the option that makes the most sense. We've already been shown too much umbral or astal energy can be bad. Both Hydaelyn and Zodiark embody basically one of those aspects more than the other. Force them into a singular entity and the energies balance out. Difficult part would be working out what its "will" would be. Though I speculate they may go for an easy out. "Hear. Feel. Think. Live."

[Kesey]

This is a bit of a weird tangent, but...



This got my gears turning, and I went and looked up the Sagittarius Lucavi to make sure I remembered who it was and what she was known for. Sure enough, it's Shemhazai, the Whisperer/the Betrayer (English/Japanese titles respectively). The clan primer bio for her from FFXII has this to say:



And having refreshed my memory on this, I can't help but notice some odd parallels between her and Hydaelyn and Minfilia. Hydaelyn, existing at the heart of the aetherial sea, is as close to controlling the souls of the underworld as anything in XIV can hope to be. And like Minfilia, Shemhazai both served as guardian for her patron gods and later on acted as an oracle. But whereas Minfilia parted with Hydaelyn on good terms and was acting in her stead, Shemhazai betrayed her masters and acted against them. Also of interest is the Scion of Light she was created in opposition to—Igeyorhm, who 5.3 elevated above the rest of the Sundered Ascians to some extent.

This makes we wonder, if and when we find Venat, in whatever form they are currently in, may very well consider the summoning of Hydaelyn to have been a mistake as well. And to echo the posts made after this post I quoted above, that would put the idea that they are two halves of the same whole, each representing the umbral and astral end of life, are problem.

It could bring the end of season 1 to be an allegory that extreme beliefs to the nth degree will always create the worst thing for humanity.

[Kesey]

I'm saying that because Hydaelyn resides in the aetherial sea, she is directly connected to the source of all aether. If Zenos were to control her like he did Shinryu, he would have straight access to effectively infinite power. And yes, Zenos' obsession with "the hunt", the meaning of Venat's name, and the fact that he's been having vivid visions of the Final Days his entire life can't be a coincidence.

Also, narrativley, I don't really see a scenario where we just beat Zenos controlling a somehow-returned Zodiark, and that's the end of it. There's no way Hydaelyn is just left around either, and I don't see how else thet could send her out considering she doesn't even have enough strength to speak, let alone do some big sacrifice.

I don't think that Hydaelyn is the source of aether, that comes from the star itself. Remember she is losing power, or at least was telling us she was losing her power when she was previously speaking with us. I still feel strongly the hunt connection for Venat is a call back to Sagittarius not Zenos, as to Zenos "the hunt" isn't a real hunt but combat where he is unchallenged (meaning his victims are only prey); he longs for a true fight that he can possibly lose which can only be provided by the WOL. The visions Zenos has of the Final Days may mean something deeper or could just be a reflection of how strong his resonate has grown. On that front we'll just have to wait and see will probably know sooner than later.

A pretty popular idea that has been tossed around the community is Hydaelyn will fight Zodiark through us and Zodiark fight Hydaelyn through Zenos; leading to WOL vs. Zenos fight. I personally wonder if Zenos is more powerful than an Ascian now and Fandaniel intends to use him as the "new" heart of Zodiark to make an ultimate elder primal. But you've implied that Zenos is Venat and that scenario is Zenos finally remembers long enough to switch sides to Hydaelyn and his whole character can be trashed and redeemed in one stroke. I guess its possible, but is Zenos worth redeeming? And if Hydaelyn is true enemy as you've also implied and Zenos is Venat then why is Zenos working with Ascians who are Hydaelyn's sworn enemy? Not sure that even fits with Hydaelyn as we know her, whose personality at this point could be dishonest, but her dishonestly falls in line with more of lie-by-omission then out right betrayal. Given these thought, I'm not buying Zenos is Venat plot.