Thread: Revelations from Patch 5.3

Originally Posted by KageTokage

I called the mystery Ascian being Asahi in body at least...but did not expect it to be Fandaniel piloting it. If I'm not mistaken, isn't he the same guy who started the whole Alexander mess and was pulling strings back in 1.0?

No that's Travenchet you're thinking of, the 1.0 Ascian that was getting around in the body of an elezen pirate (and probably wasn't even his real name) -

in FFXII Fandaniel was stated as being the Scion of Light that was the opposite of the Esper Hashmal and represented by Leo on the Zodiac. So it's interesting that he's the new Ascian on the block.

Although him getting around in Asahi's meatsuit is going to be satisfying just to have the pleasure of killing him again (I hated Asahi the moment he appeared and never trusted him for a moment).

Many thoughts


MSQ

One of my favourite dungeons, followed by one of my favourite trials, topped by Alisaie continuing TO BE BEST TWIN.

I had the same thought as Moose on the Alchemist being an upcoming job hint.

I'm not sure how much to make of this observation, but I wondered whether there is a link between the fact that the Convocation's memories were stored in constellation stones, and the fact that the memory of the Final Days is the starshowers. I'd need to go back and check my screens shots of the text to see if there's any links to be had). I'm still not sure where I sit between wondering if the Twelve are an echo of the Convocation or an echo of those who summoned Hydaelyn. The Azem /Azeyma / Azim (which is later speculated upon by Urianger in the Rising Stones) makes me lean towards the Convocation, but I feel it is up in the air. On the Azeyma link, kinda felt like a nice little link since I've been Sun Cat the whole way through.

I was very pleased we finally got a look behind the door in the Rising Stones, which I've personally thought has been overdue for several patches - I thought we might see it at the start of 5.0.

In the end, it is really very fitting that this is the Dark Knight expansion, because it's the expansion storyline that has been all about the WOL/D from the start.


As for the tease - I think we'll actually have these two (Zenos and Fandaniel) squared away before we hit 6.0. In the same way we didn't really get any hint of the Shadowbringers arc until most of the way into patch 4.4 (with the mission, The Call), I think there's much more interesting territory to be investigated than Garlemald, such as what it was that really caused Zodiark to be summoned in the first place - the cause of the Final Days, and also why the rebels went off to summon Hydaelyn - in the Anamnesis Anyder cutscenes, they talk about how the Convocation's solution will not work. It seems to me that Hydaelyn was specifically designed to weaken the power of Creation magics, by weakening the souls who could use them. All of that appears to still be in play.

Sorrow of Werlyt

The new arrangement of Penitus / A Land Long Dead that plays in Terncliff is lovely! But.... but.... My favourite piece of lore forum headcanon is now dead! It wasn't Nero that saved Gaius...


Valens... is a piece of work...

Werlyt thoughts

Not too much in the way of new lore, but if Terncliff is a preview of the kinds of towns we'll be seeing in 6.x, then I'm rather excited to journey to Ilsabard. Piloting the G-Weapon was fun, and they really went all out with making the thing a homage to classic mecha anime with the posing and some of the dialogue choices. I do wonder if it's going to get further use in the future,

I am curious to learn why the heck Gaius' kids are so hell-bent on going through the weapon project despite knowing full well they'll likely end up dying in the process.

The new legatus is about as much of a scumbag as I might've expected and that last exchange he has with Allie was a bit...suggestive.

Originally Posted by Turethir

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About Elidibus....

Elidibus scene is not that confusing. The summary of things is that the Elidibus we know is just a clone created to replace the real Elidibus after his death being a Primal made to look like the real Elidibus. This Elidibus always known he himself is nothing more than a clone and did not have the memories of the original Elidibus. However, because of how he was created by being a Primal he was forced into a one track mind of completing his mission. This one track mind was killing him inside and thus why a part of himself yearned to die but his "programming" prevented him from ending his own suffering. He could only follow his programmed mission until someone can put him out of his eternal misery. During his early years of being "born" before the sundering into shards he befriended the original Warrior of Light and made a promise to save the world but in the end like many the original Warrior of Light disappeared with everyone else when the world was sundered thus losing his closest friend he had in life. Orignally restoring the world to its original self became Elidibus' purpose for his mission in hopes it will restore his friend the original Warrior of Light but over time he forgotten and had only his programmed mission to keep himself going through everything.

Emet knew this because he was still friends with this Elidibus just as he was with the real Elidibus but he himself could not do that task because he also follows the mission and has yet to believe in our world yet. At the end Emet has accept our world and left behind a fragment of himself to aid with finally putting Elidibus out of his misery. In Elidibus final moments he remembers everything and the original Warrior of Light and found peace and freedom from his cursed existence as he has finally get to see the bright day of happiness he once talked about with the original Warrior of Light once again with the darkness that blinded him by hope finally lifted from his eye.

MSQ: Up to Hero's Gauntlet

I have to say i made the right call doing the MSQ as AST. It adds a lot of flavor into Etched in the Stars

Originally Posted by Starkbeaumont

MSQ stuff and thoughts:

not sure what happen with Elidibus. he was all emotional all of a sudden. he never seemed to care much about the other ascians and now this. Also the revelation that he is kinda just a primal was weird. after so many years. i didn't like this. and his size at the end + the primal thing points me right to Unukalhai though.
regarding the stones: maybe i miscounted but there were only 12 + the last one. now Azem got the sun stone. just like Azeyma, 1 of the Twelve (who are actually 13 as Nald and Thal are twins). maybe they are related.
and what's with the white robe guy? Fandaniel is an Ascian name. edit: wasn't that elezen dude drom 1.0 named Fandaniel? when they hinted later he was an ascians when they revealed they have no shadow?

Here is the probable answer.

there were only 13 stones because Elidibus would theoreticallystill have his. You only find the 12 and then Hythladaeus gives us our own

That I'm capable posting at all is kind of a spoiler in and of itself, so for that I apologize. Kinda.

MSQ

So Shadowbringers not only stuck the landing, but stuck the landing on the extra follow-up frontflip it did for extra points. That's gonna be a tough act to follow, but I'm starting to believe.

Inevitably, people will complain that not enough people die anymore, or that catharsis somehow invalidates or even "cheapens" the emotions that came before, but if you just kick back and just let yourself feel the moment, this was probably the best patch story yet. Sure, it got a bit corny, but I think they finally managed to convey "hope" in a way they've never quite managed before.

It feels right that it's Moenbryda's invention that ends up being instrumental in giving us G'raha back. Feels like the one-two punch of 2.5 has finally come full circle and we (or maybe just me) can finally move forward. Still doesn't feel real, honestly.

I should be going on for hours but the words aren't coming right now. More later. Maybe I need a nap.