New Year's Foreshadow 2021

[Veloran]

First off... who the hell chooses those fonts. Hard to read.

German and attempted translation

Verschrieben unsrer stummen Angst
Suchen wir Weisheit in Tiefes Grabe
Legen das Morgen in Sternenhand
besungen von Kindes Klage

Devoted to our silent Fear
We seek Wisdom in Depth's Grave
Place the morrow into Star's Hand / the star's hand?
Sung about by Child's Mourn

The words I capitalised are capitalised in german as well, meaning they are nouns. Curious that they all talk about depths. Sound from the depth of the planet, anyone?

Also, Stars could be either Azem or Convocation.

That's even more incomprehensible than the original.

[RicaRuin]

That's even more incomprehensible than the original.

Made a correction, it's Amt (Office) instead of Angst (Fear). It late.

So seems like Convocation stuff.

[Rosenstrauch]

First off... who the hell chooses those fonts. Hard to read.

German and attempted translation

Verschrieben unsrem stummen Amt
Suchen wir Weisheit in Tiefes Grabe
Legen das Morgen in Sternenhand
besungen von Kindes Klage

Devoted to our silent Office
We seek Wisdom in Depth's Grave
Place the morrow into Star's Hand / the star's hand?
Sung about by Child's Mourn

The words I capitalised are capitalised in german as well, meaning they are nouns. Curious that they all talk about depths. Sound from the depth of the planet, anyone?

Also, Stars could be either Azem or Convocation.

"This star" "our star" etc. are typically phrases applied to the planet FFXIV takes place on. "Place the morrow (tomorrow?) into Star's hand" calls to mind Zodiark's initial summoning, I think. He was intended to be the will of the planet made manifest. Though Hydaelyn supplanted him in that role, so much so that the planet is named after her. Or maybe it always was. Or maybe she's named after the planet. Not sure if that was ever made clear.

[Lauront]

Think it's pretty clear that it's referring to Sharlayan. Whether the part regarding the underground relates to their endeavours with the Antitower, which is a good fit given its purpose, and whether this involves another visit to Hydaelyn or the Aetherial Sea (accessible underground) more generally, remains to be seen. Sharlayan is fairly secretive, so it may have already been involved in study of the moon without anyone knowing of it. After all, it is where astrology originated, so their bid to study the heavens - and possibly the aetheric tissue connecting the 'stars', if such exists - would make sense and probably encompass the moon too. I suspect the letter is from the twins' father, particularly given the context of the Japanese version (which I believe is a reference to Sharlayan's secretive attitude to knowledge), and the rift between him and Alphinaud. As usual, the EN is a bit more cryptic than the rest, which is why I've come to prefer the French version.

If, as I believe, Sharlayan was inspired by Amaurot in some capacity - since we know memories of the ancient world persist in various facets - it would make sense to take the story there next.

We've now seen multiple hints pointing at Sharlayan, and especially the conclusion of 5.3 and various interviews, so I'm convinced the expansion is going to involve it to a major degree. What is less clear is what the supplementary zones would be, and this seems to provide a strong hint.

I feel like it's saying we're going to first go down under the planet to confront Hydaelyn and get an explanation for everything (and possibly find out what the Sound is), then go up to the moon to destroy Zodiark. Future generations hating us could be because we destroyed the moon and they don't know why, and resent us for such an act of destruction. The resolute man could be Louisoix, which would fit in with going to Sharlayan to uncover more mysteries about Hydaelyn and the Lifestream.

I'm hoping they pick up on the sound sooner or later, however I'm not so sure if she will even have the answer to that, seeing how its cause eluded the ancients. The answer may lie with Fandaniel, or perhaps even Zenos's, ancient counterpart. If I had to guess, I'd say one of them conspired with or even set up whatever destroyed their world (I'm still putting money on a Lifestream/Underworld parasite/monstrosity of eld, of some kind), and when Zodiark stayed it, they then moved to try a different tack to it by instigating a conflict between the Convocation/those loyal to it and Venat's faction, who may have already been concerned about Zodiark, with the aim of ultimately ridding of him, and perhaps even destroying the star. After all, Venat's faction didn't really doubt the Convocation's benign motives, and I think they would also needed access to the blueprints to fabricate a primal of this type. Even if they conferred at Anamnesis Anyder, where concepts were stored, the sort involved in summoning Zodiark is likely to have been under restricted access. So an insider makes some sense here, especially one who could play with their concerns a little.

Fandaniel is rather fascinated by the end of the world (he was gleeful when discussing it with Zenos), and the latter would destroy the world just to get his jollies, so it wouldn't be out of the question that their ancient counterparts were some end of times death cult, too. Given his nihilistic persona, the appeal must be great in taking the world's erstwhile saviour (Zodiark) and use it to fully end the world.

[Shofie]

I for one can't wait to ride a giant whale to the moon and punch god in the face

[Cybylt]

English post from the EU site.

Our progeny may never know
Wherefore we look unto the sky,
Nor why we dig for truths below;
We bear their scorn or watch them die.

[Veloran]

English post from the EU site.

Our progeny may never know
Wherefore we look unto the sky,
Nor why we dig for truths below;
We bear their scorn or watch them die.

What's the author called in English? Diary of a man, from the diary of a stranger, etc?

[RicaRuin]

What's the author called in English? Diary of a man, from the diary of a stranger, etc?

'From the journal of a resolute man'

[Keever]

My translations:
German

Verschrieben unsrem stummen Amt
Committed to our silent office
Suchen wir Weisheit in Tiefes Grabe.
we seek wisdom in the deep earth.
Legen das Morgen in Sterneshand,
Place tomorrow in starry hands,
besungen von Kinder Klage.
sung of in children's lamentations.

Aus dem Tagebuch eines unbekannten Mannes
From the diary of an unknown man

French

La bouche close, nous empilons pierre sur pierre,
With mouths closed, we pile stone upon stone,
Pour former un escalier menant aux terres de la connaissance,
To form a staircase leading to the lands of knowledge,
Ainsi qu'un autre pointant vers les cieux de l'existence.
As well as another pointing to the heavens of existence.
Nos enfants s'en souviendront, quelle que soit leur colère.
Our children will remember this, in spite of their anger.

Extrait du journal intime d'un inconnu
From the diary of a stranger

[Sekundessounet]

My translations:
German

Verschrieben unsrem stummen Amt
Committed to our silent office
Suchen wir Weisheit in Tiefes Grabe.
we seek wisdom in the deep earth.
Legen das Morgen in Sterneshand,
Place tomorrow in starry hands,
besungen von Kinder Klage.
sung of in children's lamentations.

Aus dem Tagebuch eines unbekannten Mannes
From the diary of an unknown man

French

La bouche close, nous enfilons pierre sur pierre,
With mouths closed, we pile stone upon stone,
Pour formes un escalier menant aux terres de la connaisance,
To form a staircase leading to the lands of knowledge,
Ainsi qu'un autre pointant vers les cieux de l'existence.
So too another pointing to the heavens of existence.
Nos enfants s'en souviendront, quelle que soit leur colère.
Our children will remember this, in spite of their anger.

Extrait du journal intime d'un inconnu
From the diary of a stranger

The third line of the French version would read more like "And / As well as another leading to the heavens of existence.

The French one gives me quite the Sharlayan vibes : the land of knowledge, seeking knowledge in the earth. The children may be a reference to Alphinaud and Alisaie, with their father as the narrator. If the apocalypse truely happens, I can't see Sharlayan not intervening this time around.