Ask Questions for Letter from the Producer LIVE LXIV (Natsuko Ishikawa)

[Jaywalker]

How exactly did you become a video game writer, and do you have any advice for others who may be interested in entering the field?

[Jaywalker]

What have some of your biggest influences been as a storyteller?

[Glyphs]

Has it been a conscious writing decision to have Thancred not drink in Shadowbringers? At the end of 5.0, and then again during 5.5, he mentions just drinking water when sharing drinks with others. Is a purposeful part of his character development?

[Theodric]

In the first edition of the lore book it is stated that the ancestors of the Garleans were cruelly driven out of fertile lands by their neighbours and forced to carve out a harsh existence for themselves in the frozen northern wasteland. Who exactly were these 'neighbours' and are they still around in the present day?

[Ramesses]

Natsuko Ishikawa-- first of all, thank you yet again for the phenomenal Shadowbringers story-- I've greatly admired your work ever since you wrote the Rogue and Dark Knight job quests. You, Oda-san, Koji and the entire scenario writing team are simply epic.

My first burning question for you specifically from the Shadowbringers arc is to please explain who, what and why do we have the mysterious appearance of the Shoebill at various places within the game?

I've seen him countless times on my balcony within my Mog House at the Crystarium, in the fields of Kholusia --even at the bottom of the sea near Ondo...

[Ramesses]

The Dark Knight quests have been my favourite job-class quests since they were introduced in Heavensward -- personally because it's the one set of stories that really forces the player to deeply understand the grave consequences and extensive ripple effect of his/her actions in being the "hero". How did you develop the challenging concept for this tale, its characters and can you tell us any secret trivia about the story that we might have all missed?

[Ramesses]

Prior to his ascension as the Garlean Emperor, Varis was the High Legatus of which legion or legions?

[Ramesses]

I personally have always liked Zenos-- his character design, his intriguing ideologies, his backstory that briefly touches on his lonely upbringing, his unwavering determination-- even the way his psychotic edge emerges when he becomes excited-- and since his introduction, I've always felt that the game needed such a charcater.

Thus, what was your thought process, guidelines and particular vision when creating or writing him? How involved were the character design artists in his development?

[Ramesses]

Cylva and the original five warriors of Light--- I particularly loved all the tales about them especially because I had been waiting since 1.0 to explore their histories. The various surprises behind their stories made me feel a sort of deep sympathy for Cylva and the circumstances behind her motives.

Were you also involved in this tale and if so, which of them was your favourite to write and why? And how did you create the concept of Cylva?

[Ramesses]

The eighth tale from Tales from the Shadows "An Unpromised tomorrow" gave a very VERY interesting perspective of how a possible separate timeline had emerged with Midgardsormr's guidance. Can you please explain more about this tale and it's true significance for the future?