Thread: Revelations from Patch 5.5 (Part 1)

It didn't really occur to me until I did a run-through of Amaurot in explorer mode, but I now cannot help but question whether or not there is some connection between that ominous, glowing red haze you can see hanging over the world at the end of the dungeon and the similar substance the towers seem to be sending into the sky.

Though more important is the question of what it is. Some kind of aetherial "pollution" generated as a side effect of summoning/creation magicks, perhaps?

I'm also starting to think that Zodiark may not actually be involved in the return of the Final Days and his awakening may simply end up being in response to that, seeing as it's the very reason he was brought into existence in the first place.

Originally Posted by Fenral

So NieR and yet so far

I assumed as much.

It's just odd they'd put that behind hex coding. Most of what's behind hex coding is... pretty unimportant; the Knave of Hearts and Hansel and Gretel both feature lots of dialogue in hex, though it's nothing more than faux-philosophical musings like we get from the Puppet units in the Bunker. The Compound and False Idol both feature hex subtitles that are informative, but that's just about it.

Her Inflorescence's dialogue is otherwise... pretty suggestive in terms of narrative, but the hex dialogue having no real impact is kind of perplexing.

Originally Posted by KageTokage

I'm also starting to think that Zodiark may not actually be involved in the return of the Final Days and his awakening may simply end up being in response to that, seeing as it's the very reason he was brought into existence in the first place.

I don't see why waking up Zodiark wouldn't be part of the plan, assuming Zenos doesn't just go up to the moon and snatch him before everything goes to Hell in a handbasket. Zodiark is way too big a factor for Danny Boy to leave unaccounted for.

Originally Posted by KageTokage

It didn't really occur to me until I did a run-through of Amaurot in explorer mode, but I now cannot help but question whether or not there is some connection between that ominous, glowing red haze you can see hanging over the world at the end of the dungeon and the similar substance the towers seem to be sending into the sky.

Though more important is the question of what it is. Some kind of aetherial "pollution" generated as a side effect of summoning/creation magicks, perhaps?

I'm also starting to think that Zodiark may not actually be involved in the return of the Final Days and his awakening may simply end up being in response to that, seeing as it's the very reason he was brought into existence in the first place.

A lowkey reference to FFXI/a common trope sort of, when it comes to apocalyptic settings. In FFXI, the world of Abyssea was a mirror world to Vana'diel where the heroes failed to save the Mothercrystals and lost to Promathia in the Empyreal Paradox, who then consumed Selh'teus and became Shinryu. I can't remember the exact details, but to oversee the final destruction of the world, six mighty automaton like beings very alien to Vana'diel were set upon its surface.

They become known as the Caturae, which is a word relating them to Caturanga, one of the original versions of Chess. You fight a knight, rook, pawn, king, and queen all in Abyssea, each with their own zone. In related content called Voidwatch where you open portals to fight extra dimensional hostiles, you fight the Elephant piece(later Bishop).

I'm not sure if it was ever expounded on, who made these Caturae. It's been so long since I delved into FFXI's story, too, that I can't rightly remember. I do know, and very much remember, that they are similar in appearance and shape to Hades in FFXI, once he takes on his true, Supreme Being form. Though they lack his energy wings, which are similar in shape to Promathia's. Hades in XI is a being who comes from the plane of Tartarus, which is contained within what I always took to be a downed alien craft of sorts, Ra'Kaznar. Though it could also be an ancient civ's "ruins." Within Ra'Kaznar that same red eerieness is ever present after a certain point.

Basically, I see it as an artistic choice for a malevolent, oppressive atmosphere. Like the very air is bleeding, ignited with pain.

Also just a neat image aside: