Is Zenos Zodiark?

[Wilford111]

idk, just a thought I had after watching the epilogue of 5.3. Always wondered why Fandaniel is so loyal to Zenos but that might explain it.

Any lore buffs wanna tell me why I'm right/wrong?

[MistakeNot]

idk, just a thought I had after watching the epilogue of 5.3. Always wondered why Fandaniel is so loyal to Zenos but that might explain it.

Any lore buffs wanna tell me why I'm right/wrong?

Fandaniel doesn't seem to be very loyal to Zenos - they just happen to have some common goals. If there is some actual loyalty there it is probably a remnant from the former owner of that body who adored Zenos.

We have no reason to think Zenos is Zodiark. But it would not surprise me if his plan is to awaken Zodiark and then take over him, like he did with Shinryu.

[ItMe]

Fandaniel seems "loyal" to Zenos the way Lahabrea was "loyal" to Gaius: the ascians created Garlemald to use as a tool, and are manipulating it through pretending to serve it.

[KageTokage]

No. Zodiark has been sealed in the moon for countless millenia and if he had been able to somehow exert an influence on the outside world in spite of that the Ascians almost certainly would've been aware of it. That and Fandaniel doesn't care a lick about Zodiark when he wants to destroy the world, which runs counter to the entire reason the primal was created in the first place.

We don't really know what the heck is going on with him save for that he was somehow "gifted" even before he underwent the Resonant treatment, though we do know also from 5.3 that the Echo manifests only in those who have particularly strong memories of the Final Days etched into their souls, so it's possible he always had the potential but the Garlean physiology simply kept it from manifesting originally.

[Anonymoose]

Personally, I suspect Zenos and Fandaniel each think the other is a useful idiot who won't see the other's agenda as conflicting with their own "until it's too late." Curious if either are right or wrong; but Fandaniel and Zenos both have an understanding that reaching Zodiark is the goal, so he probably can't secretly be either of them.

[Tensaihime]

Personally, I suspect Zenos and Fandaniel each think the other is a useful idiot who won't see the other's agenda as conflicting with their own "until it's too late."

Makes me wonder if they’ll turn on each other and we’ll only fight one because the other’s been killed by his so-called partner in crime.

[JeanneOrnitier]

Like MistakeNot, I'm also expecting that Zenos's plan is to take over Zodiark like he did Shinryu and fight us like that.

I really hope that's not what actually happens because I don't want Zenos to be the final boss, but it's what I think his plan is.

[Wilford111]

Like MistakeNot, I'm also expecting that Zenos's plan is to take over Zenos like he did Shinryu and fight us like that.

Zenos taking over Zenos? o_o Seven hells...

[Riastrad]

Every soul is just aether ripe for the reaping. While Zenos seems to want Zodiark to mantle his power, I suspect Fandaniel wants to use it to unlock the source of the Final Days. Zodiark can apparently rewrite the very laws of the Star, which could mean reviving whatever caused the keening which drove the Ancients mad.

Fandaniel shares a connection to Hashmal from various Ivalice Alliance Final Fantasies. In Tactics, Hashmal led the Lucavi in causing multiple wars to use the souls of the dead for a summoning of their master, Ultima. While explored in the Ivalice raid series briefly, we can see the Convocation member, Altima struggling with something involving their soul turning, the cause being unknown.

Convocation stone text.

I feel Zenos is not going to be the main threat. The Telophoroi (Fandaniel is not alone) will be. We have more than a few sundered Ascians running around.

https://convocation.carrd.co/#fandaniel
https://convocation.carrd.co/#Deudalaphon
https://convocation.carrd.co/#halmarut
https://convocation.carrd.co/#altima
https://convocation.carrd.co/#pashtarot

Take note of The Night Star. I think he may be the actual leader. Elidibus's Final words echo his the most.

It doesn't help that he is also tied to Zeromus, the final boss of FFIV.

[Vyrerus]

Kinda funny, that picture of Zeromus puts the eyes in the spot I perceived them to be as a kid, but to me his 2-D sprite always seemed to have a humanoid face with a pointed, hookish nose.