Revelations from Patch 6.5: "Growing Light", Part 1

[Raikai]

Myths of the Realm:

I agree with the poster stating that it was a good story that didn't need to happen. In the end, nothing really changes for the world-building, so it felt like a bit pointless.

But then it did happen... In this case, I wish Myths of the Realm was actually the Raid series instead. Story wise, both AR and Raids have kind of a similar level of narrative complexity, but I'd just love to have the Twelve as Savage fights rather than Pandaemonium experiements.

MSQ:

I like the homage to FFIV and I felt it was a good storyline to be the 'filler'. Zero is a good spotlight character. I didn't like Golbez's characterization though. For the end he had, the character needed to be less chaotic evil and more neutral, because him changing sides was just way too forced by the end.

My other complaint were the Scions. The only member that made sense was actually Y'shtola, because it felt like the story kind of sets up a future development lead by her in managing to cross back to the First.

I don't hate them, but is just that since they'll be main cast once more in Dawntrail, might as well give us a little break from their presence.

[Shadotterdan]

10 characters
MSQ

Didn't see anyone else mention, but it looked to me like the memoriate that zapped Golbez used the Ardbert/derplander model. While everyone was guessing that Golbez was the Azem shard, I like the idea that the shard in the 13th may have ended up as a nobody.

[Iscah]

MSQ: A thought regarding dragons' eyes

Vrtra gave an eye to Azdaja to save her, but what about her own? We retrieved one from Cagnazzo but I don't think the other one has been accounted for. Zeromus would have drained the aether from it, but the actual eyes seem remarkably sturdy in other cases like tracing Nidhogg's eyes through to Shinryu to still being intact when Estinien finds them afterwards.

Also, I wonder if we get Auri from Azdaja to match Varshahn at some point?

I don't really get why his vessel is out of commission, either. He removed his power from it to give it to Azdaja, but he still has his other eye to plug back in later, same as he does with the child form.

[Cleretic]

MSQ: A thought regarding dragons' eyes

Vrtra gave an eye to Azdaja to save her, but what about her own? We retrieved one from Cagnazzo but I don't think the other one has been accounted for. Zeromus would have drained the aether from it, but the actual eyes seem remarkably sturdy in other cases like tracing Nidhogg's eyes through to Shinryu to still being intact when Estinien finds them afterwards.

Also, I wonder if we get Auri from Azdaja to match Varshahn at some point?

I don't really get why his vessel is out of commission, either. He removed his power from it to give it to Azdaja, but he still has his other eye to plug back in later, same as he does with the child form.

First and third is pretty cleanly explained.

The eye we got from Cagnazzo was returned to Azdaja before the Golbez trial; her other eye was still in her. So both of them got lost in the Zeromus Mess.

The vessel was temporarily out of commission because he had to give up the eye powering it; it's back in action, and the conversation between Nidhana and the Radiant Host soldier confirmed it, it's just that because he's only got one eye right now, he can't go dual-boxing and controlling them both simultaneously anymore.

It's unlikely we'll get an Azdaja equivalent to Varshahn, not because it's impossible but just because she won't need it; Varshahn came about because of Vrtra's need for secrecy in Radz-at-Han. Azdaja doesn't have that same need.

[Turnintino]

Also, for anyone who picked the line about coffee biscuits when Gaia was asking who you were, that answer doesn't really make clear that she was just joking, which she says straight away if you ask whether she's lost her memory again.

Just wanna say that this bugged me as well lol.

I chose that option during my actual play-through, and I assumed, as her response carried on, that she was joking, but it really shouldn't be as ambiguous as it is. In English, her actor's reading was strange, but that's on the director; if she'd been told, "Gaia's joking here," I imagine she might've given us a more playful reading, but it certainly doesn't sound like that was the case. All it would've taken to fix that, though, would've been an extra line or two for clarity.

Anyway, I'm glad I went back to rewatch the cutscene with the other option, because that branch is much less awkward, much more charming, and it was interesting to hear she was writing an actual book -- about what, we may never know, but nevertheless.

[Turnintino]

MSQ:

Azeyma just being a huge Azem fangirl and that being the reason for her name and identity as a "god" was funny.

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She became her own self-insert power fantasy OC, and I think that's beautiful. Goals tbh.

[Iscah]

Got around to starting Magrat's custom deliveries. I knew that empty building in the hamlet had to be for running some kind of side content operation!

Also I can now add "Rhalgr smite you" to the list of Eorzean curses that I'll probably never get around to compiling.

[Alleluia]

MSQ thoughts:

I think Golbez was a gigas. Its the only thing that explains the size. lol Seriously, though, I can't think of any good reason to hide his face even at the moment of his death than either: "he's Azem and we're leaving it to your imagination"; or "his race is something very surprising". And the former seems most likely. Or he was 10 lalas in a suit of armor. Or the gigas that I mentioned. While also being Azem. Gigazem, if you will.

I was very happy Durante was turned from his path and found hope. I was pretty sure he had noble aims and could be salvaged as a person since about when we met Rubicante, so the pacing on it seemed fine to me. I look forward to returning to the 13th with some real zones to explore, now that they have access to light aether with those transmitters. And the Lopporits said something about the 13th using their research on habitible environments. ... which could result in something pretty zaney now that I think about it, cus lopporits. lol

I wonder if Zero's domain will end up being a city hub when we return? Its already a settlement of sorts. Could be cool.

Myths of the Realm:

So, odds Deryk will pull a G'raha (and Gaia?) and enter the MSQ at some point in future? I am not sure if I'd want that, but I wouldn't hate it if he at least showed up in a sidequest in Eorzea now and then. Or at a seasonal festival. XD In fact, he should probably show up in every season festival now, even if its just as an npc with a chat bubble and no other dialogue.

[Iscah]

Myths of the Realm:

So, odds Deryk will pull a G'raha (and Gaia?) and enter the MSQ at some point in future? I am not sure if I'd want that, but I wouldn't hate it if he at least showed up in a sidequest in Eorzea now and then. Or at a seasonal festival. XD In fact, he should probably show up in every season festival now, even if it's just as an npc with a chat bubble and no other dialogue.

Pretty low, I think.

G'raha only got to enter the MSQ (pre-mandatory-CT) due to the time travel factor removing the need for CT to happen first. It still works better if you've done it first, and the alternate excuse timeline is a little flimsy – "I'm doing all this to save you because I was close friends with an alternate timeline version of you" doesn't pack quite the same punch as the direct personal connection if you've done CT personally already – but ultimately a player's non-completion of it can be excused as something you (or at least other-you) will do at some point in your future that is the Exarch's past.

And I'm still not convinced that Gaia's conditional appearance here could lead to further MSQ, rather than being part of a multi-conditional side storyline.

That said, I would definitely expect Deryk to get some seasonal cameos, since we've already had things like letters or skits involving characters that are only available if you've completed certain quests, including some appearances from sidequest characters like Suzaku edging her way into that Hatching-tide quest where they all got those rabbit costumes they insist on wearing in cutscenes since.

[Alleluia]

Pretty low, I think.

G'raha only got to enter the MSQ (pre-mandatory-CT) due to the time travel factor removing the need for CT to happen first. It still works better if you've done it first, and the alternate excuse timeline is a little flimsy – "I'm doing all this to save you because I was close friends with an alternate timeline version of you" doesn't pack quite the same punch as the direct personal connection if you've done CT personally already – but ultimately a player's non-completion of it can be excused as something you (or at least other-you) will do at some point in your future that is the Exarch's past.

And I'm still not convinced that Gaia's conditional appearance here could lead to further MSQ, rather than being part of a multi-conditional side storyline.

That said, I would definitely expect Deryk to get some seasonal cameos, since we've already had things like letters or skits involving characters that are only available if you've completed certain quests, including some appearances from sidequest characters like Suzaku edging her way into that Hatching-tide quest where they all got those rabbit costumes they insist on wearing in cutscenes since.

Is there an animal costume they're missing?

Deryk will find the first opo-opo suit.