Solution 9 - Unfounded Speculation!

[Cleretic]

Much more concrete, by the way, is That Goddamn Sign in the Arcadion art is in the actual arena... in orange, where it suddenly looks a lot less like everyone's main suspect.



Alongside some of the same ads we've seen in Solution Nine, and text that seems to be a real jacked up Ancient alphabet; that says the name of the first boss, Black Cat, so that's probably the fighter promos. The sign we know doesn't resemble Black Cat themselves in any meaningful way, though; I could maybe buy the lower half as resembling their claws or their fur coat, but the head doesn't line up. So that suggests that the symbol is for the Arcadion itself, it's like the 'WW' logo for the WWE. (I had a brainwave there and tried to find the Ancient letters for 'Arcadion' in it, but no luck.)

[EdwinLi]

Maybe I watch too many plots that involve uncovering some ancient civilization that some how survived for so long but I feel like that whole Solution 9 invading the outside world in the trailer is going to be because of some paranoid antagonists that is part of their civilization that some how convinced everyone in Solution 9 that our actions for "discovering the City of Gold" and managing to enter it as a act of "Outsiders invading their home" to justify their sudden massive invasion.

Though I know plenty of people are going to enjoy the Solution 9 armor and vanity being themed as a Mad Max with a mix of Sci-fi design.

Much more concrete, by the way, is That Goddamn Sign in the Arcadion art is in the actual arena... in orange, where it suddenly looks a lot less like everyone's main suspect.



Alongside some of the same ads we've seen in Solution Nine, and text that seems to be a real jacked up Ancient alphabet; that says the name of the first boss, Black Cat, so that's probably the fighter promos. The sign we know doesn't resemble Black Cat themselves in any meaningful way, though; I could maybe buy the lower half as resembling their claws or their fur coat, but the head doesn't line up. So that suggests that the symbol is for the Arcadion itself, it's like the 'WW' logo for the WWE. (I had a brainwave there and tried to find the Ancient letters for 'Arcadion' in it, but no luck.)

Considering the theme design of the Solution 9 soldiers and gear sets we seen, I won't be surprised if the new normal raid is WWE themed.

[Grivvaint]

Changing my favored theory from Solution 9 being escapees from the 12th shard to them being escapees from the Second Umbral Calamity. I'd still prefer they came from the 12th shard, but...

The Second Umbral Calamity or Calamity of Lightning came on the heels of the First Astral Era, an age where mankind learned to forge stone tools and established settlements and towns, which grew into kingdoms that soon went to war, each seeking to expand their domain. To forge their tools and weapons, mountains were gutted and skies blackened.

Nature was despoiled for countless years until the balance tipped. Volcanoes spewed black smoke that covered the skies and plunged the realm into eternal darkness. Bolts of lightning rained down from the skies for a full year and a day, forcing mankind to seek shelter in underground caverns that became breeding grounds for pestilence. In their desperation, the people prayed for salvation, giving birth to the earliest forms of magical incantations.

[diamondedge83]

I think the sign actually says "OPEN" in all capital letters, like for a store or a bar (a couple of which are depicted in the same screenshot).

I translated it while I was watching the LL last night, thought "welp, that's not very exciting. anyway..."

Yes, I just found it in the LL, it's definitely "OPEN" and not Owen. The more simple mundane answer is usually the correct one.

[MikkoAkure]

Yes, I just found it in the LL, it's definitely "OPEN" and not Owen. The more simple mundane answer is usually the correct one.

Ah yeah. The bit on the left is higher. I must’ve stopped at “w” when looking down the chart and thought “why the hell does it say “Owen?!” And not continued comparing letters.

At least hopefully not Allagans.

[Cleretic]

As mentioned in another thread, I think there's something to the fact the Enigmatic Maiden is just a couple synonyms away from 'Mysterious Girl', which is a title used for two different characters in Final Fantasy before, from FFIX and FFIV: After Years (well, one character and one collection of characters but we'll give it to them). And as it happens, both of those characters are artificial humans created by some greater villain with a plan to impersonate or replace a major party member.

I doubt she's an exact one-to-one of that whole framework--for one, she'd do an awful job at posing as any of our party--but I suspect that we're not looking at coincidence here.

[kaynide]

As mentioned in another thread, I think there's something to the fact the Enigmatic Maiden is just a couple synonyms away from 'Mysterious Girl', which is a title used for two different characters in Final Fantasy before, from FFIX and FFIV: After Years (well, one character and one collection of characters but we'll give it to them). And as it happens, both of those characters are artificial humans created by some greater villain with a plan to impersonate or replace a major party member.

I doubt she's an exact one-to-one of that whole framework--for one, she'd do an awful job at posing as any of our party--but I suspect that we're not looking at coincidence here.

Tron Master Control Program Confirmed! (some /s)

[MikkoAkure]

As mentioned in another thread, I think there's something to the fact the Enigmatic Maiden is just a couple synonyms away from 'Mysterious Girl', which is a title used for two different characters in Final Fantasy before, from FFIX and FFIV: After Years (well, one character and one collection of characters but we'll give it to them). And as it happens, both of those characters are artificial humans created by some greater villain with a plan to impersonate or replace a major party member.

In Japanese, the Enigmatic Maiden’s name is 儚げに微笑む少女 which is “Girl with a Fleeting/Bitter/Fragile Smile” depending on the translation, which isn’t the same as 謎の少女 “mysterious girl”, so I’m not sure there’s meant to be any connection there. In French, she is “Young Woman with a Contrite Smile” and in German she’s “Fleetingly Smiling Girl”, so once again, it’s just the English version that stands out.

As for the girl herself, she has a line in the other language versions of the trailer about her plan finally coming to fruition now that she holds the key, which I assume to be that suspicious-looking goblet thing. I don’t think we have enough context clues on what that plan could be, but we do see an invasion force in Tuliyollal and the maps we see of Tural in-game do not include Solution Nine so their existence is definitely a surprise to everyone.

[SannaR]

Ok this'll probably be my last wild speculation and one I don't think anyone has mentioned either, but Solution 9 is Macross City. Five gil says those hover bikes can change into dirt bikes; since we know there are dirt bikes shown in some of the newer Solution 9 artwork. The enigmatic maiden is some sort of cross between Lynn Minmay and Misa Hayase (Lisa Hayes for those who only know Robotech). You can't tell me she doesn't look like she could start singing a very catchy pop song all about love and hope while just actually being a very good diplomat.