Solution 9 - Unfounded Speculation!

[MikkoAkure]

I haven't had time to review the live letter yet, but if it is Owen, we know he was exiled from the Allagan Empire after he stood up to the leaders while trying to find a cure for tempering which means he's done a lot of research into souls, which could very well be connected to the "Soul Supply" sign we saw in the first few screenshots of Solution 9. Fandaniel also says that Owen had come up with his own version of the Warding Scale. Perhaps Owen is alive and well in Solution 9?

In the recent trailer, Owen's name is on a sign that also contains a symbol that looks like the "Soul Supply" sign.

I didn't recognize the name as having anything to do with Allagans before, but a quick google search confirms it. Does this mean Allagans after all?

[diamondedge83]

In the recent trailer, Owen's name is on a sign that also contains a symbol that looks like the "Soul Supply" sign.

I didn't recognize the name as having anything to do with Allagans before, but a quick google search confirms it. Does this mean Allagans after all?

Your guess is as good as mine, but I'm inclined to say it could just be Owen alone or perhaps with other Allagan exiles, and the empire has nothing to do with it. The fact is Owen was exiled for being a slight nuisance to those in charge, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that there could have been many great minds whose ideals didn't align with Xande 2.0 that banded together to create something better.

[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.

[Mixawaves]

The trailer is so cavalier about implying Solution 9 is the City of Gold with the vault door scenes and everything that I think I'm convinced it's misdirection. I wonder if the vault is our gateway to Zone 6, an actual golden-themed area, while Solution 9 is something else and it's people are in conflict with us to reach it and 'the key' for whatever reason. Or conversely, Solution 9 is behind a vault door, but it's a Fallout situation and the multiple shots we see of the door aren't all the same one and the City of Gold is behind a separate instance.

Another small, random detail I noticed is that in the very quick clip of the S9-themed water dungeon, you can see what appears to be one of the shock trooper people fighting a creature/construct in the background.

[Fenral]

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.

She does, a bit, but I think I'm picking up Sharon Apple vibes, myself. (That would be "rogue AI pop star" for the uninitiated.)