Quest: Wings of Hope *spoilers*

[Gemina]

Spoilers ahead if you are still working on getting all the flutes for this expansion.


I just received the Apocryphal Bahamut mount, which is an interesting name given to this mount. I admit that I was a bit disappointed when mission 'Octo Gato' turned out to not award an 8th cat when the patch notes revealed it would actually be a retro version of Bahamut. However, after completing the quest it was quite fitting that it took place in this expansion since the Moon is the primary location.

Bahamut has for a long time now been my favorite summon in the series. In XIV, his sister, Tiamat describes him as a wyrm whose greatness and power is matched only by his compassion for his subjects. That he was truly good, and the Allagan's did him so dirty. The elder primal being a warped and twisted version of his true self due to the desperation and hatred that filled the prayers of his people.

When Bahamut's will is first translated and it turned out to be more of the millennia long hatred he had accumulated inside Dalamud, I got disheartened as I hoped there was some good that remained in him even in his primal form. And then...

"Grant hope... freedom... to my brothers... my sisters...
One day... may we soar... the boundless skies... without fear."

... Seeing this as his true will got me all choked up. That somehow, someway it managed to survive the cruelty of the Allagan's ceaseless, torturous mechanizations; and through the WoL's purity in his/her heart, it is able to manifest into what I feel is his true form.
I immediately imagined that despite the great dragon accepting me as his master, that I would touch my cheek to his, gently caress his scales and tell him,

"Fly. Seek out your brood and soar the heavens. You are free."

I would petition this artwork in a heartbeat if I knew someone who could do it.

What a great quest that really touched me. It would seem that this finally brings the tale of Bahamut in FFXIV to a close. I hope I was able to add some additional happiness through a little of my own personal lore surrounding this event. Though, I do wonder if more will be revealed if we ever go to Meracydia.

[Khryseis_Astra]

I immediately imagined that despite the great dragon accepting me as his master, that I would touch my cheek to his, gently caress his scales and tell him,

"Fly. Seek out your brood and soar the heavens. You are free."

I would petition this artwork in a heartbeat if I knew someone who could do it.

That would make an amazing picture! If you’re on Reddit, you could try posting a commission request in the ffxiv subreddit. There’s a lot of great artists there that post their work, and a lot of them do commissions. There’s also Etsy… I see a lot more listings for people who make custom figures of your character, but I’m sure there’s a few artists there as well.

I also loved this story… I went into it much like you did, thinking “all these lynxes and the final mount is Bahamut?” I’m a SMN, so I was thrilled anyway. Given EW’s heavy FF4 influence, it made sense. But I love how they tied it all together. I really do hope we get to go to Meracydia someday!

[Gemina]

That would make an amazing picture! If you’re on Reddit, you could try posting a commission request in the ffxiv subreddit. There’s a lot of great artists there that post their work, and a lot of them do commissions. There’s also Etsy… I see a lot more listings for people who make custom figures of your character, but I’m sure there’s a few artists there as well.

I also loved this story… I went into it much like you did, thinking “all these lynxes and the final mount is Bahamut?” I’m a SMN, so I was thrilled anyway. Given EW’s heavy FF4 influence, it made sense. But I love how they tied it all together. I really do hope we get to go to Meracydia someday!

Thanks! I'll venture over there and see if anyone can help me. Fortuitous situations tend to present themselves in this manner when the desire is there, so fingers crossed. I really appreciate the reply.