During the media tour for Dawntrail Yoshida mentioned these lore bits

[SannaR]

At the NA media tour someone asked at the group Q&A what stories or lore should people brush up on or think about prior to going into Dawntrail. His answer was to look over (or back over) Myths of the Relm and if those there were able to name all 14 convocation seats. I know many don't want more Ascians so soon, but we do have two that weren't in the could be dead pool. And three that are on the could have escaped death pool. I know that as of my posting this we only have 21 days left til the official launch and less than that for early access so this could just feel as a can't you just sit and wait to some.

For me there's a lot that any of this could mean. Hopefully this hint will be more obvious than Yoshida's Platinum color hint.

[diamondedge83]

Using Fandaniel and Loghrif as examples, we know that the sundered, then risen, Ascians new lives can have as much if not more say in who they are as people. Halmarut and Pashtarot may show up and decide not to be enemies, or they could have their own plans for whatever evil (or good) goal they may have come up with on their own. And assuming Gaius doesn't know he needed white auracite and an aetherial blade; Altima and Deudalaphon might have come back to join them. The only thing we've been told for sure is that the Hydaelyn-Zodiark arc is done, so the remaining convocation members will more than likely have given up on Zodiark, though I suppose that doesn't have to mean they've given up on the rejoining.

[MikkoAkure]

The only thing we've been told for sure is that the Hydaelyn-Zodiark arc is done, so the remaining convocation members will more than likely have given up on Zodiark, though I suppose that doesn't have to mean they've given up on the rejoining.

I was under the impression that Zodiark's self on the Source was completely dismantled and the constituent parts returned to the Lifestream. That's why we're able to meet the real Hythlodaeus. The main reason for the Rejoinings was for Zodiark and also to restore the souls that made him up so there's no reason to even try Rejoinings anymore even if it's still actually possible since Rejoinings and Zodiark are completely linked. There's no point left for the original Ascian plan and with the Unsundered completely and utterly dead and gone no new Ascians can be mantled. If Fandaniel is anything to go by, they're left up to their own devices and don't have to follow the original Ascian plan anymore anyway.

I don't want another plot revolving around a leaderless Ascian going rogue and doing their own thing for a 2nd time in a row, but I wouldn't mind if one just shows up as long as it doesn't take the spotlight.

Which brings me back to my personal theory that Altima has something to do with Solution Nine or at least the Arcadion. A red hologram resembling a corrupted version of what their potential glyph would look like appears TWICE in the same piece of the Arcadion concept art. Yoshi-P saying "players might want to see if they can remember all the members of the Convocation… but saying more might be a spoiler." brings me back to that theory of mine and I feel like it lends it further credibility.

Can't think of why he'd want us to play the EW alliance raid though.

[Supersnow845]

I’m assuming myths with be one of 2 reasons

1) deryk plays a part going forward- unlike the “Gaia shows up in 6.5 questline” deryk can be played either way depending on if you know he is oschon

2) potentially one of the remaining ascians has ties to the 12 or was specifically designated as the one who was supposed to oppose the 12 given the 12 stood in opposition to the ascians over the Millenia

[Cleretic]

At the NA media tour someone asked at the group Q&A what stories or lore should people brush up on or think about prior to going into Dawntrail. His answer was to look over (or back over) Myths of the Relm and if those there were able to name all 14 convocation seats. I know many don't want more Ascians so soon, but we do have two that weren't in the could be dead pool. And three that are on the could have escaped death pool. I know that as of my posting this we only have 21 days left til the official launch and less than that for early access so this could just feel as a can't you just sit and wait to some.

For me there's a lot that any of this could mean. Hopefully this hint will be more obvious than Yoshida's Platinum color hint.

God damnit, I was making this lore video on the Ancient world because I thought it wouldn't be relevant in the next expansion!

[ZavosEsperian]

At the NA media tour someone asked at the group Q&A what stories or lore should people brush up on or think about prior to going into Dawntrail. His answer was to look over (or back over) Myths of the Realm and if those there were able to name all 14 convocation seats. I know many don't want more Ascians so soon, but we do have two that weren't in the could be dead pool. And three that are on the could have escaped death pool. I know that as of my posting this we only have 21 days left til the official launch and less than that for early access so this could just feel as a can't you just sit and wait to some.

For me there's a lot that any of this could mean. Hopefully this hint will be more obvious than Yoshida's Platinum color hint.

Ascians being involved in the story I find to be predictable to a fault, whether it be in a minor or major way, due to how integral they are to the story mainly as an antagonistic force. I wouldn't mind if they gave them a break as they have been involved in nearly every major X.0 plot (minus 4.0 which was basically all Zenos) but I do understand why they may have elected to use them, given that there are a few of them still around with somewhat untouched lore around them minus the obvious stuff.

Myths is an interesting pick, could have something to do with one specific member of the Twelve since there are a lot of places that loosely follow/worship/admire specific Twelve members. It wouldn't be too farfetched to see the ideas related to the Twelve ending up in the New World at some point and taking their own form there.

[Denishia]

Another angle to having the Ascians involved in the plot that is almost too obvious is Galuf's adventure. We know that one of the lynchpins of the initial effort to go to Tural in the first place is that Krile is looking for info on her grandfather Galuf and what he was doing in Tural with Galool Ja Ja that leads to the unification and founding of Tuliyollal - and possibly write to him asking for aid. We know Galuf led the Students of Baldesion and that their organization along with the Isle of Val was wiped out by Emmeroloth with that whole Eureka business. But the Ascians' modus operandi was plotting to cause crisis for heroes to stop. So the MSQ will give at least one flashback explanation if not more of what happened all those years ago, likely involving defeating an Ascian. A different one or the same that later destroys the Isle of Val as revenge. Which thematically places the Ascian threat in the past already defeated along with the rest of the H/Z saga whereas the threat of this new arc and the future is something fresh but probably has at least some roots in said flashbacks, but nothing that places the Ascians outside of an Echo flashback.

[Bright-Flower]

Ascians being involved in the story I find to be predictable to a fault, whether it be in a minor or major way, due to how integral they are to the story mainly as an antagonistic force. I wouldn't mind if they gave them a break as they have been involved in nearly every major X.0 plot (minus 4.0 which was basically all Zenos) but I do understand why they may have elected to use them, given that there are a few of them still around with somewhat untouched lore around them minus the obvious stuff.

Myths is an interesting pick, could have something to do with one specific member of the Twelve since there are a lot of places that loosely follow/worship/admire specific Twelve members. It wouldn't be too farfetched to see the ideas related to the Twelve ending up in the New World at some point and taking their own form there.

Even 4.0 while we don't see the ascians, let's not forget that Elidibus giving Ilberd the eyes of Nidhogg was what set events into motion that made 4.0 happen in the first place too.

[ZavosEsperian]

Even 4.0 while we don't see the ascians, let's not forget that Elidibus giving Ilberd the eyes of Nidhogg was what set events into motion that made 4.0 happen in the first place too.

Indeed. 4.0 was heavily influenced by Ascians and their schemes. Elidibus does also make an appearance at the end of 4.0 as well so they aren't totally absent there either, it is more they are not visually present during the majority of 4.0.

[WhiteArchmage]

Another angle to having the Ascians involved in the plot that is almost too obvious is Galuf's adventure. We know that one of the lynchpins of the initial effort to go to Tural in the first place is that Krile is looking for info on her grandfather Galuf and what he was doing in Tural with Galool Ja Ja that leads to the unification and founding of Tuliyollal - and possibly write to him asking for aid. We know Galuf led the Students of Baldesion and that their organization along with the Isle of Val was wiped out by Emmeroloth with that whole Eureka business. But the Ascians' modus operandi was plotting to cause crisis for heroes to stop. So the MSQ will give at least one flashback explanation if not more of what happened all those years ago, likely involving defeating an Ascian. A different one or the same that later destroys the Isle of Val as revenge. Which thematically places the Ascian threat in the past already defeated along with the rest of the H/Z saga whereas the threat of this new arc and the future is something fresh but probably has at least some roots in said flashbacks, but nothing that places the Ascians outside of an Echo flashback.

I like this idea because it gives more credit to Galuf figuring out how to destroy an Ascian overlord. Perhaps Galuf managed to kill an Ascian's (perhaps even Emmerololth herself, for thematic reasons) host body and thought they had killed the real thing, only to later find out the whole "Ascian souls don't go to the Aetherial Sea" thing.

While I've hoped the Ascian plot is well and truly buried, we do have 2/4 overlords still unaccounted for and more Galuf backstory is always welcome.