CG Midlander

[Catapult]

1.) The Circle of Knowing knows of the Echo but they do not possess the power. They're in the Circle of Knowing because they're said to be reincarnations of the Twelve, the Archons. Minfilia tells us that 10 years ago the Echo began to appear in mass, same time as the Battle of Silvertear Skies. The Echo could have came from the Primals being released, it could be a power that was brought out when the aether was disturbed, it could be the call of the Mother Crystal ("Heed the Crystals Call," could literally be a hint they give us).

First, claiming that the Archons are reincarnations of the Twelve is drawing quite a long bow. Are you believing everything that an egg-hatted girl told you? How she interprets her dream is not necessarily reality. And what a wierd and funky dream it was...

Second, saying that the Archons don't have the echo? Well, they ultimately do, but one could argue that the second starshower we see (ie: the one ten years ago in our echo) is when Thancred & co. got it. You could then apply that argument to say that people like E-Sumi-Yan must also now have it and that is how Ascilia and Krimm got it, but I digress.

In the opening video, there is a bit of a pause between the seal being released and the starshower. There is also a short pause between our own awakening (Hear, Feel, Think) and the associated starshower. Now we could argue (and I am making quite the hypothesis here) that the reason we are able to echo-in-an-echo later on is because at that very moment, Midgardsomr has just broken the seal and the echo is awoken in the ten-years-ago time setting. Which in turn makes Thancred say "That was YOU, but that would mean..." meaning, yes, the echo has just woken, so enjoy your starshower, pretty boy, and the echo that comes with it.

[kimoi]

If the First Astral era was the first era, then the Sixth Umbral era would be the last if it goes with the Astral -> Umbral -> Astral -> Umbral formula.

No, I'm pretty sure you had it right in your timeline. It begins with the First Umbral Era because that was the turbulence that marked the end of the reign of gods. The next era was the First Astral Era because it was the first era that belonged to man. That's how I always understood it, at any rate.

Also when I was working on the Timeline and went with the Astral -> Umbral formula and instinctively put the Fifth Umbral -> Sixth Umbral in that order because I assumed if the Ice age melted, logically there would be major flooding.

Lewphon of Sharlayan wrote, "The Sixth Umbral Era belonged to the waters, as heavy rains fell and the seas rose high, submerging and cleansing all in a great deluge."


On another note, actually his next sentence brings me to something I've been speculating about myself. "With time the waters receded, ushering in the present Sixth Astral Era, during which man has again rebuilt his halls and tilled his lands."

I had been wondering if Umbral Eras are really short. Like, perhaps they end as soon as the disaster ends. In other words, I'm wondering if it'll even still be considered Umbral in 1577 or if just the destruction was considered the Umbral Age and we'll already be past that. Seems kind of short to be an "era" though. Perhaps it lasts until the water completely recedes, which in this case would be the defeat of Bahamut.

[HiirNoivl]

That seems correct. The Alpha text in the video of the quest that was revealed referred to those who lost their lives in the Seventh Umbral Era, meaning that the era was already over.

[Soukyuu]

That seems correct. The Alpha text in the video of the quest that was revealed referred to those who lost their lives in the Seventh Umbral Era, meaning that the era was already over.

Yeah, that's something that confused me. Calling a "disaster" an "era" seems kinda off... When I think of an "era" I think of a pretty long period of time

[HiirNoivl]

Same /tenchar

[NoloeTazier]

First, claiming that the Archons are reincarnations of the Twelve is drawing quite a long bow. Are you believing everything that an egg-hatted girl told you? How she interprets her dream is not necessarily reality. And what a wierd and funky dream it was...

Second, saying that the Archons don't have the echo? Well, they ultimately do, but one could argue that the second starshower we see (ie: the one ten years ago in our echo) is when Thancred & co. got it. You could then apply that argument to say that people like E-Sumi-Yan must also now have it and that is how Ascilia and Krimm got it, but I digress.

In the opening video, there is a bit of a pause between the seal being released and the starshower. There is also a short pause between our own awakening (Hear, Feel, Think) and the associated starshower. Now we could argue (and I am making quite the hypothesis here) that the reason we are able to echo-in-an-echo later on is because at that very moment, Midgardsomr has just broken the seal and the echo is awoken in the ten-years-ago time setting. Which in turn makes Thancred say "That was YOU, but that would mean..." meaning, yes, the echo has just woken, so enjoy your starshower, pretty boy, and the echo that comes with it.

I said

They're in the Circle of Knowing because they're said to be reincarnations of the Twelve, the Archons.

Didn't say I believed they were. As for the Archons having the Echo I still don't think they do. They have the knowledge of the Echo but that's because they're suppose to. Wouldn't be the Circle of Knowing if they didn't know about these things. When Thancred says "The Echo...but that means," the Echo knowledge is there in history, clearly not the first time the powers have been awakened. I just don't believe the Archons have the Echo, they're magical and have ways of knowing things but I don't think the Voice would have chosen them.

No, I'm pretty sure you had it right in your timeline. It begins with the First Umbral Era because that was the turbulence that marked the end of the reign of gods. The next era was the First Astral Era because it was the first era that belonged to man. That's how I always understood it, at any rate.

See the reason why I got confused by it all because the "official" FFXIV Storyline started with the Twelve in Eorzea, the wandering tribes come, the Twelve bless the tribes and thus it was the First Astral. But for the Eras to work, I had to change them around. Giving the "first era" the Time of the Twelve era.

I had been wondering if Umbral Eras are really short. Like, perhaps they end as soon as the disaster ends. In other words, I'm wondering if it'll even still be considered Umbral in 1577 or if just the destruction was considered the Umbral Age and we'll already be past that. Seems kind of short to be an "era" though. Perhaps it lasts until the water completely recedes, which in this case would be the defeat of Bahamut.

Yeah this one confused me as well. The Grand Companies (not the ones we know of today) came together at the end of the Fifth Astral because they knew the Sixth Umbral was coming. We don't have a the Lore to know when the Ice of the Fifth Umbral melted away after forming. But it had to last relatively long considering animals were able to walk across the oceans with the Miqo tribes right behind them. Did the people of the Fifth Astral Era live the entire time with the Ice, then the Ice melted and gave way to Flooding?

Also along with the time thing, it's really confusing. 1500 years ago (it's 1572) the Sixth Umbral flooding happened, which would make it 72 Sixth Era. Hopefully Ferne can explain to us how the Eras change.

[Warlock]

I have come up with a new theory in what happens at the ending of "End of an Era" Trailer ...we see the hyur WAR,elzen BLM,mi'qote BRD,lalafell WHM and roegadyn PLD been frozen in time ...right before the Megaflare...what we don't see is what happens with usas Fernehalwes stated in the lore bomb post these guys are not a direct representation of us the player adventurer in other words they are not placeholders ..we didn't meet with them simply because the world is too big or something...so what if the white light at the end of the trailer involves the actual us? Its not the first time SE allow us to deflect Godlike power ...Chains of Promathia did it in FF11
we stopped an attack from the god Promathia with the help of Altana ..so what if we do the same here? wouldn't it be awesome if we pull off a "specto patronus" kinda move to deflect the megaflare? Gotta remember the closest friendship Lousoix had was with us not the party in the CGI thus his final smile? idk what you guys think?


EDIT I just read in a thread someone saying Yoshi-P at some point said Odin was once a man and that he is connected with the Allagan Empire..so that put me to thinking..what if Odin is the sleeping Allagan King himself who is awoken by the Bahamut incident? and Odin makes the Crystal Tower come out the ground right as Bahamut is ready to throw that megaflare...would explain that horse noise at the end of the trailer.. thoughts?

[Bowen]

I would really appreciate some clarification on how the eras actually work...

(* Turns on the Fern signal *)

[NoloeTazier]

I have come up with a new theory in what happens at the ending of "End of an Era" Trailer ...we see the hyur WAR,elzen BLM,mi'qote BRD,lalafell WHM and roegadyn PLD been frozen in time ...right before the Megaflare...what we don't see is what happens with usas Fernehalwes stated in the lore bomb post these guys are not a direct representation of us the player adventurer in other words they are not placeholders ..we didn't meet with them simply because the world is too big or something...so what if the white light at the end of the trailer involves the actual us? Its not the first time SE allow us to deflect Godlike power ...Chains of Promathia did it in FF11
we stopped an attack from the god Promathia with the help of Altana ..so what if we do the same here? wouldn't it be awesome if we pull off a "specto patronus" kinda move to deflect the megaflare? Gotta remember the closest friendship Lousoix had was with us not the party in the CGI thus his final smile? idk what you guys think?

lol totally-way-out-there-theory. Sadly they represent us as Adventurers. As for Louisoix smiling, he knows we'll be able to take care of what he couldn't, his Plan B won't destroy Bahamut but it'll "calm" him down somehow. I'm not sure if I'm on the whole Odin-train like everyone else is, they really want Odin to appear and save everyone.

I would really appreciate some clarification on how the eras actually work...

(* Turns on the Fern signal *)

Yeah, definitely think we should get an explanation of how the Eras work.

• Are Umbrals Eras short? Or does it depend on the destruction?
• 1500 years ago the Grand Companies got together in preparation for the Sixth Umbral, then it happened and the world was flooded, when did the Sixth Astral Era officially begin?
• Does time reset for each Era, ie when Umbral Eras happen, does it become Year 0?

Then I have a few questions about the Ul'dah storyline:

• Will we learn about what happened to Corguevais? Was he an Imperial spy or just the scapegoat of the Syndicate?
• Will we learn about Warburton's mission and what information he carried to his death?
• Will we learn about what Niellefresne saw in the coffin?
• Will we learn who the left-handed hooded Hyur was that stabbed Nielle? Did Lord Lolorito hire him because Nielle stole the dagger? If we was hired by Lolorito because Nielle stole the dagger, why didn't he take the dagger back? So if it wasn't Lolorito will we learn who they are associated with?
• Will Nielle finally be able to "rest in peace?" Possibly with the help of Greinfarr?
• Ascilia is Minfilia? Rightrightrightrightrightrightrightrightright?
• Will we learn about what happened to the Horn Corguevais stole? Is it the same or a brother to the Horn from the Limsa storyline? Why didn't the Ascians or their helpers go after the Ul'dah Horn?

I doubt a lot of that can be answered, but I wanted to make a post where I could clear those questions from my head. Thank you.

[Catapult]

Odin....

Let's think back to Final Fantasy Four, where Odin had mortal origins.

The former King of Baron, after he "died" he became Odin.

Now let's think who we know recently died like a sentinel? You've got three guesses and the first two don't count.

Odin's Shield in the XIV concept art also reminds me of the tattoos of the Circle of Knowing.