The Sins of Antiquity
-We regroup with Ser Aymeric. Almost immediately I get another vision of the past. Convenient, those.
-I see Aymeric berating Archbishop Thordan before his arrest.
“The founding, the scriptures – a thousand years of lies – all to deceive the common man!”
-Thordan admits the truth, even that the Elezen’s butchery justified Nidhogg’s rage. But he sees those as sins of the past, not his. Subsequent generations shouldn’t have to pay.
Sort of? But you guys have reaped the benefits of your ancestors’ sins for generations. Even now, you protect their ill-gotten gains with this lie. The victim – Nidhogg and the dragons – were still alive until very recently. This isn’t ancient history.
So no, you shouldn’t surrender to an eternity of punishment, but you can do your best to make amends.
It’s true that no amends would likely have been enough to placate Nidhogg. But still, why not tell your people the truth? I think it ultimately comes down to him holding onto power. PERSONAL power. Not survival as a city.
THORDAN: “Do not despair, my son. Soon I shall free us from the sins of antiquity and bring about the change you so fervently desire.”
I don’t know the details, but this must be the end goal of his deal with the Ascians.
-Thordan calls in two of his Heavens’ Ward, Charibert and Zephirin, to arrest Aymeric. We know Charibert is a jackwagon, but Zephirin showed many hints of discomfort with the Archbishop’s direction. I think we may get him on our side at some point.
-Back to the present, vision over. No one knows “change” Thordan’s talking about.
We have some ideas. The Heavens’ Ward exhibited unusual powers in the Vault. They grew giant, gained power. And that energy spear that destroyed Haurchefant was new.
-It reminds Aymeric of the original King Thordan and his knights in the myths, full of holy power.
AYMERIC: “If Lady Iceheart can use her own body as a vessel for summoning, I see no reason why others could not…”
-Who are they summoning for this power? Is it the Ascians, or some new primal? OOH WHAT IF IT’S ZODIARK THEY’RE DRAWING ON? And the Ascians are convincing Thordan to draw on Zodiark for power as a way to wake him up or something?
-There’s still one primal at large in Bismarck, but I don’t think this is it. Bismarck feels more like a beast tribe thing.
(In the back of my mind is Shinryu in the expansion logo.)
-Ser Aymeric will deal with the political fallout of the archbishop’s departure and all these truths coming to light. Alphinaud (and Estinien?) and I will pursue the archbishop and the Heavens’ Ward.
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In Search of the Soleil
-Thordan’s airship, the Soleil, was sighted in the Sea of Clouds. Vanu Vanu territory.
-He said he was heading to Azys Lla. Not sure where that is, but probably something to do with the power the Ascians offered him.
-As we fly in, the omniscient narrator voice is ominous. Hinting at a threat lurking behind us as we arrive at this new part of the Sea of Clouds.
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Familiar Faces
-I start searching around the new sky islands (skylands?) when I see a Vanu Vanu being chased by… imperial troops? I haven’t really seen them much this expansion.
-They’re searching for the archbishop too. Neither of these are our friends, but the imperials are our enemies. We fight and protect the Vanu.
-Her name is Lonu Vanu. She’s thankful for our help and invites us back to her village nearby. The beast tribes thus far have always had a friendly faction that I can gain rep with, and it sounds like I’ve just met the Vanu Vanu version.
I LOVE THE VANU VANU LOOK! Big snuggly owlbeasts.
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Devourer of Worlds
-This next quest cracks me up. The text description is innocent enough - “Lonu Vanu wants to show you to her village!” – but the name of the quest is “Devourer of Worlds.”
-The village is Ok’Zundu.
These Vanu Vanu are the Zundu. They’re split from the last, hostile group we met, the Vundu.
-Gunshots crack through the air. The imperials are hunting Bismarck.
-HOLY SHIT BISMARCK ROSE UP THROUGH THE SEA OF CLOUDS AND JUST ATE A FLOATING ISLAND LIKE A PIECE OF POPCORN
-Lonu invites us to speak with the village chief. The Zundu hate and fear Bismarck.
-We introduce ourselves to Chief Sonu Vanu.
I’m consistently blown away by the character designs here. The colors, the texture, everything.
-This group has seen Archbishop Thordan and his crew. They’re seeking the “key to Azys Lla.”
CHIEF SONU: “Look not into heart of tempest. There lies ancient birthplace of sin, home of forbidden secrets. To speak more is to call the wind!” Ruh-roh. Sounds like some big final dungeon area.
-Bismarck just devoured the island that held the key. Are we going inside a whale a la FFII when got swallowed by Leviathan and had to fight our way through him as a dungeon?
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Black and the White
-Alphinaud wants to kill Bismarck and retrieve the key from his stomach. No whale stomach dungeon. :(
-First, we need more info on the beast. I find a village lorekeeper, Kunu Vali, who tells me the myth/lore of Bismarck.
Long ago, “the White” was born as one among many in seas of water. His brothers were black and he white. His brothers hated him, attacked him, killed him.
The gods resurrected the White, raising him to the skies. He created this Sea of Clouds to give himself the feeling of swimming once more.
Kunu Vali, storyteller.
“Content, He gazes below and sees others who are as He – hated and hunted. He weeps, and in His benevolence, He raises up isles of earth and guides these people to the cloud sea. Such is the tale of His rebirth, and the salvation of the Vanu.”
Interesting! So Bismarck is seen as a shepherd/god of sorts. The Vanu Vanu’s origin sounds like it focuses on Bismarck bringing them here.
-…which makes this version of Bismarck all the more horrifying. The Zundu see this Bismarck as a corruption, whipped into a raging frenzy by the Vundu.
“The isles are His gift to us – yet now He must consume them? Kunu Vali knows no tales like this.”
-Alphinaud, Cid and I regroup. Alphinaud didn’t hear much of interest, except something about Vanu skyfishing tactics.
CID: “Skyfishing? My boy, I could kiss you!”
I have zero doubt that there’s fanfic of these two.
-Hearing about skyfishing gives Cid an idea. Bismarck is driven by hunger. He was wounded and ate an island to restore his strength. So what if we “fish” for Bismarck by towing in a suitably delicious island?
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Bolt, Chain and Island
-We approach Chief Sonu with our theory, that this Bismarck is not the Zundu version, but a corruption given form by the Vundu.
-He’s willing to help us.
-Cid and the Vanu prep the ship and supplies for our hunt.
-We tow the island behind us. Bismarck is following.
-I take one shot at him with some of my friends. The set-up for the fight is really sweet – we’re on a floating island being towed in mid-air, as Bismarck flies along side and bats our island around while we try to fight him.
We’re a bit underpowered and wipe a few times. I’ll try again later.
And before I go, a random shot of my friend Raq and their badass feathered hat with monk sword hand things:
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Next time: hunting the white whale.
