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Echoes of an Echo
-Lyse is worried about Fordola. She seems to be getting Echoes a lot, not just occasionally like mine.
-I head over to the Resonatorium to investigate how the Empire’s artificial power-ups work.
-This lab is still creepy af, with that FFVII-style containment area. It’s also littered with bodies from failed “experiments.” They died from being drained of aether.
-Most containment pods here are labeled “Supply Subject.” The one Krile was held in is “Master Subject.” Krile was their model to give others the Echo. Fordola include.
-Wow. Fordola is guarded by those who suffered at the hands of her and her Skulls. Fordola can’t help but see the Echoes of those nearby constantly.
ARENVALD: “You don’t just see their past – you live it. All the emotions; all the pain. Imagine what it’d do to you. You’d never be the same again.”
This is like the worst punishment possible. Forced empathy, having to relive her past actions. XIV seems to be definitely setting up a redemption arc for Fordola.
-That’s on hold for now. She’s gonna stew in prison for a bit. For now, we have to ensure these experimental results don’t get back to the Empire. It’d suck for them to be able to mass-produce Echo.
-Pipin arrives with a message for me: the Sultana wants to see me. I’m heading home to Ul’dah.
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A Sultana’s Strings
-She wants to talk about Raubahn. He’s loyal to her but an Ala Mhigan at heart.
NANAMO UL NAMO: “Whether Raubahn chooses to remain in Ul’dah or return to Ala Mhigo, I only wish that he do so with a heart unburdened by guilt or regret.”
The Sultana is so pure and good. I almost feel bad wishing she had stayed dead after ARR.
-She worries her reliance on Raubahn drags him down. She wants me to walk around her realm with her, help her be a better leader.
-She dons the same “merchant’s daughter” disguise as when I first met her way back in part 2. It’s been so long.
http://coldrungaming.blogspot.com/2017/07/ffxiv-p...
-We visit refugee camps outside the city, with folks who will never afford to live in the city proper. She’s got to deal with this crisis.
-We visit a rocky outcropping where her parents died in an “untimely rockslide,” or perhaps assassination. She needs to get the city politically stable.
-We see the coliseum. Nanamo regrets a lot of her rule, but this is where she first met Raubahn.
She was governing mindlessly, by inertia, but seeing Raubahn fight a dozen gladiators was too much. She demanded a fair fight. Raubahn won, took his place on the Syndicate, and swore himself to her service.
-Echo flashback time! We see Raubahn’s final victory that day.
Nanamo is so excited, that she literally RUNS AND JUMPS INTO HIS ARMS!
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A Sultana’s Duty
-Next stop is the city ossuary. Nanamo remembers how she would pray here during the Battle of Carteneau, reflecting on her role.
-She finally sees a chance to help the Ala Mhigans in a major way as they return home.
NANAMO: “These people will need shelter and employment if they are to survive, and this time the Ul’dahn treasury shall provide!” HELL YEAH SULTANA!
-The finances are gonna take some tweaking. For advice, we’ll take a trip to one of the few people who employs a ton of refugees at a fair wage: Godbert Manderville, owner of the Gold Saucer.
-This is the Sultana’s first trip to the casino. It’s overwhelming.
-The Sultana’s first proposal is to just give money to Ala Mhigan refugees. Godbert is against this, finding it unsustainable and as something that will make Ul’dah’s poorest citizens resent her.
-She’ll try coming up with a plan that benefits Ala Mhigo and Ul’dah both.
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A Sultana’s Resolve
-The next meeting is with the sleazy but economically brilliant Lord Lolorito. The Sultana fears him, quite reasonably. He nearly overthrew her.
She’s determined to get over it. She’ll need to, to be the most effective leader she can be.
-Lolorito removes his mask (for the first time all game I think, but could be wrong) at the meeting’s start.
-He’s open to her proposal! Impressed, even. He expected her to just ask him to give charity, not be an investing partner.
-I choose where the money goes and pick the Saltery, a salt-producing village by Ala Mhigo.
-Back in Ala Mhigo, Lyse is happy to hear Ul’dah’s investment. Alphinaud is (rightly) cautious – Lolorito getting too much control is not a great idea, so they’ll put some of the king’s hoard towards the principal investment.
-The folks in the Saltery are on board. Let the reconstruction of Ala Mhigo begin.
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A Blissful Arrival
-Arenvald apprehended some Crystal Brave fugitives, Yuyuhase and Laurentius. We haven’t seen them since they orchestrated the slaughter that summoned Shinryu.
-If it were up to me, how would I handle it? Execution or prison?
I think execution has a place. In war-time, if you don’t have the capacity to take a dangerous enemy captive. But in peacetime, no thanks.
-Raubahn feels guilty about Ilberd. Wishes he had supported Ala Mhigan liberation more strongly, might’ve headed off some of the Ilberd/Shinryu stuff.
All that’s in the past.
RAUBAHN: “My work here is done. Soon, I will return to Ul’dah, and take my place at the sultana’s side.”
-Really? No leadership role? Seems not. He pledged himself to Nanamo, and won’t go back on his word.
-The next day, some unexpected guests arrive in Ala Mhigo. Qalyana, the usually hostile Ananta. They’re the ones who summoned the primal Lakshmi.
-Shanti is their leader, their broodmother. She hasn’t forgiven our attack on Lakshmi but wants to see what this new Gyr Abanian order is about.
”You claim to ssseek harmony with all who call Gyr Abania home. If thisss is truly your wish, you will welcome usss as envoys of the Ananta!”
Lyse laid the groundwork for this immediately after killing Lakshmi.
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Next time: summit on the future of Gyr Abania.
