Summary: Entering
the Bozjan Southern Front, XIV’s new Eureka-style zone. Pushing towards
the imperial castrum and learning of Gabranth’s new vision for the
Empire.
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Where Eagles Nest
-This quest picks up from the relic weapon/inception stuff, with the Bozjan resistance against the Empire: https://coldrungaming.blogspot.com/2020/04/ffxiv-...
It’s
the new Eureka-style thing, the Bozjan Southern Front. That’s most of
what I know about it. Thank goodness it has a robust tutorial built in.
-It has its own leveling system. Each level is a “resistance rank,” and “mettle” is the new experience.
-The game centers around FATEs (“Skirmishes”) that might trigger Critical Engagement (“CE”) boss encounters.
-Okay, lots of new systems to take in. “Critical Engagements” are special encounters INITIATED by defeating certain enemies.
-One
of the cooler things about this zone is how it focuses on a colorful
cast of resistance characters. High Mage Xeven, Isolde the Eagle Eye,
Blaz the Merciful Blade, and more.
As I progress through here, I fight alongside them in skirmishes and get lore notes. I love it.
-Our goal here is to reclaim an imperial-held Castrum Lacus Litore.
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Pressing Forward
-The Garlond Ironworks will help us track down aethereal energy in the zone, giving us room to spy on the Empire.
-A scene change shows the Empire uncovering an ancient sword, Save the Queen. That was Beatrix’s weapon back in FFIX, right?
-Their main officer seems to be Menenius sas Lanatus.
-Oh shit, they got a mole in the Resistance! Misija.
We’ve seen some cracks in the Resistance already. Even before the Empire’s rule, there were major class divides, haves and have-nots. Perhaps Misija was a have who wants to remain a have.
[Later edit: I like the truth much more. How she was a have-not who feared remaining a have-not.]
-Oh, and Gabranth is in charge. XII GABRANTH! He’s been in the background for a while now.
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Signature Acquired
-Two non-Resistance folks helping us out are Mikoto and Lilja. Welcome back.
-We go out into the field to continue whatever magitek shenanigans we’re doing when Misija blows her cover to kidnap Mikoto. Why does she need her?
-Scene change over to the Castrum. There’s an unusual sight – a shirtless Imperial named Lyon rem Helsos. Looks far less… imperial than usual. Maybe a Bozjan or Ala Mhigan who joined them?
-Their real goal is the subjugation of Dalmasca for its resources. Trying to hold onto it after the chaos of Rabanastre.
-Lots of talk of Gabranth trying to build a new nation. Makes sense;
everyone knows the Emperor is dead. Is Gabranth trying to take his
place?
Noah van Gabranth is the one on the right.
-There’s also an Elezen-looking dude in this Imperial council named Albeleo. Lyon seems exceptionally loyal to Gabranth, while the other two are more trying to go all Aaron Burr. Watching the afterbirth of a coup, watching the tension grow.
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Picking Up the Trail
-Ah!! Mikoto is being held to help the Empire figure out how to use those crystal aether focus thingies we’ve been planting around the zone.
-Mikoto has some sort of prophetic powers. Iirc, we saw that used in the Tactics storyline.
-She’s also able to see Misija’s reasons for helping the Empire. She trusts in Noah van Gabranth.
MIKOTO: “He was made legatus of the IVth Imperial Legion, and from what intelligence I could gather, he pays no heed to the race, parentage, or creed of his followers.”
Same goes for the provinces he controls. He’s apparently a relatively fair ruler, and so perhaps he’s Misija is hedging her bets. Thinking that the Empire will likely win, and thus trying to ensure a decent version of the Empire emerges.
-Sort of. Misija also grew up under tremendous prejudice in Bozja. She doesn’t believe that the ideals of the Resistance will hold up under victory, thinks they’ll resort to old social systems quickly.
I LOVE THIS. Glad to see some of the cultures under Imperial oppression weren’t just coming from a free and open society, but rather transitioning from one oppression to another.
-Misija takes a bit of an aside in the conversation. She shares the legend of Queen Gunnhildr and Save the Queen, the blade only she could wield.
In the Fourth Umbral Calamity, her kingdom came under attack. They planned to use the blade to save the people by summoning a primal through the queen’s body, But she backed out at the last minute. Her guard, Gunnhildr’s Blades, realized they could use some new lowborn maiden for the sacrifice.
The volunteer/newly-risen queen did not die though. Like Ysayle, she was able to exist alongside the Primal’s power.
-…and in ANOTHER twist, Gunnhildr’s Blades feared this power, and KILLED HER FOR HER UNEXPECTED POWER AND FREEDOM BEFORE SHE COULD REALIZE HOW UNIQUE SHE WAS WTFFFF.
MISIJA: “It’s a bit of family history.” She’s 10000% the descendant of the slain maiden. [Later edit: her lore entry confirms that she’s the descendant of Queen Gunnhildr herself, though as I say later, I’m a bit confused about whether the servant IS the queen or someone else.]
-Anyway, back to the torture and interrogation. They want to find out how she gets her prophecy powers, no matter what.
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And now for something completely different, here’s my first attempt against the notorious Red Comet:
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Next time: Castrum Lacus Litore.
