"But if I must meet mine end, then all shall burn upon my pyre!" - Let's Play Heavensward: Final Fantasy XIV!

[TyrMcDohl]

And what have you to say for yourself?

There's really nothing I can add to this scene. Ysayle's fear and pain, Estinien's indignation, and Hraesvelgr's grief at his lost love, they're all carried through the voice acting.

Flames that burned full bright soon fell dark
Memories dimmed by shadowed hearts
In the waxing gloom
Did wane the lovers' moon
Watching as their worlds drift apart

~ The Dragonsong

Next time, our heroes process everything they have learned.

---

Alright, guys, we're about halfway through the 3.0 Main Scenario, so we need to start thinking about the future! Namely, what job Satznswys is going to be playing for the 3.x patch content! I still have the job poll results from when we started this, and I've kept every vote that hasn't resulted in a job being picked. With all that in mind, here's how the job votes stack up, having removed Dark Knight from the pool:

1 - Summoner, 5.5 votes
2 - Ninja, 3 votes
3 - Black Mage/Dragoon/Astrologian, 1 vote each

I'll be taking votes and selections up until the end of the 3.0 content, and give the final results then. Partial votes are accepted. As always, don't worry about making me start a job from level 1, as leveling does go by very quickly. I've made the decision to not allow the two Shadowbringers jobs onto the poll, as they start at level 60, so there will barely be any story for the job to speak of, except to say "hi" and "bye" to the job trainers, and just move on. Don't worry, the Shadowbringers jobs will have their chance when we get ready to start Stormblood!

 

[Juno]

Summoner!

 

[Büge]

"Do not toot it!"
"Fool! Satznswys does as she pleases!"

 

[Cadenza]

Summoner!

 

[Büge]

Dragoon.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Welcome back to the Let's Play. You might notice from this mess of a screenshot that things...are a little broken. So I reformatted my hard drive and reinstalled Windows 10 between writing the previous update and this one. I forgot to backup Satznswys's character settings to the cloud, and my previous backup for my main character as well had a backup from a year ago. SO things were a bit of a mess, getting them set back up. I have to fix Satznswys's bars. So please bear with me as I work to fix some things in the process of setting things back up from scratch.

Yeahhhh... none of the items are gone, but the gear presets are definitely gone. So are the hotbars.

After about an hour of fiddling, I think I have my jobs' bars back to where they're workable. But of course, it's a work in progress.

CHAPTER 5 - THE TRAGEDY

The main story picks back up where we left Estinien, Alphinaud, and Ysayle at the palace of Zenith. You know, that whole thing about everything our heroes knowing about the Dragonsong War being a lie, either by omission by the dragons, or outright information suppression by the Holy See.

Estinien feels it a hollow victory, nonetheless. Everything he's done was in the name of revenge. In a way, he and Nidhogg are more alike than he cares to admit.

Yeah, still one eye unaccounted for: Nidhogg's right.

Uh oh. Sounds like there's trouble in the Holy See. He asks Aymeric to hold firm until they can get back to the city.

Ysayle protests that she gave no order to attack.

At the very least, we should see what this is all about, before making any rash decisions. I don't like the authoritarian tone in Estinen's voice when he says that the people must be saved from themselves.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

You sure that's a good idea, Ysayle?

Well, okay.

Meanwhile, in the chamber of the Knights Twelve...

Yeah, every time I see these people together, I get more and more uneasy at their mutterings of plans proceeding apace.

Seems like the heretics invading the city was all to plan, then.

"Renewed fervor to their prayers," you say? What do we already know about this world and fervent prayer by now? I just hope there isn't a massive supply of aether or crystals nearby.

Don't like the sound of that.

And this guy of course isn't far behind. Lahabrea is pleased with this turn of events. Thordan said that he was intending to use the Ascians to his own ends, so who's manipulating who, here?

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Out in the streets of Foundation, our heroes arrive back in the city, rendezvousing with Haurchefant. He realizes who Estinien and Satznswys are accompanying, but says not a word, trusting Satznswys's judgement.

No idea how they're gonna take this...

"Ahem. Two Azure Dragoons. Though to be fair, neither of us are too azure right now..."

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Yeah, best to let them go.

You right, Haurchefant.

Satznswys brings Haurchefant up to speed. It has been a while since they've had time to talk. He's astonished at what they've been up to lately. He insists that his father, Count Fortemps, and Aymeric must be told immediately. Though, Estinien already told Aymeric by linkpearl...

Nonetheless, they split up to bring Aymeric to Fortemps Manor to deliver the news to both.

And now the story is recounted for Alphinaud and the others.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Yeah, that is the tricky wicket.

You do seem to be taking this rather well, Aymeric.

...if I were in Satznswys's boots right now, I'd be very skeptical at this observation, of how zealously Count Fortemps would be willing to act to preserve the status quo.

Luckily, both Aymeric and Count Fortemps are more than willing to confront the truth, and atone for their ancestors' deeds.

Of course, that will have to happen. And given what we know of him, he's not like to take the spread of such knowledge lightly.

Aymeric says that one must see what lies on the horizon if it is not. While ruled by fear of a common enemy, Ishgard was united. But without this millenium of war to focus the peoples' lives, things are going to get ugly very quickly.

He says that Iceheart is going to spread this word, and it's going to get to the commonborn populace of the city, and then civil unrest is all but certain.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Alphinaud sympathizes with Aymeric's desire for change, but approaching the archbishop like this is very out of character.

Lucia intends to cast her lot with Aymeric, as she did in the past.

She's willing to take the risk. After all, she isn't from Ishgard. She hails from foreign lands, and is loyal to Aymeric first. Say, Lucia...where are you from, anyway?

Yeah, Satznswys and Alphinaud are still outsiders to these lands, and despite Tataru's massive information network, we're not up to date on all the latest gossip.

So, Rielle's mother is high-up, but not so high that she is was forbidden to bear children. Alphinaud asks if it's actually true that Thordan is Aymeric's father.

The rumors are there, and there are accusations that he was placed in command of the Temple Knights because of his lineage, but in truth, he got there off the sweat of his own brow. She thinks that if it is true, then Thordan would not be so rash as to kill his own flesh and blood, and that he could be rescued if the worst happens.

Count Fortemps, you're being awfully quiet.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Hear hear, Haurchefant!

Outnumbered, he finally sees these winds starting to change.

Lucia thinks that if we stand apart, any push for change and rescue of Aymeric is likely to fail, and suggests recruiting others to their cause.

Alphinaud thinks of one of the other High Houses.

Rebels? Okay, sure. She thinks that those who made way for the heretics to attack the city might be persuaded. Alphinaud agrees. She asks Satznswys and he to make overtures, since they're outsiders.

So the dragoons are content to sit on the sidelines. So that leaves Alphinaud and Satznswys free to do their thing.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Satznswys heads to the Forgotten Knight to see if Tataru has come up with any information about those rebels.

The only piece of info she can confirm is that the rebels' leader is someone named "The Mongrel". So they head down to the Brume to inquire.

The lowborn here aren't very forthcoming.

They came up short, so back to the Forgotten Knight to come up with another approach.

Gibrilont is willing to help, though he does want a favor in return: to fetch some fresh herbs in lieu of payment for a hunter.

Emanellain, such behavior is unbecoming!

Satznswys finds the hunter she's looking for in the Jeweled Crozier. The exchange is made, and Satznswys heads back to the Forgotten Knight.

He asks Satznswys to deliver a bottle of his mulled wine to this maidservant of one of the Houses. Something tells me that things are being arranged on the down-low. Well, nothing for it but to keep going and see where it leads.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Scandalous!

Yeah, no joke.

She finds him in the Brume.

I think this girl is, in truth, the Mongrel. Maybe we have picked up a proper trail?

I don't rightly recall if I showed this, but one of the Knights Twelve that were at King Thordan I's side during the battle against Nidhogg that left implied that he might go in to the innkeeping business.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

The lowborn still have no desire to stick their neck out.

This part of the game is kind of a lot of running around Ishgard. I get that they were setting the stage for what's about to happen, but yeah, this is a lot of running around. The difference between this and a lot of ARR's running around is that it's tightly focused to the point of the story that's currently happening, here in Ishgard, rather than going to the ends of the realm for various errands.

Alphinaud is worried about Tataru.

Uh oh!

Rats! Cornered!

You got it all wrong, buddy, if you'd just let us explain.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Well, hello there.

Seems our reputation has preceeded us.

Much warmer, and a pint besides!

...maybe a little TOO warm.

They clear the taphouse, and Satznswys tells their story.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

She asks what the hell this has to do with her.

CRASH.

One might even say sickness...must be purged, you would say?

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Yep, here we go.

Charibert has waves of Temple Knights at his beck and call, and likes to drop puddles of burning fire magic all over the place. Focus the chirugeons to keep them from healing. Eventually, Haurchefant shows up partway through the battle to help out.

Charibert jumps away. Well, that was...something.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Grinnaux declaring heresy again? Man, what are the Heavens Ward up to? By making this claim, the Heavens Ward now commands the Temple Knights.

Alphinaud certainly has a talent for persuasion.

She says that her pureborn compatriots have more in common with her than the lords and ladies up in the Pillars. A lot of them are, in truth, bastard children, cast out after lordly indiscretions, same as her.

She rejects the claim that the highborns have bandied about. Her people didn't let the heretics in to the city. The question then becomes, "who did?".

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Haurchefant suspects that the Heavens' Ward didn't account for Iceheart stopping her allies, and so, they've been forced to alter their plot.

Men aren't like to die for a cause they don't hold dear.

She says she could get them out of the city, but not for very long. They've only got one shot at this.

Let's do it!

Lucia sets the tasks: Haurchefant, Estinien, Alphinaud, and her will head for the undergound gaol where Aymeric is being held, once the van has entered the Vault.

Ready...Break!

Alright, we're ready!

 

[TyrMcDohl]

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Because you're a bunch of chumps, you Heavens' Ward goons. By the way, how the hell are you able to turn into Dark Souls enemies?

Looks like the Archbishop means to bugger out of town!

And the truth is revealed, that Aymeric is, in truth, the archbishop's bastard son.

He says that with Nidhogg dead, there is nothing to gain to hide the truth, and to start anew.

He is not receptive.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Haurchefant!

 

[TyrMcDohl]

No!

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Zephirin reveals that it was he himself that used that magic.

...

 

[TyrMcDohl]

She does indeed smile.

The knight who let us into the Vault is at a loss for words.

The father in grief stops Satznswys before she can even say anything.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

"My...son..."

Alphinaud recalls their state when they first arrived at Camp Dragonhead, after the Bloody Banquet. Haurchefant was a beacon of hope for themn in those dark days. He did all he could to lift the Scions' spirits, to encourage them to face their troubles with courage and conviction. And he did so, to the very last. Zephrin will pay for what he did.

But like Count Fortemps said, things are in motion that won't stop for the Scions' to mourn Haurchefant's death. Alphinaud wants to talk to Aymeric.

Truer words were never spoken, Ser Aymeric.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Looks like we get a front-row seat to Aymeric confronting his father, courtesy of the Echo.

Thordan confirms it, but wants to know how Aymeric learned of the truth.

As we the player would know, Nidhogg killed Thordan and half of his knights, thanks to the Echo vision we received in The Aery.

And yes, the origins of the line of Azure Dragoons, among whom both Estinien and Satznswys number.

Thordan asks him if a man cannot atone for his sins, then must his progeny be held to account, and so on and so forth down the generations.

Given the conviction in Thordan's voice, I would assume he thinks not.

This is an interesting counterpoint to the themes and refrain of the previous "expansion", A Realm Reborn. During the events against Titan, Y'shtola called for Merlwyb to make reparations against breaking the treaty with the tribes of the island of Vylbrand, instead of bringing violence in response to the kobolds summoning Titan. But the fact remained that the result of Titan's summoning meant that, regardless of the treaty's status, the primal had to be defeated, to preserve the aether of Eorzea. Same with Louisoix and Bahamut, during the Binding Coil of Bahamut story. Allag had done horrible things to the dragons of Merycydia, but restitution was out of the question, because Bahamut was there and needed to be destroyed, or He would have likely caused another Calamity.

 

[TyrMcDohl]

Here, however, Nidhogg wasn't a primal. His life force was his own, and he didn't devour the land's aether. Granted, he was implacable, and justifiably so. The question before them now is whether or not Ishgard deserves to endure, given their bloodstained history of betrayal. Both father and son here believe that Ishgard should remain, but for very different reasons. We know Aymeric's heart, but what of Thordan?

Only because that is the only course that the circumstances of their birth have given them. You're born, you fight dragons, you die in glorious combat. That's Ishgardian life.

I forget who told me this once, but lies are like overdraft checks. The more you tell, the more overdrawn your account becomes, and the more the penalties for doing this stacks up. Ishgard has been writing bad checks for ten centuries.

And so Thordan attempted to cover things up yet again.

Apologies for drawing from your memories, but then again, the Echo is an uncontrollable gift.

Haurchefant...

I should think so. Any idea on how that happened?

Wait...Alphinaud. You couldn't possibly be suggesting...?

 

[TyrMcDohl]

So they're summoning...what, exactly? Apart from their size and superpowers, they didn't seem too much different from men.

That much seems certain.

I mean...if they're doing summoning, then they're doing the exact thing the Scions are chartered to put a stop to.

Yeah, with the Archbishop gone, political infighting is likely to ensue. So he needs to stay here and try to maintain the peace of the city.

There's still the Dravanian Horde's remnants to contend with as well. Estinien volunteers to stay back and defend Ishgard.

Alright, Lucia.