#Gralea

[hiddeneosbymrsflowerpot]

There is so much hidden detail in this game but I guess they lost their momentum when it came to this fire extinguishers in Gralea. They distressed the instructions label to make it look old but the text is just random letters spaced to look like words. "Kasheudg is lasnrhi gaise. Kdhsi ddomig etsnn gasny. Tagebudy Ohshi Fltysu is Lxlasterxd oposryt is gsuar tgodso yxsption Sxwd.Rsasingryu ydgri dgo..." or something to that effect.

Image copyright Square Enix Co Ltd.

[lyglg-scnry]

Stopped Gears and People

ジグナタス要塞A-04エリア。エレベーター上部の歯車が美しい。主なエフェクトはRoadtrip。

[meteortrails]

looking back on ffxv. idk if I was just reading into it more than other people were, spent more time obsessively playing the game than other people did, or what, but a lot of criticisms about the games emotional beats are often things I thought were (at least strongly subtextually) there??? or they were in the dlcs, which is of course its own problem and valid criticism. but like. prompto is weird and off balance and wary around noct when you get him back - that’s what him asking whether you really missed him is about. noct does have a fundamental tension to his character - it’s about accepting responsibility and growing up and sacrifice and trying to take back agency after he spends most of the game with very little of it. a lot of it wasn’t perfect by any means, and it’s still wild to me that they added content to insomnia and not gralea when gralea was emphatically where it was needed and insomnia absolutely was not, but. idk. that’s just how I felt about it.

[reflectionsofacreator]

mmm loudly rattles the ice in my latte it's like. FF XV doesn't know what it's about half the time, as the main plot changes so much, and because of that the entire ending sequence/culmination of the plot just doesn't work? Not as a Final Fantasy.

It's not even that I want Noctis to live or anything, it's more that ... the game makes it feel as though his sacrifice is demanded out of nowhere and doesn't ultimately matter. Maybe I'm just a sourpuss but it doesn't really feel as though the Scourge has weight to me. I can't help but feel as though XV would've either 1) benefited from a bigger cast to sacrifice to the Scourge, 2) drive home the horror of Scourged humans turning into daemons, or 3) actually use Ravus effectively to drive home what the Scourge is and does.

It also ties back to The Issue With Insomnia as well, wherein we don't actually have a reason to care that some estimated 25 million people were killed and then subsequently kickstarted the daemonification process of Eos. Like! Kingsglaive showed multiple diamond weapons kaiju sized daemons be dropped into the city, which then burst into clouds of miasma that logically had to have infected millions of people with the Scourge. Insomnia was not a small city, and it was the epicenter of massive ecological destruction to the point where it became a daemon infested ghost town after ten years. That's not a small thing! And Gralea was even fucking worse! And yet XV just doesn't feel like it has weight behind the destruction of these two massive cities, and that's largely because we never really visit them before they fall.

The game wants me to care so much about the horrific nature of the Scourge yet actively fights against that by refusing to show me anything but the pretty set pieces that've been put together. Altissia got wrecked after forging the covenant with Leviathan, but we don't get to see the aftermath (save for Ep Ignis).

Add the issues with the Scourge to the fact that Bahamut is 1) barely around and b) extremely suspect even in the base game, and 3) goes against every Final Fantasy preset by being an unquestioning source of Truth and Goodwill. Final Fantasy almost never has gods that are straightforward and trustworthy, and with such a precedent why should I trust Bahamut? Because he's the highest of the Six? The other Astrals might have demanded the same respect but ultimately they were fought and found to be willing to help Noctis by understanding the mission that was at hand. But Bahamut just doesn't feel like that. I don't know if it's my familiarity with the XV Extended Universe showing or not but like, even in the base game, watching The Revelation for the first time when the game came out in 2016 (dear god has it already been that long) I remember thinking that Bahamut was somehow off. Maybe it was the mask, and the fact that he had Noctis' eyes underneath it. I dunno. Weird little man of a war deity. (The man is 435.86 feet tall)

rattles my empty iced latte again anyways XV kinda sucks and I wish it didn't take up so much brainspace

[ffxv-mods-purifier-le-mal]

[phoenixwithapencil]

Just realized how many of the landmarks of ffxv are tombs, in one way or another. The meteor and the disc, Ravatogh, Shiva’s corpse, insomnia and Altissia, Tenebrae and Gralea, Angelguard and Taeplar Crag.

Half the hexatheon had places where their body lay in slumber and/or effective death (much as a god can die). Every capital is all but razed. Noctis and Ardyn both served a tenure of quasi-death on an island prison where they were the sole life form.

Eos itself is consumed by death for ten arduous years, a coffin for the people under its miasma choked sky.

The world itself is changed by death and its memory, just as much as the characters who inhabit it.

[thatbloodycountess]

I know it’s been six years, and the fandom is mostly dead, but I’ve been thinking about FFXV lately. The story was great and I loved the characters, but there were holes in the plot and with character development. I get that the developers had an idea story-wise and made significant changes once Tabata took over. Even after six years, I can still see what was left on the table and I have some ideas on how to remedy these issues.

I loved the beginning where the Regalia broke down. But, the game could’ve started a day or two before the boys left Insomnia. We could’ve had some time with Regis and Clarus and get an idea how them and the boys felt about the journey.

They could’ve added the events from Kingsglaive to the game itself. I’m sure not everyone saw the movie and it would’ve been awesome to play as Nyx. This would’ve lengthened the first chapter too.

The DLCs could’ve been weaved into the main game. The Trails of Cold Steel series did a good job of diverging storylines. Events in these storylines were happening simultaneously and added impact to those plot points. It would’ve been easy to switch to Gladio once Noctis found the mythril, considering both events were happening at the same time.

The same goes for Episodes Ignis and Prompto. Ignis’ DLC could pick up immediately during the chaos in Altissia. The latter could’ve been placed after Prompto fell off the train and ended when he was captured by Ardyn. Or if his memories were being manipulated, when the player sees him strung up on that contraption in Gralea.

SE missed an opportunity to continue the story during the ten years of darkness. That chapter could’ve opened with the beginning of Ardyn’s story and spaced it out a bit until the DLC’s conclusion. Luna and Aranea’s DLCs could kick in here too, considering both would’ve fleshed the story out more. Then bring in Episode Noctis and perhaps have a FFVII lifestream moment as he obtains the knowledge of the Lucian kings.

I’ve read that the ending in Dawn of the Future isn’t canon. It’s an alternative ending like Ignis being healed by the crystal in his DLC. However, it could’ve been just as impactful as the canon ending. Since it makes Bahamut the villain and uses the trope that humans can become stronger than gods. It’s a similar situation Yuna faced in FFX, but she got to challenge her fate. Noctis didn’t.

The chapters were too short for my liking and there should’ve been more foreshadowing about Prompto’s origins other than Aranea’s comment outside of Steyliff Grove. Noctis didn’t find out that he has to sacrifice himself until he was absorbed into the crystal. He accepted his fate too easily. There was no point where he became angry over it or wonder if Regis or Luna knew what his fate would be. Again, he didn’t get the chance to tell Bahamut to go fuck himself.

The game is one of my favorites in the series and always will be. But there were so many missed opportunities and it makes me wonder what could’ve been.

[flowers-of-tenebrae]

How It Could've Gone

I really adore Noctis/Luna but I'd be the first to agree it could've been executed better or fleshed out more, they should've interacted in-game as adults, the players should've been allowed to build an emotional connection to Luna, etc. So here's one hc of how it could've gone:

-

Luna survives the battle at Altissia and Ardyn's stabbing but is weak and severely wounded. Instead of mourning her death, Noctis and his bros grapple with the aftermath - the response and recovery of Altissia, Ignis' blindness, Luna's convalescence, Noctis' own shortcomings in the last trial, and Noctis' realisation that it isn't too late. That he and Luna still have time.

Cue Luna joining the guys when they depart for Niflheim - to some protest, mainly out of concern for her health. But our girl isn't one to sit back when there's a world save and she has the power to help. Maybe she even tries to heal Ignis' eyesight but it's been too long since he incurred the injury. Maybe her healing powers have waned after the last trial or maybe Ignis refuses it. Either way Luna acts as their guide to Niflheim and joins as a guest party member when they alight at Cartanica.

Their trip down the mine to the royal tomb is still fraught with danger and heightened emotions, but Luna's presence eases the tension and her abilities (both as a healer and wielder of the Trident) help in picking up the slack. During this time, and earlier on the train ride, the guys and Luna get to know each other - the way they should have in-game - and discuss their respective journeys. Maybe Noctis and Luna have a private moment at a campsite where they can, for the first time in years, be just "Noctis and Luna" together - and not the chosen King of Lucis and the Oracle. The Ring of the Lucii is brought up, with Luna apologising for not delivering it sooner, and so is the fall of Insomnia and Regis' passing. Amidst the sweet sorrow and growing pains, the group retrieves the royal arm but Noctis still has yet to put on the ring.

They agree to journey to Tenebrae, both to fulfil promises unspoken and to check on its state after hearing rumours of an attack on the radio. Their impending arrival is heralded by daemons assaulting the train. Luna helps repel the daemons with her powers of light, but is left utterly spent and Prompto is lost in the onslaught.

The remaining group reaches Tenebrae only to find the rumours are true - an imperial invasion has devastated the land once again and the fight rages on. In the midst of it all, they encounter Aranea, Biggs and Wedge assisting with the evacuation. Aranea points out where the fighting is thickest and informs them of the latest news out of Gralea and Ravus' rumoured passing.

The army of MTs and daemons is being puppeteered by Ardyn, who mocks them for being down one member and running behind schedule. Their enemies are relentless in their attacks and despite Gladio and Ignis' warnings, Noctis breaks off as he charges after Ardyn. Their frenzied fight comes to a head as Noctis gains the upper hand and pins Ardyn to the ground. Ardyn's mocking laughter rings in Noctis' ears as he crows their time has finally run out. Noctis' vision clears and he finds on the end of his sword is none other than Luna.

Lying amidst the ravaged flower fields of her home, Luna reveals her true feelings and inescapable fate. Her body has been wracked by the covenants and Ardyn is right, her time was always going to be limited with her calling now fulfilled. Still, she is grateful for the time they spent together, for the chance to stand beside him and laugh again as they once did. Luna admits she was looking forward to their wedding and asks Noctis to save their star, reminding him he is not alone and Prompto can yet be saved.

Noctis, cradling her body, cries he is sorry, he won't let her down and they'll be together again someday.

Luna smiles... And the party is down to three.

-

(Happy 8th anniversary to FFXV!)

[dayasan]

📷 Central Elevator, 5F, Zegnautus Keep, Gralea, Ueltham, Niflheim

[queenoffishingandcookies]

Something about Loqi’s presumed fate in Dawn of the Future just really fucks with me.

He’s around the same age as Ignis and Gladio, for reference, if a little older - just in his early twenties, which makes his appointment in Niflheim’s army fairly impressive.

He appears two times in the game, and the second time - I don’t think we even actually see him (pretty sure it was him in the MA-X suit during the time the bros were hunting down Ulidor?). He also appeared in the Assassin’s Creed festival apparently, but I have yet to watch footage of that because I got into the game too late to play the event for myself.

In DOTF, his appearance is also brief - his role primarily in attempting to protect Solara and make their way out of Gralea as it is overrun by rampaging daemons and magitek troopers.

He’s in his twenties, 24-25 at the latest, and while Aranea gets Solara to safety - Loqi chooses to stay behind and continue the - ultimately futile - fight against the hordes of daemons.

He’s never mentioned in the book again, and all things considered - with the state of Gralea when Noctis and company reach it later on, the lack people still alive or able to escape - that doesn’t bode well for him.

Aranea herself never responded to his statement that it was an honor to serve with her, only giving a salute, because she considered it something a person says before they’ll go and die.

Personally, he would drive me nuts considering how xenophobic and nationalistic he could be at worst (propaganda of the empire is one hell of a thing, plus he is presumably of the benefiting upper class nobility), but just - it makes me sad that, like with a lot of the other characters of Niflheim, that doesn’t get expanded on, how he was raised to be that way, the potential deconstruction of that mindset in WoR, etc.

There’s an indicator in one of the quests in Comrades that he may have survived (a former general of Niflheim mentioned in regard to drop ships I think?), but it’s never confirmed.

So, yeah.

Post of Loqi’s presumed death in Gralea and how his character has a surprising amount of flesh to it despite the fact that we almost never saw him, and the subsequent lack of expansion in canon media.

[marmolita]

WIP Wednesday! Here's a bit from the epic I've been writing for months. This particular snippet is gen and mostly plot, which I think expresses the vibe of what I've been working on pretty well?

Context: Niflheim wins AU, but they won bc Clarus betrayed Regis when Noct was four. Clarus became high commander of Niflheim's military. In this snippet, Ravus (governor of Tenebrae) and Iris are at Aldercapt's funeral.

-----------

"Governor Nox Fleuret?"

Ravus turns and has to look down to find the person speaking to him. "Lady Iris," he says, inclining his head. What is the etiquette for the daughter of a future Emperor? She's dressed in a white gown that puts him in mind of Lunafreya; his fingers tighten on the stem of his wine glass as he hopes Gladiolus remembers his promise to try to spare Lunafreya's life.

"I wanted to talk to you," she says, then stops, as if unsure how to continue.

"Yes?"

"I--" Iris stops, then shakes her head. She looks around the room, her gaze stopping in turn on her father and the MTs stationed at the doors. "I wanted to know if you've heard anything from my brother. Dad won't tell me anything about what's going on, but I thought for sure Gladio would be here for the funeral."

"I'm afraid I'm not privy to military information." It's curious that she should think he is.

"Right," Iris says. "Of course. It's only that-- Well, I thought maybe you had your own way of keeping tabs on Lady Lunafreya, and that maybe you would know, because of that, what's going on."

Iris is playing a dangerous game, though Ravus suspects she may not know exactly how dangerous it is. "Do you doubt your brother's ability to accomplish his objective?"

She looks him in the eye and says, "No, but I doubt whether he should."

Thoughts run through Ravus's mind too fast to sort out. Iris could be a powerful ally, if she means what she says. On the other hand, she could be acting on her father's orders, to feel out Ravus's loyalties. "One might be considered a Hexatheist conspirator, if one were to be heard saying such things."

Iris regards him levelly. "Then it's a good thing nobody is close enough to hear."

She has her family's courage, that's clear to see. Ravus honestly doesn't know how to respond. "I just want to know if everyone is okay," she continues earnestly. "I'm not-- I'm not trying to get involved."

"As far as I am aware, your brother is well and has not yet completed his mission. If I were your father, given the circumstances of Noctis's escape, I would not want the Deputy High Commander to return to Gralea with his mission incomplete. That is likely why he is not attending the funeral."

"What about Lady Lunafreya? And, you know. The others."

"They have eluded capture thus far," Ravus says. That much is common knowledge. Surely Iris can put two and two together and understand that Ravus cannot say more without incriminating himself. "I understand that broadcasts are being distributed across Lucis to ask citizens to provide any information on their whereabouts to the military."

"They're in Lucis, then? Not Tenebrae?"

Ravus has to bite his tongue. "Do you accuse me of harboring fugitives?" he hisses at her.

Iris's eyes go wide. "I didn't mean-- I only--" She blinks a few times, then swallows. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply anything. Nobody will tell me anything and Dad refuses to talk about Gladio."

Inhaling deeply, Ravus lets it out slowly and reminds himself that Iris is only fifteen years old. "Apologies. You may not be aware of the implications of the things that you are saying. I would counsel you to keep such thoughts to yourself and follow the news releases, to remain informed of happenings around the country. It has been reported widely that the Deputy High Commander seeks his target in Lucis, and I have no reason to believe that he is looking in the wrong place."

Out of the corner of his eye, Ravus thinks he sees Gentiana for a moment, smiling serenely.

He may not be a man of deep faith, but some signs from the gods are obvious enough even for him. Lady Iris is, perhaps, not spying for her father after all.

[hiddeneosbymrsflowerpot]

Gralea, as you've never seen it before. In daylight! Thanks to Rinual's Menu Mod, you can change the weather and time of day so I replayed Chapter 13 and explored the imperial city in glorious sunshine. I love the combination of building styles, residential, commercial and industrial, and I love how the different levels intersect. The fact that Noctis can walk on some of the pavements suggests there may have been plans to make the area playable but sadly we never got the chance. Zegnautus keep looks slightly less imposing in the daytime and quite pretty at dusk as the lights come on. The daemons flying through the sky are quite worrisome though! And if you ever wondered what is at the bottom of the crater, I'm afraid I can't tell you. The supports disappear into the mist and if Noctis follows them it triggers the GAME OVER screen. All images copyright Square Enix Co Ltd.

[miss-littevi]

Reminiscences

The last rays of sunlight were slowly disappearing on the horizon. The moon was already high in the sky, providing some light, but Nora and Ravus knew it was time to return to the few buildings that were still intact. There they would find shelter from the Daemons that would roam the area as soon as the sunlight disappeared completely. And shelter was necessary. Even if they weren't injured, they shouldn't be out here as soon as night fell. But they both still felt the injuries they had suffered during their escape from Gralea

“It's been a while since you and I have stood here.” Ravus' voice was clear and sharp, but you could tell he was making an effort to keep his tone low. They had been standing together in silence for a long time and he was afraid to break the moment.

Nora took a deep breath. “Five years… and back then we argued about almost everything. I'd say it's more like six years that we stood here without a grudge. Back then, just before I went to Gralea with you.”

Ravus nodded. "Yes, everything collapsed after that. And I don't even know what started it all."

There was silence between them for a moment. This time Nora broke it. “I know what it was. It was your involvement in the military. And it was Ardyn manipulating you whenever he could. But … it is what it is, and it can't be changed. And… it's over now, isn't it? It's over with you and the military and Ardyn doesn't seem to care about you and your life anymore. And… I wish we hadn't parted ways back then.”

“Yes. That's what I wish too.” Ravus clearly struggled with the words, but Nora felt that they were honest.

She took his hand. “It's good that we've met again. Let's see where the road takes us next.” She smiled. A thin smile. “But first, let's make our way back to what's left of the Manor. Night is drawing in.”

[rojaceartandgaming]

I'm procrastinating on reading the last bit of Dawn of the Future bc finishing books makes me sad but GOD we were so fucking robbed. ALL OF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN SO COOL TO PLAY IN GAME. I'm mostly sad about never getting to play Episode Aranea, tbh.

I want to fight Diamond Weapon.

It would've been cool to see what happened to Gralea in game.

Aranea is fucking awesome

but all things considered I'm glad Dawn of the Future exists. I fucking love novelizations and being able to get into character's heads

[heathenkweer]

something that's been -- not bugging me exactly, but I think is a definite weakness in the world building/storytelling of FFXV

is the Chocobros' near cluelessness about the Empire.

I do understand that Insomnia was walled off for however long and maybe there's something to be said for Regis wanting to shelter Noctis from the worst of things...

But FFXV tries to have Noctis and co. be audience stand-ins in the same way that Tidus was the audience stand-in in FFX. He knows nothing about Spira so he, and by extension the players, get world building spoonfed to us and it works pretty well.

It doesn't work for Noctis and the rest because you cannot tell me that the Crown Prince of a kingdom that's been heavily under siege for, what, over a hundred years doesn't know even the basics of the enemy that's trying to crush said kingdom.

No one should have been surprised about Ardyn being the Chancellor. The Crown should have had dossiers on every major ranking Empire military commander and major players in Iedolas' court. Noctis would have been studying that shit every day right next to math.

And if not Noctis, you cannot convince me that Ignis wouldn't know the faces of the major enemies.

You can't likewise convince me that Insomnia didn't have some spies operating in Gralea, who would have gotten the information to Regis and his court about the Imperial army and Iedolas' court. It's simply not realistic to how royal courts work.

And yeah, I get that Regis wanted Noctis to have a happy life, because he knew Noctis was doomed to die and whatever (and don't get me started on how fucked up all of THAT is)

But the result is... a mess. And Noctis and co. should be LIVID that they were so coddled and so utterly unprepared by everyone who should have done better by them. (Like damn, is it any wonder Ravus despises Noctis, and not just because Luna is willing to die for him? Ravus didn't get protected by prophecy and his loved ones and court. His mother gets burned alive in front of him and his country becomes an Imperial land and all he can do is survive in whatever way possible, even if that means serving the Empire that destroyed his world. If only we could all be so lucky, Noctis.)

Idk I love this world and these characters but there are some fundamental storytelling mistakes that just. Are really hard to overlook. It had all the makings of a great game but it just completely faceplants into a hole it can't climb out of.

[proxnotxaxfool]

@housetummelt continued from (x)

he had done a lot of stupid things in his life. he had caused scenes and tried to shuck the yoke of expectation back in gralea. he had done some pretty stupid shit when he'd first joined the turks, but he'd been a teenager, testing boundaries in a world no teenager should have been in.

settling in meldacio hadn't exactly cured his penchant for digging holes ... he'd treated dave like shit, despite the man opening his doors to them. he'd treated both his mother and dave like shit when he'd figured out that their relationship had developed into something more than cohabitation.

and then there he'd told selena the truth - not a stupid thing in the long run, but in hindsight he could have picked a better way to break the news or broach the subject.

but this? this sucked big time because it wasn't anger or exasperation painted across his mother's face - it was disappointment and reno couldn't see how he could have been handled it any better - it was shit all around and there as no easy way to have handled it because either way, it would have ended up here at this proverbial crossroads.

closing his eyes when she kissed his cheek, reno tried to ignore the twist his stomach gave. reaching out when she stepped around him and tried to pass, reno closed his fingers around his mother's wrist.

' where are you going? what am i supposed to tell loqi, kim and will? '