FFXI Plot-holes and unclear issues

[Rocl]

I never finished a relic myself, but digging through Baileys DATs, you swap the weapon you've been upgrading for one dug up by a Moblin. It looks like stage 4, yes.

[Ophannus]

Doesn't make sense form a plot/lore reason why the ??? that you trade the stage 4 to requires the 10,000 piece. The currency you gathered thus far was simply to pay the Goblin/Moblin blacksmiths for their time but there's no reason why the relic holder NPC would need the currency since you just freed their soul from Dynamis.

[Rocl]

Again, going from strictly DATs, it's not even the relic holder who asks for it, it's the relic itself telling you get X, Y, Z and go to point C.

[Odin'sLaw]

isn't there a country in the world that gives the dead currency to "pay the toll" of death? i'd think its reverse the necroshard is to host the soul and the currency is traded in return for the soul which gives the relic its life essence again

[arus2001]

In Greek myth, I believe its Charon that played the role of ferryman on the River Styx that took such a toll from the dead, usually a coin placed beneath the tongue of the corpse. I wouldn't be surprised if other cultures did it, but I don't recall any specific mention of it anywhere within the game, even if the relic process may be a vague allusion.

[Chamaan]

It was done in the west with coins over the eyes, but not to pay the ferryman. Used to do it to cover up the eyes because sometimes they don't stay closed. Legend tells that silver dollars were put on Lincoln's eyes as he was buried.

[Ophannus]

I was thinking, does the currency correspond to the race/nation of the relic holder? Maybe the 10,000 piece was their original commission for their combat service to be paid at the end of the war. Since they died, they never received their pay, so perhaps the currency is to serve as something to free their spirit symbolically e.g a relevant offering/sacrifice? Another hypothesis is that the currency is a catalyst, they say money carries the spirit/energy of everyone who's ever touched it so since they currency is from the relic holder's time period, perhaps it helps draw out the soul from the necropsyche?

[Eurell]

Goldpiece for Aegis, and the guy is a hume. So don't think that's it.

[Chamaan]

The ghost holding the Bravura is an elf from jeuno and takes Bynes. I always assumed it was a tribute to Diabolos. Effort and sacrifice.

[Spira]

wouldn't it be easier to just say it doesn't tie in with lore at all?

Relics weren't structured the way Mythics are. It was just a system put in place. The only lore involved is really the history of the weapon and its owners. Just think of the money as tribute and not the specifics of which currency goes to who and it'll make sense.

[Rocl]

I was thinking, does the currency correspond to the race/nation of the relic holder? Maybe the 10,000 piece was their original commission for their combat service to be paid at the end of the war. Since they died, they never received their pay, so perhaps the currency is to serve as something to free their spirit symbolically e.g a relevant offering/sacrifice? Another hypothesis is that the currency is a catalyst, they say money carries the spirit/energy of everyone who's ever touched it so since they currency is from the relic holder's time period, perhaps it helps draw out the soul from the necropsyche?

This is about the best you're gonna get dude and even then it might be stretching it. I mean why the fuck does the Mythic weapon want to eat Sarameya hide, Tyger tail, and Tinnin fang?

isn't there a country in the world that gives the dead currency to "pay the toll" of death? i'd think its reverse the necroshard is to host the soul and the currency is traded in return for the soul which gives the relic its life essence again

In Greek myth, I believe its Charon that played the role of ferryman on the River Styx that took such a toll from the dead, usually a coin placed beneath the tongue of the corpse. I wouldn't be surprised if other cultures did it, but I don't recall any specific mention of it anywhere within the game, even if the relic process may be a vague allusion.

It was done in the west with coins over the eyes, but not to pay the ferryman. Used to do it to cover up the eyes because sometimes they don't stay closed. Legend tells that silver dollars were put on Lincoln's eyes as he was buried.

[Ophannus]

I didn't know the Mythics were sentient how relics were. I assumed it was Balrahn that wanted the hides/fang/tail to prove your worth e.g reminiscent of Rat's Tail for Bahamut. I guess if you put it that way, it makes more sense, it's a trial. The thing that threw me off is the previous trials for the relic had the goblin requesting currency as payment which made sense, but the 10,000 piece doesn't go to him it goes to the weapon's spirit which breaks the consistancy of the recipient of the currency.

Also the original Aegis wielder was that Royal Knight in the vermillion cloak I'm pretty sure. Although it was unclear how some of the relics that were originally used by random generals ended up in the hands of the Hydra Corps(GK, Polearm,Excalibur,Yoichi,Mandau made sense but Aegis and Annihilator were originally used by generals and I guess they died or somehow passed their weapons on to the AF2 wearing hydra dudes.)

[Prothescar]

relatively certain mythics aren't sentient beings, only Relics have "souls"


I see the trophies more as offerings to Balrhan, a test of your skill and worthiness to wield his weapon.

[Rocl]

I didn't know the Mythics were sentient how relics were. I assumed it was Balrahn that wanted the hides/fang/tail to prove your worth e.g reminiscent of Rat's Tail for Bahamut. I guess if you put it that way, it makes more sense, it's a trial. The thing that threw me off is the previous trials for the relic had the goblin requesting currency as payment which made sense, but the 10,000 piece doesn't go to him it goes to the weapon's spirit which breaks the consistancy of the recipient of the currency.

I never made a mythic either, so I can't say for certainty; I'm unsure of if you know it's Balrahn yet or not when the trophies are demanded. (But I'm nearly 100% certain it's a ??? asking, and uh, while digging through Whitegate dialogue files, I found the name of the 'eastern realm' of Arajidah, "Sahjattra" where Aphmau's great uncle Zarafeehl lives--btw he's the dick who makes you do all the mythic shit apparently[well to impress him], Aphmau was like lol I trust you and he was like YO FOREIGNERS)

FOUND IT UGH WHITEGATE:

The weapon... Is it...speaking!?≺Prompt≻
Hear me, ≺Player Name≻.
I am to be remade...≺Prompt≻
Your burden is a great one. Yet I shall bear the load for you.
If my powers you desire, you need naught but feed me...
≺Possible Special Code: 01≻≺Possible Special Code: 05≻#≺BAD CHAR: 8280≻≺BAD CHAR: 80≻≺BAD CHAR: 80≻... ≺Possible Special Code: 01≻≺Possible Special Code: 05≻#ａ≺BAD CHAR: 80≻≺BAD CHAR: 80≻... ≺Possible Special Code: 01≻≺Possible Special Code: 05≻#ｂ≺BAD CHAR: 80≻≺BAD CHAR: 80≻... I hunger!≺Prompt≻
Seek out the place of the dead in the hallowed grounds of Caedarva Mire...≺Prompt≻
Do this thing, and greatness shall I bring to thine name and hand!≺Prompt≻

Also the original Aegis wielder was that Royal Knight in the vermillion cloak I'm pretty sure. Although it was unclear how some of the relics that were originally used by random generals ended up in the hands of the Hydra Corps(GK, Polearm,Excalibur,Yoichi,Mandau made sense but Aegis and Annihilator were originally used by generals and I guess they died or somehow passed their weapons on to the AF2 wearing hydra dudes.)

Er, no. I wouldn't say Virgaut was the original owner of Aegis, just that she owned it at one point. Mieulesoir (sp, fucking elves) wields sword+shield during Campaign but gives out Ragnarok (though his coming into possession of Ragnarok is detailed in the Vana'diel Tribune, when his order of Knights goes and joins the Hydra Corps). Excalibur fits the Freelance Kilwch, who is indeed the dude who hands it over in the Aery, and Noillure the Great Katana. Anyways, there's no one who uses Gungnir, Yoichi or Mandau, that I can recall lol. Though there were Tribune Articles about the Mandau tarutaru. Kayeel-Payeel uses Claustrum in Campaign, but he is most certainly not the NPC who gives it to you as he stands in Windurst Waters in the present day!

I guess what I'm getting at is, you can't assign who was the original owner of the weapon as we're relatively unsure if they're unique or not I guess. That, and, we know for a fact (because of Mieulesoir) that not all of the relic weapons have been distributed properly yet. (Also I always hated how the Annihilator campaign NPC's name is similar to the actual Annhihilator NPC it's like Elvira vs Elivira, but they're definitely different people and shit and UGH CAMPAIGN)

[Dotsudoku]

Mandau Taru is in the Hydra Corps CS during WotG

[Rocl]

Mandau Taru is in the Hydra Corps CS during WotG

Listen WoTG was awful and took 3 years to complete don't contradict me I can do enough of that myself

That said, which CS in particular? I was trying to remember cutscenes in the Northlands and all I get is the Battle of Xarcabard on loop in my head

Is it a Lilisette & Cait or a city story? I mean, a mission or a quest CS I guess.

[Prothescar]

it's one of the main story missions right before you go into the northlands, when they're planning the attack on xarcabard

[Dotsudoku]

Yeah, it involves pretty much every major person in the battle of Xarc. Probably one of my favorite cutscenes in WotG

[Rocl]

Actually it appears all of the relic holders are there; Bravura, Gungnir, Apoc, Mandau, Spharai, Kikoku, Gjallarhorn-- missing only a few. (Great Sword, Shield, Gun, Staff, Sword, Great Katana, Axe)

I also didnt know Mandau dude was related to Atori-Tutori. Rather back when I first saw this CS I didn't know who the fuck Atori-Tutori was.

So it does fit that Perseus, et al. have yet to receive their shield/weapon and joined the Hydra Corps during WoTG.

I still don't know if I'd call Cerane I Virgaut the original Aegis owner however--but perhaps they picked a dude named Perseus just for consistency to Greek myth. That and Gun are the only relic really out of order, oh and Claustrum. Almost forgot da bess.

[Ophannus]

Thought the Gungnir NPC was a campaign NPC but only when attacking Castle Zvahl or something