The Story Continues with All-new Nation Quests! (03/19/2009)

[TummieGaruda]

Week One- Tuesday: MMM updates Thursday: Icelands/ Campaign rank?
Week Two- Tuesday: Job Adjustments Fixes to SMN BP's possible 0 loss of MP if BP doesn't go off.

Speculation does get fun around this time lol

^FTFY

The non-inclusion of Tavnazia S was probably one of the stupidest things the dev team could have done imo.

Tavnazia [S] would be somewhat pointless because if I remember correctly, they weren't that involved in the war until Sandy betrayed them causing the beastmen army to focus all of their troops on the city. It would be nothing more than a second Sandy without any campaign.

Also, there are a lot of things that happened during the great war that we may only get a simple peak at. One of those things is what Garliage Citadel was used for, that is, a secret tunnel that extended into Meriphituad Mountains in order to provide a way for the citizens of Windurst to escape when the beastmen cut them off from the other 2 nations keeping them from allying with them. Unfortunately, the beastmen found out about Garliage and slaughtered Sandorian's who were working on the tunnel, hence the reason for the undead in the basement.

[Nattack]

fortify?
fuck im bad with these.


also The galka white mage has been holding his club for a couple hundred years. take a look into his words when you get mjollnir.

[Raithen]

With this announcement revealed, we now have two weeks left of update tidbits ,provided the likely patch date of 4/6/09 and also provided we do not get a teaser tomorrow, which would if anything be the scenario trailer mentioned earlier. If we get two a week as usual, then:

Week One- Tuesday: MMM updates Thursday: Icelands/ Campaign rank?
Week Two- Tuesday: Job Adjustments Thursday: Surprise? (New Avatar??)

Speculation does get fun around this time lol

Pretty sure SE isn't going to add the last Campaign rank until they wrap up the storyline. At that I am also pretty sure they won't add Northlands until the same point. SE said the story is about halfway, so I am honestly not expecting either of those things for quite a few months.

[Max™]

*remembers someone saying something about us being in the Hydra corps, and some big tearjerker scene where we get separated from them on the final push to Zvahl, go fight the big boss when the Hydras get sucked into Dynamis, then we come out to see NOTHING left*

Also: stop dashing my hopes about northlands/bodies, dammit.

[Araelus]

Didn't the trailer to WotG have Zeid and Volker outside the Castle Zvhal Throne Room, though?

Spoiler: show

It also shows Zeid and Volker dead in the Throne Room during the end of "Purple is the New Black". Something odd is going on, in terms of what really happened / WotG storyline / WotG "false events" storyline - the ruined past, as it were.

While the cities destroyed was obviously a "what if?" moment, I think the game needs to more clearly differentiate between what happened historically and what is going on in WotG.

On that note, does anyone else remember dialogue in Bastok cutscenes from the original game storyline indicating Cid helped with the Castle Zvahl assault?

Spoiler: show

I was sure he was at least on the airship that air-lifted Zeid and Volker's assault team (one member from each race, supposedly), but that dialogue line's been retconned out of existence. There's also varying accounts of whether or not Cid's First Airship was used in the attack.

*remembers someone saying something about us being in the Hydra corps, and some big tearjerker scene where we get separated from them on the final push to Zvahl, go fight the big boss when the Hydras get sucked into Dynamis, then we come out to see NOTHING left*

Spoiler: show

We are supposed to be in the Hydra Corps - blanking on when it was said, though. It should have something to do with the purple RDM Formor we've already seen (and perhaps their appearance as a false Nag'molada).

[Pikarya]

Semi-offtopic. But I really hope the end of WoTG comes to an end like CoP did. The ending movie was a nice touch. I hope they go that route again.

[Max™]

I meant me , when Elmer posted his history of vanadiel guide, shortly after WoTG out, I started ranting about how we were the Hydra Corps, because of that "multi-national group of adventurers", and the whole mysterious appearance/disappearance stuff.

[Araelus]

Spoiler: show

I am fairly sure that when you talk to Lilisette in Chateau d'Oraguille (A Spoonful of Sugar) the Hydra Corps is mentioned. About to fight Odin, but I'll check the CS later this evening.

[Kaylia]

Yay for free story.

[Snprphnx]

looks like an epic update.

i remember reading the Mandau Vanadiel Tribune post. The author of the letters said he was tired of being put in Combat Caster gear, since he wasnt a caster, and he was outfitted with armor that enhanced his natural THF traits (AF2 gear) as well as a talking dagger, Mandau.




The Post

Spoiler: show

I wonder if you know much of the Hydra Corps.

It would not be surprising to learn that few young people had even heard the name. No, not surprising at all.

The Hydra Corps was an elite unit hastily assembled during the Great War, only to be annihilated shortly thereafter during a mission within Castle Zvahl. Nay, perhaps 'twould be more accurate to say that many believed this to have been their fate. For the two letters found by adventurers in the shrouded realm of Dynamis have finally given us a hint of truth after twenty years of uncertainty.

From the address on the letters supposedly written by a Hydra Corps member, we were able to track down the intended recipient. She was most startled to have the delayed correspondence suddenly thrust upon her, and broke the seals with a look of confusion. As she silently scanned the contents, however, we were informed in a voice choked by tears that the letters were, in fact, genuine. In the hope of unraveling the mystery of the Hydra Corps' whereabouts, the lady graciously permitted us to publish several other letters she had received from the long-missing author.

We would like to introduce several excerpts from these letters in an effort to explain the true purpose and ultimate fate of the Hydra Corps.

The lady's name has been withheld on request.

Excerpt from letter dated 11/28/862 CE

"...hope you'll be happy for me. Today is a day for celebration. I've been assigned to the multi-national strike force that was only recently formed--the 'Hydra Corps,' they call it. Seems that they required the skills of an experienced treasure hunter. The army has not been kind to a Combat Caster with no spells to cast, but I believe this unit will welcome my particular expertise. My day in the sun has finally arrived just as you always said it would.
"With the new salary I'll be receiving, we'll have the gil for our wedding in no time. We won't be able to speak on the linkshell for a while, but don't worry, I'll send letters as often as I can..."

Excerpt from letter dated 12/09/862 CE

"Last night, I joined my unit for the first time. The area is already swarming with the armies of beastmen, and we had a busy night sneaking inside their siege engines and yelling out false orders. I wasn't sure if I would ever get around to sending this letter...

"Getting back to the Hydra Corps, though, I was a little disappointed when I was introduced to the other members. 'Multi-national strike force' is a misleading description--the great bulk of the unit has been assembled from the knightly orders of San d'Oria. They said it had to do with the problem of supplying different sizes of equipment, smoothness in relaying orders, and other such flimsy excuses. But I completely forgot about all that when they issued me with my new mission attire. Time to say goodbye to that bulky Combat Caster cloak. This armor has been created after extensive research into thief techniques, and doesn't hamper my movement in the slightest. It was apparently made by the finest craftsmen from the finest materials available, and I when I put it on I can almost feel my abilities being enhanced. With this kind of equipment, I'm sure to survive the coming conflict. No question. So don't you worry about me, okay? I promise, one day soon we'll meet again on that hill..."


Excerpt from letter dated 8/03/863 CE

"...seen no movements from Castle Zvahl today, either. Judging from the size of the allied forces, we should be assured of an easy victory, but we cannot advance until we are prepared. The troops are exhausted, and the elite beastmen units--the Forlorn Vanguard, and the Dark Kindred--still lurk within the walls, unscathed.

"Now is the time for the Hydra Corps to show its mettle. Tonight, we plan on infiltrating the castle. The operation is on a volunteer basis, but you can bet that every single member will participate. That includes me, of course. This is my field of expertise, after all.
"This will be a dangerous mission, but do not fear. I have been issued with an extraordinary dagger--'Mandau' is its name. I have never seen its equal. You likely won't believe me, but this weapon talks. It tells me that it used to belong to a famous rogue. No, I have not gone mad. I'll introduce you once I return to our fair capital. I'm not sure you'll like its haughty attitude, though..."

Excerpt from undelivered letter dated 8/13/863 CE

"...maybe ten days have passed. I still have no idea of where I am. The area appears to be Beaucedine Glacier, but I see no sign of the allied forces. Neither day nor night has dominion here. There is no sense of time passing at all...

"We were fighting with the Kindred when a sudden darkness engulfed us... When I came to my senses I saw the sprawled forms of the other Hydra members, as well as those of our opponents. It seems our enemies were just as surprised as we were. In any case, our battles with them continue. We do not intend to fall in this place..."



Excerpt from undelivered letter dated 9/10/867 CE

"My dearest ****,

This may be my last letter to you. I have continued my correspondence in the hopes of retaining the gift of words, and some sense of time. But there is no escape from this hell. This realm stands apart from Vana'diel. It is a prison. There are those among the Hydra who have begun to think the world was destroyed as we lay unconscious, and this shade of reality is all that remains.

"Our battle has been never-ending. All for the brief flowerings of scarlet color on the endless fields of snow... Most of my companions have lost their grip on sanity, and pursue our enemies with a dull single-mindedness. Why do they fight? Why bother to spill each other's blood anymore? I am losing the will to care the longer I stay here...
"I don't want to become like them. I don't want to forget you. That is why I have decided to entrust my spirit to Mandau. If gentle Altana has any presence here, then surely she will see my letter delivered to you. I will not say goodbye. We will meet again one day, I swear it…"

The isolated realm spoken of in the letters must surely be the place adventurers know as "Dynamis." There are many who claim to have been attacked in that land by soldiers resembling the members of the Hydra Corps. These attackers supposedly have eyes that have lost the light of hope...

We pray that the efforts of adventurers will allow the spirits of these poor wretches to return to Altana's embrace.

Seems the hydra corps was up in northlands for close to 9 months before they were pulled into dynamis and when insane

[Qeomash]

I always thought that the Hydra Corps were fairly early on in the in the war. Before Tavnazia fell. More of a desperate attempt to get a force in to eliminate the Shadow Lord quickly than anything.

And, of course, it failed. It was then that San d'Oria resorted to its betrayal of Tavnazia to end the war, assuming that the Hydra Corps failed because they were defeated on the way there by the Shadow Lord's armies.

[Araelus]

Based on that Vana'diel Tribune article,

Spoiler: show

the Hydra Corps was founded in 862, which was the year the Kindred first attacked as far south as Norvallen (Jugner region). The demons had appeared in Xarcabard in the year 855. The Hydra Corps got pulled into Dynamis when the Shadow Lord was defeated, then, since that was in 863.

From what I can gather, they hit Zvahl as Volker/Zeid/etc. were dropped onto the Throne Room catwalk from Cid's airship. Zeid defeats the Shadow Lord, and as the northlands Dynamis forms around Raogrimm's spirit, the Hydra get trapped there. This means that if we fight alongside the Hydra Corps, as Max™ (and the Windurst-quest storyline) suggest, it might get a little crazy. Asking San d'Oria for aid should at least have a "formation of the Hydra Corps" cutscene.

[Qeomash]

I thought the airship wasn't ready when they pushed into Xarcabard, and thus left it out of the attack completly?

[Melios]

Tavnazia [S] would be somewhat pointless because if I remember correctly, they weren't that involved in the war until Sandy betrayed them causing the beastmen army to focus all of their troops on the city. It would be nothing more than a second Sandy without any campaign.

Except for the fact it allegedly housed the Keeper of the Apocalypse (Prishe, or so they thought), and the fact two girls in the choir could sing "Lay of the Immortals" (one of which was apparently captured by the Dark Kindred in order to awaken Odin with that song).

[Raineer]

Badass.

[Reapz]

Do want Tavnazia (S)

[Khajit]

Tavnazia wasn't involved? They have a fuckton of npc's everywhere from there. Keep in mind it was technically impossible to get off the archipelago after the city was destroyed. Most of norg has tavnazians in the population. etc etc.
Now; Unless the tavnazian's were prolifically stupid tourists who went out to sightsee in the middle of a warzone most of these people probably had some form of military involvement. In the opening movie for this game you see several platoons of soldiers incoming from the 3 nations+ jueno which indicates a strong military effort in the war from tavnazia or at least huge economic/political support.
The queen of sandoria was a tavnazian.( or i think she is. it was mentioned a long time ago) Essentially saying that nothing was going on in tavnazia is kinda bullshit. Tavnazia had too many people spread out all over to have not had some involvement at least behind the scenes. Even if the area itself didnt get overun with armies allowing the 3 nations to fall would mean alot less protection when the beastmen headed to there.( the fact that a small town like selbina wasnt burned down indicates the orcs/etc didnt go into th
at general region)

[Raithen]

Well using Elmer's timelines as a reference, this nation quest update puts us in November of 862, whereas some of the more recent nation quests were October 862.

11.862 – Karaha-Baruha releases the avatar Fenrir and obliterates the Beastmen army from the capital.

- A unit dispatched from the Royal Knights of Sand’Oria arrives at Fort Karugo-Narugo. Together with Windurst they manage to repel the Beastmen forces.

- A multi-national high echelon of fighters, the “Hydra Corps,” is formed.

But strangely, we have already participated in the Battle of Jeuno which had not started until December of 862, and spanned into January of 863.

The Battle of Xarcabard is not until April of 863, and not much happens between now and then, so it's likely that the next set of main storyline missions involve the Northlands and include the Battle of Xarcabard. Elmer's timeline also says that the Siege of Castle Zvahl and the Hydra Corps disappearing won't be until July-August of 863 so SE might squeeze in another set of nation quests between the Battle of Xarcabard and the final battles of the expansion.

If we're worried about AN bodies and the last set of ranks, I wouldn't put it past SE to only open Beaucedine [S] and Xarcabard [S] in the first set of storyline missions and then save ranks, AN bodies, and Castle Zvahl Baileys, Keep, and Throne Room [S] until the end. If SE keeps up this new 4 month break between updates, I wouldn't hold my breath.

Edit: Whoops, forgot to add that Tavnazia wasn't destroyed until March 863 so if SE throws that in there now they are definitely screwing with the timeline. Windurst 11.862 and San d'Oria 3.863 at the same time would make no sense. Venturing a guess that we're not there yet.

[Septimus]

The segment of time WoTG deals with is too early in the war to deal with the Hydra Corps and the final battle in Xarcabard where Zeid and Volker kill Shadowlord.

Spoiler: show

Remember Lilisette said it was too early for the orcs to have invaded La Vaule? And too early for the Battle of Jeuno to have taken place? Im not sure if the battle of Jugner happened yet because Tavnazia is disconnected on the /cmap but it mightve been an oversite by the dev team because the NPCs haven't mentioned Tav's destruction yet. If Tav hasn't been destroyed than the battle of Xarca shouldn't happen for months, which WoTG shouldn't touch on.
Crystal War - FFXIclopedia - a Wikia Gaming wiki

The Quadovs did not retake the Palborough Mines until 869, six years after the Crystal War ended and 15 years before the game ended. The Orcs did not raid La Vaule until 875, 12 years after the war is ended. Karaha-Baruha summoned Fenrir before the San d'Orian Nights came to Fort Karugo-Narugo. (Fenrir has not happened yet in the game.)

The timeline is being messed with by an outside force. (Guess who.) Lillestte's father was not cursed until the Battle of Jeuno, but because of the outside force, events are unfolding in a very different manner.

Also...

Spoiler: show

As of the last mission, the Beastmen are on their way to Tavnazia.

Was it Diabolos who drew the Hydra Corps into Dynamis?

And just for kicks, here's a list of the NPCs who have the relics that I found from a JP site:

Annihilator: Elrica(Hume Female) *Should be Elivira?

Yes, I believe that no one can enter Dynamis without his approval. And it cannot be Elivira, she is still alive, at least she is supposed to be.

Spoiler: show

It also shows Zeid and Volker dead in the Throne Room during the end of "Purple is the New Black". Something odd is going on, in terms of what really happened / WotG storyline / WotG "false events" storyline - the ruined past, as it were.

While the cities destroyed was obviously a "what if?" moment, I think the game needs to more clearly differentiate between what happened historically and what is going on in WotG.

On that note, does anyone else remember dialogue in Bastok cutscenes from the original game storyline indicating Cid helped with the Castle Zvahl assault?

Spoiler: show

I was sure he was at least on the airship that air-lifted Zeid and Volker's assault team (one member from each race, supposedly), but that dialogue line's been retconned out of existence. There's also varying accounts of whether or not Cid's First Airship was used in the attack.

Spoiler: show

We are supposed to be in the Hydra Corps - blanking on when it was said, though. It should have something to do with the purple RDM Formor we've already seen (and perhaps their appearance as a false Nag'molada).

I remember that it was said that Cid was at the Shadow Lord fight, but I am not sure if he participated as a combatant or not. Also, the First Ship never made it to Xarcabard, it had one test flight before the crystal war ended.

[Riki]

What if when the Shadowlord won the war in the original unchanged timeline that was shown to us in the "Purble the new black" mission?

When you think about it: The moment someone timetravels to the past, a time paradox is inevitable.