Rolling Credits on Heavensward

I really thought there would be at least another day or two before I got to write this post — particularly since I said just yesterday I was keen to get the rest of my Allagan Poetics level 60 set (Augmented Shire Gear) finished before carrying on.

What I clearly forgot in my calculations was just how many Poetics you get simply for running the content before you get to the bonus ones at the end. Each boss kill gives you a few more.

So today I was able to get my chest, belt, ring and bracelet from the daily roulettes. I don’t need the earring as I’m using the Endwalker preorder one. Technically I do still need the necklace but I decided I was OK with earning this on my way to Stormblood.

I am, after all, just a little bit over the minimum ilvl by this point. I needed ilvl 142 to get in. With the gear obtained so far — I hit 249.

Now! Unlike yesterday’s post, I’m going to let loose with spoilers today. So if you haven’t done up to and including rolling credits on the main Heavensward story — you might want to turn away from this post for the moment.

I’m glad to have done a non-spoiler post in recognition of those who are also new to the series at the moment. But I found I still had more meat to chew when I was done with it.

So once more: Spoilers beyond this point! May include anything from ARR through to the end of Heavensward 3.0 MSQ content. I haven’t done any of the post-HW/pre-SB content yet though, so I won’t be discussing that just yet.

Spoilers Start

Characterisation and the Journey

One of the things I alluded to in earlier posts is the improvement I see in the time spent on character development. To give them arcs of their own, and to make any sacrifice — if necessary — more impactful.

Moenbryda was treated poorly in this regard. Brought in from stage left to no sooner than saying ‘Boo’ being shuffled off the other side. Sure, it was a little sad — particularly for Urianger’s clear regret — but beyond that, there hadn’t been much time for an attachment to form yet.

Iceheart — or Ysayle, as we come to know her — by contrast is introduced in the ARR post-content patch as well. Initially as a faceless leader of brigands. We ultimately come to understand that while her methods have been brutal there is a greater good goal she is working toward.

You should never have come here, Warrior of Light. I labour only to forge a lasting peace. A peace you would deny us out of ignorance and blind faith. No matter. If it is our fate to be at odds, then it is mine to strike you down.

-Iceheart (Ysayle)

And, not for the first time, Final Fantasy XIV makes me wonder:

I also thought this encounter and her defeat as Shiva would be the last time we encountered Iceheart. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. And can I just take a moment to say, her Heavensward English voice actor – Siobhan Hewlett – is amazing?

In any case, Ysayle joins our journey westward (and upward) to the dragon peaks, alongside Estinien — a more mismatched pair it would be difficult to imagine. With one understanding the wrong Ishgard has done to Dravanian kind already and the other a proficient killer of their kind, still completely in the sway of the thousand years of indoctrination the Holy See professed as truth.

The journey itself put me very much in the mind of The Lord of the Rings, actually. Constantly moving ever further from home in a singular direction, on a mission seemingly doomed to fail from the outset and harsh truths to be discovered along the way.

Honestly, the whole time, I expected Estinien to betray us. To betray the word he gave that he wouldn’t attack the dragons we came across without provocation. Throughout our entire conversation with Hraesvalgr, I sat with bated breath waiting for the — I thought — inevitable attack.

But it didn’t come. Estinien didn’t break covenant with us, nor did the burden of Nidhogg’s eye find a way to consume Estinien in this moment to ensure a continuation of the war.

It is too soon to say that Estinien and Ysayle yet see eye to eye on things — but there is certainly a kind of respect growing, and an understanding of the pain Ysayle is in after Hraesvelgr reveals the truth of primals. That the spirit Ysayle had given herself to in the guise of Shiva was false. Nothing more than a manifestation of her belief, given form by power. Moreover, her mission of peace will seemingly never be a reality while Nidhogg lives.

Ysayle doesn’t have the heart to join us on this particular mission, but it’s somewhat understandable. We give her privacy and time while we do what seemingly needs to be done if there is ever to be an end to this thing.

And still, Estinien holds it together, fighting off the attempts of Nidhogg’s eye to control him.

These two characters have, by this point, become more meaningful than perhaps any other in the game. Including the at this point, still missing members of the Scions. (Although it was most excellent to recover Y’shtola, and worrying to hear Matoya’s assertion her new form of sight was drawing from her lifeforce.)

So the ending of the main Heavensward story really does carry quite a punch.

Ysayle, having found peace with Hraesvalgr and herself both, rides in to literally save the day. The Garlean airship is built for battle and would have our miniature craft down in no time — except for Ysayle’s sacrifice, shifting to Shiva one last time to keep them at bay.

Then, after just a little time to recover — at the peak of your victory. Not one, but two Ascians down and the Archbishop to boot, Estinien picks up the second of Nidhogg’s eyes.

And in this moment of victory, now wielding both eyes together, is overcome — giving rebirth to Nidhogg’s spirit in physical form.

*shakes fist at the story writers*

And I haven’t even brought up the loss of Haurchefant earlier in the piece, who died literally holding a shield in the protection of us.

Ugh. Why? Whyyy?

It’s certainly effective, in any case.

I imagine dealing with Nidhogg nee Estinien is going to form a large part of what comes next, before Stormblood, in an effort to secure the peace we’ve fought so hard and paid so much for.

I also expect we’ll recover more of the Scions. It seems to me there is a need for bit of an upbeat tick in the mood of the story for a bit.

But I could be wrong — it might be that the hits will just keep on coming for a bit. I’m ready for that if so!

This was posted during Blaugust 2021, the annual blogging event hosted by Belghast. Blaugust is an event aiming to welcome new blogger blood into the fold and revitalise those who’ve been at it a little longer.

The Blaugust Discord is still available to join in, year-round!