(04-03-2015, 01:01 PM)Melkire Wrote: EDIT: Souns, nowhere have I seen any mention of Estinien being pronounced dead to the Holy See. Where's that come from? -sifts through this thread-
Alberic Wrote:With Estinien having left us, the post of the Azure Dragoon has been vacated for the first time in the See's recorded history. If I said that the current state of affairs did not put me ill at ease, I would be a liar. And yet, I am but a lone dragoon, and it is not my place to question. And so I place my trust in my superiors, and defend the See with my life.
This is the only quote that really bothers me about the situation and throws continuity out the window.
Could Estinien have survived after vanishing into aether? Sure, he might have returned to whatever aetheryte he was attuned to. It's what we do. Could it be possible he recovered his faculties? Clearly, that's what had to have happened. The Azure Dragoon lives in constant struggle with the power of the Eye, if they allow their emotions to go uncontrolled the influence becomes too great - which is what we see at the end of the 50 Quest.
But however much time has passed (and some time has past) between 2.0 and 2.55, Estinien has been MIA. What I don't like... is that neither Aymeric nor Estinien give any hint that such a time has passed.
Now, I have a theory of how Alberic even knows about the theft in the first place. I believe that Alberic was actually guarding the Eye when Estinien stole it from Ishgard. That would explain Estinien's taunt that Alberic would take his shame to the grave and why Alberic can't or doesn't want to tell anyone about the theft. He let Estinien go with it. Otherwise... if no one else in all Ishgard noticed the Eye was gone... how the hell would Alberic know about it?
Anyways, moving past that. In the last cutscene after Estinien calls upon Nidhogg, the Player Character steps between Alberic and Estinien... but it isn't the Player Character's model. It's the exact same model as Estinien. So spirit Estinien vs thrall Estinien. Spirit Estinien blasts Thrall Estinien with the spear and then the vision fades and the person standing in front of Alberic is the Player Character again. Perhaps symbolism for the good half of Estinien reclaiming control over his enthralled self?
I had hoped to go back to Alberic and his text would have changed to accommodate the 2.55 storyline, but it hasn't. Which is what bothers me. He still says Estinien is gone and Ishgard is without an Azure Dragoon for the first time in ever, at a time when they most desperately need an Azure Dragoon to lead their other legions of Dragoons. So has no one informed the former Azure Dragoon that his successor returned from MIA? Is Estinien not talking to Alberic after Alberic covered for his dumb ass? Has no one come to Alberic asking him to take up his mantle as Azure Dragoon once more until Estinien could recuperate or.. be found or whatever? Idk.
And it still doesn't answer how no one noticed that the Eye - the single most prized relic in all of Ishgard was gone for at least a few days, maybe a week, maybe moons depending on when Estinien actually returned to Ishgard. I mean... I'm pretty sure the Temple Guards take it in shifts, did the next guy on shift not notice it was gone?? It's like someone making off with the Crown Jewels. Even if they (being someone other than Alberic) had let Estinien walk off with the Eye... shouldn't someone have been like... well I think someone should inform the Archbishop or at least tack a memo to the door so the next guard on duty won't be worried that the thing he's guarding isn't actually there anymore.
It's just a huge continuity stretch that could've been very easily avoided by either A) not having Estinien recognize you or B) change Alberic's text to say something to the effect of "Oh Estinien returned to Ishgard and because of your efforts blah blah."
All that said, I have a feeling we've certainly not seen the last of Estinien and that we will find out more about what happened to him between when we shanked him and when he decided to return to Ishgard. So until then.
