Mage (WHM/BLM and the like!) Q/A

[TheLastCandle]

I'm aware that elementals exist beyond the Shroud; I acknowledged that fact at some point a while ago. The majority of my comments have been directed toward the Black Shroud elementals in particular as they are the only elementals that seem particularly bent toward setting and enforcing policy.

 

Your argument earlier didn't seem to acknowledge it.

 

Um... every tree is an Elemental. Every stream, every boulder. They are the world.

They're a forest. One forest. A big forest, sure. If elementals exist outside the Black Shroud, they haven't exhibited totalitarian tendencies that their exceptional Shroud brethren have. They haven't even exhibited any signs of sympathy or alliance to the Black Shroud elementals.

 

But props for doing so now.

 

My proposed hypothetical was more of a thought exercise than a proposition on what may occur in the near future. The gist of my point in voicing that particular line of thought is that the elementals have remained static while the mortals progress.

 

And I feel like by now it should go without saying, but "never" has proven to be a very dangerous word in Eorzea. Most of the characters we've seen who follow the mantra of "never" tend to have a poor record of survival.

 

The thing is, this is a cycle of destruction and rebirth, Umbral and Astral, that the Elementals have seen a number of times before. Granted, this time could be different. The Ascians certainly seem to think so. But still, I'm of the mind that we're due some real Greenwrath in the future. We got to see a little of it in 1.0, but I wouldn't be surprised if things continue to escalate in Eorzea to the point where the Ents will march the Elementals will have their fury upon them. And even in their diminished state, in the White Mage job quest, it took the MC, Raya-O-Senna, A-Ruhn-Senna, and the spirit of A-Towa-Cant to Quiet just the Guardian Tree.

[Sin]

I think it's clear to me that if Elementals could simply turn off succor a lot of their actions wouldn't make full sense. Certainly, the new nefarious ways of obtaining White Magic mentioned in Las Vegas would be irrelevant since you know even if you get it through your nefarious brilliance... first elemental that spots you is going to turn it off. No, I think they take a much more hand's on approach to policing the use of Succor by hiding the art away, being extremely selective of the practitioners, and slaying whoever doesn't follow the rules to the letter.

 

I don't think we're due for some large scale Elemental's go HAM greenwrath in the future simply because of the aforementioned weakening due to the Calamity. They're in no position to rage. Unless you mean the very far future... like in seven expansions.

[Aduu Avagnar]

I think it's clear to me that if Elementals could simply turn off succor a lot of their actions wouldn't make full sense. Certainly, the new nefarious ways of obtaining White Magic mentioned in Las Vegas would be irrelevant since you know even if you get it through your nefarious brilliance... first elemental that spots you is going to turn it off. No, I think they take a much more hand's on approach to policing the use of Succor by hiding the art away, being extremely selective of the practitioners, and slaying whoever doesn't follow the rules to the letter.

 

I don't think we're due for some large scale Elemental's go HAM greenwrath in the future simply because of the aforementioned weakening due to the Calamity. They're in no position to rage. Unless you mean the very far future... like in seven expansions.

Do remember there is a reason why it is/was taking so long for the land to recover from the calamity. And if you've completed Coil, then the aftermath of that should speed things up considerably.

 

 

Its due in part to Bahamut still draining/possessing some of it's aether, rather than dispersing it, now that it is gone completely back to the Aether, it should now speed it up.

 

[ArmachiA]

Would be kind of fun though if one of the expansions was the Elementals regaining their power and then turning on the mortals.

 

Greenwrath, Greenwrath everywhere.

[LiadansWhisper]

 

 

 

Actually, the argument could go either way for the soulstone.

Raya-O-Senna: And, as you act in my name, I hereby permit you the use of white magic. Take here this linkpearl and Soul of the White Mage. The latter is an ancient crystal imbued with the light of succor - by its power, the forbidden art will be yours to wield, albeit within the bounds of your skill as a conjurer.

 

To walk the path of the white mage is to devote oneself to the salving of hurts and the lifting of misery - ours is the hand that proffers comfort. Should it every come to light that you have used your powers for less virtuous ends, be forewarned you will promptly be dispossessed of the crystal and summarily punished.

 

A-Towa-Cant: I lived a long and fruitful life. But when I drew my last breath in O'Ghomoro that day, I did so with one profound regret- that I would pass from this realm without finding a worthy inheritor to bequeath my knowledge in full. My spirit left my lifeless body to abide in this soul crystal, with the hope that one day it would find its way into the hands of my successor. From the moment you took my crystal in hand, I knew. Padjal or no, I had at long last found one to whom I could truly pass on my knowledge.

 

 

I had forgotten about that part of the quest (haven't had a chance to go back and review the cutscenes). I stand corrected on that point.  With that said, I seem to recall that Raya-O-Senna was teaching us the abilities we were picking up as White Mages as we went along? Or am I completely misremembering it at this point?

 

Altho I suppose that you could characterize it as "you have access to succor and can do other things not mentioned in game mechanics with it."  Which would be a bit closer to an Awakened Mage from WW's MtA setting.

 

Would be kind of fun though if one of the expansions was the Elementals regaining their power and then turning on the mortals.

 

Greenwrath, Greenwrath everywhere.

 

I think it sounds amazing.  Don't give me ideas. 

[V'aleera]

Do remember there is a reason why it is/was taking so long for the land to recover from the calamity. And if you've completed Coil, then the aftermath of that should speed things up considerably.

 

 

Its due in part to Bahamut still draining/possessing some of it's aether, rather than dispersing it, now that it is gone completely back to the Aether, it should now speed it up.

 

 

But in the second part of 2.5

 

 

That researcher guy mentions how the parts of South Shroud you inspect are oddly drained of aether.

 

 

So I don't know if the events you mentioned actually helped that much, or if something else is afoot.

[Verilys]

With that said, I seem to recall that Raya-O-Senna was teaching us the abilities we were picking up as White Mages as we went along? Or am I completely misremembering it at this point?

 

I've not finished the White Mage stuff, but for the quests up to level 40, there's no real teaching going on. She does tell you general stuff like:

 

I would ask you to placate this tree. The process is quite simple: stand before the tree and raise your hands. Commune with the elementals that reside within, and attune yourself to them, until your feelings are in absolute harmony.

 

... but I don't think that counts as much in the way of teaching! So far, it seems she's mostly been the sort to rely on A-Towa-Cant's crystal to do the work in terms of actual abilities. Her role seems to mostly be motivational speaking and trying to get her brother to stop being a jerk. Though that may or may not change in the later quests, the character had, at least to that point, clearly been learning White Mage-ness some other way.

 

Supporting this would be the dialogue of the initial quest:

 

A most admirable cause, yes? But alas, A-Towa was never to return. He perished in a far-off land, and having taken no apprentices, his legendary powers were lost to us for eternity. Or so I believed...until I met you

 

Which would appear to imply that, due to the crystal, those powers are not lost. Presumably as the teachings get Matrix'd into your brain over time. That and (again, to the point I've been up to), there's been no narrative connection between gaining abilities and what Raya-O-Senna says. Not even anything like, 'Allow me to show you a useful spell'. She usually leaves you on the note of 'go hone your skills'.

 

... or how her brother's a jerk.

[TheLastCandle]

I think it's clear to me that if Elementals could simply turn off succor a lot of their actions wouldn't make full sense. Certainly, the new nefarious ways of obtaining White Magic mentioned in Las Vegas would be irrelevant since you know even if you get it through your nefarious brilliance... first elemental that spots you is going to turn it off. No, I think they take a much more hand's on approach to policing the use of Succor by hiding the art away, being extremely selective of the practitioners, and slaying whoever doesn't follow the rules to the letter.

 

I don't think we're due for some large scale Elemental's go HAM greenwrath in the future simply because of the aforementioned weakening due to the Calamity. They're in no position to rage. Unless you mean the very far future... like in seven expansions.

 

Not on the cataclysmic level, no, I agree. But again:

 

[...]even in their diminished state, in the White Mage job quest, it took the MC, Raya-O-Senna, A-Ruhn-Senna, and the spirit of A-Towa-Cant to Quiet just the Guardian Tree.

 

So.. in the Twelveswood, their very center of power? Yes, I do think it's inevitable that something, eventually, is going to set them off. Not only based on the above, but from a storytelling perspective, I simply doubt it's one of those things that SE is going to relegate to the background for the life of the game. That's really all I'm saying.

[LiadansWhisper]

 

 

... or how her brother's a jerk.

 

The only time I've wanted to beat someone with a stick more than that questline was when I was in Coerthas.

 

I really wanted to beat all of the Isghardians in Coerthas badly.

 

But yeah, her brother...is a piece of work.

[LiadansWhisper]

Do remember there is a reason why it is/was taking so long for the land to recover from the calamity. And if you've completed Coil, then the aftermath of that should speed things up considerably.

 

 

Its due in part to Bahamut still draining/possessing some of it's aether, rather than dispersing it, now that it is gone completely back to the Aether, it should now speed it up.

 

 

 

But in the second part of 2.5

 

 

That researcher guy mentions how the parts of South Shroud you inspect are oddly drained of aether.

 

 

 

So I don't know if the events you mentioned actually helped that much, or if something else is afoot.

 

 

It's possible that it's something else, it's also possible that it's Odin (remember that his summoning spot is in South Shroud).  Too, there's the crazy summoning going on in Amdapor Keep.