with a different bunny at that point because I have yet to get over bunny boys bunny boys bunys boys bnny bunnbun bunny boys but for now, we're all staaaaaaring up at the moon

Hmm, let's see if I can vaguely put things in order

- the "the scions + all city leaders + all allied beast tribe leaders hold a Meeting" scene went as expected, and it was nice to see them all come together like that. It's been a long road to get here!

- while it was more "moving the plot from A to B," I also liked the scenes where we made sure to learn from the Crystal Braves, and Alphi got to be a sweetheart

- I did not expect them to throw Fourchenault at us before 6.0!

- On the surface, that meeting also went as expected from what we know of the twins' father, but as G'raha pointed out, there's probably more to it? My current theory is "cuts off the twins & and makes a show of keeping us out of Sharlayan to try and protect us? from something?"
What are you up to??

Anyway, intrigue clearly awaits in Sharlayan

- Am glad that Eorzea has wheelchairs! Want one for Arenvald that actually lets him move around by himself because those wheels are really not positioned for that.

- Am also glad that they seem committed to not write him out of the narrative entirely now, and good on Fordola for telling him that there's many ways to be a hero.

- Lots of battles! Lots of roleplay! G'raha switching roles partway through the instance!

Lunar Ravana was my favourite I think. Hearing that music again was <3

- Urianger no

- we got so many good dialogue options this patch!!

- And finally, the Mysterious Lady In White Who Is Holding A Mask And Is Definitely Not Venat/The Heart of Hydaelyn At All shows up, after only sneaking into the keyart for Endwalker but not, as far as I've noticed, any other promo material. And only we can see her? Mysterious~

back to Fourchenault for a second
So he comes here, knowing the twins' stance, and when they act exactly as he would've known they'd act, he disowns them? Why now, if not as a performance? (While Lousisoix was still alive, he probably couldn't, but it's been a while...)

Why would Sharlayan suddenly send an emmisary to tell us no instead of just not responding/sending a letter/linkpearl as usual?

Why make us this curious but then not throw out kindly show Krile the door and instead let her stay to eventually invite us too? (so maybe whoever is plotting here is not trying to keep us out but draw us in?)

There's too much here that doesn't add up yet.

Am more and more convinced that Labyrinthos really is a Sharlayan apocalypse bunker

In support of my Fourchenault Levellieur conspiracy theory, I present the little poem from the new year's post

(the German version of it speaking of wisdom found in the depths below aligns nicely with the Labyrinthos part of the conspiracy cork board, and "putting tomorrow into the hands of the star"... hmm, say, Sharlayans, are you working with Venat?)

so I'm not actually 100% convinced that Fourchenault is an emissary from the Forum, thinking about it

I'm also like, only 40% convinced he's disowning the twins for show

it's possible he's not as much an ass as he looks, but like, when your children's teenage rebellion is "goddamn it Dad we're going to go HELP PEOPLE" then that does not really say great things about you as a person or as a parent

what we don't know is how [people other than the raging asshat] in Sharlayan think of Louisoix's adventures

like, is he afraid that his kids will come back having done All These Amazing Things and he will look like a dumbfuck

er, is Fourchenault afraid* because at this point he's odd dude out in his family

oh yeah, he's definitely not gong to win any dad of the year awards either way!

and his stated position of "the violence of death/occupation/losing your home (hi, Dravania!)/take your pick is always worse than the violance of battle/war" is certainly a Thing

yeah like.....I agree that war should be avoided when it can be but sometimes you can't

that clearly both his children and his own father disagree(d) with, but that seems to aign with what we know of Sharlayan

and you sitting over there on an island being all smug about how you don't go to war is certainly An (1) Look

...just had the very cursed thought that Fourchenault is an anti

like, neither of them (or I) like war, clearly, but-- ah, yeah, what you just said.

pffffft

anyway I can't wait for Y'shtola to eviscerate him in front of the entire Forum

hehehe yeah

these two players running into each other just made me giggle a lot

"You're level 18, I can crush you like a coke can." XD