#patch 6.4 the dark throne

[scrollsfromarebornrealm]

Knight in Black

Knight in Light

[3gremlins]

All the love to the Shirtless Estinien Writing and Art Team, 10/10, no notes. i feel so seen lol

[autumnslance]

THE DROUGHT IS OVER

Patch 6.4 "The Dark Throne" trailer.

[sumifinalfourteen]

I think this picture sums up patch 6.4 quite well

[unbloomingmoonflower]

“We’ll get her back.”

[autumnslance]

The buff if you went with the full flavor version of the curry.

Spicy Circulation I: Warmed and invigorated by a bowl of hot curry.

Spicy Circulation XXII: Reforged by the flames of truly challenging curry.

they give you a buff after you eat the curry agksdfhjlws;oi-

[invisiblebounds-ffxiv]

Patch 6.4─The Dark Throne

Coming Late May 2023

[dawntrailing]

PATCH 6.4: THE DARK THRONE

[dragons-bones]

FFXIV Write Entry #7: Bug Juice

Prompt: noisome || Master Post || On AO3

A/N: Assumed spoilers through Patch 6.4: The Dark Throne. This was originally going to be a food porn entry, but work nonsense yesterday sucked the soul out of me, but here at least is what I planned to cap the whole entry off with!

Yes, there's a reference in here. No, I'm not telling you, it ruins the surprise.

--

Alakhai set the bottle on the table with a resounding thunk. The clear liquid within sloshed loudly.

“Oh, Rereha is going to pitch a fit when she finds out she missed this,” Y’shtola muttered.

Zero canted her head to the side as she examined the bottle unblinkingly. “I presume this isn’t water.”

“Oh no,” Alakhai said, and she let herself smile a very feral smile. “We have introduced you to the joys of fruit, and spice, and dumplings, and cake, and oysters.”

“Bleh,” Heron said with a grimace.

“Silence, heathen.” Alakhai waved an imperious hand at her sister without looking at her, her gaze firmly fixed on Zero. “There are three things that all civilizations develop independently. You have met two of them: swords, and dough stuffed with assorted fillings and then fried. Now you meet the third: alcohol.”

Synnove began giggling into her bowl of payasam. Y’shtola said nothing, but smirked. Heron groaned.

Zero flicked her gaze from the bottle to Alakhai, then to Y’shtola, and Synnove, and Heron, then back to the bottle. A thoughtful hum was the only sound she made.

Alakhai reached forward, and yanked the cork from the bottle.

Y’shtola wheezed. Synnove choked on her payasam. Heron jerked backwards, her face contorting the exact same way Galette’s did when the carbuncle smelled something utterly foul. Zero blinked.

“What in the seven hells, Alakhai?” Y’shtola croaked.

“This,” Alakhai said with relish, “is a bottle of Jacke’s moonshine.”

There was a moment of horrified silence, and then:

“Doesn’t he make that out of potatoes and shoe leather?!” Synnove said, green eyes huge as she curled up further onto the low divan in an attempt to get away from the bottle.

“Not even the courtesy to introduce her to good booze, who raised you,” Y’shtola said with a shake of her head.

Heron covered her face with her hands and groaned louder. “Alakhai.” The despair was clear despite being muffled.

Alakhai smirked and picked up the bottle. Poured into an empty glass. Set down the bottle. Picked up the glass, and held it out to Zero.

The woman took it gingerly and leaned back, bringing the glass up to her face. She took a single sniff, and her nose faintly wrinkled as the corners of her mouth tightened. Considering how utterly impassive Zero was at the best of times, that was as loud a noise of disgust as Synnove hissing at alfalfa sprouts. Alakhai oozed smugness.

“And you willingly consume this?” Zero said.

“Unfortunately,” Y’shtola said.

“Why.”

“Depending on the alcohol, for taste,” Heron said from behind her hands. “Shite like that? To get drunk.”

“The propensity for inebriation as a form of entertainment lacks any sense,” Zero said. She sounded especially flat.

And then she tossed the moonshine back in a single gulp.

Synnove shuddered from head to toe. Y’shtola’s ears flattened in sympathy. Heron peered cautiously between her fingers. Alakhai merely smirked.

Zero blinked. And blinked. And blinked again. Stared down at the glass in her hands for a very long time. “Oh,” she said at last. There was a flush on her cheeks, the pink almost magenta against the paleness of her skin. “That is revolting. I hate it.”

Alakhai held up the bottle, smirk widening. “More?”

“Please,” Zero said, and held out her glass. Alakhai dutifully poured it to fullness.

“The most dramatic of fits,” Y’shtola sighed as Synnove made a gagging noise next to her.

PREVIOUS || NEXT

[scrollsfromarebornrealm]

brainworms

fuck it, I shall be unhinged

SPOILERS BENEATH THE READMORE

but first

EVERYTHING CERTAINLY WAS NOT FINE AT ALL

Okay so ever since last August this bit of dialogue has been living rent free in the back of my head

That 'infect' line is pretty interesting considering we get a somewhat similar line in patch 6.4, when Jullus speaks to Zero on the nature of trust among mortals. Thancred also had a similar line, telling Zero to stick around the Warrior of Light and she'd learn the meaning of trust.

It also speaks (at least in my opinion) the sheer level of damage Athena's betrayal and his self-sundering inflicted on Lahabrea. This man got wrecked. He was in love, possibly high on fatherhood, is on the Convocation, enjoys a great deal of respect from his peers--and he is hurt so badly that he limits himself to feeling any and all emotions at a reserve. He prizes logic and cold hard facts. Talk about a fucking crash to the bottom!

And even with his self sundering, he still feels deeply! Call him out over his shutting out of Erichthonios and the man just stares at you like you fucking slapped him straight into the abyss. And when he rejoins himself--he's still that cold, hard, logical asshole of a man--still repressing his feelings.

Anyway. Brainworms. I'm playing with the idea (still gotta let patch things settle, get some proper sleep and the like), but fiddling with the idea that Lahabrea--or rather, Hephaistos was at odds with Junia, because like him, Junia was wildly passionate and worked more according to her feelings rather than accept and follow logical outcomes. Though when they did get along on matters it was actually frightening for all involved.

I'm disappointed that we didn't get any time with *our* Lahabrea--this version of him is post Panda and self-rejoined and *right* before the Final Days, but as I've got the feeling that Pandaemonium is a good-bye to the Ancients on a whole in terms of story (could be wrong but as of rn there seems to be no need for the WoL to go back to Elpis), this version of him is probably the best good-bye we'll be able to get. And honestly it might be better this way. Lahabrea was so unhinged at the end of it all that just sleeping in the Lifestream is probably the best medicine, if he hasn't moved onto being reborn yet.

Regarding anything with Riven--I'm now on the fence regarding the idea of Junia finding out about her future...soul-child, so to speak. I have two trains of thought--one where she did find out about Riven and the Final Days, and her assistance in securing Pandaemonium. Junia decides to protect Riven as best as she could by giving out that Riven was a familiar she created, giving her freedom to wander the world. She then gives Themis a cryptic clue regarding Pandaemonium and Riven's arrival, and finally, to make sure that she doesn't foul anything up, uses Kairos to wipe her memories and implant false ones.

The other line of thought was Venat. It's in line with Elidibus's explanation in Panda 2.0. Venat tells Junia that she encountered a strange being in her travels--one that reminded her greatly of her student. Junia is suspicious initially, even more so when she starts to get details of Riven's time in Elpis. Venat then 'admits' to her successor that she suspected the strange being was possibly a concept that had escaped and evolved on its own--and had decided to model itself after Junia and her actions. Junia accepts this--much to her brother Lucis' displeasure.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Either way, following Pandaemonium's stabilization, Lahabrea--who has been unable to cast out the memory of a gremlin that looked and sounded too much like a certain illogical and annoying co-worker--

(not to mention her combat skill eclipsed the most powerful of the Convocation)

Confronts Junia over Riven. Junia being Junia, effectively blocks and prevaricates on the matter. Surprisingly Lahabrea lets it drop. Yes he'd like to get his hands on the little gremlin for Science™️ but really, he did warn her away from Pandaemonium so alas.

Later on before the Final Days, he is privy to a comment Junia makes-- voicing her wish for a strong and caring daughter who could 'help the world'. This makes him stop and pause--was the little fiend Azem's daughter?

And then all the Very Bad Shit happens, Lahabrea loses his fucking mind, doesn't meet Riven again until the events of ARR and HW. By that time he's so far gone he doesn't remember the events of Pandaemonium and possibly doesn't until his soul hits the Lifestream.

"SHE WAS THE FUCKING 'FAMILIAR'?!"

Riven: *sneeze*

[coreyalite]

GUYS I'M SO EXCITED!!!🌟

My White Mage weapon design for FFXIV is going to be added to the game!! AND ON MY BIRTHDAY??

They did such an amazing job modeling it, its so cute I might cry! 🥹

(sorry for the resolution, these were the only pictures i could find lol)

Stay tuned for the launch of patch 6.4 (The Dark Throne) on May 23, 2023!!

[nosafeharbour]

Patch 6.4: The Dark Throne MSQ thoughts/reactions

MSQ reactions except actually it’s literally just about the dungeon

Okay, for context on all of my Isle of Haam thoughts;

I decided back during Heavensward about where my WoL is from: all I vaguely knew before then was that I wanted her to be from a mountainous area, and not be native to Eorzea. I’d been curious about Sharlayan, and the possibility of Albi coming from there came to me once I reached the Dravanian Hinterlands and had the geography and architecture tick every box for me. I had been mulling over an Irish-inspired heritage for Albi for personal reasons, and it clicked into place once I did the Mhach raids — she could be a descendant of the Mhachi, and I could link Sharlayan by having her come from one of the smaller Sharlayan isles. She’s close enough to have that link to Old Sharlayan, but having my own little original island meant I could carve out my little bit of worldbuilding, a group of settlers who left Eorzea for the Northern Empty along with those who founded Old Sharlayan, but slightly splintered in a way where the Irish-based language survived on from Mhach. I’ve had the Isle of Danann ever since!

Judging by geography, and learning of Sharlayan’s attitude to the outside world, my little isle basically ended up being the Irish equivalent to Sharlayan’s UK... both in climate, and political relations, lmao. Related enough to be grouped together, but still othered by Old Sharlayan. Using the Celtic isles as inspiration for both language and climate was really perfect in the end, and places like the Isle of Skye became direct inspiration for Albi’s home. I opted for an isle north of the main Old Sharlayan isle for Danann, because I wanted to lean more into the cold, mountainous vibe. I had assumed and hoped that Old Sharlayan’s geography and climate would be comparable to the Celtic isles and places like Iceland, so seeing the fir trees, Icelandic recipes, references to Celtic isle birds, and seeing it snow in Old Sharlayan once we got there in Endwalker had me super emotional in ways I felt silly about, but hey, it’s cool to have stuff validated!

I knew we’d never get any focus on the surrounding Sharlayan isles; getting to actually go to the Isle of Val via Eureka was really special to me, and going to Old Sharlayan itself was equally special! They were close enough.

So anyway when the 6.4 dungeon ended up being the Isle of Haam, the one named isle north of Old Sharlayan I was in complete and utter disbelief. The only reason I hadn’t picked that specific isle for Albi’s home and made my own was just in the weird slim chance that it ever got lore... but I was thinking like... maybe a mention in an Encyclopedia, not a physical location we’d actually go to

I wanna attribute it to having had a very emotionally tough few weeks preceding the patch, but when I loaded into the Aetherfont and heard the music, I just burst into tears LMAO the opening guitar just got me, okay. Turns out having spent 5 years pouring my heart into a specific part of Albi, her home and her attachment to it, and then practically getting to go there?? Wildest dream come true.

Also, the music is called Starsbreath? Hello?? I’m getting emotional just thinking about it again, don’t look at me

These cliffs that look like they slope upward that you see as you come into the dungeon, they’re so reminiscent of one of my irl inspirations... :’) Photo I took myself!!

I joked on Twitter when we first found out about the dungeon’s setting that they should give me Thancred back for just one patch, because Albi needed her emotional support tank for visiting the Isle of Haam. So I... wh... they heard me... Thancred’s involvement in patch was so cute and silly. It would be easy to be disappointed in how slim it was, but my expectations were low, so just having him called in as a therapy dog to our latest unsocialised cat was very charming. He isn’t just Albi’s emotional support tank, he’s everyone’s emotional support tank

Thanks, babe!

Anyway back to the Isle of Haam

Heatherback... heather... heather is really important to Albi/Albicred/me via Scottish folklore and it generally being a flower that’s very common in the places I care about, so this just got me even more, man. I deadass spent this entire dungeon in some level of tears

Just... literally the spitting image of where I’ve always pictured for Albi to hail from. She might not be from the Isle of Haam itself, but you can surely see the Isle of Danann from it, with how close it must be. The only thing I am laughing at is that I didn’t quite realise an isle that far north would be surrounded by ice floes and polar bears?? LMAO I guess Haam is more Icelandic leaning... maybe Danann isn’t quite as far north...

The mountains/winding stream through the valley you can see in the distance... :)

The trees and the foxgloves... they’re just perfect...

The gear all being called distance gear is very cute. And it’s mostly black and gold! The green accents on some stuff might have to grow on me, but I think these are all glams I’m willing to sweep into canon Albi outfits. Outfits from home... ish!

As for why we’re there, and the Isle of Haam’s place in the story... it’s interesting that this island was acquired by Old Sharlayan for research purposes, and the Isle of Val was also bought by Galuf Baldesion for similar reasons. It seems that none of these isles asides from the main one are inhabited? Not that I care, for my isle is seperate enough in both it’s own place in the archipelego, it’s culture, etc. but it’s an interesting thing to note.

The Isle of Haam originally being the source of aether that was going to take the Ragnarok to the moon is fascinating! I like it more than the MacGuffin of “we’re going to summon all the Primals but make them good guys just to fulfill the abandoned plot thread from the 1.0 intro”... lol... this would have been a nice MSQ dungeon, if we got the fabled two expansion finale where we had more time in each area.

I need to work out how Albi feels about all of this. Despite the island being used only for good, and to save humanity, I think she would still narrow her eyes at the Forum’s intents to use it’s resources for gain. She still holds a grudge at how flippantly Old Sharlayan views the isles around it, particularly when one of the reasons the Isle of Danann did not do well after the Calamity was Old Sharlayan offering aide too little and too late. She’s mellowed down a little in Endwalker about her views on the motherland and the Forum, but it’s still easy to raise her hackles on such matters.

Since the Isle of Haam is certainly the closest isle to Danann, I wonder if the two had any connections? Not that Albi ever went there, but the aether crystal caves were gorgeous... maybe some people did visit Haam in order to collect crystals to use in jewellery making. Perhaps it was a known spot.

Rolling back to the actual story. Thancred coming in to teach Zero about Trust, only to go “I learned how to love and trust people through this one” while nodding at WoL and then leaving is both incredibly funny and incredibly sweet

Thancred’s Unending Codex entry... I know this is about him thinking of Ryne, which is very sweet, so I don’t wanna make this about myself, but when I have a star-themed WoL I’m reading this like... :) Ah... ahaha... Thancred having a fondness for stargazing through Albi is something I’ve had for them since like 2017, particularly as something to connect him to her when they’re apart. That can still be an element here! Fellas, what if your character arc was about coming to terms with being parted with the ones you love, and finding peace with that distance. He looks up at the stars and thinks of Minfilia, and Albi, and Ryne.

I dunno how I feel about the Garlemald section. I think Garlemald sections in EW patches will just always hurt a little bit, for me, because I’ll never be able to stop thinking about what this zone could have been like with proper pacing and involved characters.

But I really like Senatus! They gave me a bourgeoisie Tertrium! Again, a little sad that this means they’ll never actually use the government building next door, but it is very neat to see where an interim government is being run out of, and the differences between there and Tertium. It does have this interesting war bunker vibe.

Similarly to the Tataru’s Grand Endeavour quest, I think while I didn’t massively care for any of the story elements here, it gave me lots of nice little morsels for my own little character stuff. Albi has been spending some time collecting books from ruined houses and buildings in Garlemald, restoring them in her free time and collecting them together in Tertium or Camp Broken Glass. I had in mind that some Garleans would not want her to meddle, but she has the same goal in mind of trying to preserve some of the everyday life and culture of Garlemald, be it good or bad elements of it. Seeing all the books in Senatus, I think it gives another facet to all of that... wanting to ensure books are taken care of and in the hands of the people, and how some might feel about that? P: This all spanned from the mention of Garlean poetry in Jullus’s short story, and wanting Albi to get some bearings with Garlean as a language. MSQ and Tataru quest just gave me Albi book lore...

Speaking of Jullus, him and Zero were the one part of this arc that I adored. I have a lot of feelings over it being Zenos that treated Zero so badly, but another Garlean that helped her in the end - I have no idea what the game intended when it made our WoL think about Zenos at the end of that scene, but in my eyes that was also the sentiment on Albi’s mind.

I’m still half checked out on the main MSQ story in the Endwalker patches, but 6.4 did make me really like Golbez. I thought he was cool in a “big man good” way before, and liked his voice acting, but whew his voice acting in the trial is really good. His backstory with his friend is neat - I’ve been holding back on developing my loose ideas for Albi’s shard from the Thirteenth just in case they pulled Zero, or maybe even Golbez being our shard, but I think if it’s going to be anybody then I’m placing my bets on Golbez’s friend. The fact they’re a mage, dressed in black, who is respectful of the dead... I like it.

Okay I think that’s it. I just wanted to cry about the Isle of Haam somewhere. Please wish me luck in farming the entire gear set, the orchestrion roll, and the minion, because I’ve been having bloody terrible luck with all of those so far.

[autumnslance]

The 1 Other Thing I Wanted From Panda's Finale

We finally got the Heart of Sabik and why that chunk of black auracite was such a pain in the rear for so long. But we also got the other thing I'd wanted from that...

Themis: Elidibus's soul was plucked from the aetherial sea, and from it I was wrought. Surely you have a passing interest in what I remember. In what I feel… Themis: You deserve what answers I can provide. While my memories of Pandæmonium are clear, all else is...hazy at best. Themis: Perhaps Athena made me this way, or...perhaps it is the result of who or what I was before. Themis: Still, I can recall vague figures. Scenes from my future, and your past… Themis: At the Crystal Tower's peak we clash. And later, from that selfsame spire, I send you forth... Themis: Into our age. Into Elpis. Themis: Why do I decide on such a course? Formless as these images are, I cannot say... Themis: ...However, I can hazard a guess. Themis: Somewhere within my fragmented memories, I catch a glimpse of our journey into Pandæmonium. Themis: A glimpse which shows not the path we took or the destination where it led us, yet by its very presence demands that you are required in Elpis. Themis: And even if that act is but one link in the chain of events which ends in Etheirys's salvation... Themis: Then this all has meaning. Our time together─every moment─is worthwhile... Themis: ...and I am unburdened by regret. Themis: That said, it is possible my motivations become something else entirely. Themis: That you would cross this vast expanse in the hopes of being reunited with your allies… Themis: A devotion that once would have baffled me. But after having been to the depths of that twisted prison and back, I think I can understand. Themis: Now, I have pulled back the curtain as far as I dare.

Hydaelyn brought Elidibus back to the Source too. I couldn't imagine Her leaving him in the First, after She'd brought back Minfilia and Emet-Selch; his final monologue to his counterpart heart struck me as simply a part of a conversation we didn't get to hear the rest of.

Themis's memories of Elidibus are still fractured, as to be expected, but combined with his younger memories from the crystal, he can figure himself out and give the WoL one last reassurance, as our friend and ally, before joining his loved ones in the Aetherial Sea to be washed clean and eventually reborn, his duty complete.

Pandaemonium gave us fuller characterization of the other two unsundered--Lahabrea especially needed a revisit in my opinion, given his role as the earliest of our enemies during the less certain writing of ARR and HW, and Elidibus's mystery was always off to the side, until he unraveled entirely with the loss of his brothers.

So overall, I rather liked the raid story, as it neatly wraps up not only the Ancients, but our eternal frenemies the unsundered Ascians, and the complex, tragic figures they were.

[nerdsleaze]

FINAL FANTASY® XIV Online’s Patch 6.4: “The Dark Throne” will launch on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

Players will be able to enjoy new main scenario quests, a new raid dungeon, new trial, and more. Information was also shared on other updates as part of Patch 6.4, including Crystalline Conflict and Frontline PvP updates, a number of Island Sanctuary updates including the ability to place outdoor furnishings, and an overview of the next Variant and Criterion dungeons launching separately with Patch 6.45.   Here's Final Fantasy XIV The Dark Throne Trailer

Further details on Patch 6.4 can be found below: 

New Main Scenario Quests – The next chapter in the story of the Warrior of Light.

New Raid Dungeon: Pandæmonium: Anabaseios – The final instalment of the Pandæmonium raid series.

New Dungeon – New challenges await in the Aetherfont.

New Trial: The Voidcast Dais – A challenging new battle against Golbez at both Normal and Extreme difficulties.

New Unreal Trial – Fight in Containment Bay Z1T9 (Unreal) against the mighty Zurvan.

New Side Story Quests – Tataru’s Grand Endeavour continues.

Duty Support System Update – Support for several Stormblood™ main scenario dungeons (The Sirensong Sea, Bardam’s Mettle, Doma Castle, Castrum Abania and Ala Mhigo) will be added, meaning they can be completed solo, alongside a party of NPC allies.

Ocean Fishing Update – Explore the new route towards Kugane.

Island Sanctuary Updates – New sanctuary ranks and items to gather, construction plots, craftable items, crops, animals, and the ability to place outdoor furnishings near structures, and more.

Player Versus Player Updates:

Crystalline Conflict – PvP Series 4 begins alongside Season 7 of Crystalline Conflict.

Frontline – Adjustments made to the rules of the Fields of Glory (Shatter), and the inclusion of an optional new UI element making it easier to track the score and remaining match time.

Miscellaneous Updates – Various updates including the introduction of a new Allagan tomestone currency, user interface updates to display job icons in the chat log and on player nameplates, the ability to glamour scholar faeries, several quality-of-life improvements, and more.

[cyborg-squid]

I've only not just finished The Dark Throne/Patch 6.4, so maybe I should wait until I'm done with the whole thing before posting, but most of the Void arc so far has been... rather dull, and I feel in large part that is due to Golbez (though to give credit, he has some cool abilities in battle, and a good JP VA (who I mainly know from FGO Hijikata)) and it being a big reference to previous Final Fantasys. It's a similar problem that I had with the Ivalice raids, where if you haven't played the relevant FFs, the nostalgia/reference bait doesn't land and it's hard to pay attention a whole lot. The Omega raids were made of previous FF references/bosses, but circumvented this issues by just being a boss rush versus them and moving on to the next one, while telling a story with Cid, Omega, and Alpha. The Warrior of Light Trial in post-ShB is amplified by previous FF experience (from what I know), but stands well and truly on it's own. And on that note, it's almost insulting how his lines mirror those of Elidibus, Golbez is nowhere near in his league. To me, and my WoL as well, Golbez is little more than another foe to be defeated, just someone in the way.

Not tied to the Void specifically, but the Garlemald portion of this patch really lacked the same weight or impact that the Garlemald arc of Endwalker proper had. The considerations brought up by the Garleans are quite real/accurate, but the resolution felt a bit too 'soft' to me.

I do like Zero a fair amount, though, and she's maybe the strongest part of thus rather weak arc, which suffers in large part due to how disconnected it is from the expansion prior, and has actually, so far, done very little to lead in to the next one. Trying to squeeze all this Void stuff into the in between point is not really helping, maybe it would have worked better as an extended raid series, a la Eden, I dunno...

[kakurady]

Streaming Final Fantasy XIV: patch 6.4 main scenario "The Dark Throne"