Originally posted April 25th, 2020
Last night I saw the credits roll on the Heavensward expansion! There's still the bridge between Heavensward and Stormblood to do, which I also started last night and already am intrigued, but this is about Heavensward proper. Some general thoughts:
Right, I think that's all of my general impressions. Now, my story summary! This is going to be long and spoiler-riffic!
SPOILERS!!!!
As I did in the ARR 2.1-2.55 patch review, some of this has been copied from the wiki as it had good summaries.
To recap the end of ARR: it appears the Sultana of Ul'dah has died due to poisoning, and the Crystal Braves have turned on the Scions. Raubahn loses his arm in a fight, and is taken into custody. The Scions escape the Ul'dah palace through a secret tunnel in the Sultana's bedroom, but they come up against insurmountable odds and the Warrior of Light (that's you) is forced to escape alone while the Scions remain behind to allow your escape.
You meet up with Alphinaud after your escape, and are flown to Coerthas by Cid. There, you reunite with Tataru and Yugiri. Haurchefant offers the help of his house, so as Heavensward starts, you make your way into Foundation, the seat of Isgard, to become wards of House Fortemps.
Once at House Fortemps' manor, you meet Count Edmont and his sons, Artoirel and Emmanellain. After taking in the sights in Isgard, you offer your service to House Fortemps, and are sent on two quest chains with each of Edmont's sons, who both prove to be incompetent for different reasons.
During Artoirel's quest chain, you investigate the sighting of heretics in Coerthas Western Highlands. There, you discover an outpost where Lady Iceheart has been hiding. Migardsormr, the dragon who has been traveling with you since the post-ARR quests, reveals himself to Lady Iceheart, and you discover that like you, she has the Echo as well. The Echo revealed to her the truth about the start of the Dragonsong War as seen through the eyes of another dragon, Hraesvelgr.
Emmanellain's quest line takes place in the Sea of Clouds. During the course of the quest line, he goes missing, and it is discovered that he was taking captive by the Vanu beast tribe. You rescue him from the Vanu, in the process learning that the Vanu have summoned their primal.
You return to Fortemps manor to report to Count Edmont, but as you are doing so a steward bursts in with an urgent message: in your absence, Alphinaud and Tataru have been arrested with charges of fomenting heresy. The two demand trial by battle, and Tataru, who is not a warrior, is allowed to choose her champion -- you. With Alphinaud's help, you defeat Ser Grinnaux and Ser Paulecrain, thus earning your comrades their freedom.
Afterwards, you find out that Raubahn is to be executed. With the help of the Domans, you make plans to rescue him from Halatali where he is being held, and are succcessful.
Upon returning to Ishgard, it is discovered that the Dravanian Horde is amassing for another strike on the city. Count Edmont urges you to seek shelter elsewhere, but after discussing it with your comrades, you offer your help in subduing the threat.
Alphinaud comes up with a plan: find the Lady Iceheart and convince her to help you treat with the dragons in an effort to stop the oncoming war. It is then that Estinien, the Azure Dragoon and holder of one of Nidhogg's eyes, approaches you and asks to join you. Alphinaud is wary, but agrees as long as Estinien stays his lance.
You ask Ser Aymeric, Lord Commander of the Temple Knights, to forgo striking at the dragons until you have a chance to put your plan into work. He agrees. Now: to find Lady Iceheart.
You return to the last place you saw her: the farmhouse in Coerthas Western. She's not there, but you discover that her followers left behind some epistles showing detailed records of the dealings of the heretics at the farmhouse and those at Akh Afah Amphitheatre. You travel to Snowcloak which houses the entrance to the Amphitheatre. Upon entering, Alphinaud attempts to parley with the heretics, but they're not having it. You defeat the heretics, but the dying words of one mentions the island of the Dreaming Dragon...
Before you can go to the island, however, Estinien suggests that you visit a group of dragonslayers known as the Convictors who have pitched camp in the region of Twinpools. Questioning them, you learn not much save for a mention from a soldier, that heretics are often summoned in Coerthas Western Highlands by plumes of purple smoke.
Deciding to try this for yourself, it succeeds in drawing Lady Iceheart to your camp. You explain your desire to parley with Nidhogg, but the heretics' mistress quickly dismisses the plan as futile. She relates the history of treachery that fuels the great wyrm's wrath, and Estinien, though disagreeing on the point of Nidhogg's present goal, concedes that the maddened beast is unlikely to listen to reason. Alphinaud then suggests that speaking with Hraesvelgr, another of the seven great wyrms, may provide a more promising chance at peace. Lady Iceheart insists upon accompanying your party, and offers to lead you to Hraesvelgr's lair.
You make your way to Tailfeather, a hunter's camp in the Dravinian Forelands. In the camp, you learn about a hostile beast tribe known as the Gnath. In spite of the Gnath threat, Estenien suggests making straight for the mountain range of Sohm Al. You do so, fighting Gnath along the way. Once you reach the ruins, Ysayle (the true name of Lady Iceheart) claims that the site is a remnant of the age when her ancestors and the Dravanians lived in harmony. Estinien accuses her of peddling heretic falsehoods, prompting an exasperated Alphinaud to step in. After demanding that the pair set aside their differences for the good of the mission, he declares that their debate will presently be settled by the indisputable visions granted you by the Echo. Though you know that your gift is rarely so obliging, you say nothing.
At the three towers of Anyx Trine, which you must climb to reach the summit of Sohm Al, Ysayle speaks with Vidofnir, a dragon who is a friend of hers, and asks if the party could climb the tower. Though apparently willing to open the way to Sohm Al's summit, the Dravanian declares that she cannot leave her post unguarded for fear of the Gnath's god. Suddenly, the beastmen's aggression begins to make sense -- they act under the influence of a primal. Pausing only to seek your approval, Alphinaud offers to slay the creature, that Vidofnir might assist you in turn.
There's some quests with the friendly Gnath tribe, which give you more information about the non-friendly Gnath's primal...though not *much* information. You do learn that the non-friendly Gnath speak to each other through a shared conciousness known as the Overmind. Ysayle offers to treat with the Gnathic god.. by offering herself as a sacrifice. Alphinaud has misgivings, but you and Ysayle follow through with the plan. You break into the Gnathic hive, and are taken prisoner.
You do not have to wait long before Lord Ravana, Master of the Sacred Blades and Wrath of the Colony, arrives to claim his sacrifices. Seizing the opportunity, Ysayle boldly questions the primal about his war with the dragons, before challenging him to a contest of might. Not one to shy away from a fight, Ravana accepts, and terms are duly agreed. If you prevail, the Gnath must cease hostilities with the Dravanians; but should Ravana emerge the victor, you will join his army as eternal thralls. Having goaded the primal into giving his word, Ysayle draws upon the energy of the Gnath's hoarded crystals to transform herself into Saint Shiva, and battle is joined. Even with Shiva's great strength, however, the heretic leader is no match for Ravana's flashing blades. As Ysayle sinks to her knees, defeated, the triumphant god's eyes alight on you.
After a long and furious battle, Lord Ravana at last lays down his blades defeated. He duly proclaims you the victor by sacred rite of combat, and vows to call his followers back from the dragons' domain.
You return to Vidofnir, who agrees to open the way to Sohm Al, provided you fight your way through the cavern of Mourn. You do so, but at the summit of Sohm Al you must battle with Tioman, the consort of Nidhogg.
I forgot to mention that during the ARR afterquests, you actually lose some of the power of the Echo as your crystals of light are extinguished. The crystals become reignited during your travels in Heavensward; after defeating Tioman, the Crystal of Earth relights.
You're now in the Churning Mists, where Ysayle spots a moogle! The moogle, startled, goes into hiding. You return to Gridania, where you ask the Elder Seedseer for her help and the help of the Twelveswood's moogles in treating with the moogles of Moghome. The Moghome moogles give you several tedious tasks to do before they accept your friendship.
With the Moogles' help, you make your way to Zenith, where the great dragon Hraesvelgr resides. You're forced to make a campfire while waiting for the dragon. You and your companions enjoy the warmth of the crackling campfire, speaking of the road you have traveled, and the lessons you have learned. But though shared adversity has brought you closer together, tensions yet simmer between Estinien and Ysayle. You can only hope that tomorrow's negotiations will bring a final resolution to their -- and Ishgard's -- conflict...
Once you meet with the great dragon, Ysayle attempts to convince Hraesvelgr that she is Shiva reborn, only to be rebuffed. You're then given a history lesson by the dragon, recounts the tale of his brood-sister Ratatoskr's murder and the treachery of King Thordan. Man, he concludes, has brought nothing but misery to dragonkind. With that, the immense creature flies away, leaving you to ponder the cost of Nidhogg's eternal quest for vengeance.
Ysayle has had her faith shattered. Estinien believes the only course of action now is to slay Nidhogg to end the Dragonsong War. Nidhogg is residing in the Aery, which is buffeted by strong winds. You'll need Cid's help to get through them.
Back at Isghard, Biggs and Wedge are showing off their latest invention, a small individual airship known as the manacutter, when Tataru bursts in with news: the sultana may not be dead after all!
There's a sidequest where you find the one responsible for poisoning the Sultana... her lady-in-waiting, Meriel. Before Raubahn can wring the truth from the trembling Meriel, Lolorito appears and proceeds to reveal the details of the assassination plot. All of his actions, he claims, were intended to expose Teledji Adeledji, and ensure the stability of Ul'dah. As proof of his good intentions, he then presents the Flame General with the means to rouse the sultana from her deathlike state.
The sultana is restore to wakefulness, and in discussion afterwards, Alphinaud signals his intent to disband the Crystal Braves, who were supposed to have been the start of an Eorzean-wide Grand Company but had had several members betray the Scions. When Alphinaud tells the remaining Braves of his decision to disband, they declare their loyalty to him. He's moved greatly by their response.
The manacutters are now ready to fly. You enter the Aery, and defeat Nidhogg. Glorying in victory, the Azure Dragoon gouges out Nidhogg's remaining eye, and sends the lifeless wyrm tumbling into the clouds below. Moments later, your Crystal of Lightning is suffused with new radiance, and you are treated to another vision of the past -- a vision wherein you witness the truth of Nidhogg's defeat at the hands of Haldrath and his knights. When you subsequently relate the tale to Estinien, the dragoon seems greatly perplexed. If Haldrath claimed both eyes from the wyrm, whence came the trophy so recently plucked from Nidhogg's skull?
It would seem that Estinien cannot rest until he has prised the truth from Hraesvelgr -- and he would have Lady Iceheart present to hear the final chapter of the tale. Travel to Zenith in the Churning Mists and seek out Ysayle.
You rejoin Ysayle at Zenith, and once more sound the horn to summon Hraesvelgr. As before, the great wyrm's presence stirs the dormant power of the Echo, and you are visited with a vision from a thousand years past. In the scene which unfolds before you, Hraesvelgr surrenders an eye to his vengeful brood-brother, condemning the people of Ishgard to an eternity of suffering... At last, you know the truth of the Dragonsong War's beginnings.
Time to return to Ishgard, for you've had word from Lord Aymeric that the heretics are launching attacks within the city itself. Upon arrival, Ysayle persuades the heretics to give up arms when she informs them of Nidhogg's death, declaring the Dragonsong War to be over.
You relay the results of your journey to Lord Haurcefant and Fortemps manor. Though glad of your victory, Count Edmont and the others are deeply troubled by the revelation that the Ishgardian faith is built upon a lie. Overcome with emotion, Ser Aymeric leaves to confront the archbishop with the truth, despite the others' warnings that he is certain to be branded a heretic for his trouble.
Lucia, the lord commander's second-in-command, plans a rescue of Ser Aymeric. You offer to help, but she fears it will not be enough. Therefore, you enlist the aid of revolutionaries in the Brume, led by Hilda. (There's some un-important fetch quests before you meet Hilda, who's half Hyuraan and half Elezen.)
Hilda's revolutionaries provide a distraction, and you succeed in rescuing a wounded Ser Aymeric, though the archbishop is about to escape on an airship. You and Lord Haurchefant give chase, but in your haste to apprehend your quarry, you fail to notice a transformed Ser Zephirin taking aim at you, a spear of pure light in his hand. Alert to the danger, Lord Haurchefant bellows a warning and raises his shield in your defense, but the steel gives way, and the spear finds a mark...
You sadly return to Fortemps Manor to inform Count Edmond of his son's passing, then leave the family to grieve alone. You then call on Ser Aymeric to see how he is doing.
In Ser Aymeric's private chambers, the power of the Echo stirs within you once more, and you are granted a vision of the past. You watch as the lord commander accuses the church of hiding the origins of the Dragonsong War, and hear the archbishop acknowledge it to be the truth. Ser Aymeric continues, challenging his father on the morality of the church's deception, but the archbishop, steadfast in his conviction, is unswayed. Though it is a lie, Ishgard's sons and daughters must fight and die for it, for the crimes of Thordan and his knights twelve are beyond reparation. Recognizing the futility of convincing his son to accept this state of affairs, Thordan has Ser Aymeric arrested -- but not before revealing that he has plans of his own to free the people of Ishgard from the sins of antiquity.
Reflecting on the unnatural powers demonstrated by the knights of the Heavens' Ward, your companions conclude that they are using their own bodies as vessels for the souls of the legendary King Thordan and his knights twelve, much as Ysayle did for Saint Shiva. Though Ser Aymeric knows not his father's plans -- or the significance of “Azys Lla” -- he declares that the archbishop and the Heavens' Ward must be stopped.
The lord commander duly entreats you and Alphinaud, as representatives of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, to help him bring his father to justice. In response, Alphinaud states that if the Heavens' Ward have indeed harnessed primal powers, it is the duty of the remaining Scions to oppose them. And so, with newfound purpose, Alphinaud bids you join him to discuss how you might find the archbishop.
Lucia informs you that the archbishop's airship was spotted in the Sea of Clouds. You return there, and encounter a tribe of friendly Vanu being tormented by the Garleans! You rescue the Vanu, who is very grateful. It is while at the Vanu's camp that you hear cannon fire. Turning your eyes heavenward, you see that the Garleans have engaged Bismarck, the Vanu's god. You watch in shock as Bismarck swallows a floating island whole.
Here, a TOTALLY RIDICULOUS PLAN is thought up: you will capture an island with your airship in an attempt to lure out Bismarck, who apparently has swallowed something that the archibishop needs in order to enter Azys Lla, a land of forbidden secrets. I made a comment at this point that FFXIV is about the Scions coming up with some wild plan, me saying, "Fuck no I don't want to do that," then watching in disbelief as my character nods her assent to the plan. It's true!
Anyway, the plan works, and you slay Bismarck, but the Archbishop (joined by an Ascian) manages to get the key to Azys Lla anyway.
During the aftermath, you return to the Vanu tribe to find them overrun with imperials. You fight, but it's not looking good.. until Lucia rides up on a magitek and saves you. Afterwards, it is revealed that Lucia is Garlean herself, like Cid, but she has sworn allegiance to Ser Aymeric.
Azys Lla is surrounded by aether, and there's no way to get through it... or is there? Cid, naturally, comes up with a plan: an aetheric ram, but he doesn't know how to make one. It's then that you find out that Tataru has found information about one of the missing Scions. Y'shtola's wand was found in the tunnels under the Ul'dah palace. Urianger examines it, and discovers that she used a forbidden teleportation spell, one that breaks the body down into aether, and is now trapped in the lifestream.
But there may be a way to save her, by using the aetheric signatures of a close relative. It's then that you discover that Y'shtola has a half-sister in Gridania, who you already know if you've been playing as a summoner: Y'mhitra.
You go to see her, and she readily agrees to help. With the help of the Elder Seedseer and the Padjals, Y'shtola is returned from the lifestream, though not without consequences: her eyes have turned pearly white and she is now especially sensitive to aetheric energy.
You relate your travels to Y'shtola, who reveals that her former master Matoya may have info about building an aetheric ram. So you travel to Sharlayan, the seat of knowledge, first to Idyllshire (where you discover the town has been taken over by goblins) and into the Dravanian Hinterlands wilderness to Matoya's cave. Matoya can indeed help--but the knowledge you need is hidden within the Great Gubal Library.
You retrieve the book from the Library (after which the Crystal of Water relights). You'll need a source of great aether to build the ram, though... but Matoya reveals that the Eye of Nidhogg that Estenien carries is one such source. Will the dragoon agree to help?
He does. But as you are preparing the airship for departure, Y'shtola warns him that the Eye will consume him given an opportunity. He's having none of that, and stalks off.
The Aetheric Ram works, and you breach the barrier to Azys Lla. There's no time to celebrate, though, as you become under attack of an imperial ship. It's not looking good, but then you spy Ysayle riding to the rescue upon Hraesvelgr's back. Transforming into Shiva, she engages the enemy battleship single-handed, and succeeds in incapacitating it at the cost of her own life.
You then land in Azys Lla, and there's some exploration quests here, led by a guidance node. The interaction with the guidance node had me in fits of laughter because it wanted you to agree to terms and conditions before working with you, and reminds you of the T&C throughout your exploration.
Azys Lla is disturbing in ways. The Ancient Allagans did chimerical experiments there, and also developed ways to trap dragons for eons. During your explorations, you encounter one such dragon, Tiamat, who has been imprisoned in Azys Lla since before the fall of the Allagan Empire. You listen intently as she tells you of Bahamut's tragic demise and of the Ascians' role in his ill-fated return.
At the meeting's conclusion, your Crystal of Fire regains its light, and you find that you are able to hear Hydaelyn's voice once more. Impressed by your strength, and convinced at last of your worthiness to bear the Light, Midgardsormr offers to carry you to the Flagship, that you might cast out the Darkness which lurks therein.
While fighting your way through the Aetherochemical Research Facility, you find yourself face to face with Lahabrea and Igeyorhm. In a bid to eliminate you, the Ascians attack as one, but with Hydaelyn's blessing restored, you are more than a match for them. Realizing the battle is lost, Igeyorhm attempts to flee, but before she can make good her escape, you destroy her with a blade of light forged from the Eye's remaining aether. Alas, you are left without the means to strike down Lahabrea. Just when it seems certain that the Ascian will slip through your grasp, the archbishop and his knights arrive, bearing the body of Haldrath... and the Eye's long lost twin. Having summoned the soul of the legendary King Thordan into himself, the archbishop conjures a divine blade using the power of the second Eye, and summarily executes Lahabrea. Judgment passed, the self-proclaimed god king duly turns to leave, but not before issuing you a challenge.
A final fight occurs between the Archbishop and his Knights. You succeed it vanquishing them, bringing a final close to the chapter. While the credits roll, you see a scene in which Ser Aymeric signs a treaty in which the Ishgardians rejoin the Eorzean Alliance.
There is one final scene after the credits, where Urianger is in the Great Gubal Library reading a book. I forget exactly what he says; i think it was something about this not being enough proof. The camera then expands to show a white-robed Ascian with him. The Ascian turns as he hears something, and you see the tell-tale boots of one of the Leveilleur twins hiding in the shadows, but the twin is able to shrink back before being found.
And thus ends the main quests of Heavensward! In summary: the Ishgardians thought the Dragonsong War was started by the Dravinians (at least, this is the impression I have gotten) but it was actually started by the Ishgardians, and the Holy See in Ishgard has been keeping this a secret for millenia. Now the truth is about to come out.
I... think the expansion was overly long for what can be summed up in one sentence. I did enjoy it, especially exploring all the new areas! But I'm hoping Stormblood doesn't take me another five months.
(I started typing this at 1:23pm an it is now 3:54 p.m., lol. I knew it would take hours.)