but ardbert, dear ardbert
would not forsake his heart
Cylva Valthane
[Final Fantasy XIV Spoilers] Shadowbringers is a phenomenal story. There is so much to like in this expansion, and the role quests took the time to flesh out each of Ardbert's companions from faceless figures to granting them the respect, the dignity that they rightly deserved. You see for yourself the state of Norvrandt before the Flood of Light, and the interwoven threads that point toward the enigmatic Shadowkeeper as being behind it all.
These series of role quests begin and end at The Wandering Stairs in the Crystarium. Once each Cardinal Virtue is laid to rest, the barmaid that pointed the Warrior of Light towards their would-be-hunters tells them they are not done. There's more to the story. One last evil to put to rights.
In their memories you saw another. The betrayer, Cylva; she who set them on their path, and stands before you now. To cut her down would be just and proper. Her treachery and ensuing death was meant to make Ardbert a Warrior of Light - but he wouldn't do it. And neither will you.
Cylva unexpectedly harboured herself in my heart. She herself is a victim of circumstance, but has done terrible things; her choice now is not to seek forgiveness but to be the one that lives on as a memory - to remember her friends and companions, as they once lived. And that's such a central Shadowbringers theme and she's hidden so subtly away in it. And did I mention her voidsent form is a wolf? Could she be anymore Rems coded?
Part of the reason I like Norvrandt as a place so much is how rich the setting is, including how it used to be. Absolutely some of this is Cylva's fault. The instant they gave her a canonical surname, I made an alt for her: to this day she is the only NPC alt I have. Please, do all of your Shadowbringer role quests. You won't regret it. [Cylva / Final Fantasy XIV]
he chose love
and i was undone.