![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
FFXII Update
Got to Jahara today. Auuugh elementals. I had forgotten how much trouble they are. At least I can still avoid them at this point. Also, were the Ozmone Plains always this hard, or did I just not level up enough?
So I have a question! Do we know for sure that Vossler is dead, or do we consider it a safe assumption because he was still on board the Shiva when the Leviathan blew? Certainly he didn't seem to be making any attempt to escape, but isn't there a slim chance that he could have survived? (It's also possible that he shows up later and I'm just forgetting!)
I wonder about Vossler. Did he truly believe that Vayne would honor the deal, or did he just talk himself into believing it? Would Ashe have been more likely to go along with it at something other than swordpoint if Vossler had actually brought her into negotiations, rather than doing it all on his own without consulting her? It's a fine thing for him to get all high-and-mighty about Balthier's lust for treasure, given what he was doing behind the scenes. Lots of questions about that sequence. Ondore bothers me, too. Was he always hoping to organize a resistance against the empire? Or has he thrown his lot in with the rebels because he sees what way the wind is blowing? He strikes me as the ultimate opportunist. But maybe I'm not giving him enough credit.
Still having a lot of fun with this replay. This is such an enjoyable game. I should have restarted it ages ago.
So I have a question! Do we know for sure that Vossler is dead, or do we consider it a safe assumption because he was still on board the Shiva when the Leviathan blew? Certainly he didn't seem to be making any attempt to escape, but isn't there a slim chance that he could have survived? (It's also possible that he shows up later and I'm just forgetting!)
I wonder about Vossler. Did he truly believe that Vayne would honor the deal, or did he just talk himself into believing it? Would Ashe have been more likely to go along with it at something other than swordpoint if Vossler had actually brought her into negotiations, rather than doing it all on his own without consulting her? It's a fine thing for him to get all high-and-mighty about Balthier's lust for treasure, given what he was doing behind the scenes. Lots of questions about that sequence. Ondore bothers me, too. Was he always hoping to organize a resistance against the empire? Or has he thrown his lot in with the rebels because he sees what way the wind is blowing? He strikes me as the ultimate opportunist. But maybe I'm not giving him enough credit.
Still having a lot of fun with this replay. This is such an enjoyable game. I should have restarted it ages ago.
no subject
I think Vossler probably talked himself into believing that the deal he cut was ultimately the best for Dalmasca, and I think it plays into the two biggest blind spots of his character. Blind Spot A is, of course, patriotism. Everything in Vossler's life is subordinate to the weal of Dalmasca. Blind Spot B is that, to him, Ashe has never grown up. She may wield a sword, she may say she is making her own decisions, but I think in Vossler's head she is still the innocent angel in white on her wedding day. He would never think to consult her on this, because he is older and knows better. There's a song that I find truly encapsulates them, which is Assemblage 23's "Let Me Be Your Armour," and it goes thusly:
Let me be your armour
Let me be your shield
Let me take away the pain you feel (your armour)
Let me be the light that guides your way through darkest night
Let me be your armour
Let me keep you from experience you need
Let me bind you with my selfishness and greed
Let me stifle you
Let me have control
Let me smother every aspect of your soul
Now, I'm not arguing that Vossler didn't have good intentions - he did. And I'm sure that he saw temporary submission to Archades as an opportunity to rebuild Dalmasca, to make her strong enough to truly throw off the Imperial yoke later--and even if she didn't, she would survive, which is better than she could ever hope for if Ashe just went crashing ahead making Dalmasca independent (see above: to him, Ashe hasn't grown up, can't make hard choices about rulership--and to be fair, most of her character growth, and her adult reactions to the realities of politics, come after the Shiva incident.)
Uh, I also am replaying FF12 (just headed to the Stilshrine of Miriam), so all of this is VERY FRESH in my mind! I am totally willing to tl;dr forever about this game, honestly.
no subject
Ah, so he's dead until the creators decide they need him back in the time and place that will cause maximum drama. Got it. ;) In that case, I suppose the same could be said of Ghis.
Your assessment of Vossler and his impression of Ashe makes a lot of sense to me. I have to wonder if Ashe was more upset that Vossler made the deal at all or that he made the deal without her input. Assuming that Vayne can be taken at his word -- which is a big if, especially given what they've just learned about how he set up Basch and her father -- it's actually not a bad deal, especially if you're convinced that Dalmasca can't win an outright war with Archades. Which, especially if Vossler doesn't trust Ondore (and I wouldn't blame him for that) seems a reasonable assumption.
That's okay. Clearly I am, too. :) There's a lot to pick apart here, and I feel like I'm still only scratching the surface.
no subject
I think Ashe is upset for a little of both reasons, honestly. She is, technically, the next in line for sovereignty of Dalmasca, and Vossler has usurped her role. That in and of itself is bad enough, but he did it without her input. Dalmasca can't withstand an outright fight with Archades - this is touched on later, at Mt. Bur-Omisace - but that deal could give them a little bit of breathing room.
There's a lot to pick apart here - this is my favourite thing about Matsuno games (FF Tactics, FF12, Vagrant Story.) There's a ton under the surface if you're willing to dig, and much like GRRM, he is not afraid to kill characters. Usually in a particularly heartbreaking way.
Please read