Ahh, I'm blown away by all the support on this video! I really wasn't expecting many people to see it at all, so thank you all so so much for the love! I'm doing my best to read as many messages as possible, but I'm sorry if I end up being a little slow with it. Thank you all so much ❤

If there's one line that instills both fear and excitement in FFXIV players, it's "several cutscenes will play in sequence"

Haurchefant's "But do not despair! You are not without allies." Oh boy.

Everyone seems to forget how utterly devastating this was the first time. Up until the Bloody Banquet, ARR was very safe, standard magical fantasy MMO. The bad stuff was all rather disconnected from you, you were ALWAYS empowered to change things, and YOU, yourself, were just kind of a facilitator for other people's stories, the 'faceless champion' who fixed all the problems. Suddenly, your friend is murdered in front of you, the peacekeeping force you worked so hard to establish has betrayed you, and you are LEGITIMATELY powerless. Consequences are happening, and more than a few of them are your fault for getting played. Everything that had been building up to a satisfying and expected progression of unifying Eorzea and progressing to confronting the Garlean Empire suddenly falls to pieces. And you are HELPLESS. It made things suddenly a lot more real. Things weren't going to progress in a nice, neat, linear fashion. You aren't always the omnipotent solution to the problem. Sometimes you screw up and ARE the problem. And sometimes characters you care about will pay the consequences. Permanent ones. And abruptly the 'main characters', the speaking roles of the Scions are all stripped away, and your safe spot as a background character, Alphinaud's 'pocked Warrior of Light' is gone, and YOU are thrust into the forefront, shivering, flawed, and uncertain how to proceed, as the protagonist of the story. Good luck. Welcome to Heavensward.

Back in 2015 we had literally no reason to expect the game to suddenly go so hard and it absolutely floored people.

The end of ARR, a.k.a, "oh, being the chosen one who has to survive no matter what *actually sucks really bad* ."

The Sultana's scene is so much more frustrating as a White Mage. Like... We can literally cure her in like six seconds.

Heavensward is going to DESTROY this woman's emotions. As it did to all of us.

Ah yes. The "Bloody Banquet". The ordeal actually left me shook and afraid of guards just accosting me in cities that I didn't went back to the ARR areas until the quests force me to

Seeing sprouts go through the exact same thing we all did is so therapeutic

"The Sultana...is dead." Instantly bursts into tears Oh no, she'll just be a puddle in the expansions poor girl xD

The trauma caused by the sentence "Several cutscenes will play in sequence..." is staggering. So much so that everytime I encountered it afterward, it caused minor panic attacks. Congrats on completing ARR! I hope you enjoy everything the game has to offer now and in the future!

Just wait until..... THE ENTIRE REST OF THE STORY happens

"I have my tea, I'm ready!" No. No you're not.

my mom walked in when Nanamo drank the wine and thought it was a child who couldn't handle their alcohol

"I get way too attached to characters" ...oh you in trouble.

I love how half the potato fell forward while the rest of him fell backwards. Congrats on finishing the tutorial welcome to the emotional damage that is this game :D

I love seeing people react to this for the first time. :) When I first did it, something that was a bit awkward was the fact that I was a NIN, so that accusation of me being an assassin seemed a lot more realistic. xD Also, I remember being weirded out when I first heard the new voices, but don't worry. You will soon get to the point where if you hear the old ARR ones again, they will make you cringe, because the voice acting gets SO much better from this point on.

That was the point where FFXIVs story finally started to match up with its reputation (as one of the greatest stories ever told in media)

Just found you and this today, and I must say... if the ending of ARR got you tore up like this, then man, I gotta get some popcorn ready for when you get to Endwalker!

That was certainly one of the high point of the series, it sets a lot of plot thread, character development. It certainly marked the moment I started really liking the scions. And a trend. ff14 is pure emotional damage at every turn.

I you get this emotional over ARR I can't even imagine what will happen to you at Endwalker ♥

Fun note; Yda's attack is the rank 3 Monk limit break in raids. Used to be the DPS limit break in ARR, but since then everyone has a unique one. Monk kept that one that Yda just used. It's called Final Heaven (corrected), referencing Tifa's limit break from Final Fantasy VII. Also, I'm sorry to say it, but....you're right. The rest will absolutely ruin you. By Endwalker, you'll have this same emotional reaction.... *for villains.*

Aymeric: I thank you, you have been a most generous host. I hope to one day return the favor. That's a promise of retribution if I ever heard one. Aymeric is no fool.

MSQ vampire checking in. Thanks for your react. Your tears were nourishing and delicious! In all seriousness though, so happy for you that you were able to emotionally connect with the characters so much that losing them moved you to tears. Few games make you feel as much as ffxiv. I think I will not be the first nor last to tell you that the emotional trauma the game still has in store for you will make the bloody banquet seem like cakewalk. Enjoy!

The FFXIV team has done a great job of making these NPCs not just feel like people, but like your friends, and then your family. They have their own lives and struggles outside of us, and we only want to see them grow and be happy, but we don't always get to have that. Because of that cultivated connection, it hurts so bad to lose them. However, I don't think I would trade the experience of this story for anything. I think there is some overlap in RWBY fans and FFXIV fans, we all seem to enjoy a good cry. Looking forward to seeing you progress through the story. I'll try and catch a livestream. Happy Fortunes, and good luck. :)

_But do not despair ! You are not without allies_ more emotional damage inc. :(

Teleji is half the potato he used to be.

This was a big deal for us 1.0 players. Ishgard had been looming over us for years by the time Heavensward dropped.

When I first saw this almost 10 years ago it was pure fire. It set the stage for Heavensward perfectly. The 3 month wait till HW was torture.

Ah yes, welcome to the Bloody Banquet and Heavensward! We're emotionally compromised but we have fun here!

This cutscene set is a mix of two memes. "Emotional Damage! But wait, there's more!"

You gonna get ptsd from this game just like me, cant even listen to 10 notes of a certain song without bringing out the tears. Hell multiple songs even.

You are on my Homeserver! It makes me sad to see a fellow Phoenixian that destroeyed BUT thanks for this reaction! It brought back Memories...sad ones for sure but they lead into such awesome things :)

To all my fellow MSQ vampires and in-game expansion welcomers- now that Pint is done, she is the one.

ah, i remember when i first saw this scene, i was in a rage, then Raubahn came and his words "I never doubted you, not even once." when everyone was pointing fingers, that got to me lol

Ah yes... this game had been bawling ugly from the get go. I cried throughout that whole ass scenario ... and I haven't stopped crying since.

The way that scene drives you from sadness to anger is admirable.

The Game of Thrones episode of ARR... Hated going through this, still scarred all these years later.

The ARR ending wrecked me too, and then the game did it 20 more times and I love it

The second her eye went wide I was like "this is not that kind of game!!!! this doens't happen!!"

“This is just RWBY vol. 3 all over again” NOT A LIE WAS TOLD😭😭😭 I WAS IN MY ROOM SCREAMING WHEN THIS PART HAPPENED 5:59

I thought Bremondt's voice sounded familiar and then I realized it is Alastair Duncan AKA Mimir from GOW.

I saw this video on passing and decided to watch, and I will say I relate with much of your reactions! The ending of ARR is a kick in the gut, the characters are very likeable, even some of the side characters like that one member of the scions that you have a friendly spar with. I'll pick up again on heavensward in time, just way too busy myself, but I hope you're having fun! These bittersweet and sad moments only make the victories feel even better, and make the characters feel more alive. Good luck.

I love how the post patch really drags on for alot of players and then all of a sudden *this* happens. Like?!?!?!

Me too, I didn't play the msq for 2 weeks when this happened.

This is the point in the game that it goes from "mmo with decent story" to "mmo where you cry a lot"

I just played through this.... It also destroyed me...

I remember when I went through this back in 2015 and the whole world of players had no clue what was about to happen next.

yeaaa this is the point where ffxiv really starts going XD also i just found you and i'm already bombarded with rwby references, the connection to beacon's fall in v3, your cat named penny, your yang cosplay XD amazing, v9 is already a ride 3 chapters in. anyway love to see where your streams go further ^^

Thank you for the tears. I really enjoyed it like all MSQ vampires

Oh boy... Stay strong, this is just the beginning of a long but beautiful journey.

Thanks for sharing! It only gets better after this. Strap in for a rollercoaster of emotions. Some of the best storytelling in ANY game on the way.

Trial period has ended, emotional damage everywhere from here onwards, enjoy 🙂

Excited for you to get to play through the rest of this EPIC story

been playing this game for 4 years now and it's nice to stumble upon a new player who has the same reactions to this stuff as me x) will enjoy watching your progress through the story for sure!

Congratulations on completing the Tutorial! Look forward to seeing the fun you’ll have in Heavensward.

Square Enix will never hurt you like this until they hurt you like this again....

Even when I spoiled the 15 minute mark for myself, I was STILL shocked when it happened. Everything leading up to gave me something of a panic attack.

I subscribed to you just to see your reactions to the other 100's of scenes where you'll feel bigger amounts of happiness / sadness ... have a good journey.

Welcome to the best tears of your life lol. I'm a 60 year old grandpa and it made me cry!

"Are we ready? I think I'm ready" DEFINITELY NOT READY! As Ilidan from WoW Says in the old Burning Crusade trailer: "YOU ARE NOT PREPARED!" XD

This was the turning point in the story for me. everything gets better from here. 'better' being.. heart wrenching..

I'm pretty new to the game myself and I'm only partially through Stormblood but I'm replaying Heavensward with my husband while he catches up and its so much fun to watch new players wrap up ARR and really break into the game proper I also started as a White mage! I hope you have an absolute blast and enjoy all that Heavensward has to offer (including really wonderful classes!!)

Congrats on completing ARR!! It only gets more emotionally damaging from here!! The story keeps getting better, and you're going to fall in love with the new characters with each expansion!! welcome to the true game!!

Thanks for making me watch this again.. This cutscene is the moment i actually started to love the story. before that i had already taken 2 breaks of the game.. after that non till i was upto date with the latest update which was before EW came out. knowing what comes next i was smilling all the way till 35:15.

Just got it recommended and dam, Heavensward is truly something special. Also be prepared that from this point onward there will be much more emotional damage on par with that of ARR's ending.

don't worry about not saying much during emotional times. the MSQ watchers certainly enjoy it bunches. Hope you're ready for all the feels. The good, bad, ugly and just beautiful. FF14 has it all and it's amazing.

Ahhh, another person emotionally scarr... erm... another satisfied customer! Once this scene has sucked you in, there's no turning back and overall... it only gets better from here. Best of luck to the newest sprout walking with us to journey's end, I'll have to check back on yours!

Welcome to Heavensward. It only gets crazier from here

Absolutely love seeing sprouts get so immersed into the story and characters. 😭 Trust me, this is only a meager taste compared to what's ahead with the expansions. Welcome to our amazing world and community in 14!

When I played FF14 for the first time two years ago. I was honestly so bored. The story is so clique and predictable. However, I listened to the community and bared the pain of boredom in the hope that it will get better. It was these "several cutscenes" that made me hook to FF14. I been playing everyday since. I am glad I stayed and thank you for sharing your experience.

"Sorry my commentary is shit, I'm just sad." The perfect quote for this part of the game.

I was just spending some time listening to Answers and rewatching some old cutscenes and wound up on this video by happenstance and I just want to say, I haven't laugh/cried along this much in a while. I'm still going through HW, but I'm going to try to remember to come back for the related video to that too in time.

now imagine having to wait 3 months for the story after this bit to be released

Subscribed. You have such an amazing journey ahead of you. From this point on, the story is a waterslide of emotion. Enjoy the ride!

Aaaaannndd Subbed! It's been awhile I seen a stream out so much emotion and investment into the story and characters specifically. Looking forward how you handles many more adventures ahead of you. :)

Nothing but anger is what the community feels for Teledji.

I somehow predicted the events of this entire scene before I started it, everything from Nanamo dying to poisoned wine to Teledji framing it on the WoL.

I kinda love how Yda and Papalymo's last stand is such a callback to Louisoix final moment in the opening cinematic. That sad smile as the fire consumes him. Heartbreaking.

buckle up, adventurer! this is just the beginning!

Omg you have no idea what is coming ❤ Also, this was the moment when the story started to click for me, thanks for reminding me.

"This is RWBY Volume 3!" Right before someone gets bisected and a berserking big hero gets disarmed. Checks out.

I'd argue that running away from a palace after a coup warrants a cute outfit to glamorously flee the city. now if only they had let us wear a hooded cloak...

YESSSS SPROUT TEARS YUMMY

Oh man, I cannot wait to see your reaction tot the vault. Hope you enjoy Heavensward!

I was genuinely terrified to go back to Uldah when I got to this point. *Sigh* I need to play again.

Seeing Tataru get glassy eyed breaks me every time

10:35 Rookie mistake. If you get this attached now, good luck on the future expansions and keep tissue nearby. You'll definitely need it. Have fun on your MSQ journey!

When she says I am fine while sniffling I laughed I said same thing in shadowbringer then post game happened.

when that first ishgard music comes in .. . . . . . .

Is there a thing with the WoL offered a drink that leads to bad stuff? I ask mostly since in HS when you are offered a drink again bad times happen, and I feel like at some point later on your character looks at a offered drink and gives a frowny face

I remember my first time watching this on my first play through, and I was watching GoT at the same time, this is year 2020, and I was thinking ol’shit, this game went full GoTs on me.

"This is just RWBY Volume 3" LMAO not wrong!

Teledji must be grateful, now he got a friend named Adeledji, but why they both not moving anymore ? Whoops!

The narrator is the best part of Heavensward

what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, they say... by the time you reach endwalker, you'll be super mega ultra giga strong !

how dare they make the little chipmunk potato make those pained faces as she died? ; ;

and this is still ARR, wait until HW, papalymo, SHB, and EW... the agony and regrets is soul crushing, every step becomes harder and heavier to take.. but we must carry on, for those who came before... and those whom may yet still live... despite our sorrows, defying our regrets. march on to tomorrow, for our journey will never end. after each and every single expanion you finish, i highly suggest listening to "Answers" by Nobuo Uematsu, with every expansion the song starts to make so much more sense and takes on a much deeper and greater meaning, without changing any of the lyrics or composition this single song will come to define your entire journey in this game, and will make you cry nonstop.

Great video! Now I’m convinced and subbed! By the way, love your glamour! What was it?