As fast paced and, to a certain degree, repetitive nature of getting through the initial chapters, I’ve started to become aware of some unanswered questions weaving through the story.
Whether they lead to story arcs, or part of the main story, who knows? I’ll add to this post as more and more of them crop up.
If you haven’t played through you may not want to read this – and I’m fine with that!
1. Why Is Arcann So Eager To Have You Kill Valkorian?
Maybe he’s more of a despot than the Eternal Emperor, maybe the discontent you get from the preview trailor just boiled over. If you take the ‘do not kneel’ option at the start, Arcann frees your hands.
“You came here to defeat him. Now’s your chance.”
Which you gladly take, of course! On the flip side, if you do kneel Arcann proves he is capable killing Valkorian himself – and even then blames you! The mark of a true dictator-in-waiting? If you are his conduit to power, why does he insist on hounding you? I think there’s more to Arcann’s motivations than meets the eye.
2. What Did Arcann Take from SCORPIO?
Of course, Captain Fat Fingers himself puts his foot in it and actually asks the self-proclaimed “intelligence beyond comprehension” SCORPIO the question directly. This self iterating machine only joins your ‘alliance’ to get back at Arcann who took something from her. What was it? Why was it big enough to go with your Alliance rather that apply that machine-learning AI of hers to get it back on her own? Interesting…
3. How Much Does Vaylin Want the Throne?
Seemingly content with her role as High Justice, Vaylen wreaks havoc everywhere she goes. But there is a telling response right at the end of Chapter IX. She is telling Arcann that ‘Father’ (Valkorian) wants to take the throne from him by using The Outlander. His response is
I will die before I let that happen.
Her answer: “Of course you will”. A sense of the future? A hopeful sign that if he is true to his word, the Eternal Throne is hers for the taking? And why does her father think Vaylen will ‘destroy everything’ he has worked for?
4. Who Is Right About Valkorian? The Emperor Himself or Lana? Or Both?
The Emperor plays the role of the perfect tempter – tempting you with power in return for…what? Well, after taking him up on it twice but trying to regain control over your life, you get the warning that you have ‘give up too much power to him already’. Your ‘free will’ stripped of you, is Valkorian trying to determine your destiny, or helping you achieve greatness? Is he using you but is still the ‘world devourer’ Lana continually has to remind the Outlander about. The Emperor in KotFE is careful, intentional and thinks you can’t do anything without him.
Who has a grasp on the truth? Does even Valkorian hold that truth? I have my doubts- because he doesn’t appear as omniscient as he makes himself out to be. But as the scene between Lana, Koth and Senya proves: No-one knows him fully.
5. Who Has Their Doubts About You on Odessan?
Once you hit Odessan, your job is to build an Alliance against the Eternal Empire. Yet in the closing dialogue, you are told not everyone thinks you can do it. When you ask who, the only response is: You will find out soon enough.
You arrive, see Jedi and Sith, Republic and Empire, Smugglers and Bounty Hunters all seemingly working together. But how fragile is this Alliance? Can you hold it together or will you be doomed to failure? How do you deal with ‘traitors’ of the Alliance, when there is no unified rule system?
6. How ‘Glorious’ is the Future?
Before you final show down in Chapter IX of KotFE you re-encounter the fallen Heskel, former leader of the Scions. He claims to have seen the future, and he says it is ‘glorious’. But from whose perspective? They served Zakuul, but wanted to work against Arcann. Yet because ‘fate demanded it’ brought Arcann to Asylum – the perfect betrayal. What did he see? Did any of the other, no scattered Scions hear of his vision?
And why will your new Allies, the Scions return to you “when it is their time to die” (Heskel’s words). If they are just lambs to the slaughter, whose future is truly glorious? And will any Scions be left to appreciate it?
7. Where is Satele Shan When You Need Her?
Whether she’s doing a Yoda and sat somewhere on Dagobah so she can commune with Darth Marr? Odd that she is playing Jedi Voyarism – aware of what your Alliance is trying to achieve but not joining in? This sits counter to the very hands-on Jedi Grand Master seen in Shadow of Revan. Will she join your fight? Maybe you have to win her to your Alliance? Or maybe she’s hidden somewhere to be found? I don’t know, but her lack of interaction is either waiting for the right moment, or trying to protect the Jedi’s very existence in the same way Yoda did by retreating to Dagobah or Obi-Wan Kenobi did in Tatooine. No idea, though, just speculating!
Answer: Chapter 12 Visions in the Dark, we see the Satele Shan has been on Odessan for quite a long time. She wants you to see Balance in the Force, but then that same Force calls her elsewhere.
8. What Is In The Dark Sanctuary? (On the Gravestone)
Chadrassa rightly pointed out that the Dark Sanctuary inside the Gravestone is a question in itself. What is actually contained inside that Monolith and is it somehow powering the cannon which can take out the Eternal Fleet? Chadrassa was under the impression that the thing inside it resembled Zildrog (the Serpent of the cult on Zakuul). Is it a coincidence that it is in the Dark Sanctuary where you meet Valkorian again? Is it linked to what’s inside the Monolith, or is the Emperor just reminding you that he is still, in esssence, dark? Theories, theories, theories.
KotFE Game Play Inquisitiveness
Then there are a few gameplay questions I haven’t had the courage to test out yet.
- If you accept Arcann’s offer to return to carbonite: will he find a way to part you from Valkorian? That’s his promise. (but it’s just as hard a decision as the ‘kneel or not’ option)
- What happens if you feign accepting his offer with the [Lie] option, how much does that change your detiny?
- If you let Tanno Vik kill the Engineer Koth wants to fix The Gravestone, does that hold you back?
I set up an Insta L60 to answer some of these questions – I might doom myself to failure, but at least I’ll get answers to questions!
Over To You?
Any other comments or unanswered questions so far in the KotFE Story? Have I missed some answers somewhere (which is possible!). Feel free to use the comments!
About the Author
I have been playing MMOs for about ten years and began writing guides to The Lord of the Rings Online in 2017. I've only been creating content about Final Fantasy XIV since 2022, but I am glad for the mix. My current games include LOTRO, FFXIV and the occasional Palia session too.
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