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That light- <gasp> The magitek transporter!
Ginger, are you there? What news of Rhitahtyn?
Phase 1 of the plan is a success
...Fallen? With this deed, you have sown the seeds of our ultimate victory.
The fading of that light presages an end to the Empire's tyranny!
Let the next phase of Operation Archon commence!
(-All-) HURRAH!
Hello everyone and welcome back. I have a confession to make. I was having a little fun with you all last time. Rhitahtyn is the easiest trial in the game... easier than Level 20 Ifrit. The fight ended 55 seconds in. It was a curbstomp victory.
This is going to be a theme with the 2.0 endgame. We won't actually have to deal with anything "challenging" until we get into the optional endgame raids... or the last story mode trial in 2.5.
'Tis I! It seems you've done it again, Ginger! I'd raise a tankard to you, but I'm afraid we've no time to savor the victory. There's still the small matter of infiltrating Castrum Meridianum and destroying the Ultima Weapon!
I know, I know...no rest for the preternaturally gifted. Now stop feeling sorry for yourself, and make your way back to the Immortal Flames' encampment. The communications officer will issue you your orders. I'll be waiting for you with the main host.
Look, Hydaelyn-Your minion comes...bringing the Light. Alas, the gate to the void already stands open. Soon, Darkness shall consume all, and you shall bow down before the one true god. Ahahahahaha!
This is Gaius's command room in the Praetorium.
The praefectus...slain?
Regrettably so, my lord. And at the hand of the eikon-slayer, if the centurion who survived the attack is to be believed.
Rhitahtyn...
Where were his men when he faced the enemy!? Fleeing, even as their commander yielded up his last breath!? If it should prove they questioned his right...
I-I cannot speak for them, my lord.
...Beg pardons, my lord, but there is more. The Maelstrom has laid siege to Castrum Occidens. Likewise, the Crimson Fleet moves to blockade Castrum Marinum.
Gaius is dismissing the Centurion here.
So this is their answer... Very well! We shall crush them as we crushed the eikons! Go forth and show them the futility of their resistance!
Yes, my lord!
You don't even need me to tell you: it's obvious that the game is building to a climax here. Anyway, we need to return to the guy who briefed us in the previous update.
Scion Pepper! Your deeds this day are an inspiration to us all! With the death of the praefectus, Operation Archon has entered its second phase. Even as we speak, the Maelstrom moves to blockade Castrum Occidens and Castrum Marinum.
And far to the east, in the Black Shroud, the Order of the Twin Adder advances upon Castrum Oriens. Already, you have done much to advance our cause, performing such feats as are worthy of song-but if our plan is to succeed, more is required of you. Let me know when your preparations are in order, and I shall relay to you the particulars of your next mission.
Phase two of the operation is presently in motion. Our brothers and sisters of the Maelstrom are holding their own against Garlean forces upon Vylbrand and the Rhotano Sea. Ere long, the third phase will begin and you must take to the field once more. The Immortal Flames shall strike at Castrum Meridianum by way of a diversionary maneuver. While the Garleans are thus locked in battle, you are to infiltrate the stronghold and bring down the magitek field that surrounds the Praetorium.
The staging point for the mission lies in the shadow of Castrum Meridianum in northern Thanalan, and that is where you must go. On your way there, however, I would ask that you make a brief stop at Camp Bluefog, one of our key outposts in the area.
The garrison, I am told, is in low spirits, and it would do our troops well to see the hero of Cape Westwind appear before them. For the good of our cause, please stoke the fire in their hearts.
Camp Bluefog is just a stop along the way.
Ah, Sergeant Pepper! Yours is a most welcome presence here at Camp Bluefog! Logistically speaking, we are ready to march on Castrum Meridianum at a moment's notice. Alas, while our troops are here in body, their minds are anywhere but.
The garrison's mood is dark, so daunting is the prospect of joining what may prove to be the bloodiest battle in history. But with a hero such as you walking among them, we may yet rekindle the dwindling embers within their souls.
:mmmhmmm: I can now never change Ginger's rank in the Immortal Flames.
Two quests were actually deleted here: one where Ginger had to kill some random basilisks and then personally deliver the soup made from them to the troops. Not gonna lie, while I understand its removal, it is a genuine loss. That was a nice moment of humility from the hero of the hour.
And also can you imagine the morale boost those soldiers got from Ginger hand delivering soup for them? It's a sweet gesture. 
The other quest was talking to a dude at some watchtowers. It was filler.
This quest actually awards you with an item level 50 earring. A pity that Ginger's earring is good up until level 70 and changes its stats based on her job.
Sergeant Pepper. I mentioned that I was hoping you might raise the flagging spirits of the men and women of our garrison. Worry not, it is no unnecessarily laborious task that we ask of you. The mere presence of a hero such as you walking in their midst would no doubt serve to restore in them a measure of morale.
And so I ask of you this: make your way to the Ceruleum Processing Plant, and report to General Raubahn once you have arrived. And godsspeed, Sergeant Pepper-our troops are counting on you.
I remember way back in the day, I snuck into this area as a level 15 baby sprout. For some reason it was swarming with higher level players. I was actually convinced that it was a raid hub!
No, that's Mor Dhona and Revenant's Toll. And that's a discussion for the postgame.
Well, if it isn't the hero who brought down the praefectus! It's good to have you with us, friend. As you can see, the mood about the camp here is grim at best. I was hoping that your presence alone might serve to raise spirits some.
Unfortunately, it would seem that many are too preoccupied wallowing in fear and self-pity that they have yet to even notice you have arrived. Might I ask you to make the rounds and share a few words of encouragement to those men and women whose spirit falters? I had a mind to do it myself, but I am quite certain it would carry more weight coming from you.
Once you have seen to the others, go and do the same for Edelstein. No matter what he may claim, the lieutenant would also be better for a bit of rousing. Trust me, I know.
Yes, sir... Right away, sir... <sigh>
YEEEEEAAAAHHHHHHH
Uwaaaaaah! The Garleans are not near as frightening as you! I'd sooner face a vanguard while naked as my nameday!
I-I'm fine, t-truly! N-Nothing to w-worry about! Just a m-mild case of b-battlefield nerves!
TIME FOR A LITTLE SCREAM THERAPY
YAAAAAARGH!!! I BREAK MY FAST ON GARLEANS! AND RIGHT NOW, I'M VERY HUNGRY!
Ah, the oft-rumored hero... Doubtless you will single-handedly save us all...
IF YOU CAN'T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF THEN BELIEVE IN ME, WHO BELIEVES IN YOU
Your stirring gesticulation has reawakened me to my purpose! Hero or no, I will fight tooth and nail to protect the realm!
You would stoke my fighting spirit as you did our recruits'? Hah hah! A kind offer, but hardly necessary. I assure you, the fire in my heart rages as strongly as it ever has.
WHEN I HIT THE PRAETORIUM THEN YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOME SERIOUS SHIT
By Rhalgr... Without my realizing it, the fire of my resolve had grown dim. But thanks to you, it burns red-hot once more! If needs be, I shall lay down my life to secure victory for Eorzea!
There was one last deleted quest here. Ginger would have had to go kill some random soldiers. Its removal keeps the arc moving along at a decent clip, so I'm happy.
Oh boy. This is one I've been lowkey dreading for the whole LP.
You have rekindled the flames of courage that burn within our brave men and women's hearts, and for this, I thank you. And now, the time for battle is nigh. We must march forth with no worries or regrets. General Raubahn awaits you at Castrum Meridianum. The battle will not be an easy one, but I trust that you are up to the task. Godsspeed, Sergeant Pepper!
There's the castrum now. I should also now point out that the upper reaches of Northern Thanalan is actually south of Mor Dhona. The zone boundary isn't too far away. If we went up there now, we'd actually be at the railroad where the Scions jumped onto the Enterprise.
Our hero returns. I trust that your visit has done much to lift the spirits of our garrison on the eve of our greatest battle yet. Time is of the essence. Let us commence the briefing at once.
Tag yourself. I'm the catgirl with a dumb hat in the middle right of the image. Okay fine I'm actually the radical lalafell in the center left
Brothers and sisters of the Alliance! I would share with you glad tidings! Doubtless spurred on by news of the siege of Castrum Oriens, the Maelstrom has struck a double blow! Castrum Occidens and Castrum Marinum are now under blockade!
Everyone's standing a little straighter after that news.
Reports tell us that the Garleans offered fierce resistance-but that the Admiral yielded them not one ilm. With Occidens, Marinum, and Oriens thus suppressed, the third phase may begin in earnest!
Even as we speak, the Order of the Twin Adder moves to block the railway leading hither from Castrum Centri. And that can mean but one thing... The hour is come to strike at the heart of the Garlean invasion force! ...Castrum Meridianum, the den of the Black Wolf!
My fellow Eorzeans. I am Minfilia, Mistress of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. There exist myriad barriers that divide us-those of race and nation, language and creed, to name but a few. Such barriers serve to isolate us from our neighbors...yet they also serve to define who we are. Shorn of them, there would be little to distinguish one from another, and the rich variety of our lives would give way to sterile orthodoxy.
These barriers can never truly be broken down, of course-not so long as there is liberty in the world-but they can be transcended! Verily, we do so now in coming together for this grand endeavor, to fight side by side in defense of our shared home!
Before me stands the adventurer Ginger Pepper. You all know her as the woman who will lead the unit tasked with destroying the Ultima Weapon.
We Scions know a different Ginger, however. We know her as a dear friend who has endured untold hardship on our behalf-a true hero who has ever blazed a path for us to follow. And why do I tell you this? I tell you, friends, because it is time for us to blaze a path for her!
Our objective is to wreak such havoc outside the walls of Meridianum as to afford Ginger and her comrades the time they need to disable the magitek field generator within. With the path thus cleared, we may finally turn our minds to the true goal of this operation-the destruction of the Ultima Weapon! All troops, prepare for battle!
I fear I can't accompany you this time. The unenviable task of facilitating communications between our forces has been entrusted to the Ironworks, you see. Know, though, that I will be praying for your safe return.
Cid is a terrible liar and he will barrel in after us because he wants to be included.
See that you come back to us, my friend. May the Crystal bless you and keep you.
We will suffer the Black Wolf to prowl our lands no more! Let us teach the hunter what it is to be hunted! Forward, comrades! For Eorzea!
(-All-) FOR EORZEA!
I love these goggles so much.
Go now, Ginger, and bring us one step closer to the dawn!
This is what I've been lowkey dreading. Castrum Meridianum is not a hard dungeon. But it's one that the devs had to bribe players to run. Let me pose you a not-so-hypothetical question: how do Final Fantasy games up the stakes? By using cutscenes!
What happens when there are 10,000,000 cutscenes in a dungeon? Players are incentivized to skip them so they can keep up with the group. What happens when players skip the cutscenes? They don't see the epic end of the story.
The devs made the cutscenes unskippable and put the dialogue in these cutscenes on auto play. Castrum takes 25 minutes to clear. The Praetorium takes 45 minutes. To ensure that players would actually queue for them so sprouts (like Ginger) can see the end of the story, the devs attached some pretty steep rewards: a guaranteed half-level for finishing Praetorium and a smattering of Tomestones of Poetics. According to Eevee, each dungeon gives 200, plus another 300 for using the roulette, plus 100 for a first time bonus.
Poetics are used to buy endgame gear. I mentioned a few updates ago item level 130 gear? Ginger is gonna need a few thousand Poetics to buy herself a set of those for just her monk job. She'll also need a set for every other job. And she's taking every job to 50 in this LP. That's a lot of runs of MSQ Roulette. 
I actually remember when MSQ roulette had skippable cutscenes. The rewards weren't nearly as good, but Prae took like 20 minutes start to finish. It was a breeze!
Roluth had to go to raid night, so Solitair is the only buddy along for Castrum. Understandable, honestly. Castrum sucks.
When I first got to this point on Bren, I was terrified of not knowing what to do, especially in front of 7 other people. I actually looked up not only a guide for all the endgame dungeons, but actually watched the story on youtube because I knew I'd have to skip.
Last year I went with my FC into a MSQ roulette and we got Castrum. One guy spent the entire time playing a League match in another window, only tabbing back in once every 7-8 minutes to keep from getting kicked for inactivity.
By the way, use these searchlights. We can't progress until it happens.
After the match was over, he made up a lie about his dog being sick to keep everyone carrying him from getting pissed off.
The reason I tell this story is that literally nobody cares about any individual person in a Castrum group. The non-FC people dragged him along like driftwood and he got away with it because it was too much effort for them to actually care.
That airship in the cutscene is gonna be dogging us for the entire run.
Down a long hill is the first boss.
It's a dude in armor. 
The Black Eft is a speedbump.
That's why I didn't even bother covering the strategy. Just zerg his ass.
If I didn't know better, I'd swear you had a personal grudge against magitek armor.
What can I say? I couldn't bear to let you have all the fun. Don't worry-Biggs and Wedge have everything in hand. Truth be told, I think they like having the work of three men. Wedge wasn't exactly pleased to be left behind, though, and made quite sure I knew it. I must say, our recent struggles have done wonders for the lad's spirit.
Given the size of this place, I suspected there might be an armor or three to be had. And here we are. Hmmm...not as bad as I thought. If I have half Marques's talent for mending things, I should be able to get it working again. Listen, Ginger-we intercepted an imperial communication indicating that the Ultima Weapon is indeed being housed within the Praetorium.
We also learned that the field which protects the compound is powered by no fewer than three generator towers. If you're to deactivate the field, you'll need to locate and disable them all. And I'm here to help you do just that.
See that chute? It leads to waste disposal. Somewhere nearby, there will be a ceruleum facility supplying fuel to the closest of the three towers. Find the place and break things. Go on ahead, Ginger. I'll be along as soon as I finish my repairs.
Time to throw ourselves in the trash.
For once I'm the first one through instead of the last.
I'm actually surprised. Usually a cutscene kicks in when I'm halfway up the stairs. Now I have to run out of the arch to trigger it.
Is anyone even paying attention to this? Castrum is so boring and there's no real way to make it exciting. Everyone and their mother has done it infinity times.
By the way remember to turn this spotlight off. If you don't, then you can't fight the next boss. Seriously.
Kill the enemies...
Loot the explosives...
...and drop the explosives in a fuel pump. Twice.
If you do it all correct, the way to the second boss will be open.
We're a third of the way to our goal. 
The airship drops a mech for us to fight.
Speed. Bump.
For some reason it drops a keycard.
There you are! I didn't have the patience to take the long way 'round. I see you've disabled the first generator. That leaves us with two.
*sound of klaxons*
Ah, bugger. That was me, wasn't it?
Well, there's nothing for it but to press on. We must see to the remaining generators before the enemy has the chance to regroup! You go on ahead, Ginger! I'll bring up the rear!
Let's raise some hell!
We need to grab the keycard and continue on. For the next chunk of dungeon we need to babysit Cid.
Cid moves at the pace of a snail. So this takes a while.
There's a lot of guys here.
After they die, we need to use the searchlight terminal which moves a bunch of guys away.
This is the Phantom Train Depot that Alphinaud mentioned running between Meridianum and Centri. There's a group of guys here. If you're tanking this, be sure to grab them. I've seen lots of tanks try to skip them and they had to do the walk of shame later to get them.
Why? Because Cid will stop to plink them down. The next boss fight can't start without Cid.
Kill the group and on to the third boss! ...Eventually.
Cid takes his sweet time to arrive. Then he starts blasting on the generator.
We have to kill some enemies.
...and then one of two gimmick bosses.
This guy goes invulnerable every 20% or so, and Cid has to stop what he's doing to slowly kill enemies only he can target. You can stun the boss out of it if you get it at the right time, but I have never seeen a group pull it off successfully.
Each time he goes invulnerable, a bunch of weak adds spawn, plus an increasing number of shield adds for Cid to kill. This boss is a lot of the reason why Castrum sucks. It takes a long time unless you use the cheese strategy that nobody can ever get right.
Eventually the fucker falls.
Fine work, Ginger! Stand clear. I have a mind to loose some fireworks. Diverting all power to cannons!
Impressive!
Cid fistpumps as his ride shuts down.
Damn it. There goes the core. I fear I may have overestimated its maximum operating capacity...by a few orders of magnitude. I blame Marques. Ahem. We'll need to find another way to bring down the third generator.
Well, well...the traitor himself. And with his meddlesome friend for company.
You go on ahead, Ginger. I need to get to the bottom of something.
At least the long part of Castrum is over. Now to coast it home...
We made a huge loop! Twice, actually. The room where we first had Cid with us was actually the first boss arena. Now we're finishing the figure 8 and going off in a different direction altogether.
Ginger's gonna open the walls while the group kills the adds.
By the way, see this huge group of enemies? They're supercharged or something. Overconfident tanks who are watching Netflix let's be real occasionally charge into them. They get slaughtered damn near instantly. Those guys hurt. You're supposed to go around them and off to the side.
Up this ramp...
How many searchlight terminals is this by now? Dear god...
There's a twin just down the way too. Ginger actually got to both of them first. That means a lot of people doing this were watching Netflix.
The airship fires at Ginger.
It's me! Are you all right!?
You're calling me on linkpearl while I'm being bombed by an airship?
That's an assault craft you're up against! You don't stand a chance with conventional weapons! You're going to need something big to bring it down. A mortar, a cannon-anything! Hold on, Ginger! I'm on my way!
The airship has terrible aim.
But there are some mortars nearby...
Just gotta repeatedly use the mortars to fire at the ship.
The airship comes down on top of the final tower, taking it out!
Fools! If you are resolved to die here, you might at least have done so without first making a mess of the place!
I have so looked forward to this meeting...Ginger Pepper. Yes, I know much and more about you. About your strength...and your hidden talents. I would sample them firsthand-and you will indulge me.
The first fight against Livia is a gimmick fight. There are a bunch of mortars. She has a shield that reduces damage she takes from players by something like -99% and even if you reduce her health the old fashioned way, you need to engage with the gimmick to beat her regardless.
You use the magitek missiles to make a claw slow boat some missiles over to the mortar.
You then use the mortar to shoot Livia.
Liv will target whoever shot her with the most recent mortar. So just stand in the middle and ensure the ground doesn't float away. Healers might want to keep an eye on you in case you take 20 damage from her autoattack. You also want to keep Liv pointed away from the mortars because she can damage both them and the claws carrying missiles. You don't want that!
It takes like 8 or 10 shots or something to bring her down. It's only a minute or two at most and it's honestly the most engaging part of Castrum because your group needs to work together and stuff.
My lord was quite taken with you and the power you possess-the "Echo." Naturally, I could not help but wonder whom this princess among women might be...
Only to discover that you are but another adventurer. No better than the multitude. Yet in spite of this, the masses hold you their champion, and shower honors upon your head. It defies all reason. How is it that you could be such a thorn in our side? Wherever you appear, you leave havoc in your wake. You even slew Rhitahtyn, one of our very finest.
Well...I will not speculate. Truth be told, I couldn't care less how you have done these things. What matters to me is the fact that you have done them. If you are allowed to continue, you will eventually deprive me of all that I have toiled for-all that is mine by right!
My minions, my comrades...even my lord Gaius! Well, you cannot have him!
Ewwww. You like Gaius? That's so gross...
I lost everything once before! I will not suffer it to happen again!
Steel Reason (You should listen to this. It's the theme for high ranking Garleans like Livia and Rhitahtyn)
So Livia...
Challenged eight adventurers to a fight.
Kind of an anticlimax really.
No... <sob> It's happening...all over again... Please... I cannot bear it... <sob> Don't take him...away from me...
Another poor fool who craved Gaius's affection over all else... May her soul know rest. 'Tis a miracle no harm has come to you, my friend. One for which I will happily give thanks.
Whichever you are, you've managed to open the way to the Praetorium. The only problem is, we can't reach it on foot.
Nay, we'll need to take the Enterprise. I left her at the Ceruleum Processing Plant, so let's regroup there. This is it, Ginger! The final confrontation awaits!
I knew you wouldn't let us down, soldier! With the Praetorium stripped of its defenses, the way to the Ultima Weapon lies open. The time is come for the final phase of Operation Archon!
NEXT TIME: Such devastation. This was not my intention...