Yeah, given that Nanamo's death is in the Heavensward opening cinematic, I'm feeling pretty solid that she is dead. I like that they are willing to do that. They shouldn't feel afraid to kill off characters. Because like you said, this is going to be some very interesting turmoil for Ul'dah right now. They're playing it quiet right now saying that she's just sick. But once Heavensward hits that's going to change. That little Taru is going to take power.

As disagreeable as it might be to a lot of people. I want to see the Scions died. All of the ones that went out in a blaze of glory, they should be dead that are framing it that way in the cutscene. Ida and Papalamo I could see coming out of it, but Y'stola and Thancred dropped a tunnel on themselves. I want them dead purely for the sake of I absolute hate fake outs when it comes to deaths. Especially ones that look very final. I hold hope on it though, since Yoshida said that Heavensward and the story and theme is dark fantasy. So I'm betting on the dark being good and dark.

Plus, it is perfectly fine for them to introduce new characters that can come in to replace the Scions' position. I mean for the most part the only thing that they were used for were liaisons/ambassadors to the different city-states and information gathering in those regions. They did not command anything or really take any action that their being gone would cause conflict for. Heavensward has plenty of opportunity to introduce new characters. We still have Cid, Wedge and Biggs and Minfilia likely got herself captured for the third time. She more than Tataru needs to go out and learn some useful skills. Twice captured in a single story arc and likely a third. That's some really bad case of uselessness.