Question about the races (Some spoilers)

During our time on the First, we've learned that all the current races on the Source were formed as a result of the sundering. Unless I misunderstood that.

But we've also learned that during the time of Amaurot, things weren't all sunshine and roses.

With the revelation that the WoL is Azem, the 14th member of the Convocation, we discovered that we once roamed the star similar to how we do now. Doing good deeds and forging relationships with a variety of peoples, cultures and nations.

Were these other cultures and races the ancestors of all the other non-human (or Hyur) races? Such as the Au Ra, Miqo'te, etc. Or even the beast tribes? Or were the races formed as a result of the fractured souls?

My understanding is that the other races were formed in Zodiark's act of saving the planet. I'm pretty sure it was only Ancients before then.

Our races were there in the beginning as well. The ancients were at the top of the food chain kinda like how humans are in the real world now but it wasn't always us as we all know. After Zodiark stopped the sound that was causing the problem the world was still runied. So they offered up half their number again to heal the damage to the planet. The plan was to wait until life had recovered enough then sacrifice that new grown and developed life to bring back all the Ancients. Think of it as a mass extinction event. Our races were the survivors of said event there may have been more races but they died out during the event. Zodiark has not brought anyone or anything back to life, that is very important.

From what I can tell from the side stories on the site and going on storywise:

The argument over who inherits the planet ie Ancients vs our current selves may actually be more akin to a "carbon footprint" The Ancients were very large, hearty less prone to sickness, and long lived. It may be that reincarnation was still a thing, but there was less need for it occurring due to ridiculously long lifespans. The most interesting part is the talk of soul density. I think with the recent events with G'hara and ourselves may give a clue as to what bothered the Ancients so much about the new bodies and some of the workings of Echo.

Theory is that let's just call this Ancient "Bob" ...Bob is long lived and has memories with his friends and family. Eventually, Bob passes away and his soul goes to the Underworld. Bob will become "New Bob" eventually New Bob is not the same as Bob in the sense that he is going to live the exact same way and personality, but he will retain Original Bob's traits and proclivities. Bob may also end up having access to old memories therefore having a denser soul.

This is a good and bad thing, and I think the side story hints at this. The density of our souls may lend to more weight and burdens when it is time to pass on. In tales from the Calamity, we see a wayward soul burdened with regret merge into a creation magic, and we have a Phoenix/Bennu. Elidibus being another example. The new "inferior bodies" aka new life were likely a bit less dense, and ability to use magicks was more restrictive. A "lighter carbon footprint". Once the time has come for the soul to pass (and more dangers and fragility are about in those new bodies) Bob may retain less of Bob's past self memories. memories that fade and less burdensome so it can be born anew (not to say it doesn't happen to have regrets). This also leaves less of a "glut" of souls traversing in the underworld weighted with memories and possible regrets.




This however, may not sit well with a people who are used to living long lives with many memories.

The way the Ascians keep referring to us "malformed creatures" makes it sound like we're something that was never supposed to exist in the first place.

There was also that whole deal with Varis claiming the world originally had only one "perfect" race pre-sundering; though it is possible Elidibus was just lying to him about that.

Honestly, I feel like it could still go either way. We won't be absolutely certain unless we learn more about the events surrounding the Sundering and its aftermath.