What are the gods for?

Since we know the whole heavens and hells thing does not apply to mortals as we just return to the aetherial sea, what do the gods do? They are seen as being tied to elements and they reflect that like any primal would. But they have been MIA for a very long time. They don't appear to be needed to maintain balance of anything in nature.

They could just be very powerful entities, but that seems narratively boring if there is nothing more to them than that.

If they have no say over souls or the state of the world their value as religious entities is practically non existent. We have not needed them before now. They were incapable of doing anything about the final days.

To paraphrase a certain Black Wolf, Just what good are these gods?

I’m sure we’ll learn more in about 2 weeks but otherwise there’s nothing else more in the lore to explain it than what was said in 6.1.

I believe it comes down to faith and belief, which have been proven to be effective in handling misery in various ways. The Twelve might have some code of conduct they follow (either voluntarily or not) to not get involved with mankind's struggles, but just remain as pillars that some will find comfort and strength from.

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Originally Posted by Tehmon

I believe it comes down to faith and belief, which have been proven to be effective in handling misery in various ways. The Twelve might have some code of conduct they follow (either voluntarily or not) to not get involved with mankind's struggles, but just remain as pillars that some will find comfort and strength from.

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Though doesn't that run counter to the whole theme of Endwalker with the sundered being special because they are stronger against despair but them needing fake religions to cope seems a bit off.

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Originally Posted by jameseoakes

Though doesn't that run counter to the whole theme of Endwalker with the sundered being special because they are stronger against despair but them needing fake religions to cope seems a bit off.

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The theme of Endwalker is the inevitability of death and despair as a law of the universe that cannot be ignored, and trying to deny it as a constant companion to all life in existence will only hurt you in the end. That doesn't mean that to acknowledge despair is to lose faith and hope, but to hold onto them and value the good in life even amidst all the despair, and mankind will find tools to keep hope alive, whether it be through faith in gods or otherwise.

Sundered aren't innately special outside of having lower aetherical density, but the reality they live in makes it utterly impossible for them to deny the existence of senseless evil and despair. Thus they will come up with ways to not lose hope, and they do so because the world and reality they live in pushes them to appreciate life and all the good in it in the presence of an inevitable death and misery.

But that's my take on it. I don't care to discuss it further because the themes of Endwalker and sundered vs unsundered is a pointless topic that goes nowhere. I merely stated that the Twelve could just be there to create faith, which could be used as a tool against the adversities of mankind.

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Originally Posted by Tehmon

The theme of Endwalker is the inevitability of death and despair as a law of the universe that cannot be ignored, and trying to deny it as a constant companion to all life in existence will only hurt you in the end. That doesn't mean that to acknowledge despair is to lose faith and hope, but to hold onto them and value the good in life even amidst all the despair, and mankind will find tools to keep hope alive, whether it be through faith in gods or otherwise.

Sundered aren't innately special outside of having lower aetherical density, but the reality they live makes it utterly impossible for them to deny the existence of senseless evil and despair. Thus they will come up with ways to not lose hope, and they do say because the world the reality pushes them to appreciate life and all the good in it in the presence of an inevitable death and misery.

But that's my take on it. I don't care to discuss it further because the themes of Endwalker and sundered vs unsundered is a pointless topic that goes nowhere. I merely stated that the Twelve could just be there to create faith, which could be used as a tool against the adversities of mankind.

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Best summary of the message of the expac I've seen so far

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Originally Posted by jameseoakes

Though doesn't that run counter to the whole theme of Endwalker with the sundered being special because they are stronger against despair but them needing fake religions to cope seems a bit off.

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Consider the Hannish, and how they found the strength to face the inevitability of Fate, of Death and Despair in the teachings of the Mrrga and Manusya. It's the same thing. People may take comfort in whatever they like if it gives them the strength to face the end with their heads held high.

To most of us they appear as aloof, distant & oversee much of creation yet not directly engage in it.

Personally I feel compelled they might not be Gods but rather carry divine source that which created & shaped creation.

In another way; while we’re still alive; unawares to us, they might be attending our pleas & guidance through enigmatic ways that a mortal will rarely or never comprehend it given the nature of the twelve.

I wish they were left as it is; given we know more than enough about the Ascians, Eikons & Hydaelyn. Otherwise we’ll fall deeper into the ranbit holes, yearning with more questions than answers.

Hence the expression “ignorance is bliss”, or forevermore leas into nihilism.

I'm still not convinced the Twelve are indeed divinities. We shall see in less than a month's time.

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Originally Posted by Necrotica

They are seen as being tied to elements and they reflect that like any primal would.

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This made me think. Maybe they are responsible for keeping elements in balance in the long run.