Explaining the Term "Warriors of Light"

[Andaeron]

Sadly there can be no positive interpretation. Look at the facts: Such a character was a ranking member of a grand company who worked closely with the honored and elites to help all of Eorzea, yet was not at the Battle of Carteneau. Remained in Eorzea after meteor, but did not participate in the rebuilding, or do anything of note for 5 full years. Did not continue at the grand company or path of the twelve. Is forgotten by everyone they helped or saved, including those with the Echo, which had nothing at all to do with the Louisoix/Carteneau haze. Apparently these characters even got someone to give them a tattoo to make them look like they had been sent into the rift.

Regardless of what is done in ARR, the above facts are part of such characters' past. SE can't give them a better story than those who completed the End of Era missions, so there's really not much more to it. I call it the "drunk and homeless" scenario because that's the closest thing that fits the facts. (Thanks, devs...)

Actually, I don't think it has to be quite bleak. I have worked out the gist of what my character would have been doing for five years, more or less. I don't actively roleplay, but I do like creating context for my characters.

One thing that is never discussed in the story (so far) is the aetheric disturbances and massive incursions of voidsent that plagued the cities during the final descent of Dalamud. But just as hundreds fought at Cartenau, many stayed in the cities to defend the homeland- for what good repelling the invaders if you lose the home you protect anyway? Adaeron was one such defender, fighting in the streets of Ul'dah. After Bahamut's release and attack of course everything gets fuzzy there, but there was catastrophic damage rent on the cities, so I imagine that as a carpenter of moderate skill, he found work rebuilding Ul'dah, making tools (had to get rid of those 999 Elm Hafts somehow), and probably even working on refugee structures. Five years hence, he begins having strange dreams, and fearing the omen it portends, he heads back to Gridania to pick up the bow once more, and go back to being an adventurer.

[ArkhamNative]

Actually, I don't think it has to be quite bleak. I have worked out the gist of what my character would have been doing for five years, more or less. I don't actively roleplay, but I do like creating context for my characters.

No, it doesn't have to be bleak, though there's nothing wrong with bleak.
And it doesn't even have to be bullet-proof, or be canon. Like the Goobbue walls, which happened after final save, across all worlds, though I'm happy that the devs incorporated those into canon.