[SPOILERS] Minfillia' Fate in 3.2

[Morningstar1337]

Since Voidsent feed on Aether (Hydaelyn's Specifically) I'm thinking that The Void is likely made of what is basically "Negative Aether" with the opposite charge of Hydaelyn aether. Possibly in the same way as Matter and Anti-Matter interact. (read Destructively Bad). But that would allow for how Void Magics differs from Hydaelyn's Magics as well as how beings that can use magic (Thus can obviously manipulate their home world's energy) that they would consume this world's aether as living neutralizer.

That reminds me, aether in this game seems to have theri own terms for "polarity" Astral and Umbral.

Astral is derived from the greek term for Star, which seems to be used in reference to Hydaelyn, the Planet rather than the Sun.

Umbral is a bit looser being a term for darkness, but as such, it can be associated with Night and by extension, the Moon.

It seems that the polarity of aether itself references Hydaelyn and Zodiark's conflict.

[Belhi]

Still need to get the other side of the story from a civil Ascian... if only he had been more forthcoming with the Truth™ in the first place...

If it does turn out the Truth does change our perception of what the Ascians are doing I really hope someone calls them out on making everything far more difficult than it needed to be.

'Elidibus, you jackass! Open with those little details next time!'

[Berethos]

To clarify on this: when the Word of the Mother speaks of "Reflections of the Source," she's speaking about fragments of Zodiark; each Rejoining (a.k.a. Calamity) thus... rejoins one Reflection to the whole of Zodiark, meaning the Ascians would need 13 Rejoinings in total to complete their mission.

Hydaelyn's power seems independent of Zodiark's influence, though.

I think I can see how you reached the first conclusion (though I disagree that Reflections of the Source refer to just the fragments of Zodiark), but I don't think the second is supported.

For the first, WOTM says (emphasis mine) that after crying out and the barrier between planes faltering that "Across ten and three were we then divided. Reflections of the Source, each possessed of a shard." For that math to work out, you'd need both fragments of Zodiark and fragments of Hydaelyn, and there have been seven Rejoinings, so it would make sense that they are seeking at least the fragments of Zodiark that exist.

Which leads me to the second - to have that many Reflections, to have seven Rejoinings...and for this to be the last of Hydaelyn? Something is happening to her crystals along the way as a result. Either her fragments are being absorbed or used up, but in either case, it's as a result of the Ascians seeking to rejoin the Fragments of Zodiark...

Which means her weakened, almost spent power is a result of Zodiark's influence, in that the process of making him stronger is making her weaker.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

Don't forget too that the Ascians want the WOL to fight and beat primals every time they're summoned since apparently that drains the mothercrystal as well.

[Belhi]

Don't forget too that the Ascians want the WOL to fight and beat primals every time they're summoned since apparently that drains the mothercrystal as well.

With that they are trying to drive an arms race. Every time we beat a primal it drives the beast tribes to try and summon an even stronger version. Every time its summoned it drains Hydaelyn further. Its a catch 22 for us cause just leaving the primal would also drain the land and cause havoc.

[CyrilLucifer]

snip

That statement is so vague, you both have different interpretations, and I have a third.

I assumed the "we" was referring to both Zodiark and Hydaelyn. Again, balance, Astral, Umbral, waxing, waning. In the basal state, you can't do to one without having it done to the other. Separating Zodiark hurt Hydaelyn as much as it hurt Zodiark.

Edit: And to plug my own theory, I believe this is why Elidibus/his servant is aiding us with the Triad. Hydaelyn needs to continue existing for the initial state of the universe the Ascians seek to be restored.

[Powe]

I haven't read through the whole thing so unless this was already said, I think Minfillia is like the ascians now but now is acting as the literal voice of Hydalyen, also since is was said the mother crystal is weakening in power maybe Minfillia is going to be used as a vessel for Hydalyen so it won't be such a strain on her to actually communicate to those with the echo.

[Kaiser-Ace]

I haven't read through the whole thing so unless this was already said, I think Minfillia is like the ascians now but now is acting as the literal voice of Hydalyen, also since is was said the mother crystal is weakening in power maybe Minfillia is going to be used as a vessel for Hydalyen so it won't be such a strain on her to actually communicate to those with the echo.

To catch you up, Hydaelyn Assimilated Minfillia and then Minfillia went POOF when Hydaelyn used up her Aether to deliver a vauge message that didn't help is a damn bit and only put me that much closer to joining The Garlean Empire's Genocide Plan.

[Berethos]

both[/I] Zodiark and Hydaelyn.

That's actually my assumption as well, and I think both your point about Umbral and Astral and the math of there being so many reflections and half the number of rejoinings strongly support that assumption.

[Fenral]

I assumed the "we" was referring to both Zodiark and Hydaelyn. Again, balance, Astral, Umbral, waxing, waning. In the basal state, you can't do to one without having it done to the other. Separating Zodiark hurt Hydaelyn as much as it hurt Zodiark.

I'm guessing that neither Hydaelyn nor Zodiark is right on what to do with the world. Zodiark wants to smash everything back together no matter what will be left in the ashes, Hydaelyn (seemingly) wants to keep the darkness banished forever by destroying the last of Zodiark's servants. The middle road I'm seeing is getting Hydaelyn and Zodiark to reconcile and merge willingly, somehow, or going full on SMT Neutral and killing both if they still refuse to cooperate.

Of course, the assumption I'm now working from is that mankind (or whatever mankind was before it became mankind) asked for the world to be sundered, resulting in opposing gods of Light and Darkness formed from some primordial being that consisted of both. Hydaelyn is only capable of acting according to the wish that gave her form, and Zodiark is only capable of behaving according to the nature he was created to represent. Neither is really a complete being on their own.