Tales From the Shadows Updated (SPOILERS ABOUND)

[ShadowMeowth]

On another note, I just got stuck with the mental image of Lahabrea finding out later that Azem took his concept without permission and reacting EXACTLY like Ross from Friends with the sandwich and now I have got a laughing fit for like ten minutes straight.

"You— You— You summoned MY concept and destroyed it?! My concept?! /MY/ CONCEPT??!!?!?!!!"

The Convocation of Fourteen + Hyth was a sitcom and I am all over it.

[QT_Melon]

Yeah on a second read, you're right.

Though at the least him being young adds a nice new layer to him saving Unukalhai.

Honestly I think the difference would best be described like anime characters.

Elidibus being like "Inu Yasha" where you have a boyish looking teen early adult. The other ancients are more like older adults or "Sesshomaru"

People are thinking kids like little kids and he is obviously not but short frame like that still doesn't really put him in "Grown up" category.

Usually its that age in so many anime shows where the Fate of the World is in that Protagonist (Inu Yasha type) hands


I am curious as to how he was described in Japanese vs English when he re-appeared from Zodiark since Emet referred to the instance as "shape of a man" which could imply a different stature than the Elidibus he has known

Side thought since Elidibus is technically a piece of himself would "Snack sized souls" also be more prone to memory deterioration which is why the newly minted souls deemedc inferrior. Basically side effect/consequence of a smaller "carbon footprint".

Another note: appears there is one more story due on the 17th. Lowkey hoping it would be some insight on Zenos/Fandaniel not because I find Zenos particularly exciting currently but would lend something exciting on both of those characters.

[Geriel]

I love this. I love everything about it.

I love how Azem and Hythlodeus are 'partners in crime,' and Emet is the sensible friend who tries (probably often in vain) to keep them out of trouble.

I love the obvious concern Emet has for his dearest friend's (and significant other, in my personal headcanon) safety as they charge headlong into obvious danger.

I love that Azem is a sarcastic, snarky little sh*t, who cares more for helping people than what a bunch of hoity-toities think of them.

This was everything I wanted.

[Rokke]

Do they return to the reincarnation cycle? I thought the point was that an Ascian's soul had to be destroyed, otherwise they just retreat/be forced back to the rift and come back later.

iirc, JP explanation was we destroy their aether which is what usually protects them from the pull of aethersea/lifestream, while EN says we destroy them. I'd have to ask my friend to go through old cutscenes to be sure.

So he's had his encore already, and is that supposed to mean we won't be seeing him another time from here on?

I interpreted this as him officially ending his role, resigning to let us carry on the story while he gets to finally rest. If he gets dragged back on the "stage" later, it wouldn't be by his doing :P

late edit, but now I've seen the translated poem portion of the JP story-
Emet himself says he's drifting to the underworld (aethersea).

paraphrasing the last bit (way too much to type on my phone, sorry!) :
"My aether is drawn to the underworld, as I have seen so many times before
In that, I think of the storied past and the future
The ending is out of my hands now, but actors remain on stage
Then I just need a little more, it is not time for the curtains to fall yet

My hands can no longer hold form, but I can snap a finger
Behold: the epilogue of the story"

So JP version makes it seem Emet is in the lifestream and is being broken down for reincarnation. His part in the SoS trial was a last big use of what power he had left. So no more free get out of jail mcguffins from him, he's just sleeping until "he" fades away.

[Cereza]

I love this. I love everything about it.

I love how Azem and Hythlodeus are 'partners in crime,' and Emet is the sensible friend who tries (probably often in vain) to keep them out of trouble.

I love the obvious concern Emet has for his dearest friend's (and significant other, in my personal headcanon) safety as they change headlong into obvious danger.

I love that Azem is a sarcastic, snarky little sh*t, who cares more for helping people than what a bunch of hoity-toities think of them.

This was everything I wanted.

Perhaps the stopping of such an event led to an enervation of Azem by these people that passed on through the ages? One of many deeds. I couldn’t help but feel the whole thing about the grapes was a taste of Azem’s sarcastic snark. They obviously don’t want to just stand by while these people’s homes and everything they hold dear is destroyed.

Convocation: “Azem, why do you feel the need to halt the natural order of things and stop this volcano?”

Azem: *eyeroll* “...I like grapes.”

[Cilia]

I don't usually read these but this one piqued my interest. Insight into how Amaurot functioned is nice, and it sounds like the Sharlayan Forum bears conspicuous similarities to the Convocation (with Azem and Louisoix being mavericks among their peers).

... and really, given the some of the PC's dialogue responses and how you can have them wearing ridiculous outfits in serious situations, it's no surprise their past self was a flippant heroic figure more concerned with doing good than obeying orders.

Alisae: "[PC], you can't negotiate with the Emperor of Garlemald wearing naught but a swimsuit!"
[PC]: "The hells I can't! Besides, it'll catch him off-balance and distract him!"
Alisae: *facepalms*

... and...

"Know that I'll kill your god if I have to. Maybe even if I don't." vs. "Um... kupo?"

[ShadowMeowth]

iirc, JP explanation was we destroy their aether which is what usually protects them from the pull of aethersea/lifestream, while EN says we destroy them. I'd have to ask my friend to go through old cutscenes to be sure.

To be entirely fair, we have never laid low an Unsundered with white auracite. Nabriales and Igeyorhm were both sundered. Lahabrea got blasted by a Blade of Light of sorts (again) by King Thordan and that destroys his physical vessel, but his actual /soul/ is eaten by the primal. With Emet, the white auracite is used not to contain him, but to bind him and give us time to use the Axe of Light™️. If it was made of enough Light to banish night from a world's sky I can see that actually shattering this protection against the pull of the Lifestream upon physical death, but then again, we have to take into account that Hades has a natural affinity with the Lifestream considered extraordinary even among the Ancients. Perhaps he no longer can reincarnate the way we know Ascians do, but he has not surrendered to the Lifestream's pull entirely either. The way he speaks of his death to dream of things long lost and futures yet to be won makes me believe he is drifting in some sort of sleep (the night, the sunless sea of heaven) but until those who take the stage now prove our worth he will be keeping an eye. I would not blame him, to be honest. Once he is sure the world is in good hands, perhaps he will truly "let go". That does not mean he does not trust us, I think it is obvious he believes we can do it, but Emet is a world-weary realist. And it would be not out of character for him to give a push every now and then to help us in saving the world and the people; that is precisely what he used to do for Azem by interceding on their behalf whenever they ran off to do things their way, after all.

[Rokke]

To be entirely fair, we have never laid low an Unsundered with white auracite. Nabriales and Igeyorhm were both sundered. Lahabrea got blasted by a Blade of Light of sorts (again) by King Thordan and that destroys his physical vessel, but his actual /soul/ is eaten by the primal. With Emet, the white auracite is used not to contain him, but to bind him and give us time to use the Axe of Light™️. If it was made of enough Light to banish night from a world's sky I can see that actually shattering this protection against the pull of the Lifestream upon physical death, but then again, we have to take into account that Hades has a natural affinity with the Lifestream considered extraordinary even among the Ancients. Perhaps he no longer can reincarnate the way we know Ascians do, but he has not surrendered to the Lifestream's pull entirely either. The way he speaks of his death to dream of things long lost and futures yet to be won makes me believe he is drifting in some sort of sleep (the night, the sunless sea of heaven) but until those who take the stage now prove our worth he will be keeping an eye. I would not blame him, to be honest. Once he is sure the world is in good hands, perhaps he will truly "let go". That does not mean he does not trust us, I think it is obvious he believes we can do it, but Emet is a world-weary realist. And it would be not out of character for him to give a push every now and then to help us in saving the world and the people; that is precisely what he used to do for Azem by interceding on their behalf whenever they ran off to do things their way, after all.

I was typing on my phone before I saw this reply whoops

The JP version of the story does not have the Tempest inspired poem, it just has Hades talking to himself as he is pulled into the lifestream. He doesn't mention being sundered, but it does sound like he's going to fade away (eventually).

Emet himself says he's drifting to the underworld (aethersea).

paraphrasing the last bit (way too much to type on my phone, sorry!) :
"My aether is drawn to the underworld, as I have seen so many times before
In that, I think of the storied past and the future
The ending is out of my hands now, but actors remain on stage
Then I just need a little more, it is not time for the curtains to fall yet

My hands can no longer hold form, but I can snap a finger
Behold: the epilogue of the story"

So JP version makes it seem Emet is in the lifestream and is being broken down for reincarnation. His part in the SoS trial was a last big use of what power he had left. So no more free get out of jail mcguffins from him, he's just sleeping until "he" fades away.

The white day blog entry had Hythlodeus mention Hades being in the underworld as well, though I'm not sure how canon the little holiday stories are meant to be. Personally, even if this is his final note in the story, I like that he at least is in the lifestream rather than gone forever

[ShadowMeowth]

late edit, but now I've seen the translated poem portion of the JP story-
Emet himself says he's drifting to the underworld (aethersea).

paraphrasing the last bit (way too much to type on my phone, sorry!) :
"My aether is drawn to the underworld, as I have seen so many times before
In that, I think of the storied past and the future
The ending is out of my hands now, but actors remain on stage
Then I just need a little more, it is not time for the curtains to fall yet

My hands can no longer hold form, but I can snap a finger
Behold: the epilogue of the story"

So JP version makes it seem Emet is in the lifestream and is being broken down for reincarnation. His part in the SoS trial was a last big use of what power he had left. So no more free get out of jail mcguffins from him, he's just sleeping until "he" fades away.

I would be fine with this because it is true that Emet's role is over, and he himself had this thought of drifting and letting go of everything, which it is not surprising coming from someone that has lived more than 12000 years. But Azem's crystal is made to "summon the stars" so I would not rule the possibility entirely out. As long as he is not yet entirely gone, who knows? I think the point of the English version is that we, the audience, have the choice in our hands. Then again, interpretation is a fickle thing, and as I always say, only the mind behind the work knows exactly what they wanted to convey. Whatever the case, there is this saying... "People only truly die when they are forgotten." Emet will "live" (in a sense) for as long as we remember him. If not him in person as he did in SoS, his presence is definitely going to be there from now on. If we go into Garlemald that was an empire he built. If we find more Allagan ruins he had a hand in building Allag. Welp, simply keeping Azem's crystal is a way to have him with us, even if it is in spirit.

[Rokke]

I would be fine with this because it is true that Emet's role is over, and he himself had this thought of drifting and letting go of everything, which it is not surprising coming from someone that has lived more than 12000 years. But Azem's crystal is made to "summon the stars" so I would not rule the possibility entirely out. As long as he is not yet entirely gone, who knows? I think the point of the English version is that we, the audience, have the choice in our hands. Then again, interpretation is a fickle thing, and as I always say, only the mind behind the work knows exactly what they wanted to convey. Whatever the case, there is this saying... "People only truly die when they are forgotten." Emet will "live" (in a sense) for as long as we remember him. If not him in person as he did in SoS, his presence is definitely going to be there from now on. If we go into Garlemald that was an empire he built. If we find more Allagan ruins he had a hand in building Allag. Welp, simply keeping Azem's crystal is a way to have him with us, even if it is in spirit.

We kept missing each other haha

I'd be happy with any future appearances of him, even if its just a voice from beyond. Flashbacks would be just as cool too! Even excluding his crystal for us, he's had a hand in so many things that are relevant in the present day theres lots of opportunities to still feel his presence.

Like I said before, if this is to be his last note, a bittersweet end is easier to swallow than a purely sad one...and it makes me want a minion even more ;w;