Tales From the Shadows Updated (SPOILERS ABOUND)

[ShadowMeowth]

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;

To be fair we as the audience have already said our piece ever since 5.0. Even before 5.3, there was this poll in which Emet got the 6th position for favorite FF characters in the whole franchise only behind of classics like Cloud, Yuna and the like, and being the most loved antagonist surpassing even Sephiroth and Kefka. I mean... for a character from the relatively-unknown-outside-its-own-community FFXIV, that is a tremendous achievement. And there is the collective catharsis 20 seconds of him appearing in another guy's trial caused in the fanbase if the YouTube playthroughs of 5.3 and comments are any indication. If Emet wanted /our/ applause, I think we deemed him the best player on the stage a year ago.

I was analyzing your translation of Emet's soliloquy in Japanese and there is this thing that again can be taken in more way that one: 5.3 was ShB's true end, not the epilogue per se. The epilogue is usually comprised by x.4 and x.5. That, and if we talk in a broader sense, this is not the end of the Hydaelyn and Zodiark's arc yet. My point being, Emet's story could have been done in 5.0; because of the audience's love, he came back for an encore in 5.3... but there have been instances in which the audience liked a show so much, more than one encore was asked for, and the players provided. I personally believe that the room was definitely left half-opened for us, the audience, ask Emet for encores because of our love for him as a character. And it is most meaningful because Emet is addressing /us/ and basically answering to this sentiment, being thankful for our love. This could be a final farewell... or not. I believe that is up to us, not the WoL/D but /us/ the players, to decide. Do we want more than an encore? I for one would overwhelm him with petitions, and at the same time I want to give the man some well-earned and much needed respite and naptime. :'D

[Alleluia]

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 want more of this. We need flashbacks. We need a comic series. Or a book. Or a section of Encyclopedia Eorzea v3 dedicated to them. Something. I'd like an anime. lol

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.”

I did notice that the story says "those who deemed it prudent had likely already begun to move elsewhere." so... does that mean there were those who weren't leaving??? From an impending volcanic eruption? Azem may very well have been saving lives, not just homes. (Though why you wouldn't leave if you know your town was about to get squished by molten lava and ash is beyond me.)


Why was the convocation concerned about this volcano at all, I wonder? It leans more in the direction of Amaurot having some kind of jurisdiction over those outside of it, specifically some isolated island (that may or may not be a reference to Vylbrand). But then you had the Ancients debating whether to send aid to other cities dealing with the Final Days as if those cities were peers, not part of the same nation or w/e, so I'm still confused.

Was Amaurot a world capitol kind of deal or was it not? What was the political situation back then, SE?!

[Iscah]

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.

Thanks for that. The Japanese version is clearer with him being "drawn to the underworld", joining the flow of souls that he was described as witnessing in his previous tale.

(Also just a hint of "Stuff your fancy summoning spell, Azem - I'm here because I chose to come.")

[Alleluia]

The white day blog entry

Sorry, the what now??? Link please? Is there a translation?

[Iscah]

I did notice that the story says "those who deemed it prudent had likely already begun to move elsewhere." so... does that mean there were those who weren't leaving??? From an impending volcanic eruption? Azem may very well have been saving lives, not just homes. (Though why you wouldn't leave if you know your town was about to get squished by molten lava and ash is beyond me.)

Could just be a "massively out of touch" thing. It's obviously about to erupt, anyone with any sense will have left, no need to do anything about the stubborn ones that remain.

And yeah, I think people have focused in way too much on the "I did it because they grow nice grapes" thing. They're not doing it to save the grapes or help the farmers with a fetchquest-level problem, they are saving the town and its people then making up a blatantly pathetic excuse because "I did it to save lives" is going to go over even worse.

[ShadowMeowth]

(Also just a hint of "Stuff your fancy summoning spell, Azem - I'm here because I chose to come.")

Besides the narrative continuity set by the Heroes' Gauntlet and how both friends and foes came to our aid /willingly/, this could be a potential MacGuffin / Chekhov's Gun if Azem's crystal's summoning magicks are not of unlimited use. Basically Emet saying, "first call is free of charge". Also in character for him to do that. "I am doing this because I /can/." #DealWithIt

[Alleluia]

I have to say, my favorite mental image in this entire thing is the facepalm. I don't care if its apparently English only. Hades facepalming himself, forgetting his mask was in the way, cus Azem and Hythlodeus are just *that* exasperating is hilarious. lol

[ShadowMeowth]

I have to say, my favorite mental image in this entire thing is the facepalm. I don't care if its apparently English only. Hades facepalming himself, forgetting his mask was in the way, cus Azem and Hythlodeus are just *that* exasperating is hilarious. lol

Shadowbringers aka How To Turn Your Evil Cult Of Sorcerers Into A Sitcom: The Expansion.

And you will not see me complaining. If anything, I would endlessly praise the writers for such a 180° turn in just one expansion and make it feel not rushed and truly natural. Not an easy feat.

Also, 11/10 on Azem, Emet and Hyth's dynamic. Because with actually very little, we are able to accurately picture how their past friendship worked. Special mention to Hyth's character, showing up as a shade woven by Emet that appears for only 10~ minute cutscenes, is alluded to in this story and the closest thing to a spotlight he has had was in Through His Eyes, but he managed to become such a well-loved character and the middle gear in Azem and Emet's relationship that makes it work so flawlessly. And the dynamic still on point in 5.3: Hyth the enabler grants Azem the means to do the thing (the crystals) and Emet is the one who comes after to save Azem's hide (see coming in to snap us out of the Rift). Marvelous.

[Rokke]

Sorry, the what now??? Link please? Is there a translation?

Yes, heres a translation!

(Also just a hint of "Stuff your fancy summoning spell, Azem - I'm here because I chose to come.")

It fits in perfectly with the idea of him chasing Azem to the volcano to help as Elidibus suggests he does. He wasn't asked buuuuut~ he's there to help get us out of trouble anyway.

[LystAP]

If there is a Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess or WoW: Warlords of Draenor time traveling expansion for FFXIV, we must be able to group up with these nerds and talk about grapes.