The clones of Emet.

[kaynide]

…

All a valid interpretation, but it’s not necessarily set fact.

Like electricity, it’s pretty clear Aether does not become lost upon use, it just merely changes form.

Rather than just becoming converted to kinetic energy or heat, generic aether rejoins the life stream to be reformed into new life.

The big question mark for me is if there is a difference between generic aether and Ascian aether, especially since their aether specifically can stay together to be reborn. It stands to reason that even Lahabrea’s released aether could reconstitute given enough time.

The only certainty I can gather is that the unsundered have not been slain before this point, so even if they can return, they are unaware of it.

Were this real world, as a scion or WoL I would push to research this heavily, but again as a game…probably we can trust they are dead until the story needs it to be otherwise. Especially given Emet and Elidabus’s fair well moments.

[MikkoAkure]

All a valid interpretation, but it’s not necessarily set fact.

Like electricity, it’s pretty clear Aether does not become lost upon use, it just merely changes form.

Rather than just becoming converted to kinetic energy or heat, generic aether rejoins the life stream to be reformed into new life.

The big question mark for me is if there is a difference between generic aether and Ascian aether, especially since their aether specifically can stay together to be reborn. It stands to reason that even Lahabrea’s released aether could reconstitute given enough time.

The only certainty I can gather is that the unsundered have not been slain before this point, so even if they can return, they are unaware of it.

Were this real world, as a scion or WoL I would push to research this heavily, but again as a game…probably we can trust they are dead until the story needs it to be otherwise. Especially given Emet and Elidabus’s fair well moments.

I think the implication was that while they're whole and sentient, they can avoid being sent to the lifestream and are free to go and possess another random person when something happens to them. The lore book stated that was due to a "crystal of darkness" which is probably just their connection with Zodiark. In order to get rid of them permanently, they need to have their aether pinned down so they can't leave, and then get blasted with a high dose of aether. I think at that point, they have no conscious ability to maintain their form and their consciousness gets scattered into the ambient aether/lifestream of the world.

Emet-Selch/Hades was a master of the Underworld/Lifestream when he was alive so that could explain his shenanigans during the fight with Elidibus. But he also seemed to be content to help us instead of moving the ascian plan forward and went quietly into the night. That being said, he did voice the Endwalker trailer so I wonder if there will be more of him or if his narration was just supposed to be a parallel to his speech to us in Amaurot about the Final Days.

[Cleretic]

I think the implication was that while they're whole and sentient, they can avoid being sent to the lifestream and are free to go and possess another random person when something happens to them. The lore book stated that was due to a "crystal of darkness" which is probably just their connection with Zodiark. In order to get rid of them permanently, they need to have their aether pinned down so they can't leave, and then get blasted with a high dose of aether. I think at that point, they have no conscious ability to maintain their form and their consciousness gets scattered into the ambient aether/lifestream of the world.

Emet-Selch/Hades was a master of the Underworld/Lifestream when he was alive so that could explain his shenanigans during the fight with Elidibus. But he also seemed to be content to help us instead of moving the ascian plan forward and went quietly into the night. That being said, he did voice the Endwalker trailer so I wonder if there will be more of him or if his narration was just supposed to be a parallel to his speech to us in Amaurot about the Final Days.

No, we actually saw the crystals of darkness, more than once. Immediately, I remember that Igeyorhm called hers up and was about to use it before we White Auracite'd her and then lasered her with one of the Eyes of Nidhogg.

They are a literal, physical thing, we're just thorough enough to rarely see them.