So what are now (Massive EW spoilers DO NOT ENTER)

[Caurcas]

It's just a move to self contained xpac narratives.

[Lexis]

While the crystal's powers may be spent, I believe we still benefit from her blessing. She may not be able to directly intervene on our behalf anymore, like she did several times before (like in Praetorium during ARR where she shields us from Ultima), but we're still immune to Primal influence and whatever else her blessing entails. We know Ancient's magic can persist after death (see 'Amaurot'), so I see no reason for Her blessing to suddenly go POOF!

[Tsukino]

We're the only half-ascian left in the universe!

That said, it looks like our next adventure would be going back to Elpis and trying to pull off a Crystal Exarch and change their history.

This seems to be the prevailing theory on the Pandæmonium teaser, but I choose to believe that the different sky means it actually takes place in the Aetherial Sea, with Elidibus there now because he used the last of his power.

[AnnRam]

While the crystal's powers may be spent, I believe we still benefit from her blessing. She may not be able to directly intervene on our behalf anymore, like she did several times before (like in Praetorium during ARR where she shields us from Ultima), but we're still immune to Primal influence and whatever else her blessing entails. We know Ancient's magic can persist after death (see 'Amaurot'), so I see no reason for Her blessing to suddenly go POOF!

It was never a blessing, Venet used a powerful spell to make our aether incorruptible

[Lium]

It's just a move to self contained xpac narratives.

Which if I'm not mistaken is a Final Fantasy norm, right? I've never played any of the other games in the series, but have been told each is its own thing and not connected to any of the other games.

[Lexis]

It was never a blessing, Venet used a powerful spell to make our aether incorruptible

Which we've come to know as 'Hydaelyn's Blessing', aka a powerful spell placed upon us by Her. We're talking about the same thing.

[Tsukino]

Which if I'm not mistaken is a Final Fantasy norm, right? I've never played any of the other games in the series, but have been told each is its own thing and not connected to any of the other games.

There's only one other MMO with which to compare, but XI did have a structure kind of like this. The first two expansions were planned out from the start and their stories are heavily tied up together, and at the end you understand most of how the world was created and why the things are the way they are now (which is indeed a series staple). Then from the third expansion onward, there are still references to other things you've done and other people you've met, but the stories are mostly self-contained.

[TheMightyMollusk]

We're the only half-ascian left in the universe!

There's still Gaia over on the First.

[Stanelis]

So now that Hydalen/Venat are no longer and we seem to have kinda used up the magic of Azem's crystal what are we now

I mean we aren't really the warrior of light anymore, tho I think we still have the echo as that is unrelated

Any thoughts?

They clearly say yo you at several occasions during EW that we don't really know what happened with the 12 when Bahamut wrecked havoc between the 1.X and ARR. So it may be possible some of our strength wasn't simply Hydaelyn's boon.

[Aneshda]

Elidibus said what we are, in our Fight on the first.