
Originally Posted by
Rulakir
You're not alone in your feelings. Venat is a divisive character who's been debated here at length. I could never in good conscience do what she did and, like you, my WoL would not have been complicit in it. I felt like I did back in ARR, a lobotomized tool being led by NPCs assuring me I was doing the right thing while my WoL nods and goes along with it. I'm never once given an option to express disapproval, instead I'm strong-armed into this 12k year BFF relationship with Venat/Hydaelyn which was extremely uncomfortable given my feelings about her and what she did. I felt like, as a player, I'd lost agency and connection to my character (it wasn't my WoL anymore) and it was not a good experience.
Now there's an issue of can I continue to RP a WoL that so fundamentally differs from my moral values? This is a concern of mine not only going forward into new storylines, but in their handling of Azem as well. Hydaelyn may have ended up being a hero in the WoL's timeline, but she's still an antagonist to the Ancients. Nothing changed there, in fact, it's even worse because she didn't lose her memories like the others and did it all by choice knowing the outcome. However, the narrative does not treat her as if she's done anything wrong. She may acknowledge what she did "wasn't a kindness", but there's no regret on her part, there's not a single NPC who admonishes her for what she's done, and the WoL is accepting of all of it. The whole thing was problematic. Like, you've witnessed a horrific crime and everyone is telling you it was for the best. Honestly, between her and Hermes I felt legitimately gaslit by EW. Both acted despicably and both are defended and praised. It was bizarre.
I think the writers had a challenge figuring out a way to justify an unjustifiable act and even with the heavy handed storytelling still didn't manage it. I also think they had a romanticized idea of the story coming 'full circle' to the extent that the writing felt contrived to make that happen. Going through Elpis, I desperately wanted to tell them the truth so they could save themselves, I felt so much relief when we finally did, and then the post-dungeon happened. I realized that not only were we not going to be able to save anyone, but now my character is an accomplice to their fates for having said anything. As if the situation weren't bad enough, making me responsible for it by sharing knowledge with Venat who did not use it well felt awful. I never got over the ending of Elpis, it soured the rest of the expansion for me and has made me doubtful for the future.