What's the point with that quite lackluster story in Endwalker?

[EaraGrace]

She did, as we learn during her trial, she just didn't want to use it to save the First. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised given her contingency plan was to abandon the shards anyway. Regardless, the problem with knowing the future is she should've had an eye on Ardbert to ensure the Flood never happened in the first place.

I think it’s ridiculous to say that she had that power, when using the power you’re referring to would’ve killed her and all life, including the First. And she was supposed to do this, while also knowing that the First would ultimately be saved ourselves, Minfilia (who she sent with her blessing), and Graha?

And when was she supposed to look out for Ardbert? The time between Heavensward and Shadowbringers was equivalent to over a century on the First. Ardbert’s entire life on the First could fall in the period between ARR, where Hydaelyn was drained of Her power protecting us, and his arrival on the Source on the post 3.0 quest line. When was she supposed to intervene?

[KariTheFox]

And when was she supposed to look out for Ardbert? The time between Heavensward and Shadowbringers was equivalent to over a century on the First. Ardbert’s entire life on the First could fall in the period between ARR, where Hydaelyn was drained of Her power protecting us, and his arrival on the Source on the post 3.0 quest line. When was she supposed to intervene?

Given the severe difficulty she has communicating even with us, on the source. I'm not sure how she could even hope to communicate with Ardbert on the first.

I feel like a lot of criticisms of hydaelyn come down to people attributing powers and abilities to her that she simply does not have, then calling her bad for failing to do anything with the near-omnipotence and omniscience she never had in the first place.

[Garet]

Given the severe difficulty she has communicating even with us, on the source. I'm not sure how she could even hope to communicate with Ardbert on the first.

I feel like a lot of criticisms of hydaelyn come down to people attributing powers and abilities to her that she simply does not have, then calling her bad for failing to do anything with the near-omnipotence and omniscience she never had in the first place.

Agree. It is kind of funny actually and surprising how many people wants to create stories for hydaelyn just because they are not satisfied with the current narrative haha. EW narrative might not be perfect and kind of short but I think they did well fitting everything decently well.

[KizuyaKatogami]

Agree. It is kind of funny actually and surprising how many people wants to create stories for hydaelyn just because they are not satisfied with the current narrative haha. EW narrative might not be perfect and kind of short but I think they did well fitting everything decently well.

I don’t see many people creating stories, nor do i see a reason for people to. If they don’t like Hydaelyn/Venat this expansion is kind of a win for them because despite the narratives efforts in trying to praise her as a “herois,” if you partially analyze the story you’ll realize she’s anything but. I think this is part of the reason why so many people are saying stop looking too into things. They’re upset that you start questioning anything relating to their Mother, and when you start pointing out the holes in her entire plan and plot, you’re said to be over analyzing lmao.

[KizuyaKatogami]

I think it’s ridiculous to say that she had that power, when using the power you’re referring to would’ve killed her and all life, including the First. And she was supposed to do this, while also knowing that the First would ultimately be saved ourselves, Minfilia (who she sent with her blessing), and Graha?

If she knew that the first was going to be saved with the help of Graha, then that means she knows that him and ironworks were willing to mess with time, and possibly sacrifice an entire timeline just to do it…doesn’t paint her in that much of a good light, granted she was willing to basically do the same thing with the ship and loporrits so…so much for her “children” i guess lmao.

[Theodric]

I think it’s ridiculous to say that she had that power, when using the power you’re referring to would’ve killed her and all life, including the First. And she was supposed to do this, while also knowing that the First would ultimately be saved ourselves, Minfilia (who she sent with her blessing), and Graha?

You're free to consider such things to be 'ridiculous' if you so wish. Much as how others are free to think the same whenever the effects and consequences of the Sundering are downplayed in an attempt to try and paint Venat as pure and righteous when she admits that there was no kindness or justice in the tragedy that she wrought.

[Rulakir]

I think it’s ridiculous to say that she had that power, when using the power you’re referring to would’ve killed her and all life, including the First. And she was supposed to do this, while also knowing that the First would ultimately be saved ourselves, Minfilia (who she sent with her blessing), and Graha?

And when was she supposed to look out for Ardbert? The time between Heavensward and Shadowbringers was equivalent to over a century on the First. Ardbert’s entire life on the First could fall in the period between ARR, where Hydaelyn was drained of Her power protecting us, and his arrival on the Source on the post 3.0 quest line. When was she supposed to intervene?

This is the last time I'm playing this speculative game. I have no interest in going down this rabbit hole other than to point out the myriad of morality issues with Venat keeping her memories. Besides, I've seen enough of your interactions with Veloran to know this will never end unless I end it. :P

I don't know how much aether 4x 1/14 souls have, but given that we know there was excess of the Mothercrystal due to Zenos having been able to "gorge" himself on the remainder, I would think a sliver could be spared for the First. Not knowing about Ardbert assumes she keeps no track of who she gives the Blessing of Light to whatsoever, which I suppose is possible (albeit odd if the Echo is truly that rare), but considering he's a major player in the story of the WoL and the single only reason the WoL was able to defeat Emet I'd consider keeping tabs on him important if not for the sake of the First itself. Also, implying that Hydaelyn didn't need to do anything because Minfilia would save the First anyway after 9/10 of it was wiped out isn't a good look for her either.

However, you have gotten me to wonder if Venat was ever capable of protecting the shards at all. There's no evidence of even one time she was able to prevent a rejoining (or the loss of the 13th to the void). Even if inaction wasn't by design to return to the WoL (which, for the record, is a theory I dislike), then it's a colossal case of ineptitude. She knew the Ascians would spend millennia seeking to rejoin the shards without her being able to do anything about it? That's a pretty darn problematic part of her plan. Combined with the contingency being to abandon the shards, it brings into question if they were always meant to be collateral damage.

People have brought up before that the Ancients' culture had a callous disregard for life (something I don't agree with, but for the sake of argument) and thus Venat would've been of that same mindset. I certainly don't see how she's in any better moral standing than the Ascians but, again, the problem is in the stark contrast between how the two are treated in the game.

My unsubstantiated theory is that Hydaelyn wasn't intended to be good (or evil) in EW, but someone told Ishikawa to make her so. Due to the time crunch, I'm sure she did the best she could with it. The problem is the actions remained the same (worse since the sundering became intentional and with omniscience, it was better in ShB when there was the possibility the world being sundered along with Zodiark was accidental), so there's this weird disconnect between her acting in ways that are abhorrent while gaslighting the player with how great and wonderful she is.