The Reasoning behind The Sundering? (*6.0 Endwalker Spoilers*)

[Absimiliard]

Just saying -Hydaelyn giving Crystals of Light to her chosen on the First isn't implied to have affected this at all.

In-game text explicitly states that Hydaelyn was in part to blame for the Flood as well, albeit unintentionally.

[Rannie]

In-game text explicitly states that Hydaelyn was in part to blame for the Flood as well, albeit unintentionally.

Where does it state that? Curious because I don't remember it saying that. I do remember her saying she couldn't help the first to stop the flood...

[Rosenstrauch]

Where does it state that? Curious because I don't remember it saying that. I do remember her saying she couldn't help the first to stop the flood...

Off the top of my head, the only place that even implicitly linked Hydaelyn to the Flood of Light was back in Heavensward, when Ardbert was explaining how his friends' heroic actions led to the Flood of Light consuming their world. Even back then, it was entirely vague as to what sort of heroics they actually did, and the connection between "being too heroic" and "the Flood of Light consuming all" was not explored in the slightest.

Fast-forward to Shadowbringers, where we learned that Ardbert caused the Flood of Light by failing to kill two Ascians with one Blade of Light, leading to the survivor (Mitron) being turned into the first Sin Eater, while also having Ardbert's will burned into him as a consequence of how umbral/light corruption works (this is also partially the basis for tempering, natch). That will was "Banish the Darkness", an order given to him—much like the WoL—by Hydaelyn herself.

We can't say for sure that Ardbert wouldn't have tried the same thing if Hydaelyn had instructed him better. But "Banish the Darkness" will always be a boneheaded order when coming from someone who doesn't want that to happen because it'll spell the end of life on Etheirys. But if she had ever said she didn't see the Flood of Light coming, well, to quote G1 Megatron, "You are either lying, or you're stupid."

[Vyrerus]

Off the top of my head, the only place that even implicitly linked Hydaelyn to the Flood of Light was back in Heavensward, when Ardbert was explaining how his friends' heroic actions led to the Flood of Light consuming their world. Even back then, it was entirely vague as to what sort of heroics they actually did, and the connection between "being too heroic" and "the Flood of Light consuming all" was not explored in the slightest.

Fast-forward to Shadowbringers, where we learned that Ardbert caused the Flood of Light by failing to kill two Ascians with one Blade of Light, leading to the survivor (Mitron) being turned into the first Sin Eater, while also having Ardbert's will burned into him as a consequence of how umbral/light corruption works (this is also partially the basis for tempering, natch). That will was "Banish the Darkness", an order given to him—much like the WoL—by Hydaelyn herself.

We can't say for sure that Ardbert wouldn't have tried the same thing if Hydaelyn had instructed him better. But "Banish the Darkness" will always be a boneheaded order when coming from someone who doesn't want that to happen because it'll spell the end of life on Etheirys. But if she had ever said she didn't see the Flood of Light coming, well, to quote G1 Megatron, "You are either lying, or you're stupid."

Fast forward to Endwalker, and we learn she knew about the Flood but had to let it play out, in order to fulfill predestination.

STARRRRSCREEEAAAAAAM!!!!!!!!

[Rannie]

Fast forward to Endwalker, and we learn she knew about the Flood but had to let it play out, in order to fulfill predestination.

STARRRRSCREEEAAAAAAM!!!!!!!!

Eh i dont know if that could be completely said though we don't actually know if she tried or not. She did say she couldn't stop it and that could be taken either way with what we know. That also leans away from unintentional to it being completely intentional on her part and that, I would be readily to admit, to be kupo'd up. *shrugs* maybe we'll get some more info during the letter... maybe... perhaps?

[EaraGrace]

Off the top of my head, the only place that even implicitly linked Hydaelyn to the Flood of Light was back in Heavensward, when Ardbert was explaining how his friends' heroic actions led to the Flood of Light consuming their world. Even back then, it was entirely vague as to what sort of heroics they actually did, and the connection between "being too heroic" and "the Flood of Light consuming all" was not explored in the slightest.

Fast-forward to Shadowbringers, where we learned that Ardbert caused the Flood of Light by failing to kill two Ascians with one Blade of Light, leading to the survivor (Mitron) being turned into the first Sin Eater, while also having Ardbert's will burned into him as a consequence of how umbral/light corruption works (this is also partially the basis for tempering, natch). That will was "Banish the Darkness", an order given to him—much like the WoL—by Hydaelyn herself.

We can't say for sure that Ardbert wouldn't have tried the same thing if Hydaelyn had instructed him better. But "Banish the Darkness" will always be a boneheaded order when coming from someone who doesn't want that to happen because it'll spell the end of life on Etheirys. But if she had ever said she didn't see the Flood of Light coming, well, to quote G1 Megatron, "You are either lying, or you're stupid."

The difficulty is that the Ascians were actively manipulating things on the First to bring about the Rejoining. If Venat knew that a Flood would occur, and that doing nothing would not stop it as without opposition the Ascians would succeed, then there’s not really many options. This combined with the fact that by the time Ardbert and company become adventurers she’s already been weakened by Ultima and thus is unable to warn them.

So she’s left with two options. Don’t give crystals and leave the heroes of the First to their own devices, which would leave them defenseless against the Ascians, or give the crystals and have hope they’ll find a way to avoid the Flood. The latter actually worked at first, but unfortunately Ardberts blade of light tempered Mitron and shifted things violently and suddenly, giving rise to the Flood and the Sin Eaters.