Sundering stuff established in the Q&A

[Absimiliard]

Elidibus is probably one of the most tragic characters in the entire game. I'm sure plenty will disagree with this assessment since we're not given anywhere near as much time with him as we are the likes of Emet-Selch, but... think about it. A young Elidibus, filled with love for his people, becomes Zodiark's heart. This same young man that willingly gave himself for the sake of his people must then watch the tattered remnants of their civilization tear itself apart, coming dangerously close to completely invalidating all the sacrifices they'd made up until then. So he separates -- or something wearing his face does, at least. The boy that had been Elidibus ceased to be when Zodiark was created, but his earnest desire to see his people through to a better tomorrow, no matter the cost, survived the end of his soul. For 12,000 years he labored, separated from Zodiark, to try and bring the promised salvation to his people. For 12,000 years he watched Emet-Selch succumb to despair, Lahabrea go mad (or madder, as the case may have been) as a result of using himself up, and the fragments of those he'd once known and loved be born, live, and die over and over again. Then, when he is the only hope left for his people, he takes on the form of his best friend--the WoL's heroic past self--and marches into a battle he knows he can't win. He even regains the lion's share of his lost memories mere moments before being sealed away for (what both he and we) at the time believed would be functionally forever.

Dude goes right ahead and gives up any chance he might've still had at a future existence, again for the sake of his star and his people, when the WoL comes to the Crystal Tower again prior to Endwalker's climax. He, without hesitation, gives up the only thing he still had -- his very being -- for this purpose. Would he really have made this sacrifice after any chance of restoring his people was lost if he were truly so one-sided in his thought processes? With Zodiark dead and any hope of bringing them back slain with him, he could've simply abandoned Etheirys to its fate. Instead he chose to see his people's desire to save Etheirys through anyway.

[Theodric]

Can we not? Seriously, this is just pathetic, and it doesn't make anyone, least of all you, look good.

I thought it was pretty funny, personally. I'm also not sure how, exactly, posting a playful joke in the form of a meme equals making someone not 'look good'.

[tokinokanatae]

I don't think there's any reason to strawman the fans of either faction. I don't enjoy being called a genocide apologist and I'm sure Venat fans don't appreciate being implied to be gluttonous idiots either. It's not really what I would call playful ribbing and it doesn't have anything to do with the subject of the thread.

[Skyborne]

Elidibus

I want to believe what was brought up some pages back about part of him being drawn back to the Lifestream and that part of him we spoke to in the Tower being the bit of essence still left in there. No Copingways big enough for me. He'd be on the First with Gaia and some of the Unsundered that were stuck in Zodiark's missing wang in that shard of the moon, at least.

[Theodric]

I don't think there's any reason to strawman the fans of either faction. I don't enjoy being called a genocide apologist and I'm sure Venat fans don't appreciate being implied to be gluttonous idiots either. It's not really what I would call playful ribbing and it doesn't have anything to do with the subject of the thread.

I don't think it was being implied that Venat fans are 'gluttonous idiots'. It's a common meme format here in the UK and very much equal to a bit of playful banter rather than an act of malice.

[Lauront]

The poster in question is a Venat fan unless I'm mistaken, so I just took it as a bit of light hearted humour at their own expense.

[Theodric]

The poster in question is a Venat fan unless I'm mistaken, so I just took it as a bit of a bit of light hearted humour at their own expense.

Simple as.

[KizuyaKatogami]

Elidibus is probably one of the most tragic characters in the entire game. I'm sure plenty will disagree with this assessment since we're not given anywhere near as much time with him as we are the likes of Emet-Selch, but... think about it. A young Elidibus, filled with love for his people, becomes Zodiark's heart. This same young man that willingly gave himself for the sake of his people must then watch the tattered remnants of their civilization tear itself apart, coming dangerously close to completely invalidating all the sacrifices they'd made up until then. So he separates -- or something wearing his face does, at least. The boy that had been Elidibus ceased to be when Zodiark was created, but his earnest desire to see his people through to a better tomorrow, no matter the cost, survived the end of his soul. For 12,000 years he labored, separated from Zodiark, to try and bring the promised salvation to his people. For 12,000 years he watched Emet-Selch succumb to despair, Lahabrea go mad (or madder, as the case may have been) as a result of using himself up, and the fragments of those he'd once known and loved be born, live, and die over and over again. Then, when he is the only hope left for his people, he takes on the form of his best friend--the WoL's heroic past self--and marches into a battle he knows he can't win. He even regains the lion's share of his lost memories mere moments before being sealed away for (what both he and we) at the time believed would be functionally forever.

Dude goes right ahead and gives up any chance he might've still had at a future existence, again for the sake of his star and his people, when the WoL comes to the Crystal Tower again prior to Endwalker's climax. He, without hesitation, gives up the only thing he still had -- his very being -- for this purpose. Would he really have made this sacrifice after any chance of restoring his people was lost if he were truly so one-sided in his thought processes? With Zodiark dead and any hope of bringing them back slain with him, he could've simply abandoned Etheirys to its fate. Instead he chose to see his people's desire to save Etheirys through anyway.

What’s so funny too is, the protagonists never have to pay a price like this. Everything always works out perfectly for them. It’s only ever the antagonists that have to sacrifice and suffer like this and it’s what makes this expansions theme so weak.

[Jandor]

The poster in question is a Venat fan unless I'm mistaken, so I just took it as a bit of light hearted humour at their own expense.

'Ate nuanced convo, luv me sundering. Simple as.

[Cleretic]

Yeah, it was all about "controlled opposition".

I've noticed some posters appear to struggle to distinguish the characters pre-sundering from what they are 12k years later...

Okay, so there's something that gives a bit more detail on this one, and it shows better the truth of what happened. From the second Emet-Selch Tales from the Shadows (the 'Azem Vs The Volcano' one):

This was soon after Zodiark became the will of the star, and our Final Days were averted. The people were divided, unable to decide what to do with the future that now stretched out before them. Many wished to trade the new life which had sprung forth to reclaim those lost in sacrifice to Zodiark. No small number, however, insisted that the fate of our world should be entrusted to those selfsame freshly minted souls. All were at our wits' end.

At once, we saw it, shimmering. It poured out of Zodiark's breast, and resolved into the shape of a man. As he looked us over─mouths agape, no doubt─he gave what passed for an earnest smile.

"Fear...not... You will make...the right choice. And I will see it through."

So this gives us a timeframe; this is specifically after the second sacrifice, but before the Convocation were locked in on the third. If we want to put together an actual chronology, we know that the Anamnesis meeting was after this, because at that point the Convocation were certain and unyielding. But, now take into account his line after becoming what we now know is a primal, as well as the heart of Zodiark: "You will make the right choice, and I will see it through."

He's not extending impartiality, he's extending certainty. The assurance that the choice they make will be the right one--and as Zodiark's heart, there was only ever one road he was going to go down. He 'reconciled' by leading people down one specific road--and you can tell from the Anamnesis meeting, the opposing side wasn't quelled, they were shut out.