Sundering stuff established in the Q&A

[KizuyaKatogami]

I actually expect that Kizuya wants to see the scene play out for much the reason that I, a couple posts above yours, outlined why Elidibus can never provide an unbiased source: because even if he was at one point an unbiased source on a personal level (which I'm not convinced of, but will concede that it's plausible, even if it's not important), narratively he is not, because we know where he ends up going. Elidibus' perspective therefore cannot be read as in any way neutral, because we know the context isn't a completely neutral account of facts: it's 'how Elidibus ultimately decided to go for Plan Zodiark'.

I think the reason Kizuna decided that the 'unbiased account' they wanted was specifically from Elidibus was because of exactly that. Their view on this is pretty blatantly worn in their signature, they think Hydaelyn's outlook is terrible and cruel. They chose Elidibus as their 'unbiased' person because he would give exactly the statement they want to hear: 'from my neutral perspective, Zodiark Is Right'.

You’re free to jump to any conclusions, as incorrect as they may be. From a comparison of Venat vs Emet’s PoV, i very much think Elidibus’ pov would be one in a fairly unbiased light, as his duty was the salvation of the star and it’s people. I never even mentioned anything about Zodiark being right, that’s not even what this conversation is abo it, it’s about the biased representations given to us of certain events. Elidibus at this point was essentially a 3rd party in the debate of Convocation vs Venat’s group. Based on his dialogue he would indeed serve as a mediator presumably for both groups hence hearing and seeing both sides. I’m not sure what else there is to argue when we have concrete evidence of this in his dying dialogue, unless we’re going to accuse him of lying on his deathbed.

[SpectrePhantasia]

In all honesty, picking any relatively established Ancient and going 'I want their unbiased opinion' is folly, because every noteworthy Ancient has already staked a claim either explicitly or implicitly, or is Azem whose presence would render the entire argument meaningless by nature of their character (I've mentioned before, but because Azem is essentially our self-insert then whatever choice they make would be therefore the choice everyone would take as 'correct', thereby invalidating the moral subjectivity of the question). Even if Elidibus was playing mediator, we couldn't take the argument through his eyes as truly unbiased, because we as the audience know which side he landed on; that means that we know any positive points on Venat's side, or negatives on the Convocation's, are ultimately meaningless because we know we're just following a trail to a known conclusion.

I'm not so sure of that. The Ascians that we see, who are unyieldingly loyal to Zodiark and the path that he promises, are not the ones we are talking about here. At the point we fight them, they have already watched their home come apart before their very eyes. They have already endured thousands of years of watching the shards of their people stumble around and die with their lesser bodies, completely ignorant of what gave them their miserable lives. We know for a fact that what chiefly motivates both Elidibus and Emet-selch is restoring the world that they love, and the weight and pain that came with this task has left them hollow, affecting all the Unsundered in different ways. I mean look at the contrast of Emet-selch, who was appalled at his future self's actions, because he hadn't lived those lonely years yet. Elidibus's views at that point are a foregone conclusion, yes, but I think it is another thing entirely if we look at how he acted before the Sundering. When Hydaelyn did what she did, Zodiark became their only option, so of course he would believe as such now.

Do I trust the Ascian Elidibus to make an unbiased judgement? No, but I trust the Convocation member Elidibus to do so.

[Absimiliard]

Even calling Elidibus an Ascian is a bit of a stretch if you think about it. Unlike Emet-Selch and Lahabrea, Elidibus was already "used up" back in his own era. There was no more Elidibus the instant Zodiark was born. The entity that emerged wore his face and carried his desire to help his people, but that appears to have been the extent of it. Following this line of thought, I'm inclined to agree with the idea of "Elidibus" being incapable of (or at least limited in his capacity for) impartiality. Even if we table tempering (which at this point we know did very little to diminish the Ancients' ability to make their own choices anyway), that still leaves the reason he emerged: quelling the unrest. The majority of the Ancient survivors wanted the third sacrifice. Whether or not "Elidibus" was separated from Zodiark by their combined desires or chose to pull himself out in response to their plight is largely moot.

[Lauront]

But we know his soul persists even after his defeat as the WoL, so much so he's capable of giving an account of his motives (which was to help the Convocation, itself divided, and his people through reconciliation), survive Zodiark's destruction and also to be used to power the act of the time travel. Had Zodiark simply created some manner of simulacrum, I could agree, but all the foregoing renders such a position untenable, IMO.

[SpectrePhantasia]

But we know his soul persists even after his defeat as the WoL, so much so he's capable of giving an account of his motives, survive Zodiark's destruction and also to be used to power the act of the time travel. Had Zodiark simply created some manner of simulacrum, I can agree, but all the foregoing renders such a position untenable, IMO.

This. I don't think there is enough evidence at all suggest that the Elidibus we know is just some prayer-born facsimile of him. His primal-like nature didn't replace his Ascian soul, which still needed auracite (or something akin to it, in the Crystal Tower) to kill him. In all respects, it still seems to be him.

[KizuyaKatogami]

But we know his soul persists even after his defeat as the WoL, so much so he's capable of giving an account of his motives (which was to help the Convocation, itself divided, and his people through reconciliation), survive Zodiark's destruction and also to be used to power the act of the time travel. Had Zodiark simply created some manner of simulacrum, I could agree, but all the foregoing renders such a position untenable, IMO.

It doesn’t make sense especially if you bring Venat into account, who is essentially the exact same as him. She was still her own person.

[Absimiliard]

The original's soul being present, which I don't disagree with being the case, does not detract from both the game and side-stories clearly telling us he no longer really knows who he is. As it stands, the fact he could regain his memories after being defeated means there had to be at least some of the original in there. One cannot suddenly recall things they never knew to begin with. The original Elidibius -- as well as primal Elidibius with memories restored -- strike me as perfectly capable of impartiality. I'm even inclined to believe primal Elidibus wasn't completely incapable of it when he first appeared, elsewise he'd have had zero ability to perform his function. Post-sundering, pre-recollection Elidibus is undeniably incapable of it, however.

The presence of the soul also does not mean the primal truly is Elidibus. Even acknowledging the above, I still adhere to my prior assertion regarding the actual Elidibus no longer being a thing after Zodiark's creation. Much like how Hydaelyn, despite possessing the soul and memories of Venat, isn't truly Venat anymore.

[Skyborne]

With the Moon segment where we talk to the lamenting souls, along with the Q&A basically confirming that all those souls were whole (like Hythlo's) and unused due to the method of his summoning, I don't really buy that 'Elidibus wasn't actually Elidibus' theory; all we have in support of that is Y'shtola's ponderings. Speaking of which, if not using up the souls, what exactly was powering Zodiark all this time that he could block Twitter for 12,000 years while ripped apart? His actual corporeal form? Fervent prayers?

...

... aka MUH DYNAMIS?

Anyway, seems we're stuck in the lore time loop again.

[Absimiliard]

Ridiculous amounts of aether. Those souls are incredibly dense in aether, and a significant number of Ancients were sacrificed in Zodiark's creation. Hydaelyn was created using a considerably smaller number of Ancient in a process we're told would completely consume their souls. Whether this is due to the creation ritual for Hydaelyn differing from Zodiark's somehow or simply due to having so few sacrifices, I don't know.

[Lauront]

I think we're getting caught up in knots here over things that don't really matter one way or another, in all honesty, because what Kizuya and some others (myself included) would have liked to see depicted is the conflict described in SHB play out, as well as the sundering itself, as opposed to arguments with (understandably) grouchy ancient nobodies. While I maintain that there is nothing to suggest Elidibus, be it at that point in time or once cleansed of his tempering many millennia later, could not fulfil that role, it is but one way to do it.