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

[Lauront]

I posted a personal headcanon on the lore forum that, without Hydaelyn, the sundering will eventually correct itself. Much to my surprise, there's evidence to support this?



This is potentially promising and probably the most hopeful I've been since the end of EW. Short of an AU, I love the idea that everything will 'right' itself eventually. I might even be able to find some forgiveness in my heart if this whole sundering mess turns out to be a blip in the history of Etheirys.

Hmmm I've not done those. I might go read up the lore on them later since I'm stuck at low levels on FSH and that isn't apt to change soon. Oda has referred to the state of the shards as unstable in the past - I wonder if this is what he means (and also in part what Lahabrea was getting at in the Praetorium), along with the fact that they'd perish without the Source. Still, I could see that rectification becoming something to 'stop', sadly. Unless it were to take place over a long time frame...

I doubt this because Emet-Selch challenged the player character with exploring the other reflections and seeing the civilizations there which "may surprise [us]". Thinking of this from an IRL standpoint, merging the reflections back would drastically hinder the amount of content they could create and sell to their customers.

For that reason, while it's certainly not impossible, (especially if we get another ARR-style reboot), I don't see it as probable.

Yes, had they not destroyed a number of stars in pushing the plotline they did, that may have been less of an issue. Now they've pretty much just got the reflections and maybe more distant stars.

[Skyborne]

Hmmm I've not done those. I might go read up the lore on them later since I'm stuck at low levels on FSH and that isn't apt to change soon. Oda has referred to the state of the shards as unstable in the past - I wonder if this is what he means (and also in part what Lahabrea was getting at in the Praetorium.) Still, I could see that rectification becoming something to 'stop', sadly. Unless it were to take place over a long time frame...

Yes, in the FSH studium quests we help a catboy with his thesis and while doing so find out large amounts of fish and other sea life were washed up/lost due to their senses being disoriented from the huge influx of aether. We then casually drop by into the past to wave to all the people who will soon die in a terrible fiery disaster that we can't and won't do anything about, then fish up something to compare. Catboy then comes to the conclusion that aether levels are going back to the way they were before Zodiark. Of course, I don't recall them mentioning the shards...

That said, we can only hope they do eventually collapse back into the Source. Better work on that shardhopping so we can evacuate those inhabitants, eh, Shtola?