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

[Lauront]

Here's my dumb "theory": the Twelve are just toy puppet-constructs made by Hydaelyn based off the memories of the 12 who became her magical skinsuit in order to teach the cavemen sundered how to human. They were placed back into their toybox soon after, but something went wrong and they are awake, I guess. There will probably be nothing about the Convocation's early attempts to work with humanity, as Emet said in 5.0. The 'epilogue of the Hydaelyn and Hydaelyn and Hydaelyn and also guest starring Zodiark from Devil May Cry I guess saga' part has me pessismistic, though I'm sure I will be wrong and I will consume my shortpants.

Anyway, while Nald'Thal's design looks super cool and I love how the god of crafting's halo is made of nails, I'm not a fan of the idea of just running through a gauntlet of the Eorzean pantheon that has been in the background of the lore for a decade and casually just slaughtering them one-by-one before heading back home for burgers and coffee.

I'm still clinging to my headcanon that they're an approximation of the Convocation surviving in mortal memory, until it gets proven wrong. I had thought that the way the 1UE is described could potentially fit the Convocation trying to measure man, and it'd fit as well if they were gradually "ascended" into their roles to mirror the gradual emergence of the gods, but not sure if that's more "wow I didn't know people noticed all that..."

Nald'thal's statues at least looked like they resembled Hades's transformed form and the deity shared some aspects with him, and Azeyma is reminiscent of Venat seeing as she used fans as a DPS, so we'll see if anything comes of it. But I could see your theory panning out as well.

[PawPaw]

I'm still clinging to my headcanon that they're an approximation of the Convocation surviving in mortal memory, until it gets proven wrong. I had thought that the way the 1UE is described could potentially fit the Convocation trying to measure man, and it'd fit as well if they were gradually "ascended" into their roles to mirror the gradual emergence of the gods, but not sure if that's more "wow I didn't know people noticed all that..."

Nald'thal's statues at least looked like they resembled Hades's transformed form and the deity shared some aspects with him, and Azeyma is reminiscent of Venat seeing as she used fans as a DPS, so we'll see if anything comes of it. But I could see your theory panning out as well.

Azeyma has been my character's deity since her first day of life but if Azeyma turns out to be some venerated version of Venat, then it's off to the Fantasia store I go. Immediately.

[Brinne]

I'm still clinging to my headcanon that they're an approximation of the Convocation surviving in mortal memory, until it gets proven wrong. I had thought that the way the 1UE is described could potentially fit the Convocation trying to measure man, and it'd fit as well if they were gradually "ascended" into their roles to mirror the gradual emergence of the gods, but not sure if that's more "wow I didn't know people noticed all that..."

We still have time to throw in a callback to "Venat is a heretic!" from FFXII! Don't give up! Hold onto hope! Ohhh, hope, finding hope!

In the end, I was just disappointed that you couldn't tell Venat, "No. What you're saying sounds like a terrible idea. I don't care if Fandaniel played a crucial role in forestalling the Final Days on my timeline. In this timeline, you have a chance to do something about it. Tell the damn Convocation.

"As a friend of mine once said, 'This tragedy, greater than even the Seventh Umbral Calamity, must be undone. If history must be unwritten, let it be unwritten.'"

Sorry to drone on and on, but my brain also pinged when reading this part of your post, but apparently could only handle processing one topic at a time.

Ahahaha, that quote. Between that one and the one someone posted early about Alphinaud protesting the Rejoining because it would erase "their culture, their history", the googly eyes are real. Was it meant to be a Chrono series reference, though? Dare I hope we may take on Lavos and/or Schala after all?

The part where Venat kicks you out is so weird, though. After giving you a fliimsy reason about why you shouldn't immeditely run to Emet-Selch and tell him exactly what just happened, she gives you this long speech after getting you on board about how, just like you, she'll try hard and hey, who knows what will happen (where, reading between the lines carefully, you can tell she's already made up her mind to let Hermes's test play out) and also whoa look I bet your time travel juice is running out you better leave now! Right now.

It goes without saying at this point that of course the intent wasn't to have anything malicious about Venat basically saying "Yeah, uh, I'll try hard too. Just like you! Anyway leave. NOW." But in context of everything else, again, in the text as it exists now, uh, hm. Hm.