Who knew the 6.15 Omega Quests… (Spoilers)

[EaraGrace]

If we're interpreting Hythlodaeus himself describing their situation as a "purgatory," and a people whose culture puts a premium on their connection to the star and returning to it in death, being cut off from the cycle of the star not therefore equating to "a fate worse than death" might also have to go into the "that is incomprehensibly mind-boggling to me but I mean uh if you say so" category.

The souls in Zodiark returned to the star as part of their “cycle.” Unlike the ones who gave themselves to Hydaelyn, a consequence they were forced to accept due to the actions of Amaurotine society.

But the constant citation of "Hythlodaeus seemed ok" is... extremely Something. Meanwhile, the other souls are known as "Anguished Spirit," "Forlorn Spirit," and other such cheerful monikers in this zone literally named "The Sea of Sorrow."

Yes the “hazy fog” they were in was certainly terrible. You seem to desperately want to strawman into the position that I believe that being in Zodiark was some sort of party, it wasn’t. But it also wasn’t “hell.” If it was as terrible as you say, then why did they say:



Kind of an odd statement if you were in unending torment.

Uh, yeah, definitely seems perfectly all right to me! But yes, Hythlodaeus, a remarkable individual, is relatively coherent. So if I find one person who seems relatively okay in objectively terrible conditions, it means everyone involved is definitely okay in those same conditions, right? We don't have to worry about any of them! (This is not how that works, for what it's worth.)

Am I in a cornfield because I see nothing but strawmen. But sure, let’s play this out. If I went to hell do you think I’d find anyone who’s doing alright? I doubt even the most exceptional of people would be ok with things.

Yeah, I'd say that's what "the planet was completely dead to the point that nature did not function and the wind ceased to blow" would indicate. You do remember how even a mostly-forestalled Calamity like Bahamut caused massive corruption in massive amounts of aether, right?

As people have indicated, it only makes sense that if the Ancients had alternatives to sacrificing their loved ones, they would have done it - and their actions and intentions follow coherently from that. Finding an alternative was what they were planning to do when they had breathing room with the world not literally ending around them, and they could harness other resources. Venat's actions, however, were fundamentally driven by an ideology of "let there be no turning back" and a primary concern with the actions and mindset of the sacrificers, so the precise content of the sacrifices used as the means to do so aren't necessarily as relevant to her.

Dynamis doesn’t corrupt aether, it smothers it. They are anathema to one another. And even a corrupted crystal can be used, as they’re just overaspected.

And they are relevant. If her last attempt to convince them that they need to accept suffering is not actually a dilemma, and is instead a simple question of logistics, then the whole premise falls apart (how convenient for those who dislike her). Not to mention the whole conflict becomes nonsense. Why didn’t Elidibus suggest using non-sentient aether when he came to “mediate.” After all, by that point life would be flourishing in all forms. I’m sure they could gradually sacrifice some trees here and there and avoid the conflict? Pretty odd that wasn’t brought up, like, anywhere no?