Quote Originally Posted by Cleretic View Post
Frankly, I don't think they need it.
I'm sorry, but there's no real way to replace the line, "It's right here. A bit thin in the aether, but there's no mistaking it -- the color of its soul is almost identical to Azem's."

The entire reason he stops at all is because it's a soul almost identical to someone he knows. Either way, we're getting on the bus because of a personal ancient acquaintance. A friendship no matter how you slice it with someone important.

Even if that were the first instance of our Ancient identity coming to bear, as in if Hyth said something like, "It's almost identical to my friend Rando Ancient #42." Then we'd start learning about Randy #42, wondering about them, and wondering why they weren't on the Convocation or in some other important office etc.

I also don't think your take on Emet's personal motives really holds well, either. If he cared that much about any old soul, then why wouldn't he want to raise as many of them as possible as soon as possible to being lesser Ascians? Imo, you are underestimating/devaluing the idea of personal connection too much. Yet, even if he did, do you imagine yourself liking the set piece any more than you already don't? The intangible Elpis scene would then play out with Hades wanting to stop and be kind to a stranger, over Hyth wanting that.

It's kind of what others have already said on page 1. They chose to go with what would likely be a popular hook, since ties to the Ancients' world were gonna happen even without it. And they also chose to go with that hook being for character motivation outside the player's. It's the plot device they chose to use.

It's kind of like asking, "Why did you decide to play that piece of music on a flute? You know, it would sound a bit better played on a clarinet."