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

[Theodric]

It's hilarious to me how Venat ends up looking worse as time goes on and new lore emerges. Not only is it confirmed that she was well respected enough for people to listen to her, we once again see an example of the Ancients showing each other key memories. This happens multiple times during Pandaemonium through different methods.

Granted, I doubt the writers thought to connect the dots but there's no reason for the game not to call her out when the Sundering was very much something she clearly intended to do no matter what and the Ancients were the unwilling sacrifice in that quest. In any other story, or if her target happened to be the protagonists, she'd be considered an unforgivable villain. I don't know why the game is trying so desperately to pretend otherwise.

[Iyrnthota]

It's hilarious to me how Venat ends up looking worse as time goes on and new lore emerges. Not only is it confirmed that she was well respected enough for people to listen to her, we once again see an example of the Ancients showing each other key memories. This happens multiple times during Pandaemonium through different methods.

Granted, I doubt the writers thought to connect the dots but there's no reason for the game not to call her out when the Sundering was very much something she clearly intended to do no matter what and the Ancients were the unwilling sacrifice in that quest. In any other story, or if her target happened to be the protagonists, she'd be considered an unforgivable villain. I don't know why the game is trying so desperately to pretend otherwise.

Is it? Maybe it's me picking up stuff that isn't there, but if there's one fatal flaw I've picked up from the Ancients, it's that they're arrogant. Venat is no exception.
Just as they believe that they know what is best for the star, so does she.

Again, perhaps it's just me, but the impression I've picked up so far is that she was well meaning but ultimately fell into the same trap as her contemporaries, believing that she knew best, and blinding herself to alternatives.
Almost certainly not helped by "knowing" what she did in the past, which may have, perhaps unintentionally, further convinced her that she was on the right path.

She does at least appear to have remorse for her actions taken, per the post trial dialogue:
"'Twas the trial to which I subjected mankind, and it hath led to untold blooshed and suffering. There was no kindness nor justice in teh tragedy I wrought"

[Teraq]

It's hilarious to me how Venat ends up looking worse as time goes on and new lore emerges. Not only is it confirmed that she was well respected enough for people to listen to her, we once again see an example of the Ancients showing each other key memories. This happens multiple times during Pandaemonium through different methods.

Same brain cell. I've only played the only interesting part of the patch yet, Pandaemonium, but I found it pretty hilarious. Elidibus respected her and would have obviously taken her very seriously. Lahabrea dissed her (lmao slay, king), but his willingness to concede that our method of tackling Pandaemonium works would imply to me he would be willing to take his former colleague seriously as well. And the two instances of outright showing memories... Hahahahahaa. YUP. She could have shown anyone everything. As we guessed.

Oh, and Elidibus hearing about Venat hanging out with a strange being in Elpis... he might have learned this from the employees of Elpis. You know... All these people who saw her and you walk into Ktisis and not come out the same way. Once again, that this incident was seemingly NEVER investigated properly is a massive plot hole, and Elidibus also being aware of it makes it all the more egregious.

Then of course we have Pandaemonium showing us two literal world leaders explicitly renouncing "playing god".

Everyone liked that.

Also, Athena is my new queen. An Ancient woman being portrayed as an outright villain and flaunting it like the narc she is? How refreshingly honest! If only all narcissistic Ancient women could be like this.......

Same. I actually need this to be able to continue with this game full stop. If Pandaemonium ends being just another way to say "And then the Ancients had to die because muh hubris, muh arrogance, muh scariness" then I am officially the hell out of here. I played the patch and while the MSQ did nothing for me, personally, Panda was incredible. It actually gave me a modicum of hope again. And maybe I'm a fool for having that hope, but it is feeling like a hopeful story and I can't help having the desire for there to be an ending for the Ancients that isn't wholly bad because Reasons.

And as for that short story? Way to go writers! Thank you for confirming that Venat kept the truth of the Final Days to herself (as most of us have been saying for months). The unashamed groveling at her feet done by the Watcher was honestly ridiculous to read but, still, bravo! Someone has infiltrated that team and is making sure that we know Venat is a self-centered megalomaniac one small step at a time!

Also, I know I wasn't the only one dying of laughter as Panda showed us, once again, how very simple it was for the Ancients to share memories. What a plot hole. What a story.

Same brain cell as well, just like the army of Theodric alts we actually are.

Count me in the club of people who hope more than ever that Pandaemonium ends up as an AU.

Let me tell my precious babyfaced short king everything so he can be mankind's hero and its final hope.

--

As for the short story, it doesn't say much that we didn't already know. Only three sacrifices ever implied to be planned. Seeds of new life being sacrificed, again implying the wildlife sown by Zodiark to repopulate the planet. Here Lies GigaSimpeus Of Anyder – He Never Scored.

What it does do is retcon the 5.2 Anamnesis dialogue to include the new canon of her slurping up their souls and clarify, hilariously again, that she kept even her most loyal follower in the dark. So much for doing her best to prevent the horrible event we plainly told her would happen. But you gotta keep Hermes's not-at-all-spite-driven test totally fair, right? Thank you, queen. Very sane. Wholesome!

[Brinne]

Also, Athena is my new queen. An Ancient woman being portrayed as an outright villain and flaunting it like the narc she is? How refreshingly honest!

ATHENA APPRECIATOR HIGH FIVE. I might be kind of in love with her and it's a little concerning actually

[SentioftheHoukai]

ATHENA APPRECIATOR HIGH FIVE. I might be kind of in love with her and it's a little concerning actually

Nah, nothing concerning at all about that.



I love me a woman who will actually just kill me.

Besides, you've seen Athena but have you seen her husband?



I will SIMP for this man 'till the day I die.

Unapologetic, unashamed, unrepentant and unafeared.

[redheadturk]

Nah, nothing concerning at all about that.



I love me a woman who will actually just kill me.

Besides, you've seen Athena but have you seen her husband?



I will SIMP for this man 'till the day I die.

Unapologetic, unashamed, unrepentant and unafeared.

That man makes my lady bits tingle, and I am not ashamed to admit it. I love cool, calm, collected men. I mean, considering Elidibus, Gaius, Lahabrea. . .can you tell I have a type? lmao.

[Lauront]

Also, Athena is my new queen. An Ancient woman being portrayed as an outright villain and flaunting it like the narc she is? How refreshingly honest! If only all narcissistic Ancient women could be like this.......

Venat, without the "SHE LOVES YOU" shaming for not accepting her gift of sundering.