I don't think that you can unironically use words like 'superior' and 'inferior' in reference to other human beings. This is one of those things that is by its nature not objective or mathematical. While you can be proud of your strengths, they don't make you intrinsically 'superior' to another human being.
I'm of a similar view. That's not to say that Azem couldn't have absorbed their share of Amaurotine values from the likes of Emet and Elidibus over time. But as a non-conformist who was censured at least twice by the Convocation (to the point that the Convocation refused to preserve the memories of Azem's post for future generations), it seems that growing up as an outsider and a misfit in Amaurotine social circles would line up very naturally with that origin story. At the very least, the less definitive constraints that are placed on Azem's story, the more freedom players have to construct their own player character's stories in relation to their progenitor's spirit.
On a related note, I'd really like to see that same clash of values between 'Order' and 'Chaos' be encapsulated in Summoning magic. It strikes me as really strange that Summoning in this story has been dismissed as an inferior substitute for Creation magic, especially when the former is easily one of the most iconic and recognizable spell casting techniques across the 35-year franchise. It really deserves better. I would love to see a FFXIV society that gets Summoning 'right' - a village of summoners who use a combination of spiritual faith and forming bonds with their summons to in order live in harmony alongside them, perhaps in the vein of FFIV's Mist or FFIX's Madain Sari. I think there are plenty of opportunities to explore what Summoning really entails if we head south to Meracydia, given what we know of their historical war with Allag. Bonus points if they trace their lineage to one of those foreign nations observed by Amaurot from 'across the pond'.



Reply With Quote

