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

[Theodric]

Well, this is awkward:

The game contradicts itself with greater frequency these days which is frustrating as a former lore enthusiast. I know many players who were interested in the game's story who compiled various sources from the game itself and other relevant media (lore books, interviews, etc) so it is rather strange that there's so many mistakes, retcons and localisation errors of late.

[MikkoAkure]

Well, this is awkward

I don't get how this is difficult to understand.

Hydaelyn's summoning contrasts against Zodiark's because he kept the souls of those sacrificed intact. As we know, Hydaelyn did not. Eulogia says "fragments of our former souls", which if my understanding of English is correct doesn't mean a whole soul.

We already knew before this patch that The Watcher had vague memories from his other life and that two Ancients in Elpis were likely Althyk and Nymeia because the latter has the exact same line in Elpis and in the raids (confirmed at the end, and something Venat could not possibly have known to be able to repeat). So we had a reasonable suspicion that the gods were based on Venat's supporters.

It wasn't a great leap of logic even back then to suggest that The Twelve plus One were created from bits of remaining fragmented soul as the cores of the creation magic used to bring them to "life" and grant them a semblance of personality of their former selves. They're still mostly just advanced programming other than that. It doesn't contradict anything.

[Theodric]

I don't get how this is difficult to understand.

It's rather weird for fragments to remain after being told that their souls were burned up, especially when multiple sources state as much. Including a story written from Venat's own perspective which is the image you responded to being quoted.

Then there's the following question from the post Endwalker story clarification Q&A as quoted below:

Q: Venat said that not even her soul would remain, but what does that mean? I’m really fond of her character and want to see her again.

A: Souls are also made of aether, and she had used so much aether that even her soul was gone. Zodiark absorbed those who were sacrificed and was still able to maintain their souls within, whereas Hydaelyn did not have the leeway to preserve the souls of the summoners, including that of Venat herself. This difference was because Venat’s group was a very small minority compared to the group that had summoned Zodiark based on the Convocation’s decision. Venat’s soul, which was the last to remain, was used up in the trial against the Warrior of Light and their allies.

[aveyond-dreams]

It's rather weird for fragments to remain after being told that their souls were burned up, especially when multiple sources state as much. Including a story written from Venat's own perspective which is the image you responded to being quoted.

Then there's the following question from the post Endwalker story clarification Q&A as quoted below:

It literally feels like when writing Myths that previous lore was entirely disregarded or actively rewritten in order to fit whatever they were going for. Doesn't surprise me that they started with making the pantheon of the 12 even more bland by erasing their rivalries and relationships and now we come to the point where their souls weren't actually fully consumed.

They just did whatever they wanted and it's pretty obvious.

[Turtledeluxe]

It's rather weird for fragments to remain after being told that their souls were burned up, especially when multiple sources state as much. Including a story written from Venat's own perspective which is the image you responded to being quoted.

Then there's the following question from the post Endwalker story clarification Q&A as quoted below:

That's not exactly a contradiction. The Twelve weren't saved per say. Those aren't the Twelve's original bodies.

What I'm saying is why aren't they allowed to be remade into primal form like Venat...since that's clearly what happened? You aren't fighting their original bodies, but a primal made from their essence.

[Theodric]

That's not exactly a contradiction. The Twelve weren't saved per say. Those aren't the Twelve's original bodies.

What I'm saying is why aren't they allowed to be remade into primal form like Venat...since that's clearly what happened? You aren't fighting their original bodies, but a primal made from their essence.

I'm not referring to their bodies, I'm referring to the line of text from 6.5 which is about soul fragments after it was previously mentioned in various other sources that nothing would remain of their souls.

People certainly keep acting as if Shb is the best rpg story ever told. And thats what sickens me

Sure, though I can safely state that pretty much everyone I know who is critical of Endwalker is also critical of various elements of Shadowbringers. Particularly where rushed and scrapped story beats are concerned.

Most of the people saying that Shadowbringers is the best story ever are now saying that Endwalker is the best story ever...and I imagine Dawntrail will be given similar treatment when that's out, too.