Going to split this between three posts because it's too long.

I feel like Zoraal Ja had a lot of potential that was ultimately squandered, but Wuk Lamat's treatment of him in particular actively made me despise her as a character even more than babysitting her.

Not once does this supposed family ever give a single damn about him or his wellbeing. The scene with Otis where Wuk Lamat tries to talk to his kid about "family" and what "family does" was almost my breaking point when it comes to skipping story cutscenes. She doesn't know half a shit about what "family" actually is, and neither her nor Koana are worthy of the throne. Not even Gulool Ja Ja was at this point.

But Wuk Lamat's the one who's shoved into your face and the game wants you to desperately like because she's so kind and empathetic and wants to understand others, and the result of this is that her entire character completely falls apart. I'm expected to believe in and root for a character who champions peace and understanding and goes out of her way to interact with people who dislike her like the Mamool Ja in Yak T'el because they're her people, but she can't spare even a single moment to try and reach out to her eldest brother, nor does she nor any of her family care about the fact that he's gone missing after being at what is obvious to anyone the lowest point in his life? Try being a decent family member before you try being some protector and sage of the people first.

You'll take the time to try and get along with the Mamool Ja going out of their way to avoid interaction with you (because you need information to win the contest) but won't even spare a single thought towards your brother? It paints both her and Koana in an incredibly hypocritical light, least of all the fact that they show active care for each other, their father shows consistent care for them, but all three of them make no attempt to ever reach out to Zoraal Ja -- no concern he's missing after he lost, no questioning why he'd snap and attack an elector which would ruin his chances without question, none of it. Fuck Zoraal Ja. He's not your damn family, and you've more than shown that.

And then when he becomes an actual genocidal tyrant, you have the gall to try and tell his kid that you're family, this is what family does, but you have to kill him? It just comes off as a shallow lie in order to avoid any actual guilt towards failing to do for your own family what you could apparently do so easily for literally everyone else. But I'm supposed to cheer her on because she's so cool and kind! Let alone the fact that she is genuinely a Mary Sue -- she should not have solo'd Bakool Ja Ja and his entire group of goons, straight up. Forcing me to play her just rubbed salt in the wound.

Anyway, enough about the worst FF main character in series history including spin-off material, and back to the squandered potential of Zoraal Ja.