Dawntrail's MSQ story is a disaster and waste of potential. [full spoilers]

[Yuella]

A mature story would have had the Reed-eaters reveal that they had a stockpile, most of this was BS, and they wanted to see how the candidates handled it. Koana's solution, and Wuk's solution, are both valid.

Koana addressed the immediate, objective problem. What he missed was that the festival isn't just about the reeds, but about the communal traditions, the unity the festivities bring about. It's half about the food, half about the people who eat it.

Wuk would have been commended for finding the right solution, but chided for her immediate focus on 'We need to make them smile!'. She was focusing on the emotional reaction and not the reason for it. Sure, she was later *told* it was a magical focus, but she didn't draw the connection herself.

The challenge proctor reflecting that between the two of them they'd make 'One fine Dawnservant' would even be foreshadowing that they end up ruling together, forming the two halves of the whole that's required.

But, like you said, the story was almost written for someone who has one braincell pinging around like the DVD screen saver. G'raha's moment was when it hit a corner.

Which is the point of the story. None of them is good enough individually to be Dawnservant. Both Wuk Lamat and Koana realized this at the end of the contest and Wuk Lamat invited Koana to be co-dawn servant.

[Midare]

Which is the point of the story. None of them is good enough individually to be Dawnservant. Both Wuk Lamat and Koana realized this at the end of the contest and Wuk Lamat invited Koana to be co-dawn servant.

One of them quit the feat because of "muh sister" and the other told the starving birds the equivalent of "have you tried dancing, lmao?"

Admittedly... as someone who lives in south america, this feels accurate to how governments work here.

[BigBoom550]

One of them quit the feat because of "muh sister" and the other told the starving birds the equivalent of "have you tried dancing, lmao?"

Admittedly... as someone who lives in south america, this feels accurate to how governments work here.

I was going to say...

Wuk's lack of technical or analytical skill never really bit her in the challenge. Koana had the development to realize that yeah, he wasn't the most emotionally available person. Wuk didn't. It makes it really come across as pity.

Plus like... asking Koana literally during the coronation? Was she even sure he was going to be there? She talks about empathy, tells him she's going to ask the PC to stay and be part of her administration, but doesn't bother to try and tell him 'listen, you're important too'? She doesn't think that might come across a bit... insulting?

[Striker44]

Plus like... asking Koana literally during the coronation? Was she even sure he was going to be there? She talks about empathy, tells him she's going to ask the PC to stay and be part of her administration, but doesn't bother to try and tell him 'listen, you're important too'? She doesn't think that might come across a bit... insulting?

Well, yeah, I'd say she could be confident Koana was definitely going to be there during the coronation. I had the same thought of "wait, you didn't clear this with him beforehand?" but I could definitely see someone of her age and maturity thinking it would be an "awesome surprise" thing to do rather than insulting.

She didn't really learn anything. She's the same dumb character she was in the post EW msq.

This I'd have to disagree with completely. She learns a ton of things during the MSQ. Aside from the literal lore she learns about the various cultures in Tural (whereas she previously only interacted with those who had moved to Tuliyollal), she learns a lot about herself. Much of it is even made straight-up explicit, such as her out-loud monologue about realizing there are people she can trust and doesn't have to put on the act of false bravado in front of, or the scene at the top of Warqor Lar Dor where she realizes the empathy she has is one of the three main characteristics that made Gulool Ja Ja an effective ruler and that she does in fact have something important to bring to the table.

One of them quit the feat because of "muh sister" and the other told the starving birds the equivalent of "have you tried dancing, lmao?"

Koana bowed out of the contest because he came to believe that Wuq Lumat would be the "best" one to become Dawnservant, and completing the feat at all was going to require a combined effort.

Which is the point of the story. None of them is good enough individually to be Dawnservant. Both Wuk Lamat and Koana realized this at the end of the contest and Wuk Lamat invited Koana to be co-dawn servant.

Exactly. I wonder if it gets "lost" on us sometimes that Gulool Ja Ja is actually two separate people, just in one body (think Siamese twins). Tuliyollal always had two rulers, one focused on the physical aspects of the job, one the thinker. It just so happened that the two rulers shared a single physical body in Gulool Ja Ja. Wuk Lumat and Koana both come to realize that they, like their adoptive father, bring the two different sides of the same proverbial coin.

[Coratanni]

Which is the point of the story. None of them is good enough individually to be Dawnservant. Both Wuk Lamat and Koana realized this at the end of the contest and Wuk Lamat invited Koana to be co-dawn servant.

The problem though, is Wuk Lamat's solutions worked due to plot convenience from the writers because heaven forbid she failed. She didn't really learn anything. She's the same dumb character she was in the post EW msq.

[Kasasagi]

The problem though, is Wuk Lamat's solutions worked due to plot convenience from the writers because heaven forbid she failed. She didn't really learn anything. She's the same dumb character she was in the post EW msq.

Sorry but she does learn. Just pay attantion to wat is said and read all.