Thread: [spoilers]3.2 MSQ Discussion/Reaction thread

Originally Posted by Fenral

Which means perhaps there was a way all along for Rejoining to take place without the massive death toll that resets humanity.

Maybe, but I'm not sure what it would then take.

According to WOTM, "Across ten and three were we then divided. Reflections of the Source, each possessed of a shard. They seek to tear down the barriers which surround the Source. Thus do they rejoice in their Ardor - in your calamities - for each marks a Rejoining."

Assuming their goal of bringing Zodiark and Hydaelyn back together remains the same, how would one get through barriers without breaking them, or without causing massive destruction, death, and chaos first?

Then again...we've done exactly that, in a couple different ways. We made it through Garuda's winds by creating a counter, and again at Azys Lla by creating essentially a spear to break a hole. Now while the second could be considered to be a small scale version of the Calamities (event happens, triggers collapse of the entire thing as a result)...this almost certain a crack pot theory, but what if a certain someone plans to use us as the benign counter that can pass through the barrier without destroying it, thus getting to what is inside?

Originally Posted by Riardon

In the end it left me with a bitter taste.

For me it made the bitter taste go away. Up until now, we never questioned the "cost," even when it seemingly came out of nowhere and didn't actually buy anything. "We" always told ourselves it was "the only way," even at times when it very clearly wasn't. I'm really glad someone besides me has decided to call BS, because (as a silent protagonist) I was never going to be able to on my own.

I was totally on edge during the ceremony with Vidofnir and Aymeric, like, "things are running smoothly, too smoothly..." and after the shrill of our favorite possessed dude... there it was, the party-crasher and someone brought to the edge of death.

Honestly speaking, the grand melee was quite fun, I can see it as a mini game to play anytime in the future, but I thought it was a huge waste of time to the main story. I might have to look back on it again, but I didn't quite catch the importance of the grand melee within the midst of the return of conquest-over-the-dragons that lass stirred.

Do we know what actually happened to Val? Much like Doma it was destroyed off screen and details are few and far between. That Krile alone survived is...dubious. The Scions claim to have lost much but in reality they're very lucky - which makes their push towards extremism rather unsettling. Aymeric's motivation for the 'unity' of Ishgard is questionable as well. If war against Garlemald breaks out he'll be throwing Ishgardian lives away in the name of 'Ishgardian glory' purely to stop his people from rising up to question the status quo. The poor are still downtrodden. The nobility are still calling the shots. It makes me wonder why Hilda is so keen to work alongside him given that the people of the Brume are still starving and freezing to death whilst the luckier Ishgardians continue on as normal.

Hydaelyn may not be all good. She IS Mother but where there is life there is death and where there is light there is darkness. That is why the crystals were once one.

I am wondering if the Ascians are attempting a Rejoining because they think it will create balance where there currently is none. They may not be all evil in their ultimate agenda. I mean Mr. Laughing-Bad (Lahabrea) was clearly evil and loved it, I respect him for that, but Elidibus seems willing to actually engage people in real conversations. He strikes me as someone who knows a whole lot about what's actually happening behind the curtain.

Which may be why Urianger is willing to listen to him

I think the Scions as a whole are going to become much darker. Thancred and Y'shtola seem to be heading in that direction and we can safely assume that Yda will be too if she's throwing her lot in with the Ala Mhigan Resistance. Alphinaud appears to be the voice of reason - and I suspect that Krile may side with him. I'm worried for Krile since she also possessed the Echo. Will she, too, be expected to sacrifice herself? I have to wonder if Hydaelyn pushed Ysayle in that direction. Imagine how twisted it would be if she exploited Ysayle's guilt as a means of encouraging her to sacrifice herself?

I think the main thing that bothers me, after some thought, is how Hydaelyn called Minfilia back into Flow and spirited her away to the Astral Aetherial Sea, knowing she had nothing she could do there but sacrifice herself or listen to whatever Hydaelyn had to say. That's... extremely shady. Yet everyone looks at it as if Minfilia sacrificed herself of her own will... stuck in the Aetherial Sea, what else could she do...?

... we did not fail Minfilia. Thancred did not fail her. Even Teledji's slimy ass did not cause this. This is Hydaelyn's direct fault. She is the only one responsible, and she is the only one that should be held accountable. Would that we had the opportunity to call her out on it...

...

We may never get Minfilia back. In that case... well, I'm already fighting for selfish wishes, and am glad to see Alphinaud is finally starting to be more genuine in that regard. No more accepting sacrifices as necessary. We will look for a better way. Even if we have to fight and kill, and perhaps die, we will not accept killing and dying as the only solutions. If we just had the opportunity to talk... if we knew the whole truth... and made a decision...

Well, at least the Vath have not lost any of their endearing naivete and curiosity. They started their own Aventurers' Guild!