Is Zodiark evil?

[Aurelius2625]

I wish that in a way, we could have done something akin to the Warrior of Darkness serving Zodiark from the beginning of the game, kind of like the Horde/Alliance thing in WoW but better. Where if we picked Zodiark as our patron deity, we'd side with the Garleans during the story, they could have still made it end up in favor of how it did, having some victories for Hydalyn, like the thrashing of Gaius, but some in favor of Zodiark like the Garleans taking over Ala Mhigo and Doma.

[uvuvwevwevweonyetenyevweugwemu]

This is my take on the story. In a battle of resources, a story can be dumbed down enough to not have the obvious solution(:share). XIV's about battle for ideology of both systems of existence, Order and Chaos. Warrior of Darkness does not serve Zodiark. Arbert from the WoD story use Crystal of Light and quite frustated when Hydaelin didn't response (because she really doesn't know how to work Darkness from Light, that is the primary purpose for WoL/WoDs). The only way to serve Zodiark (using the Crystal of Darkness) is to be Ascian.

First things first, if it's about who should be on top of the food chain. A system of chaos (Zodiark's view) will create pockets of Order to maintain. And vice versa, system of Order (Hydaelin's view) will create pockets of Chaos. There are many things Hydaelin aren't telling us (even though she is "good" to us). I wouldn't be surprised if Ascians were the natural effects of imprisoning Zodiark (thus putting Order on the top of the food chain), then she had to have WoLs/WoDs for dealing with that issue (again she doesn't know how).

Secondly, which side you're on doesn't matter. Both WoLs/WoDs and Ascians are freaks of nature from each side of existence. WoLs/WoDs use Blessings of Light to gain Brink of Death, perpetually avoiding permanent death. While Ascians born from death, perpetually avoiding going back to the lifestream. Arbert was tricked into doing this. From Ascian point of view, they didn't lie, this is how it works for them. Basically, however we want to wield our powers is up to us but we can't really change the way we exists.

Zodiark himself is quiet, we only aware the extent of his agents. Same like Hydaelin, she doesn't tell us what/where/how. She's merely the *why* (=the will), in layman's term, "You exists in my domain of existence so yes I care about you". Would it be great if we start as Chaos on the top of food chain? True, but the worlds wouldn't be as we know it or try to preserve.