Please help me like the MSQ ending more

[YianKutku]

Just so you remember, there was indeed a 7th calamity involving a dragon primal breaking out of a moon prison and laying waste to the land which, despite any mitigations to its far reaching consequences thanks to a certain Archon, did indeed result in the rejoining of a shard, so we should be 9/14 of a full ancients soul by the end of 5.0

Obvious question: how did our soul-counterpart from the Rejoining of the Seventh Calamity join our soul? Unless we're actually five years old, this soul-rejoining would presumably have happened while we were alive and conscious. Did we notice anything five years before we became an adventurer?

[MrThinker]

Obvious question: how did our soul-counterpart from the Rejoining of the Seventh Calamity join our soul? Unless we're actually five years old, this soul-rejoining would presumably have happened while we were alive and conscious. Did we notice anything five years before we became an adventurer?

Very good question, hopefully someone asks this to Oda-san or Koji. And technically the answer would vary on whether you are a legacy player or not.

[Lambdafish]

I am willing to bet people don't like Shadowbringers for the plot, they like it for the worldbuilding and characters, and awesome cutscenes. If you focus on those aspects, do you like it more?

[TinyRedLeaf]

Obvious question: how did our soul-counterpart from the Rejoining of the Seventh Calamity join our soul? Unless we're actually five years old, this soul-rejoining would presumably have happened while we were alive and conscious. Did we notice anything five years before we became an adventurer?

Well, for starters, there was the mass amnesia suffered by virtually all Eorzeans — no one could remember exactly who were the "warriors of light", and the survivors also had difficulty remembering what exactly happened in the last few moments of the Battle of Carteneau.

And then there were the massive changes across the landscapes of Eorzea. In the beginning, we thought it was just the result of Bahamut's disastrous rampage. I speculated in the past that some of the changes could have been the direct result of a Rejoining, but my suggestion was poo'ed poo'ed as implausible.

Just one thing to clarify, because I see this coming up quite often: The thinking that, just because the WoL is possibly a "broken" reincarnation of an Ancient One, therefore we must necessarily be a mirror of that bygone Amaurotian. On that point, it's worth remembering what Seto, the late Ardbert's amaro mount, said to the WoL:

...I can see your soul. Faintly, but surely. It is reminiscent of Ardbert's. Strikingly so. [But] of course, you are you, and no one else. We are defined not by the soul we are born with, but the path we walk.

Which is to say, even if the WoL is a reincarnation of the original Amaurotian rebel — who may or may not have been Hythlodaeus — it doesn't matter. It doesn't make us Hythlodaeus. We are our own persons, in charge of forging our own destinies. We are not doomed to repeat the same mistakes of the past, and neither would we necessarily achieve the same glories either.

But we make our own futures, through our own decisions. And that, as Seto said, makes us our own individuals, and not a repeat of our past lives.

[Kokomi]

I liked Shadowbringers, but I agree that the ending was a victory that we achieved simply by being “the warrior of light” and not really one we deserved. I think Exarch summoning seven WoL from beyond the rift for a powerup was ridiculous and Hades’ actions don’t really fit with him being this super old master schemer. Why did he challenge us to a battle when he knew he could wait it out? Why did he bumble tying the Exarch up and killing the Scions when he had the chance? We can say it’s because he’s tired and secretly wants to die (I don’t think this fits in with his monologues or Hythlodaeus’ characterization of him, however) or that his hubris led to his downfall (which could be the case but isn’t that compelling imo). Sure we brought all to bear against Hades for a fitting final fight but we didn’t have to sacrifice anything to win, all we needed was Ardbert and help from our friends.

The scene where we’re finally able to stand against him was awesome, and of course it’s great that the good guys are getting rid of the bad guy (if you view the situation as black and white, which I’m also questioning but that’s another issue) but it wasn’t narratively satisfying for me.

Another point: we finally learn about this ancient society that perished and Laha/Emet/Elidibus’s motives. Our reaction so far has been, feels bad but we can’t let you do this. Are we sure that there isn’t a way where both sides can win? (respecting new life but rejoin the shards peacefully and/or free the Ascians absorbed by Zodiark). If we end up stomping Elidibus and Zodiark in 6.0 and calling it a day, that would definitively set down the Ascians’ story as tragic. I know most players don’t care about them because they’re not our people and think they should have just stopped trying long ago but I’m not sure I agree.

[RyuDragnier]

Why did he challenge us to a battle when he knew he could wait it out? Why did he bumble tying the Exarch up and killing the Scions when he had the chance?

Because at that moment we powered up, he saw the image of the person he cared about most, our past self. He was angry, enraged that it's dare suggested that this eternal thorn in his side, this insect be the soul of the person he cared about most. He refused to believe it, wouldn't believe it, and attacked in anger and grief. It wasn't until we actually defeated him that he may have come to terms with the fact that we ARE the soul of that person. If so, he died knowing he got to see and be with the person he cared about most again, even if only for a little while.

[Kokomi]

snip

There are hints he knew it was us the whole time, though. In the ladder scene there were his "Not that you would remember" and then "nevermind" comments. And Hythlodaeus: "Surely, Emet-Selch must have realized who you are." I think that the reason he took an interest in the Scions at all is because he recognized our fragmented soul and wanted to convince us to join him (ironically dismissing the fact that you were the one who summoned Hydaelyn, if that ends up being true). I agree that part of the reason he died peacefully is because it was at our hand, that of a close friend despite our differences.

I still think there are ambiguities and multiple possible interpretations of what Emet's plans really were and what he was thinking toward the end. I'm hoping we get some clarity given unless they truly meant to write him as the "you are not worthy, no price is too high to bring back my people" character he comes off as on the first read.

[Temjiu]

I'm one of those that enjoyed the MSQ.I came in after a long break (didn't do any of the post 70 MSQ in SB), and I was initially put off by us being the whole "WoD" hero now, and the dark being a good thing, and the light being bad (not to mention all the negativity surrounding sin eaters). But I liked that it was for the overall benefit of the people, and I was very happy to see a generally good theme to the story, and no critical NPC deaths. I'm the kind of guy that likes a happy ending, so sue me.