Emet-Selch Is Not That Tragic

[Gemina]

His motives may have been “noble”, but that’s strictly from his point of view. His plans were to sacrifice the “half-lives” of the beings of the Shards and the Source to pay Zodiark for resurrecting the Ancients that once gave their lives to save Emet’s world. From the perspective of us—the main character—it is an evil motive to sacrifice all those lives to return those he lost. He believes it’s just, but to us it’s unjust because what of our worlds and our lives. He doesn’t view us as even whole people—we’re lesser creatures to him, one “who has known perfection”.

One can argue “it’s a matter of perspective”—which is why I specified our perspective in my response (the player character; the “hero”).

That he can garner an audience’s (and perhaps even the WoL’s) sympathy despite our perception of him as evil makes him an anti-villain.

I think Nanamo explained it quite well (as in I agree with her 100%) when she talks about the strengths of one, compliment the weaknesses of the other. I know she was describing her relationship to Rabauhn and how the two of them together make an extremely formidable opponent, but it can also be used to describe that the very flaws that make us imperfect is exactly what makes us perfect. Emet of course, would never be able to see it that way having seen the trials of humanity for himself and deems as anything but.