*heavy spoilers for 5.0* Questions about the Ancients, the universe and everything

[Lelouis]

Tried searching for answers here and there on the forums not didn't find what I was looking for. Lengthy ass post incoming as I usually do.

Question 1: Did The Sundering affect the whole universe or just the planet Hydaelyn?

We know there are different planet in the dimension of the source like Dragonstar and the planet Omega is from. How do the different reflections work?

Are they all planets in the same dimension?
Are they alone in their own dimension?
Have all the planets in the dimension of the source been replicated in the other dimensions too?

Question 2: Are the lesser races sentient beings?

This one comes from me vaguely remembering something like: To the Ancients, we are as sentient as an ant is to us. Hence the Ascians having absolutely no hesitation or moral objection to killing us all as, we would not hesitate or feel bad to exterminate all ants to bring back mankind from extinction.
Which raises this: They are right to do what they do and we should help them?

Question 3: Could Hydaelyn's and Zodiark's combined strength and aether bring back the ancients without having to go through the rejoinings if we sacrificed them?

So we could keep the sundered universe with all beings AND have the ancients come back. They are very chill and I don't think there would be any issues co-existing with them, the Ascians are only mean to us cause they want their friends back.

[MrThinker]

Question 1: Did The Sundering affect the whole universe or just the planet Hydaelyn?

The current answer to this question is "Not even the Lore Team is 100% sure, they haven't decided". Depending on how the YorHa: Dark Apocalypse story plays out, we may get a more comprehensive answer.

[Edax]

Question 1: Did The Sundering affect the whole universe or just the planet Hydaelyn?

Evidence lightly suggests just the planet Hydaelyn. The Dragons and Omega are from another planet and don't appear on any world but the Source. But of course this could change with new evidence/information.

Tried searching for answers here and there on the forums not didn't find what I was looking for. Lengthy ass post incoming as I usually do.
Question 1: Did The Sundering affect the whole universe or just the planet Hydaelyn?

Are they all planets in the same dimension?
Are they alone in their own dimension?
Have all the planets in the dimension of the source been replicated in the other dimensions too?

I've asked this before. Discussion is here: https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...ical-locations

Question 2: Are the lesser races sentient beings?

This one comes from me vaguely remembering something like: To the Ancients, we are as sentient as an ant is to us.

Sentience is the capacity to feel, perceive, or experience subjectively. So that answer is yes. It does not matter if we are an ant to the Ancients, we meet the criteria for sentience. In Sci-Fi, it is defined as an intelligent, self-aware being. The "lesser" races are indeed self-aware of their own existence.

Hence the Ascians having absolutely no hesitation or moral objection to killing us all as, we would not hesitate or feel bad to exterminate all ants to bring back mankind from extinction.
Which raises this: They are right to do what they do and we should help them?

If we have the capacity to understand this concept then we are clearly sentient and Emet is committing mass murder. If we were not sentient, we would not be able to choose to help Emet of our own free will.

[MirronTulaxia]

Tried searching for answers here and there on the forums not didn't find what I was looking for. Lengthy ass post incoming as I usually do.

Question 1: Did The Sundering affect the whole universe or just the planet Hydaelyn?

We know there are different planet in the dimension of the source like Dragonstar and the planet Omega is from. How do the different reflections work?

Are they all planets in the same dimension?
Are they alone in their own dimension?
Have all the planets in the dimension of the source been replicated in the other dimensions too?

Question 2: Are the lesser races sentient beings?

This one comes from me vaguely remembering something like: To the Ancients, we are as sentient as an ant is to us. Hence the Ascians having absolutely no hesitation or moral objection to killing us all as, we would not hesitate or feel bad to exterminate all ants to bring back mankind from extinction.
Which raises this: They are right to do what they do and we should help them?

Question 3: Could Hydaelyn's and Zodiark's combined strength and aether bring back the ancients without having to go through the rejoinings if we sacrificed them?

So we could keep the sundered universe with all beings AND have the ancients come back. They are very chill and I don't think there would be any issues co-existing with them, the Ascians are only mean to us cause they want their friends back.

1. As said, we don't know, but it seems likely to just be Hydaelyn. Most likely how it works is that you can't leave Hydaelyn or arrive on Hydaelyn except from the Source. But right now it's still up in the air, the developers are probably not sure what they want as they don't want to lock things down.

2. The Ancients were aware of other life. Presumably they wouldn't be opposed to sacrificing beings they saw as ants for the sake of raising their dead. That some did likely means there were other sentient races (or borderline at least) back then. That the Beastmen and Spoken are on the Source and the First means it's likely that way too. So no, the Ascians aren't remotely right on that matter in any way, shape, or form.

3. Probably not. And the Ascians are tempered. They aren't going to ever, at any point, accept a plan that is "sacrifice Zodiark". Not even getting into the problem of the original reason for Zodiark's summoning, which presumably would resurface without both of them, especially if the Ancients are brought back. But with the Ascians tempered the only answer they'll ever have is "give more to Zodiark". If we can break the Tempering perhaps we could do something with them, but even then I doubt we could.

[Yuella]

If it's only the planet, then Dragons and Omega are considered "unsundered"?

[Rongway]

If it's only the planet, then Dragons and Omega are considered "unsundered"?

Spoilers from Omega story (Stormblood full party raids):

Omega and Midgardsormr are both of alien origin. Omega chased Midgardsormr and his eggs across the stars until Midgardsormr made it to Hydaelyn. This happened some time within the last 12,000 years, which was after the Sundering.

[Iscah]

If it's only the planet, then Dragons and Omega are considered "unsundered"?

We assume so, yes. It would add up with what we know of their strength compared to mortals.

[LineageRazor]

Midgardsormr and Omega do, indeed, seem as though they're on a power level similar to that of the Ancients, so it's not far-fetch to speculate that they are the equivalent of unsundered beings.

And when discussing "sentience" it's worth mentioning that most animals in general are sentient. It's not a measure of intellect - it's a matter of being able to feel sensations. It was once believed that only beings with souls (i.e., humans) were sentient - that all other animals were purely instinctual, basically machines made out of meat. This made mistreatment of animals justifiable - that screaming animal wasn't in pain, it's simply reacting in the manner that it's programmed to. Today, sentient creatures are basically any creatures that can feel, but people STILL misuse the term to refer to humans only (or, in fantasy and sci-fi settings, intelligent aliens, as well).

A better word to use is "sapient", in my opinion, which indicates the ability to deeply understand things. It's what separates us from animals (well, most animals, anyway). Does it separate the races of Hydaelyn from the Ancients? The Ancients may well understand things with GREATER depth than the mortal races do, but that doesn't change the fact that the mortals are sapient, as well. Emet-Selch doesn't really have a leg to stand on - and I think he knows it, himself, but is in denial. It's why he's tried so hard to connect with mortals from time to time over the millennia - and the latest disappointment was the last straw.