Thread: Question about 5.3 character (spoilers)

So, Emet-selch laid the foundation for what occurred in 5.3 prior to his death. This means that he, through his own will, had the idea of supporting us. This means that whatever tempering effect was placed upon him was not wholly in control of his will.

It's not that he died and then did this. It was pre-meditated.

As for Gabu and Halric. Gabu is intensely traumatized by his summoning Titan in anger for the death of his parents. He may not be tempered at all, and they say as much directly in the story. Halric is not tempered. He is afflicted with Light aether poisoning, such that he is part, and will eventually turn, Sineater. For him it's merely restoring equilibrium to his aether that will restore him.

Because Emet-selch has a fully mastered Echo and is strong in it, he may resist Primal influence, so what he tells us doesn't add up with what we know about the game. We suppose just as much by assuming he tells us the truth about being tempered, merely because Zodiark is supposed to be so powerful that he could change the laws of reality. Keep in mind that Emet-selch was also observing us for all of 5.0 up until we slew Vauthry to see whether or not we were strong enough to find another way that didn't involve the Rejoinings. If his tempering is real and has a strong hold over him, he shouldn't have allowed us to act to stop the Rejoining at all. But he did, and on top of that, he was personally disappointed that we failed his expectations.

Gotta remember that not all tempering is the same. And just because someone is tempered doesn't mean they lose their free will. In the case of Emet-Selch he was loyal to Zodiark, but he was still able to think for himself. Think of it akin to religion in the real world. You have your devout followers and you have your casuals, and everyone in between.

It's implied that Ga Bu might be tempered, only kept alive as a special request from Alisae. The circumstances leading to his current mental state are extremely suspect, but it's still ambiguous.

Either way if he is tempered, Alisae's treatment for Sin Eater victims was explained as plausibly being able to cure tempering though some mystical mumbo jumbo, so if that's the case I'd wager she'll try it straightaway.