Thread: Revelations from Patch 5.5 (Part 2)

Originally Posted by Anonymoose

I've skimmed past quite a lot of debate here so forgive me if this has been addressed, but doesn't Emet-Selch himself concede that he has gone astray of his own path in his final scene? Is that not the crux of the scene with Elidibus shortly after, where he states that there will be no seeing eye to eye with the Scions, ever, period?

In that scene, Alphinaud points out that Emet-Selch's last wish might have been to Elidibus, too - that the Warrior of Light can be entrusted with the legacy of the Ancients, as well. That's what "Remember us." means: Remember what we were more than this. Remember us at our best. Remember that we loved this world. Please don't remember us only for what we became. Y'shtola asks Elidibus if Emet-Selch's own words and wishes mean nothing to him, and he states that if he were there to see Emet-Selch say this, he would have corrected him, as he would have gone astray of the one acceptable truth. In German, he's especially angry, calling him "unworthy of the name Original" if he would ever say that.

And yet once Elidibus is defeated and himself freed, he takes the same point of view. As beautifully devastating as the English line is, French highlights his change of heart even better: "It's already over. All has already been lost. My friends, how could I have abandoned you, to stay here in this world as you went on alone...?" That's the tragedy of his character. His one purpose was to bring people together and advocate for the best outcome, and his sight of "best" was clouded and led him astray.

I feel like almost every "good vs. evil" debate skips over this almost entirely, lol. Everyone made hard decisions and mistakes.

Going into more speculative territory, for all the sympathy and understanding we got out of the Ascians' side of the story, it didn't really help their case that we should lose. At all. I wouldn't be surprised at all if we see the same of Venat: touch decisions, good intentions, no good case that we should lose. Salvation for our beautifully broken world at all costs. The only difference is that Hydaelyn was summoned to support this, so even if she has to go (assuming that can even happen with her plugged into the Lifestream, remember what happened when Zodiark was punched while plugged in), I wouldn't be surprised if it was a bittersweet goodbye.

You hit it right on the head.

Brother stay this descent to madness
Come and save us. Catch us before we fall

Like broken angels, wingless, cast from heavens' gates
(Our slumb'ring demons awake)

We only fly when falling, falling far from grace
(Hell take us, heaven can wait)

For all his talk of being an Emissary, he didn't leave a lot of room for talking. Once he saw the deaths of his brothers in arms he made the fatal flaw of rushing the situation. Could have waited. Could have genuinely asked us to find a way to coexist. Splitting timelines is an actual option here. We don't have to share one for crying out loud.

"To strive for the best of all futures... Be that not also thine purpose?" - Urianger.