The questions I want EW to answer the most: WHY and HOW was the world sundered?

[AlexionSkyllark]

As per the title.

Ever since I first heard about the splitting of the world into the source of its fourteen shards, these questions have been kicking around in my mind non-stop. Was this event intentional? was it an accident? Or an unavoidable consequence of something? What are the SPECIFICS of this event, aetherologically speaking?

Was it really only Hydaelyn that was responsible for the sundering? or did Zodiark also play a part in it? What about the other parties involved, the convocation and Venat's secret sect? Are they also responsible in some more direct way?

So many questions bubbling in my mind, I really would like to hear your take in all this
So what you guys think?

[Cleretic]

From what Emet-Selch says, it was an intentional part of Hydaelyn's construction and powerset; she divides, that is the point.

HOWEVER! We need to remember that Emet-Selch is a big fat liar about many things, and is actually most frequently incorrect about Hydaelyn. Which is fair enough--he literally was not there for any part of Hydaelyn's formulation, so he doesn't know anything about the intentions, only the results--but it means that we can't really trust him one bit on this.

Personally, I've been reading it that it was sort of an inevitable consequence of the clash. Picture the wrestling moves with so much impact that they break a table; Hydaelyn probably did that... and maybe did it a few times.

[Anonymoose]

The why is the big one for me.

It's been pretty consistent so far that Hydaelyn's defeating blow to Zodiark shattered the fabric of reality with him. (At least locally, around the planet itself.) Hydaelyn, Minfilia, Ardbert, Elidibus, and Emet-Selch are all on the same page. Granted we do have another big SECRET OF THE STAR left...

My best guess so far for the how is rooted in a line by Emet-Selch:

As a counterbalance to Zodiark, Hydaelyn was created with the power to enervate Her foe. This singular ability strikes not at such banal things as flesh, but everything that defines the target, diluting its existence.

If Zodiark were currently the Will of the Planet, perhaps it's always been as easy as that shattering him shatters the planet. It was one of my biggest questions this whole time: if we're to save the world as we know it, and Hydaelyn is currently the Will of the Planet, what can happen to her without undermining our desired outcome?

I've come up with a few ways out of that, including Venat's self-sacrifice in the event of Zodiark's defeat (counter-weight without a weight to counter becomes the weight itself). But we'll see where it goes. Some expect a fusion dance that we have to beat. (I'd rather see a fusion dance that defeats The Sound, thus fulfilling the mission of Amaurot and redeeming the legacy of the Ancients before entrusting the world to sundered man. The Warrior of Light, as Azem before them, blazing the impossible third path that brings everyone together.)

Some even expect a "New Mothercrystal" from a fusion is how we get out of this. (Which is clever in its simplicity; I can't even figure out what's preventing me from embracing it just yet.) And then some from connect that back to Elidibus's ambiguous hint (in some languages) that Hydaelyn would re-gain her own original form along with everything else...

But WHY... now there's a question. A lot hinges on it, including whether people who rooted for Hydaelyn (myself included) feel alienated by that framing. In Japanese, one of Venat's compatriots phrases the line about "if we don't do this, we're as doomed as we were before Zodiark" by saying, "if we remain as we are" and that really made my brain itch.

It could just mean, "if nothing changes," but what if it's literal?

What if there was no way to stop the Final Days under conditions of creation magicks being possible? What if it was sundering or oblivion?

EDIT: Whoever liked this before I even removed the EDIT INCOMING, I really appreciate your faith in me but are you sure?

[Theodric]

At this point, I'm very much expecting a third party entity to ultimately be to blame for the entire predicament. Potentially the very same entity that caused the Sound. The writers have, thankfully, been pretty clear at establishing the nuance of the situation. Neither Zodiark or Hydaelyn are necessarily 'good' or 'evil'. It's all very much a matter of perspective. So, too, does that apply to the Ancients and the Ascians, the Sundered and the Unsundered. They all have their own goals, dreams, desires and a will to live.

I also suspect that the Warrior of Light will go the way of Azem and seek to find a 'third way' when it comes to solving the plight that is the Sound. Especially if the Final Days are indeed returning for a second time in the same form as before. Or, alternatively, perhaps the story will involve Hydaelyn and Zodiark being brought together in a state of balance - given that the Sundering has been described as an 'unstable state' by the writers themselves in the past.

Whether Venat is an antagonist or not, I suppose, depends entirely on a few key factors such as whether the Sundering was accidental or intentional.

My own personal hope is for the story to set aside differences, acknowledge each side as having understandable motivations and then have everyone come together to beat the Sound which may or may not be a Lavos or Jenova type entity in typical JRPG fashion.

[Anonymoose]

Welp, if Theodric and I are both amenable to a similar outcome, it's time to close up shop everyone, that must be what happens.

[MercuryD]

But Mooooose, what about my Primal of Balance that supercedes and negates both Hydaelyn and Zodiark? :O

(Again, doubtful this'll happen but we were told to expect the unexpected and the scions whole "primal summon bad" view and ultimately summoning one to save the world would be pretty unexpected)

[RyuDragnier]

If Zodiark were currently the Will of the Planet, perhaps it's always been as easy as that shattering him shatters the planet. It was one of my biggest questions this whole time: if we're to save the world as we know it, and Hydaelyn is currently the Will of the Planet, what can happen to her without undermining our desired outcome?

I've come up with a few ways out of that, including Venat's self-sacrifice in the event of Zodiark's defeat (counter-weight without a weight to counter becomes the weight itself). But we'll see where it goes. Some expect a fusion dance that we have to beat. (I'd rather see a fusion dance that defeats The Sound, thus fulfilling the mission of Amaurot and redeeming the legacy of the Ancients before entrusting the world to sundered man. The Warrior of Light, as Azem before them, blazing the impossible third path that brings everyone together.)

Some even expect a "New Mothercrystal" from a fusion is how we get out of this. (Which is clever in its simplicity; I can't even figure out what's preventing me from embracing it just yet.) And then some from connect that back to Elidibus's ambiguous hint (in some languages) that Hydaelyn would re-gain her own original form along with everything else...

But WHY... now there's a question. A lot hinges on it, including whether people who rooted for Hydaelyn (myself included) feel alienated by that framing. In Japanese, one of Venat's compatriots phrases the line about "if we don't do this, we're as doomed as we were before Zodiark" by saying, "if we remain as we are" and that really made my brain itch.

It could just mean, "if nothing changes," but what if it's literal?

What if there was no way to stop the Final Days under conditions of creation magicks being possible? What if it was sundering or oblivion?

EDIT: Whoever liked this before I even removed the EDIT INCOMING, I really appreciate your faith in me but are you sure?

Hydaelyn likely will dissipate and be replaced during said dissipation by another for the new Will of the Planet. if you're wondering who, we have one G'raha Tia, who quite literally was linked to the Crystal Tower for centuries and has the knowledge in a younger body thanks to our shenanigans in Shadowbringers. He would have the ability to serve as a new Crystal allowing the world to continue on, having the knowledge and the experience needed to pull it off. As for Venat's compatriot, who gives that phrase, it's very likely they had the same ideas as Azem, or they were told by Azem that dealing with Zodiark does not deal with the root of the issue, the source of the Sound. Something that is likely going to have changed by the end of 6.0.

[Yuella]

Maybe Zodiark himself asked Hydaelyn to sunder the star.
"Hey Hydaelyn, my followers keep wanting to sacrifice new life to bring back their friends, I suggest you sunder me and the star to put a stop to this"
"Cool, I'll do it"

[Lyth]

If Thancred ever becomes the Word of the Father, I'm pretty sure that Hydaelyn and Zodiark can find a way to work out their differences.

[Grimr]

The why has alrdy been answered. To contain zodiark sunders the world with each shard as a key to zodiark's prison. The ascian's goal to free zodiark requires a rejoining to unlock his prison. The thirteenth lock is permanently closed because they got carried away. As for how well i don't know specifics but ill quote moose's statement here "As a counterbalance to Zodiark, Hydaelyn was created with the power to enervate Her foe. This singular ability strikes not at such banal things as flesh, but everything that defines the target, diluting its existence. " So in essence hydalen diluted zodiark amongst the shards.