Quote Originally Posted by Rulakir View Post
The more I've thought about it, the more I've realized why the "new life" conflict would not have worked. It seems clear the writers want the players to like the Ancients, we're even meant to like Hermes. Had the new life contained humanoids they would've been even more vilified in players' minds.

As for the rest, the Ancients who sacrificed themselves to Zodiark didn't return to the star, which changes things substantially. I wouldn't want the souls of my loved ones trapped inside of a primal indefinitely either. I'm surprised they went that direction because, in my mind, it makes the third sacrifice far more justifiable if only in terms of their souls being released.
We can like the Ancients and still find the actions of the Ascians horrible so I honestly see no problem with it being sentient life. (And even the Ancients probably would have had no problem with undoing us, since they saw us just as a familiar) It could also showcase how such people can be changed by tragedy (and tempering).

And about the sacrifice: Emet himself says that such a sacrifice would be held in high honor and that he would never cheapen that by creating fake shades. Yet he still did in the end. I think it was great how they showed the change in him. Also the people inside Zodiark seemed fine with that. They just were really depressed about the fact that Zodiark was bound right now but being Zodiark themselves? I got the feeling that they liked it. What better way to be the "drop of blood" for their beloved planet by being the will itself.