What's the point with that quite lackluster story in Endwalker?

[Carin-Eri]

That's a pretty low bar considering how unconvincing and disappointing take two of the Final Days actually was.

Yeah. I mean, whilst I don't dislike Endwalker as much as most of those participating in this thread (dare I admit that I actually enjoyed it for the most part?) I do feel that the whole 'final days' thing didn't really live up to what was depicted in the (frankly awesome) Endwalker cinematic. I mean, look at the dialogue from the cinematic:

(1:57) Narrator: As the chaos spread, the star seemed doomed to unravel. And yet..... there were those who stood in defiance of that fate.
(3:10) Urianger: Tis as we feared. The respite afforded this land was but fleeting. The end draws nigh.
(4:13) Y’shtola: So, Sharlayan would keep its counsel while the world is lost to ruin?
(5:02) Narrator: Past the far edge of fate... Ring blades dark and light...... Tolling the coming of the end
Though I guess the lyrics of 'Footfalls' countered the dialogue in a sense.

Still - the MSQ itself didn't quite live up to how desperate the cinematic made things look/sound.

[Saraide]

Here's a hot take for y'all: The ancients would have agreed to venat's entire plan if they were given knowledge.

It's simply ancients logic, a thing that venat was good at. So good infact that they gave her white robes to show everyone how good she was at ancients logic.

[KageTokage]

Here's a hot take for y'all: The ancients would have agreed to venat's entire plan if they were given knowledge.

It's simply ancients logic, a thing that venat was good at. So good infact that they gave her white robes to show everyone how good she was at ancients logic.

The white robes were just a sign of seniority for former Convocation members who chose not to return the star immediately after they retired.

And sure, if they had collectively agreed as a society to go through with the Sundering, then I would've been A-OK with it, but rather she simply decided she knew better then...basically everyone else because she didn't trust even her closest followers with the truth.

[Saraide]

The white robes were just a sign of seniority for former Convocation members who chose not to return the star immediately after they retired.

And sure, if they had collectively agreed as a society to go through with the Sundering, then I would've been A-OK with it, but rather she simply decided she knew better then...basically everyone else because she didn't trust even her closest followers with the truth.

Nope it marks them as impartial and trustable advisors.

[Absimiliard]

Nope it marks them as impartial and trustable advisors.

The white robes only mark her as an advisor. Hythlodaeus took them to mean she would be trustworthy and impartial. While a certain degree of assumption of impartiality and trustworthiness can be made based on the advisory role she retained (as the Convocation probably wouldn't have awarded it otherwise) after departing the seat of Azem, those are none the less not the meaning behind the robe.

Doubt the ancients' society would've been down with going extinct anyway, judging by how hard they fought to survive the Final Days. As for Venat, while her advisory position does mean others are more likely to listen to her, events in Elpis rather clearly demonstrate that even she needs to be able to back up her assertions with fact if she expects the Convocation to take her seriously. Kinda hard for her to do that without spilling all of the proverbial beans.

[Saraide]

The white robes only mark her as an advisor. Hythlodaeus took them to mean she would be trustworthy and impartial. While a certain degree of assumption of impartiality and trustworthiness can be made based on the advisory role she retained (as the Convocation probably wouldn't have awarded it otherwise) after departing the seat of Azem, those are none the less not the meaning behind the robe.

Doubt the ancients' society would've been down with going extinct anyway, judging by how hard they fought to survive the Final Days. As for Venat, while her advisory position does mean others are more likely to listen to her, events in Elpis rather clearly demonstrate that even she needs to be able to back up her assertions with fact if she expects the Convocation to take her seriously. Kinda hard for her to do that without spilling all of the proverbial beans.

Oh of course, how could I forget. Hythlodaeus famously is a person not well versed in the ancient's culture so his interpretation is very untrustworthy especially when themis' off hand remark does nothing to contradict his claim.

The ancients were down to sacrifice downright everything to stop the extinction of the planet, given her information they would have agreed. You are correct that she would have had to disclose everything and that's precisely why she didnt. The risk of hermes turning again was too great.

[Absimiliard]

How does one prove something is different in another language? Me showing you the original JP text and following it up with a translation isn't going to verify anything for you unless you can already read Japanese. Therein lies the problem. But for the heck of it, here you go:

Hythlodaeus
"Don't be nervous.
The white robe that Venes-sama is entwined with,
Evidence of a fair "unstained person"

Hythlodaeus
"Those who have retired from official positions such as the Committee of Fourteen and still live,
A sign of an adviser that only Elidibus the Arbiter can tangle.
I'm sure your story will be taken seriously."

Venes-sama of course being Venat. Note firstly this clearly says the white robe is not limited to Convocation members. Note also the mention of it representing an advisory position, one which Elidibus seemingly must bestow or take away. I would also point out the phrase of a "fair and "unstained person." As I said before, we can infer the Convocation considers these individuals to be trustworthy and upstanding, elsewise they would not be granted that position, but that is not the meaning of the position so much as a requirement thereof. Nor would such a position protect someone from needing to prove their arguments.

[RobynDaBank]

How does one prove something is different in another language? Me showing you the original JP text and following it up with a translation isn't going to verify anything for you unless you can already read Japanese. Therein lies the problem.

I can read a little bit, actually. Can try if you'd like?

[Absimiliard]

I can read a little bit, actually. Can try if you'd like?

ヒュトロダエウス
緊張せずとも大丈夫だよ。
ヴェーネス様が縺っている白いローブは、
公正なる「染まらぬ者」の証・・・・・
ヒュトロダエウス
十四人委員会を筆頭とする公的な役職を下りてなお生きる者と、
調停者エリディブスのみが縺える、助言者の印さ。
キミの話も、しっかり受け止めてくれると思うよ。

You could also get:

Hythlodaeus
"Don't be nervous, it's all right.
The white robe that Master Veness is entwined with is the
The sign of the fair "undyed one""

Hythlodaeus
"A sign of counsel, which only a man who has left his official post, headed by the Committee of Fourteen, and a man who is still alive, and who is not a member of the Committee of Fourteen, can bear.
And only the mediator Elidibus can be a sign of counsel.
I'm sure they'll take you up on your offer."

[RobynDaBank]

While the parts about the Convocation are 99% the same (Hythlodaeus does seem to say something a little different in the last line: "What you have to say too, I strongly think they will come to accept"), the line about Venat's robes I had to look up a bit, to find out what that kanji in the bracket meant (it means "dyed"/"printed"). The two lines overall say: "The white robes fastened by Venat are, proof of a just person, without [dye]' (which I'm supposing is what's used as "untainted" in the translation).