Quote Originally Posted by not_ya_wify View Post
That being said, I do think there is one problem with the Ascians' plans and that's not the rejoinings themselves but rather that after rejoining all the shards that are still rejoinable planning to ask Zodiark to give back the souls inside of him by offering up the new souls that were these patchwork souls made up from 13 rejoinings. This to me is genocide.
I don't believe that was their plan since it's one line that's inconsistent with all other information. During the lift cutscene Emet tells the WoL that should we survive the remaining calamities we will become their equal, a complete existence in a complete world. Later, in one of the 5.x patches, Alisaie comments on having memories of her Ancient self at the edge of her mind upon seeing the star showers, but can't fully remember likely due to being sundered. Even without the context of EW (where we learn souls sacrificed to Zodiark are indefinitely trapped within), the implication seems to be that the sundered when returned to being whole would also have their memories/identities restored. It makes Emet's statement counterproductive. However, I have no doubt they intended to sacrifice non-Ancient lives to Zodiark as that was the original plan for the 3rd sacrifice.

As far as rejoinings, they're still an extinction event for the shard. I can't deny that. The question is more which should take precedence, the "fleeting" life of a mortal or the eternal soul of a nigh immortal Ancient? The issue being if you favor the former then the crime of the sundering is endless. As much as I would like to see Etheirys restored, like I said, I would've tried to find a gentler way to do it.