So, about Zenos... (SPOILERS)

[GrizzlyTank]

His story is done.

He ded.

[Conundrum]

His story is done.

He ded.

He didn't turn into a puff of aether, he not ded.

[TheMightyMollusk]

He didn't turn into a puff of aether, he not ded.

Plenty of people have died for good and not puffed into aether. That only happens when it's more dramatic. (Or to excuse bodies despawning in combat.)

I mean, even primals, beings literally made of aether, still leave body parts behind that can be looted for crafting, so it's not like it was ever consistent.

[weebtext]

His story is done.

He ded.

You know who else's story is done?

Thancred.

[Conundrum]

You know who else's story is done?

Thancred.

And

The Exarch (name omitted for spoiler reasons)

Both should have died when they "died" in ShB.

[Maltothoris]

And

The Exarch (name omitted for spoiler reasons)

Both should have died when they "died" in ShB.

I recall someone pointing the reason that Thancred didn't die was because the Trust System was in the game and there wouldn't of been an npc tank to make sense if Thancred did die. So ya, as long as the trust system exists, you know anyone in it is not going to die. It's why I didn't have too much of a reaction towards the Ultima Thule area when the party was getting picked off one by one.