Tale of Emet [FF14 x Nier Reincarnation event story]

[Tehmon]

Endwalker's depiction of Emet was anything but a person I'd like to spend any of my time with. I get that they were trying to make a clear distinction between pre- and post-sundering Emet, but good grief was his constantly irritated and moody shtick laid on way too thick, for my tastes anyway. He just wasn't very likable most of the Elpis section, which is silly because it did showcase his virtuous and kind side that was more or less non-existent in ShB.

ShB-Emet was much more entertaining and felt more... human, weirdly. EW-Emet was almost a walking caricature.

Honestly, I'd love to know how exactly Azem and Emet got acquainted in the first place. I just don't see why Emet would tag along with someone as erratic and eccentric as Azem, especially since it seems to annoy Emet so. Like what is the main ingredient that keeps that bond between Emet and Azem alive and strong, and lore relevant to boot? Is it really just some stupid opposites attract nonsense? That's lame.

[Theodric]

It's a pretty common trope in JRPG's for a character to be outwardly distant and irritable but care deeply for those close to them. Much like how many people operate in a similar manner in the real world.

I thought it was pretty refreshing, to be honest. Especially when the game usually has the bulk of characters have a very 'samey' personality to seemingly be as inoffensive as possible.

Variety is the spice of life, after all. As far as I'm concerned someone similar to Emet - or Jullus - should be in the main party but remain prickly and stoic instead of softening their edges like Estinien did. That way we can have a cast more alike to the single player games with a broader range of dynamics within the party itself.

[Rulakir]

Honestly, I'd love to know how exactly Azem and Emet got acquainted in the first place. I just don't see why Emet would tag along with someone as erratic and eccentric as Azem, especially since it seems to annoy Emet so. Like what is the main ingredient that keeps that bond between Emet and Azem alive and strong, and lore relevant to boot? Is it really just some stupid opposites attract nonsense? That's lame.

My guess would be that Emet and Hyth became friends due to their shared soul sight. Hyth, in turn, seems to be friends with everybody and is likely who introduced Emet and Azem.

I don't believe at the core Emet was much different than they were. He strikes me as someone who puts up a fuss, but once involved enjoys himself. We see and hear about that in Elpis while he's training the Charybdis. He clearly seems to like the type of personality Hyth and Azem have despite his protestations. We know he cared about both deeply and from NieR considered them his "paradise", so the answer is love.

[Lyth]

...

You always see some degree of Flanderization in serial fiction, and I think that Emet and Y'shtola are both very much alike in terms of their respective personality portrayals over time. I think part of the fun of it comes from the contrast in seeing a relatively serious, intense character show off a softer, more vulnerable smile. But yes, they've definitely played progressively harder into the trope with Emet in Endwalker, as expected.

I think a lot of the Azem/Emet interaction, and by extension the Venat/Emet interaction, simply builds off of the 'Tales from the Shadows' short story series. This is about contrast as well, juxtaposing genki with morose. In real life, such personality clashes might not have worked out so amusingly, but you're allowed to take some liberties in fiction.

[Cleretic]

One thing and I know it probably comes off as silly or makes people raise an eyebrow as a why does this bother you is the part that hints at Emet being a late night party-er. His presundered self just doesn't come off as someone who'd suggest going to Kareoke late at night and doing some drunken singing. Course again we have no clue as to what Ancients enjoyed doing after a long day at work. Or on their off days. Post sundering Emet on the other hand I can definitely see going to enjoy a smoky lounge singer while nursing a nice glass of scotch. It is a little sad that the story hints at that seeing the WoL on the first being the first time he's spotted the sundered soul of Azem. Some of the arguments about how quickly the sundered people would forget how to speak, write or understand the presundered language reminds me of the forgetting of technology thread.

I'm standing by 'Emet was only a partier by Emet's own definition, and Emet's idea of a party is way lamer than yours'.

[SannaR]

I'm standing by 'Emet was only a partier by Emet's own definition, and Emet's idea of a party is way lamer than yours'.

Oh sure I'm sure Convocation and loves conformity Emet Selch isn't much of a partier at least not the one who'd suggest the more fun things. However Sentimental Emet who seemed to have gone and done things because Hyth and Azem would've I can see having done some things his younger self would called blasphemous. Even though I know he supposedly severed food to his troops as Solus it's one of the things I can't see the grumpy sour puss doing except knowing that Azem most likely would have. That and I'm just waiting for the devs to blow our minds and be all "Ha. Hades was a no good punk til they met Azem and was fine with Azem's behavior til one time they both almost died. Which scared him straight, but by that time he had started being seen as a respectful helpful individual so he kept at helping people." As to how ill begotten of a youth he had been. Like it's really hard to imagine Mr. "I thought I just had a talk about proper priorities with those two." suggesting to ditch their regular masks while wearing cherry pink robes and pulling a prank on Lahabreha. Presundered Emet just gives off vibes of if any "fun" he'd come up with was debating and or lecturing Hythlodaeus and Azem until 6am when he needs to be at work at 8am.

[Slatersev]

I mean for as much as some people laminate the Scions still having a big role in 6.1, fact is it did reduce there presence by quite a bit. The only ones who actually stayed the entire time where Y'shtola and Estinien.

Krile and Tataru both did one thing then left. Urianger and Graha were there for a dungeon then left, Thancred was just one scene. The twins didn't show up at all.

Vrtra and Nidhana were both significantly more important in 6.1 then any of the Scions sans Shotla and Estinien.

And as for Shotla, 6.1 gave her more actual character development then all of Endwalker, (a complaint brought up frequently about EW that I agree with, she really didnt have much going on at all). Is that not a good mix? Scions shift out in sets, some newer characters get spotlight and backstory, and a popular but underdeveloped Scion gets some proper development.

I also imagine it will continue to be like this, there's a reason the twins and Jullus didn't show up in the Role quest despite it being in Garlemald. There clearly planning to go back to them in the MSQ.

[Cleretic]

Tataru's specifically got her own sidequest coming in the 6.1x patches, don't worry about her. Krile and Thancred will find other things to do, just give them time.

[SentioftheHoukai]

You're still comparing modern day sundered, who are 57% rejoined (at 64% Emet was able to recognize Azem). It doesn't change the fact that Venat kicked mankind back to before the stone age and judging by the cutscenes they were little better than meandering zombies with basic motor functions.

Less of the stone age and more of the primordial soup of creation. Kinda hard to form a civilized society when you've yet to reform yourself from the ether.

Either way, your point stands.