Lorewise, is it explained how we can return to those zones? (EW spoilers)

[RyuDragnier]

At one point you can ask how the ship can be in both places at once.

The guy looks at YOU and says, "don't think about it".

Glorious glorious lampshade hanging.

[SannaR]

Didn't they kind of say that the ship is Quantum entangled or something as to how the ship is in two places at once? Either way the moon bunnies told the WoL not to think too hard about that. Just now anyone who wants to know how it is to visit Ultima Thule can do so.

The one thing the game doesn't explain is how we grow and un grow while traveling to and from Elpis. Unless we want to say any time you pass the point in time the sundering you end back being small or something. While when you go back the other way whatever Emet Selch did to make you more solid and bigger kicks into effect each time.

[BRVV]

I always assumed each quest in every area takes place exactly after they unlock. That's why in Gridania for a level 5ish quest you will be "the new adventurer" while the player might have already done all the current MSQ.

[Vyrerus]

Didn't they kind of say that the ship is Quantum entangled or something as to how the ship is in two places at once? Either way the moon bunnies told the WoL not to think too hard about that. Just now anyone who wants to know how it is to visit Ultima Thule can do so.

The one thing the game doesn't explain is how we grow and un grow while traveling to and from Elpis. Unless we want to say any time you pass the point in time the sundering you end back being small or something. While when you go back the other way whatever Emet Selch did to make you more solid and bigger kicks into effect each time.

It was mostly Meteion also being shrunk that made me question that my first time around, but that's a very good point. We never actually lost the aether Emet-selch imparted to us when we came back through time, so we should still be extra large and in charge.

[SannaR]

I always assumed each quest in every area takes place exactly after they unlock. That's why in Gridania for a level 5ish quest you will be "the new adventurer" while the player might have already done all the current MSQ.

This is more so when you're doing the Studium quests and the person you're helping out is all "Oh man if only I could get my hands on a fish or some minerals or a plant that existed in a time before the Sundering or from a different planet" and the WoL tells them not to worry because they can go and obtain said item. Or get something and craft it into an item to show how the supple the wood grains are or whatever. Or if you need to whack a tree south of Poienten Oikos post MSQ for the Elpis only treasure map or so you can craft an imitation wooden skylight from Ironwood lumber. Not you know dealing with the time bubble and running into pre 2.55 Nanamo via the culinarian quests.

[Jandor]

My thoughts.

Elpis: The portals still open in the Crystal Tower, so you can get back to Elpis that way. Teleports to Elpis probably slingshots your aether round a really convoluted route of Source -> First -> Portal in the Tower -> Elpis.

Ultima Thule: Your spaceship is quantum entangled there or something. Probably Thancred's fault, he was the first to shape the area with dynamis, I guess he accidentally made it a permanent part of the area when he was sorting out some physical land and breathable atmosphere.
Subconscious train of thought going something like 'need something to breathe, something to stand on, and something to get us in and out.'