Theory: We are Azem

[Lyth]

I think that it is unlikely that we will formally 'become Azem' from a soul density perspective, for a couple of reasons. The first is that accumulating soul fragments to merge with requires each of the current bearers of those soul fragments to die. It also requires that the shard in question is either destroyed, or that we travel there in person to find the soul of the Azem who died (as was the case with Ardbert and the First). The other reason is that adding more soul density may make us paradoxically weaker due to Dynamis.

The main questions around Azem are historical ones. Where was Azem during the Final Days, and why were they 'missing' at the time of Emet's Amaurot? What is their backstory - where was their birthplace, how did they encounter the various members of the Convocation, and how were they chosen to be Venat's successor? How did they leave - did they just pack up and head off, or did the Convocation formally revoke their post first - were the rumors that we got from the general public accurate, or was there more to the story? There's mention of Azem having being previously censured by the Convocation during the short stories, and it doesn't sound like the departure was on very good terms, given that Emet had to create the corresponding soulstone in secret.

Some of these may just be subjects for the 'Tales' sidestories, but it's possible that we may have some answers from Pandaemonium and Myths.

[Yuella]

My guess is Azem knew he/she needed to be sundered in order for everything to come to pass. Maybe Venat told him/her everything about our visit.

[Kranel_San]

In our world, Tenzen was one previous reincarnation of our current character.

I know this is probably from the four lords questline but do you know where specifically? Because I feel like I have missed the party where they said this.

All I know about the WoL (The player) is that they're a descendant of Ramza (Either a previous reincarnation of the WoL or a literal ancestor) based on Ultima, the high seraph's dialogue at the start of the final phase.

[SannaR]

I know this is probably from the four lords questline but do you know where specifically? Because I feel like I have missed the party where they said this.

All I know about the WoL (The player) is that they're a descendant of Ramza (Either a previous reincarnation of the WoL or a literal ancestor) based on Ultima, the high seraph's dialogue at the start of the final phase.

The line at least how I remember it is where they say our aether feels like Tenzen's. Instead of how it gets worded by Ancients for the most part. Where to me I always took it to mean that our aether feels similar cause we both are/were WoL's. Since none of the four lords get all old friend in their verbiage. Versus how most ancients treat us.

Kind of how Windwaker Link isn't an reincarnation of Twilight Link, but they're both Links for their times and thusly end up doing similar stuff.

[Alleluia]

I am not sure we are Azem themselves ( though I consider it technically possible right now), but I know we must have something to do with them. The gender thing, begun in the Hyth convo in Amaurot, is one thing. Azem is their own character, like Ardbert. Them getting a different gender based on ours makes no sense unless we have something to do with that choice directly.

Second, in EW, the fight with Venat in Elpis implied something to me. She makes a point of linking suffering and strength in her conversation with us. She basically says we are as strong as we are bc we must have experienced a lot of trials. Then she mentions Azem and how, tho s/he was half her age when they met, they were immensely strong. If suffering=strength, well we come from a world where harrowing experiences have followed us and suffering loss is normal. What’s Azem’s excuse? The ancients are all fairly certain they live in a utopia. In fact, that was part of the problem, apparently. So how’d Azem get the experience needed to match venat’s strength at half her age, before even becoming the Traveler? It would make sense if they also came from a world where suffering was normal. Or were somehow influenced by someone who did.

The idea of us being in a giant time loop or something is weird at present, and I can’t say I love the idea yet, but it does seem to be possible.

[RyuDragnier]

All I know about the WoL (The player) is that they're a descendant of Ramza (Either a previous reincarnation of the WoL or a literal ancestor) based on Ultima, the high seraph's dialogue at the start of the final phase.

That's actually a throwback line to the end of Final Fantasy Tactics, where Altima says that exact like to Ramza. But if we're a direct descendant of anybody in that case, we'd be a descendant of Alma's. Meaning our character is ironically distantly related to the current days Ramza and Alma. Doubly funny if you're a Hrothgar, since that means he's related to one of the "vile beasts" he complained about early on.

[rxantos]

1/13th of Azem soul to be more precise. So was the warrior of darkness. We still yet to find the other 11 pieces.

[MikkoAkure]

I know this is probably from the four lords questline but do you know where specifically? Because I feel like I have missed the party where they said this.

All I know about the WoL (The player) is that they're a descendant of Ramza (Either a previous reincarnation of the WoL or a literal ancestor) based on Ultima, the high seraph's dialogue at the start of the final phase.

We can’t be a reincarnation of Ramza because his soul never passed on.

I was under the impression that like Tenzen, Ramza was another WoL, but not necessarily our WoL. There have been many Warriors of Light, including all of Ardbert’s party, but not every Warrior of Light is a shard of Azem.

I don’t remember it being said that Tenzen or Ramza are our past selves, just that they’re other WoLs.

1/13th of Azem soul to be more precise. So was the warrior of darkness. We still yet to find the other 11 pieces.

We are more than that because at this point 7 shards have rejoined, reuniting those pieces to us.

[Cleretic]

Yeah, we're 9/14ths. Source + 7 shards already rejoined + Ardbert. So we technically have most of Azem's original soul already.

I don't remember as much about Ramza but wasn't Tenzen's soul locked away with that frenzied auspice until the end of the Four Lords questline? That would kind of preclude him from being an Azem shard. I think he was just a wol.

Yeah, Tenzen and Ramza's souls are both currently accounted for, and as a result cannot be our previous incarnations.

Not to mention, us being a reincarnation of Tenzen would actually ruin the story around him. Not only would it devalue his sacrifice to seal Koryu, but you'd go from the Auspices treating you as similar to him and occasionally mistaking you for him because of similar vibes, to the Auspices actually being factually right but just... not bringing that up after a point for some reason?

[Rannie]

If I remember correctly what was said about the Ramza descendant that was it was not the descendant of Ramza but one who inherited the will of a Warrior of Light atleast that was how Ramza (from the Ivamice Raid) explained it after he stopped being such a douche. If I were at home I could give the cutscene from the Inns journal that says it.