Azem is gone. The Warrior of Light remains. Emet-Selch gives the player a monumental mission as the bearer of their friend’s crystal. So, how did that mission influence the characters, places and challenges in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail? Let’s take a look!
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Great video ^^
I will forever be heartbroken, knowing that there probably won't ever be any Emet-Selch anymore. Just seeing this starting scene again amongst the Elpis flowers makes me wanna sob. I have a very unhealthy obsession and love for that sassy man. As well as everything about the Ancients. I pray that we will get much more ancient lore through Azem and our travels.
I also will never get over that Emet created Azem's crystal in secret. So precious, I cry. TwT
“Fish fear me, ascians want me” azem probably
I'm genuinely sorry, but the moment you started telling us what Dawntrail's story *should have been*, I was completely out of it. T_T There's just so much squandered potential in the execution. I believe that what you are saying is true as in what their goals for the story were, but they fumbled the execution so hard that I can't bring myself to accept Wuk Lamat as our "pupil" because what we did was not mentoring at all. I truly wish that this would have been the case. I disagree with your take about being the "main character" though. Even in times when the player took a step back as the main character (we honestly never were the sole focus of the story anyway), the story was told out of the player's perspective. What's happening on screen should still resonate with the player. For me, it absolutely didn't. Dawntrail felt so out of touch for that reason. However, I can see where they were trying to go with the story, and I am excited to see if we get more Azem lore and thereby more lore about our character in the future. I just hope the execution will be better.
Problem is with Wuk, is that her "love" for her people can be heavily debated if it is looked at carefully. I would say Wuks position is far closer to Nanamo of Uldah then it is of Azem. Just looking at Nanamos first introduction in ARR, she wore a false noble disguise to mingle with her people. She did this for years as far as we can tell. Wuk never took a step outside her home, of her own accord, to get to know the people she "claims" to love. Nanamo is far closer to loving her own people than Wuk is by a country mile. If you compare what responsibilities that Wuk is supposed to take and her experience and compare them to all of the original 3 state leaders of ARR, she just fails in every category. Wuk does not lover her people more than Nanamo. Wuk doesn't have as much experience as Merlwyb in keeping multiple factions intact with different points of view in life. Nor does Wuk have a spiritual connection to the land like Kan-e-senna does to bring faith to her people. Yet Wuk is supposed to be on the same field as those 3 city state leaders. They really did Wuk Lamat dirty in trying to keep DT as "kid" friendly as possible. It makes her look far less capable then she should be for the position she is aiming for.
It's nice to know someone else noticed the Azem influences in DT, too! I know the story is controversial for a lot of players. I have a couple of friends who were very frustrated with Wuk Lamat being the protagonist, and they complained about it so often that I started jokingly saying "That's not very Azem of you." Because imo, they were refusing to accept that counselor Azem role that the writers were emphasizing.
I never noticed the personality parallels between Azem and Wuk Lamat though! That's a really interesting connection to draw, and was probably intentional since the WoL is meant to be her mentor.
"As of 7.0, the warrior of light is 9 shards of Azem sundered soul".
7 calamities + Ardbert, that makes 8. What's the 9th shard ?
Good point on this one
I can see some people's complaints bout how DT played out storywise. There were boring parts cus we werent the "main character" there. However, narratively, i did really enjoy it. This was always supposed to be our "vacation" chapter. There werent supposed to be any world-ending catastrophes that we had to deal with. And it makes sense that we've reached the point that we are mentors to the "new players" on the block. Wuk essentially was what WoL and the Twins were at the beginning, a newby with lots of learning to do. And when a something did happen? We did step up more, but still used this as a learning moment for Wuk.
As I noted in another comment about the key:
Venat: "Azem, I know you're going to be upset with this, but the only way to defeat Zodiark is to sunder Etheriys, and the souls of every being within it, into fourteen shards. I am Sorry."
Azem: "Girl, are you kidding?! My successor gets to explore FOURTEEN DIFFERENT WORLDS AT ONCE?! I am SO jealous! Send me the concept crystal for this sundering thing, I wanna make something to help em out before you do it."
We were not in a supporting role, if you replace the warrior of light with a random city guard the outcome would be the same. We didnt guide Wuk Lamat she did everything right with no failures.
Glad I wasn’t the only one to pick up on Wuk Lamat & Azem similarities. While I wish there was more time to flesh it out, I like to think of base DT as our version of when Azem Venat took “us” as an apprentice before “we” took up the seat.
HELLO she is NOT a solo ruler of Tural.
Is it me or am I crazy, but did you use the FFX Farplane theme??
I didn't mind taking a backseat. The Story was clearly set up to be about Wuk Lamat. What I will mind is if for 8.0 we still do not fulfill Emets request of going to Meracydia.
Love Emmet's way of leaving an impression on his friend Azem. To cater to his wonder lust for adventure. As it'd best convey his love and apology to Azem specifically.
No matter how fractured or estranged the chasam of time had left them both. Azem, by definition isn't one to "dwell" for too long regardless what state he is in, sundered or not. Whether that dwelling be a literal stagnation in a realm or group, or the intangible emotions of grief and bitterness. Lol so he knows he's over Shadow Bringers events.
These things would only bore his friend, and so he wrapped up everything he'd want to say in their final encounter till their promised reunion with a quest and a declaration of fulfilling what it is to be Azem, leaving his friend with a great big joyous smile.
You know its makes me angry i didn’t recognize the symbol the key made as Azems symbol and i thought “oh new symbol that may be important later”……its not new
face palmsI actually liked the story when I originally finished it. I was a little off put with the lack of the scions influence as in guidance. Especially graha would have a lot of useful advice for her. I also didn’t like how the blue evil brother (I don’t remember his name 😂) seemed pretty one level. Most of all the villains up to that point had a valid reason we got to discover. But by the end he was just like “I wanted to be my own person not his lucky birthed son”. Sort of seems one dimensional. Like sure it’s a reason but wanting to take over the world seems illogical to make a name for yourself. We definitely see troubles with children trying to live up to a parents reputation even if it’s huge and struggling but rarely do they go with the option of killing without much thought just to take over the world… also poor krile didn’t get much on her end either. Sure she learned about her grandfather but only in bits in pieces. Overall though I didn’t have too much issue just taking a back seat and watching Wuk Lamar learn as we went on. She did talk a lot tho …
Love the take on how Azem and WL are similar! Really enjoyed this video, thanks!
While I noticed someone pointed out that this video was using FFX's Farplane music, I think some people complaining about not being the main focus outright forgot that FF has done "side character as main protagonist" before.
Tidus is a prime example of this. He's a complete alien to the world of Spira and is largely disassociated with nearly everything around him, the exception being Blitzball. He's also not the leader of the group, but Yuna. The story is about her and her struggle to defeat Sin and it's she who leads her pilgrimage with her guardians, not Tidus. I could also bring up Auron as the mentor figure for both of them since he knew both of their fathers and being the oldest of the group
They also did this again with FFXII by making Vaan front and center of the main hero lead despite the fact that the story is really about Basch and not him as he has a history with the world's politics and is the twin brother of one of the main antagonists