I learned the truth of Endwalker...

[@AlyxDerNarr]

The technical retcon of what Answers is really about is honestly the single greatest achievement I've ever witnessed in fiction.

[@Keira_Blackstone]

I legit think that the fact they retroactively managed to tie everything together is even more impressive than if they'd planned it from the start.

[@AlyxDerNarr]

@@Keira_Blackstone 100%

[@mseppanen86]

And to do it in a way that didn't SCREAM retcon or "we have no idea what we were doing" is so amazing to me. Honestly could easily think it was all planned that way. lol

[@ApexGale]

@@mseppanen86 To be fair, Louisoix's sacrifice at the end of 1.0 thematically fits in perfectly with what is going on in Endwalker. When Bahamut broke free of Dalamud and nearly brought about their end of days, his defiance is what saved the star in the face of hopelessness.

[@oliverurbanik9647]

@@Keira_Blackstone True. Absolutly true. This game is a masterpiece in World/Storybuilding.. Ishikawa has done something truly amazing. And I am proud and happy to have witnessed it - FF14 is a Feast to narative Storytelling. A once in a lifetime bullseye.

[@25xxfrostxx]

Her simple question of "Has your journey been good" put me into a cathartic cry that lasted several minutes.

[@LazzyVamples]

ShB Emet: "You are not worthy of our legacy." EW Emet: "Do not squander it. The legacy I leave you." Every time. It gets me every time.

[@ReveredDead]

And the fact that when Emet dies in ShB and returns to the star. He will remember everything during those past few days when you were at Elpis. As Hythlodaeus explains as they come out of the Ktisis place.

[@wyvernlord23]

I hate them for showing the moment Hythlobro went to be sacrificed... You can see Emmet turn from the man who indignantly refused to even consider the WoL's story, to the man who would do ANYTHING to bring back his friend.

[@Norbert_Sattler]

I think the real Emet never did change, but was forcefully changed by the tempering. In Shadowbringers we had a conversation in which Emet openly admits to being tempered by Zodiark, but believing it doesn't matter, since there was concensus between everyone, so Zodiark's will and his original will were the same, thus the tempering couldn't have changed him. But now we know that Fandaniel/Hermes wasn't who either Emet nor even Hermes himself knew, because of this very imporant piece of his memories that were changed in the "accident." I believe that upon becoming Zodiark, the memories that were erased returned to Hermes and thus altered his viewpoint... and with his viewpoint also the viewpoint of all those he tempered in his creation. And as a result the Ascians went from believing that death - or "returning to the planet" as they saw it - was something natural and beautiful, to resenting death and wishing to reverse the death of their people. But insidious as tempering is, they didn't even realize their wills were altered and became convinced that they had always been thinking this way from the very beginning.

[@Derekloffin]

@@Norbert_Sattler Hermes wasn't a part of Zodiark when the other Ascians were around. Elidibus was the core of Zodiark, and Hermes was sundered so he wasn't even a part like Hyth was, he was not one of those sacrificed. Later Elidibus separated from Zodiark and Amon version of Hermes then joined with Zodiark during EW, but by then Emet is gone.

[@Norbert_Sattler]

@@Derekloffin Oh I see, I mixed the two up. Though I still think that Emet's about turn is most likely due to tempering. He did say in Elipis how his future actions would be dishonoring the sacrifices of his people and all that.

[@Derekloffin]

@@Norbert_Sattler That could be. If nothing else, it may well have made him more prone to choosing to take harsher measures in Zodiark's name

[@serisothikos]

I see Venat, I click Venat. The affection I have for her character is impossible to quantify.

[@IamShadowfax]

This. Perfect.

[@veladonna]

"I wonder what we are telling her about?" And that's why I love it is silent. We all have different spots we love in the game. I spoke out loud all the things I loved in my adventures with the game. And when she asked THE question... Heck yes my journey was good and I can't thank this game enough for changing me.

[@nevanvictorian]

I feel glad I never suspected Venats intention ever even if the game was playing the confusion card very well, and when I saw this cutscene, I was an emotional wreck, it's not death that's scary, it is loneliness and that what I saw in Venat, carrying the burden alone and walking a dark path, can really relate on a personal level, a story for another time perhaps

[@acgearsandarms1343]

I know that final vision wasn’t actually how it happened in the past, but it just had a lot of emotional symbolism. Heartbreaking but had such great delivery of the lines. So many Ancients couldn’t handle the unpleasant hardships of life. So Venat had to drop that line. “No more shall man have wings to bear him to paradise. Henceforth, he shall walk.”

[@Golseph]

You left out the 20 minutes of staring at screen in silence after the answers cutscene

[@KMCA779]

him too, eh? It seems to be an almost universal reaction. I know I sat there just zoned out and thinking for a good 20 minutes... and I was one of the few people who never had their faith in her waver.

[@CaeArcanix]

It's hard to sum up how impressive Venat is as a character. So much anticipation and expectation combined with the seeds of doubt over Hydaelyn's role and purpose. But yet, here is this beacon of love and adventure and understanding, someone who is so selfless and incredible. In such a short time, Venat went from an enigma to one of the best and most comforting characters in the series. I fully believe in the love she has for the world, a love that Hydaelyn embodies for the entire star.

[@rabid_si]

10 Vuln stacks straight to the heart. Unavoidable.

[@kiyoskedante]

When venat asks you what made you who you are today, what brought you to this path, the wol does the haurchefaunt fist pump, but smiling. Its not in sadness, you are positively shaped and resolved because of his sacrifice. Remembering your friend in warm smiles, he would have wanted that of you. A..... Smile better suits a hero.

[@gabgano8101]

During the walk I think that first hit she takes is from when she shielded us from Ultima Weapon back in ARR. The second is from when the light was overflowing within us near the end of ShB. (Mostly because the muck splashes the same way the light goop does when we spit some out) I’ll always love that bit where she flashes over us when we’re walking toward Emet. At a time when we basically had no one else and had even begun to doubt her, she was still there watching over us, and maybe even pushing us forward with what little strength she had. Elpis did such an amazing job at fleshing out all the ancients but, Venat really shines (heh) even though she only gets a few voices cutscenes.

[@AlcheaNemesis]

To me, flashing to our confrontation with Emet was... showing us the moment we proved to Venat that humanity did, indeed, have the strength of will to face Meteion at last. The day we faced Hades without doubt, crawling there, even as our body was giving up due to the excess of light in a hopeless situation. That's the moment humanity passed Venat's initial test.

[@kuronaialtani]

During ShB: omg hydaelyn is a primal what's her blessing are we tempered I'll never trust her again After elpis: I'm so sorry for ever doubting you crystal mom I'm so sorry ;_;

[@Dastreus]

I always took it as the rejoinings. They said back in HW or ARR that rejoinings hurt Hydaelyn.

[@trinioler]

It is the rejoinings, not specific events in our personal stories. There are 7 flashes. 7 rejoinings.

[@zixserro1]

I'm pretty sure the hits she's taking are meant to represent her weakening whenever a part of Zodiark was restored through an Umbral Calamity.

[@Teldarin]

That section where Meteion reports about all those lost worlds/civilizations in such a sterile way, while this super creepy music plays, always makes me shiver. They crafted a masterfully disturbing scene here.

[@dumbsterdives]

is why i kind of wish the english actor kept that cold tone going, like the japanese one did. her performance is good, it just feels a bit odd for a being of despair to sound so malevolent

[@koraltea8534]

I love the scene with Venat walking through the darkness. After going so long without interacting with the Warrior of Light, we grew frustrated- bitter, even- towards Hydaelyn. Going through Endwalker, we see who she really was; Each blow she got hit with in that darkness made her more and more covered in dirt and ichor, showing us that through our adventure, she was there. She took every hit for us. Every. Single. One.

[@DoktorWieg]

I guess this is a good time to mention this that your trip to Elpis pretty much assured your own role in the events. Like you said, it is somewhat like a closed time loop except it only needed to happen once. By going to Elpis and meeting Venat, the WoL made himself known to her. He told her of their adventures, of their story, of their trials and tribulations. Venat also recognized she had put a ward on them and could recognize them by the color of their soul, much like Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus can. She knows who to look for because you were there to give her that information. So when you began your adventure, coming to one of the main cities, of that 'dream' you had of the mothercrystal? Yes, it is Venat-as-Hydaelyn basically going "I found you" and making sure you would be nudged in the direction needed to come across her once more. You were never 'chosen' : you had already assured your own role as the protagonist in this tale before you knew you were part of it.

[@bakacdaz]

Only plot hole of this time loop is Hydaelyne should not exist in timeline that the world destroyed by Black Rose because WoL should die before meet Venat and give her idea about Hydaelyne.

[@curelightchild]

@@bakacdaz Except that black rose killed everyone world no longer exists. You told Hydaelyn of your ShB experience so she made sure there was a way to get you to the first. This is my head cannon as to why Raha never disappeared. You told Hydaelyn that he lived

[@thatrandom_canadian]

@@curelightchild From what I recall it still exists, as an entirely seperate and unaccessable timeline. It was in spite of the timeline being forced to continue on their path that they worked to send Graha to our time. In "Tales From The Shadows" the story "A World Forsaken" our timeline is specifically referred to as an "alternate reality in which the Calamity never occurred", and those that were in the Black Rose timeline would live a "continued existence in a world ravaged by Black Rose".

[@curelightchild]

@@thatrandom_canadian ohhh gotcha. I haven't read any of the side stories, though clearly I need to.

[@autumneagle]

That and you're the sundered soul of the -then- current Azem, their "incorrigible" friend.

[@Dracofire87]

EVERYONE I know took that exact same breath when Answers began to play. You just...KNOW.

[@saulmadrid9950]

After the events of Kairos, "new old friend" has a truer meaning to it. Would you agree? 🤔

[@zacharydavis3579]

Venat’s question gave me fully body chills.

[@XenosInfinity]

To begin, you first must see the end... And now that you have looked the end in her eye and called her by her name, you and Venat alone know what must be done. The loop is closed. The stage is set. Let the curtain rise for act three.

[@1jidion]

let the curtain fall upon this, the final chapter in the tale of this star

[@Teramoix]

They never outright say it, but it's heavily implied later that a number of worlds perished as a direct result of Metion arriving there. Seeing her as some emissary of the Stars they would start was thinking themselves chosen and others valueless. That's what went down with the WMDs in her report.

[@RothAnim]

He dreamed he was walking along the beach with Hydaelyn. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to Hydaelyn. "I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me." And lo, Hydaelyn gestured back, to the thousand, thousand lifetimes of footprints before yours, where she walked alone, through trials unseen and calamaties. Her prints stained deep in blood. "Because it is your tales of joy and hardship which carried me."

[@RothAnim]

Alternate punchline "And she replied 'Get on my level, scrub'"

[@PetarBladeStrok]

Venat's walk is my favorite cutscene in all of gaming... It's just beyond words... Life changing... Wow.

[@brianmiller3529]

When Emet returns to the star after 5.0, he regains these memories like you said. This is also why he saves us in Seat of Sacrifice... At that point he knew he had to help us keep going.

[@thedragon133]

...And amidst deepest despair, light everlasting.

[@danh8804]

Somethin that really hits hard for me after this is that after that last cutscene, when you think to how Emet-Selch didn't, couldn't, understand why Venat did what she did, you can really understand the bitterness and indignation in "The Dying Gasp" when he roars "that light split the world, and every life upon it!"

[@jat8657]

This entire segment was so masterfully done and it was so soul crushing im glad you have the stregnth terra. We walk now and forever more for those who have fallen and for those we can yet save

[@geovanicaon20]

Its always amazing to see people reacting to the first time of the scene where we find out the true meaning of a song released 10 years ago and featured in the 2.0 launch

[@ShanaAbee]

Why this sentence got you? because she looks at YOU, not at the character i broke with this sentence and actually changed my reallife journey :) thatnk your a thousand times for that, yoshi

[@TerenceLight]

32:30 - “We are the Meteia. We will add your emotional distinctiveness to our own. Your dynamis will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.”

[@Meowlo]

"Do not squander it, the legacy I leave you" kills me every time. immediately i am become mess.

[@Piretfreak87]

After Elpis and this cutscene I had to "apologise" to Venat. Because for a short while, after learning that she is a Primal herself...or became one...I thought "Hmm, maybe Hydaelyn isn't the good one in this"...I was so very very wrong. Venat/Hydaelyn was the best of them all...and I'm gonna miss her. ❤

[@Kaosi]

Hythlodaeus is such a nice guy that he gives a compliment to the guy who more or less assured that the Apocalypse would happen

[@GrahamChapman]

One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lady. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lady. After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. This really troubled me, so I asked the Lady about it. "Hydaelyn, you said once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me." She Answers, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, Never, ever, during your tests and trials. When you saw only one set of footprints, Then those were the times when the same set of footprints belonged to the both of us, Because we were both struggling to overcome those tests and trials, And I shared your pain and your burdens." "Never forget that the saddest and most troublesome times of your life Are also your most triumphant and glorious. Because, being able to walk them alone, without me carrying you, proves to both of us That you do not need me to overcome any hardship, that your victories are your own, And that you do not need me, or any other god, to be the best you that you can be."

[@Dastreus]

Did you run Emet-Selch through the waterfall? Because I theorize pretty much everyone who likes him even as just a character does it. I know I did. And, if they regain their memories on death... some fun thing to note: Emet-Selch did not get trapped in an Auracite. He broke it. The deathblow was delivered, but he could simply be reformed if he wanted, as an Ascian. He didn't. He only came back again to help you fight Elidibus, after his death, when his memories would've been restored. Recontextualizes the whole Seat of Sacrifice cutscene incredibly well.

[@sylverkat9488]

It took me a while to realize this but when it hit, it hit hard. It was an OMG moment. "In that fight with Elidibus - he knew." When I watch that scene now, it kills me that Elidibus reaches out to him.

[@ExileTwilight]

I think ultimately the Auracite wasn't necessary because he had shed his mortal flesh to go at us with his full power during the second phase transition, it was just helpful in weakening and making him vulnerable for our light-axe toss.

[@troygilbride3302]

This was the first video of yours i saw. Watched it out of curiousity, fell in love with your personality and sense of humor and decided i couldnt continue to see your endwalker journey without seeing how you got here. Loved every minute of it. I love xiv for a multitude of reasons and seeing others reactions to the story is one of the best. Cant wait to see the rest of your endwalker journey!

[@rptrrwr]

Hopefully I can explain how I see venat clearly enough with this: venat is a scientist and humanitarian. She loves the world and the life within it because of the fact that something so amazing was created by chance. She has learned much about the world but instead of feeling like there's nothing more to learn, each aspect she learns of leads to more interesting things to explore. She is a true adventurer and scholar. She doesn't return to the star; but not because she doesn't want to or thinks it's pointless: rather that she doesn't see the work of her life as complete until she knows that mankind can continue on its own without seeking help from her. Almost fanatically selfless in her pursuit of cementing mankinds future on the star. She is the opposite of almost every other amaurotine: She sees that there is pain and sorrow, but knows that it makes the good things In life that much more beautiful and that BOTH the good and bad in life are necessary to achieve happiness and fulfillment. Where Hermes focuses on pain and suffering and determines that humanity has no right to live if they're flawed, and amaurotines in general refuse to even SEE or experience suffering, she argues that both are wrong and that suffering proves that there is good in the world worth fighting for, and that without suffering life would not have as much significance. Truly a mother, a scholar, a philosopher, an adventurer, and caregiver for all of etheirys. The will of the star in all senses.

[@darkvalkyrie7]

This is probably a hot take but I don't get the veneration of Venat. We know she's not the only one who thinks as she does because there were a bunch of people who followed her and sacrificed for her vision. So effectively she murders every last Amaurotine to stop some of them from murdering others. It's like if you protested against the war in Afghanistan but instead of figuring out how to get those people out of power you decide to kill every last man, woman and child in the US to stop it - even those who are against the sacrificing to Zodiark. She's right that sacrificing more lives is weakness - and that's exactly what she does. Except for the few unsundered, she ended every other life in her quest of "what's right" - very similar to what we were protesting against what the Ascians were doing. Since there were others who believed in what she was saying, there's nothing to say that the Amaurotines wouldn't get there as well - maybe if you give them a bit of time to recover from the *incredible* trauma of losing 75% of their population and without the knowledge she knows of the future. She just arbitrarily decides they can't do it while still saying she believes in mankind.

[@rptrrwr]

@@darkvalkyrie7 the difference is that she did it to give all of humanity a way to continue living even through despair, which she knew was going to be the biggest problem to overcome. Nevermind fighting meteon, there's a reason she looked so dejected when she learned of what happened to the perfect paradise without sorrow. They lost the will to live because happiness lost its value. In order to make sure that never happened and that humanity would continue on, she made a difficult decision. It wasn't a mercy by any means, it wasn't kind. She knew she would be submitting every soul to suffering, but the point was to give happiness and hope value that would last forever. What solidified her decision was the willingness of the amaurotines to sacrifice the new lives they created just to get the old ones back and to bring back their "perfect world" free of sorrow. Regardless of if they succeeded, it would eventually be their demise. They couldn't deal with despair, and the decision to sacrifice more lives to bring back the way of life they lost showed that. If meteon came back (which she could since there's no guarantee the star would be shrouded in aether forever) that would be their end again, with no guarantee that anyone would know how to defeat it if for some reason venat wasn't there. Past the threat of meteon, the lack of anything painful will eventually mean that all good this will feel dull and banal. When there's nothing "good" left to live for, that would spell disaster for humanity.

[@darkvalkyrie7]

@Admralakbar but like I said - "they couldn't deal with despair" is a generalization of something that was proven to be not true. She wasn't a lone warrior. There were others that believed as she did and argued against it. Both Emet and Elidibus mention that they were an entire faction that divided their people. Azem left the Convocation. The group of people that sacrifice to summon Hydaelyn. There were probably people like Hermes that were looking for answers that would've also joined her amongst the general populace. So it's BS that "they couldn't deal with despair". Some people couldn't sure - but that's true of humanity now. She condemned an entire race to death when it's proven that there was active debate about it. Otherwise, Elidibus wouldn't have separated himself from Zodiark - the divide was so great that he withdrew himself. And she withheld critical information from the people as well - even AFTER the final days. So yes - maybe this time the people who couldn't deal would have been successful but the other choice was to keep fighting with the people who believed as she did to change society. Instead, she committed genocide. It wasn't just submitting every soul to suffering - they're straight up dead. And THEN every soul is submitted to suffering. And we've actually seen this play out in Ultima Thule. There were races that embraced demise but we were able to help them through it by sharing our experiences - Meteion mentions a spark in a once dead civilization. And that's also how we help each other out - by sharing our experiences, listening, bonding. We don't kill the person to hope that the next person is able to better deal. Also I think it's kinda ironic that we say that you always need bad to feel happy - I mean I volunteer, donate and vote to try and alleviate suffering in my community and around the world. Seems like what I'm doing is superfluous since this is just making those less fortunate happier than I apparently am.

[@rptrrwr]

@@darkvalkyrie7 no, the fact that there IS sadness gives what you volunteer meaning. If everyone was perfect and happy, volunteering your time wouldn't mean the same. Volunteering your time to play with kids in the mansion with the loving supportive parents and everything they could ever want doesn't have the same purpose as tutoring underprivileged kids after school or helping them to find scholarships so they could be the first in their family to go to college. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying all suffering is good, I'm saying that suffering makes what is good have value. Sure, there's unnecessary suffering that should(and could) be fixed, but imperfections are what gives humanity the ability to continue struggling towards that ideal world. You say that it's an over generalization about the amaurotines, but you're forgetting that it was venat who created the splinter faction in the first place. Without her, we have no idea if anyone would have disagreed with the convocation's plan. I'd like to think azem would, but that's just hopeful speculation on my part, and who knows how many could be convinced that what the convocation was doing is wrong. Even more importantly, how many of the splinter group would have thought to (or desired to) make all people imperfect? Venat purposefully and carefully picked out people she could trust to bring in on her plan. Again, no one else knew about meteon or the fate of the other stars. Some may have disagreed with the convo on how to deal with the result of the final days, but no one else would know even remotely how important that choice was. Hence why you still had the entire convocation (minus azem) fighting for eons to bring everything back to the way it was. The fact that emet even says he tried to live with the sundered people and found them wanting says a lot.the idea of being a flawed person is such an alien concept to them it couldn't be understood by one who had even started a family among them.

[@darkvalkyrie7]

@@rptrrwr TLDR: I don't disagree with why Venat decided to act. I disagree with how she decided to act - giving up on the Amaurotines ability to grow and learn, removing their choice by killing them all, and hoping 2.0 does better. You've actually proved my point though. Emet eventually got there. He learned and grew. Maybe not on the same timeline as you would expect, but time works different when you have a long lifespan - like the dragons said, the pain of a 1000 years ago is the same now as it was then. Emet had to go through a lot of life experiences, meet a bunch of different people, have his head beat with it, but eventually he got there. He understood *why* his original position was not a great one and where he needed to change to move forward. And that's my entire point. Amaurotines *were* capable of changing. You're right that Venat created the splinter group. That just supports my point. Venat was very charismatic and she had good points. If she could do it with a handful of Amaurotines, why not keep going down that road? Why decide she found all the people who could possibly support this position ever? She clearly missed Emet because as noted above he eventually got there. Your point on them not knowing about Meteion. That was because *she* decided to withhold the information from the general public to avoid panic. But *after* the Final Days, she could've used that as part of her struggle to change minds and influence society. Would disclosing the information change anything? It changed her. But she decided against having that conversation. Instead, she decided it was better to give up on the Amaurotines, remove their ability to choose, and choose for them. It is very maternalistic (so Mommy does apply here), but the Amaurotines aren't (all) children. They're people with their own hopes, dreams, ways of thinking - everything that the Scions stand for and again proven by the amount of people who disagreed with the Zodiark path even before having access to the Meteion information that she withheld. I actually see what she did and what Meteion wanted to do on the same level - "I think I know what is best for you so I'm going to make the choice for you." It gave me a little pang when you asked how many people would have agreed with her plan therefore she needed to do it alone. There's a hubris that comes with her thinking that her reasoning is superior to the collective reasoning of everyone else on the planet and so it was ok to just murder everyone because it's for the "greater good". She decided on behalf of her entire race that they were incapable of moving forward as they were and the only solution was to kill them and hope 2.0 did better. That they, as individual souls who also had lives of love and laughter and friendship, were somehow not worth giving a chance to figure out a path forward themselves. It felt like her saying to the Amaurotines "You are not good enough. You as you are are not enough. Only someone else can be trusted with mankind's legacy." And I find that mindset very sad. She in her own way gave into despair and ended an entire civilization (like Meteion). I'm not saying that Venat wasn't an interesting character who had the best of intentions and tried her best or that I don't love FF14 to death - I do. There is a lot of strength and bravery from having a conviction and seeing it through to the end. But I think her decision was arrogant and based on a flawed premise based on what we've seen in the game. Honestly, I think she came to this decision because she was subconsciously biased by the information we gave her from the future that this was somehow the "correct" path to go. I'm not saying that the path she chose didn't eventually get to the survival of human kind. I'm just saying that I don't agree that it was the only way. Every other civilization in the game that we see that was in the same position as the Amaurotines found a way out. Midgarsommr. Omega. Our time with the different races in Ultima Thule. They figured it out given time, experience and interactions with others because it's both an individual and a societal fight. Also - it wasn't that the Amaurotine society was perfect and therefore they couldn't understand happiness. It was clear that they did have sadness. They just as a society hadn't matured enough to understand how to deal with it and face it when it came around. They just...kinda ignored it. So I agree with Venat that they need to learn how to deal with it to be healthy. I just don't agree with her cohice to remove agency and choice and her answer of giving up, killing everybody, and hoping 2.0 does better.

[@bioboygamer]

We had the Answers all along. We just didn’t know the Question. ...Nothing I could say would ever possibly be enough to express how I feel about this part of the game. It’s so good, and so important. Some games look at nihilism and existential despair as themes and do everything in their power to soften it and tell you not to think about it too hard. This is one of the few games that does not hesitate to stare into the abyss, and maybe even make it flinch.

[@castoputa]

❤

[@maracaegrizzley8734]

I will forever be upset that I never got the chance to actually *tell* Venat my answer to her question. The question of whether the journey was worthwhile. I know that narratively it doesn't matter, the point was to ask the *player* the question and prompt the *player* to ponder the question, particularly as a ten-year-effort is drawing to a close. But I wish I could have told her that it was worth every heartbreaking moment. It was worth fighting my way past death itself at the end of the previous June and waking up on the Fourth of July in a hospital and weaker than a newborn kitten, but I had already pre-ordered Endwalker and I wasn't going to miss that launch, not for anything. It was worth it, even as I struggled with existential questions of my own because of the lingering effects of dying and resurrecting and then having to learn again to sit up, to feed myself, to stand, to walk again. It was worth the pain of Ishikawa's writing hitting me in my unhealed wounds time and time again as I sobbed when I wasn't laughing and thinking about how very much I loved these goofy characters. It was worth it, Venat. Every moment, every tear, every bark of laughter. It has all been worth it and I'm so very grateful that I took the leap into Eorzea.

[@cas1085]

My only wish was that this scene had explained more how… she got her ability to sunder the world? But I haven’t finished EW so perhaps it’s coming.

[@apollogarvan9446]

It still amazes me how much damage one flawed question can manage to cause.

[@RocRolDis]

You tell her about Hildebrand and she's just like, "..........wut?"

[@bakacdaz]

Maybe that's why she laughing

[@sharissara]

The end of Elpis questline was probably most impactful storytelling of any media I've ever experienced. I am broken.

[@malifex9922]

Given that you've probably gotten the answer to your question at 18:20 about the "hear, feel, think" association between Venat, Meteion, Hydaelyn, and you, my best guess is that Meteion uses her entelechy senses to make a connection with someone (hear their words, share their feelings, know their thoughts). Once Meteion is the known enemy in the future, Venat realizes that a hero worthy of ending Meteion's eternal despair is one that re-form that bridge of understanding. That's why the shadow birds in the final area succumb to your party when exposed to honest and stable emotions. It's the key/weakness for them. Venat made it her mantra when becoming Hydaelyn because she knew from this period in time that Meteion's connection to you is necessary to even make this timeline possible, let alone prepare for a future where Meteion can be stopped.

[@RoyvanG]

36 seconds. Literally 36 seconds after it was available I clicked on your profile to check if a new video was posted. An lo and behold.

[@vaidenkelsier7757]

On a scale of 1-10, has your journey been good? Has it been worthwhile? (Yeah, I had a sob at that moment too lol)

[@linnilotus]

The has your journey been worthwhile question gets me every time

[@robikkupegasus7039]

I love this game so, so much... ;w; Ishikawa is a master of her craft, and deserves every bit of acclaim she receives...

[@providencebreaker1558]

My headcanon is that WoL was telling Venat about Hildebrand.

[@Toviathan]

I'm so glad KZbin brought me here! Glad to have found your channel. Love watching people go through this part of Endwalker.

[@nathanosworth4640]

In a sense, when Hydaelyn calls to her Warriors of Light, her children….in a way, it’s her calling to us, sparking within our hearts as adventurers, the drive to do good and see the world the same way she did when she was Azem…when she first fell in love with the world that she called “home”

[@Froggsroxx]

43:50 This moment with the single light in the sky always reminds me of the moment in the Iron Giant when the missile is launched. Everyone just stops and watches it, because there's nothing anyone can do to stop it. A moment of despair at what is to come.

[@Keira_Blackstone]

This expansion can be quite painful for someone as open-hearted as you, Terra, but trust me when I say it's worth it to walk to the end.

[@sylverkat9488]

Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Terra.

[@autumneagle]

7:35 it's as if the FFXIV team were asking you directly, has your journey been good? Have you enjoyed it?

[@jankentrexpalalay8879]

After this Venat's cut scene of the final days, the song "Answers" hit like a truck. It's crazy how the song is from ARR and the story has almost made a full circle at this point.

[@Dotterelly]

Congratulations on pushing through at the end there. I hope you got a good rest after all that!

[@zeroblade9800]

the moment you get control back in the occular is a brain being done after getting cooked in a microwave moment. I wish I had recorded myself because watching everyone react the moment right after is wild. You're either crying, stun locked, face palming, need to walk away, etc.

[@MrDoot-hj2ir]

There is a quest during the Crystal Tower raids when, at the ending of a cutscene, the camera pans upwards to the top of the Tower, up to the sky, and a Morse code message says "IT'S ALL WRONG"

[@finnianheart]

a lot of people think hermes is stupid/don't understand why he defended meteion and allowed her to become what she did, but i think a lot of people lack a fundamental understanding of his character. for YEARS he's watched as creations are made and then tossed away like trash, wondering if he himself would be one of those thrown away. but he held onto the hope of happiness, for a meaning to continue on, through meteion's discovery. and then she comes back. and tells him there is nothing. everything that he has seen happen to creations over the years, the suffering, has been for nothing. there is nothing to continue ever onwards for, even amongst the stars. there is only the inevitable end. a better question is why would he NOT let meteion go?

[@bakacdaz]

He an Idealist too idealist he love everything that made him hate everything

[@nahuel3433]

Still though he holds on to some hope. He doesn't dismiss Meteion's answer, but he still chooses to defy it by staying behind and fighting against the Final Days as a man. This is a determination. Much like he did to every animal in Elpis. If they are deemed not fit, they die. If they ARE fit, they'll simply beat back the comming oblivion.

[@cyphi474]

That Venat's question was into 4th wall..... Was your journey fun?

[@stachehenry8901]

i couldnt even process what i was feeling going through that. i experienced a whole new emotion

[@cparle87]

25:38 Sending a hive mind into the cold space that couldn't even be in a room with a group of individuals having a calm, but unpleasant, discussion. How did Hermes not see this going wrong? 46:44 ShB Emet "You cannot be entrusted with our legacy." EW Emet "Do not squander it, the legacy I leave you." I sobbed. After almost 10 years we now know the Answer. 1:15:12 "Our souls have been torn, and our bodies forsaken."

[@johnmack20]

When it hit you and you thought of Emet gaining his memories back, i immediately though you caught onto why Hythlodaeus says hello my old new friend but doesnt comment further .

[@KasperCoei]

30:05 "He didn't limit break!" But how is he supposed to limit break? He can't harness the power of dynamis! He's too aetherically dense!

[@pcdruid]

That is exactly what I was thinking while watching that part.

[@BloodTrinity]

iirc, in that ending scene where she walks, she was originally supposed to be covered in blood, but it got changed to black goop due to age ratings

[@jankentrexpalalay8879]

One of my most awaited parts of EW! :3 Didn't expect youd drop a vid at this time.

[@AiroDusk]

17:24 Somewhat similar to how Thancred hid in his fight with Ranjit

[@Zikiru]

No matter how many times I've seen this with many reactions videos. It never ever gets easier...

[@moxopal675]

If you haven't looked up the lyrics to answers lately, now is a good time to do so

[@RasenCore]

Dude i need to stop watching Endwalker videos in public. Literally sobbing while walking home.

[@ReveredDead]

Square Enix literally broke the 4th wall right here. At 7:11. This was them asking us the gamer had we enjoyed the story and the journey. My god I love this game and the developers. By the way at the end of the Elpis questline. After that final cutscene. I literally took 15 minutes to process what had just happened and what we witnessed. And in hindsight if I only knew what awaited at the end of the MSQ...

[@Auron200004]

My favorite stretch of a game filled with favorite moments.

[@williamranzani9453]

"Henceforth.. he shall walk"

[@Nightstriker995]

one of the most powerful cutscenes in the entire game... everytime I see it it just leaves me speechless.

[@coolcharminguy]

It amazes me how good Gigakawa and ther FFXIV writng team is. Shadowbringers gave us one of the best villians I have seen in any media in the form of Emet whose story was told and ended within one expansion. Then Endwalker gave us one of the best heroes I have seen in any media in the form of Venat whose story was told and ended within one expansion (infact only a part of the expansion really).

[@liony9400]

Emet-Selch: Fine Hithlo let me upgrade the WOL, close your eyes and let me upgrade you.

[@陳威麟-q7o]

07:45 You are alone there. The journey. And the answer we hold, altogether

[@Enderlinkpawnu]

"Oh shit is that Minfilia Dog?" - Me when I met Argos.

[@karlrassmann4604]

Remember how Terra was contemplating stopping stream before Ktisis because of a snowstorm threatening to knock out his internet? Could you IMAGINE if he stopped there?

[@NSUSashiel]

I don't think I ever cared as much for a fictional character as I did for Venat.

[@lenaboyer6981]

That last quest title hits hard doesn’t it?? I was like shaking once everything was over and I was back in the Tower, they did the existential/cosmic horror really well and I loved it but also wtf Ishikawa 😂 Also when you speculated that the Meteia may have cleansed some of the stars themselves I legit did the monkey puppet side-eye meme because…yeah 😬

[@syav4467]

Has your journey been good? Has it been worthwhile? 😭

[@JessDivaTM]

you called it Terra

[@BastetMusic]

tfw you realize all this happened because Hermes didn't consider the Fermi Paradox

[@ApexGale]

"There's too many of them! What are we going to do?" Venat: 1:13:19

[@stitches1110]

A quick reminder: While ultimately the correct path, Venat and her associates ultimately went against the wishes of not just the Convocation of 14, but perhaps the greater portion of Etheryis as a whole, since Zodiark, unlike Hydaelyn was known to be coming into existence by the common folk.

[@castoputa]

Trying to describe how this makes you feel reveals the rank inadequacy of language ❤

[@陳威麟-q7o]

54:57 guess who says "remember?"

[@ApexGale]

Memes aside, a lot of people seem to think that Venat was in the wrong for doing what she did. I can understand why they think so, but I've always seen it as her making a long term decision for the people of the planet. What Meteion said about a star that was so peaceful and perfect that the people stopped finding meaning it it really hit home to Venat. Venat, who was one of the extremely rare few who didn't decide that she would pass on her seat and return to the star. She saw that her people would likely move in that direction, considering that Hermes was seen as the odd one out due to how much he cared about life on the planet. She took a choice for them - simultaneously acting selfish AND selfless for the sake of her home.

[@cparle87]

I saw Meteion's report on THAT particular star be the tipping point for Hermes deciding to let her go. Remember his rant after he had to put the creature down? "If those who are satisfied choose to die then when the star is perfected will we all choose to die in satisfaction?"

[@Brucerpooten]

around 1hr 14min her eyes are just about as blue as your hair lol

[@TarundiMC]

I think they did Hermes dirty. Like I think it makes sense where he eventually ended but I always felt like his descent to madness happened way too quickly, and I think more people would have empathized with him if they gave us more time together and showed a more gradual change.

[@lvl10cooking]

Yee

[@oszaszi]

I still dont get why people forgive Venat so easily. Dont tell me telling her story to her people and trying to find a solution together would not have been a better solution? Instead she kept silent and waited for shit to go down... Still probably it would have been a challenge to go to Meteion due to the excess aether they have, but surely better idea than mass sacrifice and killing all remaining survival just to split their souls to 13 pieces... She just decided by herself "nah my people are not worthy, bye bitches"... ALONE. She made that decision for all of her people alone...

[@FlynnFromTaiga]

She was an ascian. They failed. They were another dead end. But, Venat managed to find a way forward. Not without a flaw (with a bunch of them actually). And she was not alone, she had her followers. She could not be able to create Hydaelyn all by herself.

[@snipegrzywa]

I know this is an old comment, but in case someone comes along . . . You seem to be missing the key, fundamental story reason of the entire game. The Ascians COULD NOT, EVER, fight and beat Meteion. As they were pure Aether, they had no effect on Dynamis. Venat chose adding duology to mankind (pain and suffering / joy and happiness) and reduced their aether concentration, so eventually, one day in the future, mankind COULD fight against Meteion. It was either let the Ascians do there thing, and ALL LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE perishes to the Song of Oblivion, OR tear the world apart, so one day, MAYBE there will be someone to fight and actually save all life in the universe. Part of your sentiment is still correct. She did make that choice. And she lived with that choice. For thousands of years (I think , I'm a little unclear of the timeline). She suffered just as much as mankind did. Further more, her plan caused her to give up ALL of her aether, meaning she dead dead, unlike others who return to the aether sea and still exist in that weird, heavenly, thing that it is. Its like the scene from Avengers where Dr Strange sees the only path forward, the 1 in 13 billion or whatever, and he sets the universe down that path, despite the pain and suffering it causes, because its either do that, or let Thanos win.