Azem's Legacy in Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail (Character Analysis)

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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[@StoutHelm]

So sorry friends! I didn’t realize comments were turned off! Talk to me! 🤣

[@riklaunim]

Knowing Azem he was fishing.

[@StoutHelm]

Mystery solved

[@aalbes50]

so like with most rpg games, the world is in danger? lets go fishing.

[@kimaclaret]

I think the Azem character they created is so cool. I love to think about what "my" Azem would have been like. I'm so happy with the direction we're heading, even though the future will undoubtedly change my headcanon. I always imagined that Azem would have left the convocation and their plans to help the people directly and try and find another way. It's possible they died doing so. I get the feeling we're going to find out.

[@ArchangeVie]

I think it is heavily implied that it is indeed what happened, they were probably helping people directly with their friends as the scions do now and continued to do so until hydealyn sundered the world

[@acgearsandarms1343]

Another trait of Azem I want to point out is that they were also a leader of men. They had all the qualities of leadership to guide and lead people. In the MSQ, there are details where the Warrior of Light can and does show such qualities this former self had. Not only the strengths but the will. Gaius often comments we had such qualities befitting a ruler when fighting him, or look how often we take the lead in dangerous missions. At times we also give advice to city state leaders. Even Ardbert was leader of his party and showed similar qualities. I think having traits of being a leader also helps our character be a trailblazer that lives up to the ideals Azem held and has benefited many people of the star in the course of our journey.

[@StoutHelm]

Excellent points. I agree. Wuk Lamat isn’t quite the leader I think some players want her to be yet. But there’s still time for her to grow. I think a totally complete arc in 7.0 wouldn’t have been satisfying. I’m fine with her continuing to learn throughout the expansion. Thank you again for another insightful comment.

[@iantaakalla8180]

Wasn’t another reincarnation of Azem the leader of the auspices? It’s not revealed in there but in side stuff like answers asked to the developers. Azem really is a born leader in ability and temperament.

[@UrbanCohort]

@@StoutHelmI spent the entirety of Dawntrail thinking "she's going to be a great leader...in five to ten years."

[@acgearsandarms1343]

@@iantaakalla8180 Potentially Tenzen was a past life of ours. No definitive proof, but circumstantial evidence hints to it. He does demonstrate traits of Azem as well.

[@kastiel_szn8328]

This might sound stupid but I actually think that Azem did absolutely nothing during the Final Days because they knew thanks to the magic of timeloop that they HAD to do nothing. They couldn't take part in either Zodiark nor Hydaelyn's summoning because their soul had to remain so they could be sundered and become the WOL... So yeah, in the eyes of others, Azem just looked like a traitor who walked away but they already knew it was over and just entrusted the future of the star and the univers to it's future-self. I feel like the key is something maybe created by Emet-Selch long ago... back in ShB, he did said that he and the other ascians tried many things before finding their classic modus operandi that are the umbral calamities... maybe the key and its power of dimensionnal fusion was one of the first thing they tried.

[@vukkulvar9769]

I believe Azem did something though. Venat probably spilled the beans about the sundering. I think Azem made the artifact that permit traveling to reflections so that there remain a connection between all for travelers and adventurers.

[@lunarbl4de476]

@@vukkulvar9769 Based on the theories that Azem had some sort of future sight or something similar, I think they spent their time preparing for the future. As @kastiel_szn8328 said they knew they couldn't directly interfere one way or another in the final days of their time so they used that little time they had left to set things in motion and prepare things for their future sundered selves. As to what exactly they knew or what they did to prepare, time will only tell, but with what we've heard from themis and venat I'm fairly convinced that Azem knew at least something important and was doing their own thing to prepare for whatever it was.

[@vteccomplex]

But Venat already knew the future and wouldn't use Azem for that anyways.

[@jkranites]

Yoshi P made it a point to make Azems symbol on the key to operate the dimensional machine. So Azem was probably trying to do his own thing to save everyone. Ya know that didn’t involve sacrificing everyone

[@FuyuYuki92]

My personal headcanon for my Azem is that she tried to stop the final days by other means, but that's when the sundering happened in the first timeline. In the second timeline (Elpis), she then learned about her "future self" and maybe did something else. It would be cool if the OG Azem was the final final boss of the game or something.

[@tigerzeng3046]

The ultimate fate of Azem is an intriguing mystery: Venat made it sound like Azem was no more before she sundered the world. Was Azem murdered? Or did they intentionally sacrifice their own life to put their plan in motion? Because otherwise Azem just ghosted Venat.

[@StoutHelm]

I don’t know if I buy this, because we know Azem was sundered like everyone else. If they weren’t, the WoL and the other shards wouldn’t exist. Murder is off the table, but being busy doing something else thst was important? That I could see.

[@saltedscimitar]

@@StoutHelm I don't think they were murdered either, but it wouldn't be completely off the table. Souls in the life stream would have been sundered as well, we would have wound up with many more unsundered if they weren't.

[@blackfox4138]

I genuinely believe that Azem, while understand our role in defeat Meteion, wasn't prioritizing the Final Days, the Sundering, or even the Song of Oblivion. I believe that our major conflict in the upcoming expansions will be what Azem was preparing for. We already know they have a powerful gift of prophecy, so I believe they were preparing and planning for us to deal with the next upcoming conflict. And that's what the key will be a part of.

[@kingmisha5161]

I also think Azem's key being revealed first patch of the expansion means Azem had their own agenda for the future that we'll be piecing together

[@StoutHelm]

I think you’re right

[@DoctorPlato]

DT MSQ has so much weird negativity towards it that It's nice to see a take like this in-regards to the WoL's place in DT. I thought it was neat that the WoL was put in the same position that Y'shtola/Y'da/Thancred were in for the Player in ARR. It worked as a nice way to show how far things have come since the days of 2.0. Great content as usual.

[@StoutHelm]

Thank you friend. I was talking about this with someone the other day. I’m fine with folks not liking DT. I’m not even sure where I’d rank it narratively with the other expansions. It’s not perfect, but people are so dismissive of moments when the writing is solid. It’s the main reason I’m going to wait to discuss Wuk Lamat on her own. I feel like we need to wait until DT is wrapped to accurately review her.

[@iantaakalla8180]

One thing I did find cool even amidst the criticism is that the Wuk Lamat is very much the Alphinaud of Dawntrail. She means well and is the common good and the greater good, but is naïve and would prefer to talk things out in addition to being the ARR Warrior of Light stand-in.

[@morewi]

​@@iantaakalla8180Wuk is extremely forced on everyone. You spend 30 plus hours with her and she never stops being obnoxious

[@sansfangirl4life439]

plus iirc yoshi-p has stated the wol still is the main character overall, so it's not like they're going to be in the bg. i can't wait for the next beat in the story!

[@yuukizaki3163]

Probably just like any other WoL. Either stalling, doing side quests, gambling or even eRP🤔

[@StoutHelm]

@@yuukizaki3163 you saying Azem gets it in? Wild

[@spac3monkey3000]

I did a bit of speculation with a friend recently and the tl;dr of my tinfoil hat theory has been that ShB and EW were introducing Azem to us and how the WoL is tied to them, but this new arc of expansions will have the WoL fully take up the mantle as the 'new' Azem. Given that we've been to two spots suggested by him so far in the MSQ (the ruins beneath the bounty and the New World) and found Azem symbols in both locations (in the vault where the voidgate is, and the one that shows up on the key), its very apparent that Emet is deliberately guiding us. The question then becomes 'to what end?'. Given that the first Azem symbol we come across tied into a voidgate and the whole void storyline (which, lets not forget, the void was always a huge mistake for the Ascians) which could be setting up for a future expansion of saving the 13th, and the current storyline has us retrieving a key that allows for interdimensional travel, I feel like the story is directing us towards fixing the damage done by the Ascians and uniting the shards. Not literally of course, but at least bringing the people together as Azem would be inclined to do. In doing so, we'd be cementing our place as the true successor to Azem. ...with that said, if I want to go really spicy and out there with the theories... well... considering DT has had a big chunk of its story devoted to 'memories'; and Emet Selch raised up a number of reincarnated Convocation members to their old offices; and we're being guided in the footsteps of Azem; AND the expansion trailers have recently been making a big effort of showing the WoL's sihlouette looking like an Ancient with the robes and everything (and DT's launch trailer even having the WoL turn and look over their shoulder in the exact same animation as the shot of Azem from Elidibus' memory in 5.3)... it's quite possible that Emet's little scavenger hunt was intended for the WoL to maybe recover some of Azem's memories. Again, very unlikely and out there, but I don't think it's entirely inplausible either :3

[@YawleyG]

FFXI is so fresh on my mind that I can't help but think about that in response to the idea of not being the main character. Only in Rhapsodies are you truly a main character. I can't imagine someone with the title of "traveler" would think of his/herself as anything primary to anyone's story. Azem sounds like a source of great wisdom to me.

[@StoutHelm]

It’s ok to not be ion the spotlight sometimes.

[@donaldleewarner3868]

I don’t mind taking a backseat for once.

[@talancorwell]

I find it strange when people say Dawntrail made another character the main character "for the first time". Was Alphinaud not the main character in Heavensward? I fail to see how our role now was any different than back then

[@scw55]

Perhaps they anticipated Mega Arc 2's antagonist growing in power if the End of Days gets resolved, so they set up a plan to address that. White Auracite is a background menace.

[@StoutHelm]

I think you’re on to something!

[@JoJoScythe]

This video was amazing to listen to on my commute to work. I love the idea of the final moments with Emet and Hythlodaeus being a final reunion between best friends and I constantly think about what possible interactions we could have had with Azem. You earned a sub for such a great video!

[@thesunthrone]

My personal read on Azem before Sundering is that when approached by Venat and told of her plan, Azem politely declined to go on and pursue their own contingencies. Azem knew fully well that they will be sundered when the time comes - so they put their trust in their own soul to be the eternal, reincarnating champion the world needed, and traveled to place items of power to aid the journey. We know that Tenzen and Ardbert were such heroic souls, and the game heavily hints that the original Golbez of Thirteenth was also a shard of Azem. What better way to ensure the salvation of the star than to shatter your heroic soul and trust that it will do the right thing, relentlessly, through all time, across all Thirteen reflections and the Source? Of course, these souls might have been aided by artifacts like the Hourglass/Grail we see in Dawntrail, or they might have been just helped by a legend that the Xaela of the Azim Steppe tell - of their primogenitor god that carries the Sun in them and walks among the Au Ra peoples, unseen. Yet it is here, at the realm of the Dawn Father that I think much of Azem's narrative seeds are sown. After all, it is in the Au Ra creed that two distinct lessons have been planted - to fight and refine oneselves, for death is never the end (the martial tradition among the Xaela tribes, with latter being a strong Dotharl belief), and to wander the land and disperse oneselves, like the Raen Au Ra have done, spanning great many coastal lands, being involved with many different civilizations (and choosing to hide from them at times!) and each group of theirs being privy to ancient artefacts and magics of their own. While all peoples came together in the end to put an end to Etheirys' woes, none would be possible without the Xaela tribes and the Raen peoples both, each playing a key role in Garlemald's conquest and the protection from malignant influences with the Vrtra scale talismans. I think Dawn Throne in Azim Steppe is a monument of Azem's legacy, and it has always fascinated me because it sticks out so much, with ten fingers around it and seven rings, as if lifting the throne up from the ground during an act of creation magics. I think the Tuliyollal palace is another - as like the image of Azim on the Dawn Throne, it resembles Azem's crest that we see when the summoning magic is used. It was built by the giants, and so it is a question indeed what role an Azem's soul played in their civilization's idea to build such a structure. And then, there's the Milalla and their sun motif, preserved in a temple beneath a volcano - with Azem's Hourglass/Grail and the implication that their legendary Speaker was a shard of Azem as well. Who else would come up with the idea to just hop their entire island to another shard to escape a calamity, after all? And then, where did the lynchpin creation of Alexander the time-traveling primal truly have its roots if not with the Xaela tribe of Hotgo, ancient progeny of Azim the Dawn Father? Their own creation a time loop, their journey was inevitably shaped and guided towards creating the one key primal that facilitated the salvation of Azem's own soul and therefore the entire Etheirys? Perhaps Alexander itself is a concept created by Azem, its bits and pieces scattered across the world to come together only when the time was right? There is so much in Dawntrail that makes speculation about these future storylines so very exciting!

[@eternalgracenote]

I also theorized Azem went and did their own thing and prepared for the aftermath of the possible sundering and for an alternative and better solution to rejoining. I think Dawntrail should head into that direction finding the breadcrumbs Azem left for their self

[@25xxfrostxx]

The more and more I think about it, the more I like the idea of us actually being Azem. Time travel is possible. We gather all of the fragments of Azem's soul, travel back in time, and meet Venat at a campfire. The wheel keeps turning. It would be very FF1 time loop. I do disagree with the use of the term "mentor" for our relationship with Wuk Lamat. We assist and validate but we don't give any council. That all comes from thew other set piece NPCs.

[@StoutHelm]

I think we give as much counsel as a silent protagonist can in an MMO. If anything, I wish the Scions had consulted more for her but I’ve already ranted about that in my last video. I could see time loop if we weren’t certain about Azem being sundered. We don’t have any reason to believe they weren’t right now.

[@Blaktimus]

What i thought people missed, and maybe because of this twist you just CANNOT flesh this out aside from small pieces and letting the Wuk Lamat story play.. Is that This was essentially the WoL playing the Role of Azem + teaching venat/hydaelyns hear feel think mentality with the other scions. Everything locks in perfectly forwards and backwards from the logic of the WoL doing the Azem role and part of this role is helping Wuk Lamat from her 'rags to riches' story of learning and travelling around her home country and splitting leadership duties with someone who is the jam to her peanut butter. in a very wise azem styled move. (Plus we've usually brought folk together for the greater good so this is just more evidence supporting us being azem for ahwhile)

[@1337penguinman]

My issues with dawntrail aren't that the WoL took a backseat. That would have been fine. But just the way it was handled left quite a bit to be desired.

[@StoutHelm]

What specifically bothered you? Not trying to come to its defense, but I’ll probably do a 7.0 review at some point and like to know where people stand.

[@Silvershadowfire]

To your point about the WoL being a side character, I don't have a problem with that. We're the hypercompetent sidekick in the Hildebrandt stories and many people love those. I think the main problem was a weak concept for the story, poor writing and cinematography, and the expac trying to stuff too much in too fast. Dawntrail was supposed to be low key, but the writers couldn't let it stay low key and that was a mistake. I would have liked to have seen us asked by the Dawnservant to evaluate each of the claimants from a neutral perspective so that we could focus on each of their characters, giving each of them time to shine as the 'main' character for that segment. Keep the focus on that story, and leave Alexandria for the patches or even 8.0. The story just didn't have room to breathe. I also disliked how inexpressive the WoL was in this patch. If we're supposed to be mentoring Wuk Lamat, let us do more than smile and nod at her. Let us guide her, call her out when she makes mistakes, challenge her beliefs and maybe even have a one on one fight with her. I can see that as something Azem would do as well, guiding and helping people to get stronger/smarter/better, so that they can strike out on their own. I would love to see us exploring more of Azem's legacy in the forthcoming patches and expansions. Let us go alone to various lands and shards. We don't have to be the main character in their stories either. We can actually *mentor* people and help them develop their own strengths, only stepping in when its clear that they simply aren't strong enough yet to deal with the challenge of the time.

[@StoutHelm]

I agree with some of your points. Half of DT was low key. But I struggle to think how they would wrap up the story without it. Does Zoraal Ja just appear with a random power up? Plus Sphene as a foil to Wuk Lamat makes sense thematically. I feel like we need that contrast of two rulers and examine what they’re willing to do to save their people. I do agree they tried to do too much and some of it just didn’t stick the landing.

[@Silvershadowfire]

@@StoutHelm I don't think it would have been a problem. If we're punting Alexandria to 8.0, then after the MSQ wraps up and Zoraal Ja leaves in anger and disgrace, we have the ending credits, everything looks good, everyone is happy... then as the post-credit stinger, you have the cutscene with Zoraal Ja and his advisor at the entrance to the Golden City. That's the lead up, and then at the end of the patches, you have the dome appear and the army invade, and that's the hook into 8.0. I totally agree that having Wuk Lamat as a foil to Sphene is excellent thematically, and does work, but with more room to breathe the story avoids feeling both shoehorned and contrived. You could have, for example, a short time after the defeat of Zoraal Ja where Sphene appears willing to ally with Tulial and the Dawnservants, only to find out she's using it as a foothold to get access to the rest of the Source after it becomes clear that her army isn't going to cut it. The betrayal would cut deeper, and poor Wuk Lamat would be even more horrified by the lengths Sphene will go to save the Endless.

[@kaihedgie1747]

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

[@StoutHelm]

This is a great point to make. I think Tidus is a better example here because XII’s story and characters are not as strong of a story (for me anyway). But I love the comparison to X and Tidus. Thanks for pointing this out.

[@tubagrl99]

Love the take on how Azem and WL are similar! Really enjoyed this video, thanks!

[@StoutHelm]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikem9384]

Azem was probably to busy trying to protect everyone they could during the Final Days instead of sacrificing others.

[@brachyzoid]

I was so confused by that request to comment and it was closed lol I'm both excited and concerned about Azem. If there's one thing I really don't want FFXIV to do, is to canonize what Azem looks and sounds like. We should NEVER meet Azem face to face, the only way to possibly do it would be to have them look and talk like those Ancients in Amurot. I'm also somewhat convinced that the Key does posses some sort of time travel, otherwise the Milalla migration would make no sense.

[@StoutHelm]

I’m glad you decided to look again. Someone told me on discord and I was like DAMMIT. Haha I hope they don’t give us too clear of a picture of Azem either. I’m pretty confident there will always be some mystery there.

[@acgearsandarms1343]

Not entirely convinced on time travel because the Ancients never achieved such capability in their era. I’m still of the opinion time displacement is the answer due to it being a phenomenon we have observed before in the game when crossing reflections.

[@kdynce8637]

The issue I have with your idea about the Key is that the Milalla migration and other uses of it don't suggest any kind of time travel ability beyond the normal kind of time dilation we see between Reflections. But I love the thought that we should never meet Azem

[@brachyzoid]

​@@kdynce8637 If we are to believe Sphene's shard is from the 2nd Calamity. The Millala left the Source during the 6th Calamity. And we know this because without the Millala's work on Electrope they would not have been able to reach the point they did. So they did travel back in time. If Sphene's shard is NOT the lightning one, this is solved, but that has yet to be resolved.

[@brachyzoid]

@@acgearsandarms1343 Displacement doesn't account for going back 4 umbral calamities. How can they go back to a rejoined shard 4 calamities later? That is of course if Sphene's shard IS the lightning one from the 2nd calamity. And we know they arrived before the Lightning calamity because it was their advancement on Electrope that started it all. The problem is solved if Sphene's reflection is NOT the one from the 2nd calamity. But we have yet to see that answered.

[@mariannerichard1321]

In my humble opinion, Azem was probably a shapeshifter. That would explain why, contrary to Rowena, Gerolt and the trolley boys who look almost the same from one reflexion to the next, our WoL doesn't look like Ardbert and Azem's gender can change in the narration (because it could and will change each time you chose so with one more fantasia xD). Then, I suppose Azem will come around in 2 different ways: first as stuff the ancient has left at the intention of his successor, as so many messages in bottle; second as we will meet with the other parts of ourself, which may make our first meeting with Ardbert a friendly encounter compare to what is in store for us...

[@StoutHelm]

@@mariannerichard1321 Could be. I hope we never find out their appearance though. Preserve the mystery.

[@LIJXFVKINBVY]

In living memory there is the Volcano called Asyle Volcane. Just a stab in the dark but the word Asyle nearly sounds like Azem. When you did the video about Azem there is a part in the tales of the shadows series where the unsundered Azem wants to stop a volcano from erupting because the field of grapes nearby are so delicious. Could that volcano when it was a real volcano be the same volcano?

[@StoutHelm]

Someone else mentioned that in a comment on a previous video. It’s possible!

[@thegneech]

Good stuff here. I particularly like the Wuk Lamat/Azem compare/contrast.

[@StoutHelm]

I hadn’t made that connection until I sat down to write this script but it actually makes sense.

[@dusky6484]

i have nothing to add other than speculative lore videos make me so happy omg. I'm really excited to see what comes next

[@StoutHelm]

Me too!

[@missteriouskitty]

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.

[@Cheshire726]

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.

[@FuyuYuki92]

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.

[@pngmk2]

That's exactly how I feel about this storyline re: Wuk Lamat and the relationship with WOL. It is just sad the overall perception is so negative about this experiment.

[@SuitedCloud]

The only complaint about taking a backseat this expansion that I agree with is that it was poorly done. I’m all for becoming a mentor figure to the younger generation of heroes, and I enjoyed what we got. But it definitely could’ve been done much better

[@StoutHelm]

What specifically was poorly done for you? I’m planning to do a 7.0 review at some point and I like to know where people stand on specific plot points.

[@SuitedCloud]

@@StoutHelm Well for one we’ve assumed the mentor role for Wuk Lamat but I can’t actually bring to mind any time we actually, you know, mentored her. Now I have a spotty memory so it may be that I just don’t recall it, but afaik we were just supportive of anything Wuk Lamat did. There was never a moment where say she wanted to try something we had tried in the past that didn’t work out properly and we steered her in the right direction. It was a never ending repeat of “Wuk Lamat wants to fix [insert zone issue here] but she doesn’t know how. Let’s walk around and talk to everyone until a solution that should’ve been readily apparent pops up.” We had no direct input with her nor the issue. And again I didn’t hate it, I just wasn’t really invested. Wuk Lamat’s arc never evolved past “she wants peace but doesn’t know how to achieve it.” And the frustrating part is she never changes, everyone else does to adhere to the goal of peace. Which is great, everyone should’ve been striving for a peaceful country in the first place but instead we did their chores for a while and suddenly everyone is a diehard Wuk Lamat supporter. The WoL has helped lead two successful revolutions, helped reform the sworn enemy Garlemald country, shaken the isolationist city state of Sharlyan out of its isolationism, and convinced the concept of nihility itself to choose a better path. But apparently all we’ve got to give Wuk Lamat is *nod*, *hand over fist*, *shrug*, and *concerned smile*. Hypothetically if the WoL had actually died at the end of EW with Zenos, the events of Dawntrail would’ve happened nearly identically with the exception of the final fight where the Interphos identified us as a threat requiring immediate attention. Which is to say, narratively we were just there for martial support.

[@tbeshers]

I have a couple of theories about what Azem was doing during the final days. My current one is that Azem knew they had to be sundered, so they spent the final days prepping. I think they made that key we find at the end of 7.0 right before the final days occurred. Also, if I’m not mistaken, it wasn’t Venat that sent out a request for Azem to join her, it was one of her 12 followers. She didn’t comment, and obviously Azem remained silent. I think Venat knew exactly what we were doing during the final days. My even crazier theory is that our Azem was better suited to the traveler role because not only did we travel around the world, but we travel time as well. I really think that we time traveled to the future right before the sundering happened.

[@BlackRogue400]

I’m thinking that azem help guiding the people on the source is also making that some people think he is a god making them a dangerous person

[@linkerthejedi2575]

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 palms-

[@StoutHelm]

You’re not the only one. It’s a blink and you’ll miss it sorta thing.

[@ceres090]

You have completely sold me. Honestly, I didn't like that the warrior was messing in foreign affairs, and liked it less that the story took a sharp turn from being a "vacation." That said, I really like this perspective on the characters and their journeys. I typically don't like being the 'one true hero,' in a game. So taking the approach that our character was always meant to me a support to others and has finally fully embraced that role is a refreshing thought.

[@StoutHelm]

I’m glad this showed a new perspective for you!

[@Neos4500]

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.

[@StoutHelm]

Meracydia has to be next, right?

[@Neos4500]

@@StoutHelmIt was already next after Endwalker. A place to start over a just an adventurer instead of "The Warrior of Light"? Where better to go that the continent they've been teasing for 8 years? We know so much, but our freshest news are still thousands of years old. Dragons, the warring traid, their war against Allag and there has to be a reason no contact was established ever since. I want to go there so bad.

[@lehran2516]

How does him walking his own path connect to a zone literally named azim steppe? Surely we will witness the return of little sun as he gets friendzoned to use the key and return Yshtola to the first.

[@kaihedgie1747]

Have you done the Role Quests yet?

[@lehran2516]

@@kaihedgie1747 I did the shadowbringers ones and vaguely remember some endwalker ones. started a few of the dawntrail one but got distracted leveling SCH.

[@aggressivebread]

This was a nice take on 7.0! I really wanted to like 7.0, but I found myself agreeing with the consensus of my friends in that it was mediocre at best. Their reasons were many and varied, but none of them really satisfied to reason for disliking this expansion (besides gameplay elements like the last zone of the story feeling hurried). Unless it was covered elsewhere, I'd really like to hear your takes on the character that is Sphere and how her character was revealed/developed in the second half of 7.0. As a sort of aside, I found myself really touched by the notions of chivalry and hometown heroicism from Otis, so more about him would always be welcome too. The change in the passage of time between the world outside Heritage Found and within should be investigated too.

[@StoutHelm]

I’m glad you liked it! To be honest, I’m not even totally sure how I feel about the narrative yet. Parts are very flawed, but some things are actually done well. I did talk about Sphene in my Endless Dilemma video. I’m going to hold off on making a video dedicated just to her because I suspect we’re not done with her. Same with Zoraal Ja.

[@chelsthegameruiner8669]

​@@StoutHelm7.1 is confirmed to be diving more into Zoraal Ja's story, I believe

[@StoutHelm]

@@chelsthegameruiner8669 yep, I’m excited.

[@LadyCae]

Is it me or am I crazy, but did you use the FFX Farplane theme??

[@StoutHelm]

Sure did!

[@LadyCae]

@@StoutHelm I knew it! It fits perfectly! and it was nice to hear that theme again! So beautifull! Well done, sir! *applauds* (and thumbs up on the vid too, btw!)

[@animepabu5526]

I 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 …

[@Gortash]

Good point on this one

[@UrbanCohort]

The Warrior of Light is the focus character, yes, but to me they feel like a narrative powerhouse more than a main character. Or perhaps a mix of "Powerhouse/Protagonist" - point at the problem, let settle for 6-8 days. Results guaranteed.

[@NemesisTWarlock]

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."

[@BrownOrion]

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.

[@Dusty_Inkwell]

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

[@ViewsfromtheClocktower]

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.

[@Vikumax]

I hope the FF14 staf doest take the bad feedbac to heart anout the WoL being in a mentor role. I havethe feeling the plan for his new saga is for us to follow Azem's path and help others achieve greatness as find solutons to their problems. But so many people an b the cbter of attention and I fear a hard course correction if the staff caves in to fan outrage. Im not saying DT is perfect, a lot ca be tweaked and improved for future expansions but I really dnt wan see a full 180 just cause a bunch of folks disliked Wuk Lamat

[@Otacanthus]

This isn't even the first time the wol has taken more of a supporting role. Outside of our personal bouts with zenos, lyse was more of a main character in stormblood in my memory

[@mintshroom]

I have said this to friends, and I think it might get addressed in game, but it's hard to tell. I think the separation between the shards is going to break down more and more the further we get away from Hydaelyn's departure, and the Twelve's departure. It's been said over and over that magics fade with time, and the Sundering was millennia ago. Now that the caster is dead, and the pillars she left behind are also gone, I am confident the rift will break, possibly causing a natural rejoining and who knows what catastrophe. And I think Azem foresaw this as a possibility, having probably learned of the Sundering from Venat after the events of Elpis. If not this catastrophe I think will happen, than maybe another. Maybe the beings like Ultima will return. In response to this. I hope Azem left the tools and knowledge needed to repair the rift, or to make stable connections between shards, or stop the untold doom.

[@1337penguinman]

Perhaps the final ability of the "Azem device" is to enable a true rejoining minus the calamities. Or sort of a pseudo rejoining where all the shards merge in a sense but they all maintain their unique identity. "Throwing wide the gates" so to speak.

[@astral_ragtime5365]

My pet theory is that Azem was not sundered at the same time as the rest of the reflections, which led to the creation of the key. By extension, this means they *chose* to sunder themselves to "seed" the various reflections going forwards, letting them be in multiple places at the same time, so to speak. It would also give justification as to why they disappeared during the final days, they literally removed themselves from the equation to see how best to react.

[@1337penguinman]

Honestly, my guess is that they meet us at some point, we defeat them, and that they get sundered before Hydaelyn does her thing. Perhaps even granting us their power when it happens. Which is why they seemingly just disappeared after their resignation. We also know that the crystals hold memories. Perhaps they end up reading ours (or their's, depending on how you see it) at some point which is how they know about the future.

[@eternalsummer8409]

“Fish fear me, ascians want me” azem probably

[@cherryindil8869]

Great video ^^

[@StoutHelm]

Thanks! 😄

[@nailed999]

HELLO she is NOT a solo ruler of Tural.

[@Penero7]

"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 ?

[@StoutHelm]

7 calamities, plus the Warrior of Light, plus Ardbert. It’s also heavily implied the original Golbez is an Azem shard too but it’s trapped in a memoria crystal, so not rejoined.

[@Penero7]

@@StoutHelm oh yeah, the source shard. I didn't see the obvious one.

[@stevenalvarez2924]

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.

[@kaihedgie1747]

How strange that you flip flop between comparing Wuk Lamat to one leader to three. Doesn't seem very honest or fair Namamo didn't actually use her disguise as Lilira to learn how to best serve her people, it was simply a way to escape her responsibilities as Sultana. The furthest she ever went is Central Thanalan under the tree. That was it. Raubahn even says she used the disguise to play games. Despite walking the streets, she knew next to nothing of business acumen or economics, despite ruling over a city for two decades that literally treats profit like a religion. After all, Thanalan's patron deity is Nald'thal, the *Traders* And while she did love the people of Ul'dah, there were plenty people in positions of power wanting to either undermine her rule or kill her outright. She also had no answer to the Ala Mhigan refugees that came in a few years after the Calamity, which caused even more complications. Loving your citizens is find and dandy, but you need to actually make that love tangible beyond just showing up in public, an issue Nanamo never overcame until the Warrior of Light, Godbrand and even the opportunist Lolorito told her basics and actually showed her stuff she should see and know. Wuk Lamat doesn't need to be concerned with multiple factions like Merlywb because there are barely any in Tural. Everyone is united under one banner. Furthermore, disputes are generally settled with violence given that it's a nation of pirates. I do notice in your comment that you left out Kan-E-Senna, who never settled the issue of racism apparent in the Gridania, even though it was a plot point in the Lancer and Archer questlines, two vocations prominent within the city-state. The issues Wuk Lamat has to deal with in Tural is not the same stuff those three have to deal with, and half of her quest was earning the right to become leader, which she does by actually getting to know and bond with the myriad peoples of Tural and lending a direct helping hand to their woes, something her Eorzean counterparts never did, especially Nanamo. Oh yes, because nothing speaks kid friendly quite like self-imposed exile, patricide/regicide, large amounts of stillborn deaths, etc., etc.

[@stevenalvarez2924]

@@kaihedgie1747 I never said Nanamo was a perfect leader. Her naivete about her position and fallout is what helped cause the bloody banquet incident. It took many expansions for Nanamo to grow into a respectable city leader. Kan-E-Senna unfortunately has do do exactly what the Elementals say or else she loses her elemental based blessing and someone else takes her place. This is what pushes "non" Gridanians out shelter, this normally meant the refugees and such. Do I like that choice? No, but I also recognize it's a conflict that needs to be resolved and something that can come up later from that City State. Now whether you want to admit it or not, Wuk is now a City Leader just like every other city leader. So it is fair to even compare her to all City Leader like Hien and Aymeric. It was Wuks choice to step into that platform, so yes we can fairly compare her to every other city leader to know how qualified she is for her position. Here's the childlike view DT has for it's overall story. It's awfully convenient that a naive, no experience to the outside world, no leadership skills, no political skills, no war skills person got leadership of a City State with no internal conflict that can bring down her power like it did Nanamo. Tural was made to be perfect with no issues from the people themselves, so it makes it easy for a completely unqualified person like Wuk to take power. Because if there were any conflict in that city state that was found in every other City state from ARR to EW, Wuk would of been usurped very quickly. Here's something to think about, from ARR to EW. What City State issue can she be an asset in to help solve considering Wuk is now a City leader now? If she is qualified to rule Tula, it means she has something to help that place prosper or help fix. You can easily point to any other City Leader on how they could help or give advice to another City Leader if asked. What would Wuk add that would even help? Every other City leader does have their flaws, yet their leadership skills in the places they are in is what helps their City State prosper.

[@kaihedgie1747]

@@stevenalvarez2924 Problem is is that you tried to compare her to one, focused on one for a few seconds then flip-flopped on using everyone else. The rite of succession, in Gulool Ja Ja's own words, is to develop/groom the next leader. It isn't simply to find who's worthy based on background because as he said, none of them were worthy to be leader _yet_ when first chosen. Wuk Lamat would obtain the skills she need from each of the Feats, plus she had been personally trained by Gulool Ja Ja himself. You do know that three of the four claimants have no war skills, right? You say Wuk Lamat has no leadership skills, but then ignore that she's competent at leading later on in the story. Again, from the skills she got from the Feats, before and after Wuk Lamat is only concerned with maintaining the rule of peace and prosperity Gulool Ja Ja left behind and most people across Etheryis aren't even aware that a Tural exists. This is also forgetting that the role of Dawnservant is split up between her and Koana. That too was her decision to share authority with another person, someone she can trust to make good decisions. You seem to have forgotten that in the final Feat, Wuk Lamat was the one to offer a solution to the issue of harvest for those still living in Mamool. As far as issues in Tural in of itself is concerned, that's it. These issues were raised and addressed in the video, but I'm not convinced you actually watched the video, or at least you were until you heard the name Wuk Lamat uttered, then instantly went on a rant no one asked for and is rooted in a lot of bias and ignorance towards her

[@jasper9910]

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.

[@StoutHelm]

I think we guided her as much as a silent protagonist in an MMO could. FFXIV doesn’t give us choice in the narrative. And I’d disagree with her doing everything right. The game highlights her blunders several times.

[@FuyuYuki92]

@@StoutHelm The problem isn't really that she didn't do everything right, but rather that she never faced consequences for her actions. In fact she got rewarded for them. We and/or our scion friends never truly called her out for her flaws or shared their wisdom with her either. While we as a silent protagonist might not have the ability to offer too much, our Scion friends surlely did, but they got barely utilized. Having a bit low self-confidence or being motion sick also aren't flaws imo, but her naivity is. (Btw I would have loved some combat training with her, for instance.)

[@kaihedgie1747]

A random city guard has neither the strength nor experience of the Warrior of Light. That's why she traveled across the world for you

[@kaihedgie1747]

@@FuyuYuki92 "But rather that she never faced consequences for her actions" Such as...? "We and/or our Scion friends never called her out for her flaws or shared their wisdom with her either" The flaws she wanted to hide but was told were okay to be let known? And why would she ask them when it's the Warrior of Light she confides in?

[@FuyuYuki92]

​@@kaihedgie1747 I'll try to answer your questions, but it's really hard to write an essay in a single youtube comment. If you're genuinely interested in a critical breakdown of the Dawntrail MSQ, I recommend the review series by Durantes. He goes into great detail on what didn't work. That being said, here's my answer: Such as for example when the entire plot bended to her convenience when she wanted to throw a party for the Hanu Hanu instead of focusing on the reed problem. The fact that the story then made it so that this was exactly the solution to the problem was extremely contrived, which had a cartoonish feel to it. The scions then shrugged this off and Erenville was the only reasonable person calling it out. And even then, her skewed priorities should not have been rewarded. I sincerely expect more from the FFXIV writing. :/ "The flaws she wanted to hide but was told were okay to be let known? And why would she ask them when it's the Warrior of Light she confides in?" The flaws the story was too scared to call out for whatever reason, the only way I can explain it to myself is that it wasn't fully intentional. Her ignorance towards her people and her own family, her naivity (called out somewhat, but just half-heartedly and with no consequences for it), etc. I feel like I'm having to spell out the obvious but ok :c The Scions were there. All the time. Witnessing her actions. Together, with US. Why should they *not* offer their wisdom? Alphinaud, who left no opportunity out to speak about his experiences in the past? The passionate Alisaie, who is in vacation mode and suddenly seemed like she doesn't care about what's happening anymore? Why are they even there if they aren't "allowed" to speak by the writers? It makes no sense.

[@donaldleewarner3868]

This was an emotional ending to Endwalker.

[@toscatattertail9813]

this is from EndWalker not DawnTrail.

[@StoutHelm]

Did you even get through the very two minutes of the video before you made this comment? Lmao

[@melphina2720]

this video feels like it is more for door mat then Azem , my Azem would have ran far away from her as wol could . please stop defending DT is was bad all around .

[@StoutHelm]

This video isn’t a defense of DT. It’s an analysis of two characters and their connections. And even so, I disagree. DT isn’t perfect but I wouldn’t consider it a total train wreck either.