Well, technically the main villains behind the entire storyline up to Shadowbringers. Most of it was either direct or indirect Ascian scheme. Every other villain was for all intents and purposes, a puppet.
@@PAcifisti Ascians were flat one dimensional villains that a brilliant female writer redesigned retrospectively in Shadowbringers. It is disingenuine to say that Ascians were the true villains beforehand, when the primals were made to have different agendas and even direct opinions/relationships with the Blessing of Light. Which as of EW has been softly dropped out of the story.
@@hristopavlov298 I know the change in main writer. That still doesn't mean they didn't have some sort of plotline prepared for them. Yoshi said that they're writing 3 expansions ahead to have a somewhat coherent storyline. Even if they originally didn't have this grand plotline, with hindsight we now know what the final plot was. This makes Ascians the worst villain of ARR, even though IMO they would've been that just purely on ARR story. They were the hardest to kill and had very nasty intentions & ways to do things. We already knew in ARR that they were involved in Garlean politics. Also, blessing of light hasn't been as much dropped but rather refined. It was our own strength of will pushing us on rather than the blessing of light. Hydaelyn supported and buffed us when needed, but she began to run out of power to do so towards the end.
@@PAcifisti Spot on - to have a somewhat coherent story. No she didn't. She crystalbathed her ass saving her power to 1 v 1 us in Endwalker. She literally didn't bat an eye on the 7th Umbral Calamity and let the world end and for you to die. If not for a technology made of imaginary primal machine in time stasis and an alien machine that allowed exactly 1 catboy and 1 crystal tower to travel exactly 100 years ago in exactly this one place, she would have failed miserably because the girl felt like chilling. Oh and you fought one of the most powerful ascians in the convocation of 14 as a dungeon boss in ARR, fused with yet another lower ascian who gave us an old retconned explanation of what the echo is.
@@hristopavlov298 Yes and no. It's more complex than that if you remember the story. She told us that it was taking more and more of her power to hold back the more Calamities passed, meaning that her available power to do other things than just to hold on was vanishing. That's why she stopped communicating with us for a long time, and why the communications at the start of EW were short. Also, she didn't just sit still for nothing. Remember the story? We met her in the past and told her what was going to happen. She was left with the foreknowledge of big future events, like the amount of calamities and where the world would be at the end of it. We told (at least the broad strokes) to Venat even before she became Hydaelyn. It was then left to her to follow this bitter script through. To make the mankind able to wield dynamis effectively and not give in to despair, the world had to be both sundered and go through a lot of hardships and suffering. That, together with the knowledge of Azem's reincarnation after the 7th calamity being a very hardy & stubborn fighter being able to wield dynamis was effectively her plan. Our journey and the unlikely events like the catboys journey to the first wasn't a lucky chance, but rather something she knew beforehand.
He is in denial at that point. At first he suspected we could be Azem. Then, when we failed to tame the Light, he decided we couldn't be Azem, because in his eyes Azem can't lose. Then, after rejoining with Ardbert we are suddenly strong enough, but at that point, as I said, he decided we couldn't be Azem, and yet he still sees our original soul. So he rejects it. That's why when we kick his ass, he realizes that yeah, he was in denial, we really are Azem. After all he was the greatest of the amaurotines mages. And if we are against his plans, then he is in the wrong and should have let us cook. That's how much faith he has in Azem.
God, Ardbert's whole Shadowbringers story arc fucked me up so bad. This guy who only ever wanted to help was manipulated into destroying his home and killing the people he'd spent his life trying to save. He wasn't even allowed to make one last sacrifice for them because Minfilia knew he'd be needed later. And then, sure enough, we turned up and after years of helplessly watching his people suffer and die because of what he had done he was finally able to save his world.
Every time he spoke to you it hurt me because I kept imagining what it must be like to wander a century without being seen, heard or touched. Then at the end when he supports you after overcoming despair I'm just wonderful....
I felt so bad for Ardbert. I know she had her reasons, but if I were in his position I would probably really resent Minfilia. She basically resigned him to years of an unimaginably torturous existence after watching his closest companions sacrifice themselves. I know, I know, "the greater good" and all that, but still. Kind of a dick move.
I'm glad I've seen the lyrics now, because before I could only hear the third line as "Two toed geckos tumbling through time" and I thought, "well that can't be right, can it...?"
Ardbert: if you had the strength would stand, would you save our worlds. Me being emotional: you know I would. Ardbert takes out his axe: we fight as one.
I've played most of the FF series and this is quiet possibly the best moment across any of them. The darkest hour, ironically bathed in blinding light. The offer of the axe. The music. The WoL rising to their feet while Ardbert's voice speak from them. The almost heartbroken look of horror on Emet-Selch's face when he finally sees just *who's* sundered soul he's been dealing with - something we wouldn't be able to appreciate the gravity of until some patches later. The Exarch coming to the aid of his inspiration. The final square off. Emet invoking his true name. The desperate battle for the future fought upon the ruins of the past. And at last, a final sad smile from one friend to another as he accepts his fate and entrusts the legacy of his people and the future of the Star to us. Perfect.
I do actually believe that Emet knew who we were long before the final battle. He hints at your old identity, and he is unable to hide his smile whenever you're around. You may be his enemy, but you're also a piece of one of his best friends.
@@Lancun I agree. He knew who we were the whole time. Also, if we cannot escape the nature of our souls as Fandaniel says, and souls have intrinsic personalities as G'raha says, we must be very much like Azem.
This song shows so much how Emet and the WoL are two sides of the same coin. Both fighting for the same cause, yet so different in their goals. One fights for those he lost. One fights for those he can yet save. One brings shadow, one brings the light
For that matter, which of them brings shadow and which brings light is completely based on perspective--you are a true Warrior of Darkness in the Ascians' eyes. As Elidibus puts it, "you are death".
And the fact Emet and the WoL want the same thing but one need to fall to let the other achieve his goal is why Emet is a great Vilain, because he is not, his motivation is the most human of all and he fight you not because he want but because he must and no other way is possible to get back those he lost and his disdain for Humanity is relatable since he was here when Human were immortal, have a more powerfull magic, society and technology and as always, the best vilain is the one you can understand and said yourself "I'll do the same" when you have his point of view because he is as right as you, just in an opposite way
Yeah first time I did this I was like “Yes Ardbert let’s do this” then the music started and I was like “OH FUCKING HELL YES! ALRIGHT GAME TIME! LETS JAM WHILST THE QUEUE IS GOING!!!!0
That moment, I grabbed a lot of tissue paper, told the party "Can we please hold, I cannot stop crying". I was also in a VC, had to mute myself as i was DEVASTATED.
this. I love this line, because it's the appropriate response to all the 'emet-selch did nothing wrong' people. This is our world, our story. It is not his to end.
In my first playthrough, the "home, riding home" portion of the song occurred at the same point where the game zoomed in on my player character giving a death glare to Emet Selch while standing in the middle of those pillars of light. That moment gave me chills.
Just finished this boss fight today, managed to avoid spoilers till that point. Gotta say when that theme started playing, it was instantly a favorite.
Congratz and have fun in endwalker. It only gets better :) Wait till you get to the end. Spoiler free Warning tho. Things do get VERY depressive at certain points. Keep tissues nearby to dry your eyes
"We stand together." "Im surprised you can stand at all" "I couldnt very well leave matters half finished. Expanse contract, eon become instant. Heroes from beyond the rift, heed my call~!"
I can say with full confidence that the moment Ardbert passes you the axe then you’re revealed to be a shard of Azem then you’re standing inside those summoning circles virtually radiating power was the greatest moment Ive ever had in a video game. The worst was a minute later when I had to wait in queue to do the Hades fight 😫 XIV giveth and XIV taketh away.
I went into this fight knowing the whole Azem thing because my husband has played through Endwalker and I don't mind him sharing spoilers. So during that scene I, through my tears about Ardbert, said "Guess who's got more than half of their soul back, bitch."
"Authors of our fates, Orchestrate our fall from grace, Poorest players on the stage, Our defiance drives us straight to the edge" Well goddamn, after EW there's even more meaning to this
Home, riding home. Hold on to hope. That's Emet. After a thousand thousand years, he has been holding onto hope. All he wants is to go home. I feel bad for him. He started out as a ludicrously cartoonish villain, but in the end, he was the greatest.
His goals are exactly the same as your own, but neither outcome can happen without the other's destruction. One way or another, it ends here and now. Personally, that was the line I chose because it felt fitting, while I knew as the player we ultimately win, as the character, I felt as though the Warrior of Light would have no illusion to the idea of losing against such a dedicated foe whom just like him/her, stood to lose or win everything in that fight. But neither side is truly evil or good, just a fight for survival.
I bought a hoodie with his Ascian glyph on it and I don't regret a thing. I will forever love Emet-Selch, he's my favorite villain of all time. Especially seeing him in 5.3
@@combinecommando001 nah. Emet's definitely evil. He has genocided 7 entire worlds and intends to do it seven more times just to get his friends back. I can weep for what he's lost while putting him down as the madman he is at the same time.
@@Keira_Blackstone it's a question of If you were in his place, wouldn't you do the same? Imagine living for thousands of years with only 2 more of your own who have been spared a horrid fate and only the memories of what was and what the present hold are only but a wayward reflection of what was, and that's being generous. Were his actions horrible and inexucable, absolutely, he deserves being put down. But are his actions are understandable, yes but it doesn't excuse them
@@Keira_Blackstone I swear, you people... let me educate you on something, because you obviously haven't played Shadowbringers: The existence which is ended through a rejoining on a shard is rejoined to their source counterpart, as such he doesn't truly kill them. Or to quote Emet himself. 'I do not consider you truly alive, ergo I would not be guilty of murder if I were to kill you.' Which never was his intention to begin with, hell, he offered us a chance to join him. To fix what Hydaelyn broke in one of her most idiotic, pants-on-head stupid moments.
One brings shadow (Emet/Hades, HE LITERALLY BLANKETS THE ARENA IN SHADOWS and brings "shades" to fight you, he is the SHADOWBRINGER) One brings light (You are the warrior of light, you're full of light after absorbing the lightwardens, you "expose" Emet and his creations, and the history of the realm, the lyrics even say "You are the light") Threescore wasted, ten cast aside (3 unsundered Ascians, Emet, Eldibus & Lahabrea who survived the final days. 10 cast aside are the other ascians in the council of 13) One dark future, no one survives (The future being the rejoining that ascians have long sought for, where most would die if it were to occur) Home... Riding home... (Expresses the Ascians' plight in restoring their home) Forged in fury, tempered in ice (likely describing HW, Nidhogg's fury and Shiva's ice) Hindmost devils, early to rise (likely describing our plight in Stormblood) Heaven’s banquet leavened with lies (describing our journey to Eulmore, everyone eats despite not knowing what exactly they were eating) Sating honor, envy, and pride (Ranjeet, Titania and Innocence)
To elaborate a bit further, the fourfold knowing no end in sight are the three Unsundered + Azem himself, being the ones still embroiled in the conflict. They're forever clashing, because of their opposed goals.
@@stopreadingthis3725 I'm glad someone else understood fourfold doesn't mean 4x or 4*20. A fourfold can be a "group of four." So yeah, that's how I read it too.
This is something I do really like. You can stop at the end of any expansion and have a complete story. There are always loose ends that they tease you with a little bit, but they know that their game is good enough that they don't have to rely on cliffhangers to keep people coming back.
It also means that the story is always escalating. Kill the gods... then kill the machine that ate the gods... then kill the dragons that are older than the gods... then kill the fucker who absorbed the power of the god that survived the weapon built specifically to kill the gods... then avoid total cosmological apocalypse by killing the immortal ancient who created the original God and Satan... I can't wait to play Endwalker and probably murder the very star.
As someone who jumped ship from WoW I am still amazed at how well FF14 does the things that WoW was trying to do. A genocidal villain who actually feels morally grey and I feel sad about his death. It was necessary but it didn't feel great to do. We also understand his motives, he really was pulling the strings from behind the scenes for quite a while and his plans were intelligent and made sense. The protagonist needed a friend to travel through time and space in a magical tower in order to effectively disrupt his plans and the antagonist adjusts his plans in a way that makes sense. Also that G'raha had a master plan, but his plan made sense and we can see how he came to his conclusions about what he had to do. His plan collided with Hades' and both people react intelligently to their plans being thrown into disarray. It's just so refreshing to see people with plans that are a few steps ahead of the player but in a way that makes sense and is resolved by the end of the expansion's launch content.
The wild part is, in the Ascian's eyes, they are the heroes of their story. They're fighting to try to restore the sundered souls of the people back to their original whole and to bring the shards of the star that Hydaelyn split apart back together into a singular whole once more. “The victor shall write the tale, and the vanquished becomes it’s villain.” is such a perfect line from Emet because of this.
You notice that during this expansion the Duty Complete screen has your character closing their eyes in prayer or contemplation for every twisted or tortured soul they have to bring to rest instead of cheering like they did during earlier boss battles.
@@20xdee6 You probably already know it, but it's also a nice touch that it's just "hades" in the introduction cutscene of the duty, because it's "lay down our titles" :D
@@UltaFlame Some sections of Shadowbringers seem to correspond to some sections of Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Shadowbringers: "We fall, we fall, we fall, we fall, unto the end" Tomorrow and Tomorrow: "Stand tall, my friend May all of the dark deep inside you find light again This time, tumbling, turning we make amends Eternal winds from the land ascend Here to lift us that we won't end" Shadowbringers: "One world's end Our world's end Our end We won't end" Tomorrow and Tomorrow: "Pray don't forget us, your bygone kin With one world's end does a new begin And should our souls scatter unto the wind Still we shall live on"
After travelling a while along with Ardbert, this was a rooller coaster of feelings. It was obvious that Ardbert will leave us, but after having him introduced as enemy before him turning to a friend and then into your literal soulmate, just to save you in your worst state.. Holy fuck. The whole setup is just perfect. Especially as you use all the wardens light to throw it through Emet in form as Ardberts axe, honoring the endurance and glory of him.
I cried ... I played alone from the beginning to shadowbringers until we fight emmet .. and when ardbert joined us for the final hit ... i was literally crying at 35 years old like a fucking moron alone in my room :)
I fucking love how Shadowbringers manages to create a morally grey situation that you could argue being completely justified for believing in either side. Emet-Selch is in his rights to want to return his people, especially considering in his eyes he isn't committing any sort of heinous atrocity but rather heroically restoring the world and it's people to their former and superior glory. On the other hand the WoL and the Scions are their own alive and living beings that exist separately from the souls that were sundered to make them. They're their own brilliant and powerful people that, despite their "imperfection", deserve to exist simply because they do. regardless of the circumstances that caused their creation. Ultimately there is no villians nor are there heroes. Only survivors.
"I challenge you, Emet-Selch" fits too. It's a final battle, and you are playing for the Eorzeans side. You can't turn back, so can't Emet-Selch. The ultimate stakes at the end of the world, the death challenge.
I really like "I challenge you, Emet-selch" because it means that this time instead of him judging or trying us we are telling to see if HE can beat us, after an entire expansion we finally have the reins
EW's ending and wrap up of the story is insanely good, but this right here is the highest peak of FFXIV. Nothing will ever beat the confrontation with Emet-Selch and the build up to it.
Okay but when I did this fight the first time, we wiped and one of the Healers quit because he was a jagoff who didn’t want to help the newbies. But we decided to keep trying without him, and a new Healer dropped in right when we needed one the most. It was the most shonen freaking thing ever
When I did this fight, _both_ tanks were Godbert Mandeville clones. They still wore clothes, though, probably so that we'd still have something of a challenge.
it kind of says something that the transformations of Hades and Hephaistos are so bizarre and grotesque, but Themis chooses to transform into the Warrior of Light. what an idealistic little dork
The scene prior to the battle is straight up shonen. And it works so fucking well. It's also another Final Steps of Faith moment where you better reach it at peak hour and not at 1am on a weekday like me. >_>
Emet-Selch: “So uh... are we doing this?” WoL: “G’raha Tia, buddy, what’s taking so long?” G’raha Tia: “Sorry guys, turns out most of these warriors I’m calling are asleep, gimme a bit”
I have a confession to make: I watch this cutscene in game every 2nd day. Just finished post ShB and oh my, I cried like a baby during ShB ending and post. This has to be the best lore in any game I played and god damn I love ffxiv.
I think what I love most about this game's music design is that months, years even after the patches, you can find whole new meaning and impacts within the lyrics. It really is something to behold. Reliving Shadowbringers after completing Endwalker is just such a feeling of "we knew absolutely NOTHING about this world at all" and it really gives a brilliant significance to these characters. I could sympathize with the ascians in Shadowbringers, honestly, but having completed the entire story arc now, it's such a moment of this dawning of realization. Beautiful, beautiful writing and character development and the music just deepens further and further the more the game ages. I can't run into this fight in roulette without crying now. It feels like punching a best friend
" This world is not yours to end. This is our future, our story" I'm new to FFxiv, and I've never had a game make me so excited or driven to play since Ghost of Tsushima. And when my character spoke those few words, I got chills all over my body, and this was during a hot day in the summer
Im very picky, buy game 2nd hand and always f2p if i can. But ffxiv expansion 40 usd, plus 15 a month feels like a bargain. Game is so amazing i cant believe it
@@inhuahua1 ikr. I mean, the game will probably benefit from going Free2Play, but the price for playing and experiencing the game itself is worth the price.
@@Altimittkun It definitely would not benefit from F2P. The fact that the game is run so well is because it has a subscription model. You will see more microtransactions creep in and even some pay to win mechanics. A subscription model ensures that everyone has an equally good experience. We would also not have such quality story and cutscenes either. Keep in mind each expansion is the size of a full release single player RPG and probably more. EW story is confirmed to be 1.5 times longer than ShB and longer than the average single player jRPG release. This would not be possible in a free to play model. The money we agree to give them on a monthly basis is being put to good use. This is because FFXIV does not have a AAA budget and we get AAA quality story and content.
The WoL defeated countless primals. Help bring Nations together. Brought Unity and Prosperity everywhere. Defeated Ascians. Saved another World from impending doom. Did what was believed impossible. Achieved miracles. *And that’s just 1 soul out of 16* before reuniting more. Imagine if the WoL had ALL 16 souls.
You're actually 8/14ths of the way whole as of the Emet-Selch fight, with Ardbert joining his fragment of Azem's soul to yours. The world is seven-times rejoined, restoring essentially half of what anyone who is a sundered Ascian used to be to the Source. Whether you're a 1.0 WoL or a 2.0+ WoL, you start your journey essentially at half of what an unsundered Ascian's potential was. Which is why everyone who can see souls comments on just how uncommonly swole your soul is. G'raha Tia has a similar issue with him having timeline-hopped from a future when the 8th Umbral Calamity has happened.
Buck is right. 7 rejoinings means we are 8/14th of Azem. Wich brings to show Why we are so fricking powerfull compared to many other people. I wonder now tho. Is the game going to continue giving the WoL his/her soul back? Ardbert got us to 9/14th 5 soul fragments left to go before we basicly ascend to ancient status and in the eyes of the people... basicly a f.cking God. If we are already this powerfull. Imagine the WoL at full strength
I just beat shadowbringers for the first time last night. The cutscene before fighting Hades has to be THE BEST cutscene so far in ff14. Definitely the best in shadowbringers' msq up to this point. This cutscene, from the despair and refusing to give up despite everything, to Ardbert at our side and the music kicking in. This cutscene was AWESOME. I CHALLENGE YOU, EMIT-SELCH!
Oh I thought the same till endwalker😅 tho this scene still is the most hyped moment in ffxiv in my opinion, Endwalker had a more let's fucking gooo vibe
I call it "Final Fantasy's version of Endgame's Portals scene." The hero is alone, dying on their feet, facing a foe that looks unstoppable. This is the lowest point the hero has been in since the beginning. Then an ally lets the hero know they're not alone, and the music kicks in... All of a sudden, the hero stands strong, confident, determined. The strongest they have ever been, and surrounded by portals bringing in reinforcements.
Tho it is absolutely a perfect scene. Mate, get going with endwalker and witness an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. From hate to sadness. Have fun :)
@@cherrydragon3120 Which part? Ardbert manually doing an 8th Rejoining, since we were the shard of the same soul (The Hythlodaeus shade told us this), or us literally throwing his plan in his face by channeling the Lightwardens' Light into the blade that smote him (Y'shtola told us this right after we did it)? Or do you mean that in Endwalker we learn more layers of *significance* in this scene? Like why exactly Hades lost his shit when he saw the Warrior of Light surrounded by 7 pillars of Calling Light (aside from throwing Allagan tech at him, which he built!)
I wish the WoL had one voiced cutscene and this was it. Entire game you're silent, but suddenly, to everyone's surprise... "I challenge you, Emet-Selch."
The i challenge you seemed better fit for my character. For selfmade personality reasons fcourse. Its also why in the final fight of endwalker i chooce a more vengefull response rather then righteous.
"Weary wanderer. No fight left to fight, no life left to live!" Christ alive, this cutscene and trial cemented Shadowbringers as my favorite expansion over Heavensward. So much good shit. "It ends this day. One way or another, it ends."
I'm glad this video exists. I finally beat Shadowbringers a few weeks ago but it was like 5 or 6am in the morning so Duty Finder wasn't exactly popping and my FC was largely asleep still. So I sat around for over an hour with this song repeating just riding the hype as long as I could.
Mad props to sit through that queue time. I was lucky a couple of friends were online to bounce into a party with me at whatever time I did this for the first time
Bro I started this game this year in March and finally got to this part a few nights ago, this game is just phenomenal and I actually care about the story and the world itself. It doesn’t even really feel like a grind fest to get up to this and beyond.
This is what happens when you have real writters that care. The whole story from ARR to EndWalker has been writted out from the start and refined over all these years. They knew where the story was going so it all ends up being tied together nicely in one large coherent stoiry that while parts may end in cliff hangers, said cliffhanders make sense and is reflected in the storytelling as the npc's even wonder whats going on. But than we find out later what has happend or what this really meant. I mean heck we had that epic storyline for the Crystal Tower in ARR, and that ends up being tied to Shadowbringers and is further continued in Endwalker! Something I am happy for as I loved kitty boy
@@TAiiNE FF14 story deserves the praise, but the story was NOT written from ARR to EndWalker right from the get go. They are still talented writers, as they left enough fluff in the story to be tied together later, but yoshi himself said in an interview that they started to connect the dots for the ascians when they developed shadowbringers - therefore after stormblood was done. They had no idea what they were going for prior to that. I always kind of HAVE to forget that shadowbringers only happens because graha dimension travels to the shard and then from there back to the past to stop a war crime poison gas calamity by the garleans in the future. Up until that point, FF14 story writing was largely grounded lol. I still love it, but holy fuck, that's some writing lol.
My friend sent me this song a couple years ago. I just finished this trial. It was a long, arduous journey but the smile on my face, when he gave me his axe and this music started, was genuine
@@zero_chevalier i would think nier raids music would got you playing nier themselves (which have awesome music by itself) but i cant blame ya, ffxiv music awesome too %)
@@minortoterona2947 I played Nier Automata a few years back. Only got the first ending though. Might go back to it to see the true ending (not gonna watch it on TH-cam. I'd rather experience it myself once time, and the SquEnix promised fix for the Steam version of Automata) allows it.
People can say what they want but Emet wasn‘t evil. He wanted to bring back his loved ones, something we all would do if we just could. And as he said, he lived thousands of our lifes, shared meals withe the kind of ours, gave our kind chances of chances, but always saw how the people were fighting against each other and couldn‘t hold together in any situation. He was egoistic in a way that he wanted to bring back those who fell while we were egoistic and wanted to keep safe those who we love.
I understand that his motivation was to bring back his paradise and return all his friends to life, but he admits himself that he intends to kill literally everyone else in order to do it, even after everything is fully rejoined.
Emet-Selch is just such an amazing character, love his design and the whole story around him. He will always have a special place in my heart ❤️ Amazing video, thank you for the feels!
Whenever I see this scene and hear this song I get goosebumps every time. The most hype finale of any expansion. I wish I could forget all of Shadowbringers and go through it again just to experience this moment for the first time again.
CHAMPIONS FROM BEYOND THE RIFT HEAR MY CALL! My character: I CHALLENGE YOU EMET SELCH! WE FALL WE FALL WE FALL WE FALL UNTO THE END THE END THE END OUR END WE WON’T END!
The next expansion, Endwalker - 6.0, is set to be the grand finale to the story arc started way back in 1.0 between Hydaelyn and Zodiark. So the climax of 1.0 - base FF14, 2.0 - A Realm Reborn, 3.0 - Heavensward, 4.0 - Stormblood, and 5.0 - Shadowbringers. So 10 years of plot coming to a head in the next expac. They have said already it won't be the end of the game, FF14 is Yoshi-P's baby and he'll keep developing it as long as people keep playing it.
@@AmandaComeauCreates That's quite possible, after all, Zodiark and Hydaelyn only exist withing this star, and considering we're going to the fucking moon next expansion we might aswell go to other stars too. The dragons for example, come from another star that was destroyed and asked Hydaelyn for refuge. The Final Days of this star might be related to what caused the dragons' star to collapse too.
Out of pure respect for Emet-Selch and wanting to fight him head on with nothing held back- "This ends today. One way or another, this ends." I wouldn't be upset at all if he even won
I just completed this queue last night and that's also what I said to him. It's the truth, that was the moment. Ideals clashed and only the right one was going to come out on top. Unfortunately for him I happened to have more friends and more power than he did :')
I don't know about that. I think he was counting on you to defeat him. I really do believe he wanted to entrust the fate of the star to the WoL. I think that smile at the end means more than we think. I only just finished 5.0 a few days ago and haven't played ahead so I don't know what's ahead, but that's the impression I got. We basically did him a favour and put him out of his memory. Makes it even more sad to me.
I've seen a couple people do small lyrical analysis here so I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring as well. This is my passion and my favorite song to boot. To start "One Brings Shadow, One Brings Light" is resembling the WoL and Ardbert. Each Warriors of Light and Darkness in both worlds. "Two toned echos tumbling through time" Both WoL and Arbert had to transcend their world and also the time differences between. "One dark future no one survives" Referring to Uriange's vision about the very calamity we're travelling to The First to prevent. "Here proud angels bathe in their wages of blood" I believe this means the Sin Eaters as many of their designs look like that of angels. "At this the world's end do we cast off tomorrow" When all life is threatening to succumb to the light, only now do we take up arms to fight against fate. "One brings shadow, one brings light, To this riddle all souls are tied" Ardbert and WoL did merge into one soul and Emet did say that we were all pieces of former Ascians "Heaven's banquet leavened with lies" Referring to Eulmore and how it seems like paradise but underneath it all is more repulsive than anywhere else "Sating honor, envy, and pride" Defeating Ranjeet, Titania, and Innocence respectively "Home, Riding Home" I believe is reflecting on how despite the WoL being free to travel, all throughout ShB there's this underlying urgency to settle things in the First so that our friends can go home (I think it lines up with a line in A Long Fall/eScape "Come ride heroes ride" which is fittingly played while battling through the Crystal Tower in The Twinning) "One more chapter we've yet to write" This is speculation but this could be foreshadowing for EndWalker being the last expansion in the Zodiark/Hydaelyn arc. Soken has forshadowed like this before, hiding Omega's theme in Azys Lla's theme. and finally two lyrics together "Run from the light" and "You are the light" meaning that Ardbert is most likely the darkness in the repeated lyrics Sorry for boring anyone who reads this. I'm always open to hearing more! Tl;Dr One Brings Shadow, One Brings Light. You and Ardbert!
You could also expand the scope of Shadow/Light referring to Zodiark and Hydaelyn; the balance of which, as we've seen, all beings depend on for collective survival.
The only thing I would disagree with is the idea that Ardbert is the referenced Shadow; he's the WoL's reflection, and a fellow Warrior of Light. Emet Selch is, IMO, the one who brings shadow. I hadn't considered the 'two-toned echo' being the player character and Ardbert, but yeah I think you've changed my mind.
"Home Riding Home" is the creed of the Ascians, it is their driving goal, they are Riding Home to their people and civilization, its why it comes up in To The Edge, as well.
I kind of figured it was the WoD and the WoL finally merging at long last to fight together. One brings darkness, one brings light - then the Ascian of old merges with both of you - two toned echoes tumbling through time, and so on and so forth... but, what do I know? lol - I think that's the whole point. It's a kickass tune no matter what :)
i just finished this expansion in November and I dont think I breathed throughout the last section of this expansion. And then Ardbert held out his axe and I went "oh this is INSANE" when the beat dropped this scene was CRAZY and formulative media for the rest of my life I think. Im still thinking about Emet nearly 3 weeks after I finished EW, thats how good it was
I was "stuck" waiting in queue for this boss for a while, but it was ok, this song slap so hard...such a powerful part of the story with music to match
Honestly Emet-Selch is my personal favourite final boss.. Mostly for four reasons.. 1. The Music is perfect as his Motif.. 2. He admits that he's a schemer and a really damn good one at that.. 3. He can set up just about anything and if he wants to play Final Boss.. Oh he WILL play that.. 4. Just how memorable he really is overall.. If he can beat Kefka and Sephiroth in the top villains of FF... That had been going on for more than a Decade! YOU KNOW HE'S GOOD.
Soken and koji fox are just insanely good. The amount of reseaecg into different genres to bring us different music. The "home, riding home" is so iconic it will never forgotten years to come
i just finished the emet-selch battle a few days ago and just discovered the lyrics for this song yesterday and i'm so blown away. i've seen a lot of analysis on the lyrics but i just wanted to put my own interpretation here for peace of mind. i'm sorry for the essay but if anyone is of like mindedness, i am happy to discuss together! For whom weeps the storm / Her tears on our skin / The days of our years gone / Our souls soaked in sin / These memories ache with the weight of tomorrow / Who fights? / Who flies? / Who falls? - The people of the First lamenting the Oracle and the events that followed after the Flood that haunt them to the present. Also bearing in mind that people in the First call others sinners. They question what the Oracle can see; who will fight, fly or fall? At the same time, this is also a mirror image to the Ascians. They have been carrying their own sins and memories through the ages. Who amongst them will fight, fly or fall? One brings shadow, one brings light / Two-toned echoes tumbling through time / Threescore wasted, ten cast aside / Four-fold knowing, no end in sight / One brings shadow, one brings light / One dark future no one survives / On their shadows, away we fly - This can be interpreted in different ways. One being the Ascians origins of summoning Zodiark/Haedelyn, losing their lives, living four-fold generations with no end in sight and only one dark future of the rejoining to set them free. Second being the eighth umbral calamity, your death and four-fold generations after not having an end to their plight and their last hope being Graha Tia (holding two opposite fates in his hands) travelling through time. The third could be about Ardbert and you as the WoL/WoD, two futures bound by death and one being the echo of the other. Four-fold being the endless conflict of Hydaelyn/WoL vs Zodiark/Ascians. You both have a dark future fated but despite the shadow of that future, you defy fate together. This would actually align really great with the ending of the song where you see all the main focal points brought to a climax. The road that we walk / Is lost in the flood / Here proud angels bathe in / Their wages of blood / At this, the world's end, do we cast of tomorrow - This obviously alludes to everyone in the First (including the Scions) and going back to the first verse, the end of their world is nigh and they must now cast away that weight of tomorrow that was burdened with the memories of the past. In reflection, the Amaurotines reach the end of the road for them (by flood of light or water - i haven't progressed far enough to confirm this). You could probably relate the Ascians as the "guardian angels" of this star (or they think they are, in all their pride) and now at the world's end, they or at least Emet-Selch must now cast away their weight of tomorrow. One brings shadow, one brings light / To this riddle all souls are tied / Brief our moments, brazen and bright / Forged in fury, tempered in ice / Hindmost devils, early to rise / Sing come twilight, sleep when they die / Heaven's banquet leavened with lies / Sating honor, envy and pride / One brings shadow, one brings light / Run from the light - I've seen a lot of interpretations on what "hindmost devils" refer to but I am wholly convinced that they refer to the Garleans or the Ascians. Hindmost devils only think of themselves and their interests which both fit well. The Garleans were the first to conquer and the Ascians/Ancients were the first to stop the calamity. Like the Eorzeans (brazen and bright), or the Ishgardians (fury and ice), or the Garleans (hindmost devils), everyone on the First are all tied to the Source because of the sundering. But in the First, they rejoice when the night returns and can only 'sleep' when the Lightwardens are defeated. In Eulmore, they dine on lies and deceit because a Lightwarden rules over them (meol looks like bread so the word "leavened" connects well here). In opposite reflection, Amaurot is similar to Eulmore in their fall from grace. This might describe the Ascians (having brief moments of triumph) and their labour to awaken Zodiark, their plans for the Rejoinings and how Haedelyn is a lie. You are now fighting the Light. You have just been dealt a reverse uno card by Emet-Selch. Authors of our fates / Ochestrate our fall from grace / Poorest players on the stage / Our defiance drives us straight to the edge / A reflection in the glass / Recollections of our past / Swift as darkness, cold as ash / Far beyond this dream of paradise lost - This is my favourite part of the song. I think it's pretty self explanatory from an Ascian POV but I also want to point out how the music changes at this point because this is the first time we actually learn about them and Hydaelyn (not being what we thought it was). Emet-Selch makes you realise this, he is yelling at you along with the lyrics. But don't be afraid of him, yell back and yell louder! Because you are the author of your fate, you ochestrated your own fall from grace, you are the poorest player on the stage and your defiance has driven you straight to the edge. He is the reflection in the glass and the recollections of your past. One brings shadow, one brings light / One more chapter, we've yet to write / Want for nothing, nothing denied / Wand'ring ended, futures aligned / One brings shadow, one brings light / One brings shadow, one brings light / You are the Light - I think this naturally gravitates to Ardbert, denied of his sacrifice and left to wander. He too started as a WoL and became a WoD. His future is now finally aligned to you and this is the next chapter for the both of you to write. BUT you can also allude this to Emet-Selch - one more chapter for him to write with the WoL (you know who it actually is), his wandering now ended, his future now aligned. Ardbert is the tragic reflection of your story and Emet is the Dark to your Light. If you are one side of a coin, they are your other side. Who is the victor and who is the villain? Are you the victor or are you the villain?
Just did this raid for the first time a couple of days ago! This theme kicked ass and Emet-Selch was a great boss fight with a great theme to accompany the battle. Honestly Heavensward is still my favourite out of the expansions, but damn is Shadowbringers right behind it since the story and bosses in both were *chef's kiss*
"Case in point─I do not consider you to be truly alive. Ergo, I will not be guilty of murder if I kill you."
Best villain in this whole game, by far.
Well, technically the main villains behind the entire storyline up to Shadowbringers. Most of it was either direct or indirect Ascian scheme. Every other villain was for all intents and purposes, a puppet.
@@PAcifisti Ascians were flat one dimensional villains that a brilliant female writer redesigned retrospectively in Shadowbringers. It is disingenuine to say that Ascians were the true villains beforehand, when the primals were made to have different agendas and even direct opinions/relationships with the Blessing of Light. Which as of EW has been softly dropped out of the story.
@@hristopavlov298 I know the change in main writer. That still doesn't mean they didn't have some sort of plotline prepared for them. Yoshi said that they're writing 3 expansions ahead to have a somewhat coherent storyline. Even if they originally didn't have this grand plotline, with hindsight we now know what the final plot was. This makes Ascians the worst villain of ARR, even though IMO they would've been that just purely on ARR story. They were the hardest to kill and had very nasty intentions & ways to do things. We already knew in ARR that they were involved in Garlean politics.
Also, blessing of light hasn't been as much dropped but rather refined. It was our own strength of will pushing us on rather than the blessing of light. Hydaelyn supported and buffed us when needed, but she began to run out of power to do so towards the end.
@@PAcifisti Spot on - to have a somewhat coherent story.
No she didn't. She crystalbathed her ass saving her power to 1 v 1 us in Endwalker. She literally didn't bat an eye on the 7th Umbral Calamity and let the world end and for you to die. If not for a technology made of imaginary primal machine in time stasis and an alien machine that allowed exactly 1 catboy and 1 crystal tower to travel exactly 100 years ago in exactly this one place, she would have failed miserably because the girl felt like chilling. Oh and you fought one of the most powerful ascians in the convocation of 14 as a dungeon boss in ARR, fused with yet another lower ascian who gave us an old retconned explanation of what the echo is.
@@hristopavlov298 Yes and no. It's more complex than that if you remember the story. She told us that it was taking more and more of her power to hold back the more Calamities passed, meaning that her available power to do other things than just to hold on was vanishing. That's why she stopped communicating with us for a long time, and why the communications at the start of EW were short.
Also, she didn't just sit still for nothing. Remember the story? We met her in the past and told her what was going to happen. She was left with the foreknowledge of big future events, like the amount of calamities and where the world would be at the end of it. We told (at least the broad strokes) to Venat even before she became Hydaelyn. It was then left to her to follow this bitter script through.
To make the mankind able to wield dynamis effectively and not give in to despair, the world had to be both sundered and go through a lot of hardships and suffering. That, together with the knowledge of Azem's reincarnation after the 7th calamity being a very hardy & stubborn fighter being able to wield dynamis was effectively her plan. Our journey and the unlikely events like the catboys journey to the first wasn't a lucky chance, but rather something she knew beforehand.
God I love the subtle hint of "NO FUCKING WAY" on Emet-Selch's face when he gets a glimpse of your true soul
He is in denial at that point. At first he suspected we could be Azem. Then, when we failed to tame the Light, he decided we couldn't be Azem, because in his eyes Azem can't lose.
Then, after rejoining with Ardbert we are suddenly strong enough, but at that point, as I said, he decided we couldn't be Azem, and yet he still sees our original soul. So he rejects it. That's why when we kick his ass, he realizes that yeah, he was in denial, we really are Azem. After all he was the greatest of the amaurotines mages.
And if we are against his plans, then he is in the wrong and should have let us cook. That's how much faith he has in Azem.
God, Ardbert's whole Shadowbringers story arc fucked me up so bad. This guy who only ever wanted to help was manipulated into destroying his home and killing the people he'd spent his life trying to save. He wasn't even allowed to make one last sacrifice for them because Minfilia knew he'd be needed later.
And then, sure enough, we turned up and after years of helplessly watching his people suffer and die because of what he had done he was finally able to save his world.
Every time he spoke to you it hurt me because I kept imagining what it must be like to wander a century without being seen, heard or touched. Then at the end when he supports you after overcoming despair I'm just wonderful....
I felt so bad for Ardbert. I know she had her reasons, but if I were in his position I would probably really resent Minfilia. She basically resigned him to years of an unimaginably torturous existence after watching his closest companions sacrifice themselves.
I know, I know, "the greater good" and all that, but still. Kind of a dick move.
@@Sky-CladObserver I only hope Hydaelyn told her why he had to remain. She had to know what she was putting him through with that.
same!
To think the WoL is responsible for all of that to happen...
I'm glad I've seen the lyrics now, because before I could only hear the third line as "Two toed geckos tumbling through time" and I thought, "well that can't be right, can it...?"
Well now I'm never going to be able to unhear that, thanks 😂
You are, in fact, correct. It's the video that is wrong!
OH MAN! LOL
Two toed geckos tumbling through thyme
Bruh
"Our defiance drives us straight to the edge"
*Zooms in dramatically on Dragoon*
I'm offended, and also I agree.
As one Dragoon once said, "All are correct."
Red Mage: Hurts, doesn't it?
Ahahahahahaaaaaa xD
Should’ve been “Drives us straight over the edge” because ELUSIVE JUMP IS CURSED 😂
"This world is not yours to end. This is our future. Our story!"
...Damn it, I love this game so goddamn much.
Ardbert: if you had the strength would stand, would you save our worlds.
Me being emotional: you know I would.
Ardbert takes out his axe: we fight as one.
"No it cant be"
"It ends this day. One way or another, it ends."
@@warriorofdawn876 the line i love from the warrior of darkness
@@warriorofdawn876 very well i accept your final judgment, the victor shall write the tale, and the vanquished became its villan
I've played most of the FF series and this is quiet possibly the best moment across any of them. The darkest hour, ironically bathed in blinding light. The offer of the axe. The music. The WoL rising to their feet while Ardbert's voice speak from them. The almost heartbroken look of horror on Emet-Selch's face when he finally sees just *who's* sundered soul he's been dealing with - something we wouldn't be able to appreciate the gravity of until some patches later. The Exarch coming to the aid of his inspiration. The final square off. Emet invoking his true name. The desperate battle for the future fought upon the ruins of the past. And at last, a final sad smile from one friend to another as he accepts his fate and entrusts the legacy of his people and the future of the Star to us.
Perfect.
It's good, but I still think auron's speech before fighting Yunalesca is the best scene in the series.
And Ardbert seeing his friends again in the Chrystarium, no longer having a bloody axe and armor, because he redeemed himself :'(
No it's fine. I'll just go sob into a pillow for the rest of the day.
I do actually believe that Emet knew who we were long before the final battle. He hints at your old identity, and he is unable to hide his smile whenever you're around. You may be his enemy, but you're also a piece of one of his best friends.
@@Lancun I agree. He knew who we were the whole time. Also, if we cannot escape the nature of our souls as Fandaniel says, and souls have intrinsic personalities as G'raha says, we must be very much like Azem.
“The victor shall write the tale, and the vanquished becomes it’s villain.”
Just finished yesterday such a badass line
That line is soooo good
Just like WW2
*its
@@JacketVEVO the allies were fighting the wrong enemy the whole time 😔
This song shows so much how Emet and the WoL are two sides of the same coin. Both fighting for the same cause, yet so different in their goals. One fights for those he lost. One fights for those he can yet save. One brings shadow, one brings the light
Now I get why Emet hated the WoL, because in SB the WoL stole his shtick by becoming the WoD.
For that matter, which of them brings shadow and which brings light is completely based on perspective--you are a true Warrior of Darkness in the Ascians' eyes. As Elidibus puts it, "you are death".
WHOA
For those we have lost. For those we can yet save.
And the fact Emet and the WoL want the same thing but one need to fall to let the other achieve his goal is why Emet is a great Vilain, because he is not, his motivation is the most human of all and he fight you not because he want but because he must and no other way is possible to get back those he lost and his disdain for Humanity is relatable since he was here when Human were immortal, have a more powerfull magic, society and technology and as always, the best vilain is the one you can understand and said yourself "I'll do the same" when you have his point of view because he is as right as you, just in an opposite way
Dude, the moment he lowers you the axe and the music starts playing, holy shit.
Yeah first time I did this I was like “Yes Ardbert let’s do this” then the music started and I was like “OH FUCKING HELL YES! ALRIGHT GAME TIME! LETS JAM WHILST THE QUEUE IS GOING!!!!0
It hits different once you've experienced that.
I love how he just slightly shakes the axe to you which makes it even that much more epic mate!🔥💯🙌🏾💯🔥🙌🏾
That moment, I grabbed a lot of tissue paper, told the party "Can we please hold, I cannot stop crying". I was also in a VC, had to mute myself as i was DEVASTATED.
@@priscillavelez2181 I feel you. Some of the moments in this game. Just priceless.
“This is my world. My story” - Emet Selch
“This is Our world. Our story” - Azem (WoL + Ardbert)
this. I love this line, because it's the appropriate response to all the 'emet-selch did nothing wrong' people. This is our world, our story. It is not his to end.
Exactly. We're all in it together. Its not his judgement to take all of us down.
In my first playthrough, the "home, riding home" portion of the song occurred at the same point where the game zoomed in on my player character giving a death glare to Emet Selch while standing in the middle of those pillars of light. That moment gave me chills.
Fun Fact: the man vocalist is the original English voice actor for Raubahn.
Not only that, he is also sang Rules Of Nature from MGR!!!!!
To me, it soundsd like the vocalist from the band Ra.
No wonder it has so much chad energy
@@ArchieGamez NO WONDER I LIKE THIS TOO
who is this amazingly talented man?
God....I wish I could experience shadowbringers for the first time again. I'm so happy I live in the timeline where FF14 succeeded and thrived.
Just finished this boss fight today, managed to avoid spoilers till that point. Gotta say when that theme started playing, it was instantly a favorite.
Congratz and have fun in endwalker. It only gets better :)
Wait till you get to the end.
Spoiler free Warning tho. Things do get VERY depressive at certain points. Keep tissues nearby to dry your eyes
@@cherrydragon3120 but remember to just keep pressing forth, no matter what happens as well. A valuable lesson.
Was my favorite since the trailer, new meaning unlocks when you get to the fight, great story and world building all around
"I am Hades. He who shall awaken our bretheren from their dark slumber."
"And I am the Warrior of Darkness, the one who will kick your sorry, angry ass."
@@overdrivedrinker8284 🤡
"We stand together."
"Im surprised you can stand at all"
"I couldnt very well leave matters half finished. Expanse contract, eon become instant. Heroes from beyond the rift, heed my call~!"
Damn you....DAMN YOU ALL!
@@robikkupegasus7039 Emet-Selch I challenge you
That close-up at 1:41 simply adds to the scene.
*7 lalafells appear*
@@HexJK 7 Hells!
"What, all by myself?"
Ha *lowers axe* Take it. We fight as one
@@ninjagod70 i will cry
That was my choice too, delivered with a wry smirk.
Seeing as what's revealed, hypothetically: Yeah, lol.
I can say with full confidence that the moment Ardbert passes you the axe then you’re revealed to be a shard of Azem then you’re standing inside those summoning circles virtually radiating power was the greatest moment Ive ever had in a video game.
The worst was a minute later when I had to wait in queue to do the Hades fight 😫 XIV giveth and XIV taketh away.
Honestly you make it sound awful but it was weirdly pumping me up more xD I was raring to go by the time i got in.
@Jay Bee Don't fucking remind me... this is one of the worst parts of the game, queue times and fetchquests...
I ended up waiting a while then just went to limsa and shouted for help and the group I got for it made it matter so much more to me lol
@Jay Bee I had it with the final steps of faith. Dragonsong playing in the background waiting 2 hours to get in
Yeah that shit’s relatable.
At least the song kept looping so I didn’t care about the wait time
I went into this fight knowing the whole Azem thing because my husband has played through Endwalker and I don't mind him sharing spoilers. So during that scene I, through my tears about Ardbert, said "Guess who's got more than half of their soul back, bitch."
"Authors of our fates, Orchestrate our fall from grace, Poorest players on the stage, Our defiance drives us straight to the edge"
Well goddamn, after EW there's even more meaning to this
Home, riding home. Hold on to hope.
That's Emet. After a thousand thousand years, he has been holding onto hope. All he wants is to go home.
I feel bad for him. He started out as a ludicrously cartoonish villain, but in the end, he was the greatest.
His goals are exactly the same as your own, but neither outcome can happen without the other's destruction. One way or another, it ends here and now. Personally, that was the line I chose because it felt fitting, while I knew as the player we ultimately win, as the character, I felt as though the Warrior of Light would have no illusion to the idea of losing against such a dedicated foe whom just like him/her, stood to lose or win everything in that fight. But neither side is truly evil or good, just a fight for survival.
I bought a hoodie with his Ascian glyph on it and I don't regret a thing. I will forever love Emet-Selch, he's my favorite villain of all time. Especially seeing him in 5.3
@@combinecommando001 nah. Emet's definitely evil. He has genocided 7 entire worlds and intends to do it seven more times just to get his friends back. I can weep for what he's lost while putting him down as the madman he is at the same time.
@@Keira_Blackstone it's a question of If you were in his place, wouldn't you do the same? Imagine living for thousands of years with only 2 more of your own who have been spared a horrid fate and only the memories of what was and what the present hold are only but a wayward reflection of what was, and that's being generous.
Were his actions horrible and inexucable, absolutely, he deserves being put down. But are his actions are understandable, yes but it doesn't excuse them
@@Keira_Blackstone I swear, you people... let me educate you on something, because you obviously haven't played Shadowbringers:
The existence which is ended through a rejoining on a shard is rejoined to their source counterpart, as such he doesn't truly kill them. Or to quote Emet himself.
'I do not consider you truly alive, ergo I would not be guilty of murder if I were to kill you.'
Which never was his intention to begin with, hell, he offered us a chance to join him. To fix what Hydaelyn broke in one of her most idiotic, pants-on-head stupid moments.
One brings shadow (Emet/Hades, HE LITERALLY BLANKETS THE ARENA IN SHADOWS and brings "shades" to fight you, he is the SHADOWBRINGER)
One brings light (You are the warrior of light, you're full of light after absorbing the lightwardens, you "expose" Emet and his creations, and the history of the realm, the lyrics even say "You are the light")
Threescore wasted, ten cast aside (3 unsundered Ascians, Emet, Eldibus & Lahabrea who survived the final days. 10 cast aside are the other ascians in the council of 13)
One dark future, no one survives (The future being the rejoining that ascians have long sought for, where most would die if it were to occur)
Home... Riding home... (Expresses the Ascians' plight in restoring their home)
Forged in fury, tempered in ice (likely describing HW, Nidhogg's fury and Shiva's ice)
Hindmost devils, early to rise (likely describing our plight in Stormblood)
Heaven’s banquet leavened with lies (describing our journey to Eulmore, everyone eats despite not knowing what exactly they were eating)
Sating honor, envy, and pride (Ranjeet, Titania and Innocence)
Thank you for explaining the lyrics! wouldn't catch that. Awesome
Whoa, this is much deeper than I thought! :O Thanks for making me aware! ^^
To elaborate a bit further, the fourfold knowing no end in sight are the three Unsundered + Azem himself, being the ones still embroiled in the conflict. They're forever clashing, because of their opposed goals.
@@stopreadingthis3725 I'm glad someone else understood fourfold doesn't mean 4x or 4*20. A fourfold can be a "group of four." So yeah, that's how I read it too.
the word "threescore" means sixty, but maybe that's just an error in the writing
"I challenge you emet selch" such a great line from an otherwise "silent" protagonist
I prefer the other option myself.
@@YoSoyConando Same, I felt that one hit WAY harder. But it's all personal preference
It ends this day, one way or another. It ends.
@@ArchieGamez very well let us Proceed to your final judgment
@@ArchieGamez I imagined my character adding just a little more to the line. "For the right to inherit this world, I challenge you Emet Selch!"
FFXIV's Expansion Finales are god-tier. They actually like to provide satisfying resolutions instead of jebaiting us for the next expansion.
Legit. It's just been one moment after another where I catch myself thinking: "This is a MMO?!"
They kind of do but in a good way, by making you hungry for more
This is something I do really like. You can stop at the end of any expansion and have a complete story. There are always loose ends that they tease you with a little bit, but they know that their game is good enough that they don't have to rely on cliffhangers to keep people coming back.
Th Jebaiting is for the patches.
Not the actual expansions.
It also means that the story is always escalating. Kill the gods... then kill the machine that ate the gods... then kill the dragons that are older than the gods... then kill the fucker who absorbed the power of the god that survived the weapon built specifically to kill the gods... then avoid total cosmological apocalypse by killing the immortal ancient who created the original God and Satan... I can't wait to play Endwalker and probably murder the very star.
As someone who jumped ship from WoW I am still amazed at how well FF14 does the things that WoW was trying to do. A genocidal villain who actually feels morally grey and I feel sad about his death. It was necessary but it didn't feel great to do. We also understand his motives, he really was pulling the strings from behind the scenes for quite a while and his plans were intelligent and made sense.
The protagonist needed a friend to travel through time and space in a magical tower in order to effectively disrupt his plans and the antagonist adjusts his plans in a way that makes sense.
Also that G'raha had a master plan, but his plan made sense and we can see how he came to his conclusions about what he had to do. His plan collided with Hades' and both people react intelligently to their plans being thrown into disarray. It's just so refreshing to see people with plans that are a few steps ahead of the player but in a way that makes sense and is resolved by the end of the expansion's launch content.
The wild part is, in the Ascian's eyes, they are the heroes of their story. They're fighting to try to restore the sundered souls of the people back to their original whole and to bring the shards of the star that Hydaelyn split apart back together into a singular whole once more.
“The victor shall write the tale, and the vanquished becomes it’s villain.” is such a perfect line from Emet because of this.
You notice that during this expansion the Duty Complete screen has your character closing their eyes in prayer or contemplation for every twisted or tortured soul they have to bring to rest instead of cheering like they did during earlier boss battles.
@@20xdee6 You probably already know it, but it's also a nice touch that it's just "hades" in the introduction cutscene of the duty, because it's "lay down our titles" :D
@@Gloriankithsanus “let us cast aside titles and pretenses and reveal our true faces to one another” was the wording I believe
@@rachelkelley5930 I only ever saw it in german, so I didn't know the exact wording at all. Thanks for posting!
I may be overinterpreting but I like that the lyrics have like 5 different contexts depending on where are in the story.
I like the fact if you go back to Answers after this finale there's an entirely new POV opened up because of ShB.
TFW you realise that Tomorrow and Tomorrow isn't merely a reply to Shadowbringers, its lyrics are a *refutation* of Shadowbringers.
@@bah9541 I'm not saying that you're wrong but I am curious to hear your analysis on this
@@UltaFlame Some sections of Shadowbringers seem to correspond to some sections of Tomorrow and Tomorrow.
Shadowbringers:
"We fall, we fall, we fall, we fall, unto the end"
Tomorrow and Tomorrow:
"Stand tall, my friend
May all of the dark deep inside you find light again
This time, tumbling, turning we make amends
Eternal winds from the land ascend
Here to lift us that we won't end"
Shadowbringers:
"One world's end
Our world's end
Our end
We won't end"
Tomorrow and Tomorrow:
"Pray don't forget us, your bygone kin
With one world's end does a new begin
And should our souls scatter unto the wind
Still we shall live on"
@@bah9541 holy......
After travelling a while along with Ardbert, this was a rooller coaster of feelings. It was obvious that Ardbert will leave us, but after having him introduced as enemy before him turning to a friend and then into your literal soulmate, just to save you in your worst state.. Holy fuck. The whole setup is just perfect. Especially as you use all the wardens light to throw it through Emet in form as Ardberts axe, honoring the endurance and glory of him.
I cried ... I played alone from the beginning to shadowbringers until we fight emmet .. and when ardbert joined us for the final hit ... i was literally crying at 35 years old like a fucking moron alone in my room :)
I fucking love how Shadowbringers manages to create a morally grey situation that you could argue being completely justified for believing in either side.
Emet-Selch is in his rights to want to return his people, especially considering in his eyes he isn't committing any sort of heinous atrocity but rather heroically restoring the world and it's people to their former and superior glory.
On the other hand the WoL and the Scions are their own alive and living beings that exist separately from the souls that were sundered to make them. They're their own brilliant and powerful people that, despite their "imperfection", deserve to exist simply because they do. regardless of the circumstances that caused their creation.
Ultimately there is no villians nor are there heroes. Only survivors.
"It ends this day. One way or another, it ends."
I love that one so much more than the alternative. It fits the scene better IMO.
"I challenge you, Emet-Selch" fits too. It's a final battle, and you are playing for the Eorzeans side. You can't turn back, so can't Emet-Selch. The ultimate stakes at the end of the world, the death challenge.
@@PaladineAvenger1 They both work. I just feel my choice seems different enough from something we could have in ANY situation.
Personal preference.
I really like "I challenge you, Emet-selch" because it means that this time instead of him judging or trying us we are telling to see if HE can beat us, after an entire expansion we finally have the reins
@@tazaycharla3426 I like it more as "Here I officially challenge you to claim the Source for our future and not yours"
I love the 'I challenge you' line just because it reminded me of "I challenge you, one warrior to another".
EW's ending and wrap up of the story is insanely good, but this right here is the highest peak of FFXIV. Nothing will ever beat the confrontation with Emet-Selch and the build up to it.
Okay but when I did this fight the first time, we wiped and one of the Healers quit because he was a jagoff who didn’t want to help the newbies. But we decided to keep trying without him, and a new Healer dropped in right when we needed one the most.
It was the most shonen freaking thing ever
It's kind of funny if you think about it from the perspective that one of the heroes the Exarch summoned just turned out to be really shitty lol
When I did this fight, _both_ tanks were Godbert Mandeville clones.
They still wore clothes, though, probably so that we'd still have something of a challenge.
"A wizard is never too early or too late. He arrives right when he is needed" -Gandalf the white
Aye
Newbies don't need help in casual content.
i can't even sing along without tearing up, that moment was just too emotional, btw. fighting Hades with tears in my eyes was quite the challenge
Some really meta crowd control Squareenix managed there
How about when he came to help against the warrior of Light?
Dude i had the same...
Nidhogg, Hades, endwalkers Final trial.
Its hard to do that when you're in years
'Seeing someone transformed is akin to seeing them naked.'
.....emet. bad news.
lmao
it kind of says something that the transformations of Hades and Hephaistos are so bizarre and grotesque, but Themis chooses to transform into the Warrior of Light. what an idealistic little dork
@@ApexGale Themis in essence just let his inner Chuuni run wild. And had the power to do it right.
One could say Hades bared himself naked
The scene prior to the battle is straight up shonen. And it works so fucking well.
It's also another Final Steps of Faith moment where you better reach it at peak hour and not at 1am on a weekday like me. >_>
Emet-Selch: “So uh... are we doing this?”
WoL: “G’raha Tia, buddy, what’s taking so long?”
G’raha Tia: “Sorry guys, turns out most of these warriors I’m calling are asleep, gimme a bit”
Fr fr I was screaming. I was also queued as DPS 😭
@@gateauxq4604 30 minute queue as BLM. Really killed the mood lol
Almost one year after shb release and I had a 30min queue as tank
I reached it at like 3 am on a Thursday lol, but i play tank so only had to wait 5 min
I have a confession to make: I watch this cutscene in game every 2nd day. Just finished post ShB and oh my, I cried like a baby during ShB ending and post. This has to be the best lore in any game I played and god damn I love ffxiv.
I think what I love most about this game's music design is that months, years even after the patches, you can find whole new meaning and impacts within the lyrics. It really is something to behold. Reliving Shadowbringers after completing Endwalker is just such a feeling of "we knew absolutely NOTHING about this world at all" and it really gives a brilliant significance to these characters. I could sympathize with the ascians in Shadowbringers, honestly, but having completed the entire story arc now, it's such a moment of this dawning of realization. Beautiful, beautiful writing and character development and the music just deepens further and further the more the game ages. I can't run into this fight in roulette without crying now. It feels like punching a best friend
Before learning the lyrics, the chorus to this song is just *OOOOOOOO!* something *OOOOOOOOO!*
it is. don't let anyone tell you otherwise
" This world is not yours to end. This is our future, our story"
I'm new to FFxiv, and I've never had a game make me so excited or driven to play since Ghost of Tsushima. And when my character spoke those few words, I got chills all over my body, and this was during a hot day in the summer
"Since Ghost of Tsushima" - So... for 1,5 years? lmao
This scene. This scene just gives me such chills. An amazing end to an amazing expansion. That fight's still probably my favorite trial in the game.
I never knew I would be quite as engaged to an MMORPG. FFXIV definitely deserved to be a premium MMORPG. Everything about it is great.
Im very picky, buy game 2nd hand and always f2p if i can. But ffxiv expansion 40 usd, plus 15 a month feels like a bargain. Game is so amazing i cant believe it
@@inhuahua1 ikr. I mean, the game will probably benefit from going Free2Play, but the price for playing and experiencing the game itself is worth the price.
@@Altimittkun It definitely would not benefit from F2P. The fact that the game is run so well is because it has a subscription model. You will see more microtransactions creep in and even some pay to win mechanics. A subscription model ensures that everyone has an equally good experience. We would also not have such quality story and cutscenes either. Keep in mind each expansion is the size of a full release single player RPG and probably more. EW story is confirmed to be 1.5 times longer than ShB and longer than the average single player jRPG release. This would not be possible in a free to play model. The money we agree to give them on a monthly basis is being put to good use. This is because FFXIV does not have a AAA budget and we get AAA quality story and content.
Having played through most of Endwalker... this song hits so different now.
Exactly what I was thinking!
Same goes for Answers
Hope they reuse this song in future, specially riding home part that is just pure gold
Yep. Endwalker really shows the things we didn't know yet in shadowbringers
The WoL defeated countless primals. Help bring Nations together. Brought Unity and Prosperity everywhere. Defeated Ascians. Saved another World from impending doom. Did what was believed impossible. Achieved miracles.
*And that’s just 1 soul out of 16* before reuniting more.
Imagine if the WoL had ALL 16 souls.
You're actually 8/14ths of the way whole as of the Emet-Selch fight, with Ardbert joining his fragment of Azem's soul to yours. The world is seven-times rejoined, restoring essentially half of what anyone who is a sundered Ascian used to be to the Source. Whether you're a 1.0 WoL or a 2.0+ WoL, you start your journey essentially at half of what an unsundered Ascian's potential was. Which is why everyone who can see souls comments on just how uncommonly swole your soul is. G'raha Tia has a similar issue with him having timeline-hopped from a future when the 8th Umbral Calamity has happened.
Buck is right. 7 rejoinings means we are 8/14th of Azem.
Wich brings to show Why we are so fricking powerfull compared to many other people.
I wonder now tho. Is the game going to continue giving the WoL his/her soul back?
Ardbert got us to 9/14th
5 soul fragments left to go before we basicly ascend to ancient status and in the eyes of the people... basicly a f.cking God. If we are already this powerfull. Imagine the WoL at full strength
No Ardbert got us to 8/14ths @@cherrydragon3120
I just beat shadowbringers for the first time last night. The cutscene before fighting Hades has to be THE BEST cutscene so far in ff14. Definitely the best in shadowbringers' msq up to this point. This cutscene, from the despair and refusing to give up despite everything, to Ardbert at our side and the music kicking in. This cutscene was AWESOME.
I CHALLENGE YOU, EMIT-SELCH!
Oh I thought the same till endwalker😅 tho this scene still is the most hyped moment in ffxiv in my opinion, Endwalker had a more let's fucking gooo vibe
I call it "Final Fantasy's version of Endgame's Portals scene."
The hero is alone, dying on their feet, facing a foe that looks unstoppable. This is the lowest point the hero has been in since the beginning.
Then an ally lets the hero know they're not alone, and the music kicks in...
All of a sudden, the hero stands strong, confident, determined. The strongest they have ever been, and surrounded by portals bringing in reinforcements.
Tho it is absolutely a perfect scene.
Mate, get going with endwalker and witness an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. From hate to sadness. Have fun :)
@@ericbright1742 and in endwalker we get to learn HOW it is that we were practicaly dying and suddenly got the strength to go on and even defeat Hades
@@cherrydragon3120 Which part? Ardbert manually doing an 8th Rejoining, since we were the shard of the same soul (The Hythlodaeus shade told us this), or us literally throwing his plan in his face by channeling the Lightwardens' Light into the blade that smote him (Y'shtola told us this right after we did it)?
Or do you mean that in Endwalker we learn more layers of *significance* in this scene? Like why exactly Hades lost his shit when he saw the Warrior of Light surrounded by 7 pillars of Calling Light (aside from throwing Allagan tech at him, which he built!)
I wish the WoL had one voiced cutscene and this was it. Entire game you're silent, but suddenly, to everyone's surprise... "I challenge you, Emet-Selch."
This would be another added gold moment to this.
I prefer to use "This ends today. One way or another, it ends." It feels more true to both my character and the moment as well.
The i challenge you seemed better fit for my character. For selfmade personality reasons fcourse. Its also why in the final fight of endwalker i chooce a more vengefull response rather then righteous.
I would have been fine with it being Arberts voice coming through my WoL with reverb added and stuff
No.
The guitar part always get me, just finished this like 3 days ago, I've never felt this way when playing a game before
Goosebumps and tears.
Every time.
It's perfection.
"Weary wanderer. No fight left to fight, no life left to live!"
Christ alive, this cutscene and trial cemented Shadowbringers as my favorite expansion over Heavensward.
So much good shit.
"It ends this day. One way or another, it ends."
I'm glad this video exists. I finally beat Shadowbringers a few weeks ago but it was like 5 or 6am in the morning so Duty Finder wasn't exactly popping and my FC was largely asleep still. So I sat around for over an hour with this song repeating just riding the hype as long as I could.
Remember us..
Mad props to sit through that queue time. I was lucky a couple of friends were online to bounce into a party with me at whatever time I did this for the first time
Bro I started this game this year in March and finally got to this part a few nights ago, this game is just phenomenal and I actually care about the story and the world itself. It doesn’t even really feel like a grind fest to get up to this and beyond.
Same thing lol. Started in march and about the be at this point part today or tmr
This is what happens when you have real writters that care. The whole story from ARR to EndWalker has been writted out from the start and refined over all these years. They knew where the story was going so it all ends up being tied together nicely in one large coherent stoiry that while parts may end in cliff hangers, said cliffhanders make sense and is reflected in the storytelling as the npc's even wonder whats going on. But than we find out later what has happend or what this really meant. I mean heck we had that epic storyline for the Crystal Tower in ARR, and that ends up being tied to Shadowbringers and is further continued in Endwalker! Something I am happy for as I loved kitty boy
Welcome to the endgame :D just wait for Endwalkers. So damn hype.
@@TAiiNE FF14 story deserves the praise, but the story was NOT written from ARR to EndWalker right from the get go. They are still talented writers, as they left enough fluff in the story to be tied together later, but yoshi himself said in an interview that they started to connect the dots for the ascians when they developed shadowbringers - therefore after stormblood was done. They had no idea what they were going for prior to that.
I always kind of HAVE to forget that shadowbringers only happens because graha dimension travels to the shard and then from there back to the past to stop a war crime poison gas calamity by the garleans in the future. Up until that point, FF14 story writing was largely grounded lol.
I still love it, but holy fuck, that's some writing lol.
My friend sent me this song a couple years ago. I just finished this trial. It was a long, arduous journey but the smile on my face, when he gave me his axe and this music started, was genuine
"If you had the Strength to take another step.. Could you do it..? Could you save our Worlds..?"
Now imagine if THIS was his mount theme
I would never use any other mount
I legitimately can't believe it isn't. Hell, the song doesn't drop either.
They had to give the other mounts a chance
had someone told me that the game had great music, I would have started playing much sooner! god this song is amazing!!!
Be to fair, pretty much every FF has great music, though for a MMO, this music is way beyond what is expected.
It was also the music that got me to play this game (Copied Factory Raid)
Most of the music is so wonderful and I’m glad you want to play ffxiv
@@zero_chevalier i would think nier raids music would got you playing nier themselves (which have awesome music by itself)
but i cant blame ya, ffxiv music awesome too %)
@@minortoterona2947 I played Nier Automata a few years back. Only got the first ending though.
Might go back to it to see the true ending (not gonna watch it on TH-cam. I'd rather experience it myself once time, and the SquEnix promised fix for the Steam version of Automata) allows it.
People can say what they want but Emet wasn‘t evil. He wanted to bring back his loved ones, something we all would do if we just could. And as he said, he lived thousands of our lifes, shared meals withe the kind of ours, gave our kind chances of chances, but always saw how the people were fighting against each other and couldn‘t hold together in any situation. He was egoistic in a way that he wanted to bring back those who fell while we were egoistic and wanted to keep safe those who we love.
One of his other lines shows how Emet actually feels: "You're not real people, so how is it murder to kill you?"
@@EspyLacopa2 I think that was said something more out of frustration. Because at the end you saw that he acknowledged us and some of the other ones.
I understand that his motivation was to bring back his paradise and return all his friends to life, but he admits himself that he intends to kill literally everyone else in order to do it, even after everything is fully rejoined.
just finished this msq today,and this song make my 45 minutes wait a lot enjoyable
Emet-Selch is just such an amazing character, love his design and the whole story around him. He will always have a special place in my heart ❤️
Amazing video, thank you for the feels!
Whenever I see this scene and hear this song I get goosebumps every time. The most hype finale of any expansion. I wish I could forget all of Shadowbringers and go through it again just to experience this moment for the first time again.
Just finished ShB last week. I can say this cutscene has topped the Last Step of Faith one. Which I didn't think was possible.
In all seriousness, and after much reflection, I think for me this may be the greatest moment in gaming history.
No other mmo can outshine the story telling that ff14 has, ardbert handing you his axe was the highlight of this expansion for me
“7 dislikes”
Damned Ascians.
at this moment, theres 14. I guess even Azem wasnt impressed.
There's 30 now but by god i laughed at this comment wayyyyyy harder than i should've
CHAMPIONS FROM BEYOND THE RIFT HEAR MY CALL!
My character: I CHALLENGE YOU EMET SELCH!
WE FALL
WE FALL
WE FALL
WE FALL UNTO THE END
THE END
THE END OUR END
WE WON’T END!
Played the game 4 times and always gets goosebumps at this scene
played it 8 times, I still get hyped.
@@Shiirow uhh not sure I follow but are you saying you started over from ARR to this point 8 times? If you actually did that’s some love haha.
"it ends this day, one way or another it ends" i love that one so much
One more chapter we've yet to write... is this the biggest hint ever?!
Endwalker (6.0) will end the Hydalin/Zodiark arc...more a reference than a hint. It's the end of the story not the game tho. Yoshi promised.
The next expansion, Endwalker - 6.0, is set to be the grand finale to the story arc started way back in 1.0 between Hydaelyn and Zodiark. So the climax of 1.0 - base FF14, 2.0 - A Realm Reborn, 3.0 - Heavensward, 4.0 - Stormblood, and 5.0 - Shadowbringers. So 10 years of plot coming to a head in the next expac.
They have said already it won't be the end of the game, FF14 is Yoshi-P's baby and he'll keep developing it as long as people keep playing it.
@@CrashB111 and keep playing we shall! (At least I will)
I wonder what comes next. The original calamity that caused all this maybe xD
@@AmandaComeauCreates That's quite possible, after all, Zodiark and Hydaelyn only exist withing this star, and considering we're going to the fucking moon next expansion we might aswell go to other stars too. The dragons for example, come from another star that was destroyed and asked Hydaelyn for refuge. The Final Days of this star might be related to what caused the dragons' star to collapse too.
Out of pure respect for Emet-Selch and wanting to fight him head on with nothing held back-
"This ends today. One way or another, this ends."
I wouldn't be upset at all if he even won
If he won then he was right, we weren't strong enough to do what needed to be done.
I just completed this queue last night and that's also what I said to him. It's the truth, that was the moment. Ideals clashed and only the right one was going to come out on top. Unfortunately for him I happened to have more friends and more power than he did :')
@@MissLilianae congratulations!
Remember those words and your promise to Hades
The post game has a lot more in store for you
@@Lazaruz95 as long as we remember that they lived, we're good.
I don't know about that. I think he was counting on you to defeat him. I really do believe he wanted to entrust the fate of the star to the WoL. I think that smile at the end means more than we think. I only just finished 5.0 a few days ago and haven't played ahead so I don't know what's ahead, but that's the impression I got. We basically did him a favour and put him out of his memory. Makes it even more sad to me.
I've seen a couple people do small lyrical analysis here so I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring as well. This is my passion and my favorite song to boot.
To start "One Brings Shadow, One Brings Light" is resembling the WoL and Ardbert. Each Warriors of Light and Darkness in both worlds.
"Two toned echos tumbling through time" Both WoL and Arbert had to transcend their world and also the time differences between.
"One dark future no one survives" Referring to Uriange's vision about the very calamity we're travelling to The First to prevent.
"Here proud angels bathe in their wages of blood" I believe this means the Sin Eaters as many of their designs look like that of angels.
"At this the world's end do we cast off tomorrow" When all life is threatening to succumb to the light, only now do we take up arms to fight against fate.
"One brings shadow, one brings light, To this riddle all souls are tied" Ardbert and WoL did merge into one soul and Emet did say that we were all pieces of former Ascians
"Heaven's banquet leavened with lies" Referring to Eulmore and how it seems like paradise but underneath it all is more repulsive than anywhere else
"Sating honor, envy, and pride" Defeating Ranjeet, Titania, and Innocence respectively
"Home, Riding Home" I believe is reflecting on how despite the WoL being free to travel, all throughout ShB there's this underlying urgency to settle things in the First so that our friends can go home (I think it lines up with a line in A Long Fall/eScape "Come ride heroes ride" which is fittingly played while battling through the Crystal Tower in The Twinning)
"One more chapter we've yet to write" This is speculation but this could be foreshadowing for EndWalker being the last expansion in the Zodiark/Hydaelyn arc. Soken has forshadowed like this before, hiding Omega's theme in Azys Lla's theme.
and finally two lyrics together "Run from the light" and "You are the light" meaning that Ardbert is most likely the darkness in the repeated lyrics
Sorry for boring anyone who reads this. I'm always open to hearing more! Tl;Dr One Brings Shadow, One Brings Light. You and Ardbert!
You could also expand the scope of Shadow/Light referring to Zodiark and Hydaelyn; the balance of which, as we've seen, all beings depend on for collective survival.
The only thing I would disagree with is the idea that Ardbert is the referenced Shadow; he's the WoL's reflection, and a fellow Warrior of Light. Emet Selch is, IMO, the one who brings shadow.
I hadn't considered the 'two-toned echo' being the player character and Ardbert, but yeah I think you've changed my mind.
I love analyzing lyrics, you did really well! Good work!
"Home Riding Home" is the creed of the Ascians, it is their driving goal, they are Riding Home to their people and civilization, its why it comes up in To The Edge, as well.
The way your character looks into the camera is so epic haha
"I challenge you, Emet-Selch" always the best option in this moment for dialogue imo
The next line will be, Pikachu, I choose you!!
@@khairulanwarabduljamil6594 I choose the second option because that what ardbert said when you fought him in Ifrits arena
@@Kelenae that’s what I did too, just felt more powerful
@@Kelenae Wait, when specifically did he say that? Was that during the Duty or one of the cutscenes? I'm legit looking for that quote.
No lie my pld is ready to TAKE HIM DOWN!
Every time I watch this, the sweeping shot behind the AST gets me. It fits the music perfectly.
The line " One dark future no one survives " suddenly gain a new meaning after Endwalker .
Me clicking on this video one expansion later:
I'M A GROWN MAN! I'M A BIG ADULT, I CAN DO THIS!
> 2:26 happens
*OPEN THE FLOODGATES*
By far one of my most favorite villains. This is how it done.
Final Fantasy as a franchise in it's entirely peaked here.
MMORPGs not just FF, easily.
You are the Shadow and the Light... The Warrior of Light and Darkness.
I kind of figured it was the WoD and the WoL finally merging at long last to fight together. One brings darkness, one brings light - then the Ascian of old merges with both of you - two toned echoes tumbling through time, and so on and so forth... but, what do I know? lol - I think that's the whole point. It's a kickass tune no matter what :)
Remember
Imagine how jelly Magnai would be if he found out the female Xaela WoL was actually a fragment of Azem who likely was the basis for his beloved Azim.
"Quiet, Little Sun. Big Sun is talking."
@@cnkclark that’s perfect 😂
i just finished this expansion in November and I dont think I breathed throughout the last section of this expansion. And then Ardbert held out his axe and I went "oh this is INSANE" when the beat dropped this scene was CRAZY and formulative media for the rest of my life I think. Im still thinking about Emet nearly 3 weeks after I finished EW, thats how good it was
The music in this game is so powerful. I've owned other game soundtracks, and none evoke the level of emotion that the music from this game does.
Beat this yesterday, felt so goddamn hype seeing myself stand at the summoning area.
My boy Warrior as THE warrior of Light makes my warrior main heart smile.
I was "stuck" waiting in queue for this boss for a while, but it was ok, this song slap so hard...such a powerful part of the story with music to match
I just beat this part today. When ardbert gives you the axe, By far the most badass moment the WoL had so far holy fucking shit
Is it just me or can this song be as tragic as it can be inspiring?
It's amazing how whispers in the shadows can speak so loudly when light is shone on them.
2:08 to 2:59 is absolutely amazing, by far my favorite part
WOL: “Are you truly desperate to see me as the villain? Very well.
Tonight, the hero dies!”
Probably one of best game osts ever.
I just now noticed Hades' staff has an effigy of Zodiark.
The Hades Paladin shield that you get from the EX fight also has Zodiark on it
There should be a WHM staff with Hydelin.
Honestly Emet-Selch is my personal favourite final boss.. Mostly for four reasons..
1. The Music is perfect as his Motif..
2. He admits that he's a schemer and a really damn good one at that..
3. He can set up just about anything and if he wants to play Final Boss.. Oh he WILL play that..
4. Just how memorable he really is overall.. If he can beat Kefka and Sephiroth in the top villains of FF... That had been going on for more than a Decade! YOU KNOW HE'S GOOD.
Soken and koji fox are just insanely good. The amount of reseaecg into different genres to bring us different music.
The "home, riding home" is so iconic it will never forgotten years to come
i just finished the emet-selch battle a few days ago and just discovered the lyrics for this song yesterday and i'm so blown away. i've seen a lot of analysis on the lyrics but i just wanted to put my own interpretation here for peace of mind. i'm sorry for the essay but if anyone is of like mindedness, i am happy to discuss together!
For whom weeps the storm / Her tears on our skin / The days of our years gone / Our souls soaked in sin / These memories ache with the weight of tomorrow / Who fights? / Who flies? / Who falls?
- The people of the First lamenting the Oracle and the events that followed after the Flood that haunt them to the present. Also bearing in mind that people in the First call others sinners. They question what the Oracle can see; who will fight, fly or fall? At the same time, this is also a mirror image to the Ascians. They have been carrying their own sins and memories through the ages. Who amongst them will fight, fly or fall?
One brings shadow, one brings light / Two-toned echoes tumbling through time / Threescore wasted, ten cast aside / Four-fold knowing, no end in sight / One brings shadow, one brings light / One dark future no one survives / On their shadows, away we fly
- This can be interpreted in different ways. One being the Ascians origins of summoning Zodiark/Haedelyn, losing their lives, living four-fold generations with no end in sight and only one dark future of the rejoining to set them free. Second being the eighth umbral calamity, your death and four-fold generations after not having an end to their plight and their last hope being Graha Tia (holding two opposite fates in his hands) travelling through time. The third could be about Ardbert and you as the WoL/WoD, two futures bound by death and one being the echo of the other. Four-fold being the endless conflict of Hydaelyn/WoL vs Zodiark/Ascians. You both have a dark future fated but despite the shadow of that future, you defy fate together. This would actually align really great with the ending of the song where you see all the main focal points brought to a climax.
The road that we walk / Is lost in the flood / Here proud angels bathe in / Their wages of blood / At this, the world's end, do we cast of tomorrow
- This obviously alludes to everyone in the First (including the Scions) and going back to the first verse, the end of their world is nigh and they must now cast away that weight of tomorrow that was burdened with the memories of the past. In reflection, the Amaurotines reach the end of the road for them (by flood of light or water - i haven't progressed far enough to confirm this). You could probably relate the Ascians as the "guardian angels" of this star (or they think they are, in all their pride) and now at the world's end, they or at least Emet-Selch must now cast away their weight of tomorrow.
One brings shadow, one brings light / To this riddle all souls are tied / Brief our moments, brazen and bright / Forged in fury, tempered in ice / Hindmost devils, early to rise / Sing come twilight, sleep when they die / Heaven's banquet leavened with lies / Sating honor, envy and pride / One brings shadow, one brings light / Run from the light
- I've seen a lot of interpretations on what "hindmost devils" refer to but I am wholly convinced that they refer to the Garleans or the Ascians. Hindmost devils only think of themselves and their interests which both fit well. The Garleans were the first to conquer and the Ascians/Ancients were the first to stop the calamity. Like the Eorzeans (brazen and bright), or the Ishgardians (fury and ice), or the Garleans (hindmost devils), everyone on the First are all tied to the Source because of the sundering. But in the First, they rejoice when the night returns and can only 'sleep' when the Lightwardens are defeated. In Eulmore, they dine on lies and deceit because a Lightwarden rules over them (meol looks like bread so the word "leavened" connects well here). In opposite reflection, Amaurot is similar to Eulmore in their fall from grace. This might describe the Ascians (having brief moments of triumph) and their labour to awaken Zodiark, their plans for the Rejoinings and how Haedelyn is a lie. You are now fighting the Light. You have just been dealt a reverse uno card by Emet-Selch.
Authors of our fates / Ochestrate our fall from grace / Poorest players on the stage / Our defiance drives us straight to the edge / A reflection in the glass / Recollections of our past / Swift as darkness, cold as ash / Far beyond this dream of paradise lost
- This is my favourite part of the song. I think it's pretty self explanatory from an Ascian POV but I also want to point out how the music changes at this point because this is the first time we actually learn about them and Hydaelyn (not being what we thought it was). Emet-Selch makes you realise this, he is yelling at you along with the lyrics. But don't be afraid of him, yell back and yell louder! Because you are the author of your fate, you ochestrated your own fall from grace, you are the poorest player on the stage and your defiance has driven you straight to the edge. He is the reflection in the glass and the recollections of your past.
One brings shadow, one brings light / One more chapter, we've yet to write / Want for nothing, nothing denied / Wand'ring ended, futures aligned / One brings shadow, one brings light / One brings shadow, one brings light / You are the Light
- I think this naturally gravitates to Ardbert, denied of his sacrifice and left to wander. He too started as a WoL and became a WoD. His future is now finally aligned to you and this is the next chapter for the both of you to write. BUT you can also allude this to Emet-Selch - one more chapter for him to write with the WoL (you know who it actually is), his wandering now ended, his future now aligned. Ardbert is the tragic reflection of your story and Emet is the Dark to your Light. If you are one side of a coin, they are your other side.
Who is the victor and who is the villain? Are you the victor or are you the villain?
Endwalker has already come out, but this ending is still as beautiful as the day I saw it
And it will always stay this beautifull.
Mayhap the graphics get old. But the meaning and story behind it all makes up for it.
For the longest time ive heard two toned geckos tonguing threw time 😂
So badass I’ll never forget this moment
I get goosebumps every time this plays 😊
One of the song I kept listen almost everyday.. its so good.
Just did this raid for the first time a couple of days ago! This theme kicked ass and Emet-Selch was a great boss fight with a great theme to accompany the battle. Honestly Heavensward is still my favourite out of the expansions, but damn is Shadowbringers right behind it since the story and bosses in both were *chef's kiss*
When those first fucking strums of the guitar rift, I knew this was the best game ever. I knew I would never be able to forget how I felt.