The morality of XII is flawed - Spoilers - my rant
I think I finally figured out what puts me off about the XII story. And I don't think I'm the only one. I see a lot of people playing the game excited then having their enthusiasm deflated around the time they get to Mosphoran Highwaste.
The Highwaste mission is right after what was unforgivable to me, ruining all claims of "realism" of the story: Attack on a refugee camp (Mt. Bur Omisace) and murder of a religious figure treated as "business as usual" not only by the bad guys but by our own party!!!. Sure X had the destruction of Kilika but at least there's a tiny scene / plot where Wakka and the others are helping reconstruct the village and Yuna is bringing comfort to the dead. In XII it's like "oh, Anastasis and the refugees died to buy me time to get the sword ? Great job, see ya later suckers!"
I don't want to spoil it but there is only one single scene where someone from the outside tries to help the survivors, we actually only see a single Viera worried about them on the Fafnir hunt.
In real life, even one as smurfed up as ours, the bombing of a refugee camp and the murder of someone as high as Anastasis (the pope ?) would have been a big scandal and there surely would be people helping out. Neither one of our 3 "good royals" cared enough to do so. The game ends and there still no mention of Rozarria, Archades or Dalmasca helping the survivors.
And Anastasis isn't the only one that gives his life to help our party and gets a "see ya later" for his troubled community in return (SPOILER)Reddas dies and no one in our party goes to help his friends keep Balfonheim port as he had it, which means it will probably going to fall in the hands of Reddas haters
All in all, it is full of examples of people giving their blood, sweat and tears to the royals in the hope that the prince or princess might be good people and rule wisely. A very servile / peasant POV the I hate. Serfdom has already caused enough trouble and injustice in real life.
The morality of XII is seriously flawed IMHO, which wasn't the case in previous FFs.
WARNING MAJOR SPOILERS BATMAN!!!
Well here is my :twocents: ...
Now Summoner of Leviathan and No. 78 both bring up points that I agree upon. Most of the parties involved can't exactly help due to either lack of power or political reasons.
The only people who speak about the attack are a few wondering NPC's in certain campsite and a few people in Rabanastre and I think Bhujerba though the memory is a little foggy about Bhujerba... The traverlers decide to find new sanctuary cause they were headed to Mt. Burimasce to seek safe haven from the conflict. The city dwellers are scared to death that the Holy Temple was attacked and conclude that no place is safe from Archadia.
This just proves how Ivalice is placed in a time period similiar to the age of empires in Europe and Eurasia when "might is right" is the only law. No one can help them cause they fear the empire will strike them down or they are seriously just indifferent to the whole situation (just like Spira was indifferent to Seymour killing the Ronso in FFX;) ).
From a historical perspective, I feel the situation played out rather accurately. Don't forget the Romans were known to punish the death of a soldier in foreign regions by gathering all the local villages and making them watch as the Romans kill every man, woman, child, and animal in the town where the incedent took place or was close to the incedent in question. Rome at the time was on a cultural level almost on par with todays just like Ivalice shares many similarities with our time as they do the ancient kingdoms of old. Since this team is known for their love of history it doesn't come as a surprise that they would use a more historical look of how the situation is played out rather than a modern day one. Especially since a modern day solution wouldn't make sense considering how the kingdoms were set up.
You have to remember that public out cry means nothing in a government system where the powers that be can call on the military to quell the rebellion. It's not like Vayne or Al-Cid can be elected out of office. The best the people can hope for is that the rulers make their lives easier. It's just how things were back then. Though I agree the actions taken were pretty heartless, I also accept that this is just portraying a truth to our own bloody history. Kingdoms and empires were created on the corpses and bones of people.
But alas, you seriously down play the whole Rejt and Fafnir story arc. Before the imperial attack, the refugees are coming to the Holy Temple to seek shelter from the conflicts between rebel forces and imperial troops. The Temple is swarmed and mentions how they are having difficulty trying to keep up with the surge of pilgrims. The attack happens and the place is resorted to a burnt out shell where children cry for their momies to wake up and the injured scream in anguish while the survivng temple priest mourn the passing of their spiritual leader. The peaceful Holy music is replaced with a somber and melancholy musical piece.
Rejt the Viera, spends both periods contemplating the futility of the world of the humes while arguing with a caring priest. Eventually, Fafnir breaks out of his bondage and begins to ravage the mountain. The priest, though inadequately prepared, set off to stop the creature and protect the few survivors (who by this time are basically talking about how they are waiting to die). Of course the priest are never heard from again but their Mark post brings your party back. Rejt explains the situation, still trying to figure out why the priest would bother to protect people who gave up on themselves.
The party proceeds to battle the obnoxious Fafnir and eventually succeed. Rejt in this time finally figures out the meaning behind placing something before yourself and why it's important. She decides to help the temple due to her knowledge of healing medicine. The music changes to a soft but more hopeful piece of music and the general atmosphere has changed. Rejt has inspired the refugees to help themselves and many decide to stay and rebuild the place that took them in. Even the monks become inspired from Rejt's example and their mourning ceases as they begin to help rebuild the temple.
If Mt. Burimasce is mentioned in RW, I wouldn't be surprised if Rejt has been chosen to become the new Grand Kiltias;)
I feel Burimasce acts as a parallel to the belief that one must learn to stand on your own feet. The scenario presented to the player after the Fafnir fight alludes to the player that it's going to be alright. I'm sorry the game doesn't give some feedback on how the world is shaping up for you but I feel the game actually gives enough hints to tell you how everything worked out. I know you hate this ascpect of XII's storytelling but you'll have to make due with what you got dear;)
