I'm a little bit insane about how in novel canon the whole xiyao ending where Jin Guangyao wants to die with Xichen, who accepts, which then makes jgy change his mind and pushes him away at the last second isn't actually explicit. A lot of adaptations chose to make it so but in the novel this is all VERY up for interpretation.
Here's what actually happens in the text: Lan xichen stabs jgy, jgy moves away from lan xichen, xichen follows him, wwx realizes jgy is about to open the coffin and calls "watch out!" to lan xichen. Jgy unseals nmj, pushes xichen away, nmj kills jgy and they are both dragged into the coffin which is sealed again.
Here's what wei wuxian, our narrator, thinks is happening: Jin Guangyao wanted to lead lan xichen to his death out of revenge for stabbing him. Lan Xichen, unaware, simply followed Jin Guangyao to try and stop him from getting away. Wei wuxian's warning came too late, but Jin Guangyao- for an unknown reason- changed his mind at the last second and pushed lan xichen out of danger before lan xichen had any idea of what was going on.
Here's what most fans as well as the teams behind several adpatations think is happening: Jin Guangyao leads Xichen to nmj's coffin to die with him, Xichen accepts, because of this acceptance, proof xichen still cares for him, Jin Guangyao pushes him out of harm's way. Wei Wuxian just doesn't get that gay people who aren't him or Lan Wangji exist.
Here's what ALSO MIGHT BE HAPPENING: Jin guangyao wants to die in a different way than he is currently dying. Maybe he's afraid of what'll happen to his body after his death like he was scared for his mother's, maybe he wants to confront nmj one last time now that there's nothing more for him to lose, maybe - if he can't take her body with him- he'd at least like his final resting place to be where he buried his mother. Lan Xichen thinks he's trying to get away and follows but Jin Guangyao, who despite everything doesn't want him to die, pushes him away. Xichen doesn't know what happened until it's already happened. What he would've wanted if he had known remains up in the air.
Or, alternatively: Jin Guangyao's reasons are as above, but unbeknowst to Wei Wuxian, Xichen DOES know what jgy is about to do and either misinterprets this as an invitation to all die together, or inidividually decides he, too, is done, and wants to join his sworn brothers in the grave. To Jin Guangyao this has nothing to do with Lan Xichen, and he still doesn't want him to die, so he pushes him away against Lan Xichen's wishes.
Every single one of these interpretations is unhinged and they are all supported by the original text. It's like a choose your own adventure of tragic gay endings.
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I don’t know how to properly say this but I hope at some point Bell’s Hells realize that they literally could’ve been enemies standing on different sides of the same line and the only thing that stopped that/caused this reality to happen instead were the Goddesses of Fate (Raven Queen) and Free Choice (Changebringer) who have such strong ties to campaign 3 and idk if Matt is subtly doing this on purpose but yeah it’s just something to think about.
Chetney being randomly attacked by a shapeshifter instead of an actual wolf takes into consideration what that shapeshifter had to go through in order to get to Chetney and not only attack but bite him, turning Chetney who was given an opportunity to prove himself and a lead to such aid who happened to be in Jrusar. The fact he’s so old allowing him to have more history with a wider spread of characters like Deanna.
Laudna—who is sort of the type of things the Matron tends to avoid existing in the world—had to die in order to be here at all. If Laudna hadn’t gone through the Briarwoods she’d be a 50-something old farmer, probably with a spouse and children and may never explored her powers or because of them could’ve raised higher in Whitestone politics and positions. She honestly wouldn’t have any reason to leave Whitestone. But she did die, she was the ONLY one resurrected, she was chased and chased away until someone welcomed her for the first time in 28 years and happened to end up in Jrusar.
FCG. I mean come on. An aeromaton shut down and lost to time and history only to be rebooted up with no recollection of their purpose yet still having a trace after effect of their clerical powers they continued to use. He was made the healer in Dancer’s group and now we find out they actually have a long history of being not only a healer, but a Faithful Care Giver who was possibly part of the Care and Culling. And now they CHOOSE to find faith in a higher divine power in the Changebringer of all the Gods. They happen to be restored in Marquet by Dancer, they accidentally Culled all their former group leading to Ashton being hired in finding them and choosing to keep them around.
Ashton, the little hishari cult baby who survived. They could’ve been vaporized but no, something protected them from dying that day and shunted them into a desert sand. Sure their soft flesh was turned to hard stone but perhaps that’s what saved them to begin with. Perhaps they would need to have a harder outside because they’re so soft and delicate internally. How else were they going to survive that fall out of Hexum’s window? Out of all the Nobodies, Ashton happened to be the one to open the box and get blasted back to their supposed death. But they survived. They were clutching the one thing that ultimately changed their life again. Now he’s got weird dunamancy powers, probably one of the rarest people in the world right now—probably rarer than Ruidisborn in all honesty. And they were left behind again and again and again to the point when they came across FCG they chose not to leave this little confused tin-can behind in the way they were. And look at all the countless times FCG has been there to heal him.
Orym. Again, death was required. Will had to go. This is personal, this has been very close to Orym’s heart for 6 years because he lost his metronome that kept it beating. He volunteered, he is a soldier, he is carrying out duties and responsibilities, he chooses to follow the threads others leave behind and look at what it’s done. Otohan read his mind and killed Eshteross, but he knew the chain of command to return Laudna. He was used, he was depended on by horrible people to summon his leader like a good little soldier. And now he is her faithful sword. He may not be able to get his love back, but he may be able to bring peace for Keyleth’s.
Fearne never had a choice in her life. It was all pretty much decided for her and she was only let out of the house as a delivery service. But Fearne being left with Morri gave the Hells a great ally while in the Feywild, a safe way home, and trinkets of safe hiding. If it wasn’t for what happened to Fearne she never would’ve been the key to destroying the Fey Key. It still might’ve been in full operation if she was just a little 7 year old girl.
Imogen. All of this is basically happening because of her existence. Liliana ran because she was afraid her fate would become her daughter’s. Imogen was left with a father who really tried his best but didn’t know how to cope with losing a wife and raising a daughter who displayed similar powers he didn’t fully understand. He tried doing what was best and perhaps communication could’ve been better by both parties, but either way Imogen left. She made a choice in helping Laudna and took a chance to following an unknown rather than continuing her life as it was. They chose to stick together against the world and found their way in Jrusar together. They continue time after time to choose each other against all others.
Ludinus and Otohan’s plan brought them together and they don’t even realize it. The furniture coming alive in the middle of the street was thanks to Ira, a plan created to sow chaos all across the city to militarize the Paragon’s Call in time for the Solstice.
But what if reality was different? What if their threads weren’t so carefully sowed together? What if their choices to make in life were different from the start?
What if Liliana took Imogen with her? Imogen would be a child prodigy, encourage by all around her with positive attention to be the best and to never shy away from her powers. She would be force to be wrecked with right beside her mother, likely her most trusted. She would be raised in the heart of a brainwashed cult more than eager to kill the gods just like Bor’dor. Imogen would be Ruby Vanguard.
What if Ollie and Birdie returned to take Fearne? Maybe Nana Morri didn’t stretch her for as long. Maybe Ira allowed them to go so the Unseelie Fey assassins could follow them back. Perhaps Birdie and Ollie die and Fearne is taken. Perhaps she becomes taken in by the Unseelie Court, perhaps she’s a device of communication between the Feywild and the Material Plane. Or maybe Ira takes her as the next experiment. Either way she’s Ruidisborn. Who’s to say if she wasn’t younger she’d have more potential in honing her connection. It’s likely since Thull was the primary connection with the Unseelie and she was basically behind hiring Ira, she’d likely come across Fearne. Fearne would be Paragon’s Call.
What if Will hadn’t died? Sure, plenty of Ashari would be attacked and Will and Orym would still likely want to help but Orym wouldn’t be the one doing majority of the work. After all, it was Will who was part of the Tempest’s security detail. Maybe they would be a battle couple following threads together, fighting side by side. But then Orym would never wield his shield or the blade that would become Seedling. Orym would never be the one to call for Keyleth, so who does? Orym would still be part of the fight of course, especially seeing what happens to Keyleth. Especially if he looses Lita or Will during the Solstice. Orym would be Air Ashari.
What if Ashton hadn’t taken the fall? What if there were never any Nobodies to begin with? What if they were alone for a much longer time? They like to get into fights, and everyone needs a job to get a little coin here and there to survive. What if they impressed a different patron who wasn’t Hexum? They have no affinity for the Gods. They’d make a great mercenary. Maybe even one of the Paragon’s Call. They impressed General Ratanish at the Qurom Ball in one reality, who’s to say they don’t do so countless other time in a dozen different realities? Whether they were flesh: part angel and elf, or stone unbroken. Whether they were untouched by dunamancy, or perhaps turned into something else by a certain Nightmare dwelling in the depths, “bring me a child from the steps.” And with dunamancy in their head, they certainly would’ve been of a particular interest to leaders in charge, perhaps even a slate to be replicated and reproduced, handed out to certain soldiers across both parties. Even if they never got to Jrusar, well…the Paragon’s base of operations does lie in Bassuras. He wants so terribly for someone to pick him, so what if the wrong person did? Let’s trade the broken golden stitches for a pressed golden cloak. Ashton would be Paragon’s Call.
What if FCG never woke up? What if FCG never forgot? What if they never went to sleep? FCG could quite literally be anywhere and easily displaced across time and space. But certainly an aeromaton would be of interest to Ludinus. And deepening on the personality, the knowledge, the history FCG would have, they might make a choice to lean into Da’leth, or drift far away from their path. If they found faith again, whose to say they ever would’ve lost it? FCG would be Against Predathos.
What if Laudna was welcomed by someone else? Surely Ludinus was watching Delilah. Was he not curious in knowing what malicious backdoor plan she was cooking up? He had sent plenty of agents into the Dynasty, sending one into the woods to befriend one girl would be easy enough. But would Laudna know quick enough? Would she have the resources to figure it out? Would Delilah protect her from the deception? Or is there hidden power, a hidden opportunity in letting the girl get closer to Ludinus? To whatever power source he’s strived for a millennia to release? Would Laudna accept such a gentle face of masked darkness to lead her deeper into the fray? She already has in one reality, so what’s one more? With no one by her side to listen to, who else does she have but Delilah? She’s kept her safe for 30 years, why not a little longer to see this opportunity through? Laudna would be Ruby Vanguard. 
What if Chetney was younger? You can’t deny the willingness to risk it all is because the gnome has such little time left on their ticking clock. But what if they still had plenty of life left to live? They may not have an affinity for magic or gods but they used to love someone in a different reality. And she was returned by a God in that one. Perhaps, if Chetney was younger he would meet Deanna still, they would have a go at it with the weight of death and afterlife in their future. They could still wander upon FRIDA and their wonderful friendship. And when the solstice hits, when Deanna is given the Dawnfather’s message, who’s to say if the Gods were to go so won’t all of their blessings and gifts follow in suit. Would Chetney not fight to save a future? Would they really let Deanna fight alone? No. Even if he is still isolated in Wildemount, bitten and turned by a werewolf, would he still not try to understand even if he is a little less sure if he wants to be this for the rest of his life. Would he still consider it a gift and not a curse in this reality? Would he still not wonder to Jrusar looking for answers only met with a fate to that of Gurge’s? Imprisoned, tortured, forced to live in a cage, experimented on by Fey and golden cloaks. Chetney would be Against Paragon’s Call.
Imagine an Apogee Solstice in a different reality. One where the sides are drawn years in advance, standing on one side: Imogen and Laudna in red, Fearne and Ashton doted in gold. Against them, against the taller odds fighting to save the world: Orym, FCG, and Chetney, each with individual purposes of their own accord scattered in the fight. What a reality. Thankfully the Gods decided to intervene, weaving and bending Fate just enough to present them the opportunity to Choose their Destiny instead of it being predetermined for each of them.
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