15 for Fates ask
15) What's an unpopular opinion you have about Fates? I really like Valla and I wanted to see more of it.
While I mostly agree that the way it's potrayed makes it feel like just a plot device, for me it's because it doesn't feel like a ruined kingdom but rather a glorified wasteland where the only structure is Castle Gyges, and that's not a good look for a place where you spend half a route in.
I know many wish Valla wasn't a thing at all, but personally I wish they'd go the opposite route and explore it further because what little we know about it really sparked my curiosity and I made a few theories about it (that are probably headcanons but I found nothing that confirms or deconfirms them so ㄟ( ▔, ▔ )ㄏ), one of my faves being that Valla was founded by Nohrian and Hoshidan refugees during the war between the Dawn and Dusk Dragons, fleeing from the conflict and creating a kingdom where they could live in harmony and peace, away from the tireless fighting (which would explain why Valla is so difficult to reach).
I love the idea that Valla is proof that Hoshidans and Nohrians can coexist in harmony and being a mix of both cultures, but also the bitter irony in it being the cause Hoshido and Nohr went to war with each other again!
But going back on topic, as for how I wish they'd flesh it out? Mostly with more interesting locations besides empty island, maybe have the party explore some ruined towns or villages that delve more into Valla's past and isolationism, or give them a hope spot in them finding out potential survivors but then finding out they were Anankos' puppets all along and that there really is no one alive in Valla besides them and Anankos!
(then again, I argued a while ago that they did the latter already with Anthony, and in Hidden Truths Soulnankos himself confirms everyone in Valla is dead.)
