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Mad_Scientist · 2012-04-01, 23:45

Rising Dragon already explained a bit, but here's some background info that will put things into more perspective.

Spoiler:

3,000 years ago, the Snake of the Festival first attempted to create Xanadu and was sealed away in the abyss. We don't get many details about how exactly this occurred in the anime, but from a few lines in some of the episodes the following information can be learned.

1) The first version of Xanadu was much different than what was ultimately created, consisting of a small city or "walled garden" as it was referred to once. It seems like this was some sort of prototype, I think, and it's not clear just how much progress the Snake made or what specifically the details of this Xanadu were.

2) The Snake of the Festival decided to do things peacefully with the Flame Hazes, and even invited them to his early Xanadu creation-in-progress.

3) The Flame Hazes, concerned that the Snake would accidentally destroy the world, were apparently not swayed by his words or offers of peace. The Flame Hazes that were invited fought the Snake anyways, and sacrificed themselves to seal him away. They did this out of an apparent belief they were saving the world from the Snake's (in their view) misguided attempts to create a paradise.

Now, since the Xanadu that is created at the end of the series is different in nature than the Snake's early work, and he also had the Midnight Lost Child to help him, we cannot say with absolute certainty that the Flame Hazes 3,000 years were wrong. But I personally think they were, that the Snake would not have destroyed the world. I think the ancient Flame Hazes made a horrible, horrible mistake.

Now, looking at the present, the Snake has finally been released, and he plans to create a new Xanadu on a grand scale. But based on what happened in the past, he's obviously less certain about doing things peacefully with the Flame Hazes. Indeed, much of the early conflict is essentially the Snake assuming that the Flame Hazes will find some reason or excuse to oppose him once again, and thus he should make war on them preemptively, and avoid revealing too much about his plans for fear that doing so would simply make it easier for the Flame Hazes to oppose him.

Did he make the right decision? Who knows.

Early on, the Flame Hazes, for their part, fight the Snake because... well, he's gone down in legend as a monster (unjustly, but they don't know that) and he's making war with them.

Once the Snake's plan is finally revealed to them, they oppose him mainly for the reason that Rising Dragon mentioned. They think that a Xanadu that doesn't have a rule that prohibits eating humans in it will just lead to disaster.

As to why the Snake and the Flame Hazes don't talk things out at that point, and are forced to use violence. Well, history. The history of what I just described above, for one thing. They both don't trust each other. And more than just that, there is a long history of bloodshed and violence and hatred between Flame Hazes and Denizens.

Essentially, you're right about how the battle was in a way meaningless. It should have been possible for them to avoid fighting, could have been if things had gone differently, but a history of bad blood and mistrust meant that they ended up fighting anyways.

2012-04-01, 23:45	Link #683
Mad_Scientist Member Join Date: Jan 2012	Rising Dragon already explained a bit, but here's some background info that will put things into more perspective. Spoiler: 3,000 years ago, the Snake of the Festival first attempted to create Xanadu and was sealed away in the abyss. We don't get many details about how exactly this occurred in the anime, but from a few lines in some of the episodes the following information can be learned. 1) The first version of Xanadu was much different than what was ultimately created, consisting of a small city or "walled garden" as it was referred to once. It seems like this was some sort of prototype, I think, and it's not clear just how much progress the Snake made or what specifically the details of this Xanadu were. 2) The Snake of the Festival decided to do things peacefully with the Flame Hazes, and even invited them to his early Xanadu creation-in-progress. 3) The Flame Hazes, concerned that the Snake would accidentally destroy the world, were apparently not swayed by his words or offers of peace. The Flame Hazes that were invited fought the Snake anyways, and sacrificed themselves to seal him away. They did this out of an apparent belief they were saving the world from the Snake's (in their view) misguided attempts to create a paradise. Now, since the Xanadu that is created at the end of the series is different in nature than the Snake's early work, and he also had the Midnight Lost Child to help him, we cannot say with absolute certainty that the Flame Hazes 3,000 years were wrong. But I personally think they were, that the Snake would not have destroyed the world. I think the ancient Flame Hazes made a horrible, horrible mistake. Now, looking at the present, the Snake has finally been released, and he plans to create a new Xanadu on a grand scale. But based on what happened in the past, he's obviously less certain about doing things peacefully with the Flame Hazes. Indeed, much of the early conflict is essentially the Snake assuming that the Flame Hazes will find some reason or excuse to oppose him once again, and thus he should make war on them preemptively, and avoid revealing too much about his plans for fear that doing so would simply make it easier for the Flame Hazes to oppose him. Did he make the right decision? Who knows. Early on, the Flame Hazes, for their part, fight the Snake because... well, he's gone down in legend as a monster (unjustly, but they don't know that) and he's making war with them. Once the Snake's plan is finally revealed to them, they oppose him mainly for the reason that Rising Dragon mentioned. They think that a Xanadu that doesn't have a rule that prohibits eating humans in it will just lead to disaster. As to why the Snake and the Flame Hazes don't talk things out at that point, and are forced to use violence. Well, history. The history of what I just described above, for one thing. They both don't trust each other. And more than just that, there is a long history of bloodshed and violence and hatred between Flame Hazes and Denizens. Essentially, you're right about how the battle was in a way meaningless. It should have been possible for them to avoid fighting, could have been if things had gone differently, but a history of bad blood and mistrust meant that they ended up fighting anyways.