Can anyone explain what “The First” even is? Or it’s significance?

I admittedly always skip MSQ cutscenes because frankly, I find this game’s MSQ very uninteresting and boring. I really only play for crafting and gathering because I enjoy it more than anything else. (We all have our reasons for liking a game lol) So, because of that...

I hear people freaking out about “The First” this, or “The First” that. Can anyone explain what it’s significance is in 5.0? I’m lost.

I usually don’t care about MSQ, but it’s increasingly reaching my ears.

It's a version of the world we travelled so far that's been split off thousands of years ago and as a result developed differently, but not a mirror/parallel world.

Easiest explanation if you haven't got any knowledge from the MSQ at all.

Short story is that sometime in the past the world got split into 13 different worlds. We live in what we call the Source, which is supposed to be the main world, and then there's the rest. The First is one of those other worlds, which is now having issues due to too much light (because the Warriors of Light there got rid of too much darkness), and if it goes kaboom it will also affect the Source. Those two reasons are why we're going there.

But really, the lore is great, and the story just keeps getting better and better. It honors the Final Fantasy name. However I understand that not everyone likes the same stuff.

Back a LONG time ago, Hydaelyn (the mothercrystal) and Zodiark coexisted. But Zodiark got too big for his britches and Hydaelyn smacked him down (sealing him in the moon). But in doing so, she "shattered" into 13 pieces. These pieces became alternate dimension versions of our world (the Source). Those alternate dimension versions of Hydaelyn also served as a "barrier" to keep Zodiark sealed away.

However, on the 13th shard, a flood of darkness came (caused by an overly aggressive Ascian) and engulfed the world, turning it into "the Void", a world devoid of aether and all it's inhabitants becoming twisted monsters.

The First is another one of the shards (their all named for a number 1-13). That is where we are going for Shadowbringers, because it was hit with a flood of light, which is just as bad as the flood of darkness. Luckily, the flood was halted and we have a chance to fix it.

The overall story, however, is that the Ascians (masked evil guys) are causing the Calamities (major destruction) on the Source (our world) because every time they do, Hydaelyn absorbs one of the shards to heal herself. They have done so 7 times so far (we have had 7 Calamities). If they can cause 1 more Calamity, that will be enough to weaken the barrier and allow Zodiark to free himself.

It's really nice people are being so kind here.

In the meantime i'm sitting here going "no. if you didn't bother following the story i am not going to give you a tldr version. deal with not knowing or do your own research"

Just the OPs wording is lightly off putting and so are mine I guess...

Best explanation, Kaedan! And thanks to everyone else who also explained. :) Now, will we ever FIGHT this “Zodiark” person? Maybe “Hydaelyn”? I know she is apparently a good guy, but I’m just curious.

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Originally Posted by Schan

It's really nice people are being so kind here.

In the meantime i'm sitting here going "no. if you didn't bother following the story i am not going to give you a tldr version. deal with not knowing or do your own research"

Just the OPs wording is lightly off putting and so are mine I guess...

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*GASP* How DARE someone play FFXIV for a reason other than MSQ...how despicable.

not even close. it's more of a... how dare you to be lazy.

on top of that you'e midly insulting in your opening post so... yeah.

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Originally Posted by Schan

not even close. it's more of a... how dare you to be lazy.

on top of that you'e midly insulting in your opening post so... yeah.

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Do tell which part of the original post is insulting. I'm struggling to find which part of it is insulting.

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Originally Posted by CookiesNCreams

frankly, I find this game’s MSQ very uninteresting and boring. (...) I hear people freaking out about “The First” this, or “The First” that. (...) I usually don’t care about MSQ.

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Maybe I'm reading "freaking out" with an overtly negative connotation, I don't know.

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Originally Posted by Schan

Maybe I'm reading "freaking out" with an overtly negative connotation, I don't know.

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I think you are nitpicking about things to complain and be offended about. That was not my intention, though I apologize if it sounded that way. I do find this game’s MSQ uninteresting, but I now understand why people are freaking about The First. Due to the explanations above, it actually sounds pretty cool. :)

Still though, you really are trying to find something to complain about, which is totally unnecessary and if me finding an aspect of the game uninteresting somehow offends you, I don’t know what to tell you. I like crafting and gathering, it’s fun. I dislike the MSQ. Big deal.