What if our character died?

Recent threads and events in the 3.4 msq has me thinking about this question.

Suppose we did meet with a untimely demise, like some primal playing plan hits a snag, or while mining in the diadem, some beast bumps you off, or that one Gnath sharpshooter got lucky.

Would something happen to our bodies like Ysale's explosion in Azys Lla? How would events in Eorzea and the Scions play out? Would the nations of Eorzea start to unravel its peace with the beastmen, or worse, turn to primals of its own? It sounds like most folks don't even consider the possibility or if they have, know much better than to let anyone near us in on it(understandably so).

What do you think would happen if we died?

The Ascians would probably have a field day. Alexander's story seemed to strongly suggest that the WoL was going to have a choice at some point which would have a massive influence on the fate of the world.

The thing is if you're not a Legacy Player this has already happened.

All non-Legacy WoL have already stepped-in to replace the WoL lost at Carteneau. There'd probably be some chaos, possibly another Calamity, but then Hydaelyn would pick a new Warrior of Light and everyone would forget about us except maybe once a year during The Rising.

Because of our involvement in various storylines large and small. The Butterfly Effect will kick in. Some examples are

• Nanamo will either die in her poison-induced coma or be subject to a Sleeping Beauty scenario. And Ul'dah might be drastically impacted. Alternatively she will not be poisoned to begin with because of ripples caused from other effects preventing the formation of the Crystal braves and thus depriving Teledji of conspirators.
• Ishgard would still be fighting Nidhogg's Hoard, such in an everlasting conflict, just as Nidhogg planned. Thordian's plans of draining the Triad would have a larger chance of success, and would probably have the same effec tof Eorzea as Sophia did on Meracydia at best (and at worse would not even both with equality, just power for power's sake)
• The Crystal Tower expedition might fail without us to destroy the bodyguards. And Xande might try to recreate the Allagan Empire in the modern day.
• Bahamut would had still fallen on Hydalyn and buried, but there will be no one stopping the Ragnaroks from restoring his form. Once that happens, he might stay contained, bust free form his loosened chains or discovered and used again by Xande
• Garlemald would have an easier time conquering Eorzea without a beacon of hope to guide the latter. Keep in mind that prior to Op:Archon, the GC leaders were gonna give up to Gaius and Ultima
• With the Primals going uncontested, the Beast Tribe will also be more dangerous, but they will not need to summon more powerful primals. So no live sacrifices, no extra crystals and less aether will be drained
• Bitoso would still be alive meaning a Tonberry epidemic might occur
• Wiargelt still still be as extreme as Ilberd and the Sect of Shadow will try to kill him to awaken their chakra,
• Tristan would still be alive and free to rampage with Belias-egi
• Ququruka would still be alive, and possible be the one to look for the Books of Nald'Thal and combat the Defiants
• Yuki Yatsuragi would likely be killed or captured in her attempts of reclaiming the treasures, while Gekkai would still be alive to train Garlemald's budding Black Ops squads
• Edda would either die far sooner and/or succeed in her necromantic pursuits. And her benefactor, speculated to be Nybeth (sic?) would also be free to corrupt who he pleases
• Rowena however will still be a Magnate as it is implied that we are not her only source of Tomestones
• The Redbills may or may not be involved with Mhach and even if they are, they might wind up in the same boat (rimshot) as the Talons, being reduced to Forgall's minions
• the Illuminati would likely be free to mess around with Alexander as they please, which would cause further mutations of the timeline
• And Momodi would still have a stalker wanting her to test his loins.

tl'dr. Our death would lead to a radically changed Hydaelyn, and some of the events we prevented would had lead to calamities themselves.

The irony is, this very idea SE has actually used in the past in FFXI as the basis for the big twist at the end of the FFXI Abyssea add on expansions - in that it was an alternate universe version of FFXI's world Vana'diel that diverged from the 'player's version of Vana'diel' at the end of the Chains of Promathia expansion, where the player's character (a god slaying adventurer just like the player's character here in FFXIV) actually died during the final battle against the Twilight God Promathia instead of coming out victorious, who then proceeded to absorb not only the player but also their entire party along with npcs such as Prishe. This resulted in Promathia changing form into Shinryu the Godwyrm, and proceeded to tear Vana'diel to pieces, Abyssea being all that was left (and even that was sliding into destruction).

Needless to say, given the fact that parallel universes and alternate realities are a big part of the FF series in general and even officially here in FFXIV as well

with the whole 'Source divided into fourteen 'Reflections' and the Warriors of Darkness being Ascian-corrupted parallel-world versions of the Warriors of Light,

it would not surprise me if SE does actually use this concept in the future, presenting an alternate Hydaelyn where the player's character met their end for whatever reason, and the implications this has on Hydaelyn at large and Eorzea in particular.

We're the Warrior of Light because we were chosen by Hydaelyn and given the blessing of Light. Were we to die, someone else would be chosen in our place. Eorzea would no doubt panic and there would be some repercussions I'd assume (enemies taking advantage of the situation), but the planet would move on.

Well according to 3.4 we have to lose or die at some point or bad things will happen. Strange message to bring about but apparently if we do our job too good...OH GOOODDDDD! NAAAATUUURRAAAALLL LLLLIIIGGGGHTTTT

If we die we transcend our mortal forms (renounce our physical bodies) with the power of the echo, like the WoD did or the Ascian do to be able to travel between worlds and overcome death.

That is, unless we get eaten by a primal, get eaten by a sword or get trapped in something autracite like and get blasted away with lazerz.

It's been made clear now that attaining the true power of the Echo requires one to die first so I'm actually expecting we genuinely will die at some point in order to reach that goal. It would give the writers the opportunity to confront us with an unwinnable story fight as well (something the series has employed many times in the past). Of course the entire point would be that we come back in some capacity with newfound power, but I could see them playing it up and letting Eorzea experience some consequences before our return.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neophyte

If we die we transcend our mortal forms (renounce our physical bodies) with the power of the echo, like the WoD did or the Ascian do to be able to travel between worlds and overcome death.

That is, unless we get eaten by a primal, get eaten by a sword or get trapped in something autracite like and get blasted away with lazerz.

---

It seems like we aren't at that point, or even know how to do that, so unless something were to do that for us I'm not sure how we could will that to happen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by princefruit

We're the Warrior of Light because we were chosen by Hydaelyn and given the blessing of Light. Were we to die, someone else would be chosen in our place. Eorzea would no doubt panic and there would be some repercussions I'd assume (enemies taking advantage of the situation), but the planet would move on.

---

It sounded like from Urianger's perspecrive that our death, even if replaceable from hydelyn's perspective, would be part of a domino effect that would lead to another disaster. I gathered that may have been due to not only our ability to stop primals, but our presence in eorzean affairs. while the title and blessing that is afforded the WoL may be replaceable, it would be the loss of the person, seen as a beacon of hope to many, that starts the domino effect.

So basically, the 3rd Zelda timeline where Link dies?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MilesSaintboroguh

So basically, the 3rd Zelda timeline where Link dies?

---

Not a zelda fan, can you elaborate?

It would be somewhere between Butterfly effect that destroys the world and Hydaeling chosing another champion.
There would be some kind of fallout as we are god slaying champions so a new WoL would have pretty big shoes to fill, but things would work out in the end.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kallera

Not a zelda fan, can you elaborate?

---

The Legend of Zelda has three timelines that diverge after Ocarina of Time (The one where you play as an Adult and Child Link). IIRC, One occurs after Link slays Ganondorf but chooses to stay int he future, another where Link slays Ganondorf and returns to his present (for reference the Direct sequel Majora's Mask is in this timeline) and one where Ganondorf wins.

depends on "were, when & how" if we die say tring to free Al Mhigo in the new X-pac it give Garlean all the reason/power they need to stomp Eorzea to dust (especially if they save our corpse for proof or trophy) if we die in some massive battle against something else infront of say all GC/City leaders well yah MASSIVE panic especially if a large group of civvies also see it... killed while escaping Ul'Dah in 2.55, Heavensward never happens as told war there lasts for a longer time (as the Archbishop stole the key from us he couldn't kill Bismark before then or else he would have & the Garland empire would have free roam of all that tech, waring triad & bound 1st brood Dragon as they got in without the key). Now if its a isolated moment with say 1 bad guy and he & the few ppl who saw say nothing then the fallout is less at 1st giving time for eather a) our "Phonix" return or b) our "replacment" getting up to STR

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kallera

Not a zelda fan, can you elaborate?

---

As morning star pointed out, Ocarina of Time splits the Zelda timeline into 3. One where Link wins and goes back to his own time 7 years in the past. The other is where Link wins, goes back to his own time, and the timeline he left behind continues there where Ganondorf returns for vengance while Link isn't there to stop him since he went back to his original time. The 3rd timeline is where Link loses against Ganondorf and dies for it. Each timeline split arranges where each game takes place. It's more split timeline rather than alternate worlds that FF14 is using, but the ideas presented here are almost the same.

The "beacon of hope" scenario already played out in the Third Astral Era: the Allagans built their Crystal Tower, the common people rested on their laurels and stopped being able to work for themselves, and in the end they had consolidated power to such a huge extent that one targeted earthquake in Mor Dhona was enough to take out an entire empire. What really destroyed Allag? Lack of a backup plan.

(Kinda makes you wonder if restoring it is really such a good idea, but I've been thinking that the entire time.)

I wonder if we'd come back as a Primal

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Heliantheae

I wonder if we'd come back as a Primal

---

There is a theory floating around that a large part of the reason we're so overpowered is becuase so many have put their faith in us to succeed.

Basically, we've become to the spoken races what primals are to beast tribes. The only thing we aren't doing is is forcefully tempering people, but we can't keep them from believing in us...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Heliantheae

I wonder if we'd come back as a Primal

---

Only when the Asciens convince people to summon the WoL

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fenral

(Kinda makes you wonder if restoring it is really such a good idea, but I've been thinking that the entire time.)

---

Those that do not learn from History are doomed to repeat it. Forunatley I'd sure people would at least know of the Earthquake.

Plus, the Tower will likely not open again until there is a civilization that can surpass the Allagan Empire. By that point, it would either be redundant except as a power source or it will be studied so that this hypothetical civilisation can create backup plans so that it wouldn't be felled so easily to a mere earthquake (they cna also study What made Azys Lla the floating continent it is to that end, provided it dosen't require the Triad beyond powering the facilities there)

The problem was not the earthquake, so much as having a single source of power for all mankind. As that seems to be G'raha's end goal (but apparently not Salina's), I'd say we're exactly repeating history. Given it can "only" be opened by the royal blood, according to in-game sources, if you can accept the possibility of it being opened again without the royal blood, then the royal blood never needed to be preserved inside it to begin with. Not even Alexander can sort out that paradox.

Anyway, my point was that having a single anything in which you place all your hopes invites disaster, be it world-powering power sources or the one person on the planet with any semblance of individual agency. This may be my Libertarian side showing, but I think the story as it is now could easily be rerouted into an examination of why Eorzea needs to be able to save themselves without counting on a Warrior of Light to do everything for them.

tl;dr: The story could only become more interesting if we died.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Morningstar1337

The Legend of Zelda has three timelines that diverge after Ocarina of Time (The one where you play as an Adult and Child Link). IIRC, One occurs after Link slays Ganondorf but chooses to stay int he future, another where Link slays Ganondorf and returns to his present (for reference the Direct sequel Majora's Mask is in this timeline) and one where Ganondorf wins.

---

Link doesn't stay in the future. Zelda forces him to go back in time to stop Ganondorf before he can take over.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The_NPC

the Garland empire would have free roam of all that tech, waring triad & bound 1st brood Dragon as they got in without the key).

---

The Garleans only got in because we broke down the barrier with an aetherial ram.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fenral

Anyway, my point was that having a single anything in which you place all your hopes invites disaster, be it world-powering power sources or the one person on the planet with any semblance of individual agency. This may be my Libertarian side showing, but I think the story as it is now could easily be rerouted into an examination of why Eorzea needs to be able to save themselves without counting on a Warrior of Light to do everything for them.

tl;dr: The story could only become more interesting if we died.

---

That does seem interesting though I don't think we'd die until the end if at all simply because...The Warriors are Player Characters, and chances are most people would be mad if their character were to die (especially in the unlikely scenario of SE decides to force an inability to play as such characters and force players to make a new one form scratch).

So something like that would either be reserved for a "Rhapsodies" type plot, as in an epilogue, be used as the basis for the Shards (which I don't think is likely), or if we decide to follow G'hraha's example and seal ourselves away for some reason...

With that said, The way the Warriors of Darkness were presented (Undead, using Crystals, otherworldly powers). Kinda makes me think of Madoka Magica and how the Magical Girls on that show were secretly Liches. Meanwhile the Ascians seem far closer to the traditional Lich (though still not an exact match), both cases are known to use the Echo to become such beings. It has me wondering if the Writers have Madoka or Lichs in mind when writing regarding the Ascian conflict?

Long story short: it depends on what point in time we kicked the bucket. Earlier in the story getting a new Warrior of Light would be a pretty simple matter, but after we've established our status as a major player on the Eorzean stage it would lead to chaos and panic.

Exactly what the consequences would be remains a matter of what we failed to do, and whether or not you can predict the causal chain that would follow. At the very least Urianger seems convinced it'll lead to a Calamity...

It's more than possible for the PC to die in a non-literal sense. Just look at the Major Arcana of the Tarot. "Death" may be the final boss of Persona 3, but in the Fool's Journey, which is to say: the story told by the numeric progression of the Major Arcana, Death is in the middle, representing a turning point, or the end of one thing as it leads to another. (As an aside, the actual "worst" of the Major Arcana is probably The Tower, which represents catastrophic failure.)

Granted, this may be impossible simply from an implementation perspective if there are more Warrior of Light title drops outside of the MSQ than I think there are. (CT and Coil come to mind, both of which are now MSQ continuity-broken, but I think the rest are WoL free.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fenral

It's more than possible for the PC to die in a non-literal sense. Just look at the Major Arcana of the Tarot. "Death" may be the final boss of Persona 3, but in the Fool's Journey, which is to say: the story told by the numeric progression of the Major Arcana, Death is in the middle, representing a turning point, or the end of one thing as it leads to another....

Granted, this may be impossible simply from an implementation perspective if there are more Warrior of Light title drops outside of the MSQ than I think there are. (CT and Coil come to mind, both of which are now MSQ continuity-broken, but I think the rest are WoL free.)

---

I think you have something there. as an example: iirc, forgetting the details of the WoL in the first place in 2.0 wasn't just a collective loss of memory, but done by an outside force. a reapplication of this would "kill us" without actually killing us.

I don't think that Hydaelyn putting so much on the WoL isn't a thing she has really wanted as much as the only option she had left. She realised she was on the point of losing and decided to play a trump card. It cost her a lot but it as a play that it appears her enemies underestimated and it got away from them. I don't think Hydaelyn has placed everything on the WoL but we are effectively a cross between the king piece and the queen on her chessboard. We are the strongest but also the most crucial part of her remaining play.

TL:DR - When your facing disaster anyway a desperate play is better than an ineffective play or no play at all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kallera

Would something happen to our bodies like Ysale's explosion in Azys Lla?

---

Ysayle's is not the only death that caused their bodies to disintegrate completely to aether. Louisoix, Thordan and his Knight Twelve all died in similar manner, probably because they took so much aether into them. Unless WoL decides to do the same, we'll die normally with remains to mourn.

While we've seen that WoL isn't without flaws, most people only know us as invincible hero, even those close to us sometimes forget how we're just as mortal as they are. Should we be killed, it'll serve as cruel reminder to the people that'll shock them to the core. Urianger knows this, that's why he convinced WoD to kill us, to sow terror in people's heart even greater than any calamity could hope to achieve.

Already speculated upon in-game, funnily enough, albeit referring to the Grand Melee rather than anything more world-shaking.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thancred

I cannot help but wonder what would have happened had you lost... Fantastical though such a state of affairs unquestionably is. I daresay the world would simply have ended.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fenral

(Kinda makes you wonder if restoring it is really such a good idea, but I've been thinking that the entire time.)

---

The Garleans would love to restore the Allagan Empire, Crystal Tower included. That alone should tell you it's a terrible idea. When have the Garleans ever had a GOOD idea?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LineageRazor

The Garleans would love to restore the Allagan Empire, Crystal Tower included. That alone should tell you it's a terrible idea. When have the Garleans ever had a GOOD idea?

---

I should point out two factors:

The first is the rampant Luddism that sprang up after Allag's fall. Causing everyone to go on a technology destroying rampage and much history to be lost (the Abundance of Tomestones are of debatable canoncity), and as I mentioned before those that do not know History are doomed to repeat it. All Garlemald might "know" is that Allag was a technocratic utopia and they they also were able to fell primals without the need for Warriors of Light.

Meanwhile consider who on Eorzea led the expedition and restoration of the Tower, the Sons of Saint Coinach, a group as Sharayan scholars who mad The Third Astral Era (Allag) their focus of study. And thought that we know that Xande made a covenant with a very powerful Voidsent.

At the same time out trip though Azys Lla has given us a more in depth look at just how complacent Allag was prior to their fall.

On a final note the reason why anyone would want to Study Allag in the first place, compare their technology to that of Eorzea. For an empire of the distant past they sure seem far more technologically advanced. Garlemald might had been the first to try to use their tech to advance its own, but I think other people want to attempt that as well (As explained by Rowena's business. There are few reasons why anyone would want what are USB drives that they can't read, but we don;t know if they can read it. Chances are Garlemald, the Ironworks, The Sons and Whoever can get the other two parties to decipher their data are Rowena's likely patrons on that front).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RobinMalvin

While we've seen that WoL isn't without flaws, most people only know us as invincible hero, even those close to us sometimes forget how we're just as mortal as they are. Should we be killed, it'll serve as cruel reminder to the people that'll shock them to the core. Urianger knows this, that's why he convinced WoD to kill us, to sow terror in people's heart even greater than any calamity could hope to achieve.

---

Well, they certainly went about it the wrong way. Maybe if they had spiked our drinks with a sleeping drug instead... :^)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Morningstar1337

The first is the rampant Luddism that sprang up after Allag's fall. Causing everyone to go on a technology destroying rampage and much history to be lost (the Abundance of Tomestones are of debatable canoncity), and as I mentioned before those that do not know History are doomed to repeat it. All Garlemald might "know" is that Allag was a technocratic utopia and they they also were able to fell primals without the need for Warriors of Light.

---

Unfortunately, we don't actually know how much Garlemald knows. The nodes of Azys Lla may joke about their technology, but the fact remains that Nael van Darnus raised the Rivenroad using knowledge passed down in "his" family, and that knowledge didn't come form nowhere. Even the Bozja Citadel, while woefully incomplete, was still functional enough to give Bahamut opportunity to temper Midas nan Garlond.

And then there's Nero, who got the Ultima Weapon working, which ate three full-power primals in one sitting and would have even killed us without literal divine intervention. I'd say Garlemald is doing pretty alright on the "understanding Allagan tech" front. At the very least, better than Cid would give them credit for.

Either way, the mistakes of history are far more nuanced than "advanced technology == bad," and not every action taken for the benefit of all mankind is in mankind's best interest.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fenral

Either way, the mistakes of history are far more nuanced than "advanced technology == bad," and not every action taken for the benefit of all mankind is in mankind's best interest.

---

I know that. And I didn't mean to give off that implication. In fact I was trying to say that the destrction of Allagan tech make it far easier to make the same mistake they did.

The Latter point can easily be exemplified by Elidibus for all we know of his plans. Or Garlemald and their solutions to the Primal threat.