Light, Darkness, Balence, Gravitation

[Mykaelus]

Regarding Light and Darkness, FFXIV shares a lot with FFXI, so I would not be surprised if this is treated similarly.

HUGE FFXI SPOILERS BELOW...


.... SERIOUSLY, DON'T READ IT IF YOU EVER WANT TO PLAY FFXI

.... IT'S COMING OUT ON MOBILE SOON, DID YOU KNOW?

...

In XI, the story goes that an ancient race grew bold enough to try and build a door to the heavens. The Twilight God Promathia struck them down, leaving ruin in his wake. The Goddess Altana saw this destruction and wept five tears, which became the five races of Vana'diel. In response, Promathia created the beastmen races to war with Altana's children, so they would never thing to build towards heaven again.

HOWEVER, you discover through playing FFXI that this is all a misinterpretation. Promathia was not the god of evil, but the god of nothingness. It was in his nature to pursue the entropy of the universe, including destroying himself. The goddess Altana, the embodiment of creation, couldn't bear to see ANYTHING in existence to be destroyed, and rather than allow Promathia to fade away, against his will she trapped bits of his essence in living vessels... thus creating the five races.

... SPOILERS END ...

So for FFXIV, I'm thinking Hydaelyn as the embodiment of Light is being set up similarly to FFXI in opposition to Zodiark. Unlike FFXI's interpretation though where Light was basically infinite, I think the act of creation has a cost to Hydaelyn. Consider that whenever we see her crystal, there is dust and crystal bits orbiting it. Almost as if parts have been broken off to be used. Compare that to the crystal in the opening movie of FFXI, which is one single piece. I suppose you could say it was just an aesthetic choice, but crystals being broken pops up a lot in FFXIV. Crafting takes SHARDS, rather than just crystals in FFXI. Aetherytes are always in multiple pieces. Even in the new Lords of Verminion, the goal is to break the crystals.

It's almost as if FFXIV equates Light with individuality. Consider that Lahabrea and Igeyorhm claim to show us "the true power of the Echo" before fusing together into one being. Does that mean they have the Echo? And then the talk of Rejoinings. If Light is individuality, Dark would be unity.

What is a Primal but the union of people's faith and aether?

What if the Echo is actually the gift of Zodiark? People think it is the gift of Hydaelyn because Hydaelyn gives the Blessing of Light to people with the Echo. But what if Hydaelyn is just trying to co-opt or temper those with Zodiark's blessing?

That's not to say the Dark is actually the "good guy," just that it is an equal and opposite force... trying to unify everyone, just as darkness obscures boundaries. Whereas the Light reveals and defines boundaries.

[Fenral]

It's almost as if FFXIV equates Light with individuality. Consider that Lahabrea and Igeyorhm claim to show us "the true power of the Echo" before fusing together into one being. Does that mean they have the Echo? And then the talk of Rejoinings. If Light is individuality, Dark would be unity.

Certainly well-reasoned, but for the sake of argument, let me posit the reverse. Advance warning that this will sound a lot like heresy against every RPG plot ever:

The Light in FFXIV so far seems to be selflessness, putting others before yourself, a "greater good" that rejects individuality for the benefit of the faceless many. Treating a friend to lunch is the mild form. Altruistic suicide is the extreme. Hydaelin, of course, is the master of this, constantly giving of herself in spite of her slightly more important purpose that seems to be giving the world itself form. If she gives up all of herself, then she will die and our world with her, and that will be that.

Assuming the above is light, "Dark" would be selfishness, individuality, and putting the good of the self before the many. Taking from others in order to build up and sustain one's identity as an individual. Put mildly, you have to eat to live, and there's no such thing as a free lunch. Taken to the extreme, you have Nidhogg, who asserts his "will" over most of the Dravanian Horde. Zodiark's followers seek the Rejoining, taking of the world and Hydaelin to the benefit of Zodiark. It's still a sort of unity, but one born from the assertion of one individual over many.

Logically speaking, neither of these can exist without the other. An entirely selfless world lacks the basic distinction that makes "giving" possible, while a fully-asserted individual has acquired everything and can thus no longer "take." Either end result is essentially the same: everything returns to nothingness. Perfect equilibrium in this case is also probably a terrible idea, but likely also impossible.

My total guess is that the Ascians, or Lahabrea's camp at least, are acting in a way that seeks to provoke Hydaelin's self-sacrifice, as this allows them to claim more of [fill in the blank] for Zodiark, strengthening their master. We don't have enough info to know what fills in the blank yet.

(If this isn't what's actually going on, I find in myself the urge to use this for a story later... )

[Morningstar1337]

Certainly well-reasoned, but for the sake of argument, let me posit the reverse. Advance warning that this will sound a lot like heresy against every RPG plot ever:

The Light in FFXIV so far seems to be selflessness, putting others before yourself, a "greater good" that rejects individuality for the benefit of the faceless many...Assuming the above is light, "Dark" would be selfishness, individuality, and putting the good of the self before the many.

So basiclay Hydalyn and Zodiark are the Force?

[Fenral]

So basiclay Hydalyn and Zodiark are the Force?

Only if I get to be Darth Revan.