Quote Originally Posted by Absimiliard View Post
Our understanding of The Twelve is that they are essentially just glorified primals. Possessing no lives or wills of their own; their objectives, abilities, personalities, and even appearances are shaped entirely by the beliefs of those whose prayers gave them life.
Correction: That is the GARLEANS understanding of The Twelve, and fervent atheist Gaius is only too happy to arrogantly pronounce "YOUR GODDO IS SHIIIIIIT!!!". The residents of Eorzea, on the other hand, consider them to be real and true gods - including learned and respected individuals such as Louisoix. And we as players? The jury is still out. Certainly it's possible to fashion a primal in the SHAPE of one of the Twelve - but that doesn't mean that the Twelve cannot be real deities, as well. Shiva was a real person, but that didn't stop Ysayle from creating her Primal. Same with the Allagan Commander Garuda.

This is a fantasy world, and honest-to-god (pun intended) deities are a possibility that is always on the table. I give about even odds that the game eventually gives a "mundane origin story" that reveals that the Twelve are just legends of long-gone real people, or that they instead leave them mysterious and inscrutable for the entire lifetime of the game (e.g., "Are they real? YOU decide!").