Some new information on the Ascian dimension...

[Alberel]

So the new art book released at fan fest has a lot of interesting stuff in it. I spent some time scouring through it to see if there was anything lore related that hadn't been highlighted yet and sure enough there are two pages (p.251-252) dedicated to the strange dimension we see the Ascians in with the great statue (assumed by many to be Zodiark) during 2.3.Now I'm not going to post the actual images as I'm sure that would be frowned upon but the captions are what really caught my attention:

Image 1 -

The concept was for a dark alternate dimension formed from the thoughts of the Ascians. Using black and purple tones, I envisioned a form that would be well-defined where the mind was strong, and unraveling where the mind was weak.

This one was in reference to an overview of the entire area. It shows the statue with six pedestals on the left and seven on the right, as well as a podium in the centre on which we saw Elidibus during 2.3. There is also a huge stone gateway directly across from the statue that appears to be a portal to somewhere.

So I suppose the huge thing here is that this world was actually created by the Ascians through the use of imagination and willpower. That alone is something of a revelation as it gives us some insight into their abilities.

Now, our encounter with Moggle Mog implies that anything at all could potentially be summoned if enough people willed it into existence. Is that what the Ascians did to create this dimension? Did they essentially summon an entirely different reality into existence?

Now let's take this further. The Ascians have created a new reality. The Twelve supposedly created Eorzea... See where I'm going with this? I don't mean to imply that the Ascians are the Twelve but it may be that they have the ability to do the same as them (assuming the Twelve are real, if not then it may be that the myth is based on the Ascians or others with the same 'gift').

Image 2 -

The ring-shaped design on the statue's back is a motif that i used extensively. The half-ring atop the pedestal is also designed to evoke an Ascian feel.

This caption refers to an image depicting the statue in the centre (which bears an uncanny resemblance to Necron from FFIX) as well as the pedestals on which the Ascians themselves stand. There isn't much of note here beyond the fact that the statue has a complete ring around its head whilst each of the pedestals have only half a ring. Considering the caption itself highlights the use of the ring there must be some significance to each Ascian only having half a ring above their head. Are they somehow... incomplete? Or missing something?

Something important in the image specifically here though: It uses a shot of the dark mothercrystal we saw in the weird post-credits echo at the end of 2.0 as a palette for the lighting in the sketch. There is a Japanese caption against the crystal in the actual image here though that I can't read and I would LOVE for someone to translate that for me if they could (p.252). Now it may be that the dark crystal is casting that light (which would be huge) but it may also be that they just use the same colour scheme. Either way deliberately using the same colour scheme implies a connection: the dark crystal and the Ascians are linked in some way.

Image 3 -

Doors represent boundaries. I placed the ring motif below in contrast to the statue to emphasize a sense if separation from this place.

I couldn't make much of this. The door has another of those incomplete half-rings hanging below it. It is also framed on both sides by two great stone formations that are either horns, flames or wings. They mirror the same shape on the statue opposite.

Now yes I know I've made a few leaps of logic above but to reduce it to just the facts we can take from this:

- The Ascians created their own dimension and maintain it by willpower alone.
- There is a link between the dark crystal and the Ascians.

If anyone else has the art book and would like to take a look at pages 251-252 for themselves and post their thoughts that would be great!

[finiteHP]

I don't have the art book so I can't comment on most of it, but one thing I find interesting is the thirteen pedestals and your thought of both the Twelve and the Ascians being able to create realms. I agree that there isn't enough to suggest that the Ascians are the Twelve, but it is interesting that there are thirteen pedestals and thirteen deities in the Twelve (Nald'Thal are twins).

[polyhedral]

We are the warriors of light.
There are warriors of dark.

[Alberel]

I don't have the art book so I can't comment on most of it, but one thing I find interesting is the thirteen pedestals and your thought of both the Twelve and the Ascians being able to create realms. I agree that there isn't enough to suggest that the Ascians are the Twelve, but it is interesting that there are thirteen pedestals and thirteen deities in the Twelve (Nald'Thal are twins).

Yeah that was why I thought the number was interesting too. Given the broken half-ring motif I'm entertaining the idea that the Ascians are half of some whole... of which the Twelve may either be the other half or the original whole itself. It would fit well with Ramuh's ramblings about the origins of light and darkness.

[axemtitanium]

Count them again. There are 7 pedestals on both sides.

[Torquil]

Yeah that was why I thought the number was interesting too. Given the broken half-ring motif I'm entertaining the idea that the Ascians are half of some whole... of which the Twelve may either be the other half or the original whole itself. It would fit well with Ramuh's ramblings about the origins of light and darkness.

See my post on the Skesis theory

[Alberel]

Count them again. There are 7 pedestals on both sides.

I just did a recount and my original number of 6 and 7 stands; there are 6 on the left and 7 on the right. For there to be 7 on both sides as you suggest would make no sense as the number 14 is not a part of the recurring pattern. Pretty much every number of any significance in this game totals either 12 or 13.

See my post on the Skesis theory

I think I read that a while back and I agree it's definitely a possibility. Hopefully we'll discover something new about the Ascians before the end of the 2.x arc.

[axemtitanium]

Look at the picture veeeeeery carefully. One of the pedestals is hidden behind another but the flat base is clearly visible. There are 7 pedestals on both sides. Also 14 is FFXIV.

[Alberel]

Look at the picture veeeeeery carefully. One of the pedestals is hidden behind another but the flat base is clearly visible. There are 7 pedestals on both sides. Also 14 is FFXIV.

Damn, you're right. Two of them overlap and are practically indistinguishable... Hmm so does that mean there are 14 Ascians? 15 including Elidibus? Well that just just about throws a whole host of fringe theories out the window... Good eye!

[Alenore]

Damn, you're right. Two of them overlap and are practically indistinguishable... Hmm so does that mean there are 14 Ascians? 15 including Elidibus? Well that just just about throws a whole host of fringe theories out the window... Good eye!

Probably much more than 14. Now, 14 high-ranked Ascians, maybe. Elidibus might be part of them, the pedestal in the middle seems to me like something in a court where someone speaks.