Questiona about Mother Hydaelyn

[Elladie]

I haven't posted much on the forums - though I am a regular lurker - so I apologise in advance if I can't work out how to use 'edit post' to get around the word limit. Hopefully this won't be too long!

I've always been interested in lore, but I'm new to trying to construct coherent theories/explanations for myself. I have some questions about Hydaelyn, her nature, and her role in the first story arc; I'd be grateful for any feedback from all you experts.

Hydaelen is the name given to the entire world of which Eorzea is part. It’s also the name of the Mother Crystal, sometimes referred to as Mother Hydaelen, inviting comparisons with the concept of Mother Earth. Hydaelen describes herself as ‘all made one’. What does this ‘all’ consist of? Everything in the world? Does it include the primals? Does it include the Garleans? Does it include the Ascians? Does it include the growing Darkness that Hydaelyn speaks of when we meet her during one of the early storyline cutscenes?

I’m tempted to infer that the Darkness is separate, not part of this ‘all’. If so, where did it come from? Do we have a creation myth in which everything is perfection and then corruption creeps in from somewhere?

Hydaelyn – and everyone else – identifies herself with the Light. The Darkness is in opposition to her. Each seeks to destroy the other. Lahabrea says that the world is becoming unbalanced, and he blames Hydaelyn for this.“The growing imbalance afflicting the planet must be redressed. If it is permitted to worsen, the very laws of existence – both aetheric and physical – will be warped beyond all recognition. Know you the root of this corruption? Hydaelyn!” What does he think is happening that is causing this imbalance? What is Hydaelyn doing? Does Lahabrea genuinely believe what he’s saying, or is it just Ascian manipulation and propaganda? His stated intention is Hydaelyn’s ‘excision’ which doesn’t sound as though he’s seeking a world where Light and Dark are ‘balanced’.

In the first story arc, Hydaelyn seems to intervene – specifically during the final three fights in the Praetorium – because Ultima Weapon and the spell, Ultima, belong to the Dark One. She isn’t concerned about the primals or the Garleans; she just want to stop what she calls ‘this vile magick’ being unleashed. Does this sound like a valid interpretation of her motives?

[treuhavik]

Hydaelen describes herself as ‘all made one’. What does this ‘all’ consist of?

I always believed this "all" was the crystals of light. "I am Hydaelan, all made one." meaning that if you were to collect the crystals and reassemble them, she would be the result.

Both sides crave dominance, light and dark. We, the players, are creating imbalance by aiding the light. This is where the ascians come in, claiming there intention is to restore the balance. However, left unchecked, the ascians would tip the scales in the direction of darkness. So, we're now involved in the seemingly eternal tug-o-war between light and dark, good and evil.

This is how I've reasoned it all anyway.

[Anonymoose]

I apologise in advance if I can't work out how to use 'edit post' to get around the word limit. Hopefully this won't be too long!

Type everything you'd like to say, then CTRL+A to highlight it all, CTRL+X to cut, and just type "EDIT INCOMING" and post that. Then, edit your post and CTRL+V everything you wrote, and hit the SAVE button. ^^

Hydaelen is the name given to the entire world of which Eorzea is part. It’s also the name of the Mother Crystal, sometimes referred to as Mother Hydaelen, inviting comparisons with the concept of Mother Earth. Hydaelen describes herself as ‘all made one’. What does this ‘all’ consist of? Everything in the world? Does it include the primals? Does it include the Garleans? Does it include the Ascians? Does it include the growing Darkness that Hydaelyn speaks of when we meet her during one of the early storyline cutscenes?

To expla-... The answer to your qu... <scratches chin> I really have no idea. (TnT)

Uncovering the truth about The Crystal(s) is always a big part of a "classic" Final Fantasy game. As far as I know, Hydaelyn best fits with FFIX's crystal - the source and destination of all life, located at the center of a planet. Where all ends is anybody's guess, but it probably doesn't include anything of the Void, and that's where the Ascians seem to reside. A little support for this comes from the guildhest where the essences of fallen Voidsent are rejected by Hydaelyn's lifestream (presumably the flow of aether, the "light of creation," that flows into and out of Hyadealyn). It may very well include the primals, as they are of aetherial creation, but their summoned forms in our realm hurt her. They might be seen as part of her all, but a corrupted part, perhaps.

The growing Darkness, I'd imagine, has origins in the Void, outside of her creation, if I had to guess. If fits not only with IX, but XI, where the crystal was shattered into 5 pieces to protect it from the Emptiness.

[Elladie]

Thanks for your prompt replies, guys! You've given me plenty to think about and more stuff to chase up. Don't know very much about the Void and how it relates to Hydaelyn's creation, so I guess that's my first port of call.

Hope I'm not going to drive you all toooo crazy with my posts. I have so many questions, my head hurts ...

[VargasVermillion]

I always believed this "all" was the crystals of light. "I am Hydaelan, all made one." meaning that if you were to collect the crystals and reassemble them, she would be the result.

Both sides crave dominance, light and dark. We, the players, are creating imbalance by aiding the light. This is where the ascians come in, claiming there intention is to restore the balance. However, left unchecked, the ascians would tip the scales in the direction of darkness. So, we're now involved in the seemingly eternal tug-o-war between light and dark, good and evil.

This is how I've reasoned it all anyway.

We don't actually know if dark is 'evil' exactly, it could be similar to the world of darkness in FF3 for all we know. two sides of the same coin.

[Torquil]

I’m tempted to infer that the Darkness is separate, not part of this ‘all’. If so, where did it come from? Do we have a creation myth in which everything is perfection and then corruption creeps in from somewhere?

If you haven't reached Ramuh in the main story yet, he may give you a few scant nuggets.

[Elladie]

If you haven't reached Ramuh in the main story yet, he may give you a few scant nuggets.

Yeah, I did notice that Ramuh mentions a time before the Light and the Dark existed, but I haven't gotten round to chasing that up yet. I presume that's the kind of thing you're referring to?

[Alberel]

Yeah, I did notice that Ramuh mentions a time before the Light and the Dark existed, but I haven't gotten round to chasing that up yet. I presume that's the kind of thing you're referring to?

Ramuh implies that there was originally a balance of some kind at which point the concepts of light and dark did not exist. Then something happened which caused light and dark to separate. Ramuh considers the possibility that the creation of the mortal races was what caused the imbalance but he doesn't actually seem to know.

[Elladie]

Ramuh implies that there was originally a balance of some kind at which point the concepts of light and dark did not exist. Then something happened which caused light and dark to separate. Ramuh considers the possibility that the creation of the mortal races was what caused the imbalance but he doesn't actually seem to know.

So maybe Hydaelyn and Zodiark are 'primals'? In the sense that Ferne referred to the primals and elder primals as brought into being by belief and worship in them? Maybe we - the mortal races - created Light and Dark (and thus the struggle between them and the lack of balance) by our need for these two deities that reflect our own moral duality.

[Alenore]

So maybe Hydaelyn and Zodiark are 'primals'? In the sense that Ferne referred to the primals and elder primals as brought into being by belief and worship in them? Maybe we - the mortal races - created Light and Dark (and thus the struggle between them and the lack of balance) by our need for these two deities that reflect our own moral duality.

Well, we live on Hydaelyn. If we "created" Zodiark and Hydaelyn, where were we before that?