What if our character died?

[Kallera]

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?

[Belhi]

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.

[FJerome]

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.

[Morningstar1337]

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.

[Enkidoh]

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.

[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.

[Keramory]

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

[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.

[Alberel]

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.

[Kallera]

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.

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.