The Echo - Mechanics and Boundaries

[Anonymoose]

One thing I've noticed during lore discussions is that we all have a rather different idea of how The Echo works. Often, some of our topics actually degrade into talking about the specifics for a while, so I think it's time we make a thread that just gets down to business and makes sure we don't misstate this schist anymore.

Everything we know:

• Existence of the Echo is a sign of apocalyptic change.
  This is known to the Sharlayans.

You... That was your doing. The Echo... But that would mean...

Calamity Cometh

The winds of change have already swept over Eorzea. We are only just now realizing it. The Echo has sounded... And nothing can stop it now.

Beckon of the Elementals

• Some have discerned this change, but are too traumatized to speak of it.

Scores of men and women have passed through our doors looking to find answers, and scores have embarked on quests to do just that...but their efforts have gained us little...and many have not returned. Of those few who have...not one is willing to speak of what he saw at the end of the Path. It is as if they all bore witness to a truth too terrible...or too shameful to be told.

Fade to White

• The ability is provided by an entity (likely Hydaelyn)

And while I am loath to admit it, you have provided us with some very important information. Ifrit believes you blessed by a specific deity, and that that is where you obtained the Echo.

Lord Errant

Were you not witness to the skies turning dark and showering the land with a storm of stars? Some of our brothers believe those who partook in this celestial event were “touched” by the Twelve, and that that is how they came by their gift.

Fade to White

• Many report seeing a starshower upon their awakening.
  The meaning of the starshowers are surrounded with rumor.
  The most common rumors are that:
  • they are concurrent with the awakening of the Echo,
  • they are an ill omen of something about to happen,
    
  • those who are near where one of the falling stars landsare given some sort of power.
    • IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE SECOND ECHO WE SEE IN EACH STORY IS THE MOMENT SOMEONE ELSE WOKE TO THE ECHO? PERHAPS ONE OF THE ARCHONS, OR ASACILIA, EMERICK (UNSEEN, BUT THE SOURCE OF THE ECHO SO HE MUST BE THERE) OR KHRIMM.

Were you not witness to the skies turning dark and showering the land with a storm of stars? Some of our brothers believe those who partook in this celestial event were “touched” by the Twelve, and that that is how they came by their gift.

Fade to White

Unlisted:
Several NPC quotes from Fate to White where members of the
Path of the Twelve say they got their echo shortly after seeing a starshower.

• The Echo often comes with "side effects." Everyone is given different gifts.
  • The Player's is to breach the language barriers and see into hearts.
  • Minfilia's is foresight (prescience)
    

We are each blessed in different ways. While I was given the gift of farsight, the gods did not see fit to grant me with the ability to comprehend languages. What of you, Forename?

Together We Stand

As an unexpected side effect of the gift, it seems the ability to reach into the soul of another also allows some of us to understand their words without having to comprehend the sounds they utter. In short, the Echo has granted these fortunate souls mastery of every language existing on Hydaelyn.

Fade to White

CONFLICTING, OR AMBIGUOUS, INFORMATION:

• We do not know for sure if we are entering a copy of the past that we can manipulate and study, or if we are entering the actual past using someone's memory as an anchored doorway.
  • If I were to speculate, I would guess that many in-game characters assume it to be the former because nothing can be changed and the person can often catch you messing around in their head. However, in reality it is the latter, which is why you can bring items back and forth and truly gain or lose them. This is one of four major methods of time travel we see in movies. It's not Back to the Future time travel (changes a singular timeline in the past to impact the present), Terminator time travel (changing the past creates separate timelines), or Supernatural time travel (closed loops in time that don't allow for change) -- it's LOST/The Time Machine time travel (go ahead and try to change whatever you want, maybe it'll play out differently, but whatever happened happened).
• For instance, if we look at these quotes from Minfilia and Fernehalwes...

The Echo allows you to breach the wall of a person's soul, and hear the resonations of their past. You will be there in their memories, seeing things as they saw them. You may even interact with that which lies therein. However, the past is like a stone tablet. You cannot uncarve what is already written.

All three have the power of the Echo, allowing them to experience the past, interact with it, but ultimately not change the outcome of anything important (the wind created by a battleaxe swing will not start a hurricane in Garlemald).