Here is an expanded 2244-word guide delving deeper into Final Fantasy 16‘s climatic conclusion, the ambitious yet calamitous plot devised by the gods, themes of free will‘s double-edged nature, key characters‘ motivations and speculation on the ending‘s implications:
The Deities‘ Grand Design
Spanning centuries, Final Fantasy 16’s narrative proves the adage “the road to ruin is paved with good intentions” exploring how unchecked power corrupts even supposed immortals. I trace the events catalyzing Ultima and its kin’s machinations, humanity gaining then losing trust in the gods before forging new paths, and ultimately violent confrontation becoming the only means stopping endless cycles from repeating.
The Blightstorm’s Wake
The gods hail from a realm lost against the extradimensional corruption called the Blightstorm – those surviving the shattering Exodus crash into Valisthea as refugees rather than saviors. 16 survive: Titan ambitiously expands mountains and seas to house the weary deities. Wise Garuda teaches language and art to scattered tribes through chosen human vessels. Bahamut and Odin guide victorious kings, though their warring ways continues stoking turmoil across the realms even amidst prosperity at a surface level.
Devoid of physical form most exist as Dominants residing in Mothercrystals slowly accumulating stores of Aether harvested from the planet’s essence. Only a few walk closely with mortals including Phoenix who blesses Rosfield kings as stewards protecting his vessel.
A Desired Higher Plane
But the deities do not seek peaceful co-existence with Valisthea or forget their crusade against the Blightstorm‘s root cause – destiny itself warring against their chaotic, unrestrained nature. They hatch a scheme to unify remaining assets and souls to depart for a paradise plane. Using humanity as fuel, they will achieve the power necessary to cast Alestale‘s Testament sacrificing Valisthea itself as vessel to contain this force.
Requiring a well of energy beyond any mortal, it falls to the schemer Ultima to create a "Mythos" – a human infused with strength exceeding Eikons themselves. This instrument would unleash the spell before perishing along with humanity‘s failed era. To quicken the harvest, Mothercrystals slowly drain aether from the soil weakening natural life across generations.
A Freedom Found and Lost
And yet granting freedom sans guide or guardrails only repeats cycles. The deities slumber to conserve energy except Phoenix, trapped awake watching generations rise and fall. Lacking leadership humanity discovers ambition, curiosity leading down divergent roads – some peaceful others soaked in blood. As kings fight with Dominants as weapons, the War of Ruinil erupts, toppling civilizations built in the gods’ absence.
Magic gifts individuals immense power, which corrupts absolutely. Engineers construct weapons clashing against Odin’s shields. Only the threat of total annihilation finally quiets what power-hungry survivors remain, leaving scorched earth behind. The War marks the end of the Elemental Era giving rise to the Kingdom Era’s new order establishing the borders of modern Rosaria, Waloed, Sanbreque and beyond. Even with uneasy sustained "peace" in the centuries since, the people celebrate their heroes and dominants gaining freedom if not wisdom. The stage is set for the Mythos to soon arrive.
Brothers Blessed and Cursed: The Rosfield Saga
Ultima’s prophecy guides every major power shift across the land, either directly or through subordinates. In the secluded Waloed realm home of the Phoenix Dominant’s slumbering nest, the royal Rosfield lineage maintains steadfast devotion even as other nations eye its sacred Torch relic hungrily.
Fragile Balance
Yet a hidden curse passed by blood eats away at the devout kings’ sanity over generations while famine and disease ravage the poor soil. The seer Haldratha’s tome Fatebinder speaks of twins born on a fateful eclipse holding power to make or break realms:
"Hark the call of Dark Night’s herald, as the bastard brother riseth a tainted blade shall he wieldeth. While the younge cursed with gifts to heal, shall pay coin to balance ordeal. When Twilit Eclipse converges shall two sons come, Blessed and Cursed by Fate’s design. On transformed earth now scorched and torn, Sacrifice demands blood be drawn. By Opposer‘s crooked guile, Light‘s vassal strays the path denying Salvation‘s trial”
King Barnabas II prays fervently to the Phoenix Dominant for a cure to both the blight and the family madness in a child of Rosfield blood. His wife births twins during a rare celestial event – the older Clive inheriting Ifrit’s smoldering Eikon against tradition as Joshua receives healing magic. Ifrit brands wield violence inflicting pain so Clive is looked on warily as madness slowly overtakes Barnabas while gentle Joshua trains as a mage-priest unable to lift the plague‘s pall.
A Schism By Design
Jealous, short-sighted Barnabas imprisons the twins’ mother Queen Valerie then attempts to deny Joshua succession despite counsel. As unrest mounts, Barnabas’ desperation suits Ultima’s ends – he leads a doomed pilgrimage seeking to renew the Torch’s warding flame but returns scathed by the spread of blight.
Barnabas brands Joshua‘s gifts a failure, fanning flames of distrust, though Lord Symon and elite forces maintain their faith in the Prince. To escape Barnabas’ scheming clutch, Queen-Mother Valerie helps the brothers sneak Joshua out of the capital, pleading for Clive to protect him at all costs. Little do they realize they dance perfectly to the Opposer’s orchestrations.
With Joshua fled in exile, Barnabas names Clive heir. Yet witnessing cruelty warp his father’s spirit, Clive opts to walk free of crown and country. He vows not to become a figurehead for zealotry or bloodshed. Power – whether by right, magic or force matters not to one who fights for his own path.
Logos Rises
Seizing opportunity in weakness and vowing not to repeat past errors, Emperor Orion IX leads invading forces to conquer chaotic disunified nations in the name of order, certain Clive heralds the Mythos. Archduke Zikel unleashes monstrous experiments while the church-state wields Dominants paving a steadfast Unity march. But denouncing fates imposed, Clive continues wrestling control of his destiny through merciless training and confrontations.
Ifrit‘s Awakening
Eager to shed perceived weakness and earn capital as a sellsword, Clive’s gifts awaken – sensing his royal lineage the fire spirit Ifrit emerges from slumber deep below Waloed’s waves. Ifrit brands Clive, searing oaths of fealty onto his flesh. Through training of body and Eikon, Clive learns to harness hellfire power under advice of veteran Torgal. Though some allies worry unchecked rage may consume him, soft-spoken Benedikta and steadfast Jill remind Clive of his capability for compassion.
With loyalcompanions at his side, Clive‘s reputation soars defeating hordes of blight-transformed beasts and warring mercenary bands. Bards exalt his strength yet honest souls like blacksmith Hugo warn power tempts even the best men. One loss of control could inflict calamity. Soon opportunity arises to duel the traitorous Sir Barnabas corrupted by Phoenix’s wings.
The Dominants Uprising to Oppose the Mythos
Vanquishing his maddened uncle, Clive’s strength catalyzes the Dominants‘ awakening. Seeking to subsume the Mythos before Ultima’s machinations conclude, Titan raises sea walls while Ramuh’s bolts electrify mounts to shocking villagers. Lords employ sellswords to reap Ifrit’s embers until Clive turns the tide immolating battalions in his riposte. Each confrontation strengthens his soul’s furnace.
When garish Garuda manifests, regal ruler Tiamat phantasms follow. Odin’s fanatic Marshal beckons Armageddon’s vanguard but Clive carves through, wrestling rulership over the Netherworld itself. Triumphant, few challengers remain though dissenters including Lord Shanik spread fear of unrestrained power left unchecked.
The Wings of Corruption
In the capital Shadowfall, pious Orion hosts tournament of arms to lure the Myraddin champion. Ferocious bouts culminate with cunning Zikel unveiling twisted experiments birthing blasphemous Diabolos through sacrificing thousands of souls. Its insatiable hunger known no bounds – wings stretch to eclipse the very sun but Ifrit’s radiance immolates the abomination.
Heavily wounded, Clive retreats becoming embroiled in Waloed’s collapse as mad Barnabas invokes Phoenix’s fiery rebirth. Teacher Benedikta braces Clive to finish things lest he fade first. “A heart forged from steel cannot waiver now else it cracks under the cold gleam of ambition‘s blade”.
The Final Steps
Marching onto the throne with Joshua at his side, Orion invokes Kingdom Come. Clive unites with trusty falcons and fellow Hawkeye Hugo to collapse the Galgastani bulwarks. Fanatics fall until a brutal confrontation with Dragoon pride forces Clive to sacrifice his arm to Zikel’s spear. Then, pushing past limits with allies’ hopes fueling his resolute heart, Clive taps into Ifrit Risen might.
The Emperor falls but so too do the warding Mothercrystals – the Dominants break free from long slumber as reality itself comes undone. Blightstorms warp hordes but support from remaining Hawks led by First Commander Ruel bolsters the campaign to reclaim Waloed then head to Twinside. Joshua awaits, penance for Clive to exact at last.
Diagram highlighting notable warring factions and central characters
Sacrifice
Many countries plunge into turmoil, citizenry either clinging to sovereign Godzilla‘s protection or revolting in fear of tyranny. Marshal Oelvert leads county Surbrque‘s charge to siege Twinside castle where Joshua merged with Diabolos prepares to fly East unto Shadowfall under Lord Symon‘s guidance. Surmounting the ancient Yggsogil, piercing spires at last, the brothers clash though Clive retains glimmers of mercy still.
Brotherhood Bound Through Strife
Only by his twin‘s healing does Clive push past grievous wounds to best Diabolos until Joshua remerges, transferring the Fell Dragon‘s might across their bond to strengthen Clive. Citing his debt to atone for past sins unable to foretell this fate, Joshua forfeits his power with last words entreating his brother end things before fleeing humans repeat the War of Ruinil.
United with allies Dylan, Hugo and Ruel mid-siege, Clive proceeds towards Origin, the source spring of all Dominants. Past macabre experiments, despairing cries of lost souls from neither worlds fill blackened halls lit only by justice’s searing flame. What was two now stand together, Phoenix and Ifrit reforged as one to etch their chant into history‘s tapestry.
Requiem
The Mythos‘ Final March
At the edge of forever, before the font of Life Stream itself, Ultima awaits. Having drained aether dry to summon their kin and trigger Alestale‘s Testament, warping the boundaries of being itself, Twisted abominations unleash hellfire lightning to raze reality itself. Guardians Bahamut and Vritra fall quickly, their power assimilated.
Magic folds existence until fibers snap unleashing chaos. Hordes of Blightstorm amass – ravenous, relentless ever replenishing by the second. Heroes carve a path through with soldiers King Beoulve and McDohl holding the line long enough for Clive and Dylan to plunge into the vortex towards Ultima‘s core. Only by their bonds, their interlinked Will, does progress crawl past howling shadows of the fallen.
The War of Wills
At the edge of reality the Hawkeye parts ways with ally Cidolfus entrusting their future to Clive. His wings afire, wreathed in Phoenix’s radiance Ifrit shatters the way for Logos to manfest. Three arduous battles rage. Phoenix feathers scatter as wings tear, Ifrit’s claws crack while hellfire dimming dwindle. In return Logos severs Ultima‘s links to trapped Eikons, releasing each back unto the wheel.
Yet in the final moments, pushed beyond mortal limits, Logos falters. Ultima wraps ethereal chains to constrict, corrupt and convert until familiar healing rays warm the soul once more. “Your will yet waver” Joshua intones, manipulating time and space itself to revive his twin. Ancient holy swords Sanction & Savior in hand, the duo strike with Scintillant Fate. Blinding white flames turn searing red then fractal black leaving only embers where once a devil deity stood.
Rebirth
Silence follows. The dust settles until chirps of mountain chickadees pierce the calm. Streamers of light fall with faint tinkling tones like windchimes heralding a still dawn. In Valeria, verdant gardens and azure skies return to the land of tundra and rust. Schools of Everybody‘s Favorite Fish glide serene between patches of lush 海藻 swaying gentle in the current.
The Queen모퉁이 incrementally absorb remnants of creation energy seeping back into nature‘s order.With the Mothercrystals destroyed, springs of magical gifts dry up. Chains of destiny broken, the realm enters an age of community connexion. Tribes like the Viis set out sharing song and dance to heal the scorched, now fertile earth.
On the frontier, pioneer Karsh forges the way for new peace treaties while second Commander Ruel rebuilds regional alliances. Hesitant hope, once a flicker now roaring flame, kindles in people’s hearts envisioning an uncharted but shared future congruent with nature’s wisdom.
None now remain still linked to the mythical era. Bards sing honorific songs of the champions that stood for equity and courageous change. Their names now mythic itself – Hugo the Adamantine, Cidolfus Orlandu, The Hawkeye and his fearsome partner King Beowulf Kadmus, who led the twelve Armored Warriors of Light.
And the champions of liberation, phoenix-borne Rosfield scions left the Dominants‘ wake by their own hands. Scholars debate Did Clive Rosfield truly pass into the great beyond or adopt an alias to wander free of accolades and chains? As magic fades into folk tales, wide-eyed youth enraptured demand to hear these stories again. And again…
Thus concludes my deep dive into Final Fantasy XVI’s finale. Despite faults, the gods sought meaning and community while humanity craved understanding Uber their own mortality by pursuing power unchecked. Only renouncing fate in favor of forging bonds beyond status nurtures lasting peace – a lesson hard learned by those no longer living to sing this song of sundering and salvation.
The path ahead remains filled with peril, but shared wisdom and courage can light the way. Our choices write the refrain. What melody will you compose?
