WARNING: The following article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the ending of Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail.During an interview at Gamescom,Final Fantasy 14director and producer Naoki Yoshida revealed that the kingdom of Alexandria, which became the focus of the second half ofDawntrail’s main story, originally came from the Ninth Shard. ThoughFinal Fantasy 14players debated which reflection or Shard the kingdom came from, the direct response from the game’s lead put the topic to rest on social media.
InFinal Fantasy 14, the world of Etheirys was sundered after a conflict with the Elder Primals Zodiark and Hydaelyn, which split the planet into “The Source” that the players call home, and 13 distinct pocket dimensions called Shards or Reflections. Since then, seven of these Shards have rejoined the Source, which caused the Source to endure Umbral Calamities and eradicate all life on the Shard that was returned to the original world. Duringthe main scenario ofDawntrail, one of these Shards made its presence known in the form of the Kingdom of Alexandria. The futuristic nation used “interdimensional fusion” to forcefully rejoin with the Source as a way to fuel the Endless, who are the kingdom’s citizens remade from the memories of the departed and require vast amounts of power to exist. Alexandria’s ruler, Queen Sphene, is among these Endless re-creations.
WhileDawntrailstill left some questions unanswered for future patches to address, Yoshida himself directly confirmed one mystery. In aGamescom interview with TheGamer, Yoshida confirmed that the kingdom of Alexandria, which included the city of Solution Nine andthe expansion’s final zone, Living Memory, was taken from the Ninth Shard. As the fabled “City of Gold” that served as a plot hook forDawntrail,Yoshida said that Living Memory was created as a place where the souls and memories of the Ninth Shard’s citizens can live eternally, and the development team wanted to do a proper job conveying the citizenry’s thoughts through The Endless.
As one of four outstanding Shards that players had not explored beforeDawntrail, the Ninth Shard’s name, alongside Alexandria’s, is likely adirect callback toFinal Fantasy 9. Yoshida stated beforeDawntrail’s launch that theFinal Fantasyfranchise’s ninth main entry would be heavily referenced throughout the expansion. AlthoughFinal Fantasy 14players initially deliberated which dimension Alexandria came from, Yoshida’s confirmation of the Ninth Shard being Alexandria’s home Reflection may bring the discussions to a close.
With morecontent planned forDawntrail’s future patches,Final Fantasy 14players still have more places left to explore. Only time will tell if a return to Alexandria will be on the table.
Final Fantasy 14 (2010)
WHERE TO PLAY
Begin your adventure in FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm RebornCreate your very own Warrior of Light and embark upon a quest to deliver the land from an eternity of Darkness.Take to the skies in FINAL FANTASY XIV: HeavenswardTake your first steps in the reclusive nation of Ishgard, locked in a seemingly never-ending struggle with dragons.Rekindle the fires of hope in FINAL FANTASY XIV: StormbloodJourney to the East and rise up against the might of the Garlean Empire.Become the darkness in FINAL FANTASY XIV: ShadowbringersTravel to a world where light ushers all unto oblivion. But hope is not yet lost, for where there is light there is shadow.Journey to the very stars above in FINAL FANTASY XIV: EndwalkerA great calamity has been building - a second advent of the Final Days. The Warrior of Light must journey ever higher and stand firm as hope’s last bastion.Set forth for new horizons in FINAL FANTASY XIV: DawntrailBlue seas, clear skies, and boundless possibilities await! Explore uncharted territories with familiar faces as hope’s light dawns once more.
