FFXIV ARR: The History of the Ascians & Zodiark (Lore)

[@emptilion]

Well, this is interesting to listen to after shadowbringers.

[@Dpx008Music]

Even more after Endwalker

[@VictoryStar908026]

Well dang you were basically right about Elidibus

[@shinon748]

Don't forget that Elidibus can also cast the Zodiark summon spell in Tactics when you fight him. Its also the only way to gain that spell by having your summoner be hit by it.

[@FarelForever]

Ok guess Mr Happy gets the full right to scream "CALLED IT! I SO F%^KING CALLED IT!!!!" now

[@matta0777]

This is one of your most interesting videos happs, thank you!

[@Onhyx27]

I really admired your choice to quickly transition between images when you were re-capping the different names and their connections. (10:30) I can imagine it was extra work but personally helped the visual learner in me. Keep up the great work!

[@Mark-du2si]

Little did we know at that time that all of that would be answered 4 years later in 2019...

[@Hereticbliss322]

Emoras OfTheSharingan you didn’t think answers were coming?

[@Mark-du2si]

I meant that in 2015 we didn't know that are questions would be answered 4 years later

[@AngelofAmbrosia]

It always blows my mind when I see stuff lore and story unfolding. I'm a writer and also love reading, and I'm always blown away with complex storytelling and works building.

[@AbyssWalker0]

“Strongest of the scions created by the gods, they feared his growth, and so kept him a child. So indomitable is his strength that all things are by him twisted and pressed into oblivion. He alone fashions the laws governing all things, and administers punishment in place of the gods. So is he Keeper of Precepts, and his authority is absolute.” From FF12 zodiark

[@seniorderpface]

Shadowbringers spoiler in 2015 what is this madness!?

[@ruthnovena40]

You were right.

[@firalia]

He was on to something. We got an Ivalice side story and then SHB came along

[@lexielsama8339]

I'm really glad that they pulled out a bunch of Ivalice's stuff as references cuz it's a really rich and deep universe, since FFT. Yasumi Matsuno is such a master of creating lores that it makes me happy to see stuff from my two favorite FFs ever being used in XIV.

[@bananabutt9799]

huh, very, very interesting Happy. This video is pretty genius! I spent over 100 hours on Final Fantasy 12, collected all the Espers, can't believe all this went right over my head. I remembered Zodiark from ff12, since it took me about a full night sitting with my cousin to obtain him. Great video happy! keep up the good work

[@WolfmanXD]

I feel that Zodiark is, as Happy said, the dark version of Hydaelan. Think of it as Cosmos and Chaos. We are the warriors of light, where as the Ascians are the warriors of dark. seems all the more likely since we obtain the light crystals through out the game, and they possess dark crystals (at least I think I remember seeing something like that in the game somewhere). I think eventually Zodiark will be summoned, somehow imprison Hydaelan, and we will have to free her by defeating him, and then and ONLY then, will we see Hydaelans true form.

[@NoneNone4U]

It could be that Zodiark is not necessarily an "evil" deity. Like you said, FFXII and Tactics describe Zodiark as a creation that the gods feared and so kept as a child. "So indomitable is his strength that all things are by him twisted and pressed into oblivion. He alone fashions the laws that govern all things, and administers punishment in place of the gods" -FFXII. It could be that the ascions see his absence as an injustice, given that he did not rebel against the gods, and that, because he governs all things, he is the rightful god that should keep dominion over the world. It would also explain Elidibus's more peaceful demeanor and his cryptic talk about how the scions don't understand the force they fight against. If he is an incarnation of Zodiark, then he would see himself as an incarnation of justice and a servant of benevolent god, fighting for the same thing that the scions are fighting for but for a different god, one that they see to be the "rightful god." The calamities that they engineer are simply the necessary step to reviving him, not necessarily something done with malice (though, Lahabrea takes too much pleasure in it). The danger is that, if Zodiark were released, the very nature the gods gave him would demand that he punish the gods that unjustly imprisoned him, actively destroying them and those who serve them. Ironically, if that were the case, the event would fall in line with the objective of Ultima's rebellion; though, the gods would have brought it upon themselves.

[@NeroLucifarious]

I bet Altima is the guy no one likes, hes like "hey guys im here too! And everyone else is like "ohhh who invited him....lahabrea." "hey dont look at me!"

[@ceasarmike1]

Most ppl don't like what you do, but I keep it real, I like your video and I like how you help ppl learn the game which is why I follow you, I don't follow a lot of ppl so keep up the great work.

[@Shiirow]

Elidibus, the Herald of Zodiark

[@Iskander67]

in 2015 there was no Emet Selch revealed at all, now look at 5:08 and see if you recognize a new character revealed from the ending of 5.3 patch...You are a genius MrHappy

[@meruchan2112]

I seriously think I have something that would be Zodiark's theme song.... 'what do you lack?' hehe The lenses inside of me that paint the world black The pools of poison, the scarlet mist, that spill over into rage The things I've always been denied, an early promise that somehow died A missing part of me that grows around me like a cage -Rush, The Anarchist I am most intrigued not necessarily by the Ascians directly atm, but because we saw a brief depiction of Urianger meeting with one. I cannot WAIT to find out what is going on THERE.

[@EthysAsher]

Great work Haps, I love your ideas about Elidibus in particular, I hadn't thought about him quite so deeply. What do you make of Tristan's claim in the SMN quest line that Belias is an elder primal though? Is it just a form/expression of the Ascian Loghrif? The Ascians allegedly taught Tristan to absorb and fuse with Belias -- that's what he was attempting to do -- I have wondered whether each of the espers might have been primals as well and that the corresponding Ascians' glyphs might be evidence that they have at some point absorbed the corresponding primal/esper... That the noumenal persistence of a primal's essence might be the quality that they have taken which allows them to cross the aetherial sea and persist without a body. I'm still into the idea that Hydaelyn and Zodiark are literally binary states of the crystal (and therefore the universe) but this is by far the strongest argument I have seen for an alternative theory.

[@aqj2014]

Ethys Asher well take into ACCOUNT that in the new heavansward trailers, a giant purple crystal is shown . ( actually its shown at the end of 2.4 when your chacrter loses the echo)

[@solomonoverboard4316]

Ethys Asher Your videos are great Ethys. I keep thinking Zodiark and Hydaelyn are the male/female expressions of for example, the Heavenly Father and Mother Earth, and the twelve are their children, with Hydaelyn representing good, Zodiark evil, in the vein of Yin/Yang, etc. What do you think?

[@clarakyme]

Solomon Overboard I kinda agree with that theory, I wonder, if the adventurer is the "Warrior of Light" who is favored by Hydaelyn, is there a "Warrior of Dark" to represent Zodiark or is that the ascians?

[@solomonoverboard4316]

Clara Me At this point I think perhaps Estinien the other Azure Dragoon is the antithesis to the Warrior of Light but I have no clue if it relates in any way to Zodiark or the Ascians. I would imagine the Ascians are somehow involved with him as well though.

[@clarakyme]

Solomon Overboard I CALLED IT! Warrior of Darkness! Hah!

[@WalkthruGuides]

I think the leaders of the grand companies declared the seventh umbral era over too soon hehe

[@alexestler8521]

Rayla the Magpie I have problems with the Umbral/Astral date system.

[@kennyamr5]

Just 1 thing... there are 15 ascians in total, 14 in black coats including Lahabrea and Nabriales + Elidibus in the white coat. You can watch them all in a meeting short after beating Ramuh. At the end of patch 2.5 however, the Scions eliminate Nabriales therefore, now there are technically only 14 Ascians. \o/ other than that, nice vid! :D

[@kennyamr5]

fleeplayTV math is hard D:

[@timmyh3035]

I am amazed you also didn't point out how their council meetings look suspiciously similar to Organization XIII. Obviously, the Ascians need Zodiark in order to obtain Kingdom Hearts. Keep up the great work Happy!

[@Mrhappy1227]

timmyh3035 I thought about it...and almost did...and then I felt nahhhhh

[@warlockwarlord169]

Mrhappy1227 I agree 100% that Elidibus is Zodiark's will , CSs made it very clear of his authority ... Nabriales fears been scolded by him and Lahabrea accepts been corrected by him that all their plans are a manifestation of Zodiark's will . I hope we find out what he knows about The Echo that we don't

[@aqj2014]

Alexander Andrade I think elidibus actuallt created the echo in order for people to bring about this rejoing and resummons zodiark. however, zodiark is seen chained to a rock and crystallized, not unlike ff13 in some ways. but, he is also shown to have no face or features at all. I think zodiark was killed by the tweleve gods and locked in the ascian void dimsion because he, like odin, could die, but could perhaps be rived on his own.

[@alb1reo]

+timmyh3035 I can explain the lore. darkness is evil you need crystal light is good dark fights light guy teleports with portal speaks stuff teleports with portal again (because lazy writing) then he has evil mask and laughs evil so he is evil and then he comes agin with portal but this time he takes yo friend (so he is more evil) evil is evil. darkness is dark, you need to trust in yourself and the crystal, warrior of light, and then you will magicly beat darkness itself then the kingdom heart opens in the sky, and xehanort comes with dark portal and vanitas is actually in roxas heart who is in soras heart and that is how terranort got created - it's because of the L'cie - they transform into crystals when they fullfill their prophecy

[@aqj2014]

Albireo not at all how it goes, but good try lol

[@waNekowe]

To think you made this in 2015.. almost 4 years ago & seeing how ff12 is being brought to ff14 in SB I need to rewatch this video to digest it more ✨

[@majora320]

your theory about Zodiark makes sense to me, and there is a possibility that he could have been like Ophiucus in the Zodiac, a 13th Eorzean god that was banished. And there is a chance that it was only because of his power, rather than his morals.

[@zeffi00X]

8:45 there is a Ascian called Altima. I do think it is Ultima in FF12 list, as SE had done this word puzzle in FFT once and Ultima Weapon in FF14 is more like Ultima/Ulitmate Weapon in other FF games.

[@Lyzitas]

Oh how I love all the Story around Zodiark. I assume that, and I'm pretty sure about it, that we'll be able to fight against him in the future. Until then a long time will pass, but .. oh men, this will be an awesome battle!

[@NessusGalaxy]

Awesome video, man. Felt like I was watching the history channel or something lol.

[@ryanrivera7217]

I love the meditation vacation Quiet mind meditation too!

[@ApolloLeRoux]

Strongest of the scions created by the gods, they feared his growth, and so kept him a child. So indomitable is his strength that all things by him are twisted and pressed into oblivion. He alone fashions the laws governing all things, and administers punishment in place of the gods. So is he Keeper of Precepts, and his authority is absolute.

[@KMFDM_Kid2000]

Pretty interesting. I hope they dive into this over arching aspect of the story a bit more come expansion.

[@Johiden]

Have you heard anything about the Grand Company ranks? Are they doing to be unlocked with the expansion?

[@GambolMuse]

Going totally out to left field here because speculation and why not? Zodiark is the "original" god, and the Twelve are his children. They usurped his throne and sealed him away to recreate Eorzea in their image. The Ascians were initially "good", but having been cheated out of their god now harbor a bitter hatred towards all of Eorzea and the Twelve and are trying to resurrect the rightful, true god. Just a theory :p

[@GambolMuse]

Hook, line and sinker ;D

[@lexielsama8339]

metallicafanatic33 I liked you theory lol

[@aqj2014]

metallicafanatic33 heres the counter: zodiark was the manifestation of evil and the tewleve gods of light destroyed him to prevent an enternal umbral era

[@ryanhorton9594]

Close

[@Yokai_Yuri]

It would have been interesting to see if the ascians interacted with the Allagan Empire at all. I mean in that era the Allagan were like the superior beings, their might was such that even the powerful bahamut was just like a pet to them, Now before I get to the point think about the following. Bahamut's strenght is such that he can change the very landscape of the planet with his powers, the ascians marveled that power and wanted Bahamut just to ravage it all. Yet, Bahamut was just an slave of the Allagans and if Bahamut ever broke free from its prision, the Allags had Omega as a counter measure to kill Bahamut and considering all the lore regarding Omega from previous games. Bahamut is just like a tiny dragon against a god. Also there was Cloud of Darkness which seems the "only being" who the Allags could not control, harm or whatever, maybe because they had a covenant so it was innecesary as many of the magics implemented by the Allag came from the power of Darkness, example being Xande. So the question is...if the Allags literally caused their own downfall, then in that era the ascians did nothing but just to "wait" for the Allag to disappear or kill themselves? because according to the lore, the Allag had like a thousand year reign or something like that and it is proven that the ascians knew about the Allag because of Ultima weapon, and they knew what the Ultima weapon was capable of so they spy or had an alliance with the allags. Even so I'd say the allags would have crushed the ascians and killed them permanently considering how fairly easily the efforts of Moenbrida (or whatever her name is) and the scions put together to kill Nabriales and since the Allag had all their technology then it would have been an easy task. My theory is that in some fashion or another the way the Ascians disposed of the Allags was through lies and that is why the Crystal tower failed to contain the much energy Dalamud produced and the allags civilization ended. It is my only theory about the relation between the two since it is doubtful the Allags would permit the ascians to summon an almighty god that could potentially wipe out the existence of eorzea itself in its entirety(considering zodiark will never be as strong as its mature form shown in past games) This might explain why in no coil of Bahamut you see the ascians influence yet they are aware that Bahamut was reviving slowly, they could feel it, but they never interfeered in matters such as that maybe because Louisox was there or Nael, plus Allagan mechanism, machinery and such. Finally if you see your onion knight minion it says that the Allagan had an army of machine onion knights that fought their wars...

[@ethermelt4780]

I'm surprised you didn't notice or make the link, but in Final Fantasy Tactics, it was Alma, Ramza's sister, who was the host of the Virgo stone to awaken Ultima, and was *then* reffered to as Altima. Considering that Alma was confirmed to have survived the final battle, and "went off to have another adventure in another country", and considering that XIV is considered a part of the Ivalice world (which has also been confirmed that every game involving Ivalice is apart of the same world, but different time periods), it's entirely possible that the Ascean Altima might in fact be Alma herself.

[@drakken7450]

I would have to say that you could be right and hearing that fft and ff14arr is in fact linked just makes so so happy I loved the world Ivalica and would be Kool to see Alma again mmm... ramza as a boss would be sick too if Alma is indeed in ff14

[@syrusmarks1]

Iv been marking out over this similarity. This is the video that I have been waiting for. Zodiark ... zodiack. 12 warriors. Crystals for jobs. It's so FFT. I was like... we all ducked if this is true

[@jessicabellemare8972]

that more than interesting, hope we'll see more of the ascians in HW

[@DarthXelion]

If you take a good look at the statue of zodiark in the scene where the ascians are role playing as organization XIII. The Zodiark statue looks very similar to Necron the final boss of IX. Has anyone else notice this?

[@aqj2014]

I think whats meant to happen is the warrior of light is the 13th scion of light, and edidibales is the 13th scion of darkness

[@zanrokand88]

I always believed the world of Hydaelyn was a reconstruction of Ivalice after it was destroyed... I definitely noticed the Ascians names, but I knew little of the Twelve.

[@othyrusxerxes760]

Could there be a connection between the twelve and the 12 ascians? could the twelve have been corrupted threw a method similar to tempering such as a primal would've done when they tried to contain Zodiark?

[@aqj2014]

and then multiply that by the twelve memebers of the ascians council in the cutscene, and edibarles

[@crodo123]

this is really interesting.. i hope that if the story gets really good and we are supposed to fight really strong bosses the fights are really hard at least at first to make them epic. even if they are just story quests.

[@zanrokand88]

Another theory I have is that the Occuria had ordered The Scions of Light to cause the Cataclysm to destroy Ivalice due to mans uninhibited nature of destruction... then Zodiark might've recreated a new world with the Scions help and they became the Ascians. Zodiark must've exhausted his strength and the Ascians maybe made their goal to revive him, by causing the same thing that might've destroyed Ivalice... maybe, I dunno... I got a lot of theories and some of them are quite messy to put together lol (like this one for example)

[@ItazuraP]

What are your thoughts about Urianger possibly being Altima with the events that occurred at the ending? I mean, the Studends of Baldestion island was destroyed by the spell Ultima at a convenient time for the Ascians, since they were developing the technology to destroy the ascians themselves... :3

[@ItazuraP]

ItazuraP Also forgot to mention that considering Altima's element is holy, it would put the Ascian at a neutral state since they seem dark, allowing him to successfully play both sides, such as what we saw of Urianger. :3 Keep up the good work MrHappy :D

[@naoku126]

I love it. could you one over the allagans. I know they were powerful but it seems like they just vanished. abruptly.

[@Huneidu]

Elidibus might be the master mind of the Ascian plot. I would even argue that there is evidence that suggest he is not even a true part of the Ascians. Instead, he is acting on his own accord. He appears to be more devout than Lahabrea to Zodiark. However, he does show weakness. His lack of understanding and foresight into the defeat of Nabriales shows he is not all known. He is even pron to haste because he thought such a death not possible. furthermore, I always though leaving Urianger Augurelt by himself was a odd. It will be interesting to see how he plays into Elidibus' plot. As Urianger does not seem to talk like he is mind controlled.

[@Qhaine]

Great video and summary Happy... by the way, can you remind me which patch had that scene at the end with all the Ascians and Elidibus in their "Sanctuary"? Thank you

[@SekundesCCFFVII]

Damn, since two days ago I was couting every cutscenes regarding the Ascians and was planning to make a lore video too :( Useless now I think. But ANYWAY, very good video :3

[@ForestFairy]

This us my theory....please do mind that it would contain spoilers for 3.5 ish main senario.... The Acians are not of this world they come from the same world that the warriors of darkness came from. They strive to keep their world "Zodiarc" which is equivalent to hydalin alive in tye same manner as the warriors​ of darkness, by rejoining​ it and hydalin. They used to worship light since they are based of the Scions Of Light but now joined darkness as they saw what light is capable of(which is exactly the same as darkness). Idk exactly what their goals are but knowing what we know today it makes a lot more sense.

[@justinland5713]

The first editions of FFT had the leader of the Scions name spelled as Altima rather than Ultima

[@aqj2014]

I think the white ascian is meant to be a bridge between light and dark and contain the echo's power to summon zodiark

[@Indigenouschaos]

so it would be safe to assume that since there are 13 members to the Ascians, and 13 members to Xhenorts council that they are working together in this massive Universe and dimensions to create the "Key" to unlock the ultimate darkness/God?

[@kgichi]

So of course Zodiarch is actually the good guy that is trying to destroy the evil goddess Hydaelyn imprisoned in the planet inside a cristal cage. But since she has found a way to become stronger (through the player) and possibly get free, the saviors of the world, the asciens, are trying to summon powerful being to fight against the evil goddess, buuuuut... we keep farming them for ponies!

[@MultiYoungme]

Hahahaha made my day

[@edenofthewest353]

Holy crap, you called that Ultima, high seraph

[@Smoldymort]

Considering the end cutscene of Heavensward, I'm interested to hear what you think now.

[@elegantlolii]

Zodiark keeper of precepts 😍

[@kyle013100]

Who watched this after Shadowbringers?

[@bupbup7659]

Me! Just watching it now.

[@zodiark420]

its to late.... i have been amongst you for years.... i just biding my time....

[@Lensah23]

I have never heard of this "Eveleive Alliance" thing, can you recommend a site explaining it?

[@Mrhappy1227]

Masakerr Its a classification of all the Square Enix titles that take place in the realm of Ivalice. That includes Final Fantasy Tactics, Tactics A2, Final Fantasy 12 and Vagrant Story

[@millsxi]

Update this PLEASE

[@Baccate1]

We'll be video about new classes out today ?

[@HarryVoyager]

Is it possible that the 12 are the pieces of Zodiarc, and that the Ascians are effectively either the 12 themselves, or the echos of the 12?

[@persomiissleepy]

It could be possible, that Eorza is a parallel world to Ebilize (sorry if I botched that). But hey it's just a theory.

[@majora320]

By the way, i'm a little curious, which server are you on?

[@zemosion1129]

It's beautiful hearing all this now that we know 14 and 12 share a universe, it makes all the links make that much more sense

[@aqj2014]

well take into account how much power was required to destroy one ascian in patch 2.5 part 1

[@DekkarJr]

Did you prounounces pisces as PISSKESS?!

[@AyantanoAzem]

You can update your vid now with Shadowbringers xD

[@mattl7424]

I've decided to rename my League of legends account Zodiark Dragoon. Haha. So is ZODIARK the most powerful? Ramuh looks bad ass in his latest scene of his smiting that wolf creature . And does ZODIARK have a relation to real life like ramuh and dragons do . Like some mythology origin? I love fantasy and I love creating stories , short ones. I don't see why, and maybe I'll make one.(a real life movie)

[@parrisxsummers]

Isn’t it ski-on Isn’t it pie-sees

[@IxLongJohnxI]

definitely the assians

[@bentumidalsky6093]

pisscus the fish....you mean Pie-sees right? like the zodiac sign? Pisces?

[@fredy2041]

Do we know the rest of ascian glyphs?

[@bobbyduong1391]

www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comments/38cnqt/my_heavensward_predictions_on_high_tier_content/ I really hope we get the chance to fight espers in FFXIV The treaty blade made an appearance in FFXIV which leads me to believe so too.

[@faithbrigade]

pay-sees (not piskus) lol

[@farael5048]

Zodiark 8 man raid of stormblood maybe? xD

[@alexjones50]

the fight against zodiark is a ways of yet, probably a few expansions down the line.

[@scarletrose5892]

nice. but the zodiac sign Pisces, is pronounced Pie -seas, Not pis cus. see kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4fNfaedo5Vrqbc or www.macmillandictionary.com/us/pronunciation/american/pisces for confirmation.