The stelae scattered in the depths of the Lucis teach us more about the actions of the ancient Kings and Oracles. We discover that the Oracles were able to create magic "cages" at the cost of their own lives to lock away powerful daemons that can’t be defeated. (stele found at the sanctuary of Balouve mine’s depths)
A stele in Costlemark’s depths
It is very likely that the very first Oracle cage was used to enclose Ardyn somewhere. We know he has been imprisoned (Talcott Chap.14), which is logical considering his immeasurable powers. So people have certainly appealed to the Oracle to contain him, thus explaining Ardyn's hatred for the Nox Fleurets. (About Ardyn hate for Nox Fleurets)
Many believe Ardyn was imprisoned in Angelgard. I thought about it too, but before that I believed that Ardyn had been locked up in an ancient place, a remnant of Solheim able to restrain him such as Costlemark, Steyliff but also Taelpar where Gilgamesh is or even Pitioss that can be a magical prison.
It is possible Ardyn was also locked in the depths of Lucis and was awakened by inquisitive visitors in search of technologies from the past.
In fact, the description of Steyliff Woods in the archives as well as the stelae inside the place tell us that expeditions took place to learn more about Solheim and use its knowledge to fight against today's threats.
A similar thing happened in Costlemark where an expedition was looking for knowledge from the past but instead only “opened a cage that contained a dangerous prisoner” (Ingwen sanctuary), awaking a “threat that is several millennia old” (Encefain sanctuary). If the stelae usually refer to the boss locked at the end of the dungeon, this description may also evoke Ardyn.
Because we have no idea how Ardyn reappeared into this world. This might be the answer.
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So I think Ardyn was jailed in an "Oracle cage" 2000 years ago in a place similar to Solheim’s vestiges, and that 34 years before the events of FFXV inquisitive people looking for past knowledge to fight daemons (Lucis) or improve their technology (Niflheim) accidentally woke up Ardyn from his eternal sleep, leading to the story we know and to the Chosen King’s advent.
FFXV in French - Archives Translations - Stelae from Steyliff
Hello everyone! Here is the French text and the literal English translation for all the stelae found at Steyliff’s camps in FFXV Royal Edition! ^^
French
Bois de Steyliff
Que la lumière brille dans l’abîme ténébreux…
Sanctuaire d’Intellune
Dans leur grande sagesse, les Oracles apportent la paix dans le monde, leur resplendissant trident à la main. Celle de mon époque a fait preuve d’une abnégation exceptionnelle. Puisse le récit que j’inscris sur ces stèles transmettre sa bravoure à la génération qui verra naître le roi de la lumière.
Sanctuaire de Tunlough
Même les rois du Lucis ne reçoivent pas tous les mêmes faveurs des dieux, bien qu’ils en soient les élus. Je n’ai pas eu la chance d’être doté d’un talent pour l’art de la guerre, mais le destin m’a offert celle d’avoir une Oracle remarquable à mes côtés.
Sanctuaire de Scorpure
Notre monde est la proie de terribles daemons, mais contrairement à mon valeureux prédécesseur qui était toujours à la tête de ses troupes, je me tiens à l’arrière des miennes pour donner des ordres incertains et remercier le ciel d’être accompagné de Messagers divins pour nous mener à la victoire.
Sanctuaire de Courcaive
L’Oracle de mon époque était la plus remarquable de sa lignée, dotée d’un pouvoir inégalé et faisant preuve d’un altruisme sans limites. Elle a parcouru le monde jour et nuit pour libérer les gens de la souffrance et de la peur, leur apportant la lumière de l’espoir, aussi infatigable que le Soleil et la Lune.
Sanctuaire de Terrecephe
Quand j’ai appris que l’expédition des vestiges de la civilisation de Solheim avait été exterminée, j’ai compris que le frêle équilibre des forces venait d’être brisé en faveur des daemons. J’ai alors décidé de partir pour la ténébreuse forêt de Cleigne avec mon armée et l’Oracle qui était de passage à Insomnia.
Sanctuaire d’Essofax
La route vers Risorath était semée d’embûches. Notre expédition était retardée non seulement par le terrain inégal, mais aussi par les griffes et les crocs tapis dans les ténèbres qui s’étendaient sous l’épaisse canopée. Nous traversions l’obscurité uniquement guidés par la lumière du trident que brandissait le frêle bras de l’Oracle.
Sanctuaire de Vanderport
La lumière du trident de l’Oracle nous redonnait du courage. Elle perçait les ténèbres, dissipait les hordes de daemons et éclairait le flot de nos bannières. Nous avions le sentiment qu’elle ramènerait bientôt le calme en ces bois, même si un naglfar nous attendait au bout du chemin.
Sanctuaire de Sprannagh
Une fois la forêt traversée, nous avons découvert Vesper envahi par les flammes et des colonnes de fumée noire. D’innombrables éclairs fendaient le ciel assombri, non pas par des nuages, mais par une immense bête ailée dont émanait la foudre.
L’Oracle pouvait guérir le Mal de la planète et châtier les daemons, mais ses pouvoirs étaient impuissants face à une telle force de la nature. Les lames furent brisées, les bannières brûlées, et maintes vies arrachées. Nous fûmes contraints de tourner le dos à la terreur pour battre en retraite.
Sanctuaire d’Hepplecamp
Si des cieux nous parviennent les douces pluies nourricières, de ses ombres flottantes frappent les foudres meurtrières. Quand la nature nous accable de ces lances lumineuses, nous ne pouvons jamais que nous abriter et prier, mais quand il s’agit d’une bête furieuse, il nous est toujours possible de l’enfermer.
Le rite de la cage de l’Oracle est hélas notre seul espoir. Mon armée a pour tâche d’attirer la bête au plus profond des vestiges, où l’Oracle la retiendra au prix de sa vie. Je fais vœu de garder son trident et de la remplacer dans sa mission sacrée, jusqu’à ce que la prochaine soit en âge de lui succéder. Puisse le futur roi de la lumière être accompagné d’une Oracle aussi exceptionnelle que celle qui est à mes côtés.
English Literal Translation
Steyliff Woods (=Steyliff Grove)
May the light shine in the dark abyss…
Intellune sanctuary (=Haven)
In their great wisdom, the Oracles bring peace to the world, their resplendent trident in their hands. The one of my time has shown exceptional self-sacrifice. May the story I write on these stelae transmit her bravery to the generation that will see the birth of the King of Light.
Tunlough sanctuary
Even the Kings of Lucis do not all receive the same favors from the gods, although they are their chosen ones. I did not have the chance to be endowed with a talent for the art of war, but fate offered me the opportunity to have a remarkable Oracle by my side.
Scorpure sanctuary
Our world is prey of terrible daemons, but unlike my valiant predecessor who was always at the head of his troops, I stand in the back of mine to give uncertain orders and thank Heaven for being accompanied by divine Messengers to lead us to victory.
Courcaive sanctuary
The Oracle of my time was the most remarkable of her lineage, endowed with unparalleled power and endless selflessness. She traveled the world by day and by night to free people from suffering and fear, bringing them the light of hope, as indefatigable as the Sun and the Moon.
Terrecephe sanctuary
When I learned that the expedition of the vestiges of Solheim civilization had been exterminated, I realized that the frail balance of power had just been broken in favor of the daemons. I decided to leave for the dark forest of Cleigne with my army and the Oracle who stopped by Insomnia.
Essofax sanctuary
The road to Risorath was full of pitfalls. Our expedition was delayed not only by the uneven ground, but also by the claws and fangs lurking in the darkness that spread beneath the thick canopy. We crossed the darkness only guided by the light of the trident that the frail arm of the Oracle brandished.
Vanderport sanctuary
The light of the Oracle’s trident gave us courage. It pierced the darkness, scattered the hordes of daemons and brightened the flow of our banners. We had the feeling that it would soon restore calm in these woods, even if a naglfar was waiting for us at the end of the road.
Sprannagh sanctuary
Once the forest crossed, we discovered Vesper invaded by flames and columns of black smoke. Innumerable flashes split the darkened sky, not by clouds, but by an immense winged beast from which lightning emanated.
The Oracle could heal the Harm of the planet (=Starscourge) and chastise the daemons, but her powers were helpless against such force of nature. Blades were broken, banners burned, and many lives torn out. We were forced to turn our backs on terror to retreat.
Hepplecamp sanctuary
If from heaven come the sweet nourishing rains, from its floating shadows strike the murderous lightnings. When nature overwhelms us with these luminous spears, we can only shelter and pray, but when it comes to a furious beast, we can always confine it.
The rite of the Oracle’s cage is unfortunately our only hope. My army has the task of attracting the beast deep within the vestiges, where the Oracle will hold it back at the cost of her life. I vow to keep her trident and replace her in her sacred mission, until the next is old enough to succeed her. May the future King of Light be accompanied by an Oracle as exceptional as the one who is by my side.
