"Leviathan. Our most profaned fragment. Its divinity defiled by the hand of man. Its spirit shackled by his hubris." Ultima
The tragedy of Leviathan the Lost, or Waljas, the child Dominant of Leviathan, is presented via his frozen state. Waljas showcases the absolute terror a Dominant can be as a child. The tragedy of Waljas of his own people attempted to use him as a source of crystals rather than treat him as a human being. It's even more disgusting given how Waljas is a baby and they attempted to use him, not recognizing his innocence, save for his mother.
Notably, Leviathan's theme is from the very first trailer of Final Fantasy XVI. The trailer theme was amazing, and Soken turned it into an actual theme. In that way, the theme serves as a perfect musical bookend and conclusion, with Leviathan being the final Dominant boss fight of the game.
Safe Haven reflects the promise of a society free of prejudice and where all are equal. It's a peaceful and wistful take on Waljas' theme as it remarks the ideal society, albeit one built on the ultimate sin. The acoustic guitar, piano, and flute emphasize the simple yet fulfilling life the Motes of Water live compared to the other societies of Valisthea.
O Call Back Yesterday is more somber and even mournful. As we explore the Timeless Stones, time being stopped by the spell is definitely felt. Never to Break is a harsher take on O Call Back yesterday, as Waljas is freed, and therefore his rage is once again loose on Mysidia.
Unforgiven reflects a scared child as Clive takes a part of Waljas' power, however, the lyrics and music's more hopeful tone reflect Clive calming the baby. Black and Gold embodies the hope of Waljas's incoming freedom, as you can feel everything will be alright.
A Most Profaned Fragment, High Tide, and Cascade make up all three (out of four) phases of his boss fight, with the obligatory To Sail Forbidden Sails as the first phase of music. It captures the intensity and high stakes of the fight, not just to save Mysida but Waljas. The wistful music sections remind us of the Dominant being a baby who has no proper idea of what was going on around him, other than the pain he felt all this time.
Immersion's piano take of the theme finally brings the tragic tale of Waljas to a close, with Waljas now free and able to experience a life denied to him.
As a result, Captain Hiss had become a part of the Hideaway. The absurd tales Morgan told about Captain Hiss, including how they ruled the sea, could fly through the air, and had gorgeous purple ears, had been amused by many. Of course, no one was paying attention because it was all a fabrication of Morgan's imagination, allowing the young girl to have fun while her parents were elsewhere.
Vivian, on the other hand, closely monitored these tales.
On one of the days she was assigned to supervise the toddler, she called out, "Morgan," as the young girl was busy scribbling on the many pieces of paper that Vivian had given her. "Who's this?"
One of the sheets Morgan had drawn on was being held up by the scholar. As could be expected of a two-year-old, the artwork was quite simple. Vivian, however, was able to make out a white line with a touch of purple on what seemed to be the head.
Morgan raised her head from her present sketch to examine the page, and a smile spread across her face. "Capt'n Hiss! Capt'n Hiss!"
"I see," Vivan said as she set the drawing down. It was merely a white squiggly line with a hint of purple. However, something about it made a thought in the recesses of her mind awakened. She made sure to keep a note of it in case anything happened.
Without a doubt, Captain Hiss was an odd addition.
— Chapter 2 of The River Flows Up
Behold, Morgan’s imaginary friend; Captain Hiss! The snake she always wanted since the Coiling Incident of the Hideaway. This fella has been with Morgan for years and they’re always there when Morgan wants to play. Their favorite game is playing in the water! So much in fact that they’re trying to get Morgan to swim in the lake of the Hideaway rests on!
Too bad Morgan was taught to not swim by herself without an adult’s supervision. But that won’t stop Captain Hiss!
What? Oh no, Captain Hiss is imaginary! They’re DEFINITELY not the astral projection of a long lost Water Eikon that took this form to appeal to a child! That’s ridiculous!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Title: Forever, My Treasure, My Star
Category: M/F, M/M
Pairing: Clive Rosfield/Jill Warrick , Dion Lesage/Terence , Joshua Rosfield & Jote
Fandom: Final Fantasy XVI
Rating: Mature (May change)
Summary:
Valisthea continues to crumble under the weight of the expanding Blight, and those who remain after Origin's Mothercrystal fell from the sky are forced to find a way to survive in a land now bereft of magic.
Jill saw it herself: the fires of Metia have gone out. The red star, the embodiment of hopes and wishes, is no more.
And with it dies her heart.
However, what if Metia's star didn't grant wishes? Rather, what if it was a beacon in which all of Valisthea's hopes and dreams coalesced – a powerful spell not unlike what Ultima had planned.
But unlike Ultima's schemes, this power would herald the dawning of a bright, new age upon the world.
...If only its hero can find his way home...
***
I'm still in the early stages of writing so tags will change. I haven't decided on Rating yet, so it's Mature for now. There might be sexy scenes later, but idk. I just want everyone to live and be happy, so we'll see where this goes!
Tags:
Alternate Ending | Fix-it | Headcanon | Takes place after the end of the game | Spoilers | Contains original female character as Leviathan the Lost | Grief/Mourning | Suicidal Thoughts | Jill's in a Dark Place | But who can blame her | Returning Home | My headcanon to explain the mysteries unsolved in the game | And tying them all together in a neat little bow | Happy Ending | Loss of Powers | Loss of Magic | Reunions | All the Feels | Bring Everyone Home | Tags may change
Final Fantasy XVI - The Rising Tide Thoughts and Reflection
"Come follow me! Come follow me! Follow your destiny!" Awakening trailer and the last of Cascade's lyrics
It is now summer, and it's only fitting to finally talk about a story around the Eikon of Water thought to be lost from Valisthea.
This final DLC takes us to the land of Mysidia, the last bastion of the Motes of Water, the tribe of Leviathan, and of the Northern Territories' former glory. The Glamour, a region-wide spell by Dusk Crystals, keeps the skies blue and keeps the tribe safe from the Imperials who want them to relinquish their religion or face death as "heretics". Clive, Joshua, Jill, and Torgal are invited by the Tributary Shula to save Waljas, the baby Dominant of Leviathan, from his ice prison. To right the wrongs of Waljas' ancestors, Clive must free Waljas and face the wrath of Leviathan the Lost to prevent the child's anger from consigning a repentant community to the seas.
Mysidia is a remnant of the Northern Territory beauty long lost to the Blight. The Motes of Water also serve as the last remnant of the people of Ash after they lost their Mothercrystal in Southern Ash. It's also really refreshing to see non-Primogenesis skies which allows you to fully absorb and admire the beauty of Mysidia. The environments truly are an embodiment of the seas (which is also a notable sight) despite Mysidia being far from the Motes of Waters' original homeland. Also present are the abandoned remnants of the Northern Territories' temples, structures, and culture such things Jill is reminded of and comments on what once was here.
In many ways, the Motes of Water serve as what could've been and can be for Valisthea, similar to the Hideaway, a world where Bearers and non-Bearers can live alongside equally. Mysidia also serves as a relic of a world untouched by the Blight. However, by the actions of their ancestors (there were many dissenting voices but it was the Waljas' father that drowned them out), they committed the ultimate sin of all...they attempted to exploit the powers of their Dominant who was a baby. They wanted to use the baby as the heart of their attempt to create a Mothercrystal, much like the Fallen's Mothercrystal. When the rightfully angry Eikon emerged, the ancestors froze Leviathan in time (Also creating the Surge, a massive frozen tidal wave), which means Waljas is forever trapped. It suddenly puts this entire community as one built on that ultimate sin making it frustrating to witness. On their part, the current generation realizes this horrific sin and wants to find some way to free Waljas to make this right.
Despite the Empire of Sanbreque's fall, their legacy continues to be felt in Mysidia. A forbidden love between a villager of Mysidia and a citizen of Sanbreque occurs, an old victim of Sanbreque wants revenge, and the community is still afraid of what would happen if the Glamour is undone.
Shula, the strong, dutiful Tributary of Mysidia, is our guest companion in this DLC. Shula is also a Bearer with no mark which makes it heartwarming to see how Bearers are treated as equals among the Motes of Water. You feel her desire to right the wrongs and sins of her ancestors to save Waljas, who is a part of the same bloodline as hers. She's a formidable fighter and a responsible leader in her community as she also struggles with how to best lead the Motes of Water with the world changing figuratively and literally.
Our final dungeon is the Aire of Hours, the ancient Northern Temple now abandoned to the Tonberries (who return in this DLC as native Beastmen of the Northern Territories, pure evil but adorable goobers) who stake it for themselves alongside other creatures. The mysterious spell created a bubble that froze time who was around the spell when it was cast, the Timeless Stones. It truly is an awe-striking location that sells on the beauty of Northern Territories' architecture.
"The temple that time forgot." Shula
The "Witch of the North" is revealed to be Ysay (who looks like Jill), the previous Dominant of Shiva. Her story furthers the narrative of the abuse of Dominants and the cycle continues. The Northern thegns wanted to use her powers to preserve their Mothercrystal eternally and once she failed to get the spell in on time, they exiled her. It again proves Cid's point about how Dominants are used and discarded if their value runs out. This also serves as a parallel to Ysay's descendent, Jill, when Jill was used as a slave by the Iron Kingdom and expected to be discarded if she couldn't be useful. The Motes of Water however gave her kindness in her final days that her own people didn't give her, and for that, she gave them the spell she labored so hard to save her own people. The Timekeeper guardian guarding her spell is later revealed to be Ysay's assigned knight who reunited with his lady as the Guardian of the spell and in death. Ysay's Knight must've been really good at his job since I had to use up all of my potions during the fight. May the two find a more peaceful life than the one they lived.
Just when it seems like Waljas will be freed without Leviathan awakening…a certain God shows up and fittingly in the same manner when Clive first took Garuda’s powers (black and white palette of "stopping time"). We hear one of the most chilling versions of his theme.
“Free once more. Leviathan. Our most profaned fragment. Its divinity defiled by the hand of man. Its spirit shackled by his hubris. Till Mythos came, bringing release. Now……let the sins of man be redeemed……by the hand of the servant of God.” Ultima
Clive knew immediately what the hell was going to happen (Ultima used similar methods to drive himself, Hugo, and Dion insane). As Waljas once again turns into Leviathan, the entirety of Mysidia is under threat of submerging in its waters. However, unlike last time, there's another Dominant here to calm the Dominant of Water.
"As for the rest... The rest Ifrit will handle." Clive Rosefield
"After eighty years of imprisonment, I'd be angry too. But I can't let it end like this, Waljas." Clive Rosefield
Leviathan's (the largest Eikon aside from Titan in its Titan Lost form) fight is awe-striking and mesmerizing like all Eikon fights as we move from a massive waterspout to the bright blue sky of oceans. Just like Leviathan's Eikon abilities, Leviathan relies more on long-ranged water attacks with few physical attacks. The devs did not lie that this would be the hardest Eikon fight with Leviathan hitting like a tsunami (quite literally a lot lol), especially the third phase with Leviathan's shield. It took me possibly 30 minutes to defeat Leviathan's third phase. Clive even mused that Gardua would be proud in its final phase when it summoned a massive waterspout. When Leviathan tries to do the one-shot Tsunami from the third phase, Clive has none of it by burning the tsunami away. The fight ends with one last (and our final) Hellfire from Ifrit as Leviathan tries to use a concentrated frontal shield...but fails to account for Ifrit taking advantage of a blind spot. With a smaller Hellfire breaking Leviathan's concentration, the larger Hellfire hits Leviathan as the fight ends with the familiar last music notes we heard in the first trailer.
"You've had your fun, Leviathan. It's time you went back to sleep!" Clive Rosefield
"Leviathan Tamed" Victory Text
The theme of Leviathan, Cascade (the possible lyrics are from other interpretations we will not know the full lyrics until the official CD is out), gets a calm and peaceful variant in Haven, appropriately called Safe Haven, with acoustics and flutes mixed in. As we explore Mysidia, an even more relaxed and soothing variant of Cascade plays, Writ in Water. When we approach Waljas and the Aire of Hours, a dramatic and tragic variant of Cascade plays, Bide Time Return, which also serves as the battle variant of Writ in Water. Another variant also plays inside The Timeless Stones which shares some similarities to Heavensbound - Reverie. This time it's a more soothing electronic, synth, and haunting music as Clive and his allies approach the spell that froze both the Surge and Waljas. A theme similar to the Timeless Stones track plays as Clive approaches Leviathan in Cape Nepto, having a more electronic introduction and even more foreboding of the fight to come.
Now onto the actual theme itself, Cascade is the last major theme Soken made for FF16...but it was also the first music he made for the game. It first debuted in the Awakening trailer (the FF16 teaser trailer) and was supposed to be just a trailer-only track. Until the official CD releases, we won't know the full names of the first two phases of the fight. The intense, fast-paced music reflects the raging tides of Leviathan. The first phase is a chaotic remix of Cascade as Ifrit is transported to a seemingly another plane of existence (it turns out to be still in Myidia's waters but it felt like another plane of existence) inhabited by the seas themselves. The second phase is a remix of FF14's Leviathan theme (Through the Maelstrom) and it sounds just as epic as in FF14. The second phase of music splashes an urgent vibe. The third phase is Cascade itself, a fully expanded music theme of the trailer original track in Awakening. It's a grand, God-like theme which emphasizes the presence of Leviathan. There's a small intermission where soft music plays in an almost tragic and longing tone and vibe reflecting the child, the Dominant of this scared, angry beast. Cascade ends with the familiar notes at the end of the trailer and the iconic three sentences (shown in the first quote above the first image) with Prelude ending Soken's final dominant theme.
"War's upon us, oh guide us, until the fall,
From beneath a storm cloud that's inescapable (Not sure about this)
When we leave home, a blessing, to see us through the night
Revelation, your light shines through (or forth?)
(The first stanza repeats itself)
Come follow me, Come follow me, Follow your destiny!" One's interpretation of Cascade's lyrics (I'm not sure if this is correct myself)
As the battle concludes, we finally see Waljas, a crying baby longing for comfort. It's a heartwarming scene to see Waljas finally get to be with people who care about his well-being rather than what he can bring as the Dominant of Leviathan. It's much-needed light in an otherwise dark world and a history as dark and messed up as the Motes of Water's sin. Now all that is needed is for Clive to destroy Ultima to truly make Valisthea free and prevent situations like Leviathan the Lost's fate from happening again.
"Now...Now, we make things right." Shula
"How?" Jill Warrick
"By providing Waljas what he was denied. A place to learn and grow. A family to love and protect him. So that one day, when the wounds in his heart and mind have finally healed...he might decide for himself how he'd like to live the rest of his life. But until then, I'll stay by his side, come what may." Shula
"Then he's a lucky boy. And not only because he'll have the best warrior this side of the Belt to teach him the battleaxe." Clive Rosefield
"She'll do her best." Shula
A continuing theme I was right from the Echoes of the Fallen post is the connection between the Mothercrystals. The Motes of Water tried to emulate the Fallen's ambitions of a man-made Mothercrystal. In doing so, they committed the ultimate sin. Funny enough, Famiel and his two followers are a part of the same tribe with Famiel being Shula's younger brother.
Overall, the DLC is an amazing final addition to the FF16's universe. I also intend to make a retrospective series of the entire FF16 game with this and the EotF post as a preview of the style of those posts. Now Square Enix gives us a Cid prequel spin-off you cowards.
Rite of Immersion:
"Like the rain that falls on the mountains tall, are we born." Famiel
"Like the river that flows through the valleys below, do we live." Shula
"Like the boundless sea where the currents run free, do we die. And to the clouds then rise again." Clive Rosefield
"The circle of water is the circle of life. And today, from the heavens falls rain anew. This child, Waljas, now joins our stream, and he shall flow with us...from the mountains to the sea." Shula
i have no reason to doubt that famiel and the two others will appear in trt, with all his talk about how they’re from a civilization that was the first to lose to the blight and all that. and from the look of the npcs in misidia, this may well could be one of the small nations that resided in the north.
nothing too concrete atp in time obviously, but if we’re already assuming that famiel is indeed from the north, the symbol on his outfit resembles that of gav’s (also from the territories) and icebrand (jill’s eikon weapon that you could craft after clive inhaled her face) 🫶🏻
now let’s discuss the elephant in the room yeah.
how the fuck are we near the north and sanbreque when the motes of water and their mothercrystal was located in southern waloed and was lost 520 years ago (so year of the realm 358)? yeah don’t ask me this idk either. but that’s the fun of it, guess we’ll see 🤞🏻
feel free to discuss this please i’m dying to hear what you guy’s stance on this or your own thoughts on what misidia is and who inhabits her!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Summary: Morgan is captured by Hugo Kupka and Clive and Jill are scrambling to rescue her. Meanwhile, Captain Hiss is trying to not think about the past as they try to get Morgan into the water. It doesn’t go well.
