Hydaelyn (character)

Hydaelyn, also referred to simply as The Crystal or The Mothercrystal, is a central character in the main storyline of Final Fantasy XIV. She shares her name with the world where the game takes place. Appearing as a sentient crystal, she is the one who sends the Adventurer on their quest against the machinations of the Ascians. Hydaelyn is voiced by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn in English, in Japanese,  in French and Sonngard Dressler in German.

Appearance
Hydaelyn takes the form of a gigantic sentient crystal, shaped roughly like a teardrop with several smaller crystals orbiting her in a ring.

Personality
Her personality is not greatly explored, but the few times she meets the Adventurer, she shows kindness and care towards the world she created, feels threatened by the encroaching darkness, and sees the Adventurer as her warrior who will return light to the world. She always speaks in a soft, gentle voice, never giving vent to any kind of negative emotion.

Story
Hydaelyn first speaks with the Adventurer just before s/he receives a vision of the Ascian mage Lahabrea. The next time the deity is encountered is after the Adventurer gains the first crystal of light. The deity appears to the Adventurer in a vision and instructs him/her to find the other crystals and banish the encroaching darkness from the world. During the final confrontation with Lahabrea, the Adventurer and the Ascian appear before the goddess.

During the ending of Final Fantasy XIV, a dark crystal identical in shape to Hydaelyn is seen by the Adventurer in a vision. Whether the crystal is a vision of Hydaelyn being corrupted by darkness or a different deity remains unknown. Nevertheless, in later patches she no longer speaks with the player, and fails to respond to Minfilia's pleas during the struggle with Nabriales.

Trivia

 * Hydaelyn shares her Japanese voice actress, Masako Ikeda, with the Cloud of Darkness in Dissidia Final Fantasy and its sequel and the Cadetmaster in Final Fantasy Type-0.