Akashic

An imperial turns Akashic due to aether overexposure.

Akashic (アカシア, Akashia?, lit. Akashia) are living beings in Final Fantasy XVI, flora and fauna alike, "turning" from overexposure to aether. A typical way to turn is from being engulfed in an aetherflood for too long. Those with aetherial tolerance, such as Bearers, Dominants, beastmen, and chocobos, are less likely to turn Akashic.

Akashic are stripped of any intelligence or sense of self and become ferocious, physically strong, and single-minded in their aggression toward any non-Akashic. The transformation cannot be reversed. Akashic's bodies turn crystalline, and when they die, they dissipate into aether and leave no corpse behind, suggesting their very flesh has become composed of aether, and when the aether evaporates, not much is left.

Akashic enemies in gameplay terms are crystal-colored versions of other enemies who are stronger (usually on a higher level).

The process of turning

Becoming Akashic is called "turning". As the body absorbs excess aether, it will turn a blue hue and crystal-like. The one turning can sometimes realize what is happening, but be unable to do anything to prevent it. Those resilient to aether take longer to turn, but no one is believed to be immune. As one's will is eroded, the afflicted begins to move stiffly, as if unable to wholly control their body. When they fully turn, aether bursts around them, and they suddenly turn vicious. Cases of where the turned still exhibits some autonomy are known, however, such as at a sight of a loved one; this can lead to the Akashic to will themselves to commit suicide on the spot to escape their cursed new existence. It appears that the turned may gain the ability to use magic even if they did not have such power previously.

Connection to Ultima

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

Ultima seeks to erode the free will of life forms and turn people into mindless thralls. After Ultima invokes Primogenesis, aether floods the realm and many wildlife turn Akashic. Almost everyone living on the continent of Ash turns, gifting King Barnabas an unstoppable army to control. When the Akashic overtake the Free City of Kanver, Clive and his friends note that they appear to be controlled by someone, marching in groups and behaving systematically rather than roaming erratically.

Barnabas Tharmr, a mouthpiece for Ultima, calls the Akashic the original and true form of life and thus "divine" and "pure". He appears to be turning his people Akashic and then absorbing them with Zantetsuken, calling it as "feeding his blade". Barnabas himself is Akashic, though not completely mindless like those turned in aetherfloods.

When Ifrit Prime inside the Interdimensional Rift becomes active, it behaves similarly to mortals turning, aether bursting around it and spreading its limbs and looking up. Barnabas Tharmr also does this during his battle with Clive atop Reverie, but does not become mindless, though wholly consumed in religious fervor.

Ifrit Prime behaves similarly to a "turning".

Spoilers end here.

List of enemies

Akashic enemies are fought in the presence of aetherfloods, first at the Mothercrystals, and after Primogenesis, on the overworld.

• Agni
• Akashic Adamantitan
• Akashic Adamantoise
• Akashic Aevis
• Akashic Astrologer
• Akashic Bandercoeurl
• Akashic Bighorn
• Akashic Blossom
• Akashic Bombardier
• Akashic Captain
• Akashic Champion
• Akashic Chocobo
• Akashic Claw
• Akashic Clergy
• Akashic Coeurl
• Akashic Courser
• Akashic Cunning-man
• Akashic Devil Crab
• Akashic Dragon
• Akashic Dragonet
• Akashic Dragoon

• Akashic Eagle
• Akashic Fodder
• Akashic Folkstaf
• Akashic Footpad
• Akashic Friar
• Akashic Gandfreyr
• Akashic Gentleman
• Akashic Gigas
• Akashic Goblin
• Akashic Griffin
• Akashic Gunnvaldr
• Akashic Hornet
• Akashic Hound
• Akashic Hyena
• Akashic Leg Eater
• Akashic Legionnaire
• Akashic Lindwurm
• Akashic Lopros
• Akashic Mastiff
• Akashic Mesmerizer
• Akashic Miner

• Akashic Minotaur
• Akashic Morbol
• Akashic Mud Crab
• Akashic Mugger
• Akashic Nakk
• Akashic Osfreyr
• Akashic Plague
• Akashic Pyrolisk
• Akashic Raptor
• Akashic Recluse
• Akashic Salamander
• Akashic Scimitar
• Akashic Scorpion
• Akashic Serf
• Akashic Shield
• Akashic Sigfreyr
• Akashic Sprinter
• Akashic Steed
• Akashic Sveithvaldr
• Akashic Tarantula
• Akashic Thistle

• Akashic Thorn
• Akashic Tognvaldr
• Akashic Vulture
• Akashic War Aevis
• Akashic War Wyrm
• Akashic Warlord
• Akashic Weaver
• Akashic Widow
• Akashic Wivre
• Akashic Wolf
• Akashic Worgen
• Barnabas
• Firebound Cannonier
• Herensuge
• Horde Adamantoise
• Horde Crab
• Horde Goblin
• Horde Wolf
• Imperial Cannonier
• Thunderbound Panther
• Windbound Tognvaldr

Akashic Behemoths can also be seen in cutscenes during the Drake's Spine stage, but are never encountered in combat.

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Etymology and allusion

[view · edit · purge]In theosophy and anthroposophy, the Akashic records (a term coined in the late 1800s from akasha, the Sanskrit word for "sky", "space", "luminous", or "æther") are a compendium of thoughts, events, and emotions believed by Theosophists to be encoded in a non-physical plane of existence known as the astral plane. There is no scientific evidence for existence of the Akashic records.

In Final Fantasy XIV, another game developed by Creative Business Unit III, a counterpart to aether exists in dynamis, also known as "akasa", from the same name origin.