Ash is the continent on the east of Valisthea in Final Fantasy XVI. Together with the larger continent of Storm, the two are commonly known as "the Twins", a synonym for Valisthea. Ash is a mountainous region, difficult thus to approach overseas.
The only nation in the modern day Ash is the Kingdom of Waloed, the newest nation on the Twins, established when Barnabas Tharmr arrived from the outer continent to invade Ash.[1] The prior kingdom that Waloed thus took over was the Kingdom of Veldemarke, established in the Year of the Realm 450.[2]
Ash used to have two Mothercrystals, but the southern Drake's Horn no longer stands, and the northern Drake's Spine has been the center of disputes between different groups of people since time immemorial. The Horn may have fallen to the Blight, the ever-advancing erosion of the land that appeared on Ash around 300 years ago, as Drake's Horn fell in the Year of the Realm 350.[2]
Ash is the origin of orcs, a beast tribe much larger and stronger than the Stormian goblins.
The ancient Circle of Malius faith has a still-standing apodytery in the region and few followers.[3] Some knowledge of this faith still remains, people being aware of the prophecy of the coming of clouded skies as an omen that the end of the world is nigh. An ancient Ashen legend purports that one day, the "Age of Dominants" will draw to a close in a clash of Eikons that sets the land ablaze, cleansing it of foulness and allowing for its rebirth.[4] Some villagers in the region practice a savior cult where the cultists wish to lose their individual wills and become Akashic. The region also has a legend of the "shimmering isle", said to emerge occasionally from the mists along a well sailed shipping route, but no man had seen it more than once.[5]
Citations[]
- ↑ Final Fantasy XVI, Lay of the Land "Veldermarke"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Final Fantasy XVI Ultimania, Timeline
- ↑ Final Fantasy XVI, Lay of the Land "Reverie"
- ↑ Final Fantasy XVI, Ragnarok flavor text
- ↑ Note in Eistla