Bearer (Final Fantasy XVI)

A Bearer with healing powers forced to mend an imperial soldier.

Most men and women in Valisthea rely on the Mothercrystals to conjure their magicks. However, a small number are born with the ability to cast magicks at will. A Bearer's lot in life differs dramatically depending on the realm in which they are born.

Official website description

Bearers (ベアラー, Bearā?) are people who can use magicks without a crystal in Final Fantasy XVI by manipulating the aether of the environment. Bearers, Dominants, and those with whom a Dominant shares their power with, are the three types of people in Valisthea who can use magic naturally. Out of these groups, Bearers are the ones who are systematically persecuted and forced into servitude.

All nation states enslave those found to be able to use magicks and use them as "tools" for everyday tasks from industry to agriculture to treating the wounded to household chores and warfare. All newborns, unless their parents specifically try to hide them, are tested, and those found to possess powers are taken away by the constabularies, branded with a poison mark on their left cheek that should kill them should they try to remove it, and used until their powers are spent and they succumb to the "crystals' curse".

Bearers first appeared in Valisthea around 950 years ago.

Powers

Magic is the act of channeling ambient aether to make one's imagination manifest. Those able to use magic naturally usually already display some hint of this ability right after being born, but some awaken to their powers later. Those who awaken later may be able to hide their powers and escape persecution, but this is rare. If a person is later in life found to be able to use magicks, their former associates, friends, and family, often turn on them and they are ostracized.

A Bearer using ice magicks to preserve food.

Different Bearers may have natural affinity for specific element of magicks; for example, those who can use light-aspected magic can heal others, and may be drafted to work for the army. Those with affinity to ice-aspected magic are commonly used to chill goods to make produce last, and those who can use fire may be made to work in kitchens and forges.

As Bearers cast magicks by manipulating ambient aether, in the deadlands drained of aether their powers are hampered, or they may be unable to use magicks.

Using too much aether leads to "crystal's curse": the Bearer's body will petrify, rendering pieces of their body unusable while experiencing excruciating pain. The end result of the curse causes their bodies to crumble away to dust, killing the Bearer. Dominants also share this fate should they expend too much aether.

Crystal fetters are restrains made specifically to restrain Bearers and Dominants, preventing them from casting magicks.

Bearers have aetherial resistance and are less likely than others to turn Akashic amid aetherfloods.

Persecution

The treatment of Bearers varies from country to country. In the Iron Kingdom, anyone showing signs of being a Bearer (or Dominant) is systematically killed, as their existence is considered unholy. In most countries, Bearers are considered non-human and their ownership is tied to the constabulary's Bearer-registration system. In the Grand Duchy of Rosaria, Bearers are treated better than in most nations, or at least Archduke Elwin Rosfield has tried to improve their lot. However, the other countries, led by Sanbreque, do not pay as much attention to their Bearers. They are barely fed and dressed in rags, they are punished for the slightest misbehavior—such as speaking publicly without permission—and they are discarded as soon as the crystal curse reaches too advanced a stage.

It is rare for Bearers to have children, as pregnancy is considered a waste of a Bearer's aether, making them less useful for the duration. Nigh all enslaved Bearers originate from non-enslaved people whose children are taken by the state when they are found to have awakened to their powers. The rich and the powerful tend to have their Bearers wear their emblem to enable them go about their master's business more easily, as unaccompanied Bearers are otherwise a cause for suspicion.

The enslavement of Bearers is so deeply rooted in the customs of certain countries, notably Sanbreque, that they are regarded as disposable objects and sometimes even pets or objects of distraction for nobles who kill them to amuse themselves. This view of Bearers as inferior to all other citizens means that parents are often relieved to abandon their children to the authorities when a gift for magick is detected in them.

A smaller number of Bearers are used as Branded soldiers by the Holy Empire of Sanbreque, who deploy them on the most dangerous clandestine missions. They are not treated as elite soldiers but as disposable fodder sent on suicide missions. In Sanbreque, the empire is more likely to recover the sword of a Bearer who died in battle rather than their body and respectfully bury them. The penalty for desertion is death, and perishing to the inevitable crystals' curse is considered a hero's death.

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

The Bearer persecution dates back to before the time of Dominants, and before the Continental Accord that codifies the treatment of Bearers as "non-human". In ancient times, those able to use magic were known as the "bearers of the heavenly blessing" and were widely worshiped and adored. They fought against oppression and the war that became known as the "Deluge of Blood" took place. The magick-users lost, and Bearers have been enslaved ever since. In the beginning of the modern calendar, Bearers' treatment was codified in the Continental Accord and they came to be marked with the poison ink tattoo. When Dominants arrived onto the realm, it became impertinent to separate them from Bearers lest they would side with them and repeat the war, and Dominants—though not much different from Bearers apart from their ability to prime—became heralded as heavenly messengers. The historical Bearer dominance has since been hidden from public consciousness, and secret fellowships, such as the Executors, destroy records of these ancient times to keep the truth hidden.

Spoilers end here.

Brand

The brand of a Bearer.

When an individual is found to possess capability to use magicks (usually in infancy), they are tattooed with a large symbol on their left cheek. This practice was codified in the the Continental Accord, which laid out the rules of branding and Bearers' status as non-persons.

The brand used to both dehumanize and to distinguish Bearers is almost impossible to remove; it is made with poison ink and the operation to remove it is particularly delicate, not to mention extremely painful, as the slightest mistake could allow the ink to spread through the body of the marked Bearer and lead to his or her death. Even if the procedure to remove it is successful, it leaves a noticeable scar where the brand was, and many bearers at the Hideaway possess such scars. Many call those with marks Branded as a prejudice slang.

All Bearers no matter the nation that subjugates them are branded with the same symbol, and can be traded across borders. Bearers being bought and shipped to the outer continents are supposedly being treated exceptionally well; this could be because the continents outside of Valisthea lack Mothercrystals, so Bearers may be their only source of magicks.

The Cullings

After becoming the vicereine of Rosaria, Anabella Rosfield sends the Black Shields of the Holy Empire of Sanbreque to massacre Bearers and any who harbor them. Clive and others question why Anabella would conduct these cullings, for while it was no secret she openly despised the Bearers, even she could not deny the value they had. The Guardians of the Flame rebel movement believe she does this not just to satisfy her sadism, but also out of baseless paranoia, viewing them as a threat towards her son, Olivier.

Emancipation efforts

Grassroots movements to liberate Bearers and change society to eradicate slavery exist in small pockets around Valisthea. Notably, Cidolfus "Cid" Telamon provides haven for freed Bearers and networks with like-minded individuals across the realm, such as Ruzetta in Dhalmekia and Martha in Rosaria, who become "alliants" to his cause. They seek information on slavemasters who most abhorrently mistreat the Bearers under their "care" and strive to free them and bring them to the safety of the hideout. After Cid becomes known as "Cid the Outlaw", his movement that seeks to free Bearers to offer a life of freedom on their own terms becomes known as "the Cursebreakers". However, not all Bearers accept the offered freedom, preferring to lie low over being made outlaws.

The former archduke of Rosaria, Elwin Rosfield, had plans to emancipate Bearers in Rosaria, and across the realm in due time. His sons strive to continue his legacy.

Etymology

In-universe, the term "bearer" comes from "Bearer of Blessings", as those able to use magicks were once considered holy.