Welcome, my friends, to the testing ground of creation at heavens' edge: Elpis!
Elpis is a location in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. It is a research facility on a series of lush floating islands linked via teleporters and bridges, dedicated to the creation and study of new lifeforms.
History[]
The advent of the Final Days ushered the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to spread out to deal with the threat. Having determined that the emotion of despair appeared to be the main driver behind people's transformations into beasts, the Warrior of Light looked to the flower gifted to them by Hydaelyn for answers. Having previously learned that the flower's name was "Elpis", G'raha Tia suggested talking to another ancient may provide a better lead, bringing up Elidibus's dormant and fading soul sealed within the Crystal Tower on the First.
As the only one still capable of traversing the rift, the Warrior made the journey alone and used the tower's systems to find Elidibus. After learning what had transpired since his defeat, Elidibus revealed he knew Elpis as a place, and that Fandaniel's original personhood, Hermes, had been its chief overseer before being elevated to the Convocation of Fourteen. Elidibus experienced a rush of memories, and confusedly recalled meeting the Warrior of Light there, which led him to suggesting using the tower's time traveling capabilities to journey to Elpis in the past, at the cost of what remained of his soul. Since Zodiark was no more, Elidibus wanted to offer his last bit of aether to assist the Warrior of Light to accomplish something he claimed he had been trying to do all along.
Locations[]
Elpis is a massive ancient research facility, used for the creation, research, and testing of new life forms. It consists of many flora-covered floating islands, hovering above an endless sea of clouds. The islands are linked by staircases and aetheryte teleporters that visitors may use if a researcher permits them.
Many creations roam freely around the islands so that Elpis's researchers can observe them in their natural habitats, while others are kept inside Ktisis Hyperboreia, a research building that is far larger on the inside and houses a variety of climates and environments suited for different species.
Although the people of Amaurot normally wear hoods and masks so as to conceal their differences from one another, exceptions are made in Elpis due to the dangerous environment presented by freely-roaming creations. All individuals present in the facility are required to wear their hoods down, the better to be aware of threats.[1] Those who are not normally employed in the facility are also required to have their masks removed.[2]
Aetherytes[]
There are three aetherytes on Elpis:
- Anagnorisis
- The Twelve Wonders
- Poieten Oikos
Areas[]
- Philomythes Notos
- Propylaion - A telpeortation facility that serves as the entrance to Elpis. Visitors, upon arrival, must show themselves to the guide and, in spite of social decorum, remove their masks to be identified.
- First Bloom
- Noetophoreon - an island where a beautiful tree with purple leaves blooms on it's own.
- The Mourning Dew
- The Cthonic Horns
- Kallimelios Zehphyros
- Peripeteia Krystalline
- Metabaseos Thalassai
- Ethoseletikos Boreas
- Ktisis Hyperboreia
- Misposes Euros
- The Hungering Garderns
- Lethe
Settlements[]
Anagnorisis[]
Named for an ancient word meaning "recognition" or "discovery", this settlement houses those whose job it is to assess the creations admitted to Ktisis Hyperboreia. These observers study every aspect of their charges, and determine if a concept will add to─or detract from─the environ for which it was designed.
The Twelve Wonders[]
This facility is responsible for the climate control of Elpis, where the latest spellcraft from Amaurot is used to maintain and adjust the assorted climes through which creations reside─for test purposes.
Poieten Oikos[]
An outpost in Elpis where taxonomists come together to evaluate, and determine everyday names for, the various creations approved for life on Etheirys. The name "Poieten Oikos" can roughly be translated to "the maker's house".
Weather[]
Elpis may exhibit any of the following weather conditions:
| Weather | Frequency or conditions |
|---|---|
 Fair Skies
|
45% |
 Clouds
|
25% |
 Clear Skies
|
15% |
 Umbral Wind
|
15% |
Places of interest[]
The Chthonic Horns[]
The researchers of this small facility are unlike their colleagues in that they seek to manifest new creations without the aid of creation magicks. Their natural breeding program pairs creatures with differing characteristics, relying on chance to conceive heretofore unimagined possibilities.
Ktisis Hyperboreia[]
The most extensive facility in Elpis, Ktisis Hyperboreia is a sprawling complex of magically simulated environs. Concepts awaiting evaluation are brought here for the last stages of observation, and, upon meeting the appropriate criteria, are released into the world at large.
Metabaseos Thalassai[]
An annex to Ktisis Hyperboreia, this facility is mainly concerned with the observation and evaluation of sea life. Although its construction appears too narrow to support such an ambitious project, the building's interior harbors six separate marine habitats, each painstakingly recreated via arcane means.
Lethe[]
Following a process of exhaustive testing, a creation deemed unsuitable for release into the world is brought to this lake, where its life energies are magically unbound and allowed to dissipate. It is at once the most beautiful as well as the most sorrowful locale in Elpis.
Pandæmonium[]
A facility located underneath Elpis that holds concepts deemed too dangerous to be released unto the star, but too valuable as research subjects to outright destroy. It is overseen by the Words of Lahabrea, and Lahabrea himself serves as the chief keyward.
Activities[]
Duties[]
|
| The most extensive facility in Elpis, Ktisis Hyperboreia is a sprawling complex of magically simulated environs. Concepts awaiting evaluation are brought here for the last stages of observation, and, upon meeting the appropriate criteria, are finally released into the world at large. Determined not to surrender Meteion, it is within this facility that Hermes has taken refuge, and you and your companions must find and confront him if you are to shed light upon the truth of the Final Days. |
|
| The discovery of a crystal borne from the far reaches of the aetherial sea and the desperate plea contained within lead you once more to Elpis, where your trajectory quite literally collides with that of a young man named Themis. Like you, he is here for answers, seeking the source of an aetheric disturbance culminating in loss of contact with the gaol housing the ancients' most dangerous creations. It is this place─this Pandæmonium─into which you now descend... |
|
| The warder Erichthonios has brought with him the chilling news that all creations within Asphodelos, the highest level of Pandæmonium, now run free of their fetters. In order to prevent total chaos from bursting forth unto the world above, Themis and Erichthonios plan to utilize interment magicks to safely capture any errant creatures─if their theory translates well into practice, that is. With only one way to find out, you head for the waterways to confront a monster of legend, the water-wielding hippokampos. |
|
| Having successfully subdued the hippokampos, your group sets out to find Erichthonios's fellow warders, presumed to be hiding in the deepest circles of Asphodelos. Standing in your way, however, is the phoinix, a violent failed iteration of the iconic immortal bird. It soars through halls warped by creation magicks into an arid, desolate wasteland─its perfect choice of battlefield─awaiting any foolish enough to venture into its newfound domain... |
|
| The perpetrator of the chaos in Asphodelos is revealed to be none other than its keyward Hesperos. Once known for his kindness to both warders and captives alike, he now appears before you as an amalgamation of mythic beast and man─a hemitheos. Drunk with devotion to Lahabrea and dripping venom for Erichthonios, Asphodelos's keeper may too be its most fearsome creation... |
FATEs[]
| Name | Level | Location | Time limit | Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description Spawn conditions (if any) | ||||
 Grand Designs: Aigokeros
|
86-90 | (x8 y28) | 15 minutes | Defeat aigokerotes |
| Meletos the Inscrutable seeks the aid of one who might put down some aigokerotes. All in the name of science, of course. | ||||
 Grand Designs: Io
|
86-90 | (x8 y28) | 15 minutes | Defeat the Io |
| Seeking inspiration for future concepts, Meletos the Inscrutable wishes to observe how one might wipe an Io off the face of this star. All in the name of science, of course. | ||||
| Ophion-mania
|
86-90 | (x28 y29) | 15 minutes | Defeat ophions |
| An inadvertent profusion of invasive ophions is proving deleterious to the environment. The time has come to put things right─for the sake of the star, naturally. | ||||
| The Rustling of Murderous Leaves
|
86-90 | (x19 y29) | 15 minutes | Defeat the Yggdreant |
| A monstrous variety of yggdreant has set upon a researcher who meant only to observe them. Bring your woodcutter's axe to bear and get to hacking. | ||||
| Butterfly Kisses of Death
|
86-90 | (x5 y33) | 15 minutes | Defeat phanopsyches |
| A murder of phanopsyches have descended, and they've a taste for flesh. Now, it's either kill or be killed─and you would rather be doing the killing, like as not. | ||||
| You Hurt My Researcher, Prepare to Die
|
86-90 | (x10 y35) | 15 minutes | Defeat hippocerfs |
| A group of hippocerfs are on the lam following a grisly attack on a researcher. You, with your unimpeachable sense of justice, will no doubt find these beasts and make them pay. | ||||
| Drawing the Thunderstroke
|
86-90 | (x21 y21) | 15 minutes | Defeat thunderhead keraunoi |
| A herd of keraunoi is attempting to bring thunderclouds to Elpis's sky, threatening to destabilize the weather. Defeat the thunderhead keraunoi and ensure there are no untoward meteorological distortions. | ||||
 Nature's Staunch Protector
|
86-90 | (x30 y25) | 15 minutes | Defend the monocerotes |
| The first generation monocerotes appear as naught but tasty morsels to the predators of Elpis, specifically the harpuiai. Fortunately, these new creations have you on their side.. | ||||
| Grand Designs: Unknown Execution
|
87-90 | (x9 y23) | 15 minutes | Defeat the unknowns |
| Meletos the Inscrutable has hit upon a rather exciting new concept, one which he hopes to test by pitting it against any available champions. Any takers? | ||||
| Grand Designs: The Newest of New
|
87-90 | (x9 y23) | 30 minutes | Defeat the kyklops |
| Meletos the Inscrutable is at it again, only this time a great deal calmer. He seeks one who might test his latest and greatest creation: the primordial kyklops. | ||||
| Bad Breath in Paradise
|
87-90 | (x30 y13) | 15 minutes | Defeat morbol marchionesses |
| The clean, serene spring, which many a creature relies upon for fresh water, has been befouled by morbol marchionesses who have claimed it as their own. You won't stand for that, now will you? | ||||
| King of the Hill
|
87-90 | (x8 y19) | 15 minutes | Defeat melanoi and minotaurs |
| Two territorial creatures─the delirious melanioi and the Elpis minotaurs─have begun something of a turf war. Only violence can end this struggle for dominance. | ||||
| Why Did It Have to Be Medusae?
|
87-90 | (x13 y17) | 15 minutes | Defeat medusae |
| In some far-flung corner of Elpis, medusae have proliferated to a degree far beyond anyone's estimations. Now, this den of vipers descends upon the land and must be dealt with. | ||||
| There's a Snake in My Water Supply!
|
87-90 | (x35 y17) | 15 minutes | Defeat pythons |
| Venomous pythons are in danger of polluting the area's water source with their foul toxins. Thus, until these serpents are dealt with, refrain from drinking the water. | ||||
| Eurydike: All Bark, No Bite
|
87-90 | (x27 y5) | 15 minutes | Defeat Eurydike |
| A rampaging eurydike, dissatisfied with the meager meals it has been provided, has broken free of its enclosure and now requires pruning─deadly pruning. | ||||
 So Sorry, Sokles
|
87-90 | (x27 y14) | 15 minutes | Collect documents and deliver to the researcher |
| A researcher claims that a pack of incorrigible ophiotauros pickers has made off with their documentation, and now begs the help of one willing to reclaim that which was stolen. | ||||
Musical themes[]
The daytime field theme is "Sky Unsundered", while the nighttime theme is "Stars Long Dead". The default Endwalker town theme plays in all settlements.
Etymology[]
Elpis (Ἐλπῐ́ς, Elpís) is the spirit or goddess of hope in Greek mythology and the Greek word also means "hope". She was depicted as a young woman, usually carrying flowers or a cornucopia in her hands. In Ancient Greek legend, the woman Pandora opened a box containing all the horrors of the world. Terrified, she closed it too late to stop the horrors from escaping, and only Elpis was left inside.
