Although this young woman has both the name and the piercing blue eyes of the Scions' erstwhile Antecedent, the nature of their connection is not entirely clear. What does this Minfilia wish to achieve? What hopes are caught within the tangled skein of her destiny?
Official Shadowbringers website
Ryne Waters, also known as Minfilia or Minfilia of the First, is a character from Final Fantasy XIV who debuted in the expansion Shadowbringers. Despite originally sharing her name and hair color with Minfilia Warde, she is actually one of the many girls in the First who became Minfilia's reincarnation while revered as the "Oracle of Light".
History[]
Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers[]
"Minfilia" being spirited out of Eulmore.
The current reincarnation of Minfilia showed up around ten years before the Warrior of Light/Darkness was summoned from the Source. She was taken to Eulmore at a young age and trained by Ran'jit in the ways of her predecessors, having no memory of her birth name. Thancred Waters rescued her after he arrived to the First, taking her on as an apprentice while hunting down sin eaters. He emotionally distanced himself from the girl after the original Minfilia temporarily used her body to explain her intent to fade while the girl would inherit her power.
I don't know about the world...but I never asked to be saved. However much it hurts, and however hard it gets, it's my life, and I want to live it on my own terms! And those "mad fools" you want me to abandon? The ones I've traveled with, fought with, and may one day die with—they feel the same. So no, I will not be deceived! No matter what you say, I refuse to believe it's all for nothing! They're everything to me. All I have and all I need. And I would gladly do anything for them. Let us pass, or kill me. I'm not leaving here without them.
"Minfilia" to Ran'jit
"Minfilia" meets with the spirit of the original Oracle of Light.
Eventually joining the Scions of the Seventh Dawn in their hunt for the remaining Lightwardens, the girl decided to awaken her full potential as the Oracle of Light to help track them down despite knowing that either she or Minfilia would cease to exist as a result. Standing up to Ran'jit allowed the girl to find resolve to follow her own path to aid the Scions and restore her home. Minfilia accepted her reincarnation's answer, the girl's appearance changing from blonde with the glowing blue eyes, to red hair and regular blue eyes. On Thancred's suggestion, to move on with her new life, she adopted the name Ryne.
Following Emet-Selch's death, Ryne sensed a light emanating from the Empty with her and Thancred discovering the original sin eater, Eden. Ryne used her power as the Oracle of Light to revive Eden and place it under her control to use its amassed aether to gradually restore the Empty. Eden's reactivation provoked Gaia to attack under the influence of the voidsent. She lost consciousness following her battle with the Warrior. As Gaia joined the group to regain her memory, Ryne tried befriending her, and succeeded when she revived Gaia from a deep sleep. Ryne later offered herself as host to the First's version of Shiva upon hearing the story of Ysayle Dangoulain, only to lose control and be saved by Gaia's intervention.
Learning of Elidibus posing as Ardbert to rally the populace to become Warriors of Light, Ryne joined the Scions in uncovering the Ascian's scheme as they were only left with more questions. Ryne assisted the Scions fight the many Warriors of Light summoned from the many worlds, supporting her friends through the regions of Norvrandt and paving the way for the Warrior of Darkness to have their final battle with Elidibus atop the Crystal Tower.
After the Warrior's group defeated some primals, elemental aether was slowly returning to the Empty. The Ascian Mitron reappeared from Eden and revealed that Gaia was a reincarnation of Loghrif, the Ascian's partner. Mitron wanted Gaia to return to her true self, and when she refused, the Ascian forcefully fused with her to create Eden's Promise. The Warrior of Darkness defeated Eden's Promise, Gaia was freed, and Mitron was vanquished. With the Empty now being gradually restored, Ryne and Gaia became proper friends, with Thancred and Urianger relieved she would not be alone after they returned to their world.
When it was time for the Scions to go home, Thancred and Ryne said their goodbyes at Amh Araeng. After they returned to the Crystarium, Thancred gave Ryne his gunblade before returning to the Source.
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker[]
After the Scions returned to the Source, Ryne continued her efforts to restore the Empty back to its former glory. One day, she had a vision of a burning sky with meteors falling to earth, similar to that of the starshowers, and was frightened. When she reopened her eyes everything was normal. Yet, this vision left her troubled.
Some time later, Lyna approached Ryne, telling her that the Warrior of Darkness had returned. Overjoyed, Ryne accompanied Lyna to Crystarium and met her friend again. The two caught up, and even though Ryne was glad to hear her friends in the Source were well, she had been uneasy recently and told Warrior about her vision. The Warrior determined it was similar to what they had experienced in the Source: the Final Days were coming to the First as well. Ryne assured the Warrior the people of the First would stand together, come what may.
I won't stop praying until I know they're safe.
Ryne's voice from the past
Ryne's voice is one of the many memories of the Warrior of Light's comrades who encourage them in Ultima Thule to walk forward and face the end.
Post-Endwalker[]
In her efforts on restoring the Empty, Ryne began to study botany, trying to figure out what sort of plants would be suitable. She was surprised by the Warrior, who had come to the First with their new companion, Zero from the Thirteenth, to utilize the Light on the First to save the Source from impending voidsent invasion. Ryne took a liking to Zero and showed her around the Crystarium.
They were going to head to Amh Araeng to the Flood, but Lyna caught up with them first. She wanted the Warrior to understand the possible consequences of using the Light. Since it had been the very thing that brought misery to the First, some people might look at this endeavor with fear. Ryne suggested they visit a few locations to appease the people of the First. Lyna suggested they visit Eulmore and Slitherbough.
In Eulmore, Ryne, the Warrior and Zero talked with mayor Chai-Nuzz. He was shocked to see the Warrior of Darkness and the Oracle of Light again. While this time the First was not in any immediate danger, he nevertheless was sympathetic to the plight of the Warrior's homeworld, and he was going to inform the citizens of Eulmore of this development, but also suggested they talk with citizens themselves to get perspective on the matter. No one they talked with disagreed with them; after all, the citizens owed a debt of gratitude to the Warrior and Ryne for saving them from Vauthry. One Eulmoran thanked Ryne personally for what she had done to him. Zero asked how Ryne was able to carry such a burden, and Ryne answered there was a time she wished she never had the power of the Oracle. When she met with friends who encouraged her walk her own path, it led her to where she is now. Ryne's words seemed to inspire Zero.
After finishing in Eulmore, they traveled to Slitherbough and met with Runar. Zero was confused when Runar spoke of Master Matoya, and Ryne quietly explained he meant Y'shtola, since the Night's Blessed give up their real names as per their customs to be cleansed from Light's influence. Runar also agreed to allow them to use Light to save Y'shtola's home. Ryne encouraged Zero to learn about the Night's Blessed.
Finally traveling to Amh Araeng, Ryne, the Warrior, and Zero rendezvoueds with additional help in Twine, before setting out. At Nabaath Areng, Zero was amazed about the Flood and asked if Ryne was the one who did it. Ryne explained it was the first Oracle of Light, Minfilia, whose power she inherited. To utilize the Light, they set up a number of aether transmitters to direct the Light to the Crystal Tower, which could then be used to transmit the Light through the rift to the Thirteenth. After setting the transmitters, Zero drew Light from the Flood into herself, but collapsed. Ryne came to her aid and asked what possessed Zero to draw the Light. Zero said that for a long time she had accepted that the Thirteenth could not be saved, but since traveling with the Warrior and befriending them and other former Scions, she had begun to believe that saving Thirteenth was possible, and felt that with the Light she could have power to do something to about it herself. Ryne saw Zero as a kindred spirit, since she, too, was once unsure of herself, until her friends showed her the way. Ryne offered to help her maintain the Light, and with the Warrior's encouragement, Zero drew Light again, and this time she was able to maintain herself.
Having gathered the necessary Light, the Warrior and Zero returned to the Source to take the battle to the Thirteenth. Within the Crystal Tower, Ryne, Lyna and Beq Lugg directed the Light to the rift and it reached the Thirteenth. Ryne prayed for Zero, knowing that she can save the Thirteenth.
During the battle in the Thirteenth, Zero finished it by sealing Zeromus into memoria crystal. She asked the Warrior to deliver the crystal to Ryne, so that the Darkness within can be used to help restore the balance of Light and Darkness in the First. As Warrior visited the First once more, Gaia crashed the meeting looking for Ryne. When Ryne and the Warrior presented the memoria crystal to her, she was intrigued about using Darkness of the Thirteenth to restore the First. Ryne also decided to quit botany for a time and instead focus on herself, inspired by Zero.
Characteristics[]
Appearance[]
Ryne as "Minfilia".
Ryne is a teenage girl, around the same age as the Leveilleur twins, with long blonde hair and glowing sapphire eyes. She wears a pure white dress, a pink ribbon tied on a small bit of braided hair on her right side, and a pair of combat boots. Her weapon is a pair of Air Knives. Before returning to the Source, Thancred gifts his Lion Heart relic weapon to her, and Ryne uses it to free Gaia from the darkness that consumed her in the climax of Eden raid.
After inheriting the powers of the Oracle of Light, Ryne's hair becomes red and her eyes become pale blue. This appearance is assumed to be her original look restored to her as Minfilia's parting gift.
Personality[]
Coming together, providing for one another—that's the only way forward I can see. Since all of our heroes are gone, we'll just have to make heroes of ourselves.
Ryne
Much like the Minfilia from the Source, Ryne is kind and caring, wishing to help those in need and those she can still save. As she is still young and under supervision, Ryne is shy and reserved, relying on others for comfort and support, leading to self-doubt and worrying about her worth. After seeing the resolve and determination of the Warrior of Darkness and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, Ryne gains a new sense of resolve, which leads her to stand up against Ran'jit.
Her relationship with Thancred Waters, her liberator and protector, is complex. As Ryne is not the Minfilia he knows and holds dear, Thancred struggled to accept Ryne. Though he followed through Minfilia's wishes in protecting Ryne as he once did for her, he still kept her at a distance and was reluctant to have her embrace her role as the Oracle of Light. This led Ryne to believe that Thancred hated her. However, after hearing her words of resolve and determination against Ran'jit, Thancred apologizes for his earlier behavior. In the end, Thancred is proud of what Ryne has become.
After meeting Gaia for the first time, Ryne wants to befriend her. Although Gaia had acted coldly towards her, she helps Ryne return to her own self after losing control as Shiva. They become friends afterwards, and Gaia's memories about her friendship with Ryne help her not be overwhelmed by Mitron's machinations.
Gameplay[]
Minfilia/Ryne can be recruited to the player's party via the Trust System. Her job "Oracle of Light" functions like a Rogue. She uses a modified version of the standard Rogue/Ninja fighting stance that is not as wide, likely due to the short length of her dress potentially causing issues. Her Trick Attack ability ignores the direction requirement and will always inflict the "Vulnerability Up" debuff. She can use Banish III, which is a replacement for Suiton, enabling her to use Trick Attack without Hide.
She will not use her limit break if the player is filling a DPS role in the party, as she will defer to the player's judgment instead.
Ryne as "Shiva".
Thancred will not use Cartridge-based skills unless Minfilia/Ryne is also in the team, owing to his inability to charge cartridges on his own.
Ryne is also fought as the boss of Eden's Verse: Refulgence, where she assumes the form of Shiva with the ability to "redress" into a replica of Hydaelyn. In Savage mode, she gains a third outfit based on Hraesvelgr, granting her attacks based on those used by dragons seen throughout the game.
Musical themes[]
"Footsteps in the Snow" plays when Ryne assumes her Shiva form, with a remix of it, "Return to Oblivion", serving as her boss theme.
Other appearances[]
War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
Ryne appears in vision cards from War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.
- Vision cards
- Scions of Shadow
Scions of Shadow.
Ala Mhigo is at last free from imperial rule, but that liberty may prove fleeting as the Empire moves to both reclaim this bloodied nation and subjugate all of Eorzea. In their hour of need, however, they cannot turn to the Warrior of Light. Nor to the Scions, who yet slumber, their souls adrift. The realm is left to struggle without its saviors, for they have been beckoned beyond time and space─beckoned to the First.
Vision card description
Scions of Shadow is an UR-rarity vision card. It was illustrated by Akihiko Yoshida.
- Bringers of Shadow
Bringers of Shadow.
In order to restore darkness to the Norvrandt of the First, in danger of being consumed by the Flood of Light, the Shadowbringers fight against fate itself.
Adventurers who became known as the legendary Warriors of Darkness, the Scions, and the Oracle of Light come together to try to subdue the grotesque Sin Eaters.Vision card description
Bringers of Shadow is an UR-rarity vision card. It was illustrated by SQUARE ENIX.
Gallery[]
- Artwork
.png "FFXIV SH Minfilia (Trust).png (106 KB)")
- Screenshots
Etymology[]
According to Urianger, Ryne means "blessing" in the fae language.
Ryne shares her surname with Thancred Waters, implying he adopted her as his daughter.