It is not merely the men and women of Valisthea who have been affected by the imbalance tin the aether. These blackened skies have cast a pall over all creatures of the realm.
Ultima invokes Primogenesis.
Primogenesis (原初の楔, Gensho no Kusabi?, lit. Primordial Wedge) is a spell cast by Ultima in Final Fantasy XVI at the conclusion of the battle of Twinside. Primogenesis shrouds Valisthea in ill-omened purple-hued clouds (whether the spell affects areas outside of Valisthea, is unknown).
The skies become permanently obscured and no sun or moon is visible. The obelisks across the land, which under usual circumstances direct aether to flow toward Mothercrystals, begin to spew aether toward the skies. The resultant unbalance in the realm's aether saps the potency of crystals[1] and magic and fills Ultima's thralls in return, animating more of them across the land. Aetherfloods begin to develop in various usually safe areas, turning men and beasts into mindless roving Akashic to sap the wills of mankind and make all of humanity into Ultima's soulless servants.[2] Ultima's Persons of Interest profile post-Primogenesis, and the "Bonds of Consciousness" Mysteries of the Realm[3] entries suggest that his goal is to specifically sever the "ties of consciousness" with others that strengthen Clive Rosfield's will.[note 1]
The dark skies are called the Arche (アルケーの空, Arukē no Sora?, lit. Skies of Arche) among the populace in Ash, where the coming of the "cursed skies" has been foretold as a harbinger of the end times.[4] Bearers largely lose their ability to cast magicks, and crystal shards dim, personal shards and communal shards alike. Dominants' powers appear unaffected, however. People begin to worry over crops failing at the lack of sunlight, and for a famine to come. Akashic beasts take over the forests and fields, and nigh everyone who lives on Ash turns.
Behind the scenes[]
The Primogenesis Active Time Lore calls it "a spell",[2] however, Ultima is also said to need a vessel for another spell he wants to cast,[5] whereas he appears to have cast Primogenesis simply in his aetherial form.
Skies changing or taking on an ominous hue is a trope in the Final Fantasy series that signifies the end times. The effects of Primogenesis are somewhat akin to the long night of Final Fantasy XV with being a spell that covers the skies that shrouds the land in shadow, though not to the same extent as in the latter. The appearance of Primogenesis resembles Everlasting Light on the First in Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, albeit with different coloring.
Etymology[]
Primo means first. Genesis (γένεσις, génesis) is an Ancient Greek term meaning "origin", "source", "beginning" or "birth". The Book of Genesis is the first book of the Torah and the Old Testament. The spell's name refers to its goal of bringing humanity back to its original will-less state.
Arche is from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓ρχή (arkhḗ), meaning "beginning" or "origin". In Ancient Greek philosophy, an arche is a first principle from which other principles are derived.
Notes[]
Annotations[]
- ↑ "He means to claim Clive as his vessel 'Mythos,' by purging his will—a will strengthened by the ties of consciousness that bind Clive with others. He unleashes Primogenesis upon the world, shrouding it in darkness and turning thousands Akashic, that these ties of consciousness might at last be loosened."
Citations[]
- ↑ Final Fantasy XVI, Mysteries of the Realm "Crystal" "Post-Primogenesis"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Final Fantasy XVI, Mysteries of the Realm "Primogenesis"
- ↑ Final Fantasy XVI, Mysteries of the Realm "The Bonds of Consciousness"
- ↑ Final Fantasy XVI, Mysteries of the Realm "The Arche"
- ↑ Final Fantasy XVI, Persons of Interest "Ultima": Ultima requires a vessel in which to inculcate his disembodied soul, and Clive's curious ability to absorb the powers of other Eikons suggests that he is the very "Mythos" that Ultima has long awaited.