The Shards

Lore & Background

The existence of the Shards is a direct consequence of the war between the primal twins, Zodiark and Hydaelyn. When the balance of aether became critical, Hydaelyn shattered the original world into fourteen pieces to dilute the concentration of power within each realm. This act weakened Zodiark, ensuring that no single reality would hold enough aetheric density to threaten the whole. Most civilizations on the Source remain ignorant of these other worlds, viewing their own reality as absolute truth. However, specific crystals possess the unique property of bridging the gap between dimensions. This connection allows for travel under rare circumstances, though it is fraught with peril. The Warrior of Light's journey into one such realm demonstrated that while they share a common origin, each Shard faces its own unique struggle against corruption or imbalance. As time progresses on the Source, the Shards suffer from the accumulation of light and dark alike. Some become frozen light-aspected wastelands as their balance tips too far toward light, while others are torn into void-tainted realms by darkness. While the Scions have intervened in specific instances to aid worlds like The First, their primary focus remains on the Source, rather than actively patrolling or maintaining stability across all Shards.

In Their Own Story

The crystal pulsed with a faint, rhythmic hum, vibrating against the palm of the traveler. It was not merely stone, but a window into another life, another sky. Beyond the shimmering surface, a world mirrored their own yet felt strangely distant, like a memory fading from a dream. The Warrior looked upon the reflection and saw the same stars, but dimmer, as if the light itself were growing thin there. They knew this place was one of many, a fragment of a whole that had been broken to save them all. A single tear traced down their cheek, not for what they left behind, but for the countless versions of themselves lost in the silence between worlds.

Reader's Guide

In the cosmology of Eorzea, reality is not singular but fractured. Following the ancient conflict between Hydaelyn and Zodiark, the world was sundered into fourteen separate realms to contain the encroaching darkness. The strongest realm became known as the Source, while the remaining thirteen are referred to collectively as the Shards. These parallel worlds exist in a state of etheric resonance, often mirroring events on the Source but with divergent outcomes due to differing levels of light and dark power. Most inhabitants of Eorzea remain unaware of these other dimensions, perceiving their own reality as the only truth. However, certain crystals possess the ability to bridge this gap, allowing travelers to cross between worlds under specific conditions. This phenomenon became central when the Warrior of Light journeyed to a dying Shard known as The First to prevent its total erasure by the Final Days. Understanding the Shards is crucial for grasping the stakes of the Final Days. As light spreads too widely, a world fades into nothingness; as darkness consumes it, chaos reigns. The balance maintained by Hydaelyn's sacrifice ensures that while these worlds exist separately, they remain tethered by fate and crystal magic.

Did You Know?

• The Source is the original world with the most balanced aether, though its relative 'strength' compared to other realms is subjective and not canonically defined.
• Travel between the Shards requires specific crystals capable of resonating across dimensional barriers.
• The expansion Shadowbringers focused heavily on exploring one specific Shard known as The First.
• Each Shard experiences time and events differently based on its unique balance of aether.