Journey to the First

Lore & Background

In the cosmology of Eorzea, reflection worlds exist as echoes of the Source. The First is one such realm, currently suffering from the Final Days—a state where excess light prevents souls from departing properly, trapping them as phantoms that eventually fade into nothingness. This imbalance threatens to consume all life in the reflection. The Scions learned through ancient texts and G'raha Tia’s research that the moon serves as a conduit between these realities. To save their friends trapped there, Y'shtola Rhul devised a method allowing travelers from the Source to retain their physical forms while crossing into the First; only native inhabitants of the reflection exist as reflections themselves.

In Their Own Story

The moon hung low over the cliffs of Radz-at-Han, pulsing with an unnatural rhythm. The air tasted of ozone and old magic as Y'shtola chanted, her hands weaving threads of aether that shimmered like starlight. The Warrior stood at the precipice, feeling the pull not just of gravity, but of destiny. Beyond the glow lay a world in pain, a mirror image twisted by too much brilliance. With one step into the light, they left their old life behind to walk among ghosts.

Reader's Guide

Following the defeat of Thordan VII and the Holy See, the Scions discover a looming threat beyond Eorzea that threatens all reflections. G'raha Tia uncovers ancient texts suggesting the moon serves as a gateway to parallel worlds. Y'shtola Rhul utilizes her unique aetherial magic to open a path through this celestial body for the party to traverse. The Warrior of Light and key allies physically travel across the void between realities, leaving their original forms behind in the Source to inhabit reflections within the First. Upon arrival in Radz-at-Han, they find a land ravaged by the Final Days, where excess light consumes all living souls who die without passing into the afterlife properly. This journey forces the party to confront the uncomfortable truth of the Warrior's identity as the Lightwarden destined to absorb this excess light. They must balance saving this reflection world without destroying it further through their own power. The arc concludes with the Scions establishing a foothold in the First, setting the stage for a war against the Ascians and the darkness hidden within light itself.

Did You Know?

• The First is a reflection world suffering from severe light saturation known as the Final Days.
• Travelers from the Source retain their original physical forms, whereas only natives of the First are reflections.
• Y'shtola Rhul was essential for opening the path through the moon using her magic.
• The Warrior's role as Lightwarden resulted from Ascians exploiting a unique anomaly in their connection to Hythlodaeus, rather than being a pre-existing destiny revealed solely by the journey.