~ Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for Final Fantasy 16 ~
Final Fantasy 16has taken a leaf from George R.R. Martin’s book by establishing conflicting nations rich with lore and political agendas–which makes Harpocrates’ Thousand Tomes a saving grace. However, at the forefront oftwo regionsare specific deities that they hold in high regard.
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Similar to how each nation is autonomous, the world of Valisthea does not bow collectively to one deity. Instead, the people of Rosaria mention two deities that they honor alongside the Holy Empire of Sanbreque that worship a third, all co-existing with their beliefs around the sacred Mothercrystals. Here’s everything you need to know about The Founder, Greagor, and Metia.
Who Is The Founder?
Beginning in Rosaria’s camp, The Founder creeps up in conversation during early gameplay, and you are initially led to believe that The Founder is Valisthea’s god. This couldn’t be further from the truth, as The Founder is believed to be the founder of Rosaria.
Thanks to The Thousand Tomes, you learn that The Founder was a man who grew tired of living in the Fallen’s shadow. This ancient and advanced civilization used magic to create floating cities and airships, however, the society soon lost touch with the land’s aether and their cities fell to the ground. Dubbed the Sins of Dzemekys, with many believing they abused the power of the Mothercrystals and were punished by a higher source, the remaining individuals who survived the fall began traveling the land in shadow, rejecting the use of magic to not anger the heavens further.
There was one man, however, who refused to live this way any longer and decided to abandon his people and traverse up a small hill in order to build himself a shelter. Despite being ostracized, the man continued to build until his small shelter became a shack. The man added to his build for weeks until he finally erected a home for himself.
Instead of shunning the man for his hubris, passers began to marvel at the man’s skill after one home became three and some began to help him gather materials and expand his community. Over time the settlement became a village, then a town, and finally, a nation. Despite the man dying decades before and his name being lost in time, he is still honored in the hearts of all Rosarians for establishing the nation after experiencing a disaster.
It should be noted that the man built the nation from the ground up without the use of magic, as he and the community used nothing but their hands, will, and materials from the land. This contrasts the current state of Rosaria, where the nation now uses crystal shards for everything, from farming water to forging weapons.
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What Is Metia?
Another deity that is mentioned within the nation of Rosaria is Metia and the name pops up the night before Clive leaves for Stillwind and Phoenix Gate with his father, Archduke Elwin, and his brother, Joshua. A young Jill accompanies Clive on the balcony discussing his journey and fears for his safety. She exclaims “Well, if you’re not going to pray to Metia for your safe return, I shall have to do it for you.”
The scene cuts to the moon in the sky, and beside it, you can see a red dot in the bottom left. This is the burning red star, Metia, and Valisthea’s folklore describes the star as being a messenger to the moon. Therefore, it is common practice for people to wish upon the star and pray for their deepest desires to come true in the hopes that something from beyond hears their call thanks to the star acting as a conduit.
Furthermore, there are two accessories in Final Fantasy 16, bracers and a belt, titled Metian Bonds and Metian Cross, both dyed red to honor the star.The belt refersto Metia as “Custrel” and mentions the star’s second job as the moon’s attendant to carry her gear and armor during battle.
Wishing upon a star is also common in the real world, made famous by the Disney animation, Pinocchio, and its accompanying song When You Wish Upon A Star by Ned Washington and Leigh Harline. In our folklore, however, it’s usually a shooting star that is prayed or wished upon.
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Who Is Greagor?
Moving northeast from Rosaria is The Holy Empire of Sanbreque led by the emperor, Sylvestre Lesage, and his son, Dion, who is also theDominant of Bahamut. Sanbreque is home to a state religion worshiping the goddess Greagor, and is seen as the one true deity of the nation.
This religion is referred to as The Greagorian Church and is run by the holy emperor who was elected by his fellow cardinals. Followers worship dragons because they believe they are divine servants to the goddess. They therefore believe that the Mothercrystals are in fact products of these dragons, identified by each of the crystal’s names beginning with Drake. The Church believes that Greagor is the source of Valisthea’s magic, channeled through each of the crystals for the world’s use.
Sanbreque’s crest depicts Greagor within a golden emblem, arms stretched by her side encased within a circle looking down on two dragons facing each other, and stone statues of the goddess can be seen dotted throughout Sanbreque’s capital, Oriflamme.
