Fanfic / A Song of Light and Dark

When a venture in a Force anomaly leaves Anakin half-dead on Hydaelyn, he is rescued by the Great Wyrm Hraesvelgr. Bound to the dragon and stranded on the world, he decides to make it his home, and in the process starts a chain of events which will change the History of Eorzea — and himself.

A Song of Light and Dark is a Star Wars/Final Fantasy XIV crossover fanfic written by Elia41 where Anakin finds himself stuck on Hydalyn and becomes a Dragoon serving Hraesvelgr, before getting involved with the events of A Realm Reborn.

A sequel is present, A Song of Memory and Rebirth. The stories are part of The Song Series.

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Tropes:

A Song of Light and Dark

• The Apprentice: Cocobusi, being a Muggle Born of Mages, is allowed by Aurelius to train as a Reaper and becomes the Garlean's personal student, as the pair shares the same motivation for learning the art.
• Badass Bureaucrat: Before leaving Garlemald, Aurelius's full name was Aurelius fae Pruina. Fae indicates Praefecti and supervisors — basically administrators. The man is also a skilled Reaper and the Grand Eye Marshall of the Dragon's Eye Grand Company — basically Anakin's Number Two. Anakin notes Aurelius is as good with a quill as he is with his scythe.
• Badass Creed: After becoming a city-state, Zenith adopts "We remember." as a motto. It is equally a vow and a warning: dragons have an excellent memory and will remember the rights and wrongs done to them... unlike Ishgard.
• Bash Brothers: Well, cousins, but Carvallain and Jannequinard fight together against King Thordan and the Heavens' Ward. They even take down Grinnaux and Noudenet by combining their skills.
• Because You Were Nice to Me: A key part in Anakin's close friendship with Aurelius, Durathror, Urianger and Ysayle is that they were the first people who were genuinely supportive of him and offered him more than useless advice and empty platitudes.
• Berserk Button: Do not call Ysayle a whore. Anakin and Hraesvelgr will both take offense.
• Big Damn Heroes: Anakin and his friends arrive just in time to assist a group of Xaela refugees from Durendaire and Dzemael bannermen. Not that they were exactly losing, but the fight becomes much more one-sided after their arrival.
  • Anakin and his friends rescue Sidurgu, Fray, Rielle, Anaelle Valtin and several refugees from Paulecrain and Grinnaux after the two Heavens' Ward corner the group.
• Boom, Headshot!: Merlwyb dispatches Count Thieveneux de Dzemael with two shots from Death Penalty between the eyes. She later kills Vellguine by firing in his helmet's eyeholes — the one open spot in his armor. It blows his head.
• Brain Bleach: Wondering the logistics of Hot Skitty-on-Wailord Action between Elezens and dragons has that effect on people. Anakin and his friends, thanks to Urianger, have access to the magical variant. Aymeric, who doesn't, opts for the Gargle Blaster option.
• Brainwashed and Crazy: Narrowly Averted. Haumeric is nearly Tempered by Thordan following his Heel–Face Turn, but Anakin and Obi-Wan perform a Battle in the Center of the Mind that protect him from the Primal — though it isn't perfect and Haumeric ends up with partial amnesia.
• Broken Pedestal: House Durendaire's reputation wasn't particularly good (though not as bad as House Dzemael), but their abandonment of Dusk Vigil and the subsequent events really put a black mark on their reputation. It doesn't help that everyone found out thanks to Dravania.
• The Call Has Bad Reception: When Anakin wonders "So What Do We Do Now?", Hydaelyn sends him a vision of the Final Days. Anakin misinterprets it as a suggestion to end the Dragonsong War. In his and Hraesvelgr's defense, they are lacking a lot of context and Hraesvelgr outright admits their logic may be flawed. But they both admit the vision was unclear.
• Calling Your Attacks:
  • As he channels his finishing move/Limit Break, Anakin yells "Dragonfrost Drive" before leaping.
  • Each of the combaants fighting King Thordan call their own attack as they finish him, even the Alliance leaders.
• Central Theme: Bonds. It is Anakin's friendship with Hraesvelgr, Durathror, Ysayle, Aurelius and Urianger which allows him to grow into a well-adjusted young man, and dragonkin's willingness to befriend the Eorzean Alliance which leads to Zenith becoming a city-state. On the other hand, Ishgard's fickleness and disregard of its ties with the Alliance leads to it being kicked out — with devastating consequences. Finally, Obi-Wan's unwillingness to let go of Anakin gives him the drive to find a way to reach him — drive which bears fruit in the sequel.

• Combat Medic: Being a White Mage, Jeremiah Valtin is this. He is one of the Legacy Warriors of Light and shares the trait with his Unsundered Self, Asclepios.
• Coming of Age Story: A Song of Light and Dark is essentially Anakin going from Jedi padawan to a skillful Dragoon and The Leader of the Dragon's Eye Grand Company.
• Continuity Cameo: Vrtra briefly appears in Chapter 10 to advise Hraesvelgr on how to lead a country. He also appears after the fight with Thordan to pin down Nidhogg long enough for Anakin and Hraesvelgr to neutralize him.
• Cruel and Unusual Death: Some Heavens' Wards are killed in rather messy ways during the King Thordan fight. Notably, Anakin incinerates Paulecrain from the inside with anger-fire and Ysayle makes Charibert pay by freezing the blood in his veins.
• Crusading Widow: Aurelius lost his wife during Carteneau. It is one of the reasons he became a Defector from Decadence.
• Curb Stomp Cushion: The Battle of Snowcloak is utterly one-sided in the Eorzean Alliance's favor, but individual people like Lucia and Artoirel still manage to hold their own. And, of course, Thordan's end-goal is to summon the Knights of the Round to turn the situation around.
• Determinator: Anaelle Valtin, Jeremiah's wife, is a completely average lowborn knight. That doesn't stop her from standing her ground against Paulecrain and Grinnaux even after they wreck her weapons.
• Dragon Rider:
  • Anakin partners with a dragon descended from Ratatoskr, Durathror. Hraesvelgr mentions Durathror had wanted to find a rider for a long time, but it was high-impossible with the Dragonsong War.
  • The Dragon's Eye's Wing Division is the Grand Company's air force and mostly made of these.
• Emergency Transformation:
  • When Hraesvelgr gave his blood to Anakin, it adjusted his anatomy to make him more resilient to the world's greater amounts of ambiant aether.
  • Durathror later gives his blood to Aurelius's son, Ventus, after he is maimed by a mylodon.
• Emotion Suppression: Discussed. While Anakin explains this is how Jedi manage their emotions, his friends strongly argue against it and believe it's better to feel them and let them go when they vanish, then find someone to talk about them. Fittingly enough, they fill this role for him.
• Fair-Weather Friend: The Eorzean Alliance's biggest grief against Ishgard is that they're this. Limsa Lominsa — and later Gridania and Ul'dah — decide to befriend Zenith and the Dravanians on the condition that neither side is this, and take steps to ensure no side will turn against the other like Thordan did. It eventually goes to the point where, when Ishgard makes threats to the Alliance for allying with the Dravanians, the city-states outright kick it from the group and replace them with Zenith as a form of Laser-Guided Karma.
• Fusion Dance: Enshroud. Aurelius is perfectly capable of fusing with Enyo, as he demonstrated during his first encounter with the group, but Cocobusi turns to be able to do it as well during the fight against King Thordan. It surprises Aurelius and fills him with pride since it hasn't been that long since Cocobusi became his student, so he really has a gift for the Reaper arts.
• Gargle Blaster: The Builder's Hammer — or, as Gibrillont calls it, Blackout in a Tankard. Named after Byregot the Builder. Made of the strongest freeze-distillated mead available, fruit brandy (usually apple), twice-distillated grape pomace and whiskey for an additional kick. Aymeric downs a tankard of the drink in one gulp and instantly passes out.
• Gilligan Cut: As the group rests following their exploration of Mhach, Cocobusi hopes his twin sister Cocosya, whom they Never Found the Body in Carteneau, is watching him from Thal's Realm. Smash cut to Cocosya and not only is she still alive, she was one of the Legacy Warriors of Light and is currently time-travelling thanks to Louisoix's spell.
• Glass Cannon: Eye Division is the Dragon's Eye's mage contingent and stand-in for the artillery. Knowing their weakness, Anakin establishes Scale Division as a Stone Wall contingent of defense specialists.
• Groin Attack: Anaelle attempts it on Paulecrain after her sword and shield are broken. It fails because of the armor but points for trying.
• Heel–Face Turn: Haumeric decides to switch sides and join the Alliance before the fight against King Thordan, on the account of being the Heavens' Wards" Token Good Teammate and furious to learn the war could have been stopped earlier.
• Heroic Sacrifice: Aymeric strongly disagrees with Thordan's Self-Destructive Charge, but openly rebelling would get him and his supporters killed. Instead, he, Lucia and Estinien gather just enough men to give the illusion of loyalty while most of their supporters stay behind, intent on giving their lives so those who want peace live to broker it with the Alliance.
• Hope Spot: The Alliance has won. The Ishgardian army has been crushed at Snowcloak and Aymeric, Lucia, Estinien, Artoirel and Laniaitte have been taken prisonners. Then Thordan brings a large casket. Then he orders the survivors to commit suicide... which they do. Thordan is going to summon the Knights of the Round, a Primal.
• An Ice Person: Ysayle, naturally, but Kan-E-Senna can also use ice attacks by channeling the power of Coerthas. Hermenost finds out the hard way.
• I Need a Freaking Drink: Aymeric's standard reaction to the Archbishop or the High Houses provoking Zenith. In his defense, with Ishgard no longer part of the Eorzean Alliance, they are literally Bullying a Dragon.
• It's Personal: After Carvallain learns the truth of the Dragonsong War, he vows to behead whoever hid it for so long.
• I Will Find You: Obi-Wan vows to find a way to cross the Elysian Eclipse and reunite with Anakin, no matter how long it'll take.
• Lady of Black Magic: Cocosya Cosya, Cocobusi's twin sister and The Missing Coco-Sis, was the strongest thaumaturge of her siblings and was allowed to become a Black Mage. She is one of the Legacy Warriors of Light.
• Laser-Guided Karma: Ishgard is hit more and more harshly by it as the story progresses. Be a Fair-Weather Friend to the Eorzean Alliance ? It decides Zenith and Hraesvelgr are more reliable and kick the See out once Dravania becomes a country. Abandon the Western Coertas Highlands because of the cold ? The Dravanians claim it along the Dusk Vigil and Falcon's Nest. Attack a group of Xaela Au Ra after mistaking them for Nidhogg-blooded humans ? The forces are rooted by Anakin and his friends and the Xaela pledge themselves to Hraesvelgr. And it keeps going...
• Lint Value: Inverted. The lumythrite ore, sand and cloud mica Anakin brings as payment ends up being much more valuable than a simple (if custom-made) spear's haft. Merlwyb decides to repay him with the pole — which was crafted using some of the materials — a new paint job for his armor and trade agreements between Zenith and Limsa Lominsa.
• Living Lie Detector: Being a Jedi, Anakin is able to tell when someone is lying. Hraesvelgr can similarly tell a person's intent by staring at them.
• Magic by Any Other Name: Discussing with Hraesvelgr makes Anakin realize what the Moogles and dragons call aether is in fact the Force. More exactly, it is the Living Force. The Cosmic Force is dynamis. Furthermore, Sufficiently Analyzed Magic allows him to assimilate the Light Side to Astral (passive) aether and The Dark Side to Umbral (active) aether.
• Meaningful Rename: The Dravanians rename the Dusk Vigil "Griffin's Roost" after cleaning it up, because Opinicus the griffin has made it his home and is the garrison's Team Pet.
• Mr. Exposition: Urianger becomes the go-to guy when the group needs explanation about aetherology. His lessons are actually useful to Anakin.
• Named by the Adaptation: While several Ascian names, as well as Azem's, remain unknown, the story gives Azem's name as Helios, Nabriales as Ares, Emmerololth as Hestia, Altima as Aphrodite, Lahabrea as Hephaistos, Halmarut as Demeter and Pashtarot as Zeus.
• Negative Space Wedgie: The Elysian Eclipse is the "mysterious glowing cloud" variant. The Jedi are astounded to realize it is actually visible Living Force.
• Never Mess with Granny: "Grandmother" Sechen Avagnar is an elderly Xaela woman — and a knife-wielding Stealth Expert who nearly killed Teldagrinche by severing an artery. Anakin makes her the head of Claw Division, and Tristan wishes he could be this spry at her age.
• Non-Human Humanoid Hybrid: E'vhana's daughter, E'milie, is half Seeker of the Sun Miqo'te, half Duskwight Elezen. She looks like a Miqo'te with Duskwight built and skin tone.
• One Size Fits All: Dravanian Dragoon armors are enchanted with Blood Magic to adapt to their wielder's size. Thubyrgeim later develops an arcanima variant Merlwyb approves for the Maelstrom and Yellowjackets.
• Only Sane Man: Aymeric, Lucia, Estinien, Handeloup and Houses Fortemps and Haillenarte are this for Ishgard. They know going after Zenith and its people is suicidal since it would rouse the entire Eorzean Alliance, so they do their best to prevent conflict. It is an uphill struggle to say the least...
• Papa Wolf: Aurelius is protective of his children. When his son is maimed by a mylodon, he performs a Fusion Dance with his Voidsent, Enyo, and summarily slices it apart.
• Pass the Popcorn: While Helios is busy moping the floor with the Convocation of Fourteen, Hades is busy munching on pomegranates. He gives his friend the last when the fight is over.
• Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Cocobusi is small even for a Lalafell. He is also a Reaper and the one who defeated Artoirel during the Battle of Snowcloak.
• The Power Of Music: After Anakin accidently Falls during the group's exploration of Mhach, Aurelius, Urianger, Durathror and Ysayle sing Fear Not This Night as they give him a Group Cooldown Hug. Thanks to positive dynamis and Anakin being The Empath, he manages to undo The Corruption.
• Red Baron:
  • His defeat of Grinnaux and Paulecrain, two members of the Heavens' Ward earn Anakin the title of the Champion of Dragonkind. He is also known as the White Dragoon because of his armor.
  • Aurelius is known as the Bloody Harvester.
• Reincarnation: Par of the course with the setting, but notable examples stand. While the Warrior of Light is Azem / Helios's current self, their companion Cocosya is the reincarnation of Nabriales's former underling Medea while Jeremiah is the Reincarnation of one of Emmerololth's healers, Asclepios. His Quirky Bard comrade, Rhotmoen, was once the Apron Matron Hippolyta. Finally, the dishonored Sultansworn E'vhana Tia was once The Exile Aeneas.
• Religious and Mythological Theme Naming: Anakin's draconic partner, Durathror, is named after one of The Four Stags of Norse Mythology.
  • Garlean Voidsent like Orcus and Enyo are named after Classical Mythology. Eorzean Voidsent like Cuchulainn, Ferdiad, Scathach and Cocobusi's partner, Lugaid, are named after Celtic Mythology.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Hades knows exactly how strong Helios is. This is why he chooses to Opt Out of siding with the rest of the Convocation when they decide to fight him.
• Self-Destructive Charge: Having to choose between handing over Grinnaux and Paulecrain for having insulted Ysayle or having the Alliance besiege Ishgard, Thordan decides to launch a suicidal attack on Falcon's Nest, Dravania's major border fortress, with the intent of having the Ishgardians go out on their own term fighting their sworn enemies. His hidden goal is to summon the Knights of the Round through their Heroic Sacrifice.
• Shout-Out: Hades is shown munching on pomegranates as he watches Helios fight the Convocation and mentions twin children, one of which is called Melinoe. Both are references to the Classical Hades.
• Sinister Scythe: Being a Reaper, this is Aurelius's weapon. He later trains Cocobusi in its use.
• Stunned Silence:
  • Anakin and his friends are silent from shock when Paulecrain not only calls Ysayle a whore but also tells them that, according to rumors, she is also intimate with Hraesvelgr. The thought is so Squick he and Ysayle instantly engage the two knights.
  • Seeing Helios and Hades's Combined Energy Attack leaves Asclepios completely speechless as he is reminded why the pair are the current Azem and Emet-Selch.
• This Is Gonna Suck: After he learns the Alliance has allied with Hraesvelgr's brood and Zenith is in the process of becoming a city-state, Aymeric is absolutely not looking forward to reporting to Thordan. Given Lucia and Estinien later find him beaten to an inch of his life, his fears are justified.
• This Is Unforgivable!: Hraesvelgr flies into a rage when he realizes the Ishgardians have been victims of Suppressed History. He requests Anakin and Carvallain to find the ones responsible and make them pay, something the pair instantly accept.
• Token Heroic Orc: Aurelius Pruina is, like Cid, a Garlean who bailed on his home country. He is also Anakin's Number Two.
• Took a Level in Badass: Cocobusi goes from being the Un-Sorcerer of his family to a Reaper thanks to Aurelius's training.
• True Companions: Anakin, Aurelius, Durathror, Urianger and Ysayle become this over the story, each being fiercely loyal and supportive of each other while working toward the well-being of Zenith.
• Unstoppable Rage: Hraesvelgr is absolutely furious when the group reports how Paulecrain and Grinnaux insulted him and Ysayle. His roaring is so loud Urianger needs a sound-dampening spell so the group isn't driven deaf, and Anakin is terrified at the sight. All of Eorzea hears the White Wyrm's tantrum — and prepares for war.
• Volcanic Veins: Aurelius gains glowing purple veins when Enshrouding with Enyo.
• White Magician Girl: Rather than becoming a thaumaturge, Ysayle learns conjury and healing magic to support her friends. She still retains her devastating ice magic.
• Woman Scorned: Aphrodite/Altima definitely didn't like Aeneas turning her down. Her riling the rest of her Words against him is the reason he became The Drifter.

A Song of Memory and Rebirth

• Action Dad: Aurelius is one by virtue of being a Reaper, but any Warrior of Light/Chosen of Hydaelyn is this by default. Jeremiah Valtin is a White Mage and father of two who is Happily Married to his Temple Knight wife. E'vhana Tia, meanwhile, is The Paladin and the widowed father of a Quirky Bard Miqo'te-Elezen girl. Both survived Carteneau.
• The Apprentice: Rather than being Anakin's padawan, Ahsoka is Plo Koon's.
• Badass Crew: The crew of the Meetra Surik is made of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Ahsoka Tano, Padme Amidala, Rick Olié, Sabé, Versé and the droids R2-D2 and R4-P17.
• Badass Family:
  • The Pruina. Aurelius, the father, is a Badass Bureaucrat whose scythe goes through Voidsent like his quill goes through paperwork. His daughter, Serena, has taken after Daddy Dearest and is a Reaper bound to Enyo, just like he is. Ventus, meanwhile, thanks to Durathror saving his life with his blood, became a Dragoon who can easily keep up with his sister.
  • E'vhana and his daughter, E'milie, also fit. The father is a former Sultansworn, one of the Legacy Warriors of Light and the Reincarnation of the Ancient Aeneas. The daughter is a Bard and a veteran of Snowcloak who fought King Thordan. And, of course, the Coco-Siblings fit to a T.
• Bar Brawl: Narrowly Averted. It looks like one is going to start while Alan introduces Tristan as an adventurer, but she puts a quick stop to it by knocking out the one who started it with a mug.
• The Bartender: Alan Qalli, the owner of the Treasure Hoard and local head of the Adventurers' Guild. A dainty female Xaela with blue hair... and perfectly capable of knocking out a drunk patron with a mug.
• Bash Brothers: Tristan and Anakin become this over their multiple team-ups. It motivates Tristan into joining the Dragon's Ey Grand Company. Because, if he has to choose, he would rather join the Grand Company of the man who so often fought by his side.
• Beneath Notice: Larsa is fully aware people are more likely to talk openly around a mute guy and his underage son. He and Tristan exploit it while investigating Camp Drybone.
• "Be Quiet!" Nudge: When Alphinaud tries to comment on the various Grand Company leaders' speeches, Larsa shuts him with a nudge and a rebuke.
• Better to Die than Be Killed: Even knowing Tampering can be cured - partially - the Immortal Flames decide to commit suicide rather than falling to Ifrit's thrall. Tristan summons them a dagger.
• Big Brother Instinct: Cocobuki pledges guilty of it regarding Cocobusi. Given Cocobusi Took a Level in Badass during A Song of Light and Dark, it often proves unecessary.
• Brother–Sister Team: Cocobusi and Cocosya team up with Tristan and Aldis to clear Copperbell Mines.
• Chekhov's Skill: The Geneqs' click-whistling language is mentioned in A Song of Light and Dark as the tribe's specialty and how useful it is to Claw Division. It returns as the means for Tristan to communicate until he recovers his voice.
• The Chosen One: Crystal Bearers, men and women chosen by Hydaelyn to protect Eorzea and given Crystals of Light. Four are known so far: Ysayle, Tristan, Larsa and Lyrian. Bellerophon later chooses Anakin to fill his spot, adding him to the group.
• Crash-Into Hello: Tristan first meets Haurchefant when a fireball sends the Elezen right into him and they stumble away. They will eventually become an Official Couple.
• Dance of Romance: Tristan and Haurchefant waltz together during the Lovers' Day celebration. Ysayle teases him afterward that, knowing Haurchefant, he most likely has a thing for Tristan...
• Dark Is Not Evil: The Coco-Siblings are made of five thaumaturges, a Black Mage and a Reaper, yet all of them are staunchingly heroic and two actually killed Primals. Lyrian, meanwhile, wears dark clothes and a skull mask yet only wants to Find the Cure! for the disease plaguing his home.
• The Dreaded: Zenos absolutely terrifies Larsa, who has nightmares of being Alone with the Psycho. The Scions, who know the prince's reputation, understand.
• Dressed to Heal: The healers at Saint Shiva's Free Clinic all wear white longcoat as part of their uniform.
• Fantastic Racism: The enmity between the Eorzean Alliance and the Garlean Empire means Garleans who flee their home country have a hard time being accepted in the Realm and suffer from a lot of mistrust. Rhotmoen and Bleifryn are initially hostile upon finding Larsa is a Garlean, and become flabbergasted when they see he is one of Hydaelyn's Chosen One.
• The Four Loves: Lovers' Day, Dravania's national holy day, isn't just for romance. It is also dedicated to friendly, familial and selfless love.
• Gargle Blaster: Zenith's specialty is drinks potent enough to get dragons tipsy. Most of them are tasty enough to make ale feel bland in comparison.
• Gender Bender: According to Dalmascan myth, in order to rescue the souls of the Firstborn of Races from the Underworld, Helios the Sun-Father turned into a woman to seduce Hades, the King of the Underworld, then stole back the souls the moment his back was turned.
• Given Name Reveal: Aurelius reveals Larsa's full name to be Larsa yae Galvus.
• Human Resources: A key component of the Joyful Pill is human blood — more exactly, as Anakin suggest, white cells. Sadly, that particular point is Lyrian's Trauma Button.
• Interspecies Romance: E'vhana Tia, a Seeker of the Sun Miqo'te, was married to a Duskwight Elezen with whom he has a daughter. Tristan, a Midlander Hyur, will eventually fall in love with Haurchefant, a Wildwood Elezen.
• Irony: The pantheon worshipped by the people of the Salikawoods is made of fourteen deities, each representing an aspect of civilization... Not only are the names that of the Convocation's members, Tristan adresses a prayer to the fourteenth of them — Helios, the Sun-Father, whom he may very well be the current incarnation.
• Kill Steal: During the big fight against the True Brothers of Faith, Grandmother Sechen is so fast she often kills True Brothers before her own underlings can finish them.
• Meaningful Name: Obi-Wan names the starship meant to cross the Elysian Eclipse Meetra Surik, the Jedi Exile, after the main character from Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords.
• Moon Rabbit: The Dravanians depict Menphina as a Viera in evocation of this trope.
• Mountaintop Healthcare: Played With. Saint Shiva's Free Clinic is indeed located at the very top of Sohm Al. However, not only is Moghome right below, the Churning Mists are the location of the city-state of Zenith, so the clinic is anything but isolated. In fact, it's a stone's throw away from the tavern !
• Non Standard Prescription: After confirming his mutism is indeed due to trauma, Tristan is given the written prescription of... avoiding stress, finding a relaxing activity and doing something constructive. Justified in that those activities are supposed to heal Tristan's mind.
• Papa Wolf: If there is one thing to retain from Dalmasca's Creation Myth, it is that messing with the Firstborn of Races is a quick way to have Helios gunning after you.
• The Paragon: Helios the Sun-Father, Dalmascan deity of fatherhood and protection. Tristan refers to him in his prayer as "mankind's exemplar" and asks for his guidance to better emulate him.
• Poor Communication Kills: Played Straight once, then narrowly Averted. Silphie and her mother are born-Hearers and they could hear the land's pain. However, both mistook it as a sign they were the cause of its suffering by drawing from its aether, which drove them to use their own — to lethal consequences for Silphie's mother. Silphie, thanks to E'vhana's explanation, realises the threat and why drawing the land's aether is necessary to properly practice conjury, but cannot do it because the land's pain is too great. With Tristan, E'vhana and E'milie backing her, she is able to find the courage to explain her problem to E-Sumi-Yan, who understands the issue and is saddened he only realizes the truth now. Once the Ahriman is killed, the problem is solved and Silphie is able to properly learn conjury.
• The Power of Friendship: The crux of Hydaelyn's message to Tristan. No matter what happens, as long as his True Companions stand by his side, there is nothing they can't achieve.
• Prophecies Rhyme All the Time: Discussed. Anakin openly wonders about the Trope regarding the Sun-Father's Promise, to which Urianger surmises it is probably a question of style. And yes, he is aware some of the meaning may be lost in translation.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Aurelius is the Grand Marshall of the Dragon's Eye and a close friend of Anakin, as well as equally good with a quill and his scythe. When he realizes who Larsa is and, more importantly, what he is, he agrees to help him rather than taking him hostage or sending him back to Garlemald.
• Rescued from the Underworld: Tristan mentions Dalmascan mythology has one such part involving the Sun-Father, where Helios shapeshifted into a woman to seduce Hades, the King of the Underworld, and stole back the souls of the Firstborn of Races.
• Secret-Keeper: Anakin's friends are aware of his true origins courtesy of Ysayle's Echo-triggered vision, but keep it between the five of them. Tristan later finds out the same way during Lovers' Day.
• Serious Business: Fantasia potions and their use are treated with extreme seriousness. Thancred, being the Scions's Stealth Expert, used it several times for crucial missions. The Dalmascans call it Demeter's Gift and their use requires thorough screening and evaluation by the priests of the reason's validity. Tristan used one to alter his looks when he was seven, but only after being questionned and with his family's approval.
• Shout-Out: The Rat Plague and Lyrian's equipment reminisce of Dunwall and Corvo Attano from Video Game/Dishonored. The Joyful Pill and its effects, meanwhile, hearken to We Happy Few.
• Sibling Team: Besides the Coco-Siblings and Aurelius's children, Tristan and Larsa have unknowingly worked as one since the pair are second degree cousins.
• Stock Gods: Besides the Twelve from Eorzea, Dalmasca has its own Fantasy Pantheon, the Fourteen. Yda notes that, unusually for this Trope, they represent not aspects of the world but aspects of civilisation. As one can guess by several of their names, they are based off of the distant memories of the Convocation.
  • Helios the Sun-Father, being quite literally the adoptive father of the Firstborns, is the Top God, God of Good and God of Light.
  • Hestia the Hearth-Keeper is considered the Firstborns' adoptive mother and serves as the Household God. She and Helios share most of The Parent Trope.
  • Poseidon the Architect of Wonders is, to an extent, the God of Knownedge and Wealth in his role as teacher of construction, architecture and urban planning.
  • Hephaestus the All-Smith, who taught the first artisans, is The Ultimate Blacksmith.
  • Gaia the Emerald Mother is Mother Nature, Fertility God and Harvest God in her role as ruler over all plant life. She and Hestia also share the role of Healer God as both are credited for teaching medicine to the Firstborns.
  • Artemis the Lord of the Wild Hunt is the Hunting God and The Beastmaster, who taught the Firstborns how to hunt.
  • Demeter the Ever-Changing is, to an extend, a Harvest, Wealth and Knowledge God, but is actually closer to the Food God as the one who taught the Firstborns to adapt to the changing seasons.
  • Aphrodite the Brazen Lover is both the Love Goddess and God of the Arts, having attempted to seduce Helios and taught arts to the Firstborns.
  • Ares the Master of Arms is the War God, having taught the Firstborns how to fight... after being on the receiving end of Helios's Papa Wolf-fueled beating.
  • Hekate the Lady of Magic is a God of Knowledge in her role as The Archmage and teacher of the first spellcasters.
  • Hades the King of the Underworld is both the God of the Dead and God of Order, as the one responsible for the Judgement of the Dead.
  • Themis the Voice of Fairness is both a Cool God and Wealth God as the teacher of mediation, negociations and bargains.
  • Zeus the Divine Law is clearly the God of Order as inventor of laws and bureaucracy.
  • Hermes the Whim of the Wind is God of Chaos, Trickster God and, to a minor extent, God of Evil as the one who taught the Firstborns how to Loophole Abuse.
• True Companions: The Crystal Bearers form one such group, bound together by the camaraderie they share with the Warrior of Light. In the past, it was Helios and his comrades. In modern days, it is Tristan and his friends.
• Undying Loyalty: Literally. One verse of the Sun-Father's Promise states "Loyalty, beyond death remains - Some things, ever, the soul retains". Helios's companions remain loyal to him through each of their incarnations and assist him in protecting the world, their bond so strong not even death can erase it.
• Unkempt Beauty: Despite Larsa describing him as unkempt and unshaven, Herakles retains the Ancient Etheiryans' Angelic Beauty.
• Wretched Hive: Mylo, thanks to being a Shout-Out to Dunwall and Wellingtom Wells, is a disease-filled hellhole where the nobility whiles away its days feasting, their senses clouded by Joyful Pills into believing the city is a colorful paradise. Meanwhile, the city is plagued by sicknesses of all kinds while miasma blots out the sky, and going out without the Pill's immunity-boosting or an airtight suit and gas mask is pure suicide. Only the Undercity, where most of the common folk lives, is safe.

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