Final Fantasy 14 is on the verge of answering one of its biggest lore mysteries in Endwalker, and a particularly keen observation has all but solved the riddle pertaining the identity of the Twelve. The Endwalker Alliance Raid series for Final Fantasy 14 has seen the debut of the Eorzean pantheon, as players went up against their patrons in both Aglaia and Euphrosyne, the elemental heavens of lightning, fire, earth, and ice.
While Endwalker brought the story of Hydaelyn and Zodiark to a satisfying conclusion, it left many fans wondering where the Twelve fit into the larger tapestry of Etheirys and its reflections in the wake of its sundering. Many theories floated about in the community since the reveal in Shadowbringers about the true nature of Hydaelyn and Zodiark, as well as the forgotten history of the Ascians. Endwalker's Myths of the Realm seeks to unify those disparate theories and produce the definitive answer – and so far it's been a thrilling ride.
In Final Fantasy's Patch 6.3, players came across Menphina, Halone, Althyk, Nymeia, and Nophica. While the Euphrosyne raid has been a delight, especially to fans who enjoy Masayoshi Soken's music, it would seem that this isn't the first time players spoke with one of the Twelve. In fact, their identity was hidden in plain sight all along. The credit belongs to NekoDraga, who made a connection between one of the lines spoken by Nymeia in the new patch, and an inconspicuous Amaurotine on Elpis who played a role across the zone's side quests.
Considering how meticulously planned out the story in Final Fantasy 14 has been for the better part of its existence, the implication cannot be ignored: Maira and Alkaios are Nymeia and Althyk. The recent developments in Patch 6.3 all but confirm the long-held belief that the Twelve were Venat's supporters, and this connection reinforces that possibility in a very concrete way. Alkaios using time magic in Elpis fits perfectly with Althyk's portfolio, and it's easy to imagine how the worship of Althyk transformed Alkaios into the deity that now challenged the players in Euphrosyne.
While the theory that Deryk may be Oschon in disguise still remains up in the air, players have a much clearer picture of how all the plot threads connect after the release of Euphrosyne. It's no secret that Final Fantasy 14 fans have greatly enjoyed Myths of the Realm, and all that's left for Square Enix is to stick the landing when its conclusion releases in Patch 6.5 with the final wing of Thalia.
Final Fantasy 14 is available now for PC, PS4, and PS5.
