The Lesson Final Fantasy XVI Taught Me 3 Years Later
I'm LATE posting this for FFXVI's 3rd anniversary but hey, better late than never, amiright?
You know what's one of the biggest lessons I learned from this game that has helped me survive the current political hellscape? Especially during times when I feel helpless?
Witnessing how even in the darkest and most cynical moments in the story, the characters still freakin' persevered.
And I'm not necessarily talking about our beloved main cast (i.e. Clive, Joshua, Jill, Cid, etc., because let's be honest - they're the heroes. We expect them to never, ever quit.)
I'm referring to the MINOR characters and what they did to contribute to Clive's ultimate mission:
*Martha provided Bearers suffering from the curse with a hidden sanctuary and coordinated with others to obtain and transfer Bearers. *Uncle Byron covertly funded the Cursebreakers' with coin from his own coffers but dutifully paid his taxes to Sanbreque to deter suspicion. *Quinten managed the entire village of Lostwing, even when the aetherflood took over. *Sir Wade formed a ragtag crew of former Rosarian soldiers to fight back against Anabella's guards and keep the flame burning. *Dorys, Cole, August, & Ember travelled the nations to free Bearers from their masters. *Eloise and Theo transferred Bearers throughout the region and beyond using their caravans to freedom. *Tarja & Rodrigue provided medical care to all Hideaway residents and removed the brands of those who wished it. *Gaute & Desiree were keepers of the ledgers and missions from their comrades. *Martelle, Nigel, Maeve, Kenneth, & other Bearer residents of the Hideaway honed and utilized their various skills and crafts such as carpentry and horticulture - all to provide a nourishing meal, drink, and shelter. *Cyril, Jote, & the Undying used their intelligencers to provide Joshua with groundbreaking discoveries about Ultima. *Charon, Goetz, & Blackthorne used their expertise of merchantry and smithery respectively to provide materials and weapons. *Isabelle stepped up and became the leader Northreach needed in dire times and won the respect of the populace despite her origins. *Hortense ensured there was enough clothing for everyone in the Hideaway, especially for recently freed Bearers who showed up in scraps. *Mid, the ever enthusiastic engineer, designed and got a ship built for Clive and retinue to sail to Ash. *Harpocrates & Vivian provided all of their books and wisdom to navigate the geopolitical landscape as well as the mysteries of their collective past. *Sabine, the freaking High Cardinal's daughter, even rallied against her father using just her voice and her words. *Even the BARD whose name escapes me provided entertainment and the latest news through his voice and the lute. The list goes on and on...
The point I'm trying to make is that everyone did what they could with what they had and used their unique skillset. Not every ally of Clive was expected to pick up a sword and die a horrific death or give way beyond their physical, mental, or financial capability. Each person played an essential role in furthering the cause a little more every day. Progress was slow and took years but, nevertheless, the characters persevered.
Perhaps that's one of the most crucial takeaways from this game: To never allow anyone to make you feel helpless during times of social upheaval.
Change happens when enough of us agree to offer up what we can, however minuscule it may seem.
