Hydaelyn

Hydaelyn is the planet on which the widely played MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV takes place. A world of oceans, continents, and diverse civilizations, Hydaelyn is described in the game’s lore as a living world whose lifeforce is bound to crystalline energies that empower magic, technology, and life itself. Central to its cosmology is the Mothercrystal, a colossal crystalline presence that anchors the planet’s life.

In the game’s mythos, Hydaelyn is also personified as a benevolent deity who embodies light, life, and compassion. She is invoked as the voice that guides the Warrior of Light through visions and the Echo, a latent gift that lets people perceive past events and kinship with the planet. This sentient aspect is widely revered by many cultures across Hydaelyn.

Hydaelyn’s counterpart is Zodiark, the god of calamity and the dark twin responsible for maintaining balance through order. The two are described as primordial forces at the heart of Hydaelyn’s mythic history, whose conflict shapes the world’s cycles of calamity and renewal.

Across its story, Hydaelyn serves as the setting for the game’s major arcs, from the base narrative of A Realm Reborn to expansions such as Heavensward, Stormblood, Shadowbringers, and Endwalker. The lore frames Hydaelyn as both a physical world and a spiritual force that guides inhabitants toward harmony, even in times of dire danger.