Anyone who’s been playing FFXVI for well over a year now has probably discovered more than a few of these, and some are fairly apparent even on a first playthrough, but there are a few that are harder to clue into if you don’t know to look for them. I’ll be the first to admit the content isn’t what I’d expected from a section entitled ‘secret lore,’ but there are some interesting chestnuts, nonetheless. I’m thinking we’ll have to wait until LOGOS releases to dig deeper into the in-world lore of FFXVI, though.
n.b. I apologise that this took longer than anticipated to post. I didn’t have convenient save points in place to check up on some of the English and, while I’m working on putting together an ENG-JP intralingual glossary, it’s still far from complete. So thanks to anyone who was waiting for this.
The loresman Harpocrates has collected all manner of knowledge from throughout the world and recorded it in his Thousand Tomes. We’ll introduce to you to 30 secrets that outstrip his erudition.
01 The main menu screen changes slightly with the progression of the main story
The main menu screen, which opens when you press the option button, changes in various ways as the main story progresses. In parallel with the story’s outcome, try paying attention to the changes to the main menu as well.
The pattern when you open the main menu
As the story progresses, part of the diagram of Ultima’s World Order becomes more and more similar to the diagram representing Ultima. Also, when Clive is primed into Eikon form, a specialised pattern appears.
[IMG] [IMG][IMG] [IMG]
The color of the selected tab, headings, etc.
Both are blue initially, but change to red from III-6 ‘The Meaning of Life’ onwards.
III-5 Buried Memories (CH19)
[IMG] – blue
III-6 The Meaning of Life (CH20)
[IMG] – red
The curved lines at the edge of the screen
The curvature of the lines displayed in the bottom left and top right of the main menu screen changes in response to the progression of the story.
II-1 A Chance Encounter (CH07)
[IMG]
VIII-6 Back to Their Origin (CH49)
[IMG]
The FX at the bottom of the screen
There are six types: the blue glow of aether, sparks, smoke, a small blaze, a large blaze, and a massive blaze, and the combination of effects displayed changes based on the part of the story in which they appear.
I-4 Sunrise, Sunset (CH04)
[IMG] – aether
IV-2 Home, Sweet Home (CH24)
[IMG] – small blaze
Eikon Battles
[IMG] – massive blaze
02 Pay attention to the shapes of the treasure coffers placed throughout
There are four types of chests, as pictured on the right. Of them, the wooden, stone, and floating chests can be found everywhere, but the glowing chests are only placed in the vicinity of Fallen ruins or relics of the Ultima.
[IMG] Wooden Chests [IMG] Stone Chests [IMG] Floating Chests [IMG] Glowing Chests03 Where do the members of the mysterious Undying, a group that carries out their mission whilst blending in with the general public, operate...?
The Undying are a secret organisation that have supported the ducal house of Rosaria from the shadows. Their existence is kept secret from all but the successors to the ducal throne, and everything from their members to their mission is shrouded in mystery. However, after receiving a seal as a token of trust from Cyril, the Bearer of the Burning Quill, if you speak to those listed below, you will discover that they are members of the order.
Brennan, Sellsword (Martha’s Rest)
Bard (Northreach)
Tavernkeeper of “The Final Sting” (Dalimil)
Gossipmonger (Boklad)
Leatherworker (Tabor)
Huntsman (Tabor)
n.b. Unlike the members of the order based in Dhalmekia, Brennan and the Bard won’t immediately reveal themselves after you receive the Phoenix Down Seal from Cyril. That happens later in the story for whatever reason.
[IMG] ⬅︎ After you’ve obtained the seal, his manner changes drastically and he uses honorific speech.SUB: ...Your Excellency, pray forgive my discourtesy erenow. I am a member of the Undying, one charged with keeping watch over Rosaria here.
ENG: Ah.. Lord Rosfield. Don’t look so surprised. I expect the Burning Quill already told you that the Undying have eyes everywhere—and mine just happen to be here in the Rest.
04 The tragic end of the “Traveling Merchant Out to Make a Fortune” who appears wherever Clive goes
Right as you exit Dalimil and proceed into the Doeznov Terraces, you can meet the “Traveling Merchant Out to Make a Fortune” (he’s just ‘Traveling Merchant’ in English). He dreams of getting rich quick, and traverses the regions pictured below, but in the end is reduced to a form much changed at the Great Southern Gate. What’s more, if you examine the area next to the merchant’s body, you can pick up a treasure map. With this for a clue, you can make your way to Titan’s Wake and open a chest [which appears] on a plateau, from which you can obtain a treasure (One Man’s Treasure, worth 100,000 gil).
① Doeznov Terraces
[IMG] ⬅︎ Having set his sights on the excellent hot spring water, he has ambitions of making a fortune running an open-air bath and becoming a rich man.② The Steps of the Forgotten
[IMG] ⬅︎ Having given up doing business in Dhalmekia due to the fall of Drake’s Fang, he aims to become an extremely rich man in the Crystalline Dominion.③ Rymasov Flat
[IMG] ⬅︎ Undaunted by a series of failed ventures and set on becoming an exceedingly rich man, he gives an impassioned speech on how he plans to cross over to Ash, aiming to turn his fortunes around.④ The Great Southern Gate (Stonhyrr)
[IMG] ⬅︎ Heedless of his peril, he steals into the Kingdom of Waloed, only to be beset by a fell beast, perhaps, and is reduced to a pitiable state....
05 The designations of the Bearers who live at the hideaway change depending upon the period
Many of those who live in Clive and co.’s hideaway have been here since the time of Cid’s hideaway. However, at the time, Clive barely knew them and didn’t know their names, so their designations are as given in the chart below, rather than their true names.
▶︎ Differences in the Names of Bearers Living in the Hideaway
| Their Names at Cid’s Hideaway | Their Names at Clive & Co.’s Hideaway |
| Dauntless Bearer | Molly |
| Wounded Bearer* | Yvan, Kitchen Hand |
| Spoony Bard | Lukahn Larkstongue |
| Mysterious Maiden | Desiree |
| Besotted Bearer | Bardolph, Head Carpenter |
| Troubled Soul | Rodrigue, Physicker |
| Keeper of the Stores | Hortense, Keeper of the Stores |
| Inquisitive Girl | Shirleigh, Tutor |
| Bookish Bearer | Edita, Aspiring Writer |
| Commanding Presence | Dorys |
| Straitlaced Soldier | Cole |
| Easygoing Soldier | August |
| Cursebreaker in Training | Terrick, Cursebreaker |
| Straitlaced Bearer | Radek, Lookout |
| Merry Maid | Clarisse, Cursebreaker |
*n.b. Yvan’s designation changes even in the Y.R. 873 portion of the story. He’s one of the Bearers brought in by Dorys and Cole in CH08, where he’s identified as ‘Wounded Bearer.’ He moves into the Bunks in CH15 and then in CH21 you can find him in the Ale Hall where he’s become ‘Kitchen Hand.’
[IMG] ⬅︎ The ‘Mysterious Maiden’ who aims to improve her literacy skills later runs the Patron’s Whisper at Clive and co.’s hideaway. [IMG] ⬅︎ The ‘Easygoing Soldier,’ a.k.a. August, has long been fond of drink, and at Cid’s hideaway can be found deep in his cups in the Ale Hall. [IMG] ⬅︎ When she grows up, the ‘Inquisitive Girl’ puts a great deal of effort into tutoring the children who live at Clive and co.’s hideaway.06 If you check Clive’s initial gil balance?
If you begin a new game and open the main menu right after II-1 ‘A Chance Encounter’ (CH07) begins, you can see he’s got 16 gil. Naturally, this is a nod to the fact that this is the 16th game in the FF series.
07 When Clive’s HP is low, damage taken from enemies is reduced
If Clive’s remaining HP falls below 25% the HP gauge turns red, but in SF and AF mode the amount of damage taken from enemies is reduced in this state. What’s more, the more attempts you make, the more the amount reduced increases (see chart below). The number of attempts is reset under the below conditions.
▶︎ Amount of Damage Reduced per Number of Retries
| No. of Retries | Damage Reduction |
| ０~２ | 30% |
| ３~４ | 45% |
| ５~６ | 60% |
| ７ or more | 75% |
▶︎ Conditions Under which the Number of Retries is Reset
- When you’ve ended the fight without being incapacitated (i.e. dying)
- When the location of the battle changes during the course of the fight
08 A few rare attacks you don’t often have occasion to use
There are several manners of attack in FFXVI that can only be deployed under special circumstances. We’ll introduce two of the rarer ones here.
＊Mounted Attacks
If, while on chocobo-back, you press the（□）button, your chocobo will leap forward and deliver a kicking attack to your enemies. (ATK: 50 + 50)
[IMG] ⬅︎ Chocobos run at great speeds and it’s easy to leave enemies in the dust, so there’s no need to go out of your way to fight using this attack.＊Mid-sprint Attacks
In the field, after running for a short while (5 seconds), Clive will begin to sprint, but if you press the（□）button mid-sprint, Clive can deliver a lunging attack, bringing his sword down and around with a flourish. It deals 120 physical damage, the same as your basic (non-aerial) level 1 combo attack.
[IMG] ⬅︎ Since you can’t sprint mid-battle, you can only launch this attack before you’re noticed by an enemy.09 You can practice “Magic Burst” without a target to swing at
The ability Clive can use called “Magic Burst” involves following up with a magical attack on the heels of a physical one, but you can actually deploy this attack even when your sword doesn’t strike anything. Hence, if you make use of a field or stage where no enemies are nearby, you can practice deploying “Magic Burst” without fear of attack.
[IMG] ⬅︎ The timing of when to press the buttons for “Magic Burst” is a bit tricky. Try practicing so as to be able to use the ability well.10 In the battle against Bahamut, the brothers combine their powers in their attacks
From phase 7 (after the Phoenix has prevented the deployment of “Gigaflare”) of the Bahamut (→P.570) battle onwards, when Ifrit uses the abilities “Brimstone” and “Spitflare,” the Phoenix will participate in the attack. In these instances, the physical and will damage of “Spitflare” will be increased by 1.2x.
[IMG] ⬅︎ When you use “Spitflare,” both Ifrit and the Phoenix will spew flames.11 The way to avoid total defeat if you fail to PRESS THE ATTACK
If you fail to reduce the gauge to zero in the ‘Press the Attack’ segment of certain boss battles, Clive will be struck by an attack so powerful it will take him out in a single blow. You cannot evade or defend against these attacks, and may believe that you won’t be able to avoid GAME OVER when they’re deployed, but there’s no need to give up. If you activate Limit Break right before the enemy launches their attack, Clive’s HP will only be reduced to 1 and, even if you eat a massive amount of damage, you’ll avoid being taken out entirely. That said, since you can’t use Limit Break when primed into Ifrit, this method cannot be used [in battles fought as Ifrit].
12 You can obtain Medals of Valor for defeating formidable bosses
All of the final bosses you fight at the end of each stage are strong, but if Clive wins without taking any damage, you can obtain an item (Curiosity) called a ‘Medal of Valor.’ There are 16 (18 with the DLC) Medals of Valor, which you can obtain in the battles with the bosses listed below. You can also obtain them in Arcade Mode and Stage Replay in the ‘Arete Stone,’ so try challenging yourself to earn them all.
▶︎ Bosses you receive a Medal of Valor for defeating without taking damage
- The Midnight Raven (→P.546)
- Benedikta (→P.548)
- Garuda (In the battle after priming into Ifrit)（→P.550）
- Knight of the Blinding Dawn (→P.552) ＋ Imperial War Aevis
- Ifrit / The Infernal Shadow (→P.554, 555)
- Typhon / Transgressor Typhon (→P.558)
- War Panther (→P.559)
- Liquid Flame (→P.562)
- Hugo (→P.564)
- Titan / Titan Lost (→P.566、567)
- Bahamut (In the battle after becoming Ifrit Risen)（→P.570)
- Sleipnir (The Free Cities of Kanver)（→P.573)
- Barnabas (1st time)（→P.574)
- Barnabas (2nd time) / Odin (→P.576)
- Necron (Interdimensional Ultima)（→P.579)
- Ultima / Ultima Risen / Ultimalius (→P.581, 582, 584)
- Omega
- Leviathan
13 Try paying attention to the trees and buildings during the battle against Garuda
In II-8 ‘Awakening’ (CH14) of the main story, in the place where Ifrit and Garuda battle, there are a number of trees and the remains of buildings. When these are hit by one of Garuda’s attacks they’re reduced to splinters, whereas when Ifrit or one of his flaming spheres draw near them, they burn down.
[IMG] ⬅︎ When Ifrit draws near, the trees and the remains of buildings and whatnot burn up and are destroyed in an instant.
14 Defeated enemies disappear in a variety of ways
Of the enemies that appear throughout, the magical entities, Ultima’s thralls, and Akashic creatures typically dissipate soon after they’re defeated. There are differences in the ways in which they disappear (see below), so if you can spare the attention mid-battle, it’ll likely be interesting to note the differences.
In the case of magical entities
[IMG] ⬅︎ Their bodies dissipate as though they’re dissolving, and the grey core that falls to the ground dissolves into nothing too.In the case of Ultima’s thralls
[IMG] ⬅︎ Their bodies break down and return to aether, and the blue light particles and blue haze ascend to the upper air.In the case of Akashic creatures
[IMG] ⬅︎ After their entire bodies are enveloped in white light for a single instant, they turn into black dust and disappear without a trace.15 If you’ve aided Rowan the Traveling Trader, your conversation with him the next time you meet will change slightly
In Sidequest 26 ‘The White-Winged Wonder’ (→P.341), after you’ve defeated the bandits attacking a white chocobo, Clive and Rowan the Traveling Trader, who issued the quest, converse. In this cutscene, if you’ve completed Sidequest 5 ‘What a Bird Wants’ (→P.333), by the same quest giver, there’s an additional scene in which ‘Rowan looks at Clive’s face and recalls a Bearer who had done him a favour in the past, but doesn’t realise that the Clive in front of him is that person.’
16 Try responding to a query from Hortense, Keeper of the Stores, and receive an embroidered handkerchief from Jill
If you’ve completed Sidequest 31 ‘Cut from the Cloth’ then, in VIII-6 ‘Back to Their Origin’ (CH49) of the main story, after you’ve become able to enter Origin via the world map, when you talk to Jill you can receive an embroidered handkerchief. There are three types in all, and depending upon how you answer Hortense’s question in SQ31, the handkerchief you receive will change (see chart below). If you’ve completed SQ31, once you begin VIII-6 ‘Back to Their Origin,’ you can receive the handkerchief after you’ve re-entered the hideaway.
▶︎ Answers to Hortense and Handkerchief Received
| Answer to Hortense | Handkerchief Received |
| Black embroidered* linen | Linen Handkerchief |
| White continental silk | Silken Handkerchief |
| Lush red velvet | Velvet Handkerchief |
*n.b. The Japanese item description specifies that the embroidery is gold, whereas the English dialogue just mentions ‘goldwork’ without specifying fabric.
SUB: ...Oh, right! Clive, which of these fabrics do you like best?
ENG: Speaking of which, which one’s most to your liking?
17 The lines delivered within a sidequest will change as your party members change
In some sidequests, the content of lines in certain scenes and who speaks them will change depending upon your party makeup. For instance, in Sidequest 66 ‘Trading Places,’ when you arrive at Kazjlok (the Abandoned Fishing Village) if Torgal is your sole companion, Clive will murmur, ‘This must have been a nice place once. And it will be again,’ but if Jill is with you, she’ll say, ‘This must have been a nice place once’ (Clive: ‘And it will be again’). These sorts of scenes often appear in sidequests issued by Alliants throughout the realm, so if you want to hear your companions talk to you, it’s best to undertake these quests at points when you’ve more members in your party.
[IMG] ⬅︎ In Sidequest 64 ‘For Great Justice II,’ if Jill is with you when you make for Heavenhall, she’ll cry out upon discovering bodies on the ground.SUB: Clive, this is...!
ENG: Clive, look.
SUB: Thank you, Brother. For aiding Cyril.
ENG: It’s kind of you to take an interest in the Undying’s affairs, Brother.
18 Let’s take a close look at some of the harder-to-notice changes after completing sidequests
When you’ve completed certain quests, slight changes will occur in the area around the quest giver, etc. We’ll pick out a few of these slight changes and introduce them.
▶︎ Slight changes that occur after having completed sidequests
21 All Bark
[IMG] ⬅︎ Benoit, the Oriflamme Grandee who was beside the wagon, has disappeared and there are traces of blood on the ground nearby.SQ29 A Culinary Pilgrimage（※１）
[IMG] ⬅︎ At a table in the Main Deck, Talbot, Savorer of Stew is enjoying his beastly repast.
SQ31 Cut from the Cloth
[IMG] ⬅︎ The Bearer sisters who were on the Boarding Deck are dressed in new clothes and can be found in the Bunks.
SQ32 The Root of the Problem（※２）
[IMG] ⬅︎ Shoots are growing from the young plants, bringing more greenery to the Backyard, and yellow and purple flowers are blooming here and there.SQ44 Weird Science
[IMG] ⬅︎ The Telamon alembic that Owain, Engineer completed is installed in Mid’s dungeon.SQ53 Live and Let Live
[IMG] ⬅︎ The goblins living at Mekith have begun preparations to gather their own food.SQ59 Not to be Outdone（※１）
[IMG] ⬅︎ Talbot, Savorer of Stew, and Evelyne, Lover of Liver, are arguing over beast cuisine in the Main Deck.SQ69 Please Sir, Can I Have Some Morbol
[IMG] ⬅︎ The Backyard is even greener, attracting butterflies to the flowers, and young plantings of flowers are placed on the stairs.SQ72 Even Weirder Science
[IMG] ⬅︎ The Telamon smelter Mid devised has been completed and begins operation in a side-room of her dungeon.SQ83 Self-Determination
[IMG] ⬅︎ The young girl and sole survivor rescued from Balmung Dark (Heidemarie) has moved into the Bunks.※１………After you’ve completed the quest, the change will occur once you’ve re-entered the hideaway.
※２………The change occurs after Q67 ‘Like Father, Like Daughter.’
19 Nektar’s adventure tales change with the number of notorious marks you defeat
If you talk to the moogle, Nektar, beside the Hunt Board, and select ‘Ask about Nektar’s adventures,’ you can hear riveting stories, such as the events that occurred when Nectar went on adventures to uncharted regions around the world. The content of these tales changes in accordance with the number of notorious marks Clive defeats, as given in the chart below.
▶︎ The Contents of Nektar’s Adventure Tales You Can Hear in Accordance with No. of Marks Defeated
| No. of Marks Defeated | Contents of Nektar’s Adventure Tales |
| 0~4 | He’s never told tale of having adventured on the Continent. As to why— |
| 5~9 | Thanks to their fur coats, moogles are fine even in cold climes. When he adventured in the North, all the creatures living there had magnificent fur coats of their own, and the only ones shivering with the cold were the humans, but— |
| 10~14 | When he was travelling along the western coast [of Storm], he saw smoke and light rising from the islands known as the Smithies in the south of the Iron Kingdom. He crossed the sea, thinking it the monster forge he’d heard rumour of and— |
| 15~19 | Why does The Final Sin never fill? In order to investigate where the seawater flowed to, he jumped into the Dzemekys basin and discovered a truth. That being— |
| 20~31 | In southern Ash, orcs were engaging in cannibalism in order to survive in the deadlands, but— |
| 32（ALL*） | As for where moogle-kind live— |
*n.b. Not counting the Tonberry King and Thalaos from DLC2 The Rising Tide.
20 Try checking out the motions of the dot characters on various screens
When you select data on the save or load screens, the pixelated characters representing your party members will repeatedly raise their arms in the banzai motion, but this motion can actually be seen on other screens, as well. On the status screen, if you hover your cursor over the pixelated images, those characters will do the banzai motion. Also, as in the photos below, you can see Harpocrates and Vivian, who do not join your party, do the banzai motion as well.
[IMG] ⬅︎ The banzai motion is reminiscent of the victory pose in early games in the FF series. [IMG] ⬅︎ On the screens for Harpocrates’ Thousand Tomes and Vivian’s State of the Realm, if you use L3 to hover your cursor over Harpocrates’ or Vivian’s pixelated images, you can see them do the banzai pose.21 If you become a regular at the Tub & Crown, you can hear Maeve’s special stories
If you visit the ‘Tub & Crown’ in the Ale Hall at Clive & co.’s hideaway, you can order a drink or buy a round for the hall. You don’t gain any special benefits from drinking the ale, but if you patronise the pub numerous times you can hear 5 tales from the owner, Maeve (see chart below). Since it costs 500 gil to order a drink and 10,000 gil to buy a round for the hall, try getting Maeve to tell you her stories once you’ve a bit of leeway with your gil balance. What’s more, if you spend over 36,000 gil total, you can earn the trophy ‘Eureka.’
▶︎ Conditions Under Which You Can Hear Stories from Maeve and the Stories’ Contents
| Conditions | Contents of Maeve’s Stories |
| Order a drink x5 | Lostwing’s wine is a luxury hard to come by, but there is a rumor being whispered amongst merchants. That being— |
| Order a drink x15 | Long ago, a man and a woman living in two far-flung villages exchanged stolases to convey their feelings to one another, but the woman continually refused to see the man. Unable to give up, the man followed after his stolas and found the woman’s house, but there discovered— |
| Order a drink x30 | At eventide, when the world is painted over in gold, many things become vague and indistinct. Even in Richart’s Bales, where I lived, strange incidents always happened at dusk and— |
| Order a drink x50 | In ancient times, chocobos flew the skies. The birds called chocobos their kings and lived happily in a paradise in the sky, but the fell beasts of the land grew jealous of this and began eating the birds, so the chocobos— |
| Order a drink after having bought a round for the hall more than 4x（※１） | Apparently, in the Fallen Era, two airships competed to see which could fly highest. They breached the clouds without being able to declare a winner and— |
※１………When you’ve fulfilled this concurrently with other conditions, you can only hear one or the other (the other you can hear the next time you’ve ordered a drink)
22 The trajectory of Asta—who is very easily beguiled and has many romantic interests—’s love life
Asta, who stands before the entrance to the Bunks at Clive & co.’s hideaway, shifts her attentions to a new man every time Clive returns to the hideaway at turning points in the story. There are a grand total of 10 people she falls for (see chart below). What’s more, her outfit changes to match each of the people she’s infatuated with.
n.b. I read somewhere that Asta has the most costume changes of any character in FFXVI (lol). In English, she’s voiced by Nina Yndis (who also voices Benedikta), though it’s not listed in the credits, I don’t think.
▶︎ The Changes in Asta’s Object of Infatuation
| When She Comes to Like Them | The Object of Her Infatuation |
| IV-2 Home, Sweet Home (CH24) | Otto |
| IV-3 The Gathering Storm (CH25)（※２） | Cole |
| IV-6 Here Be Monsters (CH28) | Gaute |
| V-1 After the Storm (CH30) | Blackthorne |
| V-3 Bolts from the Blue (CH32) | Goetz |
| VI-1 Out of the Shadow (CH35) | Gav |
| VII-1 Things Fall Apart (CH38) | Dion |
| VII-4 A Song of Hope (CH41) | Lukahn（Spoony Bard） |
| VIII-1 Across the Narrow (CH44) | Joshua |
| VIII-6 Back to Their Origin (CH49) | Clive |
※２………After you’ve resolved the trouble at Martha’s Rest
23 9 kinds of animal make an appearance at Clive & co.’s hideaway
On the hideaway’s Rear Stacks (where you exit out the back of the Black Hammer), you can see Jackin, Amateur Twitcher, talking to all sorts of animals and making friends with them. The changes in the animals that appear are as given below. Incidentally, in VIII-6 ‘Back to Their Origin’ (CH49) of the main story, no animals appear on the Rear Stacks and Jackin tells Clive of his dream.
[IMG] Squeaks (Rat)Appears in：IV-2 Home, Sweet Home (CH24)
[IMG] Choco-chan (unnamed in English) (Yard Chocobo)Appears in：IV-3 The Gathering Storm (CH25)（※２）
[IMG] Poppo-san (unnamed in English) (Pigeon)Appears in：IV-6 Here Be Monsters (CH28)
[IMG] Mister Crow (Crow)Appears in：V-1 After the Storm (CH30)
[IMG] Mister Seagull (Seagull)Appears in：V-3 Bolts from the Blue (CH32)
[IMG] Mister Stilts (Heron)Appears in：VI-1 Out of the Shadow (CH35)
[IMG] Pii-chan (unnamed in English) (Hawk/Eagle)Appears in：VII-1 Things Fall Apart (CH38)
[IMG] Doggy (Dog)Appears in：VII-4 A Song of Hope (CH41)
[IMG] DekaChoco-chan (unnamed in English) (Chocobo)Appears in：VIII-1 Across the Narrow (CH44)
24 A convenient technique to know for getting around the hideaway
Since Clive and co.’s hideaway is quite spacious, it takes a bit of time to move from places like the Backyard or the Atrium to the Boarding Deck where the lift is. When you want to reach the Boarding Deck as fast as possible, we recommend re-entering the hideaway via the World Map screen. In this way, you can reach the deck in a shorter amount of time than running would take.
25 The key to deciphering Valisthean chirography was at Clive and co.’s hideaway
Several objects with writing unique to Valisthea appear within the game, such as the billets posted on the Hunt Board, the monument that stands before Bewit Bridge, and the memorial erected in Eastpool. At first glance, you may not know how to read them, but actually, there’s a chart of letters on the board in the Atrium of Clive and co.’s hideaway with the characters that correspond to A~Z and, beneath them, the numbers 1, 2, 3...0 (see chart below). If you use this as a reference, and swap out the characters for Roman letters and Arabic numerals, you can decipher them.
n.b. In English, all you have to do to read the monument and the memorial is inspect them, but when you do so in Japanese the text is obviously in Japanese as well and not an exact translation, so someone playing the game in Japanese would have to use the letter chart to decipher the exact English wording.
[IMG] ⬅︎ The chart of letters is posted on the board Shirleigh uses in her lessons. [IMG] ⬅︎ Just like the Roman alphabet, each of the 26 letters has both uppercase and lowercase versions.n.b. There’s also a reduplicator character that doesn’t appear in the chart which just looks like a dash and tells you to repeat whatever letter came before it.
26 Discover the doodles drawn by the children throughout the hideaway
At both Cid’s and Clive and co.’s hideaways there are places that have been doodled on by children. Let’s take a closer look at what they’ve drawn.
[IMG] ⬅︎ In the back room of Cid’s solar at his hideaway, a picture of Cid drawn by Mid when she was little remains on the wall. [IMG] ⬅︎ On the board in the Atrium of Clive and co.’s hideaway, there’s a doodle of Clive and his companions drawn by Aimee and the others. [IMG] ⬅︎ In V-1 ‘After the Storm’ (CH30) Aimee and Josselin are engrossed in doodling on the deck.27 Were there some unavoidable circumstances...? Changes to The Hanged Man’s menu
The drinks and dishes on offer at The Hanged Man in Lostwing change a bit as the story progresses. Specifically, from IV-3 ‘The Gathering Storm’ (CH25) onwards, ale, sausages, herb-grilled fish, and spiced fish stew have disappeared from the menu. Five years have passed in the interim during which the menu change occurred, and the effects of the Mothercrystal’s fall and the spread of the Blight have likely influenced it.
The menu changes are different and more extensive in English. Between Y.R. 873 and Y.R. 878, Brandewine, Imperial Gold, and Gaultand 870 have disappeared from the Drinke menu, replaced by Gaultand 871. On the Meate menu, Pandemain, Stone Blue, Black Pudding, Roast Hare, Chocobo Stewe, and Carrot Broth have been replaced by Clapbread, White Pudding, and Stewed Greens. Only the Smoked Kippers and the Salt Loach remain from the Y.R. 873 menu. [IMG] ⬅︎ If you inspect the leaflet tacked to the pillar beside the counter, you can check The Hanged Man’s menu.n.b. Unlike the text on the various monuments, the Valisthean on the ‘menu’ does not actually say what it claims it does when you inspect it.
28 The way knights salute varies from nation to nation
If you watch the cutscenes that appear throughout the story carefully you’ll notice this, but the salutes exchanged by knights vary by nation. The differences between the three nations’ salutes are as detailed below.
The Grand Duchy of Rosaria
[IMG] ⬅︎ After taking their inverted weapon in both hands, they then stand it directly upright.The Holy Empire of Sanbreque
[IMG] ⬅︎ They spread both arms wide whilst lifting the left leg and then bring their feet together and cross their arms over their chests as they bow their heads slightly.The Dhalmekian Republic
[IMG] ⬅︎ They spread their arms open at chest height and then bring their left palm and right fist together.29 If you look at the handwritten signatures on the missives, you can tell something about the sender’s character
The missives that arrive at Clive’s reading table are signed by their senders. All of the signatures are hand written and the shape of the letters and the brush strokes reveal something about the people who wrote them. There are many other unique signatures besides the ones introduced here, so it will be fun to take a closer look at them.
Joshua
[IMG] ⬅︎ As one would expect of someone educated to become the next Archduke, his brushstrokes are fluid and fluent. The letters are also neatly rendered.Jill
[IMG] ⬅︎ Its distinguishing feature is that the lines are overall soft and the brushstrokes well-modulated. You get a sense of elegance and refinement befitting a woman of high birth.Gav
[IMG] ⬅︎ The report had been written in a hurry in order to send it quickly, and the lines to the right of the first and third letters are somewhat faint.Cole
[IMG] ⬅︎ Since he learnt to read and write when he was fully grown, although the handwriting is unpracticed and childlike, the effort to write conscientiously is evident.Cyril
[IMG] ⬅︎ As one would expect of the member of a secret society, his signature is like a cryptograph. The first letter of his name has been combined with the mark of the Undying.30 Try finding elements of the FF series scattered throughout
This work is filled with elements that are connected to previous instalments in the FF series. Here are some details that will make any FF fan crack a smile. There are more to be found, so if you’re curious, by all means look for them.
♦︎ The Young Fisher
From IV-3 ‘The Gathering Storm’ (CH25) of the main story onwards, the Young Fisher beside the pond in Lostwing will say, ‘Since I want Gramps to eat “delicious fish” everyday and live a long time*.’ This is a homage to the episode in 『FFVI』where Celes catches a fish for Cid, who is bedridden after the world is destroyed.
*ENG: I’ve caught my share with it. As did my grandfather before me.♦︎ The Storyteller
The Storyteller in Northreach tells children old tales as detailed in the chart below. Of these, stories ①〜③ are based upon the Fat Chocobo*, the Magic Pot**, and the White Dragon*** which appear in previous FF games respectively.
*n.b. Also known as the Big Chocobo, the Chubby Chocobo, or The Godsbird.
**n.b. Also known as Magic Urn or Magick Pot.
***n.b. Also known as Shinryu, Lord Dragon, or Nova Dragon.
▶︎ The Contents of the Tales of Eld told by the Storyteller
| Content of the Tales of Eld | When You Can Hear Them |
| ① The tale of a giant chocobo that devoured a traveler’s belongings* | After you’ve completed Quest 55 ‘Why We Fight’ (→P.297) |
| ② The tale of a pot that wants Elixir | After you’ve completed procedure ❶ of the main story in VIII-1 ‘Across the Narrow’ (CH44) (→P.311) (i.e. After you’ve entered the infirmary) |
| ③ The tale of a white dragon hiding in a treasure coffer | After you’ve completed procedure ❹ of SQ92 ‘Under New Management II’ (→P.370) |
| ④ The tale of the beast that lives in the western sea (Leviathan?) | After you’ve completed SQ92 ‘Under New Management II’ (→P.370) |
*n.b. In English, it supposedly ate the traveler.
n.b. The Storyteller is the young woman seated at a table outside the Iron Flagon with her tale-telling grandfather the first time Clive visits Northreach in CH21. Five years on, her grandfather has passed away and she’s carried on his storytelling. The children she’s telling stories to are refugees from Moore.
♦︎ The Aliases Clive and Jill Use
In Quest 56 ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ (→P.299), Clive and Jill put on a charade in order to persuade Konrad and Natalie, and in the process assume several pseudonyms inspired by previous works.
▶︎ The Origins of the Aliases Clive and Jill Use
| Alias | Origin |
| Underhill | Owner of the Caravan who sells bottled fairies in『FFI』 |
| Jayne | Queen of Cornelia in 『FFI』 |
| Flame Bute* | A whip that has appeared in previous FF games |
| Javelin | A lance that has appeared in previous FF games |
| Red Wings（※１） | The elite air force of the kingdom of Baron in『FFIV』 |
※１………The name of Jayne’s mercenary group when the language is set to English.
*n.b. Also known as FireLash, Fire Lash, Flame Whip, Fire Whip, Flame Mace, or Wildfire Whipblade.
The names Flame Bute and Javelin don’t appear in the English version of this quest, which differs quite a bit between the Japanese and the English (most notably in Clive’s acting ability or lack thereof, but in other small ways as well). The corresponding dialogue is as follows:Victor: Good of you to come, Milady. | Konrad, let me introduce you. This is the Lady Jayne, who commands the “Javelin Mercenary Group” of Kanver.
ENG: Ah, here she is. The Lady of the Spear herself. | Konrad. May I introduce you to Jayne, commander of the Red Wings–the oldest mercenary guild in the Free Cities.
L’ubor: Natalie. He’s Underhill. He works at the “Fire Bute Merchants’ Guild” of Ran’dellah.
ENG: Natalie. Allow me to introduce Lord Underhill of Ran’dellah’s prestigious league of merchants.
♦︎ The Names Used by Members of the Undying
The name ‘Margrace’ Joshua uses as an alias near the beginning of the story, his attendant ‘Jote,’ and the names ‘Dalan’ and ‘Kytes’ recorded in the Book of Martyrs (→P.481)—these are all names of characters that appear in 『FFXII』.
n.b. It’s confirmed ‘Jote’ is also an alias.
♦︎ The Notorious Mark Icon
The Rogue Tomato, one of the notorious marks in 『FFXII』, has become the motif for the Notorious Mark symbol and the Notorious Mark location icon.
[IMG] Symbol [IMG] Location Icon**n.b. The location icon only appears in-game if you open the local map once you’ve encountered the mark in the field (since the map won’t tell you where the marks are specifically). It’s also used to indicate the various Notorious Marks’ locations in the Maps chapter of Ultimania (CH07).
I’m going to go ahead and tack on a few chestnuts I’ve discovered myself, in no particular order, in case they’re of interest.
1) There’s actually a Renown level below ‘A Spark of Hope’
If you’re like me and compulsively did all the hunts and sidequests as soon as they became available your first go around, you may not have noticed this, but there’s actually a Renown level below ‘A Spark of Hope’ called ‘A Slumbering Ember’ in English (睡る燠火 in Japanese). The Levels of Acclaim and requisite Renown Points are as follows.
| Level of Acclaim | Renown Points |
| A Slumbering Ember | 0~44 |
| A Spark of Hope | 45~134 |
| A Candle in the Night | 135~409 |
| The Fire in Our Hearts | 410~904 |
| The Rising Flame | 905~1634 |
| A Blazing Beacon | 1635~2364 |
| The Roaring Hearth | 2365~2849 |
| A New Dawn | 2850+ |
2) Other allusions to previous instalments in the FF series
I’m admittedly less familiar with the earlier FF games, but I’ve been looking up unfamiliar terms as I encounter them and turned up quite a few allusions. Leaving aside the obvious like the DLC items and the currency, some of the ones I’ve spotted include:
- One of Tiamat’s kakegoe* in CH07 is ‘A nutkin hits harder!’ (English) [FFXIV]
- In the Y.R. 873 timeline, Kenneth’s eatery is called The Fat Chocobo [recurring]
- The names Cid suggests in his letter to Mid for what will eventually become the Enterprise (also the names Cid, Mid, and Enterprise) [recurring]
- In CH21, Rodrigue can be heard muttering that they’re ‘low on gigantoad oil and curiel greens’ (English) [recurring]
- In the Japanese version of Joshua’s confrontation with Ultima in CH22, instead of ‘You! Will leave! My brother! Alone!’ he says, ‘Faia! Faira! Faiga! Faija!’ (i.e. Fire, Fira, Firaga, etc.) [recurring]
- In CH24, Tett and Crow can be heard talking excitedly about how the fallen airship in which they’ve established their new hideaway is called the Invincible [FFIII]
- The phrases on the letter fliers on Shirleigh’s Board [various]
- The contents of what I’ve termed ‘the Hideaway List,’ given how many denizens of the place I’ve spotted holding it [various]
- The flavor text for Garlic (one of the key items in Q43 ‘Letting off Steam III’) reads: Alimentary alliums are a hallmark of classical Sanbrequois cuisine. So much so that it is a tradition for the emperor to award honorary titles to those responsible for supervising their cultivation and preparation in the Whitewyrm Castle kitchens–the so-called “Garlic Knight” among them. (English) [FFIII Onion Knight]
- In SQ27 ‘The Fruits of Her Labors,’ Clarisse describes Martelle as ‘brave as a banemite’ (English) [FFXIV]
- The suggestive sign in Dalimil advertising ‘Genuine Cactuar Needles’ [recurring]
- The ‘Shimmering Isle’ mentioned in Travels in Valisthea, which you can inspect in Eistla [FFIX]
- The Medal of Valor you get for defeating Ultima in the Interdimensional Rift without taking damage has your defeated foe as ‘Necron’ (English) [FFIX]
- Azeria () gets credit for noticing that, in the Japanese version of the final battle, when Ultima and Clive are vying to invoke the various Eikons, Ultimalius calls out legacy summoning spells (Bahamur, Icen, Catastro, Hyper, Spark) with the addition of Tycoon for the Phoenix and Gigametz for Garuda, while Clive uses the Eikons’ names [FFIII / FFV]
- Referring to the Magitek War as the ‘War of the Magi’ — also the term ‘magitek,’ for that matter (DLC) [FFVI / recurring]
- The Angra Mainyu attack called ‘Eyes on Me’ (DLC1) [FFVIII]
- The place name Mysidia and the body of water in Haven called Minwu’s Cup (also the Minwu Waistcloth and the Minwu Arm Rings) (DLC2) [FFII]
- In The Rising Tide it’s revealed that Shiva’s previous Dominant was a woman named Ysay. This is supposedly a nod to the character Ysayle Dangoulain, a.k.a. Lady Iceheart (Incidentally, her name on her gravestone is upside down) [FFXIV]
- Musical leitmotifs of the Prelude, Fallen Angel, Final Fantasy, and the Chocobo theme woven into some FFXVI tracks
n.b. ‘kakegoe’ (掛け声) are the things your party members say to you (in battle, in this case). I don’t know what you’d call them in English. Party chatter?
3) Cid’s surname
I knew Telamon was one of the Argonauts and the father of Ajax in the Iliad, but when I looked it up I learnt that the name means ‘bearer’ or ‘supporter’ in Greek (telamōn).
4) Torgal’s Pedigree
Many of Torgal’s levels are (unsurprisingly) allusions to Fenrir of Norse Mythology. Fenrir, meaning ‘fen-dweller’ in Old Norse, is also referred to as Hróðvitnir (Old Norse ‘fame-wolf’) and Vánagandr (Old Norse ‘monster of the [River] Ván’). Since Fenrir was prophesied to do the Gods harm, they grew fearful of his growing power and so prepared three fetters-Leyding, Dromi, and Gleipnir-each more powerful than the last. Fenrir broke each of these in turn. Here’s that tale in more detail:
The gods noticed that Fenrir was growing rapidly every day, and since all prophecies foretold that Fenrir was destined to cause them harm, the gods formed a plan. The gods prepared three fetters: The first, greatly strong, was called Leyding. They brought Leyding to Fenrir and suggested that the wolf try his strength with it. Fenrir judged that it was not beyond his strength, and so let the gods do what they wanted with it. At Fenrir’s first kick the bind snapped, and Fenrir loosened himself from Leyding.
~ Wikipedia entry on Fenrir
The gods made a second fetter, twice as strong, and named it Dromi. The gods asked Fenrir to try the new fetter, and that should he break this feat of engineering, Fenrir would achieve great fame for his strength. Fenrir considered that, while the fetter was very strong, his strength had grown since he broke Leyding; and also that he would have to take some risks if he were to become famous. Fenrir allowed them to place the fetter (…) When the Æsir exclaimed that they were ready, Fenrir shook himself, knocked the fetter to the ground, strained hard, and kicking with his feet, snapped the fetter – breaking it into pieces that flew far into the distance. High says that, as a result, to “loose from Leyding” or to “strike out of Dromi” have become sayings for when something is achieved with great effort.
The Æsir started to fear that they would not be able to bind Fenrir, and so Odin sent Freyr’s messenger Skírnir down into the land of Svartálfaheimr to “some dwarfs” and had them make a fetter called Gleipnir. The dwarves constructed Gleipnir from six mythical ingredients. After an exchange between Gangleri and High, High continues that the fetter was smooth and soft as a silken ribbon, yet strong and firm. The messenger brought the ribbon to the Æsir, and they thanked him heartily for completing the task.
The Æsir went out on to the lake Amsvartnir sent for Fenrir to accompany them, and continued to the island Lyngvi (Old Norse “a place overgrown with heather”). The gods showed Fenrir the silken fetter Gleipnir, told him to tear it, stated that it was much stronger than it appeared (…)When the gods knew that Fenrir was fully bound, they took a cord called Gelgja (Old Norse “fetter”) hanging from Gleipnir, inserted the cord through a large stone slab called Gjöll (Old Norse “scream”), and the gods fastened the stone slab deep into the ground. After, the gods took a great rock called Thviti (Old Norse “hitter, batterer”), and thrust it even further into the ground as an anchoring peg. Fenrir reacted violently; he opened his jaws very wide, and tried to bite the gods. Then the gods thrust a sword into his mouth. Its hilt touched the lower jaw and its point the upper one; by means of it the jaws of the wolf were spread apart and the wolf gagged. Fenrir “howled horribly”, saliva ran from his mouth, and this saliva formed the river Ván (Old Norse “hope”). There Fenrir will lie until Ragnarök.
n.b. This is possibly funny only to me, but I had to look them up when I noticed that Torgal’s 7th level in Japanese was レージングルーザー (reejingu-ruuzaa) which I could only parse as ‘raging loser’ lol. Don’t ask me why they went with ‘za’ and not ‘sa’ here, but thanks to that, I learnt this fun bit of trivia.
Torgal also gains an additional 2 levels with the DLC expansion which allows Clive’s level to cap out at 110 instead of the 100 allotted in the base game. Unfortunately, Azeria () noticed when she’d already reached his 12th and final level and I haven’t gotten that far yet, so level 11 remains a mystery.
| Torgal’s Levels | Clive’s Corresponding Levels |
| Lone Hunter | 1~15 |
| Fame Wolf | 16~19 |
| Fine Hound | 20~23 |
| Fangs of Ruin | 24~27 |
| Snowcloak | 28~31 |
| Vanagandr | 32~35 |
| Leyding-looser | 36~39 |
| Dromi-striker | 40~62 |
| Gleipnir-cutter | 63~81 |
| Fenrir of the Full Moon | 82~100 |
| ??? | 101~? |
| Godslayer | ?~110 |
5) Dim potions
Another tip from Azeria (), but apparently someone pointed out that from the end of CH18 onwards, there’s really no reason to buy potions. You can just take a run through the Dim and collect three Potions and a High Potion without having to contend with a single enemy or expend any gil. (Of course, after a certain point, you’ll be so flush with gil it won’t matter.)
6) There are points in the story when Clive can’t jump
Normally, when you press the (x) button, Clive can jump, regardless of if you’re at the hideaway or out in the field, mid-battle or not. But there are a few points in the story where pressing (x) does nothing—for narrative reasons, I presume. For instance, at the top of CH15 ‘The Wages of Guilt’ right after Clive’s discovered he was the Eikon that allegedly killed his brother, and inside the infirmary where Joshua and Dion are sleeping in CH38 ‘Things Fall Apart.’
7) Try turning back when you’re ushered onward to hear additional dialogue
This applies to most situations, but for the first several times I played through CH11 ‘Louder than Words,’ the instant Cid yelled, ‘Clive! After him!’ I immediately gave chase...until I saw そうたさん (@zSo_ta_r) point out on Xitter that if you double back to the cellar at that point there’s more dialogue. The Japanese is pretty straightforward, as it usually is, but when I checked the English Cid says, ‘Did you not hear me when I said “after him”? I could shout if you like?’ (lol). Gav, Quinten, and the NPCs in the wine cellar also have dialogue here.
The same applies to points where you’re told to continue on to a new map area that’s opened up (The Greatwood, Greensheaves, etc.) but you return to wherever you’re meant to be leaving instead. (Obviously Drake’s Head in CH22 is an exception). There are usually a few NPCs with novel dialogue at these points, including but not limited to your party members and alliants. This can happen intermittently as you proceed through each chapter’s ‘procedures’ (the instructions that display in the upper right of the screen) as well, so if you’re curious to hear more, there’s a surprising amount of dialogue to turn up.
8) Lukahn Larkstongue (the hideaway’s own Spoony Bard) has 3 songs in CH35 alone
Maybe you’re one of those players who avoids bards like the plague, but if you’re not, you may be interested to know that Lukahn actually sings three different songs during the course of CH35, when normally they only change over at each chapter that’s based primarily at the hideaway. Apparently, Koji Fox had a hand in the creation of most, if not all, of them.
9) Clive’s boyhood favourite story, The Saint and the Sectary, is basically Star Wars
Starting from CH24 onwards, If you examine the tome lying open on the desk on the table in front of Shirleigh’s board of letters, you can read an excerpt from what is clearly the Saint and the Sectary, given that it names Sir Crandall, the sorcerer Madu, and Sybil. I’ll share this, too, when I get around to it, but it ends with the line: ‘No, spake Madu. I am thy father! And Sir Crandall was passing vexed’ (lol). If that’s not enough to convince you it’s an allusion, Sir Crandall’s hand gets chopped off in their confrontation.
10) FFXVI is full of literary references
In addition to FF, mythological, folkloric, historical, and pop culture references, FFXVI is full of literary ones. I may do a separate post on these eventually so I won’t go into great detail here, but I’ve pulled out a few examples:
♦︎ Named Objects
My favorite example of this is probably Invictus, Clive’s sword. Some people have cited Final Fantasy Record Keeper as the source of this particular weapon’s name, and perhaps it is, but of the wide range of weapon names from previous works they might have chosen, I find it fitting that they chose this one. The first time I heard it, my mind immediately went to the William Ernest Henley poem by the same title, whose final verse goes:
It matters not how strait the gait,
~ “Invictus,” by William Ernest Henley
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Seems very fitting for Clive in particular and our MCs’ quest to ‘live on their own terms’ more generally.
♦︎ OST Track Titles
Another poetry reference is the track title Lovely, Dark, and Deep – The Greatwood. I don’t think I’m making things up when I say that this is an allusion to the Robert Frost poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” whose final verse reads:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
~ “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” by William Frost
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Again, fitting, since at this point in the story Clive is hell bent on fulfilling his vow to avenge his brother’s assumed death and bring peace to his soul.
♦︎ Dialogue
There are a number of examples of this. NPC characters you could easily overlook quote obscure lines from Shakespeare, I’m not even kidding. Other works get referenced or alluded to, as well, but to give an example, the line “Once more unto the breach” from the famous speech in Shakespeare’s Henry V gets quoted at least three different times.
...And that’s all from me for now. If you’ve any other FFXVI chestnuts / easter eggs / pro tips you feel like sharing, by all means drop a comment below!All source materials belong to the parties to which they are licensed. All translations are our own.