G’raha Tia is the Hero of FFXIV Post-Endwalker, and I Love It
Endwalker is several patches behind us now: the Scions of the Seventh Dawn have publicly disbanded, though secretly remain active throughout Eorzea and the rest of the world. The Warrior of Light’s heroism and legacy have reached mythologic status, with Endwalker taking us to the edge of the universe and back, triumphant. It was beautiful, emotional, and fitting—if not questionably paced at times—end to the Hydaelyn and Zodiark narrative started in A Realm Reborn. But now the plot has to essentially reset. A new story arc is unfolding, one involving Allagan lore, the Twelve, and who knows what else, if these recent in-between patches are any indication.
FFXIV isn’t constrained to the hero’s journey archetype, but starting a new era in the game means returning to a simpler, less epic story in scale for now. And what better way to do that than by focusing on the newest Scion, former Crystal Exarch, and beloved catboy G’raha Tia? He’s become a fan favorite for his role in Shadowbringers and subsequent endearing sacrificial tendencies in Endwalker. His experiences as the Crystal Exarch and now reborn Scion adventurer give him a special connection to us, making him the new heart of the story post-Endwalker.
In A Realm Reborn, you discover that G’raha Tia was the last to inherit the Allagan Eye, which is the key to the Crystal Tower and, within it, all the ancient Allagan Empire’s advanced technology and questionable projects. After the events of the Crystal Tower Alliance Raids, G’raha gains full control of the Tower and seals it and himself away. There he falls into a deep slumber like a majestic scholarly Sleeping Catboy, waiting until the world is ready for the advanced, powerful, and potential world-ending technology locked within.
Unfortunately, G’raha is awakened nearly 200 years later to find a ruinous future, where an Eighth Calamity has come to pass. And so he takes the Tower to the past to prevent it from happening. This leads him nearly a hundred years too far into the past of the First, a reflection of the Source which is the primary setting in FFXIV.
This Crystal Exarch version of him leads a city of survivors during the events of Shadowbringers. Desperate for help, G’raha calls across time, space, and reality for the Warrior of Light, grabbing all the other Scions by accident in the process as well. Together they save the First and stop the Ascians’ plans.
In the process, the Crystal Exarch sacrifices himself to return the Scions to the Source. The process to return them requires enough energy to turn him to crystal. He confesses his last wish was to go on more journeys with the Warrior of Light. It’s this tragic moment that made me cry. The Exarch version of him dies, but his memories get transferred to his still-sleeping self in the present of the Source, and G’raha Tia officially wakes up and becomes a Scion.
In this essence he is a brand new hero, new to the Scions, new to journeying—though not leading and helping. This is true throughout Endwalker, and indeed he sacrifices himself yet again (and gets yelled at for it by everyone) in Ultima Thule. I don’t think catboys have nine lives, but if they do, he only has seven left.
When I think of G’raha’s current status, given everything he’s been through in Shadowbringers, I keep coming back to the hero’s journey archetypes and opening framework. The hero’s journey starts with a call to adventure, and the hero is typically special, chosen, or needed for some reason or other. As a Scion, G’raha not only answers the call but he does so happily. He's a hero, ally, and mentor depending on the need, putting him in a unique position. In Endwalker, when Radz-at-Han falls to chaos, G’raha confidently takes charge and rallies citizens to stand strong and not give into the fear turning them into monsters. Then he leaves the rest to you.
His experiences as Crystal Exarch make him both a new and retired hero in his own right, a hero starting anew, getting to take part in dreams of adventures long thought turned to dust.
This is why he’s become the heart of post-Endwalker content. His unerring belief in the Warrior of Light and the Scions mission to help others as well as his curiosity about the world are endearing enough, but I’m already connected to him because of his Crystal Exarch journey. It adds this added extra, satisfying layer of attachment. This isn’t a brand new journey, but it G’raha’s new journey, a dream fulfilled at last—a new beginning with old friends having saved the universe, now off on smaller, but no less grand adventures.
We want him to go to new places and find new discoveries. The Warrior of Light often smiles at him in cutscenes when he uncovers something new or reveals a new Sharlayan device to use. Krile smiles at G’raha in the leadup to the Euphrosyne Alliance Raid as he happily explains the massive backpack he’s lugging around, and why it’s useful. Even the characters all around him love seeing his joy at getting to do what he always wanted.
G’raha plays the part of guide and eager newbie explorer in the post-Endwalker content, particularly the aptly named Newfound Adventure (6.1) and the Gods Revel, Lands Tremble patches (6.3) quite well. Returning back to a more episodic, smaller series of adventures and mysteries is a nice refresh after a long, fulfilling, and heartrending end to a primary story arc. He is the guide to what this new normal for Final Fantasy XIV is going to look like for a while, at least between major expansions. Throughout both Endwalker and post-Endwalker patches he’s been placed as the wide-eyed explorer, desperate for new experiences with the Warrior of Light. Given everything he’s been through in Shadowbringers, everything and everyone he died twice to save? I’m all too happy to tag along for a more joyous ride.
When the Euphrosyne Alliance Raid was introduced, I smiled when he showed up to exposition dump new information about the Twelve or aetheric concept. It has the energy of the early A Realm Reborn days. We’re going back to earnest adventuring with this catboy, minus the burlap sack sprout gear. And I, for one, am in love with it.
