Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrailbrings the Warrior of Light and Scions to the vibrant world of Tural. This continent to the west of Eorzea is home to various different races of people, from the entrepreneurial Pelupelu to the Mamool Ja and their Blessed Siblings.
This expansion introduces tons of new characters, and the Scions take a bit of a backseat to let these new faces shine. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the best new characters introduced in this expansion, in no particular order.
Spoilers for the Dawntrail main story below!
7Koana
Koana is Wuk Lamat’s half-brother and fellow adopted child of Gulool Ja Ja. He is a Hhetsarro, also known as a Miqo’te in Eorzea, and was born in the plains ofShaaloani, but was abandoned by his people at a young age and then taken in by the Dawnservant and raised as his son. He went on to study at the Studium in Sharlayan, gaining a love and appreciation for various technologies of the world.
During the first half of Dawntrail’s store, Koana is Wuk Lamat’s rival, but also acts as her foil. While Wuk Lamat wants to learn everything she an about Tural’s people and traditions, Koana prefers to look to the future rather than the past, seeking technological advancements that would ease the lives of Tural’s people.
6Sphene
Queen Sphene is the main antagonist of the second half of Dawntrail’s story. She was once the princess of Alexandria, a kingdom in one of the Source’s Reflections. However, this world was plagued by lightning-aspected disasters, making life there extremely difficult. Eventually, Sphene dies due to the Levin Sickness unique to this world.
Through a complicated series of events, Sphene is brought back to “life” using her memories, becoming one of the first Endless, and then goes on to lead Alexandria as its queen. While Sphene originally appears as kind and lighthearted, her unwavering devotion to the people of Alexandria sets her on the misguided path of harvesting souls from everything outside of Alexandria to fuel the Endless and continue to protect her people.
Her loyalty to the Alexandrians is a tragic flaw that makes Sphene one of Dawntrail’s most interesting characters.
5Otis
Otis was the Captain of the Knights of Alexandria and Sphene’s personal guard. After his death, his soul was transferred to a robotic body, while a copy of his memories was uploaded to Living Memory, where he dutifully plays out his role as a knight.
In both stages of his life, Otis was a devout knight and protector of the people, making his demise all the more tragic. After essentially sacrificing himself to become a prototype for the Endless, he sacrifices himself yet again in the present time to protect Sphene. His relationship with Zoraal Ja’s son is also touching, showcasing Otis’s neverending altruism.
4Cahciua
Erenville’s mother, Cahciua, is a Viera (called Shetona in Tural), that was in Yyasulani when Alexandria was transported there through the interdimensional fusion process. As such, Cahciua, along with the other residents of the region, was essentially sent 30 years into the future from the rest of the world.
Cahciua first appears to you as a robot, guiding you through Heritage Found and Solution Nine, before you eventually learn that her “true” body is in Living Memory, and that she is already dead. Erenville’s relationship with his mother makes the final quests in Living Memory extremely emotional, as you are tasked with ending Cachiua and the other endless' lives.
3Bakool Ja Ja
The Blessed Siblings Bakool Ja Ja are a claimant to the Dawnservant’s throne and one of Wuk Lamat’s most formidable rivals. Throughout the first half of Dawntrail’s story, Bakool Ja Ja ranges from nuisance to outright threat, attempting to impede Wuk Lamat’s progress at every step, even going so far as to unleashValigarmanda, the most dangerous beast in all of Tural.
However, when the truth behind the creation of the Blessed Siblings is revealed, everything falls into place, and Bakool Ja Ja becomes one of the most tragic characters in the expansion. While it doesn’t make up for the danger he puts you, Wuk Lamat, and the people of Tural in, learning Bakool Ja Ja’s backstory makes him a sympathetic character that is surely on Dawntrail’s best written.
2Wuk Lamat
Wuk Lamat is Dawntrail’s main character, for better or worse. After the Warrior of Light saves the world fromthe Final Days, it’s time for a new hero to appear and for the Warrior of Light to take a well-deserved back seat. While not everyone appreciates being sidelined, Wuk Lamat’s overwhelming positivity in the face of adversity is hard not to love.
In a story all about preservation and legacy, Wuk Lamat is the perfect protagonist. She is eager to learn about the cultures of Tural, talk through conflict instead of resorting to violence like Zoraal Ja, and create a unified Tural that embraces its diversity.
1Gulool Ja Ja
The previous Dawnservant before Wuk Lamat and Koana take the title, Gulool Ja Ja is a hero of Tural and one of the expansion’s most lovable characters. While not everyone in Tural shares his ideals, Gulool Ja Ja earned the respect of the nation’s people by becoming its first Dawnservant and unifying its people together.
As you explore Tural, you quickly learn of its peoples' admiration for Gulool Ja Ja, telling stories of his triumphs wherever you go. Gulool Ja Ja’s charismatic and amiable nature made him the perfect leader for Tural, but his death at the hands of Zoraal Ja forced Wuk Lamat and Koana to carry on his legacy earlier than intended.
