Final Fantasy 16features the series' most dark and mature storyline to date. Developer Square Enix took heavy inspiration fromGame of Thrones, setting the title within land torn asunder by international conflict. Waging war over the land of Valisthea’s mothercrystals, nations employ their Eikons in epic clashes. But the title’s most sinister war strategies play out behind the scenes, and much likeGame of Thrones, its villains employ bold deceptions to get ahead. While many of these deceptions lead to shocking twists,Final Fantasy 16’s Twinside Rebellion proves to be its Red Wedding.
At the center ofFinal Fantasy 16’s conflict are the Dominants. Because of their awesome strength, the familial lines that manifest a Dominant often rule as a nation’s leaders, with the firstborn heir to the throne becoming the next Dominant. The Holy Empire of Sanbreque is home to the Eikon of Light, Bahamut, whose Dominant, Prince Dion Lesage, is heir-apparent. A bold leader on the battlefield, Dion commands the Empire’s greatest soldiers, the dragoons, often fighting on the frontline for his country. When Dion’s father, Emperor Sylvestre Lesage, takes Anabella Rosfield as his wife, Dion’s position on and off the battlefield is thrown into question.
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Sanbreque is Under Threat of Attack
The Holy Empire of Sanbreque’s royal family resides in the capital city of Twinside, with Sylvestre and Anabella involving their young son Olivier in all matters of the court. While Dion serves on the frontline, murmurs of an internal rebellion begin to surface. Not long after, Dion receives word that Emperor Sylvestre has abdicated his throne to young Olivier, whose every action hinges on the whims of Anabella. Dion storms back to Twinside, where he learns the reason for his father’s shocking decision.
Final Fantasy 16’s Anabellareveals that she paid Twinside’s astrologers to spread the lie that Dion and his Dragoons were mounting a rebellion. Therefore, the Emperor decides to make Olivier his heir. It is clear to Dion that something far darker is afoot, though, as his father is becoming increasingly insane. When Sylvestre refuses to hear his pleas, Dion declares open rebellion, vowing to dethrone Olivier.
The Twinside Rebellion is Final Fantasy 16’s Red Wedding Moment
When Protagonist Clive and his party make their way to Twinside to destroythe Drake’s Head mothercrystal, they are caught up in Dion’s rebellion. The party sees Dion, who has since become their ally, begin to lay waste to the outer city and its people through Bahamut. Bahamut’s escalating violence prompts Clive and Joshua to engage the Eikon in battle, high above the city of Twinside.
Over the course of the battle, Dion’s strength only grows, leading toBahamut’s casting of Zettaflare, an attack that would destroy all of Valisthea. Clive and Joshua miraculously prevail, ending Bahamut’s onslaught before healing a wounded Dion. It is at this moment that fans learn the reason for Dion’s actions. Flashing back to directly before Bahamut’s rampage,Final Fantasy 16reveals its most shocking sequence of events.
While his dragoons engage the Empire’s forces, Dion makes his way to the throne room. He promises the Emperor that no harm will come to Twinside’s populace. Rather, Dion has come to save his father from Anabella, who has allowed a horrible darkness to turn Sylvestre into a cruel tyrant. Seeing Olivier as Anabella’s puppet, Dion hurls his lance at the young Emperor. Sylvestre steps in its path and is impaled through the chest. In trying to free his father, Dion’s actions lead to his death, but there are far darker forces at play.
Olivier informs Dion that he has orchestrated these events, instigating Dion’s attack and knowing full well that Sylvestre would throw his life away. Olivier then reveals himself to bethe god-like Ultima,Final Fantasy 16’s true antagonist in disguise, before labeling a broken Dion as a “kinslayer”. Overwhelmed by grief and rage at this ultimate deception, Dion flies into a blind rage, before attacking Twinside with no concern for his own survival.
