The Warrior of Light’s actions in Dawntrail raise intriguing moral questions. In the final area, Living Memory, the hero is tasked with shutting down terminals, effectively deleting the Endless, digital versions of people’s memories that continue living in this space after their physical deaths. While the Endless require aether harvested from the living to sustain their existence, the parallels between the Warrior of Light’s choice and the Ascians’ past actions are striking.
Emet-Selch and his ilk sought to merge the 13 reflections of the Source, sacrificing countless lives to restore their original world and loved ones. Both the hero and the villains justify their actions by deeming those they plan to kill as less real or worthy of existence. The Warrior of Light sees the Endless as mere shades, not truly living, while the Ascians viewed the inhabitants of the reflections similarly.
This moral ambiguity is heightened by the game involving characters players have grown to care about in the mix of Endless, making the act of deletion more emotionally challenging. It raises the question: are we, as the Warrior of Light, acting any differently than the Ascians we once fought against?
Warrior’s moral ambiguity in Dawntrail
The imagery at the end of Dawntrail, reminiscent of Ascian glyphs, further emphasizes this peculiar role reversal. While the Endless required ongoing sacrifices, unlike the Ascians’ one-time calamity, the lack of exploration into alternative solutions leaves a lingering unease. Could there have been another way to allow the Endless to continue existing without the need for death?
The Warrior of Light’s choice to delete them without seeking other options casts a shadow on the heroic image. Dawntrail challenges players to confront the moral complexity of their actions and question the line between heroism and villainy. It suggests that even the most noble intentions can lead down dark paths when the ends are used to justify the means.
As the dust settles on this expansion, the Warrior of Light must grapple with the weight of their decisions and the lives they deemed unworthy of saving. The parallels to the Ascians’ past actions serve as a haunting reminder that the road to hell is often paved with good intentions.
