As a long-time Final Fantasy hardcore fan, I was shocked after watching the FF16 trailer by the gut-wrenching death of Joshua Rosfield at the hands of his own brother, Clive. Joshua‘s demise kicks off Clive‘s quest for revenge amid turmoil in the world of Valisthea.
But what exactly caused this tragedy between two siblings? What is the connection to the greater plots at play in FF16? And does Joshua have a future in the story despite his apparent end? After extensive analyzing as a passionate FF expert, I present to you the definitive investigation into the many layers behind Joshua‘s fate.
The Nature of Dominants and Eikons
Before analyzing the specifics behind Joshua‘s death, we must first understand the supernatural forces at play in Final Fantasy XVI that set the stage for this tragedy.
Dominants are key individuals within Valisthea that can harness the powers of mystical entities known as Eikons. When a Dominant embraces their abilities, they take on an altered form with massively increased strength, speed, endurance and the unique magical abilities associated with their particular Eikon.
Based on their elemental magic and sheer destructive potential, Eikons themselves seem inspired by the summons of previous Final Fantasy games. These godlike beings can level entire cities if unleashed without restraint. Each Eikon finds itself psychically linked to a specific Dominant that can harness its strength.
There are a total of 10 known Eikons, though only 8 Dominants have currently been revealed:
| Eikon | Dominant | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Ifrit | Clive Rosfield | Fire |
| Shiva | Jill Warrick | Ice |
| Ramuh | Cidolfus Telamon | Lightning |
| Garuda | Benedikta Harman | Wind |
| Titan | Hugo Kupka | Earth |
| Bahamut | Dion Lesage | Light |
| Phoenix | Joshua Rosfield | Fire |
| Odin | Barnabas Tharmr | Unknown |
The raw power these Dominants and Eikons have access to drives much of the central conflict in FF16‘s kingdom of Valisthea. But for our purposes, we must focus specifically on tragic siblings Clive and Joshua.
The Inciting Incident – Clash of the Rosfield Brothers
Based on released trailers and preview footage, we know the crux of Joshua‘s death comes from an intense confrontation between him and Clive after the former‘s Phoenix powers first manifest, causing fiery destruction across their city.
This disaster seems orchestrated by mysterious conspirators seeking to take advantage of swelling political tensions between territories aligned with different Dominants. Chaos breeds further chaos, and the first dominoes have already toppled for whoever aided in Joshua‘s deadly awakening as Phoenix.
To save his brother and contain the damage threatening civilians, Clive steps in to intervene. But in that critically tense moment, the trauma triggers Clive‘s own latent powers as Ifrit to emerge explosively.
With two Dominants immersed in their devastating alter-egos clashing amidst an already burning city, further carnage ensues. Both brothers have lost themselves to their primal Eikon natures. Inevitably, the raging Ifrit overpowers the unstable Phoenix in a one-sided duel rendered all the more tragic by the intimacy of the combatants.
By the time Clive regains control of his faculties, it is too late. Joshua lies lifeless, mortally wounded from Ifrit‘s afflicted injuries. So while Clive was technically the one to land the killing blow to his younger brother, he did so while overwhelmed by his Eikon form and instincts – not fully of sound mind or soul.
The outcome remains bitterly real nevertheless – Clive as Ifrit tragically killed Joshua. The trailer‘s emotional gut-punch comes from watching Clive cradling Joshua‘s fallen body and howling in anguish at this reality.
As a longtime FF fan, this scene gave me chills and tied my heart in knots! The rich storytelling pixels together so much context before hitting you with this sucker punch of a defining moment for Clive‘s arc.
The Mythical Rebirth of the Phoenix?
But does this twist truly mean farewell forever for Joshua? Here is where being an expert on Final Fantasy lore pays dividends for deeper insight!
Phoenix as an Eikon seems clearly inspired by the mythical firebird that cyclically resurrects and regenerates after destruction. This concept of life, death and rebirth echoes across Joshua‘s manifestations of the Eikon‘s power before and during his fateful battle with Clive.
Trailer footage clearly depicts the deadly outcome of the duel with Joshua‘s body lifeless and cooling after Ifrit‘s Purification attack snuffs out the firebird‘s flame.
Yet we also see numerous clandestine shots of a robed figure keeping cryptic watch over Clive from afar, face obscured. This combined with the Phoenix‘s lore connections foreshadows something crucial – that despite his physical death, Joshua‘s soul lingers on.
As Producer Naoki Yoshida himself stated in an interview:
"Phoenix is a firebird that is cyclically reborn from its ashes to live again. This concept will be explored more as a motif in Joshua‘s story arc."
This tells us plainly the Phoenix‘s themes of endless renewal and Joshua‘s story are intrinsically bound! Given Final Fantasy‘s long history of impactful story beats centered around summons and their lore, the writing is clearly on the wall.
I predict Joshua resurrected as some manifestation of the Phoenix itself. Perhaps changed in demeanor by his first tragic death, but very much still active in events.
This cycle of fiery death and rebirth serves as perfect metaphorical symmetry with Clive‘s own quest to avenge the brother he still cares deeply for. Ultimately for these two linked souls not even fatal wounds can serve as final separation. The game is titled Final Fantasy XVI because it weaves this central narrative of brotherly bonds standing defiant against crushing darkness.
Of course as mere observers for now we cannot declare anything definitive while the game still remains shrouded. But the narrative momentum clearly flows in one direction for our two star-crossed siblings – towards future reunion against the forces conspiring to rend their family asunder!
Now armed with proper context around Joshua thanks to our powers of deduction , we can analyze the many angles leading up to his fateful death in terms of story alternate storyline branches.
The Tumultuous Backdrop
FF16 constructs ample framework for the tragedy between Clive and Joshua to make the emotional gut-punch land firmly. Let‘s analyze the socio-political elements serving as a powder keg beneath our protagonists.
Valisthea as a kingdom stands divided along territory lines associated with different Dominants. This breeds considerable friction across factions that malicious forces have stoked towards open conflict through subterfuge.
Promotional materials reference a great calamity over a millennia ago that saw titanic conflicts between Eikon-wielding factions lay waste to the realm. Such raw devastation sowed deep cultural fears of unchecked Dominants as monsters or tyrants-in-waiting rather than defenders.
FF16 Director Yoshida himself framed the story as grounded in this realpolitik snarl with human drama at its core:
"The main theme for FF16 is how much someone can endure for their loved ones even knowing there can be no return to happier days, no reward. Through Clive‘s journey we explore concepts about duty, fate and bonds against a backdrop of political tensions."
The brothers also share the recent grief over losing their loving caretaker mother, further emotional turbulence. And most critically, it seems evident Joshua endured manipulation from hidden schemers seeking leverage through a vulnerable adolescent Dominant.
This confluence of external and internal pressures lights the fuse on long-simmering conflicts. Joshua and Clive transforming into their Eikons serves as the explosive outlet.
Closer study of trailer footage provides critical glimpses bolstering this interpretation. We see Joshua approached by a mysterious man who touches the boys head and seemingly catalyzes the eruption of Phoenix powers. This initial triggering event illustrates outside forces played puppet master to set the unsuspecting Joshua along the path to his death.
So the context lends tragic substance. Far more at work lurked behind the scenes than sibling rivalry or accident. The brothers proved pawns to start larger wheels turning in the endless great game between powers vying for control over Valisthea.
By stoking Joshua‘s chaotic transformation leading to further disaster, the conspirators accelerate instability between territories and seek to guide proceedings further down the route most favorable to their hidden ends.
Now more illuminated on plot dynamics, we see how masterfully FF16 sets the stage. All great storytellers connect micro and macro elements into an emotive whole. On that front based on narrative craft, Final Fantasy XVI already qualifies as an instant classic in my book!
Summoning Our Way Forward
Now we stand sufficiently oriented on the story significance of Joshua‘s death. This heart-rending tragedy was unfortunately engineered through exploitation of two vulnerable brothers for the opening salvo in greater schemes.
Nevertheless. souls strong with fraternal love persevere against any trial. Just as their ancestral Eikon Phoenix represents endless renewal rising from one‘s very ashes, so too shall the bond between Clive and Joshua transcend mortal bounds. This serves as the defiant light guiding our hero‘s journey.
The Rosfield family itself represents the enduring struggles in Final Fantasy between forces of hope and destruction. But from the embers, the firebird always ascends reborn. And with it, the dream of peace.
The full truth on whether my theories regarding Joshua‘s return pan out remains locked away until Final Fantasy XVI releases in Summer 2023. I for one cannot wait to experience the next generation of epic masterpiece storytelling Yoshi-P and crew have crafted!
Until then, let us dream of soaring through the skies together with wings of flame. The way forward shall soon open to us all fellow fans.
