Unraveling the Complex Ages of Final Fantasy XIV‘s Characters

Final Fantasy XIV has a large cast of characters with interesting backstories and complex ages. With different races that age at varying rates and time distortions between worlds, determining character ages can get complicated. This definitive guide will break down everything you need to know about how old key characters are in FF14.

Who is Ryne and How Old is She?

Ryne is a mysterious key character introduced in Shadowbringers. She serves as the new Oracle of Light for The First.

Ryne‘s exact age is unknown. Based on her appearance and role, most fans estimate she is around 15 years old. Here are some key facts about her age:

• Taken in as an infant by the Church of the First Light
• Raised her whole life as the Oracle of Light
• Childlike appearance and personality point to a young teen age
• Likely between 14-17 years old judging by stage of maturity

Ryne‘s origin remains a mystery. But she represents the youth and hope of The First as they battle to survive the Light-flooded world.

The Leveilleur Twins – Are They 16 or 17?

Alphinaud and Alisaie Leveilleur are twin Elezen playable characters and key members of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.

At the start of A Realm Reborn, the twins are 16 years old. As Elezen, they age slower than races like Hyur and Miqo‘te.

Here is how their ages progress:

• Born in Sharlayan and entered the Studium at a young age
• Graduated at age 16 and traveled to Eorzea
• Spent a year on The First in Shadowbringers so could be 17
• Their bodies back on The Source are still 16 years old though

So the twins are essentially both 16 and 17 depending on how you look at it! The nature of The First distorts time between the two worlds.

Hyur vs Elezen – How Aging Compares Between Races

The races of Eorzea age at different rates which also affects the ages of characters:

• Hyur – Age similar to real-life humans, average lifespan of 70-100 years
• Elezen – Mature slowly and can live up to around 130 years
• Miqo‘te – Mature fast but only live to around 50-60 years
• Roegadyn – Age at similar rate to Hyur but are larger and heartier
• Lalafell – Despite small bodies, can live 100+ years

So Elezen like the twins at 16 are still quite young compared to a 16 year old Hyur who would be nearing physical maturity.

Thancred‘s Age and Race

Thancred Waters is a central Hyur member of the Scions.

According to official lore, Thancred is 32 years old. As a Hyur, his aging matches an average real-life human.

Some key notes on Thancred and age:

• Hyur fully physically mature by their late teens
• Average Hyur lifespan is 70-100 years
• At 32, Thancred is middle aged for a Hyur
• Shows no signs of slowing down as an agile spy and fighter

So while 32 may seem old compared to the teenager twins, Thancred is still in his prime for a Hyur.

How Old are Other Major Characters?

Here are the documented or estimated ages of other major FF14 characters:

• Y‘shtola – 23 years old
• Urianger – Early 30s, estimated around 35 years old
• Krile – Mid 20s in age
• Tataru – Around 16 years old
• Estinien – 32 years old, the same age as Thancred
• G‘raha Tia – Likely in his mid 20s, born in Sharlayan
• Zenos – 14 years old when first introduced

As FF14 continues, time will march on and ages will increase. But for now, many key characters are quite youthful, especially the twins.

Does Time Flow Normally in FF14 Worlds?

The world of Hydaelyn where most FF14 activity takes place is known as The Source. But alternate planes like The First also exist.

On The First, time does not flow normally compared to The Source due to Light flooding. The twins went to The First for what felt like a year to them. But on The Source, it was less time from others‘ perspective.

So the year the twins spent on The First accounts for them potentially aging to 17 vs their 16 years back home. Manipulation of time is a key theme in the game‘s story.

How Does Aging Work for Ascians Like Emet-Selch?

Ascians are ancient beings who transfer between bodies. This makes their true ages impossible to determine.

For example, Emet-Selch inhabited the body of Solus zos Galvus who died at age 88. But his Ascian spirit lived on and was likely thousands of years old.

The game provides occasional glimpses of Ascians‘ pasts, but their cycle of resurrection and immortality makes age meaningless for them.

My Take on Age in FF14

As both a player and fan of FF14, I find the complex handling of age fascinating. Seeing characters start young like the twins and gradually mature over expansions feels rewarding. And contrasts between longer-lived races like Elezen and plainly-aging Hyur adds depth to the world.

I also enjoy the subtle aging details, like white hairs on older characters. It reminds us time passes in Eorzea just like the real world. Ultimately, the sweeping FF14 story spans years marked by small changes in its heroes.

Square Enix pays commendable attention to character ages and aging timelines. It makes the world and story feel alive as we embark on adventures with Final Fantasy 14‘s unique cast.