Dawntrail will be Final Fantasy XIV’s next expansion releasing in Summer 2024, but scant details of the game’s story location exist. It's known that the Warrior of Light is headed to Tural, located in the New World, a continent on Etheirys never visited in-game before, but beyond that, it’s a mystery.
FFXIV director and producer Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida has repeatedly teased that this expansion will be a “summer vacation.” But it seems like the Warrior of Light’s vacation might just get interrupted by some more serious business.
Further information on the upcoming Dawntrail story was revealed in the Patch 6.56 Main Story Quest (MSQ). There, players were formally introduced to Wuk Lamat, and were invited to travel to Tural to explore and take part in a contest to find the new ruler of the city state. But there's a little more to it than that. Below is all the information currently available on Dawntrail’s story.
What We Know About Dawntrail’s Story
To begin the story, Erenville, Alphinaud, Alisaie, Krile, the newly introduced Wuk Lamat, and the Warrior of Light will head to Tural. This is due to Wuk Lamat's invitation to participate in a contest to find the newest ruler of Tulliyollal. The Warrior of Light journeys to Tural to take part in the Tulliyollal rite of succession to determine the city state’s next ruler.
Tulliyollal
Sailing across an ocean known as the Indigo Deep to Yuk Tural, the party meets Gulool Ja Ja, a two-headed Mamool Ja, adoptive father of Wuk Lamat, and the current ruler of Tulliyollal to help decide their successor. The strong and wise Gulool Ja Ja is recinding his throne, but rather than it be passed directly to his children, a competition will be held. This also gives the Warrior of Lighta chance to investigate the rumor that the contest of succession would lead them to the gates of golden cities of the New World (Something teased by Emet-Selch in the finale of Endwalker’s MSQ).
The rest of the Scions will join the WoL, but as per Yoshi-P, a decision will divide the Scions, turning you against some of your friends. This was confirmed in Patch 6.56's MSQ, where Thancred and Urianger were shown accepting the invitation of a different person to head to Tural for the contest of succession. It was speculated that this mystery person who had invited Thancred and Urianger is none other than Wuk Lamat's brother, an as yet unnamed Miqo'te who was a Sharlayan Scholar, and is featured in Dawntrail's key art.
Beyond this, we also know that Estinein is journeying to Tural on his own travels. Although not confirmed in-story, we know Y'shtola will travel to the New World as well.
Journeys in Yok Tural
While in Yok Tural, the Warrior of Light will also journey to the mountainous region of Urqopacha, an area that used to be the heart of the Giants’ Empire, and Yak T’el, a dense forest area.
Kozama’uka and a Secret Area
Revealed at the London Fan Fest, Kozama’uka is a tropical region south of Tulliyollal that will be filled with rivers and streams that flow down through a jungle area. Additionally, a “Secret Area” was revealed that resembles the Old West, hinting at other possible reasons for being in Tural and the New World. Yoshi-P mentioned Ceruleum mining as a possible reason.
There's also the mysterious Solution 9, a neon-cyberpunk inspired location that we currently have limited details on.
Hints and teases
Overall, the theme of the expansion is “A Journey of Discovery.” This was outlined at the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest in London.
Character-wise, all of the scions will be reprising their roles as partners to the Warrior of Light, but as mentioned in previous interviews, Krile is expected to have a larger role in the upcoming expansion. This is partly facilitated by her recently revealed Pictomancer job, which will also be one of the jobs in the in the Expansion.
Additionally, it’s expected that Erenville, the male Viera gleaner will be joining us on our journey. A native of Tural, Erenville may act as our guide and point of contact as we explore the New World.
Wuk Lamat, a female Hrothgar, who is competing in the right of succession, recruited the Warrior of Light to aid her in her struggle. She's expected to play a major role in the storyline.
Overall, the “Summer Vacation” theme has been pushed heavily, but with recent reveals, this feels like a tactic by Yoshi-P and Square Enix to lull fans into a false sense of security, and surprise them with a more dramatic story. After saving the entire world from destruction in the last expansion, a shift in scale and stakes will be interesting, but not impossible to pull off.
