Two worlds, sometimes expanded into multiple worlds, is a recurring plot element in the Tales series. Games that include two or more worlds tend to fight each other for their own survival which is the result of past actions of the antagonist or other prominent character.
Description[]
Two worlds is the concept of warring factions taken to a logical extreme where the populace of an entire world can be considered a faction. It is a recurring theme in literature and can act as significant background lore as a well as an overarching driver of plot.
Appearances in Original Titles[]
Tales of Destiny[]
Around 1,000 years prior to the events of Tales of Destiny, a large, Lens-infused comet collided with the planet, enveloping the sky with a cloak of dust clouds. This, in turn, plunged the world into an ice age that threatened humankind. However, with the mysterious and powerful Lens of the comet, the crisis was averted. The people used the Lens to create and power a massive floating continent known as the Aethersphere, which hovered above the Er'ther Lands. The Aethersphere was home to the Aeth'er race, while the Er'ther Lands were inhabited by the Er'ther race. The two entities later engaged in what later become known as the Aeth'er Wars. The Aeth'er race, led by the Aetherian ruler Kronos, possessed a large and powerful, sword-shaped superweapon known as Belcrant, which protruded from beneath their aeropolis capital, Dycroft.
Tales of Eternia[]
In Tales of Eternia, the world network is called Eternia that consists of the worlds of the medieval planet Inferia and the industrial planet Celestia that are connected by a divider known as the Orbus Barrier. Centuries before the start of the game, the two worlds were at war, known as the Aurora War.
Tales of Symphonia[]
About 4,000 years prior to the events of Tales of Symphonia, a young boy known later as Mithos the Hero put a thousand-year-old conflict to an end. However the prolonged conflict caused irreversible damage to the planet's World Tree, the source of the planet's mana, so Mithos used the Eternal Sword to manipulate space-time and split the planet of Aselia into the separate planets of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla. Mithos designed a system in which he forced the two worlds to vie for mana in a seesaw-oriented system of mana links. He constructed a system in which the hourglass planets house an even number of Summon Spirits to correlate yet oppose the other planet's Spirits in an elemental fashion. With this measure, it is difficult for one world to advance too much with technology and thus result in another war.
Tales of Graces[]
The world of Tales of Graces consists of Fodra, a planet devoid of life except for humanoids and monsters, and Ephinea, its moon. Fodra's Lastalia has its own conscience known as Fodra Queen, who utilizes agents like Little Queens to protect the planet.
Tales of Xillia and Tales of Xillia 2[]
In Tales of Xillia, there exist two kinds of "two worlds" concept. The first one is represented by the sealed-off continent-sized island of Rieze Maxia where life thrives and a distant mainland of Elympios which is in the decline, despite both being on the same planet. The other take focuses on material (the two lands mentioned before with a focus on Rieze Maxia) and spiritual planes, being represented by Spirit Realm which appears to be a parallel world to the material one. Because Rieze Maxia does not use spyrix technology which kills spirits which are essential for the existence of life, Elympios intends to use the other land as a fuel to sustain its dying world.
In Tales of Xillia 2, another take on "two worlds" concept is introduced in the form of "prime dimension", the "true story" world, and countless "fractured dimensions", "possible story" worlds. The growing number of fractured dimensions rapidly increases the amount of miasma produced during the Soul Purification Process which if left unchecked may result in humanity's end.
Tales of Zestiria and Tales of Berseria[]
In Tales of Zestiria, there exist a race of beings known as seraphim, who during the events of Tales of Berseria were known as malakhim, who can only be perceived by human with high resonance. They originate from a world referred to as "heavenly realm" which is separate from the human realm. As humans can create malevolence, a difference of opinion resulted in the seraphim remaining in the heavenly realm to cast a curse upon those who decided to live with humans to prove the other side that co-existence is possible.
Tales of Arise[]
In Tales of Arise, there are two worlds known as Dahna and Rena, and together they are known by the name of Twin Worlds. Dahna is a lush planet, but since Renans invaded the realm 300 years prior, it slowly began to deteriorate. On the other hand is Rena, who is a mysterious world where the most prestigious Renans are said to leave. Also, the Lord who accumulates the most astral energy during each Crown Contest period is sent there as a reward for their work, never to be seen again. In reality, Rena is a dying planet, deprived of most of its structures, though it's not obvious as the intact side of it always faces Dahna and the artificial satellite colony Lenegis.