LCie and Their Focus

New to Final Fantasy XIII? Learn about L'Cie, the branded servants of the fal'Cie, their dangerous Focus, and the consequences of failure or success in this guide.

Hey there! So, you're diving into Final Fantasy XIII and wondering about these L'Cie folks? Let's break it down. Think of L'Cie as the game's main characters, in a way. They're basically chosen by these powerful beings called fal'Cie, and when that happens, they get a brand – like a magical tattoo.

Now, there are two kinds of fal'Cie: Pulse and Cocoon. The Pulse L'Cie? Those are the ones everyone fears. They're seen as bad news, basically tasked with destroying Cocoon, the main civilized world in the game, for their masters. Because of this, they're hunted down relentlessly. There's no way to get rid of the brand or the curse that comes with it, so life for a Pulse L'Cie is pretty rough.

Here's the kicker: the moment a fal'Cie brands someone, it gives them a Focus. This is like a mission or a destiny they have to fulfill. If they mess up and don't complete their Focus within a certain time – and you can tell time is running out because the brand on their body starts to change, with the eye in the middle opening up – they turn into something called Cie'th. These are basically mindless monsters, forever trapped in these grotesque, deformed bodies as punishment for failing.

It's pretty intense, too. Sometimes, just the shock of being chosen can be so overwhelming that a person transforms into a Cie'th *instantly* when they get branded. Talk about a bad day!

But, if an L'Cie actually manages to pull off their Focus, they get a different kind of reward: eternal life. They're turned into crystal, basically to sleep and dream forever. Honestly, a lot of people think this isn't much better than becoming a Cie'th. It's a tough world, right?

To help them achieve their Focus, L'Cie are gifted with incredible magical powers. These powers come from the 'power of crystal' and are way beyond what normal humans can do. This is why people either fear them or, in some cases, even revere them, depending on which type of L'Cie they are. On top of that, they can also get these super powerful allies called Eidolons. But here's the catch: to even command an Eidolon, an L'Cie has to pass a tough test of their mental strength and willpower. It's not easy being chosen!