History Recap / FinalFantasyXIV

On the Source, there are two poles for all magic: Astral, representing change, and Umbral, representing stasis. The First does not have suck terms, and instead change and stasis are represented by Darkness and Light, respectively. If the Light aether is being drawn to the Source in the midst of a rejoining, the potency of stagnating magic would be enhanced, and that would lead the Black Rose by killing everyone by stagnating the flow of aether.\\\

As the Night's Blessed learn of Y'shtola's fate, the viis arrive with someone they found wandering in the forest: Emet-Selch. In order to gain a sense of trust from the Scions, Emet-Selch brings Y'shtola back from the Livestream. With Y'shtola safe and sound, the Scions head to the Qitana Ravel and successfully slay the Lightwarden there. With their mission complete, the Scions prepare to leave the cave, but Emet-Selch uses this time to explain the mysterious mural within…\\\

The story picks up five years later in a world rebuilding from the Calamity, unable to remember their heroes, as an up-and-coming hero arrives in either Gridania, Ul'dah or Limsa Lominsa (if the player imports a character from 1.0, they are one of the heroes Louisoix sent to the future, finding themself in the wilderness outside one of the three city-states). After being directed to the local Adventurer's Guild, the hero makes themself at home and sets off to make a name for themselves. In the process, they come into contact with a mysterious crystal and come into contact with the Mothercrystal Hydaelyn, who charges them with protecting the realm from evil. As they either protect the Guardian Tree, help retrieve the Sultana's crown, or foil a kidnapping plot in Limsa Lominsa, they battle a mysterious cloaked man with the aid of a Sharlayan scholar or two. The adventurer's actions are enough to draw attention from the city-states' leaders: Elder Seedseer Kan-E-Senna of Gridania, Sultana Nanamo Ul Namo of Ul'dah and her right hand man General Raubahn Aldynn, and Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn of Limsa Lominsa. They invite the adventurer to a celebration in their honor, though they suffer a blackout where they see the final moments of the Battle of Carteneau - a manifestation of a power called the Echo. When they come to, the leaders decide to rebuild the Eorzean Alliance through a memorial service for the Battle. With the adventurer as that leader's envoy, they pass the message to the other city-states, who are of an accord.\\\

Dalamud continues its descent, causing changes to the realm as Atomos appears near aetherial crystals and summons voidal monsters. The Alliance sends its combined forces to Mor Dhona, the predicted point of impact for Dalamud.\\\

In spite of their best efforts, the Alliance is unable to stop Dalamud, and during the battle, the pillars in the moon fall to the surface. Pieces of Dalamud rain, bathing the realm in fire as the elder primal Bahamut awakens and begins to raze Eorzea.\\\

The story picks up five years later in a world rebuilding from the Calamity, unable to remember their heroes, as an up-and-coming hero arrives in either Gridania, Ul'dah or Limsa Lominsa (if the player imports a character from 1.0, they are one of the heroes Louisoix sent to the future, finding themself in the wilderness outside one of the three city-states). After being directed to the local Adventurer's Guild, the hero makes themself at home and sets off to make a name for themselves. In the process, they come into contact with a mysterious crystal and come into contact with the Mothercrystal Hydaelyn, who charges them with protecting the realm from evil. As they either protect the Guardian Tree, help retrieve the Sultana's crown, or foil a kidnapping plot in Limsa Lominsa, they battle a mysterious cloaked man with the aid of Sharlayan scholars. The adventurer's actions are enough to draw attention from the city-states' leaders: Elder Seedseer Kan-E-Senna, Sultana Nanamo ul Namo and her right hand man Raubahn Aldyn, and Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn. They invite the adventurer to a celebration in their honor, though they suffer a blackout where they see the final moments of the Battle of Carteneau - a manifestation of a power called the Echo. When they come to, the leaders decide to rebuild the Eorzean Alliance through a memorial service for the Battle. With the adventurer as that leader's envoy, they pass the message to the other city-states, who are of an accord.\\\

[[folder:Legacy of The Sixth Astral Era]]

[[folder:The Calamity]]

[[folder:A Realm Reborn]]

[[folder:The Seventh Astral Era]]

However, the Scions prioritize the Warrior's safety over their own; Yda, Papalymo, Y'shtola, and Thancred stay behind to stop the Brass Blades and traitorous Crystal Braves, and Minfilia too remains behind after receiving a message from Hydaelyn. The Warrior is reunited outside the city with Alphinaud, who is horrified that his Crystal Braves had been in the pocket of the Monetarists the entire time. Accompanying him is Raubahn's adopted son Pipin Tarupin, Vice Marshal of the Immortal Flames, who freed him and smuggled him out. The three are rescued by the traveling merchant from the beginning of the Warrior's adventure, who was sent to help by Alphinaud's sister Alisaie. He and Pipin drop the Warrior and Alphinaud off at Black Brush Station, where Cid awaits to spirit them off to Camp Dragonhead, where Haurchefant welcomes them in and offers them asylum. It is here that they are reunited with Tataru and Yugiri, now unmasked and revealed as an Au Ra, and learn that Urianger is safe back at the Waking Sands. With Midgardsormr taunting you, the future seems shaky at best...\\\

[[folder:Heavensward]]

[[folder:The Dragonsong War]]

[[folder:Stormblood]]

[[folder:Rebuilding Two Nations]]

[[folder:Shadowbringers]]

[[folder:Vows of Virtue, Deeds of Cruelty]]

[[folder:Echoes of a Fallen Star]]

[[folder:Reflections in Crystal]]

[[folder:Futures Rewritten]]

[[folder:Death Unto Dawn]]

[[folder:Endwalker]]

[[folder:Newfound Adventure]]

The story picks up five years later in a world rebuilding from the Calamity, unable to remember their heroes, as an up-and-coming hero arrives in either Gridania, Ul'dah or Limsa Lominsa (if the player imports a character from 1.0, they are one of the heroes Louisoix sent to the future, finding themself in the wilderness outside one of the three city-states). After being directed to the local Adventurer's Guild, the hero makes themself at home and sets off to make a name for themselves. In the process, they come into contact with a mysterious crystal and come into contact with the Mothercrystal Hydaelyn, who charges them with protecting the realm from evil. As they either protect the Guardian Tree, help retrieve the Sultana's crown, or foil a kidnapping plot in Limsa Lominsa, they battle a mysterious cloaked man with the aid of Sharlayan scholars. The adventurer's actions are enough to draw attention from the city-states' leaders: Elder Seedseer Kan-E-Senna, Sultana Nanamo ul Namo and her right hand man Raubahn Aldyn, and Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn. They invite the adventurer to a celebration in their honor, though they suffer a blackout where they see the final moments of the Battle of Carteneau - a manifestation of a power called the Echo. When they come to, the leaders decide to rebuild the Eorzean Alliance through a memorial service for the Battle. With the adventurer as that leader's envoy, they pass the message to the other city-states, who are of an accord.

With the threat of the Empire stopped for now and the primal threat renewed, a plan is made to move the Scions to a better place, one where they can operate without being indebted to the other city-states. Minfilia refuses, however, and it requires you and Alphinaud to get down to the source of the problem - hunting down and finding Minfilia's adopted mother F'lhaminn. The two reunited, Minfilia decides to take up the idea to move elsewhere, heading to Mor Dhona and establishing the Rising Stones. However, you barely get settled in when word comes of another primal - summoned by moogles, Good King Moggle Mog XII threatens the land. The moogles who summoned him, however, learn that they had been tricked into doing so by the Ascians. During this time, you also aid the eccentric "gentleman inspector" Hildibrand Manderville, who has been rediscovered after disappearing five years ago flying to Dalamud, in stopping a mysterious thief and also dealing with the interdimensional traveler Greg... Gilgamesh.\\\

On the side, you offer aid to Cid and a Sharlayan research group, The Sons of Saint Coinach, as they look into the sudden reappearance of the Crystal Tower in Mor Dhona, lest it hold more Allagan weapons like Ultima. Assisted by the heterochromatic Miqo'te G'raha Tia, who christens the allied groups as the Nominated Observers of Artifacts Historical (NOAH), you clear a path through the Labyrinth of the Ancients toward the central spire, the Syrcus Tower, but are stopped by its immovable front door. Two strangers, Doga and Unei, then reveal themselves to NOAH, and effortlessly open it. Nero tol Scaeva, one of the XIV Imperial Legion's commanders who opposed the Warrior of Light during Operation Archon, also expresses his own interest in the expedition, hoping to find a power source stronger than Ultima. He reveals that the door only opens to those of royal Allag blood, and that Doga and Unei are clones of two royal sages. They were created to stop the also-cloned Emperor Xande, who wishes to unleash powerful Voidsent upon Hydaelyn to fulfill an ancient pact with their leader, the Cloud of Darkness. You slay Xande, but then, through the portal he had opened into the World of Darkness, the Cloud whisks away Doga, Unei and Nero. You and G'raha pursue them inside, eventually besting the Cloud and rescuing her three captives. Doga and Unei reveal the nature of G'raha's unusual single red eye - he is a descendant of a Miqo'te gifted royal blood by the last Allagan princess, Salina. The two sages augment G'raha's blood with their own, and you, G'raha and Nero escape back to Eorzea, the portal sealing behind you. G'raha, now understanding his bloodline's purpose, decides to honor Salina's last wish - to make the Tower a beacon of hope for all Eorzea - by sealing himself inside to await the day they can open its gates, whereupon he will be their guide to using the Tower's powers. You exchange farewells, promising to make that day come sooner than later, and as the Tower's doors close once more, NOAH is dissolved.\\\

Soon you find yourself dealing with another group of refugees, this time from the country of Doma, which was also invaded by the Empire. At the urging of Yugiri, you attempt to win over the Syndicate of Ul'dah. Despite Nanamo's desire to help the Domans, the Monetarists refuse despite the overtures of the friendlier Teledji Adaledji. However, Alphinaud decides to do the next best thing and allow the Domans to stay at Mor Dhona as frontier hands. With Teledji Adaledji's help, you're able to get them to the outpost without much trouble. However, trouble looms once more as it is revealed that the primal Leviathan is about to be awoken. Despite your best efforts, the primal is awoken. Using an ingenious plan, the heroes are able to confront and nullify Leviathan's power and slay him. Doing so leads Merlwyb to help aid the Domans and Yugiri, in turn, to teach the fighting skills of her land as those in Limsa Lominsa seem to fight in the same way.\\\

Trouble brews once more as unrest starts to shake up Ul'dah with Alphinaud caught up in the mess. Though not as harmed as lead to believe, you're dragged into a mystery as you attempt to figure out who is behind all of this. Despite your best efforts, you cannot find any real proof, though Raubahn believes that this is part of a plan by Teledji Adaledji - his kind overtures actually belie a far more sinister goal - he seeks to claim the Carteneau Flats as it contains a weapon much more powerful than the Ultima Weapon you destroyed - Omega. Sadly, you are unable to confront the Lalafell and must turn to a greater threat - the primal Ramuh, who has been summoned by the tempered Sylphs. Despite not wanting to actually fight him, Ramuh insists to prove how trustworthy you are. He lets you free as you defeat him, satisfied. However, your actions are starting to towards others, especially Tataru, who wants to make herself useful, and Alphinaud, who decides that he wants to make his own Grand Company, one that will save the world. You recruit a number of people for Alphinaud's brand new Crystal Braves, though you are warned that they may be actually funded by the Monetarists.\\\

As the Scions gain a new ally in Moenbryda, who is helping them in a way to slay the Ascians, you aid the Crystal Braves as you discover a traitor within the Immortal Flames. After defeating and arresting the Garlean spy, you are sent to Coerthas to aid the Ishgardians in finding and stopping the mysterious "Lady Iceheart". Through Moenbryda's help, you are able to confront Iceheart, who reveals she can become a primal by summoning Shiva, who is said to be a heretic within Ishgard history for laying with a dragon. You are able to defeat her, but she escapes, giving hint that she may have the Echo, too.\\\

Things would start going downhill for the Scions here. Not only had Ifrit, Garuda and Titan reawaken, a passage is discovered to enter the mysterious Coils of Bahamut, allowing you to confront the primal beast and learn the truth of Louisoix's fate. Even worse, the dragon Midgardsormr, who was thought dead, is reawakened. After confronting his aetherial form, he creates a new diminutive body for himself while sealing away your blessing of light, at Hydaelyn's approval. Realizing your weakness, the Ascian Nabriales makes a power play, attempting to steal the fragment of Louisoix's staff kept in the Rising Stones, which still serves as a source of great magical power. He grievously wounds Moenbryda and kidnaps Minfilia, but you are able to save Minfilia and protect the staff, using it to create the blade of light that drove off Lahabrea and save Thancred. However, your power isn't enough and the dying Moenbryda sacrifices herself to destroy Nabriales.\\\

You are unable to really grieve as you are called upon to aid Ishgard - Iceheart has destroyed the main barrier protecting Ishgard and the Steps of Faith have become a battleground. You are able to slay the gigantic dragon Vishap and save Ishgard from disaster, leading to the country to consider reopening its gates to the outside world. However, things get very grim - while helping a scholar with his studies, you find the body of Wilred, an Ala Mhigan who joined the Crystal Blades, in Urth's Gift, stabbed and left for dead and assuming that something bad is happening behind the scenes of the Crystal Blades. Then, at a party to celebrate the recent victories, does the other shoe drop.\\\

Sultana Nanamo Ul Namo, after telling you her plans to abdicate the throne and dissolve the monarchy as a means to destroy the stranglehold the Monetarists have on the government, suddenly collapses to the ground after drinking a poisoned wine. Teledji Adaledji and the Brass Blades arrive and arrest you for murder, sending away the delegate for Ishgard, Ser Aymeric, before accusing the Scions of the Seventh Dawn of trying to overthrow the government. Whatever plans Teledji had, however, are completely scuttled when he relentlessly insults a grieving Raubahn, inciting the Flame General to lunge forward and slice Teledji in half. His blades then turn to Syndicate member Lolorito when he accuses him of aiding the Scions, but is stopped when his left arm is sliced off by his now-former friend and captain of the Crystal Braves, Ilberd. Seeking to give our heroes a chance to escape, Raubahn frees the captive Warrior of Light and tells the Scions to flee Ul'dah.\\\

However, the Scions prioritize your own safety over their own as Yda, Papalymo, Y'shtola, Thancred and Minfilia stay behind to stop the Brass Blades and traitorous Crystal Braves. You are reunited with Alphinaud, who is horrified to have learned that his Crystal Braves had been in the pocket of the Monetarists the entire time. Aided by a Lalafell in armor, Raubahn's adopted son Pipin, the three are rescued by the traveling salesman from the beginning, who was recruited by Alphinaud's sister Alisaie to rescue Alphinaud. Dropping the three off at Black Brush Station, Pipin stays behind as Cid spirits the other two off to Camp Dragonhead, where Haurchefant welcomes them in and plans to offer them asylum. It is here that they are reunited with Tataru and Yugiri, whose mask is lost and revealing her as an Au Ra, and learn that Urianger is safe back at the Waking Sands. With Midgardsormr taunting you, the future seems shaky at best...\\\

The adventurer encounters Legate Nael van Darnus, who reveals that the Empire's goal is to purge Eorzea of the primal threat once and for all by dropping the moon of Dalamud down onto the surface, potentially eradicating all life in the realm in doing so. Gaius aids the adventurer in ending Nael's mad scheme, but Nael becomes infused with Dalamud's immense power, hell-bent on ushering in the Seventh Umbral Era.\\\

The legatus is seen wandering near Camp Glory. The Grand Companies assemble an attack squad, only for them to encounter a strange light at the patch of floating islands known as the Rivenroad, similar to what was seen at what was found at Castrum Novus. From the Rivenroad, Nael uses his power to rain rocks upon the realm from Dalamud.\\\

The Grand Companies celebrate their victory and the halt of Dalamud's descent, but the adventurer still feels uneasy. Louisoix advises them to go on a pilgrimage of the Twelve, during which they encounter Gaius once more. He warns that the [=VIIth=] Legion, which survived the collapse of the Rivenroad, was amassing in Mor Dhona to launch an invasion from Castrum Novum. The adventurer relays this information to Louisoix.\\\

In spite of their best efforts, the Alliance is unable to stop Dalamud, and during the battle, the pillars in the moon fall upon the surface. Pieces of Dalamud rain, bathing the realm in fire as the elder primal Bahamut awakens and begins to raze Eorzea.\\\

However, in that brief moment, Louisoix is touched by the Twelve, who give him the remaining power from his spell to battle Bahamut. With this amazing power, Louisoix strikes down Bahamut and destroys the Terraflare, but the exertion causes him to fade away into aether, the power spreading across Eorzea and healing it.

The story picks up five years later, a world rebuilding as from the Calamity and one that cannot remember their heroes, as a up-and-coming hero arrives in either Gridania, Ul'dah or Limsa Lominsa (and if the player imports a character from 1.0, they are one of the heroes Louisoix sent to the future, finding themself in the wilderness outside one of the 3 major towns). After being directed to the Adventurer's Guild around the area, the hero makes themselves at home and sets off to make a name for themselves. In the process, they come into contact with a mysterious crystal and come into contact with the Mothercrystal Hydaelyn, who charges them with protecting the realm from evil. As they either protect the Guardian Tree, help retrieve the Sultana's crown or foil a plot to kidnap helpless citizens outside Limsa Lominsa, they battle a mysterious cloaked man with the aid of the Sharlayan scholars. The actions the adventurer performed is enough to draw attention to the city-states' leaders: Elder Seedster Kan-E-Senna, Sultana Nanamo ul Namo and her right hand man Raubahn Aldyn, and Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn. They invite the adventurer to a celebration in their honor, though they suffer a blackout where they see the final moments in Carteneau. When they come to, the leaders decide to rebuild the Eorzean Alliance through a memorial service for the Battle at Carteneau. With you as that leader's envoy, you pass the message around, which they agree to.

After dealing with different threats across Eorzea, you find yourself confronted by the mage Y'shtola, who seeks to recruit you into the group she's part of, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. After speaking to Momodi, the owner of the Ul'dah Adventurer's Guild, about it, you decide to join the group, meeting with its leader, Minfilia, Y'shtola, the secretary Tataru and the other members of its group - Papalymo, Thancred, Yda, and Urianger - within the Waking Sands (If you imported a 1.0 character, Minfilia explicitly remembers you and later apologizes for treating you like a stranger). Your first mission deals with the primal Ifrit and finding yourself defeating the creature after being captured by the Amalj'aa. Your actions prompt the Grand Companies into recruiting you, though Minfilia suggests you go revisit the city-states and their services. As you do, you meet up with two Elezen teens, Alphinaud and Alisaie Leveilleur, the grandchildren of the missing Louisoux, the former snarkily commenting on how "corrupt" the city-states are and the latter angry at the omission of the missing Warriors of Light and Louisoux. After returning and joining a Grand Company, the adventurer ends up rescuing two Airship pilots - Garlond Works members Biggs and Wedge - and their Airship from Garlean soldiers. Afterwards, you soon find yourself aiding the Sylph race with their elder going missing. Rescuing her leads to the sylphs becoming friends of yours.\\\

Soon, you deal with parts of the Ala Mhigo Resistance, a group of Ala Mhigans who seek to liberate their country from the Garlean Empire. No sooner is your trouble with them quelled when word gets out of the arrival of the primal Titan. Seeking to learn how to defeat them, you seek out the old team known as the Company of Heroes, who put you through a series of tests... for your own banquet, before giving you a few pieces of advice. Finding your way inside the Navel, you find yourself facing down and defeating the creature. However, any celebrations are cut short when you return to the Waking Sands to find a bloodbath having taken place and the Scions missing. Thanks to your powers of the Echo, you learn that the Garlean Empire somehow learned of their base, kidnapped the Scions and murdered everyone else in there. With Minfilia's last instructions being told to escape to a church, you do so, biding your time and trying to pick up the pieces.\\\

During your time at the church, you befriend a man named Marques, who seems to have a knack for mechanics but has no idea why. After stopping a Garlean spy, you are met by Alphinaud Leveilleur, grandson of Louisoix, who reveals that Marques is actually the missing Cid Garlond. Alphinaud recruits you and Cid into hunting down the mighty airship ''Enterprise'' so that they can go in and stop the primal Garuda. Your search for the ''Enterprise'' sends you to Coerthas and caught up in a scheme by heretics to sow distrust within the Ishgardian houses. After exposing the scheme, you're able to retrieve the ''Enterprise'', but it's in rough shape and requires a special stone to get back up and running to full power. After finding it, you, Cid and Alphinaud head off to face Garuda.\\\

Through the aid of your Echo, you help Cid fully recall his past and (should you have played through the Legacy version of the game) reveal that you are one of the missing Warriors of Light, revealing their identities at long last. Confronting Garuda, the primal is vanquished, but resurrected just as quickly... only for the Garleans to make their move, unleashing the massive Ultima Weapon on not only Garuda, but the resummoned Ifrit and Titan, absorbing them and forcing the three of you to make a hasty retreat.\\\

Returning to the Waking Sands in order to plan out their next action, the trio are reunited with Y'shtola and Yda, who were actually elsewhere when the other Scions were captured. Realizing the other Scions are on borrowed time, the team formulates a plan to find where they were taken and sneak in, using captured uniforms and a stolen Magitek Reaper. Rescuing the Scions, you make your escape only to find that Lahabrea, an Ascian who has been a thorn in your side for awhile now is actually Thancred. However, Minfilia corrects them, revealing that Thancred was only possessed by Lahabrea.\\\

With the Scions rescued, they are able to stop the leaders of the city-states from trying to surrender and instead initiate Operation Archon, a massive invasion to stop the Garlean advance and shut down the Ultima Weapon. As the various Eorzean armies handle other Castrums, the Warrior of Light (joined by Cid), invade Castrum Meridianum with the intent on shutting down the barrier around the Praetorium. The resulting destruction draws out Livia sas Junius, who tries her best to prevent the Warrior from getting to Gaius.\\\

Making their way into the Praetorium, the Warrior of Light and Cid confront Gaius. Gaius tells Cid of his father's last regrets and tries to recruit both of them. When they refuse, Gaius heads for the Ultima Weapon, the Warrior giving chase as Cid helping in a control room. During the chase, the Warrior reunites with the Magitek Reaper they stole earlier and follow the path to Gaius, where they confront Nero tol Scaeva, who seeks to prove his superiority over Cid. Though Nero escapes, the Warrior finally confronts Gaius, who attempts to get the Warrior abandon protecting Eorzea and instead rule it. When they refuse, Gaius attacks before retreating to the Ultima Weapon itself. Despite the Weapon's power, the Warrior manages to overcome it and free the Primals inside. To that point, Lahabrea reveals himself again and reveals the Ultima Weapon's true power - the magic known as Ultima. He unleashes it to weaken Hydaelyn's power and tries to get Gaius to use the moment to defeat the Warrior, but is still defeated, the Weapon destroyed. Lahabrea is annoyed at Gaius' failure and attempts to destroy the Warrior himself. However, the Warrior, with Hydaelyn's help, is able to exorcise the Ascian from Thancred. As the Praetorium starts to explode, the Warrior escapes on the Magitek Reaper as the various Scions and leaders watch with worry. Hydaelyn calls out to them to reach out to the Warrior and, should they be one of the original Warriors, they will remember their old friend clear as day as a original Warrior of Light. With the threat of the Garleans stopped for now, the Ultima Weapon destroyed and Thancred safe and sound, the leaders declare that the Sixth Umbral Era is at an end and now, the Seventh Astral Era has begun.\\\

When the Scions arrive at the City of the Ancients, they're met by a sight unlike anything they've ever seen before. A vast metropolis greets them, filled to the brim with magic. Entering the city, a towering giant greets them, welcoming them to the capital city of Amaurot. Here, Emet-Selch and the Convocation of Fourteen are preparing to hold a meeting dealing with the Final Days. As the Scions explore what's hypothesized by Urianger as a memory before the sundering, they learn that the Final Days were brought upon by a mysterious sound emanating from the planet's core. This sound caused the Ancients' creation magicks to go wild, causing the destruction of their world. As for the Convocation of Fourteen, they consist of the wisest individuals in existence; among their ranks include their speaker, Lahabrea, their emissary, Elidibus, and Emet-Selch. This group is currently planning to create a new god-like entity to rewrite the laws of the universe--not too dissimilar to the ways Beast Tribes summon their Primals.\\\

\\When the Warrior comes to back at the Crystarium, Ardbert reveals some ill tidings. While Ryne is doing her best to temporarily halt the surging light, all of Norvrandt has been covered in perpetual light again due to the uncontrollable aether the Warrior had. However, as Ardbert has seen first-hand during the construction of the giant Talos, the Warrior has become someone he can fully believe in, and someone whom he'll support no matter what.\\

When the Warrior comes to back at the Crystarium, Ardbert reveals some ill tidings. While Ryne is doing her best to temporarily halt the surging light, all of Norvrandt has been covered in perpetual light again due to the uncontrollable aether the Warrior had. However, as Ardbert has seen first-hand during the construction of the giant Talos, the Warrior has become someone he can fully believe in, and someone whom he'll support no matter what.\\\

When the Warrior comes to back at the Crystarium, Ardbert reveals some ill tidings. While Ryne is doing her best to temporarily halt the surging light, all of Norvrandt has been covered in perpetual light again due to the uncontrollable aether the Warrior had. However, as Ardbert has seen first-hand during the construction of the giant Talos, the Warrior has become someone he can fully believe in, and someone whom he'll support no matter what.\\

\\The Warrior explores the Crystarium and talks with the people there, letting them know about the Crystal Exarch's whereabouts and learning what they actually think of him. Eventually, Lyna gives them a key to a secret locked room within the Crystal Tower. Upon entering, the Warrior has another vision. In it, a conversation between G'raha and Urianger reveals that G'raha arrived from the Source 200 years into the future, way after the Eighth Umbral Calamity wreaked havoc on the World. However, thanks to Cid's notes, G'raha managed to use the Crystal Tower to travel through time and space into the distant past, where he'd try to avert the forthcoming calamity on the First. Urianger was asked to disguise all of this as a vision the latter had in order to protect G'raha's identity and true motives. After the vision, the Warrior and Ardbert decide that it's time to rescue G'raha and stop Emet-Selch once and for all…\\\

When the Warrior comes to back at the Crystarium, Ardbert reveals some ill tidings. While Ryne is doing her best to temporarily halt the surging light, all of Norvrandt has been covered in perpetual light again due to the uncontrollable aether the Warrior had. However, as Ardbert has seen first-hand during the construction of the giant Talos, the Warrior has become someone he can fully believe in, and someone whom he'll support no matter what.\\\

The Warrior explores the Crystarium and talks with the people there, letting them know about the Crystal Exarch's whereabouts and learning what they actually think of him. Eventually, Lyna gives them a key to a secret locked room within the Crystal Tower. Upon entering, the Warrior has another vision. In it, a conversation between G'raha and Urianger reveals that G'raha arrived from the Source 200 years into the future, way after the Eighth Umbral Calamity wreaked havoc on the World. However, thanks to Cid's notes, G'raha managed to use the Crystal Tower to travel through time and space into the distant past, where he'd try to avert the forthcoming calamity on the First. Urianger was asked to disguise all of this as a vision the latter had in order to protect G'raha's identity and true motives. After the vision, the Warrior and Ardbert decide that it's time to rescue G'raha and stop Emet-Selch once and for all…\\\

At the Crystarium, Emet-Selch talks with the Crystal Exarch, having an innate curiosity for him. Not only does the Exarch sleep, but since he helped the ancient Allagan Empire rise to powers he knows that the Crystal Tower can't just pull someone into another world. However, the Exarch cryptically hints that he hides history not even Emet-Selch himself knows of...\\\

With the true purpose of Hydaelyn and Zodiark still feeling them, the Scions leave Rak'tika and return to the Crystarium, meeting with the Exarch (greatly drained of his energy due to maintaining his illusion during his meeting with Vauthry). It's during this time that the Warrior of Darkness learns that the Light aether isn't being dispelled; rather, it's being absorbed into the Warrior themselves. Back on the Source, Gaius and Estinien learn that a certain general has disappeared from the Ghimlyt Dark without warning, prompting concern about another player entering the game. As the two continue the investigation, a certain soldier watches, wishing to meet with the only person that makes him whole: his eternal friend and enemy...\\\

Upon concluding your tour of the Crystarium, the Exarch encourages you to retire to your personal room at the inn before departing on your journey to reunite with the Scions. Upon arrival, a shadowy figure is heard musing on the state of the world. The figure is shocked to realize that you are capable of hearing them, dispelling the shadows, and revealing Ardbert, the Warrior of Darkness you encountered so long ago! His spirit has been wandering the world unseen since his return from The Source, unable to be seen or heard, but able to bear witness to the result of he and his comrades’ actions on The First and the resulting devestation from the dominance of Light. Shaken and alone, condemned by those he attempted to save, Ardbert is highly cynical and wishing he could move on to finally be free of his torment…

With the return of night in Lakeland, the people of the Crystarium celebrate, for the long-awaited Warrior of Darkness said to save the realm from ruin has at last come. Meanwhile, in the fields of Lakeland, a blonde-haired girl admires the night sky, and forges ahead toward the Crystarium to seek out the Warrior of Darkness...\\
\\

But even with the Dragonsong War over, there are still some problems afoot for the Warrior of Light. Near Idyllshire, the group of goblins known as the Illuminati have summoned their primal: the massive Alexander. Together with the Garlond Ironworks and an Au Ra named Mide, the Warrior successfully disables the primal's right arm, Gordias. But during the trek to disable the left arm, Midas, it's revealed that Mide used to work for the Illuminati to try and reunite with her lover, Dayan.\\\

Eventually, Midas is disabled, but the party learns a rather harrowing truth about Alexander: it can manipulate time itself. To that end, the Illuminati are attempting to harness the power of the Enigma Codex to gain dominion over time and rewrite history to their liking. Eventually, with the help of a friendly goblin named Roundrox, Alexander's main core is disabled, but the Enigma Codex is destroyed in the process. With Alexander absorbing aether at a rapid pace, Mide decides to sacrifice herself to freeze Alexander at one moment in time permanently, allowing her to finally be reunited with Dayan forevermore.\\\

The Warrior is soon caught up with the sky pirates known as the Redbills as they explore a mysterious ghost ship called the Void Ark. Their adventure leads them to finding the Shadow Coffin, which holds the Shadow Queen Scathach - but the coffin is swiped from their hands by a voidsent called Diabolos. The coffin's guardian, Cait Sith, decides to join the Redbills to stop Diabolos before he can use the coffin to unleash Scathach onto the world. Despite the opposition in a rival pirate faction led by Redbill captain Leofard's rival, Radlia, the Redbills manage to gain the weapon capable of stopping Diabolos: the Nullstone.\\\

But when Diabolos attacks the Redbills again and takes the Nullstone from them, the sky pirates launch an all-out attack on the voidsent's stronghold of Dun Scaith. Eventually, Cait Sith manages to carry out what he was born to do and use the Nullstone's power to destroy Diabolos for good. Despite the loss of their ship during the attack, the Redbills are still determined to set sail for more adventures, with Cait Sith being offered a place among their crew.\\\

Finally, as a result of Thordan's actions, the primals sealed within Azys Lla, the Warring Triad, begin to stir. With the help of the Scions and an enigmatic boy named Unukalhai, the Warrior of Light manages to defeat the first member of the triad, Sephirot. But during the attempt to destroy the second primal, Sophia, the Scions run into a bit of trouble from the Garlean Empire's VIth Imperial Legion, led by Regula van Hydrus (whom the Warrior of Light fought during their initial visit to the floating continent).

Soon, a truce is made between the Scions and the imperials to stop the final member of the triad, Zurvan. During the battle, Regula decides to nobly give his life to protect Unukalhai, and the last of the Warring Triad is defeated. Now with a moment to relax, Unukalhai, who has earned himself some suspiscion from the Scions, reveals that he came from a world that would eventually be completely overtaken by darkness. In order to avoid another world sharing that world's fate, he arrived to Hydaelyn to stop the Warring Triad, beginning his journey to become the hero he was always destined to be.\\\

With things finally at peace after all of these adventures, Aymeric finally makes good on his earlier promise and invites the Warrior of Light to dinner. A quiet, lighthearted moment ensues between the two in the comfort of Aymeric's home, which is sadly broken with terrible news - Thancred had arrived in the Fortemps manor with a wounded Alisaie. She had been trailing the Warriors of Darkness (poorly, as Thancred would add) when she was spotted by the Warriors and subsequently rescued by Thancred. However, the archer of the group had struck Alisaie with a poisoned arrow. Before she passes out, she begs the heroes to head to Xelphatol to stop the Ixal from summoning Garuda again. With the aid of the Temple Knights, the summoning is left incomplete and put to a complete halt by the Warrior of Light.\\\

[[folder:The Legend Returns]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Rise of a New Sun/Under the Moonlight]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Prelude in Violet]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:A Requiem For Heroes]]

While Urianger goes to meet with Alisaie and Y'shtola, the other Scions head to the southwest region of Amh Araeng. However, Ran'jit, having survived the attack in Yx'mal, awaits them there intending to take Minfilia. As the Warrior of Darkness and Minfilia rush to safety, Thancred distracts Ran'jit by fighting him alone; the following battle forces Ran'jit to retreat. As the Warrior and Minfilia reach the Wall, they're given another Echo-driven vision: when the original Minfilia gathered the aether of Ardbert's allies to stop the Flood. However, Ardbert is not sacrificed due to it not being his time yet; he'll have to depend on someone else to help save two worlds.\\\

Out of the Ascians, only three were spared from that fate. This allowed them to still hold onto their full being from before Hydaelyn split the worlds; while remaining Ascians are just sundered pieces awakened to their true nature. To that end, Emet-Selch reveals the true purpose of the Ascians' goal: to see the world return back to what it was before Zodiark and Hydaelyn.\\\\

The Warrior of Light, at the behest of Tataru, learns that their friends from Garlond Ironworks have made significant progress in studying the Crystal Tower, having found a way into a trench at the foot of the tower. The two travel out to the excavation sight in search of something -- ''anything'' -- of note.\

The Warrior finds a beacon in the dig site. At that very moment, the voice that had plagued them and the Scions rings out, the clearest it has been! As the voice calls to them, their consciousness fades. They soon find themself drifting through the rift between worlds, visions and voices of the people they met in the past drifting by...\\
\\

The next morning, grave news reaches the Warrior of Darkness -- Eulmore is not happy with the death of the Lightwarden and the army is heading towards the Crystarium for answers. Rejoining the Crystal Exarch and the twins, they learn of an emissary arriving to the Crystarium and, when they arrive, the Exarch hides the Warrior and the Twins under a vanish spell, allowing the emissary, General Ran'jit, to step inside. He demands to know who killed the Lightwarden and if the Crystarium was complicit in their death, but the Exarch deftly dodges the question. Before he leaves, Ran'jit asks if they had seen an artist and his assistant, making subtle hints that he knows the three are hiding. After he leaves, the group wonders why Eulmore hadn't started war yet. Lyna suggests its because they might have captured the Oracle of Light, Minfilia, a name that shocks the trio. The Exarch bids them to head for the Cabinet of Curiosity, where the trio is urge to find a children's book that can help them learn of Minfilia's time.\\
\\
According to the librarian there, Minfilia arrived in the world 100 years ago and saved the world from being engulfed in light, only to disappear. She was revered as the Oracle of Light for her actions. Fifteen years ago, a mysterious young girl who was immune to the sin-eater's touch was discovered in the ruins of the Kingdom of Voebert. This girl was hailed as Minfilia reborn and she enlisted into the Eulmore army. However, she ultimately perished in battle, vowing to return. Mysteriously, she did years later and many more would appear to continue this cycle. At least until now. The current Minfilia is a prisoner of the Eulmorians, a harsh reminder of their past in fighting the sin-eaters instead of living as slaves to Vauthry, until three years ago, when a mysterious soul broke her free.\\
\\
Outside the Corner, Alphinaud surmises that the mysterious soul was none other than their missing comrade Thancred. They do worry that he might know that this isn't his Minfilia, but he might not ''feel'' it isn't. Alphinaud suggests they go to break her out, but the Exarch intervines, asking that the people of the Crystarium do so. He explains that he can't let them know of the Warrior of Darkness and that they need to handle this on their own. Many of the citizens gather and the Exarch asks of them of wanting to rescue Minfilia. Despite the fear, they're all willing to do so, coming up with a plan: bombarding the place where dream powder and taking out those who remained to get to Minfilia. The twins, Lyra and the Warrior split up with their own roles and, when the battle convines, the four come together.\\
\\
During the battle, they are able to rescue Minfilia, only to have Ran'jit confront them. Like with Zenos, Ran'jit proves to be too powerful and defeats them. Before he can capture them, Thancred suddenly arrives, now armed with the weaponry of the Gunbreaker. Even with that, Ran'jit overpowers him, but the Exarch steps in, teleporting the group away. While the Exarch stands his ground and Lyra sticks with him, the Scions disappear into a land the Eulmorans can't touch: Il Mheg, the realm of the fae folk.\\
\\
Back on the Source, Estinien attacks a Garlemald factory and ends up triggering an alarm. In his escape, he runs into Gaius, who learns the Scions have not been awoken yet and that Tataru summoned Estinien for aid. There, Gaius also tells Estinien what the deadly Black Rose does, that it kills anything and everything with aether in them by separating them.
\\
Within Il Mheg, Thancred explains that they had also encountered another of their missing number here, Urianger, in this place. Alisaie asks Minfilia as to why she got caught up in this mess and she explains that she had realized the Warrior had arrived and she just ''had'' to see him. This causes Thancred to blow up at her over her actions, then explains that the Exarch charged them with two objectives should they be forced to separate - meet up with Urianger and defeat the Lightwarden of this area. However, the two come to realize they are under the spell of the fae that live in this area. After exposing them, the Scions are forced to do tasks to "help" the fae before they can see Urianger. Ultimately, Thancred learns of the Warrior's bond to Feo Ul and asks them to summon them for their help and Feo Ul is able to get the fae to stop messing around and send them to Urianger.\\
\\
At Urianger's abode, Thancred sends Minfilia away as the three catch up. There, Urianger tells the Warrior of the Eigth Umbral Calamity: the forces of Eorzea and the Far East fought Garlemald in bloody combat and began to push the empire back, further and further. In desperation, the Empire unleashed Black Rose. No one was safe, not even the land, and civilization crumbled. Rule of law gave way to rule of might and not even the Warrior of Light or the Scions could stop this as they, too, fell to the Black Rose. Urianger knows that this Calamity must be stopped and reveals something surprising. Bringing the two to a chart of the Elements, Urianger reveals that, on this world, "astral" and "umbral" are actually "darkness" and "light", making Thancred wonder if they had gotten everything backwards this whole time. Urianger believes that the Black Rose's potency is being amplified by the First's indulgance of light, meaning their mission remained unchanged, but the reasoning is now more clear.\\
\\
Knowing that to enter the castle where the Lightwarden is held means earning the fae's favor to open the castle, Urianger bids the Warrior and Thancred to obtain special items. With everything done and Minfilia returning inside, they prepare to make the journey, though Urianger presses Thancred to tell him about the encounter with the old Minfilia. As he does, the Warrior is stricken with a vision of the encounter, that Minfilia possessed her younger copy and talked to Thancred. Despite his pleas, she would not return, but vowed to aid the younger one in whatever she'll want to do. She begs Thancred to help guide this Minfilia of the ways of the world before she departs.

With things finally at peace, Aymeric finally makes good on his earlier promise and invites the Warrior of Light to dinner. A quiet, lighthearted moment ensues between the two in the comfort of Aymeric's home, which is sadly broken with terrible news - Thancred had arrived in the Fortemps manor with a wounded Alisaie. She had been trailing the Warriors of Darkness (poorly, as Thancred would add) when she was spotted by the Warriors and subsequently rescued by Thancred. However, the archer of the group had struck Alisaie with a poisoned arrow. Before she passes out, she begs the heroes to head to Xelphatol to stop the Ixal from summoning Garuda again. With the aid of the Temple Knights, the summoning is left incomplete and put to a complete halt by the Warrior of Light.\\\

With the return of night in Lakeland, the people of the Crystarium celebrate, for the long-awaited Warrior of Darkness said to save the realm from ruin has at last come. Meanwhile, in the fields of Lakeland, a blonde-haired girl admires the night sky, and forges ahead toward the Crystarium to seek out the Warrior of Darkness...

The next morning, grave news reaches the Warrior of Darkness -- Eulmore is not happy with the death of the Lightwarden and the army is heading towards the Crystarium for answers. Rejoining the Crystal Exarch and the twins, they learn of an emissary arriving to the Crystarium and, when they arrive, the Exarch hides the Warrior and the Twins under a vanish spell, allowing the emissary, General Ran'jit, to step inside. He demands to know who killed the Lightwarden and if the Crystarium was complicit in their death, but the Exarch deftly dodges the question. Before he leaves, Ran'jit asks if they had seen an artist and his assistant, making subtle hints that he knows the three are hiding. After he leaves, the group wonders why Eulmore hadn't started war yet. Lyna suggests its because they might have captured the Oracle of Light, Minfilia, a name that shocks the trio. The Exarch bids them to head for the Cabinet of Curiosity, where the trio is urge to find a children's book that can help them learn of Minfilia's time.

According to the librarian there, Minfilia arrived in the world 100 years ago and saved the world from being engulfed in light, only to disappear. She was revered as the Oracle of Light for her actions. Fifteen years ago, a mysterious young girl who was immune to the sin-eater's touch was discovered in the ruins of the Kingdom of Voebert. This girl was hailed as Minfilia reborn and she enlisted into the Eulmore army. However, she ultimately perished in battle, vowing to return. Mysteriously, she did years later and many more would appear to continue this cycle. At least until now. The current Minfilia is a prisoner of the Eulmorians, a harsh reminder of their past in fighting the sin-eaters instead of living as slaves to Vauthry, until three years ago, when a mysterious soul broke her free.

Outside the Corner, Alphinaud surmises that the mysterious soul was none other than their missing comrade Thancred. They do worry that he might know that this isn't his Minfilia, but he might not ''feel'' it isn't. Alphinaud suggests they go to break her out, but the Exarch intervines, asking that the people of the Crystarium do so. He explains that he can't let them know of the Warrior of Darkness and that they need to handle this on their own. Many of the citizens gather and the Exarch asks of them of wanting to rescue Minfilia. Despite the fear, they're all willing to do so, coming up with a plan: bombarding the place where dream powder and taking out those who remained to get to Minfilia. The twins, Lyra and the Warrior split up with their own roles and, when the battle convines, the four come together.

During the battle, they are able to rescue Minfilia, only to have Ran'jit confront them. Like with Zenos, Ran'jit proves to be too powerful and defeats them. Before he can capture them, Thancred suddenly arrives, now armed with the weaponry of the Gunbreaker. Even with that, Ran'jit overpowers him, but the Exarch steps in, teleporting the group away. While the Exarch stands his ground and Lyra sticks with him, the Scions disappear into a land the Eulmorans can't touch: Il Mheg, the realm of the fae folk.

Within Il Mheg, Thancred explains that they had also encountered another of their missing number here, Urianger, in this place. Alisaie asks Minfilia as to why she got caught up in this mess and she explains that she had realized the Warrior had arrived and she just ''had'' to see him. This causes Thancred to blow up at her over her actions, then explains that the Exarch charged them with two objectives should they be forced to separate - meet up with Urianger and defeat the Lightwarden of this area.

Outside the Corner, Alphinaud surmises that the mysterious soul was none other than their missing comrade Thancred. They do worry that he might know that this isn't his Minfilia, but he might not ''feel'' it isn't. Alphinaud suggests they go to break her out, but the Exarch intervines, asking that the people of the Crystarium do so.

[[folder:Echos of a Fallen Star]]

The story picks up five years later, a world rebuilding as from the Calamity and one that cannot remember their heroes, as a up-and-coming hero arrives in either Gridania, Ul'dah or Limsa Lominsa (and if the player imports a character from 1.0, they are one of the heroes Louisoix sent to the future, finding themself in the wilderness outside one of the 3 major towns). After being directed to the Adventurer's Guild around the area, the hero makes themselves at home and starts to make a name for themselves, catching the attention of a number of people. After either protecting the Guardian Tree, retrieving the sultana's crown or protecting the battleship ''Victory'', you are made a guest of honor at a ceremony. These actions would ultimately lead to the three leaders of the countries to seek to reform the Eorzean Alliance with you making the rounds.\\\

After dealing with different threats across Eorzea, you find yourself confronted by the mage Y'shtola, who seeks to recruit you into the group she's part of, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. After speaking to Momodi, the owner of the Ul'dah Adventurer's Guild, about it, you decide to join the group, meeting with its leader, Minfilia, Y'shtola, the secretary Tataru and the other members of its group - Papalymo, Thancred, Yda, and Urianger - within the Waking Sands (If you imported a 1.0 character, Minfilia explicitly remembers you and later apologizes for treating you like a stranger). Your first mission deals with the primal Ifrit and finding yourself defeating the creature after being captured by the Amalj'aa. Your actions prompt the Grand Companies into recruiting you and, after joining one of them, you soon find yourself aiding the Sylph race with their elder going missing. Rescuing her leads to the sylphs becoming friends of yours.\\\

Arriving at the shores near the Castrum, Hien plans to keep going with the exchange, but being on the lookout for anything Asahi or Yotsuyu might do. At the meeting, Hien spots a bunch of containers and asks about them. Asahi tries to reassure him that they're nothing more than reconstruction tools. He also tells him of Yotsuyu's disappearance, prompting her arrival in full garb and ready to reassert her authority as acting viceroy. However, Hien calmly tells her that she's going back to Garlemald and that her former position is no longer recognized. However, Yotsuyu is nonplussed and vows to crush everyone in Doma, as was ordered by Zenos. The crates suddenly open, revealing crystals inside: everyone realizes, to their horror, that they were brought over to facilitate a summoning! Using the aether from the crystals and the mirror provided by Asahi, Yotsuyu transforms into a frightening new primal - the goddess of the moon, Tsukuyomi. Asahi forces his men to abandon everything and retreat, declaring that a Doman citizen had performed a summoning in violation of his agreement with Hien and calling off the prisoner exchange. Hien is forced to realize he can't face her, but has everyone retrieve their countrymen while leaving the Warrior of Light to the beast. A titanic battle ensues and, weakening, realizes her powers come from her own suffering, allowing herself to be struck by phantasms of her parents, Imperial soldiers, and her brother. When a spectre of Zenos prepares to cut her down, however, a vision of Gosetsu, still calling her "Tsuyu", holds Zenos at bay: the kami had spared her life for a reason, and Gosetsu is determined to save her. However, she finds herself unworthy of his care and prepares to die for her sins in battle. With Tsukuyomi defeated, the Warrior goes to attend to her, only for Asahi to return, shooting her. As he approaches Tsukuyomi's body, he gloats at the ruined peace between Doma and Garlemald and that the Warrior of Light just can't harm him. He, soon, turns his attention to the fallen primal and begins kicking her, cursing her for being chosen as viceroy over him. However, she finally gets her revenge, skewering her brother with the last of her strength. As her power fades and Yotsuyu returns to normal, she notices the Warrior isn't happy. When they tell her that Tsuyu would be missed, she realizes that happiness was never meant to be. With her last breath, she wonders if Gosetsu remembered if the persimmon was sweet.\\\

As Asahi tries to cling to life, the Warrior gets another Echo vision. In it, it is discovered that Asahi had been persuaded to act in this manner by Zenos himself, who gives him the means to make Yotsuyu summon an eikon: a mirror that had been taken from the Kojin. Zenos's plan was to stop the teachings of the Populares and force ongoing war. As the vision ends, Asahi croaks out that Zenos will come for him before dying. At that, Hien and the others return, Gosetsu in tow. He spots Yotsuyu's body and mourns in anguish, uncertain why they were spared, only to suffer again. With Gosetsu gone with Yotsuyu's body, Hien realizes their negotiations are ruined. However, Maxima, one of Asahi's subordinates, returns as he felt something felt off by Asahi's actions. The Warrior tells Maxima about the vision, which confuses both men - how could Zenos be alive and why would someone who'd despise eikons want one summoned? Maxima realizes it's a good idea to investigate these claims. Hien asks if its possible to continue the prisoner exchange, which Maxima confirms they shall. However, Alphinaud surprises everyone when he requests to join Maxima back in Garlemald; he fears that an Ascian is waiting in the wings and they need help to get rid of it. The Warrior of Light gives their blessing as Hien charges him as emissary of Doma. With everything settled, the group prepares to receive the rest of the conscripts who couldn't escape in time. In the Enclave, the heroes watch as the conscripts are reunited with family and loved ones and give thanks to them all. To their shock, they're joined by Gosetsu, who has shaved his hair off. The old samurai realizes he's no use as a samurai any more and he seeks to travel the world in his last days, giving prayer to those who have left the world in suffering. With Hien's blessing, the old man goes forth. Within Hien's manor, Hien explains that Gosetsu had a wife and daughter who died during the Garlean occupation, and that his caring for Yotsuyu in her amnesiac state was because he saw his daughter in her and took her under his wing as a surrogate daughter.\\\

With everything settled in Doma, Alisaie and the Warrior of Light return to Rhalgar's Reach and Lyse. They tell her of Zenos' possible return, which she hopes is a joke. When Thancred arrives, he suggests heading over to his grave and making sure his body is still there. The four arrive at his grave - left unmarked to prevent its desecration by vengeful Ala Mhigans - and, to their horror, discover that it is indeed empty. Some distance away, a katana-welding soldier smirks at this revelation and walks on. As the Scions muse these turn of events, Thancred believes Alphinaud's theory of a Ascian riding in Zenos' body to be true. As Thancred and Lyse deal with the revelations, Alisaie and the Warrior of Light discuss things with Y'shtola. She also believes that Alphinaud is correct over the Ascians being involved, though she can't help but feel that his decision to go into enemy territory was foolsih, with Alisaie similarly worried. In the Imperial capital, the Emperor scolds "Zenos" for his actions, but he assures him that everything is going according to plan. At Baelsar's Wall, the soldier strikes down a Roegadyn soldier and steals a Magitek Armor, seemingly the real Zenos as he seeks to find the one who stole his body and put him down.\\\

As the Scions wait on pins and needles for any news of Alphinaud's status, word reaches them that the Eorzean Alliance plans to hold a meeting on the next course of action against Garlemald and the Ascians. Not long after, they learn that Thancred has returned from his reconnaissance in Garlemald: according to Thancred's findings, there is in-fighting as rebellious factions form within the empire. Nonetheless, "Zenos" continues to walk around in plain view, lending further credence to suspicions of Ascian involvement. As for Alphinaud's situation, all he has to go on is a distorted message with only two discernible words: "The Burn".\\\

At Alisae's suggestion, the Scions report the situation to Hien, and discuss with him how they may reach the Burn. All the while, the Warrior of Light meets with Y'shtola, who reports that objects of worship, such as the mirror used to summon Tsukuyomi, can allow primals to be summoned, even in the absence of faith for the primal. This makes them incredibly dangerous.\\\

After returning to Doma, Lyse arrives with big news: Ala Mhigo requests to officially join the Eorzean Alliance! All of the leaders of the Alliance plan to hold a meeting to induct Ala Mhigo. Inspired by the Eorzean Alliance, Hien seeks to found his own Doman Alliance to aid in the war effort against Garlemald: the dangers posed by the Empire was too great for the peoples of Doma to stand against divided.\\\

After gathering some initial support for a Doman Alliance, Hien, Y'shtola, and the Warrior of Light make for the Azim Steppe, where an aetheric artifact is found: one strikingly similar to those found on Azys Lla, which may be Allagan in origin. Such an artifact could be used to create a protective barrier at the Burn, where aetheric concentrations were practically absent.\\\

As the duel between the Warrior of Light and Sadu reaches a fevered pitch, Magnai and his tribe arrive to interfere. Y'shtola and Hien hold him and his men at bay to the Warrior of Light and Sadu could continue their duel unimpeded. After Y'shtola overpowers Magnai and the duel between the Warrior of Light and Sadu concludes, Magnai begins to believe that Y'shtola may be his "Naahma". Y'shtola declines his love proposal, leading to taunting from Sadu and renewed hostilities between her and Magnai. Y'shtola and Hien wisely decide to let them settle the score without them and, with Sadu's permission, Y'shtola uses the Allagan artifact to send aether to the Burn and help form the foundations of Doma's defenses.\\\

With the matter of Doma's defenses settled for now, the Warrior of Light and Y'shtola accompany Hien to Ala Mhigo, where the Eorzean Alliance has convened. After officially welcoming Ala Mhigo into the Alliance, the discussion turns to dealing with Garlemald and the Ascians. Thancred proposes waging a war of subterfuge in lieu of a direct assault; he, along with some Doman shinobi, could sneak into the Empire and spread rumors of "Zenos" being an imposter. Such rumors would demoralize and divide the people, making it easier for the Alliance to deal with "Zenos".\\\

When they come to, the Warrior of Light finds that the other Scions, save for Y'shtola, had a similar phenomenon occur to them. Then suddenly, Thancred loses consciousness.\\\

With nothing to be done for Thancred, Y'shtola and the Warrior of Light return to the Rising Stones and report what happened to Urianger and Alisae. However, they are called once more by the mysterious force, and Y'shtola and Urianger also fall comatose.\\\

After having Y'shtola and Urianger taken into medical care, Alisae has the Warrior of Light accompany her to Limsa Lominsa, where she arranges a meeting with Ga Bu, the young kobold who had once served as a vessel for Titan's summoning. His condition has not improved since last they met: he remains trapped within his own mind, unable to perceive the world around him. Alisae confides in Ga Bu and the Warrior of Light her fears of being unable to help her friends in their most dire times of need, but discussing her fears and anxieties helps to renew her resolve. Her spirits lifted, she vows to find a way to revive her fallen friends.\\\

Alisae and the Warrior of Light receive much needed guidance from Krile on how to proceed with attempting to help the comatose Scions: enlisting the aid of Matoya and her Crystal Eye. The three travel to Matoya's cave, where they entreat her aid. When Krile attempts to find signs of the souls of the afflicted Scions with the Crystal Eye, however, she cannot find where they are: the aetherial trail of their souls ends abruptly. Alisae is devastated at the thought that their souls are gone, not unlike the Ananta broodmother's daughter. Matoya, however, assures Alisae that there is hope still; the broodmother's daughter was already dead, but the Scions still live. Ergo, their souls must still exist.\\\

With their attempts to aid the comatose Scions at a standstill for the time being, Alisae receives a message over linkpearl from Lyse: Garlean defectors have come to Ala Mhigo with important news. Alisae and the Warrior of Light make ready to meet with Lyse while Krile remains to find a new means to aid their comrades. Before the leave, however, one of Matoya's magicked brooms falls inert. While Matoya is able to get it to move again, it has been losing its power more often; a worrying effect of the supposed Aether thinning throughout the realm...?\\\

Alisae and the Warrior of Light meet with Lyse at the Ala Mhigan capitol, where Maxima, a Populares who had accompanied Alphinaud towards Garlemald, awaits. Maxima explains that their ship had been attacked by Garlean troops, but they were saved by a mysterious third party, led by a man who called himself "Shadowhunter". Their journey towards Garlemald led to a resistance camp where all the occupants were dead, by means unknown. With that, Maxima and his comrades evacutated to Eorzea while Alphinaud and Shadowhunter pressed on.\\\

As Alisae and the Warrior of Light prepare to leave for Doma, they are once again assailed by the mysterious voice. Both are unscathed by the experience, thankfully, and meet with Hien, who has created an eastern alliance of his own, banding together the kojin, the tribes of the Azim Steppe, the Confederacy, and the peoples of Nagxia and Dalmasca. Hien, however, is reluctant to spare any troops until he is certain the Doman border along the Burn is first secured. To that end, he invites Alisae and the Warrior of Light to accompany him to see the activation of the barrier, dubbed "Seiryu's Aegis".\\\

It is then that Shadowhunter greets the Warrior of Light as though they were old acquaintances. The Warrior of Light sees the masks that Shadowhunter amassed, but one of them stands out; the mask worn by the Black Wolf of Garlemald!\\\

Gaius explains that his reason for surviving the destruction of the Praetorium, and his subsequent quest for revenge against the Ascians, was the realization that he had been manipulated by the Ascians into activating the Ultima Weapon. Not long after, he learned that the Ascians had long manipulated the Empire. As a proud Garlean patriot, he could not let that stand, so he abdicated his rank within the imperial army and set himself to excising the Ascians and destroying them. \\\

Gaius explains that there is a hierarchy within the Ascian ranks; those with white masks are subject to those with red masks, but even among the red masks those that are closer to "the Source" stand above those who leave for Hydelyn. Of the red masks, he knows of the existence of three: the late Lahabrea, the emmisary Elidibus, and "Emet-Selch", of whom nothing is known and who is the one most likely to be disguised as Zenos. He also reveals the existence of Black Rose, the bioweapon used on Garlean rebels, but assures the heroes that he and Alphinaud managed to lay waste to the production plant; even as a Legate, Gaius disapproved of the weapon and refused to have it used, since such a weapon was not one of conquest, but genocide. With a common enemy, Gaius and the Warrior of Light set aside their differences for the time being as Alphinaud is taken back to Doma.\\\

Little do they know, Emperor Varis, under the watchful eye of "Solus", managed to build a new Black Rose production plant, with the weapon scheduled to be ready for use by the time the imperial forces reach Ala Mhigo. Varis had also created Allagan cloning facilities to create bodies for the Ascian posing as Solus, whose timely "demise" that threw the empire into civil war was by design, all as part of his plot to dispense with the "fraudulent existence" of the world...\\\

After parting ways with Gaius, Alisae and the Warrior of Light learn that Emperor Varis, himself, requested to parley. The leaders of the Eorzean Alliance, along with Lord Hien, Alisae as a representative of the Scions, and the Warrior of Light go to meet with Varis, in the hope that they could stop a war from breaking out.\\\

When the parley begins, tensions flare as Varis calls out the Alliance and their allies on refusing to be subject to Empire and accept their rule, and with it, their peace, while using war to achieve their own ends. After taking a moment to recess, the leaders collect their wits and think of a new approach: give Varis an opportunity to explain what it is, exactly, he wants.\\\

When the parley reconvenes, the leaders apologize for their earlier rudeness and ask Varis what it is he seeks. Varis gladly answers that what he wants is to unite all peoples of the world as one, a Rejoining that would allow them to fight the Ascians. What Varis suggests, however, is unconscionable; such a Rejoining would be disasterous, with countless lives lost; the proposal would threaten to destroy the world, itself!\\\

Thankfully, the Ala Mhigan line holds, and the Garlean invaders are repelled. Unfortunately, just as the heroes breath easy, the calling voice strikes once again, this time drawing away Alisae's soul. With nearly all of the chief members of the Scions comatose, there is naught to be done but wait and hope that Krile and Matoya find anything that can help...\\\

...but time is not on their side. As the Garlean forces regroup, "Zenos" takes the field...\\\

Sometime later, the Warrior returns to the Rising Stones and speaks to Hoary Boulder, who confirms that the Scions still haven't waken from their mysterious spell. They are soon joined by Maxima, who wants to see Alphinaud's condition and thankful for the Warrior of Light in stopping the Garlean assault. Maxima soon leads the Warrior down to Silvertear, where they are reunited with Cid. Though Maxima professes admiration towards Cid as all Populares do because of his defection with Garlemald, Cid is quick to dismiss such a thing. Both men are troubled by the revelation that the Ascians are behind Garlemald's creation, though. Before things can be pondered further, a message is brought to the Warrior that Raubahn wishes to meet with them in Ala Mhigo for planning. Cid offers to take the Warrior there via the ''Excelsior''.\\\

At the Alliance base, Raubahn explains that the Alliance seems to be slowly gaining ground and they wish to make a decisive push to gain breathing room. However, this plan is stopped when a soldier runs in, warning that the Garleans are breaking through to the east, lead by "Zenos". Raubahn realizes the entire thing was just to bid their time until he arrived. He tells the soldier to call for reinforcements and warns the Warrior that he might have to join in. The Warrior reassures him that they'll be by his side as well. However, the Warrior is hit by another vision, begging them to "open". Despite this and Raubahn's worries, the Warrior is still willing to fight.\\\

At the border, Hien, Lyse, Yugiri and other soldiers confront and battle "Zenos", holding the line until the Warrior of Light arrived. Despite their might, "Zenos" is still quite powerful and knocks them aside as the Warrior finally arrives. They defeat "Zenos", but the mysterious voice calls to them at the worst time and "Zenos" seemingly strikes them down in their weakness. They seemingly wake on a mysterious platform where they're confronted by a mysterious being. They warn them that the war they fight will only lead to oblivion and they must take another path. They tell the Warrior to go to the Crystal Tower, that a beacon will be found there.\\\

Suddenly, the Warrior finds themselves back in Ishgard, in Fortemps Manor. With Aymeric by their side, he explains that before "Zenos" could deal the final blow, Estinien arrived and rescued the Warrior, taking them back to the Manor. "Zenos"' weakness has also inspired renewed unrest in Garlean territories and that the Imperial Court is also growing restless. Aymeric bids the Warrior to rest up for awhile, then do what needs to be done. Before leaving, the Warrior meets up with Count Edmont, who expresses relief of the Warrior's safety. Returning to the Rising Stones, they're greeted by Tataru, who breaks down into tears in relief and confusion. After explaining what was going on, Tataru realizes that the other Scions might be at the other world, but with "Zenos" too powerful, she demands that the Warrior not face him again, not without the other Scions. This is something the Warrior agress with. Tataru ponders the meaning of a beacon at the Crystal Tower, but realizes it had been sealed off, though she's certain Cid and those studying it have a way of finding that beacon.\\\

The Warrior finds a beacon in the dig site. At that very moment, the voice that had plagued them and the Scions rings out, the clearest it has been! As the voice calls to them, their consciousness fades. They soon find themself drifting through the rift between worlds, visions and voices of the people they met drifting by...\\

When they finally come to, the Warrior finds themself in a strange land, the sky above them cloaked in blazing light. A nearby peddler asks what they would be doing out at this hour of the night -- a strange query, considering how bright it is outside. The peddler directs them towards a settlement called the "Crystarium", where they may seek shelter. Upon reaching the city's gates, however, they are stopped by a guard who appears like a Viera, who questions them about their origin. Her suspicions are allayed, however, by a mysterious hooded figure who vouches for the Warrior -- none other than the leader of the Crystarium himself, the "Crystal Exarch".\\

After taking a tour of the Crystarium and meeting the people who help to maintain its many facilities, including a meeting with the impish pixie Feo Ul, the Warrior meets with the Exarch within a Crystal Tower alike in appearance to the one in Mor Dhona. The Exarch explains that this world is not Hydaelyn, but rather one of its thirteen reflections: specifically, the "First". A great crisis threatens this world as the balance between the powers of Light and Darkness has been gravely disrupted, such that much of the world has been completely destroyed by a Flood of Light. The selfsame light has given rise to a new breed of monsters known as "sin eaters", most of whom feast on the aether of their victims, while the more powerful in their number are capable of corrupting the aether of their victims and transforming them into yet more sin eaters. Only the region of Norvrandt remains, thanks to the Oracle of Light -- Minfillia -- stopping the flood. The Warrior of Light from Hydaelyn -- also known as the "Source" -- is the only one capable of saving the First from the coming apocalypse, and in so doing, forestall doom in the First. It was to that end that the Exarch attempted to summon the Warrior to the First, although his initial attempts met with limited success as he only managed to summon the souls of their allies in the Scions, for whom he helped fashion artificial bodies. Because of the strange way in which time moves in the First compared to the Source, many of the summoned Scions have been stuck in the First for years. It was only when the Warrior came to the trench beneath the Source's Crystal Tower that he succeeded in summoning them properly, body and soul.\\

For the moment, the Scions have spread out through Norvrandt in the hopes of doing what they can to aid the people in wait for the Warrior: Alisaie had left for the desert region of Ahm Areang, while Alphinaud went to surveil the islands of Kholusia. Y'shtola was abroad in the dense jungles of the Rak'tika Greatwood, with Urianger in the mysterious and abandoned land of Il Mheg. Thancred's whereabouts where unknown for the time being.\\

At present, the Exarch suggests the Warrior seek out Alphinaud and Alisae.\\

In their excursion to Ahm Areang, the Warrior accompanies a Crystarium merchant, Cassard, to the city of Mord Souq, home to a beast tribe known as the Mord -- a race that is known in the Source as Kobalds. To gain acceptance in the city, the Warrior of Light partakes in a ritual known as the "cracking of the purse", where newcomers partake of the wares of the city's vendors. With a highly valuable Voeburtite gold coin, the Warrior samples some of one Mord's culinary "delights".\\

It is during one of her patrols that Alisaie and the Warrior reunite. Though their reunion is joyous, it quickly turns to tragedy when a young boy who was being cared for at the Inn disappears. The Warrior and Alisaie join Tesleen to search for the boy. Even though they find him and save him from a group of sin eaters, Tesleen sacrifices herself to protect the boy, taking a blow from a sin eater that corrupts her aether. So powerful was this sin eater that the transformation is nigh instantaneous, the Warrior and Alisaie helpless to do aught but watch as Tesleen mutates into a sin eater.\\

The Warrior's next destination is Kholusia, a sparsely populated island to the southwest of the Norvrandt mainland. Over the horizon in Kholusia stands Eulmore, which the Warrior learns from Alphinaud upon their reunion in a small fishing town is a massive city-state that offers sanctuary and safety from the ravages of the coming Flood of Light. There is, however, caveats to their offer of safety and shelter: only a select few are actually allowed inside, the requirements for entry always changing and depending on the outcomes of perverse games held by Eulmore's representatives. Those hoping to gain entry gather in Gatetown, a shantytown near the gates into the city: many who take up residence here have waited for ''years'' to gain entry.\\

In the hopes of learning more of the city's inner workings, Alphinaud has arranged to purchase some pearls from a local beast tribe known as the Ondo -- similar to the Source's Sahagin -- in exchange for produce. The plan is derailed, however, by a youth named Kai-Shirr, who takes the pearls for himself in the hopes of using Alphinaud's plan to get into Eulmore himself. Realizing how desperately Kai-Shirr is to reunite with friends who were accepted into the city, Alphinaud allows Kai-Shirr to take the pearls, and elects to look for another way in.\\

Not long after, the Warrior and Alphinaud find a young man washed up on a shore near Eulmore. After caring for him, the young man, named Tristol, explains that he was admitted into Eulmore on the merit of his artistic skills. In Eulmore, residents are divided into two classes: free citizens, and the bonded. Free citizens represent the upper crust of society, the nobles and aristocrats; while the bonded are servants who tend to whatever desire their patron free citizens desire. So it was that Tristol was bonded to a couple to paint pictures for them, only for his artistic creations to fall short of their favor. Eventually, it came to be too much for Tristol, who asked of the city's ruler, Lord Vauthry, to be allowed to leave. His wish was granted, albeit by means of being tossed into the ocean and nearly killed.\\

Tristol offers his brush to Alphinaud to help him and the Warrior get into Eulmore. With the Warrior posing as Alphinaud's artistic assistant, the two manage to gain purchase into Eulmore, where they are bonded to the Chai family. As Alphinaud paints for the Chais, the Warrior roams the city, learning what they can.\\

Eventually, the citizenry are offered a chance to see a "sinner" punished for crimes against the city. Alphinaud and the Warrior follow the crowd to the throne room of Lord Vauthry, where they bear witness to Kai-Shirr, the same young man who they helped get into Eulmore, bleeding from his hand. Shocked at the brutality and cruelty Vauthry imposed on him, Alphinaud calls him out before he and the Warrior leave with Kai-Shirr. Alphinaud suggests Kai-Shirr return to the Crystarium, where he can be given shelter in exchange for honest labor, before returning himself to join the Warrior in their endeavors.\\

With Alphinaud and Alisaie reunited, the Exarch goes further into his plan to dispel the Light afflicting Norvrandt. At the heart of the influx of Light are the Lightwardens, the strongest sin eaters in the realm. Defeating the Lightwardens would restore the night in each area they reign over. Unfortunately, it wasn't as simple as slaying them, as just doing so would cause the Warden's aether to be absorbed by the nearest living being, which would in turn become a new Lightwarden. The Exarch, however, believes that the key to victory lies with the Warrior's blessing from Hydaelyn...\\

In the battle that follows, the Warrior of Light slays the Lightwarden. As expected, the Warden's aether was absorbed into the Warrior's body. However, they did not transform into a new Lightwarden. Instead, with a hand raised high, the Warrior fires the aether into the air, cleaving apart the Light blanketing the region of Lakeland and revealing behind its torn veil the long-forgotten night sky!\\

With the return of night in Lakeland, the people of the Crystarium celebrate, for the long-awaited Warrior of Darkness said to save the realm from ruin has at last come.

Though the threat of Archbishop Thordan and his primal ambitions has ceased, the road to peace for Ishgard is still a treacherous path to travel. Eager to set about on this road, Aymeric has our heroes seek out Vidofnir with Lucia in order to kick off the peace proceedings. When you approach her, she's amenable to the idea, but she can't leave quite yet - Ravana has returned and she must protect the entrance to the Churning Mists from his wrath. She will, however, tell the other dragons of the plan and see what they think as well. To pass the time, Alphinaud and the Warrior of Light head for Idyllshire to meet Y'shtola and greet a Sharlayan scholar, who turns out to be Krile, Minfilia's dear friend.\\\

As it turns out, Krile has a way to try to find Minfilia and Thancred, but needs to seek out Matoya to do so. Approaching the mage, she requests a special item to help scry for them. Matoya warms up to the scholar and willingly allows her to use it. Krile can't find Minfilia, but does find that Thancred was last dropped off within Sohm Al's base. Using highly detailed sketches of Thancred drawn out by Alphinaud (a talent which Krile reveals he had developed as a means to pick up girls), you're able to deduce that Thancred has been around, though one person gave the description of a warrior holding an axe, not Thancred's signature knives. Before Y'shtola can kill Alphinaud over a perverted comment, the plan is made to go and slay Ravana again to draw out Thancred. However, before they can do so, the primal is found already defeated by a mysterious band of adventurers as they got there. Despite seemingly sharing the same goal, the unknown adventurers do not take kindly toward you and the Scions. The band turns their attention toward your group and easily defeats them, only to be driven off by Thancred's arrival. The self-named "Warriors of Darkness" promise that they will meet you again.\\\

However, the return to Ishgard isn't a happy one - Lucia reveals that Aymeric was nearly killed in an assassination attempt. What's more, the city is starting to go up in flames! Though, you are able to stop the arsons and bring the arsonist to justice, there are still many more questions needed answering. Though Aymeric recovers enough to rejoin the heroes, thanks to the Fortemps' healing salve, they're soon worried of news that a group calling themselves the True Brothers of the Faith has invaded the Vault and taken refugees from the arsons hostage. They effectively seek a new Archbishop immediately and that Aymeric must turn himself in to be summarily executed for his perceived crimes. Knowing that a peaceful ending is highly unlikely, Aymeric leads a team inside the Vault to rescue the hostages. The leader, a priest, spirits away a young girl to the roof of the Vault, where he's confronted. Completely convinced of Aymeric's guilt, he attempts to punish him by tossing the girl to her death, only to be rescued by a just-arriving Vidofnir. However, Vidofnir's arrival is less than pleasant - Hraesvelgr brings news that, soon, Nidhogg will resume his war once more.\\\

That bit of news is dulled a bit with news from Tataru - F'lhaminn, Hoary Boulder, and Coultenet are on their way back to Limsa Lominsa after running off to evade the Crystal Braves. Your reunion is a joyous one, though F'lhaminn isn't happy that Minfilia is still missing. However, the Scions learn of a possible way to find her thanks to Krile and Thancred. Returning to Matoya, you seek entrance into the Antitower to find and contact Minfilia. After traversing the topsy-turvy tower, you finally encounter your missing friend, only to learn that she has become an emissary to Hydaelyn Herself and unable to rejoin them, something that upsets Thancred greatly.\\\

Estinien recovers from his injuries enough to speak with the Warrior of Light, Aymeric, and Alphinaud, whom he came to see as a younger brother not unlike the one he lost in the war. He explains that when Nidhogg took over his body and mind, he saw in Nidhogg's soul the same burning hatred over the death of his brood-sister at the hands of the Knights Twelve as he had for Nidhogg following the death of his family. Were it not for his friends to guide him, he would've been alike to Nidhogg in all respects. With Nidhogg felled and the war over, he abdicates his mantle as Azure Dragoon.\\\

Afterwards, Ser Aymeric sets the foundation for sweeping reform across Ishgard. In his last act as acting leader of the Holy See, he abolishes the theocracy and sets up a republic government in its wake; church and state would be separated and policy for Ishgard would be determined by high and low-born alike in the newly established House of Lords (to which Aymeric is elected to the highest seat) and House of Commons. Afterwards, the peace between Ishgard and Dravania is finalized. The book closes on the thousand-year Dragonsong War, and a new age of peace begins for Ishgard.\\\