FFXIV story/lore thread

**Lyall** · 2014-04-30 12:45

On this subject, is there a solid use of terms for time? I know "bell" gets used a bit but I can't remember if that's second or minute, and I don't recall anything other than the use of "moons" to reflect months.

**Rocl** · 2014-04-30 12:50

Originally Posted by Obsidian

I always thought yalms were analogous to yards, not feet. No idea why since I have no concept of how far a yard is in the first place. Ilms and inches made sense so I just assumed.

Huh? His post is just translating the yards into feet. One yard is three feet. So 6329 ya(rd/lm) is 18987 feet or like 3.6 miles.

What Xanthe said is right iirc, no idea why they don't use fulm more, but yalm definitely works better here. (Can you imagine something saying 18,987 Fulms - The Holodeck or 3.6 Malms - The Holodeck?)

Originally Posted by Lyall

On this subject, is there a solid use of terms for time? I know "bell" gets used a bit but I can't remember if that's second or minute, and I don't recall anything other than the use of "moons" to reflect months.

Always assumed "bell" was an hour as clocks tend to chime on the hour.

Originally Posted by Raldo

I bet the Garleans use a metric system.

That's why they're the sciency bad guys.

**Lyall** · 2014-04-30 12:54

Hour makes entirely too much sense when you put it like that.

**Niiro** · 2014-04-30 13:04

Especially considering the term "bell" referring to "hour" is an actual, real world thing.

**Lyall** · 2014-04-30 13:06

I am the king of timekeeping.

**Obsidian** · 2014-05-01 23:42

Here's a random thought I had as Darnus caved my skull in tonight: if Nael was revived/preserved/recreated/whatever'd as that woman (potentially Bradamante), do we have any guarantee that the Louisoix we've seen is actually Louisoix and not someone else brought back with his likeness?

Dumb thought but I thought it would be pretty amusing if it turned out to be true (it will not).

**Rocl** · 2014-05-02 05:19

Originally Posted by Obsidian

Here's a random thought I had as Darnus caved my skull in tonight: if Nael was revived/preserved/recreated/whatever'd as that woman (potentially Bradamante), do we have any guarantee that the Louisoix we've seen is actually Louisoix and not someone else brought back with his likeness?

Dumb thought but I thought it would be pretty amusing if it turned out to be true (it will not).

Originally Posted by Rocl

Here's the question (obvious T9+ spoilers)

Spoiler: show

Tsk tsk tsk! It's like you people don't even read! We have no guarantee it is Loisoiux Leveilleur as we knew him. It could be another Dalamud follower w/ Louisoix's body or it could be a greatly altered Lousoix simulacrum. If you wanna go with the former I feel like our choices are pretty limited (Midas nan Garlond in Lousioix's body? Nael's father? Otherwise we're in Joe Schmo territory) I think it's more likely that Bahamut got the body+soul combo right this time though as it's a bigger emotional impact for Legacy/Alisaie/Urianger.

**Xanthe** · 2014-05-02 11:59

Originally Posted by Rocl

Tsk tsk tsk! It's like you people don't even read! We have no guarantee it is Loisoiux Leveilleur as we knew him. It could be another Dalamud follower w/ Louisoix's body or it could be a greatly altered Lousoix simulacrum. If you wanna go with the former I feel like our choices are pretty limited (Midas nan Garlond in Lousioix's body? Nael's father? Otherwise we're in Joe Schmo territory) I think it's more likely that Bahamut got the body+soul combo right this time though as it's a bigger emotional impact for Legacy/Alisaie/Urianger.

It's possible that Midas had some yet-unknown connection to Louisoix, and that the former theory is correct. It would be a sensible, and possible, plot twist, as we know that Nael and Midas both worked on the Meteor Project, and we know little of Louisoix and Sharlayan. We know that Louisoix knew more than he was letting on regarding Dalamud, so it's possible that a connection to Midas exists, one strong enough for Midas' simulacrum to take the form of Louisoix, which would give some explanation of Louisoix's foreknowledge of Dalamud as well. I have a feeling that what we find in a future coil will actually be a...Louisfaux.

**Rocl** · 2014-05-03 18:26

I don't recall direct references Nael worked on the Meteor project's first iteration as that was quite some time ago (young enough for Cid to be a boy/teen) and Nael is younger than the only other Legatus we know (Gaius). In fact, I believe Nael's relative youth is mentioned a few times, at least in reference to his position.

Rereading this now, but I believe this is where I got my information: http://gamerescape.com/2013/08/21/th...e-white-raven/

This is more or less canon as Fernewhales himself helped the production of the article.

Edit: And I stand firmly corrected and wrong. Nael had been overseeing the Meteor Project since Day 1 while Cid was a young adult. In my head Meteor1 was some 15 years before the Fall of Ala Mhigo, but it was not long after.

**Rocl** · 2014-05-16 07:19

Today Rocl is going to talk to you about the music in A Realm Reborn. If, at any point, you think to yourself "lol there's music in this game? xDDD" please go kill yourself. Also shame on everyone who bought the ARR OST and didn't tell me it came with a lyric booklet however small. The OF Lore forum put together a comprehensive post of lyrics that I'll be borrowing from, but what's important is that almost all of the lyrics for songs in the game are written by Michael-Christopher Koji Fox aka Fernewhales aka one of the co-world lore creators i.e. they're not chosen to sound cool (though I'm sure that helps). It also explains why they're in English, I guess, except the ones in Latin but I'm p. sure those are frequently credited to a duo including MCKF and some very germanic sounding Eva Kapeller (who I'm assuming is translating what he says into Latin for some japanese vocal artist to sing)

Let's start slowly with "Thunderer" or track 76 of the ARR OST. It has two lyrics "Conflictus.. Impetus..." you will recognize this song from the Behemoth FATEs and the battles with Lahabrea and Twintania. I prefer to think of it as a fighting game announcer going "Battle... FIGHT!" since you can parse out the meaning of those lyrics pretty haphazardly and still be right. We're fighting something badass enough for vocals, but not badass enough for story exposition via vocals.

Then we have "The Maker's Ruin" or track 109 of the ARR OST. This is the song that plays during the 'perfect' Ultima fight. i.e. phase 1; i.e. when you fight the Weapon on the elevator and it uses the Primal abilities. There's actually very muted lyrics in addition to the shouting "UNITIS":

Una pugnamus
UNITIS
Una morimur
UNITIS CRYSTALLE

Together we fight
United
Together we die
United (by the) Crystal

Simple and straightforward, no?

Now unfortunately, the lyrics for Ultima (the more famous Ultima Weapon theme present in Minstrel's Ballad, and the second story fight) and Penitus (the Praetorium theme) weren't released. However, the Praetorium theme is fucking spooky if you imagine it being a bunch of children singing, assumedly brainwashed by the Garleans as they are wont to do (ref: Futures Perfect, lv46 MSQ 1.0). As for what's going on in Ultima, no fucking clue but it's sheer badassery.

Let's move onto lighter fare with Good King Moggle Mog XII (what a dull track name), #90 on FFXIV: Before Meteor.

Spoiler: show

Actually there's nothing really to glean here. Except the genders of each Moogle. RIP Puksi Piko embiggening her friends via song (in 1.0 the bard buff would make the moogles grow physically largely, I don't think this mechanic exists in 2.0) Male Moogle names seem to be K names and female Moogle names seem to be P names. Remember this when making your original characters for Balmung RP.

By some accounts "Fallen Angel" (Garuda's theme) has lyrics. I'll be damned if I can ever make out a single fucking word other than "Now fall" before the sick guitar solo.

Now fall...

Falling too far from the light
Deeper into the night

Lost here inside my own hell
I am a broken angel

Now, Garuda and Moggle Mog's theme exist in a period where not much of the story was revealed in songs (except Answers, maybe) but holy shit I just heard the entirety of the lyrics relistening to the song while writing this. UH, there's actually a female and male vocalist for Fallen Angel it sounds like but the guy only makes "UWAOOOOOOOO" noises and sings together "Deeper into the night" for some reason.

I was taken offguard by complaining about not hearing the lyrics while hearing them, where was I? oh yes, shitty analysis. I'd hasten to bet that the vocalist is supposed to be Garuda and she's singing about aether. "Falling from the light" could be her movement away from the aether? We know Primals exist betwixt the aether itself but at the same time need a shitton of aether to physically manifest. So this makes it sound like they aren't capable of extracting aether by themselves (I feel like this is wrong and we've seen a Primal absorb aether before, but perhaps they must be have a presence in the physical realm to draw aether). Maybe it's something like a Primal is only hungry for aether when it is summoned (desiring only adulation and prayer while not) so being a physical being is, in fact, a hellish existence of perpetual hunger? Who knows.

Now everyone's favorite Primal, Titan.

Spoiler: show

Clearly supposed to be 'two' sets of people singing. The bold is what I assume the Kobolds are singing. It's worth remembering that the Kobolds (and to an extent Titan) are not aggressive by nature. If a Lominsan (preferably one well versed in 1.0 and 2.0) can correct me here would be grand but to the best of my knowledge: The founders of Limsa Lominsa and the Kobolds of Vyldbrand had a pact. Whatever lay beneath the waves was Limsa's alone and whatever was beneath the earth of Vyldbrand was the Kobold's. I don't know why the Lominsans thought this was a good idea. I'm less clear on stuff like farming/hunting on Vyldbrand. Anyways, the fact remains the Lominsans eventually had to break the pact and the Kobolds got pissy pants and demanded they stop. That's dumb, we need metals and ores for all sorts of shit proclaimed the Lominsans and the kept at it and the situation escalated until it became a prolonged conflict that the Kobolds sought to end by summoning their 'father' Titan. Again, the Kobolds (and Titan) do not appear to be aggressive. Leviathan and Ifrit temper mankind willy nilly and demand more and more sacrifice. Garuda straight up kills people who don't believe in her. Titan is just sort of there, looking out for the interests of his children. He makes no attempt to temper us (in 2.0; there is unused dialogue in 1.0 where in a Lv52 quest Titan we would've fought Titan with the Company of Heroes and while losing Titan attempts to temper us/the Company) like Ifrit and Garuda do (Garuda does in 2.0 right? She def does in 1.0). I was marginally surprised Leviathan didn't attempt to temper us either but that's a discussion for his song.

ANYWAYS: Titan is made up of the earth itself, as old as the planet and his heart harbors no love (for us) and is attempting to kill us and the Kobolds have already dug our graves (how nice of them). I suspect the instance of "temper" doesn't refer to the process of tempering though it might be the tempering of the Kobolds in the mountain (O'Ghomoro). Titan prefers to be underground, just like Leviathan prefers to be in the ocean and Garuda to be in a regular posse of tornadoes. The rage running between the shores of Vyldbrand would be the anger of the Kobolds, I imagine, or Titan's own anger-- his Earthen Fury, if you will. The dark of an endless night being beneath the surface, in the tunnels of U'ghamoro etc. etc. I feel like this is self explanatory when you know the backstory that the aggressors (in the song) are the Lominsans. "In spite of the blood that was spilled before, you whet your blades you thirst for more" could be either the mining of ore by the Lominsans or the slaying of Kobolds by Lominsans. Anyways, Titan intends to kill us for intruding beneath the earth to his domain and I expect the references to 'hell' might be the Kobolds borrowing the Five Race's definition of the place to strike fear into their hearts. (After all, Hell is typically understood to be underground and very hot much like the magma-filled corridors of Mt O'Ghomoro). Overdweller is the preferred term for the Five Races by the Kobold and "bow down" should be obvious. Prostrate yourself before our god and beg for forgiveness (though none will be given).

And now our most recently released Primal song, Leviathan's theme:

Spoiler: show

Now there's only Soken singing here, but I feel like the underlined/bolded/regular text are all supposed to be different people/characters. I can't figure out if the bolded sections ('group') of people is supposed to be the Sahagin or the Reavers, but any underlined portion is probably a Sahagin given that their speech is supposed to sound like someone trying to talk underwater (when they're above water anyways, I guess). This also marks the first Primal song where we don't have the Primal her/himself singing. Here are the only instances I can think of Leviathan speaking (during the fight itself)

You trespass upon my domain, tainted of the Light!
Drink deep of the sea's bitter draught!
Mine is the power to cleanse all things! Naught can withstand the relentless onslaught of my waves!
You challenge me with trickery? Fools! Your mortal contrivances cannot quell the raging sea!
My waters...are stilled... This...this is the blessing of Light?

We know Leviathan isn't super big on Tempering. The Drowned exist, but it's really up in the air how it all works out. The Serpent Reavers aren't necessarily Tempered (they weren't in 1.0) but just pirates who worshiped Leviathan for whatever reason. We can imagine that the song is actually song by any combination of Reavers, Tempered, or Sahagin.

What does Leviathan's song actually mean in regards to the story? Who the fuck knows! It's probably my favorite Primal theme and also one of the most ridiculous to try to parse meaning out of. The Sahagin clearly don't have a clear goal in summoning Leviathan except to kill all the shorewalkers. The song references the undying nature of the Primal, and we can expect the Sahagin are actually more knowledgeable on the actual nature of Primals than other Beast Tribes. This is because, I feel like I repeat myself a lot, the Sahagin have had Ascians influence them since 1.0 rather openly. Travanchet worked with them in 1.0 and while his true nature was never 'revealed' it seems weird that the Sahagin would back him without knowing what he was. Like, why would the Sahagin help a shorewalker, even if he was a Reaver? The Reavers are subservient to the Sahagin in their social structure-- Travanchet clearly was not. We can also think it was his magicks which protected the Sahagin fleet from the Barracudas' cannon barrage. (Though the appearance of Thalaos makes me wonder if there wasn't 'divine intervention' much like Midgardsormr at Silvertear). Anyways, the unnamed Sahagin Priest spoke of Elidibus, so we know Elidibus visited the Sahagin. We know the Sahagin Priest somehow managed to use the Echo (??). It makes me wonder that if the Sahagin Priest himself wasn't attempting to become something "deathless" and "endless" like Leviathan. To usurp Leviathan or serve him forever? Given the weird ass motivations of the Sahagin--who knows. They seem to want to be punished and get whipped by Leviathan. Unfortunately, this song provides very little insight so MY BAD.

Now let us talk about probably the most bad ass song of 1.0 and the only reason I accepted Soken's music into my life: Rise of the White Raven. The fact they reuse Tempest (Uematsu composition and Nael van Darnus battle theme of 1.0) and Rise of the White Raven (Nael deus Darnus battle theme of 1.0) gives me no end of joy. The dead bodies littering the field of Carteneau excite me. The subservience of dragons to Bahamut. The neurolinks of the Ghost of Meracydia bursting upon their deaths. The attack "Binding Coil" which applies Garrote Twist. The infinite play on words of the word "bind" SO MUCH EXCITEMENT. SO MUCH EVERYTHING.

Rocl-san! Rocl-san! What does a song written for 1.0 have to do with 2.0? you ask meekly
You didn't think they decided to add Nael back after 2.0 release, did you?
nyoro~n

Anyways HEAR, FEEL, THINK what I'm about to ramble on about.
Latin

Corvus fortis!
Corvus fortis!
Corvus fortis ascendit!
Superne videt praeteritum
Praesentem et futurum videt

Res evertuntur repente
Ad unum omnes sunt mortui dei
Machinae regnabunt in caelo
Ratio regnabit in terra

Corvum candidum exhilaramus
Ecce extendit trans mundi alas
Vocat lucem rubram excidii
Fulget luce rubrae victoriae

Imperium!
Imperium!
Imperium ave!
Ave imperium!
Ave imperium!

Videte!
Testate adventu fati!
Videte!
Testate adventu Dalamud!

English

Spoiler: show

Now, this is nice because it works for both 1.0 and 2.0.

The dauntless raven rises/flies -- Nael has wings in 2.0, in 1.0 he literally tore Rivenroad out of Coerthas and flew it into the sky (though somewhat ironically he is flying underground in 2.0)

Also for the purposes of this conversation I will refer to Nael as a he because Nael van Darnus was a man. Bahamut's simulacrum is a shitty redo and while canonically Nael deus Darnus it does not mean Nael van Darnus was a woman, much the opposite, the game goes out of its way to tell you that Bahamut fucked up/didn't care/preferred a woman to a man. Nael van Darnus is and always was a dude, get over it.

Marking the present/future/past works out nicely in 1.0 as: he is the antagonist of the current storyline using the technology of the past heralding the coming of the next antagonist (Bahamut); we get a hint in 1.0 when he uses Megaflare that Bahamut has come. The relationship between the Garlean Empire and the Allagan Empire is pretty hard to ignore as well. This same basic principle holds true in 2.0; he marks the past (Rivenroad/Carteneau/Nael in general), the present (the secrets of Allag/dragons/Bahamut) and we have to assume the future as well (I'm betting the activation of the Coil/Bahamut/etc are all Ascian plans and we'll eventually come to blows with the Ascian who set it in motion).

A revolution is upon us / All the gods are dead ; for Nael van Darnus this means the extermination of the Primals and the Garlean conquest of Eorzea. For Nael deus Darnus this means the 'revolution of the dragons' and the extermination of all Primals sans Bahamut. Primals here include the Twelve. All the gods. Every last one of them. In fact, one could argue that the word 'god' has more significance in 2.0 since we know for sure the Twelve (the ones normally ascribed the word god by the Five Races) function similarly to Primals.

Machines will rule the heavens / Reason will rule the land ; Nael van Darnus' definition of a perfect world? The upper echelon of society embracing magitek both Garlean and Allag-- reason ruling the land, no more will man turn his eyes heavenward and beg on the whims of eikons! Nael deus Darnus is trickier; reason ruling the land meaning accepting Bahamut as your lord and savoir, the second coming of Bahamut has come, swear fealty now and be saved before the Megaflare rapture? Machines ruling the heavens a tongue in cheek reference to Dalamud (as the word Dalamud is simply a corruption of Bahamut)?

Then we get a bunch of stuff about red light and Nael. In 1.0 this was a direct reference to Dalamud, and it can be again in 2.0 since Dalamud = Bahamut. Also, the Second Coil of Bahamut's colour scheme is clearly red. Look at the Holocharts after you win. Look at the armor you find (except like Aiming and maybe Casting)! It's red! (It matches well w/ Dalamud Red dye unsurprisingly)

THE EMPIRE THE EMPIRE ALL HAIL THE EMPIRE

But which Empire? The Allagan? The Garlean? DRAVANIAN?????? I suppose the idea of it being a reference to Allag is less sound that I thought in 2.0 since the Allagans captured Bahamut and imprisoned him and Nael is totally devoted to him. Either way it's still fun.

Bear witness to the advent of Fate. Bear witness to the advent of Dalamud.

No change needed from 1.0 to 2.0; LOOK UPON MINE DRAGON AND DESPAIR.

Another reminder the word Dalamud is the word Bahamut simply morphed/corrupted over the thousands of years between the Allagan Empire and the present day. However, since then Dalamud has come to specifically refer to the moon, whereas I bet in the days of Allag they didn't reference the contraption which held Bahamut as anything in particular (maybe like AH YES, HULK D-04; BAHAMUT) and just called the red moon by it's prisoner.

**Oreth** · 2014-05-16 15:55

Interesting read thanks for compiling it all... Really love alot of the music in the game. Never thought to look that deep into some of them though but good to know thought was put in on SE's side. Been listening to my own playlist of my favourite FFXI / FFXIV songs all week... Nice and relaxing mostly!

This is currently my favourite song in FFXIV. Actually gonna have it playing in a loop in the church of my wedding in a few weeks time just as some background music while people arrive 30-45 mins before the service etc.

Think the oficial title is called Field Music #4 (La Noscea)

You have any idea of the lyrics or words used if any? sounds like there are some at least someone singing something

**Jinn** · 2014-05-16 16:04

Originally Posted by Oreth

Think the oficial title is called Field Music #4 (La Noscea)

This plays when you're at the City of Nym and The Burning Wall right?

**Rocl** · 2014-05-16 16:09

Officially it's a portion of the track "On Westerly Winds" which is Track 18 on ARR OST. However, I hadn't noticed this before, but a lot of the field tracks got smushed into one on the OST, the exact part you like doesn't begin until 2:30 or so. I agree it's definitely one of the better themes and unfortunately I'm unsure of the lyrics.

**Oreth** · 2014-05-16 17:56

Yea i believe so. I hadnt really heard it much i knew it was the end portion of Westerly Winds but thought it was just thrown in there. Doesnt play through like the video that iv heard anywhere. I took the 2min piece from Westerly Winds in Audacity and trying to make a prolonged piece of it on a loop about 6/8 mins long. If i get the MP3 done to a point where im happy with it ill throw up a soundcloud link or something.

Thanks anyway Rocl. Not sure if it is even lyrics could be just mellow singing but would be nice to know.

**ronin sparthos** · 2014-05-16 22:42

Good to know in the entirety of Leviathan's theme the only line I got right was the last.

**Kaixin** · 2014-05-18 09:41

Something completely random that I always think about for five seconds and then forget.

What's the deal with the sentient snowman in Coerthas?

**Karbuncle** · 2014-05-18 09:59

Theres someone in ir if i recall?

**Rocl** · 2014-05-18 10:07

Originally Posted by Kaixin

Something completely random that I always think about for five seconds and then forget.

What's the deal with the sentient snowman in Coerthas?

Probably a reference for 1.0 players. There was a sentient snowman during one of the Starlight Celebrations (who turned into a snowy goobbue like the ones we have in Coerthas now, but obviously they didn't exist in 1.0 so it was super cool!) who turned out to be some kind of elemental of winter. In fact, that event might've even been a nod to the fact Coerthas was going to be covered in snow, since the elemental escapes from Hyrstmill (which is near present day Coerthas zoneline) and the whole thing was about Ala Mhigan refugees freaking out about "Winter is Coming" (obvious GoT references abound)

I'm busy in game right now, but when I'm done I'll dig up ss/et al. for you to peruse.

As promised:

I probably read too much into it tbh; but that's what I think of when I think of talking snowmen. The Starlight bit was building the snowman and the bit I linked was the Heavensturn event continuation. Enjoy the wandering around for 3 minutes looking for the next part of the quest.

http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...e30538d9f51c54
http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...e5bc18953422bc

**Seravi Edalborez** · 2014-05-18 13:32

Idle thought the other day, not that dungeons and relics are "canon", but...

It's possible to unlock/do Halatali (Hard) before doing A Relic Reborn: The Hydra, which takes place in pre-restoration Halatali. How?

**Rocl** · 2014-05-18 17:17

Originally Posted by Seravi Edalborez

Idle thought the other day, not that dungeons and relics are "canon", but...

It's possible to unlock/do Halatali (Hard) before doing A Relic Reborn: The Hydra, which takes place in pre-restoration Halatali. How?

Just a disconnect of game mechanics and lore I guess. I mean you can also repeat Halatali-EZ and Hydra after unlocking Halata (Hard) but THE ECHO. In fact, the ECHO.

Unrelated and what I wanted to post was I never realized the in-game reference to shenanigans of 1.0 players before the server shutdown:

Beg your pardon, Rocl. You wish to find his airship, yes?
Iliud: I know not how much truth there is to it, but there is a tale known as, “The Final Flight of the Enterprise,” which grew popular in the wake of the Calamity─much like “The Great Goobbue Wall of Ul'dah.” It states that the Enterprise flew northwest from Gridania towards Coerthas.

Kind of embarrassed this is like my fourth time reading this dialogue and I just now got the reference.

Thread: FFXIV story/lore thread

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