imported>Redbaren: Created page with "{{tocright}} == Ancient Memories == Long, long ago, an ancient race, descended from the gods, flourished in Vana'diel. They traveled through the sky, extracted gold from stones, and gave birth to grasslands across the world. But one day, they decided to build a pathway to the divine entrance of paradise. Enraged by such a brazen display of insolence, the holy gatekeeper destroyed their path and cast their homes to the bottom of the sea. Shortly thereafter, the god..."

2024-04-17T11:48:27Z

Created page with "{{tocright}} == Ancient Memories == Long, long ago, an ancient race, descended from the gods, flourished in Vana'diel. They traveled through the sky, extracted gold from stones, and gave birth to grasslands across the world. But one day, they decided to build a pathway to the divine entrance of paradise. Enraged by such a brazen display of insolence, the holy gatekeeper destroyed their path and cast their homes to the bottom of the sea. Shortly thereafter, the god..."

New page

{{tocright}}
== Ancient Memories ==
Long, long ago, an ancient race, descended from the gods, flourished in [[Vana'diel]]. They traveled through the sky, extracted gold from stones, and gave birth to grasslands across the world.

But one day, they decided to build a pathway to the divine entrance of paradise. Enraged by such a brazen display of insolence, the holy gatekeeper destroyed their path and cast their homes to the bottom of the sea.

Shortly thereafter, the goddess [[Altana]] awakened and saw the ruin that had once been [[Vana'diel]]. Saddened, She wept five divine tears. When the five tears fell upon the earth, they gave life to the five [[races]] of [[Vana'diel]].

But the god [[Promathia]] saw this from His place in the shadows. [[Promathia]] saw fit to condemn Her work, cursing the people with eternal conflict amongst themselves. He created terrible [[:Category:bestiary|beasts]] and spread them across the world, commanding them to fight the people of [[Vana'diel]] and occupy their minds. Never again would they think to open the gate of the gods.

== The Age of Beasts ==
The [[beastmen]] thrived in the ensuing era of darkness.
But the demihuman [[Galka]] and [[Mithra]], blessed with bodies powerful enough to resist the advances of the [[beastmen]], grew in number as well. They fought tooth and nail to cast the hordes from their homelands in an age of unending battle and chaos.

The [[Tarutaru]] race grew weary of the never-ending conflict, and wandered the world in search of peace. After discovering an uncharted continent, they named the land [[Windurst]] and settled down to build a brighter future for their kin.

Several decades after the [[Tarutaru]]'s long journey had come to an end, a young [[Tarutaru]] girl lost her way in one of the mysterious towers scattered across the outskirts of [[Windurst]]. It was there that the secrets of magic were revealed to her, and this knowledge would spread to her entire race. The [[Tarutaru]] worked as one to harness and understand the mysterious power that had been given to them. So began the Great Age of Magic.

== The Age of Magic ==
Empowered by their expanding magical abilities, the [[Tarutaru]] united themselves as the [[Windurst|Federation of Windurst]], and worked to drive the hordes of [[Yagudo|Yagudo beastmen]] from their lands. The [[Tarutaru]] prospered, unified by their knowledge of magic and the solidarity of a new federation. It was a glorious age for their people.

But revealed secrets cannot be suppressed, and the knowledge of magic slowly spread to all the people of [[Vana'diel]]. Within a short time, other [[:Category:Races|races]] - and even [[beastmen]] - began to employ magic techniques for themselves.

Filled with regret, the [[Tarutaru]] entered an era of isolation. They closed their borders to all but their longtime friends, the [[Mithra]]. And so, a once-proud civilization became more and more out of touch with the rest of the world.

== The Age of Power ==
The use of magic brought both happiness and conflict to the other [[:Category:Races|races]] of [[Vana'diel]]. Perhaps the most satisfied were the proud [[Elvaan]], who made their home in the [[San d'Oria|Kingdom of San d'Oria]] in the northern reaches of the old continent. With the [[Tarutaru]] monopoly on magic broken, the [[Elvaan]] were able to create powerful orders of knights who feared no adversary.

[[Beastmen]] strongholds and [[Tarutaru]] villages alike fell before the power of the knights of [[San d'Oria]]. Within a short time, nearly the entire [[Quon]] continent had come under [[San d'Oria]]n control.

But pride comes before the fall.
[[Bastok|The nation of Bastok]], founded by the [[Hume]] and [[Galka]] races, lay on the southern edge of the [[Quon]] continent. Fortified by the growing economic and intelligence-gathering abilities of the Hume race, [[Bastok]]an forces crushed the elite [[San d'Oria]]n knights at the Second Battle of [[Konschtat Highlands|Konschtat]]. Cutting-edge firearms technology turned the tide of battle and cemented victory for the people of [[Bastok]]. This humiliating defeat sent the [[San d'Oria|Kingdom of San d'Oria]] into an age of internal turmoil and civil war. Piece by piece, territories that the [[Elvaan]] had conquered slipped from their grasps.

== The Age of Technology ==
The fall of the [[San d'Oria|Kingdom of San d'Oria]] ushered in an era of prosperity for the [[Bastok|Republic of Bastok]].

[[Hume]] tradesmen spread across Vana'diel in an unprecedented era of economic development. [[Bastok]]'s fortunes grew as [[Hume]]s sold products forged from the precious metals and rare ores extracted from their mines. The trend only accelerated with the appearance of the engineering genius named [[Cid]]. Ever practical, the [[Hume]]s set about creating another nation-state: the [[Jeuno|Grand Duchy of Jeuno]]. [[Jeuno]] had long been a tiny fishing town on an isolated island between the two continents. The construction of great bridges transformed the sleepy village into a teeming metropolis of trade and industry.

== [[Crystal War]] ==
'''862 - 863 CE'''<br>
The one known only as the [[Shadow Lord]] appeared without warning, and his name remains synonymous with terror to this day. Consumed by hatred of all living things, he enlisted the [[beastmen]] and employed them in simultaneous attacks against the nations of [[Vana'diel]]. So began the Crystal War.

After years of peace and prosperity, the nations fell one after another, unable to halt the relentless onslaught. The nightmare spread across the lands of [[Vana'diel]] like hellfire.

In response to the seemingly unstoppable [[beastmen]] assault, Grand Duke Kam'lanaut of [[Jeuno]] convinced the people of [[San d'Oria]], [[Windurst]], and [[Bastok]] to unite as the Allied Forces of Altana - and defeat the [[beastmen]] once and for all.

A stalemate ensued for some time. Finally, at the legendary Battle of [[Jeuno]], the Allied Forces of Altana were able to gain the upper hand. They claimed total victory over the [[beastmen]] at the merciless Battle of [[Xarcabard]].
Finally, the heroes of the five races cornered the [[Shadow Lord]] in his stronghold of [[Castle Zvahl Keep|Castle Zvahl]], where Volker, champion of [[Bastok]], delivered the final coup de grace.

Thus the Crystal War drew to an end, with victory marred by the uncountable corpses scattered throughout the devastated lands and cities of [[Vana'diel]].

== The Dawn of the Age of Adventure ==
Although the war had ended, the long-suffering nations of [[Vana'diel]] pledged to maintain their alliance. Each nation built a consulate in their sister countries. [[Jeuno|The Duchy of Jeuno]] unveiled enormous airships based on ancient technology, bringing the nations of [[Vana'diel]] closer together, and promising a new era of peace and prosperity.

Or so the nations of the world had hoped.
In reality, the [[beastmen]] had regrouped and continued to construct strongholds throughout the world. Although they lacked the organization of previous eras, they launched a new campaign of looting, plundering, and terror against the people of [[Vana'diel]].

Still, the three great nations continued to mistrust one another. Rather than dispatching their own forces to deal with the [[beastmen]] threat, they began to employ a new generation of independent youth to deal with the situation on an individual level.

These stalwart people are called adventurers. They are intrepid souls who follow their own beliefs, moving freely from city to city in spite of their own national allegiances.
Truly, it is the dawn of a new era in [[Vana'diel]] history.

== See Also ==
*[[Vana'diel Timeline]]
*[http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/intro/about/history01.html Official History of Vana'diel]<br>Square Enix's Background of Vana'diel from the time of Ancient Memories to the Dawn of the Age of Adventures

{{Protected-SE}}
[[Category:History]]

History of Vana'diel - Revision history