A Realm Reborn is actually version 2.0 of Final Fantasy XIV; the original version of the game was considered a critical failure, so they rebuilt the game from scratch. It's no longer possible to play version 1.0; all new players start off with A Realm Reborn, which is often referred to as the "base game".
Final Fantasy XIV is VERY story oriented, not only in its Main Scenario Quests (abbreviated as MSQ) but it has tons of side quests and other content that helps flesh out the world you're playing in. Capturing EVERYTHING is beyond the scope of this project, but I hope to at least conceptualize the MSQ, so that both non-players and players looking to refresh their memories can understand the story.
The Echo - a power that allows its possessor to see glimpses of others' pasts. This power cannot really be controlled; it kicks in from time to time without warning. The Echo also prevents its possessor from falling in thrall to primals.
Primals - Summoned beings, primals are worshipped as gods by the beast tribes. Given enough crystals and worship, the primals can be rendered flesh. They are a threat to Eorzea as most primals want only to protect their worshippers, and will do so violently. Primals can turn people into thralls.
Aetheryte - A large crystal that sort of acts as a homing beacon, in a sense. Players can attune to these aetherytes, which then allows them to teleport to that location whenever they want, though it costs gil to do so.
Warrior of Light - The title given to the player character. During the battle of Carteneau, the realm was saved by a group of warriors, but the people cannot remember their names or faces -- they just see a white glow whenever they recall these warriors. Hence, the warriors became known as the Warriors of Light. The player character is given this title as they perform deeds around Eorzea, as their deeds remind the people of the warriors of legend. The player character possesses the Echo.
Scions of the Seventh Dawn - a group organized to prevent further calamaties happening to Eorzea. In A Realm Reborn they are mostly tasked with fighting primals, though that expands to include opposing the Garlean Empire and trying to thwart the Ascians' plans.
Students of Baldesion - founded by Galuf Baldesion, their goal is to study the realm's mysteries. Partly through A Realm Reborn, the Isle of Val upon which many Students resided vanishes, and to date we have not been told how or why this occurred.
Star - the term used by FFXIV characters to refer to planets. I have chosen to go with "planets" in this compendium as star can be kind of confusing.
Hydaelyn (planet) - The name of the planet on which Eorzea resides, called such early in the game's story.
Aether - all living beings on Hydaelyn are made of aether. One must replenish their aether by eating. If I understand correctly, aether can be manipulated to perform magic, though there are those who don't have this ability.
Eorzea - a collection of city-states. At the start of A Realm Reborn, the Eorzean Alliance is made up of three city-states: Gridania, Limsa Lominsa, and Ul'Dah.
Gridania - A city-state that is surrounded by forests known as the Black Shroud. Its leader is Kan-E-Senna. Gridania is home to the following guilds: Conjurers, Lancers, Archers, Woodworking, Leathercraft, and Botany. The residents of Gridania live there with the blessing of the forest's elementals.
Limsa Lominsa - A city-state near the sea, located on the island of Vylbrand. It is led by Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn, a pirate. Limsa Lomsina is home to the following guilds: Arcanist, Maurader, Rogue, Culinarian, Blacksmithing, Armorer, and Fishing. Limsa Lominsa was founded by pirates and they still have a strong presence there.
Ul'Dah - a city-state located in the desert of Thanalan. It is led by the sultana Nanamo Ul Namo along with the Syndicate, a group of the richest residents. Ul'Dah is home to the following guilds: Thaumaturge, Pugilist, Gladiator, Weavers, Goldsmithing, Alchemy, and Mining. Ul'Dah is the richest of the city-states.
Ishgard - a city-state located in snowy Coerthas. At the beginning of A Realm Reborn, Ishgard has maintained independence from the Eorzean Alliance. The questlines for the Machinist, Astrologer, and Dark Knight jobs all start in Ishgard.
Garlemald - an empire that is intent on taking over Eorzea. Located north, its climate is harsh, cold, and snowy.
Doma - an eastern nation that's been under the rule of Garlemald for many years. During the latter half of A Realm Reborn, a war of succession breaks out in Garlemald, and Doma attempts to rise up and free themselves of the Empire's shackles. They are not successful, and as a result Garlemald razes Doma.
Ala Mhigo - a city-state to the east of Eorzea. They, too, have been under Garlemald rule. Many refugees from Ala Mhigo ended up in Ul'dah and its surroundings.
Sharlayan - a city that pursues knowledge. Most of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn are Archons from Sharlayan, or otherwise have ties to it.
Hyur - your typical humans. They're not native to Eorzea, having migrated there. Because they are migrants, they can be found evenly in all three city-states.
Lalafell - a race small in height, often nicknamed "potatoes" by players due to their round shape, much to my dismay. They live predominantly in Ul'dah but there are many in Limsa Lominsa as well.
Roegadyn - a large, muscular race that comes from the seas north of Eorzea. They live primarily in Limsa Lominsa.
Elezen - The elf race. They are primarily tall, though the twins are rather short having not reached their early 20s growth spurt. They primarily live in Gridania and Coerthas.
Miqo'te - a humanoid race that has cat ears and tails. Like the Hyur, they are an immigrant race to Eorzea.
Au Ra - a humanoid race that has scaled tails and (for lack of a better word) horns. There are two kinds, the bright-scaled Raen and dark-scaled Xaela.
Viera - a humanoid race that has long rabbit-like ears. Orginally only female Viera were playable, but bunny boys became playable with the start of the Endwalker expansion.
Hrothgar - a humanoid race that has leonid features. Only male Hrothgar were playable at first; female Hrothgar were added with the Dawntrail expansion.
Garleans - Garleans are a humanoid race that look identical to the Hyur but for one defining feature: the existance of a third eye, on their foreheads. They are from Garlemald, an Empire intent on taking over Eorzea. Garlean are not born with the ability to use magic, and thus have turned to technological means to conquer: magitek.
Dragons - In FFXIV, dragons can speak and communicate with the other races. At the start of A Realm Reborn, the Dragons have been at war with Coerthas for over 1000 years.
Ascians - a race of eternal beings, often called the Bringers of Chaos.
Amalj'aa - Lizard-like tribe who worship Ifrit. They live in the deserts near Little Ala Mhigo in Thanalan, the region of Ul'dah. The friendly ones call themselves the Ring of Ash and do not agree with their unfriendly counterparts kidnapping civilans to make into thralls of Ifrit.
Ixal - a birdlike tribe who worship Garuda. They live in the Black Shroud (the region Gridania is in) and Coerthas. The friendly Ixal are trying to build an airship as they dream of flying.
Kobolds - a mole-like tribe who worship Titan. They live in Vylbrand, which is the region of Limsa Lominsa. The friendly ones are, quite frankly, pathetic, as they are lazy bums.
Moogles - yes, the race we all know and love from other Final Fantasy games! There's a group that lives near Gridania. You also see moogles in towns and other areas as they act as postal carriers. The moogles have a legend that Good King Moggle Mog XII served the Twelve (the gods of Eorzea) until war broke out amongst the gods. Then the king led his people down to Eorzea by means of a long rope.
Sahagin - A fish-like tribe who worship Leviathan. They live primarily near Aleport, which is part of the area that Limsa Lominsa is in. The friendly tribe of Sahagin are my absolute favorite tribe as they are very family-oriented.
Sylph - Sylphs are small flying tribe who resemble plants. They live in the East Shroud, a region near Gridania, and worship Ramuh. Both the friendly Sylphs and the "touched" ones (those in thrall to Ramuh) love to play tricks.
Louisoix Leveilleur - an mage from Sharlayan and leader of the Circle of Knowing, an organization from version 1.0 of the game. Louisoix traveled to Eorzea to intervene in a prophecy, and was key in stopping the Seventh Umbral Calamity from completely obliterating Eorzea.
Alphinaud Leveilleur - a young Elezen, twin to Alisaie, and Louisioux's grandson. Alphinaud is very self-assured and often takes the role of a leader, in spite of his young age. Alphinaud is a member of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.
Alisaie Leveilleur - a young Elezen, twin to Alphinaud, and Louisioux's granddaughter. She's mostly absent during the beginning half of A Realm Reborn, choosing to find her own path and own reason for being rather than follow her twin brother around blindly.
Minfilia Warde - Antecedent of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, an organization created to combat the primal threat and secure Eorzea's future. Minfilia leads the Scions from the Waking Sands, their headquarters.
Y'shtola Rhul - a Miqo'te Archon and scholar from Sharlayan. Y'Shtola is a mage, versed in both white and black magics. Limsa Lominsa is her domain.
Thancred Waters - a Hyur rogue who feels very protective of Minfilia. Thancred was an orphan in Limsa Lominsa when he was discovered by Louisioux, who sent him to Sharlayan for education. Thancred is now an Archon, and keeps a watchful eye over Ul'dah.
Papalymo Totolymo - a Lalafell and Scion, who's also an Archon from Sharlayan. He's a black mage by trade, and with Yda, watches over Gridania.
Yda Hext - a Hyur, fond of wearing a mask. She's a monk by trade, and with Papalymo, watches over Gridania.
Urianger Augurelt - an Elezen scholar and Archon, he's a member of the Scions and often studies books for them.
Tataru Taru - a Lalafell lass and.. secretary, I guess I'd call her.. of the Scions.
F'lhaminn Qesh - a Miqo'te songstress, and Minfilia's adoptive mother. Missing since the Seventh Umbral Calamity.
Moenbryda Wilfsunnwyn - a Roegadyn axe-wielder. Childhood friend of Urianger. She studies aetheric research.
Lahabrea - An Ascian. More about him will be revealed in the actual recap.
Gaius van Baelsar - A Garlean intent on conquering Eorzea.
Haurchefant Greystone - an Ishgardian Knight who presides over Camp Dragonhead in the Coerthas Central Highlands. He is quick to help out the Scions and becomes a staunch friend to them.