Shadowbringers is the third expansion of Final Fantasy XI. It is a fan favorite; many folks consider this expansion and its patches to be the best so far.
The story really takes off in Shadowbringers; there's a LOT of important lore! What this means is that this is less of a recap and more of a fan script. At first, I did just use wikis and The Unending Journey (which allows you to replay cutscenes) to write my "recap", but as I progressed further, I started playing a New Game+ so as not to miss anything. Given the sheer size of this project, I've broken it up into pages as I posted each section.
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 Source
- The planet that the Warrior of Light is from.Reflections - The Source was broken into thirteen other worlds, called "reflections".
The First - A reflection of the Source. It has an overabundence of light aether.
Ascians - A race of eternal beings, often called the Bringers of Chaos. We know the Ascians are trying to return the Source to its original state, but we're not sure what that means.
Allagans - a technologically advanced people who lived in the past on the Source.
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.
Calamity - The Source has undergone several calamities in its past history; each time, they have caused devastating effects on the planet. Before the events of A Realm Reborn, the Seventh Umbral Calamity occured. Calamties are a direct result of the Ascians' meddling into the affairs of the Source.
Flood of Light - a calamity that occured on the First. This calamity caused the elements to imbalance, resulting in light being the dominant element.
Sin Eaters - Beings - similar to voidsent - that are full of light aether rather than the darkness of the voidsent.
Hydaelyn - Goddess who speaks to the Warrior of Light and others who possess the Echo. Aligned with Light.
Zodiark - a god worshipped by the Ascians. Aligned with Darkness.
Norvrandt - The name for the remaining livable landmass on the First.
The Empty - A barren landmass that has been twisted and changed by the Flood of Light. Inhabitable.
The Crystal Tower - Home of the Crystal Exarch, who built a town known as the Crystarium around the base of the tower. The tower possesses Allagan magics and technologies.
Lakeland - The region that is nearest the Crystarium. It houses a forest and a large lake.
Kholusia - A region that houses the city of Eulmore. Kholusia is divided into a lower portion and upper portion. The upper portion is inaccessible due to the giant elevator being broken.
Eulmore - A city of pleasure and greed, led by Vauthry.
Amh Araeng - A desert/mountainous area, home to The Inn at Journey's Head and the mining town of Twine.
Il Mheg - A flowery region that also has mountains. Home to the fae folk.
Rak'tika Greatwood - a forest, home to the Night's Blessed and the Viis.
The Tempest - an oceanic region.
The First is home to many races, just like the Source, and indeed the peoples of the Source and the First are similar in appearance. Due to the First's development as an individual world, however, the peoples of the First use different terms for the races we are familiar with:
The 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.The Crystal Exarch - Leader of the Crystarium. The Crystal Exarch wears a hooded cloak.
Ardbert - One of the Warriors of Light from the First, now wandering Norvrandt as a shade.
Lyna - Captain of the Crystarium guard.
Vauthry - The excessively girthsome leader of Eulmore.
Alphinaud Leveilleur - a young Elezen, twin to Alisaie. Alphinaud is diplomatic in nature, and has skill as an artist. He is an Arcanist by trade.
Alisaie Leveilleur - a young Elezen, twin to Alphinaud. Alisaie is headstrong and determined. She is a Red Mage by trade.
Minfilia Warde - Former Antecedent of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. As the Scions were escaping from Ul'dah after the bloody banquent, Minfilia heard the voice of Hydaelyn. Circumstances caused her to end up in the Aetherial Sea, where she gave her body to a weakend Hydaelyn. She now speaks for Hydaelyn as "The World of the Mother".
Y'shtola Rhul - a Miqo'te Archon and scholar from Sharlayan. Y'Shtola is a mage, versed in both white and black magics. She is sensitive to aether after having been caught in the Aetherial Sea when she cast the Flow spell (a dangerous teleportion spell) while escaping from the bloody banquet.
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 is a Gunbreaker by trade.
Urianger Augurelt - an Elezen scholar and Archon, he's a member of the Scions and often studies books for them. He's an Astrologian by trade.
Minfilia - a young Hume from the First, traveling with Thancred who keeps a watchful eye over her. She is the latest in a long line of girls known as "Minfilia" and is a reincarnation of Minfilia Warde. Also known as "The Oracle of Light". She is a Rogue by trade.
Runar
- A Ronso who is a member of The Night's Blessed, a religious faction that worships the night sky.