Prologue: Rebirth
War was not a new concept to the inhabitants of Vana'diel. The people of this world have seen their share of bloodshed and turmoil. In the darkest hours of history, an evil known as the "Shadow Lord" rose to power and influenced the hordes of creatures known as Beastmen to wage war on the inhabitants of the three nations of Vana'diel: San d'Oria, Bastok, and Windurst.
In these troubling hours, the once bitter rivals of the three nations banded together to take on the immense threat after suffering insurmountable losses while attempting to fend off this "Beastmen Confederate" single handed. The forces of these nations marched together under the banner of Altana, the Goddess that created Vana'diel.
The war raged for a year and quickly became the most devastating war in Vana'diel history. The "Allied Forces of Altana" had still been unable to turn the tide against the onslaught of Beastmen, and continued to be at a disadvantage until the fateful "Siege of Jeuno". The greatest victory for the allies was won while defending the Grand Duchy of Jeuno from the Confederate, forcing the Beastmen into retreat and marking the turning point of the war.
From here, the Allies continued with the momentum won from the battle of Jeuno and began pushing the Beastmen back, constantly chipping away at the Confederate's once impenetrable defenses. Eventually, in the year 863 C.E., the Allies managed to crush the Confederacy in the epic "Battle of Xarcabard", where the Shadow Lord fell at the hands of a Bastokan named Volker.
With the war ended, and the once beautiful lands of Vana'diel scarred from two years of brutal war, the Allied forces of Altana began reconstruction of their world. The alliance built from desperation had grown into a powerful bond built around a common experience. Together, the nations were able to build a new Vana'diel, one in which everyone could live peacefully. Thus began the age known as the "Crystal Peace".
No longer were there Bastokans, Windurtians, or San d'Orians. There existed only people. The world became intermingled, a veritable melting pot of all races and genders. Even the arrogant Elvaan who had long since kept to themselves opened the gates of San d'Oria to outsiders. The people of Vana'diel journeyed beyond the walls they had been raised behind and into the new, unified Vana'diel.
War had destroyed the landscape, devastated the infrastructure, and obliterated the population, but had given birth to a movement that would forever change the course of Vana'diel history… If only the inhabitants of this world would remember the lessons learned. If only they would take the mistakes of the past and turn them into prosperity for the future.
But the world rarely learns from its mistakes, and history inevitably repeats itself. The drums of war once again beat throughout Vana'diel.