FFXII was like a piece of an ancient statue, sticking out of the ground in the middle of nowhere, ancient, forgotten, barely visible. Many people have seen that moss-covered piece of stone and thought that was the whole thing; we all thought the game was it, that that was all FFXII had to offer. Not many people think of its story as anything special, and I don't blame them. That piece of weather-worn rock is relatively uninteresting, especially when there are other, complete Final Fantasies out there. But I have spent the past two years excavating that ancient statue, cleaning it off, polishing it, discovering what wonderful art it really was. The sight of that glorious, finished statue has changed my life, and I count it as a great gift to be the one to dig it up. I don't want to horde this great treasure to myself. I'm not done with the whole writing process yet, but I will keep going and will not stop. To give up on this project would be betrayal not only of you, my readers, but to myself, and to this story that deserves to be enjoyed by the world at large. I will release one (sometimes more) chapter every Tuesday.
Keep in mind that there are changes, and many of them. With this project I have the goal of representing FFXII, of portraying it for those who loved it in its half-visible, distorted form, but my main goal is to write a good story, something to be loved and cherished, and I will sacrifice any other goal of writing to achieve that. This story will be divided into four distinct parts: Part One: Prelude takes place entirely before FFXII's main storyline and is, as the title implies, mostly a setting of the stage for the rest of the story, as well as a chance to fall in love with our main character. Part Two: The Clash of Empires is FFXII's storyline, but, as I mentioned, expect changes to include new elements, the new details revealed as I scrub moss and lichen off that old piece of stone. Part Three: The Tides of Time takes place after the game's story, in the "empty year" mentioned in the epilogue scene. And, entirely after FFXII's story, is Part Four: The Blood of Kings, the end of it all. We have a long road to travel, but it will be worth it every step of the way.
Then, without further ado, I big you welcome to the word of Ivalice, a land that has captivated my imagination for years now. Our journey will be long, as I have said, and it will be hard, perhaps too hard for you or I. But why do we love stories, other than that we can experience hardships through another's eyes, and live a life we know we could never face?
Preface
Ivalice.
This world is blanketed in an energy known as myst, upon which the workings of both magic and technology rely. Magic channels myst naturally, while technology manages it artificially. These two forces support the livelihood of all who inhabit Ivalice. Magic relies upon the inborn ability of its user, while technology uses other catalysts to focus myst into usable energy. The most widely used myst catalyst is magicite, a mineral formed from condensing myst. These stones contain a spark of life, though this is unknown to most. Magicite powers lights, weapons, and any form of machinery. When crafted into a special form called a skystone, magicite even powers mighty airships that fly through the sky. Myst, magic, and magicite- all the people of Ivalice rely on these three things.
The people of Ivalice come from seven different races: Humans, Bangaa, Seeq, Moogles, Viera, Garif, and Nu Mou. Humans are a familiar race, and they are the most abundant and prosperous of the seven races, holding general dominance over the others. The Bangaa are like large lizards, with floppy ears and long tails, while the Seeq are porcine in nature, known for their great strength and minimal intelligence. The Moogles are small, furry people, rabbit-like in their appearance. They have small wings, though few can use them to fly. Moogles are renowned for their dexterity and often work as mechanics or artists. The Nu Mou are small and hairy, and they live far longer than most other races. They are a rare species now, and even rarer in large cities.
The Viera and the Garif live separated from society. While the other five races share the same history and mix amongst the nations, the Viera and the Garif have their own unique culture. The Viera live deep in the forests of Ivalice and have long, rabbit-like ears. They shun communication with the outside world, and those who choose the leave their homes are considered outcasts. The Viera are known for having a deep connection to myst and can use powerful magical spells. The Garif are few in number and live only in the land of Jahara. They wear masks made for them at birth and never remove them, so their appearance is a mystery. The Garif keep to themselves, though they do not consider communication with other races a crime as the Viera do.
The two largest nations on Ivalice are Archadia and Rozarria, and over time they have annexed many of the smaller nations. As these two great empires grow, they vie for power and territory. For now, the two smaller kingdoms of Dalmasca and Nabradia stand between them, but who knows how long the unstable peace will last before war erupts…?