They got an easy scapegoat in that situation: The Echo.
The entirety of their participation within 2.0-3.0 can be an Echo Flashback in which the participating members do not even observe the fact that they are an-unconventional race until the Echo ends, as again, the presence of someone within an actual Echo cannot change the events they see.
They did this in 1.xx, so there is precedent, even if they drew out and retconned stuff from that period of time.
That said, not even sure if they would do it that way, it's all just speculation.
As far as RP wise goes, everyone will likely have their own methods of introducing, transforming, or re-writing their characters to make it work within their group's canon. FFXIV's 'official word' isn't really RP friendly as a whole, so it can get be bent a little. (That word sounded too aggressive.)
The entirety of their participation within 2.0-3.0 can be an Echo Flashback in which the participating members do not even observe the fact that they are an-unconventional race until the Echo ends, as again, the presence of someone within an actual Echo cannot change the events they see.
They did this in 1.xx, so there is precedent, even if they drew out and retconned stuff from that period of time.
That said, not even sure if they would do it that way, it's all just speculation.
As far as RP wise goes, everyone will likely have their own methods of introducing, transforming, or re-writing their characters to make it work within their group's canon. FFXIV's 'official word' isn't really RP friendly as a whole, so it can get be bent a little. (That word sounded too aggressive.)
