(03-16-2015, 12:13 AM)ArmachiA Wrote: As long as this doesn't turn into harassment or a big unneeded fight.... whats the problem?
Problem is... any useful contribution to this thread ended on page 4 and the next five pages were filled with harassment and big unneeded fighting.
So getting back on topic, which is White Mages and their lore...
(03-16-2015, 12:18 AM)Kellach Woods Wrote: 1 - Wouldn't a scholar studying the War of the Magi at least know of some things about Amdapor, or was that somehow erased from every single recorded history possible and would require an archaeologist character of some renown? I understand there is already, canonically, a book detailing the War of the Magi (that you conveniently deliver to Gerolt as part of the Omnilex relic quest) so wouldn't anyone who has read that and knows of conjury would at least realize that there's something not quite right?
A scholar studying the War of the Magi may very well know of the existence of White Mages during the Fifth Astral Era. There are a few tomes on the subject which survived the Great Flood which wiped out most everyone. The Relic Quest book is one, and there's also a couple tomes that High Priest Mumuepo collected on the subject in the Order of Nald'thal's library. Though I'm sure those tomes focus more on the Black Magic side of things. The first problem with this is that most Eorzeans can't read, and what's more, these ancient tomes may or may not be written in Common Eorzean.
But what you have to remember is that according to these tomes, White Magic was wiped out 1,600 years ago and it's return 500 years ago was a very closely guarded secret, limited to a small number of Padjal. It was never made public and it was never recorded. We know of six Padjali families so far. There may be more.
Also remember that Gridania was a completely isolationist nation until just 100 years ago. They didn't allow any outsiders into the Wood for fear of breaking the Pact of Gelmorra. It wasn't until Ala Mhigo crossed the Velodyna River into the Shroud, sparking the Autumn War that forced Gridania to eventually allow other nations into the Shroud. Ishgard, not wanting to lose the natural protection the Twelveswood offered their southern and eastern borders, made a deal with Ul'dah and Limsa, basically saying "If you help repel Ala Mhigo, we'll make sure trade opens up between your nations and ours." Ul'dah and Limsa, two nations never known to pass up free gil, accepted the terms and because Gridania was on the verge of defeat, was begrudgingly forced to accept.
So now picture this: You have a nation that for 400 years (and 1000 years before that) had a symbiotic relationship solely with the Elementals and the Forest, relying completely on it for their livelihoods, but is suddenly open to outsiders who have never even heard of Elementals, Gelmorra, and pretty much think you're nuts for believing in such superstitions. Well... come to think of it, all we know about the Elementals is what the Hearers and the Padjal tell us. I've never seen an Elemental either. Maybe they don't exist. And after 100 years of this, suddenly you have Gridanians who don't believe in the Elementals. Now... if you don't believe the Elementals exist... are you going to believe that their magic exists? Nearly 1,600 years have come and gone without any exposure to Elementals, Moogles, White Magic, or Padjal and 99% of the outside world has forgotten about the existence of the War of the Magi. Hell, six Arbiters of Truth completely covered up the true history of how Sil'dih was destroyed by Ul'dah and that only happened 400 years ago AND the Ul'dahns built their city on top of Sil'dih's ruins!
So yes, there's probably a handful of scholars who know that White Mages existed 1,600 years ago during the War of the Magi, but probably only 6-10 Padjali family trees know it still exists today.
(03-16-2015, 12:18 AM)Kellach Woods Wrote: 2 - Here's where I don't get it - Wouldn't they do that to Vylbrand as well considering that's where WP is situated? Also, from the way it was worded in the Job Quest, it felt like the Elementals granted White Magic to those they deemed worthy. As such, why cover Amdapor?
Ancient Nymian Scholars used Arcanima and envoked Succor through their Fae companions. In the recent Las Vegas Lore Panel, it was announced that the Fae are closely related to the Elementals, but are a lesser elemental. Furthormore, after the War of the Magi and the resulting Umbral Calamity, Nym fell victim to a plague which warped their bodies and struck from them their ability to commune with their fairy companions, effectively disconnecting them from their succor. So... in a way... something very similar happened. The ruins of Nym were eventually swallowed beneath volcanic sand and the waters of Bronze Lake. It wasn't until the Calamity that shattered the island that a piece of Vylbrand broke away, revealing the ruins beneath the lake.
As for why cover Amdapor... probably in case some nefarious entity attempted to control succor using "deviant" or "nefarious" means... /cough. But quote in spoiler above answers that also.
(03-16-2015, 12:18 AM)Kellach Woods Wrote: 3 - do we know their decision process for determining who is worthy? Are we talking someone who will heal the forest (and other people) indiscriminately, as well as calm the elements (which is essentially what you're doing in 2.0)?
Yeah, 1.0 stuff. Watch vids below! ^^
