If Square Enix released one novel for FFXIV...

who would you want it to be about?

Here's the deal. One of the best things about FFXIV is that all the story development happens in game and you don't log in to find half the cast evil and the other half dead after a novel is released. All the lore is in game. Or if not, Anonymoose knows it.

But if there would be one, and only one, novel to fill in the gaps, centered around one character that isn't the WoL, who would you want it to be?

A few of my own examples:

Arbert
Come on we would all want to know how he became the Warrior of Darkness. His original fight to defeat the Ascians that was too successful.

Nero
He has huge blanks in his story, Perfect for a novel.

Alisaie
Same as above. Only with more red magic.

Karasu
He might be a manipulative jerk, but he is the best ninja in the game. And his story begins with the fall of Doma. Something worth seeing.

Hien
I hope I don't have to explain this. Every time he is on screen he either says or does something super badass. He united the Xaela, flooded his own castle to liberate Doma and led a cavalry charge essential to the liberation of Ala Mhigo. And that was only 4.0. For someone who isn't an Archon or Chosen by Hydaelin he sure kicks a lot of butt.

Edda
A tragic story of a deranged murderer, but still. Edda is a wonderful and wonderfully written character.

Briardien
He might not be as funny as a Manderville man, but at least he is a real detective. Imagine a detective novel where teleportation and magic IS a likely solution.

Lyse's sister
Hehh, I found a way to name her without giving away the plot. But seriously. It would be good to finally read about her.

Eula Darnus
Yes, we know quite a lot about her life, but not from her perspective.




Who would you pick?

I'd pick a novel about the war between Mhach, Nym, and Amdapor. A build-up to the war, the actual war, and the aftermath with the calamity, split over three (or more) perspectives (one for each city state) to show the reasoning behind all three sides.

It'd also have some cool illustrations of each city state in its prime.

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Originally Posted by Nezerius

I'd pick a novel about the war between Mhach, Nym, and Amdapor. A build-up to the war, the actual war, and the aftermath with the calamity, split over three (or more) perspectives (one for each city state) to show the reasoning behind all three sides.

It'd also have some cool illustrations of each city state in its prime.

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Yeah that would be nice. Or the war between Allag and Meracydia.

The fall of the Thirteenth.

For maximum interest, from Igeyorhm's PoV.

I'm interested in the few remnants of culture seem to remain from that fragment.

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Originally Posted by CyrilLucifer

The fall of the Thirteenth.

For maximum interest, from Igeyorhm's PoV.

I'm interested in the few remnants of culture seem to remain from that fragment.

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I'm not sure an Ascian perspective would be possible without lots of spoilers to the game.

But admittedly it would be interesting to see who some of the more prominent demons were before they turned into demons. Judging by her nice legs, Scathach was Alisaie.

The events leading up to the fall of the Allagan empire as told from the perspective of some rando soldier? Dunno, if not that then perhaps about Hildibrand and his first adventures before he meets the WoL.

https://static.tumblr.com/e4ff87b2f5...wss8kk_640.png

I'd read a novel about Ysayle and her back story. It could go over her upbringing and how she learned to become a primal herself. I'd like to see it preferably from her point of view and have some some form of a love story brewing between her and Estinien.

Personally, I would love a novel that explored the goings-on of some of the daily lives of the races, a la some of the backstory offered in Magnai's "Before the Storm." I'm really interested in the Xaela tribes and their relationships, and the history of the Naadam. Something like the lorebooks, but more personal, I suppose.

Also, anything incorporating more Keepers of the Moon.

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Originally Posted by Fuma

https://static.tumblr.com/e4ff87b2f5...wss8kk_640.png

I'd read a novel about Ysayle and her back story. It could go over her upbringing and how she learned to become a primal herself. I'd like to see it preferably from her point of view and have some some form of a love story brewing between her and Estinien.

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I think it would be an even interesting novel if like it was split POV between Estinien and Ysayle. We have Ysayle who is pro-dragons vs Estinien being anti-dragon. I don't think they'd ever interact if it were pre-Heavensward but it would be interesting to see their actions effecting each other.

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Originally Posted by ilea

Personally, I would love a novel that explored the goings-on of some of the daily lives of the races, a la some of the backstory offered in Magnai's "Before the Storm." I'm really interested in the Xaela tribes and their relationships, and the history of the Naadam. Something like the lorebooks, but more personal, I suppose.

Also, anything incorporating more Keepers of the Moon.

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Keepers are very behind in lore, aren't they.

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Originally Posted by Balipu

Keepers are very behind in lore, aren't they.

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Same for Duskwight Elezen. A recent lore interview dropped a bombshell re: Gelmorra, but Keepers don't have any real big "thing" in the world. Except for poachers, maybe.

As a second thought, I'd also like a novel exploring Y'shtola!

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Originally Posted by ilea

Same for Duskwight Elezen. A recent lore interview dropped a bombshell re: Gelmorra, but Keepers don't have any real big "thing" in the world. Except for poachers, maybe.

As a second thought, I'd also like a novel exploring Y'shtola!

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Yeah Duskwights got their bombshell, but nothing for Keepers. Maybe if we get to Meracydia. Correction: When we get to Meracydia.

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Originally Posted by Balipu

Arbert
how he became the Warrior of Darkness. His original fight to defeat the Ascians that was too successful.
Hien
He united the Xaela, flooded his own castle to liberate Doma and led a cavalry charge To the liberation of Ala Mhigo. that was only 4.0.
Lyse's sister

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I'd pick any of these three, with preference in the order listed. Arbert story seems short and to explore this yin yang concept of the final fantasy series (warriors of darkness and warriors of light). Hien's story have just started and I think he's a strong leader, how he goes from here on out (though his pre-SB story would also be nice). Lyse's sister, we might as well know the lady we all thought we knew was her.

If the novel is to be centred about past history I'd take the previous city state eras, mhach-nym-amdapor or allag-meracydial, Though i have too check again encyclopaedia eorzea I might be missing a setting that may sound good as a plot.

I'd like a novel that cleanly clarifies all the weird retcons and borrows that occurred during the 1.0 to 2.0 shift. A pre-Calamity story, or anthology, on the Circle of Knowing, Path of the Twelve, Louisouix, the original Warriors of Light, etc.

I'd want the novel to be about the Warriors of Darkness before they got to that part of the story. I mean they were just nameless heroes in the ARR Answers cinematic but were given backstories during the the Warriors of Darkness arc. They always said they were heroes who did everything asked of them, it would be neat to see their rise and then their unfortunate fall.

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Originally Posted by SicariusSeven

I'd want the novel to be about the Warriors of Darkness before they got to that part of the story. I mean they were just nameless heroes in the ARR Answers cinematic but were given backstories during the the Warriors of Darkness arc. They always said they were heroes who did everything asked of them, it would be neat to see their rise and then their unfortunate fall.

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The trouble with the Warriors of Darkness is they were basically evil-parallel-world-twin versions of the nameless party SE uses as a stand in for the player's character in promotional artwork and trailer scenes (hence he's often given the affectionate fan-nickname of 'Derplander' for the silly faces he always pulls in trailers, or the semi-official boilerplate name 'Meteor' in the few direct references by SE themselves after the fact), so SE really can't give much more in their backstories as it just parallels the player's own really to a point.

And as SE will continue to use Derplander and his party in promotional material for the game I don't see this changing I'm afraid.

Personally, I would like a story thats more down to earth (eorzea?).
Original characters for more open creative freedom rather then based on lore with a predetermined outcome.

I'd pick either Curious George or Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn.

I want a novel about:

http://cloud-3.steamusercontent.com/...419F83333E584/

In all seriousness though, I'd much prefer a collection of short stories than a novel if I'm honest, think the "tales of the ____" series but more plot relevant, going over the war of the magi, allagan empire, the histories of the warring triad, histories of the city states etc.

You might be joking, but Godbert wouldn't be a bad choice. We never really learned how he became so wealthy.

Hunberct Longhaft

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Originally Posted by Balipu

Yeah Duskwights got their bombshell, but nothing for Keepers. Maybe if we get to Meracydia. Correction: When we get to Meracydia.

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The thing with Meracydia is that everything we have currently suggests it's just a wasteland torn apart by the elements and Allag. It'd probably be something like Zanarkand on a continental scale, which sounds cool as hell, but probably wouldn't offer much in the way of lore we don't already know.

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Originally Posted by Daralii

The thing with Meracydia is that everything we have currently suggests it's just a wasteland torn apart by the elements and Allag. It'd probably be something like Zanarkand on a continental scale, which sounds cool as hell, but probably wouldn't offer much in the way of lore we don't already know.

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Yeah everything we currently have. But we can't be sure how much of it is true. The lorebook was written with an in universe perspective. Who's to say Meracydia does not have a whole bunch of diverse zones and enough lore for five more lorebooks?

Out of OP's options I'd be most interested in Nero's story as a serious novel, especially since any such thing would have to feature Cid and Gaius (and probably Livia and Rhitatyn by extension). I'd especially like to see some college-aged Nero and his hopeless and probably entirely one-sided Rivalry with Cid.

Briardien (with Special Guests Hildebrand and Nashu!) would also be great as something halfway between a serious detective novel and a parody of the genre, with every's favorite idiots providing comedy relief and the occasional unexpectedly accurate insight.

I'd be happy with almost anything, though, as long as it was actually set in Hydellyn and not yet another story about people playing and/or trapped in yet another MMO.

Mandervillean Mysteries would be a series I'd read.

I'm a bit torn. I'd love a novel or two, but I'd equally want to play any scenarios that'd be thought up in the actual game, too.

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Originally Posted by JunseiKei

I'd love a novel or two, but I'd equally want to play any scenarios that'd be thought up in the actual game, too.

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I'd prefer novels to fill in backstory or history, or even be sidestories about what was going on during events we took part in. You know, a way to fill in the blanks about stuff the WoL would be unlikely to be involved with or find out otherwise.