The black shroud elementals

[Enkidoh]

The 'elementals are everywhere in nature but more powerful and potent in the Black Shroud' thing is a really old bit of 1.0 lore that was actually reflected in gameplay at the time (elemental mobs would appear all over Eorzea, not just in the Black Shroud in 1.0).

However, this seems to have been mostly toned down or even handwaved in ARR (instead of elementals as random enemies, we get the formless aetherial 'sprites' now), and the elementals have been mostly depowered and defanged in the Black Shroud, with the reason being the Calamity altered the aetherial makeup of the land which the elementals used to power themselves. And, as EW revealed, the elementals are just familiars created by the Ancients who communicate through information laden aether, hence why they're so obtuse and difficult to communicate with.

Really, ignore the 1.0 lore generally about them as it's no longer relevant.

[Reginald_Cain]

The 'elementals are everywhere in nature but more powerful and potent in the Black Shroud' thing is a really old bit of 1.0 lore that was actually reflected in gameplay at the time (elemental mobs would appear all over Eorzea, not just in the Black Shroud in 1.0).

However, this seems to have been mostly toned down or even handwaved in ARR (instead of elementals as random enemies, we get the formless aetherial 'sprites' now), and the elementals have been mostly depowered and defanged in the Black Shroud, with the reason being the Calamity altered the aetherial makeup of the land which the elementals used to power themselves. And, as EW revealed, the elementals are just familiars created by the Ancients who communicate through information laden aether, hence why they're so obtuse and difficult to communicate with.

Really, ignore the 1.0 lore generally about them as it's no longer relevant.

Thanks for sharing this info! I forgot about the Elpis reference completely. I only recall the behemoth prototyp there lol

[JohnLakeside]

And, as EW revealed, the elementals are just familiars created by the Ancients who communicate through information laden aether, hence why they're so obtuse and difficult to communicate with.

Really, ignore the 1.0 lore generally about them as it's no longer relevant.

As someone who hasn’t played EW yet, that’s so incredibly disappointing. WTF. I really liked the more mystical, spiritual angle of the elementals. There’s something beautiful about a world where belief in gods or spirits feels genuinely real. Having a sense of mystery is so important to building a believable world. Ishikawa...