Ivalice Raids. I still don't get it

[Scott]

Well. Since they where released I try to make sense of this Raid Series but I still don't get what it was all about. Can someone explain this Story to me? Do I have to know the Tactics storys to understand it better? Because I have trouble to follow this storys since the release

[JeanneOrnitier]

What in particular is confusing to you?

I personally thought enough was explained without reliance on knowledge FF12 and Tactics, though admittedly some of the explanations come from talking to NPCs between quests.

Dalmasca was conquered by the empire 30 years ago, and after Doma and Ala Mhigo were freed Dalmasca tried doing the same. In response the empire destroyed their capital.
We come in here, exploring the ruins of the capital and discovering that it was built on the ancient kingdom of Ivalice which was thought to be a myth.
Ivalice had a civil war called the War of the Lions, and during that war twelve heroes called the Zodiac Braves appeared to help a commoner man named Delita become king. But during the quests we also discover that they fought an alien monster named Ultima the High Seraph, and several of their group sacrificed themselves to seal Ultima away.
In the modern day Ultima is trying to free herself using the blood of the descendants of the leader of the Zodiac Braves, Ramza Beoulve. She sends out Auracite which mutate people into monsters called Lucavi.
The Lexantale family we are working with are descendants of the Beoulves and so Ultima uses Auracite to drag Alma and later Ramza Lexentale (named after his ancestor) to her prison so she can free herself. We kill Ultima and the spirits of the Zodiac Braves thank us for finally being free of their duty keeping her imprisoned.

[Cilia]

You don't need to play any Ivalice games to understand what's going on, though I'm sure it helps.

To begin, the story centers around a Garlean theater troupe. You meet a young girl, Alma, on the streets of Kugane who implores you to help her; being a hero, you do so, which leads to their airship Prima Vista. There you meet her older brother Ramza and are shortly joined by Cid, ultimately being tasked with finding her missing father in the devastated streets of Dalmasca. Thus begins the first raid, which has you fighting against bandits, monsters, and lucavi as you delve under the city to find the lost city of Lesalia, where the man you're looking for (Jenomis cen Lexentale) has been possessed by a lucavi. After beating it he is left alive, but the auracite is taken by a group of Bangaa brigands led by Ba'gamnan.

Once you get him back to the Prima Vista, Jenomis explains that his mission was to uncover the truth of Ivalice, as it's passed into legend in the modern age and is related to his ancestor Orran Durai (who was condemned as a heretic for writing the truth) whose name he wishes to clear. Some technobabble ensues explaining how auracite works, and in the end you're left to your own devices until Ba'gamnan can be tracked down.

Ba'gamnan's compatriots eventually defect after seeing the negative influence the auracite has on him, appearing on the Prima Vista and informing the group he's retreated to the Clockwork City of Goug on the Ridorana Cataract. Upon arrival you're beset by more lucavi and still-active tower guardians (including the robot Construct 8), and upon reaching the city's apex Ba'gamnan falls prey to the auracite's corruption and transforms into Yiazmat, leaving you with little choice but to put him down. While things appear to have been resolved for now, the auracite has a strange effect on Ramza, and you're left to your own devices until Jenomis completes more research.

Upon your return a lot of bad things happen in succession; Alma is possessed by the auracite and disappears, saying something about blood and a covenant or something (memory's fuzzy). The group collectively comes to the consensus it's talking about the Orbonne Monastery in the Golmore Jungle, but due to that being viera territory it's very hard to get there; only upon striking an alliance with the Dalmascan Resistance's Fran are you able to do so, but Ramza is taken in Alma's stead before you venture far into the dungeon. Fighting your way down it's revealed that the whole raid series was a ploy by Ultima, the High Seraph - a primal-like being - to break the seal placed on it by the original Ramza after Saint Ajora betrayed Hydaelyn by summoning Ultima (both were ancient Warriors of Light; the "blood of the covenant" refers to Warriors of Light, not any sort of bloodline). Aided by Ramza and his compatriots' spirits, Ultima is defeated and banished, seemingly for good this time.

With everything learned, Jenomis has more than enough information to clear his ancestors' names and Ramza takes several levels in kindness after meeting his namesake. Ultima is banished for good, removing a major threat to the world.

The story ends on a stinger - led by a spy within the troupe, the IVth Legion (led by one Noah van Gabranth) is seen within the Clockwork City of Goug, admiring Construct 8 in particular.

This is a basic outline. Very basic. Finer points require inquiry.

[JeanneOrnitier]

(both were ancient Warriors of Light; the "blood of the covenant" refers to Warriors of Light, not any sort of bloodline)

You're absolutely right, I forgot that part.

[Kalise]

Honestly, the only thing I don't get is, how having Fran, a defected Viera, "Guide" us through the Golmore Territory causes the resident Viera to NOT attack us.

What with the whole idea being that leaving the Forest is frowned upon, returning to the Forest is unacceptable and bringing outsiders with you is just unthinkable...

Sure, they allow people to leave the Forest in order to deal with a threat to the Forest, but dealing with Ultima was not the reason why Fran left (It's the reason she agreed to go back and help us, but it's not until we highlight that Ultima exists and is a threat does she even know about it)

[Cilia]

OK, now that I'm back from doing laundry...

Key Points

Ivalice

An ancient kingdom, in contemporary times it is considered only legend. Once home to a corrupt aristocracy, the commoner Delita rose to kingship with the aid of Ramza Beoulve and brought forth a golden age; however due to further complications Ramza's name and deeds were stricken from history (see Ultima below); other than the Durai Reports, which chronicle the true history of Ivalice, Ramza is a forgotten figure.

The Clockwork City of Goug, one of the raid dungeons, appears to have been the ancestral homeland of the Garleans.

Ultima, the High Seraph

A seemingly extraterrestrial primal-like being, Ultima is the source of auracite and the main antagonist of the storyline. It was summoned / empowered by one Saint Ajora Galabdos, an ancient Warrior of Light who betrayed Hydaelyn. In order to keep Ultima sealed beneath the Orbonne Monastery, Ramza sacrificed his life and asked his name be stricken from history so as to prevent curious souls from waking the creature. In order to truly break the seal, a Warrior of Light is needed due to Saint Ajora's pact with it. Though sealed at first, due to it spreading pieces of auracite it still retains an influence in the world, and the Durai Reports indirectly led to its (very temporary) release and ultimate defeat.

Auracite, a mineral created by the being, is seemingly capable of storing memories and/or mutating creatures. This is what's responsible for the lucavi, who make up the bulk of the bosses encountered in the raid series. (The Garleans appear to be using a synthetic equivalent to help pilot their new Weapons in the Sorrow of Werlyt arc.)

Dalmasca

A city-state in Southeastern Othard, under which lies the ancient capital of Ivalice, Lesalia. After it was conquered by the Garlean Empire some 30 or so years ago it rebuilt, but in the wake of Doma and Ala Mhigo's successful rebellions made its own bid for freedom. Unfortunately, the response to this rebellion is swift and decisive; Dalmasca is carpet-bombed into submission before long.

A resistance known as Lente's Tears yet lingers, helmed by one Princess Ashe, who was thought to have been killed during the invasion. She uses Fran, a viera, as an ambassador. Ba'gamnan, a former Dalmascan fusilier, is crushed by his guilt at failing to protect Ashe and her brother Rasler during the invasion, which drives his actions and hatred of the Garlean Empire.

The city-state is currently ruled by Noah van Gabranth of the IVth Legion.

Majestic Imperial Theater Company

A theater troupe from the Garlean Empire, now fallen on hard times due to Varis' censorship of the arts. Led by Jenomis cen Lexentale (a.k.a. Arazlam Durrai), who seeks to clear his ancestor Orran Durrai's name and bring to light the truth of Ivalice's existence and history. With him are his two children, Ramza bas Lexentale and Alma bas Lexentale, named after two key figures in Ivalice's history so as to prevent Jenomis from forgetting his life's mission. Unfortunately Jenomis gets in a bit over his head before the story begins, prompting Alma to seek out a hero to save him, which ends up being the Warrior of Light. Their base of operations is their airship, the Prima Vista.

The endeavor is aided by Cid nan Garlond, a Sharlayan scholar by the name of Mikoto, and two moogles, Montblanc and Hurdy.

Questions?

[YianKutku]

My own questions:

Why are there Lucavi waiting around in the ruins of Rabanastre and the lower floors of Ridorana? Like, I know auracite from Ultima causes people to turn into Lucavi, but why are they there, waiting for us to encounter them, and apparently doing nothing else worthwhile?

Who was the guy who turned into the final boss of the Rabanastre raid? He ends up being named "Argath Thadalfus" when he auracited on us, but who was he before that? Why was he just waiting at the bottom of Lesalia, an ancient mythical city thought lost to time? How did he even get there? (The lorebook also asks, but does not answer, these questions.)

When Ba'Gamnan shot his subordinate at the end of the Rabanastre raid, and that subordinate just hopped back up apparently unharmed, why did just about every poster here, including those more familiar with Ivalice, speculate that it's unusual and clearly supernatural? Given that in the very next tier, the explanation given was "well, Bangaa are just really hardy, don't worry about it". So was it a plot point that was just dropped?

Speaking of dropped plot points, was there actually anything significant to Ramza Lexentale's change of attitude at the end of the Ridorana tier? Because even the NPCs commented that Ramza is acting completely different, but when the Orbonne tier was released, it turned out that Alma (who was acting pretty normally) was the one under the influence of the auracite, and Ramza explained his change in behaviour as "I was just really stressed", and everyone just dropped the issue. Was it another altered plot point?

If the spell Ultima was named after Ultima the High Seraph, does that make Lahabrea's comment that the Ultima spell in the Praetorium "a sliver of Zodiark's power" still accurate? I mean, as an Unsundered Ascian, presumably Lahabrea should know the truth. Is there a link between Ultima the High Seraph and Zodiark?

[EdwinLi]

Honestly, the only thing I don't get is, how having Fran, a defected Viera, "Guide" us through the Golmore Territory causes the resident Viera to NOT attack us.

What with the whole idea being that leaving the Forest is frowned upon, returning to the Forest is unacceptable and bringing outsiders with you is just unthinkable...

Sure, they allow people to leave the Forest in order to deal with a threat to the Forest, but dealing with Ultima was not the reason why Fran left (It's the reason she agreed to go back and help us, but it's not until we highlight that Ultima exists and is a threat does she even know about it)

Fran's position is different in FF14 being that she is the Princess of Dalmasca close friend. Fran most likely talked to the resident Viera in advance to warn them of Ultima which is why they may have allowed us to travel through the Forest under the condition that she does not lead them to their village. They maybe territorial but they're not zealous dumb to the point they would ignore a warning of a possible threat to their own home which this case is Ultima since her release would mean the Viera's home will be destroyed first.

Consdiering we are about to get the contiuation of the Storyline soon from the upcoming updates, we most likely may get a bit more information on what deals Fran had to make involving them allowing us through the Forest.

[AriaEnia]

Man, how am I glad that I killed Livia sas Junius after doing Ivalice alliance raids.

[JeanneOrnitier]

Why are there Lucavi waiting around in the ruins of Rabanastre and the lower floors of Ridorana? Like, I know auracite from Ultima causes people to turn into Lucavi, but why are they there, waiting for us to encounter them, and apparently doing nothing else worthwhile?

I assume either:
a) people who used the Auracite back in the War of the Lions and have been there all along
b) people who found the Auracite recently and were whisked away by Ultima like what she did to Alma

The first option works for Lesalia though not for Ridorana since the Dalmascans used it as a lighthouse.

Who was the guy who turned into the final boss of the Rabanastre raid? He ends up being named "Argath Thadalfus" when he auracited on us, but who was he before that? Why was he just waiting at the bottom of Lesalia, an ancient mythical city thought lost to time? How did he even get there? (The lorebook also asks, but does not answer, these questions.)

He's the ghost of https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Argath_Thadalfus one of Ramza's minor enemies from the War of the Lions. In Tactics, after Ramza kills him he strikes a deal with the Lucavi and becomes undead to get revenge, which is probably why he asks for Ramza to forgive him in XIV once he comes to his senses.

When Ba'Gamnan shot his subordinate at the end of the Rabanastre raid, and that subordinate just hopped back up apparently unharmed, why did just about every poster here, including those more familiar with Ivalice, speculate that it's unusual and clearly supernatural? Given that in the very next tier, the explanation given was "well, Bangaa are just really hardy, don't worry about it". So was it a plot point that was just dropped?

That was just the players reading too into things.

Speaking of dropped plot points, was there actually anything significant to Ramza Lexentale's change of attitude at the end of the Ridorana tier? Because even the NPCs commented that Ramza is acting completely different, but when the Orbonne tier was released, it turned out that Alma (who was acting pretty normally) was the one under the influence of the auracite, and Ramza explained his change in behaviour as "I was just really stressed", and everyone just dropped the issue. Was it another altered plot point?

This one does seem to be a change yeah.

If the spell Ultima was named after Ultima the High Seraph, does that make Lahabrea's comment that the Ultima spell in the Praetorium "a sliver of Zodiark's power" still accurate? I mean, as an Unsundered Ascian, presumably Lahabrea should know the truth. Is there a link between Ultima the High Seraph and Zodiark?

The spell being named after the being is just speculation on the characters' part. That being said, wasn't it the Heart of Sabik that was a sliver of Zodiark's power, not Ultima? I'd need to double check the exact line.