Black magic and the Void

[shinros]

Ok so we all know that black magic is connected to the void. Now because dissidia said that all the final fantasies are connected via the void.

That means all the black mages in all previous final fantasies are connected to the void? I mean Shantotto created black magic(or bought it to us if its the same one from 11).

What do you think?

[Catapult]

I think you may be reading a little too much into this. Saying that Black Magic has a greater propensity for reaching out to the void does not imply that they are directly associated with the void.

We've seen the void interact with Eorzea through means that have nothing to do with black magic, explicitly the interaction between Dalamud and the planet's aether network that allowed Atomos to come in for a snack.

[Wolfandre]

You just made my brain go HRRNNGGGGGG. Let me try to sort some things out. Haha.

First of all, know that Dissidia was a fan-service game for the franchises 25th anniversary. A person can speculate that all Final Fantasy games are connected, but despite what it says, each game has their own lore and their own background. At least as far as I'm concerned.

Now FFXIV is trying to go down that same road, but only by making a Final Fantasy game that just happens to be online. It's got all of the cool things the past games had AND its own way of explaining its own plot...you just get to do it with your friends. This does not mean that every Dragoon is Cloud's descendent or the Crystal Tower persists solely for you to traipse about in it. Separate lore, separate games...just kinda mish-mashed. You could even say Dissidia had its own lore by saying all the lore was connected. Does...does that make sense?

So let's move onto Shantotto. I won't go on an FFXI tirade, but to the best of my knowledge, Shantotto did not bring black magic to the races of Vana'diel. The Tarutaru stumbled upon the magic left over by the Kuluu that was held within Horutoto and mastered it. They held a monopoly on magic, both white and black, for a very long time, even using it to best San d'Oria's skilled Royal Knights. However, like all good secrets, it was leaked to the other races and beastmen, but that was well before the time of Shantotto. She's just really really really good at it. Really.

So Shantotto =/= Shatotto. Shatotto is just a nod toward FFXI, as far as I'm concerned, and has no real bearing on the current game. If memory recalls, she couldn't cast Meteor on her own. It took two of her clones to do it, and only when under extreme duress. This promotes the Stardust Rod lore as Eorzean myth, furthering the separation between the two.

Ok, I kinda went on an FFXI tirade. Sorry! But anyway, I hope that clears some things up.

[Nialle]

The Void connects all the worlds of Final Fantasy. Gilgamesh actually is the same guy in every game; he travels to all the FF 'realities' via the void, which he got thrown into back in FF5.

This is how Yoshi-P can say Lightning will have a 'lore appropriate' reason for appearing in Eorzea.

[Catapult]

Well, to step back and add some credence...

Almost every single final fantasy game seems to make reference to the void or a similar concept of a world beyond.
FFIII has the World of Darkness.
FFV speaks with regards to the void manifesting in the cleft of dimension.
FFX has the Farplane.
FFXIII-2 is rather explicit, referring to the void beyond.

It seems as if Lightning Returns will get even more explicit in explaining the void, which has only been touched around the edges in games prior to XIII and Dissidia.

The theory goes that all FF worlds exist isolated within the same Void and it is this void that sets the laws of physics in the multiverse, such as the fundamentals of magik energy and sentient summoning. However, each world has evolved differently around these laws.
(It can also be argued that Kingdom Hearts plays by these rules.)

Dissidia, XIII-2 (presumably more so in Lightning Returns) and XIV are exploring what happens when the barrier separating their world from the multi-versal void breaks down.

Other games have also explored (and future games will likely also explore) what happens when void-dwelling entities such as Shinryu or Omega gain access to a world.

If there is a relationship between Shatotto and Shantotto, it will be revealed in the appropriate FATE implemented with the game cross-overs. We will also likely learn more about void-travel when we meet Lightning in XIV.

But back on Black Magic. What I am saying is that Eorzean Black Magic is Eorzea's evolution of the ability to wield fire, lightning and ice magic. The nature of the magic, as with all magic, is multi-versal, but the local application is not.

[shinros]

Ok thanks for the info maybe I am looking too much into it. I blame the fan service. XD

[Wolfandre]

Good Guy Catapult forecasts "No" with a slight chance of "yes."