Final Fantasy XIV: The Winter Calamity

I anxiously hiked through the claustrophobic streets and unfamiliar alleyways of Ul'dah. Her roads varied greatly in elevation and population. Unlike in-game, the streets of my starting city, were barren and under-decorated. It was as if the people didn't desire to express themselves. 

No banners, decorated crates, paintings, statues, nothing that demonstrated the city's culture.

It was eerie.

Every now and again I'd receive strange looks, questioning gazes that dissected my purpose. Others were certainly gazes of malice.

I must have looked like an easy mark. Even if I were to stay out of the alleys, the merchants had an identical look in their eyes. Well, they weren't technically incorrect. I didn't have the ability to defend myself if sudden violence searched me out.

The historic majority of Ul'dah were Lalafell. Reason for being is that their peoples founded the city-state. Lalafell were a 3-foot tall gnome-like race with child-like appearances and mannerisms. The most beloved characters in XIV were Lalafell. 

But at the same time, being that short puts you in closer touch with hell. One might argue that the worst villains the game had to offer are these little rat-like monsters. It must've been a complex.

For every inch a Lalafell is missing in height, that number gets flipped into a multiplier for evil. The city was plagued with these beasts. Some kind and lovable, but most hide their snake-like qualities under their youthful faces. 

Make no mistake, every Lalafell would be enthusiastically kowtowing and begging to drag you to hell if you looked at them wrongly. They'd trade anything for it. Souls included.

"Hey! You there!"

Every now and then, a voice would pierce through the mass of sounds that orbited me, but I stubbornly kept my head down and eyes forward. I was not interested in getting caught up in nonsense if I could avoid it. I had no power, no cheat, and no inkling of my situation. Let someone else play hero.

Ul'dah was structured like a city of rings. To get to the next ring, you had to find a gate or lone backstreet. At the very center of Ul'dah was the sultanate's palace. Residence of Her Majesty, Nanamo Ul Namo. A well meaning sultana doomed to be brought to heel by the chains that bound her. Until the conclusion of Heavensward, she was essentially a puppet ruler, holding no true power and kept isolated from the reality that faced her people. 

No, the real power in that Palace belonged to the Syndicate. A collection of potato-sized bastards representing each major Ul'dahn interest group. They schemed against the people, the realm, themselves, and even Her Majesty all the same. Two members of the Syndicate were especially vicious. I hoped to never encounter them, else I might punt them over the city wall on sight. 

As I strategized different legally defensive ways to say "My body moved on its own...", I finally had found something familiar. In front of me was an oddly steep staircase leading to the Milvaneth Sacrarium. I carefully eyed the plaza, carefully taking in the sights. 

It was surprising, but at that moment I felt like something clicked in my head. Yes, I knew I had transmigrated however the reality never matched what I felt in my heart. Seeing this small area that housed legacy NPCs, many event quests, and the NPC behind one of my favorite quest-lines, some unknown feeling washed over me. Relief? Dread? I couldn't tell. 

The Milvaneth Sacrarium was home to an important NPC for those looking to be a Black Mage. But that's not why I came here even before settling at the Quicksand. 

'As expected, neither is here...'

As every seasoned XIV player could tell you, there was a Job that was so busted that its existence was beyond comedy. Its power was sobering. So much so that despite being accessible to most casual players, few dedicated time mastering it. The developers didn't even allow you to match parties if you had the Job equipped. It was possible to solo some content in the game with the normal Jobs, but with the Blue Mage, it was expected. 

Quite frankly I didn't play much Blue Mage myself either. It felt like I was cheating or doing something illegal during every moment of gameplay. The Blue Mage had the ability to copy monster attacks and add them permanently to a spell book. It was one hell of a grind hunting down monsters and hoping to catch them using certain attacks. But it would all be worth it if you grabbed 3 essentials. 

Monster abilities were bullshit in XIV. Paralysis, Doom, there were even abilities that applied multiple of the nastiest debuffs in one attack. Of course I was running for my life from 1000 Needles just yesterday. If I could become a Blue Mage, I would fear nothing. Even alone, I could march into the Empire and bring down Ultima by kicking it a few times. Alas, neither quest giver associated with the Blue Mage quest-line were around. 

This could mean a number of things. Blue Mages actually started in a different city-state. Limsa Lominsa. It was possible I had to travel there to start, then come back here later. It was also possible that level requirements were enforced. To unlock certain classes and jobs, you had to reach a level requirement or make a certain amount of progress in the Main Scenario quests. What level was the Blue Mage requirement? 50?

At the same time... There was one more possibility. 

I glanced up at the Temple sitting upon the steps. Its doors were open, revealing a statue that I recognized as a key piece of the Thaumaturges' guild. A duplicate. Or perhaps the original. 

Those doors were not open in patch 2.0. I scanned around the plaza with rapt attention. Another NPC was missing. The Calamity Trader. A guy who would exchange old 1.0 items and armor for players to use after 1.0 was cut. I closed my eyes and tried to calm my nerves. 

I had considered the possibility, but the truth was the worst.

'Another breath. Can't freak out here.'

I had found the answer as to when I was. 

'Breathe.'

I was in the original XIV. Patch 1.0. The version so disastrous that they ended the world and spun the game back up again years later as A Realm Reborn. 

'Relax.'

The Calamity, the false crimson moon Dalamud hid a terrible secret. Inside lay the living Elder Primal. Bahamut. Bringer of the 7th Umbral Era. 

'You're going to be okay.'

And now I had to live through it. An unknown time before Dalamud started to descend, his eventual rebirth, the complete destruction of Eorzea and then five long and painful years before the story of A Realm Reborn started. 

'You can do this.'

I tried to keep my composure. I had to be calm. There were a number of issues facing me, but the most important one was-

'I didn't play 1.0.'

That's right. I only started playing just before Heavensward, Patch 3.0, came out. I was hooked and fully immersed after that, but Patch 1.0 was treated more like an Urban Legend. Scattered screenshots and gameplay footage popped up here and there. There was more documentation on Final Fantasy XI, the other MMO, than Patch 1.0.

The intricacies, the characters, hell even the mechanics and basic overall plot- I knew almost none of it.

My fingernails started to dig into my palm. 

My one advantage in this world. Useless. 

'No, that's not true. Now breathe.'

'Inhale.'

'Exhale.'

A lot of Patch 1.0 was reused for A Realm Reborn. Characters, quests, plot-lines, I heard that the parallels ran deep. 

'Inhale.'

'Exhale.'

The writers for 1.0 didn't create a complicated story, just a high-stakes one. I knew how the story ended, thus I should be able to guess the steps to get from point A to point B. 

'Inhale.'

That's right. My power was not useless. It's far better than nothing. I had a leg up with knowledge that even the Gods wouldn't know. 

'Exhale.'

My hands unclench and my eyes, which I had involuntarily shut closed, had opened. Awaiting me, was a bewildering scene. 

A dashing man with light skin and a full mop of white hair whipped his foot out and clocked a thuggish looking man out cold. 

CRACK-THUD

"Only my first act of heroics today! Perchance I should go for a second..."

"..."

The man turned to face me.

Oh god, what was he doing here? 

He had a violet tribal looking tattoo on both sides of his neck which was partially hidden by a white choker. His slim body stood within a pale silken cage that one would call a dress shirt. On top of it hung a loose fitting black tunic that featured a strange golden gizmo upon his shoulder. The long shin guards that hid his swamp green pants and only partially concealed his tacky sandals completed the look. 

He strutted over to me, dagger sheathed and a smile as proud as a peacock. 

"Hello friend!"

My brain was fried trying to understand the situation. How didn't I notice? How long was he here? Did he know me? What do I say? Should I be interacting with him already? Do I tie myself to the main scenario now or later? How-

"Hello. Quite a kick you have there."

"Oh thank you! So glad you noticed. You see, the secret of its strength is a twist of the hips. One of my favorite muscles to work."

He leaned forward and gave me a dirty smirk that only true men could identify with. 

So I gave a small smirk back.

"Hahaha! I knew I had you as the right kind!"

He strongly patted my shoulder. He was way too strong, even something casual like this almost made me stumble. 

"So friend, what brings you to town ey?"

A sharp question, Thancred wasn't just a foolish rogue that rolled around with women. He was a sharp and inquisitive Archon within the Circle of Knowing. Disciple of Louisoix Leveilleur, the strongest mage in the world.

'He already knew I wasn't a native. He knows I came from the outside. He's been keeping an eye on me.'

"Ah, it's a long and tedious story. I dare not bore you with the details."

He was also a a founding member of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. The center of every XIV expansion and the main group of which your character belongs to. Getting tied up with that group this early might be a mistake.

"Fear not hahaha! I have plenty of time friend!"

He put his arm around my shoulder and brought me close. His breath reeked of rum and some other stronger alcohol that I couldn't identify. 

"Come! Let us away for a drink! I wish to hear a good tale! Preferably with a sweet girl on my shoulder!"

Another dirty smirk. I liked it better when Fridurih said it. 

"Haha, I'd love to friend, however my pockets are light. I can't afford an inn let alone a round of drinks."

Thancred was sharp. Alongside another character introduced in Heavensward, his main job as a Scion was subterfuge and investigation. The less you lied to him the less he'd have to cling onto. 

"Ohoh? Rough night ey? Well I'm no stranger to those! Come! I'll attend your board and meal, friend! Fellows like us ought to stick together no?"

Of course the most annoying thing about the detective archetype wasn't their ability to gather proof of your wrongdoings. 

"How generous if you! Very well, let us have a few! Hahaha!"

"Hahaha!"

"Hahaha!" 

It's their instincts.