Crystal War

In Final Fantasy XI, the Crystal War was a war occurring 20 years before the events of the game in the year 862 of the Crystal Era. It was fought for magical crystals which were the manifestations of the primordial elements. The hordes of beastmen mercilessly destroyed city after city turning both land and water black with their dark presence. The five enlightened races (Humes, Galkas, Mithras, Tarutarus, and Elvaan) united and together defeated the beastmen. Much of the land of Vana'diel, once idyllic and prosperous, was in ruin. Vana'diel was again in peace, albeit a shaky one.