Crystal (Final Fantasy XI)

It all began with a stone, or so the legend says. In ages past, the sentient jewel, enormous and beautiful, banished the darkness. It's many-colored light filled the world with life and brought forth mighty gods.

Bathed in that light, the world entered an age of bliss, until after a time, the gods fell into slumber. That world was called Vana'diel.

Opening cutscene in Final Fantasy XI

Crystals (クリスタル, Kurisutaru?) play an important role in almost every story in Final Fantasy XI and have several gameplay uses, such as battlefield entry points, and items used for crafting.

All of the crystals are shards broken off from the original great crystal, which brought the world into existence. This great crystal split into five great shards, now called mothercrystals. These mothercrystals now stud the land of Vana'diel, and grant life to the denizens. Certain smaller crystal shards can be used for teleportation from one crystal to another. Others, known as Magicite, are sources of power for the beastmen armies. Within the churches of San d'Oria, it is preached that these crystals have a deeper connection with the goddess, Altana.

Function[]

Al'TaieuMothercrystals — The Al'Taieu Mothercrystal.

Crystals serve as the source of light in the world, and are intrinsically opposed to the Promathian Chains or the Emptiness. In the creation myth of Vana'diel, it was the light of the Great Crystal that was responsible for bringing all into existence. At some point, this Great Crystal broke into five shards, which became the mothercrystals, and with this split, all of creation was separated into two realms: the higher realm of the gods and the lower realm of Vana'diel. While the functionality of the crystals remains vague, they serve as a shattered gateway to the realm of the gods. Getting too close to any of the mothercrystals takes an individual into a pocket dimension or a shattered fragment of the higher realm. To form a pact with one of the six sleeping gods, summoners must venture to one of the avatar's protocrystals, where they are taking to the realm of the sleeping god. Crystals of Vana'diel do not just serve as gateways to the higher realms, but also connect the lands of other realities.

Types of Crystals[]

Synthesis crystals[]

Crystals are common and are used in item synthesis, sometimes found when the adventurer kills enemies with the status effects Signet, Sanction, or Sigil active. There is a crystal for every element.

The adventurer can also give crystals to gate guards of their nation to aid in that nation's development. In return, the adventurer is rewarded with Rank Points, which are sometimes needed to receive new missions from their nation.

There are eight main types of crystals, with each element corresponding to a different crafting task, and each can be found at the Auction House under the category "Crystals":

Fire Crystal - Burning or Heating.
Earth Crystal - Bonding.
Water Crystal - Diluting, Dissolving, or Liquifying.
Wind Crystal - Carving or Cutting.
Ice Crystal - Freezing or Congealing.
Lightning Crystal - Disintegrating or De-synthesizing.
Light Crystal - Mending, Repairing, or Blessing.
Dark Crystal - Decaying or Aging.

Protocrystals[]

Fire Proto-crystal — Proto-crystal in the Cloister of Flames.

Six "protocrystals" serve as gateways to the six sleeping gods, Ifrit, Shiva, Ramuh, Titan, Leviathan and Garuda. The protocrystals are located in the following areas:

Cloister of Flames in Ifrit's Cauldron.
Cloister of Frost in Fei'Yin.
Cloister of Gales in Cape Teriggan.
Cloister of Storms in The Boyahda Tree.
Cloister of Tides in the Den of Rancor.
Cloister of Tremors in the Quicksand Caves.

Telepoints and gate crystals[]

EastAltepa Telepoint — Telepoint Crystal

In modern-day Vana'diel, six telepoints exist in the forms of crystals. In the Shadowreign era, three additional telepoints existed that have since been destroyed. When the adventurer first examines a telepoint, they receive a gate crystal, a key item needed to be teleported to that specific telepoint via teleport and recall spells.

The following are the locations and teleport spells associated with each telepoint: Existing telepoints in present-day Vana'diel:

Destroyed telepoints:

Magicite[]

Magicite are unusual crystal deposits found in beastmen strongholds near destroyed portions of the Crystal Lines, large conduits that connect the Crags of Holla, Mea, and Dem.

Mothercrystals[]

Selh'Teus Mothercrystal — Selh'teus Mothercrystal.

The Mothercrystals are six shards, five of which broke off the great crystal that is said to have created the gods. The great crystal was shattered into the five pieces to fend away the Emptiness. The mothercrystals are responsible for providing the world with life-giving light. The Emptiness is a force that is draining the mothercrystals of their light.

Orbs[]

Orbs are exotic gems that, when cast into Burning Circles in certain areas, grant access to Burning Circle Notorious Monster fights. Orbs are sold by Shami in Port Jeuno, but he only accepts payments in the forms of Beastman's Seals or Kindred's Seals.