Although the war had ended, the long-suffering nations of Vana'diel pledged to maintain their alliance. Each nation built a consulate in their sister countries. The Duchy of Jeuno refitted the airships of war for travel, opening the air travel agency between itself and Bastok. Upon witnessing the successful operation of the Bastokan airship service, the previously skeptical nations of San d'oria and Windurst raced to refit their own ports for airship use. These developments led to the birth of a new large-scale, high-speed transportation service for each country. Also consulates were placed by each nation in the others and communication between the kingdoms was at an all time high. It was a time for the nations of Vana'diel to be brought closer together, and a promising new era of peace and prosperity was at hand.

Or so the nations of the world had hoped.

In reality, the beastmen who were not at Xarcabard had regrouped and continued in the construction of their strongholds. The Orcs control of Davoi and Gheslba remained solid and previous homes of the Yagudo and Quadav were untouched. Although they no longer communicated amongst each other, they still continued looting, plundering and terrorizing the people of Vana'diel. But nothing was done...

Still, the three great nations continued to mistrust one another. Keeping their few soldiers left from the war in their capitals, they sought new ways to counter the beastmen. It was at this time they began employing a new generation of independent youth to deal with the situation on an individual level. They were intrepid souls who followed their own beliefs, moving freely from city to city in spite of their own national allegiances. 3 great heroes arose during this time.

The first was a Galka named Zeid, who was born War Cloud, friend of the now dead talekeeper Raogrimm. Angered by his friends death, Zeid bowed to the will of the dark spirits of Vana'diel and became the Dark Knight. Though from Bastok, he held no allegiance and no honor to anyone but himself.

The next was the leader of Tenshodo, a smuggling group located deep within the back alleys of Jeuno, Aldo. Born in Tavnazia, he barely escaped the country's demise as a child(he was the little boy in the intro movie), but grew to be a courageous man. Coming to prominence in the Crystal War as a source of smuggling war materials from the far east, Aldo and Tenshodo, played an important role in the "underground" operations of the city. His sister, Verena, though not as an important figure would play a role in this tale to come. Given a strange gift to communicate with Animals and Beastmen, she befriended the local Goblin population living in jeuno. Though, it would not last, as the adventurers this age was so aptly named after would mistakenly kill her best friend, a goblin named Fickblix. Though saddened, Verena still held a hope that someday things would change, and beastmen and the 5 races would live peacfully.

The last was the daughter of the leader of the pirates of Norg, Lion. After the war, the high seas were free to those who would control them. Members of Tenshodo, under the leadership Gilgamesh, a pirate and former Tavnazian set up a base deep within the coast of Elshimo.

Appearances can be deceiving however, as Aldo and Gilgamesh used their far reaching operatives to gain knowledge on all the kingdoms. Lion was their scout, sent to check to see if rumors found were true. Zeid, Aldo, and Lion - these three heroes would be charged with a great task, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.

It is said that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. The people of Vana'diel had not forgotten history, but the lessons learned. And so it came to pass that 20 years after the victory at Xarcabard, that indeed, the true battle for the fate of Vana'diel would begin. The three kingdoms squabbled amongst themselves and continued to bicker over territorial boundaries. It was at this time that after 100 years, Conflict was reinstated. The nations hired out adventurers to go off and compete in distant lands to gain them territory. While all the nations put on a polite face for each other, the tension still rose between their leaders. It was during this time the beastmen set their plans into motion. Secretly meeting under the dark banner of a "new master" the Orc, Yagudo, and Quadav hatched a plan to resurrect the Shadow Lord.

Meanwhile, our three heroes also heard of such rumors. Lion was sent to investigate strange rituals that were being performed in dark circles of power deep within strongholds held by the beastmen. Using her stealthy skills she overheard their plans. The beastmen were going to use "magicite", ancient crystals, to resurrect the Shadow Lord. But to do so they first needed to gather the great seals placed on his tomb. Each nation had one of the seals in its possession, but before Lion could return and report what she had heard, the seals were stolen in the night by beastmen raiding parties. With no idea what to do next, Aldo met with Archduke Kam'lanuat to discuss where to proceed. The archduke told him of the location of the one final seal and the magicite.

Aldo sent Lion to the locations of the Magicite, and though she traveled quickly, the beastmen were still one step ahead of her.

as if something was hurrying their pace...

In the north at the last seal placed upon the tomb, hidden in Fei Yin, Zeid discovered just how well prepared the beastmen were. The seal was gone, but the stranger thing he thought, was how could the beastmen know the location of the magicite AND the seals. There were darker things at work than just the beastmen. But, it mattered little now. Lion and Zeid hurried to Xarcabard, only to find it filled once more with demons. Were they too late? Fighting their way to the tallest tower of Castle Zvhal, Zeid found the tomb of the Shadow Lord....

The Shadow Lord had been reborn using all the power of Vana'diel to bring him back to the world of the living. Zeid having faced him before during the Crystal War stood his ground. Defeating the Shadow Lord again, the went for the killing blow. But, something was different this time. The Shadow Lord seemed familiar to him. He looked closer, and inside he saw an old friend. It was Raogrimm...

Weakened, the once might Shadow Lord fell to his hands and knees before Zeid. Kneeling to his side, Zeid couldn't believe what he had seen. Raogrimm was indeed alive, and he was the Shadow Lord.

With his last breaths Raogrimm explained what had happened. As the talekeeper for the galka he had held in so much pain and anger of his people. When Cornelia had died he let his rage consume him and before freezing to death he made a pact with the dark forces of Vana'diel to bow to them if he could have his revenge. Since then he had been trapped in an abyss of rage and madness. It was Zeid, who had set him free. Helping Raogrimm to his feet to carry him out the castle, Zeid failed to notice the new guests.

clap...clap...clap...

Turning around, the two saw a most unexpected face. Archduke Kam'lanuat. Laughing at the "touching" scene he explained to the two that the whole thing has been a diversion, orchestrated over 30 years ago. Using the "Shadow Lord" to suck the last of the power from the great seal of Vana'diel, Kam'lanuat could now enact his real plans. Using his Zilart powers he summoned for the great Crystal Warriors, protectors of the seal and saviors of the world to "do away" with the people of Vana'diel and cleanse his world. With his brother Eald'narche, the two Zilart could again begin their mad quest to unlock the heavens and be one with their god. A plot, over thousands of years, finally coming to it's conclusion.

Zeid rushed forth towards Kam'lanuat, but the Crystal Warriors blocked his path, knocking him to the ground. Lion rushing into the chamber saw the event as it's conclusion, the two Zilart brothers warping away to safety. Just as the Crystal Warriors turned their attentions to Lion, Raogrimm let out a great roar. He had been used, and would not let his friend die because of it. Summoning the last of his power, he transformed once again into the Shadow Lord. Lion grabbing Zeid fled from the castle, as the Shadow Lord made his final stand.

Though hopelessly overpowered, Raogrimm held off the Crystal Warriors just long enough, until before him stood a vision of his darling Cornelia, and an explosion rocked the lands of Xarcabard.

The Shadow Lord was no more...

Leaving Zeid with Aldo, Lion returned to Norg to discuss the situation with her father, Gilgamesh. How the two Zilart had survived this long still remained a mystery, but a new question had been raised. The Legend of the Crystal Warriors, a story told to children about the saving for the people of Vana'diel... had it come to pass?

"Sometime after, a great tribulation

Was about to fill this blessed land of Vana'diel.

The ancient seal, after resisting dark power for thousands of years,

Was broken and awakening the ending nightmare."

Had the seal placed upon the darkness by the great crystal of legend been

broken by the beastmen and Raogrimm when Kam'lanaunt manipulated them

into the resurrection?

"Now, awaken from the dark slumber.

Stand now, the legendary heroes.

The crystal warriors!"

The crystal warriors had awoken to rid the world of it's evil...

but on the side of the Zilart!

Is the "bane" upon the world us?