I don't have any notes or screenshots from my time in the Wildlands from my second playthrough for some reason, so I'll gloss over it a bit. Once Lightning gains entrance to the palace, she is confronted with Yeuls from all over the timeline. Some of them want to release Caius from his eternal torment, and some wish to live with him for ever. This conflict has created the chaos that looms there, it also ties Caius to life. Lightning defeats Caius.
Another major soul lies in the Wildlands, it is none other than Sazh Katzroy. However, his son Dajh has fallen into a coma, and has been that way for hundreds of years. Sazh is defeated, no longer his cheery self. Lumina actually helps out on this one, showing Lightning how to find the shards of Dajh's soul. Lightning goes on quests to find various Chocobos to collect the fragments. One of which is within Chobocolina herself. It is revealed that Chobocolina is Sazh's chocoboco chick from FF13. No one cares.
The last major quest remaining, in the order that I completed the game, was the Dead Dunes.
The Dead Dunes was a wasteland, a place of sand and sun that few dared to travel. That is, besides the bravest bandits and the most determined of scientists. For the dunes held a vast network of ruins. There was rumored to be treasure for the bandits, and a great deal of secret history for those inclined to such things. The treasure that Lightning was seeking was the Holy Clavis, which the local bandits were rumored to know the location of. Lightning was stonewalled by the small group of people still living in the center of this desert. Her first task was to become a member of the bandit gang, Monoculus, after which she would be allowed audience with their leader. To become a member, she would have to complete their trial.
Her task was to stop a whirlwind of sand called "God's Wrath" that had sprung up outside the bandit's home. It was causing no end of trouble, blocking a trade route into the settlement. Lightning thought this more of a task for a holy woman than a bandit. Her patron explained, the whirlwind was unnatural, it's deactivation required manipulating a stone monument nearby. However, not just any human could operate the monument.
Lightning defeated the armored creature that was the guardian, and found a cross shaped "crux" that reacted to her power. The whirlwind dissipated. As it turned out, this was no ordinary trial. Lightning was given this task because "the boss" believed she had special powers, in fact, the bandits were looking for a holy woman.
The gang boss was none other than Lightning's old companion... Fang. She also was looking for the Clavis. As for her motives, she did not expound on that. The Order of Bhunivelze was also looking for the Clavis. All three needed the Clavis because of the Soulsong that Vanille was to perform. However, likely each had their own motives.
The ruins in the Dead Dunes are a mass of interconnected dungeons. The puzzles include timed doors, and doors only the savior can open with switches. The timed doors alternate being open or closed based on the time of day. Lightning has to gather a number of things, finding some murals, then some tablets or something. Once again, I didn't take many notes or screenshots of the game here. I guess I was in a hurry. I do remember enjoying myself though. Perhaps I was too wrapped up in the game to take breaks! That happens from time to time.
If you're anything like me, you're also wondering, what the F is a clavis?
Eventually, Fang and Lightning gain all of the artifacts needed, and open the sacred gate to the Holy Clavis. Just as they arrive, a troupe of Order soldiers also arrive, following them. Fang's motivation is revealed as she attempts to destroy the Clavis. Vanille believes the Soulsong will purify the dead, however, it will also kill the user. Vanille has accepted this as a fitting sacrifice, but of course, Fang does not. A massive beast named Grendel is summoned to protect the Clavis, Fang and Light must defeat it. During the fight, the Order takes the Clavis, and seals the door.
Lumina appears, and says she lead the Order to the Clavis at just the right time, when Lightning opened the sealed door. However, once again Lumina is up to something, manipulating events, as it is her that opens the sealed door, allowing the pair to escape. Lumina also helpfully mentions that if the Soulsong is performed, Serah's soul will be destroyed as well.
Lightning's quest is nearing it's end, however, things don't seem to be going as planned. If she follows God's path, it appears Serah's soul will be destroyed along with the rest of the tortured souls who reside in the chaos. However, if she defies Bhunivelze, will she see Serah again? Either path may lead to ruin.
The last major quest remaining, in the order that I completed the game, was the Dead Dunes.
The Dead Dunes was a wasteland, a place of sand and sun that few dared to travel. That is, besides the bravest bandits and the most determined of scientists. For the dunes held a vast network of ruins. There was rumored to be treasure for the bandits, and a great deal of secret history for those inclined to such things. The treasure that Lightning was seeking was the Holy Clavis, which the local bandits were rumored to know the location of. Lightning was stonewalled by the small group of people still living in the center of this desert. Her first task was to become a member of the bandit gang, Monoculus, after which she would be allowed audience with their leader. To become a member, she would have to complete their trial.
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| I loved the details in the environments of this game, like this sink in the bandit's hideout. |
Lightning defeated the armored creature that was the guardian, and found a cross shaped "crux" that reacted to her power. The whirlwind dissipated. As it turned out, this was no ordinary trial. Lightning was given this task because "the boss" believed she had special powers, in fact, the bandits were looking for a holy woman.
The gang boss was none other than Lightning's old companion... Fang. She also was looking for the Clavis. As for her motives, she did not expound on that. The Order of Bhunivelze was also looking for the Clavis. All three needed the Clavis because of the Soulsong that Vanille was to perform. However, likely each had their own motives.
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| Fang is the self-proclaimed "oldest hag on the planet." |
If you're anything like me, you're also wondering, what the F is a clavis?
Clavis: a key or glossary serving as an aid to interpretation.
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clavis)
The word has it's root in latin, and is connected to some mysterious texts, such as the Clavis Salominus, "The Key of Solomon."
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| "The Great Pentacle" from the Key of Solomon manuscripts. I think it looks cool. |
The murals are cool looking, and give the origin story of the Nova Chrystalis universe. There were three gods, Lindzei, Etro, and Pulse. Etro's blood was used to form humans. The Fal'Cie were created by Lindzei and Pulse. Lindzei the cocoon Fal'Cie, and Pulse the Gran Pulse Fal'Cie, respectively. Fang says among her people Lindzei was known as a trickster, not to be trusted. Lightning replies "I think we've all learned not to trust the gods."
It could be said there is a recurring anti-religious theme in the Final Fantasy series, especially in the Nova Chysalis games and FF10. However, it's hard to say whether the writers are truly anti-religious or if the're simply trying to tell a compelling story. At the least, I'm sure they are warning that those in power should not be completely trusted. The whole thing could be a metaphor for how those in power manipulate the populace to their own ends.
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| The giant's hand marks one of the final dungeons in the Dead Dunes. |
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| Standing before the Holy Clavis. |
Lightning's quest is nearing it's end, however, things don't seem to be going as planned. If she follows God's path, it appears Serah's soul will be destroyed along with the rest of the tortured souls who reside in the chaos. However, if she defies Bhunivelze, will she see Serah again? Either path may lead to ruin.
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