Crystals

[Depression Moon]

Crystal (Term) - The Final Fantasy Wiki has more Final Fantasy information than Cid could research (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Crystal_%28Term%29#Final_Fantasy_IX)

On this wiki page it states that

In Final Fantasy IX Crystals are the source of all life; the Crystals residing at the center of planets circulate life, from which all life is born, and to which the souls return upon death, and as the memories of living beings accumulate inside the Crystals, the planets grow. Eidolons (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Eidolon_%28Final_Fantasy_IX%29) in Gaia (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Gaia_%28Final_Fantasy_IX%29) are guardian spirits created by the Crystal in order to protect it. The people of Terra (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Terra_%28Final_Fantasy_IX%29) had mastered the art of fusing their Crystal with others, allowing them to assimilate other worlds and keep their race thriving even when their current Crystal weakened. As revealed in the Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference">[1] (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Crystal_%28Term%29#cite_note-0)</sup>, once a Crystal has aged, it returns to the cosmos and becomes the source of a new Crystal. Crystals also appear in the game as a means of summoning Eidolons. The four "jewels" sought by Queen Brahne (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Brahne_Raza_Alexandros_XVI) of Alexandria (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Alexandria) were in fact fragments of a Crystal broken apart 500 years prior to the game. If all four jewels would come together in Alexandria, Alexander (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Alexander#Final_Fantasy_IX) would be summoned. This echoes Final Fantasy IV, as Alexander heavily resembles the Giant of Babil, which was also summoned by a gathering of Crystals.
Also, Crystals can be equipped as Add-ons (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Add-on), which grant the user special abilities, particularly for Dagger (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Garnet_til_Alexandros_XVII) and Eiko (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Eiko_Carol), who can learn Summon Magic from them. Eiko can also alter her Summon Magic according to the gemstone she has equipped.


I was wondering where some of this info came from. It states the Ultimania as a source for one section referring to the aging of a crystal, but what about the rest? Is it to be assumed that they all came from this one source? If so I didn't see much allusion to it in the game and by this info it sounds like Memoria was a portal to Gaia's core.

[SaveOurSeeker]

Thats the thing with wiki, any one can add what they like. So who ever wrote that was just adding there understanding of the games story line. When I played ff9 I was a bit too young to get that far out stuff towards the end, I now feel intrigued to play it again:)

[Wolf Kanno]

No, it is actually from the game's Ultimania (http://thelifestream.net/final-fantasy-ix-ultimania-translations/1887/world-establishment-development-materials-p-40-of-the-ffix-ultimania/).

The FF Wiki is actually pretty good about accuracy and siting sources. The biggest issues I've seen was with VI or all things and when the creators themselves give conflicting information. Overall, the site is incredibly accurate cause FF fans actually give a damn.

So yes, the Crystal is IX's version of the Lifestream and yes, Memoria was actually a gateway to the planets crystal. The Eidolons are in fact created by the Crystal to serve as guardians (http://thelifestream.net/final-fantasy-ix-ultimania-translations/1908/world-establishment-development-materials-continued-p-42-of-the-ffix-ultimania/)for them. Its all in the Ultimania folks. ;)

[Roogle]

I like reading about the portions of the story that are only touched upon in the Ultimania guides, but, at the same time, I feel like a lot of this should be addressed in the game to have a more clear, concise story and world.

[Depression Moon]

^ I agree with that also does the Ultimania list why the Eidolons are in the form of common jewels?

[Wolf Kanno]

No it doesn't. I'm guessing its just FF playing with the theme of crystals.

As for unused info, I've yet to read any official scenario books (Ultimania or Settei Shiryou Hen) that didn't have a bunch of stuff I felt should have been in the scenario with the possible exception of VIII. Hell, I felt half of FFX's story is in the Ultimania since it goes into details about Yu-Yevon and how the whole ritual of the Pilgrimage started as well as Sin's true purpose which is poorly explained in the game either from bad writing or poor translation.

IV's book details the family backgrounds of Cecil, Kain and Rosa which does a lot to help with the love triangle as well as explain why the three act the way they do. Did you know that Cecil and Rosa's relationship has to be kept a secret not because of Kain or Cecil high status but actually because Cecil is from an unknown family he is actually looked down upon for having common blood? Rosa's father was a dragoon and her family is actually close to Kain's. There is a whole drama in their backstory that is never explained outside of the source books.

[champagne supernova]

Hell, I felt half of FFX's story is in the Ultimania since it goes into details about Yu-Yevon and how the whole ritual of the Pilgrimage started as well as Sin's true purpose which is poorly explained in the game either from bad writing or poor translation.

You just need to speak to the old guy in FFX. He is the source of all information.

[Wolf Kanno]

He is boring as hell to listen to and a terrible means of story telling :p

[Depression Moon]

Just a bit off topic Kanno, but does the Ultimania give any explanations or details about the races of the IX world outside of the Qu's rat, people, Black Mages and Genomes, because IX seems to have the largest set of races out of the whole series, but we know little of most of them?

[Wolf Kanno]

I've only read what the Lifestream.net has uploaded. I actually have a copy of the Ultimania but a quick glance over the files doesn't show anything too promising. Though it does have a few segments on the games extensive list of side characters like Dr. Tot, Artemcian, and Puck but I can't see any section detailing the races unless its not obvious.