A theory about Ivalice, not only in FFTA.

[Selena_Akariko]

Unfortunately, the theory does not take into account several important ideas.

First: Geographically, the Ivalices in the various games are quite dissimilar. In FFT and FFXII, Ivalice is a huge country, with rivers and lakes but no real bordering seas. In FFTA and FFTA2, Ivalice is a clearly delineated peninsula. You offer no explanation as to why there would be such drastic continental shifts in between the games.

I don't know about FFTA2, but the way Ivalice is in FFTA might depend on how much the ones who recorded everything in Gran Grimoire knew about geography, and the places they visited most often. Ivaclice in FFTA really looks simplified to me, like, the distance between 2 nearby locations is exactly 1 day no matter the length of the red line on the map.

Second: The worlds themselves are quite different. FFT is extremely medieval, FFXII-2 features a world focused around a combination of magic and technology, and containing Magicite, an incredible power source that does not show up at all in any of the other games, not even in a historical note. FFTA and FFTA2 feature the power of laws, which have been in place for as long as recorded history (which shows that they do record their past, and mention it, yet still not even a whisper of magicite), as well as a world that has grown past the medieval stage, into the merchant nation stage.

As far as I know, laws and Judges *did* exist in FF XII. And, if you read closely, I say that FFT is so medival because of the catastrophe that happened, doesn't really matter if it's natural or triggered by humans.

Third: The characters that show up in multiple games cannot be the same characters. Their personalities and motivations are rather different, and I don't recall any mention in FFXII of Nono being Montblanc's brother. This is my least favorite part of the theory, actually.

Well, all the people's motivations and personalities change as the time goes by, no matter if they are real or in-game. And, if FFTA says that Nono is Montblanc's brother, but none of it is mentioned in FF XII, it could be very well explained by the fact that Nono probably adored Montblanc, who's the leader of a famous and strong clan, and wanted to be realted to him. I don't see any problem about that.

Fourth: If the Gran Grimoire is fixing Mewt's desires, then why would it also fulfill those of Montblanc and Nono, who were entirely unrelated to Mewt?

The Montblanc and Nono in FFTA aren't the ones who were in FF XII. It's their dream selves, the way they have seen themselves in their dreams. Like, when you daydream, is the one you dream about really you? Nope. It's a completely other person, more perfect in some way than you are.

Gran Grimoire is a collection of those dreams and wishes and dream selves. Mewt just unlocks it, and the recorded dreams start to 'play'. Mewt's dreams and desires are just the latest additions to the original.

Fifth: How does the real world of St. Ivalice tie into the old Ivalice, as the world of St. Ivalice seems entirely devoid of almost all magic.

As I said before, the highly technologically and magically developed Ivalice of FF XII was ruined, throwing the human race back into Medival stage in FFT. Since then the world began to progress the same way as Earth until mordern-like world of FFTA. As to why FFT Ivalice has magic and FFTA hasn't, well, Earth *had* magic in the Medival times. Yes, I know, most people think that there was no such thing as magic in history at all, but, really, it's un-prove-able.

But, since I appreciate new ideas and discussion in here, I'll help out some:quote

The "disaster" did not kill all the other races in Ivalice: It drove them out. It did not start as a cataclysmic disaster, but as a war. FFXII showed us Arcadia's mistreatment of non-humes. After the death of Vayne and the end of the Nethicite war, Arcadia's great civilization began a slow decline. Blaming this decline on non-humes, Arcadia struck out in a new war. Wielding the full powers of science and magicite (and, yes, manufacted nethicite, don't delude yourself into thinking that the destruction of Draklor and the death of Dr. Cid, Vayne, and Venat would halt such promising research), Arcadia started a new war. Their terrible power struck out across Ivalice, driving the non-humes from the land, and devastating the countryside. As Rozarria joined the war, Arcadia fought with increasing desperation and ever greater forces, eventually unleashing the full power of nethicite on the countryside. The war drew to a close. Arcadia was crushed by its own power, and Rozarria staggered on, but the damage was done. Mist bled out across Ivalice, profoundly altering the landscape and the creatures dwelling within. With monsters on the increase, and magicite rendered useless because of the Mist that pervaded Ivalice, the golden age turned to the dark age, and humanity began dwelling once again in castles and fortresses for protection, and, eventually, gave way to the Lion War. After that war, humanity lived in peace for a time, and a new age began when a great king found the five ancient nethicite crystals, and, binding an Esper and a race to each one, crafted the system of laws that was to save Ivalice from destruction, and revived the ancient Arcadian judge magisters to enforce those laws. As time went by, Ivalice grew and prospered under these laws, the races which were driven out long ago returned, slowly. The protection that the crystals afforded Ivalice let it grow past the ancient feudal system into a country of trade and commerce. It was in this new golden age that Mewt was thrust into, and, after the first Judge War, Luso found his way there as well.

I don't agree with that. As I said many times before, FFTA's Ivalice is just a dream world, which is applied to the real one only like an 'overlay'.

And the weak point in your version is: drove them out. To *where*? Besides, Elpizo told me that in FFT there is a location the describtion of which says 'The now extinct moogles used to live here'. It can count as a proof that the races were killed after all.

Ok, a little more wordy than I expected, but still a lot of fun.

Well, I can say you made some good points, and I'm glad I could come up with replies to them

Thanks for your long and very detailed comment.

Selena

Edit: My problem is that I have little knowledge of FF XII. I know the storyline, vagueally, but I'm completely unfamilliar with the game system itself (like, battle system and all). If someone explains me how the game is run, I'll either add it to the theory, or, if impossible, I'll admit that my theory is wrong at this point.