The War of the Magi

[Magimaster 2]

I find this topic really interesting. I have translated this game from English to Spanish, so I have read the whole script. I also have the Japanese cartridge and have checked for any differences, so I think I can give quite an accurate and chronologically ordered summarization of the events.

1. First, there was the fight between the three goddesses, creators of the magic. There is no record as to why they fight each other, but I would assume it is because each wanted to rule over the others; which is impossible since their power is even. Put your own assumption here. As a side note, I’d like to add that there is a Japanese myth about three gods, creators of the world, the green and the life. It has been referred to in some games (like Zelda for the N64).

2. There was no humans aiding the goddesses. They created weapons of their own. The humans trapped in their crossfire turned into espers, mindless servants. My assumption is that beasts like the 8 dragons, Phunbaba and Doomgaze were weapons created and used by the goddesses. Ultima Weapon (Atma if you want) might be the older of them, but it seem strange to me that he has mechanical parts.

3. At some point, the goddesses decided to end their fighting. They went to the island east of Albrook and sealed each other into stone, thus releasing the will of the espers. My assumption is that the 8 dragons, Phunbaba and Doomgaze were sealed in that moment, and that they somehow restored the wounded world with their magic. That would explain why the world is deformed when they are moved out of balance.

4. It is not specified how much time passed since the goddesses sealed themselves and the start of the Magic War (or War of the Magi if you like), but it was enough for the appearance of humans with magical powers. The only possible way to transfer magic from an esper was through magicites, since Cid’s methods are from 1000 years later. Nevertheless, the goddesses have no direct relationship with the Magic War.

5. The war started between an unspecified number of factions, but a real reason is not specified. It might have been any common reason, like land domination or a struggle for independence (on the espers part). Supposedly, the war was between the espers and humans who had magical powers, though it is not clear if there was an human only faction and an esper only faction, or if they were balanced forces. The magic knights are NOT mentioned here. Because of Odin’s event, it is obvious that humans fought together with the espers. My assumption is that humans and espers joined forces to fight, and the object of the war was not the existence of any of them. This theory comes from the fact that Odin fought along with humans but, in the end, he was killed by a human (he was turned into stone by a powerful wizard, not by an esper). I think that the real relevance of this war was not the fact that there were humans or espers involved, but that magic was used as a weapon; a very powerful one. As for Odin’s relationship with the humans, all that is known is that he was a powerful warrior of their own army. I don’t know if he had any special feelings for the queen, but it is clear that she did. She said she was going to “confess” his love to Odin.

6. At some unspecified point, the espers decided to leave the world of humans. They created their own world and erected the sealed gate. It is obvious that not all the espers left to the esper world. Ramuh said that espers take human form to live between humans, but no detail whatsoever is given about it. My assumption is that they agreed as race to leave the world of humans, maybe because they could be easily “used” as weapons. I would say that the remaining human warriors were not many, and that they were hunted down, in retaliation, by the humans that were helpless victims in the war and now, with the espers banished, stood a better chance. Maybe fear made them see them as a threat, so they wanted them dead.

7. It is a fact that normal humans hunted down the so-called “magic knights”, but the only stated reason is “because of their powers”. I think these “magic knights” were not a faction per se, but that term is used to anyone with magical powers. I think this because, in the Japanese version of the game, the letters used to refer to this people mean “magic warriors” (some warriors with magic capability).

This ends what the game says and the little assumptions I can make to fill the holes. You can make up your own stories from here on.

[Ironman0723]

Very interesting.. So you say that some of the humans and Espers may have been on the same side.. And the opposing side was.. other humans right? Wasn't some of the war fought because humans were trying to get power from the espers, and become power hungry?

[Magimaster 2]

There is not enough evidence to say that there was a side formed only by humans and other formed by espers, but I think both sides had humans and espers alike.

The game doesn't specify why the war began, so it could have been any reason. There is not a clear answer for that. I already stated my assumptions.