Chrysalis

It all began with a stone, or so the legend says.
In ages past, a sentient jewel, enormous and beautiful, banished the darkness.
Its many-colored light filled the world with light, and brought forth mighty gods.
Bathed in that light, the world entered an age of bliss, until after a time,
the gods fell into slumber. That world was called Vana'diel.

In the 863rd year of the Crystal Era, Vana'diel was in the midst of
a great war. Faced with invasion from the Shadow Lord and his hordes of beastmen,
the leaders of the enlightened peoples united their forces in desperate alliance.
They were the Kingdom of San d'Oria, the Republic of Bastok, the Federation
of Windurst, and the Grand Duchy of Jeuno. Together, they struggled for survival in
battle after battle, as chaos engulfed the land.