Final Fantasy XI Lore: Ch.3 - Martial Magicians

[@TheFightingGentleman]

when i first saw this video posted, i didn't quite understand, but now i have read the description and recently finished survival of the wisest...ty for this and your contributions...

[@Soichiro69]

I missed so many details of this story when I did these quests in 75 era. Thank you for this riveting tale.

[@thisWinglessAngel]

I clicked like before even watching. I'm glad you're doing these.

[@tylerthompson9017]

Spent my entire lunch break watching this. SUPERB! I mained SCH since WotG, and I’ve been DYING for something like this. Thank you Ruau!

[@SplitFinn]

Tyler Thompson Well I did suggest getting food and a drink before watching it!

[@SplitFinn]

This will be an interesting debate here I hope. (Spoilers, do not scroll down unless you have seen the video or know what happens) What do you all make of Gunther Schultz? Do you understand where he is coming from, his outlook, his motivations and his actions? To me, personally, he strikes me as a cross between Doctor Faustus and Sherlock Holmes. Actually, the whole 'game' between Gunther and Bifrons reminds me heavily of Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty. Two brilliant minds locked in a fierce battle of the minds using the backdrop of conflicts to wage their personal war against each other. I understand why he made his deal with Count Bifrons. He probably saw Bifrons as an ongoing threat so he wanted to ensure he could be around to try thwart him whenever he could. That he got to accomplish more beyond his alloted lifespan is just a bonus really. Schutlz is probably behind the Adventurer's Grimoire saving their life with that White Magic spell. It's possible he embedded it in their Grimoire without them noticing or he was watching, concealed in the cavern; arriving at the same time the Adventurer did. He's a complex person for sure.

[@IkariLoona]

Seems like the classic lich mythos, where a page makes a deal with supernatural forces in order to continue exploring and extending his power beyond a normal lifespan. but mostly on the wider scope of Vana'diel's story, it seems like a more cerebral take on Odin's mission to make up for Promathia's absence and ensure some darkness and conflict remained active in the world, avoiding stagnation through an excess of light, keeping the Cloud of Darkness at bay. After all, demons, including Bifrons, ultimately work for Odin, even if he has a history of lending them out to the likes of the Shadow Lord to help carry on that mission, as he's done to some extent with others like Luzaf and Lilith. Beyond that, great video - I'd forgotten about the history involving Lungo-Nango writing about magic (despite his specialty being the Vana'diel ecosystem - really puts those nation diagrams - San d"Oria's has the ecosystem predation diagrams, Bastok's has the elemental system, and Windurst's has the astronomical chart - into further perspective), and especially the bit about Schultz having recovered that and being a painter at the time... reminds me of Alan Moore's equating of magic and art... i really should get round to putting something together about XI's magic system, there's a lot to it and I feel I've only scratched the surface when I tried to cover it: www.reddit.com/r/ffxi/comments/9yw69a/lore_of_magics/ea56lc5/

[@ofelix407]

While I admire the possibility of him wanting to o keep a check on the demon. I can't help but feel like there are serious selfish undertones. The "check" could have been his legacy. The scholars that came after him would have been well equipped to deal with the threat.

[@TheFightingGentleman]

i personally think Gunther is as ambitious as he is clever but ultimately knew that his time was fleeting...in many ways, the characters of this job's story line are symbolism for many different kinds of ideas...Ulbrecht represents what happens to one whose lust for power blinds them while Erlene represents a counterbalance with respect for self and others; acknowledging that knowledge itself is best when understand and not merely used for selfish ends.

[@mihreynylene5329]

OMG! I just brought my SCH to 99 and wished you'd make your next lore video about Scholar. XD Thank you so much, Rua!

[@Sadarsa]

So good to see this again. It's been years since i did the sch quests, i'd all but forgotten them. This video is such a great reminder of a really good tale. I'd originally been a WHM, having started playing the first day of the North American release. I had subbed BLM of course and dabbled into RDM but found RDM to be.... well... it's own thing. But when SCH came out with the WotG I unlocked Sch and never looked back, i stayed sch and still play it as my main to this day.

[@phostings]

I love sch so much. Such a great job to have around when you're running with a small team to take down massive bosses and events. Though I know of the story, i was way too young to even care lol. I feels great to revisit the lore and understand the true nature of what scholar was born from. Nice job, Ruaumoko!!!

[@RaxiazRedux]

so good. I love this video. I leveled SCH but never did the final BCNM quest but now I think I might just for completion's sake. Epic vid... great work, thank you.

[@negentropyagent7337]

Amazingly beautiful the way you narrate this stories. My favorite KZbin channel so far

[@AssimoOne]

Thanks so much for doing these. I've always been very interested in the XI lore. I'm just finishing off Shadowbringers in XIV, and once I'm done with that, I think I'm going to hop back into XI. I'm one of those people who hasn't played actively in about seven or eight years, but being stuck indoors more than ever before has made it very attractive to go back. And I'm MOSTLY returning to immerse myself in the world/lore, especially now that you can solo most (if not all) of the story content. Your vids are really getting me more psyched for it than I already was.

[@SMNtenshinoneko]

wow awesome video dood :D never have done the SCH quest line but now looking forward to it after watching your video.

[@MichaelWinger]

These videos are incredible. PLEASE make more! I'm learning about the game I love!

[@TheMogHouse]

Incredible work, Rua. Loving your lore videos :-)

[@SplitFinn]

The Mog House Have you got a Discord handle or an AH account? We need to chat!

[@TheMogHouse]

@@SplitFinn TheMogHouse on discord (#3878 if you need it), I'll pm on ah

[@Coombayah]

Very enjoyable video!! All the details of the storytelling made me realize, this was one job I rushed when it came to finishing this quest line. I feel so crushed having rushed such an intriguing story. I’m looking forward to whatever is going to be.

[@Clunkers707]

i think ive said this on most your videos now but damn you make great content once again no idea this game was so story rich

[@bjornhelgoe]

This is really excellent work :)

[@otogoshi6975]

Aaah, to think I was just looking to see if a new lore video was up just yesterday~♡♡

[@geoffreyarnold5344]

You're always knocking it out of the park. Can't wait til the next one.

[@king_mutt]

Great job dude! Asura is a better place with a great player as yourself :) love your work.

[@Neb-78]

You outdid yourself this time amazing job loved every minute of this.

[@ButtonsTaru]

Amazing work, really looking forward to what other lore videos you may make in the future. Black Mage, White Mage and the history of the Tarutaru would be amazing. :)

[@TimRymer]

Loved this!

[@gamalieltorres7842]

JFC i never unlocked SCH this story is very metal lol

[@DarkCT]

This retelling is powerful to me, like walking steps i myself had walked, told again. this was beyond well done to me. to this day I wish.. yet also don't wish to know, the fate of Erlene in greater detail. the epilogue... Is that your creation or later lore I had forgotten or did not see?

[@SplitFinn]

My own creation. 😉

[@DarkCT]

@@SplitFinn A well done ending. a Hope for the revival of the School of martial theory... Thank you. so much for this refresher course.

[@lordfarquard52]

I hope you're doing well Ruaumoko. Will there be more videos?

[@WizardofEarthsea]

I would love to collaborate with you some time! I'm a writer myself. I don't have a computer that can play FFXI at the moment, but I'm still in love with this game and I plan to return as soon as possible. I also do voice acting!

[@madambutterfly1997]

The only real reason they stripped him of command was because they were afraid he was going to overthrow the parliament if given enough provocation. Is a cliche with any government they get rid of their most competent military leader is as they see them as Rivals to their own power