FFXIV Lore- What it Means to be a White Mage

Time to cover the other side of the coin and discuss White Magic! Amdapor was a great nation and created an even greater spell school. I hope you all enjoy and look forward to future content I plan on uploading! A BIG welcome to the almost 100 extra subscribers I've gained in the passed couple weeks. I hope we can share what we learn together with entire servers one day!
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Music: Zodiac Structures by NoMBe
Disclaimer: The MMORPG known as FinalFantasy XIV Online as well as all its related publications and merchandise are owned by Square Enix. I have no claims to it.
Primary Sources:
Video Games-
FinalFantasy XIV Online
Publications-
Encyclopedia Eorzea Volume I
Encyclopedia Eorzea Volume II
Alternative Sources:
FinalFantasyXIV, The Lodestone/Sidestory
FFXIV, Letter from the Producer
Published FFXIV Brand Art Books
#FFXIV #Lore #Whitemage

[@TheUncannyCthulhu]

a modern White Mage never uses more aether than necessry. Me spamming Holy

[@GayLPer]

I mean, technically, you are saving on aether because to do the equivalent amount of damage, you'd have to cast Glare on each enemy, and you'd actually be spending more aether. Though to be frank, MP isn't our Aether, it's closer to being like... our stamina for exerting control over aether, whether internal or external.

[@elgatochurro]

All holy is necessary But honestly in lore we're talking about NOT JUST higher level white magic like holy 4, ancient holy, absolute holy and more... But armies of the largest nations using them at once over and over again

[@levintine777]

Others: y’all WHM should be more careful with your healing Me: what’s that? I’m feeding my lily

[@SubduedRadical]

Raise should give a full stack of Blood Lily. :)

[@frostlich6356]

RIGHT it should lol

[@aurumvale9908]

Healing? Do i look like a Tank?

[@AK-qn4jp]

Omg that would be so cool

[@MrRandomGuy1231]

"take years to become a white mage" Warrior of light *one afternoon, couple adult drinks, and a dozen duty roulette later*: "Blood for the blood lily!"

[@SynodicScribe]

Yeah the WoL is not a representative of the actual lore in any way. lol

[@mikoto7693]

Yeah it’s kinda that the WoL is an exception to the tight controls on white magic only being taught and used by the Gridanian padjal because of the soul crystal of an ancient padjal white mage responding to him/her. What really amuses me is that my WoL has taught summoner, scholar and white mage to her three retainers who are now around the lvl 50-53 mark. They’re even wearing her old lvl 50 job outfits. (Yes I am paying for the use of an extra retainer.) In Summoner and Scholar’s cases the idea of my WoL teaching these brand newly rediscovered jobs to her retainers as apprentices really appeals to me. I can then imagine those retainers recruiting decent Arcanists to take up Smn and Sch themselves to one day start their own guilds. Granted that’s a lot harder for aspiring summoners and would probably have to be done working with the Maelstrom but… still applies lol. As for my WoL’s white mage apprentice? Yeahhhh maybe letting my WoL become an exception wasn’t such a good idea LOL. But no, both WoL and apprentice would know of white magic’s history and take steps to limit how many people could be taught. Again probably by working with the Admiral and Maelstrom. And no teaching anyone in Ul’dah! Knowing them, their greed and tendency to frame innocent people for murder nature would lead them to kick off the eighth umbral catastrophe if given the slightest hint of real power.

[@GayLPer]

@@mikoto7693 I kind of headcanon that in order for a retainer to get a job crystal, the retainer guild has to petition the people who have authority over those job stones. So in this instance, the Seedseers would have received this request, saw that it was the inheritor of A-Towa-Cant, and decided "Yeah, alright."

[@TobiGame1]

You know a video is too good that as soon as I finish I’m looking for another one of yours to watch

[@SynodicScribe]

Glad you enjoyed ^^

[@Blagraite]

I did it too, I love white mages, but I had to see the black mages one 😅

[@amitamaru]

I love that we now know why the robes were so pristine now that we know the mechanics of light aspected aether. It is the aspect of stasis and preservation. Garments infused with that would never age.

[@toodleselnoodos6738]

The more I think about it, the more terrifying I find Late Stage Amdapori White Magic to be. All of this is head canon for me: To become so advanced in curative magic and aetherology, that you learn how to not inject life-restoring aether into people, but to instead *pull* that aether from them. Literally, taking the technique of Black Magic and White Magic’s ambient aether usage to include the very life of another. It’s the same horror of Bloodbending in the Avatar universe. This is more head canon on my side, but I believe Holy is Light-aspected. And after playing Shadowbringers, I like to believe that Holy releases a dangerous burst of light-aspected aether which momentarily stagnates the target’s personal aether, “stunning” them. I also imagine that White Mages’ Glare, Día, and Holy work by pacification. Each one fills the target’s aether with light until they become so stagnated that they can’t fight anymore. White Mages leave their enemies in a state worst than death. Just some personal (non-canonical) thoughts! Edit: For anyone wondering, as of Eureka Orthos, there is confirmation of Dark Aether. Dark and Light Aether are real things, and are the purest form of unaspected aether. The Allagans described Tiamat’s use of Dark Aether and how it created “life-like” things.

[@SynodicScribe]

That's an interesting interpretation!

[@reperfan4]

This might be a bit of a tangent, but I'm actually reminded of a line from an anime I saw (Overlord). The main character is a powerful necromancer Lich who finds themselves in an unfamiliar world and a lot of the focus is on him trying to quietly stay under the radar while learning about the rules and situation of the new world he finds himself in. One of the early plot lines involves him disguising himself and saving a village that's being attacked by bandits in order to gain favor and learn information from them. After he defeats the bandits attacking the villagers, there's a moment where they're all burying those that were killed by the bandits and the MC, being a necromancer, has the thought that he could actually revive all the dead villagers if he wanted to. But then he thinks: "A magic caster who brings death and a magic caster who can revive the dead...it's not hard to imagine which one would be dragged into more trouble." So he decides not to revive the villagers, realizing that would actually incite more panic and fear rather than help. All that to say, destructive magic can certainly kill you dead real good and should be feared. But healing and revival magic? If someone has the power to manipulate life, rather than just destroy it, that's even more terrifying. In Paglth'an each of the bosses represents some "super" version of a class we actually have in XIV, and I don't think it's a coincidence that the Necromancer boss appears to be wearing healer robes.

[@SynodicScribe]

@@reperfan4 You actually hit the nail on the head. There are characters with healing magic in FFXIV that have taking healing magic to far. They end up trying to revive the dead and only end up creating mindless monstrosities. One NPC that embodies this madness is named Edda, and has a huge side quest involving her.

[@SubduedRadical]

@@reperfan4 That's an interesting interpretation/theory. Didn't think about the Necromancer wearing healing robes. It's interesting the line between life and death, and how knowledge of life can also be knowledge of death. I think it was a Star Trek original series episode where they first revive Khan and he's about to kill Doctor McCoy when he decides not to, impressed that, facing death, McCoy, instead of being terrified, stands there and explains to Khan the most efficient way for him to kill McCoy based on McCoy's medical knowledge, leading Khan to spare him instead. Those who understand life understand death as well. And even as we strive to extend and better life, it's interesting how we flirt with death in the process of doing so...

[@TheHazelnoot]

@@SynodicScribe This reminds me of how much I want a necromantic healer class.

[@Gefnir]

So you’re saying I shouldn’t raise a Dark Knight that died because they used living dead poorly, and let the dead rest peacefully!? You’re the boss :D

[@SynodicScribe]

Haha, not gonna say I haven't left some people on the floor now and then. xD

[@acehealer4212]

White Mages are really iconic to the FF series. I quite like them, the reliable healers.

[@SubduedRadical]

"And the dead should be allowed to rest..." My Res Macro says otherwise. :) Though you COULD argue they were just "knocked out", my thinking is "That's a person that could be feeding my blood lily right now....."

[@aurumvale9908]

personally I prefer to think of them as just some really fresh zombies

[@elgatochurro]

Incapacitated and bleeding out They are dying

[@Frankenstec]

Really like you videos, I hope you keep this kind of " in character storytelling" like a professor giving an intro to a lecture. I personally want to know what happened in the base game of ff14 and why certain locations are the way they are. Mor Dhona as an example. But of course I like the class videos as well. I guess right now I just feel like I have an incomplete grasp of the lore and locations. Lots of names but not a lot of context to understand them

[@SynodicScribe]

Oh yeah it's a lot to take in for sure. I plan on making videos about the different Ages the world has been in to give more context to the time periods I'm referencing. But if you'd like to know more about Mor Dhona/Silvertear I can do some research.

[@mikoto7693]

Lol what does my head in is when I pick a topic like Garlemald or the Sixth Astral/Umbral era I’m told to leave because it has spoilers for Shadowbringers and Endwalker and I’m only at the start of Stormblood.

[@TheSwordsman100]

Ah the tragic irony of trying to protect the world from a encroaching empire so hard you end up helping to destroy it instead. Though to be honest I thought their golems were sin eaters due to their uncanny resemblance.

[@GayLPer]

There is lore suggesting that the Amdapor mages could either see vague images of the First, or otherwise had visions of the First and decided those shapes would be ideal for embodying white magic. Kind of like how on the First, there were mages that had visions of dragons and decided to magically create the Gwibers.

[@jerome6519]

same man. to me i had thought that the white mages had poured so much light aspected either into their statues that they had essensially synthetically manufactured sin eaters.

[@Shadowghost36]

@@jerome6519 I love this idea and I am now accepting it as headcanon

[@Blagraite]

I never played final fantasy, but I always liked white mage, well, that's why I searched for white mages here in the first place, now that I know the story, I like it even better 😁

[@aurumvale9908]

as white mage we only heal so we can kill

[@ThePhoenixQueen1124]

This video alone has finally fueled my desire to finish leveling my white mage! Thanks for the amazing video. As someone new to FFXIV and a lore nut, I appreciate these lore videos!!

[@SynodicScribe]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I find that the jobs feel more impressive when you understand their history and what they're truly capable of!

[@elgatochurro]

Best healer

[@angelguerrero7966]

Amazing job compiling and presenting all of this information. Thank you and have a good day.

[@LoftyOasis]

thank you, this was really interesting ^.^

[@SniperKing-O]

I hope we see Golemancy returm someday as a job class. Preferably, the Ampadori's version as it'd be pretty cool to see white magic used more offensively combined with the support of golem creation. :3

[@BubbleSprout96]

Love these videos

[@SynodicScribe]

Oh you ^^

[@AegixDrakan]

"The dead should be left to rest" Me: Hahaha, Raise go *SHWIIIIIING!* :D

[@candyfun564]

The dead should be left to rest.Hear that drg? :)

[@Dio____Brando]

@@candyfun564 yes let me afk zodiark while i leave to you guys to finish this for me :D

[@GracefulMage3089]

I'm so glad and proud I picked white mage as my first Job in FFXIV, and I can't wait to be a sage in Endwalker

[@SuperFanFiction]

So that's why Stone and Aero turn into Glare and Dia.

[@Radicalgood1]

Lore video nice

[@Just_an_Ace_on_the_Moon]

These videos have been great learning lore about jobs I haven't tried yet

[@SynodicScribe]

Happy to be of help!

[@deltahat2625]

I was wondering why there were so many ARR creatures in ShB

[@1starfalco1]

this lore vid is amazing, now i have something to think about while I'm mindlessly spamming glare on the raid boss

[@Jackolantirn]

Nice video! I came because I'm interested in why White Mages use magic that does damage, and this video helped. Hope you eventually make a video on Black Mages. :3 EDIT: Found your video on Black Mages. Don't know how I missed it. xD

[@SlyTheShark]

:D learning all the things

[@cj_skywalker]

Considering I am going to be doing a solo job challenge with this job come October, I need all the info I can get on this job.

[@LyviannaXIV]

holy 3 goes brr

[@SynodicScribe]

it really does

[@vaelicusthepaladin]

Perfection

[@RocRolDis]

Lore WHM: I must choose where and when to use my damaging spells carefully lest I destroy the very land around me. PC WHM: *holyholyholyholyholyholyholy*

[@elgatochurro]

Difference between one person and a world war army using them

[@emmeownelan2076]

You did my favourite job far more justice than the game itself did

[@y20k90]

Truth

[@elgatochurro]

What? This is... This is game lore

[@alexiaashford371]

do you have any idea about what Amdapor people race

[@Joetime90]

I played White Mage in 2013 to 2020 (I was forced to play DPS despite years of being a WHM midway through Eden's Gate, and Eden's Verse we made it to the second raid and got forced out. I quit the game after). But I always adored the White Mage. It's fitting for my personality. Meanwhile I don't have time or interest to pick the game back up, I miss my White Mage high life. I was recognized on the server for being one of the better! FFXIV lore is amazing.

[@25xxfrostxx]

Are the Kuribu and lion actually "constructs"? They not only have the ability to speak and awareness of their environment but the area is also populated by "Light sprites" that aren't found anywhere else in the world. I actually wonder if they aren't some sort of sin eater, deliberately created to fight Mhach. Since they aren't a natural occurrence and were likely made deliberately that might explain their intelligence.

[@SynodicScribe]

They're golems, infused with structure magic by White Mages. Most golems are a sub category of monster called the Soulkin which is the same category as Mammets and Spriggans. No, they are not sin eaters.

[@IzzetNilson]

I'm a fan of white mages as a pure, dedicated healer, but was bothered by how tied to nature it was. When I got into FFXIV 2.0 for the first time I was coming from WoW where I was a Holy Priest main, I expected pure healer casters were more themed around being divine focused. So I was hoping that White Mage had more to do with the Twelve since in character creation your choice of deity was relatively important at the time (gave increased resistence to a certain element damage type but idk how relevant it was in the end) and I've always been a sucker for who the heck the Gods were and what they represent and role they play in the world in these RPG games. To me as a WoW player its like "Holy Priest but they're druids" and I don't see a lot of my characters ever being a druid. I had this clash of identity essentially. But I've also been torn because I am a huge rock guy and White Mages make cool earth elemental things and throw rocks everywhere. It still bothers me to this day. I struggle to level WHM cuz I want the Pantheon to matter more in the game ;_; its cool we got a raid at least

[@yoooo790]

Can you do monk next?

[@SynodicScribe]

I'm likely gonna have to set up a vote for that since I'm getting pulled in many different directions in terms of jobs. lol

[@skymagi4095]

My main Job

[@zeninspriggan794]

I hope they let us travel back in time OwO ahhhh I wanna see them ruins not ruined

[@Computerspaceman]

Can you make one for bards :

[@SynodicScribe]

Warrior is releasing tomorrow. I'll post the next voting poll over the weekend

[@hasseo195]

How can a white mage create a defensive barrier? In the game, the player can only creating healing barriers. (but every other druide can make barrier)^^

[@SynodicScribe]

Magic in FFXIV is far more versatile than the Job system will ever let you know. It's kinda crazy how many different spells there are that you'll never see in game.

[@GayLPer]

Asylum at a higher level both protects and heals. Divine Benison creates a barrier around your target. Aquaveil reduces the target's received damage.

[@calebvanscyoc9675]

@@SynodicScribe many of the writers must be fans of star wars as there many similarities between aether and the force

[@SynodicScribe]

@@calebvanscyoc9675 Honestly I wouldn't even limit it to Star Wars. The idea of there being an invisible source of energy and life in a universe is shared across sooooo many forms of media it's essentially a trope.

[@semekiizuio]

I wish Pidjal was a playable race 😔 I just dont like the Au Ra horns all that much prefer something simple and child like but not a lala. Irrelevant to the topic haha

[@elgatochurro]

Be a Lala

[@bolladragon]

What’s funny to me is White Mages steadily losing their nature mage/druid identity was something that turned me off of the job. It’s just a light mage now.

[@GayLPer]

To be fair, when we learned Glare, we went to an area where the environment was completely suffused with light aether. And since our magic draws from ambient aether, adapting the incantation to utilize it was probably necessary. As for why it became Glare III when we returned from the Source... well, it turns out that wielding light is effective. The only thing I don't like about Glare is that instead of one big bolt of holy light, it's a spiraling tendrils of light, and it just looks messy. I'd rather have Banish and Banish III than this.

[@toychristopher]

Stone, water, air and light are all required to make the lily bloom.

[@lushdontu4015]

They never lose those elements. We just don't use them in the game.

[@elgatochurro]

​@@GayLPernever thought about it like that

[@mareczek00713]

White magic - purely reactive, defensive, gentle and meant to protect the forest wielded by racist idea of padał-only policy. Me - RIP AND TEAR, LET HOLY SPLIT YOUR FLESH FROM YOUR BONES SO YOU SUFFER IN RADIANT INFERNO!!! LET MY ALLIES BLEED AND SUFFER AS I RECONSTRUCT THEIR FLESH SO THEY SHAMBLE FORWARD AS MY LIVING SHIELD WHOSE LIVES DEPEND ON MY WHIM!!! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD LILY!!!

[@ClericOfPholtus]

lololol White Mages need to make a vibe check with Nature They're basically Druids

[@newphonethisisawkward.3430]

They don't shape shift??????????? Like in anyway??? Redm would be closer to druid. But even then no lmao.

[@Syrithariel]

@@newphonethisisawkward.3430 druid doesn't always mean shapeshifting, only in some specific fantasy universes. Druids in the sense nature based casters. So yes, OP is correct, they are very druid like.

[@venti9925]

@@Syrithariel what's a druid lol

[@SomeGuy-qh6rw]

Do you know which source mentions that the Padjal have recently started teaching others the practice of the White Mage? Or do you mean they just teach normal white magic? I ask, as many argue that outside of the Padjal and the Hero of Light, there are no other White Mages. I am curious if this is true.

[@SynodicScribe]

I'm simply making an off handed remark about the Warrior of Light. Don't read to hard into that. lol