Fracta Crystallis: The World of Ruins

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Following the Apocalypse that occurred five years ago, the landscape of Crystallis changed drastically. The Continents of Balance and Ruins broke apart whilst perpetual darkness covered the world, only a discreet and faint sun shining through dark clouds in the best of days. The once friendly and welcoming locations the Heroes of Light were familiar with are now overwhelmed with dreadful monsters, and what is left of civilization only survives in a few cities and scattered camps. Airships and other means of transportation are getting rarer and rarer, as Calamity Monsters have destroyed most of them over the years. Communication between the centers of civilization are as such rare and difficult. The world is overseen by four Archfiends, deadly elemental entities who draw their powers from the four crystals while Kalki completes her ascension. Locations that were protected from the Calamity through the Calamity Simulation are protected from most Calamity Monsters, although the ghostly monsters that emerged in certain places are immune to such defenses.

ABANDONED ESDHAM Monsters: Calamity Mimics, Calamity Dolls, Calamity Wraiths, Calamity Poltergeists, Calamity Poes, Calamity Ghosts, Infected Natives Following the Apocalypse, refugees from all over the world flooded toward Esdham and Mysidia to take refuge from the harsh environment and Calamity Monsters. But as the continent began cracking down and ghostly monsters emerged, the position became too difficult and General Varaha ordered the evacuation of the city toward the Village of Santa Claus, which was done hastily. As such, some houses still have their doors open, affairs abandoned left and right. The city is devoid of life and only ghosts or the natives who couldn't flee in time still inhabit the once powerful nation.

AERILON II Monsters: N/A With the situation growing ever more dangerous on the unprotected island hosting Aerilon, O'aka and other influential figures took the initiative to relocate the city. Following the Apocalypse, they had the population moved to Downapolis as the abandoned city was surprisingly safe from monsters, and yet still recluse enough. People never called the place Downapolis, and over the years the name "Aerilon Two" became cemented in the minds of the inhabitants. The city is even more dangerous than the old one, but innocent citizens can still manage to live there in relative peace.

CALAMITY FOREST Monsters: Calamity Dragons, Calamity Dragon Zombies, Calamity Ochus, Calamity raptors, Calamity Elementals Following the Apocalypse, the crystallized forest protecting the crystal life tree underwent radical changes, the crystallization process reversing and revealing horrors beyond imagination. The monsters and dangers offered by this forest made it all the harder for people to access the crystal life tree, more so with airships growing increasingly rare.

CURSED FOREST Monsters: Calamity Chocobos, Calamity Elementals, ?????????? The Chocobo Forest grew corrupted over the years, to the point even native Chocobos became dangerous monsters, proving to be as deadly as any other monsters corrupted by the Calamity. It is suspected the Archfiend occupying the nearby Temple is behind what happened to the once peaceful forest, as anyone wishing to face the Archfiend of Earth will have to cross the forest.

DEATH MOUNTAINS Monsters: Calamity Elementals, Calamity Ettin Snakes, Calamity Dragons, Rogue Magitek Scorpions, Rogue Mech Gunners, Rogue Mech Guards, Rogue Moogle Killers The Nabilan Mountains were always dangerous, but the situation only grew worse when a chain of volcanoes suddenly erupted two years after the Apocalypse. Besides the lava, those finding themselves there will have to face hoards of Calamity Monsters as well as the remnants of the Imperial Army, now out of control with their center of command destroyed and sunk into the ocean.

DESERT OF EVIL Monsters: Calamity Chimeras, Calamity Skeletons, Calamity Cactuars, Calamity Dragon Zombies One could think with the darkness reigning over Crystallis, heat would no longer be a problem in this desert. But this is without counting on the powerful winds originating from the Death Mountains, washing over the desert and drowning it under unbearable heat. The only ones that seemingly are able to survive there are Calamity Monsters, though it is quite likely there are a few refugee camps scattered around.

ELEMENTAL TEMPLES Monsters: ??????????????????????????????? Following the Apocalypse, all four great crystals disappeared from where they had been and returned to their home Temples. The exception to this was the Fire Crystal, that instead appeared within the Pyramid in Old Mysidia. Four Archfiends who have the means to control the Calamity Monsters and have at their disposal unnamed powers to rule over these temples. The energy of the four Crystals maintaining the shield that prevents anyone from accessing Kalki's Castle.

FALLEN RUINS Monsters: Calamity Touch Me, Calamity Sahagins, Calamity Adamantoise, Manikins When the Continent of Balance broke apart, the shock caused by such devastation was enough to cause the Floating Ruins to crash into the ocean and for the field protecting them to break down. The ruins still float to this day, but over water rather than in the sky. Many hunters and adventurers have ventured there since, but they found naught of interest besides deadly crystalline entities known as Manikins.

FORGOTTEN TEMPLE Monsters: N/A The Temple of the Heroes of Light was at the exact point where the Continent of Ruins broke apart. The temple is wide open for any who wish to explore it, but accessing it require a boat as it now stands between both halves of the continent, semi-submerged. For unknown reasons, no monsters managed to make its way to the Temple.

GHOST CITY OF AQURES IXEN Monsters: Heroes of Darkness Shortly after the Apocalypse, the crystallized Heroes of Light who were kept in the Hospital of Aqures Ixen woke from their slumber. But they weren't themselves, and killed all those who crossed their paths. They were contained by brave soldiers and people long enough for the population to be evacuated to Esdham. With the kingdom protected from Calamity Monsters thanks to the Simulation and the population gone in a hurry, the place is alike to a ghost city nowadays. However, the corrupted Heroes of Light still lurk and can be found anywhere, whether it is in the castle, a residence or the laboratory...

HAUNTED RUINS Monsters: Calamity T-Rexs, Calamity Raptors, Calamity Poltergeists, Calamity Hues, Calamity Poes, Calamity Wraiths, Iron Giants The Ancient Ruins, already a dangerous place, grew all the more dangerous with the rise of Calamity Monsters, not to mention the spirits of those who died in the past returned as well. No one knows the cause of the phenomenon and those who tried to find out where the spirits came from are no longer there to tell the tale of their adventure. Very few dare to adventure into them nowadays, only doing so to navigate from Aerilon II to New Mysidia.

ISLAND CLOSEST TO HEAVEN Monsters: Calamity T-Rexs, Calamity Behemoths, Calamity Shifters, Calamity Medusas, Infected Natives, Enhanced Iron Giants, Rogue Black Widows The former location of Aerilon, this island hosts some of the most dangerous creatures in the world. Killing a monster on that island will give +1 month exp to one equipped Jobs (if logged in a post). But the monsters here are all deadly and come in large quantities: there is a considerable risk that trying to kill one monster will result in being ambushed by over a dozen Calamity Monsters. With death being permanent, is the risk worth it?

ISLAND CLOSEST TO HELL Monsters: Hamsters, Calamity Long Guis, Calamity Tonberries, Calamity Wyverns, Calamity Dolls, Calamity Malboros, Rogue Magitek Armors The former location of Cactuar Island, this island hosts some of the most dangerous creatures in the world. Killing a monster on that island will give +1 month exp to one equipped Jobs (if logged in a post). But the monsters here are all deadly and come in large quantities: there is a considerable risk that trying to kill one monster will result in being ambushed by over a dozen Calamity Monsters. With death being permanent, is the risk worth it?

ISLAND OF AQURES TOSF Monsters: Hamsters, Enhanced Iron Giants, Calamity Tonberries, Infected Natives The Island where Kalki's Castle can be found, floating above the ruins of the once splendid city. Whilst the Island can be accessed, an energy field will prevent anyone from accessing the city or the castle. Many have tried to attack the Island, assuming whoever built this castle must be behind the Apocalypse, but none returned.

KALKI'S CASTLE Monsters: ????????????????????????? A castle floating over the ruins of Aqures Tosf, connected directly to the ruins of the city below. Whilst it is unlikely Kalki truly lives in that castle, this is the place that leads to the Temple of Fire and ultimately Kalki's resting place as she prepares to become God. An energy field prevents anyone from entering the Castle or the City.

MISERY MIRE Monsters: Calamity Buers, Calamity Malboros, Calamity Mandragoras, Calamity Bombs, Calamity Sahagins, Calamity Touch Me, Calamity Wyverns, Calamity Golems, Calamity Dolls The once calm plains have nothing left of calm any more. With swamps as far as the eye can see, Calamity Monsters lurk everywhere and they're not even the most dangerous thing. Be careful as to where you walk, lest you want to sink and drown into the depths of the mire...

MONSTER ARENA Monsters: N/A Some things never change. The Monster Arena is one such thing. Some people never change. The old man in charge of the arena is one such person. Indeed, he is quite the enthusiast as the Calamity Monsters running around everywhere, more so than his faithful Moogle companion. He'll greet any Heroes of Light as if he had seen them very recently and offer them to capture Calamity Monsters yet unlisted for prizes. Some things truly do never change.

MOOGLE REFUGE Monsters: N/A As Mognet had to close indefinitely following the Apocalypse, Moogles have turned Mognet Central into a refuge for all of their kind. Whilst the location isn't protected, Mognet Central is inside a mountain and no moogle would ever open the door to a monster.

NEW MYSIDIA Monsters: N/A Following the exodus away from Mysidia, the population moved to the closest safe location: the Mysidian Tower. As it is protected from the Calamity and as the Heroes of Light secured it, it sounded like the most logical choice. Ghostly monsters sometime appear at the first floor, but they're defeated before they have any hopes of going up the floors. The tower is hence now known as New Mysidia.

OLD MYSIDIA Monsters: ?????????????????????????? Following the Apocalypse, one of the Archfiends had the Crystal of Fire teleported into the pyramid and claimed the place for his own. Unable to fight him off, the population had no choice but to leave. The entire city is now the lair of the Archfiend of Fire, and there is no saying what awaits any who would dare venture into the once glorious city.

RUINS OF FLENCE Monsters: Calamity Cockatrices, Calamity Elementals, Calamity Seeker Bats, Calamity Mimics, Infected Natives, ???????????????? With the Apocalypse, efforts to repopulate Flence never came to pass. The city was abandoned altogether and no one ever tried to go back to it. It is suspected the Archfiend of Water occupies the nearby Temple, and therefore any going to the city may have to face the wicked and powerful entity watching over it.

RUINS OF TRANO GOLSAUCIA Monsters: Calamity Buers, Calamity Ochus, Calamity Golems, Calamity Mimics, Infected Natives, ???????????????? Trano Golsaucia managed to defend itself for an entire year following the Apocalypse, but too many people left for the Village of Santa Claus, eventually lowering the city's defenses. With the Archfiend of Wind having taken over the nearby temple, the hoards of monsters became too much and what little population remained fell. The city is only a shadow of its former self now, horror now reigning where entertainment once did.

SOUL DIVIDER Monsters: Calamity Dragon Zombies, Calamity Skeletons, Calamity Zombies, Calamity Ghosts Once known as the Crystal Life Tree, it is now called the Soul Divider by all as the Heroes of Light revealed the truth about the place. Scientists from Hera and Aqures Ixen along with soldiers went there before communications with the Continent of Balance were interrupted, but none have gone since then due to the dangers posed by the Forest.

SUBMERGED CITY Monsters: Infected Warriors, Infected Black Mages, Infected Gunners, Infected Magitek Knights, Infected Chocobo Knights, Infected Dark Knights, Rogue YAT-99s Pandaemonium and the Imperial City sunk into the ocean as Kalki began the Apocalypse. What is left of the once mighty empire now lies on the ocean bed and can only be explored by those able to explore the depths of the ocean. With the crystallization having receded, former imperial troops still lie in the lost city, corrupted by the Calamity.

SWAMP OF SORROW Monsters: Calamity Behemoths, Calamity Adamantoise, Calamity Mandragoras, Calamity Bombs, Calamity Long Guis, Calamity Malboros These plains were said to be where the Heroes of Light fought the Calamity and emerged victorious. The people on the Continent of Ruins used to go there to pray to the Heroes of Light. With the Apocalypse, the once grey soil became a deadly swamp, populated only by the deadliest monsters.

REFUGEE CAMPS Monsters: N/A Scattered a little everywhere over Crystallis, these camps won't be found on any maps. They're too small to be considered to be large settlements of importance, but they are where travelers and those who barely escaped with their lives can rest, and for some of them, live. Indeed, while adventurers and hunters just pass by, many people stay and these places are small cities on their own.

VILLAGE OF OUTCASTS Monsters: N/A Once Nabila City, all of the remaining souls on the southern half of the Continent of Balance had nowhere left to go but there following the breaking down of the continent. Being a city for those who have nowhere else to go and being populated mainly by Herans who were never accepted elsewhere, this has become known as the Village of Outcasts.

VILLAGE OF SANTA CLAUS Monsters: N/A In an unlikely and unpredictable turn of events, the Village of Santa Claus became the most populated and lively city in the world after Esdham and Mysidia were evacuated. Protected from monsters and under Prajapati's rule, the city welcomes all those who would flee the Calamity and choose to work together, regardless of their origins or social status.