Again, working from specifically the Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 2: Scenario guide. This post is a follow-up to the “Sources of Power in FF” article I just posted, which also included translations from the FF 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 2: Scenario book.

Actually, this post might better be characterized as a follow-up to the “Love Triangle Debate- over” article that Ryushikaze posted a couple of days ago. That article included selected translations from the section which I am now posting a translation of in its entirety.

I think you’ll find that the ramifications for the Love Triangle Debate are even more obvious when you can read the entire page. Do enjoy.
(more…)

And with that, the Final Fantasy IX Ultimania translation coverage is complete. Once again major thanks to curiousACfan for contributing so much towards the understanding of the details of FFIX’s story. The Timeline of the world of Gaia chronicles the history of the entire planet in relation to FFIX’s plot, while the World Establishment materials dismantles and explains the important plot points and elements of Final Fantasy IX’s story. We hope you enjoy the materials and they help you appreciate FFIX even more!

Oh, and one quick edit… Hitoshura had previous translated the profile for Necron from the Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary characters Ultimania book. Since it’s pretty much the most said about Necron anywhere outside of the game, it’ll be included as well for completions sake! You can find it at the end of the World Establishment Developmental Materials Part 3.

FFIX World Chronology – p.44-46 of the FFIX Ultimania

FFIX World Establishment (development materials) part 1

FFIX World Establishment (development materials) part 2

FFIX World Establishment (development materials) part 3

And here is the last portion of the World Establishment materials translation from the FFIX Ultimania done by curiousACfan. With that, the section is completed!!! Enjoy!!!

The Iifa Tree
The magical tree of Terra, whose roots extend through the surface of Gaia, and whose trunk resides in the interior. The true trunk lies within, while the section seen on the surface is actually just an aggregate of roots on the reverse side of the trunk. [See Figure 2]

The roots extended to the surface to stabilize the upper ground, while the trunk stretches to the crystal at the core of the planet, governing the cycle of souls.

The Iifa Tree used its influence to stabilize the upper ground 3000 years ago. Around this time, Garland started creating Genomes for the time when the people of Terra would revive.

The true nature of this giant tree is a spiral of roots. [top left]
There are some points like eyes in the center. [top right]
The tree is green with a yellowish tint. [bottom left]

The Genomes
The Genomes are lifeforms created to carry the souls of Terra’s people once they revived.

Until Gaia and Terra’s fusion completes, however, the Genomes’ lives are likewise incomplete.

With the radiance of Terra’s crystal declining, Garland created the Genomes and set out to control the cycle of souls on Gaia.
(more…)

Here’s more of the World Establishment materials from the FFIX Ultimania, translated by curiousACfan. Major thanks to him for bringing this info to light!!!

The relationship between the moons and the radiance of the crystals

Two moons
When Terra’s attempt at Fusion with Gaia failed, they partially melded, but there remained parts which did not. From that day on, Gaia’s original blue moon and Terra’s red moon both orbited around Gaia (for more details on Fusion, refer to P.40, “Gaia and Terra”).

The crystals and the two moons
The color each moon radiates is the true radiance of its planet, received from the light of each crystal. The color of Gaia’s crystal is blue and the color of Terra’s crystal is red, and their own moon shines with their radiance. [See Figure 4]

Therefore, because Terra’s crystal is inferior to Gaia’s and the moons travel in constant ellipses, the nature of the moons’ waxing and waning is such that, as Gaia’s moon draws closer to being in front of Terra’s, portions of Terra’s moon on the other side are covered in shadow. [See Figure 5]

As the two moons go around in orbit like in [Figure 6], every sixteen days, the positions of the blue and the red switch, and the two moons are stacked one in front of the other.

Only Gaia’s radiance is strong enough to be seen when its moon is directly in the back, as seen in [Figure 7].
(more…)

And here is some very fascinating information from the FFIX Ultimania, translated by curiousACfan. Here is the “World Establishment” section, which outlines some of the finer points of the worlds of Terra and Gaia in FFIX.

Gaia
The world that serves as the stage for FFIX. In its civilization, machines are becoming more dominant than magic. Its civilization is young — covering only a portion of the planet’s surface.

Terra
A world with a highly advanced magical civilization. Terra’s people made use of the ultimate magical art, Fusion, in order to attain eternal life. In modern times, Garland watches over the people of Terra until the Fusion process ends and the day comes that they awaken once more.

(more…)

Thanks to our member, curiousACfan, here’s the translated timeline of the World of Gaia, from Final Fantasy IX Ultimania!

[5000 years ago]

·Terra attempted to take over Gaia and assimilate it, but failed, resulting in a cataclysm. Garland planted a giant tree (the Iifa Tree) to control the environment and oversee its natural recovery.

[Year 0 (1800 years ago)]

·Gradually, the environment starts being repaired. Following that, the Shimmering Island begins to shine, marking the beginning of Gaia’s modern civilization. The calendar begins.

(more…)

Today, I’d like to take a brief pause in our usual FFVII coverage to bring you something different. Chances are, if you’re a fan of Final Fantasy VII, you’ll know that there’s another Final Fantasy that features the wonderful concept of an interconnected cycle of souls, memories giving rise to planetary evolution, and a stream of consciousness and life that serves as the life blood of the planet.

Yes, my friends. I’m talking about Final Fantasy IX. FFIX has always held a special place in my heart, and because of that, TheLifeststream.net is happy to present some select translations from the FFIX Ultimania regarding the scenario and timeline of events of the story. You might learn something you didn’t know before. Enjoy!