Elemental Cloisters

The Elemental Cloisters are a set of zones in Final Fantasy XI that were introduced in the first expansion, Rise of the Zilart. These were a set of zones where the protocrystals of the sleeping gods of Vana'diel, also known as the avatars, reside. There are six cloister zones and each correspond to the element of the protocrystal they contain. These zones are where summoners go to form a pact with many of the avatars of the game.
== Avatar Cloisters ==
The sleeping gods refer to six of the eight celestial avatars. Each of these sleeping gods have their own elemental cloister and protocrystal.
=== Cloister of Flames ===
Ifrit (FFXI).png|Ifrit (FFXI)
This zone lies within Ifrit's Cauldron, a volcano situated north of Yhoator Jungle and Yuhtunga Jungle. It houses the protocrystal of fire, and is where summoners must go to form a pact with Ifrit. They do this by undergoing the quest, "Trial by Fire".
==== Trial by Fire ====
* Speak with Ronta-Onta to obtain quest. If you are positive that you have the required fame but he is not allowing you to undertake this quest, continue speaking with him until his text changes. Once you have received the key item: Tuning fork of fire, you can now safely undertake the quest.
* Travel to Yhoator Jungle and look for the entrance to Ifrit's Cauldron at (I-6). On the first map of Ifrit's Cauldron head to the Flame Spout at (H-6). Trade it an Ice Cluster to make it recede or wait for it to recede on its own, then continue to (F-6). On the second map (Map B), go to (I-8) to drop down to the seventh map. When you land (Map C) go to the drop at (H-7), then proceed to (G-6) to find the entrance to the Cloister of Flames.
** Preferably, home point to Ifrit's Cauldron #1. If you don't have it yet, make sure to grab it on the way.
** The Unity 125 warp places you within a short run to the home point (go left to J, then you are on Map C).
* Defeat Ifrit Prime and you will receive a key item: Whisper of flames
* Return to Ronta-Onta with the whisper and he will provide several reward options including the ability to summon Ifrit.
=== Cloister of Tides ===
Leviathan (FFXI).png|Leviathan (FFXI)
Deep within the Den of Rancor lies the the cloister of tide. The protocrystal of water is housed there, and it is the destination of any summoner wanting to form a pact with Leviathan. This is done in the quest, "Trial by Water".
==== Trial by Water ====
* Speak with Edal-Tahdal to obtain quest. If you are positive that you have the required fame but he is not allowing you to undertake this quest, continue speaking with him until his text changes. Once you have received the key item: Tuning fork of water, you can now safely undertake the quest.
* Travel to Yhoator Jungle and look for the entrance to Temple of Uggalepih at (J-12). Inside, if you do not already have the Paintbrush of souls, be sure to get it as you will need it ahead. Travel to (F-5) of the first map of the Temple of Uggalepih (Map A) to return to Yhoator Jungle. In Yhoator Jungle, follow the left wall to re-enter Temple of Uggalepih. In Temple of Uggalepih (Map B), continue to (I-7). Use the Paintbrush of souls on the empty Picture frame to open the door to the Den of Rancor. On the first map of Den of Rancor (Map C), drop down the hole at (J-7) to the 6th map (Map D) and enter the Cloister of Tides at (I-7).
** Home Point to Den of Rancor #2. If you do not have it yet. you may have HP #1 warp from Zilart missions.
*** From HP #1: go to Point A (I-5) on Map 2 to reach Map 1. Once you're in Map 1, drop down at (J-7).
** The Survival Guide for Temple of Uggalepih is located at the (F-5) exit of the first map.
** The Unity warp to Den of Rancor (under content level 128) allows you to bypass the need for a  Paintbrush of souls.
* Defeat Leviathan Prime and you will receive a  Whisper of tides
* Return to Edal-Tahdal with the whisper and he will provide several reward options including the ability to summon Leviathan.
=== Cloister of Storms ===
Ramuh (FFXI).png|Ramuh (FFXI)
The cloister of storms resides within the Boyahda Tree. This houses the protocrystal of lightning and is the location for the quest to obtain Ramuh called, "Trial by Lightning".
==== Trial by Lightning ====
* Speak with Ripapa to obtain the quest. If you are positive that you have the required fame but she is not allowing you to undertake this quest, continue speaking with her until her text changes. Once you have received the key item: Tuning fork of lightning, you can now safely undertake the quest.
* Travel to The Sanctuary of Zi'Tah enter to The Boyahda Tree at (K-12) or (J-12). On the first map of The Boyahda Tree, travel to (A-7) to climb to the second map. On the second map, go behind the waterfall at (I-11) to find the hidden entrance to the Cloister of Storms.
** Preferably, home point to The Boyahda Tree #1. If you don't have it yet, make sure to grab it on the way.
** The Unity 135 warp will put you on map B so the home point is a short run away. Beware of aggro from mobs even at level 99.
* Defeat Ramuh Prime and you will receive a key item: Whisper of storms
* Return to Ripapa with the whisper and she will provide several reward options including the ability to summon Ramuh.
=== Cloister of Tremors ===
Titan (FFXI).png|Titan (FFXI)
This zone is underneath the Altepa Desert, deep inside a labyrinthian cave system called the Quicksand Caves. This is where a summoner can form a pact with the Avatar, Titan, through a quest called "Trial by Earth".
==== Trial by Earth ====
* Speak with Juroro to obtain the quest. If you are positive that you have the required fame but she is not allowing you to undertake this quest, continue speaking with her until her text changes. Once you have received the key item: Tuning fork of earth, you can now safely undertake the quest.
* Travel to Eastern Altepa Desert and look for the entrance to Quicksand Caves at (J-7) (where the level 30+ beetle/antica camp is). This will put you at the first map of Quicksand Caves at (L-4). You will need to travel to (E-10) of the map, to find a hidden entrance to the Cloister of Tremors. The map to the right hand side shows you the map with the hidden tunnels, falls and other traps. Be careful to not fall into the wrong areas.
** Preferably, home point to Quicksand Caves #2. If you don't have it yet, make sure to grab it on the way.
** The Unity 125 warp places you within a minute run to the home point.
* Defeat Titan Prime and you will receive a key item: Whisper of tremors
* Return to Juroro with the whisper and she will provide several reward options including the ability to summon Titan.
=== Cloister of Gales ===
Garuda (FFXI).png|Garuda (FFXI)
Within Cape Teriggan is the cloister of gales and the protocrystal of wind that it contains. Summoners come here in the quest, "Trial by Wind" to form a pact with Garuda.
==== Trial by Wind ====
* Speak with Agado-Pugado to obtain quest. If you are positive that you have the required fame but he is not allowing you to undertake this quest, continue speaking with him until his text changes. Once you have received the  Tuning fork of wind, you can now safely undertake the quest.
* Travel to Cape Teriggan (F-5) to enter the Cloister of Gales.
** Preferably, home point to Cape Teriggan #1. If you don't have it yet, make sure to grab it on the way.
* Defeat Garuda Prime and you will receive a  Whisper of gales.
* Return to Agado-Pugado with the whisper and she will provide several reward options including the ability to summon Garuda.
=== Cloister of Frost ===
Shiva (FFXI).png|Shiva (FFXI)
The cloister of ice lies in the basement of the ruins of Fei'yin in the arctic Beaucedine Glacier. Here, summoners can form a pact with Shiva through the quest, "Trial by Ice".
==== Trial by Ice ====
* Speak with Gulmama to obtain quest. If you are positive that you have the required fame but she is not allowing you to undertake this quest, continue speaking with her until her text changes. Once you have received the key item: Tuning fork of ice, you can now safely undertake the quest.
* Travel to Beaucedine Glacier and enter the ruins of Fei'Yin at (J-4). In Fei'Yin (Map A) travel to (G-9) and go down the stairs to the second map. In the basement (Map B) travel to (I-5) to find the entrance to the Cloister of Frost.
** Preferably, home point to Fei'Yin #2. If you don't have it yet, make sure to grab it on the way.
* Defeat Shiva Prime to receive the key item: Whisper of frost
* Return to Gulmama with the whisper and she will provide several reward options including the ability to summon Shiva.
== Cloister Trials ==
Trial Quests
Name 	Location 	Starter NPC 	Prerequisites 	Rewards	*Alternative Trial Quests
Trial by Fire 	Cloister of Flames 	Ronta-Onta - Kazham (J-9) 	Kazham Reputation = Level 6 	Only 1:
* Ifrit
* 10,000g
* Egil's Torch
* Fire Belt
* Fire Ring
* Ifrit's Blade	
# Trial Size: Trial by Fire
# High Tier Battlefield: Trial by Fire
Trial by Water 	Cloister of Tides 	Edal-Tahdal - Norg (H-9) 	Tenshodo Reputation = Level 4 	Only 1:
* Leviathan 
* 10,000g
* Eye of Nept
* Water Belt
* Water Ring
* Leviathan's Rod	
# Trial Size: Trial by Water
# High Tier Battlefield: Trial by Water
Trial by Lightning	Cloister of Storms 	Ripapa - Mhaura (I-9) 	Windurst Reputation = Level 6 	Only 1:
* Ramuh
* 10,000g
* Elder Branch
* Lightning Belt
* Lightning Ring
* Ramuh's Staff	
# Trial Size: Trial by Lightning
# High Tier Battlefield: Trial by Lightning
Trial by Earth 	Cloister of Tremors	Juroro - Port Bastok (I-8) 	Bastok Reputation = Level 6 	Only 1:
* Titan
* 10,000g
* Desert Light
* Earth Belt
* Earth Ring
* Titan's Cudgel	
# Trial Size: Trial by Earth
# High Tier Battlefield: Trial by Earth
Trial by Wind 	Cloister of Gales 	Agado-Pugado - Rabao (G-9) 	Selbina Reputation = Level 5 	Only 1:
* Garuda
* 10,000g
* Bubbly Water
* Wind Belt
* Wind Ring
* Garuda's Dagger	
# Trial Size: Trial by Wind
# High Tier Battlefield: Trial by Wind
Trial by Ice 	Cloister of Frost 	Gulmama - Northern San d'Oria (E-7)	San d'Oria Reputation Level = 5	Only 1:
* Shiva
* 10,000g
* Rust 'B' Gone
* Ice Belt
* Ice Ring
* Shiva's Claws	
# Trial Size: Trial by Ice
# High Tier Battlefield: Trial by Ice
*Alternative trials offer different rewards, and change the difficulty of the fights themselves. The "Trial Size" variants are balanced to offer a low-level summoner a method of attaining the avatars. The "High Tier Battlefield" variants are superbosses meant to challenge players.
=== Other Avatars ===
Main Article: Avatars (Final Fantasy XI)
Not all avatars are acquired through these elemental cloisters. There are two other celestial avatars, Odin and Alexander, as well as several terrestrial avatars that are acquired through different means. 
== Behind the scenes ==
The elemental cloisters are an iteration on the concept of the Cloister of Trials in Final Fantasy X. Summoners from both settings undergo trials in these areas to obtain the power of aeons in the case of Final Fantasy X and Avatars in the case of Final Fantasy XI.
Category:Gameplay in Final Fantasy XI