The Void Ark

The Void Ark is a level 60 alliance raid in Final Fantasy XIV added in patch 3.1, and the first part of raid series.
==Story==
In the twilight of the Fifth Astral Era, the voidmages of Mhach foresaw that the War of the Magi would be ended by a great flood. They sought to avoid the coming deluge by taking to the skies in a great ark, powered by a thousand imprisoned voidsent, including Scathach, the Shadow Queen. During its flight, though the High Voidmage Cessair Blackwind was tasked to bind her, the spell intended to contain Scathach within the Queen's Coffin was intentionally flawed as it was provided by the voidsent Diabolos. The freed Scathach released more of her kind to wreck havoc and Cessair and her fellow voidmages sacrificed themselves to reseal the voidsent. The ark has been drifting the Sea of Clouds for centuries ever since under the watch of Cessair's familiar Cait Sith. Following the Seventh Umbral Calamity, Diabolos escaped from his confinement in the Lost City of Amdapor and reached the Void Ark where he regained his strength while undoing the seals on the minor voidsent within with the goal of claiming Scathach's power for his own.
As Ishgard and other factions began to increasingly use airships to explore the Sea of Clouds in the beginning of a "Great Sky Age", the ark came to be known as a ghost ship. This attracted sky pirates' attention, who initially assumed it to be a relic of ancient Allag and to possibly contain valuable treasure. As the first men to explore the ark never returned, the sky pirate Leofard Myste sought out the Warrior of Light for aid in exploring the ghost ship. Entering with a large alliance of adventurers, they fought through throngs of otherworldly horrors wandering its dark corridors. Though the sky pirates hoped to claim the Queen's Coffin, Diabolos contested them and seized the massive coffin with dark magick. Cait Sith warned all present to flee.
From the skies aboard their manacutters, they saw the Void Ark open its front panel to reveal a massive cannon that could create a temporary Voidgate with its beam. Diabolos fled with the "Queen's Coffin" into the rift. Later, Cait Sith explained the history of the Void Ark and its master while beseeching both the Warrior of Light and the sky pirates to find the Queen's Coffin before Scathach was released into the realm. Meanwhile, a rival sky pirate named Radlia was also after the Void Ark to use its power for her gain.
==Objectives==
#Clear the sterncastle deck.
#Slay Cetus.
#Clear the forward port ventilator.
#Clear the modification cell.
#Clear the central Conveyance unit.
#Slay Cuchulainn.
#Slay Echidna.
==Progression==
The alliance is deployed from an airship into the Ark's sterncastle through open panels. The first section requires fighting through various cloudkin while navigating further into the vessel, using wind tunnels and other pathways. The first boss, Cetus, is soon encountered, one of the many black manta rays seen flying alongside the vessel. The boss uses a combination of water and thunder elemental attacks.
With Cetus slain, the alliance reaches the forward port ventilator, where waves of vilekin and morbols must be fought off. During the skirmish, growths called Pagan's Knots will appear, and need to be destroyed before they release noxious fumes. Should they release fumes, the ventilator must be activated by stepping on three panels to activate the large fan. Once the port ventilator is cleared, the alliance can proceed through more hallways into the modification cell, where the duel boss Irminsul and Sawtooth await. Whereas Irminsul is stationary in the center, the Sawtooth is more mobile. However, each must be tanked separately as both have auto-attacks.
With the two creatures slain, the alliance can proceed into the central Conveyance unit, where Diabolos is seen. Irritated by the unwelcome mortal interlopers, he sends waves of voidsent such as hellhounds, sepulture gargoyles, and a Blackguard to attack the alliance. Once all are cleared out, the alliance can proceed to the third boss, Cuchulainn. This grotesque monstrosity can inflict all manner of DoT effects, including a persistent one that cannot be cleansed, requiring the utmost diligence by healers.
Only once Cuchulainn is slain that the alliance reaches the heart of the Ark, the Queen's Bedchambers, where a colossal coffin is contained. The guardian of the Queen's Coffin, Echidna, will attack the party as the final boss. During the fight, she will occasionally detach her limbs, which all must be defeated before she reattaches them, as otherwise her Gehenna attack is fatal. Upon defeating the voidsent, the Void Ark is completed.
==Enemies==
*Ark Anzu
*Cloudlarker
*Hydrobolus
*Cetus (Boss)
**Hydobus Pup
**Hydobus
**Hydrosphere
**Hydro Core
*Teredo Moth
*Teredo Worm
*Ark Morbol
*Pagan's Knot
*Pagan's Tentacle
*Irminsul & Sawtooth (Boss)
**Ark Ked
*Hellhound
*Sepulture Gargoyle
*Blackguard
*Cuchulainn (Boss)
**Gyrtower
**Foobar
*Echidna (Boss)
**Dexter
**Sinister
**Bloodguard
==Treasures==
Each party in the alliance has their own treasure chest, which contains two random pieces of equipment. Only one item can be obtained per week for each player. In addition, the final boss has a chance to have a bonus chest with rare items; this is split among the entire alliance and not subject to loot restrictions.
;Cetus
*Void Ark Helm of Fending
*Void Ark Helm of Maiming
*Void Ark Halfmask of Striking
*Void Ark Cap of Aiming
*Void Ark Cap of Scouting
*Void Ark Hat of Casting
*Void Ark Hat of Healing
*Void Ark Gauntlets of Fending
*Void Ark Gauntlets of Maiming
*Void Ark Halfgloves of Striking
*Void Ark Gloves of Aiming
*Void Ark Gloves of Scouting
*Void Ark Gloves of Casting
*Void Ark Gloves of Healing
*Void Ark Belt of Fending
*Void Ark Belt of Maiming
*Void Ark Belt of Striking
*Void Ark Belt of Aiming
*Void Ark Belt of Scouting
*Void Ark Belt of Casting
*Void Ark Belt of Healing
;Sawtooth & Irminsul
*Void Ark Helm of Fending
*Void Ark Helm of Maiming
*Void Ark Halfmask of Striking
*Void Ark Cap of Aiming
*Void Ark Cap of Scouting
*Void Ark Hat of Casting
*Void Ark Hat of Healing
*Void Ark Skirt of Fending
*Void Ark Breeches of Maiming
*Void Ark Trousers of Striking
*Void Ark Breeches of Aiming
*Void Ark Breeches of Scouting
*Void Ark Breeches of Casting
*Void Ark Breeches of Healing
*Void Ark Sabatons of Fending
*Void Ark Greaves of Maiming
*Void Ark Boots of Striking
*Void Ark Boots of Aiming
*Void Ark Shoes of Scouting
*Void Ark Boots of Casting
*Void Ark Boots of Healing
;Cuchulainn
*Void Ark Armor of Fending
*Void Ark Mail of Maiming
*Void Ark Coat of Striking
*Void Ark Jacket of Aiming
*Void Ark Jacket of Scouting
*Void Ark Robe of Casting
*Void Ark Robe of Healing
*Void Ark Belt of Fending
*Void Ark Belt of Maiming
*Void Ark Belt of Striking
*Void Ark Belt of Aiming
*Void Ark Belt of Scouting
*Void Ark Belt of Casting
*Void Ark Belt of Healing
*Void Ark Sabatons of Fending
*Void Ark Greaves of Maiming
*Void Ark Boots of Striking
*Void Ark Boots of Aiming
*Void Ark Shoes of Scouting
*Void Ark Boots of Casting
*Void Ark Boots of Healing
;Echidna
*Void Ark Armor of Fending
*Void Ark Mail of Maiming
*Void Ark Coat of Striking
*Void Ark Jacket of Aiming
*Void Ark Jacket of Scouting
*Void Ark Robe of Casting
*Void Ark Robe of Healing
*Void Ark Gauntlets of Fending
*Void Ark Gauntlets of Maiming
*Void Ark Halfgloves of Striking
*Void Ark Gloves of Aiming
*Void Ark Gloves of Scouting
*Void Ark Gloves of Casting
*Void Ark Gloves of Healing
*Void Ark Skirt of Fending
*Void Ark Breeches of Maiming
*Void Ark Trousers of Striking
*Void Ark Breeches of Aiming
*Void Ark Breeches of Scouting
*Void Ark Breeches of Casting
*Void Ark Breeches of Healing
;Bonus
*Coffin Lid
*Wind-up Echidna
In addition, each player will receive one "Mhachi Farthing" upon defeating Echidna, which can be traded in Idyllshire for materials to upgrade level 60 artifact gear. Prior to Patch 3.3, a "Mhachi Matter" could be obtained once per week, which could be traded for Grade V Materia in Idyllshire.
==Maps==
Void Ark - Upper Deck map from FFXIV.png|Upper Deck.
Void Ark - Midship Deck map from FFXIV.png|Midship Deck.
Void Ark - The Hold map from FFXIV.png|The Hold.
Void Ark - Fo'c'sle map from FFXIV.png|Fo'c'sle.
== Behind the scenes ==
Cuchulainn is a recurring Lucavi first introduced in Final Fantasy Tactics. 
Echidna is one of four bosses fought before the final boss in the World of Darkness in Final Fantasy III, although her design takes more inspiration from her appearance in Final Fantasy IV. Her appearance as a boss in the Void Ark was due to her absence from .
Hellhound is a recurring type of hound introduced in Final Fantasy, while Foobar is a type of Flan from Final Fantasy XII, where it is similarly fought alongside Cuchulainn.
Following the completion of the Shadow of Mhach storyline, the Void Ark can be spotted flying in the northern skies from the Churning Mists and Sea of Clouds. It can also be found lying dormant beneath Asah, although only its lights are visible.
==Gallery==
Shadow of Mchah Concept Art.jpg|Concept art.
XIV Void Ark 01.png
==Etymology==
Category:Raids in Final Fantasy XIV
Category:Sea of Clouds locations in Final Fantasy XIV
Category:Airships