Crystal Tower (Final Fantasy XIV)

The Crystal Tower , also known as Syrcus Tower, is a location Final Fantasy XIV. Located in the Mor Dhona territory, it was initially known for playing host to the first series of s intended for 24 players. Its role was greatly expanded in Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, when a seemingly identical structure appeared in the region of Lakeland on the First, around which sprung up the city of the Crystarium.
==History==
===Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn===
According to ancient scriptures, at the height of their prosperity, the Allagan Empire crafted a resplendent tower forged of crystal that collected and stored energy from the sun. The tower had numerous defenses, including ancient beings revived and augmented by Allagan technology. When the Allagan Empire fell into decline during the late Third Astral Era, its ruler, Amon, used their technology to clone their founding ruler, Xande, to restore the empire to its former glory. Motivated by his mortality, Xande's ambition was insatiable and he made a pact with the Cloud of Darkness to bring her and her voidsent brethren into Eorzea to wipe out everything.
To support the necessary voidgate to the World of Darkness, Xande commissioned the creation of Dalamud to transmit solar energy to the Syrcus Tower. The resulting energy was too much for the tower to contain, and was catastrophically released in the form of an earthquake that ushered in the Fourth Umbral Era. Though the tower sank into the earth and faded into legend while the Allagan civilization was laid to ruin, Amon had kept himself and Xande in suspended animation inside the tower. The remaining Allagans desired to restore the tower as a symbol of hope for Eorzea, the last remaining princess Salina using their technology to imprint her genetic code into a Mi'qote bloodline in hopes they could fulfill that dream.
The Crystal Tower was unearthed during Seventh Umbral Calamity, with its inhabitants reawakened. Following the declaration of the Seventh Astral Era, Cid nan Garlond decided to launch an expedition into the tower out of both curiosity of the technologies within, and out of fear that it may contain Allagan weapons similar to the Ultima Weapon. With Rammbroes of the Sons of Saint Coinach helping him enlist adventurers for the task, Cid found the tower entrance protected by barriers created by four pairs of statues called the Eight Sentinels. 
A Baldesion scholar named G'raha Tia, who named the exploration group NOAH ("Nominated Observers of Artifacts Historical") after an Allagan, commissioned the Warrior of Light to acquire four Perfect Crystals and four Aethereal Sands for Cid to fashion crystal fangs so they could venture into the Labyrinth of the Ancients. The Warrior and their companions pressed ahead to deal with any threats in the labyrinth while Cid remained to study the sentinels. The expedition group defeated the fallen Allagan revolutionary hero Phlegethon, who has been made into the tower's gatekeeper. As Cid and his group fell back to Saint Coinach's Find to recuperate, their expedition attracted Nero tol Scaeva's attention.
Progress into the central spire—known as Syrcus Tower by ancient Allag—reached a standstill due to the front door being impervious to all forms of physical, magical, or magitek force. Two strangers approached the camp, introducing themselves as Doga and Unei, claiming to be from the Students of Baldesion. When Doga and Unei opened the door to the tower, Nero made himself known and revealed the door only responds to those of the Allagan royal bloodline. Doga and Unei were clones of the original Allagan sages who were created to prevent Eorzea from being threatened by the revived Xande, and had needed the Warrior of Light's help to neutralize the potential threat. Climbing the massive spire, the alliance of adventurers battled their way through the tower's defenses, confronting Amon and eventually Emperor Xande himself.
As the ancient king lie defeated, Cid and the others, including Nero, arrived. When Doga and Unei sealed the voidgate and broke Xande's covenant Nero laughed in excitement, detecting the energy source from the gate surpassed even the Ultima Weapon. Refusing to let the pact be broken, the Cloud of Darkness summoned a group of Doga and Unei clones to hold off the Warrior of Light, NOAH, and Nero while dragging Doga into the World of Darkness before grabbing Unei. Nero attempted to intervene, but was pulled into the voidgate as well. The void entered his body to protect Doga and Unei as the Cloud of Darkness, who could not directly harm them, sicced other voidsent on them.
As the gate subsided, Cid suggested they return to Saint Coinach's Find. With the new threat of Cloud of Darkness revealed, their goal changed from studying Allagan relics to dealing with dangerous voidsent. They learned that the Crystal Tower was still acting on Xande's order of gathering energy for the Cloud of Darkness and could not be stopped except by someone with Allagan royal blood. This required the group to save Doga and Unei. After Cid finished the machine that would produce the voidgate, the Warrior of Light and G'raha ventured into the World of Darkness. After weakening the Cloud of Darkness, the Warrior and G'raha found Doga, Unei, and Nero, but the two clones decided to remain in the World of Darkness to hold off the bodiless Cloud of Darkness. G'raha was revealed to be of the Allagan royal bloodline and Doga and Unei transferred their blood into him to augment his powers, allowing him to control the Crystal Tower. G'raha and the Warrior of Light returned to Eorzea. Nero also escaped, restored to his original self by Doga and Unei and rescued by Cid.
G'raha told the rest of NOAH that Doga and Unei's blood had revealed to him the secret of his own bloodline and his purpose, intending to seal the Crystal Tower with himself inside. G'raha believed Salina's dream could be made a reality once Eorzea had developed a means of unlocking the gate. He bid farewell to his companions, who promised to help make that day come sooner than he expected. The Sons of Saint Coinach remained to record NOAH's findings while Cid, Nero, and the Warrior of Light went their separate ways.
===Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers===
In an alternate future where the Eighth Umbral Calamity was unleashed upon Eorzea in the form of Black Rose, Cid was among the survivors who searched for a means to avert the tragedy. His research would be continued by Garlond Ironworks and their descendants by combining the various technologies from Xande's throne, Alexander, and Omega. The group eventually found a means to open the Crystal Tower two centuries after the Eighth Umbral Era began and awakened G'raha. Once informed of the events that transpired during his slumber, G'raha agreed to assist. The tower was transported through time and space to the First, to a time after the Flood of Light, but a long time before the Warrior of Light could be summoned. G'raha partially fused into the Crystal Tower to become its immortal caretaker and built the city of the Crystarium around the tower and was named by its citizens the Crystal Exarch. The Crystarium subsequently became Norvrandt's last bastion against the sin eaters.
Following Emet-Selch's defeat by the Warrior of Light, Elidibus planned to exploit the Crystal Tower to avenge his unsundered colleagues and attempt a Rejoining, possessing Ardbert's body to fulfill his goal. He became aware of the spell G'raha used to summon the Warrior and the members of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to the First and sought it to increase his power as a primal. Just as the Warrior told the Crystarium's citizens of the true history of the First's Warriors of Light, Elidibus exploited that rekindled faith by urging the populace to follow in their footsteps. He later awakened the Echo in the Crystarium's citizens as part of his plan by conjuring an illusion of a starshower. With no other way to oppose Elidibus, the Scions focused their attempts on returning to the Source using prototype spirit vessels infused with G'raha's blood.
Elidibus later confronted G'raha, attacking him to gain access to the Crystal Tower's systems, though G'raha escaped and confined him to the tower. Elidibus, having secured a prototype vessel for his plans, summoned spectral "Warriors of Light" from other shards to impede the Scions. The Warrior of Light reached the tower and confronted Elidibus at its summit, who took on the form of the first Warrior of Light of legend. Together, the Warrior and G'raha defeated Elidibus and sealed his essence in the Crystal Tower, though G'raha succumbed to his overuse of its power and fully crystallized.
Later, the Warrior of Light returned to the Crystal Tower in Mor Dhona and awakened the G'raha of the Source using a spirit vessel imbued with his memories as the Exarch, fully joining the Scions on their adventures.
=== Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker ===
During the second coming of the Final Days, the Warrior of Light, under G'raha's suggestion, returned to the First's Crystal Tower to consult with Elidibus's lingering essence to learn of its origins. Having learned of Zodiark's demise by Fandaniel's hands, the white flower that the Warrior carried before dissipating in Thavnair, and that the Final Days threatened the world once more, Elidibus told the Warrior of everything he knew out of his restored memories, including the flower's origins in Elpis and Fandaniel's unsundered identity as Hermes. He recalled seeing the Warrior in Elpis, suggesting that it was possible to travel back in time to seek out Hermes for answers, though he warned that he would use the last of his power to do so. He opened a portal in time, content to reunite with his friends in the aetherial sea and leave the fate of the star in the hands of Hydaelyn's champion.
==Locations ==
===Eight Sentinels===
The first line of defenses, these statuary are located outside the main entrances in Mor Dhona. Each pair creates an elemental barrier that prevents any means of breaching, even with flight. The player must help Cid assemble the elemental fangs needed to overload the Sentinels before the raid instances can be undertaken.
===Labyrinth of the Ancients===
A maze that circles the Crystal Tower, serving as the only path leading to the tower itself. The raid alliance must clear several halls containing Voidsent before they can activate the lift leading to the labyrinth's guardian: Phlegethon.
The treasure coffers are split for each party in the alliance, and contain armor based on classic Final Fantasy designs, such as the Warrior of Light and the Onion Knight.
===Syrcus Tower===
The immense central spire of the tower complex itself. The full alliance must climb the tower and defeat its guardians to confront Emperor Xande.
The treasure coffers are split for each party in the alliance, and contain armor based on the various humanoid bosses in the Crystal Tower raid, as well as items needed to upgrade Gerolt Masterworks equipment.
===The World of Darkness===
Located beyond a Voidgate created by Syrcus Tower's energies, the raid alliance must brave the Void itself to confront the Cloud of Darkness and rescue her hostages.
The treasure coffers are split for each party in the alliance, and contain Demon equipment.
==Duties ==
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==Musical themes==
In the Labyrinth of the Ancients part, plays a rearranged version of "The Altar Cave" from Final Fantasy III, called "Hubris". The battle theme, called "Ever Upwards", is also a more aggressive remix of the same theme.
A rearranged version of "Battle 2", called "Tumbling Down", plays during the battles with Phlegethon, Xande, and Cerberus. A muffled variation plays for players who are in Cerberus's stomach.
In the Syrcus Tower part, rearranged versions of "The Crystal Tower" titled "Out of the Labyrinth" and "Shattered" play throughout it. "Shattered" is a more active sounding variant that is swapped to whenever the raid group is in combat.
In the World of Darkness, a rearrangement of the "The Dark Crystals" titled "Blind to the Dark" plays. Like the previous raids, a more active sounding version called "Hamartomania" plays once the raid alliance is in combat.
A rearranged version of "Last Battle" titled "The Reach of Darkness" plays during the battle against the Cloud of Darkness at the end of the World of Darkness.
In the Twinning, a rearrangement combining parts of "eScape" and "The Crystal Tower" titled "A Long Fall" plays throughout the dungeon. "Locus" plays during the battle against the Tycoon.
"To the Edge" plays during the battle against the Warrior of Light in the Seat of Sacrifice trial.
==Behind the scenes==
The Crystal Tower in Final Fantasy XIV is filled to the brim with callbacks to the tower of the same name from Final Fantasy III. The Eight Sentinels reflect the statues blocking the path to the Crystal Tower on the world map in Final Fantasy III, both being disabled with elemental "fangs." The Labyrinth of the Ancients instance is based on the Ancients' Maze, which surrounds the tower in Final Fantasy III, from music to similar color palettes and visual elements (particularly the lava) to the enemies and bosses (the Bone Dragon, Thanatos and King Behemoth all being enemies in Final Fantasy III, and Phlegethon being based on the version of Titan who served as a boss). Concept art for a number of other classic Final Fantasy III enemies has also been shown, intended as bosses for later parts of the tower.
==Gallery==
Crystal Tower FFXIV Art 1.jpg|Artwork.
Crystal Tower FFXIV Art 2.jpg|Artwork of the Labyrinth of the Ancients.
Crystal Tower FFXIV Art 3.jpg|Artwork of the Labyrinth of the Ancients.
Crystal Tower FFXIV Art 4.jpg|Artwork.
Crystal Tower FFXIV Art 5.jpg|Artwork of the Labyrinth of the Ancients.
XIV CT Enemies.jpg|Enemies in the Crystal Tower.
Crystal Tower Bosses FFXIV Art.jpg|Bosses of the Crystal Tower.
Xande Syrcus Tower.png|Xande's arena on the top of Syrcus Tower.
==External links==
*Play Guides on the official site
**Labyrinth of the Ancients
**Syrcus Tower
**World of Darkness
Category:Mor Dhona locations in Final Fantasy XIV
Category:Crystarium locations in Final Fantasy XIV
Category:Towers
Category:Raids in Final Fantasy XIV