Patch 2.3

Patch 2.3

"Defenders of Eorzea"

Expansion

A Realm Reborn

Release Date

2.3 - 8 July 2014
2.35 - 18 August 2014
2.38 - 15 September 2014

Promo Page

Link

Patch Notes

2.3, 2.35, 2.38

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Introduction

Patch 2.3: Defenders of Eorzea is the third major content update introduced for A Realm Reborn.

Notable Features, Additions, and Changes

New Content

• Main Story: Defenders of Eorzea (19 quests, later reduced to 14 in patch 5.3)
• Side Story: Hildibrand, Agent of Enquiry Chapter 3 (4 quests)
• Side Story: Delivery Moogle (12 quests)
• PvP Mode: Frontline with map  The Borderland Ruins (Secure)
• Alliance Raid:  Syrcus Tower, the second chapter of the Crystal Tower story and raid series
• Trials:  The Striking Tree (Hard) and  The Striking Tree (Extreme)
• Dungeons:  Hullbreaker Isle,  The Tam-Tara Deepcroft (Hard),  The Stone Vigil (Hard)
• Raid Series:  The Second Coil of Bahamut (Savage)
• Beast Tribe Quests and Reputation: the Ixal (2.35)
• The Hunt

System Changes and Additions

• Item level sync functionality added
•   Desynthesis added
• Chocobo Raising
• Housing: Private Chambers in free company estates. Also, a fifth ward has been added to all residential districts.
  • A sixth ward has been added to all residential districts. (2.35)
• Housing: Personal Housing now available for individual players to purchase homes. (2.38)
  • A seventh and eighth ward have been added to all residential districts. (2.38)
• Zodiac Weapons sixth part added (2.38)

Miscellaneous

• In the character interface, classes/jobs that have reached max level will have their level numbers displayed in orange text.
• "New Adventurer" status added. Players whose total play time is less than 40 hours will be set to New Adventurer automatically.

Note: Not all content listed here will launch on the same day. This article is about the 2.3x season as a whole.

Lore

When the Sahagin had summoned Leviathan, Lord of the Whorl, that the unbridled fury of the sea would wash away those who would threaten their livelihood, Limsa Lominsa turned to the Warrior of Light and his allies, who drove this sinister serpent back into the briny deep. However, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn would soon find that the people of Vylbrand were far from the only ones in need of succor.

Revolution

In the wake of the Domans' failed bid for asylum, deep-seated tensions between refugees and Ul'dahn citizens quickly worsened. The manner of the Syndicate's refusal to accept the Domans emboldened the nativists, and the refugees rallied in protests, some of which grew violent. However, in light of how well armed the refuges were, suspicions were raised that the riots may have been instigated by outside forces, and a joint investigation by the Scions of the Seventh Dawn and the Immortal Flames soon yielded a suspect: a merchant in the employ of Teledji Adeledji.

There are men and women who will not scruple to set the world ablaze in the pursuit of power. Teledji Adeledji was one such man, having orchestrated the refugee uprising and its inevitable failure from the start. General Raubahn and the sultana concluded pp he intended to exploit the chaos in order to gain control of the Carteneau Flats, a disputed territory, by way of the Carteneau Reclamation Bill, a proposal to annex the region so that refugees might there establish permanent settlements.

In truth, however, Teledji Adeleji's aim was not to claim the Carteneau Flats itself, but what had once been buried deep beneath it: Omega, an Allagan creation not unlike the Ultima Weapon, which had been lain bare by the destruction wrought by Bahamut during the Calamity. Allagan inscriptions indicated it was created to contend with the dreadwyrm himself, and were someone to harness the power of this relic, they would have the strength to subjugate all of Eorzea-or so it was feared.

How precisely to administer the ruins had been a point of contention for some time, which is why each nation maintained a military presence in the region and regularly engaged in what could charitably be called "war games." Ultimately, even should the situation remain unresolved, it was the Alliance leaders' hope that this chaos would serve to dissuade any outside parties from venturing too close. Alas, despite uncovering Teledji Adeledji's role in recent events, the sultana and those loyal to her could do nothing to bring him to justice, for without incontrovertible evidence of a crime, any aggressive action would only play into his hands...

The Lord of Levin

With the unrest in Ul'dah quelled for a time, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn once more turned their attentions to Gridania, where it was believed that the sylphs had summoned the primal Ramuh. As the beastmen had rarely exhibited signs of aggression towards their neighbors, Kan-E-Senna held hope that their patron god could be persuaded to forego hostilities. She bade the Warrior of Light and his allies seek an audience with the Lord of Levin, and after engaging with the sylphs, the Scions eventually succeeded.

Ramuh was quick to condemn Gridanian and Garlean alike, proclaiming that the good intent of one did not excuse the misdeeds of the other. But though initially dismissive of the Scions' attempts at mediation, upon learning that the Warrior of Light was in possession of the crystal he himself bestowed upon the sylphs, the Lord of Levin elected to suspend judgment until the Warrior of Light himself underwent a trial by combat. Thus was he forced to strike down Ramuh, and in so doing earn the right to champion the cause of peace in the Black Shroud.

Unlike some other primals, Lord Ramuh was no raging avatar of destruction. He was revered as much for his wisdom as his strength, serving as both arbiter and guardian to his children, the sylphs.

The Crystal Braves

Despite the Eorzean Alliance's declaration that the Seventh Astral Era was at hand, and that the realm had entered a new period of peace and prosperity, recent events had made it clear to Alphinaud Leveilleur that nothing could be further from the truth. He concluded it was necessary to establish a realm-wide Grand Company-but while the three nations' leaders were not opposed to the idea itself, endless deliberations over its implementation slowed progress to a crawl. In order to demonstrate the efficacy of such a company and thus encourage the leaders to come to an agreement, Alphinaud then proposed the creation of a smaller, precursor organization-the vanguard to a future-united Eorzea.

The Crystal Braves would operate beyond the limitations of nations and borders in order to tackle the root of the primal threat and effectively counter the schemes of the Ascians. Comprised of valorous men and women recruited from all across Eorzea, they were to answer directly to the Antecedent of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn herself. At the organization's inaugural ceremony, Crystal Brave Commander Leveilleur delivered a rousing speech to the fledgling guardians of Eorzea, who raised their voices and declared as one that they would fight for the freedom of all.

References

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FFXIV Patches