(#001) The Wrath of Bahamut

This image, once stolen from the Temple of Uggalepih, depicts a verse from a legendary song of the Ancients. It shows the Wyrmking Bahamut, gatekeeper of the gods, breaking away from his confining shackles as the Zilart attempt to open the gates to paradise. He leads an aerial assault over the Celestial Capital of Al'taieu, location of the fifth Mother Crystal, in an attempt to save Vana'diel from imminent destruction. A great battle takes place in the sky between the powerful Zilart and the mighty Terrestrial Avatars: Diabolos, ruler of dreams; Phoenix, the bird of resurrection; Fenrir, the hound of the moon; Carbuncle, the keeper of the world; and Bahamut, lord of the skies. To protect the city, the Zilartian king gives an order to activate the city's defense mechanism - a magical barrier forms to protect its inhabitants.

Meanwhile, the Kuluu led Grav'iton, together with the Dawn Maidens assault Fei'yin - the control center for the Zilart's ambitious plan. This would cause awesome destruction throughout the world. Massive shockwaves of energy kill majority of the Kuluu. Radiation was said to cause Kuluu survivors to mutate into Tonberries, and it is rumored that an encouter with Diabolos would turn a number of them into Cryptonberries.

The machinery of the Zilart was forced to a halt. With Fei'Yin, Ro'Maeve, and Pso'Xja destroyed during the spatial transfer of Al'Taieu, the attempt to enter paradise is incomplete. The Celestial Capital would get torn away from the land of Vana'diel to an alternate dimension, condemned to be frozen in space for thousands of years.

The world, ruined by the massive destruction is slowly engulfed by emptiness. The children of Vana'diel would seek the power of the slumbering gods to heal their wounded land.

resources:

The History of Vana'diel

Allakhazam Forums

Wikipedia.com
Final Fantasy Compedium
Altana View
Answers.com
Playonline
FFXI Zone Tool