Final Fantasy XI: A Shantotto Ascension - The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born
ファイナルファンタジーXI 追加シナリオ第三弾 「シャントット帝国の陰謀 ヴァナ・ディール史上最凶の作戦」 Fainaru Fantajī XI tsuika shinario dai san-dan "Shantotto Teikoku no Inbō Vana Dīru Shijō Saikyō no Sakusen"
Developers	Square Enix
Publishers	Square Enix
Release dates	PlayStation 2 version: // October 26, 2009 PC version: / October 25, 2009 // October 26, 2009 Xbox 360 version: / October 25, 2009 // October 26, 2009
Genre	MMORPG
Game modes	Massively Multiplayer Online
Ratings	ESRB:Teen
Platforms	PlayStation 2, PC, Xbox 360

"A tyrant born of an experiment infernal...
A Vana'diel plunged into darkness eternal!"

—Final Fantasy XI: A Shantotto Ascension Game Trailer

Final Fantasy XI: A Shantotto Ascension - The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born is the third add-on scenario released for Final Fantasy XI. It was originally sold online for $9.99 (¥980 / €9.99 / £7.99) and could only be downloaded through the PlayOnline network. It is now also available on disc in the Ultimate Collection of Final Fantasy XI. Like the previous two add-on scenarios, it focuses on exploring the story of Final Fantasy XI and does not add new locations or jobs.

Players must have Rise of the Zilart installed before they can access A Shantotto Ascension.

Service for A Shantotto Ascension commenced on November 10, 2009 (JST).

New AdditionsEdit

MissionsEdit

See also: Missions (Final Fantasy XI)/A Shantotto Ascension.

Players must be level 10 and above to participate in the add-on scenario missions.

Similar to missions from A Crystalline Prophecy and A Moogle Kupo d'Etat, A Shantotto Ascension story missions may be repeated by players for rewards. Players who do not have progress in these missions or have yet to purchase the add-ons are still able to assist others in clearing them but will not be awarded accordingly.

A number of "Key" key items are rewarded to players when attempting the missions for the first time and also repeating them. These keys may be used to open a Treasure Coffer in the Tenshodo Headquarters in exchange for a variety of rewards including items, magic spell scrolls, augmented gear and exclusive pieces of body equipment.

Gameplay SystemsEdit

• Repeatable/All-Access Missions
• Tenshodo Treasure Coffer

CharactersEdit

Apart from each player's own character, who drives the storyline forward, there are a number of other non-playable characters that take on significant roles in the A Shantotto Ascension storyline.

• Shantotto is an esteemed Black Mage from Windurst and the titular character for this scenario. Her experiments on a new field of magic triggers a chain of events that begin the story.
• Yoran-Oran is a former Windurstian minister leading an investigation into the disappearance of Shantotto and the threat of Domina Shantotto and the Shantotto empire.
• Aldo, the leader of the Tenshodo, is drawn into the picture after learning of Domina Shantotto's attempt to assassinate him. He lends Tenshodo's support in getting to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Shantotto.
• Domina Shantotto is the main antagonist of this scenario add-on. Together with her army of Tarutaru clones, she intends to claim Vana'diel in the name of the Shantotto empire.
• Belle Shantotto, also known as Original Shantotto, is a mysterious character purported to be the true Shantotto whose wickedness has been housed in Domina Shantotto.

StoryEdit

A Shantotto AscensionEdit

In Windurst, Principal Koru-Moru voices his concern over Doctor Shantotto's recent behavior to Yoran-Oran. He has a feeling that something might go awry, but Yoran-Oran comforts him, calling him oversensitive.

Over at Windurst Walls, Shantotto is working on a spell that opens a portal to another dimension. To her surprise, she makes a mistake in her calculations and a huge explosion can be seen from her manor.

In Horutoto Ruins, an army of Tarutaru clones, led by a mysterious Domina Shantotto aim to stake their claim on Vana'diel in the name of the Shantotto empire. Domina Shantotto sends forth her minions to expand her empire.

As the player leaves Windurst, he receives a draft card inducting him into the Shantotto Empire as a special unit operative. He is to report to Qufim Island with a gift of tribute.

When the player arrives at Qufim with the gift, he is given a mission by Domina Shantotto to attach enchanted seals to the six protocrystals scattered across the land to amplify their power. At each protocrystal, the player has to defeat its prime avatar before the seal can be attached.

After successfully completing the mission, the player receives a letter, with an attached reward, commending his performance and then instructing him to assassinate Aldo of Tenshodo in Gustav Tunnel, where he has been lured to go to.

On arriving at Gustav Tunnel, the player is attacked by Aldo's overenthusiastic Tenshodo recruits Gorattz, Renfred and Bompupu. Afterwards, the player meets with Aldo and explains the situation with the Shantotto Empire and her motive to assassinate him. Aldo decides to get to the bottom of this and returns to Jeuno to find out more.

Back in Jeuno, Aldo's reconnaissance team returns with confirming reports and Yoran-Oran comes to explain what has happened. A teleportation mishap has resulted in the creation of a clone of Shantotto and that the clone, Domina Shantotto, is far more malicious than the original. He urges utmost secrecy to prevent public alarm and states that a life-sized doll of the doctor has been placed at her manor in the meanwhile.

Yoran-Oran's investigation reveals that the original doctor is being held captive in Ro'Maeve and proposes to rescue her first. Yoran-Oran, Aldo and the player thus set off for Ro'Maeve to look for her. The player must defeat 6 monsters in the vicinity for luminous fragments to open an ensorcelled door that holds Shantotto prisoner.

The Shantotto they encounter there is not her usual self and is overly polite. Aldo theorizes that Shantotto is acting this way as all her wickedness has been emptied out and housed within Domina Shantotto instead. Shantotto informs them that her evil alter-ego is hiding out at the Full Moon Fountain in Toraimarai Canal and urges everyone to hurry there.

Sisters in ArmsEdit

At the Full Moon Fountain, the player defeats eight Shantotto clones protecting Domina Shantotto. Aldo threatens Domina Shantotto to stop her plans, stating that they have original Shantotto on their side. Shantotto reveals that she has ambitions to rule in her Holy Shantotto Empire as well, much to everyone's shock. The two Shantottos decide to team up to achieve their dreams together.

Domina Shantotto announces that her Shantottofication curse, a spell that transforms every being in Vana'diel to resemble her, is almost ready and then teleports away with Shantotto.

With the help of Nanaa Mihgo, Yoran-Oran tracks the two Shantottos down to their hideout in the Sacrificial Chamber of the Temple of Uggalepih. The player must gather ancient artifacts known as "Tablet of Hexes" to enter the hideout.

Aldo, Yoran-Oran and the player arrive at the chamber just as the Shantottofication curse is ready for release and defeat the two Shantottos in battle. Even in defeat, Domina Shantotto manages to release the curse on Vana'diel, turning every being into the likeness of Shantotto.

Just when the two Shantottos think they have succeeded, the true Shantotto appears and excises the curse for good, turning everyone back to normal. The Shantotto whom everyone had thought is the original is actually another clone. She christens herself Belle Shantotto.

The real Shantotto explains that she devised a spell for interdimensional travel. She was transported to an alternate Vana'diel where she tried building an empire but was unsuccessful. She conjectures that the Shantotto of the alternate dimension must have crossed over to Vana'diel at the same time but was somehow split into Domina and Belle Shantotto.

Shantotto jokes that's if all three Shantottos banded together they would be able to build an unstoppable empire, much to the grief of Yoran-Oran. She then casts a spell, sending her split halves back to the dimension from which they came.

Yoran-Oran chastises Shantotto and states that the field of magic she has dabbled in is far too risky. He convinces her not to pursue it further. Before he can get her to claim responsibility for what happened, she vanishes in the blink of an eye. He concedes that what is past is past but is thankful for the timely intervention by Aldo and the player in saving the world.

In Windurst Walls, Koru-Moru visits Yoran-Oran again and mentions that Shantotto's recent behavior is odd, sending him in shock. It seems she is up to no good again.

MusicEdit

Main article: Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack - Plus

A Shantotto Ascension adds only one new track to Final Fantasy XI, that being "Feast of the Ladies", which is used for both the final battlefield mission as well as the trailer for the scenario add-on.

For all other battlefields relating to this add-on, the music used is in accordance with the areas they are found in. As all the battles take place in Rise of the Zilart areas, they utilize tracks from that expansion.

GalleryEdit

Artwork for A Shantotto Ascension.