Pod Return to the Waking Sands - A Final Fantasy XIV 14 Lore Companion Podcast

Published by Pod Return to the Waking Sands

Leisure
Video Games

A Final Fantasy 14 companion podcast, where we explore the lore and story of Hydaelyn and beyond. We take a close look at the story and history from the start of a new character’s trek through the Main Story Quest, job quests, dungeons, and more in this FFXIV podcast.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Recent episodes

Ep 198: Alexander Part 5

Jul 27, 2026

It's the beginning of the end, which is ironically The Creator! We tackle the first two raids of this final Alexander series and uncover the mystery of Quickthinx' apparent omniscience. https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Ep 197: Alexander Part 4

Jul 20, 2026

Things are heating up inside Alexander, as we complete all four Midas raids and uncover more of the Illuminati plot. https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Ep 196: Alexander Part 3

Jul 13, 2026

We finish off the dad as our Alexander series continues! Join us for the conclusion of Gordias and the first steps into Midas in this Heavensward raid series. https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Ep 195: Alexander Part 2

Jul 6, 2026

We finally enter that Alexander and get up in those guts. Join us as we go cuff deep in this Heavensward raid series! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Ep 194: Alexander Part 1

Jun 29, 2026

It's time for Alexander! The man, the myth, the legend. Join us as we embark upon this Heavensward raid series. https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Ep 193: Shadygnathsty — Vath Allied Society

Jun 15, 2026

While stopping over in Tailfeather we learn that the Vath are not ok. Between struggling for their identity and struggling with their former kin, they could use a hand. So we give them several weeks worth of hands. IRL weeks! Join us for the Vath Allied Society quest in Final Fantasy 14! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Ep 192: Keeping it Sirius — Pharos Sirius Hard

Jun 8, 2026

We're back at Pharos Sirius. But what if up, we went down? Find out what lies below the lighthouse in this hard version of the Pharos Sirius dungeon! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Ep 191: The Gigi Situation

Jun 1, 2026

Heavensward Hildibrand is back with more mysterious mammet adventures! Will Cyr finally find the heresy his heart desires? Will Inspector Hildibrand end up embedded in some surface? Probably no and probably yes! Join us for part 2 of this FFXIV side story. https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Ep 190: Every Rose Has Its Human Torso — Saint Mocianne's Arboretum

May 25, 2026

Yet again we are roped into risking life and limb for near-strangers with no promise of a reward. Reward for them, yes. For us? No. Except the friends we made along the way or some such. Or maybe the journey is its own reward? They'll claim the real prize while we are lost in our philosophical musings. Such is the excitement in store within Saint Mocianne's Arboretum, the Heavensward optional dungeon! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Ep 189: 2 Girls 1 Chakra — Monks in Heavensward

May 18, 2026

We thoughts that monks had vanished from the realm forever when the Fist of Rhalgr was shattered. Little did we know, there were monks aplenty left over. Sadly, most of them are jerks. Join us as we endure the Monk job quest in Heavensward! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Ep 188: As Goes Light, So Goes Darkness

May 11, 2026

The search for the missing Scions continues. We now have a lead on Thancred-adjacent individual. What, or who, will we turn up when we go looking for this wilderness warrior in the Dravanian Forelands? Join us for the conclusion to the patch 3.1 MSQ! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Ep 187: In the Eye of the Beholder

May 4, 2026

We're back with the patch 3.1 MSQ. Join us as Alphinaud relives his worst moments in real time! Also we're going to save more Scions I suppose. https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Bonus: Card Sharks 1 — Final Fantasy Trading Card Game

Apr 27, 2026

An episode from our Patreon during our break week, all about the (now discontinued) FFXIV starter box for the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game. Join us and guest Ned as we talk about those cards! The Force Unlimited podcast: https://linktr.ee/theforceunlimited https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/night-thunder License code: QM1ZQQFPNEMJLVKB

Ep 186: Up Up and A Whei Ahf — Moogle Allied Society Part 2

Apr 20, 2026

We return for more Moogles! Only through crafting can we cure what ails the Churning Mists. Join us for the conclusion of the Moogle Allied Society quests in Heavensward! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv

Ep 185: Sweatin' to the Ohl Deehs — Moogle Allied Society Part 1

Apr 13, 2026

We have put our time in with the Moogles. We have fetched, pranked, fought, and filched for these creatures, and our hard work is finally paying off... with more work! That'll teach us. Join us as we embark upon the Moogle Allied Society questline in FFXIV! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/electric-dreams License code: E0PVWRC00PQVRZ8D

Ep 184: Smitty Woman — Armorers in Heavensward

Apr 6, 2026

Can an armorer make an armor so good that it will protect them from the greatest foe of all? Their own sense of inadequacy. Find out what can ward off this midlife menace in the Heavensward Armorer job quest! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/electric-dreams License code: E0PVWRC00PQVRZ8D

Ep 183: Thoroughly Modern Gilly — The Fractal Continuum

Mar 30, 2026

We are called upon to brave Allagan horrors once more, all for the sake of an unknowing remnant of the same civilization. What discoveries await in the Fractal Continuum, a Heavensward optional dungeon? https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/electric-dreams License code: E0PVWRC00PQVRZ8D

Ep 182: I Know What You Did Last Summoner — Summoners in Heavensward

Mar 23, 2026

With the recent discovery of ancient summoner's job crystals, the summoning arts are poised for a renaissance. But! Evil-minded summoners threaten to abuse this ancient power and give the job a bad name. Can we put a stop to them before history repeats itself... again?? Find out in our coverage of the Heavensward Summoner job quest! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/electric-dreams License code: E0PVWRC00PQVRZ8D

Ep 181: A Gentleman Falls, Rather Than Flies

Mar 16, 2026

Our Heavensward Hildibrand adventures begin! As always, we must first track down the airborne inspector... https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/electric-dreams License code: E0PVWRC00PQVRZ8D

Ep 180: No reap!! ONLY SOW — The Neverreap

Mar 9, 2026

None are allowed to reap from the sacred birthplace of Bismarck. Until a Vanu Vanu chieftain wants a new headdress, who exports his blasphemy on to us! Join us for the Neverreap optional dungeon in FFXIV Heavensward! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail https://www.patreon.com/Podreturnffxiv Shirts! https://tee.pub/lic/cBoKhUlgkrw https://bsky.app/profile/podreturnffxiv.bsky.social Music by Gwen Static: gwen@duckfeed.tv Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/electric-dreams License code: E0PVWRC00PQVRZ8D