Alana in FFXI. Initially, every race considers her their progenitor. Then you learn during the events of “Chains of Promathia”, that the evil deity, Promathia, not only created every sentient species, but it responsible for the destruction of one of the mother crystals. Literally, Altana can’t even protect herself from her sister—you have to defeat her.
Ardyn should also be on this list. He sacrificed his humanity several times over for his people, only to have his brother usurp his position and murder his love. He literally gave everything he had before he became the ultimate villain, and only became the villain because of what he sacrificed.
How is XI not on this list? It had HUNDREDS of side quests in every main game and expansion pack. Heck, it even had side quests like “Divine Might” and “Apocalypse Nigh”, that required their own side quests to be done to make them easier/doable. Anyone who spent hours during a full moon in “Fei Yin” behind the moon doors looking for a coffer and PRAYING that the little “????” For the special anytime-access “moon gate” key item can tell you the special nightmare that was those side quests. Or how about the side quests for some job-specific equipment, like the Brown and Black Belts for Monks? Or the side quests required to open up the endgame content, or even make some mainline quests doable (anyone who remembers hunting up or making mistmelt to get through Chains of Promathia remembers that all too well). And I quit when they raised the level cap…it’s only gotten bigger in the 16 or so years since then.
