As you all probably know, there are 25 shrines and they are broken down
into 8 shrines of virtue, 8 shrines of balance, 8 elemental shrines, and
the shrine of power which controls all. Basically, I think each type of
shrine contains a special item of sorts or an object of power.

The 8 shrines of balance each contain a warp portal which can transport
you to different areas of the world, probably the separate continents. Of
course, in order to control the portals and to activate them, you need the
dragonfly statue. I'll explain the purpose of the statue at a later time.

The 8 shrines of virtue I feel should each contain an palantiri or seeing
stone. Basically, the stones cannot be carried, but they each contain a
piece to the past. At each shrine of virtue, you learn a little bit more
about your origins and your role as the hero, finally learning your entire
history atop the Mesume Shrine.

The 8 elemental shrines are obvious, each one bestows you with the 4th
elemental spell of each elemental type. This is only if you have the
previous 3 elementals, however.

Now the link between the shrines themselves consist of three rings: The
Ring of Balance, The Ring of Virtue, and The Ring of Power. Each one of
these rings is not within the actual shrines, but each was made during the
same time period and were lost many years ago. Delan is after the ring in
Kievs, the Ring of Balance. These three rings when brought together summon
the original shrine, the Mesume Shrine, and will raise it from the bottom
of the sea.

The Dragonfly Statue is an ancient relic from the Mesume Shrine. It's a
powerful object with the ability to control the powers of any lesser
shrine. It's rumored that when brought together with a ring, chaotic,
uncontrollable forces can occur. This statue was given to Brant many years
ago by a mysterious character thought to be one of the wisemen. However,
due to recent events, the character's origin is in doubt. The statue is
trying to get back to its point of origin at the mesume shrine and is
constanly being 'lost' by Brant.

As to your history as a character, I still am not certain. One cause of
the earthquake is as follows:

After rescuing Brant from the trolls and stopping Barok, you bring out the
dragonfly statue and show it to Brant. Brant tells you a little about its
origins and all along you stare within it. Not realizing your true
history, you mentally bond with the statue (suggesting you're not exactly
who you are: remember Terra of ff3 with Tritoch?). When this happens,
however, a huge earthquake occurs centered at the shrine of dalamar.
Getting up, you run to the shrine in a confused state and there, you find
Delan. He already has one of the rings, however, and of course, the ring
and the statue magically bind causing the portal to increase in size and
suck you and Delan into it. When you awaken, your money, non-forged
equipment as well as the statue are gone and you follow Delan to the next
town not realizing you're on another continent.

I'll talk with you later tonight about these plans. Gotta head to class.

-Zythis