Final Fantasy XIV - Ishgard / Characters

As the story has advanced beyond the point of hiding plot twists for Heavensward, there are unmarked spoilers below, you have been warned.

Of the Sky, From the Sky, For the Sky

—Ishgardian Motto

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ishgard_flag.png

A theocratic city-state located in the snowy mountains of Coerthas to the northwest of Gridania and the Black Shroud, devoted to the worship of Halone the Fury, under the leadership of Archbishop Thordan VII. This primarily Elezen nation, locked into a centuries-long conflict with the Dravanian Horde, is known for producing some of the bravest warriors Eorzea has ever seen, but also extreme religious zealotry, xenophobia, an uneven caste system that sees highborn discriminate against lowborn, and a reputaton for being fair-weather allies who thrice refused the Eorzean Alliance's call to arms in the face of Garlean aggression.

By the end of the Heavensward storyline, the Ishgardian government experienced extensive reforms from the top down, transitioning from a theocracy into a representative republic, as well as made their peace with the Dravanian Horde, putting an end to what has become known as the "Dragonsong War."

Tropes for the "Free" nation of Idyllshire in the Dravanian Hinterlands can be found on the Beast Tribes page as it's technically owned and run by the Goblins who live there.

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General Tropes

100% Heroism Rating: After the Dragonsong War reaches its conclusion, the majority of Ishgardians regard the Warrior of Light as a true hero who they completely respect and trust. During the Scholasticate questline, a certain NPC is blamed for the theft of a statue's head and is found innocent due to the authorities believing the Warrior of Light for their word alone, with no need to go on a quest to prove said innocence. In Stormblood, they join the fray to liberate Ala Mhigo as a member of the Eorzean Alliance, but they rally behind the Warrior of Light and their battle cries consist of statements like "Ishgard Remembers, Warrior of Light!". In the Red Mage questline, they do rebuff the Warrior of Light when X'rhun comes asking about forbidden tomes tucked away in The Vault, but instead just directs them to Idyllshire and the Gubal Library, when anyone else asking likely would have been executed on the spot for wishing to delve into "heresy".
Corrupt Church: Played with. While the Archbishop, his personal guards, and a good chunk of the upper class members of the clergy certainly fit the bill, the Saint Endalim's Scholasticate questline shows that a good majority of the clergy is still devoted to actually helping the poor and needy. Said questline partially revolved around helping the clerics in training overcome the negative perception of the church after Thordon's actions were made public, as well as rooting out some of the corruption.
Crippling Overspecialization: The Ishgardians have dedicated their entire culture to their war against the dragons, leaving them stunted in all other fields because of it. One example would be astrology. Sharlayan astrology uses several constellations and can be used for healing magic. Ishgardian astrology only focuses on a single star, the Dragonstar, to plot the dragons' movements. Part of what eventually forces them to open their doors to outsiders is the Heretics gaining ground as an organized movement capable of planning thanks to Iceheart, as the Ishgardians have no idea how to fend off an organized threat that thinks and fights like people instead of raging dragons, and this further shows itself with all the resistance Aymeric ends up facing in his attempts to bring a peaceful end to the war.
The Dragonslayer: Through centuries-spanning conflict they had with the Dravanian Horde, Ishgard essentially made this trope as part of their culture. So much so that dying while fighting against a dragon or multiple ones is considered to be a very honourable end as it means they fought with valor for their theocracy.
Early-Installment Weirdness: While most of the game underwent heavy changes due to its initial failure and relaunch, since Coerthas was one of the least developed regions in Legacy, it probably underwent some of the more notable changes from how it was originally presented in lore as it was fleshed out more.
- Like the rest of Eorzea, Coerthas was originally a lot more diverse in its population during Legacy, with all five base races being represented and some even serving as knights, though elezen were still by far the most prominent. The crest of the elezen House Valentione, first shown during the original game's lifespan, even prominently features a miqo'te. Since A Realm Reborn, all races other than elezen and hyur are almost completely absent from the region except as mercenaries, though the roegadyn Dyrstweitz in Costa del Sol does reference his father and grandfather serving House Dzemael as knights before the Calamity.
- The Temple Knights were nowhere to be seen in the original version of Coerthas. There's a few mentions of "holy knights" who are the only ones allowed to enter and leave the city proper, but the only reference to "Temple Knights" was a lore blurb for the Templar armor set on the old lodestone. Instead, along with the knights of the High Houses featuring in a few quests, Legacy Coerthas was mainly defended by a group of knights known as the Scarlet Lancers (who mostly wore green robes and armor with a slight bit of red, while carrying swords and shields) who served as guards for the various aetheryte camps and hamlets in the region. In A Realm Reborn, these Scarlet Lancers are completely absent and were replaced by the now more familiar Temple Knights as well as the Houses taking a more active role in its defenses.
Elite Army: While most military affairs are handled by the Temple Knights, the Order of the Knights Dragoon are Ishgard's elite soldiers specially trained to hunt and kill dragons. Trained from an early age, the dragoons are famous for their ability to leap tremendous distances to chase dragons who would otherwise flee into the sky. At the head of them is the Azure Dragoon, the greatst dragoon of the generation empowered by the Eye to face dragons as powerful as Nidhogg on near-even terms.
Endless Winter: Prior to the Calamity, the mountains of Coerthas were previously filled with green valleys lush with life, but since then it has been frozen over and covered with snow for years due to the aetherial balance being disrupted, forcing Ishgard to abandon some of its outer provinces such as the western highlands.
Expy: Of the Final Fantasy XI City-State of San d'Oria. Primarily home to an elven-like race? Check. Very devout to religion and home to said religion's Archbishop? Check^note. Military consisting primarily of knights and their orders? Check, even possessing one order that shares a name and performs somewhat similar role, namely the Temple Knights. Castle-like city, with the commoners area being on the outside, and the nobles closer to the inner city? Check. Home to the Dragoon Job? Check. The two city-states remain fundamentally different on several points though: Ishgard is Darker and Edgier due to its social issues, where it is nearly impossible to rise above commoner unless one becomes a knight or member of the clergy. And even in those, there are high-born who look down upon low-born joining the ranks. As well as the fact that Ishgard has an Inquisition where proving one's innocence is extremely hard, and often ignored unless absolutely irrefutable proof is given, making invoking the right of Trial by Combat often the better bet. By comparison, San d'Oria is pretty idealistic, led by a fair and just king. Crafters, business owners, and farmers are respected for the importance of their work to the city-state and rewarded fairly. Really about biggest issue on the minds of San d'Oria's citizens, is how the two sons of the king, are constantly trying to one-up each other through their deeds and their bickering. And they certainly are not isolationists.
Fantasy Counterpart Culture: While all the Eorzean nations have some degree of medieval European influence, Ishgard is the most straight-forward with heavy influence from medieval France, featuring a powerful warrior aristocracy ruling stone castles manned by armored knights and priests serving in Catholic-style churches. Bonus points for elezen making up the majority of nation's population and having French names.
Gameplay and Story Segregation: Ishgard is lore-wise famed for its chocobo-mounted knights, but this is never shown in actual gameplay, as almost all fighting takes place on foot, and the few bosses that fight while mounted do so on a horse and not a chocobo. While some knights are shown riding into battle on a chocobo they always immediately dismount when they enter melee range.
Gondor Calls for Aid:
- After nearly twenty years of isolation, Ishgard formally requests help from the Eorzean Alliance against an imminent dragon invasion in the lead-up to Heavensward. Unfortunately, so many years of shunning the rest of Eorzea hasn't exactly endeared them to any of its leaders, all of whom are facing various troubles at home at the time. Limsa Lominsa still dealing with rogue pirates, the Sahagin, and Kobolds; Gridania, though having the closest ties with the Holy See, is busy repairing the damage of the Calamity, and fighting the Ixal; while Ul'dah is struggling with a power struggle and refugee riots incited by Teledji Adeledji. Ultimately, the best they can offer Ishgard is to authorize the Scions, Crystal Braves and various adventurer volunteers to aid them, which proves enough to fight back the Dravanian Horde.
- Ironically, Ishgard was the first nation to answer Gridania's call for aid against Ala Mhigo in the Autumn War 100 years ago, before Ul'dah and Limsa Lominsa also joined in. Though Professor Erik from the Monk quests believes their assistance to be less selfless and mainly motivated to keep their southern and eastern borders safe from Ala Mhigo.
Green-Eyed Monster: Shadowbringers reveals that this was ultimately the lynchpin behind Thordan's betrayal and murder of Ratatoskr. It turns out that, despite the peace and unity between Ishgard and Dravania, Thordan secretly deeply resented the Dravanians for both their power and how he believed they looked down on him and other mortals. During a banquet, Ratatoskr offhandedly confirmed that Nidhogg, at least, did consider the Dravanians superior to the Ishgardians, and this perceived slight caused Thordan to snap and formulate his and the Knights' betrayal.
Hidden Elf Village: Played with. It takes a lot for Ishgard to open their gates to outsiders. Although mostly this is a pain in the neck, Haurchefant uses this to protect the Warrior of Light and the Scions after they're framed and made fugitive—there's nothing suspicious about Ishgard refusing to admit foreign soldiers into its gates just so they can hunt down a few measly regicides.
Honor Before Reason:
- With said honor often measured in "How pious and devoted to Halone, the Fury, are you? And how many dragons have you fought today?" So much so, that Ishgardian knights posted in Cloudtop consider it a dead end to their career as a knight, as dragons are hardly an issue there.
- It was bad enough to the point that it's often used by upper-class nobility as a means to prevent the lower classes of Ishgard from advancing, or treat them with contempt. Even the simple act of gifting a common worker for their hard efforts, or helping out those in need, is considered something of a social taboo in some cases. This is what gave rise to the St. Nicholas Expy as part of Eorzea's version of Christmas, the Starlight Celebration. It was a particular noble and his fellow knights, who let orphans stay in their barracks during a particularly cold winter, by dressing them up in red, Santa Claus like coats, which was their official uniform, because it was considered improper to allow civilians to stay in military barracks.
- Jannequinard has tried for years to introduce Sharlayan astrology to Ishgard. Despite its myriad uses, including healing magic, the reading and manipulation of fate, the use of gravity as a weapon, and the creation of protective forcefields, it's shunned by all Ishgardian Astrologians. Why? Because it's from outside Ishgard and isn't effective at tracking the movements of dragons. Therefore it's heretical and something to be mocked at best and persecuted at worst. It's not until Leveva shows up and the Warrior of Light starts showing its practical uses does Ishgard start to come around to it. But even then it's considered an enormous affront to Ishgard's best Astrologians who help the Sharlayans attempt to have Jannequinard and Leveva assassinated for trying to spread knowledge of it.
- The fighting style of Ishgard's knights are restricted to heavy cannons, swords, spears, and bows. Heavy steel armor is also the knights' go to for protection. The idea of using a gun to attack dragons at virtually any distance with ease and using leather armor to stay warm are scoffed by the knights because they don't see those things as honorable and point out that their ancestors have always used the same methods that are used today, thus there's no need to change what has always worked for them. The Machinist and Leatherworker quests involve getting some of the knights to abandon that way of thinking.
- The Ishgardian inquisition is so extreme that they'll go after farmers for the crime of cultivating "heretical" vegetables in the Botanist quests. The inquisition only backs off when the Warrior provides irrefutable proof that the so-called "native" gysahl green is actually from the Near East while the "heretical" crop is native to Eorzea.
Horse of a Different Color: Ishgard used to be the center of chocobo breeding and training and maintained a monopoly on the trade until the Calamity brought breeding chocobos southwards. Their knights are also famed for riding them into battle, most notably during the Autumn War against Ala Mhigo, but also very prominent during Legacy where almost every single quest encounter with the knights of Ishgard depicted them mounted on their chocobos.
Knight Templar: Being a theocracy, this has been actively encouraged by the church of Halone by the Heavens' Ward, Temple Knights, and Inquisition.
Laser-Guided Karma: Ishgard's refusal to join the Alliance is due to them prioritizing their own nation in its Forever War against the dragons. Naturally, Merlwyb later all but states this is the very same reason that none of the Eorzean nation states will lend significant aid to Ishgard in their Darkest Hour.
Leitmotif: During Legacy, the theme Holy Consult was used to represent the knights of Ishgard whenever you went to Coerthas to speak with them, usually featuring the armored knights riding around the area on their chocobos while it played. This theme is absent from Ishgard in A Realm Reborn and Heavensward, instead later getting reused as the theme of Hullbreaker Isle (Hard).
Obstructive Bureaucrat: Of the highest caliber. The Enterprise portion of the main A Realm Reborn storyline sees you climbing through a labyrinth of red tape and mistrust just to find the damnable airship.
Our Founder: In the upper levels of Ishgard, in front of the Vault, stand statues of King Thordan I and his Knights Twelve, the founders of the city-state who defended the early settlers from the dragon Nidhogg.
Really Gets Around: Nearly all of Ishgard is descended from the eight members of the Knights Twelve that partook of Ratatoskr's eyes and survived the ensuing battle with Nidhogg. This heritage renders them susceptible to transforming into dragons themselves if they drink dragon's blood.
The Republic: Following a dramatic series of sweeping reforms by Ser Aymeric, Ishgard is transformed from The Theocracy to a constitutional republic similar to real life Great Britain, with a House of Lords and a House of Commons elected by the people. Aymeric admits that while it's far fairer and more just than the previous system, there's now a mountain of red tape he has to climb through compared to the singular authority the archbishop possessed.
Revenge Before Reason: Ishgard is so caught up in its holy war against the dragons that it has developed tunnel vision on them. The Ixal encroaching on their territory and the invading Garlean Empire are firmly seen as everyone else's problem, not theirs, as they are too busy fighting dragons—even if the other enemies are on their doorstep. It goes so far that an Ishgardian soldier dying to anything other than a dragon is seen as a dishonorable death, and they won't even bother to collect their body to give any kind of rites.
The Theocracy: The Holy See of Ishgard is ruled by the Ishgardian Orthodox Church, with Archbishop Thordan being the supreme authority in matters of both church and state. This is reflected by the nation's fervent devotion to Halone, the goddess of ice and war, as well as its dogmatic hatred of outsiders and dragons.
Token Evil Teammate: Although relations between the High Houses can be frosty at times, House Dzemael goes out of its way to make trouble (especially where House Haillenarte is concerned). A Dzemael is the main villain of the Machinist questlines in Heavensward, the final Botanist quest in that expansion has an unknown Dzemael threaten the unassuming horticulturalist at Cloudtop with trial by combat for trying to cultivate an "unholy" variety of gysahl green, and they are the only High House with a member in the Heavens' Ward, who freely uses his unimpeachable authority to bully the other houses.
Witch Hunt: A very common occurrence due to Ishgardian heretics siding with dragons and trying to destroy Ishgard from within. The moment anyone is accused of being a heretic, they are held to a Trial by Ordeal that involves throwing them off a cliff. If they're innocent, they'll die. If they're guilty, the accused will be rescued by a dragon or transform into a dragon to escape and will be shot down by nearby waiting archers.
- This ends up being a political tool used between the houses to kill off a rival's loyal servants, family members and allies. With a certain kinder house put in public disfavor and facing multiple accusations which bleed it just short of collapsing (which would ruin the status quo the houses prize) but keep it underfoot.
- More than once in the story, crazed inquisition members and currupt knights of the Holy See will accuse beautiful Ishgardian women of low to midling status of heresy and "interogate" them, then either return them broken to their families if they had enough influence/bribes to free them or silence them with the above trial.

Ishgardian Orthodox Church

Archbishop Thordan VII

Voiced by: Shinpachi Tsuji (JP), Brian Protheroe (EN), Jean-Claude Sachot (FR), Bernd Volbrecht (DE)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thordan_vii_ff14.png

Race: Wildwood Elezen

The current ruler of Ishgard. Archbishop Thordan VII is named after the famous King Thordan who had led his twelve knights into battle against the dragon horde when the Dragonsong War began one thousand years ago and had ripped out Nidhogg's eye. Thordan declares Ishgard to be open to all adventurers after the Warrior of Light helped defend the nation from the dragon horde on the Steps of Faith. The Archbishop wants his people protected from the horde and wants to find a way to end the war once and for all by enlisting the help of the Warrior of Light.

Affably Evil: Thordan isn't exactly a bad person per se, but he still does very questionable things that paint him a different light, such as having one of his knights try to kill the Warrior of Light when they tried to approach the Archbishop, an attack that was taken by Haurchefant instead. He also throws Aymeric, his son, into jail after said son questioned him about Ishgard's true history with the dragon horde. For his better side, he personally apologizes to the Warrior of Light when Tataru and Alphinaud were tried with heresy. He also acknowledges that Nidhogg's rage is completely justified, but that it is unfair that one thousand years later, the descendants of the old King Thordan must pay for his sins. He believes what he is doing is truly the right thing for Ishgard.
Armor-Piercing Question: Aymeric tells him to reveal the truth to the people on how the Dragonsong War and the nature of Ishgard was built on lies. Thordan counters with the belief that it would be telling the people of Ishgard that all of their sacrifices for the Dragonsong War were All for Nothing. Aymeric momentarily falters, as Aymeric can't really counter that in the heat of the moment.
Thordan: And what would you say to them? What would you tell the wives who have lost their husbands, the mothers who have lost their sons? ...That their loved ones died for naught?
Bait the Dog: His first meeting with the Warrior has him sincerely apologize for one of his knights accusing Alphinaud and Tataru of heresy and admits with remarkable candor that he is in league with Ascians to learn their plans. He ends the meeting by asking the Warrior to help him in destroying the Ascians once and for all. And the thing is, he is being completely genuine. He's just omitting the rest of his plans.
Batman Gambit: He knew that the Warrior of Light opposed the Ascians and would try to follow them to Azys Lla, so he lets the two sides fight it out and then steps in to backstab Lahabrea by becoming a primal and absorbing the Ascian's soul.
Big Bad Wannabe: In the grand scheme of things, Thordan is ultimately irrelevant. He initially seems like quite the threat, having some far reaching plans that involve accruing a huge amount of power and he even avoids being an Unwitting Pawn of the Ascians. But his plans work, dispatching Lahabrea and acquiring all the power he was after... then gets immediately defeated and killed by the Warrior of Light. At the end, he's incredulous that even after all the pieces he put in place to ensure his dominance as God-King Thordan — the eyes of two dragons, a thousand years of prayer, and his Knights Twelve backing him up in battle — Thordan still can't contend with the Warrior of Light. After the Warrior puts him down, Thordan's presence is missed by few, and it matters very little in the long run against the Ascians' plans.
Black-and-White Insanity: Believes the path to peace is a world of absolute order. All at the cost of all freedoms, and anyone who dares oppose him, and the Ishgardian faith. Which leads to some truly hypocritical thinking, such as opening the gates to the heretics to launch an assault on Foundation to sow chaos and fear into the populace, so that they turn to prayer of King Thordan and his knights Twelve. And thinks nothing of the costs to the world by becoming a primal (though he does try to offset the aether drain by using Nidhogg's eye and the Warring Triad as power sources).
Character Death: Was defeated by the Warrior of Light after becoming a primal. He Disappears into Light, along with his Knights Twelve, and is never seen again.
Corrupt Church: He and his twelve knights closely guard the truth behind the Dragonsong War and are willing to do anything to keep it that way, even if it means murdering one of their own.
Deal with the Devil: Had consorted with Lahabrea in order to gain more power so that Ishgard could end the Dragonsong War once and for all. Unlike everyone else who did so however, he is quite aware of the Ascians' intentions and ultimately turns against them.
Dirty Old Monk: Downplayed, as Thordan is not actively perverted, but senior clergy in Ishgard are sworn to celibacy, yet he had an affair which produced his bastard son Aymeric despite his vows.
Disappears into Light: How he and his knights die following their defeat at the Warrior of Light's hands.
Even Evil Has Standards: Lucia counts on this to save Aymeric, believing that the Archbishop won't execute his own son and that will give the heroes time to save Aymeric. In the flashback to their confrontation, however, Thordan's reason for sparing Aymeric is to "thoroughly" interrogate him on who else knows the truth about the Dragonsong War. Then again, when Aymeric pleads with him to turn back at the Vault, Thordan does look pained that his son can't understand the necessity of his plans.
Evil Virtues: Thordan, much like the other city-state leaders, believes that the Ascians are a blight upon Eorzea and even admits unprompted to the Warrior of Light that he is engaging in a deal with Lahabrea as a means to plot against them.
A God Am I:
- Considers himself as such during his Trial in Heavensward. The Warrior of Light promptly brings Thordan and the Knights Twelve back down to earth by defeating him in battle, sending Thordan into a Villainous Breakdown.
- In the Ultimate trial against him, he gets closer. With the power of two dragons as well as all his previous boosts, Thordan gets closer than he ever had before to becoming a god, and declares himself as such before the final phase against him. Not that it does Thordan all that much good, since the Warrior of Light still defeats him.
  King Thordan: Hahahaha! By the power of mine enemy's eyes, I am become a god eternal!
He Knows Too Much: Had Aymeric tossed in jail after he learned the truth behind the Dragonsong War and has him "questioned" on who else knows the truth.
High Priest: He is the highest-ranked priest in the Holy See and uses this to his advantage when becoming a primal, using the prayers of his church to create his primal form.
Knight Templar: Was willing to do anything to end the Dragonsong War, even if it meant becoming a primal and silencing those who opposed him.
Order Versus Chaos: Seeks to bring order to the Dragonsong War and beyond by using his powers as a primal to oppose any form of chaos that would disrupt the peace.
Paying Evil Unto Evil: Thordan is well-aware of Lahabrea's scheming and plans to betray him in the future. So the first thing Thordan does when he becomes a primal is to utterly destroy Lahabrea by absorbing his aether.
Pragmatic Villainy:
- After Alphinaud and Tataru are accused of heresy, the Warrior of Light wins a Trial by Combat to clear their names. Once that's done, Thordan invites the Warrior into the Holy See to personally apologize for the actions of the members of his Knights Twelve who brought up Alphinaud and Tataru on false charges. Thordan does this both to get in the Warrior's good graces, and to tell the Warrior that the Ascians have been trying to whisper in his ear. All the while, Thordan is scheming to send the Warrior at the Ascians sooner or later, so it makes sense for him to act as a Reasonable Authority Figure by extending a token gesture of goodwill.
- He uses the Ascians to gain information on how to summon and become a primal. He also uses heretics and dragon attacks to his advantage, letting them wreck havoc before launching a counter attack to cause the populace of Ishgard to turn ever more to praying to the Ishgardian faith for protection, so as to strengthen himself and the Heavens' Ward in their primal forms.
Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids!: He accuses Aymeric of being too naive on how to change Ishgard for the better; Aymeric wants the truth of the Dragonsong War to be revealed so the nation can start anew. Thordan prefers to keep the status quo since he believes that the dragons would rather kill everyone instead of forgiving them and that revealing the truth could cause Ishgard's society to collapse.
Staff of Authority: He carries one with him everywhere and brandishes it when becoming a primal.
This Cannot Be!: After becoming a primal, using Nidhogg's eyes as a source of aether, and using a millennium's worth of prayers, he and his Knights Twelve unleash the Ultimate End attack on the Warrior of Light, his "divine reckoning" that shatters the reality around them like glass. And not only does the Warrior survive the blow, but it barely hurts them. Thordan is completely shocked by this, at which points he resorts to desperately flailing with his sword, ignoring enmity and aggro, all while muttering to himself that this can't possibly be happening. Once Thordan reaches this point, it's a foregone conclusion that the fight is over.
Took a Level in Badass: A minor example. In light of Patch 6.1 retroactively upgrading Lahabrea to be more of a threat to befit his status as one of the three Unsundered Ascians, Thordan's ability to destroy him utterly is made a bit more impressive in hindsight.
Villainous Breakdown: When the Warrior of Light's party survives his Ultimate End attack, the battle with Thordan is essentially over. In utter disbelief that the Warrior and crew have survived, the final phase of the fight has Thordan swinging wildly as opposed to the composed sword strikes used before. Completely exhausted, he becomes permanently debuffed, causing him to deal less damage. He also no longer pays attention to enmity, desperately flailing as he advances on random party members. The entire time, Thordan is talking to himself, trying to convince himself in horror that this can't be happening after all his planning and all the power he's gained. Once he's beaten, Thordan wonders who, or rather what, the Warrior of Light truly is before he dies.
Villainous Glutton: Played from two angles. On a more symbolic nature, Thordan is unwilling to give up comfort, power, or prestige and instead opts to end the Dragonsong War in a way that allows him to continue the present status quo of Ishgard without the discomfort change would bring. On a more straightforward example, Thordan in his Primal form devours Lahabrea for his aether, feeds upon the power of one of Nidhogg's eyes to maintain his strength, and he intended to do the same for the Warring Triad before being slain.
Villain Has a Point: Thordan believes that admitting the truth behind the Dragonsong War would be pointless and futile, a vain attempt to placate an implacable enemy, and could threaten to bring about societal collapse in Ishgard. Thordan also tells Aymeric that their people shouldn't be made to answer for the sins of their long-dead ancestors, and even asks an Armor-Piercing Question of what Aymeric intends to say to people who would have to be told that the sacrifices of their loved ones were All for Nothing. Aymeric has difficulty arguing with Thordan on these points, despite firmly believing that the truth needs to come out to bring an end to the Cycle of Revenge. While the issues end up forced by both Thordan and Nidhogg making their respective moves, the Archbishop proves to be right on all counts, and cleaning up the giant mess left in their wake is a long and delicate process.
Vow of Celibacy: All senior clergy in Ishgard are sworn to celibacy, but despite this he still had an affair at the age of 42 and fathered his bastard son Aymeric.
Walking Spoiler: It's impossible to list anything for Thordan without revealing his plans, his motivations, and his fate.
Well-Intentioned Extremist: Wanted to bring peace to Ishgard by any means necessary after the nation had suffered the effects of the Dragonsong War for a thousand years, though his methods are very questionable at best.
What the Hell Are You?: Says this in absolute terror after the Warrior of Light defeats him, which also mark his last words. Thordan became a primal, powered himself up with Nidhogg's eye and a millennium's worth of prayers, then hit the Warrior with an attack called Ultimate End, which was a "divine reckoning" according to Thordan... and all of that didn't even slow the Warrior down. The question is the end of Thordan's Villainous Breakdown, where he desperately tries to convince himself that the Warrior can't possibly be standing.
Thordan: How... How can this be...? A millennium of prayer, and the Eyes' power combined... And still you stand? (looks up to see the Warrior in a Sinister Silhouette) Who— What are you?! (collapses and Disappears into Light)
Willing Channeler: Summons the first King Thordan unto himself as a primal, similar to how Iceheart used Shiva.
With Us or Against Us: Fights the Warrior of Light on the knowledge that they would fight him simply because he was a primal, even though both sides wanted to end the Dragonsong War.

The Heavens' Ward

Personal guards of the archbishop of the Ishgardian Orthodox Church. They are a group of twelve knights personally appointed by the archbishop, in keeping with the tradition established by King Thordan I of the past, and they swear an oath of celibacy, meaning married men cannot join their order, to dedicate their entire lives in service to the archbishop.

Antagonist Title: Phonetically at least, their name is the same as the expansion they feature in, Heavensward.
Back from the Dead: In Endwalker, an attempt to resummon the King Thordan primal only succeeds in manifesting the Knights into a single body, one that has the memories of all the Knights and goes on to become a Blasphemy over 'their' failure to defend Thordan.
Bash Brothers: Janlenoux and Adelphel are noted to be close brothers in arms. When faced in the Singularity Reactor trial, they manifest and attack the party together.
Bodyguarding a Badass: As primals, they protect King Thordan, another, greater primal who is quite possibly as strong as all of them put together.
The Brute: Ser Grinnaux, described by Count Edmont as an accomplished brute, but still a brute.
The Dragon: Ser Zephirin is the commander of the Heaven's Ward and is seen taking orders from Thordan and relaying them to the others.
The Dreaded: Ser Charibet was infamous as an inquisitor and joining the Heaven's Ward has not improved his reputation.
Elite Agents Above the Law: While they do not directly govern Ishgard, the Heavens' Ward have unquestionable authority that can only be overruled by the Archbishop himself. If a knight of the Ward accuses someone of a crime, the only way to get out of it is a Trial by Combat against the knight himself (a doomed effort for the average citizen) or a papal pardon, no matter what evidence may run contrary to the knight's accusation.
Hero Killer: Zephirin tries to snipe the Warrior of Light with a potent magical attack. Haurchefant intercepts the strike, and it kills him instead.
Immune to Bullets: Hilda unloads into Ser Charibert, only for the bullets to bounce off a magical barrier of his.
It's Personal with the Dragon: Its subtle given Warrior of Light being the player character, but after the events of The Vault (see Hero Killer above), Zephirin is by far the member of Thordan's crew Warrior of Light has the biggest beef with. Best exemplified in the Dark Knight Level 70 Job Quest, which features a boss rush against spectral images of the Warriors of Darkness and the Heavens' Ward, and the two biggest and baddest enemies are the Warriors' leader, and Zephirin.
Warrior of Light: Life for death. I will have Ser Zephirin's heart for what he did to Haurchefant.
Keystone Army: The Heavens' Ward's power as primals is so closely bound to King Thordan that when he dies, they all die as well.
Light Is Not Good: The Heavens' Ward uniformly dress in gleaming white and blue armor, with several paladins and conjurers in its ranks and most members possessing light-aspected powers besides.
One Curse Limit: Part of their unique relationship with King Thordan is that they count as both primals in their own right and the tempered servants of the King Thordan primal. This makes them a problem for the heroes when the key to Azys Lla is in the belly of Bismarck. Even if the Scions could tolerate the existence of a primal, the Heavens' Ward are both strong enough and immune to tempering to be able to slay Bismarck themselves.
Praetorian Guard: While they may have other duties throughout the city, the Heavens' Ward are first and foremost the personal guard of the Archbishop.
Satellite Character: Of the twelve knights, only Zephirin, Grinnaux, and Charibert get any characterization, the rest only existing storywise to fill out the ranks.
Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: House Dzemael is the only High House to have a member in the Heavens' Ward in Ser Grinnaux. Befitting their unscrupulous reputation, they aren't afraid to use Grinnaux's unimpeachable authority as leverage in the political intrigue between the High Houses.
Token Good Teammate: Ser Vaindreau, who was the last honest man in the Heavens' Ward and unwilling to tolerate the Archbishop's alliance with Ascians. Fittingly, he's killed and replaced by Charibert, a sadistic torturer, to mark how low the once noble order of knights has sunk.
Villain: Exit, Stage Left: The knights fought as bosses in the Vault teleport away after being defeated, undoubtedly so the full cohort is available for the battle with King Thordan.
Vow of Celibacy: The Knights of the Heavens' Ward are all sworn to celibacy. Despite this, they are very popular among the ladies of Ishgard and are heavily rumored to have prominent affairs, most notably Ser Adelphel frequently being challenged by disgruntled husbands and family members.

Inquisitor Guillaime

Race: Wildwood Elezen
Discipline: Black Mage

A Holy Inquisitor of the Isgardians, who is fulfilling the church's prosecution of those found guilty of treason against Ishgard via casting them from a cliff, with House Haillenarte seemingly having fallen to heresy, forcing him to judge Lord Francel. When the Warrior of Light and Lord Haurchefant strongly protest and find evidence of Lord Francel's innocence, Guillaime relents.. only to turn around and use the fact that they stopped him to declare that they collude with heretics at every turn to make people doubt them and refuse to give them aid or accept their aid.However, what the Scions and Warrior Of Light find out is that this is all a front for him having been a heretic seeking vengeance on Ishgard the entire time, and had killed the original inquisitor before taking on his identity, and then spread draconic rosaries through shipments for the various Houses so he can produce 'evidence' of their continued heresy, spreading distrust and paranoia, until he's put to death by the Warrior Of Light.

Arc Villain: Of the Coerthas Central Highlands storyline.
Dead All Along: We never saw the real Guillaime except as a frozen corpse hidden beneath a snow pile.
Early-Installment Weirdness: Gullaime's "transformation" being a glamour feels like this, as all later heretics consuming dragon's blood undergo a permanent transformation.
Glamour Failure: Uses the Dragon's Blood ability to transform into a dragon midway through the fight... or at least appears to. Drillemont sees right through the illusion, and unlike other such transformations, Guillaime returns to his Elezen form upon his defeat, remarking that his glamour has been dispelled.
Jerkass: Though he never laughs nor shows any strong emotion for it, it's all too easy to feel that he takes his inquisitor status a bit too extremely as he seems to be nonplussed by the executions. Never mind once he begins harassing the Scion remnants with a smug attitude to try to make sure everyone distrusts and despises them. Considering he's a murderer, it's very clear upon the reveal that he was indulging in his self-wrought justice for his own gain.
Identical Stranger: From the brief glimpse we get of the real Guillaime's body, his imposter is nearly identical to him in appearance, but no other relationship is established between them.
Kill and Replace: The real Guillaime had been killed on his day of arrival some time prior, as a heretic replacement pretended to be him the entire rest of the time under everyone's noses.
Rerouted from Heaven: He is among the souls rerouted to the Palace of the Dead instead of The Lifestream by Nybeth Obdilord, where he can be fought again as an undead.
Revealing Cover Up: In an attempt to prevent the Scions from inevitably fighting his heretic allies at the Stone Vigil, it's his moves to undermine them at every turn just to be a petty bastard that ends up causing them to investigate him- and find out he was a traitorous and mass-murdering heretic himself when they follow the chain of evidence to the one person that knows the truth.
Serial Killer: He's using inside help from fellow heretics and the false identity of a Holy Inquisitor to frame anyone, innocent or noble, as a traitor to the Ishgardian cause so that he can cast them to their deaths. Judging by the story implications, this has been happening for long enough to send the whole of Coerthas into a mass paranoia and to far too many victims.
Spotting the Thread: What gives him away was a conflict of directions for which entrypoint a guard got attacked at the day Guillaime was to arrive, as the reports didn't quite indicate what should've logically occurred; another guard that had known the truth of the situation was forced into silence least she die, but it resulted in a Revealing Cover Up eventually.
Walking Spoiler: Knowing what the spoilers are effectively reveals the entire point of story conflict in the 2.0 Coerthas arc.

The True Brothers of the Faith

A conspiracy of Ishgardian priests and knights formed shortly after the fall of Archbishop Thordan. Outraged that the Warrior of Light and Aymeric have exposed the truth about the Dragonsong War, and believing Aymeric himself directly responsible for his father's death, they are determined to keep Ishgard's fanatical status quo in check no matter the cost.

Arc Villain: Of the 3.1 main questline.
Attack of the Political Ad: As a result of their rumour-mongering, much of Ishgard comes to believe Aymeric had the Warrior of Light assassinate his father in a bloody coup so he could take power. They also attempt to discredit rumours of Archbishop Thordan's own fall from grace and dismiss the truth of the Dragonsong War.
Dying Curse: As Ser Sennigough dies, he vows that one day the Warrior of Light and Aymeric will answer for their "crimes" against Ishgard.
Insane Troll Logic: Takes the Insane Troll Logic that Ishgard was infamous for before the beginning of its reformation, and turns it up a notch. You are either with them, or against them. Of course, they are also the ones who decide who is "with" or "against" them, and the "with" just so happens to be the nobles and clergy that enjoyed the status quo and ability to look down upon all "Lowborn" and keep them there and the "against" being everyone else. They have no qualms with hurting the innocent because in their insane view, that's considered "righteous". After all, its the Reformists "fault" for pushing them into having to remind others their "place".
Knight Templar: If nothing else, they are certainly dedicated to what they believe to be Ishgard's cause.
Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: The leader's attempted murder of an Ishgardian girl to punish Aymeric for attempting to put an end to the nation's fanaticism and its war with the dragons. The girl ends up saved by Vidofnir, in full view of all of Ishgard — serving as one of the first major events to cause the Ishgardians to realize that maybe not all the dragons are the bad guys.
The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized: Let's see. Open assassination attempts, arson, taking hostages in an attempt to have their demands be met? Yeah, they fit the bill.
Slasher Smile: Their leader makes one right before trying to throw Maelie to her death.
They Changed It, Now It Sucks!: In-Universe and taken to the extreme. They are absolutely livid that Aymeric had Thordan's secrets exposed (which had also caused the general populace to look upon the church differently) and was trying to change how Ishgard should progress. In response, the group starts fires, commits murders, attempts to kill Aymeric, and even attempts to kill a child just so that the status quo returns and thus, they get to return to the power they once had.
Villainous Breakdown: After the 3.1 main questline is completed, Hilde reveals that their leader has undergone this, the Slasher Smile he put on before attempting to murder a hostage seemingly permanently plastered on his face, and he's completely unresponsive to the Inquisition's attempts to make him tell them if there are any more conspirators.
Villainous Legacy: Despite being soundly defeated and dismantled by the end of 3.1, their ideals and beliefs continue to cause the Warrior of Light and Aymeric problems throughout 3.2 and Endwalker's Magic DPS Role Quest storyline.
Would Hurt a Child: Their leader actually throws a little girl off the highest point of the Vault as punishment for Aymeric trying to change the status quo. Luckily, Vidofnir manages to come by and save Maelie in the nick of time.

Temple Knights

Aymeric de Borel

Voiced by: Tatsuhisa Suzuki (JP), Blake Ritson (EN), Sylvain Agaësse (FR), Tino Kießling (DE)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aymeric_ff14.png

Race: Wildwood Elezen
Epithet: Aymeric the Blue
Discipline: Lord Commander (Gladiator), Archer

"We must right the wrongs of antiquity and move forward as a nation united."

The Lord Commander of the Temple Knights of Ishgard, he is amongst the reformists seeking to open up trade, and possibly one day, the gates. He is trying to balance the desire to reform Ishgard to reunite with Eorzea, while also not trying to bring changes too quickly to avoid panic amongst Ishgard.

Armor Is Useless: The inside of Aymeric's coat is lined with golden scalemail and he wears chainmail underneath. Despite these layers of protection, post-Heavensward he is stabbed with a common knife and falls over on the ground, critically wounded, though he does recover quickly enough to join the fight against the True Brothers of the Faith a short while later.
Batman Gambit: In the Endwalker Role Quests, Aymeric uses himself as bait for the blasphemy, Profane Fafnir by using his father's old scepter to lure the spirits of the Knights Twelve, who are compelled to defend the archbishop.
Belief Makes You Stupid: Subverted and discussed. Early on in his appearances, Alphinaud comments on Aymeric's cool reason and logical approach to dealing with the heretics, tactfully invoking his trope when discussing stereotypes about the Holy See. Aymeric says that while it may be befitting for a soldier on the battlefield to have zeal, it's not befitting for their leader to do so.
Big Good: Aymeric is one of the highest-ranking knights in the Holy See and firmly on your side once he gets past the bureaucratic red tape. His efforts to reform Ishgard bring him into conflict with the conservative members of the nobility and clergy. Following Thordan's fall, he becomes the interim leader of Ishgard and is later elected the leader of the House of Lords, making him the country's de facto head of state.
Calling the Old Man Out: Once he finds out the truth that his father, Archbishop Thordan VII, was trying to suppress information on what really started the Dragonsong War 1000 years ago, he confronts him alone in the hopes of getting him to come clean and turn things around. Thordan throws him in jail to keep the truth hidden, fearing that Ishgard's society would collapse if the truth were to come to light.
The Chains of Commanding: He's all for Ishgard rejoining the Eorzean Alliance, but he admits that the decision isn't his to make, as it is the archbishop's. He also can't devote the Temple Knights to defending Eorzea from the Garlean Empire as Ishgard is still under siege from the Dravanian horde, no matter how much he'd like to help. It's not until the Dragonsong War is brought to an end that he can finally cut through some of the bureaucracy and aid his allies as he'd like to.
Cool Sword: Aymeric wields Naegling, a Borel family heirloom featuring a bright blue blade trimmed in gold once used to slay dragons.
Dented Iron: To show how much of a leap of stakes there are after the conclusion of 3.0, 3.1 starts off with Aymeric suffering a near-fatal stabbing from a supporter of the True Brothers of Ishgard, which leaves him injured for a good while. Doesn't stop him from jumping into the fray and temporarily holding his own against multiple foes while you rescue hostages, but he's also likely to die quickly if you don't hurry, and the wound haunts him for a while after.
Didn't Think This Through: The events of the Endwalker Caster Role Quests came about largely because of Aymeric's desire to broker peace with Dravania and separate church and state. Although he means the best, the sudden disenfranchisement of the clergy and the Awful Truth that the Halonic faith was hiding quickly turned the priests into pariahs in their own homeland. This left the clergy especially vulnerable to the despair that triggers the transformation into a terminus beast during the Final Days and convinced Vartenoix to try and resummon Thordan to restore the old status quo. In response, Aymeric calls for a meeting to address the grievances with the clergy and rewrite church doctrine to better suit Ishgard's new reality.
Dragon Rider: In the lead-up to the final battle with Nidhogg, he is pitted against Hraesvelgr's son Vedrfolnir in a test to earn the Great Wyrm's aid, and subsequently rides him into battle. Later, when Nidhogg is slain and Ishgard at peace, Aymeric is again seen riding Vedrfolnir above the city's towers; dubbed "An Azure Dragoon for a New Age" in Count Fortemps' memoirs.
Expy: Aymeric is Cecil from Final Fantasy IV with more pointy ears. Both men predominately wear blue in their colour schemes. Both are shown to be rebels against the corrupt systems of their homelands by saying "Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!" when they learn the truth. Both men have a dragoon champion as a close ally (with Aymeric's dragoon ally, Estinein, also being an Expy of Kain, Cecil's dragoon ally). Both men use the Paladin arts in battle to combat their opponents. Both men have corrupt father figures that need to be torn down — the false king of Baron for Cecil, and the Archbishop for Ayermic — in order for peace to happen. And both men end up as the acting rulers of their nations after the corrupt system is torn down.
A Father to His Men: He's immensely popular among the Temple Knights under his command for his just and compassionate leadership as well as his ability to take decisive action in a crisis. Lucia swears complete loyalty to him alone, while the majority of the knights gladly follow him into battle against the Horde. That said, there are numerous knights dissastisfied with him due to their own religious fervor and his origins as a Heroic Bastard, as shown with the antagonistic Temple Knights who abuse their power in the Dark Knight storyline.
Fire-Forged Friends:
- Once upon a time, he and Estinien were in the same regiment of Temple Knights, and the lone survivors of an attempt to slay a dragon. While Aymeric planned to head to Ishgard, Estinien insisted upon finishing the job. It would have cost him his life, had Aymeric not changed his mind, saving his life with a well-timed arrow to the dragon's head. While ever the lone wolf, Estinien all the same came to respect the Knight Commander to-be.
- Similarly, fighting alongside the Warrior of Light in their efforts to reform Ishgard has him consider them one of his closest friends. His face instantly lights up when they cross paths in Ishgard and it's clear that he wishes at times to be free of his obligations so he can adventure alongside them. When they bump into each other near the end of Shadowbringers, he instantly agrees to requisition a supply of ceruleum, an airship to ferry it, and men to transport it after hearing that the Warrior needs them to develop a cure for tempering.
Frontline General: He may be the Lord Commander of the Temple Knights, but he's more than happy to step onto the battlefield himself to fight alongside his countrymen. As shown when you can run past him during the siege to liberate Ala Mhigo and fight alongside him during the battle at Ghimlyt Dark.
Guest-Star Party Member: As of Patch 6.3, he joins the player for duty support runs of Sohr Khai. Like Haurchefant in the Vault before him, he's a slightly customized gladiator that can go DPS should the player be a tank.
Happily Adopted: Supplementary material reveals Thordan gave him to the Borel family, to be raised properly and hidden.
Heroes Prefer Swords: His main weapon is a large blue two-handed broadsword called Naegling, a family heirloom of House Borel. But he sometimes wields a bow.
Heroic Bastard: He's the son of Ishgard's archbishop, even though said archbishop isn't allowed to marry or sire children as stated by the laws and traditions of the church.
Hero with Bad Publicity: In 3.1, because of the circumstances of Thordan's disappearance and the fact that it was immediately followed by Aymeric assuming control and telling everyone the whole truth about the Dragonsong War, the upper echelons of nobility see him as a patricidal heretic, and easily convince some of the smallfolk to attack him and start riots if he doesn't immediately hold council to select a new archbishop. This however noticeably died down in 3.2's climax with only small pockets of resistance to him taking over, and in 3.3 he's back to being adored by commoner and noble alike, to the point where even though he abdicates any rule over the newly-created senate, the senate just re-votes him as their head anyway.
Honor Before Reason: Following the death of Nidhogg, he decides to march into the Vault and demand the Archbishop confirm or deny the revelations the Warrior of Light brought regarding the origins of the Dragonsong War. Everyone else present tells him this is a terrible idea and he's barely out the door before his allies are making plans to rescue him from the results of his actions, which prove entirely necessary.
Hypocrisy Nod: When he turns to the Scions to appeal to the Eorzean Alliance for military aid against the Dravanians, after Ishgard quit the Alliance and refused to aid them against the Empire, he concedes it's awful hypocritical of his homeland but they do need the help.
Innocently Insensitive: Offers a drink to the Warrior of Light when they're seemingly coming closer to mending Ishgard and Dravanian relations, totally oblivious to just what they had witnessed in 2.55's Wham Episode. He notably seems concerned when the Warrior's face contorts into one of extreme discomfort at the thought, before they accept to be kind. And shortly after, the Warrior ends up drinking a drugged ale while waiting for Aymeric's conference. Thankfully he does finally get it after Nidhogg's defeat, if cut short.
Jumped at the Call: He adores the idea of joining the Warrior of Light on their journey as one of their regular traveling companions, but ultimately subverted as his obligations to Ishgard are monumental and leaves him stuck there. Even before he becomes especially close with the Warrior of Light he has no qualms with the idea of leaping head first into danger with them. Lucia usually has to stop him.
Knight in Shining Armor: Despite being the leader of the sometimes overzealous Temple Knights, Ser Aymeric himself is a noble and surprisingly idealistic knight clad in golden plate and mail eager to protect his people and seeking to reform his nation for the better.
Magic Knight: During the fight against Profane Fafnir in Endwalker's Caster Role Quest, Aymeric heals everyone with a mass version of the Paladin's Clemency and uses his own version of Holy Circle to damage several enemies at once with holy magic.
Mascot: After the events of Endwalker, Estinien sends Aymeric a Gaja Suit given by the Thavnairians for striking down Daivadipa, one of the primals summoned by the Tower of Zot as an answer to Aymeric's offer to employ Estinien as a bodyguard for the newly built Empyreum housing district. If you visit Empyreum after this event, it's possible to find Aymeric in a dragoon blue Gaja Suit walking about the premises with Naegling still strapped to his waist.
My Greatest Failure: He'll never let himself live down telling the Warrior of Light and Alphinaud to toss Nidhogg's eyes into the chasm beneath the Steps of Faith after prying them off Estinien... when it ultimately led to Shinryu's birth and the war of liberation for Ala Mhigo. Most of his dialogue before the final battle in the Lochs is self-deprecating towards himself for that decision. In his defense, by this point the swift corrupting power of the eyes was evident to all involved and his wanting the WoL and Alphinaud to be rid of them as soon as possible was well-founded — he just never expected the eyes to be recovered.
Named Weapons: Naegling, a Borel heirloom and a blue sword used to slay dragons.
Nice Guy: Not only is he a Reasonable Authority Figure, but Aymeric is a good first showing before you even enter the gates of Ishgard proper that there are kind, respectable nobles amongst the corruption. He's rational, he's kind to those that deserve his kindness, wishes nothing but the best for everyone around him and to avoid conflict if at all possible, profusely apologizes to the Warrior of Light if something happens that makes him walk back a prior promise, and the list goes on. He's such a patron saint of niceness that the new democracy of Ishgard he helped establish immediately promotes him to leadership in response, and he doesn't even hold ill against his fellow citizens when some of them react poorly to the truth of the Dragonsong War or the Archbishop's fall. Of course, he's just as capable as any knight should he be given reason to finally fight, and his kindness notably lacks any sort of naivete when it comes to dealing with the aforementioned corrupt in his country; if you're a problem to the nation and its people and refuse to relent, he will take you down, physically or politically.
The Paladin: While he uses a Gladiator icon in Duty Support, as a Temple Knight Aymeric is the Ishgardian version of a Paladin, being a noble knight devoted to his faith who seeks to defend his people and is able to use some form of holy magic in battle.
Patricide: When pleading to Hraesvelgr for aid, he admits to him that even though it was the Warrior of Light that killed Thordan, Aymeric holds responsibility for the outcome since he tasked the Warrior of Light with the deed of stopping Thordan before it was too late.
Pretty Boy: Aymeric is famously handsome in-story, and has a unique face that's far prettier than any male Elezen you can create in the character builder.
Reasonable Authority Figure: Aymeric is very objective-minded and manages to keep from falling into becoming a Knight Templar like the Temple Knights seem prone to do. This is best exemplified by his Establishing Character Moment after Snowcloak, when he tells his men to stop pursuing a fleeing heretic so they can find where Iceheart intends to summon Shiva.
- His actions are noble enough that even those who hold low opinions of the Temple Knights, Inquisition, and Heavens' Ward for their abuses of power — such as Fray, Sidurgu, and Hilda — all remark that he's one of the few they respect, and actually believe that he's the one who could actually bring about much needed reforms to Ishgard. Estinien even noted that he continues to hold Aymeric in the highest regards after Aymeric himself confirmed that he was in fact the bastard son of the archbishop (which until that point Estinien believed was just lies from the upper class to slander him).
- At the end of Heavensward's Main Story, he immediately calls off the archers from attacking Midgardsormr and the Warrior of Light, having just returned from Azys Lla triumphantly. He warmly greets them, jokingly mentioning that the Warrior of Light is the first person to have ever arrived in Ishgard while riding a dragon in over a thousand years. When realizing the dragon they rode in on is the Father of all dragonkind himself, he immediately leads all soldiers and citizens present in kneeling in respect, pledging to do everything they can to begin knitting the wounds, and atoning for Ishgard's past crimes, hoping to one day bring about the restoration of peace between the spoken races and dragonkind. Midgardsormr agrees to with the idea and pledges to assist Ishgard so long as they remain true to their word.
Resignations Not Accepted: Following the end of the Dragonsong War, Aymeric dissolved the theocracy, instituting in its place a parliamentary democracy, and stepped down from his position as acting head of state in an attempt to distance himself from Ishgard's politics... only for the newly created House of Lords to elevate him to their highest seat, making him the official head of state.
Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!:
- He's willing to overlook certain acts that would be declared heretical or treasonous, if it means it would benefit Ishgard.
- Upon Lucia revealing herself as an Imperial spy before the events of the game, despite having every right to have her jailed and executed for treason, he instead spared her, knowing that if she was willing to out herself as a spy to him, she had no loyalties remaining to the Garlean Empire, and let her remain as his second in command.
- Despite the fact that Estinien having technically stolen the Dragon's Eye, if for noble reasons, and having turned against Ishgard and be mind controlled by the influence of Nidhogg through the eye once, he welcomes Estinien back when he comes back to his senses. Aside from their friendship, part of the reason he does so is due to the information Estinien has thanks to being linked to Nidhogg's mind, which proves valuable to the defense of Ishgard.
- When confronted with the information about the true beginnings of the Dragonsong War, and the news that not only did Estinien and the Warrior of Light work with the heretic leader Lady Iceheart, and had peaceful dealings with dragonkind to bring about a turn of events in the war, he decides not to have them declared heretics. Instead, he immediately puts everything on the line to confront his father, Archbishop Thordan VII, and demand an answer for a millennium of lies and falsehoods. Ones not only used to cover up the fact that it was King Thordan I and his Knights Twelve which started the war with their lust for power, but that the false faith which sprung from it has also been used to oppress the lower classes while protecting the noble houses. It ends up getting him arrested by the Heavens' Ward, and implied to have been beaten or tortured during his short stay in jail. But the fact that he does make the attempt and in light of what happened to him, helps rally more to his and the Warrior of Light's cause.]
Self-Made Orphan: He's an indirect case, having tasked the Warrior of Light with killing his father, Archbishop Thordan. It's noted that he's not really to blame, the Warrior was going after Thordan regardless, but Aymeric cops to his culpability in the crime. Accusations of patricide are one of the bigger obstacles he faces in unifying Ishgard in the wake of the Archbishop's death.
Ship Tease: With the Warrior of Light, who he seems to have romantic feelings for, especially following Haurchefant's death, and during patch 3.2. Thancred jokes that the way Aymeric looks at the Warrior reminds him of a maiden in love, while the official cookbook says that Aymeric frequently invites the Warrior over for dinner dates (deep-fried okeanis being a favorite of theirs). He also has a lot with his right-hand woman, Lucia.
Sweet Tooth: The levequest "Let's Not Get Sappy" written by Lucia states that while the Lord Commander is more than willing to eat the same rations and bread as the men under his command, he has a frequent hankering for birch syrup that he mixes into his morning tea.
Try to Fit That on a Business Card: Over the course of the 3.x patches (as of 3.4), his titles and roles include Lord Commander of the Temple Knights of Ishgard, (former) acting head of state in absentia of the Archbishop, elected Lord Speaker of the House of Lords of the new Parliamentary Republic of Ishgard, Azure Dragoon (succeeding Estinien), and viscount of House Borel.
Universally Beloved Leader: While he's not quite 100% due to the sect of nobles who consider him a threat to the status quo which they flourished comfortably under, Aymeric is universally beloved by pretty much every other citizen in Ishgard. Even people who otherwise despise the Temple Knights he commands, like Fray or the Mongrel, show nothing but respect for him and consider his only real fault to be naivety due to his idealism. It helps that he was born as a bastard by a highborn and then abandoned, only to rise to his position through determination and effort, making him popular to highborn and lowborn alike. After Ishgard's massive restructuring, it's noted that his election to the head of the House of Lords was nearly unanimous.
White Sheep: His role in the ARR patch cycle paints him as this for the Ishgardian leadership, being a breath of fresh air after dealing with the isolationist zealots the player is used to. This puts him in a bit of an awkward position, as even he can't openly denounce the Holy See's policies so he needs to defend them to Alphinaud and others even as he agrees with the criticism.
Worf Had the Flu: The still injured Aymeric was no match for the one-armed Raubahn. Granted Raubahn has his own history of being a badass.

Lucia Junius

Voiced by: Sayaka Ohara (JP), Tara Platt (EN, Los Angeles cast), Lydia Leonard (EN, London cast), Céline Melloul (FR), Kim Pfeiffer (DE)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lucia_ffxiv.jpg

Race: Garlean
Epithet: Lucia the Radiant
Discipline: Gladiator

"Those who dwell in the past risk losing sight of their future."

Aymeric's second in command, Lucia serves as the middle man between the Warrior of Light and Aymeric's when his duties and heavy involvement with Ishgard's defense renders him unable to see them in person. She is also the commander during the defense of the Steps of Faith.

Action Girl: First Commander of Ishgard's Temple Knights, and she can prove it. She leads the defense at the Steps of the Faith; instructing the players on when and how to use the various cannons and dragonslayers against Vishap. As a last ditch effort if the player fails to kill Vishap before the last ward (the final area before game over) is destroyed; she plans a crude trap of explosive barrels as a final effort at stopping him.
All Love Is Unrequited: She has feelings for Aymeric, who doesn't return them. She's perfectly fine with staying by his side as his second in command though.
Becoming the Mask: She was originally a Garlean spy sent to Ishgard to see if the Vault contained Allagan artifacts like the Garleans suspected it did. She eventually met Ser Aymeric whom she discovered to be quite similar to herself. While they both had nothing to start with, instead of resenting his lot in life Aymeric rose above it and eventually she came to truly admire him and gave her loyalties to him. Even when she admitted to him that she was a Garlean spy he accepted her anyway.
Big Damn Heroes: After the Warrior of Light and Alphinaud get captured by a Garlean squad led by Regula and the Garlean Emperor himself, who were about to execute the Gundu tribe, she kills the Garlean soldiers about to commit the act with a surprise attack.
Foreshadowing: She never takes off her headband until late in Heavensward - the headband that hides her Garlean third eye. She's also far taller than is possible for a seemingly hyuran woman.
Five-Second Foreshadowing: When she has the above Big Damn Heroes moment, she does it in a white Magitek armor. The very next mission, she reveals that she is not only Garlean, but Livia's sister.
Gameplay and Story Integration: Similar to Cid, whenever Lucia fights besides you and gets to low health, she will use an Aqua Vitae to heal herself instead of casting Cure, as she can't use magic.
Knight in Shining Armor: Lucia is a noble and loyal knight who shares the ideals of her superior, and wears a splendid suit of silver armor to boot.
Knightly Sword and Shield: Lucia normally only carries her sword by itself, but she also wields a shield when she goes into proper battle.
Lady of War: A tall, graceful, and elegant knight.
Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: Brings a white and blue shield whenever she goes into proper battle and uses it to effectively block attacks from dragons, including a blast of flame that pushes her back. In the revamped Steps of Faith duty she even uses it together with a variant of the later-added Passage of Arms ability to block Vishap's fire breath from destroying the final ward protecting Ishgard.
The Leader: She takes the helm for the Eorzean Alliance's campaign to liberate Garlemald.
Mini-Mecha: Comes to save the party from the Garleans riding in a White Devil model of Magitek Armor, just like her sister's.
Number Two: She's Ser Aymeric's right hand, commanding the Temple Knights in the field whenever he's unable to be present and follows his orders with unshakable faith.
Power Gives You Wings: Despite being unable to use magic, in the revamped Steps of Faith solo duty, she inexplicably uses a variant of the Paladin's Passage of Arms ability with the name Grand Hoplon to summon holy wings behind her and her shield to protect Ishgard's final ward. She is also joined by other Temple Knights boosting the holy wings to fully shield the ward. It is possible she used magitek to simulate the magic, but since it was added retroactively, it's never elaborated on.
Statuesque Stunner: Lucia is taller than is possible for player created Hyurs, an early hint that she is not Hyuran but Garlean.
Third Eye: As a pureblooded Garlean by birth, Lucia posseses a third eye on her forehead, which is covered by her headband.
Undying Loyalty: Again, to Aymeric. More details in Becoming the Mask, above.
White Sheep: Not only is she a Garlean, she is Livia sas Junius's sister. Livia was fully committed to the Garlean Empire and Gaius. Lucia was a spy for Garlemald, but defected to Ishgard after she came to respect and befriend Aymeric. She seems to consider Ishgard her home now, and has no wish to return to the Empire.

Handeloup de Daimbaux

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ffxiv_handeloup.png

Race: Wildwood Elezen
Epithet: Handeloup of the One Heart
Discipline: Paladin

The second commander of the Temple Knights, he is one of its highest-ranking members, overseeing general logistics and the training of new knights.

Doomed Hometown: He lived in the Firmament until it was razed to the ground by dragon attacks. It's not until after the Dragonsong War is ended that reconstruction efforts can begin, and said reconstruction is only completed by the events of Shadowbringers.
Happily Married: He's mentioned to have a loving wife and has fathered a daughter with her.
Knightly Sword and Shield: Similar to Lucia, Handeloup normally just carries his sword by itself but in battle he also wields a kite shield featuring the symbol of the Temple Knights.
Light 'em Up: During his fight, Handeloup will dash around the arena and leave orbs of light that explode, similar to those used by Ser Adelphel of the Heavens' Ward in The Vault. His ultimate ability summons a huge orb of light with the name Godssphere that has to be damaged down to reduce the damage it explodes for.
Lightning Bruiser: He's the Warrior's final opponent in the Thal group of the Ul Cup. He proves to be a fearsome opponent, dashing about at high speed while leaving orbs of light in his wake that explode for high Area of Effect damage while also possessing more health than either of the Warrior's previous opponents.
Magic Knight: In addition to his swordsmanship, Handeloup will also summon holy orbs that explode with light.
Master Swordsman: He's one of the finest swordsmen in Eorzea, having been invited to participate in the revived Ul Cup to represent the Temple Knights.
Out of Focus: He doesn't get nearly as much screentime as either of his superior officers, largely acting as a stand-in for them when they're away. He isn't seen during the battle on the Steps of Faith or Nidhogg's final attack on Ishgard at the end of Heavensward.

Order of the Knights Dragoon

Estinien Varlineau

The current Azure Dragoon of Ishgard and bearer of the Eye, Estinien is the leader and most powerful dragoon in the modern day. Following the events of Heavensward, Estinien leaves Ishgard in search of purpose, eventually joining the Scions of the Seventh Dawn at the behest of Tataru Taru and Krile Baldesion.

See his entry in Scions of the Seventh Dawn.

Alaimbert of the Spiked Butt

One of the finest members of the Orders of the Knights Dragoon. He's renowned and popular as a gentleman whose skill with the lance is nearly unrivaled among the elite order. Alaimbert is also saddled with an unfortunate epithet that people can't help but snicker at.

Ascended Extra: Downplayed. He goes from an easily-missed NPC ally and FATE boss in the Coerthas Western Highlands to a more prominent appearance in the Level 78 Blue Mage quests, where Martyn and the Warrior seek him out as a potential Worthy Opponent to face in the Celestium.
Atrocious Alias: While his title presumably refers to the butt of his spear, others can't help but chuckle at the ridiculousness of his epithet when spoken aloud. Alaimbert himself seems oblivious to this and doesn't understand why everyone is so busy laughing at him.
Double Entendre: It's completely unintentional on his part, but his battle quotes are rife with statements that can be easily construed as sex jokes.
Alaimbert: You have tasted my spear, but are you ready for my butt!?
Graceful Loser: Despite Martyn's fears, Alaimbert takes his exhibition match defeat in stride, taking it as evidence that he still has room for improvement.
The Worf Effect: Alaimbert's skills are constantly talked up through the Level 78 Blue Mage quest as being peerless among the dragoons. This makes it all the more shocking when he gets curb-stomped after Martyn cuts loose and blasts Alaimbert with arcanima, white magic, and black magic.

The High Houses

House Fortemps

Count Edmont de Fortemps

Voiced by: Ikuya Sawaki (JP), Stephen Critchlow (EN), Pierre Dourlens (FR), Andreas Sparberg (DE)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/edmont_de_fortemps_ff14.png

Race: Wildwood Elezen

Shields High
-House Fortemps Maxim

The overall head of House Fortemps, Edmont is the one who secures your actual entrance into Ishgard following your victory against Vishap, and is your main point of contact early in Heavensward's story. He also serves as the overall narrator, as Heavensward is actually posited as being his memoirs.

Advertised Extra: He gets his own title card like the major characters for the Heavensward Hildibrand questline, despite only showing up for one scene in it.
Blue Blood: Head of House Fortemps, one of the four High Houses and descended from King Thordan I's knights.
Character Catchphrase: Whenever introducing the player to a new region as part of the Heavensward story, he explains a little bit about the area, and signs off with "...He/She/They came" depending on the player character's gender, and NPC party make up.
Classy Cane: Carries a cane wherever he goes. It's merely an accessory, as he walks just fine and holds it in both hands when he does. It clatters on the floor when Edmont drops to his knees in grief over Haurchefant's death, showing that Edmont has thrown away all noble pretext in an outpouring of emotion for his slain son.
The Comically Serious: While Hildibrand and Nashu are arguing over the gender of Gigi, Cyr explains to the lord that he's on official duty to bring the mammet in for inspection. Upon hearing of the gender debate, Count Edmont notes that Gigi must be a "strapping young lad", much to Cyr's suffering.
Direct Line to the Author: Heavensward is presented as being drawn primarily from Edmont's memoirs and recollections, suitably titled "Heavensward" in-universe.
Expy: He's shares a few similarities to Final Fantasy XII's Marquis Halim Ondore. They both have a cane they walk around with, are writers of the events of their game's respective stories and Reasonable Authority Figures.
Heroic BSoD: The death of his son, Haurchefant, at the hands of the Heavens' Ward. He tries invoking the knight's oath his son had sworn to him right before he last saw him alive as a way to try and find a meaning to his son's death. He instructs the Warrior of Light and his allies to go and pursue the Archbishop and the Heavens' Ward and bring them to justice, asking them to leave him to his grief, but Alphinaud can't help but say something respectful about Haurchefant, causing Edmont to fall to his knees sobbing.
Like a Son to Me: By the time 3.2 happens, it's been wholly acknowledged that the Warrior of Light has become a member of the Fortemps family, and that the count sees both them and Aymeric as this.
My Greatest Failure: He considers his affair that caused Haurchefant to be this. But he loves Haurchefant as much as his other sons. In fact, according to Artoirel, his guilt makes it difficult for him to say no to Haurchefant, including the matter of giving the Warrior of Light political asylum.
Only Sane Man: In a nation filled with nobles and knights of stubborn prides, he's one the few willing to petition to allow the Scions access, and to admonish those who question the WoL intentions unfairly. Both of his true heir sons get put in their place for causing trouble to the WoL or showing disrespect to their accomplishments. ^note
Outliving One's Offspring: He outlives his illegitimate son Haurchefant, who dies defending the Warrior of Light from the Heavens’ Ward. This loss devastates Edmont, as getting the news causes him to drop to his knees and sob. The loss of Haurchefant also leaves Edmont worried for the safety of his other sons.
Parents as People: Edmont is a strict, but reasonable and caring father to Artoirel and Emanellain. Due to Haurchefant's illegitimate status however (and his late wife never forgiving him for the affair), Edmont had to maintain his damaged reputation by not regarding Haurchefant as his son under most circumstances. He can see him as a respected knight under his household however, and he truly does love him; Artoirel mentions how his father has trouble saying no to Haurchefant's wishes when he had them. This ends up being played tragically, as Edmont's attempts to maintain composure at Haurchefant's sacrifice falls apart as he collapses in grief. He can't see it as a noble death of a knight as much as he tries, but as the loss of a son he dearly loved.
Parental Substitute: Comes to see the Warrior of Light as a fourth child and all but formally adopts them as such.
Passing the Torch: Names his firstborn son the new head of House Fortemps in 3.1. Afterward, people still reflexively refer to him as Count Fortemps. He has to remind them that he's no longer the head of house.
Reasonable Authority Figure: Although he does find the Warrior of Light's political asylum and surrounding circumstances potentially problematic, he still listens firmly to Haurchefant's glowing recommendations and takes them in. Once the Warrior proves themselves loyal and heroic, the Count gives his undivided support in all of their endeavors no matter how blasphemous it may seem, despite the potential problems to his status. Even completely willing to give up his position as Count and one of the four noble houses once the Awful Truth of Ishgard's part in starting the Dragonsong War come to light.

Lord Haurchefant Greystone

Voiced by: Masakazu Nishida (JP), Jason La Shea (EN), Clovis Guerrin (FR), Benoît Du Pac (FR recasting), Daniel Montoya (DE)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/haurchefant_ff14.png

Race: Wildwood Elezen
Epithet: Haurchefant of the Silver Fuller
Discipline: Chivalric Knight (Gladiator)

"A knight lives to serve—to aid those in need."

A knight of House Fortemps, and bastard son to Count Edmont de Fortemps, Lord Haurchefant commands Camp Dragonhead, a place once little more than a simple campsite before the Calamity, but now a fortified position in response to the increased aggression of the Dravanian Horde.

A Father to His Men: One NPC says that Haurchefant is beloved by every man, woman, and child in Camp Dragonhead. Not hard to see why, considering he takes in the Warrior of Light and Alphinaud after A Realm Reborn without a second thought.
A Friend in Need:
- Knows Francel needs help, and calls upon the resourcefulness of an adventurer to help clear their name of disgrace and dishonor.
- When said adventurer, who is or becomes the Warrior of Light, and their Scion allies need refuge, he recognizes they are in need of help and gladly opens up his House's door to them. Especially telling of just how good of a guy he is, when you consider that one of the Warrior of Light's allies is an Au Ra, who appears to be a half-dragon, when Ishgard is at war with dragons. He even brings hot beverages to the Warrior, and their allies and gives them all a pep talk to help snap them all out of their sadness of recent events. He even tells them to freely make themselves at home, offering them to build a base there in Dragonhead, suggesting it be called "The Falling Snows" as true to the Scions' naming fashions.
Always with You:
- The cutscene taking place after the final battle with Nidhogg, reveals that Haurchefant's spirit has been following the Warrior of Light ever since the very moment he died, still being by their side. The last Heavensward short story implies this is the case even now.
- In Endwalker, his spirit appears in the aetherial sea in the form of his sword and shield while the Scions are seeking an audience with Hydaelyn. It offers a sizable attack and defense buff (appropriately called "Together Forever") as Haurchefant's way of cheering the Warrior on.
Beware the Nice Ones: Haurchefant is an absolute sweetheart of a man, but a line of dialogue from Aymeric indicates that when he finds out you're in danger at one point, it takes six men to restrain him from chasing after you, and in Francel's side story on the official website, we learn that he earned his knighthood by rescuing Francel from kidnappers all by himself, killing three men with nothing but a hunting knife, at age seventeen (which becomes even more impressive with the knowledge that Elezen don't reach anything close to their adult height until their twenties which means that he was roughly Alisaie or Alphinaud's size at the time). Not someone you want to mess with when the chips are down.
Book Ends: When players first visit him, it's soon after the Waking Sands base is attacked by Livia and the the Garleans, that you first seek his aid, in allowing Alphinaud, Cid, and themselves to request info, and permission to search for Cid's Airship. The 2.55 story line ends with Cid dropping you off at Dragonhead via airship, seeking aid and refuge again from Haurchefant.
Butterfly of Doom: Saving his life during Dragonsong's Reprise directly leads to a Bad Future where Thordan enslaves the dragons with Allagan technology.
Character Tics: Haurchefant has a habit of shouting "Eee!" with arms wide and a huge smile before giving a fist pump as a sign of approval in the Japanese script. This gesture can be used by the player after completing a sidequests as an emote titled, "Haurchefant". In Endwalker, the Warrior uses this gesture while speaking to Venat about their less serious adventures, implying that they're regaling her with stories of adventures with him.
Chivalrous Pervert: Implied in most versions, but in the Japanese dialogue it's the general opinion of Dragonhead's residents. Even with their Lord's flights of fancy and lack of discretion about it (something that the higher-ups stationed in Coerthas look down on him and the camp for), they are staunchly loyal to him because he's still a good knight and kind man.
Covert Pervert: Far less covert in the Japanese dialogue, where he's downright leering at and even propositioning the Warrior of Light, to the point where the English localization team felt they had to deliberately tone him down. But he still shows shades of being the 'lovable debauchee' that he originally is, especially in the 2014 Heavensturn event, where he loudly proclaims that he wants you for his personal steed. This quote can even be seen on his Triple Triad card.
Dub Personality Change: Haurchefant in the Japanese version is much more flamboyant and intense, openly fantasizing about the Warrior of Light's chiseled body and the sweat glistening on their forehead during battle all while gesturing excitedly, to the point he freaks them out a bit. The English version portrays him as much, much more reserved, instead playing up his extreme kindness and gentlemanly nature.
Go Out with a Smile: Not only dies smiling, but encouraging the Warrior of Light to do the same, since "a smile better suits a hero". These wind up being Haurchefant's last words, as he dies moments later after the Warrior gives him a smile and a nod. Content, Haurchefant dies held in the Warrior's arms.
Guest-Star Party Member: As of Patch 6.2, he joins the player in a Duty Support run of The Vault, with a slightly customized version of Gladiator as his class that functions either as a tank (if the player is DPS or Healer), or as a DPS (if the player is a tank).
Heroic Bastard: He's the child of Count Edmont's affair with a family servant, and the surname "Greystone" is given to illegitimate children within Ishgard's high houses. Edmont respects him and his words about the Scions and Warrior of Light, but his late wife never forgave Edmont for it and refused to accept him as part of their family. Haurchefant never complains, and has rose up enough to be commander of an entire camp and stalwart ally and friend to the WoL. According to the final Heavensward short story, Haurchefant never doubted that Edmont cared about him as much as he did, even if they never said it to eachother.
Heroic Vow:
- "A Knight lives to serve, to aid those in need." In the patch 3.1 main story quests, the Warrior of Light is given a chance to give this as a Call-Back to Lord Artoiriel de Fortemps, to help restore his resolve after he questions what right he has to help lead Ishgard when all four major noble houses are tarnished by their legacy for their parts in the origin of the Dragonsong War.
- "A smile better suits a hero." These are his dying words to the Warrior of Light, encouraging them to be a Hope Bringer. The Warrior honors his wishes by smiling just before Haurchefant dies.
Irony: Despite being a bastard, he's the one who's almost the spitting image of his ancestor, the founder of House Fortemps.
Knight in Shining Armor: Haurchefant is an ever gallant and noble knight, eager to protect the innocent with his very life. His custom class in the Duty Support system for the Vault is even named Chivalric Knight.
Knightly Sword and Shield: Noble knight that he is, Haurchefant wields a longsword along with a shield featuring the symbol of House Fortemps.
The Lost Lenore: Regardless of whether or not they returned his implied affections, the aftershocks of his death continue to haunt the Warrior of Light thereafter, making them occasionally come across as weary and just simply tired of everything they've had to suffer through.
- In Stormblood, the whole quest line for Dark Knight is triggered by the Warrior of Light's sorrow and pain over his death. Judging by some of his words said at the end, aside from taking a part of his appearance, a part of Myste might actually identify as Haurchefant.
- The trope continues in Shadowbringers, as Haurchefant is shown to be prominent in the Warrior of Light's fragments of memories, appearing when they travel to the First. There's also a dialogue option that the Warrior can chose to tell Ryne, towards the end of 5.0, which are the exact same words that Haurchefant said before dying.
  Warrior of Light: Fate can be cruel, but a smile better suits a hero.
Meaningful Echo: Haurchefant had a huge impact on the Warrior of Light's worldview, which can be seen when the Warrior gets the opportunity to echo some of his quotes in some of their later conversations—namely the page quote and his last words to reassure Artoirel and Ryne, respectively.
Nice Guy:
- One of the few Ishgardians who initially are more open to adventurers, compared to a fair amount of Ishgardians preferring their isolation and distrust of outsiders. Throughout the post-2.0 story line, whenever quests brings players back to Coerthas, he's always lamenting that due to the pressing nature of the quests, that he doesn't have time, or ability to treat the player with proper hospitality for all they've done for Ishgard.
- Haurchefant finally has his chance to pay the Warrior of Light and their allies frequent aid back in a big way at the end of 2.55's Before the Fall Part 2, and is said to be petitioning greatly for the Warrior of Light's and Scions' access to Ishgard in the interim to Heavensward. In the final moments of the story he proves himself to be one of the greatest allies the Warrior of Light could ever hope to have.
- Assists the Warrior of Light in three separate instances of instanced combat, be it against heretical forces, Vanu Vanu beastmen, or even an esteemed knight of the Heavens' Ward; he has no hesitation of fighting by the Warrior of Light's side (and tellingly is upset when he isn't included for some of their battles he is within earshot of, such as their exploration of Snowcloak and battle with Shiva). Interestingly, all three instances have him appear halfway during the battle(s) with the insinuation being that he rushed over after being made aware that his friend was in an altercation.
  Haurchefant: Do not hesitate to call upon me, regardless of hour. My home is your home, and I would see you afforded all comforts and courtesies. Rest and regain your strength, <name>. You shall have your redemption and your reckoning in due time—and when that day comes, I shall stand at your side.
The Paragon: His Chivalrous Pervert antics aside, Haurchefant is admired by all for his boundless generosity, kindness, and bravery. A true Knight in Shining Armor, he's always ready to help a friend in need or even a complete stranger so long as their intentions are just. His sheer heroic disposition serves as an inspiration to even the Warrior of Light, the two becoming extremely close over the course of A Realm Reborn and Heavensward. His death is universally mourned by the knights of Ishgard and the Warrior of Light; and his memory continues to motivate the people who knew him to live up to his legacy.
Really Gets Around: In the original Japanese script (and localizations that followed it more closely, such as the French version), those stationed at Camp Dragonhead can be rather exasperated at their lord's antics with the adventurers he fancies, even saying that his advances scare some away. Characters from the other noble houses such as Lord Drillemont do not think highly of him for it either.
Red Baron: The Silver Fuller. After his Heroic Sacrifice, the Warrior of Light inherits the title.
Ship Tease: Haurchefant has romantic feelings for the player character. Whether they reciprocate it or not is up to the player's mind.
Single-Target Sexuality: Heavily implied towards the Warrior of Light. In the Japanese dub especially, Haurchefant is constantly complimenting the Warrior of Light's physical prowess and aptitude in battle in such a way that it's very easy to get the impression that Haurchefant is physically attracted to the Warrior. Note that this does not change if the Warrior of Light is male.
Suddenly Voiced: In patch 2.3, when the player returns to him during the main story quest, he conspicuously has voice acting after previously not having a dedicated voice. As most minor NPCs aren't given vocals for their dialogue, this foreshadows his increasingly prominent role in the patches leading up to the Heavensward expansion, as well as the expansion itself.
Tempting Fate: Before heading to the Vault, he reassures his father that his arm will not falter and his shield will not break. His death can be directly attributed to his shield breaking.
What If?: The Dragonsong's Reprise has an alternate timeline scenario where Haurchefant was saved in the Vault. What happens? Turns out without the motivation of vengeance, the Warrior of Light didn't hasten their chase to stop Archbishop Thordan and gave him enough time to become even more powerful in his primal form, while also enslaving the Dravanian Horde using the Eyes of Nidhogg. Of course, this is all just a tale spun by the Wandering Minstral for dramatics, and there's nothing to suggest Haurchefant's death was definitely neccessary to spur the Warrior of Light to save the world... right?^note

Ser Artoirel de Fortemps

Voiced by: Tsuguo Mogami (JP), Harry Hadden-Paton (EN)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/artoiriel.jpg

Race: Wildwood Elezen
Epithet: Artoirel Ironbone
Discipline: Paladin

"Each of us must play our part in building a brighter future for Ishgard—we who profess to rule most of all."

The firstborn son of Count Edmont de Fortemps. He is the serious, dutiful son.

Ascended Extra: An elezen knight named Artoirel carrying a Fortemps shield briefly shows up in the Legacy Leatherworker quest "Designer Imposters", chasing off a group of bandits holding you and your mentor hostage, stopping to apologize to you before riding off after them. This version of Artoirel is also mentioned (though not seen) commanding the Fortemps knights in the original Immortal Flames quest for unlocking Dzemael Darkhold in Legacy, an event also referenced in the Encyclopaedia Eorzea, confirming he is the same person you later meet in Heavensward.
The Cavalry: Literally in his only Legacy appearance, Artoirel shows up in the Leatherworker quest "Designer Imposters" leading a group of mounted knights on chocobos to chase off a group of bandits holding your fellow leatherworkers hostage, stopping briefly to apologize to you and promising to crucify the bandits before riding off after them.
Defrosting Ice King: He's initially as distrustful of foreigners as the average Ishgardian, even hoping that the Warrior of Light would die chasing heretics because of how he believed the Warrior's reputation was inflated. He's humbled by their success and constant acts of valor in service to Ishgard, showing a far warmer and more compassionate side.
The Dutiful Son: Especially when compared to his philandering brother, Artoirel is extremely dutiful, honorable, and mindful of tradition, making him a natural heir to his father. Edmont later steps down and names him head of House Fortemps.
Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: Is very much the Responsible Sibling to Emmanellain's Foolish, and is the one who demands that Emmanellain take responsibility for his actions in 3.2.
Hidden Depths: While he's stern and aloof on the surface, it's clear that he cares deeply for friends and family. After the Warrior of Light proves they are the real deal, Artoirel holds them in the highest esteem. He's also one of the foremost collectors of orchestrion scrolls in Ishgard as well as dabbles in musical composition in his free time. He's delighted to compose an original piece as a present for Lord Francel, with Emmanelain even saying that Artoirel was prancing about with a spring in his step when he got the news.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Is rather hostile towards the WoL at first, mostly out of pride. After you single handedly take over a Heretic stronghold, he realizes that he was wrong to dislike and distrust the WoL and guiltily admits that though sending you in alone was necessary (he had to take a wounded soldier back to camp and was afraid that the snowfall would erase the heretics tracks back to their base), he also hoped that you would fail in the attempt. After this, he gains a lot of respect for the Warrior of Light and eventually comes to regard them as a brother/sister, dropping the "Jerk" part entirely.
Knightly Sword and Shield: Artoirel fights as a proud knight of Ishgard wielding a sword and a shield featuring the unicorn symbol of House Fortemps.
Magic Knight: Artoirel uses a bunch of Paladin spells in Endwalker's Caster Role Quest, including Clemency to heal himself and his allies, and Passage of Arms to shield anybody covered by his holy wings.
My Greatest Failure: After Haurchefant's death, he expresses deep regret for not being closer to him as a brother or seeing him as true family, and even considering their father's soft spot for his illegitimate son as a weakness. To make up for this, he treats the Warrior of Light like a dear sibling, something he believes that Haurchefant would have wanted.
Uriah Gambit: Discussed. Artoirel confesses that he was hoping that the Warrior of Light would die in their infiltration of the heretics' nest. Artoirel thought the Warrior's reputation inflated, and was also jealous of the regard that his half-brother and father held them in. But after the Warrior takes out the heretics alone, Artoirel becomes much less hostile to the Warrior, both privately and in front of them.

Ser Emmanellain de Fortemps

Voiced by: Kengo Takanashi (JP), Stefano Braschi (EN)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/emmanellain.png

Race: Wildwood Elezen
Epithet: Emmanellain the Lofty
Discipline: Gladiator

"What ill fortune to be born second in a society where the eldest inherits all."

The second son of Count Edmont, who is a womanizer and doesn't take his status or jobs seriously.

Adrenaline Makeover: After the events of 3.2 and undergoing Character Development, he no longer sports a youthful blush to his face, looking more serious and mature.
Benevolent Boss: One of Emmannellain's virtues is his consistent kindness toward his manservant, Honoroit. He took Honoroit in from the streets of the Brume as a ward, taught him to read and write, and offers him many of the perks of nobility, such as good food and fine clothes. Because of this, Honoroit has Undying Loyalty toward Emmanellain.
Big Brother Worship: Not so much towards Artoiriel, but he adores his half-brother Haurchefant and respects him greatly. In an optional sidequest post-Heavensward, he oversees Camp Dragonhead and takes the role completely seriously, even admitting he has big shoes to fill while looking on wistfully at Haurchefant's portrait.
The Cameo: He makes an appearance in the Level 60 Weaver Quest, "When East Meets West," giving the visiting Hingan dignitaries a taste of Ishgardian fashion.
Exact Words: When Emmanellain says he didn't give the order to shoot the protester, he's technically correct; he gave an order to stop the protestor. The problem was that Emmanellain gave the order to a high-strung archer, making miscommunication inevitable. And from the perspective of others, intentional.
The Fool: Emmanellain doesn't take his position or his duties seriously. When he's finally given an order to do something important — find water-purifying crystals for Camp Cloudtop — he turns it into a competition with the Warrior of Light to find the biggest one. Even then, he not only doesn't find one, but he gets himself captured for his troubles, necessitating the Warrior of Light to run in and save his hide. He would have been sacrificed to the primal Bismarck were it not for good luck.
Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The Foolish Sibling, compared to the Responsible Artoirel. Emmanellain is an Upper-Class Twit who would prefer to spend his days flirting with women and slacking off. What few responsibilities he does get tend to get blown off or turned into competitions.
Get A Hold Of Yourself Man: Thancred pulls this on Emmanellain when he orders one of his men to shoot a protester at the peace conference. Emmanellain can only argue that he gave an order to "stop" the protestor, not "shoot" her, but it's splitting hairs.
Heroic BSoD: After the incident at the peace conference. There's also a little bit after his half-brother Haurchefant's death.
Hidden Depths: The lorebook reveals he met his assistant, Honoroit, when the latter approached him in the Jeweled Crozier and offered to carry his purchases for a handful of coin. On a whim, Emmanellain decided to teach the boy letters and sums, so 'that he might have the means to rise above his humble station.' This goes a long way towards explaining Honoroit's Undying Loyalty towards Emmanellain.
Knightly Sword and Shield: Emmanellain is not much of a knight or fighter, but he does wield a sword and a House Fortemps shield when he fights.
Manchild: He is very immature, only getting by with not taking things seriously through connections and good luck on his part. For the most part it's played for laughs, but then suddenly its not when he has a soldier shoot a woman who was leading a protest against the peace treaty with the dragons, which jeopardizes said treaty as many common folk become disillusioned with the nobles supporting the treaty. And then Emmanellain refuses to take responsibility, asking why everything just has to fall apart. Notably, it's one of the few times the Warrior of Light looks truly angry; Thancred even has to stop them from presumably hitting Emmanellain (and quickly decides to throw a punch himself when Emmanellain keeps talking).
Odd Friendship: In Endwalker, he forms a rather odd friendship/rivalry with Sicard, the rough and crude second in command of one of the bucanner guilds from Limsa, starting from when they were paired together on the Eorzean Alliance mission into the fallen Garlemald. They even fight to impress a young girl with their respective gifts as Saint Nymeia's helpers during the 2022 Starlight Festival event. When they visit your Island Sanctuary at Rank 15, the Warrior of Light can play Shipper on Deck and even slightly nudge the two towards one another romantically - a notion Emmanellain seems to give genuine consideration to before the topic changes.
Oh, Crap!: Very noticeably flinches at the sight of the Warrior of Light pissed off at him, particularly the second time he refuses to take responsibility for his actions. Considering this is the Warrior of Light we're talking about here, his reaction is immensely justified.
Psychological Projection: His speech to Thancred about how he has it easy being a hero who always knows what to do and everyone loves and respects comes a bit out of left field, as he barely knows Thancred and his words are not terribly applicable to Thancred either. But they do fit very well for his half brother Haurchefant, who's shadow Emmanellain has lived in most of his life and he likely has complicated feelings about given Haurchefant's recent Heroic Sacrifice.
The Resenter: In 3.2, he heavily resents Thancred because Emmanellain thinks that Thancred has it easy being a hero and always knows what to do. Emmanellain himself struggles trying to do the right thing and screws up big time whenever he does. Emmanellain eventually learns to stand on his own feet and look on his own merits and to keep doing what is right instead of seeing how others can do things with ease.
Self-Deprecation: Does not have the highest opinion of himself, and measures himself against Artoiriel and his half-brother Haruchefant, quite unfavorably.
The Social Expert: During the Ishgardian Restoration questline, it's revealed that Emanellain has stepped away from military service and found a way to serve his house and country through his own merits. Acting as an unofficial ambassador, he's begun visiting Ishgard's newfound allies and started forging positive relationships with various merchants and members of the upper classes to help ease the transition away from its former isolationism.
Took a Level in Badass: He eventually learns to stand up for himself and willingly signs up for the Grand Melee in an attempt to reclaim his honor. Later on makes an appearance in Endwalker as part of the Islbadrian Contingent, claiming it was his brother who set him up to do it. He still fights regardless, so at least he's trying to earn it.
Upper-Class Twit: Of the three brothers of House Fortemps, Emmanellain embodies this more than any of them. He's The Fool by never taking his duty or his position seriously, prefering to spend his days chasing women and turning missions into games. Once he inadvertenly ruins a peace talk by ordering that a protestor be shot by an archer, Emmanellain starts to grow out of this gradually and learn to stand on his own two feet.

Honoroit Banlardois

Voiced by: Tomo Muranaka (JP), Archie Lyndhurst (EN)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/honoroit.png

Race: Wildwood Elezen

"If my lord's irrepressible optimism were ever to fix upon something about which he had cause to be optimistic, I dare not think what he might achieve."

Emmanelain's young manservant and attendant. He follows his liege everywhere he goes, keeping his ego and flirtations in check all the while.

Adopt-a-Servant: Honoroit was born to a poor family in a seedy part of the Brume. He was forced to work as an indentured servant to a merchant to help his family make ends meet. But on his ninth nameday, he was spotted by Emmanellain, who took Honoroit in as his ward. Emmanellain is generous to Honoroit, outfitting him in fine clothes and teaching him to read and write. Seeing Honoroit's potential, Edmont bought out Honoroit's contract and appointed him as Emmanellain's manservant in full.
The Cameo: He and his master can be frequently seen attending seasonal events. For instance, in the 2023 Moonfire Faire event, he could be found at the bottom of the Eorzean Nimble Warrior challenge, cheering on Emmanellain who is struggling to get to the top of the first level.
Hypercompetent Sidekick: He's everything Emmanelain is not: attentive, studious, and diligent. He constantly has to remind Emmanelain of his responsibilities and picks up the slack for his liege. Laniaitte is extremely impressed by his reports on the Vanu Vanu's movements and the Vundu clan's crystal gathering in preparation for a summoning ritual, even offering him a place with the Rose Knights. By the events of Endwalker, he's even written an acclaimed book on his experiences in the Sea of Clouds called, "The White Yonder".
Nice Guy: Servile Snarker tendencies aside, the guy doesn't have an onze of malice in him.
Rags to Riches: He went from running errands as an indentured servant to a local merchant to a personal servant of one of the Four High Houses of Ishgard. By the end of Heavensward, he's become a bestselling author whose work is praised in Sharlayan.
Revenge by Proxy: He's the victim of this following Emmanelain's disastrous management of the vengeful protest at the Ishgard-Dravania peace conference. After Emmanelain retreats into a building out of horror for what he caused, Honoroit implores the crowd to stay instead of leave. The mob, already at an emotional high, proceed to beat Honoroit until he's scarcely conscious.
Scars Are Forever: Honoroit sports one on his forehead after being beaten by angry Ishgardians as retaliation for Emmanellain's actions during the failed peace talk. Amusingly, someone informed him (possibly to lighten his spirits) that women find scars alluring and he states such in a rather excited tone.
Servile Snarker: He relentlessly prods his master's philandering, lazy, and egotistic nature.
Honoroit: My lord is a gentleman of unassailable principles. To assail them, after all, one would first need to locate them.
Undying Loyalty: He's extremely overqualified for his position as Emmanelain's manservant, to the point that Lainatte instantly offers Honoroit a chance to join the Rose Knights after reading his extremely well-detailed report on the Vundu's movements. But he gently turns her down, as he's already sworn to Emmanelain. Lorebooks reveal that Emmanelain took Honoroit in from the streets of the Jeweled Crozier, explaining this loyalty with Emmanelain's generous treatment of him.
Yes-Man: When Honoroit is not being a Servile Snarker, he will be supporting his lord's endeavors every step of the way.

House Durendaire

Count Charlemend de Durendaire

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ffxiv_charlemend.jpg

Race: Wildwood Elezen

The count of House Durendaire, the highest of the four High Houses of Ishgard. A proud leader who is ever-confident in the political arena, he nevertheless grieves for his missing son.

Big Ego, Hidden Depths: Despite his blustering and his inflated sense of self-worth from his family's name, Charlemend is at-heart a deeply compassionate man who wants to do right by his fellow Ishgardians as well as his family's name, and was the chief voice behind nominating Aymeric as head of the House of Lords.. After getting a slice of Humble Pie by venturing outside of Ishgard, he realizes how negligent he's been and strives to improve himself to be a role model for those to follow. He also continues to grieve the loss of his son, who was lost at sea twenty years ago.
Cynicism Catalyst: According to the first volume of Encyclopedia Eorzea, Charlemend was once part of the liberal wing of Ishgardian politicians who favored opening Ishgard's borders to foreign influences. But he reversed his position after his son was lost at sea, turning to more conservative views out of grief and growing distrustful of outsiders. But he's not so cynical as to be blind to the changing times and throws his support behind Ser Aymeric.
Humble Pie: Journeying outside of Ishgard with Francel is a sobering experience for Charlemend, who realizes just how much of his self-worth and accomplishments are built on his family's name rather than his own skills. By the events of Shadowbringers, he goes from smugly swaggering about the Eorzea city-states to quietly volunteering at the newly built hospital in the Firmament, knowing full-well that he may get harangued by the patients for the way he's treated them in the past.
Paper-Thin Disguise: He wears a neon blue and leopard-print bilaud and hat in comparison to his normal alpine coat while trying to discreetly find work at Ser Vandrieau's Grace. He does nothing to disguise his face, however, and people are instantly able to recognize him as Count Durendaire.
Parents as People: Charlemend mourns the son he lost at sea to this day, but it's clear it was at least partly his own rigid expectations that drove Carvallain to a step as drastic as faking his own death. He also tries to be a good Parental Substitute to his nephew, Ronontain, who lost his father in the Dragonsong War, though he also teaches Ronontain the mannerisms of an Upper-Class Twit, which shames Charlemend after he gets some Humble Pie.
Small Name, Big Ego: Zigzagged. The name of House Durendaire commands immense respect in Ishgard, granting Charlemend great authority as he's worked to uphold his house's standing. But when he and Francel journey outside of Ishgard's walls to strike a trade agreement with the members of the Eorzean Alliance, Charlemend is quickly blindsided by the Culture Clash and how little his family's name means to non-Ishgardians. If not for Francel's and the Warrior of Light's help, Charlemend would have likely gotten scammed in Ul'dah or mugged in Limsa Lominsa.
Upper-Class Twit: As the count of the highest of the four High Houses, Charlemend sneered at lowborn individuals and was frequently negligent in his duties to his knights and the people of Ishgard. Following the restructuring of the nation and the end of the Dragonsong War, Charlemend gets a much-needed dose of humility and tries to atone for his past actions. However, his family members continue to try and follow his previous example to his shame.
Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: He's not pleased when the various scions of House Haillenarte praise him for his help in aiding Ishgard's restoration. Not because he dislikes them, quite the opposite. He thinks they's done a great deal more than he has and getting patted on the back for his meager contribution makes him feel guilty over how little he's actually done.

Jannequinard de Durendaire

The second son of Count Durendaire and the guildmaster of the Astrologian's Guild.

See his entry in Disciples of Magic.

Carvallain de Durendaire

The missing heir to House Durendaire, who was lost at sea years ago.

For more information about him, see his entry as Captain Carvallain de Gorgagne in the Eorzean Alliance.

Ser Yuhelmeric

Race: Wildwood Elezen
Discipline: Gladiator

"The end of all dragonkind is the sole desire of the citizenry of Ishgard. All who would join our ranks must first prove themselves worthy in the eyes of gods and men."

A proud and pious Ishgardian knight serving as Lord Commander of House Durendaire's forces. He's encountered in a number of class quests during the events of Legacy as well as the later Grand Company quests. He was stationed at the Dusk Vigil in the events leading up to the Calamity, refusing to abandon his post even as western Coerthas was engulfed in snow and frost. He and his men eventually succumbed to the cold and hunger, becoming ravenous ashkin attacking anyone who wanders into the abandoned garrison.

Honor Before Reason: The Temple Knights had all largely pulled out of western Coerthas after the Calamity began to bury it in ice and snow. But Yuhelmeric refused to abandon the Dusk Vigil, declaring that it's his duty to remain as the first line of defense against the Dravanian horde. His officers pleaded with him to withdraw as the Dusk Vigil grew beyond repair, but to no avail. However, the Holy See did not send supplies to him or his men, and they gradually starved and froze to death.
I Am a Humanitarian: Driven to insanity by cold and hunger, Yuhelmeric and his surviving men resorted to eating the remains of the mutineers he executed to survive a fortnight longer.
Knightly Sword and Shield: Fitting a proud knight of Ishgard, Yuhelmeric wielded a longsword along with a red kite shield featuring the golden bell of House Durendaire, and still wields a sword and shield as an undead in the Dusk Vigil.
Reasonable Authority Figure: Throughout Legacy he is mostly depicted as a decent and reasonable commander with a good deal of respect for the dangers of the Black Shroud, telling the knights under his command to not shed blood while the Elementals are watching them. Following his Sanity Slippage however...
Sanity Slippage: According to the torn journal pages found in the Dusk Vigil, Yuhelmeric was whispering things the author dared not write before his death. Then he resorts to cannibalizing his own men to survive, speaking of the act as though he and his men had been shipped fresh meat from Ishgard.
Secretly Selfish: While he insisted that he and his troops must not leave Dusk Vigil on account of it being essential to Ishgard's defense, journal entries write that his eyes were transfixed upon the jewel in the helm of a statue of Halone. Father Wealdtheow explains that the ice rondel that he had the Warrior retrieve was a family heirloom that Wealdtheow had given to Yuhelmeric on his wedding day. It was taken by an inquisitor who lusted after Yuhelmeric's wife. That inquisitor accused her of heresy and destroyed her will through an abusive interrogation, leaving her a shadow of her former self. After Yuhelmeric was sent to Dusk Vigil, he found it again, embedded in the statue of Halone. The implication is that Yuhelmeric was determined to keep the gem for himself in memory of his wife and out of hatred for the wrongs the Holy See's inquistors commited against him despite his years of pious service.
Sudden Sequel Death Syndrome: While he was never a major character, the Dusk Vigil dungeon reveals that he succumbed to either famine, cold, or bloody mutiny from his own men due to his refusal to abandon his station even as western Coerthas was abandoned by the Holy See.
Warrior Undead: Following his death by cold and hunger he continues to haunt the Dusk Vigil as a fully armored undead knight and calls up his fallen soldiers to fight for him through his boss encounter.

House Haillenarte

Lord Joacin Charlemend Francel de Haillenarte

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lord_francel_de_haillenarte.jpg

Race: Wildwood Elezen

The youngest child of Count Haillenarte. He's accused of heresy when a Dravanian rosary is found among supplies being shipped to his house. After Lord Haurchefant and the Warrior of Light clear his name, Francel becomes a staunch ally of theirs, pledging support to House Fortemps in all its endeavors.

Frame-Up: He's accused of heresy after a Dravanian rosary is found among his belongings being shipped to his door. Not only that, but many members of his house were also accused of heresy and subsequently executed on the same charges prior to this.
Honor Before Reason: When he's accused of heresy, he leads a contingent of men into dragon-infested territory in hopes of restoring his house's good name rather than dispute the charges. As Haurchefant puts it, Francel is far too devout for his own good even when he knows he's innocent.
Loved by All: After the Warrior helps clear his family's good name, Francel's compassion and crusade to help the less fortunate wins him widespread popularity among both highborn and lowborn Ishgardians alike. Francel is constantly approached by passerby with words of thanks once the Firmament's restoration is completed. It isn't long before his friends and the people he helped see fit to throw him a concert in his honor because of all he's done to help others.
Nice Guy: Francel is a relentlessly kind and caring person whose heart aches for the misfortunate. As the overseer of the restoration of the Firmament, he works tirelessly to help those who lost their homes in the Dragonsong War move into the slowly restored section of the city.
Older Than They Look: Despite clearly having hit the growth spurt that takes adult Elezen from below five feet to almost seven, Francel's face still looks like it belongs on a teenager.
Overly Long Name: There's a reason why he's mainly referred to as "Lord Francel".
Put on a Bus: While he pledges support to House Fortemps, Francel vanishes from the story until after the events of 3.3, upon which he's appointed the overseer of the Firmament's restoration efforts. It's even lampshaded, as Francel asks if you remember him after all the adventures you've had since their last meeting.
Skilled, but Naive: As the scion of one of the Four High Houses, Francel is well-spoken, has a vast array of connections, and a skilled administrator. But his youth shows with his sometimes scatterbrained and thoughtless actions that cause more harm than good, like trying to restore his good name with a reckless attack on a dragon-infested area rather than dispute charges he knows he's innocent of. He also leaves his post as restoration overseer to personally deliver letters to the High Houses even though he has numerous other appointments planned, forcing the Warrior of Light to step up as overseer for a day and handle them in his stead.
Universally Beloved Leader: After the Warrior helps clear his family's good name, Francel's compassion and crusade to help the less fortunate wins him widespread popularity among both highborn and lowborn Ishgardians alike. Francel is constantly approached by passerby with words of thanks once the Firmament's restoration is completed. It isn't long before his friends and the people he helped see fit to throw him a concert in his honor because of all he's done to help others.

Stephanivien de Haillenarte

The eldest son of House Haillenarte and the leader of the Skysteel Manufactory. He is directly responsible for many technological advances in the burgeoning field of machinistry. But his efforts have not gone unchallenged by those who prefer the old ways.

See his entry in Disciples of War.

House Dzemael

Tarresson de Dzemael

The former count of House Dzemael. He has since retired from his position and has returned to his lifelong passion of crafting and workmanship, volunteering to guide the Mogmenders to restore the fallen monument of Bahrr Lehs in the Churning Mists.

See his entry in Beast Tribes.

Ser Grinnaux de Dzemael

Nephew of the current count and a knight of the Heavens' Ward. While he's known for his exceptional skills as a combatant, he's developed a notorious reputation as a brute for starting bar brawls and striking those who diasgree with him.

See the Heavens' Ward entry for more details.

Tedalgrinche de Dzemael

A knight of House Dzemael who stubbornly clings to Ishgard's traditions. He's a constant obstacle to Stephanivien's efforts to introduce firearms to Ishgard as an alternative means of bolstering its defense.

See his entry in Disciples of War.

Other Ishgardians

Hilda Ware

Voiced by: Yuki Keicho (JP), Jaye Jacobs (EN), Olivia Nicosia (FR), Katja Hirsch (DE)

Race: Hyur/Elezen Hybrid
Epithet: The Mongrel
Discipline: Machinist

"To be sure, our lives won't change overnight, and it'll take effort to bridge the gulf between highborn and lowborn, but I'm confident it'll all work out in the end."

A half Hyur, half Elezen woman living in the slums of Ishgard. She leads a small gang of rebels that causes trouble for the wealthy and the church in the city during the Heavensward scenario, and takes a no-nonsense approach to situations. She allies herself with the Warrior of Light after being convinced of their noble causes for Ishgard as a whole.

In Stormblood, she has been assigned to act as part of the newly formed city watch militia that helps protect Ishgard, leading and training her squad, "Hilda's Hounds". She requests additional aid from the Skysteel Manufactory in Machinist training and protecting an upcoming knighting ceremony for new Temple Knights from sabotage by any remnants of anti-reformist elements within Ishgard. However, the events of Stormblood means the most elite members of House Haillenarte's Machinists are unavailable, including Joye, leading Stephanivien to send Rostnstahl and the Warrior of Light instead to assist.

Because You Were Nice to Me: At the end of the Stormblood machinist questline, Hilda reveals that the gun she uses was gifted to her before the events of Heavensward by Stephanivien on a suspicion that doing so would convince her that not all nobles despised those beneath them. She happily informs him that it did, changing her opinions enough to give the likes of Stephanivien, House Fortemps and Aymeric a chance, instead of leading a violent revolution.
Deadpan Snarker: She is one of the more serious characters, but not above being sarcastic. Sometimes overlaps with Straight Man, such as during the Level 80 quest where she watches Joye switch personalities, fully with the hair undoing. She just stares before asking how and why the hair comes loose during the switch each time.
Do Not Call Me Sir: While scouting with the Eorzean Alliance, Pipin addresses her as "Lady Hilda" as they set to their task. Hilda jokes that she doesn't know any "Lady" Hilda before continuing the job.
Half-Human Hybrid: She's the child of an Elezen and a Hyur. As a result, she has shorter Pointy Ears than an Elezen and body proportion's like a Hyur's. The nature of her birth gets her the title "The Mongrel" in the Brume.
The Gunslinger: She's a machinist, thus she is quite skilled with her shooting.
The Lad-ette: She's not your average lady and is willing to remind you of that fact. Hilda is crass, rude, trigger happy, and she'll shoot you in the blink of an eye if you so much as rub her the wrong way.
The Leader: She's the de facto leader and peacekeeper in the Brume, resolving disputes with her reputation or a few warning shots from her carbine. Hilda also acts as a voice for the lowborn, confronting the Temple Knights with the people's grievances.
Long-Lost Relative: In the conclusion of the Stormblood machinist questline, the Warrior of Light learns that the Temple Knight Muscadain is Hilda's noble half-brother, re-contextuallizing their exchanges throughout the storyline.
Mythology Gag: To a character of the same name and causes in Final Fantasy II
Pointy Ears: The mark of her Elezen blood. Her ears are much smaller than an Elezen's, closer to a Hyur save for the points.
Red Baron: She's known as "the Mongrel" in Ishgard for being a Half-Human Hybrid. For her part, she's embraced the moniker and starts "Hilda's Hounds" as a civilian peacekeeping force by the events of Stormblood.
Trigger-Happy:
- Very much so. When a member of the Holy Knights barges into the tavern in which she is having a discussion with the Warrior of Light, obviously looking to arrest her, she doesn't think twice before firing at him. Too bad he was protected by a magic shield.
- During the Machinist questline, Hilda asks the Warrior to help her guard an investiture ceremony for the Temple Knights. Not because she needs the extra firepower, but because she thinks she'll end up shooting an Upper-Class Twit at the ceremony in the teeth if the Warrior isn't there.
  Symme: Once our Hilda sights her target, she's not one to question pulling the trigger...

Marcelloix Mourelz

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ffxiv_marcelloix.jpg

Race: Dragon (formerly Elezen)

"Altered as my hands are, I know not how well I can perform the work... but very well, milord. I'll try my very best."

An Ishgardian (now dragon) craftsman who had joined Ysayle's crusade against Ishgard in hopes of liberating it of its corrupt rulers. After the Dragonsong War had ended, he returns to Ishgard to see his family again, but new problems arise upon his return.

Didn't Think This Through: His strong desire to see his family again after having transformed into a dragon nearly causes a whole mess of problems. By showing up at Ishgard's front gate and asking to see his wife, the inquisitor was nearly ready to have him and his wife and daughter executed on the spot since he is both a dragon and a heretic and a heretic's kin would also have to be punished. Only the intervention of the Warrior of Light and Francel averts a tragedy. Marcelloix's wife also points this out.
Must Make Amends: Due to him running off and changing into a dragon, his wife isn't ready to forgive him for abandoning her and some of the citizens won't accept his dragon form since it reminds them of the dragons that nearly killed them. To prove that he can still help people, Marcelloix crafts dining utensils and an unguent for a pair of citizens that need them and then clothing for his wife and daughter that is fashioned in the style that they used to wear before losing them in the war. While everyone isn't ready to forgive him right away, they are willing to give him a chance.
One-Steve Limit: Shares his name with a minor character that has not appeared since 1.0, another Elezen craftsman. While there is nothing to explicitly say they are different people, the 1.0 Marcelloix was seemingly a resident of Gridania while this Marcelloix is an Ishgardian with no mention of Gridania in his past.
Parental Abandonment: He had left his wife and child behind to join the war on Ysayle's side, leaving the two of them to fend for themselves. When he does return, his daughter is just glad to have him back while his wife is pissed that he had the nerve to leave when they needed him most.
Painful Transformation: According to him, his transformation into a dragon was not only painful, it was so long that by the time he fully transformed, the war was already over.
Was Once a Man: He was a normal Elezen until he drank dragon blood, transforming him into a dragon. He is unable to revert to his normal form.

Lowdy

A waitress at a tavern serving the Ishgardian knights stationed at Falcon's Nest... who turns out to be leading a protest against the peace conference with the Dravanians in 3.2.

My God, What Have I Done?: Her appearance in the Stormblood Dark Knight quests make it abundantly clear that she's realized just how selfish her actions at the peace conference were.
Rielle: The proctor's punishments were nothing compared to her own guilt.
Pay Evil unto Evil: Put on the receiving end of this trope, as revealed in the Stormblood Dark Knight quests; an Ishgardian proctor goes out of his way to make her life hell even after Aymeric and other nobles have given her the chance to repent for her crimes. Sid and the Warrior of Light put a stop to it.
Small Role, Big Impact: She only has a handful of scenes in the Heavensward story, but her efforts quickly derail efforts to foster peace between Ishgard and Dravania by sowing panic and discord at what is supposed to be a peace conference.
Tampering with Food and Drink: She slips a sleeping drug into a drink she serves the Warrior of Light, incapacitating them and preventing them from intervening when she disrupts the peace conference.

Characters / Final Fantasy XIV - Ishgard

As the story has advanced beyond the point of hiding plot twists for Heavensward, there are unmarked spoilers below, you have been warned.

Ishgardian Orthodox Church

Voiced by: Shinpachi Tsuji (JP), Brian Protheroe (EN), Jean-Claude Sachot (FR), Bernd Volbrecht (DE)

Temple Knights

Voiced by: Tatsuhisa Suzuki (JP), Blake Ritson (EN), Sylvain Agaësse (FR), Tino Kießling (DE)