Minfilia Warde

Minfilia Warde is a prominent non-player character in Final Fantasy XIV. She was once the leader of the Path of the Twelve, an organization of people touched by the Echo, and offered walkers of the Path guidance in learning to utilize the Echo to bring about peace. She first appeared in Ul'dah's main storyline as Ascilia, daughter of Warburton. Minfilia somewhat abruptly exited the story as the Seventh Umbral Era plotline began to take precedence to set up A Realm Reborn.

In the Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn re-release, the Path of the Twelve has merged with the Circle of Knowing to form the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, with Minfilia at the head.

Appearance
Minfilia is a Highlander Hyur who keeps her blond hair in a ponytail with long bangs hanging down the sides of her face.

In the original Final Fantasy XIV, she wore a pink half-top, brown culottes, and fingerless gloves. As she was never seen in battle, she could dress more casually than most characters.

In A Realm Reborn, Minfilia wears a midriff-less dress, and her attire is more decorated. During a trip to the snowy Coerthas, she wears a purple highlander coat. Perhaps due to having matured five years, Minfilia's bust has increased in size.

Personality
In the original Final Fantasy XIV, Minfilia's official title was "Acting Antecedent" of the Path of the Twelve. Antecedent is a synonym for "predecessor", which implied she was someone with the Echo who came before others, including the adventurer, and guided them with the wisdom of seniority. Though wise and diplomatically savvy, she was often undermined by her would-be followers in the Path of the Twelve, including the adventurer's Path Companion. This showed a lack of formality within the Path of the Twelve, as well as shaky leadership on her part, no matter how sound her ideals may have seemed. Her controversial wish to see the five races join forces with the Beast Tribes against Garlemald was never realized.

Five years following the Calamity, Minfilia is shown more respect as the leader of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, particularly by her peers in the Circle of Knowing. She is more cheerful now that she needn't keep the organization a secret, although she is not aloof to the gravity of the growing conflict. Minfilia is warm and welcoming to the adventurer.

Final Fantasy XIV 1.0
Minfilia was met as Ascilia where she was handed a basket of flowers by F'lhaminn. After the commotion she was almost trampled by a rampaging Goobbue until her father Warburton saved her, and later fell into a coma from his injuries. Desperate to find out who was responsible, she confronted the man who set the goobbue free a thaumaturge named Corguevais, but found no solace in their meeting. Warburton perished from his injuries, and from then on Ascilia was taken in by F'lhaminn. The peace was shattered when she learned her new adopted mother was part of the same group that had released the goobbue that killed Warburton.

Allying with the necromancer Niellefresne, Minfilia attempted to find a way to bring her father back from the dead. The plan failed after Niellefresne was killed by a mysterious robed man.

Upon learning of the adventurer's ability to use the Echo, Minfilia offered him/her to join the Path in working behind the scenes to use this rare talent for peace. After joining the Path and choosing a Path Companion, a few of the adventurer's missions were given by Minfilia, including an investigation into Garlean activities in the home of the Syphs in Black Shroud and a dispatch to Gridania to meet with the Ashcrown Consortium.

It came to the Path's attention that the Garlean Empire had labeled Eorzea's indigenous Beast Tribes as the enemies of Eorzea, for they mean to summon their "Eikons" to defy all invaders, including the three city-states. Because walkers of the Path can use the Echo to communicate with the beastmen, they were branded heathens. Sparking controversy within the Path itself, Minfilia implored the walkers to agree to an alliance with the tribes to combat Garlemald.

The majority of the Path responded negatively, fearing that cooperation with Beast Tribes would cast them out of society regardless of Garlemald's declaration. The adventurer and their Path Companion were among the few who followed her in this radical endeavor, although attempts to sway the Amalj'aa, and their Eikon, Ifrit, ended in failure.

After a battle between an Ala Mhigan resistance and the Empire ended poorly she used it as a reminder to the adventuer that Garlemald is simply too powerful for any one City-state, and that an alliance with the Beast Tribes was their only chance.

The Tales from the Calamity series, posted on the Final Fantasy XIV Anniversary site, revealed she had met Louisoix Leveilleur shortly before the Battle of Carteneau. He warned that if he does not return, she must be prepared to lead others in his stead, and to await "one who bears the light" and shares her gift of the Echo. His staff, the Tupsimati, was later recovered by Kan-E-Senna and would be kept by Minfilia in her solar.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
After the Calamity, the Grand Companies of Eorzea retain their alliance, though their efforts are spent nigh wholly on rebuilding. The Path of the Twelve and the Circle of Knowing found common ground and merged to become the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, an organization of heroes left with the arduous task of beating back the primals and filling any gaps in the forces fighting the Empire. Though they work closely with the Grand Companies in the latter effort, they defy the primals alone.

The adventurer (either newly created or a Warrior of Light) is directed to the Waking Sands, the Scions' headquarters, by its members upon exhibiting signs of the Echo. Because Minfilia is blessed with the Echo, she is the first to recognize the Warrior of Light (the adventurers who were saved by Louisoix) while all others have forgotten their names and faces. She explains that Louisoix's spell wiped everyone's memories of the survivors, information she also likely gained through the Echo.

Minfilia directs the adventurer on a number of missions as a Scion of the Seventh Dawn, sending them to slay primals as well as to keep the peace. Shortly after Titan is slain, the Waking Sands is raided by a Garlean strike team led by Livia sas Junius intent on capturing Minfilia and other Scions to study the Echo. Despite surrendering, Livia went back on her word and killed the remaining personnel. Minfilia, Papalymo, Tataru, and Urianger would be taken to Castrum Centri.

After Minfilia proves uncooperative, Livia plans to transfer them to Castrum Meridianum. As the Garleans ready them for transport, Minfilia warns she would take her own life if any of her friends are harmed. The adventurer and remaining Scions rescue them and escape the stronghold in Cid's Enterprise. With Gaius van Baelsar's ultimatum issued forth, Minfilia convinces the leaders of Eorzea's city-states to reject it and plan a counter-attack to destroy the weapon.

A Realm Awoken
After the destruction of the Ultima Weapon, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn become too public to remain effectively neutral while headquartered near Ul'dah. Alphinaud suggests they relocate to Revenant's Toll in Mor Dhona, as it is outside the jurisdiction of any city-state. During this time, the adventurer tracks down F'lhaminn, who reunites with her foster daughter and stays with the Scions at their new headquarters.

As Minfilia packs up the Tupsimati in preparation to move, a mysterious voice comments how he regrets never meeting the Archon Louisoix before his death. To her shock, a white-robed Ascian stands before her who shows interest in how she and the others have become skilled in "the gift," and that understanding the true nature of the Echo could eliminate the conflict between their people. As he turns to leave, Minfilia rushes after him, but he stuns her with dark energy. She dispatches the adventurer to track him down, where he introduces himself as Elidibus and restates his belief that the Echo is a gift, whether the adventurer trusts him or not.

As they settle in their new headquarters, Urianger reveals troubling news: the Isle of Val in Dravania and their associates in the Students of Baldesion have seemingly disappeared.

Through the Maelstrom
After Yugiri Mistwalker's request for aid is turned down by the Syndicate, Minfilia agrees to provide asylum for her and the Doman refugees in Mor Dhona. Out of gratitude, the far eastern woman joins the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, and accompanies the investigation into Leviathan's summoning.

Unlike in other circumstances, Minfilia insists on accompanying the other Scions to the Sapsa Spawning Grounds in hopes of understanding what Elidibus meant by "the true nature of the Echo." During the ritual, they observe a sahagin priest utilizing an advanced form of the Echo where he escapes death from Admiral Merlwyb's gunshot by transferring his essence into fellow sahagin. As the primal Leviathan emerges from the waters, his form begins to dissipate and is absorbed by the Lord of the Whorl.

Defenders of Eorzea
After the defeat of Ramuh, Minfilia and Urianger outline a theory on how the immortal Ascians might be permanently slain by trapping them in the material world. She learns that her friend Krile of the Students of Baldesion is still alive, though in unknown condition. She gives Alphinaud her blessing to create the Scions new Grand Company, the Crystal Braves.

Dreams of Ice
Minfilia asks the adventurer to aid Alphinaud in managing the Crystal Braves, which is still undermanned. When Ser Aymeric de Borel requests an audience, she gives the go ahead for them to meet with him at Camp Dragonhead. She arrives in Coerthas once the danger of Lady Iceheart becomes clear, and researches into the history of Saint Shiva, though the histories are contradicting and uncertain. With Iceheart cutting off pursuit at the Aetheryte in Snowcloak, Minfilia summons an expert on teleportation from Sharlayan named Moenbryda for assistance.

With Moenbryda's white auracite enabling pursuit to the Akh Afah Amphitheatre and defeating Shiva, the Scions realize this may be the key they need to combating the Ascian threat.

Before the Fall
Minfilia is captured by Nabriales when the Ascian attacks the Rising Stones to steal Tupsimati. She is rescued by the adventurer, and Nabriales is slain thanks to Moenbryda sacrificing her life to destroy him after he's sealed inside White Auracite. She is devastated by Moenbryda's death, but understands she needs to maintain her duties during the upcoming attack on Ishgard by the Dravanian Horde.

After the city is defended, she attends a celebration in Ul'dah alongside the other Scions and city-state leaders. They are betrayed by the Crystal Braves, who on behalf the Monetarists assassinate Nanamo Ul Namo and frame the Scions for the crime. Pursued by a force of both Crystal Braves and Brass Blades, they escape into a secret tunnel through the Sil'dih Aqueducts.

The other Scions seemingly sacrifice themselves to allow the adventurer and Minfilia to get away. As they near the end of the tunnel, Minfilia receives a message from Hydaelyn to return to Y'shtola and Thancred's side. Minfilia instructs the adventurer to continue without her, returning to her allies' side before being caught in the energies of Y'shtola's Flow spell. Ending up in the Mother Crystal's realm in the Aetherial Sea, Minfilia offers her body for the weakened Hydaelyn and became "The Word of the Mother".

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward


After the adventurer defeats Archbishop Thordan VII and reunites with Y'shtola and Thancred, the Scions are joined by Minfilia's close friend, Krile. With her help, the Scions discover the truth of Minfilia's fate in Ul'dah, and attempt to find her with whatever knowledge of the Aetherial Sea they can obtain from the Antitower.

The adventurer is transported to the Mother Crystal's realm and learns of Minfilia's new existence as "The Word of the Mother." She reveals the existence of Zodiark and urges the adventurer to stop the Ascians. Seemingly using the remainder of her strength in the encounter, Minfilia dissipates before returning the adventurer to Eorzea.

Though disheartened to learn of Minfilia's apparent demise, the Scions promise to fulfill her wishes and defeat the Ascians once and for all. They choose to keep the truth of Minfilia's fate a secret known to only the leadership of the Scions, telling the remainder of their allies, including F'lhaminn, merely that their efforts to locate her have reached a dead end.

Some time later, Urianger manipulates both the Warriors of Darkness and the Scions into a confrontation. During the conflict, the power of the crystals held by the Warriors of Darkness combines with that of the Adventurer, transporting everyone present into the Mother Crystal's realm, and reconstituting Minfilia. Urianger reveals that this was his goal, and apologizes for his apparent betrayal. Minfilia agrees to travel to the Warriors of Darkness' world as Hydaelyn's avatar in order to save it from the flood of light that threatens to destroy it, despite knowing that she will likely never be able to return to Eorzea. She bids farewell to her friends, and thanks F'lhaminn for everything she did for her, before leaving with the Warriors of Darkness.

Voice
In A Realm Reborn, Minfilia is voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro in the Japanese version. She shares her Japanese voice actress with Raffaello from the DS version of Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon, Sice from Final Fantasy Type-0, Quistis Trepe from Final Fantasy VIII as she appears in World of Final Fantasy, and Aranea Highwind from Final Fantasy XV.

She is voiced by Amy Bolton in the English version.

Other appearances
Minfilia has appeared in the following games throughout the Final Fantasy series:
 * Pictlogica Final Fantasy as a playable character.
 * Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade as an ally and a summonable Legend.
 * Final Fantasy Record Keeper as a playable character.
 * Final Fantasy Brave Exvius as a summonable vision.
 * Final Fantasy Trading Card Game as a series of cards.
 * Triple Triad as a series of cards.

LINE
Minfilia appears on a sticker set for the LINE communications app. The sticker set she appears in is titled "ファイナルファンタジーXIV.

Trivia

 * In A Realm Reborn, Minfilia's original goal of uniting Beast Tribes would be partially achieved by the adventurer participating in all the Beast Tribe quests added in various patches. This alliance would not be against Garlemald, but rather an unscrupulous and sinister merchant in Ul'dah.
 * The Rising Vendor during the first anniversary of A Realm Reborn event "The Rising" was as woman who resembled 1.0 Minfilia. A Wind-up Minfilia minion is among her wares.
 * Minfilia makes an appearance the special Ultimate Fight Final Fantasy XIV trailer, summoned by Yda to have the Scions of the Seventh Dawn team up on Livia Sas Junius. After the fight Minfilia hogs the spotlight and makes the victory pose despite not actually participating in the fight, a gag on players' complaints that Minfilia never does anything important despite ostensibly being a major character.