Delita Heiral

Delita Heiral, also known as Delita Hyral, is a character from Final Fantasy Tactics. In Chapter 1 he is a guest character, but later is directly under the player's control in two side battles that take place away from the main plot with Ramza and his party; although this only happens in the Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions version. His birthday is November 25th.

Delita's story is widely known through Ivalice, of a commoner who became a king and brought peace to a chaotic kingdom, while Ramza, his friend, is of little mention in history, and is branded a heretic. Arazlam Durai, a historian researching these events many years later, informs the player history has made Delita the only hero of the War of the Lions. Arazlam then asks the player if this is the "truth", and if the player will help Arazlam find the true answer.

Appearance and Personality
Delita has short, slicked back brown hair and brown eyes. During the game's first chapter, he wears a buff coat and squire armor, high-thigh boots, brown gloves and a large belt wrapped around his abdomen. In the following chapters, where he is a Holy Knight, Delita wears Templar-like golden armor over his arms, legs and shoulders, a golden belt and red clothing. In the ending, he dons a red robe over this combination.

Ultimately an idealistically honorable man who thinks of himself as a people's hero, Delita holds to the unfortunate maxim that the ends justify the means. After his sister, Tietra Heiral, falls victim to a manipulative plot, Delita vows never to succumb to manipulation again. In a self-driven crusade against the nobility, Delita uses the art of manipulation to ascend to the throne, forming numerous allegiances with different factions and persons, all the while intent on double-crossing them all.

Despite using false allegiances and conspiracies to deceive his contemporaries, Delita is not ruthless, as he is willing to spare the lives of some of the people who get caught up in his schemes, and he is willing to rule Ivalice in a just manner.

Allegiance to the Order of the Northern Sky
Delita was born to poor farmers on the Beoulve land. Barbaneth adopted him and his sister, Tietra, into House Beoulve after their parents succumbed to the Black Death. Delita and Tietra became fast friends with Barbaneth's children Ramza and Alma Beoulve. While growing up, Delita attended the Gariland Royal Military Akademy with Ramza and was with Ramza when they rescued Argath Thadalfus from the Corpse Brigade.

Argath revealed Marquis Elmdore had been kidnapped and when Ramza defied Dycedarg's orders and set out to rescue him, Delita went with him. They succeeded and were assigned to attack Milleuda Folles at the Brigands' Den. During the battle, the reasons for the Corpse Brigade's actions became apparent, as this was a class struggle. This created a rift between Delita and the arrogant upper-class Argath. Following Milleuda's first defeat, Delita and Ramza returned to Eagrose, only to learn the Corpse Brigade had taken Delita's sister captive.

Zalbaag Beoulve launched a frontal assault on the Brigade's positions at Ziekden Fortress and Delita realized this was likely to result in Tietra's death. He tried to convince Ramza to rescue Tietra by attacking from the Lenalian Plateau. When an unsympathetic Argath insulted Delita, Ramza stood up for his friend, and kicked Argath out of his unit, and Argath joined Zalbaag's force in their attack on Ziekden. Ramza and Delita set out to rescue Tietra and at Mandalia Plains shared what was to be their last moment together under the circumstances, for the attempt to rescue Tietra met with disaster.

Ramza and Delita re-encountered Milleuda at the Lenalian Plateau and the misunderstanding between Ramza and Milleuda resulted in the latter's death, which infuriated her brother, Wiegraf, leader of the Corpse Brigade. Although Delita and Ramza were close to rescue Tietra at the windmill hut, a fencer of Wiegraf's forces took her as a hostage to Ziekden Fortress.

Delita and Ramza arrived to find a standoff between Gragoroth, holding Tietra captive, and the Order of the Northern Sky. Argath opened fire, mortally wounding both Tietra and Gragoroth Levigne. Zalbaag left to pursue Wiegraf, and Delita's rage boiled over against Argath. He attacked, and Ramza joined him in battle. Argath was defeated and killed, but Gragoroth set off an explosion which destroyed the fort. Delita, standing next to Tietra's body, would have perished, had her body not shielded Delita from the explosion.

The Kidnapping of Ovelia
Following the Ziekden Fortress incident, Delita set himself up as an Order of the Southern Sky knight, while also answering to the Church of Glabados, but is loyal only to himself and plans to double-cross both. Several Church of Glabados knights, wearing Southern Sky uniforms, attack Orbonne Monastery, where Princess Ovelia is staying. While Ramza as part of Goffard Gaffgarion's mercenary unit, and Agrias Oaks, the princess's knight, drive off the fake Southern Sky knights, it was but a diversion. Delita slips into Orbonne Monastery from the back and kidnaps Ovelia, escaping on his chocobo before Agrias can react.

Ramza, recognizing Delita, sets out to pursue him. At Zeirchele Falls Delita runs into trouble, allowing Ramza's forces to catch him. Gaffgarion turns on Ramza and reveals his true assignment: kill Ovelia so Goltanna can't use her claim to the throne. Ramza drives off Gaffgarion and helps Delita rid of his attackers and Delita relinquishes control of Ovelia to Ramza. When Ovelia falls into the hands of Cardinal Alphonse Delacroix, Delita arrives, and after Folmarv has interrogated her, he takes the princess to Goltanna. On the way they are attacked by three Northern Sky soldiers, but Delita drives them off.

Betraying the Southern Sky
Delita begins his betrayal of the Southern Sky and Goltanna. After ridding Goltanna of a treasonous adviser, Chancellor Glevanne, Delita succeeds Baron Grimms as commander of the Blackram Knights after the Baron was killed in a battle against the Order of the Ebon Eye rebels in Zeltennia. The High Confessor also creates friction between Goltanna and Cidolfus Orlandeau.

Delita is given the task of assassinating Goltanna by the Church of Glabados, and is offered the aid of Valmafra Lenande, although Valmafra is, in fact, ordered to keep an eye on Delita. He later meets Ramza at the church near Zeltennia where he reveals more of the Church of Glabados plan. He had been noticed by the Heresy Examiner Zalmour Lucianada, who had come to arrest Ramza. Delita knows that since Zalmour is aware of his intentions to double-cross the church, he has no choice but to kill him. Together with Ramza he does so, and then returns to deal with Goltanna.

At the Battle of Fort Besselat Delita assassinates Goltanna and implicates Orlandeau in the murder, but executes a decoy to allow the real Orlandeau to escape and assist Ramza in his quest to destroy the Lucavi. Delita confronts Valmafra, whom he knows to be a spy. Valmafra is unable to bring herself to take action against Delita.

Aftermath
Following Ultima's destruction at the hands of Ramza, Delita marries Princess Ovelia and becomes the King of Ivalice. Ovelia becomes disturbed by the fact she was nothing more than a pawn to Delita like everyone else. On the day of her birthday Delita brings her flowers, but Ovelia betrays her husband, stabbing him with a dagger. Delita responds by stabbing Ovelia, and then collapsing while wondering about Ramza's happiness.

Delita may have survived the dagger wound as in the official record, Delita maintained a long and peaceful rule while Ramza was never mentioned. Orran Durai, who was publishing an account of the truth, was executed by the church as a heretic, but his descendant Arazlam Durai would ultimately discover his Durai Papers and learn the truth.

Battle
At the start of Chapter 1, Delita joins as a guest character as a level 1 Squire with 71 Bravery, 55 Faith, and equipped with the Broadsword, Leather Cap, and Clothing. Delita is controlled by the AI and will not permanently perish if KOed.

During Chapter 2 at Zeirchele Falls, Delita returns as a guest character as a level 11 Holy Knight with 75 Bravery, 50 Faith, and comes equipped with the Coral Sword, Mythril Shield, Plate Mail, and other pieces of equipment that are randomized. He has access to the powerful Holy Sword command, and his other abilities are randomized. During this battle, he is immune to the Chicken, Toad, Charm, and Doom statuses.

During the second battle at Zeirchele Falls, found exclusively in the War of the Lions version and occurring right after the initial battle at Lionel Castle, Delita is temporary controllable and is a level 25 Holy Knight with 85 Bravery, 40 Faith, and comes equipped with Ancient Sword, Golden Helm, Golden Armor, and Germinas Boots. He comes with the Holy Sword and Arts of War commands, as well as the Counter, Move +1, and Safeguard abilities.

During the battle at Zeltennia Castle's Chapel Ruins found exclusively in the War of the Lions version and occurring right after the battle at Walled City of Yardrow, Delita is controllable as a level 30 Holy Knight with 85 Bravery and 52 Faith, and comes equipped with the Save the Queen, Platinum Shield, Platinum Helm, Carabineer Mail, and Germinas Boots. He still has access to the powerful Holy Sword and Arts of Wars commands, and now uses Parry, Concentration, and Move +1. He is now innately immune to all negative statuses except Chicken, Toad, Charm, and Doom.

The final time Delita is a guest character is at Zeltennia Church, where his level is based on the party's and starts with 75 Bravery and 50 Faith. He comes equipped with the Runeblade, Platinum Shield, Circlet, Bracer, and Carabineer Mail. He still has access to Holy Sword, though his other abilities are random. He is innately immune to Chicken, Toad, Doom, and Charm.

Rendezvous
When fought in the fourteen Rendezvous battle: Brave Story, he is level 99 and starts with 97 Bravery and 60 Faith. He is equipped with the Chaos Blade, Escutcheon II, Grand Helm, Lordly Robes, and a Ribbon. Oddly enough, the Ribbon happens to be a head equipment equipped in his accessory slot. He has access to the Holy Sword and Iaido commands, as well as to the abilities Shirahadori, Safeguard, and Move +3. He is immune to Chicken, Toad, Charm, and Doom.

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade
Delita appears as a summonable Legend in Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade. He is depicted in his default Final Fantasy Tactics outfit. His abilities are Judgment Blade and Northswain's Glow. He was first introduced in the event, Final Fantasy Tactics The Lost Truth - Parts 1 & 2, in which he was a supporting character on a special stage called a Tactics Stage. In the Tactics Stage, Delita was only seen, heard and mentioned after clearing the stage.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game
Delita appears as four different cards in the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game.

Vagrant Story
In Vagrant Story, Delita is referred to as "Haeralis the Brave" in the description of an accessory found in Leá Monde. Although the reference is offhand and short, the choice of the adjective "Brave" may indicate that King Delita is still considered a hero in Vagrant Story's region and era.

Trivia

 * The Glabados Devout who acts as Orlandeau's double is possibly tricked by Delita to die for Duke Goltanna's assassination because the church has actually ordered Delita to assassinate Goltanna and Orlandeau altogether.
 * Delita is one of two characters in the game whose special job class changes throughout the story (the other one being Argath Thadalfus, but just in the War of the Lions remake), starting as an improved Squire, changing to a Holy Knight, and later changes to Ark Knight.
 * Delita is one of two characters that change their battle sprite three times in the story, with the only other being Ramza.
 * In a quest in Final Fantasy XIV, there is line uttered by the cowardly merchant, Ungust, that quotes, "Spare me your contempt! If you want to blame someone for the mess the world's in, blame yourselves or the gods!", a line Delita says in the beginning of the PS version of Final Fantasy Tactics to Princess Ovelia. (It was changed to "'Tis your birth and faith that wrong you... not I." in the War of the Lions version.)

Delita Heiral