Izayoi (The After Years)

Izayoi (十六夜) is one of the Eblan Four in Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, and is known as Izayoi of Water. She is a kunoichi who always views battle in a calm and collected manner. At times, she is known to make use of her other fascinating assets, though she views herself as a Ninja first, a woman second.

Story
When Eblan receives word of Baron stealing Crystals from the other nations, the Eblan Four become eager to assist Edge, and they are sent on missions to gather information. Izayoi disguises herself as an Epopt trainee in Troia. There she learn that the Epopts have constructed a tower to train their ranks into combat, and goes to investigate it. Izayoi returns to Eblan in the ship that brought Palom to Troia.

She reunites with Edge and the other Eblan Four within the Tower of Babil and after being forced to escape from the Mysterious Girl and Ifrit they fall to the Underworld and into the Falcon.

In the Gathering Tale, Izayoi watches over Leonora, Palom, and the other incapacitated characters below the Falcon's deck. During the ending, she is seen again impersonating an Epopt trainee, where she giggles at Leonora's upcoming announcement. In the end, she and the other Ninja Guard of Eblan renew their vows of loyalty to Edge, awaiting their next mission.

Equipment and Stats
Izayoi can equip katanas, boomerangs, whips, and bows. However she is most effective with the latter two, as katanas and boomerangs are optimal only for the ambidextrous ninjas, Edge and Tsukinowa. Unfortunately, certain bows and whips decrease their user's mental stats, which lowers the effectiveness of her Ninjutsu. Izayoi's ability is Illusions, which confuses an enemy. Similar to Edge Izayoi has all-around average stats with high Speed. Her Spirit is the highest of the Ninja characters due to her focus on healing Ninjutsu, but dedicated White Mages have much higher Spirit and better varieties of healing spells. Izayoi is well-suited to the back row with her variety of long-range weapons, as well as her lower HP and Stamina than other physical characters. Izayoi is able to perform band abilities with the other Eblan ninjas and Leonora due to her time undercover in Troia, and is also able to take part in a handful of Bands focusing on the female party members.

Boss
Izayoi is fought as a boss, along with the remaining Eblan Four, at the beginning of Edge's Tale, as part of a training session.

Etymology
Her name literally means "sixteenth night" which refers to the lunar phase known most commonly as the Full Moon.