Lucis

The Kingdom of Lucis is a nation in the Final Fantasy XV Universe. It contains Eos's Crystal within its capital, Insomnia. It is ruled by the Lucis Caelum bloodline that is sworn to protect the Crystal and can wield its power. Lucis is described as highly advanced and culturally intact.

Lucis prospers thanks to the presence of its Crystal. This magical artifact alienates the kingdom from the rest of the world, which has fallen under Niflheim's control. Insomnia's Crystal is kept safe from those who would seek to steal it by King Regis, who ages rapidly because he must use the Ring of the Lucii to maintain the Wall around Insomnia. King Regis has a son and heir, Noctis.

Early history
Lucis was established during the Ancient Era. Solheim had fallen, and Starscourge had been brought into the world. A mortal man is said to have fought the darkness with the gods, and been given special powers to his bloodline, the Crystal to protect and the Ring of the Lucii. He became the king of Lucis, a nation established to the east od Eos, and his bloodline would reign for over two thousand years.

Niflheim declared war on other countries to expand its territory. Their two primary targets become the Kingdom of Lucis, which possesses the Crystal, and Tenebrae, led by the Oracle. Circa M.E. 606, the Lucian army, even with their alliance with Accordo, was being overwhelmed by the weapons of the empire. The king erected the Wall around the Cavaugh region that included the Crown City, and assumed a siege position. The Lucian army was dissolved and reorganized into a countermeasure-only defense force, the Crownsguard.

Due to the defeat of the allied forces, the Niflheim army invaded the regions of Leide, Duscae, and Cleigne, where they began establishing bases and a period of peace followed. Lucis challenged the empire, but were pushed back by the Magitek Troopers and defeated. M.E. 725 the Lucian prince Regis Lucis Caelum—who had traveled to Accordo with a select few to seek the restoration of an allied force—withdrew to the Crown City due to the Lucian army's defeat. The Wall was pulled back to Insomnia's ramparts to maintain the strength to resist the empire's invasion efforts.

Between the years 744–756 the conflict between Lucis and Niflheim continued. Niflheim renewed its offensive against Lucis with the attack on Fenestala Manor when Regis, now king, and his son Noctis were visiting Tenebrae. Although the stalemate became prolonged due to the drastic reduction of Niflheim's military forces in the battle with the Glacian, Lucis remained in the unfavorable position.

Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV
On the outskirts of Lucis, the Kingsglaive battles the combined forces of Niflheim and Tenebrae. Feigning a desire for peace, the empire infiltrates Insomnia and steals the Crown City's Crystal. The Wall falls and Insomnia is destroyed by Magitek Troopers and daemons, although Nyx Ulric commands the Old Wall to defend the city.

Final Fantasy XV
When Noctis, Ignis Scientia, Gladiolus Amicitia, and Prompto Argentum learn Insomnia has fallen and King Regis is dead, they traverse the many regions of Lucis to reach Altissia where Noctis is to rendezvous with Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, the Oracle. The Crown City has been overtaken by imperial forces and blockaded, and the magitek infantry patrols the Lucian territories in dropships. Niflheim begins building military bases to the Lucian land, and its banners are erected around Lestallum and other outposts in the area. The citizens passively oppose the takeover, celebrating when news comes in that Prince Noctis is still alive, and that the local imperial bases have been demolished by infiltrators.

After the world becomes trapped in an endless night for ten years due to the Starscourge, the world order falls apart. The empire crumbles as well, and daemons take over the world. Lestallum still provides power with its power plant, and as its lights keep the daemons at bay, most people move to live there and the rest of the lands are left abandoned. Noctis and his friends return to the ruins of Insomnia so Noctis can reclaim his throne and fulfill his destiny as the True King. As he sacrifices his own life to bring light back to the world, and doesn't have heirs, it is unknown what comes to Lucis afterward with its royal family gone.

Economy
Lucis thrives thanks to its vast realm being home to many ecosystems, and thus, resources that lie throughout. However, there is a nationwide economic disparity between the Crown City citizens and those who live on the outlands, as Insomnia has been isolated from the rest of Lucis for 30 years under the rule of King Regis. The outlands suffer from a lack of infrastructural development and decline of major fields of commerce and industry. It is implied in Final Fantasy XV Prologue Parting Ways that the way of life outside Insomnia has stagnated, being in many ways that of three decades behind of the Crown City. Products from Insomnia are valued throughout the outer regions, as they are difficult to come by.

Many varieties of fish exist throughout Lucian waterways. Fish are valued as food and for their components used in consumer products. Hunting is a both a civil service and a contribution to the economy whose goods and game from wild monsters are valued to maintain environmental stability and civil peace. Wild beasts' appendages can be salvaged into tools, crafting materials, and items of luxury.

Many abandoned mining operations litter the realm. Due to the rescaling of the Wall 30 years ago, daemons likely make excavation and extraction work difficult to continue. Personal modes of transportation, such as cars, are also an evidence of the divide, as models now discontinued in the Crown City exist in continued circulation.

Because of the lack of a direct method of obtaining raw earth materials to process into metals and diesel fuels, recycling and scrap re-salvaging is a common practice in the outer lands. Colored stones and ores are valued as a source of paint, building stones for infrastructure, and their accessibility for their sources remaining above ground.

The town of Lestallum and its Exineris power plant provides a constant source of electricity due to mining crystals related to the Disc of Cauthess that are used as a power source.

Locations

 * Cavaugh
 * Insomnia
 * Citadel
 * Leide
 * Hammerhead
 * Galdin Quay
 * Angelgard
 * Balouve Mines
 * Crestholm Channels
 * Formouth Garrison
 * Keycatrich Trench
 * Duscae
 * Coernix Station
 * Fociaugh Cavern
 * Nebulawood
 * Wiz Chocobo Post
 * Disc of Cauthess
 * Aracheole Stronghold
 * Costlemark Tower
 * Daurell Caverns
 * Cleigne
 * Lestallum
 * Old Lestallum
 * Cape Caem
 * Meldacio Hunter HQ
 * Greyshire Glacial Grotto
 * Rock of Ravatogh
 * Malmalam Thicket
 * Vesperpool
 * Myrlwood
 * Steyliff Grove
 * Pitioss Ruins
 * Galahd

Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary
The Kingdom of Lucis appears as a playable stage in party crossover.

Creation and development
Insomnia is designed to resemble Shinjuku, a part of Tokyo. Black is prominent throughout the kingdom, as is the Grim Reaper. In promotional material for Final Fantasy Versus XIII, a large statue of the entity is seen holding a painting of the goddess Etro.

Director Hajime Tabata has stated black is important in Lucis; it is worn by the kingdom's royal family. Concerned about the rating Final Fantasy XV would receive in some countries, Tabata toned down the theme of reaper worship that was prominent in the game's source material. Black replaced explicit references to this.

Etymology
Lucis juxtaposes Tenebrae, a kingdom whose name means "darkness" in Latin. While Tenebrae represents an "old school" fantasy kingdom, Lucis is technologically advanced thanks to the Crystal it keeps within Insomnia.

Trivia

 * In a community-driven Q&A, Hajime Tabata called the government of Lucis "friendly" in comparison to the administration of Japan's current prime minister, Shinzō Abe. Tabata stopped short of making direct comparisons.
 * Lucis and its monarchy are associated with large stone statues. Statues of hooded feminine figures appear outside royal tombs, and the tombs themselves have statues of a king laid to rest. The statues of the Old Wall are found all around Insomnia, and there are large hooded feminine statues outside the steps of the Citadel. In old Final Fantasy Versus XIII footage, there was a large statue of a hooded grim reaper holding a painting of Etro. While Altissia likewise has many statues, they are different as they mostly depict winged figures.