Midgardsormr (Final Fantasy XIV)



Midgardsormr is a dragon king in Final Fantasy XIV. A legendary king of kings, Midgardsormr was the father of the First Brood, the first dragons in Hydaelyn. Also known as a guardian deity in Silvertear Falls, he led the Dravanian Horde to battle against the Garlean Empire's airship fleet in the Battle of Silvertear Skies, an event that cost the dragon his life.

He was seen during the opening CG of the original game release (Version 1.0). This footage is later reused during a flashback narration from Gaius Van Baelsar in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. He becomes more directly involved in the expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward.

Appearance
Midgardsormr is initially seen as a colossal serpentine dragon (similar to Shinryu), large enough to entwine the Garlean dreadnaught Agrius, and could outright destroy lesser airships with energy attacks from his mouth. His corpse remained entwined with the dreadnaught as the ceruleum tanks detonated; by the time the Agrius is explored the carcass is in advanced stages of decay.

As a minion, his spirit takes the form of a small dragonet with a cream-colored underbelly, a dark green back, and two fin-like ears.

As the Warrior of Light's mount, he transforms into a full-grown dragon with dark green skin, his signature fin-like "ears," and a spiked tail. A sequence of metallic plates line his spine, with a large carriage seat for the rider at his upper back with reins attached to the head.

Personality
Midgardsormr is patient and enigmatic. He speaks in a slow, deliberate monotone and exhibits archaic speech patterns. While the original Japanese dialogue unquestionably portrays him as an ally the English localization characterizes him more ambiguously through the use of Dravanian dialect developed specifically for the English release of the game.

Abilities
Being an ancient dragon, Midgardsormr possesses considerable power, able to channel blasts of blue aetheric energy. His energy beams easily ravage Garlean airships, while damaging the hull of the Agrius. Even after the Agrius exploded seemingly claiming his life, his spirit remains dormant at the Keeper of the Lake, and can manifest as a ghostly dragon.

Perhaps his most notable ability is being able to seal away the mothercrystal's Blessing of Light, draining the crystals of their power and force the adventurer to act without Hydaelyn's protection.

Version 1.0


Midgardsormr's origins are unknown, but some say he came into being around the time Silvertear Falls were created and was charged by Althyk and Nymeia of the Twelve to oversee the waters and magic. Upon his arrival to Hydaelyn, Midgardsormr brought with him seven eggs from which the First Brood hatched. His children parted ways, Bahamut and Tiamat making home to Meracydia while Hraesvelgr, Nidhogg, and Ratatoskr took residence in Eorzea. At some point, Midgardsormr entered a deep slumber under Silvertear Falls.

In the year 1562 of the Sixth Astral Era, Gaius van Baelsar mobilized the airship fleet of the XIVth Imperial Legion to seize Mor Dhona as part of his initial campaign to conquer Eorzea. This stirred the Wyrmking from his quiescence beneath the lake of Silvertear Falls, and called forth the Dravanian Horde to repel the invaders. As he entwined around the Agrius to cripple the flagship, ceruleum tanks inside the vessel exploded, killing Midgardsormr. The explosion released a seal holding immense stores of aether beneath the lake, causing it to drain from the area, permanently transforming Silvertear Falls from a pristine landscape lush with freshwater and vegetation to a near barren wasteland, hosting a manner of terrible beasts drawn to the corruption.

For the next fifteen years Midgardsormr's corpse remained entwined with the wreckage of the Agrius in Lake Silvertear, a landmark known as the The Keeper of the Lake.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
As the Calamity and the Seventh Umbral Era came to pass, the Keeper remained a silent testimony to the terrible Battle of Silvertear Skies. Five years after Dalamud's fall, Ishgard's astrologians begin to see portents in the heavens: the dragon star flared, considered an omen of Midgardsormr's resurrection. This prompts Ser Aymeric de Borel of Ishgard's Temple Knights to begin negotiations with the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to request the Keeper of the Lake be monitored.

When word of a dragon's roar is heard, Aymeric's lieutenant Lucia sends forth a request that the site be investigated. With the aid of Doman surveyors, the adventurer takes a boat out to the wreckage, fighting through lake creatures, dragons, and imperial troops from Castrum Centri to reach the top of the Agrius. As they approach the head of the wyrmking, Midgardsormr's spirit awakens and attacks the party.

Once the spectral dragon is defeated, Midgardsormr decides to give the adventurer reprieve to state the purpose of coming to his resting place. Midgardsormr reveals he was awoken by the roar of one of his seven children, Nidhogg, who wages war with the Dravanian Horde on the people of Ishgard. Upon seeing the adventurer was chosen by Hydaelyn, he dispels the Blessing of Light by rendering the six elemental crystals dim. In place of this, Midgardsormr binds himself to the adventurer to create a new covenant to observe the figure's right to be Warrior of Light. Taking the form of a diminutive dragonet, eventually regaining his former appearance in time, Midgardsormr declares his intent to "watch...listen...and wait." While the exact relationship between Midgardsormr and Hydaelyn is unknown, he intends to test her champion's worth.

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward
During her conversation with the adventurer, Midgardsormr appears before Ysayle, much to her surprise. He explains that while their goals are the same, their paths are different, and reveals she, too, possesses the echo, to which she admits. Midgardsormr appears after one of the crystals regains its light, surprised the adventurer may be regaining the Blessing of Light.

After arriving at Azys Lla, Midgardsormr appears and directs the Warrior of Light to see sees his imprisoned daughter Tiamat. During their conversation, the adventurer learns the Ascians were responsible for both the creation and imprisonment of the Elder Primal created in Bahamut's image, and that the Allagans sealed many other ancient primals. Midgardsormr senses that the adventurer has fully regained Blessing of Light after speaking with Tiamat, offering to aid the hero by taking the adventurer to the Aetherochemical Research Facility.

After King Thordan has fallen, Midgardsormr witnesses Estinien's body being taken over by the spirit of Nidhogg, watching his offspring fly off with profound sadness. Midgardsormr later takes the adventurer to Ishgard, seeing Aymeric de Borel's resolve for peace between their races while warning the Ishgardians that Nidhogg has consumed Estinien and will prepare an renewed conflict with those loyal to his wayward spawn. Vowing to remember Aymeric's vow to heart, Midgardsormr flies off.

Gameplay
Midgardsormr is fought at the end of the Keeper of the Lake dungeon. He appears as a spectral dragon.

Upon completing the dungeon for the first time in the main scenario, the player will obtain his small dragonet form as a minion after returning to the shoreline in Mor Dhona.

Late in the Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward main scenario, Midgardsormr becomes a flying mount at the completion of the quest "Fetters of Lament".

Voice
Midgardsormr is voiced by in the English version.

Trivia

 * Midgardsormr's dragonet form bears a slight resemblance to the wyverns summoned by Dragoons in Final Fantasy XI.
 * Similar to some other minions, he will perch on the player's shoulder (or player's head, if Lalafell), and occasionally spits out a blue flame in his idle animation.