Part 2 of this, so let's go through what perhaps should have been the first. The core of it all. But let's list everyone again, so we don't forget:
Clive Rosfield: Ifrit - fire
Joshua Rosfield: Phoenix - fire
Jill Warrick: Shiva - ice
Cid Telamon: Ramuh - thunder
Benedikta Harman: Garuda - wind/air
Hugo Kupka: Titan - earth
Dion Lesage: Bahamut - holy/light
Barnabas Tharmr: Odin - dark(ness)
And then there's Leviathan the Lost, the water element, but they have no dominant as their title says
Alright, we can start.
1. Clive Rosfield - the destructive fires of Ifrit
Our dear protagonist Clive owns Ifrit, though it takes a while for him to 1. Discover that and 2. Come to terms with it. After all, it was Ifrit that presumably killed his dear brother and he's been chasing its Dominant ever since. No surprise then when he pleads to be killed upon the realization. For all that matters, Ifrit has destroyed his life, at the beginning of the story that is.
Throughout most of the game, one of our objectives is to destroy the Mothercrystals. Who better to go do that than Ifrit and his destructive flames, am I right? Plus, who better to destroy a god than one who revels in destruction? You can see what I'm getting at, I believe.
His whole design and personality also reflect Ifrit's nature, as I've explained in my other post. The red for fire, his stubborn and not easy to change mind like an ever burning flame.
Overall, I'd say this one is a rather easy one to pick on.
2. Joshua Rosfield - the creative fires of Phoenix
And while Clive goes more to the destructive side of fire, Joshua inclines himself to the creative side. Thus he is a healer, where no one else is.
Like previously mentioned, it's assumed Joshua died at the beginning (and Clive too), but we come to know that's not the case. The blessing of the Phoenix and its reviving flames brought them back, one could say. Joshua also uses his holy flames to trap Ultima inside him; Ifrit's fires would never be able to create a cage like Phoenix's did.
There's an interesting mistery surrounding Phoenix, overall. To start, it's unthinkable to have two Dominants of the same element, so how can Ifrit and Phoenix co-exist? Since Ifrit was unknown for so long, they'd say he was the impostor, but when Joshua sees the whole mural and has a harder time finding Phoenix, it's clear Phoenix is the impostor. It rose from Ifrit's ashes, as a phoenix does. Rosaria has always been a nation surrounding fire, and usually Phoenix's for they did not know Ifrit. Yet Ifrit was their real patron, Phoenix just appeared as well. From this, it's interesting to see how people, especially Anabelle, treat Clive as an impostor and Joshua as the true heir, when, for all that matters, it's more the other way around.
As for design and personality, I've explained it too in my other post. Joshua wears red as well to symbolize the fire, and while stubborn like such, he is more collected for his fire is gentler.
3. Jill Warrick - the calm of Shiva's ice
We've gone through how Jill is the perfect love interest for Clive for being ice to his fire. So let's focus really on her now.
Like I said in my other post, she's calm and collected like ice, and just as easily breakable. This plays a huge part in her development when she confronts her own past at the Iron kingdom, which just so happens to live in a volcano, the worst place for Shiva to be. And it's no mere coincidence. Knowing she is ice, put her around fire and she'll weaken; thus she gave in to their orders. Plus, ice is able to create, like she creates lots of paths for the team to go through when no other is available. On the stationary side, ice doesn't usually walk on its own unless the path allows it so, usually that means falling. Jill mostly follows others, not always, of course, she also makes her own choices and give her own insights on situations, but often follows others and when she doesn't it usually doesn't end well. Still, she's never truly alone, so she's always able to find a new path to walk with the help of those around her, just like ice needs to be carried by others if it wants to change places.
On a more design level, her colors are blue and white, a direct contrast to Clive and Joshua's red and black (thus furthering their pull to one another). These colors are also calm and reflect ice itself.
But let's not forget that while ice is fragile, it can also be deadly. Don't underestimate her.
4. Cid Telamon - the wise lightning of Ramuh
Despite not being too fond of being chosen by Ramuh, there's an important detail about the fact he has Ramuh and the role Cid plays in the game.
Ramuh is often referred as the Wise, and the common sense of summons, especially the main three. A sort of mentor, which is the role of Cid in the game, even after his passing. And this has been seen in other titles as well. In FFVI when Ramuh takes care of Terra and teaches the party about Espers; in FFIX with Garnet, Ramuh is the first Eidolon she recovers and the one that explains her her powers; and isn't Ramuh the first Astral Noctis gets too? Or at least one that you don't have to fight against. Even in Dissidia NT, it's Ramuh that tells Terra and Zidane about the planesgorgers and the threat they pose. Understand this, and the fact Cid has Ramuh makes total sense.
Towards Clive, Cid is a mentor figure and shares his knowledge as such, but even in his past he has done wise choices, like when leaving Barnabas and Benedikta upon realizing they were up to no good.
Design wise, he really doesn't show much, likely on purpose since he doesn't like the association much I'd say, but he does wear purple, the color of Ramuh's thunder, for quite a few entries by now.
5. Benedikta Harman - the fall of Garuda's winds
As the wind element, Benedikta sees herself above everyone, for she can fly where others cannot. She hears what others do not. And it's her narcissism that eventually leads to her death.
I've explained how she comes and goes like the wind in my other post, but her wind symbolism doesn't end there. Being able to fly the skies gives her a sense of superiority, a misplaced one if I had to say, for she's not the only one that can fly among the Eikons (though the flying ones are mostly on the heroes side, that is certain). This sense of superiority has her craving for power, and revel in it. She loses it, she dies.
Her design is honestly one of my favorites. The feathers that the wind carries, how they form a sort of wings, the choice of color being that bluish green, teal? It's a cold color, just like her, able to calm those around her so she can use as she pleases. And it's a direct contrast to its opposing earth.
Forget not: wind belongs to no one. Its loyalty lies only on itself.
Also, Garuda's part in the world is the Crystalline Dominion, the same one from where Ultima later rises Origin. Interesting detail that.
6. Hugo Kupka - the demise of Titan's earth
Admittedly, Hugo's relationship with earth is tied more to how that ties with Benedikta than it does with himself, but I reckon there's a few things worth pointing out.
To start, Hugo's lands are that of Dhalmekia, aka the desert location of the game. The land is completely at earth's mercy. And even during his fights, we literally go further down into the earth, his domain. He even says he has an advantage because of it.
As for Hugo himself, he is a giant, so it's clear he's Titan without it needing saying. Plus the fact he's bald and more tan than the rest adds to this. But there's not much more.
One little thing I found interesting was how when Titan primed he got tentacles. Rock tentacles, sure, but in a way also kinda symbolize the roots of plants. Why, Titan himself was stuck in place, similar to certain plant enemies of the franchise. I doubt it's just mere coincidence.
7. Dion Lesage - the control of Bahamut's light
Oh boy, my favorite character. Now I won't be able to shut up. I'll try to not get lost in fangirling.
So, Dion and Bahamut. I'll start with something simple. A dragoon has a dragon as his Eikon, and it ain't the first time something like that happens, Fang literally does the same. Another simple detail, Dion's name is similar to the word Dia, which means day in Portuguese and Spanish and was also used as a light-elemental spell in the first Final Fantasy, more prominent to use against undead than anything else. That adds up to the fact Bahamut is of the holy element and how his main enemy, Barnabas, isn't exactly alive. And as symbolism would have it, we first see Dion, and Bahamut, during the day, and it's during the day that we mostly see him actually, except during his fight when he isn't himself which happens at night and when he is at his lowest (when being saved by Kihel and when telling Terence to go to her). During the whole final part it's hard to say what's day and what isn't, but Dion's constantly surrounded by regret and in search for atonement (Kain intensifies. Someone gotta scream at Square to stop using Kain as a model for the dragoons of the franchise, it gets tiresome after a while. #bringRicardjustice), just like the sky is now constantly covered, so he's never at his best. Being the king of the skies, it's interesting to note how they too reflect Dion. The perks of being Bahamut, I suppose.
Now, his element is holy, light, and that's exactly what Dion represents to his kingdom: a guiding light. Thing is, his father is blind to it, but that's how manipulation works. Dion strives to bring the best of his kingdom, and that popularity has earn him a jail free card and unconditional devotion of his subjects. Yet it does not stop manipulation from happening, but what can you do.
On a design level, Dion's main colors are white a blue, similar to Jill, so no surprise that he's pulled to the Rosfields as well. But his main main color is white, which represents light. His kingdom also has a flower as a symbol, his father constantly gives him one. This flower is also white, for it is pure and light itself. However, for symbolism, this flower represents Sylvester, Dion's dad, to him more than anything, especially after the accidental patricide. It's important, for it's all that remains of his family. A nice detail of how, during his fight, he tranforms the Mothercrystal into said flower, a way of grieving if I had to guess.
Also, Dion himself says that those whose Eikon were absorbed by Clive later went rogue when trying to call on it (Benedikta and Hugo), but Dion is in fact able to become Bahamut and not go rogue, such is his will, the power of his control over his wishes. I find that a very nice detail.
Also, might be me super stretching this, but you all know how white is the amalgamation of all colors and when divided we get a rainbow. You can't tell me Dion being gay isn't related to this, come on! And speaking of that, I'm super offended that during the final fight, when Clive calls out for Bahamut, its his uncle Byron that speaks and not Dion (even if Dion was dead). How dare you call on the power of the gay and not have the gay empower it?! Outrageous, I tell you!
8. Barnabas Tharmr - the manipulation of Odin's darkness
Barnabas is also a very interesting character, as I've explained in my other post, he's the complete opposite of Dion. So let's try to break this down to its core.
So, Barnabas is darkness. Cliche choice for a villain, but whatever. Still, Ultima itself is also darkness (just take a look at his fight in the Interdimensional Rift), so it's no wonder that Barnabas would give himself completely to them. Darkness blends easier with more darkness. Plus, he's an Akashic human, no longer truly alive, so perfect to represent the dark side. Also, Barnabas's symbolism mostly works with another party, because he's a sort of shadow, of Clive mostly (during that bedroom scene with Ultima I almost thought he was Clive for a moment, the face was similar, but that's for another time).
As for his design, Barnabas wears black and dark blues and purples, obvious references to darkness. There is a contrast between the choice of him having blue and Clive red, but I'll expand that in another post. A detail to take hold of is how his powers are actually red, a color that in movies and shows often is associated with the villain, while blues are for the hero.
One more thing. Surely you are aware of Odin's relationship with thunder. On the old entries, it's his weakness, though he has appeared as thunder-elemental instead to still keep a connection. Here in FFXVI, Odin, or more specifically Sleipnir, can produce thunder on his feet and walk on air as such. Nice little inclusion there, but it doesn't end there, though that's for another post, I'm afraid. But speaking of Sleipnir, while at first we're introduced to him as just Barnabas's commander, he is in fact Odin's horse, created by Barnabas himself to replace Cid after he left and keep him company, though for all that matters they're one and the same. Sleipnir himself wears light gray clothes, not only a reference to the fact he is the horse of same color, but a contrast to Barnabas himself, for Sleipnir also serves as Barnabas's voice, a less restricted one that is (hence the light gray, a color more free than black). Also, I'm not the only one that believes Barnabas has bed the human form of his horse, right? I'm pretty sure I'm not in the community as a whole. Well, at the end of the day, he's just kinda bedding himself, another half of himself, that is.
Oh, and a side note. When Barnabas fights Clive after becoming Moises and cutting the seas in half, when he's explaining Ultima's plan and whatnot, I could've sworn I heard motifs of one of Kuja's themes, more specifically Immoral Melody I believe, in the background, so that's a nice detail. I took notice of two other instants where FFIX motifs came up: when entering that tower where you later fight Barnabas the last time, though I can't quite put my finger of which dungeon theme is it. Memoria? Burmecia? Ipsen Castle? I'd have to listen to the soundtrack to be completely sure. The last time is at the end against Ultima, when you reach Nexus. It might have been the organ that threw me off, but the music also seemed to have some motifs of Kuja's related themes, and if that is in fact true, that makes so much sense, since Kuja is the only one that can use Ultima in FFIX and it has become one of his multiple associations. Just thought I'd share this last bit of my findings.
9. Leviathan - the lost Eikon
Truthfully, there isn't much I can't say about this one since it is absent. We'd have to wait for the upcoming DLC to know more. However, while the Eikon itself is missing, it's interesting to notice they do make an effort to show Water-elemental Bearers around.
Alright, that should be all from me for this part. Hope you enjoyed, and mayhaps have something to add. And see you in the next one.
