Joshua Rosfield

Part 4 and final part. We've focused on opposites, we've focused on the Dominants and Eikons themselves and we've focused on how everyone is connected to Clive. That leaves the remaining pairs to go through, which is what I'll be doing here. But first, our customary list:

• 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

And if in the previous post I didn't go over Jill, in this one we won't go over Clive, for obvious reasons. Anyway, let's start.

1. Joshua and Jill - Clive's bodyguards

So, I've already gone through their relationship a little bit in my first post, but I didn't develop much since Joshua isn't Jill's actual opposite. That's Clive.

As for these two, like I said, in the spectrum, Joshua stays at the middle, for he has fire's personality, but the abilities of ice. This draws him to Jill in a different way from Clive. And by that I mean that their ability to create makes them a sort of bodyguards to Clive. They create protection for him.

Besides that, it's a very sweet friendship. Love them.

2. Jill and Cid - the human Eikons

There isn't a lot to go through between these two, but it's interesting to note that they are Shiva and Ramuh, which are the more human summons in the series (accompanied by Odin, but that ain't needed now). Them and Ifrit make the main three, but Ifrit is obviously less human. So it's interesting that Clive's first companions have human like Eikons while he has a beast. It's literally them trying to calm a beast down.

And on a side note, Odin being human-like too and Barnabas himself being a shadow of Clive kinda shows how despite being a beast, Clive is still human behind it all. Just an extra since it didn't come to me during the last post.

3. Joshua and Dion - flying duties

I've even seen a little thing showing how Joshua and Dion are similar, same for Jote and Terence, and it's true. Both are princes with flying Eikons, one is the reviving flames of Phoenix, the other the guiding light of Bahamut. People look up to them as beacons of hope. No wonder they seem best friends.

Both have duties with the world to fulfill, which in the end resumes to protect it from Ultima. Speaking of which, both have been greatly affected by them, Joshua since he literally keeps Ultima trapped inside himself and Dion since he's been manipulated by them (and that gave birth to the customary redemption arc of dragoons. Damm you Kain). Therefore, it's no surprise these two are the ones that accompany Clive to Origin for the final fights, and are among the Eikonic powers Clive calls during the final fight (all of the chosen powers are those with a bigger relation to Clive: Bahamut, Phoenix, Shiva, Ramuh and Odin).

4. Barnabas and Cid (and Benedikta) - losing the spark

So, while all Dominants in general have very interesting relationships, I think Barnabas has some of the most interesting, because for one, he had them but then lost, and now he only has himself.

We know he once had Cid and Benedikta by his side, but Cid left him when he noticed something was wrong and their shared objective was no longer shared, and Benedikta left because that's how she is. It's interesting to notice that Cid and Benedikta are the Dominants of Ramuh and Garuda respectively, Eikons with powers related to the skies, while Barnabas has Odin, which isn't exactly a flying or sky-related Eikon (though he can walk on air nonetheless. More on that further). Having had Dominants of the skies by his side, it's funny how his nemesis is Bahamut, the King of the skies. I honestly don't have much more to go from here, nor do I have further stuff for Benedikta.

But I do for Cid! So, apparently, Ramuh's related lands are that of Waloed; however, the king/ruler of Waloed is Barnabas/Odin in the game, whose lands are those of Dzemekys. It's no coincidence when you remember Odin always had a relationship with thunder throughout the series, usually as his weakness, but he has also appeared as Thunder-elemental instead. There's a few things to go through from this. Odin has the thunder lands, basically, and Cid himself had been an ally before. This connection still maintains itself here. Furthermore, Odin, or more specifically Sleipnir, can walk on air by walking on thunder in fact, further strengthing the connection. Honestly, I don't think I'd be too wrong for assuming Barnabas and Cid had a relationship before Cid left. We know Cid is bisexual (why else would he say Clive is pretty but doesn't make his style? Which, considering how Clive and Barnabas are a bit similar is funny) and Barnabas is so messed up that he likely is too if that crazy bedroom scene is anything to go by. It totally happened. But anyway, they definitely had something, Cid was Barnabas's commander (as it's said Sleipnir is filling Cid's role), but obviously darkness doesn't do with light very well and so they separated. The divorce arcs in this game really are something else, I tell you.

And that was it. I see no further connections for Hugo besides the ones I've gone through already, though it really messes with me how he also appears in that crazy bedroom scene, but we never really get any impression that he has a relationship, or at least a strong one, with Barnabas (at least, not from just the main story). I also got nothing more for Leviathan, though that could come to change with the upcoming DLC about them.

And that concludes the main parts. I have a bonus part in my plans and perhaps a tiny second one. But I guess we'll see. Anyway, mayhaps you have any information to add to mine in regards to what I talked here.

Part 3, let's go baby. Like the title says, this one is focused on Clive and his relationship with every other Dominant. I'll only skip Jill since I've already spoken of their relationship in the first post. But let's start by listing everyone as per usual:

• 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

Once again, I'll be skipping Jill as I've gone through her before, so without further ado, let's see Clive's relationship with every other Dominant.

1. Clive and Joshua - fire draws more fire

So this one is pretty simple. Both brothers and fire elemental. However, Clive inclines to the destructive side while Joshua moves to the creative side, as I've went over in my other posts. This opposition in their powers draws them ever closer to one another, as fire does.

It's interesting to notice that since Phoenix was born from the ashes of Ifrit's flames, only when both combine is their true power unleashed. I mean, it's called Ifrit Risen for a reason, and managed to survive in space and stop a Zeraflare for a reason too.

It's this bond of theirs that pushes them on, this eternal fire burning inside both of them, and that's pretty sweet.

2. Clive and Cid - two dead man walking

Both Cid and Clive are just, like I said, two dead man walking, namely while Cid is still around. I've already gone over Cid and how this comes from his not super fond bond with Ramuh. As for Clive, it comes from 1. The fact everyone thought he died at Phoenix's Gate and 2. How he wishes to die after discovering he is the Dominant that apparently killed his brother. Heck, it's during this scene of him asking to be killed that we see, or at least I felt like so, that Cid has been in a similar position (and Cid's bisexuality, but that isn't called here), and by that I mean that he too once wished to die for past actions. But he fought against it and instead went in search of creating a better world; if he can still move and with Ramuh by his side, that ought to work in his favor in the upcoming trials. It's basically this that he says to Clive as well, and thus Clive joins him.

It's interesting to notice that between the two, Cid dies while Clive is at a low point in his life, but he's never truly gone. From then on, Clive would come to be living a new life, for the both of them.

3. Clive and Benedikta - the fall of power

Benedikta's character resolves around her wish for power. Well, it's during her fights that Clive 1. Gains more power, since he absorbs Garuda from her, and 2. Discover the power inside of him that strikes him down.

Ever since he's been searching for the one responsible for his brother alleged death, Clive has been craving power to a certain extent. Wouldn't do to find the guy and then not being able to kill him, right? And for this reason, Benedikta is the first antagonistic Dominant he has to fight: to understand his lust for power won't solve anything, only make things worse. It also serves as a way of showing him an Eikon/Dominant losing complete control, just like he did in the past.

4. Clive and Hugo - revenge is a dish served cold

The thing about these two is that both are in search for revenge, albeit at different times. Clive hopes to avenge his brother alleged death at the beginning, while Hugo hopes to avenge Benedikta's.

Each one shows a different side. Granted, Clive did come to find out Joshua was alive, so there's no more need to avenge him, but he still fought against those impulses, on Cid's account no less, and managed to reach higher places thanks to that. Hugo on the other hand, fell completely into hallucinations and couldn't get over it, diving into madness and dying from it.

5. Clive and Dion - the Kinslayers

Alright, so these two find themselves wearing that title, though in the end it comes to only be suitable for Dion and even then it was an accident, a manipulation of events.

Still, because both believe they killed someone dear to them (Clive his brother, and perhaps to some extent Cid, who has become a sort of father figure, and Dion actually killed his father), they search for revenge and atonement. Likewise, their design colors are opposites, drawing them closer, so it's no wonder that Dion comes to be a huge aid to Clive at the end. And, in the end, it's their duty to the dead that keeps them going after tragedy befalls and allows them to beat Ultima.

6. Clive and Barnabas - the man in the mirror

The most interesting pair on this list in my opinion. For all that matters, they're opposites. One is what Ultima wants, the other is what Ultima has. One is constantly defying Ultima, the other is unconditionally devoted to them. One has friends and family, the other is completely alone. This opposition can be seen in their clothes, as Clive wears red and Barnabas blueish purples, colors often used to represent the villain and hero of the story. Interestingly, Clive is the one in red, the villain color, and Barnabas in blue, the hero one. Of course, said colors are also connected to their elements, but in this case could serve to show exactly how Clive is being a villain to Ultima by defying them, while Barnabas is a hero for welcoming them (all this in Ultima's perspective, of course).

Furthermore, like I've said in my second post of this series, during the bedroom scene, I literally mistook Barnabas for Clive for a second, but I doubt that was unintentional. Their likeliness can't be a coincidence. I'd say that, since Ultima can't have Clive yet, they went to Barnabas for how similar they look, or even made him look a bit similar on purpose.

In the end, Barnabas comes to be a sort of reflection of Clive had he give in to his previous impulses of revenge and power and chose Ultima. That's why I like to say Barnabas is like Clive's shadow, which comes to play with the fact he's darkness, and Ifrit's fires create just the right environment to produce shadows now, don't they?

Plus, Barnabas was once accompanied by Benedikta and Cid, but they left him. Those two are also the first Eikons/Dominants that Clive obtains. An interesting detail to point.

And this one ends here. There's no reason to talk about Leviathan since this one is a direct look into the Dominants and how they reflect a portion of Clive, for better or worse. Having no Dominant, that won't really work for Leviathan. At least, not now.

But anyway, I hope you enjoyed. Only one more to go, and probably a bonus part, if not two. Also, mayhaps you can add information where I could not.

I watched 20 hours of cutscenes, yet it seems that I should have watched the 60 hours of a 100% gameplay.... I'll do it after finishing the posts.

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.

Having just finished watching FFXVI, I can't help but go on with this little series of posts. I could do all in one, but I decided against it, for two reasons: shorter posts and better grouping of the information (and my ideas).

When I tell you this game is overflowing with symbolism (which I absolutely love to drown in), you better not doubt me, because I'm just going to speak of the Dominants, but even everyone else has their part in symbolism too. The Dominants of course just have more. Maybe everyone else will get one post, someday. Or maybe not, depends on the mood. And yes, be prepared for spoilers ahead.

This game really is something else, story wise at least. Though I did manage to pick a few things outside of that, but that ain't my focus today, or for the few next posts of mine.

Now, I could've started with speaking of each Dominant individually, and overall, perhaps that would have been better, as a sort of introduction for those not yet fully familiar with them, but the relationship between the opposite Dominants has been plaguing me as I watched the game go, so thank Benedikta and Hugo for that. They'll also be the last ones I'll talk about. Anyway, let's start with something simpler and fundamental, who are the Dominants and their Eikons and Elements:

• Clive Rosfield: Ifrit - fire

• Joshua Rosfield: Phoenix - fire

• Jill Warrick: Shiva - ice

• Cid Telamon: Ramuh - thunder

• Hugo Kupka: Titan - earth

• Benedikta Harman: Garuda - wind/air

• Dion Lesage: Bahamut - holy/light

• Barnabas Tharmr: Odin - dark(ness)

• And there's also Leviathan the Lost, the water element, but like they say, it's lost and has no Dominant

Alright, those are our subjects. Now to group them, following Final Fantasy standards:

• Clive, Joshua and Jill - fire and ice

• Hugo and Benedikta - earth and wind/air

• Dion and Barnabas - holy/light and dark(ness)

• Cid and Leviathan - thunder and water

And now we can begin.

1. Clive, Joshua and Jill - Fire and Ice, Creation and Destruction

Obvious pull, I'd assume. Fire and Ice have always been opposites. But they do say opposites attract. No suprise then that Jill is Clive's love interest.

Now, let's talk a bit of clothes. Rosaria is the land of the Phoenix, of fire, thus its color is red. Both Clive and Joshua wear it to symbolize, among other things, their fiery Eikons and their home. Jill, one the other hand, wears blue like ice, to symbolize Shiva. Easy things to pick.

On the matter of personalities, fire and ice often go hand in hand. Why, fire is hot, wild, stubborn, ever burning until one puts it down, destructive, while ice is cold, stationary, calm, breakable, creative. Clive especially shows signs of that fire description I gave. Hot-headed every now and then, especially at the beginning, always on his wild adventures, stubborn (a fact pointed out by other characters in the game), and thus only when another steps in is he stopped, if they can in fact put the fire down that is. Joshua doesn't go that far, he's a bit more collected, but stubborn as ever and hardly one of changing his mind. But this too is tied to their other symbolism that I'll talk about in just a moment. Then there's Jill, and while she isn't exactly a cold person, she is calm and thus able to put down Clive's fire and tame it. She can just as easily break, as seen a few times throughout the game, but nothing that a rest doesn't solve. And while Clive's fire destroys, her ice creates, and saves them more than once. As for the stationary part, well, she goes where Clive goes most of the time, otherwise stays behind to hold the fort, a reliable source of protection and company, and true to her firm beliefs.

Alright it ain't the best explanation ever done, but here's a summary: imagine a spectrum - Ifrit/Clive on one end and Jill/Shiva on the other. Joshua would be in the middle. Why? Well, he has fire's stubbornness with him, but creative flames and not destructive ones. He has a bit of both sides. Thus he is more of a mediator, albeit a rather missing one at times, while Clive and Jill, as complete opposites, draw themselves to each other.

An easy one to pick, this one. Or so I'd assume.

2. Dion and Barnabas - Light and Darkness, forever enemies

And while they do say opposites attract, they are, at the end of the day, still opposites, and thus ideal for rivalries as well. Such is the case here.

On one end, we have Dion, Holy Dragoon and wileder of light, Odin's Nemesis among his titles, wears white to represent said light, accompanied by his dragoons and mostly his lover Terence, and traveller of the skies. Then there's Barnabas, Dark Knight and wielder of darkness, Bahamut's enemy, wears black to represent said darkness, alone and walks the earth (though he can fly too, but all Eikons seem to to a degree). Yes boys, Cecil and Kain are plastered here for all to see, though most of what they are is in Dion. Barnabas only inherited the ability to make bad choices while manipulated from Kain, but at least still got something.

So well, you see, that's their opposition. Rivals to the end, and they never even spoke face to face in diplomatic ways, only on the battlefield.

One last thing to point out is that both have been manipulated by Ultima and there too lies an opposition. When Dion was manipulated, he succumbed to madness, Bahamut took over and started destroying the capitol. Heck, he even went to space and was ready to destroy the whole world! Of course, he completely lost himself for he did not choose what happened, let alone be manipulated. Barnabas, on the other hand, not only has he been under Ultima's wing for years, whereas Dion's was just a spur of the moment, he chose to do so, he willingly chose to be used, thus he was far calmer in those regards. But then again, darkness does have an easier time blending with more darkness than with light, but that's for another time.

3. Cid and Leviathan - the lost pair

Hard to bring symbolism when one of the parties is absent, but that in itself works for the symbolism of this pair.

Well, Leviathan being water has an opposite relation to thunder, aka Cid. However, Leviathan has no Dominant, is lost (if it's ever said why, it's not during main story, or at least not on a cutscene). Well, guess who was also, sort of, lost? Cid, though lost as in a dead man walking, mind. No wonder he lived in the Deadlands, eh? Besides, he never seemed too happy to have Ramuh. I mean, he's happy to use it to protect those he cares for and fight those who would harm them, but he does strike me as someone who would prefer Ramuh chose someone else.

And well, it doesn't take too many hours in the game for us to unfortunately lose him (only Cid, not Ramuh). But from his loss, the group gets ever closer to Leviathan, while still maintaining a close relationship to Cid and the skies. Surely you noticed how after the hideaway at the Deadlands fell to Hugo, they moved to the relics of an old airship of the Fallen, the Invicible, which now stands in the middle of water; closer to the skies for being in an airship, or at remains of it, and closer to Leviathan for one has to cross its water to reach the place. And then there's Mid, Cid's daughter. She works on a ship throughout the game, the Enterprise, and later on cruises the seas in it. Surely you can see the connection?

So, to summarize. It's true Leviathan is absent in the game, and yet Cid, or Ramuh, is still drawn to it as opposites would, or, in this case, his legacy is drawn to Leviathan, for we lose Cid early on. I must say, it's an interesting way of painting this pair. A mysterious aura always surrounds them this way, and I find that fascinating. Always loved mysteries.

Guess the upcoming DLC will have answers for the missing pieces of Leviathan's stories, but until then.

4. Hugo and Benedikta - the toxic relationship of Earth and Wind/Air

It was the relationship between this two and how it is reflected in their elements that first made me want to do this post. It has been plaguing me the entire time I watched the game and I just knew I had to write it down because earth and wind isn't a relationship that is often seen around, so of course I found it the most fascinating of them all.

Before going into the actual characters, let's dwell in the elements first and how their relationship goes. For most cases, opposite elements go both ways. Fire and Ice, Thunder and Water, Light and Dark(ness). There's only two exceptions (especially following Record Keeper standards): Earth and Wind and Non-elemental and Poison (yes, Poison can be an element). And that would be because, unlike the others, it doesn't go both ways, they aren't each other's weaknesses. Non-elemental does still cause damage, just not critical one, but can still bring Poison down if it fights hard enough (I dare say, toxic relationship, but interesting concept nonetheless. At least it's one you can walk off on, after losts of hardships). Earth, however, can't hurt Wind, at all. It's impossible. Take a look at when elements are explained in the games, say for example FFIX. You literally are given a list listing their oppositions, their weaknesses, how Fire is vulnerable to Ice and Ice is vulnerable to Fire. But while Earth is vulnerable to Wind, Wind is invulnerable to Earth. It's always presented like that; one can fight the other and the other can only succumb. It is this that is shown in Hugo and Benedikta as well.

Allow me. When we're first presented to their relationship, we see they're close, the really close kind. And we also see how Hugo easily follows Benedikta, all out of love, even though his loyalty was but another weapon to her, and nothing more. Benedikta is the most prominent antagonist for the first hour of the game, after that she's dead so only her ghost may serve us now. Still, while she's still alive, we know she's anything but loyal, she comes and goes, like the wind, and that is shown by the number of people she has bedded. Hugo, Barnabas, and even Cid in the past. She's also rather informed, as you'd expect from winds that can hear everything anywhere.

Finally, she's also Hugo's weakness, yet he is not hers. She cares not for him, but for how long and useful is he to her schemes, while he would unleash hell on the world for her if she commanded. And he kinda does.

I mean, like I said, she's his weakness, so of course receiving her beheaded head would absolutely break him to seek revenge. And that he does. He receives the information it was Cid that killed her and thus invades and wrecks his hideaway, all in the name of his beloved. Years later, with Cid dead, he sets his sights on Clive; if the killer's dead, go for those he cared for. And when he does fight Clive he comes to know that Clive is actually Benedikta's killer and not Cid (though, Clive was using Cid's name around anyway, so does it matter? Well, it does add to the symbolism, but not this one). This of course, makes him go completely feral as the battle goes on (the second one, namely).

How intriguing. Garuda and Titan were the only ones were the Eikon went completely nuts for something related to Clive. Hugo went feral for his lost love, while Benedikta went feral for not having Garuda anymore (since Clive absorbed it) and fearing being discarded away now that she's "powerless". What a wonderful display of what drives them: one cares for his beloved and only her, while the other seeks only power. Rob them of their drive and they go nuts (Dion went nuts from losing his father, whom he so much loved. That, and the guilt that came from having killed him, even if it was all manipulated by Ultima. And that's why Barnabas doesn't really goes as nuts in his fight, for the whole fight is his drive).

And there you go. The toxic relationship of Earth and Wind. Truly not a symbolism you see everyday and that just makes me like it even more.

And thus it ends. Hope you enjoyed, and mayhaps have something to add to what I said. As long it's just as far as opposites go, for now.

Before I start this post I’m gonna give a very obvious spoiler warning cause I’m about to spoil the entire game

Anyways, I just beat 16 And wow that game was amazing but there’s one thing I’m curious about and I’d like other peoples thoughts on it.

What do you guys think happened to Joshua during the ending? I know it’s implied that he survived but it’s never outright stated and in my opinion him coming back kinda takes away from his arc. In my opinion I think he does die and the book at the end is written by someone else, specifically the undying. I’ll elaborate; I forget exactly where it’s said it who says it but I remember near the end of the game someone says something along the lines of “no One truly dies as long as their name is still alive” (also a reason why Clive takes Cid’s name) so in my opinion the book was written by either the undying or someone else as a way to make sure Joshua never truly dies. I think it being the undying makes the most sense since their goal is to basically body guard Joshua so keeping his name alive that way is them doing their duty even after he’s gone.

But that’s just my thoughts I’m curious what other people think