Ardyn Izunia

==Profile==
===Appearance===
Ardyn is a tall (6'2") man with red-violet hair, amber eyes, and strong facial features. He appears to be middle-aged and dresses in a black trench coat and pinstripe trousers, an attire he is said to have acquired when he became the chancellor of Niflheim.<!--Chancellor's Outfit desc in Episode Ardyn--> He wears a red scarf and a hooded, gray and white flower-print mantle. Ardyn wears a black fedora (which he can swap for [[Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn hats|various other hats]] in ''Episode Ardyn'') and sometimes wears a {{foot|black winglike accessory on his left arm|[[File:Ardyn's wing accessory in FFXV Episode Ardyn.png|250x250px]]}}.
{{Spoiler}}
When his true identity is revealed, Ardyn's face sometimes appears daemonic and grotesque. His sclera turn black, his irises and pupils turn gold while appearing clouded, his skin becomes paler, and black markings appear across his face.

Two thousand years ago, Ardyn dressed in a simple white cloak, which he used to hide the spread of [[Starscourge]] that had infected his body. In ''Episode Ardyn Prologue'' his eyes are blue and his hair brown. When he was retrieved by Niflheim from Angelgard in the beginning of ''Episode Ardyn'', he lacked a top, and had a ragged white and gray belt and matching pants. When awakening at Verstael Besithia's lab, he wore a white tunic and trousers noted to be uncomfortable on his skin. The attire was similar to the outfit he wore during his days as a healer.<!--The flashback at the beginning of Chapter 1, just before Niflheim released him from Angelgard, depicts him as wearing the same outfit while frolicking with Aera-->

Though wielding various weapons, Ardyn's personal arm is the [[Rakshasa Blade]], a red counterpart to the [[Blade of the Mystic]] his brother wields.

===Personality===
{{Q|A man cursed with life eternal, whose immortality stems from the selfsame scourge that wrought the daemons. One so impure of body and soul was deemed unworthy of the Crystal's Light, and forbidden to ascend. His mind twisted by spite and bent on revenge, the Usurper came to bring darkness down upon our world. Only the True King, chosen by the Crystal and guarded by his forebears, can end the Accursed's madness.|Bahamut, referring to Ardyn as the Accursed}}
Ardyn is a man shrouded in mystery. He expresses his eccentric personality through his unique attire, and is both polite and flamboyant. He sometimes acts suggestive, likely as a means to creep others out, calling [[Noctis Lucis Caelum|Noctis]] a "tease"<!--One of Ardyn's taunts during Ch13--> and stroking [[Prompto Argentum|Prompto]] on his cheek.<!--lodging scene with Ardyn in Ch4--> Ardyn is bold and manipulative; he remains civil, patronizingly so, even in the face of hostility, and perhaps even to attract hostility. Ardyn's behavior is performative, and his expressions and movements are exaggerated.

[[File:Ardyn-Izunia-KGFFXV.png|thumb|left|Concept art shown at The Magic of Kingsglaive and Final Fantasy XV art exhibit in New York from August 19 to September 3, 2016.]]
Ardyn's ruthlessness grows until his true personality is revealed: he is evil, vicious, calculative, and twisted. Behaving unpredictably, Ardyn remains casual and unfazed by the world around him. He has a dark sense of humor, sarcastic wit and an utter lack of empathy, finding cruel ways to taunt others. He may torture people close to the ones he's targeting to force them to pick up pace.

Ardyn often helps Noctis and his friends along their journey by giving them access to imperial-controlled areas and by saving them from hostile situations. He claims to have earned the right to call Noctis "Noct", a nickname only his closest friends call him. His cruel intentions are revealed as he kills [[Lunafreya Nox Fleuret]], and afterward continues to torment Noctis in various ways, such as by separating him from his friends, even if at the same time he desires for Noctis to reach his goal: the [[Crystal (Final Fantasy XV)|Crystal]]. He refuses to kill Noctis until the latter has become the [[True King]], and during the final battle, repeatedly taunts Noctis, yet when he has Noctis pinned down, he releases him. Ardyn considers Noctis a means to an end and states his goal lies beyond revenge. Despite all his taunts, Ardyn seems to enjoy witnessing Noctis grow. In the ''Final Fantasy XV -The Dawn of the Future-'', Ardyn is said to enjoy tormenting Noctis because he resembles Somnus.<ref name=p9899/> However, he later reluctantly acknowledges Noctis as being worthy of the title of the True King. 

According to Lead Scenario Developer [[Saori Itamuro]]<ref name=CEguidebook/>, Ardyn sought to rise to power in Niflheim to bring him closer to the [[kings of Lucis|line of Lucis]], and Noctis in particular, as he has no interest in imperial rule. Ardyn is bent on destroying Noctis as king, and does not want him dead until then. As a result, he leads Noctis while tormenting him, entangling Noctis in a web of contradictions.

Ardyn's twisted personality greatly contrasts with how he was 2,000 years ago. He used to be a compassionate and righteous man, devoted to saving the people. Described as an idealist and a dreamer by the directors of ''Episode Ardyn Prologue'' in stark contrast to his realist brother, the siblings' differing methods in saving the world made them turn against one another.<ref name="Q&amp;A">{{Refvideo| page url = https://youtu.be/OaApHnC8gOU| page name = FINAL FANTASY XV EPISODE ARDYN PROLOGUE Q&A| user url = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQSuIHSbDFH6Enz3AXeUHaA| user name = FINAL FANTASY XV| site url = http://www.youtube.com/| site name = YouTube| timestamp = 6:45| screenshot = File:Comments on Ardyn from FFXV Episode Ardyn Prologue QA.png| access time = 02:00, February 18, 2019 (UTC)}}</ref> Filled with hatred towards his brother and bloodline, Ardyn has become a broken man who acts out of spite, regret and a desire for vengeance as he has become the very thing he had tried to prevent two millennia ago. He is horrified to discover he can bestow the Scourge upon others, and when dining with Verstael Besithia at his lab shortly after fully awakening, Ardyn refers to himself as a monster in a self-loathing manner. Besithia corrects him, saying he's "a marvel."

Although initially having no interest in revenge, Ardyn's mind began to deteriorate after he started to daemonify others en masse, and being forced to experience his victims' memories is implied to have warped his personality to a husk of his former self. Ardyn finally satisfies his lust for vengeance at the end of ''The Dawn of the Future'', but rather than reveling in his victory, he laments about being forgotten and rekindles his love for his fiancée, implying some of his original persona was still latent within him.

===Abilities===
{{Q|For a moment I felt death's chill wind, such is the might of the gods. But then, I remembered I'm immortal. Such is my blessing and curse. Your attack hurt me, nevertheless… My feelings at least.|Ardyn}}<!--after Shiva kills him on the train and he returns-->
Ardyn conceals his true capabilities behind a frivolous and lighthearted exterior. He is an effective manipulator and deceiver, positioning himself as the emperor's right-hand-man. He helped the empire develop an [[Magitek infantry|army of automata]] that utilizes ancient [[magitek]]nology,<!--Verstael's dossier--> a deed that fueled his rise to his position as chancellor and paved the way for the rest of his plans.

[[File:FFXV Noctis and Ardyn Clash.png|180px|thumb|Ardyn and Noctis cross swords both wielding the power of kings.]]
While Ardyn uses a simple knife to murder Lunafreya, he later reveals his supernatural powers and true prowess in combat. Despite his corruption, Ardyn retains the "power of kings" granted to his bloodline: [[Warp (Final Fantasy XV)|warping]] and phasing through solid matter, summoning weapons from thin air, and wielding the [[Royal arms (Final Fantasy XV)|royal arms]], as well as his own variant, called the Rakshasa Blade. He uses [[Armiger]] in various ways and can also manifest {{foot|a giant red scythe|[[File:Ardyns-Scythe-Episide-Ignis-FFXV.png|250x250px]]}}. He can erect the [[Wall (Final Fantasy XV)|Wall]], although it is tainted by daemonic energy.

Ardyn can cast powerful [[Magic (term)#Final Fantasy XV|magic]], such as striking down bolts of lightning, summoning blizzards, and causing fiery explosions, all without [[Magic Flask|magic flasks]] or needing to collect energy from elemental deposits.<!--He does use elemental spells in his boss fight but it is less often compared to his dark-elemental spells--> He primarily controls the element of darkness, but can also fire energy beams from the palms of his hands that can knock their targets back, and summon a barrage of meteorites from the sky.<!--He uses an energy beam on Ravus in Episode Ignis and he sets Insomnia ablaze with meteorites in Royal Edition--> He can momentarily transform into [[Miasma (term)|miasma]] and use this to teleport and to fly, a feat independent of his ability to warp.<!--does so to warp back to the Citadel in Royal Edition version of Chapter 14 and in Episode Ardyn he becomes miasma to jump from building to building and also to finish off an enemy--> He is also proficient in hand-to-hand combat (a skill he displays especially when wanting to conceal his identity as a Lucis Caelum).

Ardyn can temporarily halt time and [[disguise|assume the form of another]], distorting others' perception of reality to create illusions, making him able to manipulate people into attacking their friends by having them see them as himself.<!--he makes Noctis see Prompto as Ardyn and himself appear as Prompto in Ch11--> He can use his ability to read the memories of those he daemonifies to perfect his disguise.<ref>{{Refwebsite| page url = https://higharollakockamamie.tumblr.com/post/185380977162/dawn-of-the-future-page-64-65-the-city-somnus| page name = Dawn of the Future Page 64-65, the City Somnus Built| site url = https://higharollakockamamie.tumblr.com| site name = higharollakockamamie @tumblr| access time = 20:18, June 11, 2019 (UTC)}}</ref> He can communicate as an omnipresent voice, observing events while remaining hidden.<!--Does this to the player in Ch13 in the main game and projects his voice when Noctis and his retinue enter the Citadel in the Royal Edition-->

Two millennia ago Ardyn was blessed with the power to heal those afflicted with the Starscourge and traveled the world purging the plague by absorbing it into his own body. He believed his ability to withstand the Scourge was a gift from the Astrals, but could not truly cleanse the darkness he'd absorbed. Now as the Starscourge incarnate, he is the one to spread it over [[Eos (Final Fantasy XV)|Eos]]. He exudes miasma from his body at will, but unlike regular daemons, can operate in daylight as his body regenerates faster than the sun can damage him, although he still opts to wear clothing that conceals as much as possible.<!--explained in Episode Ardyn--> He can turn others into daemons and assimilate them to increase his power, which also allows him to experience their memories.<!--Episode Ardyn--> He can even revive the dead into ghastly mockeries of their former selves<!--Ravus--> and brainwash certain [[Tonitrus Lucis Caelum|rulers]] [[Crepera Lucis Caelum|of]] [[Somnus Lucis Caelum|yore]] into fighting Noctis. After having daemonified [[Ifrit (Final Fantasy XV)|Ifrit]], Ardyn can summon and command him.

[[File:Lunafreyas healing touch on Ardyn in FFXV.png|thumb|left|Lunafreya's healing touch on Ardyn.]]
Ardyn seems to be either immune to pain or extremely resilient to it. During the final battle he says, "Does it hurt? The pain is proof you're mortal!" implying that he is an exception. He doesn't shiver with cold in [[Shiva (Final Fantasy XV)|Shiva's]] presence the way Noctis does, and doesn't flinch when Noctis's friends deal heavy blows on him, simply getting up, picking up his discarded hat and leaving. The only thing he recoils from is Lunafreya's healing touch. His soul now trapped in [[the beyond]]<ref name=autumntwilight>{{Refwebsite| page url = https://autumnstwilight.tumblr.com/post/184431791853/dawn-of-the-future-ardyn-initial-thoughts?is_related_post=1| page name = Final Fantasy XV -The Dawn of the Future- "Ardyn" translations by Autumnstwilight| site url = https://autumnstwilight.tumblr.com| site name = autumnstwilight @tumblr| access time = 01:18, June 08, 2019 (UTC)}}</ref> by the Crystal's rejection of him, Ardyn is immortal and even destroying his body will not stop him; the only thing that can end him is the True King wielding the power of Providence.

When released from [[Angelgard]] by Besithia and his imperial forces, Ardyn is left weak enough from the millennia-long crucifixion that he must be helped out and is barely able to speak. However, by the time the [[Royal Guard (group)|Royal Guard]] arrives, Ardyn regains his stamina due to his daemonic powers kicking in. Whether the [[Oracle (Final Fantasy XV)|Oracles']] daemon-repelling magic of [[camp|havens]] would repel Ardyn is unknown, but during the time he stays the night with the party he insists on not camping, claiming distaste for the outdoors, promising to pay for accommodation at an outpost instead.

He can drive and has a red [[car]] while in [[Lucis]]. According to ''The Dawn of the Future'', he knows the Hexatheon [[language]] due to having daemonified Ifrit and thus absorbed some of the deity's memories. In the novel, he is eligible for the blood sacrifice to access the Ring of Lucis's true power, which he uses to end Bahamut within the latter's realm.<ref name=autumntwilight/>
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