Template:Sideicon Template:Organization Hess' Eight Sages, or Hess' Eight Philosophers, is an organization in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius comprised of the lieutenants of Hess' army, standing in direct opposition against the Sworn Eight of Paladia and their leader Aldore in the war of Paladia. They appear towards the end of the first season and serve as the main antagonists from that point onwards.
Due to being sealed for 700 years, the slumber results in a variety of side-effects on their members upon their return, varying from physical to mental changes.
Unlike the Sworn Eight, their membership is not fixated on an elemental motif, and most of their members so far revealed are not even human.
Members
- Sol
- Dark Fina (Crystalized) / Earth Crystal
- Dark Elf (deceased) / Water Crystal
- Behemoth K
- Bahamut / Fire Crystal
- Babel (only his heart remains) / Wind Crystal
- Mother Hess (captive)
Story
The Sages are presumed to be inhabitants from the world of Paladia. When Hess attempted to claim independence from the rest of Paladia through the use of Visionary Magic, this was rejected by Aldore who believed the magic to be too dangerous. This caused the world to be split into two factions, those loyal to Aldore who venerated science, and those loyal to Hess who prefered Magic, which made the world fall into war between the two factions.
Although generally considered the weaker faction at first, Hess was joined by Dark Fina and in time, was able to put together eight individuals together (Fina included) to serve as the faction's pillars, thus allowing them to stand in equal footing against Aldore's faction. Dark Fina would become one of the faction's most infamous lieutenants, earning the monicker "Demon of Hess". The faction grew in power after it was able to secure the support of several Espers.
As the war progressed both sides began to incur in heavy losses which became worse as time passed. Veritas of the Dark, leader of the Sworn Eight, thus devised a plan to end the war quick so as to prevent further bloodshed, which involved sealing the Eight Sages inside Crystals so that Hess' faction would be left without strength, giving Aldore a significant advantage over Hess. However the Sworn Eight would then force the leaders of the Aldore faction to negotiate Hess' independence, threatening to side with Hess should they attempt any further use of force on the faction, thus using the leverage of turning the war results around to coerce them into resolving the conflict peacefully.
The Eight Sworn eventually succeed in their plan of sealing the Sages in Crystals, so as to force negotiations, but unexpectedly for them, Aldore began to fear the Sworn Eight's power and betrayed them, causing them and the Eight Sages sealed in Crystal and the entire landmass they were in to be transported into the world of Lapis.
The Sworn Eight, grew bitter at their leader's betrayal, but found themselves unable to do anything. 100 years ago, Veritas of the Light and her sister Veritas of the Bolt found a book in the Magic Library that contained information about the interdimensional Gates and how to return to their former land. If they destroy the Crystal that acted as a seal, they would be able to return to Paladia, so the former Aldore warriors with fueled desire for vengeance decided to destroy the Crystals, which in turn would release the Sages as a collateral consequence.
However during the course of their plan, Veritas of the Dark and Bolt, would defect the group in favour of peaceful lives in Lapis, causing the remaining members of the Sworn Eight to reform under the leadership of a new Veritas of the Dark as the Sworn Six of Paladia.
Sealed during 700 years in Crystals, the Sages would be affected by multiple and unpredictable side-effects. During this time, Dark Fina would remain in contact with Raegen in peaceful terms, and being aware of his son Rain and the power he gained through touching a Crystal, which would be sealed away so as to protect the young boy. However as a result of the long time sleep Dark Fina spawned a weaker self.
Grandshelt
As Veritas of the Dark destroys the Earth Crystal he makes his way towards Grandshelt Castle. There he attacks Rain and Lasswell but their attack is blocked by Fina who is encased in Crystal, releasing her, albeit with no memory of her past. The Sworn Six declare their names and leave satisfied with their goal, while continuing their agenda of destroying each Crystal.
Dirnado
At the Wind Shrine, the party faces Veritas of the Heavens a second time. Being able to trounce the first Cid and unmask him, the Paladian uses what's left of his power to destroy the Wind Crystal. This unseals the Heart of Babil which activates the Airship Invincible, which is needed for the Sworn Six's plans.
Zoldaad
After the Fire Crystal in the Zoldaad Empire is destroyed by Jake the Dragon King, Bahamut is released. Fina reveals to the party that he is the strongest of all Espers but whether he will pose a threat to the world or not is unknown. Bahamut is witness to the Invincible being used by Dr. Lazarov. Seeing the airship being awakened and claiming it carries "his heart", the Dragon King decides to challenge the flying weapon, unleashing its Megaflare attack on the ship. The attack severely damages the Invincible forcing Lazarov to hide in order to repair it. Bahamut then leaves.
Gronoa
The party has their first real encounter against the Sages in Gronoa when Dark Fina senses the Dark Elf nearby, having been freed after Veritas of the Waters destroyed the Water Crystal in Olderion. The long time imprisoned in the Crystal had unpredictable side-effects that changed the creature, turning him insane, murderous and destroying everything around him, enjoying his "freedom" and desiring more of it by causing further destruction.
Knowing he may approach the Dark Crystal, the party races to prevent the Sage from destroying the last Crystal. Sakura begins to wonder how the Dark Elf may have changed after his imprisonment.
The Party manages to find and witness the Dark Elf opening a path for himself with his destructive magic and continue to race against him, with Sakura's fears confirmed that the Dark Elf has changed for the worse as a result of being sealed for so long.
The party manage to face the creature in Desolate Landing. Although they believed he was defeated the Dark Elf unleashes the magic he was storing and blasts the party, resuming his quest for the Crystal. Veritas of the Light contemplates the scene and considers herself lucky to have this chance to kill them and attempts to kill Rain first. Sakura begs her sister to kill her instead and Light desists not feeling any thrill from killing weakened opponents and going after the Dark Elf, not wanting to let him destroy the Crystal to have the pleasure to do so herself. Sakura voices her worries knowing she will die but Light reaffirms that won't happen as she already "died" twice, once when Aldore betrayed her and again when Sakura left her side.
Light catches up to the Dark Elf and duels him but is defeated, the Dark Elf once more restarting his rampage. The party finds Light, injured and she begs Sakura to kill her. Her sister refuses to do such a thing and Light in turn, provokes Rain into killing her by revealing she killed her mother Sophia. Rain is shocked and Light continues to urge him to kill her by stabbing her in the heart where her immortality won't work. Rain however decides against revenge and is grateful to Light for the truth now relieved that his father did not truly kill his mother as he cryptically implied once. Light is puzzled and further insists that Rain kills her but he refuses, believing they should settle the score in a more adequate setting. He continues to elaborate that the first time he saw the Sworn Six, he believed them to be murderers but as he got to know them, he saw their human traits. Rain leaves stating he won't fight them out of anger, as he understands their motives but does not approve their actions. Light threatens to blast him from the back and Rain tells her she's free to do so, mirroring the words Raegen once told her. Light is left unable to act muttering to herself that she could not do such a thing to him or to Raegen.
The party catches up to the Dark Elf and once more a battle ensues. The party is victorious but the Dark Elf attempts to blast them again. Nichol suggests they use their Magic in conjunction to cancel the Dark Elf's power, however his opponent's attack is stronger as he's also using his own life energy to power it up and blasts the party. The Dark Elf still alive attempts to target Rain with the party unable to move. The Dark Elf attacks but Light intercepts the strike and blasts the Dark Elf with an attack of her own, killing the deranged Sage for good.
Pharm
At the Forgotten Walls where the Dark Crystal was transported by Raegen and Sakura, the party encounters and face Veritas of the Dark a final time. The Darklord is defeated and his identity revealed as a Vision of Raegen during the War of Paladia. Although the party celebrates their victory, the Dark Crystal is destroyed by Sol who is accompanied by the Behemoth K. Sol voices his disgust for life and calling the party unsightly, he blasts them with a Holy spell. The Darklord and Lightlord are separated from the party with the former shielding the latter from the attack. However the Behemoth appears and attacks the weakened Darklord, killing him. This causes Light to address him as Raegen and scream in despair.
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