Red Jongleur: Apologies, friends...but you've reached a dead end. And on this sorry track, there's no turning back.
Blue Jongleur: We've a good life here, see, and we're not about to lose it. But fair's fair─we'll give you a good death.The Jesters, battling Alphinaud and the Warrior of Darkness.
The Blue and Red Jongleurs are characters from Final Fantasy XIV, serving as antagonists in the expansion Shadowbringers. They serve as Vauthry's chamberlains and loyal minions, ensuring his control over the people of Eulmore by distributing meol among the commoners.
History[]
Born as the children of Eulmore's bonded citizens under Vauthry's despotic reign, the red and blue jongleurs were viewed as property of the city, and were thus destined for service to the city's elite. From a young age, they were ingrained with unwavering loyalty to Eulmore, their upbringing shaping them into loyal servants ready to defend the city's hedonism at any cost.
As Vauthry's servants, the jesters dutifully carried out tasks ranging from tending to the whims of the rich to striking down malcontents, all while speaking in rhyme. Under the guise of charity, the jesters made the people of Gatetown dependent on regular gifts of meol, a foodstuff secretly made from sin eater flesh, which allowed Vauthry to control the minds of all who consumed it.
Whenever a Eulmoran free citizen had need of a servant with a particular skill, the jesters would seek out talent among the refugees of Gatetown, callously exploiting their desperation and encouraging the shantytown's residents to take up a wide bevy of otherwise useless skills. Trained to separate the wheat from the chaff, the jesters would handpick suitable individuals to take in as bonded citizens, many of which would end up being transformed into Sin Eaters when their usefulness ran out, thus creating more meol for them to dole out to the lower class.
The jesters encountered Alphinaud Leveilleur and the Warrior of Darkness when the Scions posed as a painter and his assistant. Despite showing some skepticism towards the pair, brushing the Warrior of Darkness off as a parasite, the clueless jesters welcomed them through the Glory Gate as painters bonded to Chai-Nuzz and his wife Dulia-Chai, unknowingly allowing their soon-to-be killers a glimpse into the city's depravity. Later, the jesters invited Eulmore's citizenry to watch Kai-Shirr be punished for entering the city under false pretenses, making a show of what they had thought would be his demise.
Alphinaud and the Warrior of Darkness had their final encounter with the jesters during their pursuit of the final Lightwarden, finding the manic duo guarding the path to The Canopy, where Ran'jit stood as Vauthry's last line of defense. When Vauthry's hordes of unwilling thralls failed to stop the two Scions from breaching the tower, his henchwomen took it upon themselves to finish the job. Fully lucid and brandishing weapons, the jesters arrogantly declared that they were not mind-controlled at all; they simply lived comfortable lives under Vauthry's rule and were willing to kill to keep it that way.
Irked that the jesters had willingly taken part in Vauthry's unforgivable crimes and fought of their own volition, Alphinaud responded that neither he nor the Warrior would hold anything back against them. Unlike the enthralled citizens, who were treated as victims of Vauthry and carefully subdued, his irreverent and murderous henchwomen were shown no such mercy, crumpling lifelessly to the floor upon defeat. The Scions pressed on, leaving the dead jesters lying in the entrance hall as they headed up the stairs towards the Canopy. While Alphinaud fended of more of Vauthry's enthralled soldiers, the Warrior ascended the stairs and was met by Ran'jit, slaying him as well in one final duel.
Characteristics[]
Appearance[]
The jongleurs appear to be identical twins. They are Humes in early adulthood, with blonde hair and eyes that match their respective colors. Both girls sport jester hats with bells, masquerade masks and garish coats of blue and red respectively. Their blue and red corsets are worn over a silver top that exposes part of their skin and cleavage. Below their corsets, they wear short ruffled skirts, black fishnet tights, and black pumps decorated with bows.
Personality[]
Befitting their discipline, the Jongleurs assumed very theatrical personalities and spoke dramatically before the citizens of Eulmore and Gatetown, often finishing each other's thoughts with rhymes and wisecracks. Even in combat the duo made witticisms relating to their roles, such as "This one's a real side-splitter!" and "I'll break yer funny bone!"
As far as their true personalities went, the girls were virtually identical in their wickedness. They were a pair of sycophants willing to do anything in their power to maintain their posh way of life under Vauthry's rule, even murder, should it come down to that. They also displayed a sadistic streak as they merrily invited the people of Eulmore to come watch Kai-Shirr be flung to his death, which epitomized their callous disregard for the lives of the people of Gatetown.
Their arrogant and selfish nature was finally put on full display during their final encounter with Alphinaud and the Warrior of Darkness, during which they showed no remorse for using the people of Gatetown as human shields against the Scions. If anything, they acted glad to have the opportunity to kill the very same Scions who insulted their Lord during their prior visit to Eulmore. Judging by the girl's confidence, level of skill, and cavalier attitude towards killing the Scions, this certainly wasn't their first time spilling blood at Vauthry's behest─though it wound up being their last.
Gameplay[]
The red and blue jongleurs are fought as an instanced boss during the Main Scenario quest 
A Feast of Lies. Fighting alongside Alphinaud, the player must dispatch them both in a two-on-two battle. When one of the jesters is defeated, the other one will empower herself with a Damage Up buff until she is also defeated.
Triple Triad[]
| Jongleurs of Eulmore Card | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Card No. | 252 | |
| Total stats | 18 | |
| Type | None | |
| Description | “Having seen your all-too-obvious charms, we welcome you with open arms!” “Ah, just look at those expectant faces! What could you possibly be waiting for!?” | |
| Obtain | Won from Grewenn, Eulmore (12, 9) | |
Behind the scenes[]
They seem to be based on Zorn and Thorn from Final Fantasy IX. Their theme song, however, is the theme of Calca and Brina who also appeared in the Antitower dungeon in Final Fantasy XIV.
Etymology[]
"Jongleur" is French and Dutch for "juggler".
Gallery[]
Citations[]
- ↑ Encyclopædia Eorzea: The World of Final Fantasy XIV Volume III, p. 161