The Lucavi are demons in Final Fantasy Tactics working in secret under the cover of the Church of Glabados to revive their dead leader, Ultima the High Seraph. There are at least seven Lucavi, though one of them, Elidibus, is not necessarily connected to the other six.
Each Lucavi is connected to a shard of auracite, also known as Zodiac Stones, which serves as a conduit for that Lucavi to exist in Ivalice. Each Lucavi also has a human host, allowing them to interact with others in Ivalice without drawing attention. The Lucavi can switch between human and demon form via their auracite.
Lucavi return as Espers in other Ivalice games, notably Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, though Elidibus is known as his summon Zodiark.
Profile[]
The original Lucavi (PlayStation)[]
The names of the Lucavi are written in Ivalice writing in the background of the saving screen (picture of the circular zodiac sigil at the top of the page). The Lucavi associated with Taurus, Cancer, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius, and Pisces can be known by deciphering the language. The demons associated with the stones never make a physical manifestation within the game.
| Zodiac Sign | Lucavi | Ivalice Name |
|---|---|---|
| Aries | BELIAS | 
|
| Taurus | DUMA | 
|
| Gemini | ZALHERA | 
|
| Cancer | ZEBBEB | 
|
| Leo | HASHMURIM | 
|
| Virgo | ULTIMA | 
|
| Libra | SEL | 
|
| Scorpio | CUCHRAIN | 
|
| Sagittarius | ROPHOCHEHE | 
|
| Capricorn | ADRAMELECH | 
|
| Aquarius | CHERAUB | 
|
| Pisces | LEVIATHAN | 
|
- The name Rofocale (or Rofokare in the PlayStation version) appears between Cúchulainn and Adrammelech in the game's data. It appears to be a dummied Lucavi that would have been associated with the Sagittarius Stone. His name was given to a undead Time Mage who fights at Yuguewood.
Origin[]
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift provides an description of the origin of the Lucavi. The following text is given to Luso Clemens by Lezaford:
- There are worlds within our world of Ivalice that we cannot touch or know as we know our own bed, home, or town.
- The Netherworld, the Empyreal Plain, the World of Illusion... these are together known as otherworlds, unseen by eye; untouched by hand.
- The order of creatures known as scions hails from these otherworlds. They are found in many places, in many lands, and they count among their number emissaries of the gods, protector spirits, and even greater doers of evil.
- Though the otherworlds are not normally accessible from Ivalice, if certain requirements are met, it is possible to give otherworldly power a physical manifestation in our world. This is most commonly seen in the pact made by the summoners who calls down an Esper to fight for them.
- From the legend of a great mage in the far eastern realms who sundered a magickal seal, thus receiving a scion as a servant, it would seem that they, too, operate by these same principles.
- In Jylland, it has been discovered that that summoning of scions is possible with the use of a particular magickal device. However, it is certain that the power manifested through this means is only an echo of the scion's true power. To evoke the true power of a scion, it would be necessary to harmonize oneself to the scion's being, fusing not only one's purpose with the scion, but one's own body and mind.
Story[]
The goal of the Lucavi is the resurrection of their master, Ultima. Once that is done, they will have no need of auracite or the vessels they inhabit, as they'll be able to come and go as they please. In Ultima's absence, Hashmal leads the effort to revive her. Ramza runs afoul of the Lucavi by discovering what they are up to, and is forced to fight and defeat the Lucavi one by one. By the time he catches up to Hashmal he is dangerously close to reviving Ultima due to the countless bloodshed needed for the resurrection to work.
Hashmal succeeds by committing suicide to fulfill the ritual. Ramza battles Ultima who transforms into a skeletal monstrosity mid-battle. Ultima is destroyed, though the resulting explosion devastates the area, and it appears Ramza has perished as well, although Orran Durai briefly spots him afterward.
The Lucavi[]
Underlings[]
The Lucavi employ many underlings, the most notable of which are the Archaeodaemons and Ultima Demons. Both are of considerable power, and the Ultima Demons can even cast the spell Ultima. During the battles against Ramza, Belias summons Archaeodaemons to help him, while Ultima summons Ultima Demons to help her. In addition, Celia and Lettie, who serve Marquis Elmdore, are Ultima Demons, and if defeated in human form during the battle with Elmdore, will transform into demons and continue fighting.
It is likely that Loffrey is also an Ultima Demon since Ramza feels the same feeling in Loffrey's presence as with Celia and Lettie. Both Archaeodaemons and Ultima Demons are summoned by Folmarv to help the undead Zalbaag.
Musical themes[]
"The Pervert" (named "Helldance" in the in-game sound test mode of The War of the Lions version) is the Lucavi boss battle theme. It begins to play as any Lucavi-possessed character transforms into a Lucavi form, and stops playing right before the defeated Lucavi explodes. The theme is in minor key. It begins slowly and becomes faster partway through only to become slow again just before it repeats.
During the slow part, there are four beats to a measure and during the fast part there are only three. It also switches keys twice during the fast part before reverting to its original key. The combination of these irregularities works well as the heroes are in the presence of something unholy whenever it is being played.
Cúchulainn, Belias, Zalera, Adrammelech, Elidibus, and Hashmal use this theme. Ultima has two themes of her own which are used instead for the battles against her.
In addition to "The Pervert", the Lucavi also have a laughter sound effect. The laugh is a remix of Kefka Palazzo's laugh in Final Fantasy VI.
Other appearances[]
Final Fantasy XII[]
Some Espers are based on the Lucavi. Most do not have a storyline role, but they appear to be in service of the Occuria. The ones based on the Lucavi are:
- Belias, the Gigas: Guardian of the inner sanctum of the Tomb of Raithwall. It is said that Raithwall placed him to guard the Dawn Shard, a fragment of deifacted nethicite. When the party approaches Giruvegan, Belias must be summoned to break the seal on the entrance.
- Adrammelech, the Wroth: Part of an optional quest in the Zertinan Caverns, located at the center of a radar-warping Mist pocket and a cyclone. He summons Shambling Corpses to slow the party's assault.
- Zalera, the Death Seraph: Encountered deep in the ruins of the Barheim Passage.
- Cúchulainn, the Impure: Part of an optional quest whose last leg requires solving the Garamsythe Waterway.
- Hashmal, Bringer of Order: He guards the way to the top of Pharos.
- Ultima, the High Seraph: She is an optional Esper who makes her abode at the bottom of the Great Crystal. Like her counterpart in Final Fantasy Tactics, she is the one who rallied the other eleven Espers to rise against their creators, and thus is implied to be the Espers' leader.
- Zodiark, Keeper of Precepts: The Esper that represents the hidden thirteenth zodiac, Serpentarius, is the last and the most powerful optional Esper. It alludes to the mysterious Zodiark summon from Final Fantasy Tactics. Although not a Lucavi, Zodiark in Final Fantasy Tactics is related to one: Elidibus.
Final Fantasy XIV[]
Argath Thadalfus as the Lucavi, Duma.
The Lucavi in this setting are transfigured individuals from the usage of auracite relics. The creatures appear as bosses within the Return to Ivalice 
Alliance raid series and the Zadnor 
Field operation duty series, with a majority of their designs based on their Final Fantasy XII appearances.
Mateus, Hashmal, Rofocale, and Duma appear as bosses inside the Royal City of Rabanastre. Famfrit, Belias, and Yiazmat appear as bosses within the Ridorana Lighthouse. In the Orbonne Monastery, several of Ramza Beoulve's companions became Lucavi versions of themselves in order to both keep Ultima sealed and to test the heroes who would seek to vanquish her. Lastly, Adrammelech, Shemhazzai, and Cuchulainn appear within Zadnor.
The shape they take is determined by the individual and their heart's most earnest desires, not the auracite, with most Lucavi emerging in the form of creatures of Ivalican legend. Mateus, Hashmal, Famfrit, Belias, Cuchulain, and Shemhazzai were created by the IVth Imperial Legion from the use of unnamed zealots who worshiped Ultima and were exiled from Dalmasca years ago. Rofocale was formerly a high-ranking Dalmascan general before being transformed by the Duma. Duma and Yiazmat were created from Argath Thadalfus and Ba'Gamnan respectively. Agrias Oaks, Mustadio Bunansa, and Cidolfus Orlandeau used auracite to transform into Lucavi versions of themselves. Lastly, Sadr rem Albeleo used auracite to transform himself into Adrammelech within Castrum Lacus Litore.
Additionally, several IVth Legion-made Lucavi copies were made to fight against the Bozjan Resistance within Zadnor. Among them was a second Famfrit created from a IVth Legion onmyoji named Yamatsumi after being influenced by Gilbrisbert Buteo.
While not appearing in the Return to Ivalice raids, a boss by the name of Cúchulainn appears inside the Void Ark raid as notable voidsent. This has been explained in lore as the two figures sharing the same name being no more than coincidence.[1]
Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]
The Lucavi appear as enemies.
Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
Some of the Lucavi appear.
Etymology[]
The Russian word lukavy (лукавый) means "deceptive". It is commonly used as a euphemism for the Christian Devil. It is related to the Greek word lykaugea, which means "twilight".
Citations[]
- ↑ Encyclopaedia Eorzea III - The World of FINAL FANTASY XIV, p.271 - 272