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The Lucavi (ルカヴィ, Rukavi?) 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, called a Zodiac Stone, 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 Zodiac Stone.
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, and most people are unaware these unknown demons have names.
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 Zodiac Stone. His name was given to a undead Time Mage who fights at Yuguewood.
The Retcon
The six names of the original Lucavi will probably never make an appearance; the remaining Lucavi names were retconned in accordance to the beings that became associated with the six remaining zodiac signs of those in Final Fantasy XII. A retcon of Final Fantasy Tactics would most likely identify the remaining six Lucavi with the six Espers from Final Fantasy XII.
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
Cúchulainn the Impure (Queklain, the Impure King) is associated with the Scorpio Auracite, and has possessed Cardinal Delacroix.
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
Template:Listen "Helldance" ("The Pervert" in the original version) is the Lucavi boss battle theme from Final Fantasy Tactics. 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 predictably 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 "Helldance", 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
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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, he 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.
- Cuchulainn the Impure: Part of an optional quest whose last leg requires solving the Garamsythe Waterway.
- Hashmal
- Ultima
Pictlogica Final Fantasy
Template:Sideicon The Lucavi appear as enemies in Pictlogica Final Fantasy.
Final Fantasy Record Keeper
Template:Sideicon Some of the Lucavi appear in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
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".
External links
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