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Who treadeth now upon my bones, and waketh me from slumber sweet? Thou hast forgotten the face of thy lord. Remember, mortal, and fear me.
Midgardsormr
Midgardsormr is a dragon king in Final Fantasy XIV. A legendary king of kings, Midgardsormr fathered the First Brood, the first dragons in Hydaelyn. Also known as a guardian deity in Silvertear Falls, he led the Dravanian Horde to battle against the Garlean Empire's airship fleet in the Battle of Silvertear Skies, an event that put the dragon in a slumber for 20 years.
He was seen during the opening CG of the original release (Version 1.0). This footage is reused during a flashback narration from Gaius van Baelsar in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Midgardsormr becomes more directly involved in the first expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, and remains an important ally throughout the second expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood.
Profile
Appearance
Midgardsormr is a colossal serpentine dragon, large enough to entwine the Garlean dreadnaught Agrius and outright destroy lesser airships with energy attacks from his mouth. His corpse remains entwined with the dreadnaught as the ceruleum tanks detonated; by the time the Agrius is explored the carcass is in advanced stages of decay.
As a minion, his spirit takes the form of a small dragonet with a cream-colored underbelly, a dark green back, and two fin-like ears.
As the Warrior of Light's mount Midgardsormr transforms into an adolescent dragon (grown enough to be ridden by a humanoid) with dark green skin, his signature fin-like "ears," and a spiked tail. A sequence of metallic plates line his spine with a carriage seat at his upper back with reins attached to the head.
The Alphascape replica of Midgardsormr, fought within Omega's body, shows that when he was younger, Midgardsormr had golden scales, and his head had long and curved fins, a fiery mane, and glowing eyes.
Personality
Midgardsormr is patient and enigmatic. He speaks in a slow, deliberate monotone and uses archaic speech patterns. While the original Japanese dialogue unquestionably portrays him as an ally, the English localization characterizes him more ambiguously through the use of Dravanian dialect developed specifically for the English release.[1]
Midgardsormr discretely travels with the Warrior of Light, observing their deeds and accomplishments throughout their adventures in Ishgard. Midgardsormr is impressed when the Warrior regains their Blessing of the Light, convinced that they are the Light Mother's chosen.
The Father of Dragonkind becomes more involved in the Dragonsong War, agreeing in the Warrior of Light's efforts to end it. He will not fight, but lends his wings as he believes in the prospect of peace between the dragons and Ishgard. Though Midgardsormr is saddened upon witnessing Nidhogg's wrath, he concludes that his son was replaced with a vengeful shade and the war could only end with Nidhogg's death. Midgardsormr appears before Hraesvelgr and convinces him to stand with the Warrior of Light and Ishgard against Nidhogg.
As the sire to the First Brood Midgardsormr cares deeply for his children and laments on the tragic fate that befell most of them. From Bahamut's death and "resurrection" as a primal, Tiamat's sorrowful imprisonment by the Allagans, Ratatoskr's murder to Nidhogg's endless hate.
Upon learning of Omega's reactivation, Midgardsormr becomes furious that his ancient enemy still exists, and decides to directly aid the Warrior of Light and Garlond Ironworks in their investigation.
Abilities
Being an ancient dragon, Midgardsormr is powerful, able to channel blasts of blue aetheric energy. His energy beams ravage Garlean airships while damaging the hull of the Agrius. Even after the Agrius exploded, seemingly claiming Midgardsormr's life, his spirit remains dormant as the Keeper of the Lake and can manifest as a ghostly dragon with an enormous deal of the power he displayed in life, up to and including raising two dead dragons back to the living in his arena.
Perhaps his most notable ability is being able to seal away the mothercrystal's Blessing of Light, draining the crystals of their power and forcing the Warrior of Light to act without Hydaelyn's protection. Midgardsormr can ignore his own death, manifesting as an infant dragon to keep watch over the Warrior.
Story
Early life
Being caught in an interplanetary war between Dragonstar and Omega's home world, the two fought, with neither able to defeat the other. Midgardsormr fled from Dragonstar after its destruction with the First Brood's eggs, eventually landing on Hydaelyn, where he made a pact with the mothercrystal and sired his seven children, reviving the dragon race in Hydaelyn with Omega on pursuit. The long journey weakened Midgardsormr.
Version 1.0
Midgardsormr's fall
It has been fifteen years, but the bitter taste of defeat lingers still... Fifteen years since the Imperial fleet set course for Mor Dhona, led by the Agrius, mightiest of vessels. Silvertear Lake lay ripe for the taking, and all of Eorzea would soon be ours......or so we believed. But an innumerable host of dragons met us that day, at the heart of which flew the great Midgardsormr. Though we succeeded in slaying that lord among wyrms, the dread serpent's defeat was bought at too high a cost. Our invincible flagship was lost, and with it all hope of victory with her. So ended our glorious conquest.
Gaius van Baelsar, reflecting on the Battle of Silvertear Skies
Some say Midgardsormr came into being around the time Silvertear Falls were created and was charged by Althyk and Nymeia of the Twelve to oversee the waters and magic. Upon his arrival to Hydaelyn Midgardsormr brought with him seven eggs from which the First Brood hatched. His children parted ways, Bahamut and Tiamat making home to Meracydia while Hraesvelgr, Nidhogg and Ratatoskr took residence in Eorzea. At some point Midgardsormr entered a deep slumber under Silvertear Falls.
In the year 1562 of the Sixth Astral Era, Gaius van Baelsar mobilized the airship fleet of the XIVth Imperial Legion to seize Mor Dhona as part of his initial campaign to conquer Eorzea. This stirred the Wyrmking from his quiescence beneath the lake of Silvertear Falls and called forth the Dravanian Horde to repel the invaders. As he entwined around the Agrius to cripple the flagship, ceruleum tanks inside the vessel exploded, killing Midgardsormr. The explosion released a seal holding immense stores of aether beneath the lake, draining it from the area, transforming Silvertear Falls from a pristine landscape lush with freshwater and vegetation to a near barren wasteland, hosting a manner of terrible beasts drawn to the corruption.
For the next fifteen years Midgardsormr's corpse remains entwined with the wreckage of the Agrius in Lake Silvertear, a landmark known as the Keeper of the Lake.
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
"I rise to join in the chorus."
As the Calamity and the Seventh Umbral Era came to pass, the Keeper remains a silent testimony to the Battle of Silvertear Skies. Five years after Dalamud's fall, Ishgard's Astrologians begin to see portents in the heavens: the dragon star flared, considered an omen of Midgardsormr's resurrection. This prompts Ser Aymeric de Borel of Ishgard's Temple Knights to begin negotiations with the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to request the Keeper of the Lake be monitored.
When word of a dragon's roar spreads, Aymeric's lieutenant Lucia goe Junius requests that the site be investigated. With the aid of Doman surveyors the Warrior of Light takes a boat out to the wreckage, fighting through lake creatures, dragons, and imperial troops from Castrum Centri to reach the top of the Agrius. As they approach the head of the Wyrmking, Midgardsormr's spirit awakens and attacks the party.
Once the spectral dragon is defeated, Midgardsormr gives the Warrior of Light reprieve to state the purpose of coming to his resting place. Midgardsormr was awoken by the roar of one of his seven children, Nidhogg, who wages war with the Dravanian Horde on the people of Ishgard. Upon seeing the Warrior was chosen by Hydaelyn, Midgardsormr dispels the Blessing of Light by dimming the six elemental crystals. Midgardsormr binds himself to the adventurer to create a new covenant to observe his or her right to be Warrior of Light. Taking the form of a diminutive dragonet, regaining his former appearance in time, Midgardsormr declares his intent to "watch...listen...and wait." While the exact relationship between Midgardsormr and Hydaelyn is unknown, he intends to test her champion's worth.
Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward
Midgardsormr meets Tiamat in Azys Lla.
During her conversation with the Warrior of Light, Midgardsormr appears before Ysayle Dangoulain, much to her surprise. He explains that while their goals are the same, their paths are different, and reveals she, too, possesses the echo, to which she admits. Midgardsormr appears after one of the crystals regains its light, surprised the adventurer may be regaining the Blessing of Light.
After arriving at Azys Lla, Midgardsormr directs the Warrior of Light to see his imprisoned daughter Tiamat. The Warrior learns the Ascians were responsible for both the creation and imprisonment of the Elder Primal created in Bahamut's image, and that the Allagans sealed many other ancient primals. Midgardsormr senses that the adventurer has regained Blessing of Light after speaking with Tiamat, offering to aid the hero by taking them to the Aetherochemical Research Facility.
Midgardsormr tries to make peace between humans and dragons.
After King Thordan has fallen, Midgardsormr witnesses Estinien Wyrmblood's body being taken over by the spirit of Nidhogg, watching his offspring fly off with profound sadness. Midgardsormr takes the Warrior of Light to Ishgard, seeing Aymeric de Borel's resolve for peace between their races while warning the Ishgardians that Nidhogg has consumed Estinien and will prepare a renewed conflict with those loyal to his wayward spawn. Vowing to remember Aymeric's vow, Midgardsormr flies off.
As Nidhogg's shade prepares his Final Chorus to destroy Ishgard, Aymeric, Alphinaud Leveilleur, and the Warrior of Light plead with Hraesvelgr to aid them against his broodbrother. Midgardsormr begins to reason with Hraesvelgr, who relents and arranges a trial for the three to prove their worth.
Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood
Midgardsormr reawakens as the Warrior of Light is aiding Garlond Ironworks investigate Omega's whereabouts. Midgardsormr is linked by fate to Omega, who likewise originates from another star. Midgardsormr converses with a chocobo-like entity called Alpha, who escaped from the mysterious portal being pursued by a ghostly serpent. He further explains that the portal leads to the Interdimensional Rift.
At the end of the Sigmascape, Omega, confused and agitated by the Warrior of Light's defiant strength, tries to determine their potential by imprisoning them in a seal, threatening to kill them if they do not break free. Midgardsormr draws upon his own power to temporarily assume his elder form and crush the prison, freeing the Warrior of Light. He warns Omega that if it wishes to see the adventurer's true power, it must do so by staying on its course and study the results of its tests. His energy spent, Midgardsormr dissipates as he returns to his sleep to recover.
After the Warrior of Light defeats Chaos in Alphascape, Omega reveals the history between it and Midgardsormr as it recreates the past version of the dragon from its memories, when he was still at the peak of his power.
Gameplay
Midgardsormr is fought at the end of the Keeper of the Lake dungeon. He appears as a spectral dragon.
Upon completing the dungeon for the first time in the main scenario, the player will obtain his small dragonet form as a minion after returning to the shoreline in Mor Dhona.
Late in the Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward main scenario, Midgardsormr becomes a flying mount at the completion of the quest "Fetters of Lament".
A past version of Midgardsormr is fought as the boss of Alphascape V2.0 and its Savage difficulty. This version of Midgardsormr is made from Omega's memory and represents Midgardsormr's power when he was still in his prime.
Creation and development
Voice
Midgardsormr is voiced by Allan Corduner in the English version.
He is voiced by Taketora in the Japanese version.
Gallery
Etymology
The name hails from Norse mythology, in which Midgardsormr (Old Norse: Miðgarðsormr; also known as the World Serpent or Jörmungandr) was the middle child of Loki and a giantess named Angrboda. Odin threw it into the ocean that encircles Midgard and it eventually grew large enough to reach around the entire world and bite its own tail. It had been foreseen that on the day of Ragnarök it would battle with its arch-nemesis: Thor, the god of thunder. The sky would darken from the poison mist emitted by Midgardsormr, and the battle would end in the death of both. Thor would first kill Midgardsormr and then stagger nine steps before dying from its poison.
Trivia
- Midgardsormr's dragonet form resembles the wyverns summoned by Dragoons in Final Fantasy XI.
- Similar to some other minions, he will perch on the player's shoulder (or player's head, if Lalafell), and occasionally spits out a blue flame in his idle animation. Unlike other minions that perch on the player, Midgardsormr doesn't respond to the /beckon command and will not perch on request.
- Midgardsormr's connection with Omega alludes to the link between Omega and Shinryu since the two superbosses' debut in Final Fantasy V.