Order of the Northern Sky

Order of the Northern Sky
(北天騎士団, Hokuten Kishidan?)
Background information
Type	Group of knights
Affiliation(s)	Duke Bestrald Larg
Members
Leader(s)	Barbaneth Beoulve (formerly) Dycedarg Beoulve Zalbaag Beoulve
Notable members	Ramza Beoulve Delita Heiral Argath Thadalfus

The Order of the Northern Sky, also known as the Hokuten, is an organization in Final Fantasy Tactics. It is an order of knights serving Ivalice that was led by House Beoulve, first Barbaneth Beoulve during the Fifty Years' War, and then Zalbaag Beoulve during the War of the Lions, when it was affiliated with Duke Larg, the White Lion.

In the Fifty Years' War, the Order of the Northern Sky fought alongside the Order of the Southern Sky for Ivalice in its war against Ordallia. Barbaneth was its leader, with his son Zalbaag among its heroes. After Barbaneth's passing, Zalbaag took over, and in the immediate aftermath of the war the order took arms against the Corpse Brigade, with Ramza Beoulve, Delita Heiral, and Argath Thadalfus fighting under them. During the War of the Lions that followed, the Order of the Northern Sky took the side of Duke Larg and was directly opposed to the Order of the Southern Sky, who affiliated with rival Duke Goltanna, the Black Lion.

History

Fifty Years' War

The Order of the Northern Sky was one of many orders of knights that fought Ordallia during the Fifty Years' War, alongside the Order of the Southern Sky and the Order of the Eastern Sky. Lord commander Barbaneth Beoulve led the Order of the Northern Sky, and was close to Cidolfus, leader of the Order of the Southern Sky.

The Northern Sky was very successful, as Barbaneth's countless victories against Ordallia compensated for Ivalice's inferior numbers, while Zalbaag's countless victories led to him being declared by Ivalice's king, Denamda IV, at the time to be Ivalice's savior. The fear of Barbaneth and the order contributed to Ordallia agreeing to peace.

Throughout the war, the Order of the Northern Sky committed many atrocities, including sacking villages and massacring enemy soldiers.

Fighting the Corpse Brigade

A Hokuten Knight.

Following the death of Barbaneth, at his request, his brother Dycedarg Beoulve ceded the position of commander to Zalbaag.

In chapter 1, "The Meager", the Order of the Northern Sky became combatants against the Corpse Brigade that rose after the Fifty Years' War. Ramza and Delita were knights apprentice for the order at the Royal Military Akademy at Gariland, and fought against the Corpse Brigade. They rescued the squire Argath Thadalfus, who joined them in rescuing Marquis Elmdore, who had been kidnapped by a rogue knight of the order, Gustav Margriff.

While the Order of the Northern Sky was rounding up the last of the Corpse Brigade, former Brigade members attacked Eagrose Castle in an attempt on Dycedarg Beoulve's life. The attack failed to kill Dycedarg but did kidnap Tietra Heiral, Delita's sister.

Tietra was held captive at Ziekden Fortress where a battle between the Order of the Northern Sky and remaining Corpse Brigade members, led by Gragoroth Levigne, was fought. Gragoroth attempted to use Tietra as a shield, but Argath, acting on Zalbaag's orders, shot her to deny him leverage and killed Gragoroth. The fallout led Delita and Ramza to kill Argath in rage. Both then left the order, Ramza becoming a mercenary.

War of the Lions

During chapter 2, "The Manipulative and the Subservient" (also depicted in the prologue), knights of the Order of the Northern Sky disguised themselves as Southern Sky soldiers to kidnap Princess Ovelia. The plan was to frame Duke Goltanna and deny him the regency, but it was foiled by Delita, who was secretly aware of the plot. When Goltanna uncovered the scheme, he crowned Ovelia queen and marched the Order of the Southern Sky to the royal city of Lesalia. In response, Duke Larg declared Prince Orinus the rightful heir and led the Northern Sky in his name. This confrontation sparked the War of the Lions.

The war's first major clash came at the Battle of Groffovia, shortly after the beginning of chapter 3, "The Valiant". The fighting involved a series of brutal skirmishes that caused nearly 400,000 casualties. In the aftermath, the Northern Sky seized control of Lesalia, while the Southern Sky retreated to Fort Besselat.

As the stalemate dragged on, in chapter 4, "In the Name of Love", the Northern Sky recalled its full strength to march on Fort Besselat in a decisive offensive. However, the troops were weakened by mossfungus released into the air by Barich Fendsor of the Knights Templar, while Ramza intervened by opening the garrison's sluice, flooding the battlefield and ending the fighting in stalemate. Amid the confusion, both dukes were assassinated on the orders of the Templar: Larg by Dycedarg and Goltanna by Delita.

With both dukes dead, in the aftermath, Delita—celebrated for rescuing Princess Ovelia—married her and ascended the throne, restoring peace to Ivalice.

Etymology

In the original localization the organization was known as the "Hokuten", which means "Northern Sky (or Heaven)".