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"Rise of the White Raven" (白銀の凶鳥、飛翔せり, Hakugin no Kyōchō, Hishō seri?, lit. Silver Wicked Bird, Soaring) is the final boss theme of the original Final Fantasy XIV. It was composed and arranged by Masayoshi Soken. The lyrics were written by Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and translated into Latin by Eva Kappeller, and the vocals were provided by Music Creation.

Game appearances[]

Final Fantasy XIV[]

Final Fantasy XIV (version 1.0)[]

In the original Final Fantasy XIV, "Rise of the White Raven" is the final boss theme in Rivenroad, played once the player character and his or her party enter the second stage of the final battle with the main antagonist Nael van Darnus, who has now transformed into Nael deus Darnus after taking in too much of Dalamud's power.

It is the 103rd track on the Before Meteor: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn[]

In A Realm Reborn, an instrumental version called "Bite of the Black Wolf" arranged by Soken plays during several Legatus battles, such the first stage of the final battle of the main story quest line when facing Gaius van Baelsar in the bottom of The Praetorium The Praetorium.

"Bite of the Black Wolf" is the 108th track on the Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Original Soundtrack.

"Rise of the White Raven" is again played in full during the rematch with Nael deus Darnus, who serves as the boss in The Second Coil of Bahamut - Turn 4 The Second Coil of Bahamut - Turn 4 and the final boss of The Second Coil of Bahamut.

"Rise of the White Raven" returns again as the 18th track on the Before the Fall: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.

Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood[]

"Rise of the White Raven" plays again during the fight against Nael deus Darnus in The Unending Coil of Bahamut (Ultimate) The Unending Coil of Bahamut (Ultimate).

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers[]

An orchestral version arranged by Sachiko Miyano can be heard in Cinder Drift Cinder Drift when the party fights the true form of the Ruby Weapon.

"Rise of the White Raven (Orchestral Version)" is the 25th track on the Death Unto Dawn: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.

Through crafting, players can acquire the "Rise of the White Raven" music theme for the Orchestrion. An orchestral version of the theme is also available in Mog Station.

Composition[]

The piece begins set in C minor, featuring a heavy amount of strings, vocals, and a harp solo in its opening. The ethereal mood evoked by the choral notes and the harp solo could possibly represent Nael's loss of sanity and her rise to full power due to Dalamud boosting her power. The piece then transitions into a brass fanfare of short, crisp notes.

This is followed by a tenor solo with a clear voice, which is, in turn, followed by a tenor solo with a slightly-distorted voice as the piece changes to D minor, then E-flat minor. After another brass fanfare in D minor, a duet between a soprano voice and a tenor voice is featured, and it continues as the piece changes to B-flat minor, then ends in F major before it loops back to the start. All vocals are featured in Latin.

Lyrics[]

The official lyrics of "Rise of the White Raven" were released on the Before Meteor: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack and the Before the Fall: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack. The lyrics were translated into Japanese by Banri Oda.

Latin
Corvus fortis
Corvus fortis
Corvus fortis ascendit
Superne videt praeteritum
Praesentem et futurum videt
Res evertuntur repente
Ad unum omnes sunt mortui dei
Machinae regnabunt in caelo
Ratio regnabit in terra
Corvum candidum exhilaramus
Ecce extendit trans mundi alas
Vocat lucem rubram excidii
Fulget luce rubrae victoriae
Imperium!
Imperium!
Imperium ave!
Ave imperium!
Ave imperium!
Videte!
Testate adventu fati.
Videte!
Testate adventu Dalamud!
Official English translation
The dauntless raven rises up.
From on high, he marks the past;
Marks the present; marks the future.
A revolution is upon us.
All the gods are dead.
Machines will rule the heavens.
Reason will rule the land.
Exalt we the White Raven.
Behold?his wings enfold the world.
He calls down the red light of destruction.
He glows with the red light of victory.
The Empire!
The Empire!
Hail to the Empire!
Look!
Bear witness to the advent of Fate.
Look!
Bear witness to the advent of Dalamud.
Japanese translation
猛々しき鳥は、舞い上がる
天上から、彼は過去を見渡す
現在を見渡し、明日を見渡す
疾風の如き“革命”が来たれり
すべての神々が死に絶え、
機械仕掛けの神が天界を統べ、
理念こそが地上を支配せん
我らは称える、「白銀の凶鳥」を!
刮目せよ! 彼の翼が世界を覆う
破壊の紅き光を招き
勝利の紅き光に浴す
帝国!
帝国!
帝国万歳!
見よ!
運命の到来を!
見よ!
ダラガブの降臨を!

The words "hear", "feel", and "think", which are heard in the main theme after character creation, are faintly spoken during the first stanza.

Live performances[]

Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album[]

An orchestral arrangement of "Rise of the White Raven" was conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Mih Khetto Chorus, with Eri Nishimoto as the alto soloist and Yuki Sakai as the bass soloist. It was orchestrated by the recording director Sachiko Miyano.

It is also on the Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album (Concert version).

Arrangement album appearances[]

Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Arrangement Album[]

An orchestral arrangement was released with Sachiko Miyano as the arranger and recording director. It was conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, with Eri Nishimoto as the alto soloist and Yuki Sakai as the bass soloist.

Album appearances[]

Final Fantasy XIV - Eorzean Frontiers[]

Soken's piece is featured as the seventh track of the album.

See also[]

External links[]

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