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The four tribunes of the XIVth Imperial Legion, from left to right: Rhitahtyn, Gaius, Nero, and Livia.
The XIVth Imperial Legion is a legion of the Garlean Empire levied by "The Black Wolf" Gaius van Baelsar in Final Fantasy XIV.
Story
Version 1.x
After successfully capturing Ala Mhigo, the XIVth Legion was poised to annex the rest of Eorzea. As next part of their invasion plan, the legion attempted to capture Mor Dhona due to Lake Silvertear believed to be a nexus of aetherial energy (and therefore a risk of fueling the summoning of primals in defense of the realm). What Garlean scholars failed to take into consideration was the legends surrounding its guardian: as the fleet moved into Mor Dhona airspace, the Father of Dragons Midgardsormr emerged from the lake. After centuries of absence, the king of kings called forth the Dravanian Horde with song to repel the Garlean fleet. Even the mighty Agrius super-dreadnaught could not withstand the terrible power of Midgardsormr's energy blasts, and it fell into the lake with the great wyrmking coiled around it. The ceruleum fuel tanks suddenly ignited, killing Midgardsormr and destroying a seal on the flow of aether at the lake, creating a blinding pillar of light.
With the loss of the Agrius, Gaius was forced to withdraw the surviving fleet to Ala Mhigo. Worse yet, the breaking of the seal ensured the native beast-tribes would have an abundant supply of aether to summon their primals in response to both the invasion and disputes with the city-states. For ten years, the invasion of Eorzea was put on hold, beginning the Age of Calm.
Emperor Solus zos Gavus, seeing the crisis in Eorzea, approved of Nael van Darnus's more extreme plan: Project Meteor. In response to the implications of this threat, the city-states reinstated the Eorzean Alliance and recreated the Grand Companies of Eorzea. Gaius and his Legion were ordered to aid van Darnus with his plan. However, the Legatus did not approve of his peer's apocalyptic plans, and secretly aided the Eorzean Alliance in their efforts to thwart the White Raven.
A Realm Reborn
Although the Emperor Solus zos Galvus abandoned any plans for Eorzea after Project Meteor was less than successful, Gaius van Baelsar would not give up his ambition to bring Eorzea under his control. With the aid of a spy planted in the Grand Companies by High Legatus Varis yae Galvus, the XIVth Legion quietly set up several outposts in Eorzea in the years after the Calamity.
In addition to reusing Nael van Darnus's old fortress Castrum Novum (now called Castrum Centri), the Legion set up a major stronghold at Northern Thanalan, as well as additional bases in La Noscea, the Black Shroud, and Coerthas. They also performed research expeditions into the Binding Coil of Bahamut at Castrum Occidens, as well as a Provisional Research Camp in the wreckage of the Agrius.
Using the ancient anti-primal weapon unearthed at Ala Mhigo, the Ultima Weapon, Gaius hoped to subjugate the city-states and beast-tribes. Though the beast-tribes backed down, the Eorzean Alliance responded to his ultimatum with Operation Archon: shutting down his supply lines and besieging Castrum Meridianum. The Ultima Weapon was destroyed by a team of adventurers, and Gaius himself perished as the inner Praetorium collapsed from the damage caused by Ultima.
Since the fall of the Black Wolf, the XIVth Legion remained dormant within the bases, and their most senior surviving officer, Nero tol Scaeva, later disappeared in a Voidgate at the Syrcus Tower. However, Varis zos Galvus, having since risen to emperor of Garlemald, may be keeping the Legion on standby for a future invasion of Eorzea.
Members
- Gaius Van Baelsar (commander)
- Nero tol Scaeva (second in command)
- Livia Sas Junius
- Rhitahtyn Sas Arvina
- Aulus rem Vulso
- The Indolent Imperial
Musical themes
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"Steel Reason" plays in all the battles against the tribunes of the XIVth Imperial Legion, except for Gaius who has his own battle theme, "Bite of the Black Wolf".
Gallery
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Etymology
The XIVth Imperial Legion is inspired by the Legio XIV Gemina, the legion of the Roman Empire levied by Julius Caesar in 57 B.C.
Trivia
- An unfinished Garlean outpost can be seen from near the Monument Tower in the Coerthas Central Highlands. According to a developer interview, it was to be called Castrum Aquilae and was abandoned due to the extremely cold weather that gripped Coerthas.
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