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Better known as Iceheart, Ysayle stands as leader of the heretics—those who have pledged their allegiance to the dragons. Denouncing the teachings of the Holy See, she means to put an end to the Dragonsong War.

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Ysayle Dangoulain is a non-player character from Final Fantasy XIV. Also known as Lady Iceheart (氷の巫女, Kōri no Miko?, lit. Shrine Maiden of Ice), she leads the heretics—those who have pledged their allegiance to the dragons. Denouncing the teachings of the Holy See, she means to end the Dragonsong War. Like the adventurer, she is one of Hydaelyn's chosen.

History[]

Early life[]

Ysayle manifested the Echo at young age. While frightened of seeing visions of a woman and dragons, the Seventh Umbral Calamity buried her hometown of Falcon's Nest and Ysayle's people attempted to flee to safety in Ishgard. Unable to bypass an ice wall the calamity had created between West and Central Coerthas an avalanche fell upon her group leaving Ysayle the only survivor. She traveled alone to Dravania where she met the dragon from her visions, Hraesvelgr, before meeting Marcechamp and making her home in Tailfeather.

Ysayle learned of the nature of her visions as she resolved to restore the peace between her people and the dragons so no child would suffer as she did. Under the name of Lady Iceheart, she gained a following of heretics dedicated to Saint Shiva that became active throughout Coerthas during the Seventh Astral Era.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn[]

Iceheart

Ysayle inside the Snowcloak.

While rarely appearing, Ysayle makes her presence known[1] when she has the heretics waylaid shipments of crystals. Alphinaud Leveilleur learned of her plan to summon Saint Shiva as a primal, and alerted the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. With the new crisis, the Scions and the Crystal Braves joined the Temple Knights in infiltrating the Harriers den around Snowcloak.

After scouting through a treacherous tunnel leading through the glacier, the Warrior of Light encountered Ysayle near an aetheryte crystal. Introducing herself, she stated her intention to end the Dragonsong War and questioned the Warrior's resolve of allowing the bloodshed continue. Before she teleported away, she declared what the heretics were doing was for the greater good of Eorzea. Further pursuit was halted as she seemingly disabled her destination aetheryte.

You should never have come here, Warrior of Light. I labor only to forge a lasting peace. A peace you would deny us out of ignorance and blind faith. No matter. If it is our fate to be at odds, then it is mine to strike you down.

Iceheart

With the aid of an expert from Sharlayan named Moenbryda, an experimental teleport using white auracite was used to trace Ysayle to the Akh Afah Amphitheatre. Believing she was summoning Saint Shiva's spirit, Ysayle transformed into the primal Shiva. After forced back to her original form, Ysayle condemned the Warrior of Light as a blind fool like those in Ishgard. She asked the Warrior seek out the Keeper of the Lake and to not "squander Mother's gift". As she faded into a portal, she recited the words of the Mother crystal: "Hear... Feel... Think..."

You fight in a war you do not understand—a pawn of liars and schemers. And they are no less ignorant than you! Following the creed of their fathers without question, never thinking to ask why. Trapped in a delusion of their own creation and blind to the truth.

Iceheart to the adventurer

Ysayle reappeared[2] when she and her harriers broke the outermost ward of Daniffen's Collar at the Gates of Judgement, right as the Dravanian Horde mobilized under Nidhogg's roar. This enabled Nidhogg's champion, the great dragon Vishap, to launch an attack on the Steps of Faith in an attempt to disable the remaining wards. After the Warrior of Light slew Vishap and the main host was driven off, Estinien vowed to hunt her down.

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward[]

I will make this right. I am neither a saint nor a savior—just another sinner. Yet I will not forsake this cause. I cannot. I will see this cycle broken and peace restored. I... We can do naught else, for we are now as one...

Iceheart

Ysayle confronted the Warrior of Light at Coerthas Western Highlands and Midgardsormr appeared before her, much to her surprise. He told her that while their goals aligned, their paths differed, and revealed he knew she possessed the Echo. She regretted the loss of innocent life in her last attack, having underestimated the rancor in the hearts of the dragons. Ysayle explained the story of the Dragonsong War to the Warrior of Light and why she wanted to end it before taking her leave.

Ysayle later encountered the Warrior, Alphinaud, and Estinien in the Cinders after they lighted a heretic signaling fire, intending to draw her out. Curious, she listened to Alphinaud's plan: to travel in hope of trying to resolve the matters between Ishgard and Dravania peacefully. Ysayle revealed the story of Saint Shiva and Hraesvelgr and two-hundred long peace that was broken by King Thordan, and that Nidhogg's stolen eye was the cause of the war. Estinien revealed to her the true reason not being just his eye, and Ysayle agreed to take them to Churning Mists where Hraesvelgr had sequestered himself.

Finding their path blocked until the voracious Gnath and their primal god, Ravana, were dealt with, Ysayle accompanied the Warrior of Light and challenged them to a duel to have them order the Gnath to halt their campaign. When Ravana accepted, Ysayle assumed her primal form to engage the Warrior in combat. She overestimated her strength and was defeated, her confidence shaken. The party journeyed through Sohm Al, where they were confronted by Nidhogg's consort, Tioman. Ysayle tried to talk down Tioman so they could pass without further bloodshed[note 1], but Tioman roared in defiance and so Estinien started a battle that saw Tioman slain.

Arriving in the Churning Mists, the group did favors for the Moogle Chieftain Moglin, who eventually directed them to Hraesvelgr's hiding place. Hraesvelgr refused to aid them as Nidhogg's fury would never be sated until every Ishgardian was either dead or converted into a dragon. Though Ysayle attempted to persuade Hraesvelgr by claiming that she was the soul of Shiva reborn, Hraesvelgr laughed off her delusion and revealed the "Shiva" whose form she assumed was "a deity of [her] own making". This shattered Ysayle's faith, and she remained behind while the Warrior of Light and Estinien traveled to the Aery to confront Nidhogg.

After slaying Nidhogg, the party returned to Hraesvelgr with Ysayle learning the dragon gave his eye to his brother to have his war. Wrecked by this further betrayal, and unable to understand Hraesvelgr's emotions on the subject, Ysayle condemned the dragon for his actions before he ordered her to leave while the influence of Shiva's soul allowed him to show mercy. Accompanying the Warrior of Light to Ishgard, Ysayle talked the heretics into falling back by revealing Nidhogg's death and the time for the peace they fought for has come. Though the knights of Ishgard attempted to arrest her as she left, they were stopped by Estinien and Lord Haurchefant.

O goddess born of mine own hopes and dreams. For the last time, I beseech You! Fill this vessel with Your light! Still the hatred within our hearts and bless us with eternal grace!

Ysayle beckons Shiva for the last time.
FFXIV Ysayle Death

Ysayle's last moment.

Later, the Warrior of Light and company attempted to breach the barrier surrounding Azys Lla. Having made her peace with Hraesvelgr before he was alerted by Estinien's use of the Eye of Nidhogg, Ysayle rode on the greatwyrm's back to aid the Enterprise when it came under assault by the Garlean airship Gration. Intent to atone for spilling blood in the name of a "false cause", Ysayle jumped off Hraesvelgr and transformed into Shiva a final time to assault the Gration with Hraesvelgr's dragons as her support. Though she disabled the Garlean airship enough for them to stop their pursuit of the Enterprise while her aides were destroyed, Ysayle was blasted out of the sky by cannonfire and fell while reverting to her original form. Dying, she broke up into a luminous, blue aether that spilled into the heavens.

When the Warrior of Light and Alphinaud attempted to wrest the eyes of Nidhogg from the armor of Estinien to separate him from the wyrm[3], a noncorporeal being in the form of Ysayle laid their hand upon Alphinaud's. The eyes were removed from the armor, presumably with the aid of Ysayle and Haurchefant, before being cast into the abyss beneath the Steps of Faith.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker[]

As Shiva, the soul of Ysayle protected the Warrior of Light and Scions of the Seventh Dawn (which Estinien had since joined) from Amon the Undying's Final Curtain spell in The Aitiascope.

Spoilers end here.


Characteristics[]

Appearance[]

Ysayle is an Elezen woman with pale skin, long flowing gray hair, icy blue eyes, and pale blue lips. Unlike the other heretics, she wears a blue jacket with a skirt. She wields a small T-shaped scepter. When serving as a Gladiator in Duty Support, she wields a True Ice Brand and True Ice Shield.

Personality[]

Ysayle is devoted to her cause in ending the Dragonsong War, going so far as to take the lives of innocents for her goal. Although she is fervent on her ways, she is not afraid to learn the truth.

Though Ysayle at first appears to be the zealous leader of the Ishgardian Heretics that the Holy See branded her as, she only desires to end the Dragonsong War and unite dragon and man in peace. While she hates the orthodox leadership for propagating a lie on the origins of the war, Ysayle never wanted Ishgard's total destruction as Nidhogg did, only for the truth to be revealed and peace be restored. Her role as the leader of the Heretics shrouds a lonely soul, as after losing her family and people in an avalanche, Ysayle desired only for the warmth of companionship.

As an idealist for peace and for Ishgard to answer for their crimes against dragonkind, Ysayle often gets into arguments with those who prefer to make war upon their foes. She quarrels bitterly with Estinien bur over time the two come to an understanding after learning the full truth of the Dragonsong War.

Originally, Ysayle possessed a deep faith in Saint Shiva, revering her for her sacrifice in bringing peace between Man and Dragon. Even after her faith is shattered, Ysayle believes that man and dragon can live in peace again.

Gameplay[]

In A Realm Reborn, Ysayle is fought as the primal Shiva during The Akh Afah Amphitheatre and its extreme mode.

In Heavensward, Ysayle is a Duty Support party member for Sohm Al Sohm Al Her job, Oracle of Frost, is an All-Rounder that can fill the Gladiator and Thaumaturge roles.

Triple Triad[]

Lyse Card
File:Ysyale Triple Triad Card.png
Card No. 77
Total stats 21
Type None
Description "We whom gods and men have forsaken shall be the instruments of our own deliverance!"
Obtain Won from Marcechamp, The Dravanian Forelands (31, 23).

Behind the scenes[]

Voice[]

Ysayle is voiced by Salli Saffioti in the English version. Since the release of the English version of Heavensward, Ysayle is voiced by Siobhan Hewlett.

She is voiced by Maaya Uchida in the Japanese version. She shares all of her voice actors with her Shiva incarnation.

Musical themes[]

"Footsteps in the Snow" is a prominent theme that plays whenever Ysayle assumes her Shiva form and played during the first phase of the boss battle. The song is reused in Final Fantasy XIV: Heavenward during Ysayle's battle against the Garlean Airship. Her boss theme as Shiva is Oblivion.

Other appearances[]

Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]

FFI PSP Black Mage MapThis section about a character in Pictlogica Final Fantasy is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]

FFRK Ysayle

Known as Lady Iceheart, Ysayle leads a group of heretics who oppose Ishgard. She possesses the Echo, and can summon Shiva to use her body as a vessel.

Character profile

Ysayle is a playable character who could be initially recruited during the Challenge Event The Dragonsong War - Dreams of Ice as a First Time Reward for completing the event's Thok ast Thok stage on Classic difficulty.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game[]

Ysayle appears in Final Fantasy Trading Card Game as Ice-elemental Backup cards.

Final Fantasy Portal App[]

Ysayle appears as a Triple Triad card.

Gallery[]

Notes[]

Annotations[]

  1. There was no negotiation with Tioman upon release, but Patch 6.2 added the scene.

Citations[]

  1. Final Fantasy XIV, "Dreams of Ice"
  2. Final Fantasy XIV, "Before The Fall"
  3. Final Fantasy XIV, During a cutscene of the patch 3.3 main story quest An End to the Song
  4. 4.0 4.1 Tales From the Dragonsong War - The Dreamer and the Dream
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