The following article contains spoilers for Final Fantasy XIV Patch 6.1’s main scenario quest.

We’re only one patch into the next ten years of Final Fantasy XIV, but the team at Square Enix is already offering some tantalizing teases. After you complete the new dungeon, Alzadaal’s Legacy, we find out that the treasure hidden under the waves of Thavnair’s ocean is in fact, a sealed planar fissure into the Void. The entire dungeon is an elaborate security system crafted by Vrtra to keep people away from the voidgate.

Vrtra, in his guise as the Au Ra child Varshahn, explains his part in the Seventh Umbral Calamity, when the Allagan Empire tore open the Void in order to invade Meracydia. During the conflict, Vrtra’s elder sister Azdaja charged into a void rift, never to be seen again. Vrtra has been searching for a way to reach his trapped sister, but his first venture into the rift proved too dangerous, so he sealed it.

That’s where the Warrior of Light and their intrepid crew enter the picture. A void rift isn’t the worst danger for those who have been to the edge of the universe! The rest of the Patch 6.1 storyline involves the crew’s attempts to go into the rift, as that will be the key to unlocking travel between the Shards.

Following Varshahn’s explanation, we’re treated to a cutscene starring a figure clad in dark armor stepping out of a void rift and sitting on a throne. In front of this figure known only as the “Knight in Black” sits four other thrones, each with an elemental bearing: Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind. The group speaks of a long-awaited opportunity to start a war and redeem their star. It’s quite clear the future of FFXIV will be wars between the stars — “Star Wars,” if you will. But just who are these figures, and what else can we glean from this pivotal scene?

FFXIV The Knight in Black

Who is the Knight in Black?

The Knight in Black is clearly Golbez, the antagonist for most of Final Fantasy IV and supporting character in its follow-up, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. By way of proof, I give you the Knight in Black’s appearance in FFXIV and Golbez’s modern design in Dissidia Final Fantasy NT. One is a bit more ornate while the other is streamlined, but they’re the same design overall.

Golbez is the armored antagonist of FFIV, ultimately revealed to be the brother of main character Cecil. As a young man named Theodor, Golbez was tempted into darkness by a powerful Lunarian named Zemus. With his newfound power and the help of Zemus, Golbez started a quest to gather the Crystals. Once all the Crystals were obtained, Golbez could summon the Giant of Babil and wipe humanity from the planet.

Dissidia NT Golbez — Golbez, as he appears in Dissidia, compared to the Knight’s design above.

Over the course of FFIV, Cecil and his friends are able to break Zemus’ control of Golbez, causing him to turn away from his evil deeds. With Zemus’ final form, Zeromus, beaten, Golbez and the Lunarian Fusoya enter the Lunar Sleep, hidden away from the rest of the world. Golbez later returns as a cast member in The After Years, helping his nephew Ceodore once again protect the crystals.

When Endwalker was announced, the community expected more pulls from Final Fantasy IV than were actually in the expansion. The journey to the moon, with a dark force sleeping inside, definitely recalled the latter part of the classic title. The Loporrits are also pulled straight from FFIV. The Lunar Whale mount and Level 90 Job Artifact gear, which was based on FFIV’s cast, all seemed to reinforce that idea. Instead, Endwalker was largely concerned with wrapping up its own storyline.

But it seems the FFIV inspirations are now coming back in full force. The Knight in Black very much resembles Golbez, even if it’s not the actual one from FFIV. This version looks to hail from the Thirteenth, the Shard ruined by the Ascians and covered by the Void, which we saw in the alliance raid World of Darkness from A Realm Reborn. His quest seems to be one meant to save his world and ensure its survival, regardless of the cost. Will there be a Zemus or Zeromus influencing his actions as well?

FFXIv Throne of Earth

Who are the Thrones?

Given that the Knight is Golbez, then it stands to reason that the thrones are shades of the Archfiends from FFIV. Also known as the Four Fiends of the Elements, this quartet followed Golbez in his quest. Scarmiglione, the Blight Despot; Cagnazzo, the Drowned King; Barbariccia, Empress of the Winds; and Rubicante, Autarch of Flame are each tied to Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire, respectively.

If the names sound very specific, that’s because they’re all references to Dante’s Divine Comedy — more specifically, they’re demons from the third part of the poem, Inferno. (Fun fact: Calcabrina, the creepy doll monster who is the final boss of The Antitower dungeon, is one of these demons as well.) Surprisingly enough, none of these characters have been featured in FFXIV yet. I would not be surprised to see them as Trials or Raid bosses at some point. For now, though, they’re simply advisors to the Knight in Black. One even threatens to drown the Warrior of Light. I got news for you, buddy: we can’t drown!

Also, what is the name of the latest set of PVP reward armor? That would be the Archfiend set. Ahem.

Other Connections

This idea is wholly speculation on my part, but I think Golbez also points to the eventual introduction of another character from FFIV. In that game, Golbez summons the Shadow Dragon to fight Cecil and his party in the Dwarven Castle. There’s no further backstory on the dragon itself. That said, the Shadow Dragon is associated with Golbez enough that it reappears in the Dissidia game alongside him — in Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, it is Golbez’s primary weapon. If Golbez is here, perhaps his dragon will be joining the party.

But what if we’ve already heard about the Shadow Dragon? Vrtra’s deepest desire is to be reunited with his sister Azdaja, who plunged into Void thousands of years ago. Patch 6.1’s plot makes sure to note that dragon scale Talismans blunt the effects of void corruption. Perhaps Azdaja is still alive and not completely voidsent yet. Perhaps this majestic dragon has simply fallen into… the shadows.

Likewise, the voidsent simulacrum that the group plans to use in their journeys into the Thirteenth is the Atomos. This monster first appeared in Final Fantasy V as a boss but was also featured in FFIV‘s The After Years. There, it guards the depths of The True Moon, which initially appears to be a second moon. In actuality, it’s a giant starship crafted by The Creator to travel the universe. Wait, where have I heard something like that before?

Regardless, we live in the realm of pure speculation at this point. Many believe the next expansion will take us to Meracydia, the Southern continent home to the first brood of dragons and the Warring Triad; it’s also the ancestral home of the Miqo’te. I would not be surprised if we head to Meracydia and the Thirteenth, with the expansion diving further into the backstory of the dragons and the Void.

Alongside all of this, I expect a heaping helping of FFIV-inspired lore. Are you looking forward to it? I’m personally still waiting for a Fusoya appearance.

Earth Moraine

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