The Megalocrabs
Taxonomy: Wavekin (Megalocrab)
Description: Inhabitants of rivers and coastlines, the megalocrab is possessed of an astoundingly hard shell that can weather many an assault and have become famed for their size. Those within Silvertear had earned the wry names Codpiece Clipper and Harness Snipper, surely in reference to particular injuries inflicted by them upon misplaced members of the Adventurers Guild, or perhaps Garleans within the ruins.
Cermet Coblyn
Taxonomy: Soulkin (Coblyn)
Description: What exactly a coblyn is, differs depending on who you ask. In Gridania the theory is that coblyn are beastkin who graft mineral to their flesh in order to gain a measure of armament. In Ul’dah, the prevailing thought is that they are instead true soulkin, ore that has taken on sentience and the ability to walk in order to propagate… Somehow. The Ul’dahn theory is increasingly the one accepted as fact within the halls of Sharlayan. These coblyns are clearly spawned from the artificial cermet that makes up much of the structure of the Agrius, as opposed to the conventional ore.
Lake Pugil
Taxonomy: Wavekin (Pugil)
Description: Bizarre wavekin that propel themselves in a primitive form of flight using a wind-aspected gas filled bladder within their body, pugil are famed for their voracious appetite and single-minded attitude towards food.
Son of the Keeper
Taxonomy: Wavekin (Sea Serpent)
Description: Exotic and rare creatures, the sea serpents were previously found only deep in the oceans of Eorzea, but after the Calamity they have begun to emigrate inland. They are not, of course, any relations of Midgardsormr but were likely named as such by the Garleans due to a passing resemblance.
Lake Nanka
Taxonomy: Wavekin (Ninki Nanka)
Description: A sturdy species of wavekin with hard, repulsive-tasting skin that makes them impalatable to all but the most harsh-tongued of species like the gnath and perhaps goblins, male nanka carry the eggs produced after their female mate lays them upon its back. The term ninki nanka seems to refer to only the adults of the species, with the young known only as nanka.
Etymology Notes: Ninki Nanka are a creature of West African myth that are typically regarded as reptilian creatures that dwell in swamps (as the creatures of Eorzea do).
Hull Nix
Taxonomy: Wavekin (Gigantoad)
Description: Colossal toads coated in slippery mucous and with a gaze capable of shaking even the most steadfast of warriors, gigantoads are fearsome beasts.
Etymology Notes: Nix, also known as neck or nixies are german water spirits that drown humans. This likely speaks to the dangers of these creatures in Eorzea.
Einhander ☠
Taxonomy: Cloudkin (Einhander)
Description: Powerful dual-horned creatures, the Einhanders have developed a reputation for using their dexterity and superior intellect. Tales abound of Einhanders tearing the mast from ships and piercing the hulls of Garlean airships. Other, lesser Einhanders named Astrea dwelled near the top of the Agrius.
Etymology Notes: The name Einhander roughly means one-handed in German, and usually refers to one-handed swords. The boss greatly resembles the Einhander spacecraft from the Square Enix game of the same name. Astrea were other spacecraft available in the Einhander video game, named for a Greek goddess of innocence.
The 6th Cohort Soldiery
Taxonomy: Spoken (Various)
Description: The 6th Cohort of Gaius van Baelsar’s XIVth Legion seems to have been either the cohort stationed aboard the Agrius at the time of the battle of the Silvertear Skies or the one dispatched to investigate the wreckage. The secutors of the Cohort were pugilists, while the Laquearius were axe-wielders. An eques in Garlemald seems to be both a minor civil servant and a spearmen in the military, likely separately but perhaps the roles are joined in some way. The centurions are officers of the legion typically leading approximately a hundred of the legion’s men into combat. Finally, the signifers were thaumaturgic auxiliaries of Garlemald, recruited from non-Garlean populations.
Etymology Notes: A secutor was a Roman class of gladiator who wielded a heavy shield and short sword. They were named for the Latin term for ‘chaser’ which could be an implication that the secutors of Garlemald were flanking and gap closing troops. The Laquearius did not actually use an axe as their Source-based equivalents do but instead used a whip and sword and were named a term that meant ‘snarer’, which could perhaps be linked to the role of a tank to pin down an enemy in FFXIV. The Eques, spearmen, are named after a form of minor nobility in ancient Rome defined by their responsibility to supply cavalry to the Roman military, plausibly because of the common usage of spears in cavalry. Just like in Garlemald, the Roman centurions were leaders of hundred-men detachments of the legion, although more senior positions did exist within the rank that included command of larger detachments as well as specialist administrative duties. In ancient Rome a signifer, thaumaturge, was a standard-bearer in the military, as well as the treasurer for their unit. Perhaps the prestige associated with this role could hold significance to their magical ability in FFXIV.
6th Cohort Vanguard
Taxonomy: Forgekin (Vanguard)
Description: Fully autonomous creations, the vanguard were constructed to bore through defenses as well as function as part of the forward assault units of the legions. They are noted to be employed as base guards as well due to their ability to destroy enemy siege engines.
6th Cohort Colossus
Taxonomy: Forgekin (Colossus)
Description: Some of Allag’s finest war machina, the iron giants are possessed of immense strength and durability, and have been some of the most fervently replicated creations by Garlemald, creating the more modern Colossi.
Magitek Gunship ☠
Taxonomy: Forgekin (Gunship)
Description: Garlean gunships are smaller military vessels designed to act as mobile artillery, although it also holds a robotic arm in-case it is required for lifting or manipulating of objects. Although troop transporting is not its intended use, the gunships can carry small numbers of soldiers.
Silver Falcon
Taxonomy: Cloudkin (Vulture)
Description: Vultures are commonly symbols of impurity in cultures due to their reliance on carrion to survive, although they are also fully capable of hunting down a target with their bladed talons and claws.
Loyal Dragonfly
Taxonomy: Scalekin (Dragonfly)
Description: Known for their resemblance to dragons, despite having no relation, dragonflies have nevertheless gained a name in reference to true dragons. Dragonflies are perhaps most famous for serving the Dravanian Horde in great numbers, particularly as vanguard and scout forces. Here, however, they serve the master of all dragonkind.
Loyal Biast
Taxonomy: Scalekin (Biast)
Description: Drakes are ferocious predatory creatures with powerful tracking abilities and the ability to exhale gouts of fire. They are perhaps most famous as domesticated beasts of the Amalj’aa. A biast, however, is a subspecies that exhales lightning instead of fire.
Loyal Wyvern
Taxonomy: Scalekin/Spoken (Dragon)
Description: Wyverns such as these are the inverse of lesser dragons, specializing in flight over movement on the ground. Their rear legs wither slightly, although are still substantial, and they lose their forelegs in exchange for much greater dexterity and speed with their wings.
Midgardsormr ☠
Taxonomy: Scalekin/Spoken (Dragon)
Description: The great wyrm, the Keeper of the Lake, Midgardsormr has already been discussed in some detail back in the opening of this document. He was, apparently, grievously wounded during the Battle of Silvertear Skies and forced into hibernation instead of being truly slain. The great wyrm projected his soul through the rich aether of the lake into an avatar which, rumour states, he used to test the worthiness of none other than the Warrior of Light.
Capabilities: Midgardsormr was either unable or unwilling to unleash his full powers on the Warrior of Light in their bout atop the crashed ship. What he did invoke, however, was awe-inspiring. Alongside aetherically puppeting the corpses of fallen dragons he was capable of ‘admonishing’ and showing his ‘disdain’ by manifesting lines of powerful aetheric flame, as well as causing aetheric ‘turmoil’ and causing potent explosions. He was also capable of causing ‘animadversion’. Adversion is the tendency to avoid something, and anima is a Latin word meaning soul. I believe that this ability, in conjunction with its devastating ability to take life when it comes into contact with an unshielded individual, is Midgardsormr literally stripping the sustaining life aether from an individual.
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