#taelpar crag

[ertrunkenerwassergeist]

Taelpar Crag Headcanon

Taelpar Crag: the place where we fight Gilgamesh in the Gladio DLC. The tempering grounds.

In the lore of FFXV, the Crag was carved by Bahamut during the Astral War. So what if the tempering grounds are older than we think they are?

Bahamut carved the Crag. What if people worshipped the place? Maybe built a temple in it and made it the goal of a pilgramige. A pilgramige done to prove yourself a holy warrior. If you reach the end - the temple - it is said you receive Bahamut’s blessing.

The Crag is crammed full with ambient magic, which attrackts all kinds of beasts. So pilgrims never lack enemies to fight. The magic however is not only a leftover from Bahamut’s attack. Since it carved so deep into the earth, it stirred up remnants of Etro’s magic. Magic she used to form the world. Which is why those who die stand up again to fight the pilgrims who think themselves worthy.

Gilgamesh fought his way through once while he was alive to prove himself. he reached the temple and recieved a blessing. At the end of his days, he was pulled back there again by the magicks of the place and the blessing. He died there, doomed to haunt the place as a penance for what he did in life and as part of Bahamut’s plans.

So over time the tempering grounds change meaning. From proving onself worthy of being a holy warrior, to proving onself to be a worthy Shield of the King of Lucis.

[charlottedabookworm]

You know how in lotr Aragorn commands an army of ghosts because they broke an Oath to his ascentor and can't rest until they fulfill it?

Nyx Ardynson doing something similar with Gilgamesh and all those ghostly warriors in Taeloar Crag. (On one hand, they won that battle and pushed the Nifs back quite a lot. On the other, now everyone has questions.)

...yeah

yeah i uh- totally know that definitely yeah 100% hides in never actually watched nor read lotr

but anyway literally all i can see is clarus and cor staring at nyx, at where gilgamesh has just vanish from, obviously hating being summoned, seething in his silence but unable to deny the order from the kingsglaive once he'd sworn on his blood spilled upon the ground

and one of them, cor or clarus, ask how?

nyx raises his eyes from where his father's betrayer stood and he doesn't smile. "he swore an oath to an ancestor of mine," nyx says casually, easily. "gilgamesh swore his loyalty and his protection to him and his descendants and he swore it in blood and oath and on the gods"

now, nyx smiles. it doesn't reach his eyes. "he broke that oath, sworn on the gods themselves, and this? this is his punishment."

"in perpetuity he swore and so, as long as a member of that mans bloodline still lives, he is bound. the oathbreaker forced to honour his oath."

what did he do? cor wants to ask, but the memory of that ghost standing in taelpar crag stops him

whatever it is he did, even gilgamesh believed he deserved this

[dayasan]

📷 Tempering Grounds, Taelpar Crag, Cleigne, Lucis

[reflectionsofacreator]

ffxv wiki: oh Taelpar Crag was used in Kingsglaive to hide the Imperial airships for the attack on Insomnia!

[EXTREMELY LOUD INCORRECT BUZZER NOISE]

they clearly state that the ships are some 20 miles south of insomnia, indicating that they're in a canyon either in Leide or Cavaugh. the actual canyon of Taelpar Craig was used in the opening battles of kg vs imperials, hence the big fucking stone arches that are a hallmark of the area

The movie of KG was operating on older drafts of 1) the fucking script of the game and 2) worldbuilding, leading to Cleign/Duscae looking like a desert instead of grasslands and forests that we see in the game.

AGH. WHO WRITES THESE ARTICLES.

[a-world-in-grey]

In Bring Back Memories, was the attack at Taelpar Crag planned to take out Sola or was it just bonus that she was there when it happened and they really just wanted to take that place? Did Drautos even relay her movements to Nifs, or wasn't it something they cared about?

It was planned! Niflheim's been trying to kill Sola ever since her enlistment in the Kingsglaive was leaked. It starts off small - ambushes while on missions from MTs, but then it escalates to an attempt using a King Behemoth of all things a few weeks before Sola's Coming of Age.

After 3 bases get swarmed by daemons while Sola's back in Insomnia, Sola deploys to their most critical point. Everyone knows by now that Sola's presence will draw the Nifs like moths to a flame, but they also know that she's a damn juggernaut on the field and responsible for saving the lives of half her comrades.

After almost a year, Sola is exhausted. She's not happy about being assigned to Taelpar Crag - no glaive is happy getting that assignment, Taelpar Crag is a nightmare to defend - but she can't deny that the 3rd regiment desperately needs reinforcements. The attack on Taelpar Crag comes at the end of the 3rd's deployment, when they are exhausted and waiting for fresh reinforcements from the 5th.

Titus absolutely helped plan this. Arranging for Taelpar Crag to be hit hard enough for Sola to get transferred there, telling Niflheim when the 5th would be deploying to replace the 3rd so that the attack would hit the outpost when everyone was most exhausted.

[heartxandxhome]

❝ you’re stuck with me now — like bark on wood. ❞  

Horizon: Forbidden West

The heat in Lestallum was beyond stifling. The city itself thrummed and thrived on the temperature with the ladies of Exineris chatting as they walked past in cropped tops and their boiler suits tied around their waists.

The market vendors called for attention, hawking their wears to anyone with a few gil. Store-owners done the same and the kindly man at the front of the Leville hotel informed people how many rooms remained for occupants. It was almost as if the busy city was ignorant of what had happened Insomnia ... that or it didn't have time to stop and grieve its far-larger sister. Shards still needed to mind, energy converted to electricity, and a vastly-growing census to provide for. The only true reflection of the horror were the hunter trucks that came and went in a constant flow.

Seeking some fresh air on the lookout, Sarah looked out over the enormous rift canyon that was Taelpar Crag; how many times was this war going to tear her family apart? Almost an answer to her silent question, Kaleb leaned against the lookout's railing beside her. "What happens next?"

Sarah's words were quiet, almost lost on the welcome breeze, but she nodded at the trucks that pulled into the forecourt. "... I guess I'm afraid you'll be taken away by hunting. Again." Not that this was the same as then; the hunters were helping anyone who needed aid right now and that was to be admired. But she was selfish and didn't want to lose what they had rekindled.

There was a moment of hesitation where she thought it might turn into the old argument from Galahd, but Kaleb shook his head and flashed a cocky smile. "you're stuck with me now - like bark on wood."

And relief washed over Sarah for the first time since escaping the city; she didn't know how to do this alone. How to keep Selena safe and search for Nyx on her own. But she wasn't the same lone woman from Galahd, not anymore. "I think I can live with that."

[somnus-lucis-caelum]

There was finally some light on the horizon ... after so many years o' them fightin', battling and scrapin' t'get by. She'd done thought her ol eyes were playin' a trick on her at first, but that was definitely a watery light on the edge o' the horizon.

Slowly the folks o' Lestallum made their way onto the Outlook to watch the first sunrise in ten years. She'd come here about two or three years ago; David reckoned the city was safer for someone o' her age an' he'd been right. Her boy had somehow convinced the whole o' Meldacio's committee to relocate t'Lestallum for safety's sake; they weren't spring chocobos so t'speak.

But she'd always undertook she'd go back to her home when the sun came back. Jus' maybe there'd been a bit o' her that thought that might not happen in her lifetime. But with that thin, watery light, came a sudden hope she'd be able t'go back to the outpost she'd been born in, the same place her daddy'd been born an' his dad 'fore him. The hunters were Meldacio an' Meldacio was the hunters.

Slowly makin' her way down the steps from the Leville, Ezma felt her age more than she'd done in a long time, but she'd get to that outlook an' see the sun rise over the chasm of the Taelpar Crag. Blinkin' as someone fell into step beside her, the hunters' leaer looked up ad there was a happy smile on her face as she recogised the tall, handsome young ageless man. "Ya mind lendin' me yer arm, old friend?"

There'd been a time, an entire lifetime ago when her age had matched his apparent one, an' they'd shared a privacy no one was privy to, an' that trust still held to this day as her young great-granddaughter raced by with other young'uns t'see the sun for the first time. But Ezma had a smile for Somnus instead as she linked her arm with his and leaned on his support. "Will ya finally get some rest now too?"

It had been done.

Noctis Lucis Caelum had mended what had been broken in Somnus' time. he had finished, what the First King could not. And Ardyn was free. Finally. Ardyn and all those that had been bound by a fate that no one of them had wished, for millennia.

Somnus was one of those, too.

Finally he was allowed to move on. His soul travelling further into the Beyond. And be reunited with those he had missed for so long... he had wished for this.

But also... there were a few souls still in Eos that he had to bid farewell to. One of them was Ezma.

So as the first rays of sunshine poured over the world again, Somnus appeared alongside the light. Of course he would lend Ezma his arm. She was the head huntress after all. One of the people that had saved countless lives in Eos. Her life's work could not be measured by neither scale nor tape. She had changed the trajectory of thousands of lives for the better. Few could claim this kind of influence. And fewer could claim that it was for the better of Eos, even in its darkest time.

Her question was left unanswered for a few moments. It were those magical moments when the sun finally appeared beyond the horizon. A sliver of gold. So white and bright that everyone who watched had to avert their eyes. Surprised and happy squealing from little children who saw such for the first time in their young lives. Stiffled crying, full of relief. Cheers and laughter. It was a silent chorus that greeted the light.

Somnus had closed his eyes for a moment, breathing in deeply.

"I will finally be able to rest now, yes."

That was what she had asked. And it was something he had already told her a long time ago. Still. This now made it final. This would be their last walk together on Eos.

"My time to depart here was long overdue. You know that, Ezma. And while it was a curse, I also was lucky to find people like you in this long time. You were a truly rare one. I was honoured to make your acquaintance. Truly."

Somnus turned his head to look at Ezma, a gentle smile playing around his lips. Taking half a step back, he took her hand to lift it to his lips, while bowing down. Just the hint of his lips against her hand, like the old-fashioned greeting he knew.

But it was not the hand of an old lady he was holding onto anymore. No.

It was that of a young head huntress in her prime. And there was a certain glow to Ezma's own form. Sparks of crystal magic dancing around her silhouette. And the sun's first rays actually cast no shadows onto her face - they fell through her just like they did through Somnus.

The moment the King of Kings had shattered the shackles of fate had been the moment Somnus' soul was freed, too. He would have never been able to come back to Eos the way he had been before. A physical form was denied to souls... and no human would have seen him. At least no human alive.

He had once promised Ezma that he would guide her on her last journey. And he was here to see that promise through.

In the end... Ezma would have been right with her estimation. She would go back to her home - but not in her life time. Barely not. Her young greatgranddaughter had raced past her at the Leville's steps. But not out of ignorance. No. Little Ana would have stopped and offered her own arm to Ezma - had she been there. But Ezma was not.

The matriach of the hunters still laid in her bed back at the Leville. The first rays of light falling through the windows. Letting dust glow like magic, as they painted bright lines over her sleeping face. A sleep that knew no awakening.

Somnus rightened himself again, still holding her hand tight, as the world around them continued on - without them. A small nod as he saw the realization in her face. But he would not let her despair. he was here. To guide her on this journey into a world that laid beyond Eos.

"Are you ready then, Ezma?"

@ezma-auburnbrie

[swordofthreekings]

The Young Marshal

(Contemporary timeline au)

Twenty years old Cor Leonis was just named the Marshal of the Crownsguard.

When he was barely thirteen, he tried to give a false age to join the Crownsguard. When he was called out on it, he claimed it wasn't fair to refuse him, and that he could best anyone there. Clarus Amicitia took him up on that, meaning to humble the young man some. When Cor fought him to a stand still after half an hour, Clarus had no choice but to admit that he had the skills necessary, if not the maturity. Cor swore he would show them he could handle it if they would just give him a chance. They decided to, and he did. To officers, he was a model recruit. To anyone else, he was a holy terror.

At fifteen, after several successful missions as a Crownsguard, he was assigned to protection of the Royal family. He and the Prince were the same age, but with him being watched by his Shield, Cor spent more of his time at the palace, assisting Clarus in keeping guard of the King and Council. At first, he hated it, thinking it meant they didn't trust him to be on the front lines anymore. Eventually, he realized that it meant they trusted him more.

With Clarus moving more into a role on the council, Cor felt he needed to prove that he could take his role as Shield, despite not being an Amicitia, despite coming from a poor background. He went to Taelpar Crag, to the Tempering Ground in an effort to beat the Blademaster and prove himself once and for all. But he failed. Near death, Cor fled. While others would be amazed that he survived the attempt, being the only person to do so, Cor saw it as nothing more than a failure. He hated the nickname Immortal that people gave him because of it.

At eighteen, he was "promoted" to be the assistant of the current Marshal. He considered this a punishment, if anything, since now his days were filled with paperwork and training rather than active guard duty and missions. It was preparing him for bigger things, though.

At twenty, Cor was promoted to Marshal of the Crownsguard.

He tends to be less reckless than he was as a boy, but not as composed as his normal, main verse, falling in between.

[mtraki]

Headcanon Request: 6 Headcanons for Gilgamesh

Hmmm… I don’t have many established headcanons for our Blademaster.  The game just kind of used him as a set piece or a prop.  We don’t learn a lot about him or his real impact on the world outside of being one more ancient big bad to conquer– and that it apparently shaped Cor’s history, but even that isn’t fleshed out.  As you know, my dear, I prefer building on more original materials than blank canvases.  So here are some headcanon questions I have and my thoughts on them!

1. Gilgamesh and Ardyn?

It’s never explicitly mentioned that Gilgamesh was Ardyn’s Shield.  We assume so, because he was the Shield of the Founder King and Ardyn is the Founder King– right?  I’m not entirely convinced, though.  Ardyn was erased from history.  If anyone is remembered as the “Founder King” it would be Somnus.  Ignis mentions Ardyn as the Founder King, but Ignis would also have special access to records that managed to escape destruction.  Gilgamesh is also zealously loyal to the Lucis Caelum line and its prophecy– which Ardyn is the antagonist of.

He might have been Ardyn’s Shield, before Ardyn was stripped of power and cast aside by man and god alike…  But that leads me to my next question and theory!

2. Haunting Taelpar Crag?

The wiki suggest that Gilgamesh may have been involved in the War of the Astrals because he’s there in the wound in the Star that was caused in all the fighting.  Yeah maybe.  But why is he a ghost?  Most ghosts you fight are daemons, and as far as anybody can tell, Gilgamesh is not a daemon.  He’s a powerful spirit.  Fine.  Cool.  Why?  Why doesn’t he get to ascend into ever after?  Or is that something I’ve missed concerning the afterlife in all of FFXV? (Let me know!)  I think there are three alternatives here:

- We could go traditional “unfinished business”.  His zeal for Lucis Caelum keeps him around until the King of Kings does his prophecy thing.  This is probably what was intended, but honestly, it makes me want to throw up.  I’m so sick of how wanky this story is about that family…

- I better like the punishment alternative.  Angelgard is rumored to be where Ramuh passes judgement.  If Gilgamesh was Ardyn’s Shield, and stayed loyal to Ardyn instead of Lucis Caelum and the prophecy… perhaps he was punished for it.  Now he serves his penance to prepare the Shield of the King of Kings to be a proper fit for the prophecy, like he wasn’t.  Maybe THAT’S why he’s so overzealous and blood-thirsty about it! (And maybe that’s why he spared Cor: because Cor was there to be more useful to Lucis Caelum)  Again: super wanky, but I can only do so much without deviating from canon entirely…

- Adding on to above: maybe the opposite happened.  Maybe Ardyn was betrayed by Gilgamesh.  Nothing happened to him in life, but Ramuh was sure to judge and curse him in death for his treachery.  “You are so eager to serve Lucis Caelum?  Then see your ‘good work’ through to the end.” sort of deal…  Justice is justice, after all, and betraying a King of Lucis Caelum (even a blacklisted one) probably doesn’t come cheap.

3.  Speaking of Ghosts…

He’s got an army of ghosts who serve him.  Cor says they’re the spirits of those who dared the Tempering Grounds and died.  I usually don’t like to contradict the Marshal, but… how does he know that?  Did somebody tell him?  Does he recognize some of the corpses?  For argument’s sake, let’s just assume he’s right.  Well then that means…

4. Gilgamesh is a Wizard?

Or something.  Not only is HE a ghost, but he can a) ensure everybody he kills is trapped with him as a ghost and b) they turn from trying to defeat him to absolute loyalty to him.  So either Gilgamesh himself has some powerful magic or…

5. The Proving Grounds are Cursed?

The only people with magic, canonically, are the Oracles and Lucis Caelums.  So unless we delve into a mess where the Blademaster was one of them, it’s more likely that something is magic about the area.  It’s established that elemental/magic power can be pulled out of the ground.  Perhaps that place is a locus for pooling magic, manifesting itself as a curse, so that everyone who dies there is trapped?  Maybe that’s how Gilgamesh got there too?

6.  Gilgamesh and Cor

It’s very clear that the encounter with Gilgamesh had a very profound impact on Cor’s life– not just the cool (but shameful) moniker, but apparently the encounter humbled the hot-headed youth into the pragmatic man we know in the game.  What was also very clear to me, however, was that Cor had a very profound impact on Gilgamesh– and I don’t just mean the arm and sword thing.  As Gladio works his way through the ruins, the spirits throwing jabs and threats, they mention Cor several times.  They sound like they were impressed.  Cor even makes a self-deprecating joke about it.  I don’t think the ghosts recognize him at all, but that makes sense with ghosts anyway.  Still, somebody came through here and impressed them enough for them to remember somebody did it, even though there are corpses and swords all through that chamber you fight Gilgamesh in– so Cor wasn’t the first/only person to make it that far.  But he was the most memorable.

Cor also has the means of opening the chamber.  I don’t know if that was supposed to be something significant, but it sure looked significant and ritualistic, especially if you consider that Cor may have taken that sword from the Proving Grounds after losing his.  Even if he didn’t, I think it’s clear that Gilgamesh intended for Cor to come back.

But Cor was different, now, changed by his experiences.  He had no intentions of facing Gilgamesh again, and I think he damn well knew if he followed Gladio into that chamber, it wouldn’t have been about Gladio anymore.  Gilgamesh would recognize him, even if the other ghosts didn’t, and it would be all about Cor.  This is why Cor didn’t help with any of the trials.  Not to test Gladio, not because the ritual required it, but because he wanted to make absolutely clear to everything in these caverns that this wasn’t about him this time.

And I think Gilgamesh was honestly very disappointed.  This might just be me meta-ing again, but the resolution of the fight was really awkward and lame.  The answer to Gladio’s problem was just to believe in his own strength after all.  There you go.  You win.

Lame.  Especially considering all the people who died, who likely thought the same thing “Just believe in my strength!”  Even hot-headed young Cor probably did!

So it seems to me that Gilgamesh just kind of… phoned it in.  “Yeah, I guess that other guy really isn’t coming in… What a shame… Alright, fine, you can win… Yep, yep, whatever– Oh I know!  I’ll give you this sword that used to be his and maybe he’ll come in here and face me at last! … No?  Worth a shot…”

The Immortal has many fanboys.  I headcanon that Gilgamesh might be the original. ;)

[ertrunkenerwassergeist]

Crow friend Cor: Would nyx warm up to the crow eventually, since it would be around all the time? Cor probably thinks any magic the crow is drawn tonis a curse and nit some skill he has. Would Nyx try to help him figure out what the deal with any magic he has was, or how to live with it?

Nyx wouldn't necessarily befriend the crow, but treat it with respect and as an ally. Though with time he becomes less jumpy around it.

Nyx is worried the moment Cor mentions a curse. Of course he'll help figure out what it is. Best case scenario is either they manage to break it, or twist it into something else.

I just had a thought. You know about my Taelpar Crag headcanon? What if Cor reaching Gilgamesh was enough to count as completing the pilgramige? He would have recieved the blessing of Bahamut, if Gilgamesh hadn't done something merciful and cruel at the same time: he cursed Cor. With the curse in effect, Bahamut could not bless him. Was the mercy of it intended? Only Gilgamesh knows.

[savage-rhi]

Immortal Shield Master List (AO3)

Chapter 1: Resurrection 

Chapter 2: Caelan

Chapter 3: A Truce

Chapter 4: Pit Stop Bickering 

Chapter 5: U-Turn

Chapter 6: Healers Touch

Chapter 7: Vote Abandon 

Chapter 8: Behemoth 

Chapter 9: Storytelling 

Chapter 10: Rakshasa 

Chapter 11: Obscura Materia 

Chapter 12: The Battle of Formouth I 

Chapter 13: The Battle of Formouth II

Chapter 14: Reunion 

Chapter 15: Sparring 

Chapter 16: Chocobos 

Chapter 17: Gifts 

Chapter 18: Lestallum Jive 

Chapter 19: Taelpar Crag 

Chapter 20: Vows 

Chapter 21: Prophecy 

Chapter 22: Hunted 

Chapter 23: Rampage I 

Chapter 24: Rampage II

Chapter 25: Vesperpool

Chapter 26: Oath Breaker

Chapter 27: Hesitation 

Chapter 28: Oath Keeper 

Chapter 29: Devotions 

Chapter 30: Insomnia I

Chapter 31: Insomnia II

Chapter 32: Union (18+)

Chapter 33: Day One

Chapter 34: Gods Bane I

Chapter 35: Gods Bane II

Chapter 36: Gods Bane III

Chapter 37: Repercussions 

Chapter 38: Bargaining 

Chapter 39: The Summit 

Chapter 40: Allies 

Chapter 41: Eripere I

Chapter 42: Eripere II

Chapter 43: Loss 

Chapter 44: The Pact 

Chapter 45: Final Acts 

Chapter 46: Paradise 

[dayasan]

📷 Tempering Grounds, Taelpar Crag, Cleigne, Lucis

[ahkaraii]

I headcanon Cor went down for one final jaunt into Taelpar Crag when he decided he'd done all he could in this life.

Gilgamesh welcomed him back with open arms.

totally self indulgent headcanon tied into this: upon death, cor becomes another sword that gilgamesh wields, and the one he takes off-world with him when he finally leaves Eos.

Gilgamesh in final fantasy lore is a unique entity that trapezes around worlds looking for fights and weapons. he is nearly always encountered with a local-world sword as well as multiple weapons of his own personal arsenal. cor -- naturally -- becomes a katana, probably named lionheart or sword of kings or somesuch moniker, it probably changes from world to world.

when used in battle, if fed spiritual energy, a spectre of cor can fight alongside him like a vergil clone, either as the >55 year old cor died as or as the 15 year old gilgamesh first met, depending on whether the wielder requires finesse or feral brutality.

In this manner, cor truly becomes immortal, and used in the way he liked best: in battle, fiercely defending those he has deemed worthy and given his loyalty to.

[raven-6-10]

@a-world-in-grey

I went digging through the official wikia looking for the timeline and lore, and to confirm some stuff.

Apparently, Niflheim had functioning magitech since at least ME 606, when they used it to overwhelm Accordo's defences. That's over century before canon.

The Problem was scaling it down, since they only had those giant robotic armours at this point. And while Ardyn was the one who proposed experimenting with daemon miasma to power the smaller versions, I'm pretty sure that Verstael "I will become immortal daemon-robot" Besithia would eventually get there on his own.

So, assuming he got sufficiently delayed by his main lab burning down and then by cloning Oracles, Besithia might have the breakthrough in magitech production - aka figuring out he needs daemon goo made from infants - in time for the Empire to start fielding them about a decade before canon. (For a given value of "canon")

If that happens, Galahd might the first big military operation where the majority of the forces are MTs, with some human commanders to keep things in check.

Next point, the War.

Because Ardyn have manipulated Iedolas into obsessing about the Crystal and the Chosen King, but it's very likely Niflheim was already preparing for an invasion.

I mean, just look at the stuff that Besithia was allowed to research on a government grant. Ifrit and divine magic, tombs of Lucian kings, improvements to magitech, daemons.

A team of Nifs had a run-in with Enkidu when they scouted the Taelpar Crag looking for magic.

Niflheim kept outpost at Galdin Quay, complete with a port, nominally to trade with Lucis from Accordo but in pinch it could be used to land troops. They had a military presence on those islands between Tenebrae and Lucis.

The war would be delayed without Ardyn there to help, there might be a different pretext, but it would still happen. The preparations are there.

The mindset is there.

(I have absolutely no idea where that leaves Titus, tho)

In Spark verse, would Drautos still be a spy or would his capture and getting turned into Glauca be butterflied away?

Honestly, I don't even know.

It all depends on how the Great War ends up going, which is going to require a lot of worldbuilding on my end because we know so little about it.

Like, we know Besithia made the MTs with the help of Ardyn and his knowledge of the Scourge. He doesn't have that here, so the Imperial Army will still be entirely human, and that changes the game, because Niflheim can't just make more soldiers at the drop of a hat. Not even clones, because this Besithia's cloning project isn't on a mass scale like canon.

But that still leaves questions of Niflheim's military technology level. I hc that Ardyn supplied a lot of knowledge about magitek, or where to find the knowledge for Besithia to recreate, but that doesn't tell us how much knowledge Niflheim already had. Do they have their airships? Do they have the gravity/inertia manipulation technology that Aranea uses to fight like a dragoon? Do they have their magitek exosuits and mechs?

I hc that Mors had to pull the Wall back to Insomnia because Niflheim's airships allowed them to bypass the Wall entirely, because the Wall didn't have a roof at that point. So Mors pulled the Wall to protect Insomnia and the Crystal, because without the Crystal Lucis was going to find themselves up a creek without a paddle.

Also, it's heavily implied in canon that Iedolas' obsession with the Crystal is partially, if not entirely, due to Ardyn's manipulations. Without those manipulations, we could very well see a drastically different Emperor and Empire.

There might not even be a Great War.

Which means Galahd might not Burn. Which means Titus might not lose his home and might never be captured by the Empire.

[secret-engima]

Where do you think the original Kingdom of Lucis was? And the original domain of House Fleuret before they settled in Tenebrae? (I'm trying to figure out how the Kingdom expanded over the centuries and I figured I'd ask you in case you had any notes from Deleantur.)

Uhhh, I'm not sure I ever worked it out in *detail*, but I've always believed that the island that Insomnia is on was the original kingdom of Lucis. It's covered in a city now, but it's modeled after Tokyo and that city is- huge. There's more than enough space on that island alone (not counting the tinier islands dotted around it) to establish a kingdom, and *tactically* it's in a good position. It's not so far from the Mainland that you couldn't establish a supply chain for trade or later military expansions, but canonically it took a really really long time for there to be any oceanic daemons. Water back then would have served as a barrier both for human enemies and *daemons*, which makes it an ideal spot for Bahamut to put the Crystal while it charges up.

By the time of Somnus and Deleantur, the Kingdom would have expanded to have some mainland territory, how large is variable really, but I ... personally HC that it covers Cavanaugh (the island next to Insomnia), and some (if not all?) of the Leide area (with part of it being territory/routes leading to the Galdin Quay area because Somnus would have picked Angelgard for a reason and needed a route to get there/have guards in the og timeline) with a port town likely formed either where the bridge will be built in modern times or the Keycatrich area, which we know in Noct's time used to be a town "for rich folks", which means it's probably old. I am- stupendously bad at distances, but I definitely think they're either edging into Duscae in places as well or have holdings up north in that (massive) area of the map we never get to go to.

Idk how big that is for an ancient kingdom, but we don't know how long the Lucis Caelums were kings other than "long enough for Somnus and Ardyn to be part of a lineage". But considering there is only medieval technology to fight them and the Lucis Caelums have both magic *and* the Nox Fleuret family of Oracles (and thus the gods themselves) backing them I can see them expanding either by conquest or just by *alliance*. Smaller kingdoms and nobles signing up for some of that sweet magic protection.

I never did figure out where the Oracles originally were located, but again, considering the tactical advantage of being an island and that the Oracles clearly used to be able to journey to commune with the Astrals via Crystal, I'd put them not too far away. Either on the island of Insomnia itself, potentially on the sister island of Cavaugh (we never see it so who knows what's on it, and hey, that means Titus could be an descendant of the original kingdom of Nox Fleuret), or again, up in that unexplored northern area of the map. It's close enough to Leide and Insomnia that one could journey there, and from oggling it from afar and staring at the map it appears to be heavily forested rather than desert, which fits with the Nox Fleuret's later jungle vibe.

Last minute edit: I cannot remember if I put Taelpar Crag as part of the Lucian kingdom in my Deleantur fic. The part of it we visit in the dlc is in Cleigne, which is pretty far from the island of Insomnia *but* that thing stretches on for *miles*. And I think that some of it goes up into the Duscae??? We just can't get to it because of Map Things.

I also always thought it edged into Leide, mostly because in the Kingsglaive there's a giant canyon that Niflheim hides in near Insomnia and I always assumed it was the shallow end of Taelpar Crag. Even if it's not- none of the ancient kingdoms would have claimed the Crag because it's known as rift formed by Bahamut fighting/killing Ifrit and it's also a very spooky place. So the Oracles of *this* time deciding to pack up and move to the highly magical Crag and surrounding area would not be contested. Heck the kingdoms would probably *give* the Nox Fleuret's some of the land around the Crag on the condition the Oracles make sure none of the daemons, demons, and ghosties they think live down there will come up *here* and harass them.

[larkawolfgirl]

For You I'd Die a Thousand Times (Gladnoct)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: M/M Fandom: Final Fantasy XV Relationship: Gladiolus Amicitia/Noctis Lucis Caelum Characters: Noctis Lucis CaelumGladiolus Amicitia

Summary:  Noctis is pissed when Gladio returns from his private excursion, especially when he notices the gigantic slash which cuts over his heart. He's been worried sick, with obvious reason, but Gladio doesn't seem to give a shit about that and he's ready for a confrontation.

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And I could give you my devotion Until the end of time And you will never be forgotten With me by your side

- Somebody to Die For, Hurts

All Noctis feels when he sees Gladio again is anger. He's been distraught. Worried sick. Lonely. How dare he leave him without a word and then saunter back looking pleased with himself? Luckily, the other two know well enough to leave them alone after a quick greeting. They must know he's in for a reckoning after Noctis' moody attitude during his absence.

"Did you miss me?"

Noctis doesn't bother answering, walking right up to him, grabbing hold of the front of his open shirt (the one clearly showing off a gigantic scar that makes Noctis sick to his stomach), tugging him forward. "Car now."

Noctis’s actually mildly surprised when Gladio silently follows the order. Noctis climbs into the driver’s seat and starts the car. Gladio looks at him in question but does not voice it. Noctis drives for what feels like an hour until they are somewhere in the middle of nowhere off from the main road. Only then does he turn blazing eyes on his shield. “Where the hell were you?”

“Taelpar Crag.”

This tells him nothing. “Why?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Noctis’ hand balls into a fist. He isn’t going to punch. At least not yet. “Like hell it doesn’t. Just answer the damn question.”

“What’s with the third degree?” Gladio’s forehead is throbbing with his own suppressed anger.

Noctis gives a bitter laugh. “Don’t I deserve to know what my shield was off doing rather than doing his job and protecting me? Don’t I deserve to know what happened to my boyfriend when he returns with that? ” He gestures to the fresh scar cutting the full length of his chest.

“Were you worried? Is that what this is about?”

“Fuck you. Course I was worried. I still deserve an answer, either way. I’m your king.”

“As if I could forget.”

This somehow pisses Noctis off even more and he lets his punch fly. Not that it does much damage, but it says something that Gladio doesn’t bother dodging.

“Damn, princess. Fine, have it your way.” He still doesn’t look happy in the least to be spilling his secrets. “I went to fight Gilgamesh.”

Noctis grabs hold of both sides of his shirt collar. “Are you fucking serious?” he snarls. “You could have died. And you didn’t even tell me.”

“You know why. You would have stopped me.”

“Of course I would have. Have you lost your mind?”

Gladio gives a short, humorless laugh. “Who knows? All I know is that I damn better protect you and I had to prove it to myself that I could.”

“That’s insane. What good would some stupid test prove if you died trying? How would that have protected me?”

“Well, I didn’t die, did I?”

“That’s not the point.” Noct is shaking. It’s getting harder to hold onto the anger, to stay afloat of the heartache.

Gladio must notice because he softens, hand coming up to one shaking arm. “Noct.”

“What if you had? What would I have done then?”

“You have Prompto and Iggy.”

Noctis releases a wet laugh. “That makes it fine.”

“I trust them to protect you just as I would.”

“But they aren’t you.” Without even realizing, his free hand drifted down to touch the new scar. “Does it hurt?”

“Just a little. Hurt like a bitch when I got it.”

“Serves you right.”

Gladio leans in, stealing a sweet kiss, and Noctis can’t help chasing it. “Yeah, it does.”

“Damn it. If you keep this up I won’t be able to stay mad.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“If I’m not mad, then I’ll be left with the sad.”

Gladio pulls him into his chest. Noctis’ face lands just to the side of the scar so that he can see part of it very clearly. “I changed my mind. I don’t want to know. Just, promise me you won’t ever do that again.”

“I promise.”

It takes a moment for him to realize his mistake. He glares even though he can’t see it. “We both know you’d have no reason to. Promise you won’t do something like that again.”

“Can’t do that.”

Noctis pushes out of his hold. “Why the hell not?”

“Because I vowed to protect you, and that means I gotta do what I gotta do. Even if it means I gotta leave you or do something extremely stupid.”

“No, that’s extremely stupid. This whole thing is extremely stupid. Why do you have to play shield? No one’s even here to judge, other than maybe Ignis.”

“I’m not playing shield, I am your shield. I have been since you were born.”

“I hate it. It isn’t fair to you.”

Gladio lifts his hand up, kissing along the back of his fingertips. “I wouldn’t have chosen any other life, if I’d had the choice. It’s thanks to my position I met you and why I can tell you I love you. It’s romantic, isn’t it? Knowing you’ll give your life up for the person you love?”

Noctis shakes his head, struggling to keep from crying. “It’s anything but romantic. It’s tragic and idiotic and nothing I want anything to do with.”

“Tough love then, because you don’t have a choice.”

“Not if I ban the practice.”

Gladio has the gale to smirk at him. “Still won’t stop me from jumping in to save your life.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“And you’re a brat.”

He hates this. Hates how easy it is for Gladio, the way he can fall into the usual banter, while this is tearing Noct up inside. He remembers when Gladio got his first scar. Remembers how traumatized he was and how he cried at Gladio’s bedside. That was the first moment it became real, and that’s what had bothered him so much. Of course Gladio was fine. It was a shallow cut, the doctor’s assuring that his eye was perfectly unharmed. But Noctis remained shaken for a week afterward, the scene replaying in his mind on repeat. What could he have done to prevent that? What could he do in the future to prevent it happening again? Nothing, is Gladio’s answer. There’s nothing Noctis can do, and this realization feels like a cancer. Something he needs to just accept, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t killing him from the inside out.

“It isn’t fair to me.”

To this, Gladio just holds onto him again, as if soft comfort can take away the pain cramping down in his chest. He grateful, anyway. He’s missed this with him away. Missed the physical touch, the sense of being fully enveloped in a safety net. That thought now tastes bittersweet.

“We should get back,” Noctis mumbles.

Gladio’s frowning when he pulls back.

“This has really got you upset, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah, okay? Do you think I want to see you die? Don’t you think I’d be just as willing to die to protect you?”

“I’m not the king of a nation.”

“I never asked for that.”

Again, Gladio doesn’t have a direct reply. It’s obvious it’s because he gets where’s Noctis is coming from. He gets this is unfair to him, he just refuses to back down. “We play the roles that we are given. It happens I’m proud of mine. Sure beats if I hated it. You know, back when we first met I thought you were nothing but a spoiled brat. I resented you because I couldn’t believe I was going to have to die to protect your sorry ass. But now, I know you’re going to be a great king who truly looks out for his people. You’ll do great things, Noct. And if it means I’ll know that you can keep on smiling and enjoying life, then that’s an added bonus.”

“You think I’m going to be smiling after your gone?”

Gladio wipes an escaped tear away. “Sure, it’s gonna be hard at first, but you’ll get through it. You’re tough as nails, when you have to be. You’ll get through it and smile at the sun. I know it.”

“Later.”

Gladio blinks at him in confusion.

“Later. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not a year from now. You better not die until much, much later, you hear me.”

Gladio nods and kisses him again. Noctis deepens it, needing the closeness, this intimacy. Gladio pulls him up over the gear shift and he lands in his lap. He stays there huddled for a long time.

“Just stay like this for a while, okay?”

“Whatever you need, babe.” He strokes through his hair.

It isn’t alright. This isn’t a real resolution. But Gladio is right, he’ll get through it.