Gunnhildr

Queen Gunnhildr is a historical character from Final Fantasy XIV. “Gunnhildr” is both a personal name and a hereditary title, used by every queen who ruled over the Bozja of old. The last potentate to be ordained as such ─ the last Queen Gunnhildr in history ─ was born as Nevembya Votyasch, ancient ancestor of Misija.

History[]

Early life[]

In days of yore, civil war raged on amongst the races of Bozja. This bloody, protracted struggle was at long last brought to an end when the land was united under the rule of a single queen. “Gunnhildr” was the name and title given to this first monarch, and one all those who followed her would inherit.

The queens of Bozja were not chosen from families of illustrious lineage, but rather from among the shamans who communed with the ancient gods. Only those deemed most favored by the gods─as manifested in their ability to read the stars─were chosen for the role, regardless of race or heritage. Though the vast majority of the Bozjan queens were Hrothgar, this was merely a matter of mathematics, as Hrothgar boasted the largest population of the land's many races.

When ancient Allag's hubris brought the Fourth Umbral Calamity upon the land, Bozja was plunged into chaos as great earthquakes caused the land to buckle and shift, the ragged rents in the ground spewing forth plumes of flame. In a desperate bid for self-preservation, the ruling class agreed that the power of Save the Queen should be invoked, and a champion summoned forth to deliver Bozja from destruction. But Queen Gunnhildr, knowing her essence and identity would be consumed by the ritual, refused their entreaties. Thus stymied, the statesmen raised Nevembya, a minor shrinemaiden of the Votyasch tribe to the throne with unprecedented haste, imbuing their “disposable” figurehead with the authority to wield the sacred blade. Though unaware of the reason behind her rapid ascension, she dutifully took up the sword and poured her life energies into the weapon. In answer to her sacrifice a mighty primal manifested from her body, and Bozja was saved.

What the instigators of this miracle did not anticipate was that the humble shrinemaiden would survive the rite and return to her mundane form. In Nevembya flowed the blood of seers, and with her heritage came the power of the Echo. Though she had received no formal training in the art, she would often see visions of the past of others─a talent she never questioned as aught more than her birthright. But it was this very blessing which sheltered her soul from the dominating presence of the entity, and allowed her to wield its might as she saw fit.

This revelation filled the statesmen with abject terror. They plotted to murder their young queen with Gunnhildr’s sword, and struck when she was most vulnerable. Believing the act to be righteous, that none could hold such tremendous power and remain uncorrupted, the commonfolk did nothing to defend her. And even as she lay dying, watching her lifeblood seep out across the floor, Nevembya did not curse her assassins. She knew her aetherial strength was unnatural and unpredictable─it had to be contained lest Bozja suffer further devastation. She would die secure in the knowledge that her people were safe. That was enough.

In that instant, a blinding light issued forth from the blade. Nevembya had, for one brief moment, wished to live just a little while longer, and as her soul slipped away from her body, both her fervent desire and a small portion of her aether were drawn into the sacred sword.^[1][2]

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers[]

The IVth Imperial Legion recovers the blade and gives it to their spy in the Bozjan Resistance, Misija Votyasch, a descendant of the last Queen. After the Resistance takes Castrum Lacus Litore, Misija forces the Warrior of Light to peer into the blade's memories, allowing Misija to alter its memories and summon Queen Gunnhildr, who tempered the new generation of Gunnhildr's Blades.

Characteristics[]

Appearance[]

In her normal state, Nevembya appears as a Hellsguard Roegadyn featuring fair skin, white eyes and long hair. Her clothing consists of a white toga with an ornate golden crown and wears no footwear.

In her corrupted primal form, her skin becomes deathly pale and gains glowing green-ish blue eyes that narrow into cat-like slits, likely influenced by the previous Hrothgar Gunnhildrs.

Personality[]

Nevembya was a kind and loyal ruler who loved her people, but as noted by Misjia, she was also subservient due to being a lowborn royal servant of her predecessor. Because of this, not only did she never suspect treason amongst her own guard, but was easy to forgive them for killing her due to becoming a primal. Due to Misjia's manipulations, Nevembya was corrupted into a silent avatar of vengeance wanting to eliminate her traitors. Her will and kindness however was much stronger than Misjia anticipated. Even after absorbing her essence, she stopped her descendant from destroying Bozja out of desperation, reminding her that Bozja was still their home and their people.

Etymology[]

Gunnhildr konungamóðir, "mother of kings", is a quasi-historical figure who appears in the Icelandic Sagas, according to which she was the wife of Eric Bloodaxe. She appears prominently in sagas such as Fagrskinna, Egils saga, Njáls saga, and Heimskringla.

Citations[]