Hancock Fitzgerald [ˈhæn.kɒk] is a non-player character from Final Fantasy XIV. Hancock is an Ul'dahn man who lives in Kugane, representing Lolorito's East Aldenard Trading Company.
History[]
Before Final Fantasy XIV[]
Hancock was abandoned by his parents when he was too young to remember and grew up as a street urchin in Ul'dah. While he never knew the love or comfort of family, he had a perfect memory and remarkable gift for numbers. Hancock taught himself how to read, and worked in the antique book markets to resell books for substantial profit. He eventually drew the attention of Lolorito Nanarito, who offered him a position in the East Aldenard Trading Company.
Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood[]
On name of Lolorito, Hancock received the Scions of the Seventh Dawn members as soon as they arrived in Kugane. Hancock taught about local geography and aided in searching for information about the whereabouts of Gosetsu and Yugiri. After a near-disaster involving the Sekiseigumi, the Scions learned Gosetsu had been captured by the law enforcers. Hancock prepared to bribe the Sekiseigumi for his release and negotiated a business agreement with Soroban, a Kojin.
Later, as the Scions prepared to liberate Doma Castle, he helped retrieve a letter from the Garlond Ironworks, which a delivery person mistakenly swapped with a series of love letters.
After Doma was freed, Hancock summoned the Scions to share a rumor that Garlean troops were being sent in search of a woman who looked like Yotsuyu. He informed the Scions that an informant he hired had more information.
As the Warrior of Light helped unravel the mystery of Ivalice, they presented demands from Dalmascan General Fran Eruyt to aid the Dalmascan Resistance against the Garlean Empire. Hancock declined the offer, seeing no profit in it and wanting to remain neutral in the war.
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker[]
Hancock brought supplies from the Warrior of Light's allies all across the Far East to Sharlayan to help in the construction of the Ragnarok, a ship capable of space travel. He remained in Sharlayan for a short time to scout its market for a potential business venture. He promised the Scions to hold a victory party on his company's bill upon their inevitable success.
After the aversion of the Final Days, Hancock returned to Kugane. He was later approached by Tataru Taru, who was looking to create partnerships for her own start-up clothing business. The Warrior of Light soon joined them, which Hancock noted was good timing, as he had a message from Soroban and the Four Lords: they were requesting the Warrior of Light's help in investigating a con artist claiming to be a descendant Tenzen, mythical leader of the Four Lords. After the Warrior of Light uncovered the truth, Hancock arranged for the authorities to apprehend Kageyama and also employed the seamster who was coerced into being the main actor for Kageyama's grift. In return for solving this con, Hancock agreed to partner with Tataru and discreetly gave the Warrior of Light some pearls to help restore Tataru's mother's necklace.
Later still, Hancock invited the Warrior of Light to join him at Hingashi's sacred Mount Rokkon to fight the demons that had come to inhabit it and obtain the treasure it held. After exploring all of Mount Rokkon and recovering the treasures, Hancock invited the Warrior of Light to discuss the findings in the head monk's journal. He confided in the Warrior of Light on how both he and the head monk had similar childhoods—that of being abandoned by their family and of poverty. He noted that their lives diverged in outcome: while he became a successful businessman who wanted to use his wealth for greater purposes, the head monk got consumed by greed and only hoarded wealth and material goods. Hancock planned to use his fortune to display and educate people about the treasures and Far Eastern cultures.
Characteristics[]
Appearance[]
Hancock is a 5'6" Midlander Hyur with golden blond hair, parted to the side. He wears Mythril Spectacles with an opaque red tint, hiding his purple eyes. He wears a peacock blue outfit consisting of a kimono, haori, and zori.
Personality[]
Hancock is a shrewd businessman who, like his boss, seeks to maximize profit wherever possible. Having lived in Kugane for a great deal of time, he has picked up the blunt attitude Hingashans use when speaking. He has acquired a taste for Hingashan culture from his time in Kugane and is knowledgeable on Far Eastern culture and mythology.
Due to his close association to Lolorito, the Scions are mistrustful of him. He is aware the Scions do not trust him, but nevertheless seeks to help them wherever possible. Hancock does not attempt to hide his ulterior motive of seeking profits, but at least attempts to work in a way that is mutually beneficial to both himself and the Scions. He is not above using deceit or bribery to accomplish things. His drive for profit is present in seemingly inopportune circumstances—even during the second coming of the Final Days, he took some time to scout the Old Sharlayan markets for potential business partners.
While he is profit-driven, Hancock does have a moral code and sees gil as a means to an end rather than the end itself. One of Lolorito's lessons resonated with him—he who hoards gil without spending it may as well have nothing at all. He would like to use his wealth to spread his appreciation of Hingashi and Far Eastern culture.
Etymology[]
Fitzgerald is a real world surname. One of the more famous people with it was F. Scott Fitzgerald, an American writer who illustrated the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age.