XIVth Imperial Legion
“He who cannot preserve the sovereignty of his nation is unfit to rule it.
— Gaius van Baelsar
The XIVth Imperial Legion is the youngest of the Garlean Empire legions, and is headed by Gaius van Baelsar. Under his command, the Legion was able to seize several victories against several cities and nations, and bring them under the Empire's banner. After the Seventh Umbral Calamity, the XIVth Legion built several Castrums all across the nation of Eorzea with the intent of capturing it. However, the Legion met with staunch opposition from the Eorzean Alliance and ultimately failed in its mission.
Notable Members
- Gaius van Baelsar: A pure-blooded Garlean, he is possessed of a natural flair for wartime command, equalled only by his sensibilities as a governing administrator. Known as the Black Wolf, he is best known for his subjugation of several cities, and the nation of Ala Mhigo. Utilizing the Ultima Weapon, Gaius came very close to conquering Eorzea, but was stopped by the Warrior of Light.
- Nero tol Scaeva: A pure-blooded Garlean, Nero dreamed of leaving the squalor of his village. Through hard work and perseverance, he managed to enter into th Magitek Academy and displayed a great affinity for reverse-engineering ancient technology. Though he tried his best, he found himself always coming in second to his friend and rival Cid nan Garlond. Though invited to stay on at the Academy and become a researcher, Nero instead chose to join the military, and rose in rank thanks to his unique abilities.
- Livia sas Junius: Losing her parents as a young girl, she was taken in by Gaius. Though it was difficult, she left her sister, Lucia Junius behind. Recognizing him as a stern yet caring figure, she eventually came to view him as more than a parent, and would do anything he asked of her. She joined the military at a young age, and quickly gained a reputation for herself as his right hand. Due to her actions in Dalmasca, she came to be known as the Ghost of Dalmasca.
- Rhitahtyn sas Arvina: Born to a remote area systematically subjugated by the Empire, Rhitahtyn joined the military for a single purpose: Earning his citizenship. Assigned to the XIVth Legion, Gaius recognized his exceptional martial prowess. He also proved himself to be a master tactician through a series of victories. He came to hold the highest position a non-Garlean can hold: Praefectus Castrorum. Despite being forty nine, he is an incredible fighter who can move surprisingly fast considering the weight and size of his Gunshield.
History
Following the capture of Ala Mhigo, the XIVth Legion was poised to conquer Eorzea, and sent their Airship armada, led by the Agrius to Mor Dhona. Due to a high concentration of Aether, the Empire believed it to be an important location to summoning Primals. However, upon reaching Silvertear Lake, Midgardsormr, the Keeper of the Lake arose, calling to him a horde of Dragons to attack the Garleans. The Battle of Silvertear Skies commenced, an airborne battle unseen before or after. The battle ended when Midgardsormr collided with the Agrius, sending both careening into the lake, causing a massive explosion. Following a retreat, the Emperor's ear was caught by another Legatus, that of Nael van Darnus, who convinced him to restart Project Meteor. The XIVth Legion was then instructed to help see this plan through.
Following the Seventh Umbral Calamity, the Legion would go on to erect several "Castrum" around Eorzea'. The XIVth Legion would occasionally commence military exercises against the Eorzeans, but were pushed back. Following the discovery of the Ultima Weapon, "Gaius subjugated the Primals of the Beast Tribes, and offered an ultimatum to the leaders of Eorzea: Surrender or fall. In response, the Eorzean Alliance launched an all-out offensive against the Legion, infiltrating Castrum Meridianum and destroying the Weapon before it could be utilized fully. Following this failure, the remnants of the XIVth Legion were absorbed by either the XIIth Legion or the newly reformed VIIth Legion.