The Crimson Duelists
A band of red mages formed with the initial goal of freeing Gyr Abania from the King of Ruin. Now they revive the ancient art of red magic and put their skills to use by helping others.
Well-dressed Lass: “You needn’t worry about them anymore, Sister─the man in red defeated them all! You saw how he fought, with spells and steel? He’s one of those heroes Papa told us about: a Crimson Duelist. …Aren’t you?”
X’rhun Tia: “Hah, I did not expect to hear that name this far south into Eorzea. If your papa is telling his daughters tales of red mages, then he must be from Ala Mhigo, yes? Well that would explain his choice of bedtime stories.”
Encyclopedia Eorzea II - X’rhun Tia:
“X’rhun Tia is the last living member of the Crimson Duelists, a band of red mages active during the Ala Mhigan revolution. Seeking a means to resist the tyranny of the mad king Theodoric, he worked with Lambard and his other sworn brothers to successfully revive the lost art of red magic. Yet even as the revolutionaries claimed victory, their triumph was soured by the imperial invasion, and Lambard’s sudden and bloody betrayal. His fellow Duelists slaughtered, the surviving X’rhun chose to leave Gyr Abania and travel the realm alone, a wandering pilgrim lending aid to those in need. Along his journey, he crossed paths with a certain adventurer and a girl named Arya, and would go on to confront the demons of his past.”
X’rhun Tia:
“Have you any interest in the art? I suspect you would make an exceptional red mage! I am deadly serious. A woman who would rush to the aid of a stranger’s child without fear or hesitation is a woman I would trust with the power of red magic. But even beyond that… I sense in you a kindred spirit. Be warned, however, that my style of teaching is a practical one─I will expect you to join me on my journey, and assist me in aiding others. Accept those terms, and I will bestow upon you the accouterments of a red mage.
Are you familiar with soul crystals? This particular stone is attuned to past wielders of red magicks, and will fill your mind with a firm foundation of technique. You need only reach forth your hand. Are you prepared to walk the path of a red mage? One word, and the soul crystal is yours. A host of red mages committed their memories to this gem. And now it is yours.”
X’rhun Tia:
“Every generation of red mage is part of an unending battle. We are soldiers who fight for those enduring violence and subjugation, the bulwark against the unkind vagaries of fate. …Twenty years ago I joined the revolutionaries in Ala Mhigo, and learned red magic alongside like-minded companions. We formed the Crimson Duelists, and together we rose up against the tyranny of the mad king Theodoric. We were crushed. Of all the Duelists, only I survived to watch our homeland languish under the rule of imperial invaders.
Even after leaving Ala Mhigo, I never ceased fighting for its liberation. And when I learned of the Calamity─of the threat to all the lands of Eorzea─I allied myself with the valiant scholars of Sharlayan. In the end, I was unable to protect my homeland or halt the approach of fiery disaster. But never once in all these years have I betrayed the oath the Duelists swore to champion the weak with heart and steel. …Such is the nature of the magic you will learn from this idealistic fool. If you would master this art, however, then my road shall become your road for the duration of your studies!”
X’rhun Tia:
“Ah, and there is a note here as well addressed to us both. Ahem.
‘You have my eternal gratitude. Twice now has my life been saved by red mages. And twice by one in particular. Mayhap you remember the day, twenty years ago, when the Crimson Duelists fought to save the life of a child. I remember you, Master X'rhun, for your scarlet garb was forever etched into my memory.’
‘Tis a strange feeling to be recognized for a decades-old deed. Had he not known me, would he have been so ready to place his life in our hands, I wonder. Aside from a few wrinkles, I suppose I have changed little in my appearance. I was clothed thus when we worked to evacuate our fellow Ala Mhigans… even as the homeland we knew crumbled around us. But in the end, it is the lives that matter, not the place. Regardless of the circumstances, a red mage must strive to achieve the greatest good. So I have always believed. Our actions are our own reward, but a little acknowledgement does wonders to sustain one’s faith, eh?”
X’rhun Tia:
“His name is Lambard. Twenty years ago, he and I were part of the group who founded the Crimson Duelists. We studied the faded teachings passed through generations of Gyr Abanians, and revived the art of red magic as a weapon against tyranny. …But one day Lambard simply snapped. He murdered my unsuspecting comrades, and vanished into the shadows. I returned from scouting alone to discover the aftermath of a massacre… It was later that I learned his treachery had been paid for with imperial coin, but never could I find what became of the man himself. After twenty years of fruitless searching, I thought him dead.”
X’rhun Tia:
“It was two decades ago that I joined the revolutionaries. Though our motives were just, it was our actions that ultimately created a breach for the Empire to exploit. My time at the forefront of that stage has ended─to return to it now would only invite confusion and resentment. The revolution has since become the ‘Resistance,’ and the right to shape the future of Ala Mhigo now rests in the hands of those who will live the coming age.
No, I shall play my part by nurturing a new generation of red mages. I made my mark as a Crimson Duelist, but you will not be bound by my oath─you are free to decide for yourselves how best to employ the skills I teach you.”