Who are The Twelve in Final Fantasy XIV?

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Final Fantasy XIV is rich in lore and history. Despite only being around for just over a decade, the world of Eorzea itself feels centuries old, thanks to the stories we hear throughout our adventures. The Twelve are the pillars on which religion in Eorzea is based, but who are they?

In case you haven’t guessed yet, there are 12 of these deities, each corresponding with a month of the Eorzean (and Gregorian) calendar. The importance of these mystical characters has fluctuated over the last 10 or so years, from having an effect on your base stats to their Marks forming a pilgrimage that must be completed by a couple about to go through an Eternal Bonding ceremony.

Warning: This article contains many spoilers for late-game storylines and is probably best read once you’ve completed Endwalker and its associated content.

Who are The Twelve in Final Fantasy XIV?

Each of The Twelve represents one of the six elements that make up everything in the universe (Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, and Earth). Prior to patch 4.2, when making a new character and choosing your birthday, which deity represented your birth month would have an impact on your elemental resistances, but this is no longer the case. Now the choice is much less impactful, but you should get to know each of The Twelve to see if you can relate to any of them on a deeper level.

You should also know that they aren’t actually deities at all. Each of The Twelve was actually created by Hydaelyn, formed from the body of an Amaurotine. They were created after the Sundering, which left Etheirys split into the Source and its Reflections, with Hydaelyn tasking them to guide the planet’s races as it remained. Hydaelyn resurrected Ancients who had fallen during the Sundering to do this.

Eorzea doesn’t follow the Gregorian calendar, and instead splits the year into 12 “Moons”. It can be hard to decipher which Moon your birthday would fall in, let alone which of The Twelve represents each and their element, so here’s a quick rundown:

DeityElementEorzean calendarGregorian calendar

Halone	Ice	First Astral Moon	January
Menphina	Ice	First Umbral Moon	February
Thaliak	Water	Second Astral Moon	March
Nymeia	Water	Second Umbral Moon	April
Llymlaen	Wind	Third Astral Moon	May
Oschon	Wind	Third Umbral Moon	June
Byregot	Lightning	Fourth Astral Moon	July
Rhalgr	Lightning	Fourth Umbral Moon	August
Azeyma	Fire	Fifth Astral Moon	September
Nald’thal	Fire	Fifth Umbral Moon	October
Nophica	Earth	Sixth Astral Moon	November
Althyk	Earth	Sixth Umbral Moon	December

With that basic (albeit confusing) information out of the way, let’s get to know each of The Twelve in a little more detail, including both the myth and where these ‘deities’ actually originated.

Halone – The Fury

Myth:

Halone, also known as The Fury, is the goddess of war and the patron saint of Ishgard, likely chosen due to the ever-present threat of Dragon attacks when the first settlers arrived at the location. Halone is also the central figure of the Ishgardian Orthodox Church, which oversees the Holy See and Temple Knights. According to Eorzean myth, she was brought forth from The Whorl with her elder brother Byregot, and both became wards of Rhalgr.

Truth:

Halone was actually created from one of Venat’s companions, becoming a skilled warrior who hunted down potentially dangerous creations in Elpis. When the Convocation of the Fourteen was being formed, she was a leading contender for the seat of Pashtarot, although did not end up taking it.

Halone’s mark depicts three spears befitting her role as the goddess of war and can be found at The Fury’s Gaze in Coerthas Central Highlands (X:7.4, Y:31.5) to this day, affixed to a stalactite in the roof of a cavern.

Menphina – The Lover

Myth:

Keeper of the Twin Moon and the goddess of love, Menphina is also the sister of Azeyma and lover of Oschon. Also representing the element of ice, Menphina has a connection to the Heaven and Hell of Ice, although it is often described as Halone’s Domain in myth and lore. Because of Menphina’s role as Keeper of the Twin Moon, she is worshipped by the nocturnal Keepers of the Moon.

Truth:

One of the youngest companions of Venat and a former student under the Words of Lahabrea went on to become Menphina. As Menphina, she discovered the magic that was later used to seal Zodiark away.

Menphina’s mark can be found in Coerthas Central Highlands just as Halone’s can, but Menphina’s mark is north of Camp Dragonhead. You can find it near the site of Haurchefant’s grave to the west of Steel Vigil (X:22.7, Y:8.0).

Thaliak – The Scholar

Myth:

Thaliak is the ruler of rivers and the god of knowledge, so it makes sense that he is the guardian deity of Sharlayan, with a huge statue of him guarding the entrance to Scholar’s Harbor. He’s also the father of Llymlaen and the teacher of Byregot. According to myth, Thaliak created the Heaven of Water, where scholars, inventors, and teachers reside. From there, the water drips down into The Pit and stagnates to become Hell of Water, which drowns deceivers, counterfeiters, and false prophets.

Truth:

Thaliak was once the headmaster of Akadaemia Anyder and a renowned scholar among the Amaurotine people. He was also a close friend of Venat before he went on to become Thaliak.

Whether you choose to believe in myth, Thaliak’s mark can be discovered by traveling to Rathefrost in Mor Dhona (X:18.6, Y:17.7). The scroll is etched into a rock surrounded by level 45 Plasmoids.

Nymeia – The Spinner

Myth:

Watcher of celestial bodies and the goddess of fate, Nymeia is the younger sister of Althyk and master of Rhalgr. According to myth, it was Nymeia who melted the star into which Thaliak placed the essence of knowledge, allowing them to create both the Heaven of Water and the Hell of Water. Prior to the fall of the state, Nymeia was the patron deity of Ala Mhigo.

Truth:

Along with her brother Althyk, Nymeia was created from an Amaurotine who was a close companion to Venat. Together, they observed the creations of Elpis.

To visit the mark of Nymeia, head to Moraby Drydocks in Lower La Noscea and go slightly south. You’ll find the spinning wheel mark etched into a rock on a small outcrop of land overlooking the sea (X:26.5, Y:37.1).

Llymlaen – The Navigator

Myth:

For anyone who began their journey in Limsa Lominsa, Llymlaen will be very familiar, as there are depictions of the goddess throughout La Noscea, including a huge statue in the center of Aleport. Llymlaen is the watcher of the seas and goddess of navigation and, therefore, the perfect choice of guardian deity for ocean-faring Limsa Lominsa.

According to myth, Llymlaen created both the Heaven and Hell of Wind. The former is a mountain range overlooking the sea, where adventurers and explorers come to rest. Hell of Wind, on the other hand, is plagued by a harsh wind that rips the flesh from pirates and bandits.

Truth:

The truth and myth of Llymlaen aren’t too different. In truth, Llymlaen was created from an Amaurotine who spent her life researching aquatic creations in Metabeaseios Thalassi. She was incredibly protective of her specimens and once threw a knife at someone who got a little too close for comfort.

Llymlaen’s mark can be found at the Anchor Yard on Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks (X:7.4, Y:14.6), overlooking the harbor. This is thought to be a reference to the Heaven of Winds.

Oschon – The Wanderer

Myth:

If you’ve completed the Myths of the Realm quest line, you will know exactly who Oschon is and may even be more comfortable calling him Deryk, but that’s neither here nor there. Oschon is considered to be the ruler of mountains and is the god of wanderers and vagrants. He is the brother of Nald’thal and lover of Menphina, as well as a close friend of Halone. According to the lore, he can be found ruling over the mountain range in the Heaven of Winds.

Truth:

Hydaelyn created Oschon from a companion of Venat who she met while traveling, Oschon went on to create the human form of Deryk to enable his continued exploration of the physical realm.

The Mark of Oschon can be found in Outer La Noscea, below the Kobold Dig location on the map (X:25.2, Y:18.3). There is also a lighthouse on The Gods’ Grip in Lower La Noscea called Oschon’s Torch sitting opposite another lighthouse called Llymlaen’s Ring.

Byregot – The Builder

Myth:

Purveyor of architecture and industry, Byregot is also the god of the arts. According to myth, he is the older brother of Halone and the “son” of Rhalgr due to being made his ward alongside Halone after they emerged from The Whorl.

Byregot reigns over the Heaven of Lightning, which contains a huge clockwork spire forged using the metal of a comet and powered using Rhalgr’s levinbolts. The Heaven of Lightning is thought to be the resting place of engineers, architects, and “conquerors of evil.” The Hell of Lightning, on the other hand, is a land of horror for vandals and warmongers.

Truth:

Byregot was once an Amaurotine gifted in creation magicks that allowed him to create inanimate objects, such as buildings and other structures. In life, he was a supervisor in the Bureau of the Architect.

Byregot’s Mark can be found in the South Shroud, just outside of Camp Tranquil to the northwest (X:15.9, Y:27.4). Like many of the other Marks of the Twelve, it is etched into a rock.

Rhalgr – The Destroyer

Myth:

Rhalgr is the breaker of worlds and the god of destruction. He is the patron deity of Ala Mhigo, who believe that he saved them from the Sixth Umbral Calamity by sending a comet down from the heavens to protect them. According to myth, he is an attendant to Nymeia, who assigned him as the guardian of Halone and Byregot.

Not much else is known about Rhalgr, as he is somewhat ill-defined, even in Eorzean creation myth, although he is believed to reign over the Heaven and Hell of Lightning alongside Byregot.

Truth:

The Amaurotine from whom Rhalgr was created has been described as “brawny,” and he earned the moniker of “The Destroyer” by destroying a meteor that was approaching and threatening all of Etheirys.

The Mark of Rhalgr can be found carved into a rock on the upper platform in the southern tunnel in Little Ala Mhigo in Southern Thanalan (X:19.8, Y:14.8). Rhalgr’s Reach is also a place of importance to Rhalgr’s worshippers, as it is believed that the deity himself graced the location with his presence, and was used as a base for the Fist of Rhalgr monks until the reign of the Mad King Theodoric.

Azeyma – The Warden

Myth:

Known as the keeper of the sun and goddess of inquiry, Azeyma is worshipped by Miqo’tes, who are part of the Seekers of the Sun tribe. She is the daughter of Althyk and the older sister of Menphina. According to myth, it was Azeyma’s sun that provided the heat that fired the golden bricks that Nald’thal used to create the city known as the Heaven of Fire, a resting place for the just and fair. Rubble from the building efforts were thrown down to create the Hell of Fire, where those who judge others wrongly or trick each other go to be condemned.

Truth:

The Amaurotine who went on to become Azeyma was a judicial officer in the Bureau of the Administrator and a stout supporter of the seat of Azem in the Convocation of the Fourteen.

To find Azeyma’s Mark, you’ll need to travel to the Final Prayer at Burning Wall in Eastern Thanalan (X:24.4, Y:29.6). The Sunken Temple of Qarn is also thought to be the remains of a temple where Belah’dian people once worshipped their patron deity.

Nald’thal – The Trader

Myth:

Nald’thal is the perfect choice as the patron deity of Ul’dah, not because he’s the overseer of the underworld (although he is), but because he is the god of commerce and trade is rife in Ul’dah. Strangely, while Nald’thal is seen as a single deity throughout the rest of Eorzea, Ul’dahns see a pair of twins called Nald, keeper of the living and Thal, keeper of the dead. It is said that Nald’thal is responsible for casting the rubble of the Heaven of Fire into the pit, casting it aflame to reduce those stuck there to ashes.

Truth:

Nald’thal was once an Amaurotine who was close friends with Oschon and a companion to Venat. He was a merchant and said to have been both outgoing and reserved in equal measure.

Although Nald’thal technically has two Marks in Ul’dah, one in each temple dedicated to each of the twin deities, the only one you can access is in the Arrazaneth Ossurary (otherwise known as the Thaumaturge’s Guild) on the Steps of Nald (X:7.0, Y:12.6), and the other is understood to be found in Milvaneth Sacrarium on the Steps of Thal, although this is inaccessible.

Nophica – The Matron

Myth:

If ever there was a perfect patron deity for Gridania and its surrounding farmland, Nophica is it. She’s the tender of soils and harvests and the goddess of abundance, so it makes sense that the people of the lush green landscape worship her. Daughter of Azeyma and younger sister of Llymlaen, it is said that Nophica created the Heaven of Earth from just a single seed. The leaves of the trees shelter farmers and historians, while the Hell of Earth is made of rotted vegetation and is where liars, thieves, and defilers of nature go to rot.

Truth:

The Amaurotine who was turned into Nophica by Hydaelyn was once a very well-known landscape architect, gardener, and botanist. Despite having creation magicks, she preferred to tend to her plants with natural methods rather than with mystical powers.

Nophica’s Mark can be found at Nophica’s Altar in Old Gridania (X:7.9, Y:10.9). The rock with the engraved symbol is located directly above the entrance to the tunnel that takes you to the Conjurer’s Guild.

Althyk – The Keeper

Myth:

Known as the surveyor of change and space, as well as the god of time, Althyk commands the element of earth, as you might expect by this point. He’s the father of Azeyma and Menphina and older brother to Nymeia. When Nophica planted the seed to become the Heaven of Earth, Althyk brought it to maturity by speeding up time.

Truth:

The Amaurotine who went on to become Althyk was a friend of Venat and spent his time researching new creations in Elpis.

The Mark of Althyk can be found in the South Shroud, close to the entrance to Amdapor Keep (X:23.7, Y:25.0). As with the other Marks of the Twelve, it is immortalized in stone and is a source of strength to the people of Eorzea during hard times.

Who is The Thirteenth in Final Fantasy XIV?

At the same time as she created The Twelve, Hydaelyn also created The Thirteenth, who is unnamed in lore until you reach the culmination of the Myths of the Realm storyline. At this point, it’s revealed that Hydaelyn created both The Twelve and The Watcher, who have since been shaped by the worship and prayers of the people of Etheirys.

The Amaurotine who became The Watcher was chief archivist at Anamnesis Anyder, and joined Venat in opposition of Zodiark. When she created The Watcher, Hydaelyn placed him on the moon to keep watch over the imprisonment of Zodiark, to prevent further harm like that caused by the Sundering.

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