Thordan VII's Betrayal

Lore & Background

Thordan's betrayal was absolute, but his machinations were limited to the final stages of the Dragonsong War. He used his position to suppress peace talks and manipulated the Warrior of Light's arrival, viewing them as a tool to be discarded. His ultimate plan was to absorb the power of Nidhogg's Eye and transform himself into a primal—a god to rule Ishgard. He had no intention of triggering the Final Days or reuniting the shards of Hydaelyn; his goal was purely personal dominion, even if it meant sacrificing his own people.

In Their Own Story

The candlelight flickered against the cold stone walls of the cathedral, casting long shadows that seemed to dance with a life of their own. Thordan stood before the altar, his golden robes shimmering under the dim glow, yet his eyes held no warmth, only the hollow void of the sundered world. He watched the prayers of the faithful rise like incense smoke, unaware that the man they revered was the very architect of their suffering. In the silence between chants, he whispered a promise to the darkness behind him: soon, the song would end, and the shards would finally come together.

Reader's Guide

The revelation begins when the Warrior of Light infiltrates the Holy See during the height of the Dragonsong War, uncovering secrets that suggest the Archbishop is not who he claims to be. As the investigation deepens, it becomes clear that Thordan has been secretly communicating with Nidhogg, the primal dragon, and manipulating the war to prolong its duration. The confrontation culminates in a dramatic duel within the cathedral, where Thordan reveals his true nature as an Ascian. He discards his holy guise to fight alongside his own people against the Warrior, seeking to kill them before they can interfere with the summoning of Nidhogg's full power. The battle is fierce, pitting the Archbishop's dark magic and physical prowess against the hero's resolve. Ultimately, Thordan VII falls in combat, his body dissolving into light as his soul returns to the void. His death exposes the corruption at the heart of Ishgard's leadership, forcing the city to confront the truth about their war and its true mastermind. This event marks a turning point, shifting the focus from a simple conflict with dragons to a deeper struggle against the Ascian influence that has plagued Eorzea for centuries.

Did You Know?

• Thordan VII was never possessed by Elidibus; the Archbishop acted entirely of his own free will.
• He only manipulated the final stages of the Dragonsong War, not its entire centuries-long history.
• His goal was to become a primal and rule Ishgard, not to trigger the Final Days or reunite Hydaelyn's shards.
• After his defeat, Thordan's soul was absorbed by the Eye of Nidhogg, not sacrificed to the void.