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#26 - Dycedarg Beoulve
(Final Fantasy Tactics)
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Final Fantasy Tactics is a completely different animal from most other games in the series,not just because of its gameplay, but because of its story as well. The conflict is the result of a series of power-plays between various kingdoms, noble families, and the stand-in for the Catholic Church to gain control of the land of Ivalice. And one of the major players in this Game of Thrones-esque gambit pileup is Dycedarg Beoulve.
Dycedarg is the eldest son of the Beoulves, a noble family notable for producing many knights and heroes in the past, as well as the former leader of the Order of the Northern Sky. After poisoning his father to gain control over the house, he allies himself with Duke Larg in the latter’s plot to install his nephew Prince Ornius on the throne of Ivalice and therefore rule as regent. However, Dycedarg himself is using Larg for his own gain and personal power, but nonetheless goes along with his plan to abduct the other potential heir, Princess Ovelia. When the war of succession finally does break out, and circumstances allow it, Dycedarg stabs Larg in the back in order to make his move on the regency himself.
Dycedarg is one of the most Machiavellian antagonists in the series. He is manipulative, self-serving, charismatic, and really good at playing the long game. Whether it be allying himself with Larg to slowly gain the latter’s trust or poisoning his father over time to avoid arousing suspicion, never let it be said that the man is impatient. His design isn’t overtly evil, but even before his true colors are revealed, he has an air of authority around him, and after, it adds to his intimidation factor. He feels like he has a specific plan for everything, even if there’s not much to his motivations aside from wanting more power.
There’s a lot going for this guy, so why is he this low on the list? Well, he suffers from a problem that the entire game suffers from. You see, the game is centered around a complex political power struggle that is really down to earth, complex, and feels like it could have happened in the real world. Towards the end of the game, it’s revealed that the real instigator of the conflict was the Church of St. Ajora. However, they’re not in it for political power. Oh no. Led by the head of the Knights Templar, Folmarv Tengille, the church’s whole goal is to use the competing sides to gather the Zodiac Stones to resurrect their dark lord Ultima. So yes, this morally grey story of war and politics is reduced to “evil man wants magic rock.”
What does this have to do with Dycedarg? Well, the conspirators turn out to be possessed by Ultima’s demonic servants, the Lucavi, and towards the end of the game, Dycedarg is possessed by one of them, so the conflict with Dycedarg doesn’t feel like it resolved properly. This sort of thing is handled a lot better by another Tactics character (join me over at #10 for that) but for Dycedarg, it just feels a little flat. The final battle with him isn’t even that challenging.
Despite these setbacks, Dycedarg is much like a microcosm of Tactics as a whole- his potential is wasted in his final moments, but for the most part, he succeeds on every level.
Dycedarg is the eldest son of the Beoulves, a noble family notable for producing many knights and heroes in the past, as well as the former leader of the Order of the Northern Sky. After poisoning his father to gain control over the house, he allies himself with Duke Larg in the latter’s plot to install his nephew Prince Ornius on the throne of Ivalice and therefore rule as regent. However, Dycedarg himself is using Larg for his own gain and personal power, but nonetheless goes along with his plan to abduct the other potential heir, Princess Ovelia. When the war of succession finally does break out, and circumstances allow it, Dycedarg stabs Larg in the back in order to make his move on the regency himself.
Dycedarg is one of the most Machiavellian antagonists in the series. He is manipulative, self-serving, charismatic, and really good at playing the long game. Whether it be allying himself with Larg to slowly gain the latter’s trust or poisoning his father over time to avoid arousing suspicion, never let it be said that the man is impatient. His design isn’t overtly evil, but even before his true colors are revealed, he has an air of authority around him, and after, it adds to his intimidation factor. He feels like he has a specific plan for everything, even if there’s not much to his motivations aside from wanting more power.
What does this have to do with Dycedarg? Well, the conspirators turn out to be possessed by Ultima’s demonic servants, the Lucavi, and towards the end of the game, Dycedarg is possessed by one of them, so the conflict with Dycedarg doesn’t feel like it resolved properly. This sort of thing is handled a lot better by another Tactics character (join me over at #10 for that) but for Dycedarg, it just feels a little flat. The final battle with him isn’t even that challenging.
Despite these setbacks, Dycedarg is much like a microcosm of Tactics as a whole- his potential is wasted in his final moments, but for the most part, he succeeds on every level.
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