In which we try to find a suitable NPC partner for my FFXIV Warrior of Light. This is some niche stuff here.
My WoL, a white mage who has defeated the Garlean invasion of the Eorzean alliance, accomplished some extremely political stuff in Ishgard that I won’t describe in detail as it gets very spoiler-y, fought for both Ala Mhigan and Doman independence, fought back against the flood of the light in The First, and saved the universe from The Final Days at the very edge of said universe, has a problem: All of the aforementioned accomplishments have left little time for socializing.
I’ve played the game largely as a solo adventure, having never joined a free company or even made friends with any of the other players. This is very much my kind of MMO. Having read many accounts of people shipping their OC with any number of NPCs (I told you this was niche), I started wondering: “Which NPC would be attractive to my WoL, and which would he consider a relationship with?”
Let’s start with the position that his tastes are not wildly different than my own. He’s a little more adventurous than I am, but not so much so that he would be interested in any but the most incredibly attractive males (and, assuming you’ve played through Endwalker, you can probably guess a name or two who might be an exception to the rule). With that out of the way, let’s get started. We’ll break it out by expansion to keep this from being a wall of text.
Update: My wife has started playing! Obviously, her Lallafel summoner has my heart, but I don’t want to discard all this work. Besides, now that she’s playing Heavensward, she has discovered that there are numerous tasty Elezen boys. She has a very specific glamour for her meetings with the Lord Commander of the Temple Knights and is constantly trying to shoo Alphinaud away from their encounters. Not that I can blame her. Anyway, the point is that in-game, this poor cat boy may not be as taken as he thought he was.
Update 2: She’s about to do The Vault for the first time. This is gonna be rough.
Obviously, Quta’wo is a good deal more attractive than I am. And he has a capybara. Not gonna lie: I’m pretty jealous of him.
A Realm Reborn:
Y’Shtola Rhul: The walking thirst trap is the obvious place to start. She’s beautiful, she’s brilliant, she has the most cutting wit of anyone in the game, and she’s another Miqo’te. What’s not to like? Well, the biggest problem is that, as of Shadowbringers, her heart resides in The First. And, to be honest, while she’s undeniably attractive, she’s not the woman for Quta’wo. That’s not just sour grapes. Honest.
Minfilia Warde: Probably the most OS* character design of any of the main NPCs, her characterization is weirdly thin. She’s also a little too much an avatar of Hydaelyn to be her own person and she’s kind of…unavailable…by the end of the expansion. Plus, and this is key: Thancred would kill me.
*that’s “overtly sexual” for any of you who aren’t Arrested Development fans
Thancred Waters: The himbo of the scions, Thancred is the only guy in ARR who’d be tempting. However, after his demise (he gets better), he comes back with a soul patch. Hard pass.
Yda Hext: Aside from the fact that (if you know the spoiler here, you know, but I ain’t saying it), Yda’s a keeper. Headstrong, funny, independent, but also very caring towards those she holds dear. Pity about that spoiler, though.
Tataru Taru: Good lord. That would be a match, wouldn’t it? Honestly? After I get over the shock of even thinking of what it would be like to be in a relationship with this whirlwind of organization (she would have spreadsheets for everything), Tatatu is pretty great. Another maybe.
Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn: The Chief Admiral of Limsa Lominsa, the former pirate is mostly business-first (she’s the leader of a city-state after all). She’s married to her job. I don’t see her as being down for any kind of committed, long-term thing.
Kan-E-Senna: Unlike Merlwyb, Kan-E-Senna is married to her role more than her job. She recognizes that she’s a symbol of hope for Gridania and she has subsumed her own wishes to the role she plays. That said, as a native Gridanian and a fellow White Mage, she and Quta’wo have a lot in common. If they ever could find some time to spend together away from their day jobs? Also, is it just me or does she get a little flirty at the end of the tank role quest from Endwalker? Strong maybe.
Nanamo Ul Namo: The Sultana of Ul’Dah, on the other hand, would like nothing more than to escape her job and/or role from time to time. She is easily the closest and most familiar of the heads of the Eorzean city-states. Her sense of humor and her understanding of how the world is going to change whether we will it or not make her another “maybe,” with the caveat that Raubahn would literally kill anyone who did wrong by the Sultana.
Mother Miounne: She doesn’t play much of a role in the story once Quta’wo’s career is launched, but she has a lot going for her. She knows more than she lets on, she’s a great judge of character, and as an innkeeper/bartender…well, you have to have a certain personality to do those jobs and that’s a good thing. 100% she rolled a tank class when she was an adventurer. Underrated. Also “maybe.”
Lunia sas Junius: Included for completeness rather than as a serious possibility. She’s a horrible person who knows what she did and if spurning her adds to it? So much the better.
Heavensward:
Alisaie Leveilleur: Someday in the future, Alisaie is going to make the best partner of anyone in the game, bar none. While her twin has a passion for trying to save the world, Alisaie’s passion is for saving every person which isn’t the same thing at all. She communicates better than anyone else Quta’wo has met, her heart is in exactly the right place, and she has the willpower to act on those feelings. But she’s 16 and only a cad would suggest anything other than crossing her off the list.
Jessie Jaye: Nah. Not Quta’s type at all.
Master Matoya: See above.
Moenbryda Wilfsunnwyn: She’s with Urianger. Not an option.
Ysayle Dangoulain: She’s with (spoiler). Not an option.
Hilda Warde: Hilda’s absolutely great. Her story mirrors Aymeric’s only it isn’t fleshed out nearly as much which is disappointing. She has a really positive attitude and seems to be perfectly willing to work with former enemies when it’s the right thing to do. Hilda’s a good one. Maybe.
Krile Mayer Baldesion: What is it about Lallafels? Krile is a wonder. There’s something about her personality that makes me think of a Julie Andrews character in that she seems to know exactly how to address everyone. She’s brilliant, she’s funny, and she’s not afraid to sally forth into danger even if she’s not especially good at it. A maybe.
Lucia Junius: There’s a hint of a suspicion of a “thing” with Aymeric de Borel, and Quta’wo would never betray Aymeric. Regardless, Lucia is a character to admire but perhaps keep at arm’s length. Never really warmed to the character.
Aymeric de Borel: Not gonna lie; the Lord Commander is way out of Quta’wo’s league. He is dealt the most difficult hand of any of the leaders except for maybe Nanamo and he navigates everything with grace, intelligence, and sincerity. He has some of the best character moments in the game, so much so that every discussion of WoL romantic interests should probably start with “Why not Aymeric?”
Rowena: Wealthy, beautiful, cunning, greedy, mercenary…no chance. She’d be as disinterested in Quta’wo as he would be in her.
F’lhaminn Qesh: Minfilia’s adoptive mother, F’lhaminn plays a big role in a lot of big events considering that she is a fairly minor character. She’s a good one: Outwardly, she’s quite showy but she’s matured a lot in the post-calamity world. This could work. Maybe.
Radlia: The other sky pirate. Let’s call her “extremely competitive.” She is 100% fronting all of the time and, while that might be intriguing at first, Quta’wo would grow frustrated with someone who couldn’t open up to him.
Stormblood:
Lyse Hext: Sigh. No no no no no no no no. If any character’s story arc made my WoL lose all interest in them, it’s Lyse’s. I can’t go into too many details, but just no.
Fordola Lupis: I know we’re supposed to hate her, but her storyline is just so good. Yes, she’s a monster and she’s not even apologetic about being one. That’s fair because her reasons were 100% valid. She’s the answer to “What do you do when your country has been conquered for the long term and it’s possible that the conquerors might be making things better but, even if not, they’re here to stay?” Rooting for her, but I don’t see this working.
Yotsuyu Brutus: Yotsuyu is to Doma what Fordola is to Ala Mhigo, only far more twisted. I think it is probably impossible for Yotsuyu to have a successful relationship with anyone. Sorry, Tsuyu. I really am.
Yugiri Mistwalker: There’s nothing wrong with Yugiri, she’s not a character who really sparks Quta’wo’s interest. Besides, she’s quite taken with Lord Hien and I can’t say as I blame her. Honestly, I’m not sure that starting anything with a ninja is a great idea for anyone.
Lord Hien Rijin: Speak of the devil. Hien ticks a lot of boxes and does so in style. That fact that he won’t…well, OK, let’s not get into spoilers, but his heart is always in the right place and he puts his people first. I’d say he’s more of an archetype to look up to than a potential partner, but I could see arguments to the contrary.
Cirina Mol: Here’s a low-key great character growth arc. Cirina is very much underwater when you meet her. She’s been thrust into an unfavorable leadership position and, as she grows into it, her people’s position grows as well. It kind of rhymes with Lyse’s arc, only, in my opinion, more compelling (there are a lot of parallel stories in Stormblood). Very much a “maybe.”
Sadu Dotharl: By the Twelve, Sadu may be the funniest and worst candidate of them all. Not only are her people’s beliefs a serious impediment, but her cruel sense of humor would inevitably get turned against anyone who spent much time with her. She’d be a GREAT drinking buddy in a large group.
Shadowbringers:
Ryne Waters: She’s Thancred’s charge, so that’s strike one. She’s a (spoiler), so strike two. She’s 17 years old. Nope.
Lyna: The fact that she is literally in a different world is going to be a problem for all of the Shadowbringers NPCs. Given the WoL’s relationship to Graha and Graha’s relationship to Lyna, there’s probably too much baggage to make it work. Not impossible, though: Y’Shtola left her heart in the first, and she doesn’t even have Quta’wo’s ability to visit Norvrandt. Lyna’s really cool and isn’t completely subsumed by her job as captain of the guard, so…maybe?
Tesleen: Absolutely terrific woman. No future, unfortunately.
Feo-Ul: It is unwise to get involved with the fae folk. By the end of the story, it is likely that, if she were so determined, she could ensure that Quta’wo loved her with all of his heart. It is a testimony to Feo-Ul’s respect that she does not do so. It would be both disrespectful and foolish to tempt matters further.
Dulia-Chai: It would be difficult to find a more supportive partner. However, we know this because of how she supports her husband. Lady Chai’s off the table.
Emet-Selch: OK, let’s just start by saying that this is possibly the best voice acting I’ve ever experienced in a game, and I’m a big Ellen McLain fan. He is absolutely infuriating, but once you get to know him, he’s an exceptional guy. He also doesn’t see anyone else as being truly alive, which is a problem.
Final note: There are bucketfuls of Viera in this expansion, but I’m gonna be honest: I couldn’t tell most of them apart. I’m sure they’re lovely women, but I don’t want to put Quta’wo in the same position as Penguin in Polar Bear Cafe.
Endwalker:
This expansion is less about introducing new characters than wrapping up the stories of the ones already on the board. Not a huge number of options here.
Nidhana: More of a motherly type than a partner. Not my Quta’wo’s cuppa, but to each their own.
Ameliance Leveilleur: Married and the mother of some of Quta’wo’s teammates. Absolutely not.
Venat: Let’s just say her career goals make anything of this sort impossible and leave it at that.
Hythlodaeus: I cannot believe I spelled that properly on the first attempt. Anyway, it is literally impossible to think of a more perfect companion. Alas, his story is not one that suggests anything is possible between him and my Warrior of Light. Nonetheless, I’ll list him as a “maybe.” Now, if you want to imagine a threesome with Hyth and his two besties? That’s understandable.
So, who does that leave us with as candidates?
So that’s the field. Unlike, say, Baldur’s Gate 3, there are no “romance options” in the game (and that is a good thing) so this all has to exist outside of the text of the story. At the risk of making this less spicy than the subject matter calls for, what I’ve really learned from this exercise is how many great characters are in the game.
Maybe there’s no right answer. The Warrior of Light walks alone, for the path they tread is fraught with danger and demands absolute focus. How can the Champion of Eorzea hope to be fully present in a relationship and carry on an adventuring lifestyle at the same time? No, I think perhaps the single life is the only choice for Quta’wo.
“It hurts me too, but when I am no longer the Champion of the Realm and your days as Elder Seedseer are over…”
