Chapter 2
The Manipulator and the Subservient
Delita and Wiegraf join the Shrine Knights of the Glabados Church,
bodyguards of the High Priest, Marge Funeral. This indicates, to
a degree, the church's appeal to commoners.
Ramza becomes a mercenary, disassociating himself with the Hokuten
and the Beoulve name. He adopts the surname "Ruglia" to conceal
his true identity, which only Gafgarion knows (other than Ramza's
siblings and Delita, naturally). He is part of a mercenary group
hired by the Hokuten, led by Gafgarion (also including Rad), to
protect Ovelia.
Minister Gelwan, one of Goltana's top aides, secretly joins
Larg and Ruvelia in opposing Goltana.
Larg and Dycedarg concoct a scheme to "kidnap" and kill
Ovelia using criminals dressed as Nanten troops in an
attempt to frame Goltana. While the disguised kidnappers
storm Orbonne Monastery from the front, distracting Ovelia's
bodyguards, another person will actually commit the kidnapping.
The mercenaries are a liability should one of them leak
information about the plot, which is why they are to be killed
(guaranteed with the presence of Gafgarion). Gelwan issues the order
to kidnap Princess Ovelia, currently at Orbonne Monastery.
Ovelia, who has emerged as a possible successor to the throne,
represents a threat to Larg's rise to power, and Goltana is
Larg's main opponent. However, the Murond sect of the Glabados
Church discovers Larg's plan. The would-be kidnappers are
intercepted and killed.
They found the criminals in the monastery woods--dead.
Someone heard of our plan and is trying to stop us...
- Dycedarg, in a discussion with Gafgarion at Igros
They are replaced by the church's own cannon fodder. Delita is
assigned to handle the actual kidnapping. When Delita escapes
with Ovelia, Gafgarion simply assumes that Delita is the kidnapper
designated by Dycedarg.
Vormav Tingel, a Shrine Knight, hires mercenaries in Dorter to
kill the party pursuing Ovelia and Delita, comprised of Ramza,
Agrias Oaks, Ovelia's bodyguard, and Gafgarion.
Omdolia's death paves the way for Queen Ruvelia to expand her power
amid objections to her policies. Ruvelia's opponents
are summarily executed or banished, aggravating tensions between
Larg's and Goltana's factions.
The Nanten Knights have their own problems with insurrection.
A group of ex-knights, the Ryomoku, have incited a massive peasant
rebellion in Zeltennia. The Black Sheep, led by Baron Grims,
are entirely wiped out attempting to stop the rebels. This provides
Delita an avenue to infiltrate the Nanten ranks--as a Black Sheep
knight ordered by Baron Grims to rescue Ovelia.
Although there are basic similarities between the Death Corps
and Ryomoku, the totality of the Black Sheep's defeat suggests
an outside influence guiding the Zeltennia uprising, perhaps
Grand Duke Gelkanis Barinten, leader of Fovoham--the Ryomoku
may be one of Barinten's various elite mercenary groups. A likely
possibility is Barinten leased the Ryomoku's services to the
church in exchange for assurance that Barinten will be
installed as regent following the deaths of Larg and Goltana.
(See Chapter 4.)
The Bart Trading Company, headed by Bart Rudvich, is actually
controlled by Cardinal Alphons Draclau, a high-ranking church
official and leader of Lionel. The main purpose of Bart is
to obtain the Zodiac Stones, part of Funeral's plan to "resurrect"
the Zodiac Braves in order to increase the church's popularity
among commoners (many of whom accept the Zodiac Brave Legend
at face value).
However, Vormav and Draclau are actually Hashmalum and Queklain,
respectively, two of the dreaded Lucavi of the Zodiac Brave
Legend. Their true aim is to revive the Lucavi using the Zodiac
Stones and resurrect St. Ajora eventually, patron saint of Ivalice
who is now the "Magic God" of legend. Controlling
the church is an extremely convenient way of accomplishing these lofty
goals. The real Vormav and Draclau were most likely possessed
prior to the events that take place in FFT.
Draclau and Gafgarion, representing Dycedarg's interests, negotiate
an agreement to let the Cardinal use Ovelia to get the Taurus Zodiac
Stone from Mustadio Bunanza, currently with Ramza. Draclau explains
that Gafgarion will also be able to "get rid of those who know about
the kidnapping," namely Ramza and Agrias. Thus, a rumor is spread that
Ovelia will be executed at the Golgorand Execution Site. The woman whom
Gafgarion refers to as "perfect bait" is Agrias, who, when rescued by
Ramza, will direct Ramza to Golgorand, right into the trap. Draclau
claims that Ovelia will be returned to Dycedarg. Instead, Ovelia
continues to be detained at Lionel.
According to Vormav at Lionel, the "real" Ovelia, direct descendant
of King Denamunda II, died, leaving Ruvelia (then a
Princess) to take the throne eventually. To prevent this, the
senators who opposed Ruvelia had her two sons killed, making
the deaths appear to be a result of illness. In addition,
they adopted and raised the fake Ovelia in secret until
the time came when Ovelia could wrest control from Ruvelia.
However, the birth of Orinas ruined the senators' scheme.
While Ovelia will not be killed, the church's intention is to have
Ovelia delivered to Goltana via Delita. With Ovelia alive as
evidence, Goltana will be compelled to clear his name by accusing
Ruvelia of the kidnapping scheme and installing Ovelia as ruler
of Ivalice. This will inevitably aggravate tensions between Larg
and Goltana to the breaking point (war). With both the Hokuten and
Nanten at war, the people's confidence in their leaders will
deterioriate.