Dalamud Dalamud was the smaller of two moons orbiting Hydaelyn in " Final Fantasy XIV " . Originally , the moon was colored white , but during Legacy ' s " Seventh Umbral Era " story , its color changed to red and citizens of Eorzea could witness it growing larger by the day . This change was said to be affecting sea currents , crops , and even the behavior of monsters and their size , as well as a shift in the flow of Aether . It was the most prominent figure in the Seventh Umbral Era story arc . Main antagonist Nael Van Darnus sought to use it as part of her plan to destroy and purify Eorzea . Story . Origin . Dalamud was constructed by the Allagan Empire ages ago under orders from its resurrected emperor Xande for the purpose of collecting solar energy and channeling it to the Crystal Tower - ostensibly to further power the Allagan civilization in general , but in actuality its purpose was to assist Xande in opening a portal to the World of Darkness . Dalamud also served as a prison for the Elder Primal Bahamut , who served as the catalyst for the solar energy collection mechanism . However , due to a miscalculation , Dalamud caused a power surge resulting in the catastrophic earthquake which marked the Fourth Umbral Era and ended the Allagan civilization . In the eras that followed , Dalamud would remain dormant in the heavens with its true origin and function forgotten with time . . . but sufficiently well - engineered enough to remain functional while dormant and to keep Bahamut trapped with it in seeming perpetuity . The Seventh Umbral Era . Due to this noticeable change on the moon , as well as the prophecies regarding the Seventh Umbral Era , Cid nan Garlond believed the Garlean Empire was using its magitek technology and forbidden arts to use Dalamud as a Meteor of sorts to purge Eorzea of its " taint " . This is later confirmed to be the doing of Nael Van Darnus , with Gaius Van Baelsar hesitant to follow the idea as the Garleans had not discovered how to control where Dalamud will fall if the spell was used . Later events confirmed that Nael had succeeded in initiating Dalamud ' s fall to Hydaelyn by a Lunar Transmitter within the Garlean stronghold Castrum Novum which has locked Dalamud ' s descent over Mor Dhona . Though the adventurers from the now - allied Grand Companies of Eorzea were able to destroy the transmitter , Nael no longer needed it as he is then infused with Dalamud ' s power while using Allagan technology to control Dalamud with " Lunar Fragmens " . In response , the Eorzean Alliance sent a party to meet Nael at his floating platform , " Rivenroad " . Here he explained his plan to use Dalamud to purge Eorzea entirely , beyond and in spite of Garlemald ' s desire to conquer a viable land . After his apparent defeat , Dalamud empowered him once more , transforming him into Nael Deus Darnus . This was not enough , as Nael was destroyed by the Eorzean forces , but Dalamud continued to descend . At first it caused luminous auroras and shooting stars throughout the skies , but as it breaches the atmosphere all other weather disappeared . Day and night were only barely distinguishable beyond the gray clouds and the burning red form of Dalamud , later accompanied by flashes of lightning . Eventually , the Seventh Umbral Era occurs when the bulk of the Eorzean Alliance engages the VIIth legion in a final battle to expel them from Mor Dhona and secure suitable grounds for the summoning ritual to stop Dalamud ' s descent . But the plan fails with Dalamud breaking apart upon entering Eorzea ' s atmosphere with Bahamut freed and Eorzea ' s landscape altered in the calamity that followed . In the aftermath , several large fragments of Dalamud have remained scattered across the realm . Notable sites include the Agelyss Wise in Eastern La Noscea , the Burning Wall in Eastern Thanalan , Finder ' s Bluff in North Shroud , the Nail in Coerthas Central Highlands , and the Singing Shards in Mor Dhona . To study these lunar derelicts , Gaius Van Baelsar had Castrum Occidens constructed in Eastern La Noscea to investigate a large cavern containing Dalamud ' s surviving components . Lambs of Dalamud . The Lambs of Dalamud are a cult that sprang up when Dalamud first began showing signs of its descent . They believe that the scent of fresh blood will attract " Menphina ' s Loyal Hound " and bring it down upon the land to purify it . For this reason they have sent followers to the city - states of Eorzea to lure adventurers to their dooms under the pretense of having them save kidnapped family members . Though some of its members are known to use swords , the Lambs are predominately Thaumaturge s who use the blood of their sacrifices to generate their spells . The Lambs of Dalamud do not fear death , believing that Dalamud will recognize their sacrifice and descend into the Gates of the Seventh Hell to resurrect them as servants in the Seventh Umbral Era . Their last known ritual was practiced in Gwyr - Aen , coincidentally where the symbol of Menphina appeared , before an adventurer slew them . They accepted their deaths readily upon realizing that they gave their own blood in service to Dalamud . Despite the passing of the Calamity , the Lambs of Dalamud did not disband , instead remaining in denial and continued rituals within places like Tam - Tara Deepcroft and Amdapor Keep . Appearance . A consistent part of each update involved making Dalamud appear closer in the sky . In 1 . 19 and 1 . 20 the change could easily be overlooked , but thereafter it grew to a size that was impossible to miss when the skies were clear , larger even the sun . It appeared deep red against the blue of day or black of night - it orbits in sync with the planet ' s rotation . It is locked in its descent on Eorzea . Furthermore , the closer it got , the more its artificial nature became apparent . By 1 . 23 and the End of an Era trailer , its mechanical nature was entirely evident . Nevertheless , the " Lunar Fragments " with which it showers the planet seem to be chunks of burning rock . Dalamud is also depicted in the symbol for Menphina as the smaller circle overlapped by the larger Moon circle .