VIIth Imperial Legion

The VIIth Imperial Legion is one of the Garlean Empire's armies, serving as the primary antagonist force in the original Final Fantasy XIV. Once led by the White Raven, Nael van Darnus, the VIIth Legion spearheaded Project Meteor that would ultimately release Bahamut from Dalamud and bring about the Calamity in Eorzea. The legionaries were known of their fanatical devotion to their Legatus.
Since Nael's death, the legion has been resurrected and led by different Garleans, with Valens van Varro being the current Legatus and head of the Weapon project.
==Members==
;Darnus era
* Nael van Darnus ("The White Raven" and Legatus)
* Luscus (Tribunus)
* Atilus (Tribunus)
;Varro era
* Valens van Varro (Legatus)
* Alfonse aan Baelsar (Diamond Weapon's Oversoul)
* Allie aan Baelsar (Diamond Weapon pilot)
* Rex aan Baelsar (Emerald Weapon pilot)
* Milisandia aan Baelsar (Ruby Weapon pilot)
* Ricon aan Baelsar (Sapphire Weapon pilot)
* Procopius (Pilus)
== Story ==
In the year 1572 of the Sixth Astral Era, on the command of Emperor Solus zos Galvus, the VIIth Legion was deployed to the Western Theater (Eorzea) with the mission of bringing the Meteor Project to fruition. Though the legion faced many difficulties with the Eorzean nations uniting and the Warrior of Light's intervention, the VIIth Legion nonetheless brought about Meteor. Other imperial figures were wary of Nael van Darnus's motives, and wondered if Project Meteor would destroy Eorzea rather than leave it ripe for conquest.
Even after Nael's death the soldiers of the VIIth refused to believe he could truly die after having seen his displays of otherworldly power on the battlefield. They entrenched at Carteneau Flats to ensure Dalamud's fall, but most perished in the Calamity when Bahamut emerged from the false moon. Few survived and returned to Garlemald to plan their next move. The VIIth Legion is not the same as under Nael van Darnus, as leadership has changed hands many times before gaining new members from the remains of the XIVth legion with Valens being its current leader and basing the legion in Werlyt. 
Under the command of Valens, who aided in restoring the Ultima Weapon, the legionnaires reversed-engineered the anti-eikon warmachina, Diamond Weapon, commissioned by Varis zos Galvus prior to his death. Valens aspires of becoming emperor himself, creating three additional Weapons to perfect the Diamond Weapon. Valens's Weapons are equipped with Oversoul systems on deceased Legati that override the pilot's mind while they are absorbed into the weapon's core. Valens appears to be unaware that Alfonse and his fellow orphans have their own agenda to use the Weapons against him when the time comes and allow themselves to be abused as his test pilots.
The VIIth Legion releases the Ruby Weapon on the Eorzean Alliance on the battlefields of Ghimlyt Dark, but the Warrior of Light and Gaius Baelsar combine their efforts to defeat it. Gaius learns that the pilot was one of the orphans he had taken under his care, encountering Alfonse who reveals that he and the others are with the VIIth Legion. The group attempts to track down the hanger where the other weapons are located with the G-Warrior Magitek robot they developed as a counter measure. They only contend with the Sapphire Weapon as the legion got the other Weapons to a disclosed location.
The Sapphire Weapon was incomplete, and the Warrior of Light in the G-Warrior gains the upper hand. The pilot Ricon activates the Weapon's Oversoul with the data of Regula van Hydrus. Though the act kills Ricon, this empowers the Sapphire Weapon. The Warrior destroys it regardless, although Alfonse and his remaining siblings flee Werlyt with the remaining prototypes. Several Garlean soldiers abandon their posts and the Alliance forces remain behind in the Werlyt town of Terncliff where the Sapphire Weapon was fought to aid its people.
With Terncliff liberated from imperial occupation, the Eorzean Alliance, Gaius and Garlond Ironworks scavenge the Sapphire Weapon, learning that the Oversoul was meant to kill the pilot much to Gaius's horror. The former Legatus resolves to stop the Weapons from causing more damage and save the children he raised. Back in Imperial territory, Alfonse informs Valens of recent events. Though outraged at the loss of both the Ruby and Sapphire Weapons, Valens nonetheless orders Alfonse to proceed as planned while instructing Allie to be prepped to pilot his masterpiece: the Diamond Weapon. Alfonse arranges Allie to end up with Gaius while Rex sacrifices himself while piloting the Emerald Weapon. Valens tortures Alfonse and decides to incorporate him into the Diamond Weapon's core instead of a digital copy. This leads to Valens's downfall as Alfonse's consciousness manifests through the Oversoul to devastate the VIIIth legion and kill Valens after Gaius bests him in combat.
With their base decimated after the Diamond Weapon's rampage, their Legatus dead, the VIIth Legion is dismantled once more. Its remaining members flee or surrender after the Werlyt Revolutionaries liberate their land from the Garleans.
== Gallery ==
File:Test subjects of the Weapon's Project.png|The test subjects used in the Weapons Project.
Category:Organizations in Final Fantasy XIV