Messam Elmdore

Marquis Messam Elmdore de Limberry, also known as Marquis Mesdoram Elmdor, is the ruler of Limberry in Final Fantasy Tactics. He is known as the "Silver Prince" by his allies, and the "Silver Demon" by his enemies. His job, Ark Knight, is basically the Samurai with a different name. Marquis Elmdore is a popular figure among the commonfolk of Limberry even though he is a noble. He is a devout member of the Church of Glabados and serves as one of Duke Goltanna's loyal generals in the war.
==Profile==
===Appearance===
===Personality===
==Story==
===Abduction by the Corpse Brigade===
Elmdore is abducted by the Corpse Brigade captain Gustav Margriff during a trip to Eagrose Castle. Corpse Brigade is a group of rebels that wants to overthrow the rule of nobles in Ivalice, viewing it as tyranny to the common man. Elmdore's servant, Argath Thadalfus, escapes, and is rescued by two military cadets Ramza Beoulve and Delita Heiral.
Argath convinces the two to rescue the Marquis, despite orders from Ramza's brother Dycedarg to let him handle it. At the Sand Rat Sietch, Wiegraf Folles, leader of the Corpse Brigade, kills Gustav since he had acted without orders from Wiegraf who opposed the Marquis's kidnapping. When Ramza and Argath arrive, Wiegraf trades Elmdore for his own escape.
===Joining the Lucavi===
When the War of the Lions breaks out, Elmdore fights on the side of the Order of the Southern Sky. He is mortally wounded in battle, struck by a stray arrow, but because he was holding the Gemini auracite, he does not die, but becomes a host to Zalera, one of the Lucavi demons. Now a part of the Lucavi plot, Elmdore is given two Ultima Demons disguised as human girl for servants, Celia and Lettie. Elmdore joins his Lucavi allies at Riovanes Castle, the Knights Templar Wiegraf—who has quit Corpse Brigade—and Folmarv Tengille, who is really the Lucavi demon Hashmal.
On the castle's roof he comes across Grand Duke Gerrith Barrington trying to force Rapha Galthena hand over an auracite right after Ramza defeated the demon Belias. Lettie throws Barrington off the roof, and Elmdore and Celia join her to fight Ramza, who realizes Elmdore's true nature, remembering he was supposed to be dead. Despite the assassin girls' dangerous moves and Elmdore's use of the Sword Spirit powers of katanas, Ramza fends them off, and Elmdore retreats to Limberry, telling Ramza to follow.
===Battle at Limberry Castle===
As Ramza approaches Limberry Castle, Celia and Lettie attack with the help of many monsters. Ramza forces them to retreat inside where Elmdore is meeting with Folmarv, the leader of the Knights Templar of the church. The girls warn them of Ramza's approach, and Elmdore tells Folmarv to take care of resurrecting Ultima, the Lucavi leader, while he would deal with Ramza. Elmdore, Celia, and Lettie confront Ramza and his allies in a hallway. Elmdore proves to be a dangerous opponent, but Ramza's forces kill Celia and Lettie. Elmdore rushes downstairs and summons several undead to help him. As Ramza enters the room, he transforms into Zalera.
Folmarv's daughter Meliadoul, enters, and, witnessing Elmdore's transformation, realizes the truth about her father Folmarv. She joins Ramza in battle against Zalera, and they kill the demon, thus destroying Elmdore as well.
==Gameplay==
===Boss===
Elmdore is fought twice as a boss; the first at Riovanes Castle, and the second at Limberry Castle. At Riovanes, he is level 33 with 70 Bravery and Faith, and is equipped with the Muramasa, Black Cowl, Black Robe, and Nu Khai Armband. He has access to the Sword Spirit command, which also grants him the Safeguard ability, and can use First Strike, Doublehand, and Ignore Elevation. In this battle, he is immune to all negative statuses except Blind, Silence, Oil, and Slow. It is not necessary to KO Elmdore to end the battle; simply reducing either him or the two assassins to Critical will end it.
In the last battle with him at Limberry Castle, he is level 41 and comes equipped with a full set of Genji equipment as well as the Masamune, which cannot be stolen in the original Japanese version or in the War of the Lions remake (see below). He has access to the Sword Spirit command still, but now comes with the Vampire command, as well as the Master Teleportation, Brawler, and Shirahadori abilities. He is innately immune to the same statuses as before. Again, it is not necessary to KO Elmdore; simply reducing his HP by 80% will end the battle.
Elmdore's Masamune and Genji equipment during the battle at Limberry Castle were once the subject of debate of thievery. Despite the statement of the official Japanese guidebook, they cannot be stolen in the Japanese original version or the War of the Lion remake due to the hidden innate ability, Safeguard, of his job class. The English PlayStation version made stealing them possible even though the efficiency of doing so is extremely low. By reducing Elmdore's Brave stat (using the Oracle's Foxbird spell, or Beowulf's Chicken), the chance of stealing all of the Genji equipment rises significantly.
===Rendezvous===
When fought in the fourteenth Rendezvous battle: Brave Story, Elmdore is level 99 and starts with 70 Bravery and Faith. He comes equipped with the same equipment and abilities as before, and remains immune to the same statuses as before.
==Other appearances==
===Final Fantasy Record Keeper===
==Behind the scenes==
Marquis Elmdore resembles Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII, both in appearance and backstory. Both wield the Masamune.
There are two references to Elmdore in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. In the quest "Karlos' Day", his name is mentioned in the description of the quest in the pub. There is also an engagement involving a Bangaa Templar named Silverlock and two Viera Assassins named Celia and Redy.
Elmdore's "death" during the breakout of the War of the Lions is noted in pubs. The player may check the Zodiac story character profiles to confirm the note of Elmdore's death. However, unlike most deceased characters, Elmdore's age at death will be shown in brackets instead of being absent.
es:Messam Elmdore
Category:Characters in Final Fantasy Tactics
Category:Antagonists