Realmscourge

The Realmscourge is a powerful monster in War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. It serves as the true main antagonist of the game's first arc, which encompasses the first three seasons, as both its existence and its actions are responsible for the events that compose the overarching plot.
It is only glimpsed about during the end of the game's first season and goes unnamed for most of the story until the second Interlude, merely referred to (albeit indirectly) as the Crystal, or the Cocoon of Light (光の繭) after the giant crystal it is sealed within, buried beneath Leonis Castle.
Due to the danger the Realmscourge poses to Ardra, Lapis, and even Paladia, both Gilgamesh and his partner, Amnelis, have made it their goal to see the beast destroyed to save reality and eventually return to their original world.
== History ==
=== Background ===
The Realmscourge was a weapon created by Amnelis during the Paladian Civil War as a tool to aid Hess's cause against the repression of Aldore. Emperor Vlad feared the weapon, having previous knowledge of Amnelis's creations, such as the Invincible and the Giant of Babel. This prompted Vlad to teleport Amnelis and Gilgamesh, who was alongside her, to the land of Ardra. Through unknown circumstances the weapon became active and became a threat to life itself.
Although Gilgamesh and Amnelis plotted to see the beast felled, their schemes failed and the beast had to be sealed deep within a cavern in what would become the Kingdom of Leonis. For the following centuries Gilgamesh and Amnelis exerted major influence in the politics and history of Ardra to nurture its civilizations to the point they could unite the continent against the Realmscourge. Gilgamesh bestowed ancient relics in the form of rings with the ability to summon visions to the kings of the land. Although these attempts typically ended in failure, the two utilized a powerful crystal in Amnelis's possession to reset time while preserving their memories of what had occurred.
Upon one such rewinding and after hundreds of years, their machinations coincided with the arrival of Sadali Crysthea and his lover, Exia, missionaries from the Church of the Crystal who journeyed into the continent with the intention of spreading the clergy's teachings in the new land. Having foreseen a "Bearer of Light" from Amnelis's premonitions, the two believed that Sadali was the person who could aid them in their endeavor. As a result of his winged appearance through his armor, Sadali believed Gilgamesh to be the deity depicted on the teachings of his religion, and decided to follow Gilgamesh out of his faith. Although uneasy with how Sadali revered him, Gilgamesh was convinced that Sadali was their prophetic messiah as Exia's ability for precognition, very similar to that of Amnelis herself, served as evidence of Sadali's destined role.
Through several years Gilgamesh had Sadali spread his teachings to build influence and support. Although Sadali was devoted to the cause, the petty ambitions and paranoia of the kings of Ardra, particularly those of Wezette and Lykeros, coupled with Sadali's trustworthy and naive nature, proved detrimental and caused the attempts to not only end in failure but lead to the death of Exia, and in some instances Sadali's enmity towards Gilgamesh.
Rewinding time several times took its toll on Sadali, who had grown defiant and scornful towards Gilgamesh after tormenting moments and the death of his lover. In one last attempt to unite Ardra as the crystal had run out of power, Sadali openly preached about the "Great Threat" to his followers as a means to prepare them for the calamity that was to occur and to spread the word on Ardra to convert as many people to the faith as possible and use their influence to force the kingdom's rulers to lend their aid to the cause. Sadali created the United Army of Ardra composed of believers and soldiers of the different kingdoms, traveling to Leonis where they were met by the Leonis royal family and its army whom Gilgamesh had tasked to test the united force through the use of the three rings. The Leonis army deemed the united force worthy and also joined in the fight.
When the forces prepared to attack, the Realmscourge awakened after it sensed blood. Morale deteriorated for the united force when despite the onslaught the Realmscourge had not sustained lethal wounds. Deserting the combat, the army left Sadali on his own with Exia and a devoted follower, who had been trapped in the cave by Khury who sealed the entrance to prevent the beast from escaping. Gilgamesh blasted the entrance and told Sadali to escape. The Realmscourge launched an attack that killed Sadali. Exia pleaded with Gilgamesh to give him the crystal, and in an act of desperation inserted her soul into the crystal to create the energy for another time rewind.
Although the reset was successful, Exia became comatose as her soul was inside the crystal, with Gilgamesh and Amnelis reporting what had occurred. The trio sensed the Realmscourge awakened and realized that Exia's power was too great and caused everyone, including the beast, to remember the past events, causing the monster to awaken through the bloodlust it carried from the last battle. Gilgamesh gave the crystal to Sadali and bid him farewell, revealing he was a good friend. Gilgamesh and Amnelis confronted the Realmscourge, and Amnelis used the only resource available—merge with the monster and seal it from within—which created a giant crystal, which was buried within Leonis Castle.
In the following years Sadali used his church to resuscitate his lover. Gilgamesh sought the means to save Amnelis and defeat the Realmscourge once and for all. Now guided by a vision of Amnelis, which shared Amnelis's premonitions in cryptic messaging, Gilgamesh did as instructed, bestowing the rings to the kingdoms of Ovis, Rundall, and Leonis, with the warning that Leonis could not have two heirs so as to prevent the potential civil war for succession serve as a catalyst to agitate the beast. Gilgamesh gave the ring to the leader of Leonis at the time, while mandating the conditions set by Amnelis. In due time, Gilgamesh visited Sadali who told him of what had occurred with Amnelis and giving a friendly warning to Sadali to not get in his way. Learning that the Realmscourge was also sealed in crystal, Sadali sought to unearth it as he reasoned it could be used to resurrect Exia whose soul was also trapped in crystal.
In due time, King Oelde Leonis and Queen Helena Leonis fathered two sons, the twins Mont and Sterne Leonis. On the day of their birth, Gilgamesh visited Oelde and demanded that one of the two be slain. Oelde convinced Gilgamesh it was premature to choose a successor when they were so young, and was granted time until the two became of age before a decision was to be made. Oelde, not wanting to allow their sons to die, planned for the next 18 years to allow the two to live, while holding ownership of the ring that granted their kingdom protection. Sadali would begin to plot the means to bring the Realmscourge to the surface.
=== Season One ===
Several years later and now in age of being successors, Sadali concocted a major political scheme that involved the kingdoms of Leonis, Hourne, Wezette, and Fennes in a conflict that would see its apex in the land of Leonis that would come to be known as the War of Lion's Valley. The war would cause the embitterment of Sterne towards his father and lead him siding with with Sadali, putting both heirs to the throne in conflict with each other. The battle would result in several casualties for Leonis, Hourne, and Fennes, the deaths of Muraga Fennes, Robb Hourne, Oelde Leonis, and the defeat of Sterne, paving the way for the succession of Mont and Machérie Hourne as king and queen of their respective nations. The already-decimated and overtaken Leonis Castle would suffer another blow when the Realmscourge's crystal, dubbed the Cocoon of Light by Sadali, would rise from within the ground and contaminate the surrounding land with miasma, forcing the Leonis forces to withdraw to Hourne as they were allied by this point.
=== Season Two ===
Sadali was elated at the crystal's resurgence and had his monks conduct scientific operations to extract energy from it. During one such expedition, Sterne, who yet lived, stumbled upon Oelde's diary, learning the truth of his intentions to save both him and Mont, contrary to his cold exterior. Sterne defected from the Sanctum to learn the truth from Gilgamesh and reached Ariale, the land where Gilgamesh took residence. Sterne confronted Gilgamesh about his intentions, but when invited to his palace, Sterne was possessed by malignant magic that was placed by Sadali into the Accursed Armor once gifted to him, and driven in rage to strike at the vision of Amnelis. Gilgamesh knocked Sterne unconscious and used his own magic to treat Sterne as the evil magic was not fully dispelled and threatened his life.
While the War of the Gale Highlands ensued—which involved the now-allied nations of Leonis, Hourne, and Ovis against the forces of Rundall, Heindler, and the Crystal Sanctum—the Sanctum monks continued to drain further energy from the crystal, which in due time allowed the Realmscourge to break free from its prison.
=== Season Three ===
Forced to confront his inner darkness, Sterne faced the evil magic within himself, emerging victorious. Gilgamesh bestowed Sterne a special suit of armor that not even he could fully utilize: an armament developed over time as a means to combat the Realmscourge, with Gilgamesh entrusting him with the mission to defeat the monstrosity.
The Realmscourge made its way towards Wezette where the civil war between the forces of Glaciela and Roseluna Wezette attracted it to feed on the dead's souls. Glaciela's forces attempted to stall the beast while Roseluna evacuated the populace nearby. Despite a repeated assault on the Realmscourge, it easily blasted Glaciela and her troops, who were then aided by the arrival of Gilgamesh, Sterne, and Seymore. The combined forces failed to significantly hurt the Realmscourge who retreated to digest the souls it had consumed, sinking into the sea while spreading miasma to protect itself from invaders. Gilgamesh entrusted Sterne and Seymore with finding the six blades forged by Masachika to rebuild the Mournblade to fight the Realmscourge.
After the Realmscourge fully digested the consumed souls, it made its way towards Ovis, the center of a battle between the forces of Heindler and the Ovis aided Leonis–Hourne alliance. Realmscourge put the battle in a ceasefire. Oberon Heindler, accompanied by his invading force and his generals Resnick and Gernsback, led an assault against the Realmscourge and its produced monsters. Although Oberon unleashed an attack by summoning visions from his two rings, it proved ineffective. Seemingly laughing at Oberon, the Realmscourge released powerful beams of magic and devastated the majority of Oberon's army. Oberon's confidence collapsed as he fell to the floor, begging for Jayden to come and save him.
While Oberon was left terrified and unable to act, Mont stepped in, instructing Resnick and Gernsback to take Oberon away while he fought the Realmscourge. He was soon aided by Glaciela, and some of Leonis–Hourne forces. The monster growled what appeared to be laughter and departed to digest the souls of the dead it had consumed. The allied forced took the chance to reevaluate their steps while Resnick and Gernsback shared their gratitude with Mont, ceasing their hostilities for the time being, but the groups acted separately.
The Leonis–Hourne alliance focused in trying to rally every party in an unified front against the menace, sending emissaries to convince the different powers to align with their cause. Heindler, led by a shaken Oberon, was instructed by him to gather gunsmiths from across all Ardra to build a superweapon under the delusion that the "real Jayden" would return once there was a weapon suitable for him. Gernsback complied with the order, but was distressed at Oberon's worsening mental condition. Alaya Rundall, who had survived Gilgamesh's assault on Rundall's Castle, reached Rundall's current base in former Lykeros territory with the help of Gryfford and Oldoa. Alaya inspected Jayden's state, who was alive but in a coma caused by the wounds from Oberon's betrayal. Alaya apologized to Jayden and tried to rebuild the alliance between Rundall and Heindler.
Alaya met with Oberon and learned of his plans with the commissioned weapon. Alaya later learned privately from Gernsback about the events and Oberon's state of mind. Meanwhile, Sadali resurrected Exia by extracting her soul from the crystal and restoring to her body. Exia rejected Sadali as she was conscious the entire time and was aware of Sadali's innumerable crimes to revive her, leaving Sadali despondent and locked in his laboratory, throwing the Sanctum into disarray. Whisper released Bronwell and Shelva from captivity and instructed them to convince Exia to return.
The two found Exia and were intrigued about her and Sadali's account of events. Exia revealed that despite being resurrected, her time was limited, and she intended to travel to oppose the Realmscourge with the two Crystal Faith devotees following her. 
As part of the overall mission against the Realmscourge, Kitone, Livialle and Ahlim, who were investigating the monster, met with Helena with the two groups sharing intel. Helena believed the time to reveal herself had come, setting course for Hourne, disclosing she had met with Sterne. Lorenzo was sent as an agent to convince Heindler to join the cause. Lilyth and Schuzelt visited the Crystal Sanctum, and were met with resistance by monks, but Whisper interjected. She escorted them to the cathedral where she told them the two could not meet Sadali without specifying a reason, but promised to provide help in the limited ways she could.
Forces from across Ardra gathered upon Mont's invitation in Ovis Castle, including Grace who was sent by Whisper. Exia traveled to Ovis and met with Grace, before meeting Mont directly while explaining the accounts from the past time loops. Lorenzo returned with Heindler's rejection, and Exia departed to meet with Gilgamesh.
The Realmscourge, frightened by Exia, sent its spawn after her, and used its connection with Amnelis to establish contact with Gilgamesh to trick him into activating defense systems against intruders with the intention to have Exia killed. Exia overcame the monsters and reached Gilgamesh, much to his surprise. Gilgamesh explained what occurred as a result of her sacrifice and how Exia has been assimilated by the Realmscourge, now realizing that the vision in front of them was controlled by the monster. The Realmscourge communicated its frustration in failing to see Exia killed, but warned them that the Hour of Awakening had come. The Realmscourge activated again as it has digested the souls it consumed. During a meet with allied forced, Hourne's Nitor division arrived. Mont revealed had Ramada departed to go to her homeland as she believed it important for the ensuing battle.
The Realmscourge began summoning spawn which it sent to points of interest, by having them attack Exia in an attempt to kill her while sending a group to Heindler, seeing the developed weapon as a threat. Meanwhile, the alliance struggled to restock weaponry as the Arms Dealers' Guild was nowhere to be found, but the problem was solved by Roseluna who provided a generous supply of weapons as a result of Wezette's demilitarization, being able to ship the excess stock using the ship from the Striae division. Engelbert felt at unease and believed something was wrong, deciding to inspect the Realmscourge despite Frederika's protests. Engelbert's hunch was proven correct when the two encountered their spies killed and the Realmscourge was activated. Engelbert instructed Frederika to alert the alliance while he stalled the monster.
In Ovis Castle, Tyytas and Tyrell arrived and told Mont that Machérie had gone in labor, while Frederika informed them of the Realmscourge's awakening. Mont was reluctant to go to Hourne, but was convinced to do so as Hourne needed to be alerted as well. Engelbert put a brave resistance against the Realmscourge, before being overwhelmed, but was saved by Viktora and Luartha.
As the allied forces were active against the Realmscourge, the monster itself had not appeared, rousing suspicions. Roseluna's entourage went to investigate, and the Realmscourge appeared weakened. Roseluna correctly realized the monster was pretending to set an ambush, instructing her retainers to retreat as the Realmscourge unleashed a barraging attack, narrowly escaping with their lives. As they made their way back, many of Ovis soldiers were lost, leading Roseluna to believe the Realmscourge was learning warfare tactics and shared this info with the alliance. The Realmscourge attacked villages around knowingly prompting the response of the alliance to defend them.
In truth. the Realmscourge was plotting to have all the wounded and civilians gather in the castle so it could destroy them in one fell swoop and prey on their souls. The alliance re-adapted their strategy and tried to evacuate as many people out of Ovis Castle as possible. The Realmscourge penetrated the alliance's defense lines and rushed into Ovis Castle. As the Realmscourge readied a powerful beam attack, Macleod pushed Mont away from its trajectory, while making a defiant last stand. Macleod was killed by the ensuing attack while plowing through Ovis Castle with its bulk leaving many casualties which the Realmscourge fed upon, the terrifying sight demoralizing onlookers. Mont survived and resolved to stop the monster.
== Characteristics ==
===Appearance===
The Realmscourge resembles a large mechanical hollowed out suit of armor. It is purplish with a white diamond-shaped device resembling a crystal serving as its "face". It has prodigious shoulders with red orbs resembling eyes, with its arms shaped like two elongated mouths with its lower "jaws" being on a red colored pattern with two floating black orbs around each arm. Its lower section is multi-layered segmented patterns widening into spherical ends from which what appear to be red cords interconnect.
Upon absorbing Amnelis, the Realmscourge is an almost entirely black, gargantuan Weapon-like monster. It has a skirted lower section with no legs, arms much thinner than its body—which end in pointy, three-digit clawed hands—and an elongated neck with a skeletal face. Its two bulbous shoulders are shaped like jaws and are capable of enveloping its whole body, further adorned with what appear to be multiple lesser mouths and two tentacles that fall down from the shoulders. Its most noticeable trait is a cockpit-like cavity in the middle of its body, visible through a partially transparent emerald-esque plate. It is capable of sealing individuals within this entrapment, with Amnelis being currently under stasis within the Realmscourge, while upside down. Its appearance suggests a possible connection with Omega, although this remains unconfirmed.
=== Personality ===
Initially the Realmscourge is a mindless beast that wants nothing but to spread indiscriminate destruction and slaughter. The Realmscourge is sensitive to bloodshed and the departure of souls, which lure it to any place where armed conflict takes place. The Realmscourge enjoys feeding on the souls of the departed, going into battlefields for the express purpose of consuming them. Although unable to speak beyond growls, many characters have interpreted some as being akin to laughter, seemingly taking sadistic pleasure on both its rampage and the struggle of its adversaries as they mount a desperate offensive against it.
In truth, the Realmscourge is a malevolent entity with a developed sense of agency, being capable of communicating through Amnelis and identifying threats to itself. Furthermore. being a weapon of war, it is capable of evolving and developing tactics to weaken its foes, which it employs with cold cunning, and terrifying precision, able to manipulate the alliances' humanity to its advantage.
=== Abilities ===
The Realmscourge is an incredibly powerful monster, to the point Gilgamesh could not defeat it even in his new suit of armor forged by Amnelis, which surpassed his former Veritas armor. Even against repeated concerted attacks by multiple armies, the Realmscourge was left virtually unscathed and to unleash unilateral destruction through powerful beams of magic.
The Realmscourge is so dangerous that it can potentially end life not only in Ardra, but in the entirety of Lapis and eventually reach Paladia itself. Its destructive potential is so feared that Gilgamesh and Amnelis have made their objective to see it terminated before returning to their homeworld of Paladia.
The Realmscourge feeds upon souls, and evolves upon sucking Amnelis's magic and the souls it devours, becoming ever stronger. It needs time to fully digest souls and so unleashes massive amounts of miasma as a defense mechanism to deter attackers. It produces an array of unique monsters to serve as its vanguard force.
More terrifyingly, the Realmscourge has the ability to learn. Being a weapon of war developed with artificial intelligence, the Realmscourge is built-in to be capable of weakening its foes, adapting and employing warfare tactics.
== Gameplay ==
The Realmscourge is a recurring boss in the second Interlude and Book 3. Its stats change on each battle, but it sports colossal HP, well over 120,000, enormous resistances, and a massive sprite size. The Realmscourge's has a plethora of attacks with stacked effects: Miasmatic Shock Wave is a large AoE attack that dispels all kinds of buffs, decreases AP and has pushback; Primordial Beam inflicts guaranteed damage, while purging its own debuffs; Miasmatic Burst is a single target attack that decreases Healing Power; while Noxious Burst allows him to target up to three units for the same effect. Heavy Miasma is an AoE Guaranteed Hit attack that does not damage its own allies. Abberation bestows it with both Protect and Shell for an extended period of time. Its normal attack can inflict Poison, while its counter, Miasmatic Field, can inflict Frostbite.
The Realmscourge cannot be felled in battle, as most fights feature alternate victory conditions, such as depleting a certain percentage of its HP, or exterminate its ally monsters. It has massive elemental and damage type resists to make its defeat, nigh impossible.
Category:Antagonists
Category:Characters in War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius