Briardien de Manseauguel

Inspector Briardien de Manseauguel is a non-playable character in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. He was introduced in Patch 2.2. to serve as a rival to Hildibrand Manderville.
==History==
=== Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn ===
Briardien introduced himself to Durilda, offering his services in investigating the duelist's threat to steal the Treaty Blade. He later showed up, and much to his annoyance, and explained his plan to Hildibrand to catch the thief: distribute several counterfeit Treaty Blades as decoys to lure out the duelist in Coerthas. He reluctantly agreed to let Hildibrand, Nashu, and "Greg" watch the road outside the Observatorium. As Hildibrand and "Greg" argued over who claimed the Bradamante, Briardien concluded the latter's words about winning in duels. He asked the Warrior of Light and allies to deal with the man in red on the big bridge at Griffin Crossing.
With the culprit seemingly dealt, Briardien handed the Treaty Blade to Durilda, who departed. The real Durilda walked up, having been waiting on the docks. Briardien found a discarded mask and realized they had been had. A calling card was flung through Vesper Bay, landing squarely in Briardien's forehead. The card revealed the thief plans to steal the "lapis maiden's virtue".
Briardien arrived in Costa del Sol offering to help catch the phantom thief at the wedding of Lady Arabelle, based on the previous taunt. As he reviewed the key, attendants who may be the thief in disguise, Briardien was annoyed that Hildibrand was already attending and fraternizing with the Brass Blades. During their investigation, an unfortunate incident on the beach involving Nashu's bombs and (poor) transcripts of the investigation resulted in an explosion that Briardien misinterpreted as the phantom thief's attempt on his life.
Later, they learned that the thief tried to attack Arabelle's attendant, Lewenhart, and was wounded in the hand (and thus would be wearing gloves). As the wedding was underway, Briardien tasked Hildibrand with delaying the bride's arrival while he searched for the gloved interloper. Hildibrand appeared at the wedding, (poorly) disguised as the bride. He accused the groom, Vannes, of being the disguised thief based on some dubious logic and was chased off by the Brass Blades. As the cross-dressed Hildibrand fled, "Vannes" grabbed the disguised Arabelle, Briardien noticing he wore a glove on his right hand. The Man of a Thousand Faces stole her necklace and transformed into a white-clad bandit and escaped. They learned the necklace was a treasure called "Azeyma's Virtue", prompting Briardien to note they must take care to read between the lines on the phantom thief's next challenge.
=== Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward ===
Briardien reappeared in the 3.15 Scholasticate side story quest, reuniting with the Warrior of Light in shock. He was called by Bruvagnon to investigate the missing statue head of Saint Valeroyant, and requested the Warrior of Light's aid as an associate to join him in the search for the potential thief, as well as other work needed to be done at the Scholasticate. This other work ranged from reviewing the Scholasticate's updated and reevaluated curriculum, to investigating students. Briardien, in many instances, pointed the Warrior of Light to look into certain details while conducting his own investigation into other ones.
The Warrior of Light and Briardien went on to investigate the departure of a student, Ulaa, as Briardien found it suspicious that she would suddenly leave. Later on, during the events of "More than Meets Her Eye", Briardien discovered that Ulaa had disappeared altogether with Volume 11.
The Warrior of Light returned to Briardien with the Volume 11 in hand, reporting to Briardien the search's results. Rumors had spread that Archombadin arranged for Ulaa's disappearance because he "scorns those who favor different interpretations of the scriptures", while Lebrassoir suspected that Ulaa was attempting to frame Archombadin by planting the book in his dorm with her bookmark in it. Briardien was skeptical about both perspectives, continuing to "be amazed by what ridiculous conspiracies these children can convince themselves are true."
He further requested the Warrior of Light search for Blaisie in regards to her own search for Ulaa, and discovered the identity of a notorious thug reformed into a merchant who had been purchasing mass amounts of cough syrup and selling it to other customers. Briardien and the Warrior of Light discovered Ulaa in the back of the caravan, confirming that she was kidnapped.
After the uproar of the students demanding Archombadin be expelled for this kidnapping, further investigation brought up letters to incriminate Archombadin. He deduced the true culprit was pulling the strings behind the scenes, finding relief and pride in the investigation's clues coming together and having his suspicions confirmed through the culprit's own confession.
The Warrior of Light and Briardien departed from the Scholasticate, Briardien likely headed back to Ul'dah. The Warrior of Light encountered Briardien once more, however, while surveying Ishgardian citizens with Francel. Briardien's suggestions for the Firmament are a thriving economy, based on his travels and experiences. He briefly inquired about Hildibrand, and dismissed the conversation shortly after.
==Characteristics==
===Appearance===
Briardien is a Wildwood Elezen with silvery hair. He wears a linen bliaud with white gloves and brown gaskins. He wears glasses, which often sparkle during a close-up.
===Personality===
In contrast to Hildibrand's buffoonery, Briardien maintains a serious, suave, and professional tone—no matter what situation the former gets him into, the Sherlock Holmes to Hildibrand's Jacques Clouseau. He can be arrogant and others may find him insufferable, and is sometimes overconfident about his plans. Unlike Hildibrand, though they both share a similar passion for their field of work, Briardien is skilled at his job, with his intuition and ability at piecing together the situation from evidence rarely steering him wrong. Such is demonstrated during the events of the Scholastice questline, with his deductive abilities on full display.
He respects competence in others, finding the Warrior of Light to be one such individual whom he abstains from his condescending demeanor. Countless times he shows faith in the Warrior of Light's investigative abilities during the Scholastice's investigation and considers them a reliable associate in its affairs.
In contrast, he shows dislike and disdain for incompetence. Such is the case with Hildibrand. As shown in a later conversation as he asks about the Warrior of Light's "dim-witted friend", Briardien does commends Hildibrand for his ability to solve cases, but he feels his intellect "draining away to simply think about him" and elects to speak about him no further.
He shows a romantic interest in Ellie Ryse, whom is alluded to as "a certain young lady in Ul'dah who awaits my return."
While he considers the issues of the Scholastice to be mere conspiracies of its students, he "takes heart" in their education and Ishgard's future from then on. Answering survey questions from Francel and the Warrior of Light, Briardien states that Ishgard can become "a nation where no citizen lives in want," with the right planning.
==Citations==
Category:Characters in Final Fantasy XIV
Category:Elezen