Alexander (Server)

From FFXIclopedia, the free Final Fantasy XI encyclopedia

This is one of the many worlds of FFXI. It was one of 20 servers activated upon the original release of FFXI in Japan.

• ID Number: 09
• Activation Date: May 16, 2002

History in the FF Series

Alexander is one of the harder Summons to describe in the Final Fantasy series. It has appeared in Final Fantasy VI, VII, VIII as a summon, and in Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy XI as an unobtainable summon. In all incarnations, it has been the Holy-element Summon (an element later rendered as Light-Element). What exactly it is has never been adequately described before, but it looks like a combination of a castle or palace and a robot or machine. In all appearances, it has appeared as the upper torso of a robot-like thing resting on 2 giant piston arms formed from metal bars bound by rings. The torso appeared as if it had an overcoat made of a dark white metal (FFVI, VII) or standard metal-gray (FFVIII) all with gold trim. In place of a head, it had a small rounded silver plate which was slightly raised, revealing mechanical innards (its "mouth") (FFVI, VII). FFVIII had a gray, small metal hourglass where the small head would be, lined with raised metal squares (resembling the top of a castle wall). Its body has always been incomplete, terminating in a flat base at where the waist of the robot/machine would be. Its attack usually came in the form of an energy beam from its "mouth", the mechanical interior exposed slightly below what would be identified as its "head" (FFVI, VII). In FFVIII, the shoulders housed 2 missile batteries which shot out beams of light. In FFIX, the attack appeared as hundreds of streams of glowing blue energy. On top of its head were several minarets or spikes. They were colored pale blue, light purple, white, and gold (FFVI, VII). Occasionally there were no spike-like structures (FFVIII). In FFVII, the castle-like design of these spikes was more obvious. There was also a spiked golden dome atop Alexander in this version as well. In FFIX, it appeared as a similar construct, only this version was made from a gray, cobwebby, uneven edged material (definitely not metal and rather unlike most rocky materials). The material can best be described as an ancient stone weathered by water or a gray plaster like material which hardened with an uneven texture. It had numerous towers, spires, and minarets of various designs. The ringed, web-like appearance of parts of Alexander persisted though, but they too were made from this cobwebby material. Its "head" was a flat covered vista. Its arms appeared as giant, multi-tiered towers made of several rounded plates, each with several castle-like structures over it. Its shoulders appeared as giant rounded plates with more castle-like structures on it. This form also had giant, white feathered wings which could act as a shield, enveloping a place it wants to protect. Likewise, Alexander had no lower body. Alexander dwarfed Alexandria Castle, which, to compare sizes, would be about the size of one of Alexander's shoulders.

Alexander was usually obtained somewhere around the middle of the game and never had to be fought.

Alexander appeared in Final Fantasy IX, though it was not summonable. The mega-Eidolon (FFIX's version of Summons) would be summoned by a jewel, which had been broken into 4 Jewels (Silver Pendant, in Garnet's possession, Falcon Claw, originally in the possession of Lindblum, the Desert Star, originally in the possession of Cleyra, Memory Earring, in Eiko's possession) after "the arrogant one" abused the power of Alexander 500 years ago, and leading to the Summoner Tribe being forced to resettle elsewhere. Alexander was a giant castle-like Eidolon which formed part of Alexandria Castle's structure (though it towered over that structure when fully arisen) which had white feathered wings. He was summoned by both Garnet and Eiko together. He had enough power to annihilate Bahamut (Bahamut could be summoned again though), but the Terran airship Invincible had enough power to destroy Alexander.

Final Fantasy XI

Alexander appears in Final Fantasy XI, though not currently as an avatar available for summoning. He plays a role as a plot element in the Treasures of Aht Urhgan storyline, known as "The Iron Colossus," and is one of the main constellations (as such, he is sometimes thought of as the celestial avatar of light). Puppetmaster: A History mentions of a "gigantic automaton-like being that appears in Aht Urhgan's founding myth," a description which applies to Alexander's appearance. Additionally, within the Walahra Temple in Aht Urhgan Whitegate, lies an object called the Gordeus, which is also the name of Alexander's star in the stellar map (on the English version of the stellar map, Alexander's star is called Gordius; this is just another spelling of the same Japanese word). Most striking is a painting (the left picture) in the possession of Prince Luzaf, depicting a confrontation between Odin and massive frame of Alexander over a burning city. It is stated that Alexander and Odin are arch enemies, and that the two will fight during the Age of Judgment, with the winner declaring the laws.

During the Treasures of Aht Urhgan missions, Alexander is stated to have once manifested within the Alzadaal Ruins (Nyzul Isle Remnants = command unit, Arrapago Remnants = right propulsion unit, Bhaflau Remnants = left suspension unit, Zhayolm Remnants = left propulsion unit, Silver Sea Remnants = right suspension unit). There is also a lost control center (or "brain") and the astral candescences function as hearts for each of the five units. The Gordeus is also revealed to contain blueprints for the ruins and houses Alexander's will. The Empire has built a new iron colossus and 4 new candescences for Alexander to manifest. Limbus cutscenes heavily indicate that this new structure was made from parts of biotechnological weapons.

During the final battle of the TOAU missions, Alexander manifests in the Iron Colossus, and must be defeated to complete the storyline.

• In FFVI, Alexander was a long-slain Esper (Summon) whose Magicite remains were held by Wrexsoul, a malevolent spirit who absorbed the souls of fallen soldiers, who haunted Doma Castle in the World of Ruins.

• In FFVII, Alexander was a red Summon Materia obtained by defeating Snow, a beautiful woman made out of snow (based on Yuki-onna from Japanese folklore) at the Great Glacier.

• In FFVIII, Alexander was obtained by drawing the GF (Summon) out of Sorceress Edea (then possessed by Sorceress Ultimecia) at Galbadia Garden during battle (or Sorceress Ultimecia's servant Catoblepas in the future).

Moves:

"Judgment" (FF6,7), "Holy Judgment" (FF8)- Holy-element attack on all enemies (FF6,7,8)

Attributes:

Final Fantasy VI

Offers no Level Up Bonus

Teaches Holy (called Pearl in FFVI [EN]), Shell, Safe

Final Fantasy VII

Magic Power +1, Magic Defense +1, HP Max -5%, MP Max -5%

[★]- 0AP (allows 1 use per battle)

[★★]- 25,000AP (allows 2 uses per battle)

[★★★]- 65,000AP (allows 3 uses per battle)

[★★★★]- 100,000AP (allows 4 uses per battle)

[★★★★★]- 150,000AP (allows 5 uses per battle)

Final Fantasy VIII

Stat Junction: Spr-J, Elem-Atk-J, Elem-Defx2, Elem-Defx4, Abilityx3

Command Junction: Magic, GF, Draw, Item, Revive

Character Ability: Spr+20%, Spr+40%, Med Data

Party Ability: N/A

GF Ability: SumMag+10%,20%,30%, GFHP+10%,20%,30%, Boost

Refine Ability: High Mag-RF, Med LV Up

Compatibility Item: Moon Stone

GF Rival: Glasyalabolas (AKA Doomtrain) (the "Dark"-element Summon) (slightly lowers compatibility with the other 14 GFs as well)

Compatibility-Boosting Magic Spells: Holy, Curaga (only slightly), Life (only slightly), Full-Life (only slightly), Regen (only slightly), Ultima (only slightly), Apocalypse (only slightly)

Compatibility-Lowering Magic Spells: Bio

• In FF7, gives Holy-element to weapon/armor when linked with Elemental Materia.

Historical Background

It isn't entirely clear where the connection for the name Alexander derives from. Alexander is a Greek name meaning "defender of men" and can be considered a title of someone who comes to the assistance of warriors. The most famous people named Alexander were Alexander the Great (Macedonian King from 336-323 BCE who conquered much of the known world [Eastern Mediterranean, northern half of the Middle East, what is today the modern -stans and Pakistan]) and three Russian Czars named Alexander (the 1st reigned from 1801-1825, ruling Russia through the Napoleonic Wars; the 2nd reigned from 1855-1881, implemented several reforms including the elimination of serfdom, and was assassinated by nihilists; the 3rd reigned from 1881-1894 and undid the reforms of his father). Based on Alexander's role across the FF series (such as protecting Alexandria in Final Fantasy IX and using Holy-element attacks), its association with snowy mountains (Final Fantasy VIII), and its Kremlin-like architecture (Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII), it would seem like Alexander was inspired by the meaning of the name Alexander and/or the Russian Czars.