Final Fantasy XIV
Alternative Title: Final Fantasy XIV Online
Release Year: 2010
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Welsh References: Actor, Animal, Cuisine, Language, Mythical Creature, Mythical Figure, Mythology, Name
Welsh Actor: Gwilym Lee
Welsh Mythology Figure: King Arthur
Featured Welsh Content
An enemy in Final Fantasy XIV is called Gwyllgi. In Welsh legend, the gwyllgi is a huge, black mastiff with glowing red eyes, its name roughly translating to “twilight dog” or “wild dog”.
Another enemy is the Gwas-y-neidr, which is Welsh for “dragonfly”, although more literally translates to “servant of the snake”.
Deriving from the mythical Welsh creature, there are many variants of the coblyn enemy species.
Players can acquire Gwiber mounts from the Shadowbringers expansion. Gwiber is a Welsh word meaning “adder, viper, serpent”. In some Welsh folklore, a gwiber was a flying serpent or dragon.
Other characters feature Welsh-influenced names.
One example is Llymlaen, whose name contains the “double L” (ll) digraph that is common in the Welsh language. Ymlaen is also a Welsh word meaning “forward, onwards, ahead, along”. Llymlaen is pronounced within the game differently to how it would be said in Welsh, however.
Owain’s name is Welsh in origin, although the character is based on the Irish mythical character Eógan from Acallam na Senórach.
One weapon that can be equipped is the Rhongomiant. In Welsh Arthurian legends, Rhongomiant (or Rhongomyniad) was King Arthur’s spear.
Arthur’s sword Excalibur and other variations of it can also be acquired.
The Priwen and Priwen Lux are shields that can be obtained in the game. These derive from Pridwen, the name of King Arthur’s shield in Welsh mythology. Welsh historian Geoffrey of Monmouth named the shield after Arthur’s ship, Prydwen.
One of the minions that can be acquired by the player is a “corgi”, referencing the real-world Welsh Corgi dog, which originated in Wales.
A meal that can be obtained and eaten is Cawl Cennin. This is Welsh for “leek soup”.
From the Heavensward expansion onwards, the character Cid Garlond is voiced by Welsh actor Gwilym Lee.
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