Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

Release Year: 2013

Genre: RPG

Developer: Square Enix

Publisher: Square Enix

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Welsh References: Language, Mythical Figure, Mythology

Welsh Mythology Figures: King Arthur, Morgen

Links: Wikipedia, Steam

Featured Welsh Content

In the lore of the Final Fantasy XIII games, Mwynn is the god Bhunivelze’s mother. Her name derives from the Welsh word mwyn, meaning “kind, gentle”.

In the Japanese version of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, she is alluded to by Bhunivelze, while being mentioned directly by Bhunivelze+.

References to Arthurian legends are prevalent through the names of the swords and shields that Lightning can acquire.

Excalibur is the powerful blade of King Arthur, with its name ultimately deriving from the Welsh Caledfwlch, where caled means “hard” and bwlch is “cleft”. Although Excalibur appears in many different tales of King Arthur, its first appearance is in mythical Welsh stories, including Culhwch ac Olwen.

Another sword is called Morgan le Fay, which comes from the French Arthurian interpretations, although many believe that the figure derives from the Welsh Morgen.

All of Lightning’s large shields have Arthurian inspirations.

The Prytwen shield’s name comes 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.

The Pendragon shield references the title given to King Arthur, although it was initially the surname of his father, Uther. Geoffrey of Monmouth describes “Pendragon” as meaning “dragon’s head” (pen is “head” in Welsh), although it essentially can mean “head dragon” or “chief leader”.

The shield Dame du Lac is French for “Lady of the Lake”. This figure is commonly known as Nimue, Niniane, Viviane or similar, and may have Welsh roots, such as from the Welsh word chwibleian, meaning “nymph”, the mythical Welsh figure Rhiannon, or the lake fairies known as Gwragedd Annwn.

Guard of Avalon is a reference to the land of Avalon, where Excalibur was forged in Welsh legends, and where King Arthur was taken to recover from his wounds following the Battle of Camlann.

The Knight’s Pledge shield alludes to the knights that served with King Arthur.