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To live is to give life meaning, yet one must take others' lives to survive... Terra's souls will sleep until they forget such nonsense. They will begin a new life in a new dimension. In a world in which life and death become one... That is the dimension in which we are meant to live, as beings that transcend life and death!
~ Garland

Garland (in Japanese: ガーランド, Gārando?) is the secondary antagonist of Final Fantasy IX. Primarily working behind the scenes, he is first seen in Disc 3 during the attack on Alexandria, though it's later revealed that he's been manipulating events on Gaia for thousands of years, and much of the game's plot stems from his machinations.

Biography[]

Past[]

An android created by the ancient people of Terra, Garland was built to carry out the Terrans' long-running plans for "survival." Over the course of its lifespan, Terra had always assimilated other planets to survive. Five thousand years prior to the events of the game, however, no newborn planet was found to assimilate in time. So, the Terrans were forced to take a calculated risk and fuse with Gaia, a planet that might be too old to undergo assimilation; to that end, they entrusted Garland with their plans before retreating into hibernation, their souls placed in dormant bodiless state.

As commanded, Garland attempted to fuse Terra's crystal with Gaia's. However, Gaia's crystal rejected the process, and the fusion failed, leaving Gaia's surface in ruin and shifting the world of Terra inside the world it had hoped to assimilate. Now in damage control, Garland created the magical Iifa Tree and transplanted it to Gaia's surface in order to oversee the planet's recovery, but it would take thousands of years for the planet to recover from the disaster.

Intending to overtake Gaia from within, Garland began a program to slowly erode the planet's cycle of souls and replace it with the dormant soul-cycle of Terra. To that end, he installed the Soul Cage at the base of the Iifa Tree to oversee the process, siphoning off Gaian souls from the constant cycle of birth, death and rebirth. In further preparation for the inevitable takeover, he also began creating a race of soulless bodies for his Terran masters to inhabit, called Genomes. These beings were constantly perfected and reissued over the next three thousand years, improving their intellect and physical capabilities so that the reborn Terrans would enjoy the benefits their new bodies conferred.

Meanwhile, the rejected Gaian souls were discovered to possess an advantageous side-benefit: vented through the roots of the Iifa Tree, these anguished souls eventually manifested as Mist; its presence had adverse effects on those it permeated, enhancing aggression and in some cases, even giving birth to monsters. With this in mind, Garland redirected the Mist to Gaia's most populated continent, hereafter known as the Mist Continent, in the hope that the resulting violence would speed up the soul-siphoning process. Though the people of the Mist Continent chose to migrate to higher ground to escape the all-too-visible effects of the Mist, its presence was enough to spark aggression and distrust, especially given that traveling between nations often required a risky journey through the lowlands. Just as Garland had planned, wars broke out and the siphoning progress sped up.

However, the creation of airships fueled by the Mist allowed safe travel and trade between nations, putting an end to the destructive wars that had plagued the continent. Seeing the soul-cycle returning to normal, Garland decided to incite war on a more direct basis: designing and creating a special soul-bearing Genome, he intended to use this "Angel of Death" to provoke conflict and destruction; with a soul of its own, this being would be capable of individuality and creative thought sufficient to outwit the Gaians. Though the creation process went well enough, Garland's prototype, named Kuja, was considered too independent and volatile to be useful for very long.

So, quickly labeling the Genome a failure, he created another Angel of Death, Zidane, to replace him as soon as Kuja's lifespan had run it's course. In a jealous rage, Kuja abducted the infant Zidane and abandoned him on Gaia. As punishment, he was barred from ever returning to Terra. For the time being, the current Angel of Death was allowed the freedom to indulge his whims on Gaia so long as it served Garland's purposes, and left unaware that his own life might ever end. Meanwhile, with Zidane believed dead, Garland created another Genome to replace Kuja, Mikoto.

Perhaps ten years prior to the events of the game, the Summoner tribe of Madain Sari mastered the art of summoning eidolons. Unwilling to tolerate a potential threat to his plans, Garland had Madain Sari obliterated, commanding his airship The Invincible to annihilate every member of the tribe he could find. However, a handful survived. In Madain Sari, Eiko Coral's parents and grandfather were able to weather the storm, while Sarah and her mother were able to escape the burning village by boat, ultimately being swept across the ocean by the storm Garland had conjured; though Sarah's mother died over the course of the journey, Sarah herself eventually washed up on the shores of Alexandria, where she was adopted by the Queen and renamed Garnet Til Alexandros.

Final Fantasy IX[]

Eventually, Garnet became the centerpiece of Kuja's newest scheme to spread chaos throughout Gaia; with Garland's blessing, he ingratiated himself into Queen Brahne's court as a weapons dealer, offering mass-produced black mages that could allow her to wage war on her neighbors. He also informed her of the summoning power her daughter possessed, and provided her with the means of extracting and harnessing Garnet's eidolons. However, Kuja was playing his own angle: once Brahne was finished taking over the major powers of the Mist Continent, Kuja borrowed the powers of The Invincible to wrest control of the eidolon Bahamut from her, killing the Queen in the process. From here, he used the great dragon to launch an attack on Alexandria Palace itself, trusting that Garnet would be able to awaken the palace's secret eidolon defender, Alexander, Kuja's end goal being to capture Alexander just as he had captured Bahamut, and use him as a weapon in his next plot: kill Garland and take over Terra.

Unfortunately for Kuja, Garland realized what his servant was planning. At the very moment of Alexander's capture, Garland seized control of The Invincible and used it to destroy the eidolon, neatly derailing Kuja's plans and destroying much of Alexandria in the process. Suddenly without his prize, Kuja was forced to rethink his plans and find another eidolon. However, his encounter with Eiko in Mt. Gulug inspired him to pursue Trance as the power that could dethrone Garland.

Garlan Nine

Garland as seen in the boss battle

Once Zidane was able to open the way to Terra and enter the mysterious world within Gaia, Garland slowly revealed himself to his creation, intending to recruit him as his Angel of Death once more. However, after learning the true nature of his existence, the rogue Genome refused to accept his destiny and vowed to end Garland's plans at any cost. Disappointed, Garland knocked Zidane unconscious, intending to render him down into another soulless vessel, just like the other Genomes. However, Vivi, Garnet, Steiner, Freya, Quina, Eiko, and Amarant were all able to locate him during the process, rescue him before it could fully take hold of him, and convince him that he was more than just a puppet of Terra. Together, they then confronted Garland on the tower of his fortress, dueling first his Silver Dragon, then Garland himself in a lethal magical battle.

However, Kuja chose that moment to make his move. With the path to Terra unlocked by Zidane and his friends, he was able to enter freely, steal The Invincible, and avail himself to the bounty of souls gathered during the battle at the Iifa Tree. From it, he took Brahne's soul and used it to achieve the power of Trance. With Garland crippled from the battle with Zidane, Kuja was able to swoop in and activate his new powers through a battle with the party, one that concludes with the heroes being knocked unconscious with a blast of Ultima.

Exalting in his victory over both his successor and his master, Kuja gloated that he would now rule over Terra and Gaia, reveling in his newfound powers. Garland wearily informed him that his power was ultimately meaningless, and for once, Kuja was left with nothing to say. Infuriated by the lack of groveling or weakness, Kuja kicked Garland off the edge of the tower to his death. However, Garland retained his presence as a disembodied voice, revealing Kuja's mortality to him. Enraged by the realization, the deranged Genome drew upon his newfound powers and annihilated Terra in a fit of petty rage.

In Memoria, Garland assisted Zidane with advice about the origins of Gaia, Terra, and the Crystal from which all life is formed. In the void of space, just before reaching the Crystal World, Garland's presence faded away even as he asked Zidane to take care of Kuja and protect the Crystal. In his last words, Garland expressed no regrets for being created as a savior to a world which would perish by his creation's hands.

Trivia[]

  • Garland is a reference to the antagonist from the original Final Fantasy. The use of the Four Fiends is one of the similarities between the two characters. Concept art shows that he was originally going to bear a much closer resemblance to Garland from the original Final Fantasy.
  • Kuja kicking Garland off the edge of Pandemonium evokes the events of Final Fantasy VI, in which Kefka ejects Gestahl over the edge of the Floating Continent in much the same manner, including the presence of the player party as witnesses, as well as the fact that both Kefka and Kuja are betraying what could best be called their creators and mentors.
  • A subtle allusion to Garland is present in Dissidia, when Kuja briefly clashes with Garland in a cutscene. Both Kuja's and Zidane's opening battle quotes to Garland have a level of animosity not explained by the events of Dissidia.
  • Garland's role and appearance is similar to another character, Fusoya. Both are caretakers for their sleeping species and are old, white-bearded men with great magical prowess. They both reside on red Planets/Moons, and serve similar roles to the two sibling pairs Cecil Harvey/Golbez and Zidane/Kuja. He shares similarities to Zemus, as he intends to populate a planet with his own kind.
  • He is similar to Frieza from Dragon Ball Z, as Zidane is similar to Goku and Kuja is similar to Vegeta. However, Frieza was ultimately a bigger threat than Vegeta, and (temporarily) killed him instead of the other way around.

Navigation[]

           Final Fantasy logo Villains

Final Fantasy
Garland | Fiends of Chaos | Chaos | Astos

Final Fantasy II
Palamecian Empire
Emperor Mateus | Leon | Borghen | Dark Emperor | Light Emperor

Final Fantasy III
Xande | Djinn | Gigameth | Goldor | Gutsco | Hein | Cloud of Darkness

Final Fantasy IV
Baron Empire
Golbez | Kain Highwind | Baigan | Dr. Lugae | Red Wings | Elemental Archfiends: Scarmiglione | Cagnazzo | Barbariccia | Rubicante

Others
Zemus | Maenad | The Creator

Final Fantasy V
Exdeath | Gilgamesh | Enkidu | Demons of the Rift | Void | Enuo | Shinryu

Final Fantasy VI
Gestahlian Empire
Emperor Gestahl | Kefka Palazzo | Typhon | Ultros

Cult of Kefka
Kefka Palazzo | Magic Master

Others
Siegfried | Vargas

Final Fantasy VII
Shinra Inc.
Executives
President Shinra | Rufus Shinra | Heidegger | Palmer | Professor Hojo | Scarlet
SOLDIER/Tsviets
Azul | Genesis Rhapsodos | Nero | Rosso | Sephiroth | Weiss
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Elena | Reno | Rude | Tseng

Remnants
Kadaj | Loz | Yazoo

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Final Fantasy VIII
Adel | Fujin | Griever | NORG | President Vinzer Deling | Raijin | Seifer Almasy | Ultimecia

Final Fantasy IX
Alexandrian Empire
Queen Brahne | Thorn and Zorn | Meltigemini | Kuja

Others
Garland | Necron

Final Fantasy X
Yevon
Seymour Guado | Yo Mika | Wen Kinoc | Lady Yunalesca

Leblanc Syndicate
Leblanc | Logos | Ormi

Others
Jecht | Shuyin | Sin | Yu Yevon

Final Fantasy XI
Promathia | Shadow Lord | Shantotto

Final Fantasy XII
Archadian Empire
Vayne Solidor | Doctor Cid | Gabranth | Ba'Gamnan | Bergan | Ghis | Venat | Gerun

Others
Judge of Wings | Feolthanos

Final Fantasy XIII
Barthandelus | Bhunivelze | Caius Ballad | Jihl Nabaat | Order of Salvation | Orphan | Yaag Rosch

Final Fantasy XIV
Garlean Empire
Varis Zos Galvus | Nael van Darnus | Gaius van Baelsar | Zenos yae Galvus | Livia Sas Junius | Nero Tol Scaeva | Regula Van Hydrus | Rhitahtyn Sas Arvina

Ascians
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Individuals
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Illuminati
Quickthinx Allthoughts

Primals
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Others
Heavens' Ward | Lolorito | Nidhogg | Teledji Adeledji | True Brothers of the Faith | Archbishop Thordan VII | Vauthry

Final Fantasy XV
Empire of Nilfheim
Iedolas Aldercapt | Ardyn Izunia | Glauca | Ravus Nox Fleuret | Loqi Tummelt | Caligo Ulldor | Verstael Besithia

Others
Bahamut | Ifrit | Somnus Lucis Caelum | The Eroder

Final Fantasy XVI
Holy Empire of Sanbreque
Anabella Rosfield | Sylvestre Lesage | Olivier Lesage | Tiamat

Kingdom of Waloed
Barnabas Tharmr | Benedikta Harman | Sleipnir Harbard | Gerulf

Dhalmekian Republic
Hugo Kupka

Iron Kingdom
Imreann

Eikons
Ifrit | Garuda | Titan | Odin

Others
Ultima | Typhon | Liquid Flame | Necrophobe | Behemoth | Sigma | Angra Mainyu | Omega

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light
Chaos
Servants of Chaos (Asmodeus | Beezlebub | Belphegor | Leviathan | Lucifer | Mammon

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
General Hein | Phantoms

Final Fantasy: Unlimited
Earl Tyrant | Fungus | Herba | Oshca | Pist Shaz XI | Solijashy

Final Fantasy Adventure
Dark Lord | Julius | Glaive Empire

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Meteor Parasite | Raem

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
Larkeicus

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
Dark Lord

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
Cu Caspel | Galdes

Final Fantasy Dimensions
Elgo

Four Generals
Asmodai | Baugauven | Styx | Vata

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Dark King

Vile Four
Dualhead Hydra | Flamerus Rex | Ice Golem | Pazuzu

Others
Skullrus Rex | Stone Golem | Twinhead Wyvern

Final Fantasy Tactics
The Lucavi
Belias | Cuchulainn | Dycedarg Beoulve | Marquis Elmdor | Vormav Tingel/Hashmal

Others
Algus | Delita Hyral | Gafgarion | Gerrith Barrington | St. Ajora | Wiegraf Folles

Final Fantasy Tactics A2
Duelhorn
Alys the Ensorceled | Duke Snakeheart | Maquis | The Night Dancer

Khamja
Ewen | Illua

Others
Klesta | Neukhia

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Llednar Twem | Queen Remedi

Final Fantasy Type-0
Cid Aulstyne | Gala | Gilgamesh Ashur | Nimbus | Qator Bashtar | Qun'mi Tru'e

World of Final Fantasy
Bahamutian Foundation
Brandelis | Segwarides | Pellinore

Final Fantasy VII Remake Trilogy
Shinra Inc.
Executives
President Shinra | Rufus Shinra
SOLDIER/Tsviets
Glenn Lodbrok | Nero | Roche | Sephiroth | Weiss
Turks
Elena | Reno | Rude | Tseng

Others
Don Cornero

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