My designs of the Divine Warriors.
Past version + a ver. with evil Shad. Man Shad has changed lol.
I got lazy with Kul’zak’s design. Was sick of drawing armour.
I tried to think up of headcanon lore for them but I don’t have much.
Irene the Matron
Goddess of light, health/healing, life, fertility, abundance, peace and motherhood
Region: Ru’aun, Phoenix Drop
Symbols: The purple spring leaf and unicorns
Song inspiration: “Thought I would be satisfied seeing you content at the other side. But somehow I thought these crazy thoughts that I deserve to be loved, I deserve to know love, we deserve to live in love. I wish there's no end to our time together.”
- Bulbel, Mili
“I’ll take your hand and guide you through all the steps one takes to move on to a place, a world unseen to us all. But it’s okay, we’ll be together, my friend.”
- What Will You Leave Behind (End Titles), Maude Plante-Husaruk & Max LL
“Though I’m about to wreck, you still have your life ahead. All things that lose their way can find it again. There is no inertia in the ocean.”
- Adrift, Stray Gods
Shad the destroyer
God of the Nether, shadows, destruction, death and vengeance
Region: Nether, Falcon Claw
Symbols: Red spears and the wolf
Song inspiration: “There was a boy who shared your bones, your eager blood, your affinity for love. He had it all in his hands and he watched it all turn to sand.”
-Holy the Sea, Forgive Durden
”Could this be the day I have waited for when all my hard work doesn't go ignored? Maybe she was right, they will realize I can change the world, open up their eyes. They know I am more than some eager blood. Not some average bones, I believe in love. I just want to prove I deserve this gift. I will change this world, maybe this is it.”
-Life Is Looking Up, Forgive Durden
“The mind plays tricks, you are confused. The man you seek is long gone, dead and cold, a story told by those he trusted, those he loved, and those who then moved on.”
- I Know Those Eyes / This Man Is Dead, Brandi Burkhardt & Thomas Borchert
“Watch out for the wicked ones who call themselves beloved ones.”
-Holy the Sea, Forgive Durden
”You're a fool to think this princess could ever really love a couple of poor boys like us.”
-The End and the Beginning, Forgive Durden
He and Irene were created as opposites, representing the two sides of the moon. Where there is light, there is darkness. They both need each other to exist but they can never truly love each other.
They basically have Celestia and Luna’s story. Shad hated how Irene was so much more loved. He hated how she bloomed with her divine powers while he thought they were a curse. Because of them, the villagers saw him as a monster. He was tied to the darkness against his will. But just like a moth to the light, he could not look away from her.
“The moon will sing a song for me. I loved you like the sun.”
He thought that by joining the Divine Warriors he’d finally be seen as a hero, that he’d be recognized for his actions. But Irene was always number one. With that resentment already growing, the Divine Warriors betraying him was the thing that unleashed all his rage. He became the Shadow Lord and created the Shadow Knights to kill Irene.
Falconclaw was probably the only village that didn’t see him as an evil divinity (aka worshiping Shad the destroyer and not the Shadow Lord).
On that note, Shad probably hated to be called “the Destroyer”, reinforcing his image as “the bad one”. But he accepted the relic for Irene. “I will make this curse my blessing.”
Esmund the Protector
The only one who doesn’t have an FFXIV equivalent.
God of mountains, ice, guards, law, order and miners
Region: O’khasis
Symbols: The Violet sword and the bear
Song inspiration: “I’m sure that she would care to hear your argument as to how your presence is the reason she is sick. But I suppose it’s in vain, since her life is ending when I thrust this blade into her heart a-thumping.”
-The End and the Beginning, Forgive Durden
(Except Esmund would stab Shad, not Irene)
“Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you.”
-Fix You, Cody Fry
He fucking hates Shad. He copes by saying it’s because he’s evil but he just wants Irene to love him.
Enki the Keeper
God of time, nature, wisdom, knowledge, moon and arcana (magic)
Region: Gal’ruk
Symbols: The blue hourglass and the owl
Song inspiration: “The mountains seceded, the light and dark depleted. We lost Adakias, but regained our science. Our world was finally reunited. So this is my cue, of where to leave you. Now it's your story to retell and pass on because an idea is only relevant if it's being thought upon. So remember, never surrender ‘cause the unrelenting constancy of love and hope will rescue and restore you from any scope.”
-The End and the Beginning, Forgive Durden
“The rest is up to you to do with what you’ll do, to learn and love and laugh ‘til the cycle circles back. I’ll just separate, weigh anchor, disengage, divide and disappear, and see you in the mirror.”
- Genesis, Forgive Durden & Casey Crescenzo
“You really are the chosen one, the calculated sacrifice. Please listen to my last words before I fade away. This is my gift to you: Live for your love every day. Please don't let your tired heart stop beating.”
- The End and the Beginning, Forgive Durden
Enki was also jealous of Irene’s love for Shad but he didn’t feel good betraying Shad. His death was his repayment for what he did.
Kul’zak the Wanderer
God of the stars, wind, wanderers -wandering merchants, bards, rogues, travellers, drifters, …-, freedom and prosperity/money
Symbols: the green walking stick and the elk
Region: Tech’ens
I’m basing off his whole personality of the one and only thing he’s ever said in the whole series: “Imortality? Hm, that doesn’t seem so bad.” So I made him a greedy bastard. Where Irene is the healer and leader, Shad the lancer and dps, Esmund the tank and Enki the support mage, Kul’zak is the rogue. He’s not completely selfish but he’s definitely the most selfish of the Divine Warriors. He helped Enki and Esmund cuz he thought it’d be fun.


















