Menenius Lanatus

Menenius sas Lanatus is a character from Final Fantasy XIV. He is a Tribunus of the IVth Imperial Legion introduced during the Save the Queen story.

Menenius serves as the Legion's chief intelligence officer, recruiting and dispatching spies, gathering information, and providing counsel to Legatus Noah van Gabranth in all matters of war. He commands the archaeological mission to the southern provinces of Dalmasca and Bozja, seeking to gain technological knowledge and arcane reliquaries from Allag and Ivalice of power surpassing present-day knowledge.

History[]

In the days of the republic, the Lanatus family boasted a long and august lineage, until Menenius's grandfather, Thyrus, opposed then-dictator Solus zos Galvus. Banished, Thyrus died famished and in ignominy, but his son, Lucius, was taken in by the IVth Legion, which had been dispatched to the fringes at the time. Possessed of a sharp mind and aptitude for military strategy, Lucius earned the favor of Basch van Gabranth, who named the young man his second-in-command. Determined to restore his family's good name, Lucius, at his Legatus's behest, married an Elezen noblewoman of diminished circumstances, adopting her son as his own─this was Menenius.

When the Garlean war of succession broke out, Legatus Gabranth chose the path of independence, realizing his long-held dream. The IVth Legion ceased to receive provisions or reinforcements from the Empire, rendering their position precarious as their battle with the Resistance dragged on. Recently dispatched to Castrum Lacus Litore after this the Bozjan Resistance targeted this key strategic point, Menenius oversaw three armies: to wit, the beast army led by Lyon rem Helsos, Sadr rem Albeleo and his contingent of mages, and the tribunus's own pride and joy─a fearsome detachment of magitek warmachina.^[1]

Menenius continued to oversee Bozja's defenses, aided by his mole in the resistance, Misija Votyasch. The Resistance attempted to seize Castrum Lacus Litore when they learned that Menenius was away giving a report to Noah, but their attempt was thwarted after Misija summoned Gunhildr and tempered most of the Resistance's elite warriors. Pleased with Misija's results, Menenius entrusted the defense of Castrum Lacus Litore and crushing the Bozjan Resistance to her. However, the imperials were forced to retreat after the Resistance regained the upper hand and captured Misija.

When the Resistance first entered Zadnor, Menenius was in command of the Imperial Battleship Dalriada. He attempted to destroy the Resistance's main camp with the warship, but could not break the barrier, forcing the IVth to engage the Resistance on the ground.

Onboard the Dalriada, Menenius discussed the progress modifying an Allagan Relic with his lieutenants, first Sicinius Vellutus and then Lyon Helsos. Lyon was growing impatient with the engineer's lack of progress and advised a tactical retreat to Dalmasca, aware that the soldiers in Zadnor would not be able to hold back the Resistance much longer. Menenius was opposed to retreating from Bozja and advised Lyon that the slow pace of modification was out of caution, aware of the dangers of recklessly using Allagan weapons from reading reports on how Gaius Baelsar supposedly died. As the relic neared completion, Menenius attempted to relocate the Dalriada, but the Bozjan Resistance disabled its engines, leaving the Dalriada stranded and able to be boarded.

Menenius confronted the Warrior of Light and the Bozjan Resistance inside the Dalriada, piloting the mech Saunion in an attempt to kill the Warrior of Light and the Resistance's leadership. Even with the help of Lyon, the two were defeated. Before they could be captured or killed, alarms went off inside the Dalriada—the Diabolos Armament had activated and was rampaging out of control. While the Warrior of Light temporarily brought the weapon offline, it soon reactivated after they left. The rampaging weapon fired a blast of energy towards Lyon, but Menenius shielded him, being mortally wounded.

Lyon reported Menenius's death and the IVth's failure in Zadnor to Noah van Gabranth. Coldly, Noah offered no words of sympathy nor showed signs of grief at his top lieutenant's death.

Characteristics[]

Appearance[]

Menenius is a wildwood Elezen with gray hair with thick sideburns and a small goatee. He has peach-colored eyes and a scar over his left eye. In his first appearance before his promotion he wore a full set of dark brown Lost Allagan Armor of Fending, and afterwards he wears fearsome Tribune armor with large shoulder pads, and a horned helmet. In battle, he wields a special type of gun lance.

Personality[]

A close friend and confidant of Noah van Gabranth since their early years, his loyalty to the Gabranths─both father and son─is absolute. He is willing─even eager─to accept the most unsavory jobs, making him uniquely suited to his current role. His methods are ruthless and cruel, earning him a reputation as one who will justify any means to accomplish his ends. In truth, even his worst atrocities are motivated by a burning, yet forever-unseen passion to serve the Gabranths to the best of his abilities.^[1]

Menenius is both disciplined and pragmatically cautious. He does not fear using an Allagan relic, but is not ignorant of its potential to backfire and will not deploy it until measures to ensure safe operation are installed. He initially shows disdain for Lyon's gruff and aggressive demeanor. He also appears to have a strong respect for his lieutenant, working well fighting alongside him and willing to sacrifice himself for Lyon's safety. Similarly, he rewards underlings who perform well. For example, he entrusted Misija with the Save the Queen relic after gathering intelligence behind enemy lines and later gave her command of the forces at the Southern Front as a reward for pushing the enemy out of their fortress.

Gameplay[]

Behind the scenes[]

Menenius's age was originally given as 45 in the Field Notes on Menenius. With the release of patch 5.55, the Field Notes were updated to change his age to 55.^[2]

Gallery[]

Etymology[]

"Menenius" may have originated from "Menenius Agrippa". Agrippa Menenius Lanatus was a consul of the Roman Republic in 503 BC, with Publius Postumius Tubertus. He was victorious over the Sabines and was awarded a triumph, which he celebrated on 4 April, 503 BC. According to Livy, he also led Roman troops against the Latin town of Pometia. In some traditions he and his colleague completed a census during their consulship.

Citations[]