Morcant is a story character in Dragon Quest XI. One of the four fabled heroes of Erdrea's Age of Heroes, he was a mage who assisted Erdwin, his best friend and the Luminary of Legend, as a member of his party, alongside the sage Serenica and the warrior Drustan.
Story[]
Age of Heroes[]
Morcant was born to a noble family and lived a childhood of wealth and comfort. Blessed with umparalleled talent for magic he mastered many powerful spells, which inspired awe and admiration from everyone around him. Yet, his position of power, wealth and fame, made Morcant feel alienated from people. As a young adult, Morcant decided to reach the sacred temple of Angri-La to further train and hone his magical skills. Not much time later, the Luminary Erdwin also reached Angri-La for the same reasons. The two young man became bitter rivals, always trying to outdo each other, until they came to blows in the Field of Discipline in one last attempt to establish who was superior. The battle lasted three days and three nights, ending in a draw when it was determined that neighter of them could no longer continue. After that, the two became the closest of friends, overjoyed in having finally found an equal in terms of powers, for both of them had began feeling isolated from others. Together, with the help of Angri-La's founder and first Grand Master, Ai Yi, they developed what would become Erdwin's ultimate technique, the Solar Flair, by fusing Morcant's own ultimate spell, the Pearly Gates, with Erdwin's own Quadraslash. When Erdwin departed to lay the Dark One Calasmos low, Morcant followed him, but not before they carved a stone with their pledge of loyalty and mission. They would soon find steadfast allies in Drustan the knight and Serenica the sage, who in turn would blossom a strong mutual love with Erdwin.
At some point he battled a wicked witch named Krystalinda but finding himself at a stalemate, he made a pact with a friendly local creature that he and his companions had recently purified from his Malicious state, named Jörmun. The creature would absorb some of Krystalinda's powers while Morcant sealed her away inside a magic book. In the same region Erdwin sealed inside a frozen fjord a malicious servant of Calasmos, the Auroral Serpent. Around this time, Morcant established a study inside The Royal Library where he began storing his most important books, including summaries of their encounters with Jörmun, the Auroral Serpent, Krystalinda's backstory, tomes about the Tower of Lost Time, as well as the magic book in which he sealed the witch. He also developed a spell meant to drawn strenght from the land of Erdrea itself, which he used succesfully to further increase his magical might tenfold. He then divided the spell in four books hidden inside the Library. Morcant, along with his companions was also instrumental in forging the original Sword of Light inside Mount Huji's fiery crater after retrieving a lump of rarefied Orichalcum from The Battleground, a floating island which was once a peaceful mining town for the Watchers before being ravaged by Calasmos's forces, as well as the Forging Hammer from the desert kingdom of Gallopolis. Despite these incredible achievements however, Morcant was still plagued by a nagging thirst for more and more power, as his desire to do good was immense. Little did it known that said thirst would be his undoing.
With the aid of the great whale Cetacea, Erdwin's party was successful in confronting and subduing the Dark One. They returned to Arboria, from whence word of the Luminary's victory spread and became legend. Calasmos, however, was not defeated in total. The party set out again to locate a place where it could be ended for all time. And so, with help from the Watchers and their elder Eegoltap, the four came upon an altar in the Gallopolis desert. From there, Calasmos' earthly body would finally be destroyed.
But, as Erdwin was about to lay the final blow on the Dark One with the Sword of Light, Calasmos' spirit began speaking telepathically to Morcant, seducing him with the promise of more power. While his reason tried to push back the poisonous voice, before he could really understand what was happening, his body had already turned on Erdwin, stabbing him to death. Absorbing the dark magic, Morcant became corrupted by Calasmos' evil, effectively transplating the latter desire for dominion into the mage. Twisted by the darkness, Morcant lost his humanity and took a new form and name: Mordegon. He then began to bide his time into the shadows while setting a plan in motion to cast Erdrea into eternal darkness under his rule. However, Calasmos's corruption was not complete, for a little part of Morcant soul resisted his influence and remained pure. In time, said soul fragment separated from his original corrupted body and became an entity on his own that would be known in future generations as The Seer. Lacking a physical body, the Seer's appearance became subjective to the eyes of beholder, with a different form for each individual, though he can manipulate said form if he so chooses, his preferred one being an androgynous female youth.
Meanwhile, Serenica and Drustan, unable to destroy Calasmos body without someone able to properly wield the Sword of Light, united their magic with the Watchers casting it into the heavens, in a vessel that became known as Erdwin's Lantern. With his sudden disappearance, Elder Eegoltap began suspecting Morcant role into Erdwin's demise, but unsure of it, preferred not to share his musings with his fellow Watchers or Erdwin's remaining companions; as such. Morcant legend across Erdrea remained untarnished.
Road to Yggdrasil[]
While his dark half conspired to destroy Erdrea, what remained of Morcant bided his time until a new Luminary matured. Using his new identity and limited clarovoyance abilities, the Seer began extend his influence far and wide throughout Erdrea's history, trying to atone for his mistake by helping the world face the shadowy machinations of his dark self. Sadly he was unable to stop Mordegon to destroy the Nhou Wat civilization and Zwaardsrust, the kingdom Drustan founded, as well as Dundrasil, the most flourishing of Erdrea's kingdoms and birthplace of Erdwin and the newest Luminary. It is at this moment that the Seer contacted Erik, a thief working in Heliodor, and told him that he would soon meet the Luminary, and, by helping him, Erik would finally find forgivness at last. Erik at first refused to believe the Seer's prophecy, but is amazed when the Luminary joins him in the castle dungeon. Though still sceptical of the prophecy, Erik resolves to help the Luminary escape. After a tense chase by a black dragon, Erik and the Luminary make a desperate leap to the ground below the castle catacombs, whereupon they survive. Reaching a nearby chapel, the pair rest the night to avoid detection from Heliodorian guards. Erik joins the Luminary the morning after, curious to discover where the Seer will lead him.
Rise of the Lord of Shadows[]
After the fall of Yggdrasil Erik was captured by The Lord of Shadows forces and imprisoned in The Rock of Wrong, a floating island and base of operation for the Spectral Sentinel Indignus and his army of draconic monsters. Disguised as a friendly Healslime named Healijah, the Seer introduce himself to Erik and greatly aid him in his escape. Unfortunately, their exit is blocked by Indignus himself and his underlings. Overwhelmed, Erik is almost killed when Healijah mentally inform him of a way out. He can temporarily grant Erik immense strength, but there is an unavoidable toll to pay, as he has to give up his most treasured thing in the world. In Erik's case said treasure consist in his memories of his sister Mia as well as of his journey with the Luminary and his companions. With no other choice Erik accept and with his incredible new agility and strenght, he destroys all of his attackers including shattering Indignus's supposedly indestructible Dragon Armour. However, before he can deliver the final blow or make his escape, Erik's power stats to fade and is hurled into the sky by Indignus. The Seer catches him in midair and apologizes to an uncounscious Erik for failing to properly guide him to his destiny. As Erik's memories fade, he is gently left on the beach of The Costa Valor.
During his time into the Void, Rab and the Luminary would follow Morcant and Erdwin footsteps by learning respectively Pearly Gates and Quadraslash from the spirit of the recently deceased current Grand Master of Angri-La, Grand Master Pang.
Some time later the Seer came to the rescue of the Luminary, who was once again plunged into the strormy sea by the Spectral Sentinel Alizarin, though only a bright light could be seen by any other. He transports him in his illusory realm, a lovely and peaceful mill surrounded by a meadow with a sleepy brook. Here he invites him for a small fishing session, while also jokingly puzzling him with his shapeshifting abilities. Seeing the Luminary struggling with the feeling of having lost his powers, the Seer offer him advice, asserting that power cannot be taken, no more than be touched or tasted (a lesson he himself learned the hard way with Calasmos's corruption). He sends him back to the sea surface, where the Luminary is fished back onboard by his companions. He reaweken on the shore of Zwaardsrust, but his retelling of his meeting with the Seer is misunderstood as delusions brought by the drowning. Before leaving the shore the Luminary spot one final advice from the Seer, a message written in light on the surface of the sea, though once again only he can see it.
Once The Lord of Shadows is destroyed, the Seer is the first to congratulate the heroes, although with an unseen voice none of them recognize.
Correcting History[]
Unsatisfied by the great toll the battles took, the Luminary makes for the ruins of a city near Octagonia; and from there, Rab details a method of reclaiming Veronica from the flow of events that took her life. The party enters the Tower of Lost Time, and from there the Luminary shatters the Time's Sphere to replay the events of the Fall.
In the new timeline, Mordegon is laid low before he can finalize his master plan, but the journey to the past has the unforeseen consequence of allowing Calasmos to regain his body, making the Dark One of old return to threaten Erdrea.
The party makes for the shore of The Emerald Coast, trying to determine what is happening, only to be faced by what appears to be a resurrected Mordegon. In truth, it's the Seer, who quickly reassures the group. He advice them to play the Calamus flute and meet the Watchers before teleporting away.
Following the Seer's advice, the group soon meet with Eegoltap, who instructs them to find the three remaining Yggdrasil Seedlings scattered on Erdrea, which in turn show them a vision of how Cetacea once pierced through Calasmos dark barrier. Still lacking the knowledge to how to empower Cetacea to do so, the Seer once again show himself. He informs the party that in order to so, they will need the help of Serenica, but to find her a final memory must be seen. He gifts Veronica a magic pendant that temporarily restore her to her proper age. With her and Serena now properly balanced, their prayers can create miracles and doing so the merge together into a tree of light. Said tree shows the group the memories of Morcant's corruption, Calasmos sealing and the ill-fated attempt of Serenica to reunite with Erdwin, as well as her transformation by the Tockles into the Timekeeper.
Veronica and Serena turn back to normal, and the Seer directs them to find the Tower of Lost Time, where Serenica is to this day. Puzzled to how the Seer could know the events of the past, Erik questions him and the Seer reveals to the party his true identity and how he separated from his body. With Mordegon's destruction, he also is destined to disappear. He wish the party good luck in their quest to slay Calasmos at last, and fades away forever, his soul finally at rest.
The party would later tell his story to Eegoltap, confirming his suspicions, sad for the fate of his friend. The Seer's final gift to Veronica also bestow upon her and Serena the ability to cast the Mighty Magic Burst Pep Power. Rab would also once again follow in Morcant's footsteps, performing the same magic ritual that enhanced his powers.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Rab can be seen as a modern day counterpart to Morcant as both: have trained in Angri-La directly under a Grand Master; are being magically talented; both learned Pearly Gates; both performed a spell to increase their magic.
- This is similar to how Veronica and Serena are modern day counterparts to Serenica, as well as Hendrik is a counterpart to Drustan.
- Morcant appearance and class are an expy on the Dragon Quest III version of the class of Mage.
- "Morcant" is the old Welsh version of the name "Morgan."
- This could be an allusion to Morgan le Fay from Arthurian myth, although it is unlikely that Geoffrey of Monmouth, the 12th-century writer who penned the character, derived this name from the Welsh name.
- Interestingly, Morcant is the only one of Erdwin's companions whose equipment cannot either found or used by one of the Luminary's companions, possibly because, after his fall to darkness, he discarded most of it.
- Furthermore, Morcant is not depicted in official artwork wielding his true signature magic staff, possibly because it would had revealed his true identity.
Other languages[]
| Other languages | |
| French | Unknown |
| German | Hagen |
| Spanish | Unknown |
| Italian | Unknown |
| Dutch | Unknown |
| Norwegian | Unknown |
| Greek | Unknown |
| Portuguese | Unknown |
| Russian | Unknown |
| Chinese | Unknown |
| Korean | Unknown |