Clive Rosfield struck me as an interesting protagonist from the moment Square Enix revealed him. His design looks incredible, and the few details of his backstory I learned about him left me wanting to know more. However, one thing stood out to me the most—the tattoo on Clive's cheek. What could this mean? Was it a mark of his power or something else? Let's find out!
What does Clive's Brand mean in Final Fantasy XVI?
The mark on Clive's face is an identifying symbol that shows he is a Bearer. During the opening scene, Clive is part of a 4-man mission to assassinate the Ironblood Dominant, and each member of this team bears the same mark, identifying all of them as Bearers. But this still leaves the question of what Bearers are.
What is a Bearer in Final Fantasy XVI?
Bearers are magic users, and the symbol on Clive's cheek marks him and others of this status. Despite their ability to use magic, Bearers are seen as tools rather than exalted for their abilities, with many becoming slaves. As a result, Bearers take on roles such as fetching water, lighting fires, performing physical tasks, or in Clive's case, an assassin on an extremely dangerous task.
This will obviously play a major role in FFXVI's story, given that the protagonist bears this mark. I imagine enslaving and treating a group of people with such magical abilities has a chance of backfiring, especially if they were to be rallied to a cause by a strong and charismatic leader. Only time will tell the Bearers revolt, but I cannot wait to uncover FFXVI's story.
For more information on FFXVI, check out Final Fantasy 16 Cid Voice Actor and Are there any gay characters in Final Fantasy 16? on Pro Game Guides.
Justin has been diving into fantasy worlds since he can remember. He is a certified nerd who has a deep love of reading, writing, and hiking. He has been writing since his college days, but specifically in gaming for two years. His favorite games are The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Hollow Knight, Celeste, and Banjo Kazooie.