Overview
Cid nan Garlond is a Garlean-born engineering prodigy and the founder of Garlond Ironworks, a private enterprise that has become synonymous with technological innovation and support for the Eorzean Alliance. As the son of Midas nan Garlond, the architect of much of the Garlean Empire's magitek arsenal, Cid was groomed for greatness within the Empire but ultimately chose to defect, repudiating its conquest-driven ideology. He is a steadfast ally to the Warrior of Light and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, providing indispensable technological expertise, transportation, and ingenious solutions to crises that blend magic and machinery. Cid embodies the belief that technology is a neutral tool, and its moral weight is defined solely by the hands that wield it.
History & Lore
Early Life in Garlemald
Cid was born into privilege as the son of Midas nan Garlond, the chief engineer whose breakthroughs propelled the Garlean Empire's magitek dominance. The "nan" honorific, bestowed upon him after his own achievements, marked him as a citizen of the highest standing. He was educated at the prestigious Magitek Academy in the imperial capital, where he first clashed with and was perpetually rivaled by the equally brilliant but ruthlessly ambitious Nero tol Scaeva. While Cid inherited his father's genius, he did not share the Empire's vision of using technology solely for subjugation.
Defection and Founding Garlond Ironworks
Cid's disillusionment reached its peak during the development of Project Meteor, a plan by Legatus Nael van Darnus to weaponize the Allagan satellite Dalamud. Horrified by the catastrophic loss of life it would cause and recognizing the sinister Ascian influence behind the scheme, Cid made the fateful decision to abandon his homeland. He fled to Eorzea, taking with him a profound knowledge of magitek and a resolve to atone for his family's legacy. In Eorzea, he established Garlond Ironworks, repurposing Garlean engineering principles to defend rather than destroy.
A Realm Reborn and the Fall of the Praetorium
In the aftermath of the Calamity, Cid emerged as a critical ally. He provided the airship, the Enterprise, which became essential for the Warrior of Light's travels. His most crucial contribution came during the assault on Castrum Meridianum and the Praetorium. Using his intimate knowledge of Garlean security systems, Cid guided the alliance forces, disabled defenses, and ultimately helped the Warrior of Light confront Gaius van Baelsar and the Ultima Weapon, directly undoing the weapon born from his father's blueprints.
Heavensward and the Shadows of the Past
Cid's expertise proved vital in Ishgard, where he helped retrofit the Enterprise to navigate the treacherous skies of Coerthas and access Azys Lla, the floating Allagan research facility. His history was further explored through the Alexander raid series, where he and Nero were forced into an uneasy alliance to contain the primal of machinery, which threatened to unravel time itself. This storyline highlighted Cid's ethical stance against creating self-aware, godlike machines, a direct contrast to his father's work and Nero's ambitions.
Continued Support and Legacy
In subsequent expansions, Cid and Garlond Ironworks remained in the background as a consistent support pillar. He provided transport to the Far East, assisted in the development of countermeasures against Garlean war machines, and lent his engineering insight to problems ranging from Omega's interdimensional rifts to the creation of the Ragnarok starship for the journey to the edge of the universe. His company's legacy extended even into the future, as revealed in the Shadowbringers arc, where an alternate future version of Garlond Ironworks played a pivotal role in saving the very fabric of reality.
Personality & Relationships
Cid is characterized by his humility, integrity, and deep-seated sense of responsibility. He is haunted by the destructive applications of his family's work and is driven by a need to use his gifts for protection and progress. Unlike the stereotypical arrogant genius, he is quick to credit his team at Ironworks and values collaboration.
His most defining relationship is his rivalry with Nero tol Scaeva. While Nero views engineering as a means to demonstrate personal superiority and power, Cid sees it as a service to others. Their interactions are a blend of technical bickering and grudging, profound respect; each is the other's only true intellectual equal. Cid also shares a warm, respectful friendship with Biggs and Wedge, his loyal right-hand men at Ironworks, who help ground his ideas in practical reality.
Gameplay Role
Cid primarily functions as a quest giver and narrative facilitator in key storylines. He is central to:
- The main scenario quests involving Garlean technology and the Enterprise.
- The Crystal Tower raid series, where his knowledge of Allagan tech is crucial.
- The Alexander raid series, which delves into his personal philosophy on technology.
- Various side quests and seasonal events where technological problems arise.
Trivia
- Cid's character follows the long-running "Cid" tradition in the Final Fantasy series, where a character named Cid is often an expert in airships or technology.
- His original design in A Realm Reborn featured a full beard and goggles, which were removed in later expansions, giving him a cleaner appearance.
- The name "Garlond Ironworks" is a direct continuation of his father's imperial manufactory, symbolically reclaimed for a peaceful purpose.
- Cid is one of the few Garlean defectors who is openly accepted and revered across all of Eorzea, a testament to his proven loyalty and contributions.
