"Rise of the White Raven" (白銀の凶鳥、飛翔せり, Hakugin no Kyōchō, Hishō seri?, lit. Silver Wicked Bird, Soaring) is the final boss theme of the original Final Fantasy XIV. It was composed and arranged by Masayoshi Soken. The lyrics were written by Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and translated into Latin by Eva Kappeller, and the vocals were provided by Music Creation. The lyrics were translated into Japanese by Banri Oda.
Lyrics
The official lyrics as well as the English and Japanese translations of "Rise of the White Raven" were released on the Before Meteor: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack and the Before the Fall: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
The words "hear", "feel", and "think", which are heard in the main theme after character creation, are faintly spoken during the first stanza.
- Latin
- Corvus fortis
- Corvus fortis
- Corvus fortis ascendit
- Superne videt praeteritum
- Praesentem et futurum videt
- Res evertuntur repente
- Ad unum omnes sunt mortui dei
- Machinae regnabunt in caelo
- Ratio regnabit in terra
- Corvum candidum exhilaramus
- Ecce extendit trans mundi alas
- Vocat lucem rubram excidii
- Fulget luce rubrae victoriae
- Imperium!
- Imperium!
- Imperium ave!
- Ave imperium!
- Ave imperium!
- Videte!
- Testate adventu fati.
- Videte!
- Testate adventu Dalamud!
- Official English translation
- The dauntless raven rises up.
- From on high, he marks the past;
- Marks the present; marks the future.
- A revolution is upon us.
- All the gods are dead.
- Machines will rule the heavens.
- Reason will rule the land.
- Exalt we the White Raven.
- Behold?his wings enfold the world.
- He calls down the red light of destruction.
- He glows with the red light of victory.
- The Empire!
- The Empire!
- Hail to the Empire!
- Look!
- Bear witness to the advent of Fate.
- Look!
- Bear witness to the advent of Dalamud.
- Japanese translation
- 猛々しき鳥は、舞い上がる
- 天上から、彼は過去を見渡す
- 現在を見渡し、明日を見渡す
- 疾風の如き“革命”が来たれり
- すべての神々が死に絶え、
- 機械仕掛けの神が天界を統べ、
- 理念こそが地上を支配せん
- 我らは称える、「白銀の凶鳥」を！
- 刮目せよ！ 彼の翼が世界を覆う
- 破壊の紅き光を招き
- 勝利の紅き光に浴す
- 帝国！
- 帝国！
- 帝国万歳！
- 見よ！
- 運命の到来を！
- 見よ！
- ダラガブの降臨を！
Composition
The piece begins set in C minor, featuring a heavy amount of strings, vocals, and a harp solo in its opening. The ethereal mood evoked by the choral notes and the harp solo could possibly represent Nael's loss of sanity and her rise to full power due to Dalamud boosting her power. The piece then transitions into a brass fanfare of short, crisp notes.
This is followed by a tenor solo with a clear voice, which is, in turn, followed by a tenor solo with a slightly-distorted voice as the piece changes to D minor, then E-flat minor. After another brass fanfare in D minor, a duet between a soprano voice and a tenor voice is featured, and it continues as the piece changes to B-flat minor, then ends in F major before it loops back to the start. All vocals are featured in Latin.
Game appearances
Final Fantasy XIV (version 1.0)
In the original Final Fantasy XIV, "Rise of the White Raven" is the final boss theme in Rivenroad, played once the player character and his or her party enter the second stage of the final battle with the main antagonist Nael van Darnus, who has now transformed into Nael deus Darnus after taking in too much of Dalamud's power.
It is track 103 on the Before Meteor: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
In A Realm Reborn, an instrumental version called "Bite of the Black Wolf" (漆黒の王狼、咆吼せり, Shikkoku no Ōrō, Hōkō seri?, lit. Jet Black Wolf King, Roaring) arranged by Masayoshi Soken plays during several Legatus battles, such the first stage of the final battle of the main story quest line when facing Gaius van Baelsar in the bottom of 
The Praetorium.
"Bite of the Black Wolf" is track 108 on the A Realm Reborn: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
"Rise of the White Raven" is again played in full during the rematch with Nael deus Darnus, who serves as the boss in 
The Second Coil of Bahamut - Turn 4 and the final boss of The Second Coil of Bahamut.
"Rise of the White Raven" returns again as track 18 on the Before the Fall: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood
"Rise of the White Raven" plays again during the fight against Nael deus Darnus in 
The Unending Coil of Bahamut (Ultimate).
Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers
An orchestral version arranged by Sachiko Miyano can be heard in 
Cinder Drift when the party fights the true form of the Ruby Weapon. It is taken from the Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album.
"Rise of the White Raven (Orchestral Version)" is track 25 on the Death Unto Dawn: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
Through crafting, players can acquire the "Rise of the White Raven" music theme for the Orchestrion. An orchestral version of the theme is also available in Mog Station.
Arrangement album appearances
Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Arrangement Album
An orchestral arrangement was released with Sachiko Miyano as the arranger and recording director. It was conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, with Eri Nishimoto as the alto soloist and Yuki Sakai as the bass soloist.
Live performances
Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album
An orchestral arrangement of "Rise of the White Raven" was conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Mih Khetto Chorus, with Eri Nishimoto as the alto soloist and Yuki Sakai as the bass soloist. It was orchestrated by the recording director Sachiko Miyano.
It is also on the Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV Orchestral Album (Concert version).
Compilation album appearances
Final Fantasy XIV - Eorzean Frontiers
"Rise of the White Raven" was first released as track 7 on the Final Fantasy XIV Frontiers - Ishgard digital album.
Untempered: Final Fantasy XIV Primal Battle Themes
"Bite of the Black Wolf" is track 8 of disc 1 on the album.
Time and Again: Final Fantasy XIV Raid Dungeon Themes
"Rise of the White Raven" is track 6 of disc 1 on the album.
Final Fantasy XIV - The Best
"Rise of the White Raven" is track 28 on the album.
Final Fantasy XIV Vinyl LP Box Vol. 2
"Rise of the White Raven" is track 5 on side B of the A Realm Reborn Vinyl LP Vol. 2 album.