Bismarck

[Zohar_Lahar]

So I'm sure you recall that primal announced for Heavensward back at the Fanfests. Now, the thing is, that whale has been mentioned before, apparently as a creature of Sea Wolf mythology. They even named a restaurant after it.

So how does a creature from Roegadyn legends become a space whale summoned by a bird tribe?

[Wadoka]

...and why is it named for a Terran statesman from Germany, or a Terran warship bearing said statesman's name?

[myahele]

The beastibe (vanu vanu?) look like penguins to me.

It's possible they're like the ixal: were capable of flight, but resorted to the sea. Eventually, they god has always been able to fly/swim. Kinda like the pokemon Lugia. We know there are such things and flying fishes/jellies, so maybe Bismark's ability to float is just an advanced/powerful method?

Due to it's size I wouldn't be surprised is Bismark acted like a vessel (ship) to help it beastribe to roam the sea/skies

[PArcher]

What if the sea wolves and the beast tribe are originally from the same area, or met each other breifly long ago? Both cases allow the Primal to be part of their mythos.

[lololink]

Because sea wolfs are half Highlanders and Vanu Vanu !
Or Roegadyn are Vanu Vanu that lost their feathers.

[/CrazyTheory]

[Nalien]

Out of interest, where was Bismarck mentioned in Sea Wolf mythology?

So how does a creature from Roegadyn legends become a space whale summoned by a bird tribe?

I imagine it is the other way; A space whale summoned by a bird tribe became part of Roegadyn legends. Similar scenario happened with Leviathan, if his Triple Triad card description is anything to go off. Alternatively there was a "living" Bismarck which became part of both Sea Wolf and Vanu legend, culminating in the Vanu Vanu creating a Primal out of it in 3.0.

[SirTaint]

He was a flying whale in FFXI. Was a hard fight upon release.

https://www.bg-wiki.com/bg/Bismarck

[Belhi]

If he was a flying whale I think he would just as likely turn up in legends if he appeared in the skys above where the Sea Wolves dwelled. Perhaps his size inspired the naming of a famous large Sea Wolf vessel and that's how the Restaurant got the name.

That's just speculation I have no real idea.

[Enkidoh]

He was a flying whale in FFXI. Was a hard fight upon release.

https://www.bg-wiki.com/bg/Bismarck

He's actually far older than that - he first appeared as the water-elemental Esper in FFVI, in place of Leviathan.

As to where the name came from, I can only muse that back during FFVI's development and Nintendo's notorious anti-religious censorship (seeing as Leviathan is a Biblical creature), someone in Square's US offices must have thought to name a large, ocean-going creature after Germany's ultimate battleship (and by extension, the Prussian Chancellor), although you would have thought naming it 'Starbuck' after the whale from Moby Dick would have been more appropriate.

[Darkstride]

Bismarck was one of the Espers trapped in Cid's lab in Final Fantasy VI. You obtain its Magicite and it teaches you basic elemental magic. When summoned, Bismarck treats you to some Sailor Mercury action: http://youtu.be/mEdk0bkSxzA