Introducing Vegnagun

Every self-respecting villain must have a subordinate and Shuyin’s pick is Vegnagun: a big, ugly, bug-like machine.

Vegnagun has a skull-like face with two long antennae and fangs, a torso (where its three nodes are located) and three pair of legs. It also has a very long tail and a pair of wings. Vegnagun’s colour is a sort of dark gold/bronze, except for the wings which are black with light blue/white lines.

The machine was created by Bevelle and the original idea was to use it in the war against Zanarkand, but it wasn’t reliable enough. Although it was an intelligent machine, it didn’t distinguish a friend from a foe and it was easily awakened. For example Shuyin was able to use it, even though Vegnagun should have detected him as an enemy.

Vegnagun was incredibly powerful, a single shoot of its cannon could destroy all of Spira. However, such power without control was useless and indeed Vegnagun was never used. Instead of being destroyed, it was hidden in Bevelle’s Underground. Probably not many people were aware of its existence, and the few who did knew the risks of using it. It was safe to assume that nobody would have looked for it. But they hadn’t taken account of Shuyin…

Vegnagun’s attacks

Vegnagun has many attacks and all of their names are in Latin. Some of them are normal phrases while others are famous sayings. Here I’ve provided a translation for all of them and, in the case of sayings, some extra information.

• Acta Est Fabula: the play is over, used by Vegnagun to revive the Redoubts.
• Dies Irae: day of wrath, used by one of Vegnagun’s orbs.
• Lacrimosa: flowing tears, used by the Redoubts.
• Memento Mori: remember you will die/remember that you must die, used by Vegnagun’s head.
• Mors Certa: certain death.
• Nemo Ante Mortem Beatus: no one is happy before death, used during the last Vegnagun battle.
• Noli Me Tangere: don’t touch me, used by the Tail.
• Odi Et Amo: love and hate.
• Pallida Mors: pale death, used by the two Redoubts.
• Vita Brevis: short/brief life.

Acta Est Fabula

In Roman theatre, this phrase was used at the end of the play to indicate that the drama was acted out and the public had to applaud. According to the tradition, the phrase comes from a work of Latin author Suetonius (De vita Caesarum) and apparently Emperator Augustus himself uttered it before dying.

Memento Mori

In ancient Rome, when a general was parading in the city after a militar victory, there was the risk he could get above himself. To prevent this from happening, a slave had the task to remember the general he was mortal by telling him “Memento mori!”.

Noli Me Tangere

Noli me tangere, is the Latin version of words spoken, according to John 20:17, by Jesus to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection. The moment when the phrase is uttered became a popular subject for paintings. The phrase itself has been used in other works, for example British poet Thomas Wyatt mentions it in his poem Whoso list to hunt.

Odi Et Amo

Odi et amo is the name and also the first line of Catullus 85, a poem by the Roman poet Catullus. The poet is dedicated to his mistress, Lesbia, and it expresses the poet’s conflicting feelings for her.