Al Bhed

Lore & Background

The Al Bhed speak their own language, which is really just a substitution cipher. Fumi Nakashima, the sub-character chief designer, concentrated on giving characters from different regions and cultures distinct styles of clothing. Nakashima wanted the machine-oriented society of the Al Bhed to stand out and had them wear masks and goggles to give them a strange and eccentric appearance. The Al Bhed's headquarters is called "Home" and is located on the desert island of Bikanel. With the collapse of the teachings of Yevon and the wider acceptance of machina at the end of Final Fantasy X, prejudice against the Al Bhed seems to have eased significantly by the time of Final Fantasy X-2, though it is still present.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across the golden dunes of Bikanel, carrying the scent of ozone and old metal. Rikku adjusted her goggles, her hands moving deftly over the exposed gears of a salvaged airship engine that had been silent for centuries. Around her, the bustling workshop hummed with the chatter of engineers speaking in rapid-fire syllables, their voices weaving a language that sounded like music to outsiders but was strictly coded to keep secrets from prying Yevon monks. "The core is unstable," she called out, not looking up as a massive airship silhouette cut through the desert haze above. Her uncle Cid stepped into the frame, his mechanical arm whirring softly as he inspected her work with a critical eye. "Then we fix it before Sin wakes up again," he grunted, tossing a wrench to her. In this hidden oasis of steel and sand, they did not pray for salvation; they built it.

Reader's Guide

The Al Bhed are a unique ethnic group which plays an important role in the storyline and world of the games. The main character Rikku is Al Bhed, and Yuna is part Al Bhed on her mother's side. Assistance is gained through a cast of supporting Al Bhed characters, prevalent in Final Fantasy X-2. With the collapse of the teachings of Yevon and the wider acceptance of machina at the end of Final Fantasy X, prejudice against the Al Bhed seems to have eased significantly by the time of Final Fantasy X-2, though it is still present.

Did You Know?

• The Al Bhed speak their own language, which is really just a substitution cipher.
• The Al Bhed have distinctive green eyes with spiral-shaped pupils.
• The main character Rikku is Al Bhed, and Yuna is part Al Bhed on her mother's side.
• The Al Bhed's headquarters is called "Home" and is located on the desert island of Bikanel.
• Fumi Nakashima had the Al Bhed wear masks and goggles to give them a strange and eccentric appearance.