Zenithian

Zenithians are a recurring race in the Dragon Quest series. Specifically, they appeared in the "Zenithia Trilogy," to which they indirectly lend their name.

They live in the sky in Zenithia castle with the Zenith Dragon, whom they serve, and watch over the realm below. Zenithians are quite insular and prefer to avoid contact with outsiders if they can help it. However, there have been instances of Zenithians falling out of the clouds or otherwise descending to earth. Zenithians have been known to associate with elves and keep dragons as pets. Being great scholars and in such close contact with the Zenith Dragon, Zenithians naturally understand a great deal about the world and its affairs, history, and cosmic mechanics.

Physically, Zenithians greatly resemble angels, each having a set of swan-like wings on their backs. It can also be gathered from Orifiela's performance in battle that Zenithians are more competent casters than the average human.

Appearances

Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen

It is implied at several points throughout the game that the Hero is the son of a woodcutter and a Zenithian who ventured to Terrestria.

When the Chosen Ones climb Yggdrasil from it's roots in El Forado they encounter a lost Zenithian named Orifiela who had fallen from the cloud castle. Protecting her from the monsters infesting the world tree, she guides the party to the fabled Zenithian sword and later helps the group enter Zenithia itself.

Later on, the PC party is able to travel to Zenithia via the Stairway to Zenithia and interact with the rest of the Zenithians there before moving on to Nadiria to complete the game.

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

The Zenithians spend much of the game frozen in stasis due to the forces of evil causing Zenithia to plummet from the clouds into a lake. The Zenith Dragon works to restore his flock after he himself is freed from the Diggery Pokery.

Through the course of the game it is revealed that Bianca, Nera, and Debora are in fact distant descendants of the Zenithians, explaining the game's subtitle of "hand of the heavenly bride" is a literal statement. In turn this explains how the Hero's son is able to wield the Zenithian Equipment.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince

The Zenithians are based on their appearance in Dragon Quest IV. One Zenithian of note is the madwoman Azabel, who only saw imperfections in the material world and saw fit to eradicate all life in order to make way for her personal, idealized world. To accomplish this she stole the Secret of Creation and birthed three terrifyingly powerful monsters in the form of Dumajurah, Izmajurah, and Venjurah. She ordered her three "children" to lay waste to Terrestria, forcing the Zenith Dragon and an armed host of Zenithians to wage war against her.

Gallery

• 

  Concept art of the Zenithians for V, by Hazuki Kurikara