Detailed Kefka Info From an Ultimania Style Book on FF VI

[SOLDIERis1337]

First off I'd like to thank Dark and Divine over on thelifestream.net for these translations.

There was a ton of interesting info on our favorite clown here, and I thought the people here would be interested to read up on Kefka's history and hobbies.

Age: 35 year old
occupations: Large demon derived loyal retainer
height/weight: 167cm/48kg
date of birth: November 19th (Scorpio)
Blood type: AB
birthplace: Unclear
likes: Mirror
hates: General Leo
hobbies: Playing with Dolls

For reasons unknown, Kefka is abandoned at birth. He is raised in a local orphanage where is he is physically abused, and develops autistic traits, growing into a taciturn child.

At a young age, Kefka graduates from the imperial academy at the head of his class, and is brought to the Magitek lab in Vector, where he becomes the first Magitek knight. The process warps Kefka’s mind, and he realizes he exists only to kill. He worships the emperor, and by the age of 23 is promoted to commander of one of Gestahl’s troop battalion.

At the age of 25, Kefka encounters the second ruin knight, an eight year old child by the name of Celes. He takes a keen interest in her, and trains her to become a hardened runic knight.

At the age of 30, Kefka is promoted to prime minister of the empire, second only to the emperor himself. A year later, he is promoted to the position of chief of staff of the entire imperial troop. As one of the empires most brilliant minds Kefka accomplishes much in the name of the emperor, conquering foreign lands in his name.

It is around this time that Kefka becomes interested in espers; this interest grows into an obsession with magic and the demonic, and Kefka eventually has a nervous breakdown. The breakdown is part of a long term effect of the Magitek process, which was unrefined during Kefka’s augmentation.

Due to Kefka’s mental decline, he is demoted. This happens, ironically enough, just around the time his protégé Celes Chere, now 15, is promoted to Admiral. The collapse occurs at the start of the 3rd imperial campaign. Kefka loses all good sensation in his body, and forgets his fondest memories, leaving with him only memories of his childhood abuse.

Kefka begins to play with dolls, and his behaviour becomes increasingly eccentric; he begins to adorn himself with garish robes, and feminine embellishments, and his speech patterns and behaviour change appropriately. He becomes increasingly more violent, and has fits of anger, where he uses his magical abilities to attack soldiers who make fun of him. He gradually becomes the most feared man in the empire, a man who only finds beauty in death and destruction.​

Timeline:

-35: Kefka Palazzo is born. His parents abandon him at an orphanage where Kefka is beaten physically. Kefka develops an autistic personality, and withdraws from the world.

-17: Kefka graduates from the imperial academy at the top of his class.

-12: Kefka is promoted to the head of his platoon.

-10: Kefka takes an interest in Celes Chere, the 8 year old daughter of a slain General and noble woman. Kefka uses his influence to shape her into one of the finest ruin knights in the empire.

- 5: Kefka is promoted to the position of Chancellor of the Empire, second only to Gestahl.

- 4: In addition to his social promotion, Kefka is promoted the very top of the imperial army, as the commander supreme.

- 3: Around the time his ward Celes ascends to the rank of Leuitenant, Kefka has a nervous breakdown, and developes many personal eccentricities. He is deemed unfit for his position in empire and is demoted. However, due to his many years of service, The emperor sees it fit to keep Kefka around to do the jobs no one else is willing to do. 26 year old Leo Chirstophe is promoted, and Kefka develops a deep hatred for him.

- 0: An esper is discovered in Narshe; Kefka sends Biggs, Wedge, and a half-esper Girl named Terra to recover it.​

The Magitek Knights of Emperor Gestahl

- As the right hand man of Emperor Gestahl, a Magitek knight participates in various military campaigns.
- Kefka is imbued with the power of the Espers by Cid.
- But because of the expirement, Kefka fell ill.
- Now he is a dangerous member of the empire.
- The Magitek facility siphons magical power from the Esper, and
uses it to augment humans.
- The test subject gains mighty power, but it creates discord in the mind, emotional stability, and quirks in speech patterns and behavior.


Childhood

- Kefka is thrown away at birth, and is raised in an orphanage on the edge of Thamasa.
- Kefka is beaten severely as a child. He develops into a taciturn individual. (The word autism is surrounded by two words I am unable to translate.)


Young adulthood

- Kefka graduates from the imperial academy at the head of his class, and enters the Magitek facility. With Doctor Cid, he studies espers and magically derived experiments.
- Kefka finds purpose in his Magitek experiments. Due to his blind loyalty to emperor Gestahl, he receives much power.
- At the age of 23, Kefka is promoted to commander of the Magitek Knight platoon.
- At the age of 25, Kefka encounters Celes, and takes an interest in her. He uses his political pull to make sure she develops into a Rune Knight.


Adulthood

- At the age of 30, Kefka is appointed to the position of Prime minister.
- At the age of 31, Kefka is named General of the whole imperial army.
- As the brains behind the Imperial army, Kefka accomplishes much. He is particularly intrigued by the possibilities of magic power, and thus grows into his role as head of Gestahl’s Magitek army perfectly.
- Unfortunately, Kefka’s madness deepens, his affection for his charge Celes being the last remnant of his humanity.​

Nervous Breakdown

- Kefka’s mental began around the time he was appointed Prime Minister. The cause of the collapse being a side-effect from the Magitek augmentation process.
- Kefka’s collapse becomes visible around the time Celes is promoted to the position of Rear Admiral, during the Third Imperial campaign.
- All of Kefka’s pleasant memories begin to deteriorate. He loses his ability to experience pleasant sensations, and his ability to appreciate beauty. The only desire left is the desire to destroy the world.
- After spiraling into insanity, Kefka starts to wear makeup and garish clothing, acting like a complete buffoon. His behavior changes and his patterns of speech deteriorate.
- Kefka begins to act conspicuously, and his motives come into question.

Character Reputation

- It is debated whether Kefka is autistic or his taciturn nature is due to abuse and assault.
- Kefka’s reputation among his co-workers is not good; he is viewed as eccentric, and not trusted by those who participate in imperial campaigns.
- Kefka is prone to temper tantrums, where he destroys property with his great magical abilities.
- When around Celes, Kefka acts as a kind older brother.

Before his nervous breakdown

- Kefka lived in a tower connected to the Magitek research facilities with Celes.

After the nervous breakdown

- Kefka is placed under house arrest, let out for work related activities only.
- In his home he gathers many jewels, and plays with dolls.

Combat Efficiency

- Kefka is a tremendously powerful mage, but his aptitude for hand-to-hand combat is low.
- His powers as a mage are increased by his nervous breakdown.
- The Spirit of the Esper that imbued Kefka acts through him. (Editor’s note: Maybe this demon Maria is actually the Esper that Kefka was augmented with?)

Change in goals due to Magitek side effects

- Before his nervous breakdown, the existence of magic was the only thing that confirmed Kefka’s own existence to himself.
- After the side effects emerge, Kefka’s only goal is to find the highest power in the world, that which can destroy anything.


Dolls (more a section on androgyny)

- Kefka adorns his dolls the same way he adorns himself, with makeup and garish clothing
- When Kefka is in a bad mood, he destroys his dolls for fun.

Mirror

- Kefka is fascinated by the phenomena of the mirror image.
- Kefka dresses up for himself solely for the purpose of seeing himself in the mirror.​

Relationship with Celes before nervous breakdown.

- Stemming from their common experience of Magitek augmentation, Kefka viewed Celes as the love of his life; He viewed her as his daughter and his sister.
- Celes was the only person Kefka was able to care about.
- Kefka would essentially die for his young ward.


Relationship with Celes after the Nervous breakdown

- Kefka begins to view Celes as a play toy; strong and weak, beautiful and submissive, his perfect doll (editor’s note: EWW creepy.)
- Kefka finds beauty in the fact that Celes is mentally damaged, since he too, has suffered.


Relationship with Dr. Cid

- In his early adulthood, Kefka served as part of Cid’s research staff, and was his subordinate.
- After becoming Prime Minister, Kefka forced Cid to make the research the creation of an ultimate magical based weapon.


Relationship with Leo Christophe

- Because Leo, a consummate soldier, is opposed to the use of magic, he and Kefka clash in ideology often.


Relationship with Emperor Gestahl

- Kefka views Gestahl as the absolute master who gives his existence meaning.
- Kefka and Gestahl have a heavy reliance on each other; Kefka is given the nickname “The Shark of the Emperor.”


Relationship with Terra Brandford

- Before his Nervous breakdown, Kefka viewed Terra as a valuable research test subject.
- After his nervous breakdown, Kefka viewed Terra as a magically powered toy.
- Kefka fears Terra for her natural power.​

 

[Fusionist]

Oh whoa, I've always loved FFVI, but I admit at times when I'm playing the 2D games it's all too real that I'm just playing a game. But all this info gives a helluva lot of substance to arguably the most evil villain in the FF series.

I guess now I pity Kefka a bit, but I suppose that makes me appreciate him more as the villain that he is.

Interesting info on his relationship with Celes. I didn't really get a lot of what their interactions were like, but it's interesting that before his breakdown he loved her as family, but afterwards it become really perverse affection for an inatimate object (a doll in this case) O.O

 

[Bambi]

That made me feel really sorry him xD

That's some really good stuff, I wonder how he'd of turned out if all that earlier shit didn't happen to him...?

At least it explains why he dresses the way he does, I never DID understand that

 

[SaShman]

Thanks for sharing, I found it very interesting indeed. I particularly liked the parts about his relationship with Celes and his breakdown which made him what he was during the game.

- Kefka adorns his dolls the same way he adorns himself, with makeup and garish clothing
- When Kefka is in a bad mood, he destroys his dolls for fun.

I think that shows what Kefka is all about, he puts the effort into dressing up his dolls, but he really doesn't give a fuck about them because he destroys them for fun. It kinda reflects his attitude towards life in general.

 

[Donald Trump]

At least it explains why he dresses the way he does, I never DID understand that

Apparently in the original he is far less effeminate.
Knew most of that. The thing I liked about Kefka was that he was funny. tbh the fact that he went batshit insane and wanted to kill everyone because he hated everyone and didn't believe in anything makes him a poor villain, because he has no real motives, except for that he is mad.

 

[Dionysos]

Not all villains need a motive though, so long as they are entertaining.

Thanks for finding this, it is fantastic. A lot of it was hinted at in the game, but never given in detail like this.

I can imagine him playing with dolls like that, as that is how he would come to treat people, and eventually the whole planet became his doll house .

 

[SOLDIERis1337]

The part I find most interesting is his relationship with Celes. I find it fascinating that he managed to care for another individual even before the breakdown, and that after he went nuts he saw her as his favorite doll to play with.

 

[TheMixedHerb]

Well that certainly provides some more information about Kefka for me at least.
It does make you feel kinda sorry for him in a way xD
I never really knew about the Celes thing, although it kinda hints at it on the

Spoiler

floating continent where he gives her a second chance to join his side.

It definitley provided more detail to me on Kefka's character, thanks for finding it =D

 

[Serah]

Thanks so much for posting this. It really puts into perspective now why Kefka is the way he is. For so long people were just saying that Kefka was a villain that was just psychotic for no reason. He just loved killing. This really really explains now why he actually IS psychotic. Poor Kefka. It makes me pity him and yet even respect him more now as a really evil villain.

 

[L]

At least it explains why he dresses the way he does, I never DID understand that

When you can kill anyone in a split second, you don't have to care what anyone thinks about the way you dress imho

Though it's certainly a piece of information worth giving a look, my opinion and like of Kefka's character remains completely unchanged.
I like Kefka just the way he was. Evil, 'just bcoz'. mwahahahahahaaa

 

[Lunatic Pandora]

I always thought Kefka was the best villain so far, he's really cruel and cold. Also I liked him because of the way he talks and acts. He is somehow funny, even when he's being evil >D This info is great, all I knew about his past is that he was raised in an orphanage. I feel sorry about his childhood too now that I read it XD

It's been some time since I decided to make a story about Kefka's life, since the orpahnage 'till the day he is finally defeated. This info will really help, so I'll post it here in the forum when it's done. Thanks for sharing! =)

 

[noctits]

Yeah, already read most of this sometime back. Though the details regarding his relationship with Cecil were kinda new, sweeeeeeeet.

Kefka is mostly renowned for being that "lulzy batshit insane psycho clown (clown being used in its literal and symbolic sense)". What a lot of people argue when say, comparing him to Sephiroth, is that he lacks substance.

Yet this clearly shows he has substance, and a deep enough backstory which clearly shows us how it shaped him to what he was. Prior to my knowledge of this, I mostly saw him as a villain and comic relief character, but now I can't help but think there's an irony to the whole thing which just makes him even more of a tragic character rfolzzz

Oh whoa, I've always loved FFVI, but I admit at times when I'm playing the 2D games it's all too real that I'm just playing a game. But all this info gives a helluva lot of substance to arguably the most evil villain in the FF series.

I guess now I pity Kefka a bit, but I suppose that makes me appreciate him more as the villain that he is.

Agreed.

Apparently in the original he is far less effeminate.
Knew most of that. The thing I liked about Kefka was that he was funny. tbh the fact that he went batshit insane and wanted to kill everyone because he hated everyone and didn't believe in anything makes him a poor villain, because he has no real motives, except for that he is mad.

Well he didn't need any motives, seeing as how his hate for the world and want of seeing everything in a bonfire was the result of the magitek process and traumatic childhood incidences. And on that note, I don't see how motives are the all round most essential part to what makes a great villain, especially if you look at it on the counter part. The heroes usually don't have any real motive to save the world other than just doing it for the sake of saving the world, and yet this is never a factor to when discussing who's the greatest hero evar.

 

[Lunatic Pandora]

If you think about motives, they're almost all the same: world domination/destruction (death to all living things implied), absolute control, limitless power and so on. Kefka wanted all of that too, he was just slightly more twisted then the others =P And he is still a great villain, so yeah, I agree with noctis about the motives thing.

 

[DawnThrone]

Wow,that's some really good info. I never knew that Kefka was a victim of abuse as a child. I also never knew that he cared for Celes so much before he became psychotic. This info sheds light on why Kefka was the way he was. Is there any info like this about Terra? I mean, we know her story and all that, but this sort of thing is interesting.

 

[MagicGamma]

Ladies and gentlemen, we finally find out why Kefka is a very complex character: He is the product of a very tough life, a life of despair and ambition. This thirst for power and Freudian childhood ultimately makes him mad, yet there still is a method to his madness.

Plus, it explains why his battle theme is named Dancing Mad, after all.

 

[ACardAttack]

The part I find most interesting is his relationship with Celes. I find it fascinating that he managed to care for another individual even before the breakdown, and that after he went nuts he saw her as his favorite doll to play with.

I do find that interesting too...it seems like he had plenty of opportunities to kill her, but I think there were two times where Kefka allowed her to redeem herself and rejoin him. It doesnt seem like Kefka's personality and I always wondered why he allowed her a chance to rejoin him

 

[dragon1678]

if they do another remake of FF6, they need to include this info about Kefka in the game, like they gave a proper backstory to Golbez in FF4 DS. I always felt that Kefka needed more substance in the game, there wasn't enough info about his life in it IMO.

 

[Zeromus]

I wouldn't mind them making an FFVI spin off involving Kefka's past. Maybe even making him he protagonist until it gets to where FFVI begins.

 

[Sabre_Vivi]

O__O;; Yikes. Well, that would explain a lot. But, I will always view him as a psychotic clown rather than a funny dressed madman. It makes him seem more ebil that way. >=] On another note, I never thought he viewed Celes like that. Buuut, I don't think it was THAT kind of toy. More like a weapon of war kind of toy. Like a minion to do his bidding. Of course, maybe this is me being in denial again... Still, cool stuff. ^^

 

[deltaseven]

Unfortunately, at least some of this information is not actually from official materials.
For one thing, he wasn't in a relationship with Celes.