[Sign-ups/Discussion] Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Redux

[Martel]

I've been working on this one for a little while, and since a couple of people were interested...starting it now is as good a time as any. Although it's going to look pretty bad, considering it's the third FF remake RP to be made this week. xD

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Redux

Ivalice is in a state of war. Once content with its territories, the Archadian Empire has once again begun expanding. The Kingdom of Nabradia has already been annihilated, and the kingdom of Dalmasca has also been recently subjugated, “choosing” to surrender, rather than to suffer the same fate.

The precise reasons for this expansion are unknown – the Rozarrian Empire, the only real threat to the Archadian Empire, remains as it always has, and no declarations of war were made prior to the invasion. Rumours have spread that the Emperor of Archadia desires the power that resides within the nethicite entrusted to the rules of the neighbouring kingdoms, and that he will annihilate them all just to get his hands on it. His three Judges have recently been joined by a fourth, and all of them have displayed control over Espers, summoned beasts of formidable strength whose origins have long since been forgotten, suggesting that his obsession with the past is not limited only to these stones, and that more powerful forces may be at play here than simple politics…

With many political rivals eliminated, many by the sword, Ivalice is beginning to stagnate under dictatorship. But hope still remains, no matter how small; the more Archadia tightens her grip, the more her control of the border territories slips through her fingers, as resistance groups have already begun to form and attract a significant amount of quiet support, centred in Dalmasca and Bhujerba. With the possibility of Rozarrian aid should the resistance grow large enough, there is the distinct possibility that the war may soon not be quite so one-sided.

However, the Emperor is despatching a new consul, as well as his most feared Judge, to Dalmasca, to purge the city of resistance once and for all. The time for the rebels grows short, and if they are to act, it must be soon…however, how does one defeat an empire that can call upon the power of the Gods themselves, in addition to the largest army in all of Ivalice?

Notes

This RP uses the Job Class system from Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Job Board System as a guideline for abilities. So, for example, if you choose to be a Machinist, you would only be able to use the magick on the Machinist License Board, as per the game. However, you would be much better at wielding guns than other characters, and would be much faster due to the lighter armour you’d wear. For a list of the Job Classes and their abilities, go here.

One Esper per character, two characters per person. Also, there will be no Quickenings in this RP. Characters will acquire their Espers over the course of the RP, in the locations they are found in Final Fantasy XII. Judges will have their Espers from the beginning of the RP.

We will be using the FFXII version of Ivalice’s world map. Please keep this in mind when creating your characters and writing their history.

Application template

Name:
Age: (minimum 16 for all characters, 21 for Judges)
Race: (Judges must be Humes)
Gender:
Appearance:
Personality:
Job Class: (not required for Judges)
Weapon:
Esper:
Bio:
Character theme:
Battle theme:

Characters/Espers
Zodiark – RESERVED

Judge 1/Zeromus, The Condemner - RESERVED
Judge 2/Exodus, The Judge-Sal - RESERVED
Judge 3/Hashmal, The Bringer of Order - RESERVED
Judge 4/Chaos, The Walker of the Wheel - RESERVED

Belias, The Gigas
Ultima, The High Seraph – RESERVED
Mateus, The Corrupt - RESERVED
Zalera, The Death Seraph
Shemhazai, The Whisperer - RESERVED
Cuchulainn, The Impure
Adrammelech, The Wroth - RESERVED
Famfrit, The Darkening Cloud

This RP will probably start after Survivor finishes.

...and yes, I know I forgot to include the RP title in the thread title, like a complete moron. Bear with me. xD

 

[Linnaete]

Oooh, 1st Judge has Zeromus. That's going to have my name all over it. Care to reserve it in case for me please, Martel (providing this RP will go ahead once Survivor wraps up - I don't know how popular FFXII actually is here)?

 

[Ichigo]

I'm willing to partake in this RP as well, I love the FFXII universe and mythology so it'd be cool to be in this one. btw, may I reserve a spot for one of the judge positions?

 

[Martel]

Honestly, I think that even FFXIII is more popular than FFXII on here, although that isn't stopping me from trying. xD

In any case, shall reserve Zeromus Judge for you, Oliviski. Ichigo, if you want a Judge, you'll need to specify which of the two remaining that you'd like.

On a minor note, Judge 4 mentioned in the prologue will have Zodiark, and will be the primary antagonist. Just in case people were wondering why there were only three Judge slots. xD

 

[Merung]

I'd like to reserve Judge 2, if that's okay.

 

[Gaige]

I...don't suppose I could reserve Judge 3 as well could I? I know I have Mateus reserved for a different character but I have a character in mind that would totally fit Hashmal (well, Exodus, but that's been reserved.)

 

[Saga]

OH yas, I'll totally get to work on my char for this soon, Martel!

I assume Shemmy is reserved for moi still? =o

 

[Merung]

I...don't suppose I could reserve Judge 3 as well could I? I know I have Mateus reserved for a different character but I have a character in mind that would totally fit Hashmal (well, Exodus, but that's been reserved.)

I'm willing to take the Hashmal Judge and let you have the Exodus one, if you want to.

 

[Gaige]

AMG you're actually awesome. I'd love that.

 

[Martel]

Two characters per person Diar, so that'll be fine. I don't mind who takes which Judge between you and MistMoor (sorry Ichigo, first come first served, and I did say you needed to specify which Judge you wanted) so whichever one you two want is fine. Sort it out amongst yourselves. xD

Also, for Judge profiles - if you feel the need to mention how you obtained your Espers in your bio, you received them from the Emperor of Archadia. Naturally.

Sephrenia, Shemmy is indeed reserved for you
Also, if you were to have a second Esper, would you prefer Cuchulainn or Famfrit? Diar has burst my eardrum demanding Zalera, and Steve would get Belias for story purposes. I got first pick of Espers, so I'll let you decide which you'd rather have. xD

In the interest of getting this RP started, I MAY allow protagonists (so, myself, Diar, Steve and Sephrenia) to have two Espers. Obviously there would be a one-summon rule, and I picked the Judge's Espers quite deliberately - as well as encompassing Judge characteristics (asides Chaos, but given Judge #4 is the primary antagonist and will have Zodiark as an ace-in-the-hole, he's an exception) they're the strongest Espers, so they'd still have an edge.

It's up to you guys, though. I'd be quite happy to do that...not to mention I like the symmetry of four protagonists and four Judges. We still wouldn't start until after Survivor (unless people wanted to, but we'd have to suspend activity during it for those participating) but it'd fill all slots and keep it nice and cosy. Your call, it was just a thought~

 

[Gaige]

Name: Jenna Opus

Age: 25

Race: Hume

Gender: Female

Appearance: Tall at five foot eleven with dirty blond hair reaching to her middle back, Jenna has a rather heavily muscled frame for a woman, striking a rather imposing figure both on and off the battlefield.

With the angular face of a highborn noble, she can rarely be seen smiling or frowning, giving her a smooth appearance. Her thin, perfectly plucked eyebrows are slightly furrowed, giving her a permanently stern and slightly irritated appearance.

With narrowed green eyes and a pale face, one who looks closely enough might describe Jenna as slightly feline in appearance, something which her elegance and straight backed posture does little to dissuade.

Outside of direct combat, Jenna wears a female military officer's uniform, with a black and white shirt and thin jacket combination and an oddly apropus and neat red ribbon around her neck, culminating in a prominent ruff to her front. With a slightly revealing yet still prim black, knee length skirt, she nullifies lustful gazes for the most part with thick black tights that cover up her lower legs, finishing the arrangement with polished black heels that only add to her height.

When battle approaches, Jenna dons much more suitable attire, with a set of durable golden armor, light enough to allow her to breathe yet heavy enough to lessen the blow of melee weapons, arrows and magic. She abdicates from a helmet however, to show her enemies a Judge Magister has entered combat, in an attempt to induce fear into them.

Personality: With a loyalty to the Archadian Empire that is hard to outdo, Jenna wants her country to flourish and remain in the annals of history for years to come, and that the conquered nations such as Dalmasca are necessary, and the destroyed nations such as Nabradia and Landis an unavoidable tragedy brought about through their unwillingness to accept a "peaceful resolution."

Feeling an odd kind of exhilaration in combat, the battleground is Jenna's true home. Though she doesn't derive sadistic pleasure from the harm of others, she feels a strange adrenaline rush when in combat that makes her feel more alive than any other situation, and as such she often fights on the front lines herself as a commander.

She cares for the rank and file soldiers of her army deeply, and despite her arrogant self assertion that nothing Archadia does is wrong, the haughty persona slips briefly when she gives a pre battle, preferring a soldier to go home alive than die a hero.

Finally, with a lawful, authoritarian regard to obedience and hierarchy, she believes firmly in punishment of both the corporal and capital variety, and isn't above using torture, blackmail, threats and coercion as a method of extraction against prisoners of war.

Job Class: (not required for Judges)

Weapon: A large greatsword that can be held in one or both hands. Made of tempered steel, with razor adamantite grafted onto the edge, the latter stops battle from dulling the blade.

As well as that, Jenna is a practitioner of what is known as "full contact magic", in which she gets close to the enemy with magic that forms blades, small explosions in front of her, and relatively powerful force fields. However, this tires her quickly.

Esper: Exodus, The Judge-Sal

Bio: Born in Tsenoble to a noble family, blah blah blah. >.>

Character theme: Wild Arms 5- Deep Seated Grudge.

Battle theme: Final Fantasy IX- Mystery Sword.

EDIT: Love the new idea, Martel.

 

[Merung]

Name: Judge Malius (born Halian Nemyros Maleej)

Age: 46

Race: Hume

Gender: Male

Appearance: A handsome, white skinned man in his mid-forties, Malius's features are strong and masculine, with a few scars running across his face to add to the charm. His dark brown, crew cut hair is graced with hints of silver, and his ghostly, light gray eyes are unsettling to make contact with. Despite being past his physical prime, his muscular body is quite impressive for a man of his age and, standing at 6'6, an intimidating sight to behold.

His Judge armor follows the traditional, decorated plate design for the most part. Instead of chainmail, he wears black cloth under the armor for increased flexibility, and also uses leather gloves and boots to maximize mobility. A large Imperial seal is carved on the chest piece, colored so brightly in crimson it almost seems to glow. Several red lines run from the symbol, forming curious patterns across the covering. He wears no armor in the waist area, instead opting for a regular belt with additional straps connected to the armor on the thighs. The head is protected by a uniquely decorated close helm that lacks the horns Judges usually carry. The attire is complete with a red cape, emblazoned with the Imperial seal.

Personality: A cold-blooded sociopath with no regard for anything, Judge Malius is as much a monster as he is a man. Born unwanted in a hostile environment, he finds purpose in nothing. While he acknowledges the moral codes, ethics and laws of society, he merely plays along with them, as if everything's but part of a twisted game. Having been exposed to the dark side of Archadia's "prosperity" since chilhdood, he despises the Empire as much as any other nation in Ivalice and holds little concern over the outcome of the coming war. An articulate and sophisticated man, he constantly manipulates those around him to reach his goals and, when faced by colleagues and the public, upholds a meticulously constructed, artificial persona of a dignified and patriotic military official few are able to see through. The only people he treats with some genuine respect are his fellow Judge Magisters, who are also the few aware of his true nature. A pure sadist, Malius openly enjoys killing and gladly takes on the ”unfortunate” duty of torturing an enemy hostage.

Weapon: An expert with firearms, Malius's weapon of choice is the Betelgeuse. He also carries a regular Imperial longsword in case he needs to engage in close combat. His skills with magick are limited to black magick, relying on others to heal his wounds when the need arises.

Esper: Hashmal, Bringer of Order

Bio: Halian Nemyros Maleej was born in 660 Old Valendian, in the slums of the Imperial City of Archades. The son of a beggar woman and a thief who disappeared the moment he was told of the pregnancy, Halian spent his childhood in poverty, doing various odd jobs for merchants, criminals and the like. By age 13 he had already become a trusted courier among the city’s criminal underground, using the little gil he made to buy food and medicine for his mother, who was dying from an unknown disease.

Three years later, his mother’s death gave way to an opportunity to leave the slums and a chance at a better life. Pursuing a military career, Halian enlisted immediately and entered a year-long period of formal training. He then became part of a unit assigned to outposts near the Empire’s borders, dealing with bandits and illegal immigrants attempting to cross the frontier. During this time he proved talent in strategic thinking as well as procifiency with firearms, skills that contritubed to his induction into the Akademy at age 21.

Finishing his education in four years, Halian became part of the Imperial Elite, and led a portion of the capital’s street patrol units while studying the Law for five years. However, the feeling of alienation and frustration with mundane urban life led to depression and alcoholism, driving him to the brink. Desperate to find solace, he requested to be deployed. His wish was granted, and soon he found himself in the west, expanding Archadian territory.

With the tensions of battle rising every day, Halian began to discover the sadism within him. Initially hesitant to acknowledge the enjoyment killing brought him, he eventually became to embrace it and was changed forever. As his eight-year deployment began to draw to its close, he killed his commanding officer, Judge Nilus. The murder, carried out at night with no one else in the vicinity, was never solved. Two months later the troops returned to Archades, where Halian was promoted Judge at age 33. It was also during this time he legally changed his name to Malius.

For the ten years that followed, Malius worked at the Ministry of Law, taking little part in street level duties. However, when the political tensions between Archadia and Rozarria began to heat up, he volunteered to take part in the invasion of Nabradia and worked as the commanding officer of the marksman units. After two years in the field, Malius was summoned back to the capital, where the Emperor appointed him Judge Magister.

Character theme: Yasunori Mitsuda - Gnosis

Battle theme: Brian Tyler - Clutch Then Shift

 

[Linnaete]

[FONT=&quot]Name: Judge Magister Nelchael[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Age: 40[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Race: Hume[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Gender: Male[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Appearance: Clad in full black armour in the tide of battle, Nelchael’s mere armed appearance is typically sufficient enough to strike fear into the eyes of any Archadian opponent – at least this is what his rank and file commonly believe. Nelchael’s full battle attire includes a heavy set of greaves adorned with a complex design of silver and white lines that form a symmetrical pattern on the wrists. The chestplate proudly carries the Archadian coat of arms in its gleaming glory alongside another series of silvery lines forming a crown-like shape, covering the unnaturally weighty chainmail underneath. His shoulder pads are moulded into a unique crown-like design, covered with shimmering silver against the intimidating black. The boots reach his upper shins, also with a colour combination of black juxtaposed with the silver and white that too form a series of intricate yet subtle line patterns on the boots themselves. Dark chainmail is visibly seen above his kneepads and boots while a large silver belt covers the waist, itself adorned with a symbol of the king chess piece. A black cape hangs behind, decorated with silver accents and the king chess piece symbol. His helmet’s shape vaguely resembles that of the head of a king chess piece. Its colour is more silver-dominated, though its narrow visor is deep black.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Nelchael – as well as his fellow Judge Magisters – is rarely seen without his full armour even within the halls of the palace in Archades, citing that with the call of duty often being so abrupt and sudden he is continuously armed to be ready for any situation. With his helmet removed, it becomes apparent as to how battle-hardened this Judge really is. The hair is jet black, short and fringeless. A couple of scars can be visibly seen particularly on his cheeks while his skin is in itself pale, as if it had rarely encountered daylight. What may have been once a pair of luminous blue eyes has been reduced to dull, grey eyes that appear unsettling and almost malevolent to any witness. Due to a Manufacted Nethicite over-dosage, grey veins can be visibly seen pressing against the inside of his neck, the skin on his neck now horribly losing opacity and colour. Nelchael stands at 6’2 and despite the sheer bulkiness and weight of his armour; he elicits little in the way of difficulty in movement and combat. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Personality: Like his fellow Judge Magisters, his promotion had been secured by his fierce and consistent loyalty to the Archadian Empire and his brutality and competence in the field of battle. Nelchael is a fierce nationalist and pro-imperial. He sees Archadia as being the sole military superpower that Ivalice could ever accommodate and scornfully looks upon its neighbours as being inferior nations with feckless populations and inept rulers unable to sustain an economic and military record that Archadia proudly claims. Nelchael is strictly conservative, overly fond of the autocratic regime of Archades and vehemently hostile to the idea of republics and democracy in general. He sees both as being “an ill that Ivalice could never afford to bear on her vulnerable shoulders” while swearing complete allegiance to the Empire. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Nelchael is not hesitant in murdering those he deems a possibly military or political opponent no matter what kind of threat such parties could be. He once sanctioned the executions of a teenage group in Archades who had publicly made drunken insults towards the regime, an event that conveys his utter ruthlessness with exactness all too frightening. If there is any prominent figure be it in the Senate (a political body he is too suspicious of, for resembling a democratic body) or in the Emperor’s circle of closest comrades itself. He will find and execute anyone he deems a threat of the regime. It is perhaps this sheer twisted dedication that grants him a paranoid personality; he may occasionally be overcome with delusion and can purge anyone he deems a threat, imaginary or not. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Much of his rage is directed towards the Occuria, “cursed wretches” as he labels them, for commanding mankind through fate that only they can control. Nelchael strongly supports the Emperor’s goal to ‘liberate’ Ivalice from the chains of the Occuria and to hand the future back into the hands of man. He deems his loyalty to the Empire as being “greater than any other Imperialist man could muster” and arrogantly sees himself as being almost king-like below that of the Emperor himself as his loyal ally. This superiority complex of great loyalty can therefore in a way be reflected in the king chess piece-motif on his armour. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Job Class: *not required for Judges as they’re you know…Judge Magisters and all[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Weapons: A wielder of a pair of monstrously heavy steel blades, Nelchael carries with him two swords named Cherubim and Seraphim, collectively labelling them the “Deliverers of Liberty”, in reference to his vehement hostility towards the Occuria, seeing them as deities enchaining man in predetermination. They too are adorned by the hilts with the emblems of both the Archadian coat of arms and the symbol of a king chess piece. The Deliverers of Liberty can combine to form one long double-edged blade where it becomes the “Deliverer”. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]In addition to the Deliverers of Liberty, Nelchael is also highly adapted in Black Magick, though this is mainly only used to enhance his swords. Nelchael does not like his fellow Judges utilise blasts of offensive spells towards his opponents but instead seeks to power the Deliverers of Liberty with elemental capabilities (e.g. Firaga), thus enhancing them and when correctly and tactically in the field of battle, this earns Nelchael incredible scores of victories. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]He commands the Archadian 13th Fleet; its flagship the formidable [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Eden[/FONT][FONT=&quot], its weaponry numerous and size a horrific fright for any resistance that was to oppose this Judge Magister.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Esper: Zeromus, the Condemner[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Bio: Though often denied by the Judge himself, Nelchael had been born not within the borders of Archadia, but in the then [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Republic[/FONT][FONT=&quot] of [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Velont[/FONT][FONT=&quot] further north-east on the Valendian Continent that had since long been annexed by the Archadian Empire. Looking back at his lost nation, Nelchael exhibits no anger or frustration, and on the contrary he commends the Empire for what it had done all those years ago. At the age of 12, Velont fell under the fires of war as Archadian soldiers marched in, leaving behind a bloody trail of mercilessness and cruelty to towns that had dared to resist. Nelchael’s family decided to flee the country and enter Landis, which was then also an independent nation until Archadia stormed through its borders having already taken down the [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Velont [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Republic[/FONT][FONT=&quot] with ease. Since then his families have become occupants in occupied Landis as Archadia continued to seek complete domination of the continent. While his family lamented the fall of their homeland, as well as that of Landis, Nelchael grew inspired by the military might of Archadia. In retrospect, Velont was a failing republic, its people feckless and undisciplined, and its leaders corrupted and inept. He gained a deep fascination in Archadian military history, successfully applying to the Imperial Institution of Military and Magickal Arts in Archades, the capital of the Empire, much to his family’s chagrin. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]He entered the academy at the age of 16 where his enthusiasm and loyalty for the Empire began to develop. He feigned his history, claiming that he was born of aristocratic stock in the skylines of Tsenoble, Archades. Though by no means a very amicable character, he proved to be adept when it came to swordplay, exerting tremendous physical capabilities despite being a boy of such age. His Magickal skills flourished also and it was not long until Nelchael was conscripted into the military where he performed admirably against armed rebels demanding independence from Archadia. He continuously followed his rank-and-file and never hesitated to follow his superiors’ commands. He slowly earned himself numerous distinctions and a praising reputation among the elites of the Imperial Army. Meanwhile, his family members grew even more disillusioned with life under Archadian occupation and sought to discreetly help resistance forces operating in the [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Landis [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Province[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. Nelchael had barely turned 25 when he heard this, now a commander of a Regiment stationed in the [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Landis[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Province[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. Confronting his family, he was asked where his loyalties lay; his family or the Empire. Nelchael brutally declared that to aid resistance groups was an act of utter sin that would serve to only benefit the Occurians before ordering the slaying of all the active resistance groups in the Province, even his family. Despite such a shocking and horrific action, Nelchael quickly pulled himself out from temporary grief and remorse, confirming that his full loyalties lay with the Empire. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]By the time he reached 28, he was promoted to be a Judge and finally after turning 32, he reached one of the highest positions of authority in Archadia. He became Judge Magister and gained absolute command of a large proportion of Archadia’s military, its 13th Fleet being one of its most formidable and deadly. He was one of the youngest to have ever been knighted a Judge Magister, and this helped to consolidate the final piece in Nelchael’s complete loyalty to the Empire. Very recently, the extensive research and creation of Manufacted Nethicite to oppose that of Deifacted Nethicite piqued great attention and interest from Nelchael who, despite warnings from scientists and medics, allowed large quantities of Manufacted Nethicite to be fused into his body, enhancing his physical might greatly and allowing him to wield his weapons with relative ease despite their weight. His failure to heed the warnings of the dangerous power of the Nethicite has rendered him a walking time bomb. Unknowingly, his body is struggling to contain the strain of the Nethicite which can be seen at first with his increasingly paranoid nature.

Character Theme: TBA

Battle Theme: TBA


[/FONT]

 

[Martel]

Diar: Just needs some history, obviously, but I like what I see~

Olivia, MistMoor, you're both accepted. We're going to be a bunch of thoroughbred bastards, we Judge Magisters. A trigger-happy maniac, a nethicite addict, a rather intimidating woman, and an o--never mind. I'm still working on my Judge profile. xD

The Freeshoter, you are not accepted. Sorry, but this is an OC-only RP. Plus I think all the Espers are taken, if we're going with my plan...which we might be. Just waiting on Sephrenia's input....

I'll try and have my bios up ASAP, but I'm working on so many things right now...they're half done. One will be a Judge, the primary antagonist, and the other a Feol Viera.

 

[Ichigo]

I know that there's a possibility my character won't be required but I figured I'd post it up anyway just in case.

Name: Gideon Atkascha Bestrald

Age: 24

Race: Hume

Gender: Male

Appearance: A handsome, dashing man, Gideon’s facial features are masculine and show the strength of a lower class citizen, yet carry the confidence of a nobleman, with perceptive, burgundy eyes, slightly tanned skin, and long brown hair swept to the side to be kept away from his face. Combined with a warm, reassuring smile, he’s quite popular with the ladies wherever he goes.

This is enhanced by his rather average height at 5’8”, which gives him an agile, but toned build all but earned from a life on the streets. His attire further compliments his looks with an embroidered golden vest over a high-collared shirt, tight black leather trousers with leather shin pads, and knee-high brown boots.

To ready for battle, Gideon adorns a gold buckled belt with pouches for various items and potions along with a small sheath for a dagger and a space for a sword sheath.

Personality: Cultivated and molded by the streets of Rabanastre, Gideon is sharp-witted and cynical, causing him to come off as somewhat of a curt individual to most, sometimes giving off a bad impression. But, he is by no means a selfish person and always makes it a point to help those in need. This makes him extremely reliable, and he often goes to far-reaching lengths to get things done.

However, Gideon hates social injustice and liars, often getting himself into trouble with local authorities whenever corrupt practices are taking place.

When the time for battle arrives, Gideon is a fierce fighter who quickly engages his foes in the most effective way possible, all while being cautious of his surrounding allies. He thrives off of the energy given by the battlefield and is often seen honing his abilities preparing for the next battle when he has the leisure to do so.

Job Class: (I don't really know what to put here since my character uses light armor, but also wields Swords, Daggers, and knows bits and pieces of magicks)

Weapon: Favoring speed and technique, Gideon wields a steel long sword that is lightweight, allowing him to effectively hold it in one hand while either opting for a shield, short dagger, or even another sword in his free hand. He also specializes in magick that bestows his allies with augmentations beyond their ability (Magicks like Bravery, Haste etc.)

Esper: Zalera, The Death Seraph

Bio: Gideon Atkascha Bestrald was born in 682 Old Valendian to peasants Roscoe and Anastasia Bestrald; a former Archadian noble turned blacksmith, and a lowly chef for the local tavern, The Sandsea, respectively. Given that they could barely support themselves prior to Gideon being born, his early childhood was rough and riddled with hardships. There was often little to eat in their home and his parents worked long hours for little gil.

To make matters worse, Roscoe was bitter over his current situation, often blaming his wife and Gideon for taking him away from his lavish lifestyle in Archades. He and his mother suffered this abuse for years, until Archades began its tyrannical crusade against Dalmasca.

Seeing a chance to escape from their poor living conditions, Roscoe attempted to strike a deal with the Archadian soldiers that had occupied Rabanastre. Instead of a compromise, Roscoe and Anastasia were greeted by the sharp pain of a steel blade, and were felled in front of the whole district as an example for others to follow. Absolutely mortified, the young Gideon couldn’t help but question why these things were happening. What had his parents done wrong?

Now depressed, angry, and poor; Gideon turned to a life of petty crime and small errands to get by all while spending whatever little money he got on lavish garments in an effort to run away from his troubled past. When passerby’s would question his lineage; he would lie and say he was a traveling huntsman from Archades, killing game to make some extra coin.
But inside, he knew that behind his grand façade hid a broken individual with only hate festering inside him. Hate for the vicious brutality that he and his people had suffered at the hands of the invaders.

This continued until Gideon had a fateful encounter with a traveling mercenary by the name of Chevalier d’Marazzo. After a botched thievery attempt by Gideon, Marazzo forced him to accompany him on a hunt and aid in the killing of a beast.

Gideon watched in awe as Marazzon dispatched a Wild Saurian with ease, and was filled with wide ranging emotions. But the one that stood out most of all was hope. He believed that if he learned how to fight under Marazzo, he could use his newfound power to fight against the Empire for his people. Marazzo enjoyed the idea of having an apprentice and agreed.

For the next few years, the Dalmascan Estersand practically became his home. The two practiced relentlessly and Gideon’s innate skill with the blade blossomed into a very agile and capable fighter. With this new power in tow, Gideon’s first order of business was to join the Resistance, which showed increasing unrest due to the Empire’s deliberate perversion of the land.

Character theme: Protest The Hero - Heretics & Killers

Battle theme: Daisuke Ishiwatari - Rebellion