(Final Fantasy VIII) Balamb Garden: Relaunch Recruitment Open

[Fenrir]

The Premise:
It is thirty years after the events of Final Fantasy VIII and this game follows the lives of the students at Balamb Garden, an elite military academy, that trains young adults to be mercenaries. There are many reasons children are accepted into the ranks of any one of the three Gardens: Balamb, Trabia, and Galbadia.  Enrolling between the ages of five and fifteen, some students come as orphans, some to gain power, some fame and fortune, and some for a better life.  Whatever the reason almost all students are accepted into the Garden and complete their training between the ages of fifteen and nineteen, depending upon their ability, perseverance, and skill.  There are three ranks or stepping stones within every Garden- Cadet, Candidate, and SeeD- and if a student has not reached SeeD status by the age of twenty they are dismissed from the Garden.  Those that are released typically enlist in various armies and are highly valuable despite their lack of SeeD title. 

All three Gardens are now politically neutral: typically fighting on either side of a disagreement as long as that side has the money to pay for their services.  Before the defeat of Ultimecia, Galbadia was firmly on the side of the Galbadia army and actually on the side of the Sorceress Edea at some point.  They were given the option to become neutral or risk being removed from Garden Status.  It was an easy choice, to ensure they maintained their power they agreed to a neutral standing on all issues: even giving up their rights to grant SeeD status.  Balamb Garden is currently the only Garden able to officially grant SeeD status, Trabia having lost the ability to do so as well with the missile attack thirty years ago.  The other Gardens are able to train Cadets and Candidates and most students transfer to Balamb when they wish to apply to become SeeD.  It is also the Garden that houses the most abundant number of SeeD mercenaries, holding the most weight as a political power because of its exclusive rights and regulations of SeeD members.

SeeD status individuals are essentially property of the Garden and have high status in most situations due to the Garden's backing and rarely get a choice in missions or sides to pick from.  If a SeeD mercenary is demoted from their position they will find themselves shunned by most of polite society due to the Garden's reputation as a professional business but the criminals and the desperate are not above picking up the dropped fruit. 

Things To Know:
This is a relaunch of the previous attempt at a Balamb Garden Group Game: as it stands those that were active in the game previously have had the first dibs on characters/weapons/Guardian Forces and the like and now we are recruiting for new blood.  This is a free form game: this means characters/monsters and the like to do not have stats to work with.  This also means that a player must be careful and aware that not every hit is going to land and not every bad ass move is going to work out correctly: please try and write accordingly.  There is a plot line and there will be missions that characters will need to complete throughout the game.  Some missions will tie directly into the plot line while some will be entirely for fun.  The GM will be handling NPCs for missions as well as enemies characters will met in combat but aside from missions and the planned plot there should be plenty of 'free' time for the characters.  All characters created for this game will fall under the rank of Candidate or Cadet (explained in the Information Guide).  Throughout the continuation of the game characters can apply to become a SeeD at a later time.

Any other questions can be posted here, PM'd to Fenrir, or addressed in the Information Guide.

Characters and Guardian Forces:
We are currently welcoming male and female characters: though no cannon characters are allowed.  There are also, currently limitations on specializations and weapons that will be accepted due to the over abundance of current characters with them.  Weapons not currently accepted: guns, gun blades, and fists (this includes gloves or gauntlets: regular or magical).  Going almost in partnership the specializations no longer available:  hand to hand combat, marksmanship/sniping.  These tend to be the favorite for people but there are TONS of other ideas for weapons as well as specializations.  Unused weapons include: bow, lance/spear, chakram, sai, axe, kama, nunchucks, tonfa, all kinds of swords etc.  Specializations has a long list of available categories as well: tactics, interrogation, weapon repair, defense, communications, stealth, etc.  You are not bound by either of these list and each weapon/specialization does not have to be completely unique by any means but there are a lot of holes that can be filled as far as weapons and specializations go!  Feel free to be creative with both.

Characters we are in need of would be magical characters.  As most video games role playing games go: we tend to be light in the magical department.  There is black, white, and gray (status) magic within this RP and though everyone can use magic to a certain extent we do not have many characters that are studying magic.  Now, just because your character is spending a bulk of it's time in magic does not restrict them to a staff or scepter: they are more than welcome to have a fun weapon as well (they will just not be nearly as effective with it as someone else that might have the same weapon and studies physical combat).

As far as Guardian Forces go: there are plenty still up for grabs!  We welcome cannon Guardian Forces as well as created ones but once a guardian force has been taken it is no longer available to other applicants.  Guardian Forces are handled different ways by their characters: some are used more as companions while some only use them for battle.  It is possible to have your guardian force 'be it's own character' and make it's own post if it is away from your normal player character: however this is not required- I just think it's fun! If your GF is from Final Fantasy mythology I request that its special attack stay fairly similar to at least one of the games: I don't want an Ifrit that suddenly has frost flare or something so far out of the Final Fantasy realm.

Character Sheet:

Code Select Expand


[b][size=14pt]CHARACTER APPLICATION[/size][/b]
[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Enrollment Age:[/b] Between 5 and 15
[b]Gender:[/b]
[spoiler=Theme Song](Include, Youtube video Theme Song)[/spoiler]

[b]Weapon:[/b] Name [b]Weapon Description:[/b]
[b]Specialization:[/b]
[b]Current Ranking:[/b] Cadet or Candidate
[b]Victory Motto:[/b]
[b]Limit Break:[/b] Name [b]Limit Break Description[/b]

[b]Personality:[/b]

[b]Backstory:[/b]

[b]Appearance:[/b]

[size=14pt][b]GF APPLICATION[/b][/size]
[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Established Connection:[/b]  This means, how have you interacted with this GF so far- are they new? Have you yet to meet them? Have they been your GF for years?  Etc.
[b]Element:[/b]
[b]Description:[/b]
[b]Bonus:[/b]  These bonuses *must be passive*
[b]Special Attack:[/b] Name [b]Special Attack Description[/b]

[spoiler=Character Journal]This is where you can choose to 'record' events or extra facts about your character for other's benefit: either from the beginning or throughout the game[/spoiler]


If you are interested in applying to be in Balamb Garden please fill out the above character sheet and either post it here: or PM it to Fenrir to begin the approval process.

[BlackestKnight]

CHARACTER APPLICATION
Age: 17
Name: Malcolm Murdoch
Enrollment Age: 10
Gender: Male

Number One by Hazel Fernandes (Ichigo's theme)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj4z51PNHXE

Weapon: Bladerangs Weapon Description: A mid-length blade specifically designed to be hurled like that of a boomerang.

Specialization: Ranged warrior with a dash of status buffing magic. His magic offense and defense leaves something to be desired, though he's a reasonable attacker with some status debuffing options. He possesses an unorthodox weapon style and a unique limit break which can prove useful.

Current Ranking: Candidate

Victory Motto: "Now I feel like number one"

Limit Break Peerless Limit Break Description- Malcolm hoists his bladerang triumphantly rotating it a few times before lowering it to meet his opponent in a taunt-like motion,  gaining temporary invincible status for a duration of 1 turn and inflicting the enemy with a provoke command. During this time, he is enveloped with a green aura to signify his peerless status.

Personality: Malcolm is as calm, level-headed and responsible as one can expect a seventeen year old to be. In situations that require decisive action, he radiates professionalism and confidence much like that of a soldier. Despite this though, as a leader, he is still quite reactive to danger and obstacles in the team’s way. He has yet to develop the savvy and forward thinking that many of the more experienced SeeD officers seem to possess.

Despite being naturally charismatic and a reasonable judge of character, Malcolm has no desire to be a leader. At the moment, he has only accepted the role because he's done so this far. It wouldn't be right to step down unless he had a rightful replacement.

Malcolm is your typical nice guy who managed to make something out of himself despite his traumatic origins. He does show lasting signs of post-traumatic stress from the "incident"  in which he was introduced his GF. Despite being a fairly friendly personality , he has an inability to connect with people at times. He has a tendency to push others away instinctively. Malcolm also has a soft spot for kids and harming one is one of his berserk buttons ,  though he never really had a chance to be one himself...

Backstory: As early as he could remember Malcolm has been a ward of the state or that's how far he cares to remember about his early childhood. He wouldn't have been old enough to remember what kind of people  his folks were, but little things like his mothers voice and his fathers cologne he can recall with some imagined effort , though as each day pass they become more figment to his imagination. Malcolm isn't the type of person to dwell in the past. Though his story is quite an epicone.

Malcolm lost his parents in the war around the age of 4...or 5.

He was at that adventurous "big boy" stage. He could walk, he could talk, but he was still an infant in many ways and unable to fend for himself, not long after losing his parents, Malcolm was approached by some local kids who shared in his orphan-hood , they decided that they could look after each so for awhile Malcolm joined their group . Around this time the war officially ended, and people were starting to notice Malcolm and his many brothers and sisters who roamed the streets, taking what they could from who or whatever. Someone decided something should be done and then some men in blue came and broke up the kids.

Some nice people decided that it would be in Malcolm's  best interest if he stayed in a house made for other kids like himself.

At his new home he met what would be his third family though he wasn't very liked by many of his new brothers and sisters except for one who talked endlessly about a special hero academy that accepted kids like himself.  Malcolm found the idea ridiculous at first, but the kid seemed nice enough so he didn't rain on his friends parade.

The two became close almost as if they were real brothers, and when one was adopted the other insisted the other be adopted too, Malcolm felt a bit uneasy about the adoption but with his little brother with him,  he thought he could overlook this uneasiness he felt.

The people who adopted him  were...strange to say the least.  They lived in a compound full of other strange people with adopted kids who all followed the same teachings. They all believed in someone named Ultimecia as the one true savior, he didn't care for Ultimecia and openly showed it, which earned him a lot of lashings for his rebellious display, the other kids submitted, Malcolm did not. The other kids turned on him for not believing, he knew it was all just lies. Even Malcolm's little brother submitted to the authority of the adults and their lies. 

His time at the compound was grueling, he hated every minute of it, Malcolm was left to his own devices in isolation from the rest of the community. What he didn't understand at the time was that the children who were brought to the compound were ritual test vessels for a guardian force by the name of "Leviathan". He didn't know what to make of it all, but kids were going missing and he hadn't seen his brother in awhile so he ventured to find answers himself.

He learned of all the secrets from eavesdropping on one of the cult leaders until he was caught.  He learned of the rituals and the many failed discarded test vessels including the friend that was like a brother to him, though he was a dirty heretic, they wanted to make an example out of him, they performed the ritual on him like they did so many other children but something was a bit different with this test subject, he seemed to communicate with Leviathan. Harnessing the power of the sea king.

A freak tsunami hit the compound sometime in the night killing all but one, news of the freak tsunami spread but Malcolm had all ready left the compound before he could be detained and questioned. All he could think about was all the children who were needlessly sacrificed and why the guardian force seem to favor him.

Remembering the conversations he had with his close friend. Malcolm enrolled into Balamb at 10. The rest I believe you have on record.

Appearance: Malcolm appears to be a young dark skin male of roughly above average height (6'0) and weight (170lbs) with a lean but athletic physique. He has light blonde closely tapered hair, high cheek bones, and intricate ritualistic serpent tattoos which span the course of his back upper back and stop just short of his wrists.

Appearance

(Malcolm wielding his trademark bladerangs, right)

GF APPLICATION
Name: Dark Leviathan
Established Connection:  Malcolm established contact with his GF by way of ritual, Malcolm was one of many war orphan slaves hand picked for experimental rituals conducted by occultist followers of Ultimecia. He was lucky enough to establish compatibility, the others not so much...
Element: Water
Description: Leviathan, also known as Leviatan, is a summon that appears in the Final Fantasy series.
A giant sea serpent, it first appeared as a monster that swallowed the party in Final Fantasy II, and went on to become one of the most prominent summons in the series alongside Bahamut, being known by titles such as "the Sea King", or "Lord of All Waters".

Leviathan

Bonus:  Attack+, Speed+, Accuracy+
Special Attack: Leviathan's trademark attack is Tidal Wave, also known as Tsunami, which calls on a massive wave of water to damage all enemies.

Character Journal

This is where you can choose to 'record' events or extra facts about your character for other's benefit: either from the beginning or throughout the game

[Saruine]

Please reserve me a female spot in this I love the concept.

[Fenrir]

BlackestKnight, I've sent you a PM concerning Malcolm!

Saruine!  You have a female spot reserved, post the sheet here or PM it to me when you've come up with a solid idea and we can go over it!  I'm glad you like the concept as much as I do ;)

[Irishfire87]

I'm working on a Female White Mage/Healer right now.  I'm filling out the app but I think I'm going to be interrupted soon. 

[Silk]

I'm considering this :)

[Lockepick]

Posting here:

Talking to the GM now about making a male Grey Magic specialist. General support character: Recon, communications, etc.

[kckolbe]

So I see that players from the original game will be given priority, but are all the players from the character list involved in this game, or were those tjust from the last game, with some already inactive?

[Fenrir]

I'm working on a Female White Mage/Healer right now.  I'm filling out the app but I think I'm going to be interrupted soon.

Take all the time you need Irishfire87- I should be pretty available the next few days to go over sheets.  So no rush!

I'm considering this :)

Posting here:

Talking to the GM now about making a male Grey Magic specialist. General support character: Recon, communications, etc.

I've talked to Silk and lockepick through PMs but I feel obligated to mention them!

So I see that players from the original game will be given priority, but are all the players from the character list involved in this game, or were those tjust from the last game, with some already inactive?

Actually, the players from the original game will not be given priority, they were simply given the option to revise old characters or create new ones before I opened up recruitment.  I'm not sure I understand your question though: are you referring to the list of those in the Accepted Character Sheets thread listed on the Information Guide?  Because, yes that is an official list of the characters that will be active in this rendition as well.  The previous list was forgone for a new one: to avoid confusion.  Currently there are no inactive characters within the current version of the game- (excluding those that have yet to start, of course!)

[kckolbe]

Currently there are no inactive characters within the current version of the game- (excluding those that have yet to start, of course!)

So there are inactive players!  I worded my question oddly, but you did answer it.  Thanks.  I am currently thinking of a mage as well.  With the exception of lockepicke, who's a cool guy, all the mages appear to be female, so my char would be in good company.  Does one have to specialize between black/white/gray?  With six spells, one could have a couple of each.

[Lockepick]

@kckolbe: The Magic Section explains that Specializing in one 'color' gives you access to a higher Tier of spell once they reach Candidate/SeeD. In my conversations with the GM, they mentioned that specializing in a color will also make that 'color' more effective. So at Cadet: Specialization is a more ephemeral bonus; but once you're past Candidate/SeeD, it unlocks whole new Tiers of spells, as well as the ephemeral bonus.

[Fenrir]

So there are inactive players!  I worded my question oddly, but you did answer it.  Thanks.  I am currently thinking of a mage as well.  With the exception of lockepicke, who's a cool guy, all the mages appear to be female, so my char would be in good company.  Does one have to specialize between black/white/gray?  With six spells, one could have a couple of each.

I would say there is a difference between inactive characters and characters that have yet to activate: but that's getting a bit nitpicky.  Either way, I'm happy I managed to answer your question!  Also, lockepick did a very good job in explaining the magic specialties. 

You are welcome to specialize in all three magics but they will be weaker in comparison to other magics of someone specializing in just one.  For example: if I created a character that specialized in black magics and you had one that specialized in all three: my black magic spells would be more powerful than yours.  You are welcome to pick a main magic and a secondary magic if you would rather: this would put your priority magic on a level fairly close to one who solely specializes in it: the secondary magic would be less than that: and then the third magic would be weak in comparison.  There has to be a pretty good balance between the three.

[kckolbe]

I was just teasing about the "inactives."  Thanks for the explanation on magic, and I also like that magic specialization doesn't limit weapon selection.

[kckolbe]

CHARACTER APPLICATION
Name: Nivek Larsen
Age: 19
Enrollment Age: 11
Gender: Male

Theme Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrWSkQMWlAY

Weapon: Firestarter
Weapon Description: Short sword and Buckler
Specialization: Black Magic (Poor at casting healing)
Current Ranking: Candidate (Just passed exam)
Victory Motto: "Unrealized talent..."
Limit Break Spark of Inspiration
Limit Break Description Nivek generates a single spark, which floats from him and toward his enemies before erupting into a giant fireball.

Personality: Nivek exudes a lot of confidence, a strong change from the previous year when there was close to none.  He has a general optimism about the future as a result of his recent success.  He knows he'll only have, at most, two chances to become SeeD, but thinks that is one more than he will need.  Aside from casting magic (his new favorite thing in the world), he enjoys reading obscure information and flirting (another new favorite as a result of recent gains in confidence).

Backstory: Nivek has been a habitually late bloomer.  While healthy, he displayed none of the physical prowess or natural aptitude to make him SeeD material.  At the age of eleven, he showed signs of impressive magical ability, specifically with healing spells.  Naturally, Gardens became interested.  He spent several years at (???) Garden.  Unfortunately, as he went through puberty, his gift seemed to disappear.  Some professors claimed it was still buried somewhere, but there was no luck getting it to show.  He wasn't even able to cast a Cure spell, making him significantly behind his peers at what was supposed to be his strength.

At the age of 17, he was transferred to Balamb Garden, still only a Cadet.  Magic was almost non-existant for him, though he had at least learned to cast Black Magic spells to minimum requirements.  It seemed likely he would spend the next couple of years displaying the same lack of talent and be released, and he spent considerable time fulfilling that expectation.  Fortunately, while out walking in the Training Center by himself (in what may have been a passive suicide attempt) he encountered a GF.  It might be fairer to say that the GF encountered him.  The GF, Muse, inspired him, and convinced him to stop chasing the abilities he did not have, and to embrace those that he did.

Within days, he was a different man.  Once he stopped worrying about White magic and cast his Black magic with confidence, instructors immediately considered his specialization declared.  He was permitted to take his candidacy exam and passed with little difficulty.

Appearance

GF APPLICATION
Name:  Muse
Established Connection:  Muse has been his GF for a little over a week.
Element: None

Description

Bonus: +Magic, +HP, +Status Defense
Special Attack: Second Wind
Special Attack Description Muse heals allies a small amount and hasten the caster.

(Left original school blank in case anyone wants to have known him from there)

[Teo Torriatte]

I would love to get in on this if I could... I'm going to sleep and I'll work on an actual sheet very soon, but my basic idea for her is a girl that is mostly stealth-based, with a kusari-gama as her weapon and some status magic to go along with it. Her GF would be Nightmare, a midnight black horse that comes riding in from the sky and can either stick around as her mount, or maybe lead some kind of stampede as its special attack.

[Fenrir]

I sent you a PM regarding your character kckolbe!

Luna! There is room for you to get in on things ;D  We do not have a stealth based character yet- the closest thing is a Infiltration and Extraction specialist but really she's good at getting in and out of places she isn't supposed to be and slight of hand.  The GF sounds interesting- I would allow it to lead a stampede of horses as it's attack but GFs aren't used for mounts in battle- I might be alright with it outside of battle: characters have all sorts of relationships with their GFs but in battle GFs purely have their one attack.

[Brazen Endeavors]

Still open?  I'd like to join.   Read through a lot and it seems like a fun game.  Plus I love ff8.

[Fenrir]

Still open?  I'd like to join.   Read through a lot and it seems like a fun game.  Plus I love ff8.

Yes Brazen, (if it's alright that I call you that, of course).  We're still accepting characters, so feel free to submit a character to me- or an idea and we can see where we end up!  ;D

[Brazen Endeavors]

Yes Brazen, (if it's alright that I call you that, of course).  We're still accepting characters, so feel free to submit a character to me- or an idea and we can see where we end up!  ;D

Brazen is a fine and fitting namesake ;)  I was just doing some research to try and come up with a few of my own ideas for a character.  Hopefully, I'll have something soon.

[TheBlackThrone]

If you're still accepting, I'd like to join this game. :) I will get up a profile soon and PM you a question.

[Brazen Endeavors]

Profile... almost done.  I'm having a hard time finding a character pic that pleases me with this particular girl.  Also, still need to draft the personal history.  Everything else is filled out.

[kckolbe]

My character (Nivek Larsen)is pretty short on history tie ins if you want to work something.  He's been at Balamb for the last two years and could have been at Trabia or Galbadia garden before that. 

[Brazen Endeavors]

My character (Nivek Larsen)is pretty short on history tie ins if you want to work something.  He's been at Balamb for the last two years and could have been at Trabia or Galbadia garden before that. 

Possible.  My character will be transferring from Galbadia.  PM me, neh?

[Saruine]

Saruine!  You have a female spot reserved, post the sheet here or PM it to me when you've come up with a solid idea and we can go over it!  I'm glad you like the concept as much as I do ;)

I humbly thank you for your reservation. I am working tirelessly on this character and her GF so that it does the idea justice. Though before I go to far with the GF I want to make sure that it is indeed allowed to make ones own GF I do not wish to step on your toes. If not I have a cannon GF that would be compatible with my concept. I am very excited about this game.

[kckolbe]

You are definitely allowed to make your own GF.  I and several others have.

[Teo Torriatte]

My girl is mostly done in my head... I just need to find some time to type everything out.

[TheBlackThrone]

Possible.  My character will be transferring from Galbadia.  PM me, neh?

My character is also going to be a Galbadia transfer. That was the question I PMed the GM about. Plus other things concerning him. :)

[Saruine]

You are definitely allowed to make your own GF.  I and several others have.

I think I might just stick to the Toneberry GF I have ideas for him. But thank you for answering my question.

[Fenrir]

If you're still accepting, I'd like to join this game. :) I will get up a profile soon and PM you a question.

I am still accepting people to join the game, I have received your PM and will be sending you a returning PM as soon as I'm able!  I took the night off last night and am currently bombarded with trying to catch up ;)

I humbly thank you for your reservation. I am working tirelessly on this character and her GF so that it does the idea justice. Though before I go to far with the GF I want to make sure that it is indeed allowed to make ones own GF I do not wish to step on your toes. If not I have a cannon GF that would be compatible with my concept. I am very excited about this game.

I think I might just stick to the Toneberry GF I have ideas for him. But thank you for answering my question.

As kckolbe has already said, yes we do allow people to have their own GFs: in fact, I tend to enjoy homemade GFs just because there tends to be so much creativity behind them.  I will warn you however, that unfortunately the Toneberry (or sometimes Toneberry King) GF has already been reserved by someone creating a character.  There are plenty of other cannon GFs to choose from orrrr I still wish someone would have a Moomba GF!  Because it's probably the most adorable things I've ever seen! But feel free to handle it how you wish: cannon or created GFs *nods*

My girl is mostly done in my head... I just need to find some time to type everything out.

Feel free to take your time, it's honestly no rush at all.  It always seems more troublesome to put a character down in words than when you already have them built in your head- at least to me it seems that way.  I wish I had a magic wand where I could just go *poof* all my ideas- typed out.  Of course, I think most of us here would want that!

[Brazen Endeavors]

CHARACTER APPLICATION
Name:  Zenaeh Aelmore
Age: 17
Enrollment Age: 10
Gender: Female

Theme Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lvws6aHZ3w

Weapon: Kyoketsu-shoge Weapon Description: A double edged blade with another curved blade attached to the hilt.  From base it is attached to eighteen feet of chain, terminating at a large metal ring.  This weapon may be used at close range (slashing or thrusting stabs), or long range (to entangle, disarm, or trip an opponent; or to deal blunt damage), as well as practical applications (climbing).

Kyoketsu-shoge

Specialization: Black magic; agility/acrobatics.
Current Ranking: Candidate
Victory Motto:  “Death may be the greatest of all human blessings.” (Socrates)
Limit Break: In mortis exsanguine Limit Break Description:  Random elemental damage imbues her weapon (one element, chosen via dice roll), ring end of weapon lashing out to strike an enemy and entangle them.  Mighty heave brings them to her range to suffer four combination stabs/lacerations imbued with black magic.

Personality: Anti-social without being shy, Zenaeh merely prefers a few good books to the company of others.  Gaining her notice generally earns a look of disdain or, if she is especially distracted, one of chilling neutrality.  She is reserved, vocally, though her old classmates nicknamed her ‘Requiem’, given her penchant for reciting somber quotes.  Her fascination with the macabre was never a secret, manifesting in small and sometimes strange ways that raised eyebrows. 

In the field her weaknesses become a bit more obvious; she is slow to decide, lacking the defining qualities that make a true leader.  Once her path is chosen, however, she reacts swift and pragmatic with a lack of morals that is sometimes disconcerting. 

Backstory:  The chain of events that led to Zenaeh’s admittance to Galbadia Garden started well before her birth, thirty years previous when her own grandfather was a prime political figure in the region.  His support of the Sorceress – and Galbadia Garden’s active participation in her attempts to gain control – meant that he fell well and hard in his aspirations when war was resolved.

With his son already at the beginning of his own political campaigns, there was pressure from all sides to rebuild the family name and, more importantly, reconstruct the powerbase for so long attached to it.  Yet the Aelmore’s were an old family, with fortune enough to bide their time until opportunity struck.

With five siblings born in near as many years, Zenaeh and her generation represented prime pickings to garner favor.  Her brothers were spared for their genetic and cultural ability to retain the family name.  Her eldest sister had already captured the eye of an older boy as part of another affluent household, and her younger sister was the true babe of the family.  By process of elimination almost solely, it was decided that the Aelmores would send their middle daughter to Galbadia Gardens, sealing their support of this new structure. 

At the tender age of ten, Zenaeh was given up to a lifetime of studies and training.  At first, her apprehensions of being wrested from home meant slow beginnings.  She made few close friends in those early years, was given easily to tears, and sometimes begged for the life she once knew.  It took many ‘grown up’ talks from her visiting parents to realize there was no coercing them, and that she would not leave.  Somewhere in these visits she realized they did not particularly want her, with so little talent shown to further their careers.  Whether she failed in this endeavor or not was of no concern to them – only that she was enrolled.

This depressing thought was only the beginning of a spiral that invited a preoccupation with more deplorable and constant thoughts.  Special leave granted to the girl during a family ‘vacation’ (re: photo-op) to beachside resort was ruined when she wandered from the safety net erected from her family’s sake to see the hovel where locals survived beyond gilded walls.  It had sent her home in tears, wondering why she was born never to want when others suffered to eke out another day of life.  The world she grew up in was making less sense every day, and its absence began to look all the more like an unattainable delight.

The next year saw her mother ill and incurable.  Special leave was granted to Zenaeh to spend her weekends at home while illness took its toll.  She was comforted by the acts of caring for her mother, and rewarded with less than lucid times where the woman expressed regret, sorrow, and sometimes even love to her emotionally starved daughter.  Zen was surprised every time that her haughty and mostly aloof mother degenerated into patterns of uncontrolled speech, revealing aspects of herself kept so far under wraps for all of her life.  When the time came for her to pass, Zenaeh lingered hours afterwards, stroking her brow and murmuring, “She was so beautiful in her suffering, and like an angel when she died”.

This marked a turning point in her life, where she made no further attempts to join her family and took to her studies with surprising gusto.  Here was the perfect outlet for her loss, where time was divided by reading, learning magics, and trying her hand at other vocations and skills.  Her limber physique was well suited to gymnastics, and her agility made her chosen weapon one hell of a match.  She shunned other students and their attempts to remain her friends save one or two special instances, instead concentrating on the next goal, and the next.  Passing from Cadet to Candidate was no fanfare, to her, but she was pushed to find her GF in short time to compete with the other Gardens and their methods.  GFs proved to be a mess, a weakness of her own, with constant clashing and low compatibility.  Only a chance encounter on one of her few missions (see below) resulted in the securing of one she felt even minimal connection to.

Seven months later, the Headmaster of Galbadia Garden informed her, with some regret, that there was little more Zenaeh could hope to accomplish without moving to Balamb Garden.  Better resources awaited her; she needed only go to take advantage of them.  With apathetic shrug, Zenaeh acquiesced, and left forthrightly to pack her things.


Appearance: Average qualities were made abnormal only by her eccentrics.  Standing 5’7”, the young woman generally hides beneath flaring coat of dark gray lined at edges by lighter gray and black.  Glimpses of pallid flesh peek from cuffs, or in times when heat or discomfort drive her to divest buttons and flash more of lithely athletic figure.  Brilliant blue of eyes flare amidst controlled visage, framed by spiked tenebrous bangs streaked with shades of cerulean.  Her hobby of gymnastics has kept her limber; an asset the few times she’s been coaxed into closer combat range.

Zenaeh Aelmore

GF APPLICATION
Name: Lich
Established Connection:  Soon after attaining Candidate status, her instructors almost eagerly pushed for Zenaeh to find and bond to a Guardian Force.  Those leant to her felt uncomfortable; poor choices for compatibility.  It wasn’t until seven months ago, on a field mission to subdue a renegade force, that Zenaeh and her team ‘relieved’ the leader of his Guardian.  The lich was too appealing to pass up, and so she took it for her own.  Compatibility is still low though, surprisingly, the numbers with this undead summon are far better than her previous attempts.  She strives to forge a true working relationship.
Element: Thunder
Description: Horridly leathery features cling to skeletal frame; a towering presence capped by crown of bones.  In some places skin sundered reveals worse than dried jerky appearance of flesh – twitching muscle, the white gleam of tendon, the working of innards never meant to see light of day.  Luck is with those that view him, in guise of plentiful if tattered robes stained the moldy green muck of stagnant ponds.  Overlaying cape is a faded remnant of what used to be a royal purple, providing one of the only clues about this Guardian Force’s true identity.  Suspended in eternal rot, none remember this GF beyond his current namesake of “Lich”.

Appearance |Lich|

Bonus:  +Evasion, +Magical Attack, +Magical Defense
Special Attack: Devastating Epitaph -  In a tumult of dirt the lich rises, releasing a chilling cackle.  It takes to the air with effortless and disturbing grace, ejecting bolts of lightning to crash among the enemy party.

Character Journal

This is where you can choose to 'record' events or extra facts about your character for other's benefit: either from the beginning or throughout the game

[TheBlackThrone]

CHARACTER APPLICATION
Name: Siegfried Eberhart
Age: 18
Enrollment Age: 7 (Galbadia)/ 18 (Balamb)
Gender: Male

Theme Song

http://youtu.be/ZzIE13UAllA

Weapon: Stratocaster Weapon Description: It’s exactly what it sounds like a guitar with jutting ends and sharp edges. It can be used as a two-handed battle axe, but it’s primary use is to shred. The guitar is a masterpiece of Galbadian technology that acts as a junction system, allowing Siegfried to cast various spells without need of his voice. However, when the musician does sing, his voice is amplified for it acts as an amplifier as well, allowing him to cast stronger and devastating spells. The guitar has a mild, thunderbolt shape and its body can act as a shield against physical and magical attacks. It is unproven whether the magnitude of damage is caused by the weapon, its user, or both. Siegfried believes that it’s the power behind his voice that makes it so effective and that anyone with a mediocre sound wouldn’t be able to wield it at the same magnitude he can.
Specialization:  Gray Magic: Jammer – Siegfried’s guitar radiates electromagnetic energy when in use, which can interfere with other forms of EMR such as radio signals. He can use the sound of his guitar to jam signals and the internal communication of most machinery. His second specialization is offensive and defensive support. Using his gray magic, Siegfried can act as a support to physical and magic users, though the primary receivers of his support are mages due to their frailty.
Current Ranking: Candidate
Victory Motto: “Bringing down the house!”, “I think somebody choked.”, “YEEEEEAAAAAA~H!”, “Thank you and goodnight!”
Limit Break Epic Finish Limit Break Description Siegfried will strike a pose as colossal speakers rise out of the ground behind him. Once the speakers have risen into place, he’ll jump into the air and stroke his guitar with a mighty scream as the speakers release a concussive burst of sound energy that not only damages the opponent heavily but disorients it, placing it in a state of confusion for a full turn. Siegfried’s limit break is said to be capable of bringing down a building due to the volume of his voice.



Personality: Siegfried is proud of his voice and his musical gift. Criticism usually doesn’t faze him for his head is much too large to care about those who don’t have an appreciation for art. Siegfried loves singing and likes those who appreciate his talent. He has many fans back in Galbadia, who he will always do his best to try and please. Unfortunately, with his recent transfer to Balamb, he will be unable to satisfy their fix for his music, but he hopes to build a fan base in his new home.

The musician has always had his gift since he was a boy. He believes in the power of music and song, how it influences people, imbuing them with joy, fellowship, sadness, anger, and even fear. His dream was to be able to harness his talent as a weapon and with Galbadian technology, he was able to do so. His music has since been invaluable to many teams and has wooed the hearts of many beautiful ladies.

Besides his career, Siegfried has quite the pleasant personality. He can be silly and is always on a naughty adventure because secretly, he’s a mild pervert—but he won’t admit it. When in combat, his personality takes a dramatic shift. He becomes pretty cocky and can hold his own in a fight as long as he has his precious guitar. He’s not just a rock star, he’s a mercenary and because he wields a guitar as a weapon, there are many who underestimate him. If Siegfried enters battle with his Stratocaster, you can expect to have the fight of your life.

In regards to the stereotypes that follow his garden’s name, he doesn’t let the ridicule get to him. Siegfried’s determination and self-confidence have yet to be shaken and have only been reinforced by his past history being a screw-up.

Backstory: Siegfried grew up in the peaceful town of Winhill. His father was a blacksmith and mother a dressmaker, although she worked at home to raise her son. His mother always sang to him while she worked, and her voice was like an angel. Naturally, Siegfried wanted to sing like his mother and would practice. When he was five, his voice was so pure that his parents had him help the family by singing at weddings, religious events, and even on the street. One day when he was seven, he was performing at the port when a strange man approached him. He had felt the influence behind Siegfried’s voice and he was the first to convince Siegfried and his parents that he had a special gift. After much persuasion, Siegfried was recruited into Galbadia Garden to undergo training as a mercenary.

Galbadia Garden was and is what Siegfried believes to be the toughest of all the gardens. It became such a strict academy post-Sorceress War with the media constantly slandering its name with suspicion and prejudice, despite its inability to produce SeeDs. Galbadian cadets had a name to redeem and so the expectations of the academy were ridiculously high. When Siegfried first started, he was such a special case that he was nearly disenrolled. Siegfried's mentor had been an instructor at Galbadia named Jorn [Y’orn] Kelby, and had been the one to recruit the boy that day back in Winhill. He had foresaw so much potential in the child that seeing the boy fail in the specialization course was frustrating. There wasn’t a single weapon that Siegfried excelled in. He couldn’t shoot, blunt weapons had been too heavy for him, and he didn’t have the focus for magic. His swordsmanship was pretty good, but anyone could swing a stick. The boy’s lack of interest in his weapons also played a factor in his inabilities. He just wouldn’t practice, and instead, wanted to sing and go home. With a lousy sword skill and Kelby’s defense against The Board, Siegfried acquired his first specialization as a Swordsman. He passed his written exam and was the only one in his class to move onto the rank of candidate without an acquired Guardian Force.

During his years as a candidate, Siegfried faced love and ridicule. He just absolutely sucked and everyone knew it. On his first basic mission, he was almost killed by a Cactaur. How he managed to find such an elusive creature, nobody knew, but its 1,000 needles attack left him prickly and barely alive.

After that failed mission, Kelby didn’t trust Siegfried on missions anymore. The kid was a liability, he decided, having finally given up on him. He was assigned to detail and helped keep the Garden clean daily. Having preferred not going on missions any way, Siegfried soon realized how dry his world had become. His old classmates didn’t speak to him and women found him to be a loser. Siegfried not enjoying the social stigma he had created for himself sought to change it the only way he knew how. After years of keeping his talent hidden, Siegfried in his spare time learned guitar and wrote music. When Head Master Jugra Hitori’s birthday came along, Siegfried just couldn’t resist. He staged a surprise appearance during the ceremony and blew the roof off the auditorium (not literally of course). No one had been expecting it, and the incident was forever branded in the students’ minds. It was the beginning of his fan base and led to his fated redemption (and inevitable punishment).

Instructor Kelby was embarrassed by Siegfried’s performance in front of the Head Master. He had been fighting to keep him in the Garden, and after his stunt, he faced consultations of Failure to Adapt to the discipline of the academy. However, Eberhart’s performance had peaked his curiosity. He recalled how he had performed on stage with his guitar, and no sooner did he have the engineers make him a battle axe in the shape of one. Instructor Kelby then gave Siegfried the guitar to use in training, and they had finally made some progress. As Kelby predicted, Siegfried had become more interested in the axe because it was shaped like a guitar, but it wasn’t long before he grew bored of it for it didn’t play like one. Instructor Kelby then had the engineers create a junction system that granted Siegfried the ability to draw magic with a weapon called the Stratocaster.

With the Stratocaster, Siegfried excelled dramatically as a mercenary and became a desired member in several teams who knew of his skills. When Siegfried first entered the battlefield with only a guitar, he faced ridicule by many hot-shot candidates until they saw the power his weapon really held. With his frequent recruitment on missions, Siegfried gained experience and became one of the top ten candidates selected to transfer for SeeD training at Balamb Garden (and to get out of the Head Master’s hair).


Appearance: Siegfried is a handsome young man with platinum blonde hair and ash-grey eyes. He has a charming appeal to his face, his eyes friendly, cool, calm and collected and smiles full of mischief. When he first joined Balamb Garden, he had the habit of wearing his hair in a military fashion. Sideburns short and crisp, hair no longer than two-inches, face clean-shaven but he has since adapted to the lax rules of his new school, letting his mane grow out. Siegfried’s hair can grow to lengths that reach to the center of his back. Currently, its just a short, feathery, unkempt mess that he tends to fix with a simple hand motion through it. When he isn’t in uniform and performing, Siegfried’s ensemble changes. He’ll wear spiked bracelets and collars, eyebrow and ear piercings, leather vests, jeans, and boots, looking like an 80s rocker—and that’s only what he usually wears. His fashion can get pretty crazy.

GF APPLICATION
Name: Cactaur
Established Connection: Well, the thing nearly killed him and he hates how it has since bound itself to him. The Cactaur is elusive and will appear at times just to scare the living hell out of Siegfried.
Element: N/A
Description: Green cactus with bent arms and legs. It has two circular eyes and an oblong mouth. The Cactaur is known for having a very high defense yet low vitality.

Cactaur

Bonus:  None
Special Attack: 1,000 Needles Special Attack Description Cactaur leaps into the air and by flailing its arms and legs rapidly scatters its deadly needles in all directions. The attack is unblockable and though it scatters 1,000 needles, it doesn't necessarily inflict 1,000 damage points (ie. can inflict some major damage).

Character Journal

Due to the nature of Siegfried's weapon, all of his magic is AOE toward allies and enemies. His ability to draw magic is affected by Silence spells, which will silence not only the musician but his instrument as well.

Instrumental

Grey/White - Primary

• Slow
• Sleep
• Blind
• Cure
• Haste
• Scan

Black Magic - Secondary

• Fire
• Blizzard
• Thunder

Vocal + Instrumental

Grey/White - Primary

• Stop
• Silence
• Berserk
• Confuse
• Break
• Cura
• Dispel
• Float

Black Magic - Secondary

• Drain

[Marie Reynolds]

This is a work in progress would like to add some background ties with other students be they friendships or rivalries

b]CHARACTER APPLICATION[/b]
Name: Dale Reed Jr.
Age:  19
Enrollment Age: 10 (whole time enrolled at Balamb)
Gender: Male

Theme Song

(Include, Youtube video Theme Song)

Weapon: Shield of Fate Weapon Description:  Bladed edge Triple Triad Cards and Buckler attached to a Leather gauntlet.
Specialization:  Weapon-smith,Armor-smith, Negotiation(Including Hostage Negotiation), Apothecary, Humanitarian Aide,Triage,First aid, Field Surgery,Logistics,Planning, White Magic,Thrown Weapons and Shield combat and General Medicine.
Current Ranking:  Candidate
Victory Motto:  Peace Through Strength
Limit Break Fate's Aegis Limit Break Description This Limit break starts with a shield bash to bring a single foe into the air and then the foe is hit with a rapid barrage of the bladed edge triple triad cards.

Personality:  Dale tends to be very Gregarious and a bit of a flirt, though when people are suffering or in need of help he becomes very sincere and clearly focused on lending aide to those in crisis also has been known for having a clear head in tough situations and a strong sense of responsibility which makes him a strong leader when called upon.

Backstory: Dale grew up in Fisherman's Horizon, His father a fisherman Dale Reed Sr. and his Mother Sarah Reed who owned the Lucky Porpoise Restaurant. They lived a simple and quiet life working and enjoying the time the would have as a family together. As most no one really worried about war or political strife everyone here just worked for their families and the community. Though things changed when a large tidal wave struck Fisherman's Horizon Many families lost loved ones, shops,boats, the community and its economy were in shambles and the recovery process was long and after the work was done as Dale lost everything even though the community rebuilt the Lucky Porpoise he left it to be managed by the community and provide a place for those who just moved in to get work as a server or as a fisherman to bring in fresh stock for the restaurant. His community helped him with one final thing for all the hard work he put in a ticket and some money to cover the expenses of joining Balamb garden in hopes to bring a new division and set of skills focusing on Humanitarian Aide and a proper reponse to such natural disasters so Seed could help in stabilizing families and economies again. As a cadet he was always seen helping were he could, if people were stuck on how to plan or prepare for a mission he was always seemed to have a knack for such things, also if teams had conflicts with its members he was always able to find a middle ground and help them work together. Though his essay was one that stood cause in stead of just speaking of hopes and dreams he went against the grain of either topic presented to him and provide a detailed structure and curriculum that could be used to bring Seed into the Humanitarian Aide and Diplomacy arena’s. Despite his deviation from the norm he received his Cadet status and went on missions, he proved useful in the field do to his methodology and ability to heal with magic and medical training after each mission he would send a report back to his team noting the aide the local populace needed when because of the mission and the fighting that occurred he would detail his plans to stay and provide medical services to the towns and the people and helping with restoration efforts and continue to send progress reports and suggestions to the Balamb leadership that would speed up the recovery of the town. Though most of the time it was solo work cause balamb did not possess the extra resources but were willing to give him the leave he need to help stabilize a town after a mission. When he was not doing this he formed a student organization that learned the skills necessary to aide in such humanitarian missions hoping his own hard work would pay off and show the Balamb Leadership what this could do for Balamb. He also proved valuable in ending hostage situations and through his keen negotiation skills have ended many Hostage situations with out violence and the hostages being retrieved successful and allowing the rest of the Cadets to neutralizer and apprehend the hostage takers. He has made many reports to become a seed but do to the nature that he proposes change and the birth of a new focus added to the others Balamb already posses he has come dangerously close now to reaching Twenty and not being commissioned as a Seed as some of the leadership are not comfortable with change and his detailed plans laid out even in slow methodical application and integration into seeds standards of operations
Appearance: 

GF APPLICATION
Name:  Carbuncle
Established Connection:  At the age of 15, Dale came across the hazing of a new student at the training the exits were blocked by other new students and a T-Rexaur attacked the group the young girl fainted due to fear the group abandoned her and he rushed in alone and subconsciously grabbed his bladed cards and it was of carbuncle when he threw the card to attack instead something else happened a GF appeared reacting to his desire to see the new student to safety and since this happened near the entrance and the summoning drew attention other students attacked the T-rexaur and through the desire to protect and care was how Carbuncle's and Dale's bond was forged
Element:  See chart below
Description: http://images.wikia.com/finalfantasy/images/7/7b/Carbuncle.png
Bonus:  These bonuses *must be passive* See Chart Below
Special Attack: Name Special Attack Description See Chart below

Carbuncle is a Guardian Force obtained by drawing from the Iguions. If missed, it can still be drawn fromKrysta in Ultimecia Castle. In its summoning animation, Carbuncle appears from a hole in the ground, jumps up and casts Ruby Light on the party, granting them the Reflect status before returning into the hole. Because Carbuncle is not a damage-dealing GF it cannot be boosted and while it can learn SumMag+% abilities from items, they will have no effect.
Compatibility Chart
Summon Effect
Carbuncle +20, Siren -10, Every other GF -1.6

Compatibility Items
Dragon Skin +3.2, LuvLuvG +20.2

Casting Magic
Aura +1, Double +1, Haste +1, Holy +1, Protect +1, Reflect +1, Shell +1, Triple +1,Cure +0.2, Cura +0.2, Curaga +0.2, Esuna +0.2, Full-Life +0.2, Life +0.2, Regen+0.2, Berserk -0.2, Blind -0.2, Break -0.2, Death -0.2, Pain -0.2, Silence -0.2, Sleep-0.2, Slow -0.2, Stop -0.2, Zombie -0.2, Dispel -1.2

AbilitiesEdit
Abilities learned naturally by Carbuncle are listed below:
Ability
AP
Prerequisite
Ability
AP
Prerequisite
 HP-J
50
None
 HP+20%
60
HP-J
 Vit-J
(Already learned)
 HP+40%
120
HP+20%
 Mag-J
50
None
 Vit+20%
60
None
 ST-Atk-J
160
Mag-J
 Vit+40%
120
Vit+20%
 ST-Def-J
100
None
 Vit Bonus
100
Vit+40%
 ST-Def-Jx2
130
ST-Def-J
 Counter
200
None
 Abilityx3
(Already learned)
 Auto-Reflect
250
Counter
 Magic
(Already learned)
 GFHP+10%
40
None
 GF
(Already learned)
 GFHP+20%
70
GFHP+10%
 Draw
(Already learned)
 GFHP+30%
140
GFHP+20%
 Item
(Already learned)
 Recov Med-RF
30
None

Character Journal

This is where you can choose to 'record' events or extra facts about your character for other's benefit: either from the beginning or throughout the game