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PLAYER INFORMATION:
CHARACTER INFORMATION:
WRITING SAMPLE:
PLAYER INFORMATION:
CHARACTER INFORMATION:
General:
CHARACTER NAME: Zack Fair
SERIES: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
CANON POINT: after the Modeoheim mission (wiki link)
AGE: 16 years old (b. 1985; Modeoheim incident April 0001)
GENDER: Male
HISTORY: There is a decently in-depth article here on the Final Fantasy Wiki. Additionally, a summation of the Crisis Core storyline is available here on the wiki.
SERIES: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
CANON POINT: after the Modeoheim mission (wiki link)
AGE: 16 years old (b. 1985; Modeoheim incident April 0001)
GENDER: Male
HISTORY: There is a decently in-depth article here on the Final Fantasy Wiki. Additionally, a summation of the Crisis Core storyline is available here on the wiki.
Personality:
Zack Fair is, in a way, a study in opposites. His natural personality is best described by the phrase "free spirit": he's friendly, caring, flirty, and can be energetic almost to a fault. His mentor Angeal Hewley had modeled to him the importance of honor and what it means to pursue one's dreams; along with "becoming a hero" these ideals are a large part of what defines SOLDIER for Zack.
Or "defined," because all dreams must eventually give way to wakefulness. But let's hold that thought for a moment.
Zack was a teenager when he left his hometown and his family to travel to Midgar with dreams of joining SOLDIER. Approximately four years after that he'd achieved the rank of SOLDIER Second Class; still young and still idealistic he believed that he was truly on the path of becoming a hero – enough so that his brain sometimes got ahead of him, as evidenced in training sessions wherein Angeal would put him in his place. Even so, he was a "good person": dependable, cheerful, and still very much believing that what he was doing in life was the "right thing." He'd learned a great deal, yet he was still in many ways an idealistic, almost naïve teen.
Then, as the saying goes, "life happened."
In relatively short order, Genesis Rhapsodos, one of the highest-ranking SOLDIERs defected, Angeal defected, the war ShinRa was fighting with the country of Wutai ended, and Zack received a promotion to First Class. So many events in such a short time could not come without some sort of consequence, especially on the part of the people left to pick up the proverbial pieces. While Zack was shown to retain his upbeat personality (tempered, of course, by the blow that was Angeal's absence), he also clung stubbornly to his belief that Angeal was not a traitor, that Angeal would not betray his honor like that. Perhaps it was naïveté and perhaps it was loyalty – more likely a bit of both – but Zack believed, truly believed, that Angeal was not the monster he claimed himself to be. Even to the very end of his mentor's life, when Angeal merged his body with that of several monsters, forcing Zack to slay him in combat – even then, did Zack believe in the man's heart and his sense of honor. His belief ran so deep that he accepted the burden of Angeal's Buster Sword – the physical symbol of what honor meant to Angeal – allowing his mentor to pass it on to him with his dying breaths.
From that day forward, Zack's demeanor took on a much more serious note. Even after his (implied by game canon) mourning period, he displayed an attitude that was much more subdued than his previous, sometimes unbelievable level of energy. "Zack the Puppy" was still very much himself, but tempered, honed – shaped, in a way, into his mentor's shadow. Angeal had been the "heart and soul" of the SOLDIER program; Zack was the one to start taking on that role after the elder man's death, passing along the importance of holding true to one's dreams and honor.
If he hadn't arrived in some sort of collection of haunted houses, of course.
Or "defined," because all dreams must eventually give way to wakefulness. But let's hold that thought for a moment.
Zack was a teenager when he left his hometown and his family to travel to Midgar with dreams of joining SOLDIER. Approximately four years after that he'd achieved the rank of SOLDIER Second Class; still young and still idealistic he believed that he was truly on the path of becoming a hero – enough so that his brain sometimes got ahead of him, as evidenced in training sessions wherein Angeal would put him in his place. Even so, he was a "good person": dependable, cheerful, and still very much believing that what he was doing in life was the "right thing." He'd learned a great deal, yet he was still in many ways an idealistic, almost naïve teen.
Then, as the saying goes, "life happened."
In relatively short order, Genesis Rhapsodos, one of the highest-ranking SOLDIERs defected, Angeal defected, the war ShinRa was fighting with the country of Wutai ended, and Zack received a promotion to First Class. So many events in such a short time could not come without some sort of consequence, especially on the part of the people left to pick up the proverbial pieces. While Zack was shown to retain his upbeat personality (tempered, of course, by the blow that was Angeal's absence), he also clung stubbornly to his belief that Angeal was not a traitor, that Angeal would not betray his honor like that. Perhaps it was naïveté and perhaps it was loyalty – more likely a bit of both – but Zack believed, truly believed, that Angeal was not the monster he claimed himself to be. Even to the very end of his mentor's life, when Angeal merged his body with that of several monsters, forcing Zack to slay him in combat – even then, did Zack believe in the man's heart and his sense of honor. His belief ran so deep that he accepted the burden of Angeal's Buster Sword – the physical symbol of what honor meant to Angeal – allowing his mentor to pass it on to him with his dying breaths.
From that day forward, Zack's demeanor took on a much more serious note. Even after his (implied by game canon) mourning period, he displayed an attitude that was much more subdued than his previous, sometimes unbelievable level of energy. "Zack the Puppy" was still very much himself, but tempered, honed – shaped, in a way, into his mentor's shadow. Angeal had been the "heart and soul" of the SOLDIER program; Zack was the one to start taking on that role after the elder man's death, passing along the importance of holding true to one's dreams and honor.
If he hadn't arrived in some sort of collection of haunted houses, of course.
Fears:
Being a SOLDIER, Zack has needed to learn to overcome fears, because fear can paralyze a man on the battlefield. That being said however, does not mean that he is completely without fears. No, his tend to be the more insidious ones, the ones that are intangible and cannot be simply squashed as one would an insect.
Chief in his mind, especially considering his canon point, is the fear of losing someone dear to him. He didn't want to believe Angeal a traitor and didn't want to believe what was happening to the man; even to the very end, he believed that Angeal could be saved and redeemed. Angeal had to force Zack into the fight that ended his life, and that guilt does weigh heavily on Zack's mind. With that it is very realistic to believe that is twined the fear that his efforts, no matter what shape they take, will not be enough to save the life of another friend.
It could also be argued that a more nebulous fear, something that Zack might not even consciously realize, is the fear that he too may show signs of the degradation that drove Angeal and Genesis to madness. At this point in canon the truth about the experiments that made the two men is not known in its entirety; for all he knows, those two SOLDIERs' enhancements are no different from Zack's own.
Chief in his mind, especially considering his canon point, is the fear of losing someone dear to him. He didn't want to believe Angeal a traitor and didn't want to believe what was happening to the man; even to the very end, he believed that Angeal could be saved and redeemed. Angeal had to force Zack into the fight that ended his life, and that guilt does weigh heavily on Zack's mind. With that it is very realistic to believe that is twined the fear that his efforts, no matter what shape they take, will not be enough to save the life of another friend.
It could also be argued that a more nebulous fear, something that Zack might not even consciously realize, is the fear that he too may show signs of the degradation that drove Angeal and Genesis to madness. At this point in canon the truth about the experiments that made the two men is not known in its entirety; for all he knows, those two SOLDIERs' enhancements are no different from Zack's own.
Weaknesses:
Zack is physically stronger and faster than a normal human; canon has shown him doing physical acts that should be impossible, so I think it would suffice to say that physical weakness is not his worry. That being said however, all SOLDIERs do possess some level of Jenova cells— Jenova, the Calamity from the Skies. Canon has shown that the Jenova creature when it is done feeding on a host planet, can recall its cells to itself (an event termed the Reunion); in effect, all those who bear her cells can be controlled by her will. For Zack this never actually happens— he dies before that point in canon— but for anyone who could gain mastery over the Jenova cells (in canon, only Sephiroth managed to do so) or for the Jenova creature itself, Zack could be very easily controlled.
Another big weakness for him is how much he cares about those he names friends. The best way to rattle Zack? Hurt someone close to him. He would rather be injured himself (to the point of facing his death later in canon) than see harm come to another.
Another big weakness for him is how much he cares about those he names friends. The best way to rattle Zack? Hurt someone close to him. He would rather be injured himself (to the point of facing his death later in canon) than see harm come to another.
Mundane Strengths/Abilities:
Zack Fair is a SOLDIER — a man given superhuman abilities through exposure to Mako; a warrior whose body has been modified to perform at a higher level than ordinary soldiers. Zack is stronger, faster and has better reflexes than a normal human; he is by extension more resistant to illness and injury (though by no means immune!). Canon shows him with the ability to do things like leap large distances through the air, move fast enough to avoid bullet fire, and cut in half missile shells headed in his direction (if you can press the X button with the right timing, of course). He has absolutely no problem not only wielding a weapon as long as he is tall, but he is also shown with the ability to swing it one-handed without fatigue. Likewise, he is strong enough to use a mundane object like a beach umbrella as an effective weapon. Later in canon he is shown to be able to aim and shoot a gun; it is likely that he possesses this skillset earlier on as well, though he will not arrive with a firearm.
Sensitivity/Magical Abilities:
By channeling his energy through orbs of crystallized Mako called Materia, Zack is able to cast spells, summon creatures, or benefit from boosts to his skills. By the point in canon from which Zack is taken, he has the potential to have a decent amount of the various Materia available in the game, and to have mastered quite a few of them. As this would make him ridiculously overpowered, he is only going to come into the game with six spells available to him – equal to the maximum number of Materia the player can equip to Zack in the game; the particulars will be listed in the inventory section. It is to be noted that in gameplay, casting spells does deplete Zack's magical reserves; if he runs out of that particular energy, he cannot cast until he has recovered it (usually through use of a restorative item). To apply that mechanic more realistically, casting spells will fatigue Zack: the more he casts (or the higher the level of the spell), the more it will fatigue him; he will need to rest to recover his energies.
Supply List:
BUSTER SWORD: A broadsword almost as long as he is tall. It is a heavy weapon though canon shows Zack's ability to wield it with ease, something that speaks to the level of enhancement a SOLDIER is given. The bulk of the blade is a dark etched steel; the base is given a gold color and a more elaborate, swirling design. (It is unclear if the sword's base is made of a different metal or if the gold is some form of plating over the main blade.) The hilt is plain and wrapped in red; the material can be assumed as leather for both durability and grip. The hilt is more than long enough for two hands to grip it, as Zack sometimes does in a guard position, but he most often swings it with a single hand and possesses the strength to do so with ease. The sword has two circular Materia slots near its base.
MATERIA: Most Materia follow a three-step graded system: Fire would be the most basic spell, Fira the middle grade, and Firaga the most powerful; within a grade, a spell starts at its most basic state (level one) and is worked by its user until it is mastered (level five). Additionally, within the game mechanics lower-grade Materia can be fused into higher-grade Materia; if the lower ingredients are mastered, the final product will be more powerful. Since canon has a whole Materia Research department and Zack is taught about fusion from those scientists, it can be assumed that fusion needs some sort of machinery to occur; therefore, even if Zack manages to master his Materia in his time in Portes, he will not be able to fuse it into anything more powerful (therefore putting a realistic-within-the-scope-of-his-canon cap on this sort of augmentation).
(As an aside, Crisis Core steps things up further to Dark Fire, Dark Fira, and Hell Firaga, but these spells are not available to Zack at the given canon point and will not be considered as options.)
Zack will arrive in-game with the following six Materia:
Firaga (level 1): Enables fire-based attack spells. Throws three large homing fireballs at the target. Can strike multiple targets.
Blizzard (level 4): Enables ice-based attack spells. A small block of ice materializes above the target, then falls onto it. Can miss if the target moves.
Thundara (level 2): Enables lightning-based attack spells. Hurls a large thunderbolt at the target. Can strike multiple targets.
Cura (mastered): Enables magic that restores HP. Moderate healing based on MAG.
Esuna (level 2): Enables magic that heals status ailments. Removes Poison and Curse.
Barrier (level 1): Enables magic that reduces physical damage received. Reduces physical damage taken by half for one minute.
(Please note that the descriptions are courtesy of the Crisis Core player's guide, Materia section, pages 171 through 185. They are presented here only for accuracy in description; no infringement is intended.)
ACCESSORIES & ITEMS: The game describes accessories as things that Zack can equip, which can augment his stats, grant him resistances, or otherwise impact his physical state; at his canon point he is able to equip a maximum of four. Items are one-time-use consumables, usually used for healing or for the removal of negative status effects (Poison, etc.). At his canon point Zack has the potential to have gathered quite a large stash of accessories and items; for the sake of not overpowering him too much, he will only come into the game with the following two accessories:
Dragon Armlet: VIT +5, SPR +15, MP + 40%. Halves damage received from fire, ice, and lightning-based attacks.
Star Pendant: SPR +20. Prevents Poison.
(Descriptions again provided by the player's guide, pages 188 through 197; again no infringement is intended.)
SOLDIER UNIFORM: Zack Fair wears the uniform of a SOLDIER First Class (image link). Basically described, it consists of slightly loose pants of a heavy weave with diagonal front pockets and squared back pockets with flap closures; the pants are tucked into brown boots and there is enough material that they puff slightly above that tuck. Said boots feature a lug sole, cap toe and front zipper closure; they would reach to mid-calf save that all SOLDIERs seem to wear them with the upper folded down (style? comfort? the world may never know!). Back to the pants, they seem to have a zipper front and one would assume a button closure above that; there are two sets of belt loops for two black leather belts. A sleeveless, turtleneck-style rib knit sweater is worn tucked into pants; atop that is layered a wide, black leather belt with the SOLDIER logo tooled into the front. The belt features two loops to either side of center front and one at center back; to these loops are attached straps for the armor harness. The harness itself is of brown leather and appears to be fastened with snap-type closures; its straps triple in width over the shoulders, presumably to distribute the load of the armor plates attached to it more evenly. The straps meet in the back in a Y-shape; at that juncture is a silver-colored metal disk, presumably a magnetic catch for a sword blade as SOLDIERs are seen with their swords just hanging out on the back. To the harness are attached a pair of shoulder guards of a dark grey-black metal. Brown leather gloves complete the uniform. In addition (though not part of the uniform), Zack wears a silver stud earring in his left ear.
MISCELLANEOUS: In addition to the above, Zack carries the standard SOLDIER-issue PHS (cell phone). Since it's doubtful that he carries the charger with him, the battery is likely to die (and the PHS is useless as a phone within the setting anyway). He also carries a wallet, in which he stores money and his ID, as well as three pictures (of a taken-on-a-cell-phone-and-printed-out quality): one of him and Angeal, one of him and Aerith, and one of him and Sephiroth. He's younger in the first than he is in the later two; Aerith is smiling and posing with him, where the pictures with the other two are of the putting-up-with-Zack's-antics variety of expression.
MATERIA: Most Materia follow a three-step graded system: Fire would be the most basic spell, Fira the middle grade, and Firaga the most powerful; within a grade, a spell starts at its most basic state (level one) and is worked by its user until it is mastered (level five). Additionally, within the game mechanics lower-grade Materia can be fused into higher-grade Materia; if the lower ingredients are mastered, the final product will be more powerful. Since canon has a whole Materia Research department and Zack is taught about fusion from those scientists, it can be assumed that fusion needs some sort of machinery to occur; therefore, even if Zack manages to master his Materia in his time in Portes, he will not be able to fuse it into anything more powerful (therefore putting a realistic-within-the-scope-of-his-canon cap on this sort of augmentation).
(As an aside, Crisis Core steps things up further to Dark Fire, Dark Fira, and Hell Firaga, but these spells are not available to Zack at the given canon point and will not be considered as options.)
Zack will arrive in-game with the following six Materia:
» Note: adapting the spell to the game setting, it will become what its name suggests: a spell that cure wounds and, to some extent, fatigue.
» Note: adapting the spell to the game setting, Zack will be able to use it to attempt to nullify (or at least lessen) the effects of those things that injure over time, rather than as direct physical damage; poisoning is an excellent example.
» Note: adapting the spell to the game setting, this spell will enable Zack to lessen physical damage taken by an attack. The effectiveness regarding the amount of actual damage taken (or if the spell even works!) would be worked out with the other player(s) involved.
(Please note that the descriptions are courtesy of the Crisis Core player's guide, Materia section, pages 171 through 185. They are presented here only for accuracy in description; no infringement is intended.)
ACCESSORIES & ITEMS: The game describes accessories as things that Zack can equip, which can augment his stats, grant him resistances, or otherwise impact his physical state; at his canon point he is able to equip a maximum of four. Items are one-time-use consumables, usually used for healing or for the removal of negative status effects (Poison, etc.). At his canon point Zack has the potential to have gathered quite a large stash of accessories and items; for the sake of not overpowering him too much, he will only come into the game with the following two accessories:
» Note: adapting the effect to the game setting, the Armlet will increase Zack's resistance to physical (VIT) and magical (SPR) attacks, and provide him partial immunity to the elemental-based attacks listed.
» Note: adapting the effect to the game setting, the Pendant will increase Zack's resistance to magical attacks (SPR), and provide almost complete immunity to being poisoned.
(Descriptions again provided by the player's guide, pages 188 through 197; again no infringement is intended.)
SOLDIER UNIFORM: Zack Fair wears the uniform of a SOLDIER First Class (image link). Basically described, it consists of slightly loose pants of a heavy weave with diagonal front pockets and squared back pockets with flap closures; the pants are tucked into brown boots and there is enough material that they puff slightly above that tuck. Said boots feature a lug sole, cap toe and front zipper closure; they would reach to mid-calf save that all SOLDIERs seem to wear them with the upper folded down (style? comfort? the world may never know!). Back to the pants, they seem to have a zipper front and one would assume a button closure above that; there are two sets of belt loops for two black leather belts. A sleeveless, turtleneck-style rib knit sweater is worn tucked into pants; atop that is layered a wide, black leather belt with the SOLDIER logo tooled into the front. The belt features two loops to either side of center front and one at center back; to these loops are attached straps for the armor harness. The harness itself is of brown leather and appears to be fastened with snap-type closures; its straps triple in width over the shoulders, presumably to distribute the load of the armor plates attached to it more evenly. The straps meet in the back in a Y-shape; at that juncture is a silver-colored metal disk, presumably a magnetic catch for a sword blade as SOLDIERs are seen with their swords just hanging out on the back. To the harness are attached a pair of shoulder guards of a dark grey-black metal. Brown leather gloves complete the uniform. In addition (though not part of the uniform), Zack wears a silver stud earring in his left ear.
MISCELLANEOUS: In addition to the above, Zack carries the standard SOLDIER-issue PHS (cell phone). Since it's doubtful that he carries the charger with him, the battery is likely to die (and the PHS is useless as a phone within the setting anyway). He also carries a wallet, in which he stores money and his ID, as well as three pictures (of a taken-on-a-cell-phone-and-printed-out quality): one of him and Angeal, one of him and Aerith, and one of him and Sephiroth. He's younger in the first than he is in the later two; Aerith is smiling and posing with him, where the pictures with the other two are of the putting-up-with-Zack's-antics variety of expression.
WRITING SAMPLE:
Honor means always following your dreams, even when your dreams are hard to follow. Angeal had had some weird ideas about honor— Zack still wasn't sure how it related to clean boxers because sometimes laundry just had to be stretched, okay?— but that one still rang strong with him, always had and always would. Of course, the pain of the other man's death still rang just as strongly; it had only been a few days since his return to Midgar from Modeoheim, but to Zack it felt like a year of heartache. Oh, he'd tried to hide it as well as he could— there were things to do, troops to motivate, and Zack like it or not had become a very visible figure at ShinRa. He had to put on the positive face, even when he felt anything but.
Of course, it was just a little bit hard to find that outward positivity when one woke to find himself shoved into a smelly, musty broom closet. And while Zack could admit to not having a ton of knowledge about the janitorial storage of the ShinRa building, this definitely didn't seem at all like anything that would possibly be found in the sometimes too sterile environment. Even with enhanced eyesight it took him a moment to find the knob, and a second after that to force it open (and shower himself in dust and who-knew-what in the process).
"Well." He paused, looking around at the run-down interior of an unfamiliar house. Yup, definitely not in Midgar. "This is new."
New, however, wasn't going to give him a chance to acclimate slowly; somewhere distant he heard a series of thumps and a scream, and in his experience a series of thumps followed by a scream (...well, a scream of that variety at least) usually meant trouble. He was halfway down the stairs before it occurred to him that he really didn't know anything at all about where he was, but he put it aside for now; he'd figure the details out later. The tenor of that scream made it sound like it was something that shouldn't be kept waiting.
Of course, it was just a little bit hard to find that outward positivity when one woke to find himself shoved into a smelly, musty broom closet. And while Zack could admit to not having a ton of knowledge about the janitorial storage of the ShinRa building, this definitely didn't seem at all like anything that would possibly be found in the sometimes too sterile environment. Even with enhanced eyesight it took him a moment to find the knob, and a second after that to force it open (and shower himself in dust and who-knew-what in the process).
"Well." He paused, looking around at the run-down interior of an unfamiliar house. Yup, definitely not in Midgar. "This is new."
New, however, wasn't going to give him a chance to acclimate slowly; somewhere distant he heard a series of thumps and a scream, and in his experience a series of thumps followed by a scream (...well, a scream of that variety at least) usually meant trouble. He was halfway down the stairs before it occurred to him that he really didn't know anything at all about where he was, but he put it aside for now; he'd figure the details out later. The tenor of that scream made it sound like it was something that shouldn't be kept waiting.