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paradisa
Information
PLAYER INFORMATION:
CHARACTER INFORMATION:
WRITING SAMPLES:
PLAYER INFORMATION:
CHARACTER INFORMATION:
General:
CHARACTER NAME: Zack Fair
SERIES: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
CANON POINT: On top of the cliff outside Midgar, when Zack collapses from the wounds sustained in an attack by ShinRa forces, but before Angeal descends from the Lifestream to essentially escort him to the afterlife. He will have the memory of passing the Buster Sword along to Cloud and asking the blond to become his 'living legacy' but, as the sword will be with him in Paradisa, he will initially (incorrectly) interpret that memory more as intention than actual fact.
LOSS: Zack with lose the memory of what Aerith meant to him, along with the paper of "tiny wishes" that she gave to him before he left for his last mission. He will remember her vaguely as a friendly girl he helped out, but nothing of their relationship beyond that.
SERIES: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
CANON POINT: On top of the cliff outside Midgar, when Zack collapses from the wounds sustained in an attack by ShinRa forces, but before Angeal descends from the Lifestream to essentially escort him to the afterlife. He will have the memory of passing the Buster Sword along to Cloud and asking the blond to become his 'living legacy' but, as the sword will be with him in Paradisa, he will initially (incorrectly) interpret that memory more as intention than actual fact.
LOSS: Zack with lose the memory of what Aerith meant to him, along with the paper of "tiny wishes" that she gave to him before he left for his last mission. He will remember her vaguely as a friendly girl he helped out, but nothing of their relationship beyond that.
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 is seen taking on that role after the elder man's death, passing along the importance of holding true to one's dreams and honor. It's a belief so strong in him that he draws his sword against his superior officer and sort-of friend, General Sephiroth when the General is gripped by the madness of the creature Jenova. It's a belief so strong in him that at the sight of a figure he thinks is Angeal, he is able to force himself from the torture-and-experimentation-induced stupor of floating in a Mako tube in Hojo's lab, breaking out of captivity with a Mako-poisoned Cloud in tow.
It's a belief so strong in him that he gives his life on a cliff top, fighting against too-steep odds because the company he had lived for, the dream he had lived his life pursuing, had come crashing down on him.
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 is seen taking on that role after the elder man's death, passing along the importance of holding true to one's dreams and honor. It's a belief so strong in him that he draws his sword against his superior officer and sort-of friend, General Sephiroth when the General is gripped by the madness of the creature Jenova. It's a belief so strong in him that at the sight of a figure he thinks is Angeal, he is able to force himself from the torture-and-experimentation-induced stupor of floating in a Mako tube in Hojo's lab, breaking out of captivity with a Mako-poisoned Cloud in tow.
It's a belief so strong in him that he gives his life on a cliff top, fighting against too-steep odds because the company he had lived for, the dream he had lived his life pursuing, had come crashing down on him.
Abilities:
Zack 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!).
He comes to Paradisa wielding the 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. The sword has two circular Materia slots near its base.
Which brings the discussion around to Materia! Materia is, essentially, crystalline Mako that enables a user to focus energy into the casting of a spell. By the point in canon from which Zack is taken, he has the potential to have pretty much every variety of Materia available in the game, and to have mastered each one of them. As this would make him ridiculously overpowered, he is only going to come into Paradisa with six spells available to him – equal to the maximum number of Materia the player can equip to Zack in the game. Those six Materia will include:
Firaga: Enables fire-based attack spells. Throws three large homing fireballs at the target. Can strike multiple targets.
Blizzaga: Enables ice-based attack spells. A huge block of ice materializes above the target, then falls onto it. Can strike multiple targets and can miss if the target moves.
Thundaga: Enables lightning-based attack spells. Hurls a huge thunderbolt at the target. Can strike multiple targets.
Curaga: Enables magic that restores HP. Heavy healing based on MAG.
Dispel: Enables magic that nulls enemy magic. Removes beneficial status effects from the target.
Dualcast: Enables equipped magic to be cast twice in succession. Doubles MP cost as well. Does not work with Flare or Ultima. Once an item that grants 0 MP cost is equipped, Dualcast becomes extremely powerful coupled with strong spells like Energy, Quake, Electrocute and Graviga.
(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.)
Zack also has an amazing amount of willpower, such that it gives him the ability to push himself past his physical limits, as evidenced in his final stand. Even with his body failing he is able to keep fighting purely on his strength of will, and the inspirations of his memories of those closest to him. It is when his mind feels the fatigue of the fight and breaks that he finally falls.
On the more mundane side of abilities, Zack is shown to be able to ride a motorcycle. He has improvised a beach umbrella into a weapon, and he knows how to aim and shoot a gun.
He comes to Paradisa wielding the 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. The sword has two circular Materia slots near its base.
Which brings the discussion around to Materia! Materia is, essentially, crystalline Mako that enables a user to focus energy into the casting of a spell. By the point in canon from which Zack is taken, he has the potential to have pretty much every variety of Materia available in the game, and to have mastered each one of them. As this would make him ridiculously overpowered, he is only going to come into Paradisa with six spells available to him – equal to the maximum number of Materia the player can equip to Zack in the game. Those six Materia will include:
» Note: adapting the spell to Paradisa, it will become what its name suggests: a spell that cure wounds and, to some extent, fatigue.
» Note: on Zack's arrival to Paradisa, this orb will actually be broken and the spell unusable. Whether it can be somehow remade in the future remains to be seen, but he will not immediately discard the shards.
» Note: adapting the spell to Paradisa, this spell will enable Zack to quickly double-cast his other spells, but will fatigue him in so doing. If he overuses it, he runs the risk of passing out from exertion.
(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.)
Zack also has an amazing amount of willpower, such that it gives him the ability to push himself past his physical limits, as evidenced in his final stand. Even with his body failing he is able to keep fighting purely on his strength of will, and the inspirations of his memories of those closest to him. It is when his mind feels the fatigue of the fight and breaks that he finally falls.
On the more mundane side of abilities, Zack is shown to be able to ride a motorcycle. He has improvised a beach umbrella into a weapon, and he knows how to aim and shoot a gun.
WRITING SAMPLES:
Third Person 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. It was why he hadn't hesitated on that cliff top, knowing that they couldn't, absolutely could not, return to ShinRa. Cloud would live – Cloud had to live – and that was all that mattered.
What he didn't understand was...well, everything now, it seemed. Why were his wounds treated, bandaged, healing? Who'd done it? You'd managed to do it without him being aware of it? Had he been that far gone?
How had be survived? Had he survived, or was this the afterlife, this strange castle?
Zack sighed, nudging the journal thing with his foot; arms wrapped around drawn-up knees, he was comfortably seated in the shade of a tree. The Buster Sword rested to h is side, cleaned up from its last battle – a soft apology murmured to Angeal's memory, because he'd had to use the blade's edge instead of just its back; his mentor's words about wear and tear still rang strong in his memory. And it was a hard memory: pleasant for the fact of being on a mission together with the man he admired the most, and painful for it being the mission from which Angeal had not returned. Thoughts of Angeal were painful, thoughts of Cloud were painful, thoughts of Sephiroth were painful and confusing...
Well, there was only one thing for it, if his thoughts wouldn't calm down on their own. He pulled himself to his feet a bit more gingerly than usual, stretched to test his injuries' limits, and started doing squats.
"One, two... c'mon self, gotta recover. Three, four, five..."
What he didn't understand was...well, everything now, it seemed. Why were his wounds treated, bandaged, healing? Who'd done it? You'd managed to do it without him being aware of it? Had he been that far gone?
How had be survived? Had he survived, or was this the afterlife, this strange castle?
Zack sighed, nudging the journal thing with his foot; arms wrapped around drawn-up knees, he was comfortably seated in the shade of a tree. The Buster Sword rested to h is side, cleaned up from its last battle – a soft apology murmured to Angeal's memory, because he'd had to use the blade's edge instead of just its back; his mentor's words about wear and tear still rang strong in his memory. And it was a hard memory: pleasant for the fact of being on a mission together with the man he admired the most, and painful for it being the mission from which Angeal had not returned. Thoughts of Angeal were painful, thoughts of Cloud were painful, thoughts of Sephiroth were painful and confusing...
Well, there was only one thing for it, if his thoughts wouldn't calm down on their own. He pulled himself to his feet a bit more gingerly than usual, stretched to test his injuries' limits, and started doing squats.
"One, two... c'mon self, gotta recover. Three, four, five..."
First Person Journal Sample:
Just supposed to talk, right? Feels like I'm talking to myself. Suppose I'll get used to it. Weird castle, weird things... Suppose I'll get used to that too.
I... [exasperated sigh, followed by a muttered statement:] Geez self, it's just like talking into your PHS, okay?
I guess I'll skip the "is anyone out there" and the "how did I get here." Probably doesn't much matter in the long run, huh? But I do want to say thanks to whoever found me. Wish you'd stuck around so I could say it in person, but. Well, I understand it, I guess.
Anyway, thanks.
[pause, maybe he's done? Nope, not quite--]
Oh, and I'm looking for a guy, blond, muscular. Goes by the name of Cloud. Dunno if he's here but... if anyone does, anyone talks to him, tell him a friend's looking for him. I just. Need to know if he's okay.
I... [exasperated sigh, followed by a muttered statement:] Geez self, it's just like talking into your PHS, okay?
I guess I'll skip the "is anyone out there" and the "how did I get here." Probably doesn't much matter in the long run, huh? But I do want to say thanks to whoever found me. Wish you'd stuck around so I could say it in person, but. Well, I understand it, I guess.
Anyway, thanks.
[pause, maybe he's done? Nope, not quite--]
Oh, and I'm looking for a guy, blond, muscular. Goes by the name of Cloud. Dunno if he's here but... if anyone does, anyone talks to him, tell him a friend's looking for him. I just. Need to know if he's okay.