[RP] APPLICATION
[ PLAYER INFORMATION ]
Player Name: FM.
Age: 28.
Timezone: GMT +8
Personal Journal: flintlock
Contact Information:
Instant Messenger: AIM (serpentinelock)
Email: gunsmithprince@gmail.com
Current Characters: Minato Arisato
Activity Checks: I PASSED 8U (soul-ooc.livejournal.com/688528.html?thread=20723600#t20723600)
[ CHARACTER INFORMATION ]
Name: Gailardia Galan Gardios (Guy Cecil; Abyssman Orange)
Age: 21 OR 42
Gender: Guy
Fandom: Tales of the Abyss
Timeline: ND2019: Epilogue, before Luke’s return.
History:
Tales Wiki: http://aselia.wikia.com/wiki/Guy_Cecil
Master Timeline of the Game: http://taleslations.livejournal.com/16875.html
Game Script: http://hidden-currents.org/abyss/script80t_formatted-fix.txt
At canon point, Guy will be helping a joint Kimlascan-Malkuth expedition search for traces of Luke fon Fabre.
Character Personality:
Guy comes across as a generally pleasant and civil young man-cheerful, unobtrusive, and willing to cater to even the most obnoxious demands. Although rather easy-going, he’s a hard worker and a vigilant companion that looks after the needs of others, though rarely talks about his own needs and his own past.
In fact, you’d never guess that, on his fifth birthday, Guy witnessed the massacre of his family and household. As the family heir, he watched as the women of his estate gave their lives for him-an event so traumatic that his young mind refused to process the event and instead hid it behind a gap in his memory. However scarring, even when he woke up beneath a pile of corpses and was forced to flee by ship and watch helplessly as his homeland sank into the waves, he refused to be a victim. Rather than seek pity or solace from others, Gailardia Galan Gardios, last scion of his house, sought vengeance. With the intent of exacting due justice, he took his mother’s maiden name, Cecil, and entered the employ of the man who slaughtered his family. The plan was to hurt Duke Fabre the same way he had been hurt, starting with the death of the Duke’s only son, Luke fon Fabre.
Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, after sixteen years of masquerading as a simple servant, Guy formed an unbreakable bond with Luke that allowed him to see that it is possible to leave the past behind, no matter how painful.
“You said, ‘You can’t go forward if you keep looking back.’ So you didn’t need a past. That’s what you told me… I thought it was pretty insightful.”
Luke is the cornerstone of Guy’s rehabilitation from hatred and anger. If not for the time he spent teaching the ‘amnesiac’ ten-year-old how to walk, talk, and even chew, Guy may very well have followed through with his plot to the end. ‘Raising’ who he believed to still be the original son of Duke Fabre helped pacify the rage but not quell it. Initially annoyed by Luke’s willingness to leave behind what Guy found so difficult to escape, he made a bet with himself: “If the son of my father’s killer, the man I hate more than anything, grows into someone who can make me feel loyalty toward him, then perhaps I’ll lose my desire for revenge.” Seven years later, Luke’s struggle to change and atone for his mistakes inspire Guy’s genuine admiration and loyalty, and determined to follow Luke’s clear example, he also fights to unchain himself from the past. While some lingering resentment against the fon Fabres remains, Guy put away his obsession for revenge, and the kind, patient, and understanding (and amazing) Guy which was once part of his facade became real, transforming him from Luke’s potential murderer into his best friend and protector.
As a protector and friend, Guy doesn’t impose his feelings on others, but, like a caring older brother, he does look out for those close to him. Years of keeping his own intentions and emotions hidden while living in the house of his enemy allow him to perceive through the dissembling of others; he doesn’t pry, but he won’t leave a matter alone if it is serious. When his friends quarrel, he’s the one to step in to diffuse the situation with an off-colour joke or disarming comment. When they’re feeling beat down by life’s more difficult lessons, like unintentional mass murder and patricide, he’ll find the right words to say to put them back on track. Not afraid to be self-effacing, he doesn’t mind making a fool of himself or creating an awkward situation focused on him, so long as it helps. This propensity to be one part silver-tongued, one part supportive, and one (lesser) part manipulative doesn’t always go his way, however. More than once, his charm and natural inclination to help others has backfired by earning him the adoration and attention of women-frightful, terror-inducing women-which then triggers his gynophobia and related flight instincts.
Although born into the aristocracy, Guy doesn’t need his father’s title to be noble: his willingness to put others ahead of himself and his high regard for human life are where his true nobility manifests. He goes out of his way to accommodate others, subordinating his needs for theirs. Even with all the emotional weight attached to the symbols of his family claim, he puts off reclaiming his place as Count Gardios in order to support Luke and his friends on their quest to save the world. Such loyalty is one of Guy’s core characteristics-even his need for revenge is fuelled by a sense of loyalty to his slaughtered family. To the best of his abilities, Guy’s loyalty to his friends is absolute because they are the new family he has created for himself. While he has at times questioned the placement of his faith in them, when the situation calls for action, not even his debilitating gynophobia can stop him.
Guy’s most dangerous trait is masked by his most benign hobby. The zeal with which he exhibits his love for technology and his carefully catalogued encyclopaedic knowledge of the social strata and mechanical theories that surround Auldrant’s fontech are easily translated toward more nefarious purposes. Passion can be replaced with obsession and single-minded purpose, the kind of single-minded purpose that brought him into the fon Fabre household with an intent to not just blindly slaughter, but methodically murder and torment. Beneath the gentle and jovial veneer is another story that could have been told, together with cautionary tales that could still be told in future. When up against Guy and threatening that which he holds dear, it isn’t his swordplay one should look out for, but his tenacity-the sharpest part of Guy is his soul, and even if it takes him 16 years, barring another Luke, he’ll go straight for the throat.
Character Abilities:
Guy is an accomplished practitioner of Sigmund Style swordsmanship, a deviation from the more popular Albert Style specific to Hod, his homeland. It is a one-handed style that eschews shields in favour of holding the scabbard in the off-hand and compensates for the flaws of the Albert Style with techniques of blinding speed and accuracy-capable even of parrying bullets. It has many similarities to the samurai iai, an art that involved drawing the sword, cutting down an opponent, and re-sheathing the blade in a single, fluid swing. In addition to his proficiency with the blade, he’s also able to perform sword-based fonic artes (the game’s magic) that allow him to extend his reach and potency using energy waves and elemental effects.
Even without a sword, Guy is quick on his feet and highly acrobatic, capable of performing aerial summersaults and evasive tumbles in the midst of battle, making him a showy, though formidable and frighteningly efficient combatant. While other, equally capable swordsmen would allow this level of mastery to get to their heads and act impulsively, Guy always keeps his cool and has no qualms in giving the spotlight to others for a while so that he can find the perfect opening in which to make his own ‘amazing entry.’
It would be a mistake to think that Guy is a melee combatant first and only. His more serious and better-trained talents are mostly related to subterfuge and covert action, making him a more effective secret agent than simple duelist. He learned the tell-tale Sigmund Style in secret, infiltrated the household of his father’s killer for sixteen years, kept his past and connection with God-General Van hidden, and discovered the one unguarded secret exit out of the enemy capital, all without arousing the slightest suspicion. He has the ability to control his obsessions under regular circumstances, never falling prey to the impulse to accomplish a long-term goal right away. His disguise as a servant is so impenetrable that even his own cousin is in disbelief when he reveals their family ties. “You’re lying. He died on Hod…”
No less important, his passion for technology has made him a handy Guy to have around when dealing with mechanical systems. He knows his way around machines and has a good head and deft hands for the task; when the Tartarus engines blow, it’s Guy who descends into the engine room to salvage the craft’s propulsion systems enough to allow them to reach port. Not bad for some elbow grease and borrowed knowledge picked up from a stack of academic journals.
Character Weaknesses:
Women. He loves looking at them, can’t help talking to them and making them feel good about themselves, but can’t stand within a couple of feet from one. Even though he now knows the root of his gynophobia, it’s still there. Unfortunately, even though he’s slowly getting better, there’s a lot of ground to cover.
He’s easily exploitable for small favours. Guy will explain.
Because of the deep sea of residual feelings that lay hidden beneath his surface, Guy is susceptible to supernatural effects that take advantage of his intensity and obsession. Sync took advantage of that with the Daathic Arte Curse Rune, turning Guy against the party because of old wounds involving the fon Fabre household.
[ SOUL CAMPAIGN SECTION ]
What are the abilities that your character will retain in Soul Campaign?
+ Mastery of the Sigmund Style.
+ Good reaction speed and efficient fighting methodology.
+ Other trained skills and natural talents (acrobatics, keeping his emotions and agenda hidden, mechanical skills, etc)
+ Ability to manage household chores.
What are the weaknesses that your character will lose or gain in Soul Campaign?
- No Fonic Artes
+ Inability to turn down mundane requests.
+ Susceptibility to mind-altering effects that prey on his repressed past.
+ … Gynophobia.
Keeping the game’s premise in mind, please give us a brief explanation of your plans for your character in Soul Campaign.
Guy is here to help with “Luke’s Grand Adventure”… again. Because his friends are here, he’ll fight to defend them and learn the ropes of the Soul Eater Weapon-Technician power system, but he’s not interested in joining larger organisations like the Watch. Like Jade, he’ll probably be heavily invested in learning as much about this world’s technology as he can, particularly because Auldrant is, by his point in the canon, entering something of a fuel crisis.
My goals are to see how far I can push the envelope on Autonomous Weapon status with this character while exploring how he deals with world-specific issues such as the Kishin's growing influence.
[ WEAPON ONLY SECTION ]
Why your character should be a Weapon:
In canon, Guy already is a weapon. While he could just as easily have relied on Vandesdelca and Pere, the sword and shield of House Gardios, Guy chose to make himself the instrument of his own revenge. All the secret training he underwent, the careful plots he laid out for later execution, and the overwhelming emotions he endured over sixteen years were keenly focused on the creation of a human weapon capable of cutting others down mercilessly. Even when he leaves the idea of revenge behind him, he acts as a sword, sworn to eternal loyalty and friendship to his companions, slicing in to protect his friends when needed and always by their side even when sheathed.
What is your character's Weapon form?:
The Jewel of Gardios, (http://i.imgur.com/zhWQB.png) Guy’s family sword which hung as a trophy in the fon Fabre household for sixteen years until it was returned to Guy, who pledged it and himself to eternal friendship with Luke. The blade of the sword is made of relentlessly sharp blue-tinged translucent crystal and curved to be shaped like that of a cutlass. Its guard is crimson and gold and extends a quarter-way up the blade on the flat edge while hooking down and up on the sharp one, protecting the hand of the wielder. Although mostly decorative, the back guard is studded with four protruding metal spikes that can be used in a brutal backhand manoeuvre. Although Guy’s weapon form has a worn, antique look to it, as though the relic of a bygone age, the grip looks relatively new; the leather straps are supple and very comfortable, quickly moulding to accommodate the wielder.
Guys’ Weapon classification is Demon Cutlass, and his form is a cross between a katana and a cutlass. His abilities are directly related to his fonic arte techniques back home, but to use any of his abilities, a Meister must first have and wield a matching scabbard in the offhand. He is capable of partial transformation, but not of using these abilities on his own. The usual ‘consumed souls/resonance = power level’ equation applies, as always.
His first ability, Demon Fang, is the initial skill learned by most Tales swordsman, and thus is the easiest to learn; it has no further requirements beyond base resonance, a scabbard, and a modicum of skill with the sword. To perform the Demon Fang arte, the wielder must point the tip of the blade to the ground and slash upwards, generating a soul-powered energy projectile that travels swiftly along the ground towards its intended target. The attack can only travel along the ground and is easily thwarted by flying or high-jumping enemies quick enough to dodge its path.
The second ability, Severing Wind, is meant to eventually offset the aerial blind-spot of the previous arte. The Meister is required to perform a round-house manoeuvre while leaping up into the air; with practiced resonance levels, the technique generates a brief cyclone of wind that will strike and ground all immediately surrounding enemies, momentarily opening them up to a few swift Demon Fangs.
While the first two abilities are relatively simple base-line synergistic techniques, the final two require very high levels of resonance and a long period of camaraderie to even attempt.
The Overlimit ability relies more on familiarity with a partner’s fighting style and technique than raw power, but is still fairly taxing to execute. By itself, Overlimit adds nothing new-it is merely a status effect that augments a Meister and Weapon’s physical and spiritual capabilities and fortitude. With Overlimit activated, Demon Fang and Severing Wind become more formidable: the blast from Demon Fang becomes larger and faster, while the arc and reach of Severing Wind grows to encompass more foes. The Meister becomes not only more resilient to damage, but quicker, stronger, and more alert as well. However, the benefits are short lived; much like an adrenaline rush, Overlimit can only last a couple of minutes at most and cannot be chained or repeated without long rest periods between uses.
The final ability imparts Guy’s ultimate technique onto the Meister, and as such requires an absolute bond of trust and faith be established first between Weapon and Meister so that the proper forms can first be taught. (Guy is tight-lipped about the Sigmund Style, even in canon.) Brilliant Overlord conceptually combines all previous powers gained and can only be activated when Overlimit is in effect. Like with Demon Fang, the Meister is required to slash the air multiple times with superhuman speed, sending cascading waves of energy slicing through the air towards a single opponent, continually damaging them until the accumulated energy overloads and causes a final, devastating explosion. Because this is a Sigmund Style technique that is highly reliant on proper form, Guy must begin and end this attack sheathed in the custom scabbard.
All of Guy’s Artes, including the ones listed above, can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiJBGO6MP08
[ SOUL INFORMATION ]
Soul Description: (Amazing.) Amiable, Vigilant, Forbearing, Committed, Obliging, Gallant.
Soul Appearance: asd
[ SAMPLES ]
First Person:
Hey, it works! Well…
[Although there’s a voice coming through loud and clear, the camera seems to be pointed in the wrong direction, showing only an empty grass lot with a couple of trees and the tell-tale skyline of Death City in the background. Suddenly, there’s the rustle of motion and a sharp “Hah!” as, from above, a young man with blond hair and a brown single tailed coat descends, landing skilfully with his arms spread up and outwards-Ta daa!]
Enter the amazing Guy!
Hahaha! [He laughs at his own dramatics and reaches forward to scoop up the device.] Okay, since you folks are probably already sick of seeing us new people try out the communicators, I promise to keep this brief.
I’m Guy Cecil, and like most of you, I’m just passing through until this is over. Given the situation, it’s pretty obvious that an end to the war won’t be as simple as securing a peace treaty, so I guess I’m looking at settling in for the long haul, huh?
Well... at least this place doesn’t look too different from what I’m used to… so I’ll figure out the simple stuff on my own and let you guys continue on without me getting in your way.
[He flashes a smile for the camera, then grows quiet and a little distant as he considers something unspoken… before promptly reanimating again for a final part to the message:]
Though there is one thing I could use some help with... I don’t suppose anyone can tell me if there’s a manufactory or blacksmith in this city? I need to get a couple of things made that I doubt I’d find in the marketplace here, so, hey, I’d appreciate it. [A brisk two finger salute and wave, then the feed cuts off.]
Third Person: A third person sample of your character set during the last minutes they have in their world, and their first glimpse of the kishin chamber. We prefer something at least two or three paragraphs long. This sample is a MUST. You may not recycle samples from other games unless they adhere to this requirement.
[ NOTES ]
Any extra notes you may have go here.]