Reverie Lane: Profile
Your Name: Enzel
LJ Username: sakurabatou
Email/AIM/Other: squeenixxnamco@gmail.com, AIM: TerrainPyjamas
Character's Name: Mao
Series: Tales of Rebirth
Age: 13 (1)
Height: 5' (153 cm)
History: Mao first opened his eyes in a castle hall, filled with flames and the bodies of soldiers. He had no memory of his past and was taken in by Eugene Gallardo, the Captain of the Royal Guard, and given the name Mao, meaning "nothing" in the ancient language of the kingdom of Callegea. Though Mao had the appearance of a human (Huma) and Eugene was a Gajuma (a member of the animal-like ruling race of the kingdom), he looked after Mao as he would his own son. The boy was able to control his own innate magical power, called Force, which was unheard of in Huma until the day Mao appeared--which was also the day King Ladras passed away. Since then, reports all over the countryside sprang up of Huma uncovering their ability to use Force. Many of them went insane, causing a large outbreak of death and chaos across the kingdom.
A year later, the unrest had quieted, and things had settled down--mostly. But strange rumors had begun to circulate about Queen Agarte, the late king's daughter. Before Eugene could confirm his suspicions, he was exiled from the capital under the false charge of murdering his best friend, a doctor named Barrs. Mao, of course, went with him, and they began to search the countryside for other Force users, hoping to gain some allies in order to get to the bottom of things.
The two arrived in a small northern village called Sulz, where a year before a young man named Veigue had experienced the awakening of his own Force. Unable to control it, he lashed out and accidentally froze his childhood friend, Claire, within a pillar of ice. Every day after that he would visit her, trying in vain to find a way to free her. When approached by Mao and Eugene, he is hostile and unwilling to speak with him, until Mao beats a little sense into him...the pair tells him they have a way to free Claire, and Mao uses his fire to melt the unnatural ice while Veigue breaks her out.
It seems like all is well again, until a group of soldiers comes to the village, demanding that they bring out their "most beautiful Huma girl." As Claire, barely having the time to greet her parents after spending a year frozen, is dragged away, Veigue attacks the leader of the soldiers in a rage and is...soundly defeated. However, he swears to do whatever it takes to get his friend back.
Mao, Eugene and Veigue set out on a journey, joined by three others--Annie, Tytree and Hilda--for various reasons of their own, all heading toward the capital to find out the truth about the kidnapped girls. They arrive just as a strange ceremony begins, and Queen Agarte uses her Force to summon a massive dragon, the Sacred Beast King Geyorkias. It claims to have come to bring peace to the world--at the price of destroying every Huma.
The party faces down the creature in a grueling battle, defeating it to find Agarte gone and Claire unconscious. Thinking everything is over, Veigue takes Claire home to Sulz and everyone goes their separate ways. A few months later, Eugene isolates himself in a cave, refusing to see anyone. Extremely worried, Mao begs Annie to bring the others while he stays with his friend. Annie brings Veigue the news just as a conflict arises between the Huma and Gajuma in Sulz. Apparently, ever since the defeat of the Beast King, racial tensions all over the world have been inexplicably escalating. Taking Claire with them, they travel back to where Mao is waiting. Eugene refuses to come out, breaking down and begging the others to kill him before flying into a rage, shouting that he hates Huma and will kill them all. Shocked, they drag a distressed Mao outside to form a plan. Annie mentions a medicine she knows of that is said to calm the heart, so they leave Claire and Mao to watch over Eugene. While obtaining the medicine, the group runs into Hilda, who rejoins them as well for her own reasons. Once Eugene is brought back to his senses, the reunited party (including a very relieved Mao) investigate the disturbances, discovering an ancient legend about people’s thoughts being influenced by the Beast King’s hatred. By gaining the power of the six legendary Sacred Beasts, there is still hope for purifying the world of that hatred.
Each Sacred Beast chooses one of the party to undergo its trials and gain its power. After Tytree obtains the Power of Darkness, the six and Claire arrive in the desert, at the foot of a tower that seems strangely familiar to Mao. Fenia, the Sacred Beast of Fire, begins to speak to him, revealing the truth about his past; Mao is not a person, but a being called Orselg, born from the Sacred Beasts themselves to be their eyes and ears for observing the world up close. Troubled by the revelation that he did not lose his memory--in fact, he had none to begin with--Mao keeps this a secret from the rest of the party, even Eugene, afraid they may reject him if they discover what he really is.
I'll be taking him from right after the events with Fenia and the Burning Tower, which is about 2/3 through the game.
Personality: Mao is usually cheerful and upbeat, playful even, and generally friendly with strangers. He genuinely enjoys being around people and interacting with them. Once he gets to know someone he will tease them mercilessly, but really it just means he likes them. He more or less treats people the way they treat him: if they're nice, he'll be nice (but still tease: one of his favorite pastimes is terrifying Annie with ghost stories.) If they're mean, he'll get upset with them and snap back. He likes to make up silly little songs about various things, such as the weather or environment. Sometimes he'll even make up songs about his companions, but they're not very flattering...
Again, because he’s a kid (physically 13, and his mental age is even younger) he’s a bit too trusting and can be overconfident at times. However, he doesn’t really hold grudges and forgives easily. Once he finds out the truth about himself, he’s extremely self-conscious about it. He worries a lot that other people won’t treat him the same way if they find out.
On the other hand, he's very tolerant of other people's differences, probably a result of being raised by a man who looked very different from him. Part of it is his insecurity of being not really one thing or another: his world is full of Huma and Gajuma, but though he looks like a Huma he's actually neither.
Mao also likes food. A lot. It's unclear whether it's body chemistry or a result of him not being entirely human, but he eats probably about as much as a grown man twice his size. (especially after using his magic in a fight) And when he's hungry, it's very hard for him to concentrate on anything but his stomach...
Last, it probably won't come up at all, but he really dislikes being called by his real name, Orselg, and instead prefers the name Mao, which Eugene gave him.
Powers and Abilities: Mao fights with a pair of tonfa and wields a hefty arsenal of fire, wind and darkness spells. Of course, fire being his element, those are the strongest. Despite his weapons, he's not the type to have a lot of stamina for a prolonged physical fight. He's primarily a caster. Low-level spells he can cast almost instantly, wheras more powerful ones require him to recite long incantations.
Flare Shot: low-level fire spell. Shoots a fireball straight ahead.
Wind Edge: low-level wind spell. Sends a small gust of wind to tear at the enemy or knock them off balance.
Arch Shade: low-level darkness spell. Sends a slash of dark energy across the enemy.
Burn Strike: mid-level fire spell. Three fireballs strike the ground in front of him.
Gusty Nail: mid-level wind spell. Sends two large gusts of wind to tear at the enemy or knock them off balance.
Bloody Cross: mid-level darkness spell. Impales the enemy with a spear of darkness from below.
(I figure six is probably enough, even though he has more.)
Memory Lost: Eugene Gallardo
Reason: Eugene is the first person Mao ever saw, and also the man who took him in, treated him kindly, and became like a father to him. Suffice to say Mao would do anything for him, and stayed by his side through everything, including madness.
LJ Username: sakurabatou
Email/AIM/Other: squeenixxnamco@gmail.com, AIM: TerrainPyjamas
Character's Name: Mao
Series: Tales of Rebirth
Age: 13 (1)
Height: 5' (153 cm)
History: Mao first opened his eyes in a castle hall, filled with flames and the bodies of soldiers. He had no memory of his past and was taken in by Eugene Gallardo, the Captain of the Royal Guard, and given the name Mao, meaning "nothing" in the ancient language of the kingdom of Callegea. Though Mao had the appearance of a human (Huma) and Eugene was a Gajuma (a member of the animal-like ruling race of the kingdom), he looked after Mao as he would his own son. The boy was able to control his own innate magical power, called Force, which was unheard of in Huma until the day Mao appeared--which was also the day King Ladras passed away. Since then, reports all over the countryside sprang up of Huma uncovering their ability to use Force. Many of them went insane, causing a large outbreak of death and chaos across the kingdom.
A year later, the unrest had quieted, and things had settled down--mostly. But strange rumors had begun to circulate about Queen Agarte, the late king's daughter. Before Eugene could confirm his suspicions, he was exiled from the capital under the false charge of murdering his best friend, a doctor named Barrs. Mao, of course, went with him, and they began to search the countryside for other Force users, hoping to gain some allies in order to get to the bottom of things.
The two arrived in a small northern village called Sulz, where a year before a young man named Veigue had experienced the awakening of his own Force. Unable to control it, he lashed out and accidentally froze his childhood friend, Claire, within a pillar of ice. Every day after that he would visit her, trying in vain to find a way to free her. When approached by Mao and Eugene, he is hostile and unwilling to speak with him, until Mao beats a little sense into him...the pair tells him they have a way to free Claire, and Mao uses his fire to melt the unnatural ice while Veigue breaks her out.
It seems like all is well again, until a group of soldiers comes to the village, demanding that they bring out their "most beautiful Huma girl." As Claire, barely having the time to greet her parents after spending a year frozen, is dragged away, Veigue attacks the leader of the soldiers in a rage and is...soundly defeated. However, he swears to do whatever it takes to get his friend back.
Mao, Eugene and Veigue set out on a journey, joined by three others--Annie, Tytree and Hilda--for various reasons of their own, all heading toward the capital to find out the truth about the kidnapped girls. They arrive just as a strange ceremony begins, and Queen Agarte uses her Force to summon a massive dragon, the Sacred Beast King Geyorkias. It claims to have come to bring peace to the world--at the price of destroying every Huma.
The party faces down the creature in a grueling battle, defeating it to find Agarte gone and Claire unconscious. Thinking everything is over, Veigue takes Claire home to Sulz and everyone goes their separate ways. A few months later, Eugene isolates himself in a cave, refusing to see anyone. Extremely worried, Mao begs Annie to bring the others while he stays with his friend. Annie brings Veigue the news just as a conflict arises between the Huma and Gajuma in Sulz. Apparently, ever since the defeat of the Beast King, racial tensions all over the world have been inexplicably escalating. Taking Claire with them, they travel back to where Mao is waiting. Eugene refuses to come out, breaking down and begging the others to kill him before flying into a rage, shouting that he hates Huma and will kill them all. Shocked, they drag a distressed Mao outside to form a plan. Annie mentions a medicine she knows of that is said to calm the heart, so they leave Claire and Mao to watch over Eugene. While obtaining the medicine, the group runs into Hilda, who rejoins them as well for her own reasons. Once Eugene is brought back to his senses, the reunited party (including a very relieved Mao) investigate the disturbances, discovering an ancient legend about people’s thoughts being influenced by the Beast King’s hatred. By gaining the power of the six legendary Sacred Beasts, there is still hope for purifying the world of that hatred.
Each Sacred Beast chooses one of the party to undergo its trials and gain its power. After Tytree obtains the Power of Darkness, the six and Claire arrive in the desert, at the foot of a tower that seems strangely familiar to Mao. Fenia, the Sacred Beast of Fire, begins to speak to him, revealing the truth about his past; Mao is not a person, but a being called Orselg, born from the Sacred Beasts themselves to be their eyes and ears for observing the world up close. Troubled by the revelation that he did not lose his memory--in fact, he had none to begin with--Mao keeps this a secret from the rest of the party, even Eugene, afraid they may reject him if they discover what he really is.
I'll be taking him from right after the events with Fenia and the Burning Tower, which is about 2/3 through the game.
Personality: Mao is usually cheerful and upbeat, playful even, and generally friendly with strangers. He genuinely enjoys being around people and interacting with them. Once he gets to know someone he will tease them mercilessly, but really it just means he likes them. He more or less treats people the way they treat him: if they're nice, he'll be nice (but still tease: one of his favorite pastimes is terrifying Annie with ghost stories.) If they're mean, he'll get upset with them and snap back. He likes to make up silly little songs about various things, such as the weather or environment. Sometimes he'll even make up songs about his companions, but they're not very flattering...
Again, because he’s a kid (physically 13, and his mental age is even younger) he’s a bit too trusting and can be overconfident at times. However, he doesn’t really hold grudges and forgives easily. Once he finds out the truth about himself, he’s extremely self-conscious about it. He worries a lot that other people won’t treat him the same way if they find out.
On the other hand, he's very tolerant of other people's differences, probably a result of being raised by a man who looked very different from him. Part of it is his insecurity of being not really one thing or another: his world is full of Huma and Gajuma, but though he looks like a Huma he's actually neither.
Mao also likes food. A lot. It's unclear whether it's body chemistry or a result of him not being entirely human, but he eats probably about as much as a grown man twice his size. (especially after using his magic in a fight) And when he's hungry, it's very hard for him to concentrate on anything but his stomach...
Last, it probably won't come up at all, but he really dislikes being called by his real name, Orselg, and instead prefers the name Mao, which Eugene gave him.
Powers and Abilities: Mao fights with a pair of tonfa and wields a hefty arsenal of fire, wind and darkness spells. Of course, fire being his element, those are the strongest. Despite his weapons, he's not the type to have a lot of stamina for a prolonged physical fight. He's primarily a caster. Low-level spells he can cast almost instantly, wheras more powerful ones require him to recite long incantations.
Flare Shot: low-level fire spell. Shoots a fireball straight ahead.
Wind Edge: low-level wind spell. Sends a small gust of wind to tear at the enemy or knock them off balance.
Arch Shade: low-level darkness spell. Sends a slash of dark energy across the enemy.
Burn Strike: mid-level fire spell. Three fireballs strike the ground in front of him.
Gusty Nail: mid-level wind spell. Sends two large gusts of wind to tear at the enemy or knock them off balance.
Bloody Cross: mid-level darkness spell. Impales the enemy with a spear of darkness from below.
(I figure six is probably enough, even though he has more.)
Memory Lost: Eugene Gallardo
Reason: Eugene is the first person Mao ever saw, and also the man who took him in, treated him kindly, and became like a father to him. Suffice to say Mao would do anything for him, and stayed by his side through everything, including madness.