Continuing the Adel Discussion started by neo_rufus, and Bringing Up New Topics.
While working on a particular ficlet of mine, I couldn't help but remember the discussion started here earlier concerning Adel's gender. And I decided to do a little research to validate the claim of Sorcerers in the FF8 world.
First off, I had to do a little research on the original Japanese script for FF8. A hard task, but after many hours sitting in front of the computer, I managed to come up with something.
The Sorceresses, all of them, are referred to with the title of “Majutsushi”, which means “enchanter” or “sorcerer”. Like many Japanese words, it is unisex, and applicable to any practitioner of the art of Maho, or, basically “magic” (maho, you might notice, is also very close to mako. I might have ideas about this in a later discussion). There is a separate word, used for Sorceress Edea whilst she is possessed by Ultimecia, which is “Majo”, or witch.
However, Adel is referred to as “Majutsushi Aderu”, or “Sorcerer/ess Adel”. Considering the physical characteristics of Adel, it is easily permissible that Adel would, in fact, fall under the category of Sorcerer.
And while Sorcerers would, indeed, be very rare, they would clearly be present often enough that they would not be completely obscure. There are implications, of course, that Hyne was a powerful Sorcerer, though it is never outright said; but there are obviously some factions dedicated to Hyne. Hyne, being an obviously masculine name, is clearly associated with the Majutsushi, and is, in certain ways, idolized; imagine the sort of charismatic power it would have to tote around that you were a product of Hyne's power. It would be something that Adel would clearly call on, as the leader of Esthar.
(Esthar, I believe, is a patriarchal society. They don't allow women to rule, even if they are crazy-ass powerful Sorceresses. Maybe it's just the impression I get. But that also goes for a blow against Adel being a woman.)
And another little thing that the ficlet spurred into my brains.
The Sorceresses very clearly pass on their traits to a new potential-as Ultimecia did to Edea, and as Edea did (though with Ultimecia's traits) to Rinoa. The Sorceress does not lose her own abilities (as can be seen with Edea, whose physical attacks are very clearly magical in nature), simply passes on some of the latent and/or unused abilities to the new Sorceress; awakens potential latent powers in the new Sorceress; or, in the case of possession, transfers their full gifts over to the new Sorceress while retaining their own abilities once they leave and return to their own body.
With this in mind, it is possible that, while Adel was receiving Sorceress gifts from Rinoa, he (because I'm now of the firm conviction that Adel is, in fact, male) was also delivering some of his gifts to her as well. And with Ultimecia continually popping in and out of Rinoa's body, she'd pick up at least one or two permanent gifts from the future-Sorceress.
Rinoa would, this way, become a very powerful Sorceress. More powerful than Edea. More powerful than Adel. And nearly as powerful as Ultimecia.
Rinoa is obviously powerful enough that she can break through the “dream” layer that happened to Squall and back into the real world. However, as he is essentially dead at that point, to be able to bring him back, even if she were very powerful, she would have to be able to Touch him, much in the same way a Sorceress would Touch a girl to awaken her abilities.
The question then is whether such a brief touch (not unlike the one Ultimecia gave Seifer to rouse him after the second Edea boss-fight) would transfer a substantial amount of power, or whether such power would be so negligible that it isn't even worth mentioning.
Considering the drastic measure to which they are connected, however inadvertently-drastic enough that Rinoa herself is pulled into “dreaming”-it would seem that their bond was already very strong, implying a transfer of power already present. Her “calling” to him to rouse him could have, in fact, been much akin to the transfer of power from Sorceress to successor, making Squall a Sorcerer, however minutely.
But consider, of course, that Squall leads a dangerous profession. Eventually-whether sooner or later-he would die. And most likely without passing on his latent Maho skills. Most likely, those skills would return to the source: Rinoa.
As they are not her own skills, really, this would amplify her power as well, making her very strong indeed. With her anger and sadness over his death, she would no doubt become quite the frightening and formidable little Sorceress.
Rinoa is noted as saying (in an optional conversation) “My powers will be carried on across generations and eventually reach Ultimecia.”
Ultimecia, during the Final Battle, is quoted as saying “Time, [i]t will not wait [n]o matter [h]ow hard you hold on. It escapes you.” A very poetic, almost Rinoa-esque thing to say. And then, Ultimecia's dying spirit possesses Edea, and all begins again.
Is it possible that, instead of spanning generations, Rinoa's powers carried her across the generations? Is it entirely possible that Rinoa is Ultimecia, and the Guardian Force Griever some strange mimic of time of Squall?
LET'S DEBATE!
First off, I had to do a little research on the original Japanese script for FF8. A hard task, but after many hours sitting in front of the computer, I managed to come up with something.
The Sorceresses, all of them, are referred to with the title of “Majutsushi”, which means “enchanter” or “sorcerer”. Like many Japanese words, it is unisex, and applicable to any practitioner of the art of Maho, or, basically “magic” (maho, you might notice, is also very close to mako. I might have ideas about this in a later discussion). There is a separate word, used for Sorceress Edea whilst she is possessed by Ultimecia, which is “Majo”, or witch.
However, Adel is referred to as “Majutsushi Aderu”, or “Sorcerer/ess Adel”. Considering the physical characteristics of Adel, it is easily permissible that Adel would, in fact, fall under the category of Sorcerer.
And while Sorcerers would, indeed, be very rare, they would clearly be present often enough that they would not be completely obscure. There are implications, of course, that Hyne was a powerful Sorcerer, though it is never outright said; but there are obviously some factions dedicated to Hyne. Hyne, being an obviously masculine name, is clearly associated with the Majutsushi, and is, in certain ways, idolized; imagine the sort of charismatic power it would have to tote around that you were a product of Hyne's power. It would be something that Adel would clearly call on, as the leader of Esthar.
(Esthar, I believe, is a patriarchal society. They don't allow women to rule, even if they are crazy-ass powerful Sorceresses. Maybe it's just the impression I get. But that also goes for a blow against Adel being a woman.)
And another little thing that the ficlet spurred into my brains.
The Sorceresses very clearly pass on their traits to a new potential-as Ultimecia did to Edea, and as Edea did (though with Ultimecia's traits) to Rinoa. The Sorceress does not lose her own abilities (as can be seen with Edea, whose physical attacks are very clearly magical in nature), simply passes on some of the latent and/or unused abilities to the new Sorceress; awakens potential latent powers in the new Sorceress; or, in the case of possession, transfers their full gifts over to the new Sorceress while retaining their own abilities once they leave and return to their own body.
With this in mind, it is possible that, while Adel was receiving Sorceress gifts from Rinoa, he (because I'm now of the firm conviction that Adel is, in fact, male) was also delivering some of his gifts to her as well. And with Ultimecia continually popping in and out of Rinoa's body, she'd pick up at least one or two permanent gifts from the future-Sorceress.
Rinoa would, this way, become a very powerful Sorceress. More powerful than Edea. More powerful than Adel. And nearly as powerful as Ultimecia.
Rinoa is obviously powerful enough that she can break through the “dream” layer that happened to Squall and back into the real world. However, as he is essentially dead at that point, to be able to bring him back, even if she were very powerful, she would have to be able to Touch him, much in the same way a Sorceress would Touch a girl to awaken her abilities.
The question then is whether such a brief touch (not unlike the one Ultimecia gave Seifer to rouse him after the second Edea boss-fight) would transfer a substantial amount of power, or whether such power would be so negligible that it isn't even worth mentioning.
Considering the drastic measure to which they are connected, however inadvertently-drastic enough that Rinoa herself is pulled into “dreaming”-it would seem that their bond was already very strong, implying a transfer of power already present. Her “calling” to him to rouse him could have, in fact, been much akin to the transfer of power from Sorceress to successor, making Squall a Sorcerer, however minutely.
But consider, of course, that Squall leads a dangerous profession. Eventually-whether sooner or later-he would die. And most likely without passing on his latent Maho skills. Most likely, those skills would return to the source: Rinoa.
As they are not her own skills, really, this would amplify her power as well, making her very strong indeed. With her anger and sadness over his death, she would no doubt become quite the frightening and formidable little Sorceress.
Rinoa is noted as saying (in an optional conversation) “My powers will be carried on across generations and eventually reach Ultimecia.”
Ultimecia, during the Final Battle, is quoted as saying “Time, [i]t will not wait [n]o matter [h]ow hard you hold on. It escapes you.” A very poetic, almost Rinoa-esque thing to say. And then, Ultimecia's dying spirit possesses Edea, and all begins again.
Is it possible that, instead of spanning generations, Rinoa's powers carried her across the generations? Is it entirely possible that Rinoa is Ultimecia, and the Guardian Force Griever some strange mimic of time of Squall?
LET'S DEBATE!