[OOC] Application
Name: Kyo
Contact: CruxisKyosuke (AIM)
Character's Name: Emil Castagnier
Character's Age: 16
Character's Class: Swordsman
Biography: The game starts off with the blond-haired boy appearing before Marta mysteriously. She thanks him for apparently saving him and wanders off. He then encounters Reysol and Lana Castagnier, the latter of which calls him "Emil" even though she couldn't see him. He accepts that as his name, and that dying woman as his mother, and cries out for her. This is how Emil Castagnier was born.
Fast-forwards 6 months, to present-day in the game. Emil's now in Luin, living with his Aunt Flora and Uncle Alba. Emil, at this point, is a total wimp. Everyone thinks of him as a monster since Lake Sinoa dried up and monsters started appearing when he arrived. He had also been hearing a strange howling. On that day, he wanders about town a bit before he comes across the statue of Lloyd the Great. Feeling anger towards Lloyd because he was the one responsible for the Blood Purge, he snubs the statue and continues walking. Two boys named Dida and Moll see this and chastise him, demanding he swear to Lloyd the Great. Emil, however, refuses, and the two begin to beat on him. It's at this point that a man named Richter appears and chases the two away, and then tells Emil to have more courage. Emil chases after him and thanks him for his help. Richter then plants the saying "Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality", a saying that becomes Emil's mantra. Emil goes to the lakebed afterwards, where he encounters Marta, even though he doesn't remember her. After helping her defeat an Eggbear, she runs off, and he returns to town to tell Richter about her. Richter demands he take him to her. The two set off for the cave and go inside. They eventually encounter a door and Richter goes in along. Emil eventually follows and finds Richter and Marta fighting. Emil saves her, and she runs off. Not wanting to deal with Emil, Richter summons his Centurion, Aqua, to keep Emil out.
Outside that door, Tenebrae, who was the source of the howling Emil was hearing, appears before him and tells him to make a pact, so that he may become a "Knight of Ratatosk." Emil accepts, and gains the power to get past Aqua. He continues on and finds a wounded Richter and then encounters Lloyd. Following a painfully one-sided battle later in which Emil, along with Marta, loses terribly and Lloyd escapes with Lumen's Core, the two escape the cavern and go to Luin, which is under attack by the Vanguard and the Church of Martel. After saving the town, Emil, Marta, and Tenebrae chase after Lloyd and to obtain the Centurions' Cores.
The game continues on with Emil, Marta, and Tenebrae traveling across Aselia in search of the Centurions' Cores and Lloyd. In chapter 2, they retrieve Ventus' Core with Colette's help, as well as going to Palmacosta, where they meet Zelos. From Palmacosta, they go to the Dynasty Ruins, where they fight Alice and learn about Emil's past a bit.
In Chapter 3, the party found themselves near Iselia, where they meet Dirk, and eventually Raine. They go to the ruins of the Iselia Ranch to help Raine save a young boy named Paul, a student of hers. She tells them about Lloyd, which begins to cast doubts on their opinions of Lloyd. She then agrees to help them in their quest. She accompanies them to the Triet Ruins, where they find Genis investigating. He joins them, and they head further in. At the altar for Ignis' Core, they encounter Lloyd. Emil attacks him in a fit of blind rage, but he is easily dispatched by Lloyd, who then may or may not make off with Ignis' Core. Afterwards, they go to Izoold, which they meet up with Regal. Regal has been accused of arsonry in the village and locked away, so the party must lure out the real culprit, a Nazdrovie Light Frog. Raine and Genis depart for Flanoir, while Regal joins the party and helps defeat the Light Frog. They too then depart for Flanoir.
In Chapter 4, they arrive in Flanoir, only to find it in a state of disarray. There is damage all over the town, and the party discovers Lloyd on the scene, believing him to be the culprit. Emil attacks again, but Lloyd escapes on his Rheaird. The party is then left to help fix up Flanoir, where they meet a suspicious-looking Decus within the church. Afterwards, they go to the Temple of Ice, where they meet Genis and Raine again. They go inside to search for Glacies' Core, only to find it already gone. Marta is also lured away by the Vanguard in an attempt to kill her by Richter, but this plan ends in failure as Sheena appears to save her, joining the party. Told that Glacies' Core was taken by a merchant and sold in Meltokio, they head there as their next destination.
In Chapter 5, they discover that the core has been sold, but the shopkeeper cannot say to whom. Regal suggests they go to the King, but are stopped Alice and her monsters. The party defeats her monsters easily, but she expected it and rigged her golem with a bomb. It latches onto him, intending to destroy him, but a well-timed sacrifice by Tenebrae saves him. Emil is grief-stricken, but the cores he has obtained thus far tell him that Tenebrae is not dead, but sleeping in core form. This causes Emil to enter Ratatosk Mode. This is the first time that Ratatosk has expressed his own will, rather than Emil allowing him to come out. Regal departs to speak with the king, while the others go to the Temple of Darkness. Inside the Temple, they discover Tenebrae's Core, and Richter waiting for him. Ratatosk engages him in battle, and unleashes an attack Richter recognizes "called Ain Soph Aur". This attack causes Richter to question Emil's identity. The attack causes damage to the altar, separating him from his companions, and from Richter. Ratatosk retrieves the core and regroups with his comrades, and then switches back to Emil. As they leave, they meet up with Regal, who tells them that the core was sold to Seles Wilder, the sister of Tethe'alla's Chosen, Zelos Wilder. They head to the estate of the man, only to arrive minutes late, as Lloyd had broken in and kidnapped her for the core. Enraged, Emil pursues him, bumping into Zelos. Lloyd runs past the two, and Zelos immediately dismisses that Lloyd as a fake, claiming that "his bud doesn't smell like that", and is actually Decus is disguise thanks to the power of Solum's Core. Determining that Seles was taken by the Vanguard, Emil, Marta, Tenebrae, Sheena, Regal, and now Zelos head to the Cape Fortress. Inside, Emil, Marta and Zelos are seperated from Sheena and Regal, and must continue on. At the end, they find the real Lloyd squaring off with the Lloyd-disguised Decus. Emil correctly identifies the real Lloyd, and he, Marta, Colette, Zelos, Sheena, and Regal attack Decus, winning Glacies' Core as spoils. Afterwards, Richter appears and attacks the party. Regardless of the outcome, Richter prepares to deal the finishing blow, but hesitates, calling Emil "Aster". The characters on location regroup and join the party, except for Lloyd, who just tags along. As they leave, Lloyd demands they turn over their cores and leaves. Colette and Zelos also go their own seperate ways to investigate Lloyd.
In Chapter 6. Emil, Marta, Tenebrae, Regal, and Sheena go to the Temple of Lightning. Learning that it is blocked off, they head to Sybak to speak to a man named Schnider. It is within Sybak that the party learns some essential information regarding Richter and Aster, and it is within Sybak that Emil accidentally overhears Regal and Sheena discussing some assumptions Raine has about Emil that was ultimately proven true; Namely, that he is not actually Emil Castagnier. But with Schnider's permission, the party goes back into the Temple of Lightning, where they find a girl named Rilena, who was an old friend of Richter and Aster's, being attacked by Decus. But Ratatosk manifests himself once more and uses a power to send Decus--and unfortunately, Rilena--away. At the altar, they'll find Tonitrus' Core, which may or may not then be taken by Lloyd. It is revealed that the ability Ratatosk used simply transported Rilena and Decus to another altar containing a Core. Following some scenes in Sybak and Meltokio in which they learn the true nature of Ratatosk--that he resides guards the Ginnungagap and manipulates the mana flow of the world--they go to the Temple of Earth, where Rilena is. At the altar, they find Rilena, who notes how similar Emil is to Aster, and essentially confirms their suspicions: That Emil is actually Ratatosk who is using Aster's body. Further in, they also discover that, just as they feared, Solum's Core is gone. After using a secret passage that connets to the Toize Valley Mine, they make their way to Altamira.
In Altamira, Emil and co. head to Lezareno headquarters, but the Vanguard launch an attack on the town, claiming the party "kidnapped" Marta. They regroup at the inn, where they encounter Alice, who tells them what will happen if they don't surrender Marta. Knowing they need more information, Regal and Sheena leave, insisting that Emil and Marta get rest. In the hotel room, Marta blames herself for what happened and runs off to turn herself in. Emil follows after her and finds Regal and Sheena, telling them what happened. They concoct an ingenius plan to infiltrate the casino and retrieve Marta. The plan is to "turn Regal in", who is actually equipped with a pair of handcuffs that remotely deactivate all power. However, Alice sees through the plan and has them all arrested, where they regroup with Marta. This is according to plan, though, as Regal then activates his remote, freeing them. Tenebrae then eats the bomb detonator, and Hawk of the Vanguard attacks. After defeating him, Brute appears and vastly overpowers them with the help of Solum's Core. They retreat, with Regal staying behind to buy them time. Then, near the entrance, they are stopped by Alice, but Presea appears to save them. Sheena goes back to help Regal while Presea takes the trio to Altessa's House.
In Chapter 7, at Altessa's House, they are attacked by Magnar, the same man from the Church of Martel who attacked Luin. Following his defeat, they head to Mizuho, where they meet with Raine and Genis and discuss their next plan of action. The Vanguard suddenly attacks Mizuho, and it is up to Emil and Marta to stop them. During the fights, Emil, who has turned into Ratatosk, tells Marta they can't give up now, because they still need to retrieve Solum's Core. After the battles, they return to Altamira. Inside Building Two, where the Vanguard has set up base, Emil and Marta split off from Genis, Raine, and Presea. Further in, Emil and Marta find Alice, who asks them to help Decus, who has gone crazy. However, this is just a ploy to capture Marta, although Decus had actually gone crazy due to dependence and separation from Solum's Core. Emil is thrown into the same room with Decus was only saved by a jar of Eau de Seduction he had, which brought Decus to his senses. Oh, and Zelos and Colette happened to be nearby, too. They were sent by Lloyd, and Emil briefs them on what is happening. Eventually, Sheena regroups with the party, having found Marta. They retrieve Marta and go to the President's Office, regrouping with Genis, Presea, and Raine as well. Inside, they encounter Brute, as well as Alice holding Regal hostage, but an intervention by Lloyd saves the latter, allowing them to engage Brute in battle. Following his defeat, they regain Solum's Core. Afterwards, they try to heal Brute, who had come to his senses, while Emil, Marta and Presea pursue Alice and Decus, who had run off. They encounter Richter and challenge him once more. Regardless of the outcome, the battle ends. A flashback occurs, detailing Richter and Aster's encounter with Ratatosk. After the flashback, Richter flees.
In Chapter 8, the entire party corners Lloyd on the rooftop of Lezareno, and demand that he explain himself. He says he will, but only in one place; the site of the new World Tree, planted at the old location of the Tower of Salvation. When they head there, they speak with Lloyd, as well as the man behind Lloyd's action, Yuan Ka-Fai, the former leader of the Renegades and the guaridan of the World Tree. It is here that Emil's true nature as being another part of Ratatosk is revealed, as well as Lloyd's true goal; seal Ratatosk within the Ginnungagap to keep it shut forever. He refused to explain himself due to Ratatosk, who has a network of monsters and would have sought out Martel's tree and stolen it from her. Despite that, Yuan and Lloyd want to believe in Emil, and reveal their plans to him because they believe Emil is not a fabrication, but Ratatosk's good side, personfied. His conscience, in other words. Yuan then proposes that they merge the two personalities into one, and hope that Emil will not be consumed by Ratatosk. To that end, they seek out the Summon Spirit of Heart, Verius, near Iselia.
At the Martel Temple in Iselia, Sheena reveals Verius' nature as Corrine, her first Summon Spirit, and they also meet with Dirk again. Lloyd also plans some confidence in Emil with his words, which helps him to understand the former and to resolve himself for what's going to happen. When they reach Verius' Altar, deep within the temple, the spirit appears before them and says to them that he will protect Emil's heart in the way he desires, when he has decided it. As they depart, however, Richter has succeeded in opening the door to the Ginnungagap, causing Ratatosk to have an outburst and take control. He attacks Lloyd and steals Lumen's Core. Suddenly, a flasback is shown depicting what really happened in Palmacosta with Marta. With Ratatosk's Core in her possession, she prays to it for Ratatosk to help, and then passes out as a fake core is placed in her forehead. As the Vanguard prepares to seize her, the real Lloyd appears and chases after them. Ratatosk then appears, in Aster's form and without memories, to Marta. The flashback ends, and Emil regains control, now sure that he is Ratatosk. Raine proposes they return to town. Outside the temple, they discover Dirk fending off demons trying to enter the temple, and they rush to his aid. Afterwards, Tenebrae explains why the door has been opened, because Ratatosk has lost power. Marta scolds Ratatosk for attacking Lloyd and stealing Lumen's Core, and he remarks he was only taking back what is rightfully his, and if they get in his way, he won't hesitate to kill them. Suddenly, Emil interferes and calls upon Verius at that moment.
Next is shown Emil's mind, where Emil and Ratatosk are arguing. Ratatosk remarks that he must be allowed to regain his full power, but Emil decides he shall take responsibility for Ratatosk, and asks Verius to seal Ratatosk's personality, leaving only Emil for now. He resolves that they must go to the Ginnungagap and end things, guarding the door in Ratatosk's place, and everyone agrees to help him. For their last night, they split up to take care of their own things, and Emil decides to return to Luin. He decides to visit his Aunt and Uncle for everything they'd done for him, and to say goodbye for one last time. They reveal that they'd heard what Emil has done, and tell him they are willing to give being a family another try when he returns. Emil goes to the statue of Lloyd in the beginning. Tenebrae reveals he knows what Emil is planning: Turn himself into a core and become a lock on the door of Ginnungagap. Before heading to Altamira to see Marta, Emil travels around the world one last time and visits the towns he's been to and his friends, where Emil learns more about what they did two years and what they're all like, including Yuan. He heads to Altamira afterwards to speak with Marta. Sharing close words and closer actions, the two embrace and kiss. The party regroups at Altamira and head to the Otherworldly Gate, the entrance to the Ginnungagap.
Inside the Ginnungagap, the party eventually discovers a trap that reacts to the Derris-Emblems in the possession of Lloyd and his companions, whisking them away and leaving Emil and Marta by themselves. They're left to continue on their own, when they encounter Alice and Decus, engaging in one last battle to the death that results in their deaths as they die protecting each other. Near the end, they discover Lloyd, who was saved from the trap due to Martel's protection. The others, however, were not so lucky, as they were petrified. Emil was able to free them with his power as Ratatosk, though. They are then stopped by Aqua, who wishes to help Richter until the end. She explains Richter's true motives and summons a Hydra, but is defeated and turned into a core, which Emil takes. In the final room, they finally confront Richter at the gate. They engage Richter, who has gained demonic power, and defeat him. Richter reveals that he was planning to become guardian of the door himself and eliminate Ratatosk from the equation, but he failed.
Emil places the cores on the gate, then reveals his plan, where he pretends he is Ratatosk and forces Marta and Lloyd to attack him. He loses on purpose so that he would die and turn into a core. However, before Marta lands the finishing blow, she realizes that he is Emil, and instead gives him the core. Emil planned to make himself the seal to atone for Aster's murder. However, Marta and everyone tells him to stand up to Ratatosk and tell him how it is, not run away from him. So Emil confronts Ratatosk in his mind one last time, and defeats him in combat. Having been bested, Ratatosk realizes that Emil is not a burden to him, and that his kindess is not a weakness, but a strength. The two resolve to work together, and Emil places Aqua's Core on the gate, restoring Ratatosk's power, who then takes control. Ratatosk assures the party he no longer plans to destroy mankind. But the seal will no longer works. Richter states he will use his own mana to seal the door, and Ratatosk agrees to help by rewriting the nature of the world so that it no longer depends on mana to survive, and then controlling the flow of the mana into the door so it remains sealed. The party say their goodbyes to Emil and Ratatosk, hoping it won't be their final farewells. Marta's especially is bitterly sad and heartfelt, as they confess they will always love each other forever. As Richter and Ratatosk begin their job, Richter suggests that he divide himself from Emil so that he may be allowed to live a normal human life. After coaxing from Tenebrae, Aqua, Richter, and Verius, Ratatosk agrees, divdiing himself from Emil and using Richter as a host for his core. The scene ends there. After the credits, Palmacosta is shown, with Marta looking over the ocean. She remarks what she is going to do for the world, to help achieve peace for the world Emil is guarding for them all. As she talks, she hears someone approaching, only to discover it's Emil. She runs towards him and embraces him.
Pulled From: Chapter 8, before visiting the Martel Temple for the second time.
Personality: First and foremost, Emil is a wimp. He's shy and timid around others, and stammers a lot when flustered (which is almost always in the beginning.) He's not really a coward, because he can resolve himself to do almost anything if it's necessary, but he is scared. This stems from a lack of experience (as prior to the game, he had only really been "alive" for six months) and a fear of offending or upsetting others due to his own actions. However, he is very enthusiastic about making new friends and is always willing to help them whenever they need it, even if he's just met them. Once he's resolved himself to do something, he can actually be quite brave (at least on the surface; On the inside, he might still be quaking in his shoes.) He also displays an attention to detail, especially evidenced in his cooking abilities. Throughout the game, he starts out as a total wimp, but thanks to encounters with a man named Richter who becomes an inspiration to the boy, ends up gradually developing courage through the man's inspirational words (particularly the phrase "Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality."), and his own trials.
However, the Emil described above is, in fact, a "fake" Emil--a fabrication. The real Emil died in the Blood Purge of Palmacosta, and the Emil who is the protagonist is actually a persona created by Ratatosk, who had just awakened in the form of Aster in an amnesiac state, and encounted the dying and blind Lana Castagnier, who is the real Emil's mother. Believing him to be her son, she calls him "Emil", and he believes her, adopting the identity of "Emil Castagnier" as his own and developing the way he did. The true persona of Ratatosk manifests itself in the form of Emil's Ratatosk Mode, where his voice deepens, his eyes turn red, and his attitude grows bolder, as well as becoming more violent and bloodthirsty. At many times, Ratatosk will show little regard for the lives of others, especially when enraged. He won't hesitate to kill without mercy if he feels the need to. As the game goes on, Emil's persona develops, essentially becoming his own person with his own distinct thought patterns and behaviors. Near the end, Emil desires to be his own person, separate of Ratatosk, and eventually gets his wish in the Perfect Ending of the game, where Ratatosk agrees, after the urging of Tenebrae and Richter and with the help of Verius, to separate himself from Emil, as he can maintain his own physical form in the Ginnungagap.
Roleplay Sample: Emil closed his eyes for but a moment, steeling himself for what was about to happen at Martel Temple. He knew that whatever was going to unfold there... He needed to be ready for it.
His eyes fluttered open, prepared to leave for his destination with his friends, but there was something wrong. Rather, two things wrong. One, the tree was suddenly a lot bigger than he had seen just mere minutes before. The surrounding area was different, too, for sure. But there was a more pressing matter at hand...
"Everyone! Where'd you all go? Marta! Tenebrae! ...L-Lloyd?", he cried out, glancing around the area. They had to be here somewhere, right? They couldn't have just vanished in those few seconds, right?
"...They must've left without me, I guess.", he sighed. "...Or maybe I left without them..."
Contact: CruxisKyosuke (AIM)
Character's Name: Emil Castagnier
Character's Age: 16
Character's Class: Swordsman
Biography: The game starts off with the blond-haired boy appearing before Marta mysteriously. She thanks him for apparently saving him and wanders off. He then encounters Reysol and Lana Castagnier, the latter of which calls him "Emil" even though she couldn't see him. He accepts that as his name, and that dying woman as his mother, and cries out for her. This is how Emil Castagnier was born.
Fast-forwards 6 months, to present-day in the game. Emil's now in Luin, living with his Aunt Flora and Uncle Alba. Emil, at this point, is a total wimp. Everyone thinks of him as a monster since Lake Sinoa dried up and monsters started appearing when he arrived. He had also been hearing a strange howling. On that day, he wanders about town a bit before he comes across the statue of Lloyd the Great. Feeling anger towards Lloyd because he was the one responsible for the Blood Purge, he snubs the statue and continues walking. Two boys named Dida and Moll see this and chastise him, demanding he swear to Lloyd the Great. Emil, however, refuses, and the two begin to beat on him. It's at this point that a man named Richter appears and chases the two away, and then tells Emil to have more courage. Emil chases after him and thanks him for his help. Richter then plants the saying "Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality", a saying that becomes Emil's mantra. Emil goes to the lakebed afterwards, where he encounters Marta, even though he doesn't remember her. After helping her defeat an Eggbear, she runs off, and he returns to town to tell Richter about her. Richter demands he take him to her. The two set off for the cave and go inside. They eventually encounter a door and Richter goes in along. Emil eventually follows and finds Richter and Marta fighting. Emil saves her, and she runs off. Not wanting to deal with Emil, Richter summons his Centurion, Aqua, to keep Emil out.
Outside that door, Tenebrae, who was the source of the howling Emil was hearing, appears before him and tells him to make a pact, so that he may become a "Knight of Ratatosk." Emil accepts, and gains the power to get past Aqua. He continues on and finds a wounded Richter and then encounters Lloyd. Following a painfully one-sided battle later in which Emil, along with Marta, loses terribly and Lloyd escapes with Lumen's Core, the two escape the cavern and go to Luin, which is under attack by the Vanguard and the Church of Martel. After saving the town, Emil, Marta, and Tenebrae chase after Lloyd and to obtain the Centurions' Cores.
The game continues on with Emil, Marta, and Tenebrae traveling across Aselia in search of the Centurions' Cores and Lloyd. In chapter 2, they retrieve Ventus' Core with Colette's help, as well as going to Palmacosta, where they meet Zelos. From Palmacosta, they go to the Dynasty Ruins, where they fight Alice and learn about Emil's past a bit.
In Chapter 3, the party found themselves near Iselia, where they meet Dirk, and eventually Raine. They go to the ruins of the Iselia Ranch to help Raine save a young boy named Paul, a student of hers. She tells them about Lloyd, which begins to cast doubts on their opinions of Lloyd. She then agrees to help them in their quest. She accompanies them to the Triet Ruins, where they find Genis investigating. He joins them, and they head further in. At the altar for Ignis' Core, they encounter Lloyd. Emil attacks him in a fit of blind rage, but he is easily dispatched by Lloyd, who then may or may not make off with Ignis' Core. Afterwards, they go to Izoold, which they meet up with Regal. Regal has been accused of arsonry in the village and locked away, so the party must lure out the real culprit, a Nazdrovie Light Frog. Raine and Genis depart for Flanoir, while Regal joins the party and helps defeat the Light Frog. They too then depart for Flanoir.
In Chapter 4, they arrive in Flanoir, only to find it in a state of disarray. There is damage all over the town, and the party discovers Lloyd on the scene, believing him to be the culprit. Emil attacks again, but Lloyd escapes on his Rheaird. The party is then left to help fix up Flanoir, where they meet a suspicious-looking Decus within the church. Afterwards, they go to the Temple of Ice, where they meet Genis and Raine again. They go inside to search for Glacies' Core, only to find it already gone. Marta is also lured away by the Vanguard in an attempt to kill her by Richter, but this plan ends in failure as Sheena appears to save her, joining the party. Told that Glacies' Core was taken by a merchant and sold in Meltokio, they head there as their next destination.
In Chapter 5, they discover that the core has been sold, but the shopkeeper cannot say to whom. Regal suggests they go to the King, but are stopped Alice and her monsters. The party defeats her monsters easily, but she expected it and rigged her golem with a bomb. It latches onto him, intending to destroy him, but a well-timed sacrifice by Tenebrae saves him. Emil is grief-stricken, but the cores he has obtained thus far tell him that Tenebrae is not dead, but sleeping in core form. This causes Emil to enter Ratatosk Mode. This is the first time that Ratatosk has expressed his own will, rather than Emil allowing him to come out. Regal departs to speak with the king, while the others go to the Temple of Darkness. Inside the Temple, they discover Tenebrae's Core, and Richter waiting for him. Ratatosk engages him in battle, and unleashes an attack Richter recognizes "called Ain Soph Aur". This attack causes Richter to question Emil's identity. The attack causes damage to the altar, separating him from his companions, and from Richter. Ratatosk retrieves the core and regroups with his comrades, and then switches back to Emil. As they leave, they meet up with Regal, who tells them that the core was sold to Seles Wilder, the sister of Tethe'alla's Chosen, Zelos Wilder. They head to the estate of the man, only to arrive minutes late, as Lloyd had broken in and kidnapped her for the core. Enraged, Emil pursues him, bumping into Zelos. Lloyd runs past the two, and Zelos immediately dismisses that Lloyd as a fake, claiming that "his bud doesn't smell like that", and is actually Decus is disguise thanks to the power of Solum's Core. Determining that Seles was taken by the Vanguard, Emil, Marta, Tenebrae, Sheena, Regal, and now Zelos head to the Cape Fortress. Inside, Emil, Marta and Zelos are seperated from Sheena and Regal, and must continue on. At the end, they find the real Lloyd squaring off with the Lloyd-disguised Decus. Emil correctly identifies the real Lloyd, and he, Marta, Colette, Zelos, Sheena, and Regal attack Decus, winning Glacies' Core as spoils. Afterwards, Richter appears and attacks the party. Regardless of the outcome, Richter prepares to deal the finishing blow, but hesitates, calling Emil "Aster". The characters on location regroup and join the party, except for Lloyd, who just tags along. As they leave, Lloyd demands they turn over their cores and leaves. Colette and Zelos also go their own seperate ways to investigate Lloyd.
In Chapter 6. Emil, Marta, Tenebrae, Regal, and Sheena go to the Temple of Lightning. Learning that it is blocked off, they head to Sybak to speak to a man named Schnider. It is within Sybak that the party learns some essential information regarding Richter and Aster, and it is within Sybak that Emil accidentally overhears Regal and Sheena discussing some assumptions Raine has about Emil that was ultimately proven true; Namely, that he is not actually Emil Castagnier. But with Schnider's permission, the party goes back into the Temple of Lightning, where they find a girl named Rilena, who was an old friend of Richter and Aster's, being attacked by Decus. But Ratatosk manifests himself once more and uses a power to send Decus--and unfortunately, Rilena--away. At the altar, they'll find Tonitrus' Core, which may or may not then be taken by Lloyd. It is revealed that the ability Ratatosk used simply transported Rilena and Decus to another altar containing a Core. Following some scenes in Sybak and Meltokio in which they learn the true nature of Ratatosk--that he resides guards the Ginnungagap and manipulates the mana flow of the world--they go to the Temple of Earth, where Rilena is. At the altar, they find Rilena, who notes how similar Emil is to Aster, and essentially confirms their suspicions: That Emil is actually Ratatosk who is using Aster's body. Further in, they also discover that, just as they feared, Solum's Core is gone. After using a secret passage that connets to the Toize Valley Mine, they make their way to Altamira.
In Altamira, Emil and co. head to Lezareno headquarters, but the Vanguard launch an attack on the town, claiming the party "kidnapped" Marta. They regroup at the inn, where they encounter Alice, who tells them what will happen if they don't surrender Marta. Knowing they need more information, Regal and Sheena leave, insisting that Emil and Marta get rest. In the hotel room, Marta blames herself for what happened and runs off to turn herself in. Emil follows after her and finds Regal and Sheena, telling them what happened. They concoct an ingenius plan to infiltrate the casino and retrieve Marta. The plan is to "turn Regal in", who is actually equipped with a pair of handcuffs that remotely deactivate all power. However, Alice sees through the plan and has them all arrested, where they regroup with Marta. This is according to plan, though, as Regal then activates his remote, freeing them. Tenebrae then eats the bomb detonator, and Hawk of the Vanguard attacks. After defeating him, Brute appears and vastly overpowers them with the help of Solum's Core. They retreat, with Regal staying behind to buy them time. Then, near the entrance, they are stopped by Alice, but Presea appears to save them. Sheena goes back to help Regal while Presea takes the trio to Altessa's House.
In Chapter 7, at Altessa's House, they are attacked by Magnar, the same man from the Church of Martel who attacked Luin. Following his defeat, they head to Mizuho, where they meet with Raine and Genis and discuss their next plan of action. The Vanguard suddenly attacks Mizuho, and it is up to Emil and Marta to stop them. During the fights, Emil, who has turned into Ratatosk, tells Marta they can't give up now, because they still need to retrieve Solum's Core. After the battles, they return to Altamira. Inside Building Two, where the Vanguard has set up base, Emil and Marta split off from Genis, Raine, and Presea. Further in, Emil and Marta find Alice, who asks them to help Decus, who has gone crazy. However, this is just a ploy to capture Marta, although Decus had actually gone crazy due to dependence and separation from Solum's Core. Emil is thrown into the same room with Decus was only saved by a jar of Eau de Seduction he had, which brought Decus to his senses. Oh, and Zelos and Colette happened to be nearby, too. They were sent by Lloyd, and Emil briefs them on what is happening. Eventually, Sheena regroups with the party, having found Marta. They retrieve Marta and go to the President's Office, regrouping with Genis, Presea, and Raine as well. Inside, they encounter Brute, as well as Alice holding Regal hostage, but an intervention by Lloyd saves the latter, allowing them to engage Brute in battle. Following his defeat, they regain Solum's Core. Afterwards, they try to heal Brute, who had come to his senses, while Emil, Marta and Presea pursue Alice and Decus, who had run off. They encounter Richter and challenge him once more. Regardless of the outcome, the battle ends. A flashback occurs, detailing Richter and Aster's encounter with Ratatosk. After the flashback, Richter flees.
In Chapter 8, the entire party corners Lloyd on the rooftop of Lezareno, and demand that he explain himself. He says he will, but only in one place; the site of the new World Tree, planted at the old location of the Tower of Salvation. When they head there, they speak with Lloyd, as well as the man behind Lloyd's action, Yuan Ka-Fai, the former leader of the Renegades and the guaridan of the World Tree. It is here that Emil's true nature as being another part of Ratatosk is revealed, as well as Lloyd's true goal; seal Ratatosk within the Ginnungagap to keep it shut forever. He refused to explain himself due to Ratatosk, who has a network of monsters and would have sought out Martel's tree and stolen it from her. Despite that, Yuan and Lloyd want to believe in Emil, and reveal their plans to him because they believe Emil is not a fabrication, but Ratatosk's good side, personfied. His conscience, in other words. Yuan then proposes that they merge the two personalities into one, and hope that Emil will not be consumed by Ratatosk. To that end, they seek out the Summon Spirit of Heart, Verius, near Iselia.
At the Martel Temple in Iselia, Sheena reveals Verius' nature as Corrine, her first Summon Spirit, and they also meet with Dirk again. Lloyd also plans some confidence in Emil with his words, which helps him to understand the former and to resolve himself for what's going to happen. When they reach Verius' Altar, deep within the temple, the spirit appears before them and says to them that he will protect Emil's heart in the way he desires, when he has decided it. As they depart, however, Richter has succeeded in opening the door to the Ginnungagap, causing Ratatosk to have an outburst and take control. He attacks Lloyd and steals Lumen's Core. Suddenly, a flasback is shown depicting what really happened in Palmacosta with Marta. With Ratatosk's Core in her possession, she prays to it for Ratatosk to help, and then passes out as a fake core is placed in her forehead. As the Vanguard prepares to seize her, the real Lloyd appears and chases after them. Ratatosk then appears, in Aster's form and without memories, to Marta. The flashback ends, and Emil regains control, now sure that he is Ratatosk. Raine proposes they return to town. Outside the temple, they discover Dirk fending off demons trying to enter the temple, and they rush to his aid. Afterwards, Tenebrae explains why the door has been opened, because Ratatosk has lost power. Marta scolds Ratatosk for attacking Lloyd and stealing Lumen's Core, and he remarks he was only taking back what is rightfully his, and if they get in his way, he won't hesitate to kill them. Suddenly, Emil interferes and calls upon Verius at that moment.
Next is shown Emil's mind, where Emil and Ratatosk are arguing. Ratatosk remarks that he must be allowed to regain his full power, but Emil decides he shall take responsibility for Ratatosk, and asks Verius to seal Ratatosk's personality, leaving only Emil for now. He resolves that they must go to the Ginnungagap and end things, guarding the door in Ratatosk's place, and everyone agrees to help him. For their last night, they split up to take care of their own things, and Emil decides to return to Luin. He decides to visit his Aunt and Uncle for everything they'd done for him, and to say goodbye for one last time. They reveal that they'd heard what Emil has done, and tell him they are willing to give being a family another try when he returns. Emil goes to the statue of Lloyd in the beginning. Tenebrae reveals he knows what Emil is planning: Turn himself into a core and become a lock on the door of Ginnungagap. Before heading to Altamira to see Marta, Emil travels around the world one last time and visits the towns he's been to and his friends, where Emil learns more about what they did two years and what they're all like, including Yuan. He heads to Altamira afterwards to speak with Marta. Sharing close words and closer actions, the two embrace and kiss. The party regroups at Altamira and head to the Otherworldly Gate, the entrance to the Ginnungagap.
Inside the Ginnungagap, the party eventually discovers a trap that reacts to the Derris-Emblems in the possession of Lloyd and his companions, whisking them away and leaving Emil and Marta by themselves. They're left to continue on their own, when they encounter Alice and Decus, engaging in one last battle to the death that results in their deaths as they die protecting each other. Near the end, they discover Lloyd, who was saved from the trap due to Martel's protection. The others, however, were not so lucky, as they were petrified. Emil was able to free them with his power as Ratatosk, though. They are then stopped by Aqua, who wishes to help Richter until the end. She explains Richter's true motives and summons a Hydra, but is defeated and turned into a core, which Emil takes. In the final room, they finally confront Richter at the gate. They engage Richter, who has gained demonic power, and defeat him. Richter reveals that he was planning to become guardian of the door himself and eliminate Ratatosk from the equation, but he failed.
Emil places the cores on the gate, then reveals his plan, where he pretends he is Ratatosk and forces Marta and Lloyd to attack him. He loses on purpose so that he would die and turn into a core. However, before Marta lands the finishing blow, she realizes that he is Emil, and instead gives him the core. Emil planned to make himself the seal to atone for Aster's murder. However, Marta and everyone tells him to stand up to Ratatosk and tell him how it is, not run away from him. So Emil confronts Ratatosk in his mind one last time, and defeats him in combat. Having been bested, Ratatosk realizes that Emil is not a burden to him, and that his kindess is not a weakness, but a strength. The two resolve to work together, and Emil places Aqua's Core on the gate, restoring Ratatosk's power, who then takes control. Ratatosk assures the party he no longer plans to destroy mankind. But the seal will no longer works. Richter states he will use his own mana to seal the door, and Ratatosk agrees to help by rewriting the nature of the world so that it no longer depends on mana to survive, and then controlling the flow of the mana into the door so it remains sealed. The party say their goodbyes to Emil and Ratatosk, hoping it won't be their final farewells. Marta's especially is bitterly sad and heartfelt, as they confess they will always love each other forever. As Richter and Ratatosk begin their job, Richter suggests that he divide himself from Emil so that he may be allowed to live a normal human life. After coaxing from Tenebrae, Aqua, Richter, and Verius, Ratatosk agrees, divdiing himself from Emil and using Richter as a host for his core. The scene ends there. After the credits, Palmacosta is shown, with Marta looking over the ocean. She remarks what she is going to do for the world, to help achieve peace for the world Emil is guarding for them all. As she talks, she hears someone approaching, only to discover it's Emil. She runs towards him and embraces him.
Pulled From: Chapter 8, before visiting the Martel Temple for the second time.
Personality: First and foremost, Emil is a wimp. He's shy and timid around others, and stammers a lot when flustered (which is almost always in the beginning.) He's not really a coward, because he can resolve himself to do almost anything if it's necessary, but he is scared. This stems from a lack of experience (as prior to the game, he had only really been "alive" for six months) and a fear of offending or upsetting others due to his own actions. However, he is very enthusiastic about making new friends and is always willing to help them whenever they need it, even if he's just met them. Once he's resolved himself to do something, he can actually be quite brave (at least on the surface; On the inside, he might still be quaking in his shoes.) He also displays an attention to detail, especially evidenced in his cooking abilities. Throughout the game, he starts out as a total wimp, but thanks to encounters with a man named Richter who becomes an inspiration to the boy, ends up gradually developing courage through the man's inspirational words (particularly the phrase "Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality."), and his own trials.
However, the Emil described above is, in fact, a "fake" Emil--a fabrication. The real Emil died in the Blood Purge of Palmacosta, and the Emil who is the protagonist is actually a persona created by Ratatosk, who had just awakened in the form of Aster in an amnesiac state, and encounted the dying and blind Lana Castagnier, who is the real Emil's mother. Believing him to be her son, she calls him "Emil", and he believes her, adopting the identity of "Emil Castagnier" as his own and developing the way he did. The true persona of Ratatosk manifests itself in the form of Emil's Ratatosk Mode, where his voice deepens, his eyes turn red, and his attitude grows bolder, as well as becoming more violent and bloodthirsty. At many times, Ratatosk will show little regard for the lives of others, especially when enraged. He won't hesitate to kill without mercy if he feels the need to. As the game goes on, Emil's persona develops, essentially becoming his own person with his own distinct thought patterns and behaviors. Near the end, Emil desires to be his own person, separate of Ratatosk, and eventually gets his wish in the Perfect Ending of the game, where Ratatosk agrees, after the urging of Tenebrae and Richter and with the help of Verius, to separate himself from Emil, as he can maintain his own physical form in the Ginnungagap.
Roleplay Sample: Emil closed his eyes for but a moment, steeling himself for what was about to happen at Martel Temple. He knew that whatever was going to unfold there... He needed to be ready for it.
His eyes fluttered open, prepared to leave for his destination with his friends, but there was something wrong. Rather, two things wrong. One, the tree was suddenly a lot bigger than he had seen just mere minutes before. The surrounding area was different, too, for sure. But there was a more pressing matter at hand...
"Everyone! Where'd you all go? Marta! Tenebrae! ...L-Lloyd?", he cried out, glancing around the area. They had to be here somewhere, right? They couldn't have just vanished in those few seconds, right?
"...They must've left without me, I guess.", he sighed. "...Or maybe I left without them..."