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( abraxas application )
Jan. 13th, 2022 10:04 amOOC INFORMATION
Player Name: Jen
Are you over 18?: Yes
Contact: PM |![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
aurajen
Other Characters in Game: Stephen Strange (MCU)
IC INFORMATION
Character Name: Sephiroth
Canon: Final Fantasy VII
Canon Point: Soon after arriving at Nibelheim
Background: HERE
NOTE: Sephiroth’s canon point is specifically chosen as briefly before his villainous turn, with his personality demonstrative of the Crisis Core entry in the compilation. The rest of this app will reflect these choices accordingly!
Suitability: Sephiroth was raised with the idea that he exists to serve a purpose — whether through his childhood experiences of performing under laboratory conditions to reach a certain metric or spearheading Shinra's war responses as one of the most potent weapons in its arsenal. Though his loyalties wildly shift throughout the narrative, with his goals becoming far more catastrophic, this mindset remains so ingrained in him that he never really deviates from it. Thus, he's goal-oriented and gravitates towards undertaking missions or other tasks assigned to him, less motivated by ideology than the simple self-assurance that comes from utilizing his skills. While not without a moral compass—he won't be committing any war crimes on a whim, for instance—his time spent working for a corrupt megacorporation has blurred the lines of black and white. Outside of extreme circumstances, he's likely to adhere to whatever goal his faction perpetuates as he settles in.
More specifically, Sephiroth is a fighter and was bred for war. He will gravitate towards any PVP event that focuses on conflict and/or participate in more military-minded missions or tasks. Anything that requires the use of his sword is fair game. OOCly, I would like him to climb the army's ranks in the Free Cities over time, potentially landing him in a position of command where he feels the most comfortable.
Powers:
PERSONALITY QUESTIONS
Describe an important event in your character's life and how it impacted them.
Sephiroth's entry into the Wutai War was a turning point in his life, a transitionary period in which he suddenly became a pivotal part of Shinra's victory, catapulting his reputation into the public consciousness. Suddenly, he was lauded as a war hero, the poster child for the SOLDIER program, and an example for all who wanted to make a difference or reach an unparalleled level of strength. An impossible standard for most, but an effective marketing tool for the company, all the same. On the surface, how this affected Sephiroth was obvious: he became famous, a household name, either idolized by his peers or feared by his enemies. It underlined what he already knew about himself, that he was special, and he had a right to take some measure of pride in his skill and strength.
But this spotlight also had subtle, detrimental effects, too — ones that would lay the foundations of his already germinating insecurities at the time. When Sephiroth entered the war, he was only a child. (Approximately twelve years old if one does the timeline math.) Growing up in an environment in which he had no family (that he was aware of) to instill a sense of belonging, and treated more like an experimental asset than an actual kid, throwing him into a war only highlighted the differences between himself and others, and stretched that chasm even wider. What he had once only suspected, he now had proof for, and this stunted his ability to connect socially even more, a skill that was already stagnating for him.
Sephiroth would carry these beliefs throughout the years, eventually blossoming into deep insecurities about himself that would greatly influence his villainous turn further into the narrative. But like all insecurities, there is a crux for it, and his participation in the Wutai War and the fame that followed was a big one.
Does your character have a moral code, or other set of standards they try to live by?
Growing up under a corrupt megacorporation's wing makes Sephiroth's moral compass more complex than what one might expect. Groomed for war and used as a weapon to point at Shinra's enemies, morality was never a factor he had to concern himself with, easy to dismiss when his actions were justified through the directives of a mission. Ending the lives of his enemies, even if those enemies were fighting for a justifiable cause, was merely his job. Sephiroth never shows interest in grander swaths of ethical responsibilities or justification, leaving that much up to the executives well above his pay grade.
However, on a more personal level, this doesn't apply. Within closer social spheres, or regarding anything that directly applies to himself or the (very few) people close to him, Sephiroth is more clearly affected and tends to approach these instances with the intent of being helpful and fixing problems in which he has the capabilities to do so. He becomes discontent with Shinra as his disillusionment with the company grows, proof that his moral baseline still allows him to recognize corruption when he sees it, and there are specific individuals in the company that he has little to no respect for due to their moral bankruptcy or egotism. For example, he despises Professor Hojo for his amoral scientific endeavors and his massive ego, an opinion fostered over the years of personal interaction with the man. Sephiroth holds himself to a standard of honor and decency in spite of how he was raised, which exhibits a strength of character that he was able to fashion his own viewpoint in such a restrictive environment at all. While a pragmatist who seemingly exudes little emotional attachment, Sephiroth remains loyal to those who earn his respect and retains a basic sense of pride, and his background in SOLDIER has instilled in him an unsurprisingly militaristic and perfectionist work ethic, holding himself and others to a principled standard, regardless (or uncaring) of the irony this creates as a Shinra asset.
What quality or qualities do they admire most?
Sephiroth respects and admires characteristics often attributed to those who thrive in a military setting: disciplined, the ability to focus and perform under pressure, and a mindset that relies on clear-headed reason rather than emotional impulsivity. These are traits hammered into him during his SOLDIER training and, to a certain extent, internally idealized by Sephiroth himself to fulfill his role as a 1st Class. Thus, he both tries to inhabit these attributes and respects seeing them in others.
He also admires feats of strength, whether through an impressive resolve or physical acumen. The latter, especially, is a surefire way of obtaining Sephiroth's respect and interest; mainly because it's often hard to impress him due to his own personal standards, but once it's hard-won, his interest is almost impossible to shake off.
Do they have a part of themselves they dislike?
Deep down, in a shadowy section of himself that he shares with no one, Sephiroth dislikes feeling and being perceived as other. A belief carried with him ever since he was a child and reinforced via his life experiences as an adult, it has only worked to lay the foundations of insecurities hidden beneath an otherwise severe and "perfect soldier" demeanor. Though he takes some measure of pride in his skills, which are (from a combat standpoint) far greater than anyone he knows, this does not change the difference it creates between himself and others — which consequently reinforces the idea that he does not belong to any one group.
After all, Sephiroth knows that he is different in both kind and degree. Often, he's lauded as the most talented, perfect SOLDIER with no evidence to prove otherwise. He is put on a pedestal by both the company and his peers, which disconnects him further from those around him. Given his unknown parentage, he never had even the commonality of a family to ground himself in. He doesn't know where he comes from, and he does not feel as though he entirely belongs with those around him, leaving him wanting to fill this void but stymied by his innate inability to connect with others. To say this leaves him isolated isn't an understatement — to say it is even lonely, in a way he might never admit to, is just as reasonable.
What is their sign, and why?
I've chosen the Tower as Sephiroth's sign to highlight a few of his more negative traits, as well as indulge in some meta foreshadowing. Later in FF7's narrative, Sephiroth is the very epitome of chaos and upheaval, taking on the role of villain and threatening the very lives of all who live on the Planet. By the end, the status quo of Shinra's influence has decreased dramatically to nil. In a roundabout (though very destructive) way, this power shift dismantled the company's corporative chokehold on the Planet.
In terms more congruent with his canon point, the Tower also illustrates Sephiroth's tendency to hold grudges and find flaws in other people's character through the strength of his observations alone, even if he does not always apply the same scrutiny to himself.
SAMPLES & ARRIVAL
Samples: TDM top-level | log thread from another game
Arrival Scenario: Free Cities
Player Name: Jen
Are you over 18?: Yes
Contact: PM |
Other Characters in Game: Stephen Strange (MCU)
IC INFORMATION
Character Name: Sephiroth
Canon: Final Fantasy VII
Canon Point: Soon after arriving at Nibelheim
Background: HERE
NOTE: Sephiroth’s canon point is specifically chosen as briefly before his villainous turn, with his personality demonstrative of the Crisis Core entry in the compilation. The rest of this app will reflect these choices accordingly!
Suitability: Sephiroth was raised with the idea that he exists to serve a purpose — whether through his childhood experiences of performing under laboratory conditions to reach a certain metric or spearheading Shinra's war responses as one of the most potent weapons in its arsenal. Though his loyalties wildly shift throughout the narrative, with his goals becoming far more catastrophic, this mindset remains so ingrained in him that he never really deviates from it. Thus, he's goal-oriented and gravitates towards undertaking missions or other tasks assigned to him, less motivated by ideology than the simple self-assurance that comes from utilizing his skills. While not without a moral compass—he won't be committing any war crimes on a whim, for instance—his time spent working for a corrupt megacorporation has blurred the lines of black and white. Outside of extreme circumstances, he's likely to adhere to whatever goal his faction perpetuates as he settles in.
More specifically, Sephiroth is a fighter and was bred for war. He will gravitate towards any PVP event that focuses on conflict and/or participate in more military-minded missions or tasks. Anything that requires the use of his sword is fair game. OOCly, I would like him to climb the army's ranks in the Free Cities over time, potentially landing him in a position of command where he feels the most comfortable.
Powers:
SUPERIOR COMBAT ABILITY - A SOLDIER’s baseline is already that of a superhuman. Extraordinary strength, speed, resilience, and healing are traits inherent in each individual, far surpassing that of a normal human being. Sephiroth himself is a special case, outclassing even his fellow 1st Class SOLDIERS thanks to his unique physiology. Though not invincible, the narrative hinges on the fact that he is frighteningly capable in a fight and nearly untouchable.
(I would like to note OOCly that I am very flexible when it comes to fighting or PvP situations and am happy to write both winning and losing scenarios for Sephiroth with preemptive planning. It would just be remiss not to stress this specific section of his abilities, as it holds a lot of narrative and character-related weight.)
SWORDSMANSHIP - This is where Sephiroth particularly excels. As a swordsman, he is fluid, fast, and experienced. Canonly, he is known to wield a blade that is taller than most humanoids without issue, exemplifying his skill in this arena. The use of blades is his preference and his forte, and he eschews other options if given a choice.
MAGIC - He is adept at casting magic through materia, which are concentrated orbs of their world's life force, utilized as a conduit to perform a variety of spells. Though anyone can use materia, to master one requires skill, practice, and a familiarity with the magic itself; mastery grants a far greater potency. Sephiroth's materia is mastered accordingly, and he is familiar with basic elemental spells and even some healing.
Since he will not have any materia in-game, this skill translates into familiarity with magic and the potential to pick up on new spells if he puts in the effort.
JENOVA BIOLOGY - Sephiroth is technically a human-alien hybrid for all intents and purposes. His alien biology and physiology come from Jenova, a large, eldritch-like creature from space and from which much of his strength derives — and a few other abilities. Namely, Sephiroth can sense and, with a conscious effort, control those who are also in possession of Jenova genetic material. He shares a "link" with these individuals, as well, able to sense their presence even at great distances, and to some extent, share an emotional state with them.
Given his canon point, he is currently unaware of these abilities and will be confused when they surface.
TACTICALLY MINDED - Not a power, but a skill worth noting. Despite his young age, Sephiroth has had plenty of battlefield experience, even earning a position of command in Shinra's army. He is used to taking the lead during mission-based objectives and approaches situations with a tactical mind, often untouched by passion or keen emotion.
PERSONALITY QUESTIONS
Describe an important event in your character's life and how it impacted them.
Sephiroth's entry into the Wutai War was a turning point in his life, a transitionary period in which he suddenly became a pivotal part of Shinra's victory, catapulting his reputation into the public consciousness. Suddenly, he was lauded as a war hero, the poster child for the SOLDIER program, and an example for all who wanted to make a difference or reach an unparalleled level of strength. An impossible standard for most, but an effective marketing tool for the company, all the same. On the surface, how this affected Sephiroth was obvious: he became famous, a household name, either idolized by his peers or feared by his enemies. It underlined what he already knew about himself, that he was special, and he had a right to take some measure of pride in his skill and strength.
But this spotlight also had subtle, detrimental effects, too — ones that would lay the foundations of his already germinating insecurities at the time. When Sephiroth entered the war, he was only a child. (Approximately twelve years old if one does the timeline math.) Growing up in an environment in which he had no family (that he was aware of) to instill a sense of belonging, and treated more like an experimental asset than an actual kid, throwing him into a war only highlighted the differences between himself and others, and stretched that chasm even wider. What he had once only suspected, he now had proof for, and this stunted his ability to connect socially even more, a skill that was already stagnating for him.
Sephiroth would carry these beliefs throughout the years, eventually blossoming into deep insecurities about himself that would greatly influence his villainous turn further into the narrative. But like all insecurities, there is a crux for it, and his participation in the Wutai War and the fame that followed was a big one.
Does your character have a moral code, or other set of standards they try to live by?
Growing up under a corrupt megacorporation's wing makes Sephiroth's moral compass more complex than what one might expect. Groomed for war and used as a weapon to point at Shinra's enemies, morality was never a factor he had to concern himself with, easy to dismiss when his actions were justified through the directives of a mission. Ending the lives of his enemies, even if those enemies were fighting for a justifiable cause, was merely his job. Sephiroth never shows interest in grander swaths of ethical responsibilities or justification, leaving that much up to the executives well above his pay grade.
However, on a more personal level, this doesn't apply. Within closer social spheres, or regarding anything that directly applies to himself or the (very few) people close to him, Sephiroth is more clearly affected and tends to approach these instances with the intent of being helpful and fixing problems in which he has the capabilities to do so. He becomes discontent with Shinra as his disillusionment with the company grows, proof that his moral baseline still allows him to recognize corruption when he sees it, and there are specific individuals in the company that he has little to no respect for due to their moral bankruptcy or egotism. For example, he despises Professor Hojo for his amoral scientific endeavors and his massive ego, an opinion fostered over the years of personal interaction with the man. Sephiroth holds himself to a standard of honor and decency in spite of how he was raised, which exhibits a strength of character that he was able to fashion his own viewpoint in such a restrictive environment at all. While a pragmatist who seemingly exudes little emotional attachment, Sephiroth remains loyal to those who earn his respect and retains a basic sense of pride, and his background in SOLDIER has instilled in him an unsurprisingly militaristic and perfectionist work ethic, holding himself and others to a principled standard, regardless (or uncaring) of the irony this creates as a Shinra asset.
What quality or qualities do they admire most?
Sephiroth respects and admires characteristics often attributed to those who thrive in a military setting: disciplined, the ability to focus and perform under pressure, and a mindset that relies on clear-headed reason rather than emotional impulsivity. These are traits hammered into him during his SOLDIER training and, to a certain extent, internally idealized by Sephiroth himself to fulfill his role as a 1st Class. Thus, he both tries to inhabit these attributes and respects seeing them in others.
He also admires feats of strength, whether through an impressive resolve or physical acumen. The latter, especially, is a surefire way of obtaining Sephiroth's respect and interest; mainly because it's often hard to impress him due to his own personal standards, but once it's hard-won, his interest is almost impossible to shake off.
Do they have a part of themselves they dislike?
Deep down, in a shadowy section of himself that he shares with no one, Sephiroth dislikes feeling and being perceived as other. A belief carried with him ever since he was a child and reinforced via his life experiences as an adult, it has only worked to lay the foundations of insecurities hidden beneath an otherwise severe and "perfect soldier" demeanor. Though he takes some measure of pride in his skills, which are (from a combat standpoint) far greater than anyone he knows, this does not change the difference it creates between himself and others — which consequently reinforces the idea that he does not belong to any one group.
After all, Sephiroth knows that he is different in both kind and degree. Often, he's lauded as the most talented, perfect SOLDIER with no evidence to prove otherwise. He is put on a pedestal by both the company and his peers, which disconnects him further from those around him. Given his unknown parentage, he never had even the commonality of a family to ground himself in. He doesn't know where he comes from, and he does not feel as though he entirely belongs with those around him, leaving him wanting to fill this void but stymied by his innate inability to connect with others. To say this leaves him isolated isn't an understatement — to say it is even lonely, in a way he might never admit to, is just as reasonable.
What is their sign, and why?
I've chosen the Tower as Sephiroth's sign to highlight a few of his more negative traits, as well as indulge in some meta foreshadowing. Later in FF7's narrative, Sephiroth is the very epitome of chaos and upheaval, taking on the role of villain and threatening the very lives of all who live on the Planet. By the end, the status quo of Shinra's influence has decreased dramatically to nil. In a roundabout (though very destructive) way, this power shift dismantled the company's corporative chokehold on the Planet.
In terms more congruent with his canon point, the Tower also illustrates Sephiroth's tendency to hold grudges and find flaws in other people's character through the strength of his observations alone, even if he does not always apply the same scrutiny to himself.
SAMPLES & ARRIVAL
Samples: TDM top-level | log thread from another game
Arrival Scenario: Free Cities
