Nida | FF8 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
skyward_eyes) wrote2020-06-30 09:33 am
skyward_eyes) wrote2020-06-30 09:33 am
Aterat Application
Player Information
Name: Churby
Age: 30+
Contact: Discord: churby |![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
churbooseanon
Other Characters: N/A
Invited by: Heather
Character Information
Name: Nida
Canon: Final Fantasy 8
Canon Point: 2 & 1/2 years post game
Age: 22
(Canon) Background (See full below)
World Info here
Nida was the only child of former members of the Galbadian army who had settled down outside of the town of Timber. After the war Nida’s parents could not stand for the way that Timber was annexed and oppressed by the increasingly militant Galbadian government, and ended up joining one of many rebel groups associated with the city. This choice found their end in front of a firing squad with an eight year old Nida watching. Nida ended up repressing this knowledge for a very long time, and he was shuffled off to the place that orphaned children go to: a Garden. Luckily this was Balamb Garden, a relief considering most students of Galbadia Garden ended up shuffled into the Galbadian military upon graduation. At the same time it proved a problem because Gardens worked with Guardian Forces, also known as GFs. These GFs would later be confirmed to wear away at memories at an insane speed, leaving Nida's parents nothing more than a dull ache of loss in the back of his mind.
Nida was a hard working and dedicated student at Balamb, because really what else was there to be? For nine years he studied combat, magic, and other skills for the prospect of someday finding purpose through skills. By the time he hit fifteen and became eligible to start taking the SeeD Qualification Exam he had realized that his use to the program wasn't how he fought or the spells he could fling, but rather in how he didn't stand out much. Being a quiet kid who didn't raise too much attention, who blended in, fit a niche that not as many did at Garden and Nida refocused himself infiltration. There were always clients who needed someone who could get into places to retrieve information or military forces could need scouts, and Nida could be the ears and eyes clients wanted.
At seventeen Nida was the fourth SeeD Graduate in his year after a mission to a Galbadian occupied city of Dollet. When a mission was assigned to his fellow graduates the next day to his hometown of Timber, Nida found himself left out. Those three would serve as the hand of one of the last surviving rebel factions, and Nida found himself going to the Headmaster to demand to know why he wasn't there. Unlike them he could fit in as a local and while he hadn't been there in nearly a decade he thought he could trade in on his family's name for recon. The issue came down to how emotionally invested he was in the situation. Cid said those sent should be detached from the situation and thus be better able to serve the needs of the client. Realistically he could turn into more of a liability to the situation than an asset, especially since the rebels themselves could provide much of what he would. When it was explained he knew it was the right choice.
Not long after the team was dispatched things started going wrong. There was concern over the newly rising Sorceress Edea, and at Garden a 'Garden Master' had raised their head at Balamb Garden, trying to take over the facility. This Master wanted to sacrifice Nida's fellow graduates to the Sorceress to be put to death. Nida and many others refused to side with someone who would betray those who were just following the SeeD contract. He found the only realistic choice was to stand with the Headmaster and during the ensuing riots Nida found himself as one of the SeeDs there to help try and hold order. Resolution finally came when Squall Leonhart and his team returned with help to put down the so-called Garden Master, managing to save the Garden from a missile strike as well, and suddenly their Garden was floating into the sea. When Garden crashed into Fisherman's Horizon Nida immediately offered himself as the new pilot of the mobile base. At last he he found himself finally serving a role in the conflict.
CRAU background (See full below) [cw: ref self-harm and attempted suicide]
6I
A year after the end of the war is where Nida's story changed. He awoke in a fountain in the middle of a strange place called the Village, in its Sixth Iteration. In this place Nida lived a relatively peaceful life. Finding a place to fit in wasn't easy, he was a spy, not a settler. But in his time there he found himself moving more and more away from the life he'd lived as a SeeD, mercenary, and spy, and more into exploration of life as a 'real person' as he put it. While there he made a number of friendships, loyalties, and even found a pseudo-family and a relationship he came to depend on. Of course there were a number of 'misadventures' as it was in that strange place and time. For instance, Nida came to lead the village dojo and also worked with the village guard, ensuring the place was as safe from all potential threats external to it. While he grew more open and friendly, some things also made him scared of the powers of these worlds. For instance, he was kidnapped from his bed and forced to view the repressed memory of his parent’s public execution, and to share it with strangers.
Still, life was mostly welcome and a growth experience until one day he just disappeared from the village and was home, with no memory of his experiences. Instead he spent almost a year and a half back in his world, time that changed him deeply. In addition to finally making A-Rank and finding a long term replacement for his roles as a pilot, Nida rededicated himself to his spy work, which ultimately culminated in an eight-month long under-cover operation in Deling City. The two man operation took place with another SeeD (though not one of the heroes of the most recent Sorceress War). Unfortunately this individual turned out to be a traitor to the Garden, and Nida was forced to kill him. While he ultimately recovered physically from the event, mentally coming back was harder. Traumatized by his own actions and how would be seen as a positive fulfillment of his job, Nida broke a mirror in his room and with the pieces and in a fit of despair and pain, attempted to end his own life. And that, of course, was when he woke back up in the village fountain not two days since he'd been there last, shaken, certain he had died, and emotionally drained. Readjusting was hard, but with time and care from his friends, brother, and lover, Nida was able to more or less get back on his feet. Which, of course, meant it was perfect time for something new.
Dualis
This was a world where the AI in charge wanted to study their health and use it to develop a vaccine to a terrible disease that had nearly killed the entirety of the original population of the world. Unfortunately The Head, the AI in charge of everything, was lying. The greatest lie being that people would return home after their year in the city. In fact, the AI was developing androids to replace all individuals brought there, perhaps even killing them on the way. One night, after a freak storm, unfinished androids were released, with the objective of killing their original to replace them. Nida survived this attack but grew distrustful of the power structure of the world.
Soon people Nida cared for started to get taken away from him. Those people would still linger in the city it seemed, replaced perhaps, or without memories of those they had cared for. At last his resolve was set to work with other residents to bring down the Head, just as the AI in charge raided a Heart meeting, arresting and slaughtering many before a very public, very televised execution of the leaders of the resistance. Instead swept away once again, spared the horrors and loss of that world and brought, instead, here. The problem? Something in the chip in his head, implanted by The Head, or perhaps something about the transit itself, went wrong. While he still remembers his past, still remembers the important events and the shape of things, Nida doesn't remember the faces and names to go with it.
Ultimately this means Nida finds himself distrusting of the establishment, and afraid to start living again. But it's okay. Nida isn't about to give up. Because what was it Cid had said? Oh right.
Do your best, even if you don't stand out.
Abilities
-Experienced pilot of large airborne crafts
-Combat specialist with polearms and tanbo, moderate skill in hand-to-hand self defense
-Moderately skilled acrobat
-Mechanic
-SeeD Training Specialization: Nida is trained in recon/intel gathering, basically a spy for hire. Capable of sleight of hand, low to mid-level lockpicking, and other spy related skills.
-Parkour, climbing, and free-running skills.
-Magical aptitude when junctioned with Siren (see below). Spell charges are consumed with each use. Replenishment of them, or addition of others, will be dependent upon mod approval. The spells he has with him currently are: 43 Aero, 25 Tornado, 37 Water, 15 Protect, 15 Shell, 32 Cure
-Possession of a Guardian Force named Siren. GFs are spirits from his world with their own personalities and elemental affinities that specially trained individuals in SeeD can use by 'junctioning'. Siren will be able to communicate in the form of vague impressions to Nida over time, perhaps even simple conversations, but is completely unable to converse with others. Siren's abilities include:
Personality
Garden instilled into Nida a sense of devotion that he's never going to be anything but proud to have. He will give a hundred and ten percent to any task set before him, ranging from learning new skills, refining old ones, or just being there to support people. There is a reason that Nida was told, upon graduating to SeeD and becoming one of the elite warriors of Garden, 'Do your best, even if no one notices.' It's good advice that Nida has tried to live by since Cid gave it to him. Recognition shouldn't be the reward for hard work. Hard work should be its own reward. Serve others, help others, protect others. There's no need for a pat on the back or a monetary bonus or recognition, just for working hard and getting the job done.
None of this, though, absolves Nida of his faults. When it comes down to it, Nida can stress over the small details. This manifests with a sometimes overly cautious nature when faced with a situation taking an unexpected turn or is completely new. While he doesn't freeze up this happens he may be found triple checking supplies before heading out into the wild, keeping tight inventories of vital supplies in general, and staying quiet at first when he should speak up or speak out. At his core, Nida is a nice guy who wants to do the right thing and do it well. On the other hand he finds it a bit harder to swallow the bad taste in his mouth when he feels that what he isn't on the right side of a situation, or feels that doing his best won't be enough to resolve things in a positive way. That doesn't mean he won't still act, won't still do what he feels is his duty even if he might morally see it as a bit questionable.
Arriving at Aterat he's dealing with a serious case of PTSD, survivor's guilt, and a certainty that he isn't good enough for normal people interactions. What's worse, the loss of his support network and friendships is leading to a fatalistic shift in his personality, a thought that maybe he shouldn't try and connect because in the end, everyone just gets taken away. This is something he could be pulled out of with time and effort, but for now he finds himself in a position where he stays distant emotionally, while still trying to show enough investment in others to get information from them. When he does warm up, though, he finds himself smiling easily and has learned to be a very physical person, even though this was not natural to him at first. Learning balance between his paranoia, concern and loss, and the warmth and openness he was guided toward with others in his recent years will be an ongoing battle, one he hopes to win.
Inventory
-Dark green leather coat with a dragon-scale pattern, gray button-up, black jeans, combat boots, leather gloves
-Two leather holsters for tanbo strapped to his forearms under his shirt and two Metal Tambo
-Bracelets: leather cuffs, silver charm bracelet, silver bracelet with heart locket
-Two Triple Triad decks in boxes on belt
-Set of broken dog-tags
-Leather bound notebook
Which of the following would they most like to have in abundance: limitless good luck, the freedom to act without restraint, the ability to teach and to learn, or for everyone to just relax? The Freedom to Act without Restraint
Writing sample
Aterat TDM
Name: Churby
Age: 30+
Contact: Discord: churby |
Other Characters: N/A
Invited by: Heather
Character Information
Name: Nida
Canon: Final Fantasy 8
Canon Point: 2 & 1/2 years post game
Age: 22
(Canon) Background (See full below)
World Info here
Nida was the only child of former members of the Galbadian army who had settled down outside of the town of Timber. After the war Nida’s parents could not stand for the way that Timber was annexed and oppressed by the increasingly militant Galbadian government, and ended up joining one of many rebel groups associated with the city. This choice found their end in front of a firing squad with an eight year old Nida watching. Nida ended up repressing this knowledge for a very long time, and he was shuffled off to the place that orphaned children go to: a Garden. Luckily this was Balamb Garden, a relief considering most students of Galbadia Garden ended up shuffled into the Galbadian military upon graduation. At the same time it proved a problem because Gardens worked with Guardian Forces, also known as GFs. These GFs would later be confirmed to wear away at memories at an insane speed, leaving Nida's parents nothing more than a dull ache of loss in the back of his mind.
Nida was a hard working and dedicated student at Balamb, because really what else was there to be? For nine years he studied combat, magic, and other skills for the prospect of someday finding purpose through skills. By the time he hit fifteen and became eligible to start taking the SeeD Qualification Exam he had realized that his use to the program wasn't how he fought or the spells he could fling, but rather in how he didn't stand out much. Being a quiet kid who didn't raise too much attention, who blended in, fit a niche that not as many did at Garden and Nida refocused himself infiltration. There were always clients who needed someone who could get into places to retrieve information or military forces could need scouts, and Nida could be the ears and eyes clients wanted.
At seventeen Nida was the fourth SeeD Graduate in his year after a mission to a Galbadian occupied city of Dollet. When a mission was assigned to his fellow graduates the next day to his hometown of Timber, Nida found himself left out. Those three would serve as the hand of one of the last surviving rebel factions, and Nida found himself going to the Headmaster to demand to know why he wasn't there. Unlike them he could fit in as a local and while he hadn't been there in nearly a decade he thought he could trade in on his family's name for recon. The issue came down to how emotionally invested he was in the situation. Cid said those sent should be detached from the situation and thus be better able to serve the needs of the client. Realistically he could turn into more of a liability to the situation than an asset, especially since the rebels themselves could provide much of what he would. When it was explained he knew it was the right choice.
Not long after the team was dispatched things started going wrong. There was concern over the newly rising Sorceress Edea, and at Garden a 'Garden Master' had raised their head at Balamb Garden, trying to take over the facility. This Master wanted to sacrifice Nida's fellow graduates to the Sorceress to be put to death. Nida and many others refused to side with someone who would betray those who were just following the SeeD contract. He found the only realistic choice was to stand with the Headmaster and during the ensuing riots Nida found himself as one of the SeeDs there to help try and hold order. Resolution finally came when Squall Leonhart and his team returned with help to put down the so-called Garden Master, managing to save the Garden from a missile strike as well, and suddenly their Garden was floating into the sea. When Garden crashed into Fisherman's Horizon Nida immediately offered himself as the new pilot of the mobile base. At last he he found himself finally serving a role in the conflict.
CRAU background (See full below) [cw: ref self-harm and attempted suicide]
6I
A year after the end of the war is where Nida's story changed. He awoke in a fountain in the middle of a strange place called the Village, in its Sixth Iteration. In this place Nida lived a relatively peaceful life. Finding a place to fit in wasn't easy, he was a spy, not a settler. But in his time there he found himself moving more and more away from the life he'd lived as a SeeD, mercenary, and spy, and more into exploration of life as a 'real person' as he put it. While there he made a number of friendships, loyalties, and even found a pseudo-family and a relationship he came to depend on. Of course there were a number of 'misadventures' as it was in that strange place and time. For instance, Nida came to lead the village dojo and also worked with the village guard, ensuring the place was as safe from all potential threats external to it. While he grew more open and friendly, some things also made him scared of the powers of these worlds. For instance, he was kidnapped from his bed and forced to view the repressed memory of his parent’s public execution, and to share it with strangers.
Still, life was mostly welcome and a growth experience until one day he just disappeared from the village and was home, with no memory of his experiences. Instead he spent almost a year and a half back in his world, time that changed him deeply. In addition to finally making A-Rank and finding a long term replacement for his roles as a pilot, Nida rededicated himself to his spy work, which ultimately culminated in an eight-month long under-cover operation in Deling City. The two man operation took place with another SeeD (though not one of the heroes of the most recent Sorceress War). Unfortunately this individual turned out to be a traitor to the Garden, and Nida was forced to kill him. While he ultimately recovered physically from the event, mentally coming back was harder. Traumatized by his own actions and how would be seen as a positive fulfillment of his job, Nida broke a mirror in his room and with the pieces and in a fit of despair and pain, attempted to end his own life. And that, of course, was when he woke back up in the village fountain not two days since he'd been there last, shaken, certain he had died, and emotionally drained. Readjusting was hard, but with time and care from his friends, brother, and lover, Nida was able to more or less get back on his feet. Which, of course, meant it was perfect time for something new.
Dualis
This was a world where the AI in charge wanted to study their health and use it to develop a vaccine to a terrible disease that had nearly killed the entirety of the original population of the world. Unfortunately The Head, the AI in charge of everything, was lying. The greatest lie being that people would return home after their year in the city. In fact, the AI was developing androids to replace all individuals brought there, perhaps even killing them on the way. One night, after a freak storm, unfinished androids were released, with the objective of killing their original to replace them. Nida survived this attack but grew distrustful of the power structure of the world.
Soon people Nida cared for started to get taken away from him. Those people would still linger in the city it seemed, replaced perhaps, or without memories of those they had cared for. At last his resolve was set to work with other residents to bring down the Head, just as the AI in charge raided a Heart meeting, arresting and slaughtering many before a very public, very televised execution of the leaders of the resistance. Instead swept away once again, spared the horrors and loss of that world and brought, instead, here. The problem? Something in the chip in his head, implanted by The Head, or perhaps something about the transit itself, went wrong. While he still remembers his past, still remembers the important events and the shape of things, Nida doesn't remember the faces and names to go with it.
Ultimately this means Nida finds himself distrusting of the establishment, and afraid to start living again. But it's okay. Nida isn't about to give up. Because what was it Cid had said? Oh right.
Do your best, even if you don't stand out.
Abilities
-Experienced pilot of large airborne crafts
-Combat specialist with polearms and tanbo, moderate skill in hand-to-hand self defense
-Moderately skilled acrobat
-Mechanic
-SeeD Training Specialization: Nida is trained in recon/intel gathering, basically a spy for hire. Capable of sleight of hand, low to mid-level lockpicking, and other spy related skills.
-Parkour, climbing, and free-running skills.
-Magical aptitude when junctioned with Siren (see below). Spell charges are consumed with each use. Replenishment of them, or addition of others, will be dependent upon mod approval. The spells he has with him currently are: 43 Aero, 25 Tornado, 37 Water, 15 Protect, 15 Shell, 32 Cure
-Possession of a Guardian Force named Siren. GFs are spirits from his world with their own personalities and elemental affinities that specially trained individuals in SeeD can use by 'junctioning'. Siren will be able to communicate in the form of vague impressions to Nida over time, perhaps even simple conversations, but is completely unable to converse with others. Siren's abilities include:
- Silent Voice Summon. Can silence enemies for 30 seconds. Water elemental damage.
- L-Magic Refinement. Allows Nida to convert mundane medical objects or magical baubles into healing spells. Nida can only make cure spells, which are treat superficial wounds and alleviate some fatigue.
- Status Medicine Refinement. Allows magically distillation of medical herbs into healing potions. This can make 'antidotes' for poisons, or 'remedies' which can flush the system of alcohol, drugs, sedatives.
- Magic Stat Junction. Shortest summary, Nida can equip spells he has his spell casting stronger for attacking/healing spells. If he uses the spells he has junctioned to this 'stat', then the stat drops in relation to it, making the spells weaker by extension.
- Move Find Ability. Siren has a particular sense for natural fonts of magic common in Nida's world. For Aterat it will present as slightly enhanced hearing (draw points make sounds) and a sixth-sense for locating magic sources.
- Magic Drawing. When junctioned, Siren allows drawing magic from the wellsprings in nature and in other people. This would only be used on other players with permission, and I'd okay with mod before determining what spells people may have naturally within them. This would be one spell per person and be based on their personality. Could also be used to draw from natural sources (i.e. water spells from a flowing river). Theoretically also allows Nida to draw other GFs from monsters and people, though it is likely Aterat does not have any.
Willing to remove this ability entirely if desired, or run as an aspect of the Curio shop, where Nida acquires magic in trade, as messages from the curio dealer of when and where a limited use font will occur. - Long-Term Memory Erosion. The downside of junctions. To facilitate a place for themselves in the heads of those that use GFs, they will slowly over time wear down at the oldest memories an individual has. The damage is not complete, and some memories can be recovered with interactions with others who remember the circumstances, but over time Siren will slowly wear away at Nida's childhood memories, and possibly his memories of circumstances of previous games he has been in.
Personality
Garden instilled into Nida a sense of devotion that he's never going to be anything but proud to have. He will give a hundred and ten percent to any task set before him, ranging from learning new skills, refining old ones, or just being there to support people. There is a reason that Nida was told, upon graduating to SeeD and becoming one of the elite warriors of Garden, 'Do your best, even if no one notices.' It's good advice that Nida has tried to live by since Cid gave it to him. Recognition shouldn't be the reward for hard work. Hard work should be its own reward. Serve others, help others, protect others. There's no need for a pat on the back or a monetary bonus or recognition, just for working hard and getting the job done.
None of this, though, absolves Nida of his faults. When it comes down to it, Nida can stress over the small details. This manifests with a sometimes overly cautious nature when faced with a situation taking an unexpected turn or is completely new. While he doesn't freeze up this happens he may be found triple checking supplies before heading out into the wild, keeping tight inventories of vital supplies in general, and staying quiet at first when he should speak up or speak out. At his core, Nida is a nice guy who wants to do the right thing and do it well. On the other hand he finds it a bit harder to swallow the bad taste in his mouth when he feels that what he isn't on the right side of a situation, or feels that doing his best won't be enough to resolve things in a positive way. That doesn't mean he won't still act, won't still do what he feels is his duty even if he might morally see it as a bit questionable.
Arriving at Aterat he's dealing with a serious case of PTSD, survivor's guilt, and a certainty that he isn't good enough for normal people interactions. What's worse, the loss of his support network and friendships is leading to a fatalistic shift in his personality, a thought that maybe he shouldn't try and connect because in the end, everyone just gets taken away. This is something he could be pulled out of with time and effort, but for now he finds himself in a position where he stays distant emotionally, while still trying to show enough investment in others to get information from them. When he does warm up, though, he finds himself smiling easily and has learned to be a very physical person, even though this was not natural to him at first. Learning balance between his paranoia, concern and loss, and the warmth and openness he was guided toward with others in his recent years will be an ongoing battle, one he hopes to win.
Inventory
-Dark green leather coat with a dragon-scale pattern, gray button-up, black jeans, combat boots, leather gloves
-Two leather holsters for tanbo strapped to his forearms under his shirt and two Metal Tambo
-Bracelets: leather cuffs, silver charm bracelet, silver bracelet with heart locket
-Two Triple Triad decks in boxes on belt
-Set of broken dog-tags
-Leather bound notebook
Which of the following would they most like to have in abundance: limitless good luck, the freedom to act without restraint, the ability to teach and to learn, or for everyone to just relax? The Freedom to Act without Restraint
Writing sample
Aterat TDM
Full Canon Background
For canon references see here
For world references see here
In the grand scheme of things on his world, Nida's history isn't exactly a unique one. It starts easily enough, with Nida the only child of former members of the Galbadian army who had settled down in a forest cabin outside of the town of Timber. What led them there Nida can't say, in no small part due to the fact that his parents were dead not too long after his eight birthday. For all that the pair had been part of the Galbadian army during the war against the nation of Esthar ruled by a powerful and cruel Sorceress named Adel they could not stand for the way that Timber was annexed and oppressed and ended up joining one of many rebel groups associated with the city. They, like many others that stood against Galbadia and the Deling family, found their end in front of a firing squad, with their son watching on. This detail, thankfully, Nida ended up repressing for a very long time, and Nida was shuffled off to the place that orphaned children go to: a Garden.
Balamb Garden, a relief really considering most students of Galbadia Garden ended up shuffled into the Galbadian military upon graduation. At the same time it proved a problem because no Garden worked with Guardian Forces, also known as GFs, and the paramagic they granted nearly as much as Balamb Garden. It wouldn't be for a good number of years that confirmation that GFs wore away at memories at an insane speed, leaving Nida's parents nothing more than a dull ache of loss in the back of his mind, preserved only through a bracelet of his mother's and an absolute conviction that some day his hometown truly should be free from Galbadian oppression.
Life in Balamb Garden wasn't too bad. Nida was a hard working and dedicated student, because really what else was there to be? For nine years he studied combat specializing in the bo staff and tambo, failed to impress overly much with paramagic beyond his skill with air and water magics, and didn't leave too much of an impression on many people. Just another face in a crowd of primarily orphans, yet to prove himself. By the time he hit fifteen and became eligible to start taking the SeeD Qualification Exam Nida had realized that his use to the program wouldn't necessarily be in how he fought or the spells he could fling, but rather in how he didn't stand out much. Being a quiet kid who didn't raise too much attention, who blended in, fit a niche that not as many did at Garden and at the advice of his homeroom instructor Nida refocused himself toward an infiltration specialization. There were always clients who needed someone who could get into places to retrieve information only spread in whispered tones or when someone had a bit too much alcohol, and Nida could be the ears and eyes clients wanted.
Do your best, even if you don't stand out, the words spoken to him by Headmaster Cid Kramer when seventeen-year-old Nida became the fourth SeeD Graduate in his year after a mission to a Galbadian occupied city of Dollet. However when a mission was assigned to his fellow graduates the next day, Nida was left out of the mix. After finding that the trio had been sent to his home town of Timber to serve as the hand of one of the last surviving rebel factions he found himself going to the Headmaster to demand to know why. They wouldn't know Timber like he would, there was even a chance he would know some number of their employers. Nida could fit in to Timber unlike them, he had the looks, the accent, and while he hadn't been there in nearly a decade he knew the places to press for information and could trade in on his family's name for more.
The issue came down to how emotionally invested he was in the situation. The SeeDs sent would have a detachment from the situation and thus be better able to serve the needs of the client. Nida was effectively grounded because his value to SeeD was his ability to blend in, which he could hardly do in Timber if he brought to mind his parents, used his family as a chip for the program. When it was put like that he could see Cid wasn't wrong. Realistically he could turn into more of a liability to the situation than an asset, especially since the rebels themselves could provide much of what Nida thought he had.
In the end he was actually a touch relieved to have been left behind. Not long after the team was dispatched things started going wrong. Sure there was concern over the newly rising Sorceress Edea, but at Garden a 'Garden Master' had raised their head, claiming to be the real power and trying to get the faculty to take over the facility to him. He wanted to sacrifice Nida's fellow graduates to the Sorceress to be put to death, and while Nida didn't know the details, he refused to side with someone who would betray the people who had given their lives to Garden. People like him. Betray one group of people and how hard is it to sell out the next. The only realistic choice was to stand with the Headmaster and during the ensuing riots Nida found himself as one of the SeeDs there to help try and hold order. Once again he found himself on the edge of the solutions going on around him, with Squall Leonhart and his team returning with help to put down the so called Garden Master, managed to save the Garden from a missle strike, and found their now mobile home floating into the sea.
No longer would Nida be left behind, not truly. When they crashed into Fisherman's Horizon and the engineering specialists there repaired the Garden and set it up to be actively piloted, Nida immediately offered himself as the pilot of the oversized vessel. Perhaps his talents as an infiltration specialist wasn't the most useful in a worldwide war where the enemy could get around through magic portals, but he could be useful like this. As such Nida ended up being the pilot during the battle of the Gardens and beyond, finding himself as one of the people who sat in more than anyone else in important decisions during the war. While he may not have spoken up much, ever quiet and dutiful before his seniors in SeeDs Xu and Quistis and his newly made superior officer Squall Leonhart, he found himself finally serving a role in the war that he could be proud of.
For the year after the end of the war and Time Compression Nida found himself settling back into life at Garden and as a SeeD, finally seeing more deployment as the organization became involved with recovery post war. At last he got a chance to put his infiltration and growing mechanic skills to use for Garden and their clients. Finally he could be proud of what he was doing with his life, knowing that his family had been avenged and the world saved by the actions of Squall Leonhart and his team. After all, he could always support them in his own way. Which mostly served the role of pilot and spy, the former of which he became increasingly good at for a long time.
Full CRAU Background
6I
And that is where Nida's story diverges. Two different paths, taking place at the same time. In one he awoke in a fountain in the middle of a strange place called the Village, in its Sixth Iteration. In this place Nida lived a relatively peaceful life. Finding a place to fit in wasn't easy, he was a spy, not a settler. But in his time there he found himself moving more and more away from the life he'd lived as a SeeD, mercenary, and spy, and more into exploration of life as a 'real person' as he put it. There he made a number of friends (including forcefully adopting 'former vigilante' named Jason Todd, becoming close to Sorceress Rinoa Heartilly, and a number of other friendships of note such as with Tommy Shepherd, the Iron Bull, and Desmond Miles). Little changed him more, though, than two people in particular. First was Seifer Almasy, considered a villain back home and who had tormented Nida a bit growing up became Nida's best friend and adoptive brother, together the two learned a lot about living life outside of Garden, finding jobs that suited them in a 'real' world, and trying to recover from all of the traumas of the war they had fought on opposite sides of. Second was one Billy Kaplan, known in his world by several hero names including Wiccan and Demiurge, the powerless witch who taught Nida about friendship and affection, popular culture, hope, and dare he even say love? Yes. He dared say it, loudly and often, often with his boyfriend wrapped in his arms.
Of course there were a number of 'misadventures' as it was in that strange place and time. For instance, Nida came to lead the village dojo, trying to help people as a combat instructor so they would be safe in the potential dangers beyond the village. He also worked with the village guard, ensuring the place was as safe from all potential threats external to it. Then there were the two very different times that he was swept seemingly magically away from the village. The first showed him forcefully the memory of his parents' deaths, which left Nida temporarily very broken and distant from the world, which he would have stayed were it not for his friends. The second time it was more of an adventure, slaying monsters and saving the day. Not that he liked the village much, but over time there, he settled in.
Until about two and a half months before his arrival in Dualis, by his frame of reference. Well, one of his frames of reference. One day he just disappeared from the village and was home, with no memory of his experiences. Instead he spent almost a year and a half back in his world, time that changed him deeply. In addition to finally making A-Rank and finding a long term replacement for his roles as a pilot, Nida rededicated himself to his spy work, which ultimately culminated in an eight-month long under-cover operation in Deling City. Tensions that had been high after the Ultimecia incident had gotten too intense, and there was not only contracts to be had for information jobs in Galbadia given the new power-struggles that kept playing out in the absence of the Deling family to serve as heredity president, there were growing military conflicts. Rumors that portions of the military, with possible assistance from Galbadian SeeDs, were attempting another coup, which could throw the world into more turmoil. For months he chased hints of whoever he pursued, his best friend, lover, and fellow SeeD named Elijah Zale at his side.
Problem was? No one had expected the traitor SeeD to be one from Balamb Garden who was just Galbadian by birth. Nida was working alongside his target and didn't know it until the end of a very long mission, wherein Elijah led him around on a merry chase, one that revealed to Nida the truth of his parents' death, the role he had played in them, and even ended with Elijah trying to get Nida to join him and his movement. The conversation had ended with Nida nearly fatally wounded for the second time in as many weeks (poison the first time, Elijah's sword through his shoulder the second), and Elijah impaled on his own blade, by Nida's hand. His boyfriend, his lover, his confidant, the man who had been his rock since he was an eight-year-old orphan betraying him worse than he even knew how to put into words.
Nida was shipped home and at Garden, once he had recovered, he was lauded as a hero. Applauded. Celebrated. It made him sick. Sick enough that seeing his face in the mirror in his dorm led to him smashing it. Which led to him trying to take a more permanent way out of being celebrated for the most horrible moment in his life. And that, of course, was when he woke back up in the village fountain not two days since he'd been there last, shaken, certain he had died, and not having any of it.
Readjusting was hard, especially when he soon lost one of his brother figures in a raid on the village, but with time and care from his friends, brother, and lover, Nida was able to more or less get back on his feet, even if he still couldn't sleep. Which, of course, meant it was perfect time for something strange to happen, and that strangeness?
Dualis
Welcome to a new city, a new life, a new mess. This one? This one came with an explosion on his second day in town. Something was up, and the people were discontent. Which, of course, he didn't trust very much. At least in the transit he got to keep his 'brother' and closest friends, even his boyfriend came through with him. It was shaping up to be a nice time, with a world they could help just by being there so the AI in charge could study their health and use it to develop a vaccine to a terrible disease that had nearly killed the entirety of the original population of the world.
Unfortunately it soon became apparent that not all was what it seemed. The 'terrorist' organization striking against the established authority had some legitimate grievances, chief among which was that The Head, the AI in charge of everything, was lying. The greatest lie being that people would return home after their year of bondage to the city. In fact, the AI was developing androids to replace all individuals brought there, perhaps even killing them on the way. Androids with chips in their heads to control them and track them to a degree. One night, after a freak storm, unfinished androids were released, with the objective of killing their original to replace them. Nida found himself taking out his own and a few others in the process of protecting the people brought to the world.
The pain didn't stop there, because soon people Nida cared for started to get taken away from him. Those people would still linger in the city it seemed, replaced perhaps, or without memories of those they had cared for. This included his lover and the man's brother, and many of Nida's friends. While he worked with a team of newer residents to work against The Head without serving The Heart resistance movement, he even found that one of his 'brothers' had been arrested and, as punishment, had part of his mind wiped. The part that involved Nida's very existence. At last his resolve was set to work with other residents to bring down the Head, just as the AI in charge raided a Heart meeting, arresting and slaughtering many before a very public, very televised execution of the leaders of the resistance.
Unfortunately Nida didn't get a chance to help those who intended to bring the AI mastermind down. Shortly after this he was instead swept away once again, spared the horrors and loss of that world and brought, instead, here. The problem? Something in the chip in his head, implanted by The Head, or perhaps something about the transit itself, went wrong. While he still remembers his past, still remembers the important events and the shape of things, Nida doesn't remember the faces and names to go with it. Who was the people who had been his brothers? What was the name of the man he loved and had been about to propose to? Who was it he had felt angry or sad or destroyed over? He can no longer tell.
So when Nida had arrived in Dualis he had settled in with a support network to keep him on the straight and narrow and hopefully mentally balanced. He hadn't wanted to backslide, didn't want to touch that older, jaded man that he had been trying to push out of his heart. That had been his goal, his hope, his aspiration. To grow warmer and happier. And instead a backslide has started. But it's okay. Nida isn't about to give up. Because what was it Cid had said? Oh right.
Do your best, even if you don't stand out.
no subject
Name: Churby
Age: 30+
Contact: Discord: Churby#4290 |
Other Characters: N/A
Invited by: Heather
Character Information
Name: Nida
Canon: Final Fantasy 8
Canon Point: 2 & 1/2 years post game
Age: 22
(Canon) Background (See full on journal)
World Info here
Nida was the only child of former members of the Galbadian army who had settled down outside of the town of Timber. After the war Nida’s parents could not stand for the way that Timber was annexed and oppressed by the increasingly militant Galbadian government, and ended up joining one of many rebel groups associated with the city. This choice found their end in front of a firing squad with an eight year old Nida watching. Nida ended up repressing this knowledge for a very long time, and he was shuffled off to the place that orphaned children go to: a Garden. Luckily this was Balamb Garden, a relief considering most students of Galbadia Garden ended up shuffled into the Galbadian military upon graduation. At the same time it proved a problem because Gardens worked with Guardian Forces, also known as GFs. These GFs would later be confirmed to wear away at memories at an insane speed, leaving Nida's parents nothing more than a dull ache of loss in the back of his mind.
Nida was a hard working and dedicated student at Balamb, because really what else was there to be? For nine years he studied combat, magic, and other skills for the prospect of someday finding purpose through skills. By the time he hit fifteen and became eligible to start taking the SeeD Qualification Exam he had realized that his use to the program wasn't how he fought or the spells he could fling, but rather in how he didn't stand out much. Being a quiet kid who didn't raise too much attention, who blended in, fit a niche that not as many did at Garden and Nida refocused himself infiltration. There were always clients who needed someone who could get into places to retrieve information or military forces could need scouts, and Nida could be the ears and eyes clients wanted.
At seventeen Nida was the fourth SeeD Graduate in his year after a mission to a Galbadian occupied city of Dollet. When a mission was assigned to his fellow graduates the next day to his hometown of Timber, Nida found himself left out. Those three would serve as the hand of one of the last surviving rebel factions, and Nida found himself going to the Headmaster to demand to know why he wasn't there. Unlike them he could fit in as a local and while he hadn't been there in nearly a decade he thought he could trade in on his family's name for recon. The issue came down to how emotionally invested he was in the situation. Cid said those sent should be detached from the situation and thus be better able to serve the needs of the client. Realistically he could turn into more of a liability to the situation than an asset, especially since the rebels themselves could provide much of what he would. When it was explained he knew it was the right choice.
Not long after the team was dispatched things started going wrong. There was concern over the newly rising Sorceress Edea, and at Garden a 'Garden Master' had raised their head at Balamb Garden, trying to take over the facility. This Master wanted to sacrifice Nida's fellow graduates to the Sorceress to be put to death. Nida and many others refused to side with someone who would betray those who were just following the SeeD contract. He found the only realistic choice was to stand with the Headmaster and during the ensuing riots Nida found himself as one of the SeeDs there to help try and hold order. Resolution finally came when Squall Leonhart and his team returned with help to put down the so-called Garden Master, managing to save the Garden from a missile strike as well, and suddenly their Garden was floating into the sea. When Garden crashed into Fisherman's Horizon Nida immediately offered himself as the new pilot of the mobile base. At last he he found himself finally serving a role in the conflict.
CRAU background (See full on journal) [cw: ref self-harm and attempted suicide]
6I
A year after the end of the war is where Nida's story changed. He awoke in a fountain in the middle of a strange place called the Village, in its Sixth Iteration. In this place Nida lived a relatively peaceful life. Finding a place to fit in wasn't easy, he was a spy, not a settler. But in his time there he found himself moving more and more away from the life he'd lived as a SeeD, mercenary, and spy, and more into exploration of life as a 'real person' as he put it. While there he made a number of friendships, loyalties, and even found a pseudo-family and a relationship he came to depend on. Of course there were a number of 'misadventures' as it was in that strange place and time. For instance, Nida came to lead the village dojo and also worked with the village guard, ensuring the place was as safe from all potential threats external to it. While he grew more open and friendly, some things also made him scared of the powers of these worlds. For instance, he was kidnapped from his bed and forced to view the repressed memory of his parent’s public execution, and to share it with strangers.
Still, life was mostly welcome and a growth experience until one day he just disappeared from the village and was home, with no memory of his experiences. Instead he spent almost a year and a half back in his world, time that changed him deeply. In addition to finally making A-Rank and finding a long term replacement for his roles as a pilot, Nida rededicated himself to his spy work, which ultimately culminated in an eight-month long under-cover operation in Deling City. The two man operation took place with another SeeD (though not one of the heroes of the most recent Sorceress War). Unfortunately this individual turned out to be a traitor to the Garden, and Nida was forced to kill him. While he ultimately recovered physically from the event, mentally coming back was harder. Traumatized by his own actions and how would be seen as a positive fulfillment of his job, Nida broke a mirror in his room and with the pieces and in a fit of despair and pain, attempted to end his own life. And that, of course, was when he woke back up in the village fountain not two days since he'd been there last, shaken, certain he had died, and emotionally drained. Readjusting was hard, but with time and care from his friends, brother, and lover, Nida was able to more or less get back on his feet. Which, of course, meant it was perfect time for something new.
Dualis
This was a world where the AI in charge wanted to study their health and use it to develop a vaccine to a terrible disease that had nearly killed the entirety of the original population of the world. Unfortunately The Head, the AI in charge of everything, was lying. The greatest lie being that people would return home after their year in the city. In fact, the AI was developing androids to replace all individuals brought there, perhaps even killing them on the way. One night, after a freak storm, unfinished androids were released, with the objective of killing their original to replace them. Nida survived this attack but grew distrustful of the power structure of the world.
Soon people Nida cared for started to get taken away from him. Those people would still linger in the city it seemed, replaced perhaps, or without memories of those they had cared for. At last his resolve was set to work with other residents to bring down the Head, just as the AI in charge raided a Heart meeting, arresting and slaughtering many before a very public, very televised execution of the leaders of the resistance. Instead swept away once again, spared the horrors and loss of that world and brought, instead, here. The problem? Something in the chip in his head, implanted by The Head, or perhaps something about the transit itself, went wrong. While he still remembers his past, still remembers the important events and the shape of things, Nida doesn't remember the faces and names to go with it.
Ultimately this means Nida finds himself distrusting of the establishment, and afraid to start living again. But it's okay. Nida isn't about to give up. Because what was it Cid had said? Oh right.
Do your best, even if you don't stand out.
Abilities
-Experienced pilot of large airborne crafts
-Combat specialist with polearms and tanbo, moderate skill in hand-to-hand self defense
-Moderately skilled acrobat
-Mechanic
-SeeD Training Specialization: Nida is trained in recon/intel gathering, basically a spy for hire. Capable of sleight of hand, low to mid-level lockpicking, and other spy related skills.
-Parkour, climbing, and free-running skills.
-Magical aptitude when junctioned with Siren (see below). Spell charges are consumed with each use. Replenishment of them, or addition of others, will be dependent upon mod approval. The spells he has with him currently are: 43 Aero, 25 Tornado, 37 Water, 15 Protect, 15 Shell, 32 Cure
-Possession of a Guardian Force named Siren. GFs are spirits from his world with their own personalities and elemental affinities that specially trained individuals in SeeD can use by 'junctioning'. Siren will be able to communicate in the form of vague impressions to Nida over time, perhaps even simple conversations, but is completely unable to converse with others. Siren's abilities include:
Willing to remove this ability entirely if desired, or run as an aspect of the Curio shop, where Nida acquires magic in trade, as messages from the curio dealer of when and where a limited use font will occur.Personality
Garden instilled into Nida a sense of devotion that he's never going to be anything but proud to have. He will give a hundred and ten percent to any task set before him, ranging from learning new skills, refining old ones, or just being there to support people. There is a reason that Nida was told, upon graduating to SeeD and becoming one of the elite warriors of Garden, 'Do your best, even if no one notices.' It's good advice that Nida has tried to live by since Cid gave it to him. Recognition shouldn't be the reward for hard work. Hard work should be its own reward. Serve others, help others, protect others. There's no need for a pat on the back or a monetary bonus or recognition, just for working hard and getting the job done.
None of this, though, absolves Nida of his faults. When it comes down to it, Nida can stress over the small details. This manifests with a sometimes overly cautious nature when faced with a situation taking an unexpected turn or is completely new. While he doesn't freeze up this happens he may be found triple checking supplies before heading out into the wild, keeping tight inventories of vital supplies in general, and staying quiet at first when he should speak up or speak out. At his core, Nida is a nice guy who wants to do the right thing and do it well. On the other hand he finds it a bit harder to swallow the bad taste in his mouth when he feels that what he isn't on the right side of a situation, or feels that doing his best won't be enough to resolve things in a positive way. That doesn't mean he won't still act, won't still do what he feels is his duty even if he might morally see it as a bit questionable.
Arriving at Aterat he's dealing with a serious case of PTSD, survivor's guilt, and a certainty that he isn't good enough for normal people interactions. What's worse, the loss of his support network and friendships is leading to a fatalistic shift in his personality, a thought that maybe he shouldn't try and connect because in the end, everyone just gets taken away. This is something he could be pulled out of with time and effort, but for now he finds himself in a position where he stays distant emotionally, while still trying to show enough investment in others to get information from them. When he does warm up, though, he finds himself smiling easily and has learned to be a very physical person, even though this was not natural to him at first. Learning balance between his paranoia, concern and loss, and the warmth and openness he was guided toward with others in his recent years will be an ongoing battle, one he hopes to win.
Inventory
-Dark green leather coat with a dragon-scale pattern, gray button-up, black jeans, combat boots, leather gloves
-Two leather holsters for tanbo strapped to his forearms under his shirt and two Metal Tambo
-Bracelets: leather cuffs, silver charm bracelet, silver bracelet with heart locket
-Two Triple Triad decks in boxes on belt
-Set of broken dog-tags
-Leather bound notebook
Which of the following would they most like to have in abundance: limitless good luck, the freedom to act without restraint, the ability to teach and to learn, or for everyone to just relax? The Freedom to Act without Restraint
Writing sample
Aterat TDM
Spell Sources and Current Charges
Ignis - Fire (4-6 per draw)
Docks - Blizzard (10 per draw on the first of the month)
Park Footbridge - Thunder(10 per draw on the first of the month)
Former Sources
Caelan - Water (2-3 per draw)
Current Spells/Charges As of 8/1
41 Aero
25 Tornado
44 Water
72 Fire
29 Blizzard
29 Thunder
09 Protect
15 Shell
28 Cure
no subject