Application - Melodies of Life

[theblackwolf]

Player
Name: Mark
Age: 26
Personal Journal: N/A
Contact: AIM: drunkkitsune, Plurk: @drunkkitsune, E-Mail: drunkkitsune@gmail.com
Other In-Game Characters: N/A

Character (Original Universe)
Name: Gaius Van Baelsar
Age: Unknown but likely in the mid to late 40’s, so somewhere around 44-49
Gender: Male
Canon: Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Canon Point: Just before his death in the Praetorium
History: http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Gaius_Van_Baelsar
Personality: There are several key components that help define Gaius and how he interacts with the world around him, but it’s important to start with the fact that in many ways, he hardly seems to be a product of the Garlean Empire. He seems not to place any stock in his heritage in the sense that being Garlean doesn’t make him inherently better than others, and also the sense that one not being Garlean doesn’t make them inherently inferior. While the rest of the Empire is known for only allowing those born outside of it to rise up so far, Gaius himself doesn’t share this vision. One’s status, age, gender, race or nationality mean absolutely nothing to him. Above all else, Gaius respects ability. His trusted lieutenant, Rhitahtyn Sas Arvina, was a Roegadyn, and as such would not normally be allowed to rise to a high rank. Under Gaius, that wasn’t the case - and upon his death, Gaius was enraged at the thought that his men simply didn’t fight hard enough due to their commander being a non-Garlean. In addition, he always displayed a great deal of respect for the ability of the Warrior of Light, despite their opposing ideologies forcing them to clash. That’s not to say that he scorns or disrespects the weak - quite the opposite - but that the quickest way to gain respect in his eyes is for one to prove their own ability.

Though one can’t tell by looking at his terrifying mask, there’s also a great deal of kindness within Gaius, expressed different ways. From a personal standpoint, it was this kindness that led him to adopt and raise Cid, the son of his friend who was no longer in the right state of mind to raise a child. He also adopted and raised a war orphan who would later become one of his three lieutenants, Livia Sas Junuis. Moving from a personal to a military perspective, there is still plenty of kindness in big picture of his actions. His capture of the city of Ala Mhigo was as quick and bloodless as he could make it, as Gaius has no interest in the needless loss of life. Even his use of the Ultima Weapon he viewed as a kindness, as the weapon itself could permanently end a threat facing the people, and by using it as a threat he could try and convince the leaders of Eorzea to surrender rather than fight him in a bloody war. While his actions can understandably be viewed as the threats of a madman, Gaius truly believed that the people would be better off under his rule and that his actions were the best and quickest way of making that happen.

All this begs the question - if he’s so kind and high minded, why take such drastic actions? That all boils down to two major things he believes. The first is that it is the duty of the strong to shepherd the weak. All of his military actions and attempts to rule are a product of this. He believes that he is strong - mentally, physically and spiritually - and that his strength makes it his duty and right to rule those who are too stupid to rule themselves. So why would he believe a group of nations are too stupid to rule? That ties into his second major belief - in the power of man. The peoples of Eorzea - beastmen and non-beastmen alike - have common ground in their beliefs in a higher power, either in the twelve gods or one of any number of god-like primals. Gaius views reliance on their power as folly, and views them as a drain on the land. He believes man must rule by man’s own power, and fights to make that a reality. It’s an ideal he believes in so fervently that when he realizes the Warrior of Light has power equal to his own, his instinct is to honestly entreat the Warrior to join him, so that they can make his dream a reality together. Even in defeat, he doesn’t care that he personally won’t be sitting atop a throne - he simply implores the Warrior of Light to heed him about the dangers of relying on anything other than a strong ruler.

Third-Person Sample: In the ruins of the Praetorium, amid the fire and the ash, Gaius Van Baelsar had accepted his death. He had stared into the abyss and prepared for his fate - which made his current predicament all the more puzzling. He was alive, which by itself was enough, but he was also in a strange land that, while somewhat familiar, was far from anything he’d ever known before.

To top everything off, there was a moogle following him around and calling him a Hero of Light.

Gaius had been called many things in his time - plenty of them pleasant, and plenty of them terrible. That particular title, however, was enough to make him smile behind his helmet. What kind of joke was this - to take the title of the one who had defeated him so soundly? But no, it wasn’t a joke at all, that was easy enough to see. So, once they’d moved somewhere a bit quieter, Gaius asked his floating follower every question he could think of. The answers came quickly, and gave him much to contemplate as he sat against the side of a building.

It was a world in many ways similar to Eorzea - devastated by a calamity from above but saved by heroes long gone. Monsters ravaged the countryside, horrible things terrified the people… and all people would rely on were legends of the past. Divine help to be sent from above. The more he thought, the more one thing became increasingly clear to him: this was his second chance. There was a people, scared, weak, and crying out for a strong ruler to guide them.

He would not fail twice.

Rising with purpose, he turned once more to his flying follower. It was hardly his ideal choice for a lieutenant, but the creature had abilities and uses that were not to be ignored. It was a start.

“Now, tell me this, Midas. How can I begin to gain status in this world? We’ve a long way to go, and I’m eager to begin.”
Mognet Sample:To my fellow Heroes of Light,

Greetings. Though you may not yet know me, my name is Gaius Van Baelsar. Though I am recently arrived to this world, the problems these people face have not escaped my notice. To this end, I formally announce that I am forming my own Legion of Heroes, for as much as one may do, there is much more that can be done together. All those of able body and mind who think as I do, respond that we may make this dream a reality. I await those who will help me make this a stronger, secure land.

Respectfully,
Gaius Van Baelsar

Crystallis
Moogle Name: Midas
Moogle Gender: Male
First Job: Magitek Knight
Second Job: None
Limit Break: Terminus Est - Gaius slashes the air and creates blue arcs of energy that hang where he slashed, creating a cross pattern. After a few moments these arcs of energy rush forward, doing a great deal of damage to anything in their path.