[Application]
Character you're applying for: Kadaj
Character's role in their canon: A main antagonist of Advent Children. He stirs up turmoil in his search for "Mother", eventually triggering the temporary return of Sephiroth by merging with her cells at the end. To be blunt, he played the role of an exceptionally violent 'child' that was willing to do anything it took to gain his mother's appreciation.
Character's age: No more than two in actuality, but with the appearance of one in their late teens. Likely around sixteen or seventeen.
Character's gender: Male
Character’s “Real Name”: Jared Benton
Please give us a detailed personal history of your character:
Kadaj came into being as a manifestation of Sephiroth's will meant to represent his cruelty. In a sense, he was one of three pieces, the other two being his brothers: Yazoo whom represented his allure, and Loz whom represented his outer masculinity and physical strength. Together, they sought to find Jenova's remains (or, more specifically, a box of her cells) and receive her power, thus becoming whole again.
Their true purpose was simply to revive Sephiroth-- Jenova's "son", a man created through experimentation with her cells. Jenova herself was an alien (mistakenly identified by recent scientists as a Cetra-- an ancient race of people that shared a close bond with the planet) that crashed into the planet two thousand years ago, also leaving a deep wound on the planet's surface. This wound became known as the Northern Crater. Her intent was to wipe all life from the planet, then make use of the empty planet as her vessel to sail to a new one, repeating this process until all life was wiped from the universe. This was a goal that Sephiroth eventually took unto his own.
However, Sephiroth had been defeated at the Northern Crater two years prior following his attempt to summon Meteor. Had he succeeded, a wound would have been left upon the planet so vast that the Lifestream-- the lifeblood of the planet-- would be forced to gather to heal it, where he would then take the opportunity to join it, exerting control over it with his will and ruling as a God from within.
The three remnants went to the Crater, but found nothing to contribute to their search. Luckily, they did encounter two of Shinra's Turks, Elena and Tseng, subsequently torturing them out of hopes of gaining information. Shinra was an electric power company that fell two years ago, but had also been involved in the concealment of Jenova (among many other dubious tasks).
Also prior to this was the spread of a mysterious disease known as the Geostigma. It was a lethal sickness born of the body's attempt to battle alien cells within it. The cause of it was likely the fact that Jenova was not easily disposed of-- instead of being eradicated, her cells were distributed throughout the planet. Children, having the lowest immunity, were the most susceptible to this disease.
As it turned out, Cloud Strife, the man who defeated Sephiroth, had also contracted Geostigma. Cloud was a special case-- due to having been experimented on in the past, he had Jenova cells inside of him beforehand. This made him a big brother in the eyes of the remnants, though a traitorous one, the reason perhaps being his either determination to rid the planet of Sephiroth (and Jenova by extension) those two years ago, or simply a result of Sephiroth's own views (that all humans were traitors for taking the planet from the Cetra-- a race he had believed both Mother and himself to be of). Kadaj had Yazoo and Loz ambush him upon their first encounter while he attempted to contact the President of Shinra, Rufus Shinra.
Though the two demanded to know Mother's whereabouts from him, they allowed him to leave at Kadaj's signal. They were just making themselves known to their big brother.
Following Cloud's retreat, the next best thing they could do was to make use of what Jenova cells they could gather-- those being the ones found inside children afflicted with the Geostigma. They were needed for the purpose of locating Jenova's remaining cells. However, he wouldn't be the one to gather them; Yazoo took care of that, while Kadaj headed out to Healin Lodge. There resided his next target, Rufus, whom was also inflicted with Geostigma, seemingly wheelchair bound as well.
After incapacitating the Turks with him, he again pressed for details on the whereabouts of Jenova's remains--"Mother", in other words. It would make for the final piece required in order for the Reunion to take place. Unfortunately for Kadaj, the President had nothing of any use to offer. Kadaj revealed his own intentions to the President before taking his leave, heading next to the Forgotten City.
Here, Yazoo and Loz (whom had also stolen a box of Materia) were waiting with the Geostigma inflicted children from the village of Edge. Edge was actually a village built just North of Midgar after Midgar itself was mostly destroyed in the close call with Meteor. Kadaj used his will to contaminate a pool of water, promising the children a false cure should they drink it. With the exception of one young girl whom wasn't inflicted (the child was Marlene Wallace, and was being used to lure in Cloud), all of them became more susceptible to Kadaj's will. He now had control of them, with the intent of using the Jenova cells inside of them to locate the rest of her remains.
As it turned out, Cloud took the bait, locating them in the city after this happened. Using the children as shields in knowing that Cloud wouldn't attack them, he came very near to finishing off his "big brother". With the help of a strange man named Vincent Valentine, however, he managed to escape before Kadaj had the chance to deal the finishing strike. Instead of giving chase, Kadaj then chose to continue with his plans, following the lead of the entranced children back to the village of Edge.
As the children all formed up around a monument at the center of the village, Kadaj and his brothers attacked the villagers. With Rufus in custody, Kadaj even summoned Bahamut SIN, treating the situation as something of a show while claiming to be having fun even after Bahamut was defeated. This was also when he revealed that Sephiroth was coming back, claiming to be able to feel him out there, and expressing jealousy over the idea of Mother favouring him.
It was as he was mocking Rufus when he finally learned of Mother's true location: hidden under the sheets right in front of him. Rufus had been using the sheet to conceal his Geostigma, but Kadaj had never thought to check under it.
Before he could lay hands on the box containing the cells, Rufus told him that "a good son would have known" and threw it over the side of the building. In a panic, he jumped after it, actually managing to catch it as it fell-- though not before Rufus shot a few well aimed bullet holes into it. From there, Kadaj was forced to flee, ending up at Aerith's church in the end. Aerith had been the true last living Cetra (as Jenova was only falsely labeled), but had been killed by Sephiroth.
The state of the box distressed him once he noticed how much damage Rufus had managed to do. Still, there wasn't a chance for further inspection. Cloud had arrived, and as expected, a fight erupted between the two. Unfortunately, this didn't go quite as planned either. Some form of interference drove him away, a rain of water that was physically painful for the remnant (Aerith's Great Gospel). This water cured Cloud's Geostigma-- something Kadaj hadn't been expecting.
Even so, Kadaj taunted his "brother", announcing that he finally had Mother, only to be faced with the reality-- that he still didn't know what to do with the remains now that he had them in his grasp.
The fight continued from there, finally ended with Kadaj falling, box of Jenova cells in hand, towards the ground below. As the cells spilled out and came in contact with him, Kadaj announced that this was his Reunion. The Reunion that, in fact, resulted in Sephiroth returning through Kadaj's body.
This new form was also defeated in the end (but not before Sephiroth was able to tell Cloud that he'll never be just a memory), reverting back to the dying remnant. No longer in possession of the strength to fight, he collapsed in "brother's" arms, heeding the voice of Aerith. Ironically enough, he believed she was his Mother, and thus willingly allowed himself to return to the Lifestream.
Please give us a detailed description of your character's personality:
In keeping with his appearance, Kadaj also has a rather childlike personality. He can be moody, jealous, short-tempered, and entirely off-balance. While true he comprehends destruction and brutality, he has yet to understand most traits aside from them. Knowing the right way to play with his nerves leaves him practically dangling from your fingers. However, he's also charismatic- a born leader, with the ability to speak and act in a passionate manner when the situation pertains to something he values. Even with his brothers, he sets himself on a higher level, acting as their ringleader instead of an equal to them.
Aside from his leadership, he isn't much of a conversationalist, preferring to mock, taunt, and scoff rather than make small chat. He also hates taking orders, but is (well, obviously) always willing to give them himself.
Most of his thoughts become clear more in his expressions and tone than in his phrasing. He'll go from one mood to another at even the slightest remark, making him visibly unstable, deluded, and dangerous. Masking his feelings behind his expressions is something he can't manage too well, thus even when he says one thing, it might be obvious that he means another just by the look he has when he says it.
Kadaj initially comes across as bold, direct, and above all else, confident. The last thing he would allow is for someone to get in between him and his goal- that goal had been the 'Reunion', what would happen when he 'received Mother's power' from her cells, inevitably bringing back Sephiroth (though it's doubtful he knew that it would be through his own body). He believed this to be followed by the subsequent destruction of all life on the planet, and viewed it as not only his one chance to become whole again, but as the time when Mother would decide who she needed the most: Sephiroth or him. To him, nothing would be a greater honour than to serve and protect Mother. He wanted to make her happy, even if the only way to do that was in bringing back Sephiroth for her. He would go as far as jumping off of a building to fulfill and preserve this purpose. Unfortunately, this also leads to a variety of flaws in his supposed confidence-- it makes it quite easily shaken. Adding to this is that he'll usually tell you how he feels.
The very idea that Mother would favour anyone but him is enough to leave him an emotional wreck, even acting as a trigger for one of his abrupt changes in mood and demeanor. What he yearns is to become stronger, good enough to please Mother. With Sephiroth out there, whom he can feel, he becomes completely insecure, even if he tries to act otherwise in order to add to his own illusion of confidence. He feels, above all else, the need to prove that he's just as good, if not better than Sephiroth. To himself, as well as to "Mother". He envies Sephiroth for being Mother's favourite, which in itself angers him.
What makes things interesting is that, as noted above, Kadaj is actually a 'larval' form of Sephiroth (in a manner of speaking), being the embodiment of his cruelty. He was fully aware of the similarities, knew that Sephiroth was out there, and knew that he himself was born of his will-- yet he was also fooling himself. Knowing that he existed to revive Sephiroth, his jealousy drove him to wonder if there was a way he could replace him instead. At some level, he was hoping for a chance to reach Mother on his own, and to surpass Sephiroth as the one Mother would need the most. As triggering the Reunion (thus bringing about Sephiroth's return) was his only reason for existence, knowing that he was unsuccessful once (not in bringing him back-- in surpassing him) is bound to increase his determination to prove that he can be more worthy of Mother than Sephiroth, and as such, finally good enough to earn her appreciation for himself. In a way, it could be said that he wants to separate from Sephiroth and gain a sense of identity as himself rather than as a piece of someone else-- and, of course, for Mother to see him as himself instead of as part of Sephiroth.
At the same time, he stated that he knew he was just a puppet and didn't think it mattered. In essence, he didn't care if he was a mere puppet for Sephiroth, as long as the chance to prove himself to Mother on his own still existed. This complete obsession means that he blindly follows whatever path he's convinced will lead him to his mother, even if it means twisting his own thoughts to accomplish it. Without having deluding himself into believing that there's a chance of breaking away from his purpose, there wouldn't have been a point to any of his actions.
He also enjoys violence and takes every chance to toy with his opponents. Again, childish- but still effective. Surprisingly, a devious sort of intelligence accompanies this. The only problem with this intelligence is that he sometimes manages to miss the most obvious details (such as not knowing what to do with the box of Jenova's cells once he finally had it). Like a child, he can be too impatient-- a good planner on the spot, but not one for long term scheming where patience is heavily required. In other words, Kadaj is driven in the sense that he focuses on a single goal, using his instincts to carve a path towards it through any means necessary, and centering the choices he makes around what he feels would be most likely to get him to that goal. He'll take what amusement he can get along the way, play the game to its fullest, and pay no regard to the pain it causes others.
Overall, he's a sadistic, twisted boy with a young, yet still brutal persona- hardly one to be taken for granted, unless you plan on being cut down with a laugh.
Please give us a detailed physical description of your character:
Kadaj is generally pleasing to the eye until one decides to take a better look. While his physical appearance is that of an attractive young man, his cruelty has a way of etching itself on his face. He normally wears a smug, belittling expression, and can easily seem to be looking down on others even from a shorter height.
His silver hair frames a deceivingly delicate face, but it's his eyes that tend to stand out the most. The blue-green pupils are slitted (much like a cat or snake's eyes), and they almost seem to have a glow to them.
Though he isn't the most imposing figure, he still has the capability of seeming superior simply by the way he carries himself. He's also most comfortable in his black leather attire, but that isn't of any consequence to his appearance since he won't have it here.
What point in time are you taking your character from when he/she appears at Landel's?:
Post movie, just after being absorbed back into the Lifestream. He seemed to be under the belief that he was finally rejoining Mother.
What kinds of magical/special/crazy powers does your character have, if any?:
Quite honestly, his own will (which makes it the will of Sephiroth and Jenova by extension) was his greatest power. He had the ability to manifest certain things, such as his clothing and weapon. Since it was tied in with the Lifestream, it wouldn't come into play in the game aside from instances involving other "children" of Jenova, in which case he has the ability to contaminate water with his will.
This works on those inflicted by Geostigma (with Jenova cells in their body, in other words-- his "siblings"), putting them in a hypnotized state under his control should they drink it.
He has the ability to make use of various materia by absorbing it directly into his own body. Materia is crystallized mako (something of an 'energy source' on Gaia-- or rather, the life force of the planet), so it has many purposes depending on the kind. Of course, it's pretty useless considering the chances of him ever finding any.
If present, how do you plan to tweak those powers to make him/her appropriately hindered in the setting of Landel's?:
For the contaminated water, the control would be minimal- easy to fight off by those with a strong willpower of their own. It isn't worth mentioning much, since the chances of any Geostigma-inflicted people arriving are slim, as are the chances of them ever drinking it.
For Materia, the spells and effects would be lessened significantly-- though again, the chances of him ever acquiring any are slim to none. Summons wouldn't work, and ones like Fullcure Materia would only be able to patch up small injuries (scratches, bruises) completely. They wouldn't be able to fully heal more severe ones (like deep stab wounds, for example).
Does your character have any other non-magical skills or abilities that we should know about?:
Kadaj's lethal skill with a sword is only enhanced by his warped intelligence, speed, and overall physical ability. He is unnaturally fit, able to move at speeds impossible for most humans, and deal blows with more strength than should be possible for a man of his stature. His cruelty only adds to this, making him more prone to rash actions and a fiercer style of fighting, especially if someone angers him enough.
These physical abilities would be lessened so that he has only average human speed and strength.
He also likes to be in charge, making him something of a natural leader. He can string people along with his words, evoking fiery responses with his speech regardless of whether or not the words be false promises bent to convince others of his cause. He has an oddly self entitled approach to it, so this only comes into play when he feels there's a benefit. It isn't an ability as much as it is a strong aspect of his personality.
How about improbable appendages?:
Thanks, now I'm trying to picture what those arms would look like-- Nope!
Please give us an idea of where you'd like to take your character within the scope of the Landel's Damned RP:
Kadaj only has one goal, that goal being the same reason he exists in the first place. Making friends isn't even on his priority list-- actually, all his actions may very well be centered around finding Mother again and proving himself. If it means making enemies and planning to bring about the end of the Institute, so be it. It's no different than his goals beforehand (taking revenge on the planet, finding Mother, bringing back Sephiroth for her- all the while wondering if there's a way to make her happy himself).
He'll probably make a lot of enemies, as Kadaj wouldn't have an easy time seeing eye to eye with others. Getting into fights is also a high possibility, given how easy it can be to set him off. Without a doubt, he'll have to learn to a degree of co-operation, even if it is just his idea of a ploy. The only barrier would be getting past his cruel nature-- finding something to persuade him that co-operating would be worth his while.
Effectively, his stay will end up becoming the second phase of his search, only he'll struggle with new insecurities because of it and have difficulty in finding a focus point.
What kind of psychological effect do you see Landel's Institute having on your character?:
Certainly no stranger to violence, Kadaj would be less bothered by the monsters and more by the feeling of being trapped-- unable to pursue his goal. He'd get increasingly frustrated by not being able to do anything about the situation as time progresses, although in the beginning he would be just as likely to act like he's in control of it. Or to act like he believes he is, anyway.
He has an ego that will slowly unravel, and the brunt of his self-confidence issues are definitely going to surface. If he can't escape here, how can he ever find Mother again? If he has trouble dealing with a single monster, how is he ever going to prove that he's just as useful to her as Sephiroth?
It will lead to a lot of questioning-- mainly of himself-- coupled with attempts to deny his own lack of progress. He'll end up with a very double-sided view, half trying to label the Institute as a small obstacle in his way, and half desperate to feel that way simply because the alternate (that he really is stuck without any means of searching for Mother once more) is something he refuses to face.
Given that this RP takes place in an unsettling and outright horrific environment, how do you justify your character as being appropriate in both body and mind for this kind of setting?:
Since Kadaj is a main antagonist, he's been in his fair share of battles and horrific situations. When he summoned Bahamut SIN, for instance, the villagers screamed and fled in fear, while Kadaj simply stood by and laughed. He even went so far as to admit how fun it was, offering to summon something else immediately after. To say it didn't bother him in the least to see countless people brutally murdered would be an understatement.
He isn't human-- in fact, though it's probable that he only existed for two years, he has a mentality that exceeds his years mixed in with his childish moments. Even most actual sixteen year olds would be hard-pressed to compare.
On top of that, his "Mother" is an alien entity intent on destroying the entire universe. He seeks to earn her approval, which led to him cutting a path through anything that stood in his way. Taking that into consideration, Landel's environment wouldn't be inappropriate for him. If anything, it would only feel restraining.
Character's role in their canon: A main antagonist of Advent Children. He stirs up turmoil in his search for "Mother", eventually triggering the temporary return of Sephiroth by merging with her cells at the end. To be blunt, he played the role of an exceptionally violent 'child' that was willing to do anything it took to gain his mother's appreciation.
Character's age: No more than two in actuality, but with the appearance of one in their late teens. Likely around sixteen or seventeen.
Character's gender: Male
Character’s “Real Name”: Jared Benton
Please give us a detailed personal history of your character:
Kadaj came into being as a manifestation of Sephiroth's will meant to represent his cruelty. In a sense, he was one of three pieces, the other two being his brothers: Yazoo whom represented his allure, and Loz whom represented his outer masculinity and physical strength. Together, they sought to find Jenova's remains (or, more specifically, a box of her cells) and receive her power, thus becoming whole again.
Their true purpose was simply to revive Sephiroth-- Jenova's "son", a man created through experimentation with her cells. Jenova herself was an alien (mistakenly identified by recent scientists as a Cetra-- an ancient race of people that shared a close bond with the planet) that crashed into the planet two thousand years ago, also leaving a deep wound on the planet's surface. This wound became known as the Northern Crater. Her intent was to wipe all life from the planet, then make use of the empty planet as her vessel to sail to a new one, repeating this process until all life was wiped from the universe. This was a goal that Sephiroth eventually took unto his own.
However, Sephiroth had been defeated at the Northern Crater two years prior following his attempt to summon Meteor. Had he succeeded, a wound would have been left upon the planet so vast that the Lifestream-- the lifeblood of the planet-- would be forced to gather to heal it, where he would then take the opportunity to join it, exerting control over it with his will and ruling as a God from within.
The three remnants went to the Crater, but found nothing to contribute to their search. Luckily, they did encounter two of Shinra's Turks, Elena and Tseng, subsequently torturing them out of hopes of gaining information. Shinra was an electric power company that fell two years ago, but had also been involved in the concealment of Jenova (among many other dubious tasks).
Also prior to this was the spread of a mysterious disease known as the Geostigma. It was a lethal sickness born of the body's attempt to battle alien cells within it. The cause of it was likely the fact that Jenova was not easily disposed of-- instead of being eradicated, her cells were distributed throughout the planet. Children, having the lowest immunity, were the most susceptible to this disease.
As it turned out, Cloud Strife, the man who defeated Sephiroth, had also contracted Geostigma. Cloud was a special case-- due to having been experimented on in the past, he had Jenova cells inside of him beforehand. This made him a big brother in the eyes of the remnants, though a traitorous one, the reason perhaps being his either determination to rid the planet of Sephiroth (and Jenova by extension) those two years ago, or simply a result of Sephiroth's own views (that all humans were traitors for taking the planet from the Cetra-- a race he had believed both Mother and himself to be of). Kadaj had Yazoo and Loz ambush him upon their first encounter while he attempted to contact the President of Shinra, Rufus Shinra.
Though the two demanded to know Mother's whereabouts from him, they allowed him to leave at Kadaj's signal. They were just making themselves known to their big brother.
Following Cloud's retreat, the next best thing they could do was to make use of what Jenova cells they could gather-- those being the ones found inside children afflicted with the Geostigma. They were needed for the purpose of locating Jenova's remaining cells. However, he wouldn't be the one to gather them; Yazoo took care of that, while Kadaj headed out to Healin Lodge. There resided his next target, Rufus, whom was also inflicted with Geostigma, seemingly wheelchair bound as well.
After incapacitating the Turks with him, he again pressed for details on the whereabouts of Jenova's remains--"Mother", in other words. It would make for the final piece required in order for the Reunion to take place. Unfortunately for Kadaj, the President had nothing of any use to offer. Kadaj revealed his own intentions to the President before taking his leave, heading next to the Forgotten City.
Here, Yazoo and Loz (whom had also stolen a box of Materia) were waiting with the Geostigma inflicted children from the village of Edge. Edge was actually a village built just North of Midgar after Midgar itself was mostly destroyed in the close call with Meteor. Kadaj used his will to contaminate a pool of water, promising the children a false cure should they drink it. With the exception of one young girl whom wasn't inflicted (the child was Marlene Wallace, and was being used to lure in Cloud), all of them became more susceptible to Kadaj's will. He now had control of them, with the intent of using the Jenova cells inside of them to locate the rest of her remains.
As it turned out, Cloud took the bait, locating them in the city after this happened. Using the children as shields in knowing that Cloud wouldn't attack them, he came very near to finishing off his "big brother". With the help of a strange man named Vincent Valentine, however, he managed to escape before Kadaj had the chance to deal the finishing strike. Instead of giving chase, Kadaj then chose to continue with his plans, following the lead of the entranced children back to the village of Edge.
As the children all formed up around a monument at the center of the village, Kadaj and his brothers attacked the villagers. With Rufus in custody, Kadaj even summoned Bahamut SIN, treating the situation as something of a show while claiming to be having fun even after Bahamut was defeated. This was also when he revealed that Sephiroth was coming back, claiming to be able to feel him out there, and expressing jealousy over the idea of Mother favouring him.
It was as he was mocking Rufus when he finally learned of Mother's true location: hidden under the sheets right in front of him. Rufus had been using the sheet to conceal his Geostigma, but Kadaj had never thought to check under it.
Before he could lay hands on the box containing the cells, Rufus told him that "a good son would have known" and threw it over the side of the building. In a panic, he jumped after it, actually managing to catch it as it fell-- though not before Rufus shot a few well aimed bullet holes into it. From there, Kadaj was forced to flee, ending up at Aerith's church in the end. Aerith had been the true last living Cetra (as Jenova was only falsely labeled), but had been killed by Sephiroth.
The state of the box distressed him once he noticed how much damage Rufus had managed to do. Still, there wasn't a chance for further inspection. Cloud had arrived, and as expected, a fight erupted between the two. Unfortunately, this didn't go quite as planned either. Some form of interference drove him away, a rain of water that was physically painful for the remnant (Aerith's Great Gospel). This water cured Cloud's Geostigma-- something Kadaj hadn't been expecting.
Even so, Kadaj taunted his "brother", announcing that he finally had Mother, only to be faced with the reality-- that he still didn't know what to do with the remains now that he had them in his grasp.
The fight continued from there, finally ended with Kadaj falling, box of Jenova cells in hand, towards the ground below. As the cells spilled out and came in contact with him, Kadaj announced that this was his Reunion. The Reunion that, in fact, resulted in Sephiroth returning through Kadaj's body.
This new form was also defeated in the end (but not before Sephiroth was able to tell Cloud that he'll never be just a memory), reverting back to the dying remnant. No longer in possession of the strength to fight, he collapsed in "brother's" arms, heeding the voice of Aerith. Ironically enough, he believed she was his Mother, and thus willingly allowed himself to return to the Lifestream.
Please give us a detailed description of your character's personality:
In keeping with his appearance, Kadaj also has a rather childlike personality. He can be moody, jealous, short-tempered, and entirely off-balance. While true he comprehends destruction and brutality, he has yet to understand most traits aside from them. Knowing the right way to play with his nerves leaves him practically dangling from your fingers. However, he's also charismatic- a born leader, with the ability to speak and act in a passionate manner when the situation pertains to something he values. Even with his brothers, he sets himself on a higher level, acting as their ringleader instead of an equal to them.
Aside from his leadership, he isn't much of a conversationalist, preferring to mock, taunt, and scoff rather than make small chat. He also hates taking orders, but is (well, obviously) always willing to give them himself.
Most of his thoughts become clear more in his expressions and tone than in his phrasing. He'll go from one mood to another at even the slightest remark, making him visibly unstable, deluded, and dangerous. Masking his feelings behind his expressions is something he can't manage too well, thus even when he says one thing, it might be obvious that he means another just by the look he has when he says it.
Kadaj initially comes across as bold, direct, and above all else, confident. The last thing he would allow is for someone to get in between him and his goal- that goal had been the 'Reunion', what would happen when he 'received Mother's power' from her cells, inevitably bringing back Sephiroth (though it's doubtful he knew that it would be through his own body). He believed this to be followed by the subsequent destruction of all life on the planet, and viewed it as not only his one chance to become whole again, but as the time when Mother would decide who she needed the most: Sephiroth or him. To him, nothing would be a greater honour than to serve and protect Mother. He wanted to make her happy, even if the only way to do that was in bringing back Sephiroth for her. He would go as far as jumping off of a building to fulfill and preserve this purpose. Unfortunately, this also leads to a variety of flaws in his supposed confidence-- it makes it quite easily shaken. Adding to this is that he'll usually tell you how he feels.
The very idea that Mother would favour anyone but him is enough to leave him an emotional wreck, even acting as a trigger for one of his abrupt changes in mood and demeanor. What he yearns is to become stronger, good enough to please Mother. With Sephiroth out there, whom he can feel, he becomes completely insecure, even if he tries to act otherwise in order to add to his own illusion of confidence. He feels, above all else, the need to prove that he's just as good, if not better than Sephiroth. To himself, as well as to "Mother". He envies Sephiroth for being Mother's favourite, which in itself angers him.
What makes things interesting is that, as noted above, Kadaj is actually a 'larval' form of Sephiroth (in a manner of speaking), being the embodiment of his cruelty. He was fully aware of the similarities, knew that Sephiroth was out there, and knew that he himself was born of his will-- yet he was also fooling himself. Knowing that he existed to revive Sephiroth, his jealousy drove him to wonder if there was a way he could replace him instead. At some level, he was hoping for a chance to reach Mother on his own, and to surpass Sephiroth as the one Mother would need the most. As triggering the Reunion (thus bringing about Sephiroth's return) was his only reason for existence, knowing that he was unsuccessful once (not in bringing him back-- in surpassing him) is bound to increase his determination to prove that he can be more worthy of Mother than Sephiroth, and as such, finally good enough to earn her appreciation for himself. In a way, it could be said that he wants to separate from Sephiroth and gain a sense of identity as himself rather than as a piece of someone else-- and, of course, for Mother to see him as himself instead of as part of Sephiroth.
At the same time, he stated that he knew he was just a puppet and didn't think it mattered. In essence, he didn't care if he was a mere puppet for Sephiroth, as long as the chance to prove himself to Mother on his own still existed. This complete obsession means that he blindly follows whatever path he's convinced will lead him to his mother, even if it means twisting his own thoughts to accomplish it. Without having deluding himself into believing that there's a chance of breaking away from his purpose, there wouldn't have been a point to any of his actions.
He also enjoys violence and takes every chance to toy with his opponents. Again, childish- but still effective. Surprisingly, a devious sort of intelligence accompanies this. The only problem with this intelligence is that he sometimes manages to miss the most obvious details (such as not knowing what to do with the box of Jenova's cells once he finally had it). Like a child, he can be too impatient-- a good planner on the spot, but not one for long term scheming where patience is heavily required. In other words, Kadaj is driven in the sense that he focuses on a single goal, using his instincts to carve a path towards it through any means necessary, and centering the choices he makes around what he feels would be most likely to get him to that goal. He'll take what amusement he can get along the way, play the game to its fullest, and pay no regard to the pain it causes others.
Overall, he's a sadistic, twisted boy with a young, yet still brutal persona- hardly one to be taken for granted, unless you plan on being cut down with a laugh.
Please give us a detailed physical description of your character:
Kadaj is generally pleasing to the eye until one decides to take a better look. While his physical appearance is that of an attractive young man, his cruelty has a way of etching itself on his face. He normally wears a smug, belittling expression, and can easily seem to be looking down on others even from a shorter height.
His silver hair frames a deceivingly delicate face, but it's his eyes that tend to stand out the most. The blue-green pupils are slitted (much like a cat or snake's eyes), and they almost seem to have a glow to them.
Though he isn't the most imposing figure, he still has the capability of seeming superior simply by the way he carries himself. He's also most comfortable in his black leather attire, but that isn't of any consequence to his appearance since he won't have it here.
What point in time are you taking your character from when he/she appears at Landel's?:
Post movie, just after being absorbed back into the Lifestream. He seemed to be under the belief that he was finally rejoining Mother.
What kinds of magical/special/crazy powers does your character have, if any?:
Quite honestly, his own will (which makes it the will of Sephiroth and Jenova by extension) was his greatest power. He had the ability to manifest certain things, such as his clothing and weapon. Since it was tied in with the Lifestream, it wouldn't come into play in the game aside from instances involving other "children" of Jenova, in which case he has the ability to contaminate water with his will.
This works on those inflicted by Geostigma (with Jenova cells in their body, in other words-- his "siblings"), putting them in a hypnotized state under his control should they drink it.
He has the ability to make use of various materia by absorbing it directly into his own body. Materia is crystallized mako (something of an 'energy source' on Gaia-- or rather, the life force of the planet), so it has many purposes depending on the kind. Of course, it's pretty useless considering the chances of him ever finding any.
If present, how do you plan to tweak those powers to make him/her appropriately hindered in the setting of Landel's?:
For the contaminated water, the control would be minimal- easy to fight off by those with a strong willpower of their own. It isn't worth mentioning much, since the chances of any Geostigma-inflicted people arriving are slim, as are the chances of them ever drinking it.
For Materia, the spells and effects would be lessened significantly-- though again, the chances of him ever acquiring any are slim to none. Summons wouldn't work, and ones like Fullcure Materia would only be able to patch up small injuries (scratches, bruises) completely. They wouldn't be able to fully heal more severe ones (like deep stab wounds, for example).
Does your character have any other non-magical skills or abilities that we should know about?:
Kadaj's lethal skill with a sword is only enhanced by his warped intelligence, speed, and overall physical ability. He is unnaturally fit, able to move at speeds impossible for most humans, and deal blows with more strength than should be possible for a man of his stature. His cruelty only adds to this, making him more prone to rash actions and a fiercer style of fighting, especially if someone angers him enough.
These physical abilities would be lessened so that he has only average human speed and strength.
He also likes to be in charge, making him something of a natural leader. He can string people along with his words, evoking fiery responses with his speech regardless of whether or not the words be false promises bent to convince others of his cause. He has an oddly self entitled approach to it, so this only comes into play when he feels there's a benefit. It isn't an ability as much as it is a strong aspect of his personality.
How about improbable appendages?:
Thanks, now I'm trying to picture what those arms would look like-- Nope!
Please give us an idea of where you'd like to take your character within the scope of the Landel's Damned RP:
Kadaj only has one goal, that goal being the same reason he exists in the first place. Making friends isn't even on his priority list-- actually, all his actions may very well be centered around finding Mother again and proving himself. If it means making enemies and planning to bring about the end of the Institute, so be it. It's no different than his goals beforehand (taking revenge on the planet, finding Mother, bringing back Sephiroth for her- all the while wondering if there's a way to make her happy himself).
He'll probably make a lot of enemies, as Kadaj wouldn't have an easy time seeing eye to eye with others. Getting into fights is also a high possibility, given how easy it can be to set him off. Without a doubt, he'll have to learn to a degree of co-operation, even if it is just his idea of a ploy. The only barrier would be getting past his cruel nature-- finding something to persuade him that co-operating would be worth his while.
Effectively, his stay will end up becoming the second phase of his search, only he'll struggle with new insecurities because of it and have difficulty in finding a focus point.
What kind of psychological effect do you see Landel's Institute having on your character?:
Certainly no stranger to violence, Kadaj would be less bothered by the monsters and more by the feeling of being trapped-- unable to pursue his goal. He'd get increasingly frustrated by not being able to do anything about the situation as time progresses, although in the beginning he would be just as likely to act like he's in control of it. Or to act like he believes he is, anyway.
He has an ego that will slowly unravel, and the brunt of his self-confidence issues are definitely going to surface. If he can't escape here, how can he ever find Mother again? If he has trouble dealing with a single monster, how is he ever going to prove that he's just as useful to her as Sephiroth?
It will lead to a lot of questioning-- mainly of himself-- coupled with attempts to deny his own lack of progress. He'll end up with a very double-sided view, half trying to label the Institute as a small obstacle in his way, and half desperate to feel that way simply because the alternate (that he really is stuck without any means of searching for Mother once more) is something he refuses to face.
Given that this RP takes place in an unsettling and outright horrific environment, how do you justify your character as being appropriate in both body and mind for this kind of setting?:
Since Kadaj is a main antagonist, he's been in his fair share of battles and horrific situations. When he summoned Bahamut SIN, for instance, the villagers screamed and fled in fear, while Kadaj simply stood by and laughed. He even went so far as to admit how fun it was, offering to summon something else immediately after. To say it didn't bother him in the least to see countless people brutally murdered would be an understatement.
He isn't human-- in fact, though it's probable that he only existed for two years, he has a mentality that exceeds his years mixed in with his childish moments. Even most actual sixteen year olds would be hard-pressed to compare.
On top of that, his "Mother" is an alien entity intent on destroying the entire universe. He seeks to earn her approval, which led to him cutting a path through anything that stood in his way. Taking that into consideration, Landel's environment wouldn't be inappropriate for him. If anything, it would only feel restraining.