(Re-)Application for Tower of Animus

[ajealouswind]

Player Information

Name: Lampdevil
Personal Journal: lampdevil
Age: 30
Contact Info: Plurk: lampdevil | AIM: geenacorbell
Other Characters Played: N/A

Character Information

Character Name: Kain Highwind
Character Series: Final Fantasy IV
Character Age: 22
Character Gender: Male
Original Canon
Canon Point: Shortly after the end of the original Final Fantasy IV, climbing Mt. Ordeals.
Background Link: History at the Final Fantasy Wiki

Personality: Kain is a calm and composed man, who proceeds through life with visible confidence. He projects an air of knowing what he's doing, of having a plan, and of being able to overcome whatever obstacle faces him. He's not stoic, and can sometimes even be prone to mild jokes and sarcasm, but Kain takes himself quite seriously. Other people are funny, other people's situations can be amusing. His own are very serious, thank you, and he'd rather not have his weak points prodded at.

Kain is prone to internalizing his emotions and not speaking of how he truly feels. He entirely repressed his affection for Rosa when it became obvious that she preferred Cecil over him, no matter how quietly bitter he felt. The consequence of ruining his friendship with Cecil and facing rejection from Rosa was too great. But the things that he represses have a way of spilling out under pressure, in messy and unpleasant ways. His jealousy of Cecil and his unrequited desire for Rosa made him an excellent target for manipulation by Golbez. Even after that (especially after that) he believes that actions speak louder than words. An apology or a promise only means so much, if there's no proof of action to accompany it. When he asserted that he would be a dragoon and not a dark knight, he threw himself into it with frightening dedication. It would not be enough to simply declare his intent. He had to demonstrate absolute devotion to the cause. The same desires and drives are demonstrated when he departs Baron shortly before Cecil and Rosa's wedding. He must atone for his sins, and feels he cannot return until he has done so.

By his own estimation, Kain's loyalty to a cause is unwavering. Once he sets his heart and mind upon a course of action, very little can dissuade him. Once he has befriended you, his spear and shield are yours. This is his own estimation, however. He's been known to defy loyalty to one principle over another. Possibly to justify rejecting something sufficiently terrible that he could not defend. The burning of the Village of Mist was enough to make him turn his back on Baron, though he covered it in the language of not wanting to bring disgrace to the dragoons. As reticent and aloof as he may sometimes seem, he is a man with principles and morals. But it's far easier for him to wrap that in the language of honor and duty.

For all that they've fought and struggled, Cecil is his dearest friend, someone who he'd do anything for. He felt this way before Golbez's manipulation, and in the aftermath of said manipulation only made him more resolved to never succumb to his worst nature in such a way again. He strives to never again betray his principles or his true desires or even basic human decency. But the fundamental envy that lead him to be used against his friends has not been fully addressed. A small part of him does wish to prove himself superior to Cecil. A small part of him does want to take Rosa for his own. He denies the existence of that part of himself, claims that he has purged it, shed it, left it behind forever... but still it lurks, awaiting a final reckoning and addressing.

His world has been one of high station and moderate wealth. His father was the captain of Baron's dragoons, and the King of Baron himself took interest in him when his father died under mysterious circumstances. He is used to being well-regarded and respected, and used to commanding and leading others. He can comport himself well enough during formal occasions, and speak frankly with soldiers and warriors. But while manners and regulations have been firmly drilled into him, and he understands the need to play a public role, he is often the most comfortable off on his own, somewhere high and isolated.

Abilities: Kain is the commander of Baron's Dragoons, and has a level of combat skill to reflect it. While he prefers the use of spears, he's reasonably proficient with a sword as well. He's also astonishingly agile and capable of superhuman leaping. He has incorporated this into his fighting style, throwing himself high into the air and then descending upon an enemy to impale them.

Sample Entry: A post of Kain's from his previous stay in Animus.

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Additional dialogue examples at Dear Mun: Here and here.