Larsa's Application ( For anyone who wants to be my Vayne, Drace, etc. +_+ )

2007-02-12T17:54:00Z

Name/Handle: Brenda, the Pimp of the Universe
Age: 18
Gender: More Male than you’ll ever be. But in this dimension I’m female.
Timezone: Central Standard Time
Email Address: brendabirdo432[at]hotmail[dot]com.
AIM/other messenger screenname: BrendaB432
Personal LJ username: bondofflame
Character you're applying for: Larsa Ferrinas Solidor
Series the character is from: Final Fantasy XII
Character's age: 13 for post-game reasons.
Character's gender: Does ‘Pimp’ count as a gender? If not, he’s Male.
Character’s “Real Name”: Nick Hall
How long have you roleplayed your character, if at all?: I’ve only beaten the game recently so this will be my first time playing him. But Landel’s is a really good setting to focus on a character’s personality so I’m sure I’ll get good practice.

Where have you roleplayed in general and/or with this specific character?: I haven’t played him anywhere yet, which is a shame even though the game only came out 4 months ago.

Have you played the game/watched the movie or anime/read the book or comic, etc. that your character hails from?:

NO. I just read the game script and watched the Opening and Ending FMVs from Youtube so I’m going act as if I TOTALLY know every single thing about him. *KILLED*

But seriously, I’ve played AND beaten Final Fantasy XII and I only used other sources like Wikipedia, Youtube and game scripts as reference to make sure I have a really good grasp on his character. In my opinion Youtube really doesn’t grasp the effect of the FMVs as good as when you watch it on your screen anyway. Plus it takes away a lot of the fun factor if you haven’t beaten the game beforehand.

There’s also a doujinshi that depicts Larsa as an evil Pimp Lord and sells Ashe to a bunch of grody, muscular guys, but I doubt you’d want me putting that in Landel’s. :P

Please give us a detailed personal history of your character:

Larsa Ferrinas Solidor was the youngest of Emperor Gramis’s four sons, born and raised in the country of Archadia. Most would’ve deemed this child as one of the luckiest to live because of his family’s status, but it was a hard path to walk right from the start. There was a certain kind of air that one should’ve possessed to have the same respect as those from House Solidor: not only to show the grace of nobility, but have the military genius it took to lead a country to victory. However, this stereotype soon fell with ill favor when his two elder brothers were accused of treason, and were hereby forever silenced by Vayne himself. Still, Larsa was young when these events occurred, so it bore little effect on him.

But it didn’t mean that he bore the same for his father and remaining brother. Truth be told that Larsa loved them both dearly and admired Vayne like any little brother. And despite his family’s duties he was given the kind of attention that other aristocrats could only fantasize about. His life was entrusted to the Judge Magisters Drace and Gabranth, who only served to be an extension of the family he had grown terribly affectionate for. But this didn’t mean that he could sit around and be pampered. It wasn’t hard to notice the Senate in the shadows, their hands clutching onto their strings and waiting for the opportune moment to strike. And as Larsa grew older, he was finally beginning to realize their true motives.

In fact, he began to notice several things. Over the years Vayne started to devote his time with Dr. Cid at the Draklor Laboratories. In both responsibility for the Empire and childish curiosity Larsa felt it was apt to find out what his brother was up to. So whenever he wasn’t being tutored by Drace or called by his Father he was slowly unraveling this tangled mess. He knew of the events going outside of his country; the fall of Nabradia to the surrender of Dalmasca and Ondore’s announcement of Lady Ashelia B’Nargin Dalmasca’s suicide and Basch fon Ronsenburg’s betrayal and execution. By the time Vayne became the Consul to Dalmasca 2 years later, Larsa knew about the development of manufactured Nethicite in the Draklor Laboratories, a small sample tucked away for further investigation.

When Judge Ghis was ordered by Vayne to go to Bhujerba for a ‘special task’ the pre-teen saw this as the perfect opportunity to get to the bottom of this, persuading the older man to allow him to come; claiming it to be one of Drace’s projects about the social affairs and the effects of Bhujerban Madhu to ‘peasants’ (as much as he detested the word). And the moment they reached the Aerodome in Bhujerba Larsa was quick to duck out of sight, leading the Imperials within the Leviathan into a state of panic. He knew his time was short so Larsa began to contemplate his next move until a conversation nearby caught his interest.

“You’re on your way to the mines? Then please, allow me to accompany you. I’ve an errand to attend to there”

“What manner of errand?”

“What errand? I might ask the same of you.”

Presuming under the alias ‘Lamont’, he followed Vaan’s group into the Lhusu Mines, unconsciously filling them with bits of information that would soon reveal his true identity. Near the entrance they found Judge Ghis and Marquis Ondore engaged in deep conversation, revealing the source of the Magicite Vayne was receiving to continue Dr. Cid’s research. But this wasn’t enough for Larsa, though apparently the group he tagged along with had entirely different motives from his own. He learnt of a girl named Penelo and how she was kidnapped and taken here.

The deeper they searched in the mines the more his sample of Nethicite reacted until he sought it fit to stop in one of the caverns. But Larsa hadn’t expected for Balthier to be so demanding of answers, backing into the wall when the man finally brought all the pieces together. However, they were interrupted by Ba’Gamnan’s gang, who crudely told the group that Penelo was no longer in the mines.

But the Bangaa was cut short when Larsa threw his Nethicite at his right eye before running as fast as he could. He could hear the footsteps and shouts of Vaan’s group and he would’ve stopped had it not been for the familiar sight of Judge Ghis and the Imperials waiting outside of the mines. Not wanting to look suspicious, Larsa slowed to a steady pace and casually walked up to them as if he’d merely been sight seeing and nothing more. But he felt that he owed Vaan’s group more gratitude than he had given, so Larsa gave Penelo his word to keep her safe until he was able to reunite her with her friends. He sought it fit not only to right what the Imperials have wrong, but also to try and show Penelo that his intentions were nothing short of the good of both their countries.

And so everything was finally unraveling; the news that both Lady Ashe and Captain Basch were still alive caught Larsa off guard (He had his suspicions earlier in the mines, but never felt the need to delve into it), and he knew all of this was more important and urgent than he ever would’ve anticipated. They had their own roles in this play, and he was no different.

After safely returning Penelo in the Leviathan (Larsa hated to see her go so soon since she was kind enough to teach him a pretty mean right hook) and helping them escape after their confrontation with Ghis, Larsa was taken back to Archadia where he took no time researching more about the Nethicite. But he was starting to notice the changes that were occurring around the palace: the Senate was ever determined to get him to follow their orders, and frequently called him to their ‘Pit o’ Voles’ to shower him with praise and phrases such as “Lord Vayne could never presume the role of Emperor”. And Larsa never felt more disgusted, eternally grateful that Gabranth was always there to whisk him away whenever he grew uncomfortable. In fact, the man was around him much more than he remembered, but had the assumption that his Judge Magister also had his role to play in the scheme of things. So while he freely searched for answers in books Gabranth was there to inform him of current events (He snapped a quill in half when he learnt of the Archadian Army’s 8th fleet’s demise).

When Gabranth was summoned elsewhere, Larsa used this chance to make his way to the Garif Village to find the answers about the Nethicite. His original plan was to find as much information as he could before traveling to Mt. Bur-Omisace and seeking the Grand Kiltias Anestasis’s aid. There, with Al-Cid Margrace’s help, they could devise a plan to stop the Resistance from persuading the Rozarrian Empire to attack. (He had always presumed the man as a good friend through letters and private meetings over the years, despite the short attention span he had for women.) But out of sheer coincidence Larsa crossed paths with Lady Ashe and her group. It was the perfect opportunity to share with the former Princess his plan, though at first it was ill received.

But much to his relief Lady Ashe reconsidered and they were off to Mt. Bur-Omisace the next day. On their way Larsa learnt of the Archadian Empire’s search for new sources of Magicite in the Henne-Mines and how they were performing more dangerous procedures with the Manufactured Nethicite. In his disgust, he took the sample he had given Penelo and apologized accordingly for giving her such a dangerous tool.

Yet when they reached Mt. Bur-Omisace it only proved to be more devastating than hopeful. Though Larsa was happy to see Al-Cid once again, the news he brought was so much of a shock that he couldn’t even register it at first. His father’s demise not only brought a dent to his plans (Though now he could care less of it) but it also disbanded the Senate for being accused of murdering Emperor Gramis and gave all autocratic power to his brother Vayne. It hit Larsa so hard that he completely forgot that Lady Ashe and group were still there, and paid no heed when they left him in search of the Sword of Kings.

But what was bad only got worse. It wasn’t long after when Mt. Bur-Omisace was invaded by the Archadian Army in search of him. And in an attempt to ensure that no one was harmed Larsa came quietly, but this plan also fell at Judge Bergan’s sudden and violent outburst. He could only watch helplessly as the flourishing city crumbled before Larsa was whisked away by Gabranth. Everything was rushing by so fast, and when Gabranth finally confessed for Drace’s death he didn’t know if he had enough tears to shed for everyone.

But he didn’t have time to mourn; Vayne was preparing for the upcoming War and Larsa knew he had to prevent it at all costs. This wasn’t the brother he’d grown to love and admire, who laughed and smiled despite the countless times he’d taken the blame when Larsa accidentally broke their father’s crown. It pained him to think in such a way, but out of sheer desperation he had to remove those ties for the good of Archadia and all of Ivalice. He began to bicker with his brother, insisting that this war wasn’t necessary and even going so far as to giving all his faith to Gabranth to see if Lady Ashe was, indeed, planning to use the Nethicite against them.

Larsa had hope, even when Vayne able to get his hands on the Bahamut, even when his brother ignored his pleas, and even when the man shed the first blood in this pointless battle. But he couldn’t keep up with this for much longer, the strain of everything slowly making him crumble. This man that was posing as his brother was winning, and would’ve won if it had not been for Lady Ashe and group making it just in time. This fueled him, gave him hope that maybe all wasn’t lost, not yet at least. And before he knew it he had raised his own sword against Vayne, swearing that even though he may not be as strong he will still persist.

But part of him still clung to his love for his brother, and it shown through when Vayne fell after the battle. Larsa’s heart was racing as he ran towards him, but before he could reach him a searing pain enveloped his entire body, collapsing afterwards. He was barely conscious, and the last thing he saw was Gabranth’s shuddering figure climbing up the stairs before everything went dark. Larsa barely remembered waking up, catching only the final moments of the battle before he saw the grotesque manifestation of his brother’s body blast Gabranth away. He didn’t know how he managed to find the strength, scrambling to his feet and digging into his shirt, pulling out the Nethicite just as Vayne charged the finishing blow. If he’d done so a moment later Gabranth’s death would’ve been guaranteed, but Larsa stood there proudly with the Nethicite crumbling from his hand. But his smile was saddened as he watched Vaan shove Vayne off the stairs, all strength finally leaving and his knees buckling beneath him.

Everything came at a blur afterwards. With Gabranth’s dying form in his arms all Larsa could do was just wait for the battle to be over. And Lady Ashe had indeed won, and he was carefully escorted back to the Strahl to be there for Gabranth’s final moments. But the battle wasn’t over, and he forced back all the pain of his emotions to play his part to stop the Archadian Army from continuing its onslaught. He nearly crumbled when Judge Zargabaath attempted to sacrifice the Alexander to stop the Bahamut, this action wiping away every bit of the childhood he had. But he was saved from this when Balthier managed to prevent the Bahamnut from landing on Rabanastre.

---

An entire year had passed since the war was stopped, and it was no easy path for Larsa to walk alone. There was no time for him to mourn for those he loved and lost with the burden of the Archadian Empire now weighing down his shoulders. For the good of the entire country Larsa kept the Senate disbanded, or at least until he was able to comfortably rule without their voices constantly breathing down his neck. Basch indeed kept his promise to Gabranth and presumed under his brother’s name as Larsa’s protector, lifting as much of the burden as he could. (Larsa would never tell the man, but he couldn’t help but grow nauseous every time he saw Gabranth’s armor) There were many times when the teen collapsed from sheer exhaustion: constantly traveling between Rozzaria and Dalmasca to continue the tides of peace while making sure Archadia was ever prospering. So when Penelo sent him a letter Larsa couldn’t contain the anticipation to see his friends once more.

(I apologize that this was longer than the Example applications. I wanted to get as detailed as I could without trying to be obnoxious so I can have a better understanding of him for future references. The parts that I wrote that isn’t entirely ‘canon’ is anything before Bhujerba, any off screen descriptions and the year later epilogue. I’m also a firm believer that Vayne did much of his malicious deeds to keep Larsa’s hands clean, partly because there was a severe lack of brotherly love in the game. DX *crai, killed*)

Please give us a detailed description of your character's personality:

Larsa is an idealist, a child who believes that fairy tales really could come true if you wished hard enough. He has a fierce determination to accomplish what he starts, and a mix of self-motivation and stubbornness fuels his will to get things done. But in the larger scheme of things it’s easy to catch how innocent he truly is. And because of his innocence he’s closely guarded by this family and the Judge Magisters entrusted to protect him.

In terms of his demeanor Larsa is modest, but not so much as to be considered shy. He was taught that manners can bring the best out of anyone, and enforces this in whatever situation he finds himself in. Larsa is ever conscious to make sure he gives those around him a good impression, and sometimes tries to hard in situations that don’t necessarily require it. But he means well, and is a kind soul nonetheless.

Please give us a detailed physical description of your character:

There are many that believe that Larsa is a contradiction of himself, the mind of a man in the body of a child. He stands only at a meager height of 4’11 and weighs no more than 100 pounds; thin, but not dangerously so. Instead of being pale like most aristocrats Larsa has a more fleshy tone, preferring to wander outside rather than remain in the protection of the palace. (Though he’s often seen wandering the streets of Archades with Drace and Gabranth obediently following) He holds a lot similar traits as his brothers like his black hair, falling just over his shoulders and naturally curling up while shorter strands waver towards the left side of his face. He also has the same eye color his brothers, his own almond shaped eyes shaded with a dark gray. But unlike them, Larsa has a more gentle appearance, and there were a few instances where he’d been mistaken for a girl. The conversations that usually followed ranged from innocent flirtation to flushed embarrassment.

There are one or two traits that will carry over in Landel’s Institute. Because Larsa had both of his ears pierced in the game there will still be holes from where they’re supposed to be.

What point in time are you taking your character from when he/she appears at Landel's?:

It was hard choosing where I’d take him from since there are a few spots that would suit with Landel’s setting, but since this game has a policy about children 13 and under being admitted into the game I decided to take him post game: right after Penelo finishes up the epilogue one year later. This makes him the most level headed out of the other choices I had. Though in all reality I only chose this time because it’s what I got after typing ‘//roll-dice1-sides3’ in an AIM chat room.

What kinds of magical/special/crazy powers does your character have, if any?:

Well, being a guest he has the innate ability to be 3 levels higher than my other characters but never gain anything while in my party so they’d eventually be 3 levels higher than him. Woe.

But on a serious note he has no special powers. In the FFXII verse people don’t acquire Magicks on their own, they use the power of special stones called Magicite to cast spells. Also, there’s another type of stone called Nethicite that absorbs Magicite to power its own, and if itself is absorbed into someone it transfers its energy to its host and gives them great power.

But Larsa uses neither so he doesn’t need to be tweaked.

If present, how do you plan to tweak those powers to make him/her appropriately hindered in the setting of Landel's?:

Larsa hasn’t absorbed Manufactured Nethicite into his body, so nothing goes here.

Does your character have any other non-magical skills or abilities that we should know about?:

Even though he doesn’t have any special powers Larsa compensates that with many other skills. Born and raised into the highest of social statuses he received the best of educations, so it’s safe to say the boy has a head on top of those shoulders. And since he doesn’t need to rely on Magicks or Nethicite to defend himself Larsa is skilled as a fighter, using a rapier whenever engaged in a battle. But that doesn’t mean he’ll actually go out killing anything he sees, Larsa is still young so he’s in no shape to be defending himself against anything that’s trying to attack him. But that also doesn’t mean he’s completely vulnerable either. Penelo taught him a pretty sweet right hook so watch out. >:[

How about improbable appendages?:

They say he was born with a pimp cane in his hand, one so mighty that it could knock down an entire country with one swing. Vayne, fearing this as a threat for his chances of being the Emperor, took it away and hid it so Larsa could never know the true power he possessed.

… No, he has no improbable appendages.

Please give us an idea of where you'd like to take your character within the scope of the Landel's Damned RP: (Is he/she going to make friends, make enemies, hunt for items, seek battles, etc.?)

Once he finds out that this isn’t some type of political hostage crisis and that the Empire won’t end up destroying itself Larsa will quickly open up to everyone around him. Since he is young, he’ll be more than an earful despite modesty; asking questions here and there about the institute, what ‘waffles’ are, and why they have to take showers together. His curiosity (and guilty thoughts of a vacation) would keep him from wanting to leave at first until he realizes the danger of staying here.

What kind of psychological effect do you see Landel's Institute having on your character?:

Usually I don’t like making guesses like this because I let the events in the RP itself control that factor. But if I had to answer, he’ll surely have a mental breakdown or two if he’s the only one in the FFXIIverse that’s taken there. It wont be permanent, however, when he learns about the whole ‘timeline’ ordeal. And Larsa will probably go into bouts of shock if he finds someone dead wandering around in the Institute as well, much like everyone else in their own universes. :P

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?:

Even though Larsa is only thirteen he’s no weak lamb. Despite his family’s efforts to keep him innocent, he knows what goes on in reality outside his bubble made from the shields of the Judge Magisters and his brother’s blood stained hands. After the wars of Ivalice, his father’s and brother’s demise and the responsibility as Emperor of Archadia at such a young age, I feel that’s justification enough to say that his persona is mature enough for this setting. It will be a little shaky at first, considering where he’s coming from, (and really, who wouldn’t be shaken up?) but I doubt it will stay that way for long. Though if you need a more thorough explanation I’ll be happy to give it via AIM.

And besides, Landel’s needs more pimps.