theleadingman | application: escordvi (re-app)

PLAYER INFO

Player: Christine
Age: 30+
Invite By: I live here!
Contact:

necrofancy, necrofancies @ discord
Current Characters: Lace Harding (

CHARACTER INFO

Character: Balthier | Ffamran mied Bunansa
Canon: Final Fantasy XII, canon point is post-game + brief CRAU from his previous stay here.
Age: 23

Background Information: Balthier @ the FF Wiki. Regarding his CRAU, Balthier was here for a few months during the game's opening, and I would like to have him retain memories of that time. While he didn't experience too much development at that time, he would be able to potentially recognize familiar faces and be generally familiar with the way this world operates and the structure of things— although he will have a lot of catching up to do, since a lot has happened since those early days.

Personality:

⚜️ Tell us about who your character is and what someone’s first impression would be upon meeting them.

Balthier takes first impressions quite seriously, and as such, has a carefully curated public persona that he presents— he is well-dressed and immaculate, stylish and well-mannered with a catchy turn of phrase. His reputation precedes him wherever he goes, thanks to his chosen profession of sky pirate, and he rather likes it that way. He is rumored to be the bravest pirate Ivalice’s skies have ever seen, and is widely known for his charm, having been referred to as both a dashing rogue and “the sort of man that makes a woman look twice.” He’s also known for his sharp wit and cunning, which are either admirable or insufferable traits, depending on who you ask. Given that there’s a price on his head and he’s had more than his share of run-ins with bounty hunters, not everyone appreciates his approach, but he maintains that even the greatest among us have their critics.

Considering himself to be something of a gentleman thief, Balthier is well aware of his assets and how to use them. Charm can go a long way when used just right, and he knows his vanity is not unearned. He is extremely well-kept, with a vested interest in both fashion and good hygiene, and makes an effort to always look his best, whether he’s spending the evening in a tavern or raiding an ancient tomb. He exudes confidence, even in the most perilous situations; he is often infuriatingly calm under pressure and has a great deal of experience in keeping a cool head and making snap decisions when necessary. He’s quite sharp, and his methodical approach to problem-solving often hints at roots in something other than piracy.

Perhaps unsurprising for a pirate, Balthier has very particular and often expensive tastes. He is a great appreciator of the arts and knows a fair amount about history, a necessity for anyone whose primary goal is treasure— which he frequently insists his is. What else could a pirate want? He is open about his love of the sky pirate life; between treasure and the absolute freedom of the open skies and being able to go wherever one wants, whenever one wants. All of this is quite genuine, but also part of a public and carefully curated public persona. His pirate heart is very real, and he will frequently insist upon only ever acting in his own self-interest, but his actions often betray him.

⚜️ What is a driving force your character has? What goals do they have, what motivates them, etc?

Balthier’s declared motivations differ greatly from what actually drives him. He announces himself to be driven by treasure and personal gain, or even that he’s simply interested in “seeing how the story plays out,” but beneath his stated intentions, he is actually quite compassionate (much to his chagrin) with a strong sense of justice. He frequently declares having little interest in the affairs of others, yet almost from the very moment of his introduction in the story, he has difficulty walking away from situations that he would, perhaps, be best left ignored. He finds himself taking on an apprentice (all the while insisting that he doesn’t have one), getting tangled up in the resistance efforts of a kingdom that he has no ties to (on the contrary, his own countrymen are their oppressors), and heading straight into obvious traps to rescue hostages when other pirates may well have cut their losses. For all that he can be contrary, sharp and competitive, he consistently shows himself to be generous, loyal and selfless. His companions become more of a family than any he’s ever known, and it becomes apparent that there is little he would not risk for them. His willingness to risk his own life for others is proven beyond shadow of a doubt when he remains in the belly of the Sky Fortress Bahamut to try and alter its course so that it will not fall on the city of Rabanastre, knowing full well that doing so will likely cost him his life– a far cry from the selfish, mercenary soul he claims himself to be.

Even among the handful of people he considers close, however, Balthier remains quite secretive. Though he is more honest with those who manage to get past his carefully constructed pirate persona, he often says one thing while doing another entirely. He doesn’t like to talk about his life prior to becoming a sky pirate, and it isn’t until there is no option but to come clean that he reveals himself to be the son of the Archadian Empire’s own Dr. Cid. His origins reveal him to have been born into privilege as well as to have been something of a prodigy, made a Judge at a young age in a move that was meant to further his father’s own career. Balthier’s reasons for leaving home and leaving his old life behind are many, with the desire for freedom chief among them, but more than anything else, he could not watch his father’s downward spiral as his research and findings devoured him. Cid’s descent into madness left his son feeling both smothered and heartbroken, and Balthier admits that he could not stand to see him that way a moment longer. His intent was always to run until the past was nothing more than a distant memory, and throwing himself into the life of a sky pirate certainly allowed him to do so– for a time. It’s only recently that he’s chosen to face the past and found that he must take the time to find out who he is when he isn’t running away– a work in progress, to say the least.

⚜️ What are their flaws as a character? What is something they've messed up, or have done that they regret?

Though he himself would be quick to dismiss the idea that he has any flaws at all, he is a vainglorious man with a great deal of pride whose stubbornness is a double-edged sword. He’s an incredibly sore loser and prone to petty jealousy— this is especially noticeable when he meets someone who threatens to be an even bigger presence than he is. Though difficult to ruffle in most situations, Balthier shows himself to be incredibly annoyed or exasperated in the presence of Al-Cid Margrace, who is a similarly stylish figure that tends to make a spectacle of himself in a way that Balthier considers to be garish and tasteless— not to mention Balthier’s open disapproval when Al-Cid proceeds to flirt with certain young ladies in his party. Balthier does not care to let anyone else one-up him in any regard, and paired with his stubbornness and reckless streak, this can be a real recipe for trouble.

Additionally, his inclination towards secrecy means it is incredibly difficult for him to form meaningful relationships. His partnership with Fran is remarkable both their closeness and how much time they’ve spent together; before meeting the other members of the party, Balthier preferred to keep relationships of any kind purely transaction, as he believed it made it easier for all parties involved. He is greatly influenced by his estranged relationship with his father and does not care to be tied down, or to put himself in a position to be hurt, whether it be by friends, business partners or otherwise. This elusiveness is to his detriment; though Fran is the greatest partner and friend he could ask for, it is a lonely existence. Recent events forcing his hand and putting him in a position to kill his own father have only reinforced his need to keep others at arm’s length; he is no stranger to loss or deep regrets, despite his efforts to ensure he has precious few of the latter.

Abilities & Inventory:

Abilities:
➤ Balthier is gifted with machinery, and is skilled engineer as well as being a pilot.
➤ Skilled marksman, and also adept with close-quarters combat. He prefers to fight at range, but prides himself on being adaptable.
➤ He has a small arsenal of magicks at his disposal, including Cure, Cura, Haste, Slow, Protect, Aero and Bio.
➤ His technicks include Steal, Libra, First Aid, Wither and Expose.

Inventory:
➤ Fomalhaut with ammunition.
➤ Kanya.
➤ A small, portable toolkit for working with small parts.
➤ A pair of silver wire-rimmed glasses.
➤ Princess Ashe's wedding ring.

ARMADA SELECTION

Corsairs. Balthier is already a pirate in his own right and thus would take to the corsairs and their approach quite well, though he considers sky pirates to be rather more fashionable. He is passionate about both treasure and exploration and will be keen to get his hands on his own ship and dedicated to doing the work to do so— he's used to being captain of a crew and won't want to take a backseat to anyone, though having to do so while he finds his feet and his niche in this world will be a lot of fun to play out.

SAMPLE

Test Drive Sample: Balthier @ the TDM, all threads ongoing.

Questions: N/A!