Sorceress (Final Fantasy VIII)
From Final Fantasy Wiki
- "The legend goes that the Great Hyne created people. The sorceresses were given a fragment of Hyne's own power. It's hard to determine how many sorceresses exist today, for many keep their powers concealed. However, it is believed that they avoid spreading their power too thin."
- —FFVIII Info Corner
Sorceresses, (Japanese: 魔女, Majou, German Hexen, Spanish: Witch) in the world of Final Fantasy VIII are human beings who have received the Sorceress Power, given to humanity by the Great Hyne long ago. A sorceress differs from normal humans as she can use magic naturally and effortlessly (i.e. without the use of Limit Breaks or Guardian Force-- see Para-Magic) until she must eventually pass her powers to another individual at the time of her death. During the game, four sorceresses are revealed: Edea Kramer, Rinoa Heartilly, Sorceress Adel, and Ultimecia. Whereas some sorceresses are not even aware of their powers, others simply disguise them from the world.
Calling a sorceress a Descendant of Hyne is a sign of great respect. The only known male sorcerer is the originator, Hyne.
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[edit] Becoming a Sorceress
- Main article: Sorceress Power
- "Sorceress power has been passed throughout history by the process of embodiment. Any person who has the capacity to embody the great sorceress power is a candidate."
- —Sorceress Power & Embodiment - FFVIII Info Corner
Any person with the capacity for it is entitled to become a sorceress, although as it goes, this is limited to the female gender. This process is dubbed the embodiment, where a dying sorceress passes on her powers onto the chosen successor. The successor has no say in the matter of who the powers go to, and thus people could well be given powers against their will. In the event that a human were to resist receiving the powers of a dying Sorceress, it is likely that the Sorceress would overcome the recipient with sheer force of will and could thus inadvertently cause them great pain if they attempt to fight the "gift." Once a person becomes a sorceress, she can still be given more powers from other sorceresses, as shown with Edea who received the gift twice.
As illustrated with Ultimecia and Edea, a sorceress must be free of all her powers to die in peace. When Ultimecia passed on her powers, she floats upon the air, releasing what seems to be purple lightning from her body which strikes upon the matron. Light flashes for a few times, and Ultimecia disappears in a whiff of purple mist, while Edea falls to her knees, weakened. It is confirmed in Final Fantasy VIII's Ultimania that Ultimecia has created an eternal cycle. Each successive completion of this cycle sees Edea inherit even more power, which is eventually passed on to Rinoa. Through this it can be assumed that she might eventually obtain some measure of her wish, omnipotence, by eventually inheriting so much power via the cycle that Squall and company are rendered ineffective against her. Though this is only theoretic speculation and does not come to pass in the timeline that Final Fantasy VIII exists at.
The specific profile of the successor to a sorceress' powers has never been mentioned. However, they may have attributes and characteristics irregular to normal human. For example, Ellone was once chosen as the successor to Sorceress Adel's powers - her hometown of Winhill was raided twice by Esthar soldiers in search of a successor, and the second raid specifically targeted her. Ellone is known to have the ability to transfer one's consciousness into the past, and this may have prompted Esthar to seek her out.
A notable physical trait that most Sorceresses seem to have is, when utilizing their powers, the appearance of wings or wing-like structures from their backs. While Rinoa has white angelic wings, Ultimecia has black demonic-angel wings. Adel has dark, sharp wings - possibly reflecting her brutal, dangerous and cruel nature.
[edit] Sorceress' Knight
The term Sorceress Knight is applied to a male companion to a sorceress. The Sorceress' Knight's task is supposedly to protect the Sorceress. As portrayed in the movie Laguna had acted, the Knight protects Sorceresses from dangers she face, although it's unconfirmed if this is their only purpose.
In the story, Seifer mentions that being a Sorceress' Knight is his childhood dream. When he was brainwashed into serving Sorceress Ultimecia, who was possessing Edea at Timber, Seifer believed that his dream is fulfilled. Even after defeat upon defeat, he insists upon retaining the title.
Cid is Edea's knight. After he and Edea explain the importance of the sorceress knight, Rinoa indicates Squall, stating that she's found an apprentice knight.
[edit] Battle
At the start of Time Compression, Squall and the party will fight eleven incarnations of Sorceresses from different time periods. Though there are eleven, they only have three different appearances, although the in-game logic for this is unknown. The backstories for these eleven Sorceresses are also unknown, as are their real names, their place of origin, and for that matter, even their motives for attacking Squall at the Commencement Room. Not knowing why they have suddenly been dragged out of their own times, they could simply be attacking the people who seem like they might be responsible for it; alternately, Ultimecia could be controlling them, as she did Edea, Adel, and Rinoa. It is also interesting to note that the Sorceresses fight alone, without a Knight by their side.
[edit] See also
Refer to the following articles for the enemy battle strategies:
[edit] Trivia
- The appearance of the Sorceresses could be based on the conceived appearances of Buddhist demons known as Asura. The most evident example of this is in their appearance as beautiful women with deformed hands and feet (seen with Edea Kramer and Ultimecia), as well as in the wings and horn/horn-like portrusions.
