Birth by Sleep Countdown: Characters

Details: Published on September 3, 2010 @ 02:33 pm; Written by Ordeith

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Of all the mysteries that Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep will uncover the truth behind, none are quite as compelling as those surrounding its cast of characters, since this is easily the most character-driven game in the series yet. There are only four days remaining until Birth by Sleep's North American and European releases, and so much still remains completely unknown:

Whose face lies behind Vanitas' blank mask? What exactly did Braig see during that time when "warriors fought with keys," and how did his face become so scarred? What is the connection between the hunched, elderly Master Xehanort and the youthful apprentice Xehanort glimpsed so briefly in Kingdom Hearts II? Perhaps most important of all is what become of the three young keybearers from the Land of Departure, whose fates are shrouded in silence...

Training alongside one another in the Land of Departure, Terra, Aqua and Ventus live and work under the tutelage of Master Eraqus, who guides them towards mastery of the Keyblade, an undeniably dying art. Terra, eldest of the apprentices, easily surpasses both Aqua and Ventus in terms of power, yet at times seems to lack the judgment needed to use it properly. As indicated by his conversations with Master Xehanort and Maleficent, Terra's heart shelters a sleeping darkness - not only a source of tremendous power, but of great danger to himself and those around him. Regardless, though, Terra constantly strives towards helping his friends and doing what he believes to be right.

However, with so many dark beings lurking just beneath the surface - and such potent darkness within - who can say whether that sense of right and wrong will be affected? The masked boy Vanitas remarked to Ven with eerie nonchalance that the Terra he knew would soon be a different person altogether...

One of our forum members is an especial fan of Terra's! The following are her thoughts about him and his scenario:

Strawberry
i'm exicted for terra because he relies on strength, so his gameplay interests me the most. and since he seems to be the person in the trio with the most connections to apprentice xehanort, so his scenario seems like the most appealing.

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Appointed the task of ensuring Terra's wellbeing is Aqua, known for her sagacity in such delicate matters. Graceful and coolheaded, magic-user Aqua stands out as most mature of the three apprentices, though she cannot compare Terra's raw power or Ven's speediness in combat. With an almost maternal instict, she keeps a careful eye on them both, even when that watchfulness isn't wanted. To take care of the three friends when Aqua herself couldn't, she fashioned good luck charms in the shape of Paopu Fruit to safeguard them from harm. The folk legend states that so long as those charms are safely carried, the bond between their holders will withstand the test of time - "an unbreakable connection."

The mystery surrounding Aqua lies in the fact that we as players can find no visible trace of her beyond Birth by Sleep, though many have theorized: Does Aqua share a connection with another, actively seen character? Did she meet her untimely demise somewhere throughout the course of events? Ultimately, these and similar queries can be simplified in a single question: Did the three friends' bond hold strong?

Forum helper jeels has definitely taken a shine to Aqua; let's hear what he has to say about her:

Since it was first revealed that we'd be getting a female protagonist for Birth by Sleep, the community has been abuzz - it was certainly a first to have a headstrong female lead for a Kingdom Hearts title instead of the usual damsel in distress. As time has gone by, Aqua has definitely become a fan favorite character, thanks to her overall charm, and kickass magic skills.

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Perhaps the greatest anomaly of all is Ventus, the optimistic young man whose features are uncannily identical to those of Roxas, Sora's Nobody - or perhaps it is Roxas who bears a resemblance to Ventus? Young and naïve, especially when compared to his fellow apprentices, Ven sometimes seems to lag behind compared to what is expected of him, yet never fails to pick himself back up and try again. His backhanded battle style is reflective of his eager, excited nature in that it far surpasses both Terra's and Aqua's speed; he can successively rain blow upon blow down upon enemies without any fear of being hit.

One interesting note about Ventus in combat is that one of his more powerful attacks very strongly resembles Roxas' limit break, Event Horizon, complete with the characteristic pillars of light that radiate outwards from the user. However, the bright, happy-go-lucky attitude seen in Ventus is hardly anything like the somber Roxas of Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days...yet Nobodies aren't supposed to possess any emotion at all. Could the inevitable connection between the two possibly explain Roxas' strange ability to feel emotion like a whole person, laughing and crying?

Whatever the answer may be, some of our members are especially excited for Ventus and his scenario! Read what some of them have said below:

VentusVictory
In Birth by Sleep, I'm looking forward to playing as Ventus the most. Have you ever wanted to know what Roxas would look like if he had command over all of his powers? Ventus answers this question and exceeds expectations. Ventus has utter control over both Wind and Light, and he uses it to overwhelm his opponents. His Wind Techneques exceed Sora's even though they share an aerial namesake, with Tornado, Tornado Blade, and Cyclone. With a heart of pure light, Ventus also commands Light to his whim. Holy and Wing Blade mode are just some of these examples. Ventus' speed and agileness showcase his mastery of the keyblade. Storywise, Ventus' is the most heartbreaking, with there seeming no other options for him from the start. Yet he still fight through his difficulties to save his friends and all the worlds in the universe. His friends are his power, and with a heart of gold, Ventus has the makings to be the greatest keyblade master.

Vivian Dominik
When I first KH2FM secrets ending, I freaked out when I saw Ventus. Of course I mistook him for Roxas like everyone else at the time, I mean he looks EXACTLY like him! That being said Im really excited to play Ventus's scenario. What connection does he have with Sora/Roxas? Or Vanitas? Whats under that guy's helmet anyway? Every trailer I've seen has left me with suspense and more unanswered questions! Not to mention Ventus holds his keyblade backward, it'll be fun to see the difference between his fighting style and the other keyblade wielders we've seen. I can't wait to play his scenario! (Although Ill probably torture myself and play Terra first XD )

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The ultimate fate of these three, bound by a promise, can perhaps be explained through their relationships with other characters - especially those who "survived" the events that unfolded ten years before the first Kingdom Hearts...

Realistic Mickey, by Bill Floyd

During the period encompassed in Birth by Sleep, King Mickey was serving under the instruction of wizard Yen Sid, from whom he learned the arts of magic and the Keyblade. However, in spite of the fact that he was supposed to be training, Mickey has been seen in several locations outside of Yen Sid's tower - including the Keyblade-strewn battlefield on which the Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ Secret Ending scene takes place. What exactly could be the reason for this? "Mickey's Star Shard," as referenced by Ventus in Never Land, is hardly beneath suspicion. However, even more confusing is what Mickey's role in all of those places might be...and just why he never mentioned the apprentices from the Land of Departure after that point.

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More willing to divulge information about the apprentices, but only just so, is Xigbar of Organization XIII - or Braig, as he was known during that time. His Nobody in Kingdom Hearts II speaks briefly of how the "other" key-wielding heroes were that much more heroic than Sora - and one can only assume that he was speaking of Terra, Aqua, and Ven. The trailers have only confirmed that much; for only a few split seconds, we see Braig taunting whom we can only assume to be Ventus at the aforementioned battlefield, wearing his signature eyepatch and scar. Published renders of Braig, however, feature him without his facial casualties, and with brown eyes instead of yellow. What exactly occurred between those two points? Was Braig caught in the crossfire of the battle, or is the source of those wounds something altogether more sinister?

What do you think the source might be? Take a look at what forum member Lucius Malfoy had to say about Braig...

After playing Kingdom Hearts II, I came away with mixed feelings: but I knew more than anything else I had experienced that I was both mesmerised and frustrated by the eye-patch wearing Nobody, Xigbar. At first I didn't really notice the implications of his taunt about Sora being "half a hero" since I... well, I had developed a raging crush on him and was too busy basking in his awesomeness; then I realised what he was getting at and instantly I knew that Xigbar was a character you had to keep an eye on. He seems quite laissez-faire on the surface but I knew as soon as I spotted his sly taunts that as Braig he had quite a dark and interesting past. I can't wait for more of Braig's (gorgeous) voice and I'm definitely looking forward to fighting him. As someone who knows the events of the game, I will say, without being too spoilerific, that Braig is definitely an intriguing character.

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Perhaps the enigmatic Master Xehanort was somehow involved - seeing as so much already seems tied to him in one way or another. Eerily similar in dress and appearance to "Ansem" of the original Kingdom Hearts, he bears the yellow eyes and pointed ears that indicate an intimate relationship with the darkness...yet what we have seen and heard of him both supports and contradicts this impression. In certain contexts, he speaks of the darkness with great familiarity, yet in others, he abhors it with emphatic disgust. Of all the characters we have been introduced to thus far, he appears to know the most about the strange happenings throughout the worlds; could it be that Master Xehanort is operating on both sides of the conflict?

Most every character in the game has been seen having some interaction with Master Xehanort, and each is notably different from the next: In his conversations with fellow Master Eraqus, he brings images of a knowledge-seeking scholar to mind, being plagued by obscure questions surrounding the light and the legend of the Keyblade War. In contrast, he seems to share an increasingly close relationship with Terra, different from Terra's apprenticeship under Eraqus. Advising rather than instructing, Master Xehanort speaks to Terra with a high level of trust and honesty in his tone, confiding in him things that he would trust no other with...Or perhaps they are things that he desires only Terra to believe?

On yet another, still strongly different note, Xehanort seems to be a source of trouble for young Ventus, who has been seen squirming in agony beneath the Keyblade master's gaze, all while being fiercely commanded to retake what he had "lost." Master Xehanort also appears to share an alliance with the strangely masked boy Vanitas, who has taunted and attacked Ventus on multiple occasions - which, from Vanitas' remarks to "break that loser in," may have been from Xehanort's own instruction. This confusing puzzle has more than a few pieces missing, and only hints at the much grander picture behind Master Xehanort's motives and actions.

This piece, by jmk91790, features Master Xehanort among other cast members.

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Yet the faceless boy Vanitas is no less enigmatic than his elder cohort, perhaps even more so, for so much is indicated by his appearance alone: His dark suit, battle stance, and power over darkness all point heavily towards Riku's dark form during the first two games, from which all of those traits seem to be borrowed. His black and crimson Keyblade even shares the same slit-pupiled eye as the Soul Eater's, in multiple locations across the weapon's frame. However, in spite of all these allusions to Heartless-possessed Riku, Vanitas seems to most closely pursue Ventus, confronting him personally on multiple occasions. Does this refute that allusion, or only reinforce it that much more? The golden eyes and black hair glimpsed beneath the mask offer no answers...

Take a look at this desktop wallpaper made by miiworld2, which you can use on your computer:

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Whatever your impressions of these characters may be, there isn't any denying that the cast of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is by far the most compelling and diverse one yet, with something that can appeal to just about everyone. The questions will remain unanswered for only four days more....Are you ready for what you may find out?

Don't forget that it's never too late to participate in the Birth by Sleep countdown! To do so, please visit this page.

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Birth by Sleep Countdown: Characters