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Conflation App
Feb. 20th, 2013 11:28 pmPlayer} Weresheep
Age} 21
Other Characters}
Character Name} Raine Sage
Series} Tales of Symphonia (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Faselia.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FTales_of_Symphonia&ei=8LAlUbewG6jc2QX3pYCoBw&usg=AFQjCNGzcZNA5UckTLgUlO3dTX9DHdP0mw&sig2=gUHGeGRIxfjbXERTEW7OWw&bvm=bv.42661473,d.b2I)
Canon Point} After Tales of Symphonia: Knight of Ratatosk/Dawn of the New World
Age} 25 (given; half-elves can live 1000 years, but she appears her age)
History} http://aselia.wikia.com/wiki/Raine_Sage
Personality} Raine Sage is, simply put, a strong willed and intelligent--if cold--individual who always thinks logically at the best and worst of times. Growing up having to raise her younger brother, Genis, taught her to grow up before her time but she has come out for the better because of it.
Shortly before coming to Sylvarant, however, Raine developed hydrophobia after falling into the sea when she was a little girl. According to her, it was cold and stormy, made worse by the fact someone was out to get her. Ever since she was fished out, she's feared water of any kind, be it a stream or a shallow wading pool. Hot springs, however, appear to be fine (probably because there's people to fish her out if she is drowning).
It is unknown what she was like as a young girl. The only one who would know is Genis, but he was too young to remember much about what she was like back then. What is known is that Raine would never leave her baby brother (literally, he was about a few weeks old at the time) behind and did everything she could to be the mother he never had. Even to this day, you would not be mistaken for thinking Raine was Genis' actual mother!
A village free of any discrimination known as Iselia, Raine took the time to mold over history books and science books as well as manuals for the study of magic. A characteristic that was synonymous with Raine herself would be intense study and research--fitting, as she became a teacher later in life--and this shaped her to be who she was today. If it meant she was just no good at chores or cooking.
As the teacher, "Professor Sage" always chastises Lloyd or Genis and corrects them when they are wrong about something (usually Lloyd). And when either of the two boys messes up badly or otherwise say some snide remark, Raine is quick to deal out swift, physical punishment to them. Usually a slap to the face or a punch. Her later treatment of young Paul also shows that Raine is like this towards anyone she considers her "students" or just her younger friends in general. A rather common, adult thing to do, it is noted that she will only do this to people she considers to be close to her and does it for their benefit in the end. Her stern teacher voice will also be used if violence just doesn't fit into the situation.
While she is just a simple school teacher, Raine is far more intelligent than that would imply. Able to grasp concepts very quickly and understand technology after only a few moments, Raine constantly strives to better herself as a scholar. And not just in simple fields like science or math--Raine is adept with advanced technology, barely understood and powerful magicks, monster physiology, biology, even the study of the nature of mana itself. With disciplines such as these, she would appear to be a bit overqualified to be a simple schoolhouse teacher. Even when shimmied up next to very intelligent half-elves like herself, she's head and shoulders above the rest. So much that even as a child, the Imperial Research Academy would do anything to get their hands on her capable brain.
This is her primary personality trait, the one most associated with Raine Sage. That is, her calm, almost cold, and calculating nature. While hardly emotionless, Raine never stops to think about everything and their details. When something looks hopeful, she always provides a ground with a reality check. When something seems down, Raine always ponders the future. Past all of her technobabble, Raine has admitted that this isn't the most desirable trait. Once, when Lloyd had to face his own father in battle, he hoped for a way where he didn't have to fight him. Raine, in her usual way, said that that might not be possible and that killing his father was the only way.
Lloyd: "Professor Sage!"
Raine: "...I'm sorry...I always talk like that."
Somewhat on the cynical side, Raine always assumes that things could go worse or that sometimes, there isn't something convenient enough to fix the current issue at hand. With two worlds in the balance, the modern outlook would be that one must sacrifice the other to live. While her more idealistic comrades believed that both worlds could live, their teacher was not so certain such a thing existed. Although she was certainly ready to believe, it was also to point out to her younger companions that sometimes, you can't have both and must learn to deal with it.
Raine also takes her job a little too seriously at times (debatably). During the journey to regenerate the world, she sees it fit to continue her students' curriculum outside the classroom by assigning homework. This is strictly reserved to the younger members of the group: Lloyd, Genis, and Colette. The older members, Sheena, Regal and Zelos are implied to play some part in this as well. Presea is the only one not involved in the "curriculum" that Raine has designed.
Like her younger brother, Raine is also not above the occasional snide remark when it suits her fancy. Unlike Genis, however, they lack a certain sarcastic tone unless she's feeling particularly playful at the time. There are times where her words can sting with venom if directed towards an enemy.
Raine: "At least you're good for something."
Lloyd: "...do you both have to talk like that?"
Calculated though she may be, there are obvious cracks in her facade--and when ruins are involved, those fissures eviscerate the entire mask. Raine is absolutely crazy about ruins. When first finding the Temple of Fire, Raine dropped any sort of restraints she had on herself to gaggle on and on about lost technologies and history while her friends just looked on with immense wonder. As Genis reveals, she is a "Ruin Maniac" who just loses it entirely when she comes across the leftovers of ancient civilizations out of pure fascination. Outside the "dig sites", Raine tends to focus on studying the relics she finds in these lost temples above all the others.
Raine: (Looking at the Key Crest Lloyd made for her) "....MARVELOUS!!!"
On top of her genius-level intellect, Raine is also very perceptive. During the early points of the journey, Raine is constantly suggested to be suspicious of Kratos the supposed mercenary whenever he says something that seemed off-key. When it was revealed that Kratos was heavily involved in the villain's plan the entire time, Raine showed the least amount of surprise. While it was quite far from what she had in mind, it proved her correct that there was more than meets the eye with the odd merc. Despite her seemingly aloof nature towards the group, one can always count on Raine to be more than a little aware of their personal issues, either due to changes in their behavior or talking it over with them (mostly with Lloyd or Colette).
This extends to her enemies as well, although she's hardly one to consider any more about them than their goals and basic motives. A monster with a sympathetic background, Yggdrasil, still gets no mercy from Raine at all despite similar beginnings. Raine firmly believes people "can" change, but for those who won't, she is not going to waste her time.
Raine: (To Forcystus, at the Iselia Human Ranch, if she is selected first to accompany Lloyd) "What needs to be purged are the contents of your pathetic brain!"
Since being abandoned many years ago, Raine has inwardly hoped that one of these ruins would be the Otherworldly Gate--the place she and Genis were abandoned by their parents and maybe find out why. While Genis was too young to remember their true homeworld Tethe'Alla, Raine remembers quite well. Seeing as how they could no longer keep them safe, Raine's mother and father left her and newborn Genis at the Otherworldly Gate, where they would then be transported to the world of Sylvarant, which was presumably free of the discrimination of half-elves such as themselves.
Sylvarant was far from a paradise but things did turn out ok.
Nonetheless, Raine kept trying to find the Gate in the hopes of understanding it and maybe finding her parents alongside Genis. Eventually, they did. Unfortunately, their father, Kloitz (the human parent) died shortly after moving to a floating island, Exire. Virginia (the elven parent) had since lost her mind after her husband's death and now believed a doll she was carrying to be baby Raine.
This was a tragic scene for young Raine. To see her and Genis' birth mother collapsed under the weight of her own life's tragedies brought out pent up rage never before seen in Raine.
Raine: "..Shut up!" (everyone is surprised) "I'm Raine! I'm the daughter you abandoned, not that....doll!"
The village elder later gave Raine a diary that was revealed to be Virginia's. While she did abandon them, she did so so that they could find the discrimination-free world of Sylvarant (as both worlds are considered legends to the other) rather than live as slaves to the Imperial Research Academy in Tethe'Alla. This lightens Raine's mood considerably.
Another major facet about Raine is something she shares with Genis--that is, she and Genis are half-elves. It's not a huge deal in Sylvarant (if still noticeable), but in Tethe'Alla, half-elves are at the bottom of the caste system and treated as slaves and nothing more. Her race slaves away at the Imperial Research Academy's endless science projects and studies. While she is comfortable at first around Lloyd and the others, it constantly digs at her that she is from a different race than them altogether. No member of the party nitpicks but Raine inwardly is still bothered by it; after all, half-elves have an average life span of about one thousand years and will almost assuredly outlive Lloyd and everyone she cares about except Genis.
After the Journey is over, she sets off with Genis to ease the discrimination that still affects the combined worlds. Knight of Ratatosk shows that she works a lot towards this end but still faces problems at every turn.
Raine is a fairly well adjusted (half)human being and is even a potential love interest for the protagonist, Lloyd. Her love for her younger brother continues as strong as ever as early events show that she places his safety above all else by not allowing him to come with on the journey of World Regeneration. And when Genis completely disobeys the notion, she keeps a careful watch on him (they always sleep near one another, Raine warning him to be careful in the desert, etc). This is reciprocated by Genis whenever the time comes to act as her emotional support, showing the viewer just how devoted they really were to each other. And when it's time to relax, Raine certainly does so, taking the moment to just sit back and observe or fool around with the group on occasion...which usually involves making fun out of Lloyd.
Raine is also on a fairly good relationship with the rest of the cast, a source of wisdom and almost motherly compassion at rare moments. A teacher to Lloyd, Colette and Genis, and the brains of the group who comes up with the plans and keeps the party's data organized. Zelos' flirtatious attitude can even irritate her but she always has the most venomous reponse to it. Regal and Sheena are her main sources of discussion when it comes down to it because they are the closest to each other in terms of age (Sheena being 19, Raine is 23, while Regal is 33). Raine is particularly close to her brother and Colette, only keeping a keen interest in Lloyd if he pursues a romance with her.
Abilities} Raine is the party's designated healer, and for good reason--it's her specialty. While an above average healer to start off the journey, Raine obtained artifacts and tomes containing secret healing arts that boost her to nearly unheard of levels. A good example would be, early on, Raine is incapable of healing someone who was stabbed in the back and who quickly passed away after wards despite her efforts. However, after a couple of years and obtaining Boltzman's techniques, she is able to save someone with an even greater wound with her magic. Metagame-wise, Raine starts off as a very basic healer, wherein obtaining the Unicorn's Horn, she is able to revive fallen comrades in battle.
Her more specific skills and other abilities are as follows:
Heal: Self explanatory. The in-game spells differ but plotwise, Raine's healing abilities don't require chants or even any visible strain. With Raine present, a group of about 8 people (including herself and Noishe) is kept in top shape through even the most hard battles. Early on she's more than about average, not able to save someone from a grievous wound but later on is able to fix even greater wounds and even heal dead trees (with some assistance). Her skills have even progressed to the point where, with some great effort, she can heal all of her friends and herself at once by a significant degree.
Note: According to Boltzman's Book, his techniques and therefore Raine's do not actually draw power from mana, the source of life and magic, but rather, from an inward power that all living beings possess. Tales of Symphonia is a prequel to Tales of Phantasia, the original Tales of game. In the original game, it is even confirmed by Mint--a very powerful healer who also uses Boltzman's techniques--that healing magic is not reliant on mana but actually on what is called "divine power". As mana has dried up by the time Phantasia takes place, this is confirmed to be true. This does not mean, however, that in the world of Nasuverse, Raine is completely independent of Mana to use her healing arts. Raine is a Half-Elf in Symphonia but a completely different being in Nasuverse. Up to you admins whether or not her healing (and HEALING ONLY) is reliant on the expenditure of mana. Although at least, she would get a discount on the cost of doing so.
Barrier/Force Field: Far from being 'just' a healer, Raine has also perfected other, very advanced defensive spells. Barrier, as the name implies, increases the defensive power of whomever it targets. Raine later on masters more advanced forms, such as a Field Barrier. For her personal protection, Raine is able to project a personal shield that protects her from most harm. Used in meta, this reduces 90% damage to her when used. In-universe, Raine is not seen using it but her younger brother has been seen using it to block a fairly large spell effortlessly. Presumably, it requires great concentration and effort to use as Raine nor Genis can move while using it and can do nothing else.
Sharpness: Raine raises the strength of her friends in battle, temporarily. She has since learned to apply this to everyone in battle at the same time.
Cleanse/Purify: Using different talents, Raine's magic can even cleanse her allies in battle of anything currently afflicting them, such as poison or silence. Even curses and paralysis are quick fixes to Raine, even if it is she herself who is afflicted with such ailments. However, illness brought on by natural causes (aka viruses and bacteria) can only have their symptoms eased by her. When a popular seafood chef was poisoned by a monster, she found her magic could not heal him because it was an illness caused by a viral infection that was unique to said monster. Natural poisons can be cured, on the other hand.
Light Magic: Despite delving heavily into the studies of healing and curing, Raine is by no means a squishy wizard. As it is similar magic, Raine has long since been able to master the art of causing harm with the powers of light magic. These offensive spells take various shapes but few monsters or beings can withstand their strength and are very difficult to get away from or block properly--Photon is a spell that explodes right in the faces of enemies and Ray is an orb of light that punishes groups of wicked foes beneath its wake. Photon is considered a journeyman kind of spell while only masters of light magic can use Ray or, even stronger, Holy Lance and Divine Saber. As shown, only beings that have origins in light or angelic beings can withstand (read: be completely immune to) light magic. Evil beings born from darkness are especially susceptible to Raine's light.
Resurrection: While obviously not actual resurrection from the dead, Raine's use of the Unicorn Horn nonetheless allows her to do what are considered nearly impossible feats. Clara, a woman who had been turned into a half-demonic, completely insane monster was able to be reverted back to her human self when Raine used Resurrection, something that even the highly advanced Desians were incapable of doing (and even THEY thought it was impossible to do!). Meanwhile, Resurrection has also been used (with some assistance) to bring a large tree back to life and full enough health to even instantly produce ripe nuts for harvesting.
Concentration: Raine requires much less time normally needed to cast magic. Healing requires little focus for her and can be used nearly instantly while the bigger spells are cast at a fraction of the normal time. If it took fifteen seconds for someone to cast Ray, Raine can cast it in nearly nine seconds.
Half-Elven lineage: Not a skill per-say, but there are gifts granted to her by having clear Elven ancestry. Elven blood is required to cast magic at all in the Symphonia 'verse and presumably is undiluted by being Half-Elven. No resistances to sickness or disease is obvious but implied. Also--and far more importantly--Half-Elves have a natural life span of one thousand years. This is far beyond humans and even dwarves and is undiluted by human ancestry. Elves also enjoy a similar life span. Half-Elves and Elves also have the ability to sense mana, to a point where they can tell other Half-Elves from humans by the weird way their mana appears to them. So precise is this sense that Half-Elves can even make estimates of how much mana is around them and the composition of mana that comprises a being or object.
Exsphere: Despite Raine's more than advanced skills, most of it is only possible due to the enhanced power of her Exsphere. A mysterious orb-like object, an Exsphere brings out the fullest potential of whatever it is equipped to and increases their abilities far beyond their natural limits. These include: superhuman strength, speed and stamina, the ability to withstand greater pain and endurance, as well as the capacity to cast very powerful magics.
The terrible truth about Exspheres, however, is that it costs a human's life to make one. In other words, somebody was killed and their essence was absorbed into Raine's Exsphere in order to make it work. This fact disgusts her and her friends to no end but must use their powers for their own ends until they are no longer needed. We are never shown what Raine is like without an Exsphere, but it is known she was a great healer without it and is able to use her own strength to beat up several stronger-looking people quite easily. As well as dish out the pain to Lloyd, who is otherwise a very strong young man.
Raine: "People are sinful creatures. Life survives at the cost of another. Then we must continue to bear the burden of our sins for as long as we continue to live."
With the Exsphere present, she is able to kill monsters simply by thwacking it with her magic staff.
Genius-level Intellect: Raine may be a teacher and a scholar, but she's much more than that. Even at a young age, Raine exhibited immense talent at history, physics and magical lore as well as regular history and mathematics. So much so, that, even before she was ten years old, the Imperial Research Academy of Tethe'Alla was dying to get its hands on her. Half-Elves are usually noted for their higher ratio of scholars and researchers but Raine is noted to be head and shoulders even about the Imperial Research Academy's eggheads! Even in Sylvarant--wherein messages are spread through word of mouth due to its lower technology level--it is heavily implied Raine is quite well known to be a genius researcher and archeologist. When presented with machines, she is able to pick up fast how they work. Machines are documented in books she's read but even then the books should be outdated on current models while Raine has shown to be able to just "figure out" how some machines work on more or less the fly (or pushing a few buttons here and there, like figuring out how a trap works in the ruins of the Tower of Salvation). As a perfect example, Sylvarant's highest academy of learning--the academy in Palmacosta--presented her a test that had 400 questions on it. Raine scored a perfect 400 on it. Beforehand, she was not even shown making preparations for it like everyone else was.
Weapon of Choice--Staff: Raine uses imbued staffs as the weapon which she channels her magic and fights by bludgeoning the opposition. Unlike many other wizards, however, Raine is very athletic with it and can perform more advanced fighting techniques with it. This is still not to the point of, say, Lloyd with his swords but it's still quite good. In-game, Raine is surprisingly ok at hand-to-hand combat with her staff.
Sacred Shine: A "Mystic Arte", so to speak, it is the pinnacle of Raine's magic: a combination of her healing and offensive light magic. With the incantation "Light be they sustenance and destroy the enemy!", Raine causes a massive amount of light magic to compress around her, saturating itself in her divine power and then explodes behind her, creating a vast and strong source of light that heals whom she considers her allies and obliterates her enemies.
Baggage} 1 x Magic tome (Boltzman's)
1 x Her dancer's outfit.
1 x Exsphere (w/ Key Crest)
1 x Her main weapon, a simple wooden staff
Notes} Am I the only one who thinks that Raine greatly resembles her English voice actor, Kari Wahlgren?
Sample} The other important part of this application. The sample should show us what you described to us in the personality section. For the sample, you have the following options:
A first-person or action bracket sample of 200 words or more, or
A third-person sample of 250 words or more, or
A link to a thread done in the last three months
Oh dear.
Here you are, Raine Sage. Your most dreaded of enemies, the coldest of hearts. The most unforgiving of foes--the ocean.
Dressed appropriately for the beach, wearing a bathing suit that was a dark blue with white trim, separated into two parts that exposes her stomach, it was more or less just for show. Raine thought, 'Raine Sage, you WILL at least get your ankles wet!'
Lloyd always talks about how scary her teacher voice works...so why not try it on herself, she figured?
After clearing her throat and then attaining her normal, teacher-ey posture, Professor Sage closes her eyes and then imagines talking to a younger version of herself with her stern voice. "Raine Sage," she says, "there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. The ocean waves may be dreadful, but on days like this, where the wind is hardly blowing and the tide has receded, the ocean is completely harmless. Scores of young men and women have fun at the beach every day without so much as getting sand in their ears. And on the off chance you find yourself in trouble, there are plenty of people around to help you. So let us start by getting our ankles wet. Allow me to show you."
The Professor opens her eyes to carefully inch her way closer outland. The dark, damp sand beneath her feet told her that a wave would be coming any second, splashing her feet with cool, white water. A small wave indeed began approaching at the slowest of speeds, ready to soak her feet with enriched sea water. Despite the talk, however, the small child she had been talking to inside herself began to shake. And so did she, for that matter.
"Raine Sage, you w-will get wet. And you 'will' enjoy it!" She began shaking even more. All at once, however, the small wave washed over her feet, causing Raine to freeze up and suddenly shut her eyes. It was cold, actually, contrasting the very hot day. But it actually felt nice. At least by a little.
"...eh?" Raine slowly opened her eyes through her grimace to see her bare feet covered in clear, cool water, with a little sand brought over as well. She breathed a sigh of relief. "That was ridiculous..." she said, in criticism of herself, "I can afford to be careless this time, at least..."
A hurdling, large white ball however soon found its way homing towards the back of Raine's head.
And then the rest of the day was spent far, far away from the invading, evil waters.
Age} 21
Other Characters}
Character Name} Raine Sage
Series} Tales of Symphonia (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Faselia.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FTales_of_Symphonia&ei=8LAlUbewG6jc2QX3pYCoBw&usg=AFQjCNGzcZNA5UckTLgUlO3dTX9DHdP0mw&sig2=gUHGeGRIxfjbXERTEW7OWw&bvm=bv.42661473,d.b2I)
Canon Point} After Tales of Symphonia: Knight of Ratatosk/Dawn of the New World
Age} 25 (given; half-elves can live 1000 years, but she appears her age)
History} http://aselia.wikia.com/wiki/Raine_Sage
Personality} Raine Sage is, simply put, a strong willed and intelligent--if cold--individual who always thinks logically at the best and worst of times. Growing up having to raise her younger brother, Genis, taught her to grow up before her time but she has come out for the better because of it.
Shortly before coming to Sylvarant, however, Raine developed hydrophobia after falling into the sea when she was a little girl. According to her, it was cold and stormy, made worse by the fact someone was out to get her. Ever since she was fished out, she's feared water of any kind, be it a stream or a shallow wading pool. Hot springs, however, appear to be fine (probably because there's people to fish her out if she is drowning).
It is unknown what she was like as a young girl. The only one who would know is Genis, but he was too young to remember much about what she was like back then. What is known is that Raine would never leave her baby brother (literally, he was about a few weeks old at the time) behind and did everything she could to be the mother he never had. Even to this day, you would not be mistaken for thinking Raine was Genis' actual mother!
A village free of any discrimination known as Iselia, Raine took the time to mold over history books and science books as well as manuals for the study of magic. A characteristic that was synonymous with Raine herself would be intense study and research--fitting, as she became a teacher later in life--and this shaped her to be who she was today. If it meant she was just no good at chores or cooking.
As the teacher, "Professor Sage" always chastises Lloyd or Genis and corrects them when they are wrong about something (usually Lloyd). And when either of the two boys messes up badly or otherwise say some snide remark, Raine is quick to deal out swift, physical punishment to them. Usually a slap to the face or a punch. Her later treatment of young Paul also shows that Raine is like this towards anyone she considers her "students" or just her younger friends in general. A rather common, adult thing to do, it is noted that she will only do this to people she considers to be close to her and does it for their benefit in the end. Her stern teacher voice will also be used if violence just doesn't fit into the situation.
While she is just a simple school teacher, Raine is far more intelligent than that would imply. Able to grasp concepts very quickly and understand technology after only a few moments, Raine constantly strives to better herself as a scholar. And not just in simple fields like science or math--Raine is adept with advanced technology, barely understood and powerful magicks, monster physiology, biology, even the study of the nature of mana itself. With disciplines such as these, she would appear to be a bit overqualified to be a simple schoolhouse teacher. Even when shimmied up next to very intelligent half-elves like herself, she's head and shoulders above the rest. So much that even as a child, the Imperial Research Academy would do anything to get their hands on her capable brain.
This is her primary personality trait, the one most associated with Raine Sage. That is, her calm, almost cold, and calculating nature. While hardly emotionless, Raine never stops to think about everything and their details. When something looks hopeful, she always provides a ground with a reality check. When something seems down, Raine always ponders the future. Past all of her technobabble, Raine has admitted that this isn't the most desirable trait. Once, when Lloyd had to face his own father in battle, he hoped for a way where he didn't have to fight him. Raine, in her usual way, said that that might not be possible and that killing his father was the only way.
Raine: "...I'm sorry...I always talk like that."
Somewhat on the cynical side, Raine always assumes that things could go worse or that sometimes, there isn't something convenient enough to fix the current issue at hand. With two worlds in the balance, the modern outlook would be that one must sacrifice the other to live. While her more idealistic comrades believed that both worlds could live, their teacher was not so certain such a thing existed. Although she was certainly ready to believe, it was also to point out to her younger companions that sometimes, you can't have both and must learn to deal with it.
Raine also takes her job a little too seriously at times (debatably). During the journey to regenerate the world, she sees it fit to continue her students' curriculum outside the classroom by assigning homework. This is strictly reserved to the younger members of the group: Lloyd, Genis, and Colette. The older members, Sheena, Regal and Zelos are implied to play some part in this as well. Presea is the only one not involved in the "curriculum" that Raine has designed.
Like her younger brother, Raine is also not above the occasional snide remark when it suits her fancy. Unlike Genis, however, they lack a certain sarcastic tone unless she's feeling particularly playful at the time. There are times where her words can sting with venom if directed towards an enemy.
Lloyd: "...do you both have to talk like that?"
Calculated though she may be, there are obvious cracks in her facade--and when ruins are involved, those fissures eviscerate the entire mask. Raine is absolutely crazy about ruins. When first finding the Temple of Fire, Raine dropped any sort of restraints she had on herself to gaggle on and on about lost technologies and history while her friends just looked on with immense wonder. As Genis reveals, she is a "Ruin Maniac" who just loses it entirely when she comes across the leftovers of ancient civilizations out of pure fascination. Outside the "dig sites", Raine tends to focus on studying the relics she finds in these lost temples above all the others.
On top of her genius-level intellect, Raine is also very perceptive. During the early points of the journey, Raine is constantly suggested to be suspicious of Kratos the supposed mercenary whenever he says something that seemed off-key. When it was revealed that Kratos was heavily involved in the villain's plan the entire time, Raine showed the least amount of surprise. While it was quite far from what she had in mind, it proved her correct that there was more than meets the eye with the odd merc. Despite her seemingly aloof nature towards the group, one can always count on Raine to be more than a little aware of their personal issues, either due to changes in their behavior or talking it over with them (mostly with Lloyd or Colette).
This extends to her enemies as well, although she's hardly one to consider any more about them than their goals and basic motives. A monster with a sympathetic background, Yggdrasil, still gets no mercy from Raine at all despite similar beginnings. Raine firmly believes people "can" change, but for those who won't, she is not going to waste her time.
Since being abandoned many years ago, Raine has inwardly hoped that one of these ruins would be the Otherworldly Gate--the place she and Genis were abandoned by their parents and maybe find out why. While Genis was too young to remember their true homeworld Tethe'Alla, Raine remembers quite well. Seeing as how they could no longer keep them safe, Raine's mother and father left her and newborn Genis at the Otherworldly Gate, where they would then be transported to the world of Sylvarant, which was presumably free of the discrimination of half-elves such as themselves.
Sylvarant was far from a paradise but things did turn out ok.
Nonetheless, Raine kept trying to find the Gate in the hopes of understanding it and maybe finding her parents alongside Genis. Eventually, they did. Unfortunately, their father, Kloitz (the human parent) died shortly after moving to a floating island, Exire. Virginia (the elven parent) had since lost her mind after her husband's death and now believed a doll she was carrying to be baby Raine.
This was a tragic scene for young Raine. To see her and Genis' birth mother collapsed under the weight of her own life's tragedies brought out pent up rage never before seen in Raine.
The village elder later gave Raine a diary that was revealed to be Virginia's. While she did abandon them, she did so so that they could find the discrimination-free world of Sylvarant (as both worlds are considered legends to the other) rather than live as slaves to the Imperial Research Academy in Tethe'Alla. This lightens Raine's mood considerably.
Another major facet about Raine is something she shares with Genis--that is, she and Genis are half-elves. It's not a huge deal in Sylvarant (if still noticeable), but in Tethe'Alla, half-elves are at the bottom of the caste system and treated as slaves and nothing more. Her race slaves away at the Imperial Research Academy's endless science projects and studies. While she is comfortable at first around Lloyd and the others, it constantly digs at her that she is from a different race than them altogether. No member of the party nitpicks but Raine inwardly is still bothered by it; after all, half-elves have an average life span of about one thousand years and will almost assuredly outlive Lloyd and everyone she cares about except Genis.
After the Journey is over, she sets off with Genis to ease the discrimination that still affects the combined worlds. Knight of Ratatosk shows that she works a lot towards this end but still faces problems at every turn.
Raine is a fairly well adjusted (half)human being and is even a potential love interest for the protagonist, Lloyd. Her love for her younger brother continues as strong as ever as early events show that she places his safety above all else by not allowing him to come with on the journey of World Regeneration. And when Genis completely disobeys the notion, she keeps a careful watch on him (they always sleep near one another, Raine warning him to be careful in the desert, etc). This is reciprocated by Genis whenever the time comes to act as her emotional support, showing the viewer just how devoted they really were to each other. And when it's time to relax, Raine certainly does so, taking the moment to just sit back and observe or fool around with the group on occasion...which usually involves making fun out of Lloyd.
Raine is also on a fairly good relationship with the rest of the cast, a source of wisdom and almost motherly compassion at rare moments. A teacher to Lloyd, Colette and Genis, and the brains of the group who comes up with the plans and keeps the party's data organized. Zelos' flirtatious attitude can even irritate her but she always has the most venomous reponse to it. Regal and Sheena are her main sources of discussion when it comes down to it because they are the closest to each other in terms of age (Sheena being 19, Raine is 23, while Regal is 33). Raine is particularly close to her brother and Colette, only keeping a keen interest in Lloyd if he pursues a romance with her.
Abilities} Raine is the party's designated healer, and for good reason--it's her specialty. While an above average healer to start off the journey, Raine obtained artifacts and tomes containing secret healing arts that boost her to nearly unheard of levels. A good example would be, early on, Raine is incapable of healing someone who was stabbed in the back and who quickly passed away after wards despite her efforts. However, after a couple of years and obtaining Boltzman's techniques, she is able to save someone with an even greater wound with her magic. Metagame-wise, Raine starts off as a very basic healer, wherein obtaining the Unicorn's Horn, she is able to revive fallen comrades in battle.
Her more specific skills and other abilities are as follows:
Heal: Self explanatory. The in-game spells differ but plotwise, Raine's healing abilities don't require chants or even any visible strain. With Raine present, a group of about 8 people (including herself and Noishe) is kept in top shape through even the most hard battles. Early on she's more than about average, not able to save someone from a grievous wound but later on is able to fix even greater wounds and even heal dead trees (with some assistance). Her skills have even progressed to the point where, with some great effort, she can heal all of her friends and herself at once by a significant degree.
Note: According to Boltzman's Book, his techniques and therefore Raine's do not actually draw power from mana, the source of life and magic, but rather, from an inward power that all living beings possess. Tales of Symphonia is a prequel to Tales of Phantasia, the original Tales of game. In the original game, it is even confirmed by Mint--a very powerful healer who also uses Boltzman's techniques--that healing magic is not reliant on mana but actually on what is called "divine power". As mana has dried up by the time Phantasia takes place, this is confirmed to be true. This does not mean, however, that in the world of Nasuverse, Raine is completely independent of Mana to use her healing arts. Raine is a Half-Elf in Symphonia but a completely different being in Nasuverse. Up to you admins whether or not her healing (and HEALING ONLY) is reliant on the expenditure of mana. Although at least, she would get a discount on the cost of doing so.
Barrier/Force Field: Far from being 'just' a healer, Raine has also perfected other, very advanced defensive spells. Barrier, as the name implies, increases the defensive power of whomever it targets. Raine later on masters more advanced forms, such as a Field Barrier. For her personal protection, Raine is able to project a personal shield that protects her from most harm. Used in meta, this reduces 90% damage to her when used. In-universe, Raine is not seen using it but her younger brother has been seen using it to block a fairly large spell effortlessly. Presumably, it requires great concentration and effort to use as Raine nor Genis can move while using it and can do nothing else.
Sharpness: Raine raises the strength of her friends in battle, temporarily. She has since learned to apply this to everyone in battle at the same time.
Cleanse/Purify: Using different talents, Raine's magic can even cleanse her allies in battle of anything currently afflicting them, such as poison or silence. Even curses and paralysis are quick fixes to Raine, even if it is she herself who is afflicted with such ailments. However, illness brought on by natural causes (aka viruses and bacteria) can only have their symptoms eased by her. When a popular seafood chef was poisoned by a monster, she found her magic could not heal him because it was an illness caused by a viral infection that was unique to said monster. Natural poisons can be cured, on the other hand.
Light Magic: Despite delving heavily into the studies of healing and curing, Raine is by no means a squishy wizard. As it is similar magic, Raine has long since been able to master the art of causing harm with the powers of light magic. These offensive spells take various shapes but few monsters or beings can withstand their strength and are very difficult to get away from or block properly--Photon is a spell that explodes right in the faces of enemies and Ray is an orb of light that punishes groups of wicked foes beneath its wake. Photon is considered a journeyman kind of spell while only masters of light magic can use Ray or, even stronger, Holy Lance and Divine Saber. As shown, only beings that have origins in light or angelic beings can withstand (read: be completely immune to) light magic. Evil beings born from darkness are especially susceptible to Raine's light.
Resurrection: While obviously not actual resurrection from the dead, Raine's use of the Unicorn Horn nonetheless allows her to do what are considered nearly impossible feats. Clara, a woman who had been turned into a half-demonic, completely insane monster was able to be reverted back to her human self when Raine used Resurrection, something that even the highly advanced Desians were incapable of doing (and even THEY thought it was impossible to do!). Meanwhile, Resurrection has also been used (with some assistance) to bring a large tree back to life and full enough health to even instantly produce ripe nuts for harvesting.
Concentration: Raine requires much less time normally needed to cast magic. Healing requires little focus for her and can be used nearly instantly while the bigger spells are cast at a fraction of the normal time. If it took fifteen seconds for someone to cast Ray, Raine can cast it in nearly nine seconds.
Half-Elven lineage: Not a skill per-say, but there are gifts granted to her by having clear Elven ancestry. Elven blood is required to cast magic at all in the Symphonia 'verse and presumably is undiluted by being Half-Elven. No resistances to sickness or disease is obvious but implied. Also--and far more importantly--Half-Elves have a natural life span of one thousand years. This is far beyond humans and even dwarves and is undiluted by human ancestry. Elves also enjoy a similar life span. Half-Elves and Elves also have the ability to sense mana, to a point where they can tell other Half-Elves from humans by the weird way their mana appears to them. So precise is this sense that Half-Elves can even make estimates of how much mana is around them and the composition of mana that comprises a being or object.
Exsphere: Despite Raine's more than advanced skills, most of it is only possible due to the enhanced power of her Exsphere. A mysterious orb-like object, an Exsphere brings out the fullest potential of whatever it is equipped to and increases their abilities far beyond their natural limits. These include: superhuman strength, speed and stamina, the ability to withstand greater pain and endurance, as well as the capacity to cast very powerful magics.
The terrible truth about Exspheres, however, is that it costs a human's life to make one. In other words, somebody was killed and their essence was absorbed into Raine's Exsphere in order to make it work. This fact disgusts her and her friends to no end but must use their powers for their own ends until they are no longer needed. We are never shown what Raine is like without an Exsphere, but it is known she was a great healer without it and is able to use her own strength to beat up several stronger-looking people quite easily. As well as dish out the pain to Lloyd, who is otherwise a very strong young man.
With the Exsphere present, she is able to kill monsters simply by thwacking it with her magic staff.
Genius-level Intellect: Raine may be a teacher and a scholar, but she's much more than that. Even at a young age, Raine exhibited immense talent at history, physics and magical lore as well as regular history and mathematics. So much so, that, even before she was ten years old, the Imperial Research Academy of Tethe'Alla was dying to get its hands on her. Half-Elves are usually noted for their higher ratio of scholars and researchers but Raine is noted to be head and shoulders even about the Imperial Research Academy's eggheads! Even in Sylvarant--wherein messages are spread through word of mouth due to its lower technology level--it is heavily implied Raine is quite well known to be a genius researcher and archeologist. When presented with machines, she is able to pick up fast how they work. Machines are documented in books she's read but even then the books should be outdated on current models while Raine has shown to be able to just "figure out" how some machines work on more or less the fly (or pushing a few buttons here and there, like figuring out how a trap works in the ruins of the Tower of Salvation). As a perfect example, Sylvarant's highest academy of learning--the academy in Palmacosta--presented her a test that had 400 questions on it. Raine scored a perfect 400 on it. Beforehand, she was not even shown making preparations for it like everyone else was.
Weapon of Choice--Staff: Raine uses imbued staffs as the weapon which she channels her magic and fights by bludgeoning the opposition. Unlike many other wizards, however, Raine is very athletic with it and can perform more advanced fighting techniques with it. This is still not to the point of, say, Lloyd with his swords but it's still quite good. In-game, Raine is surprisingly ok at hand-to-hand combat with her staff.
Sacred Shine: A "Mystic Arte", so to speak, it is the pinnacle of Raine's magic: a combination of her healing and offensive light magic. With the incantation "Light be they sustenance and destroy the enemy!", Raine causes a massive amount of light magic to compress around her, saturating itself in her divine power and then explodes behind her, creating a vast and strong source of light that heals whom she considers her allies and obliterates her enemies.
Baggage} 1 x Magic tome (Boltzman's)
1 x Her dancer's outfit.
1 x Exsphere (w/ Key Crest)
1 x Her main weapon, a simple wooden staff
Notes} Am I the only one who thinks that Raine greatly resembles her English voice actor, Kari Wahlgren?
Sample} The other important part of this application. The sample should show us what you described to us in the personality section. For the sample, you have the following options:
A first-person or action bracket sample of 200 words or more, or
A third-person sample of 250 words or more, or
A link to a thread done in the last three months
Oh dear.
Here you are, Raine Sage. Your most dreaded of enemies, the coldest of hearts. The most unforgiving of foes--the ocean.
Dressed appropriately for the beach, wearing a bathing suit that was a dark blue with white trim, separated into two parts that exposes her stomach, it was more or less just for show. Raine thought, 'Raine Sage, you WILL at least get your ankles wet!'
Lloyd always talks about how scary her teacher voice works...so why not try it on herself, she figured?
After clearing her throat and then attaining her normal, teacher-ey posture, Professor Sage closes her eyes and then imagines talking to a younger version of herself with her stern voice. "Raine Sage," she says, "there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. The ocean waves may be dreadful, but on days like this, where the wind is hardly blowing and the tide has receded, the ocean is completely harmless. Scores of young men and women have fun at the beach every day without so much as getting sand in their ears. And on the off chance you find yourself in trouble, there are plenty of people around to help you. So let us start by getting our ankles wet. Allow me to show you."
The Professor opens her eyes to carefully inch her way closer outland. The dark, damp sand beneath her feet told her that a wave would be coming any second, splashing her feet with cool, white water. A small wave indeed began approaching at the slowest of speeds, ready to soak her feet with enriched sea water. Despite the talk, however, the small child she had been talking to inside herself began to shake. And so did she, for that matter.
"Raine Sage, you w-will get wet. And you 'will' enjoy it!" She began shaking even more. All at once, however, the small wave washed over her feet, causing Raine to freeze up and suddenly shut her eyes. It was cold, actually, contrasting the very hot day. But it actually felt nice. At least by a little.
"...eh?" Raine slowly opened her eyes through her grimace to see her bare feet covered in clear, cool water, with a little sand brought over as well. She breathed a sigh of relief. "That was ridiculous..." she said, in criticism of herself, "I can afford to be careless this time, at least..."
A hurdling, large white ball however soon found its way homing towards the back of Raine's head.
And then the rest of the day was spent far, far away from the invading, evil waters.
