Final Fantasy VIII-2
SeeD is an independent diplomatic military organisation, free from affiliation to any of the world's governments. It is similar to the United Nations of the real world, except it is not made of different nations and has no government association; SeeD plays the role of peace-keeping, though it can take military action to do so. Since the end of Final Fantasy VIII, the role of SeeD is no longer to eradicate the sorceress, and does not partake in any mercenary activities.
SeeDs, the diplomats and soldiers of SeeD, are trained in institutions called Gardens. Three exist in the world: one in Balamb, one in Galbadia and one in Trabia. They are similar to schools, in that young people are educated and eventually graduated (if they are good enough), in this case to become SeeDs. Students - cadets - are taught the skills required by SeeD, including magic and combat, and lessons in diplomacy. It is not unusual for students at Garden to be orphaned children, though the majority are enrolled by the will of themselves and their parents/guardians. Garden takes junior students from the age of 8 upwards, and aims to graduate all cadets by the age of 19. Cadets who fail to graduate by year in which they turn 21 are dismissed from the system, though they can apply for training in another area in the system, such as medics or administration. Typically, cadets graduate at 17 or 18, though there have been a few cases of younger graduates.
The main priority of SeeD is to give aid to those in need, along with the maintainance of peace. SeeD is often the "middle-man" in settling diplomatic compromises and agreements between nations. Since they have no open political stance, they provide aid to the people of any and every nation.
SeeDs, the diplomats and soldiers of SeeD, are trained in institutions called Gardens. Three exist in the world: one in Balamb, one in Galbadia and one in Trabia. They are similar to schools, in that young people are educated and eventually graduated (if they are good enough), in this case to become SeeDs. Students - cadets - are taught the skills required by SeeD, including magic and combat, and lessons in diplomacy. It is not unusual for students at Garden to be orphaned children, though the majority are enrolled by the will of themselves and their parents/guardians. Garden takes junior students from the age of 8 upwards, and aims to graduate all cadets by the age of 19. Cadets who fail to graduate by year in which they turn 21 are dismissed from the system, though they can apply for training in another area in the system, such as medics or administration. Typically, cadets graduate at 17 or 18, though there have been a few cases of younger graduates.
The main priority of SeeD is to give aid to those in need, along with the maintainance of peace. SeeD is often the "middle-man" in settling diplomatic compromises and agreements between nations. Since they have no open political stance, they provide aid to the people of any and every nation.
It's been a long time, almost fifteen years now, since Squall Leonhart and his fellow SeeDs defeated the evil Sorceress Ultimecia. Their journey resulted in an epic war through space and time.
Ultimecia, a wicked Sorceress from the future, sought to dominate our time by using my wife, Edea, as a host for her powers, tearing apart any opposition that existed. Garden s
et out to assassinate Edea, but the sniper, Irvine Kinneas, failed at his task, sparking a fierce conflict between Balamb Garden and Galbadia Garden, the latter at the mercy of Edea, who had killed the Galbadian president and taken over power.
After a fierce battle between the flying Galbadia and Balamb Gardens, the six warriors, led by Squall, were able to board Galbadia Garden and defeat Edea and her "general" Seifer Almasy, a failed student at Balamb Garden and rival of Squall. However, once Ultimecia's shell had been defeated, she had to transfer her powers into the nearest candidate who, in this case, happened to be Rinoa Heartilly. This overwhelming shift left Rinoa in a coma for which many people blamed Squall. Hearing that Edea had returned to her previous, kindly self, Squall turned to her for advice as to where to find Ellone, a mysterious woman who had been making Squall and co. experience vivid dreams, all of a man named Laguna Loire and his two fellow Galbadian soldier friends, Kiros and Ward. Squall seeked to go back in time to change Rinoa's fate, but he did not succeed. However, Squall also heard that a man named Dr. Odine may be able to help Rinoa, so Squall walked to Esthar, along the railway across the ocean, where Odine was said to be found, carrying Rinoa on his back. This journey changed Squall from a cold, aloof man, to discover the feelings of love and regret.
Once the troupe arrived in Esthar, Odine told the party that Rinoa's condition could be treated in space, where there was a high-tech space station with doctors who could help, so Squall escorted the unsconscious Rinoa into space. When Rinoa woke, she was posessed by Ultimecia's spirit and unknowingly released the former tyrant of Esthar, the sorceress Adel, from captivity so Ultimecia could possess a more formidable sorceress to do her bidding.
Meanwhile, on earth, Selphie Tilmitt, Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas and Quistis Trepe - four of Squall's fellow travellers - were having troubles as Seifer had gained control of the Lunatic Pandora, an ancient, mobile stronghold that could invoke a Lunar Cry, a ritual to summon millions of monsters from the moon to Earth - a phenomenon that had previously wiped out the entire Centran civilization. The Cry was successfully called, causing fiercer monsters than before to ravage the world, particularly in Esthar.
In space, Ultimecia's discarding of Rinoa left her floating, slowly dying as her oxygen depleted. Squall, unable to suppress the grief he felt of being separated from Rinoa, went into deep space to be with her, with the glimmer of hope to rescue her, or at least to be with her as she died. By sheer luck, they were fortunate enough to find an abandoned space-ship, the Ragnarok, in which they could travel back to Earth.
Back on earth, the threat of Sorceress Adel remained, so the party, aided by their new ally, Estharian president Laguna Loire, launched an attack on Lunatic Pandora, using the Ragnarok to crash into it. They proceeded on foot to take out Seifer, who fled after defeat, kidnapping Rinoa as he escaped, to offer her to Adel to keep as a hostage. Eventually, the party faced Adel in battle, defeating her and rleasing Ultimecia's spirit. At this immediate moment, Ellone was able to propel the party into the future by compressing time, to face the sorceress Ultimecia.
Fighting through her castle to reach Ultimecia, they finally defeated her and her GF "Griever", destroying this threat from the future. Once she was destroyed, along with the reality she had created, the six had to find their way back to their own time. Squall lost his way and nearly died but was saved by Rinoa.
Ever since their triumph, the party and all the Gardens have enjoyed a period of what can be called an uneasy peace. But now the world faces new, unfound dangers and it's up to the likes of you, SeeDs, to steer this world through these turbulent times. Good luck!
Cid Kramer, founder of Balamb Garden and former headmaster
This is a simple summary of the events of Final Fantasy VIII and does not go into much detail. For a more thorough though precise summary of the story, try the Final Fantasy Compendium.
Ultimecia, a wicked Sorceress from the future, sought to dominate our time by using my wife, Edea, as a host for her powers, tearing apart any opposition that existed. Garden s
et out to assassinate Edea, but the sniper, Irvine Kinneas, failed at his task, sparking a fierce conflict between Balamb Garden and Galbadia Garden, the latter at the mercy of Edea, who had killed the Galbadian president and taken over power.After a fierce battle between the flying Galbadia and Balamb Gardens, the six warriors, led by Squall, were able to board Galbadia Garden and defeat Edea and her "general" Seifer Almasy, a failed student at Balamb Garden and rival of Squall. However, once Ultimecia's shell had been defeated, she had to transfer her powers into the nearest candidate who, in this case, happened to be Rinoa Heartilly. This overwhelming shift left Rinoa in a coma for which many people blamed Squall. Hearing that Edea had returned to her previous, kindly self, Squall turned to her for advice as to where to find Ellone, a mysterious woman who had been making Squall and co. experience vivid dreams, all of a man named Laguna Loire and his two fellow Galbadian soldier friends, Kiros and Ward. Squall seeked to go back in time to change Rinoa's fate, but he did not succeed. However, Squall also heard that a man named Dr. Odine may be able to help Rinoa, so Squall walked to Esthar, along the railway across the ocean, where Odine was said to be found, carrying Rinoa on his back. This journey changed Squall from a cold, aloof man, to discover the feelings of love and regret.
Once the troupe arrived in Esthar, Odine told the party that Rinoa's condition could be treated in space, where there was a high-tech space station with doctors who could help, so Squall escorted the unsconscious Rinoa into space. When Rinoa woke, she was posessed by Ultimecia's spirit and unknowingly released the former tyrant of Esthar, the sorceress Adel, from captivity so Ultimecia could possess a more formidable sorceress to do her bidding.
Meanwhile, on earth, Selphie Tilmitt, Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas and Quistis Trepe - four of Squall's fellow travellers - were having troubles as Seifer had gained control of the Lunatic Pandora, an ancient, mobile stronghold that could invoke a Lunar Cry, a ritual to summon millions of monsters from the moon to Earth - a phenomenon that had previously wiped out the entire Centran civilization. The Cry was successfully called, causing fiercer monsters than before to ravage the world, particularly in Esthar.
In space, Ultimecia's discarding of Rinoa left her floating, slowly dying as her oxygen depleted. Squall, unable to suppress the grief he felt of being separated from Rinoa, went into deep space to be with her, with the glimmer of hope to rescue her, or at least to be with her as she died. By sheer luck, they were fortunate enough to find an abandoned space-ship, the Ragnarok, in which they could travel back to Earth.
Back on earth, the threat of Sorceress Adel remained, so the party, aided by their new ally, Estharian president Laguna Loire, launched an attack on Lunatic Pandora, using the Ragnarok to crash into it. They proceeded on foot to take out Seifer, who fled after defeat, kidnapping Rinoa as he escaped, to offer her to Adel to keep as a hostage. Eventually, the party faced Adel in battle, defeating her and rleasing Ultimecia's spirit. At this immediate moment, Ellone was able to propel the party into the future by compressing time, to face the sorceress Ultimecia.
Fighting through her castle to reach Ultimecia, they finally defeated her and her GF "Griever", destroying this threat from the future. Once she was destroyed, along with the reality she had created, the six had to find their way back to their own time. Squall lost his way and nearly died but was saved by Rinoa.
Ever since their triumph, the party and all the Gardens have enjoyed a period of what can be called an uneasy peace. But now the world faces new, unfound dangers and it's up to the likes of you, SeeDs, to steer this world through these turbulent times. Good luck!
Cid Kramer, founder of Balamb Garden and former headmaster
This is a simple summary of the events of Final Fantasy VIII and does not go into much detail. For a more thorough though precise summary of the story, try the Final Fantasy Compendium.
story synopsis
After fifteen years of an uneasy peace between the nations of the world, since the death of the feared sorceress Ultimecia (pictured above), tension is rising, and everyone can feel it... and hear it. After a brief calm of lunar activity, the planet's single moon can be heard making eerie sounds, noises that even the highest educated lunar scientists cannot understand. The sound is quite like a whisper, a melancholy noise, almost like human voice but distorted. As a result, the phenomenon has been adopted the name 'Lunar Whisper'. Hearing this sound, day and night, many people are again in fear of another Lunar Cry, despite the past destruction of the Lunatic Pandora. Sorceresses all over the world are being targeted, under suspicion, since it is quite an open secret that Esthar is holding many sorceresses within its borders, and has been actively seeking more. By far the most prominent propaganda machine is the Galbadian government, drilling this fear in its people constantly. Already, many sorceresses have been killed, mostly within Galbadia. The killings are quite clearly a Galbadian commission, though Deling vehemently denies this.
Over the last five years or so, after a short-lived attempt at opening itself a little, Esthar has retreated from the forefront of global governing. It has isolated itself, refusing to recognise any affiliations with other governments or organisations, including SeeD. The country is experiencing a period of rapid development - already Esthar has grown a significant deal in size. Galbadia, well aware of this, has been desperately trying to keep up, with some success, though its economy and shortage of the great knowledge of technology held by Esthar has stunted it in comparison to its neighbour across the ocean. Galbadia will do anything to overtake Esthar as the world's leading power, even though Esthar does not utilise this position itself. Though it cannot be certain, Galbadian sources believe Esthar is in agreement with the sorceresses to cause the Lunar Whisper. It believes, though it has no solid proof, that Esthar has knowledge of exactly what the Lunar Whisper is, and this is a precursor to something much more sinister.
Sorceresses all over the world have made attempts to flee to Esthar or Mesmiera (the sorceress-inhabited city on the Centran continent). Galbadia has employed its assassins to attack not only within its border, but elsewhere too, causing much friction between nations. Balamb and Trabia have both taken a neutral stance, in hope of retaining independence from the much more powerful forces of Galbadia and Esthar (though Esthar has thus far shown no intention or desire to obtain these countries for itself). However, this does not go to say that they do not criticise the Galbadian government for intruding within their own borders. A number of illegal Galbadian travellers to these nations have been promptly removed from Balamb and Trabia upon discovery and reason for suspicion of intent to target sorceresses.
Any day now, a war could erupt between any of the world's nations, though it can be quite certain that Galbadia would be involved and SeeD will have a role to play.
Over the last five years or so, after a short-lived attempt at opening itself a little, Esthar has retreated from the forefront of global governing. It has isolated itself, refusing to recognise any affiliations with other governments or organisations, including SeeD. The country is experiencing a period of rapid development - already Esthar has grown a significant deal in size. Galbadia, well aware of this, has been desperately trying to keep up, with some success, though its economy and shortage of the great knowledge of technology held by Esthar has stunted it in comparison to its neighbour across the ocean. Galbadia will do anything to overtake Esthar as the world's leading power, even though Esthar does not utilise this position itself. Though it cannot be certain, Galbadian sources believe Esthar is in agreement with the sorceresses to cause the Lunar Whisper. It believes, though it has no solid proof, that Esthar has knowledge of exactly what the Lunar Whisper is, and this is a precursor to something much more sinister.
Sorceresses all over the world have made attempts to flee to Esthar or Mesmiera (the sorceress-inhabited city on the Centran continent). Galbadia has employed its assassins to attack not only within its border, but elsewhere too, causing much friction between nations. Balamb and Trabia have both taken a neutral stance, in hope of retaining independence from the much more powerful forces of Galbadia and Esthar (though Esthar has thus far shown no intention or desire to obtain these countries for itself). However, this does not go to say that they do not criticise the Galbadian government for intruding within their own borders. A number of illegal Galbadian travellers to these nations have been promptly removed from Balamb and Trabia upon discovery and reason for suspicion of intent to target sorceresses.
Any day now, a war could erupt between any of the world's nations, though it can be quite certain that Galbadia would be involved and SeeD will have a role to play.
New GF
GFs are allocated according to the level of each person's primary character (see Stats System)
All GFs must be named - they cannot keep their breed name (Ramuh, Mistmare, etc.)
Unlike in Final Fantasy VIII, GFs can be controlled in battle, and have limit breaks. Interpret the given information on each GF as you wish.
GFs don't have to be just for battle - you could role play them in a scenario outside battle, perhaps to aid a character in a tricky situation or a social setting.
GFs are not "owned" and do not have "masters", so bear in mind that they do not like to feel controlled.
On occasion, the original GFs may be "loaned" to characters, otherwise they are only available to staff.
Those who possess a highly advanced level of magical knowledge and power can learn and use a skill to lure a GF from another person, against the will of its keeper, whether to banish it or utilise its power. This skill is called Guardian Prolectum, something very few people have ever possessed. There is also a counter to this, Occluprolectum, also a highly advanced magick.
All GFs must be named - they cannot keep their breed name (Ramuh, Mistmare, etc.)
Unlike in Final Fantasy VIII, GFs can be controlled in battle, and have limit breaks. Interpret the given information on each GF as you wish.
GFs don't have to be just for battle - you could role play them in a scenario outside battle, perhaps to aid a character in a tricky situation or a social setting.
GFs are not "owned" and do not have "masters", so bear in mind that they do not like to feel controlled.
On occasion, the original GFs may be "loaned" to characters, otherwise they are only available to staff.
Those who possess a highly advanced level of magical knowledge and power can learn and use a skill to lure a GF from another person, against the will of its keeper, whether to banish it or utilise its power. This skill is called Guardian Prolectum, something very few people have ever possessed. There is also a counter to this, Occluprolectum, also a highly advanced magick.
