story synopsis
Many years ago, a Lunar Cry devastated Centra, destroying the rich heritage of sorcery, leaving only those sorceresses who had scattered across the earth to remain alive. Many hid their powers away and attempted to lead lives no different from humans. However, Adel's regime in Esthar allowed sorceresses to reveal themselves and join Adel's forces. When Adel was sealed away and her regime ended, many of Esthar's sorceresses fled the nation and scattered once again around rural Esthar. A large group of strong sorceresses travelled to Centra and set up Mesmiera upon the ruins of the holy city. Since then many sorceresses have moved to the new city, though there were still plenty co-existing with humans.
Edea's regime in Galbadia brought about a new fear of sorceresses in this other part of the world, something the nation is still greatly affected by since the fall of the regime almost a year ago. Since Edea had dissolved the congress and all forms of traditional republican government had been abolished, Edea's fall from power led to the head of the Galbadian armed forces taking absolute power, forcing surmounting civil unrest to reach its climax before lowering. During this anarchy, Timber and Dollet both re-announced their independence and gathered rebels to take advantage of the situation.
Dollet found greater success than its southern neighbour once its Grand Duke was convinced to join the rebellion. A successful coup was staged in the capital city and now the nation is once again independent, though its relations with Galbadia are at an all-time low. Since losing the only major port on the eastern coast of the continent, Galbadia has lost considerable trade with the rest of the world - Dollet is currently refusing to allow any trade to or from Galbadia through its borders.
Dollet's coup gave hope to Timber's rebelling factors but it still did not succeed. The rebels were insufficiently organised and Galbadia's troops were better prepared. The rebellion has since been forced underground, since Galbadia has now undertaken an operation to absorb Timber fully into itself.
Since Galbadia's own military takeover, power has gradually returned to representatives, concluding in some ways with the election held 4 months ago. The new coalition government is decidedly authoritarian and includes an openly anti-Sorceress party (known as the Free Galbadia Party). Sorceresses are being targeted: people are encouraged to report suspicions of sorcery, often leading to persecution without justice. This “witch hunt” is holding the nation in sheer panic, panic which the leaders of the armed forces claim cannot be quelled without heightened military presence. Therefore true republican government has not yet been fully restored, as the military remains independent to the political parties and is putting great pressure on them.
As a result of the mass persecution of sorceresses, a great many have fled to the holy city of Mesmiera on Centra, where asylum is granted to all sorceresses (and not humans). In consequence of the significant emigration, Mesmiera is rumoured to be building its forces, already advantaged with superior magic, to attack Galbadia, though this cannot be confirmed by any sources.
The effects of time compression
A major effect of the return from time compression is that the links between the original GFs and their keepers were shattered upon the return to the present day, causing some people who had used them heavily to lose their memory altogether. This has been termed as 'memory shatter' and it has affected those most reliant upon the creatures. One of Balamb Garden's instructors has now lost his entire memory. Using the creatures in the way one did in the past is now seen as far too risky and instead the GFs are asked to fight completely autonomously. (Thus the original GFs are no longer junctionable - profiles of SeeDs will require editing).
Importantly, the time compression also led to their being scattered around the world, all returned to their original homes. The replicas have all been eliminated in the process, resulting in nobody having control of the original GFs (though the new Odine-generated GFs remain). In this politically unstable world, their power is sought after greatly – any nation with a GF willing to fight or work for them would have an advantage over other nations. Therefore, a great Scramble for GF is now under way, and SeeD is participating.
credits
site by Tom Lewisohn ©
layout by F-chan © / Tom Lewisohn
No copyright infringement intended.
