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misplacedxsheathOOC Information
IC Information
Name: Jess
Timezone: EST
Journal: N/A
Player Contact: firebenderjess on Plurk, AIM and Skype
Timezone: EST
Journal: N/A
Player Contact: firebenderjess on Plurk, AIM and Skype
IC Information
Name: Margulis
Canon: Xenosaga
Gender: Male
Age: 45
History: A wiki for the first and third games.
The second game, in addition to revealing Margulis' backstory, also gave him an expanded role in the present day. With MOMO and the Y-data on Second Miltia, he sent two of his subordinates to attempt to retrieve her. When that failed, he waited for Albedo's plan to play through...and play through it did, resulting in the re-emergence of Old Miltia.
With the return of the lost planet began a race to reach it. Margulis started the U-TIC fleet toward it without a moment's hesitation, intent on beating the Federation there. While he was the first one there and was confident that the force sent to stop him couldn't do anything, he still went to face them personally. There he discovered, to his delight, that Jin Uzuki had gotten himself involved in this conflict again. After some heated banter, the two fought for the first time in fourteen years. Though Margulis seemed to have the upper hand at first due to Jin's long years of retirement, his rival eventually came out on top, forcing Margulis to retreat.
Despite that, Patriarch Sergius successfully activated the Omega System in the depths of planet Miltia. The enormous weapon destroyed the planet on emergence, as if it were hatching from an egg, and it seemed as if Sergius' Ormus was now unstoppable. But the same group that had interfered on Miltia infiltrated the Omega System and broke through its defenses. Sergius, concerned that these people could actually be a threat, asked Margulis to dispose of them for him. Margulis, however, refused, finally admitting to his treachery and taking great enjoyment in betraying the old man he'd plotted against for at least a decade and a half.
With Margulis' refusal to aid him, Sergius fell, along with the Omega System. Albedo awoke the entity known as U-DO in its place, but that wasn't Margulis' concern, although it did lead to the URTV's death at the hands of his brother...an event Margulis likely knew was coming, as he seemed to be among the few who was actually capable of understanding Albedo's motivations and desires. But despite, or maybe even because, of that, Margulis paid Albedo's death no mind, instead helping the new Patriarch Heinlein take his place, thus setting the scene for episode III.
Personality: Cold passion is the best way to describe the core of what drives Margulis. He is a man of conviction and little mercy, making decisions based on practicality rather than morality. This is not, however, because he doesn't care. When he has a goal, he puts his entire being into achieving it and places it above all other priorities, risking his own life and those of others without a second thought.
On an individual scale, he is strict and often impersonal. He refers to people by surnames when he has reason to mention them individually, and in most cases doesn't bother with personal address at all. The exception is people who have made an impression on him. If someone manages to earn his genuine respect, he shows a more caring side, potentially even becoming somewhat invested in that person's safety. At the same time, he expects more of that person, placing more responsibility on their shoulders as his way of showing faith in their abilities.
Regardless of his personal opinion, he tends toward formality. Even his speech patterns carry an archaically stiff tone that sets him apart from most others. Despite this, he does show a distinct, if sarcastic, sense of humor and a strong dramatic streak. In fact, part of the reason for his archaic speech patterns may well be the impression they make.
The reason for his callousness toward people in general and distance even from individuals is actually fairly simple. His experiences with his world's culture of oppression and greed has destroyed his faith in humanity, convincing him that only a handful of people are worthwhile and the rest are useless. This is compounded with the great focus he has on the idea of individual motivation and will in a world that has largely grown complacent.
Another aspect of his harsh treatment of others has been arrogance and pride, but that has been tempered somewhat by discovering Wilhelm's manipulation. While still prideful and confident in his own abilities, he is no longer blind to his own faults. He acknowledges that he can be wrong and make mistakes and is less likely to follow orders or accept claims unquestioningly.
Wilhelm's revelation also broke him, to a large extent. With an unwillingness to ignore what he'd learned and return to his old ways but an inability to move on and find a new direction, he lost his will to live. The discovery has also left him questioning himself and even more bitter than before, believing his life's ambition to be hopeless and the many deplorable acts he's committed in the belief that they would serve the greater good worthless.
And it is the greater good that he thought he was serving. Despite his disgust with humanity, his goal has always been the betterment of the human race. From his ultimate goal of returning to mankind's homeland of Earth to his habit of taking in others who don't have a place in normal society and show traits he considers promising to even the unethical experiments he sacrificed billions of lives on, everything he's done has been in the hopes of leading humanity away from the dead end he sees them moving toward.
Also unusual is his open-mindedness with regards to non-humans and modified humans. While the rest of his organization seemed to show distaste or distrust for modified humans, he himself treats them no differently from anyone else and even befriended a super soldier he'd rescued from the cruelty of the Federation legal system. While artificial humans are often treated as objects, he outright refers to them as people. He is a man of many faults, but irrational biggotry is not one of them.
Powers/Abilities: Swordsmanship: Margulis is, quite frankly, almost impossibly good with a sword. In an era of common beam weapons, he fights so effectively with a blade that he's capable of holding his own against enemies with even the most modern equipment.
Physical Enhancements: Part of the reason he's so absurdly dangerous with a sword is the fact that he is stronger and faster than any normal human by far. He can easily tear through concrete with his sword and can most likely slice through armored metal as well, as his rival who leans less toward physical strength than him can do the same. In terms of speed, he can step to the side quickly enough to leave an after image without even seeming to move, almost giving the illusion that he can teleport short distances. On top of that, he's shown to be able to jump to the top of a city building in a single leap from a standing position with little to no real difficulty.
Ethers: Ethers are his most versatile ability, functioning like typical video game magic. His specialty is fire and lightning, focused heavily on offense. His main use of this is to engulf his blade in flames or attack from a distance, but he's also capable of rendering himself briefly immune to either fire or lightning and using the energy from any such attack to heal existing wounds. They're also most likely the source of his physical enhancements.
Connection to the Zohar: While it's incredibly unlikely that it will come up in the setting, Margulis nevertheless has a mental connection to a powerful relic in his universe called the Zohar, giving him the ability to activate or deactivate it through pure will.
Keepsakes/Mementos:
His sword: A straight shortsword with an ornate guard and sheath.
High Inquisitor Outfit: Don't ask how it's put together, okay? Xenosaga fashion is dumb.
Decorative Wakizashi: A short, Japanese styled sword in a highly polished black sheath, set on a plain, black stand. Likely inherited when he proved himself the best of Ouga Uzuki's students.
ES Levi: A two-story tall mecha that responds to the will of qualified pilots. Wields a huge broadsword, throwing knives and grenades and is capable of flight. Understandable if it's not workable.
Ormus symbol: An upside down cross over an elm tree background, a halo and a crown of thorns. It represents the faith that used and betrayed him, fun right?
Books!: Mostly on ancient Earth culture and mythology, something of an emphasis on Christianity, Hinduism and Shinto faiths.
Sample: Uzuki had come, just as Margulis had known he would. He was with his friends, that URTV and his entourage from a year ago, but that didn't matter. Uzuki was here, which surely meant Pellegri was dead. He couldn't help a twinge of jealousy, that she had met a respectable end. While he...he was just a shadow of his former self now, a broken shell of a man.
But soon, soon that would also come to an end. Uzuki had already noticed him, unsurprisingly. The man missed very little of his surroundings. It was part of the reason he held so much of Margulis' respect. And as always, it was Margulis' cue to make his entrance. At first, he put up a front, keeping his usual mocking accusation of his rival. But it wasn't long before the conversation turned darker, and Uzuki's attitude shifted. He could tell. Of course he could. But it was for the best. Of all the people he could let know what had happened, Uzuki was the one who needed to know. After all, hadn't he been manipulated just as thoroughly, albeit to less bloody ends? The Federation and Ormus had both been pawns of the same individual, after all. And of course he used it as an opportunity to try to talk peace. He always had been the optimist. But no, it was too late for that. The only thing left for him was this duel, and the same death Uzuki had brought Pellegri.
It was like a dance, almost. The ESes responded perfectly to their desires, blades whistling through the air with precision and power. They exchanged words, taunts, even in the heat of battle. They always had. It was exciting, in a way. Nostalgic. This was how the two of them had always communicated, they had always been at their closest with blades drawn. Back to back or face to face, it didn't matter. Allies or opponents, there was always a certain ease of interaction between them with the adrenaline and blood of the battlefield.
But no dance could last forever. In the end, Uzuki was victorious, as he had been the previous times they'd fought. As the Levi's rections slowed, Margulis knew the battle was almost over. One final attack, fueled by determination to go down fighting with his all, left him behind the Reuben...and then his craft shuddered and slumped. It was a struggle just to turn the machine around to face Jin, but he managed before something gave way and the Levi fell to one knee. This was it. Jin was truly something else...and yet, Margulis knew, there was a price to be paid for being in a class of one's own. The loneliness that came with it, the distance from everyone else. He knew them well. And he could tell from the look on his old friend's face that he knew it was too late to mend the one relationship he had left with someone on his level. He could hear it in the desperation in Jin's voice in response to him drawing his blade within the cockpit of his craft.
A man of less conviction might have been moved. But Margulis knew, this was what had to happen. He didn't regret the path that had led him here, not really. To do so would be to spit on everyone who had pledged their lives to the cause he preached. On everyone he'd given hope with his actions and his words. No, he had no regrets. Merely shame for his inability to recognize the truth before it was too late. Shame and pride were all he had left, now. And there was only one way he could cleanse the shame from his soul and die proudly.
The pain of his blade piercing his abdomen was white hot, like nothing he'd ever experienced before. It washed away nearly everything, yet there was still one thing left. With a wet, ragged gasp, he pulled the weapon free of his body. It would be his final gift to the person who meant the most to him. And then, just as the shock started to set in and his body fell limp in his seat, the Levi gave up entirely. He vaguely heard the sound of the explosion and felt the wave of heat, before merciful darkness washed out the pain.
Mindset: Margulis died as he lived: with certainty of his actions and absolute conviction that he was doing the right thing. As such, he will have no doubt that he truly did die, especially with the memory so vivid. But that is where his acceptance will end. A man who despises complacency, Margulis will question every thing that doesn't add up. Much like when Heinlein's actions began to seem suspect, he will search for answers, preferring the possibility of a painful truth to a comforting lie and determined to find out what's being hidden from them.
But beneath that, there will be a more personal doubt. With the circumstances surrounding his death, he'll find it difficult not to wonder if this broken illusion of a paradise is his own personal Hell, a punishment for his blindness in life. But if so, what point would there be in repeating the same mistakes over again? It's only that much more motivation to dig for the truth behind the facade.
G̶̶l̨͡i̵͢t̷c͝͠h̕é͠s̷̷͡: Margulis isn't a man who scares or unsettles easily, but if one tried to find ways, Miltia would be the most obvious. His discomfort over that conflict is so great that he can no longer even say the planet's name without coming close to tears. But his faith in general is a sore point for him, after being betrayed and abandoned by all he thought he could trust, and his blind confidence in ideals that sent billions of innocents to their graves is a point of both shame and guilt.
On a more directly personal note, his own emotions tend to make him uncomfortable. As a strongly passionate individual, he's had to learn strict self-control. As a result, he has a tendency to act cold rather than face his own feelings, even toward his best friend. And on that point, his relationship with Jin is an incredibly delicate subject, after everything that's happened between them without him ever being able to truly stop caring.
Canon: Xenosaga
Gender: Male
Age: 45
History: A wiki for the first and third games.
The second game, in addition to revealing Margulis' backstory, also gave him an expanded role in the present day. With MOMO and the Y-data on Second Miltia, he sent two of his subordinates to attempt to retrieve her. When that failed, he waited for Albedo's plan to play through...and play through it did, resulting in the re-emergence of Old Miltia.
With the return of the lost planet began a race to reach it. Margulis started the U-TIC fleet toward it without a moment's hesitation, intent on beating the Federation there. While he was the first one there and was confident that the force sent to stop him couldn't do anything, he still went to face them personally. There he discovered, to his delight, that Jin Uzuki had gotten himself involved in this conflict again. After some heated banter, the two fought for the first time in fourteen years. Though Margulis seemed to have the upper hand at first due to Jin's long years of retirement, his rival eventually came out on top, forcing Margulis to retreat.
Despite that, Patriarch Sergius successfully activated the Omega System in the depths of planet Miltia. The enormous weapon destroyed the planet on emergence, as if it were hatching from an egg, and it seemed as if Sergius' Ormus was now unstoppable. But the same group that had interfered on Miltia infiltrated the Omega System and broke through its defenses. Sergius, concerned that these people could actually be a threat, asked Margulis to dispose of them for him. Margulis, however, refused, finally admitting to his treachery and taking great enjoyment in betraying the old man he'd plotted against for at least a decade and a half.
With Margulis' refusal to aid him, Sergius fell, along with the Omega System. Albedo awoke the entity known as U-DO in its place, but that wasn't Margulis' concern, although it did lead to the URTV's death at the hands of his brother...an event Margulis likely knew was coming, as he seemed to be among the few who was actually capable of understanding Albedo's motivations and desires. But despite, or maybe even because, of that, Margulis paid Albedo's death no mind, instead helping the new Patriarch Heinlein take his place, thus setting the scene for episode III.
Personality: Cold passion is the best way to describe the core of what drives Margulis. He is a man of conviction and little mercy, making decisions based on practicality rather than morality. This is not, however, because he doesn't care. When he has a goal, he puts his entire being into achieving it and places it above all other priorities, risking his own life and those of others without a second thought.
On an individual scale, he is strict and often impersonal. He refers to people by surnames when he has reason to mention them individually, and in most cases doesn't bother with personal address at all. The exception is people who have made an impression on him. If someone manages to earn his genuine respect, he shows a more caring side, potentially even becoming somewhat invested in that person's safety. At the same time, he expects more of that person, placing more responsibility on their shoulders as his way of showing faith in their abilities.
Regardless of his personal opinion, he tends toward formality. Even his speech patterns carry an archaically stiff tone that sets him apart from most others. Despite this, he does show a distinct, if sarcastic, sense of humor and a strong dramatic streak. In fact, part of the reason for his archaic speech patterns may well be the impression they make.
The reason for his callousness toward people in general and distance even from individuals is actually fairly simple. His experiences with his world's culture of oppression and greed has destroyed his faith in humanity, convincing him that only a handful of people are worthwhile and the rest are useless. This is compounded with the great focus he has on the idea of individual motivation and will in a world that has largely grown complacent.
Another aspect of his harsh treatment of others has been arrogance and pride, but that has been tempered somewhat by discovering Wilhelm's manipulation. While still prideful and confident in his own abilities, he is no longer blind to his own faults. He acknowledges that he can be wrong and make mistakes and is less likely to follow orders or accept claims unquestioningly.
Wilhelm's revelation also broke him, to a large extent. With an unwillingness to ignore what he'd learned and return to his old ways but an inability to move on and find a new direction, he lost his will to live. The discovery has also left him questioning himself and even more bitter than before, believing his life's ambition to be hopeless and the many deplorable acts he's committed in the belief that they would serve the greater good worthless.
And it is the greater good that he thought he was serving. Despite his disgust with humanity, his goal has always been the betterment of the human race. From his ultimate goal of returning to mankind's homeland of Earth to his habit of taking in others who don't have a place in normal society and show traits he considers promising to even the unethical experiments he sacrificed billions of lives on, everything he's done has been in the hopes of leading humanity away from the dead end he sees them moving toward.
Also unusual is his open-mindedness with regards to non-humans and modified humans. While the rest of his organization seemed to show distaste or distrust for modified humans, he himself treats them no differently from anyone else and even befriended a super soldier he'd rescued from the cruelty of the Federation legal system. While artificial humans are often treated as objects, he outright refers to them as people. He is a man of many faults, but irrational biggotry is not one of them.
Powers/Abilities: Swordsmanship: Margulis is, quite frankly, almost impossibly good with a sword. In an era of common beam weapons, he fights so effectively with a blade that he's capable of holding his own against enemies with even the most modern equipment.
Physical Enhancements: Part of the reason he's so absurdly dangerous with a sword is the fact that he is stronger and faster than any normal human by far. He can easily tear through concrete with his sword and can most likely slice through armored metal as well, as his rival who leans less toward physical strength than him can do the same. In terms of speed, he can step to the side quickly enough to leave an after image without even seeming to move, almost giving the illusion that he can teleport short distances. On top of that, he's shown to be able to jump to the top of a city building in a single leap from a standing position with little to no real difficulty.
Ethers: Ethers are his most versatile ability, functioning like typical video game magic. His specialty is fire and lightning, focused heavily on offense. His main use of this is to engulf his blade in flames or attack from a distance, but he's also capable of rendering himself briefly immune to either fire or lightning and using the energy from any such attack to heal existing wounds. They're also most likely the source of his physical enhancements.
Connection to the Zohar: While it's incredibly unlikely that it will come up in the setting, Margulis nevertheless has a mental connection to a powerful relic in his universe called the Zohar, giving him the ability to activate or deactivate it through pure will.
Keepsakes/Mementos:
His sword: A straight shortsword with an ornate guard and sheath.
High Inquisitor Outfit: Don't ask how it's put together, okay? Xenosaga fashion is dumb.
Decorative Wakizashi: A short, Japanese styled sword in a highly polished black sheath, set on a plain, black stand. Likely inherited when he proved himself the best of Ouga Uzuki's students.
ES Levi: A two-story tall mecha that responds to the will of qualified pilots. Wields a huge broadsword, throwing knives and grenades and is capable of flight. Understandable if it's not workable.
Ormus symbol: An upside down cross over an elm tree background, a halo and a crown of thorns. It represents the faith that used and betrayed him, fun right?
Books!: Mostly on ancient Earth culture and mythology, something of an emphasis on Christianity, Hinduism and Shinto faiths.
Sample: Uzuki had come, just as Margulis had known he would. He was with his friends, that URTV and his entourage from a year ago, but that didn't matter. Uzuki was here, which surely meant Pellegri was dead. He couldn't help a twinge of jealousy, that she had met a respectable end. While he...he was just a shadow of his former self now, a broken shell of a man.
But soon, soon that would also come to an end. Uzuki had already noticed him, unsurprisingly. The man missed very little of his surroundings. It was part of the reason he held so much of Margulis' respect. And as always, it was Margulis' cue to make his entrance. At first, he put up a front, keeping his usual mocking accusation of his rival. But it wasn't long before the conversation turned darker, and Uzuki's attitude shifted. He could tell. Of course he could. But it was for the best. Of all the people he could let know what had happened, Uzuki was the one who needed to know. After all, hadn't he been manipulated just as thoroughly, albeit to less bloody ends? The Federation and Ormus had both been pawns of the same individual, after all. And of course he used it as an opportunity to try to talk peace. He always had been the optimist. But no, it was too late for that. The only thing left for him was this duel, and the same death Uzuki had brought Pellegri.
It was like a dance, almost. The ESes responded perfectly to their desires, blades whistling through the air with precision and power. They exchanged words, taunts, even in the heat of battle. They always had. It was exciting, in a way. Nostalgic. This was how the two of them had always communicated, they had always been at their closest with blades drawn. Back to back or face to face, it didn't matter. Allies or opponents, there was always a certain ease of interaction between them with the adrenaline and blood of the battlefield.
But no dance could last forever. In the end, Uzuki was victorious, as he had been the previous times they'd fought. As the Levi's rections slowed, Margulis knew the battle was almost over. One final attack, fueled by determination to go down fighting with his all, left him behind the Reuben...and then his craft shuddered and slumped. It was a struggle just to turn the machine around to face Jin, but he managed before something gave way and the Levi fell to one knee. This was it. Jin was truly something else...and yet, Margulis knew, there was a price to be paid for being in a class of one's own. The loneliness that came with it, the distance from everyone else. He knew them well. And he could tell from the look on his old friend's face that he knew it was too late to mend the one relationship he had left with someone on his level. He could hear it in the desperation in Jin's voice in response to him drawing his blade within the cockpit of his craft.
A man of less conviction might have been moved. But Margulis knew, this was what had to happen. He didn't regret the path that had led him here, not really. To do so would be to spit on everyone who had pledged their lives to the cause he preached. On everyone he'd given hope with his actions and his words. No, he had no regrets. Merely shame for his inability to recognize the truth before it was too late. Shame and pride were all he had left, now. And there was only one way he could cleanse the shame from his soul and die proudly.
The pain of his blade piercing his abdomen was white hot, like nothing he'd ever experienced before. It washed away nearly everything, yet there was still one thing left. With a wet, ragged gasp, he pulled the weapon free of his body. It would be his final gift to the person who meant the most to him. And then, just as the shock started to set in and his body fell limp in his seat, the Levi gave up entirely. He vaguely heard the sound of the explosion and felt the wave of heat, before merciful darkness washed out the pain.
Mindset: Margulis died as he lived: with certainty of his actions and absolute conviction that he was doing the right thing. As such, he will have no doubt that he truly did die, especially with the memory so vivid. But that is where his acceptance will end. A man who despises complacency, Margulis will question every thing that doesn't add up. Much like when Heinlein's actions began to seem suspect, he will search for answers, preferring the possibility of a painful truth to a comforting lie and determined to find out what's being hidden from them.
But beneath that, there will be a more personal doubt. With the circumstances surrounding his death, he'll find it difficult not to wonder if this broken illusion of a paradise is his own personal Hell, a punishment for his blindness in life. But if so, what point would there be in repeating the same mistakes over again? It's only that much more motivation to dig for the truth behind the facade.
G̶̶l̨͡i̵͢t̷c͝͠h̕é͠s̷̷͡: Margulis isn't a man who scares or unsettles easily, but if one tried to find ways, Miltia would be the most obvious. His discomfort over that conflict is so great that he can no longer even say the planet's name without coming close to tears. But his faith in general is a sore point for him, after being betrayed and abandoned by all he thought he could trust, and his blind confidence in ideals that sent billions of innocents to their graves is a point of both shame and guilt.
On a more directly personal note, his own emotions tend to make him uncomfortable. As a strongly passionate individual, he's had to learn strict self-control. As a result, he has a tendency to act cold rather than face his own feelings, even toward his best friend. And on that point, his relationship with Jin is an incredibly delicate subject, after everything that's happened between them without him ever being able to truly stop caring.
