Terra

[Jiro]

We know Terra is taken by the Empire as a baby. We know she has Esper blood, hence her natural magical ability. We know that when she arrives in Narshe, she is wearing a Slave Crown after having fried a bunch of Imperial Soldiers.

My question is: why?

If we look at Celes, she was raised by Cid in a de facto Grandfather/Granddaughter relationship due to her involvement in MagiTek knight training. Celes is loyal as smurf to the Empire until Kefka steps into the picture, no? Here, we see the catalyst that makes her doubt her loyalty and side with the Returners - or more importantly, fight against the Empire.

Where is Terra's catalyst, and what is it? We know that she wears the slave crown after an incident, but why was there an incident? One would think that after a lifetime of indoctrination, Terra would have been just as loyal to the Empire as Celes is/was.

So why the difference?

[Sephex]

They didn't want to risk losing control of her. Also, she would be a more effective weapon, which is how the Empire looked at her at the end of the day.

[VeloZer0]

Considering he childhood probably consisted of being research specimen I doubt that she would have had all that much loyalty. Celes on the other hand was more of a 'finished product' so they would have been much more concerned with loyalty.

[Final Fantasy Rookie]

They didn't want to risk losing control of her. Also, she would be a more effective weapon, which is how the Empire looked at her at the end of the day.

And unlike Celes, Terra didn't have any "parental" figures so to speak, or at least anybody in general as a source of comfort or support. As you nicely stated, she's just a tool. It could explain why she seems emotionless and just there at the beginning of the game.....At least before she discovers her roots. There's also the inability to control her powers, hence why may have not been successfully brainwashed.

[Jiro]

From what I can remember and then speculate on, it seems like Kefka was in charge of the MagiTek soldiers part of things. Cid oversaw the extraction of magic and the imbuing of them with powers, but Kefka made them into soldiers. I guess, in that case, Terra would have only had Kefka as an authority figure and so I guess I can see why she was a little smurfed up.

[Final Fantasy Rookie]

From what I can remember and then speculate on, it seems like Kefka was in charge of the MagiTek soldiers part of things. Cid oversaw the extraction of magic and the imbuing of them with powers, but Kefka made them into soldiers. I guess, in that case, Terra would have only had Kefka as an authority figure and so I guess I can see why she was a little smurfed up.

LOL, anybody who is heavely influenced or has deeply, personal ties (like Terra) to Kefka might be a tad bit :freak: in the head.

[espritduo]

I imagine the slave crown was needed because Terra simply couldn't control her powers. Remember how the Espers that fly out of the Sealed Gate mention that they lost all control of themselves when they left the Esper World and the balancing power of the Statues? Terra even mentions at that point that the same thing happened to her, so it's safe to assume that without the Slave Crown, she would run amok at the slightest provocation, like she did when she came into contact with Tritoch. It's only after she understands her own powers, and no longer fears them that she is able to control them.

[Greatermaximus]

Fiction's Upper Limit Lore (FULL)

>>> Avoiding your common set-up.

I'd have to judge that mind-control and being raised by the enemy since birth is common to uncommon, not rare.

The details of what happens to Terra during the events of the game is up to the fans. The owners, designer's, and other memebers of the creative team have the final word on what's canon.

As you know an expedition by Gesthal retrieved Espers from behind a sealed gate. Chances are this is already public knowledge. Or at least anyone in the military would know about this and the empire's magic powers.

I'm pretty sure the world remembers the war of magi. Once Terra grows up to learn the truth she might defect from the empire being half-esper. But Terra was rescued by Tritoch and met up with Locke.

[blackmage_nuke]

I assume she wore the slave crown since she could talk and as such has only formed basic knowledge of the ability to function but no "identity" of her own. She doesnt claim she has never loved anyone but in fact claims she doesnt even know what love is.