Lecture I: Magic Systems of Final Fantasy VII and VIII

I. Magic System of Final Fantasy VIII

A. Sorceresses

1. In history

a. Hyne: Hyne was the first sorceress.  No archelogical or hard physical evidence exists to definitivly prove her existance.  According to legend, Hyne born, lived, and died in times of antiquity.  Hyne was the first woman to recieve the Sorceress power.  It is not known from where or whom she recieved the power.  It is also not known whether or not she had a knight.

b. Adel: Adel was the sorceress and ruler of Esthar up until 17 years ago.  She was a tyrant.  Adel sought absolute control of her realm.  She also sought a succeessor "worthy" of her.  This search took Esthar forces into other lands and brought about the Sorceress War.  A young girl, an orphan, was found in a small town within the country of Galbadia.  Her name was Ellone.  Ellone was taken by Esthar forces.  An anti-Adel movement, lead by Ellone's "uncle" Laguna Loire, freed Ellone and entrapped Adel.  Adel was sealed away in a "tomb" that sealed her powers and kept her in check.  This "tomb" was put into space and monitored for 17 years.  Adel was freed from her prison by Rinoa, under the possession of Ultimecia.  Adel was re-animated inside the Lunatic Pandora which was under the control of Seifer, the leader of the Galbadian forces.  Adel was later defeated by SeeD, led by Squall.  She passed her powers on to Rinoa. 
Adel did not have a knight.

c. Edea: Edea became a sorceress as a child.  She again recieved the power of a dying sorceress, later revealed to be Ultimecia, as an adult.  Later, Edea was possessed by Ultimecia, an evil sorceress from the far future who sought time compression.  Edea was overcome by SeeD, and Ultimecia was forced to find another person to possess.  Edea was the Matron of an orphanage in Centra.  SeeD and Garden were her ideas, and were implemented by her husband Cid.  Edea unknowingly passed her powers on to Rinoa.  She had a knight, her husband, Cid Kramer.

d. Rinoa: Rinoa became a sorceress unwillingly.  She was possessed by Ultimecia after the final battle with Edea.  Then, she fell into a deep coma.  Edea passed her powers onto Rinoa.  Rinoa was taken by Seifer and junctioned by the re-animated Adel in the Lunatic Pandora.  After Squall defeated Adel, Rinoa took on her powers and was possessed by Ultimecia.  This allowed time to compress and Ultimecia to be defeated.  Rinoa was almost sealed away by Esthar like Adel, but was rescued by her knight--Squall Leonhart.

e. Ultimecia: an evil, prideful sorceress from the distant future.  Using a machine invented by Dr. Odine, the Junction Machine ELLONE, she possesses the present-day sorceress.  She seeks to compress time and become the ruler of past, present, and future.  She uses a Guardian Force of her time, Griever.
Ultimecia does not have a knight.

2. The Sorceress Power

The Sorceress Power is an ability passed from woman to woman.  It allows a woman to control and direct immense amounts of para-magic without the aid of Guardian Forces.  Usually passed on at the moment of death(exception: Rinoa and Edea).  A woman who is a sorceress CANNOT die until she has rid herself of her power.  Her power will keep her alive, in the full pain of her final moments, until she has rid herself of it.  That is how the power continues and makes certain that it will not disappear.

B. Para-Magic

Para-Magic is magic, or elemental energy used by ordinary people.  In essence, it is a technique which involves controlling elemental energies.  Para-magic was first developed by Dr. Odine, the first scientist to research the nature of magic by studying a sorceress.  Skill with para-magic can be gained through proper training.  However, with magic, it is difficult to achieve the power levels that are comparable to conventional weaponry.

C. Guardian Forces

A Guardian Force, or GF, for short, is an independent energy.  By combining a GF with para-magic, it is possible to control tremendous amounts of energy.  Memory loss is a possible side effect, but this has not been proven as of yet.

II.  Magic System of Final Fantasy VII

A. Materia

Materia is actually super-condensed Lifestream.  It can be utilized to unleash elemental, summoning, or other kinds of magic. Materia grows with time and use.  It is said to contain the Key ot the Secrets of the Ancients. 
There are five major kinds of materia:
Blue: Support Materia(All, Added-Effect, Elemental)
Green: Spells/Magic(Battle, Defensive, and Curative)
Red: Summoning
Yellow: Command(Deathblow, Slash-all, Steal)
Purple: Independent(HP Plus, Underwater, EXP Plus)
Final Fantasy VII uses a system of points.  There are so many points for use of magic allowed per level, and so many spent per spell, up to a maximum of 999MP.  Also, AP are gained for materia equipped to weaponry or armor during battle.  Materia, like GFs, uses a set number of AP to grow.

B. Lifestream

Lifestream is the essense of all the souls and spirits that wander the Planet.  It is used by the Planet to heal itself, and to make things grow.  The Cetra, a now extinct race, were able to utilize and conserve the Lifestream.  Lifestream can be condensed and gathered as Mako energy, or condensed further into Materia.  Once in a while, there is a natural "Materia Fountain."  More often than not, though, materia is artifically produced.  Mako and manufactured materia are a waste of Lifestream because this is not the intended purpose.  The Planet is unable to utilize and convert these forms for the proper use: healing and growth.

Click here for notes about the Hero-Cycle, the Anti-Hero Cycle, and foils

Click here for notes from the January 25 Lecture about the Hero Cycle in Final Fantasy VII and VIII