Marche Radiuju
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| Final Fantasy Tactics Advance character | |
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| Marche Radiuju | |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Human |
| Home World | St. Ivalice, ("Real" World) |
| Family | Doned Radiuju, brother; Mother and Father (unnamed) |
| Hair Colour | Blond |
| Eye Colour | Crystal Blue |
| Interests | Video Games, travelling |
| Important Things | His family, friends, achieving success in academics and personal goals |
| Seiyū | Yuka Imai |
Marche Radiuju (マーシュ・ラディウユ Māshu Radiuyu?) is a fictional character and the central protagonist in the Square Enix tactical role-playing video game and Japanese radio drama Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Marche is an affectionate, yet quiet and personal young boy who cares a lot for his family and friends. His unique personality and overall gentleness and kindness are often represented in the story as his most shining qualities, as well as his precocious and advanced tactical-thinking for his age which more than helps get him and his loved ones out of problems and various troubles.
Contents |
[edit] Role in the Story
[edit] Background
Marche Radiuju was born in an area which has only been described as a place with a rather hot climate where it "rarely ever snowed." He has a younger brother named Doned, and lives with his mother; his parents are divorced. Marche is a rather private and shy young boy yet sticks up for others and helps them when they are most in need, especially his physically handicapped brother whom he cares for and takes care of more than often. His sparks of courage are rarely shown in earlier events of the game, but his love of assisting ones in need and lending a 'helping-hand' to those in trouble show his true nature, instead of a shy, 'new kid' at school, he is a gentle, loving young boy who stands up, though is somewhat hesitant of such actions due to his timidness, for anyone who needs help.
Not long before the start of the game, Marche's mother and father, after years of separation and troublesome disagreements, finally settled on a divorce, causing Marche's father to settle at his son's birthplace and split from the family. Marche and his brother then moved with their mother to her hometown at St. Ivalice, a city in the southern countryside which had a climate almost the complete opposite of her children's birthplaces, which was supposedly better for Doned's health. This caused Marche's mother to more than often be busy with her wheelchair-bound younger son, Doned, taking him in and out of the hospital and health centres and leaving her older son, Marche, alone at home. Due to such situations, Marche developed a private and solitary complex, causing him to rely on only himself and do nearly everything on his own, as well as creating a small hatred for escapism, most likely because he often felt the wanting to wish things were different, but also knew such things were selfish and the world was beautiful the way it was, even if he could not see it. Such things caused Marche to become jealous of Doned, seeing as he was getting all the attention from their mother, also causing a great feel of emotional depression and missing for his far-away father, though he never admitted this his brother or his mother, it is unknown if he ever spoke to his father about his problems.
[edit] Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
[edit] St. Ivalice
At their new residence at St. Ivalice, Marche's mother sent her two sons to a new school in the area. Though it is unknown whether or not Doned had any problems 'fitting in' with his new student peers, it is almost immediately shown at the beginning of the story that Marche certaintly did. Being looked down by the popular bullies such as Lyle, Colin, and Guinness, and other classmates as the 'new kid', Marche suffered much social abuse from his peers, though this did not stop him from keeping his original personality traits like sticking up for others, which same actions later resulted in a fateful friendship encounter with two other classmates, the timid and precocious dreamer, Mewt Randell, and the outspoken class-head, Ritz Malheur.
On a snowy day after school, Mewt Randell (though in the American version of the story he is a victim of favouritism for being the main target in a snowball game), is walking home from class where Lyle and his friends begin to mock him for allways carrying his deceased mother's teddy bear like saying "why diden't you bwing your widdle teddy bear, diden't want the wittle thing to get wet?" and begin to nearly bruise him with a large amount of snowballs in which they violently throw at him,one containing a rock, thus making his head bleed, laughing the entire time. Marche rushes to the rescue and asks if Mewt is hurt, in which Mewt responds shyly, "I'm ok..." Lyle and his friends then decide to tease Marche as well, but are not nearly as successful as they were with Mewt due to the outraged Ritz Malheur's intrusion towards the conversation, whom defends Marche and Mewt passionately. The bullies then give up carefree and head home, while Mewt apologises for troubling Marche and Ritz so much but hesitantly asks if the two of them would like to meet after school and look at what he believes is a new fantasy book for his collection, informing shyly "it's about magic and monsters and stuff."
Marche hesitantly apologises that he has to go home to see his brother Doned whom had just arrived back from the hospital, though Ritz thinks of an idea that all three of them could meet at Marche's house, this to which Marche accepts enthusiastically, and the plan, a little while later in the day, is met when Ritz and Mewt arrive at Marche and Doned's house.
Marche introduces Doned to his guests and the four children examine the book. They cannot understand what it means, but assume that it is magical. Looking at the book's letters, Ritz points out a handwritten inscription that, due to its new and even recognizable latin alphabet, must have been written by a previous owner of the book. Mewt reads the inscription quietly to himself "Alta oron, Sondus kameela", and states that it "sounds like magic". They then wonder what it would be like if the world were like the game Final Fantasy. Throughout the night, the children discuss their thoughts on the book and after a while they part ways for the day and each go to sleep. (Note: Though in the Radio Edition of the story, this event occurs slightly differently as St. Ivalice changes into the fantasy world of Ivalice right in their faces as the book begins to turn its pages on its own and a blast of light bursts in front of them, changing the world right in their nearly blinded eyes.)
[edit] Arrival in Ivalice
The next morning, Marche opens his eyes and finds himself standing in the city of Cyril in late afternoon. He notices creatures from Final Fantasy, and that he is wearing the clothes of a Soldier instead of his pajamas. Bumping into a nearby Bangaa, Marche comments in fright that he's a walking, talking lizard, to which the bangaa takes a great offense to and orders an "Engagement", a non-life-threatening battle in which two parties, or peoples, engage in combat. Marche, unsure what to do, is suddenly introduced to a friendly and knowledgeable black-magic studying moogle by the name of Montblanc (though, once again, in the Radio Edition, Marche is met by Montblanc and his younger brother, Nono, who, however, appears slightly less than halfway through the game in the video game). Montblanc explains what an engagement is, and he and Marche defeat the Bangaa.
Marche thanks Montblanc after the battle, and explains that he never saw a real Bangaa before. Montblanc is confused when Marche claims to be from the town of Ivalice, and is not sure whether to believe him. However, he introduces Marche to his clan, a group of mercenaries who enter Engagements on a regular basis.
Naming the clan "Clan Nutsy" (by default) as an initiation gift from Montblanc, Marche joins the group of individuals and takes missions at the pub.
While on a mission, Marche encounters Ritz and a clan mate named Shara, who have also taken the mission. After the mission, they converse, and Ritz explains that they are inside Final Fantasy. Ritz, however, does not wish to get home, and Marche is disappointed, as he believed Ritz had the capability to help him do so. Marche and Montblanc discover a rumour speaking of mysterious crystals which contain the balance of elements to the world (in the game, they encounter some wild monsters, and Montblanc suspects that the crystals caused the monsters to go wild).
[edit] Quest for the Crystals
Hearing a rumour about a strange portal in a nearby area, Marche and Montblanc head to investigate where they find the secret location of the first temple which contains a crystal and a Totema, a magical guardian of certain race who also guards the race's own crystal, this one being the moogle's Famfrit. After defeating the guardian, Marche destroys the crystals which shatters into pieces in front of him. Just as he is leaving, Marche sees a vision of a tormented Mewt crying in agony, commanding someone to "stop making me remember those things...!" (in the Raido Edition, however, Marche only gets a glimpse of Mewt after destroying the first crystal). Marche feels as though he must save Mewt. Shortly thereafter, Mewt increases the power of the laws. Marche saves a Nu Mou named Ezel Berbier from a group of bounty hunters, and gains access to Anti-Laws, cards that can nullify laws, as well as cards that can create new laws.
Destroying a couple of other crystals, Marche later discovers that the person whom Mewt has been being tortured by is Marche himself, for whenever a crystal is destroyed, Mewt goes through a short period of mental, emotional, and physical pain where memories from his past in St. Ivalice flood into his mind. Mewt dispatches Babus to find out what is causing this, and when Marche accidentally blurts out that he "didn't know that Mewt wanted this world to exist" Babus knows him to be responsible. When Marche destroys the third crystal and he is unable to explain his motivations for returning the world to normal, Babus becomes especially determined to deal with Marche. Afterwards, the palace puts a bounty on Marche's life.
Thinking it out, Marche discovers with another encounter with Ritz that the fantasy world of Ivalice is an entire reflection of their wishes and minds, creating a world for themselves and only themselves with their wishes of what they really want the world to be deep within their hearts. In the Radio Edition, Marche actually sees a vision of his father during the battle of Famfrit, but he refuses to accept that it is real and it vanishes. Ritz is also evasive about her reasons and suggests that she will side with Mewt.
While searching for the fourth crystal, Marche learns that the judges are personally searching for him, going so far as to arrest innocent moogles on the basis that he was seen with one. Marche turns himself in, and he and his clan are taken to prison. Cid suggests that Marche abandon his quest because he does not know what destroying the crystals will accomplish and that he is prospering in Ivalice. A seam opens in the prison and transports Marche, Babus and Cid into Exodus's chamber. Marche destroys Exodus before Babus can stop him, and Cid sees a vision and realizes the truth about himself and the world. Feeling unable to determine if Marche is a threat or not, Cid orders the judges to split with the palace. Mewt is upset at first, then apparently indifferent about Cid's decision. Remedi, who is supposedly alive in Ivalice, replaces Cid with Llednar Twem, a mysterious guardian.
Marche goes out on a regular mission, but some bounty hunters are waiting for him on the advice of a streetear. After Marche defeats them, he notices that someone is watching him. On another mission, Marche sees Doned, who runs off without saying a word and alerts a group of bounty hunters. Marche questions their leader, who does not know anything about Doned, except for the fact that his information was unusually cheap and detailed.
Marche eventually encounters Llednar in the desert, but both are pulled into a seam and find themselves in an antechamber of the temple of the fifth crystal. Llednar attempts to use Omega on Marche, but Cid stops him from doing so by using a law card, and orders Marche to flee. Marche attempts to fight Llednar, but is unable to injure him; Llednar, in his overconfidence, uses Omega again and Cid takes him to jail. Marche reaches Mateus, the Totema of the humans, and overcoming his doubts, defeats the totema and destroys the crystal. However, Ivalice remains, as it is still wanted.
[edit] The Search for Mewt
Marche realizes that he will have to convince Mewt to go home, and decides to enter on "Gift Day", in which anyone with a good gift can gain an audience with the prince. He decides to give some Materite to Nono so that he can make a gift, when he hears of a rumor of Materite in the Materiwood. However, Doned reports his location to a clan that wants to take his Materite, and Doned appears and steals a large chunk of Marche's materite. Doned explains that he knows that Marche wants to go to the palace in order to change the world back to normal and breaks the Materite. Marche demands to know why Doned is acting this way, and Doned explains that Marche only wants to go back because he has everything, running off before Marche can even say that he does not.
Despite this setback, Marche gets into the palace. However, Doned has anonymously alerted the guards of his presence, but Babus stops time for the guards and teleports Marche to Mewt, as he believes that Ivalice may be an escape for Mewt that is ultimately unhealthy. Mewt refuses to hear what either person has to say, and suggests that Marche go back on his own. Remedi appears and takes Mewt away, despite Marche insisting that she is not Mewt's true mother, and Llednar teleports in to prevent Marche and Babus from following them. Babus teleports after Remedi and sends for Cid. Llednar, now uninhibited, attempts to kill Marche, but Cid arrives and he retreats. Cid reveals that Llednar is a distillation of Mewt's "most violent, dangerous aspect," and plans to look for Mewt while Marche goes to convince Ritz and Doned.
Marche comes up with a plan to lure Doned out- he plans on searching for mythril, in order to entice Doned to interfere with it. A clan ambushes Marche inside the caves, and accuses him of trying to steal the Materia. Marche defeats the clan. Doned comes out, and reiterates his earlier claims. Marche, however, counters that because Doned received all the attention, he was unable to ask for anything, and felt neglected especially after the divorce. He also claims that he never intended to take Doned's mobility away from him, and that he will help him walk in the real world. Doned breaks down in tears and apologizes.
Marche is unable to find Ritz, believing her to be busy with clan warfare. He receives a message from Cid to meet him in the Deti Plains, and promptly heads there. Cid then tells him that he needs Amber from the Siena Gorge so that Ezel can create a powerful Anti-law to use against Llednar. However, when Marche reaches the Siena Gorge, he sees Ritz, Shara and the rest of their clan waiting for him, intent on preventing him from passing through. Marche defeats them, and proceeds to the Ambervale, with Ritz remarking that with Marche stronger since entering Ivalice, it is only a matter of time before the world reverts back to normal.
Marche and Cid reach the Ambervale and notice that Babus is wounded. Llednar, who had apparently attacked Babus, appears, and Cid uses the Anti-law to nullify his protection. Llednar is determined to carry out his orders, but he does not say whether Mewt or Remedi is giving them. Llednar is defeated, and turns to stone and crumbles.
Marche enters the temple, and finds Mewt lying nearly unconscious on the palm of a giant statue's hand, unable to do anything but express a desire to remain. Remedi attacks the group to force them out, but is defeated. During the confrontation, She then reveals herself as the human-form of "La Grim Grimoire", meaning "The Great Summoning Book" in French, which leads back all the way to the beginning, meaning the book in which Mewt had purchased was a true magic book which creates a world or simply anything that its owners desire. In the middle of the final battle, Marche calls out to Mewt, who weakly says that he wants to go home. Marche shouts out to his friend, but suddenly Mewt disappears, and Marche continues his fight and eventually, and finally, wins.
[edit] Returning Home
Snow falls on Ivalice after Remedi's defeat, signifying that the world has begun to change back. Reuniting with an exhausted Mewt, Marche embraces with his friend and the three, he, Mewt, and Cid, finally decide together to return to the world which they are from. Marche and Mewt wonder, however, what will become of the 'other' Ivalice which they love, in which Cid explains that if the peoples of the world wish to remain passionately and deeply enough, the world shall remain.
Marche returns home with Mewt, and has gained the confidence necessary to tell the bullies his name and demand that they remember it. He and Mewt throw snowballs at the bullies, who are shocked by their actions as they walk away.
[edit] Abilities in Battle
Marche has the abilities of any human clan member. While he is a Soldier by default, he is able to eventually master any Human class. However, some sections of the game in which the player can only use Marche may favor specific classes; a Thief may be best suited to avoiding Llednar in the engagement "Llednar." Marche is unique, however, in that he begins the game having already mastered Combo; other units must find relatively rare Mythril versions of their job's weapons to do so.
He and Montblanc are the only two members of the clan who are not able to be sent on dispatch missions.
[edit] The villain of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance?
It is often said that Marche is the main villain of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (Inspite of being the player character in the game), needlessly fighting to return the World to what it was before and, in the process, take away the dreams of his friends that were given to them as a result of the world becoming Ivalice with no regard as to the wishes of his brother or his friends. Supporters of this claim that Marche had very little to lose compared to the other children by returning to the real world. Though he admitted that he hated that his mother gave him little attention, his brother was parapalegic, Mewt's mother was dead and his father was a deadbeat, and her mother's reactions had Ritz suffer great emotional stress in dealing with her albinism. Compared to this, Marche's problems can be considered almost inconsequential and temporary, yet he is the only denouncer of his friends' method of dealing with their problems.
However, it is counter-argued that Marche, in spite of his own issues, was in the right trying to restore the world as running away to a fantasy land did not help anyone in the long run and in addition to this, many of the main cast eventually understand this and follow Marche in his quest.
One particular argument against Marche's actions takes the form of an existential quandry. Specifically, it is shown that none of the characters other than the children that read the book even know that the world was created by Mewt. To these people, Marche is an invader that insists that their world is a fabrication. To the people of Ivalice, the world is as real as Marche's own, so in a sense, Marche is destroying their reality, not waking his friends from their denial.
