Final Fantasy VII Characters

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Red XIII

Vital Statistics

Age	45
Height	120cm
Occupation	Beast
Weapon	Headdress
Birthdate	Unknown
Hometown	Cosmo Canyon

Biography

Red XIII is a mystery. With his feral appearance and striking red fur, Red XIII is clearly something other than human. Yet his mature bearing and perceptive nature mark him as a being of high intelligence.

Much to the surprise of Cloud and his friends, he can speak in human words as well, with all the eloquence of a well-educated scholar. Though he is young by the standards of his species, Red XIII often acts as the voice of reason, acting with an uncanny wisdom and a calm composure.

The party first encounters Red XIII in the bowels of Hojo's laboratory, a captive of the twisted mad scientist for use in his depraved experiments. Before Hojo's sick plans can come to fruition, the group rescues both Red and the equally imprisoned Aeris. He aids their escape, eventually following them to Cosmo Canyon, a curious area populated by others of his species. There he agrees to join the party, offering his formidable services as a trained warrior.

Additional Information

Red XIII's true name is Nanaki; "Red XIII" is simply a nickname given to him by Hojo. Born at Cosmo Canyon, he was deprived of his mother and father at a very young age, leaving his grandfather Bugenhagen as his sole guardian. Since early childhood he was trained as a noble warrior of his kind, learning the arts of war to protect his homeland.

Nanaki's one regret was the fault of his inheritance. For the majority of his life, he believed his father Seto to have been a lowly coward who abandoned him and his mother to save himself. The shame of his father's betrayal weighed heavily on his noble warrior's spirit, particularly in the midst of his culture, which valued honor and courage.

A cruel twist of fate landed Nanaki in Hojo's clutches, where the mad scientist treated him horribly and branded his leg with a crude codename: Red XIII. Hojo's despicable intent was to somehow breed Nanaki with the newly-captured Aeris. He hoped that the offspring of this unholy union would combine the best traits of both species; the newborn would possess the long lifespan of Nanaki's species, and the unique abilities of a Cetra. Fortunately, Cloud and his friends are able to save both of them from their fates.

After his escape, Nanaki trails the party to Cosmo Canyon, at long last returning to his home. His time under Hojo's influence had changed him, it seemed, and he was at a loss as to what to do at this crossroads in his life. Confused, he turns to his grandfather Bugenhagen for support.

The wise elder decides to take Nanaki to a secret cave hidden deep in Cosmo Canyon. Upon entering the cave, Nanaki is shocked to behold the figure of his father, now a lifeless statue. It is there that he learns the truth of his ancestry: his father was a noble hero who fought to the death against insurmountable odds, giving his life to defend his people and his family. Faced with the realization of his father's heroism, Nanaki is both overjoyed and regretful. Bugenhagen then urges his grandson to fight alongside AVALANCHE, in hopes of purging Shinra's unnatural evil once and for all.

In the game's final scene we see Nanaki with two little pups sometime far into the future. The city of Midgar has become an overgrown jungle, surrounded by plants and trees. The true meaning of this ending has been interpreted many times, but suffice to say that Nanaki at last found peace in the end.

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