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'Nuff said. What an absolute legend. With his cape and everything...

I've spent literally 15 minutes looking about the world for him. My freind and I came to the conclusion that he is the old man in Kalm that gives you the Underwater Materia, Master Materia and the Chocobo. Why else would such a strange old man be carrying so much destructive and powerful materia? I'm guessing that after many more an adventure after Nibelheim, the old wanderer settled in Kalm with the love of his life.

So then, any other ideas?

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

I guess I've never really given it any thought. Then again he was somewhat old when he taught Tifa, so he could also be dead. Depends on when he left the note and Final Heaven for Tifa. Probably earlier. But good point with the old man thing. I doubt it though, there would be no reason to hide himself.

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"Shut up. You're making me sober..."
-Reno

*Ryoko*

Maybe he went into seclusion? Maybe he passed away? (He was old.) Obviously they didn't feel he served a purpose in the story any longer, and disposed of him.

Or maybe he's Gogo, who can tell.

This post has been edited by Zeromus_X on 8th July 2006 23:19

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OSonic Rave
/ \Last Arcanum
[ ]Strike Raid
XRagnarok

Actually, that would make a ton of sense. You find out that Zangan was the one who took Tifa to Midgar, and why move far, far away from his favorite student, when Kalm's right next door? And, it seems like something Square would do. I mean, a combat instructor who fought and taught others to fight for a living, who, after seeing so much violence in Nibelheim, decides to devote his life to peace.

This post has been edited by Rhea on 8th July 2006 21:20

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"If everything's a dream, don't wake me..."

Quote (Rhea @ 8th July 2006 21:18)

Actually, that would make a ton of sense. You find out that Zangan was the one who took Tifa to Midgar, and why move far, far away from his favorite student, when Kalm's right next door? And, it seems like something Square would do. I mean, a combat instructor who fought and taught others to fight for a living, who, after seeing so much violence in Nibelheim, decides to devote his life to peace.

Yeah good point although I would just consider him a forgotten character.

I though he died after he went to that burning buidling but you're theory does seem plausible. Intersting...

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"Thought I was dead, eh? Not until I fulfill my dream!"
Seifer Almasy


"The most important part of the story is the ending."
Secret Window


"Peace is but a shadow of death."
Kuja

Quote (FabulousFreebird @ 9th July 2006 00:51)

I though he died after he went to that burning buidling but you're theory does seem plausible. Intersting...

Oh yeah I forgot about that. He doesn't come out does he? Well assuming he lived he vanishes from the game a little too promptly for my liking. There might be an NPC somewhere that will explain it more. I'm going to hunt around in Kalm for a while, see what appears. Probably nothing knowing this game.

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

But that happens before Cloud goes to the reactor and sees Tifa. Zangan carries Tifa to Midgar after all of that and before ShinRa shows up. *points to Last Order*

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"Shut up. You're making me sober..."
-Reno

*Ryoko*

Why did he take her to Midgar? I mean, somewhere like the Rocket Town or Costa Del Sol would be much safer. What a trip he'd have to make... unless he used his cape to fly. Oh well.

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

Quote (sweetdude @ 10th July 2006 09:16)

Why did he take her to Midgar? I mean, somewhere like the Rocket Town or Costa Del Sol would be much safer. What a trip he'd have to make... unless he used his cape to fly. Oh well.

Probably symbolic. It wouldn't be the only thing in this game to make more symbolic sense than literal sense. (Hojo's attempt to breed Aerith with Red XIII, anyone?) Midgard in Norse mythology was the name for the human world, and Niflheim was basically the equivalent of hell. Zangan taking Tifa to Midgar from Nibelheim could have been intended to be symbolic of carrying her to the world from hell. Same general reason as why Zax took Cloud there. Though there's also a more logical explanation for them - since they were fugitives, it made sense to go to the biggest city and hide in the crowds. Maybe Zangan had similar reasoning with Tifa? I think he does mention in his letter that he noticed people being collected for an experiment and wasn't about to let them take Tifa, so maybe he thought Midgar would be the safest place. Hide her under their noses, so to speak...

Anyway, that's my guess.

This post has been edited by Gemini Sun on 10th July 2006 18:45

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"You gave me wings when you showed me birds," said Leonard of Quirm. "I just made what I saw."
-- Terry Pratchett, The Last Hero

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Quote (Gemini Sun @ 10th July 2006 18:44)

Quote (sweetdude @ 10th July 2006 09:16)

Why did he take her to Midgar? I mean, somewhere like the Rocket Town or Costa Del Sol would be much safer. What a trip he'd have to make... unless he used his cape to fly. Oh well.

Probably symbolic. It wouldn't be the only thing in this game to make more symbolic sense than literal sense. (Hojo's attempt to breed Aerith with Red XIII, anyone?) Midgard in Norse mythology was the name for the human world, and Niflheim was basically the equivalent of hell. Zangan taking Tifa to Midgar from Nibelheim could have been intended to be symbolic of carrying her to the world from hell. Same general reason as why Zax took Cloud there. Though there's also a more logical explanation for them - since they were fugitives, it made sense to go to the biggest city and hide in the crowds. Maybe Zangan had similar reasoning with Tifa? I think he does mention in his letter that he noticed people being collected for an experiment and wasn't about to let them take Tifa, so maybe he thought Midgar would be the safest place. Hide her under their noses, so to speak...

Anyway, that's my guess.

Mmmm very clever theory. This is an excellent post.

Quote (Silver 09 @ 10th July 2006 14:01)

Mmmm very clever theory. This is an excellent post.

Thank you! I try.

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"You gave me wings when you showed me birds," said Leonard of Quirm. "I just made what I saw."
-- Terry Pratchett, The Last Hero

Check out my gallery at deviantART

Although I'd like to put some faith in a theory that Zangan is so-and-so, it seems that he was only relevant to the plot in the past, so he wasn't placed in the present. I'd be cool if he were the Kalm Traveler or the old man in Rocket Town, but I don't think there's much to shed light on there.

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It's gonna be a glorious day
I feel my luck can change

When you get Tifa's item, Final Heaven, there is a note by Zangen. Zangen mentions his strength is fading and he can't even move his legs any more- but no mention of injuries. Seems like, despite how feisty and spry he was before, old age must have caught up rather quickly to him.

Quote (RenosGirl18 @ 9th July 2006 11:07)

But that happens before Cloud goes to the reactor and sees Tifa. Zangan carries Tifa to Midgar after all of that and before ShinRa shows up. *points to Last Order*

Did Zangan actually carry Tifa to Midgar, or did she make it there on her own? If Zangan carries her to Midgar, does the game show this explicitly, or is it yet another thing we're supposed to assume?

The reason I'm asking is that I only remember seeing Zangan save Tifa from a burning building in Nibelheim.

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The world before the fall...
Delightful is the light of dawn...
Noble is the heart of man...

Quote (Magicite @ 20th July 2006 14:22)

Quote (RenosGirl18 @ 9th July 2006 11:07)

But that happens before Cloud goes to the reactor and sees Tifa. Zangan carries Tifa to Midgar after all of that and before ShinRa shows up. *points to Last Order*

Did Zangan actually carry Tifa to Midgar, or did she make it there on her own? If Zangan carries her to Midgar, does the game show this explicitly, or is it yet another thing we're supposed to assume?

The reason I'm asking is that I only remember seeing Zangan save Tifa from a burning building in Nibelheim.

I believe he says in his letter that he took her to Midgar, because his Cure spells weren't working on her and he needed to find a doctor he could trust.

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"If everything's a dream, don't wake me..."

Quote (Magicite @ 20th July 2006 14:22)

Quote (RenosGirl18 @ 9th July 2006 11:07)

But that happens before Cloud goes to the reactor and sees Tifa. Zangan carries Tifa to Midgar after all of that and before ShinRa shows up. *points to Last Order*

Did Zangan actually carry Tifa to Midgar, or did she make it there on her own? If Zangan carries her to Midgar, does the game show this explicitly, or is it yet another thing we're supposed to assume?

The reason I'm asking is that I only remember seeing Zangan save Tifa from a burning building in Nibelheim.

He actually carries her there in Last Order if you've seen in. It shows Zangan with an unconscious Tifa in his arms. Have you seen it?

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"Shut up. You're making me sober..."
-Reno

*Ryoko*

Quote (RenosGirl18 @ 22nd July 2006 11:24)

He actually carries her there in Last Order if you've seen in. It shows Zangan with an unconscious Tifa in his arms. Have you seen it?

I've only played FF7. I haven't seen Advent Children or Last Order.

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The world before the fall...
Delightful is the light of dawn...
Noble is the heart of man...

Quote (Rhea @ 20th July 2006 18:23)

I believe he says in his letter that he took her to Midgar, because his Cure spells weren't working on her and he needed to find a doctor he could trust.

I can't remember what the letter explains, but if it is what you suggest then that clarifies his story quite adequatly. One thing, when did Zangan send the letter? I wouldn't make sense for him to send Tifa a letter at her house having just trekked across the planet to take her to a safe doctor...

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

I'm guessing he went the way of Banon & Arvis in FFVI (and wasn't there a third guy with them, maybe the guy who helped you break into the MagiTek Factory?), who disappear from the game after Gestahl's betrayal. People presume they were killed by the Empire, as they were in Vector at the time and that's their last in-game appearance. But there are also tons of theories as to what happened, such as Banon was really Duncan in disguise, which is probably due to the pallette swap as there's little other evidence.

My guess is that he died. Of course it's fun to see what people's imaginations can come up with.

This reminds me of the NPC that gives Barret his final limit in Corel that could pass for Barret's wife with the dialogue that she uses.

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Feeling unknown
And youre all alone
Flesh and bone
By the telephone
Lift up the receiver
Ill make you a believer

Quote (MetroidMorphBall @ 2nd August 2006 11:21)

But there are also tons of theories as to what happened, such as Banon was really Duncan in disguise, which is probably due to the pallette swap as there's little other evidence.

I've heard that theory, but I think it's unlikely, given that Duncan and Banon seem to be a separate characters from the beginning of the game. (Duncan's wife and Vargas both speak of him.) Also, Duncan is a famous monk. When Banon joins your party, he doesn't have any monk-like abilities. In fact, he seems to be more of a magic user.

The palette swap probably has no significance. FF6 frequently uses palette swaps for NPCs. Dadaluma is a palette swap of Vargas. Baram is a palette swap of the generic thief. Hidon is a palette swap of Chupon. The Blackjack crewmen are a palette swap of the Returner. NPCs such as Owain, Gungho, and Prince Ralse are frequently palette swaps of the genetic townsfolk.

I think that the most likely explanation for Banon's disappearance is that he no longer played a role in the plot after the end of the world. Banon's role was the leader of the Returners, an organization that was no longer needed after the fall of the Empire. Also, the first half of the game focuses on Terra's ability to communicate with Espers, and how that power could be used to aid the Returners. It was Banon's idea to use Terra's power to persuade the Espers to join the Returners' side in the war. In the World of Ruin, the story centers around finding your friends and destroying Kefka, who replaced the Empire as the greatest threat to mankind.

This post has been edited by Magicite on 2nd August 2006 20:32

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The world before the fall...
Delightful is the light of dawn...
Noble is the heart of man...

Haha that's what I love about FFVI most of the characters have absolutly no characterization - they just are. I'd quite like Zangan to appear in Dirge or Crisis Core, not that I'm buying either anyway... I still don't know why Square didn't include him further in FFVII; he would've been a good secret character. God I've just realized how fanboyish each and every one of my posts have been on this thread. Ah well, maybe I should just accept that fact.

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.