Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
History
Enzo Ferrari never intended to produce road cars when he had formed Scuderia Ferrari (literally "Ferrari Stable", and usually used to mean "Team Ferrari", it is correctly pronounced "skoo deh REE ah") in 1929 as a sponsor for amateur drivers headquartered in Modena. Ferrari prepared and successfully raced various drivers in Alfa Romeo cars until 1938, when he was hired by Alfa Romeo to head their motor racing department.
In 1941, Alfa Romeo was confiscated by the Fascist government of Benito Mussolini as part of the Axis Powers' war effort. Enzo Ferrari's division was small enough to be unaffected by this. Because he was prohibited by contract from racing for four years, the Scuderia briefly became Auto Avio Costruzioni Ferrari, which ostensibly produced machine tools and aircraft accessories. Also known as SEFAC (Scuderia Enzo Ferrari Auto Corse), Ferrari did in fact produce one race car, the Tipo 815, in the non-competition period. It was the first actual Ferrari car (it debuted at the 1940 Mille Miglia), but due to World War II it saw little competition. In 1943 the Ferrari factory moved to Maranello, where it has remained ever since. The factory was bombed by the Allies in 1944 and rebuilt in 1946, after the war ended, and included a works for road car production. Until Il Commendatore's death, this would remain little more than a source of funding for his first love, racing.
The first Ferrari road car was the 1947 125 S, powered by a 1.5 L V12 engine; Enzo Ferrari reluctantly built and sold his automobiles to fund Scuderia Ferrari.[citation needed] While his beautiful and fast cars quickly gained a reputation for excellence, Enzo maintained a famous distaste for his customers.[citation needed]
In 1988, Enzo Ferrari oversaw the launch of the Ferrari F40, the last new Ferrari to be launched before his death later that year, and arguably one of the most famous supercars ever made.
On May 17, 2009 in Maranello, Italy, a 1957 250 Testa Rossa (TR) was auctioned, by RM Auctions and Sotheby's, for $12.1 Million - a world record for the most expensive car ever sold at an auction. [3]
Motorsport
For a complete list of Ferrari racing cars, see List of Ferrari competition cars.
Since the company's beginnings, Ferrari has been involved in motorsport, competing in a range of categories including Formula One and Sports car racing through its Scuderia Ferrari sporting division as well as supplying cars and engines to other teams.
The 1940 AAC 815 was the first racing car to be designed by Enzo Ferrari, although it was not badged as a Ferrari model. Currently, the Ferrari works team only compete in Formula One, and is the only team to have competed in the World Championship since its inception in 1950.
Sports car racing
In 1949, Luigi Chinetti drove a 166 M to Ferrari's first win in motorsports, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ferrari went on to dominate the early years of the World Sportscar Championship which was created in 1953, winning the title seven out of its first nine years.
When the championship format changed in 1962, Ferrari earned titles in at least one class each year through to 1965 and then again in 1967.) Ferrari would win one final title, the 1972 World Championship of Makes before Enzo decided to leave sports car racing after 1973 and allow Scuderia Ferrari to concentrate solely on Formula One.
During Ferrari's seasons of the World Sportscars Championship, they also gained more wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the factory team earning their first in 1954. Another win would come in 1958, followed by five consecutive wins from 1960 to 1964. Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team (NART) would take Ferrari's final victory at Le Mans in 1965.
Although Scuderia Ferrari no longer participated in sports cars after 1973, they have occasionally built various successful sports cars for privateers. These include the BB 512 LM in the 1970s, the 333 SP which won the IMSA GT Championship in the 1990s, and currently the F430 GT2 and GT3 which are currently winning championships in their respective classes.
Formula One
Scuderia Ferrari joined the Formula One World Championship in the first year of its existence,in 1950. José Froilán González gave the team its first victory at the 1951 British Grand Prix.
Alberto Ascari gave Ferrari its first Drivers Championship a year later. Ferrari is the oldest team in the championship, and the most successful: the team holds nearly every Formula One record. As of 2008[update], the team's records include 15 World Drivers Championship titles (1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007) 16 World Constructors Championship titles (1961, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008), 209 Grand Prix victories, 4925.27 points, 622 podium finishes, 203 pole positions, and 218 fastest laps in 776 Grands Prix contested.
Notable Ferrari drivers include Tazio Nuvolari, José Froilán González, Juan Manuel Fangio, Luigi Chinetti, Alberto Ascari, Wolfgang von Trips, Phil Hill, Olivier Gendebien, Mike Hawthorn, Peter Collins, Giancarlo Baghetti, John Surtees, Lorenzo Bandini, Ludovico Scarfiotti, Jacky Ickx, Mario Andretti, Clay Regazzoni, Niki Lauda, Carlos Reutemann, Jody Scheckter, Gilles Villeneuve, Didier Pironi, Patrick Tambay, René Arnoux, Michele Alboreto, Gerhard Berger, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Jean Alesi, Eddie Irvine, Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa.
At the end of the 2006 season, the team courted controversy by continuing to allow Marlboro to sponsor them after they, along with the other F1 teams, made a promise to end sponsorship deals with tobacco manufacturers. A five year deal was agreed and although this is not due to end until 2011, in April 2008 Marlboro dropped their on-car branding on Ferrari.
The drivers competing for 2009 were Felipe Massa and defending champion Kimi Räikkönen. Massa was injured by a 1 kg suspension spring from the car of Rubens Barrichello after second qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix, ending his season. Upon being released from his contract at Force India, Giancarlo Fisichella was announced as the driver deputising for Massa for the rest of the 2009 season after Luca Badoer deputised for the injured driver at the European and the Belgian Grand Prix. In 2010 Fernando Alonso will start racing for Ferrari after racing for Renault and Mclaren, filling Kimi Räikkönen's former seat.
nyahh*** ^____^
Sometimes you love something so much that it hurts to leave it, but you must. Sometimes it hurts too much to hold on to that thing you love. And sometimes you let go of what you love because it hurts, but then just sometimes... you get it back and live happily ever after.
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Why do people have to lose things to find out what they really mean?
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When you are in love and you get hurt, it’s like a cut... it will heal, but there will always be a scar.
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May God put a spell on you... so you won’t forget me.
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Whenever I cried he would always make me feel like he would change the world if he could so it couldn't hurt me anymore. But now I’m crying and he's not here
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You can close your eyes to things you don’t want to see, but you can’t close your heart to things you don’t want to feel.
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When I see you smile and know that it is not for me, that is when I will miss you the most.
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When you said forever, you meant a few months. When I said forever, I meant every day until I died. When you said always, you meant until you couldn't handle it anymore. When I said always, I meant until time ended. When you said you loved me, you meant I was no different from any other girl. When I said I loved you, I meant I had never felt what I felt for you.
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was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together again and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is broken -- and I'd rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived. unknown sad love quotes * * * * * * * * *.
With you my heart will always stay. With you my thoughts will be every day. You remain to be the one that I regret letting get away. Why didn't I say what I needed to say? You are the one I will always use my wishes on. You are the one I will always wish was never gone. I'll constantly wonder what went wrong. I'll forever think of what I could've did that was never done.
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I don't miss him, I miss who I thought he was
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I miss you a little, I guess you could say, a little too much, a little too often, and a little more each day
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There's this place in me where your finger prints still rest... your kisses still linger and your whispers softly echo... It's the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me
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A teardrop is insignificant in a pool of water, but it can touch the soul as it runs down someone’s face.
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I wish I had the guts to walk away and forget about what we had. But, I can’t because I know you won't come after me, and I guess that's what hurts the most.
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You hurt me once... shame on you. You hurt me twice... shame on me.
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True love? I used to believe it existed, but when you’ve had your heart torn out and thrown on the floor, you just don’t care anymore. . Ask me why I keep on loving
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when It's clear that you don't feel the same way for me... the problem is that as much as I can't force you to love me, I can't force myself to stop loving you.
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. When you remember how hard it is to change yourself, you begin to understand what little chance we have of changing others.
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Someone can walk into your life and it is not until after they walk out that you realize that they were even there
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Love can tear you apart... it can kill you. But if you’re lucky, it can put you back together.
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It hurts to see you walk away. For admit it or not, you were an important part of my life and the time we shared will forever be a part of me. So even though I realize that it was never meant to be, still, it hurts.
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You have been the treasure in my hand. You have been the one who always stood beside me. So unaware, I foolishly believed that you would always be there. But then there will come a day, when I will turn my head and you will slip away.
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I hate you...and then I love you...it's like I want to throw you off a cliff....then rush to the bottom to catch you
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For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are those "it might have been
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I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain. I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end. I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I’d see you again.
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Oh, I shouldn’t care or wonder where and how you are. But I can’t hide this hurt inside my broken heart. I’m fighting back emotions that I’ve never fought before, ‘cause I’m not supposed to love you anymore.
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It hurts the most when you can actually feel your heart breaking.
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I can’t cry hard enough for you to hear me.
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The tears I wish to wipe away, will run unchecked for another day. Alas, that is the price I pay.
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No, I can’t erase the wrong I’ve done but I hope you can give me another chance. Because if you were me, you would want the same and I’d give that chance to you.
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You love to hate the one who loves the one you hate to love.
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Even if my heart should call out your name in the rain. Even if these arms should want to embrace you again. And even if I’m all cried out and no longer in pain... I’ll never fall in love that way again.
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Once upon a time I was falling in love, but now I’m only falling apart. - "Total Eclipse of the Heart
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I could fill a thousand pages telling you how I felt and still you would not understand. So now I leave without a sound, except that of my heart shattering as it hits the ground.
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We are never so defenseless against suffering as when we love. .
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The ones that you love the most are usually the ones that hurt you the most.
quotes ^____^
Break-up is a sad loss. It shatters lives. But is a break-up bad? If the circumstances before the break-up were intolerable, then the break-up may actually be good for the couple. It is better to break-up with an abusive partner than to continue living with the torture. Of course, you will still have trouble coping with the loss. But it is time to move on. Read these break-up quotes to help you find your feet. With these break-up quotes, you can muster your strength to face new challenges.
When you are deeply in love, heartbreak can be traumatic. If you are going through a period of heartbreak, you must accept the fact that life goes on and so must you. Face those feelings of rejection and anger by acknowledging them, dealing with them, and then achieving closure. The most important thing is to get in touch with reality. Here are some thought-provoking heartbreak love quotes. These heartbreak love quotes show you the road to recovery and make it a lot less bumpy.
A famous adage goes as follows: "A friend is one who walks in when others walk out." All those who have had their hearts trampled upon will agree that the presence of a friend can ease the pain. So, if you have a friend going through a tough heartbreak, make sure to be around. If you find yourself at a loss of words, don't fret. These love and heartbreak quotes can aptly express your feelings without making you sound like a know-it-all.
Are you going through a rough patch in your love life? Have you lost your love? Take heart by reading this exclusive collection of lost love quotes. These quotes may be brief but they speak volumes about love. You will find famous quotes like "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all."
re you heart broken or dejected? Looking for comfort in words that speak of your sorrow? Remember, sorrow is just a passing phase. You need to muster your strength to endure pain. This link will bring you to a collection of top 10 sad love quotes. The wisdom in these sad love quotes may just change your outlook towards love and life.
Breaking up is one of the saddest moments for a person. This is a site with sad quotes on breaking up: "I don't miss him; I miss who I thought he was." If you have been through a breakup recently, these sad quotes will really strike a cord deep within.
colour cloud palace
Story
Set in the fictional empire of Saiunkoku, the story centers on Shurei Hong, a descendant of a noble family that has fallen on hard times.
Her father works as a librarian in the Imperial palace, a post which offers prestige and respect, but little compensation. Shurei teaches in the temple school and works odd jobs to make ends meet, but her dream is to pass the imperial examinations and take a post in government, a path forbidden to women.
Shurei's plans come to an abrupt halt when the Emperor's Grand Advisor makes a startling offer for her to join the imperial household for six months as the young Emperor's consort and teach the Emperor to be a responsible ruler. If she succeeds, the financial reward will be great.
The story details Shurei's growing relationship with the Emperor and other members of the court, the intrigues of imperial politics, and her commitment to better herself and her country
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
legend of dragoon
Story- legend of dragoon
The story begins when Dart, the protagonist, is heading home from a 5 year long journey to pursue the black monster, who killed his parents and destroyed his birth city: Neet. On the way, he is attacked by Feyrbrand, a dragon controlled by the Sandora, a rebel faction in the Serdian civil war. After Dart gets hit by the dragon, he gets saved by a mysterious female heroine named Rose, though they soon part ways. When he arrives at his hometown, Seles, he discovers that it has been destroyed by Sandora, and that Shana, Dart’s childhood friend (and later in the game, his love interest), has been taken away. Dart sets out to rescue her. Throughout the game, he is periodically joined by people that he helps along the way.
After rescuing Shana from Hellena prison with the help of the recently escaped: Lavitz Slambert, King Albert sends the party to defend the fort-city of Hoax against attacks from Sandora. Among the attacking Sandora is Kongol, the last survivor of a race of giants known as the Gigantos. It is in his battle with Kongol that Dart first gains his ability to transform into a Dragoon using the Dragoon Spirit of the Red-Eyed Dragon with the help of Rose. Kongol is injured, but survives and retreats. With the fort safe, they travel to the city of Lohan. In the city, they meet a man named Lloyd in the Heroes Tournament, supposedly the greatest swordsman in the world. Later they discover that he kidnapped King Albert and took the Moon Gem from him, an ancient artifact held by the Royal Family. Lavitz desperately tries to save King Albert, buts gets killed by Lloyd's Dragon Buster, a sword created by the Winglies to kill Dragoons. The king is rescued, but Lloyd gets away with the Moon Gem.
They soon discover that Lloyd is gathering other artifacts held by human kings since the days of the Wingly Empire, and at the same time, causing disasters in the lands that he visits. While the party tries to reverse Lloyd’s work, Lloyd manages to obtain all three of the artifacts, and also obtains the Dragoon Spirit of the Divine Dragon, the most powerful dragon in the world. Dart and the party finally manage to defeat Lloyd, who then agrees to take them to Emperor Diaz, ancient Emperor of Gloriano during the Dragon Campaign. After apparently betraying and killing Lloyd, Emperor Diaz reveals several things to the party.
During the height of the Wingly Empire over eleven thousand years ago, a creature called the Virage Embryo, also known as the Demon of Destruction, came to the world to end all other life. Before it could be born, the Winglies used their magical power to separate its body from its soul, making it unable to destroy them. They then cast the body into the sky, where it became the Moon That Never Sets, and sealed it using several magical Signets, one in each of the ancient Wingly cities, to prevent the soul and body from reuniting. The soul of the Demon of Destruction was originally placed inside the Crystal Sphere, which was worn by the ancient Wingly ruler Melbu Frahma to increase his power. However, during the Dragon Campaign, when the Dragoons assaulted Kadessa, the capital city of the Ancient Winglies, the Crystal Sphere was shattered during the fight between Melbu Frahma and Zieg Feld, leader of the Dragoons.
Ever since, the soul of the Demon of Destruction has wandered the Earth and, every one hundred and eight years, possesses the body of a human child in an attempt to return to its body. The body can be summoned if the Signets are destroyed, which can be done using the immense magical power contained within the artifacts that Lloyd gathered, called the Divine Moon Objects. At this time, the human that is the soul of the Demon of Destruction is Shana. Emperor Diaz then reveals himself to be Zieg Feld, Dart's father and leader of the Dragoons that fought alongside Rose in the Dragon Campaign. After Zieg defeated Melbu Frahma, Melbu cast a spell that both petrified him and kept Melbu's spirit alive within Zieg's body. Finally, it is revealed that Rose is the Black Monster that destroyed Dart’s village, in an attempt to kill the person carrying the soul of the Demon of Destruction.
After all this is revealed, Zieg (or, more accurately, Melbu Frahma, who is now possessing Zieg's body) takes Shana away and proceeds to destroy the remaining three Signet Spheres that seal the Moon That Never Sets, the flesh of the Demon of Destruction, causing it to fall from the sky and land on the Divine Tree. He then carries her to the body of the Demon of Destruction, so that the body will sense the presence of its soul and prepare to restore itself. Instead, Melbu Frahma unites with the body himself, taking the form and power of the Demon of Destruction. Zieg is released from Melbu Frahma’s possession, and aids the party in their attempt to defeat Melbu. Lloyd arrives to confront Frahma himself and puts up a valiant effort before being killed. In his final moments he passes on the Spirit of the Dvine Dragon to Dart and the Dragon Buster to Rose. The party defeats Melbu Frahma with Lloyd's gifts, but at the cost of Rose and Zieg who sacrifice themselves to destroy Melbu Frahma. Everyone else is able to return home to live their own lives.
Story
In the village of Coriander, a 14-year old girl named Platina lives with her cruel parents. The village falls upon hard times and her friend Lucian finds out that her parents are going to sell her into slavery. The two run away but accidentally wander into the Weeping Lily Meadow where Platina dies from the toxic pollen.
Lenneth Valkyrie awakens in Asgard and is tasked by the god Odin and goddess Freya with recruiting Einherjar for their war with the Vanir and the coming of Ragnarok. Her first recruits are the princess Jelanda and mercenary Arngrim. After the arrogant Arngrim inadvertently embarrasses her father, Jelanda plots revenge but is kidnapped by a traitorous court minister and transformed into a monster. Lenneth helps Arngrim kill the monster and claims Jelanda as an Einherjar. Arngrim, having unknowingly aided Jelanda's captors, kills the man responsible but commits suicide rather than be arrested. At Jelanda's request, Lenneth makes Arngrim an Einherjar but Odin and Freya find him lacking the qualities of an Einherjar and refuse to accept him into Valhalla so Arngrim remains at Lenneth's side.
During Lenneth's travels, she meets Brahms, lord of the undead and enemy of Odin, who possesses her sister Silmeria (due to circumstances explained in Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria) and the necromancer Lezard Valeth, who lures her to his tower. Lenneth learns that Lezard has been experimenting with half-elven homunculi to use as vessels to attain godhood. Lezard wants Lenneth for himself, but she refuses to cooperate and destroys his experiments. The sorceress Mystina, one of Lezard's rivals, discovers what he has been doing and takes his last remaining homunculus. When he discovers her theft, Lezard freezes her body while she is spirit walking, separating Mystina's soul from her body. Lenneth recruits her, though Odin and Freya refuse to accept Mystina into Valhalla and, like Arngrim, she remains with Lenneth.
Lenneth eventually meets Lucian, who grew up to become a poor thief in Gerabellum. He notices that Lenneth resembles the silver-haired Platina, though Lenneth does not know who Platina is. Lucian later becomes a Einherjar when he is killed by soldiers cleaning up the slums. Before he is sent to Valhalla, Lucian takes Lenneth to Coriander and the Weeping Lily Meadow, telling her he still loves Platina. Lenneth tells him to forget about her and kisses him before he departs but Lucian continues to brood upon Lenneth and Platina.
Lenneth's travels bring her to the Lost City of Dipan. Discovering a time machine within the city, she accidentally travels into the past and witnesses her sister Hrist execute King Barbarossa and destroy the city for defying the gods and building the time machine (Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria). Returning to her own time, Lenneth helps Barbarossa's soul find peace by defeating the three Magi haunting Dipan.
Meanwhile, in Valhalla, Lucian learns that Valkyries "sleep" in Midgard, reincarnating in Asgard upon their human deaths. However, Odin and Freya seal their memories, as they might interfere with their Valkyrie duties. The Æsir Loki tells Lucian that the Water Mirror can be used to contact the Valkyrie, though it is forbidden for anyone besides Odin to use. Lucian does so anyway and gives Lenneth an earring, telling her she will know where to find its match, but Lenneth is angry at him for his disobedience. Loki uses the distraction to steal the Dragon Orb and kills Lucian, using him as a scapegoat to cover his theft. When Lenneth returns to Asgard, Freya tells her of the Dragon Orb's theft and Lucian's death.
Lenneth finds the other earring at Platina's grave in the Weeping Lily Meadow and her memories as Platina return. Sensing that the seal is broken, Odin performs the Sovereign's Rite, transmigrating Lenneth's soul and summoning Hrist. Hrist takes control of the Valkyrie's body and tries to destroy Arngrim and Mystina, who refuse to serve her, but Lenneth intervenes. The blast shatters Lenneth's soul and Mystina crystallizes the fragments to prevent them from dissipating. Lezard Valeth appears and tells them of a way to save her. After temporarily transferring Lenneth's soul into Lezard's homunculus, Arngrim, Mystina, and Lezard confront Hrist in Brahms' castle, where she has gone to retrieve Silmeria. With Brahms' help, they defeat her and reclaim the Valkyrie's body. Back in Mystina's workshop, the elven homunculus is fused with the Valkyrie's body and Lenneth is reborn. Her memories of Lucian and Platina intact, Lenneth is disgusted with how the gods manipulate humans and the suffering they cause.
Ragnarok occurs and Loki, with the power of the Dragon Orb, betrays and kills both Odin and Surt, the leaders of the Æsir and Vanir. Returning to Asgard, Lenneth slays Fenrir and Bloodbane before confronting Loki, who destroys the world in a demonstration of his power. Fusion of the Valkyrie's body and half-elven homunculus allows Lenneth's divine powers to grow and she is able to shield herself and her Einherjar from Loki's destructive display. Her compassion for mankind and love for Lucian allows her to draw upon all of humanity, gaining the power of creation. Lenneth undoes Loki's destruction and kills him, becoming the new Lord of Creation. She then turns to see Lucian, who has been reborn, and the two are reunited.
[edit] Mythology
Valkyrie Profile is based on various events and characters from Norse Mythology, and while some depictions remain accurate to their mythic counterparts, tri-Ace took artistic liberty with others, deviating substantially from the original myths. Some such differences are as follow:
- During the game, the chief opponents of the Æsir during Ragnarok are the Vanir, Loki, and Surt. In traditional Nordic myth, the chief opponents are the Æsir and the Jotun (a race of giants), Loki, and Surt. The Vanir and Æsir were at war at one time, however, though it was not for the battle of Ragnarok.
- In Nordic myth, the Vanir are another race of gods with little differences to the Æsir actually expressed, whereas in Valkyrie Profile, the Vanir are depicted themselves as giants, and appear to take on the general role of the Jotun.
- In Nordic myth, Loki is originally half-Æsir and half-Jotun. In the game, he is half-Æsir and half-Vanir, further demonstrating Tri-Ace's substitution of the Jotun for the Vanir.
- In Nordic myth, Surt is a fire Jotun and ruler of Muspellheim who burns down the world during Ragnarok, while in the game, he is leader of the Vanir, and appears to be an ice giant who still rules over Muspellheim, though it should be noted that many of his attacks are fire based. In the "A Ending" game, it is Loki who destroys the world during Ragnarok after slaying Surt.
- In Nordic myth, Loki dies from his wounds after battle with Heimdall, the watchman of the Gods. In the game, Loki is slain by Lenneth.
- In Nordic myth, Odin is slain during Ragnarok by Fenrir, a giant wolf who eats him alive. Fenrir is then slain by Vidar, Odin's son. In the game, it is implied that Odin is slain by Loki, who has Fenrir at his side. Odin is not consumed alive in the game as in the myth, and it is Lenneth, not Vidar, who slays Fenrir in the game.
- In Nordic myth, both Freya and Frei are of the Vanir; Freya later married into the Æsir to end the war between the Æsir and the Vanir. In the game, both are aligned with the Æsir, though it is never stated whether or not they were originally of the Vanir.
- In Nordic myth, Frei is male, Freya's brother, one of the more powerful Norse gods, and among the first to die at Ragnarok. In the game, Frei is portrayed as a young girl and her death during Ragnarok is not depicted, though her fate is ultimately uncertain. However, in the official manga adaptation, Frei is one of Loki's first victims as he wages war on Valhalla.
- After Ragnarok in Nordic Myth, the world is reborn and two humans, Lif and Lifthrasir, emerge as the sole human survivors. Baldur, a God who was tricked and slain (indirectly) by Loki, survives the conflict and leaves Hel. In the game, the world is similarly reborn after Ragnarok, but Lenneth and Lucian are shown together in the end, rather than Lif and Lifthrasir. Rather than Baldur, it is Lucian who is tricked and slain by Loki, only to be miraculously resurrected after Ragnarok.
- In Nordic myth, as in the game, Valkyries are responsible for choosing Einherjar (the souls of brave fallen warriors) to escort to Valhalla to fight at Odin's side during Ragnarok. However, Valkyries originally did not train Einherjar, and while they are indeed warriors, never engaged in combat on Earth, as they do in the game.
- In Nordic Myth, Arngrim is a mighty warrior who battles many foes in the employ of a king to win the hand of his daughter, the princess. In the game, Arngrim is a mighty warrior who fights in the employ of a king, but as a mercenary. The king's daughter, Princess Jelanda, plays a crucial role in Arngrim's portion of the game, however, and he eventually fights and dies avenging her rather than trying to marry her.
- Lenneth Valkyrie herself is possibly featured after Brynhild in the Icelandic The Saga of the Volsungs (or Brünhild in the German Nibelungenlied). Brynhild is a valkyrie who was punished by Odin for disobedience and love for Siegfried, a human. Many of the events during the game resemble the events surrounding Brynhild. For instance, Lenneth has her memories of Lucian, a human she was in love with, magically erased. In the myth, Siegfried has his memories of Brynhild magically erased. In the myth, Brynhild is trapped by a ring of fire from which Siegfried frees her and helps her awaken, and in the game, Lenneth's memories are sealed by the Nibelungen Ring; memories that Lucian eventually helps her remember so that her true personality may awaken. Furthermore, in the myth, Siegfried is renounced by Brynhild shortly before his murder as a precursor to Valhalla's fall during Ragnarok. In the game, Lucian is renounced by Lenneth shortly before he is murdered as a precursor to Ragnarok.
The nine realms of the world are connected by the roots of the world tree, Yggdrasil. Three of the strongest roots contain the five realms significant to Valkyrie Profile:
- Asgard, the home of the Æsir and Vanir, and Alfheim, realm of the elves, exist on the highest root. The only way to enter from Midgard is to cross the rainbow bridge Bifrost. It is home to the Hall of Valhalla, where warriors who died heroically are brought by Valkyries to fight alongside the gods.
- Midgard, the realm of humans, and Jotunheim, the home of the giants, exist on the middle root. Midgard is a war torn land, separated from the snowy land of Jotunheim by tall mountains and vast oceans.
- Niflheim, the realm of the dead, exists on the lowest root. It is a dark, fog-covered land neglected by the other gods, where those who died ignominious deaths were condemned to an eternity of torment and suffering by the death goddess Queen Hel.
Four powerful artifacts ("the Four Great Treasures") ensure the stability and peace of each realm:
- Asgard - Gungnir, Odin's spear.
- Alfheim - the Sylvan Bow, which is currently in Odin's possession.
- Midgard - the Dragon Orb. Once located in Midgard in the Palace of the Dragon, but Odin has stolen it as of Valkyrie Profile to prepare for the coming of Ragnarok.
- Niflheim - the demon sword Levantine. It was eaten by the dragon Bloodbane.
Valkyrie Profile takes place mostly in Midgard during the war between the Æsir and Vanir. Midgard consists of a several smaller islands surrounding a large continent where the majority of humans live. The kingdom of Villnore, which includes the village of Coriander and the Weeping Lily Meadow, are in the northwest. The kingdom of Gerabellum, including the village of Lassen, occupy the southwestern portion of the continent. The militaristic Crell Monferaigne controls most of the eastern half of the continent. The small kingdom of Artolia and village of Camille, located centrally, are often caught in wars between their three larger neighbors. The monarchy of Flenceburg, known for its magical academy, lies on a peninsula in the southeast. The rest of the continent is covered by mountains, forests, swamps, and ancient ruins. The land of Hai-Lan lies on the island of Yamato to the southwest while the Lost City of Dipan (featured in Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria) is on an island to the north. The Forest of Spirits, home of the elves in Midgard, lies on a large island to the south-east of Flenceburg. The Palace of the Dragon lies on a small island to the east. The castle of Brahms, lord of the undead, floats over an island to the west. Finally, the final part of the game brings Lenneth to either Jotunheim Palace, home of the Vanir, or Asgard Hill, home of the Æsir, depending on which ending is achieved.
^___^ valkyrie profile
Valkyrie Profile
"I Shall Not Forgive..."
STORY
On the surface, Valkyrie Profile doesn't present much of a good quality storyline. But if you dig deeper and that's much deeper, then you would have one of the best rpg love story around. To prove the point, I, "ahem, broke a tear on this love story". Hadn't felt this bad since the death of Aeris. Yes, I'm a sucker for sad love story. Yes, I'm a man. I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let's get back to the starting point. The title of this game fit very well with this game. This is indeed a profile of the goddess, Valkyrie. Mostly about who she is and where she came from. Before playing the game, you can see or watch the story prologue. The story prologue is very important to the story best ending as they are both connected to one another. The prologue begins with two children. A boy name Lucian and a girl name Platina. After finding out that her parents were going to sell her off as a slave, Platina and Lucian decided to run away from home. Aftering running off, the two kids ended up in a deadly place called Weeping Lilys. It appears that if anyone who isn't strong enough inhale the lilys, they die. Platina being a little girl and isn't as strong as Lucian dies. The prologue then ends with Lucian crying over the death of Platina.
Now fast forward to the beginning of the game. The game begins with the Odin, leader of the gods, summoning one of the three goddesses of fate. Valkyrie, the lead (female) character just happens to be one of the three goddesses of fate. Valkyrie is the goddess of chosen souls for your information. Getting back to the point, Odin has summon Valkyrie because a war is going to break out in Asgard, home of the gods. Basically a war of the gods. Odin has summon Valkyrie for a purpose. That purpose is to gather the souls of dead heroes in Midgard, home of the humans. With this objective at hand, Valkyrie sets off to Midgard to look for fallen heroes. Now this is the basic of the game quest and the story. Valkyrie will use her power to find the next character that will fall in battle. You will then get a small background story sequence to that character. Afterwards, you move onto the next character to fall in battle. Now that doesn't look like much for a storyline, does it? Each of the small background story sequence of the characters that join your party does in a strange way fit together but they're more of a jigsaw puzzles and you have to figure out what order of the story sequence goes where. If you play the game the second time around, you'll probably have a better understanding of these small story sequence. Still the story is very lack luster. So where's the love story in this game. The key is getting the really good ending to the game. The game's real story is so hidden like a secret side quest that you really have to try hard to unlock it but it's well worth the effort. Okay, it doesn't take much of a dumb person to figure out that Valkyrie is the little Platina girl that died in the Prologue seeing as they looked exactly the same. The key is to try and trigger an event that will start to bring about Valkyrie past memories back to her. This of course involve, Lucian, one of the fallen souls that Valkyrie gathers who just happens to be Platina childhood boyfriend. Lucian starts off like a dull character but quickly becomes the male counterpart of Aeris. Which explain why I've quickly grown to love Lucian as one of my best male rpg character. Without going into too much details. Lucian while trying to bring Valkyrie memories back met up with Loki, Valkyrie Profile's Sephiroth. And we all know what happens when Sephiroth met Aeris. So I won't explain what happens next. Needless to say, Valkyrie soon got her memories back only to find out what happens to Lucian. "I shall not forgive.." is the best Valkyrie quote for this situation. Then we have the showdown between Cloud and Sephiroth. I mean Valkyrie and Loki. This is probably the best emotional end game fight sequence since FF7 disc 1 scene after the Aeris sequence. What is amazing is that they actually fit this entire storyline sequence into the ending of Valkyrie Profile. This is one of the best endings in terms of closure to a game's plotline and storyline. Without this really good ending, Valkyrie Profile story is very dull and somewhat confusing. The entire story lay heavily on the outcome of the good ending. And the good ending doesn't disappoint you. The downside is that you really can't get this good ending story closure without a strategy guide or a faqs. What is also great about this love story is that they don't try and force a couple down your throat like some rpg games. In fact this is really a tragic love story as the key love couple never got a chance to be together. This love story works for me. Maybe it's because I'm a sap for a good love story. Without the good ending and just the normal ending, the story would get a 7 but I'm adding an extra 2 points to the 7 for the really good ending.
-aecii-
