Xaldin: Difference between revisions

Xaldin first appears in the game as a cloaked and hooded figure during Sora's first visit to Hollow Bastion, later stating how vexed he was that the keyblade chosen a child to wield it and stopping the argument between [[Xigbar]] and [[Demyx]]. At this time Beast's Castle, Xaldin has already drained Beast of much of his hope and kindness by convincing him that [[Belle]] is plotting against him.  Beast is unresponsive to [[Sora]], [[Donald]] and [[Goofy]] when they first greet him, despite having met them before in [[Kingdom Hearts]] at [[Hollow Bastion]]. Xaldin's slippery words cause Beast to lock himself in his chambers and refuse contact with them or Belle. As Sora and gang conclude, Xaldin is after the Nobody that would emerge from Beast once he becomes a Heartless.

Sora, fighting his way through the [[Heartless]] that have settled into the castle, eventually reaches Beast's bedroom. Xaldin tells Beast that Sora and his party are only there to help Belle against Beast, and that she has sent them to steal the rose symbolizing his curse from him with the intention of eventually taking his life. Beast, still under Xaldin's influence, attacks Sora as Xaldin flees, but Sora is able to bring Beast back to his senses.

When Sora and Beast head downstairs into the ballroom, they encounter the [[Shadow Stalker]] Heartless, which attacks them.  After being defeated, it evolves into the large [[Dark Thorn]], but that too is no match for Sora, and is destroyed. Xaldin leaves the area without actually fighting himself, remaining at the Organization's base until after the Heartless War and returned to Beast's Castle to await Sora's return while getting his revenge on Beast.

Xaldin strikes again when Sora returns to Beast's Castle to find Belle and Beast having a private dance party. He flaunts that he will take something dear to the Beast, who goes into a rage. Though Sora thought Xaldin was speaking of Belle, it was actually the Enchanted Rose. In Beast's anger, he rages at Belle for insisting on having the party. Despaired over the loss of his rose and his own beastly state, Beast orders Belle to leave the castle. After restoring Beast's confidence, they managed to find Xaldin who mocks Beast, taking off his hood and resolving to seperate Beast's heart from him and take control of his [[Heartless]] and his [[Nobody]]. Belle, who shuts herself in her room, found Beast's rose, and gladly signals to [[Sora]] from the balcony. The rose is just a trap, however, and Xaldin appears behind her, kidnapping her as well as retaking the rose. Xaldin flies down in front of Beast in his courtyard, taunting him by saying he can only carry either the rose or Belle along with him, and forcing Beast to choose which one he wants him to leave behind. Before Beast has to choose, however, Belle hits Xaldin in the side with her elbow and grabs the rose, taking the time from Xaldin's surprise to escape his grasp. Beast then attacks Xaldin, who leaps aside and conjures six long spears using his powers over wind. He battles Sora and Beast in the courtyard, but is eventually defeated, and fades back into the darkness.

Xaldin is a high-ranking and independent [[Organization]] member, working alone for the entirety of his presence in [[Kingdom Hearts II]]. Xaldin is sadistic and revels in despair, attempting to cause hopelessness for Beast both in the castle and by taunting him and Sora during their fight. He is strongly built and very acrobatic, and his physical capabilities are greatly enhanced by his control of the element of wind, which he can use to maneuver himself into a variety of attacks.

Xaldin fights using six lances conjured from the wind. He can carry up to three at a time, and controls any he is not carrying using the air around him, while at the same time floating through the air without much effort.  Some of his numerous attacks include using wind to strike with all six lances from above, lashing out with his lances at different angles, spinning around in a circle with his weapons outstretched, and dropping each lance once, then sending them to orbit an opponent. After a brief pause, Xaldin drops the six lances down at once  He can also conjure blasts of wind to damage his enemies, and combine his lances into a dragon-like figure that can release a whirlwind from its mouth.  He is often very difficult to attack due to his whirling lances forming a barrier around him, but by dusing the [[reaction command]] "Learn", Sora can use a jumping attack to disrupt his pattern of attack, dealing great damage and leaving him vulnerable to attack by Sora's [[keyblade]].