Xaldin: Difference between revisions

Dilan, along with the other apprentices, was consumed by the darkness, producing a Heartless. However, the apprentices all had strong wills, and so Dilan also produced a [[Nobody]], Xaldin. The six Nobodies formed [[Organization XIII]], and banished Ansem the Wise to the [[Realm of Darkness]].{{fact}}<!--citation and storylink-->

Xaldin later interrupts [[Demyx]]'s strumming, telling him to keep it down because he wanted to sleep. Annoyed, Xaldin questioned why Demyx clung to his human memories, but received no reply. Xaldin told him that [[Nobody|Nobodies]] needed to sleep because a terrible force was moving the world, and they need rest to store up power. Demyx did not reply once again as Xaldin left the room, displeased.{{fact}}<!--citation and storylink-->

Present when Xion joined Organization XIII, Xaldin aided Roxas on various missions, particularly to Beast's Castle. It was on one of these missions that Xaldin witnessed the Beast's power, his later quest to obtain the Beast's Heartless and Nobody beginning at this point. Xaldin's plan grew during the continuous visits to the castle, as he learned of the strong connections between the Beast, his rose, and the only human in the castle, [[Belle]]. He deemed that it was a spell that made the Beast what he was, and the rose and Belle were important to the breaking of this spell. Xaldin decided to use this to his advantage and his plan began.

[[File:The Organization's Thoughts A Traitor's End 01 KHIIFM.png|thumb|right|Xaldin threatens Axel when the latter displays hesitation at going after Roxas.]]

Xaldin is present when [[Axel]] is ordered to eliminate [[Roxas]] after it is clear that Roxas has no intention of returning to the Organization, driving the order home by sending one of his lances into the backrest of Axel's chair, inches from his head, before being halted by Xemnas. Two days later, he appears alongside [[Xemnas]], [[Saïx]], [[Xigbar]], [[Luxord]], and [[Demyx]] at [[Hollow Bastion]], and laughs emptily with the rest of the group at Xemnas's empty humor at Sora's expense. Following their return from Hollow Bastion, Xaldin remarks that Sora is too young to wield the Keyblade, though Xigbar remains optimistic since the Keyblade chose Sora for his pure heart. Xaldin then breaks up an argument between [[Xigbar]] and [[Demyx]], much to Luxord's disappointment, and lectures Demyx for acting as if he has true emotions.

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.

[[File:Belle or the Rose 02 KHII.png|thumb|right|Xaldin ready to battle Beast and Sora.]]

Belle shuts herself in her room, confining herself to looking out on the balcony. There she finds 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 time to choose, however, Belle elbows Xaldin in the side 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 on the bridge, using his abilities to the fullest, but is defeated and fades into darkness, relinquishing his body and soul to reunite with his heart at Radiant Garden and recreate [[Dilan|his human self]].

Xaldin is a broad-shouldered man whose attire consists of a basic Organization black cloak, along with the usual boots and gloves. Xaldin's black hair is styled into distinctive dreadlocks that flair dramatically when he manipulates the wind. One of these dreads is used to tie most of the others into a sort of ponytail, while four thinner dreads dangle in front of Xaldin's face (two on each side). He also has bushy eyebrows and very thick sideburns, the latter of which hook around his cheeks, parallel to his violet eyes. Xaldin also has flesh tunnels with an earring through the hole.

Xaldin is a high-ranking and independent Organization member, working alone for the entirety of his presence in ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'' (sans his hooded appearance in Hollow Bastion). Xaldin is sadistic and revels in others' despair, manipulating Beast in the castle and taunting him and Sora during their fight. Interestingly enough, some of Xaldin's battle quotes and the delivery of his lines seem to give him a sense of disinclination (emphasized by the fact that he will hold his arms behind his back in scenes, and even in battle).

His unpleasant personality is showcased in ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', where he speaks sarcastically and impatiently to Roxas during their missions together. He expresses a keen interest in the psychological weaknesses of his opponents, and how they can be exploited. He explains why he had been given the task of turning Beast into a Heartless. His disposition also shows during his investigation, detailing only the personalities of those who live there (which he concludes with great accuracy, given his Nobody status). He also seems to enjoy combat, a trait that is shown during the [[Dark Follower]] mission. In addition, he disapproves of laziness, which Xaldin, when spoken to in the Grey Area, says he cannot stand. This disapproval is also implied when, during a mission with Roxas, he tells the younger Nobody "No breaks." In the [[Secret Reports]], he writes that he has a contempt for beings with emotion, and that he desires a heart only so that he may be able to do what only people with hearts can do.{{storylink|Day 119: Hearts and Emotion}} He has no desire to feel emotion. He has been shown to be deeply pessimistic and cynical, stating that the power of love is the stuff of poetry, not practicality, and that love never lasts.

In ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', Xaldin has a Limit Break called [[Dragoon Storm]], which swirls lances at enemies with the Final Limit causing  Xaldin land a mighty blow on an enemy from the air. This is a similar technique to the {{ff|Jump}} ability that can be used by {{ff|Dragoon (job)|Dragoon}}s in the {{ff|Final Fantasy (Series)|''Final Fantasy'' series}}.  

Xaldin carries six '''Lances''', called '''[[Lindworm]]'''. They, along with Xaldin's attacks and Dragoon Lesser Nobodies, are a reference to the {{ff|Dragoon (job)|Dragoon Job Class}} in ''Final Fantasy''. They are purple and blue, longer than six feet, each has the shape of the Nobody symbol, and one end resembles a Dragoon Nobody's "head" combined with the lower half of the Nobody logo. Xaldin only holds up to three at a time, and the rest float around him in the wind Xaldin commands.

Xaldin can use them to thrust from long distances, twirl them around himself as a form of defense, jump down on a foe with all six pointed downward, or have them grow and fuse into an enormous dragon that he rides on before firing a whirlwind from the dragon's mouth. Although, in ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', Xaldin lines up all six of his lances in front of him, in order to block himself, supposedly in the style of a barrier or wall.