Barnabas Tharmr
Someone who was originally an antagonist, Barnabas's fate is forever changed by several small adjustments to his past. But will this be enough to reshape the path he once walked, or is he doomed to become nothing more than a willing puppet for Ultima's use?
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Barnabas is a rather fit young teen, one who is light on his feet and not too prone to tripping over his growing limbs.
Body Features
Despite his short, yet growing, stature and slight frame, Barnabas is surprisingly muscular, able to lift some things that the older teens hesitate to, and successfully challenge fully grown men to spars only to come out the victor. While he acquires a notable scar during the raid on Kjara, just underneath his left collarbone, the rest of him is, for now, surprisingly unmarked.
Facial Features
With a jaw just starting to broaden, and high cheekbones, Barnabas is sure to become a classically handsome young man in a few years. Icy blue eyes peer out from under stern, full eyebrows, gazing around at the world with a mix of calm curiosity and dull ambivalence. His lips are slightly pursed at all times, almost a pout if not for the steel in his gaze daring anyone who looks to call it such - and the only one who ever dares is his mother.
Identifying Characteristics
He takes an injury just below his left collarbone that ends up leaving behind a rather noticeable scar.
Special abilities
Barnabas holds singular control over the shadows, allowing him to peer through them with the assistance of Zansetsuken, teleport from one shadow to the next, and turn darkness itself into another weapon for him to use.
He is also capable of both a full and partial Prime into Odin, as the Eikon's Dominant.
Specialized Equipment
Once he awakens as Dominant of Odin, Barnabas is able to call the sword Zansetsuken to hand, allowing him the ability to cut through anything he chooses to while leaving intact all that he doesn't.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
For as long as he can remember, Barnabas has lived alone with his mother in Kjara, on the continent of Ash. He has few memories of his life on the Outer Continent, or of the father who sent Barnabas and his mother away for their own safety. While he may have the occasional pang of longing for someone who is no longer there, it matters little to him in his daily life; his mother is the center of his world, and Barnabas wouldn't change that even if the Almighty Themself told him to.
As one of the best warriors of Kjara, despite his age and relative inexperience in the field, it is expected for Barnabas to take over the role of Chieftain when the current one dies or decides to pass on the title. He still has a long way to go, and fully acknowledges this, dedicating himself to his training, both as a warrior and a leader. This will come in handy, as one day, a raid occurs on Kjara: soldiers of the local Fjord, masquerading as bandits, there to "wipe out the savages living on the land".
And then, like deliverance itself, he and his mother are saved by none other than Mythos... and Barnabas's life is changed forever.
Gender Identity
Unlike many in his village, Barnabas does not place any weight upon what physical parts are connected to gender. If you say you are a man, then you are a man, and the same goes for women. When combined with the fact that the Almighty is meant to represent all aspects of humanity, and thus are not one gender but both, and Barnabas really doesn't understand the reason why it's so important to others, outside of potential biological impulses and necessities of reproduction.
Sexuality
He is still a bit too young to be considering this, however given how close puberty is, he's going to learn the hard way that he has a preference for male companions - especially when his first explicit dream about Mythos happens...
Education
His mother ensured that Barnabas is as well-educated as she could manage, teaching him how to read and write at an early age, with mathematics following shortly after, and fostering his curiosity as much as she could.
Much of his martial training has been in sword work, however if needed, Barnabas can pick up any weapon and know the basics of how to use it, with the sole exception being archery.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Despite his age and lack of field experience, Barnabas stands as one of the best warriors in his village, and certainly one of the most educated.
Failures & Embarrassments
One of his most shameful secrets is how he quietly questions the doctrine of the Circle of Malius, and the priests that lead the faithful. It is not that he does not follow the Circle, but that he is curious about the world, and why the Almighty would create it, and humanity, as it is only to scorn it.
Intellectual Characteristics
Quick-thinking and sharp-tongued, Barnabas is not only curious about the world and how it functions, but able to pick apart lies in seconds (when he knows to not trust an individual) and constantly craving new challenges.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
All Barnabas wishes is to be a good son, and a devoted servant to the Almighty. When given a "commandment" by Mythos, he does his all to follow through on it, even going so far as to create a nation in order to see it through.
Likes & Dislikes
He has always preferred horses to chocobos, both in general and in how it feels when riding the two.
Hygiene
Barnabas views uncleanliness as an insult to the Almighty, and so does his best to at least wipe himself down with a wet cloth regularly, if not a full clean as often as possible.
Social
Family Ties
Barnabas's only familial tie is his mother, something he does not mind given how much he adores her.
Religious Views
As a strongly religious individual, raised in a highly religious community, Barnabas is devoted to the Almighty, though he still finds himself questioning several things. After being saved by Mythos, he finds that devotion slowly shifting focus, but thinks nothing of it, as Mythos is meant to be the vessel to the Almighty according to the Circle of Malius.
Social Aptitude
Barnabas is a very charismatic individual, capable of swaying most people to his side, or at least to listen to him and his ideas. He has a quiet confidence unsullied by ego, though he would rather be left alone than have to interact with others.
Speech
An eloquent speaker, even at the age of 14, Barnabas speaks with a heavy Nordic accent, though in-universe it is referred to as Southern Ash. Once his voice finally drops, it will end up a smooth, low pitch, but for now it is higher, and prone to breaking should he become emotionally upset.
He prefers to use formal address for others when possible, and has a higher vocabulary than one would expect from someone raised in such a rural setting. He has a strong dislike of curse words, and doesn't even swear to his deity should something happen that others would blaspheme at.
Wealth & Financial state
Barnabas is not from a very wealthy village, often participating in both patrols to keep the people safe, hunting to fill their bellies, and helping with the planting and harvests as needed. While slightly better off, thanks to his mother's position in the Circle of Malius, this is only shown in how well-cared-for his clothing often is.
"But Mythos is everything."
Common, fluent
Changes to Character
Any Final Fantasy XVI fan knows Barnabas Tharmr as one of the primary antagonists, and far older than what I am currently depicting him as. This is a deliberate choice on my part, and here's why:
We know nothing of the real Barnabas Tharmr.
Well, next to nothing. We know a general backstory as to how he came to be who he is in the canon story, but nothing is really detailed. Understandable, given that it is backstory, and so not supposed to be detailed.
However, much of the character of Barnabas Tharmr that is actively shown is exactly as I called him at the top of this article: a puppet for Ultima. It is stated, clearly, that Ultima took over his mind and will, and can actively give him visions. Which means that, despite everything he is credited with doing, every crime against humanity, is something he cannot be held fully culpable for due to his mentally compromised state.
I intend to explore a Barnabas who, while his background remains the same, is uncorrupted by Ultima's direct influence. Some facets of his character will remain the same, while others may end up different due to circumstances. Either way, this is not the same Barnabas Tharmr as the canon events of Final Fantasy XVI. As for his age, well... I'm really not a fan of him being 65-70, alright? Personal preference, though in the story it's called "time travel fucked things up".
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