#kinda-spoiler for Olgan

[kyuohki]

Tell me about Olgan and Kemal! What is their relationship with their parents/family like?

What originally inspired you to make them?

Olgan and Kemal! EEE! (Under a cut bc it got long!)

The inspiration to make them - nothing in particular stands out; mostly they were just background characters in the first iteration of Discarded Hope, loosely based on two power-hitters I had in-game. (Discarded Hope was originally supposed to follow Marche's brother and Montblanc, and delve into Marche's past of being neglected because Doned needed more care from their mother. I will eventually write this story...) Kemal was a Paladin with Fighter skills, and Olgan was a Black Mage with White Mage capabilities (and items equipped that boosted the spells cast). While I was writing up the first part of the first chapter, Kemal decided to make come-hither eyes at Olgan, and I remember writing out Soft Care (then just titled Side Story) in the attempt to get the two to leave me alone...yeah, that didn't work. I ended up re-rewriting everything (and making edits to their Jobs) to figure out their story.

Kemal is youngest of two and a "runaway" of a prominent noble family (eeeeh, still trying to place where in the noble hierarchy I want them to be). His father, Evren, is a Paladin who was granted a title for heroic deeds; while his mother, Sena, is a Monk/Fighter, and is the reason why Kemal dual-wields swords. Kemal idolizes his parents, and wanted to follow in their footsteps (was originally training as a Paladin, with intent to become a Judge). He eventually became disillusioned with the Judges while training to become one (there's a lot of corruption, etc), and ends up leaving on a journey to figure himself out, with his parents' blessing (Evren gets Kemal set up into his first clan, pulling a few strings with old friends). His sister, Lela, is 10(ish) years older than Kemal, dislikes fighting and dedicated her time learning how to navigate politics to keep their family safe in other ways (she's the main reason their family is as prominent as it is, otherwise it'd be an empty title). Lela nags him whenever he goes home, for him to settle down and be more respectable (she dislikes how rumors circulated amongst the nobles on how "uncivilized" he's become (with digs on how their family is "jumped up"/etc), and he cuts his visits short when it gets to be too much (Evren and Sena miss him and also wish he'd stay, but also don't want to cage him in.)

Olgan was raised by his mother, Letia, who was a high ranking Black mage, but does not know/remember his father (a Summon/Eidolon/Esper, whatever term you prefer; not gonna say *which* one, but it's a very powerful entity. >:3 ) Said Eidolon was trapped on Ivalice by Letia's clan (their mages sort of forced them into a vessel of their choice, a sacrificial male Hume; the vessel's physical form was overwritten when the spirit was bound, giving the body characteristics/powers of the Eidolon, with controlling magic to make them do what the clan wanted). Letia disagreed with what they were doing and helped them escape, eventually falling in love with the trapped Eidolon, and Olgan was the result. Her clan chased them, and the Eidolon was eventually “killed” (physical form destroyed, spirit returning to the Land of Eidolons), leaving Letia to flee and raise Olgan on her own (he's about 2-3 when this happens). Even as a child, Olgan could use a lot of spells, which Letia had to teach him to control and hide (most toddlers aren't able to cast any spells, while Olgan was casting both basic black and white magic). This made her paranoid and strict with Olgan, though she tried her best to ensure that he knew he was loved. Letia was eventually caught by her old clan in a Jagd, and sacrificed herself to take them out and protect him (Olgan would be about 8-ish when this happened). He wandered around in the Jagd and was caught by slavers, was bought and sold for a few years, then Kilov "rescued" him when (he held this over Olgan's head for a long time). He was trained to be a thief (and then plaything), then his magical abilities made themselves known (primarily the black magic) and had to learn to use them quickly. Olgan is about 16-17 when he is injured on a mission and lands himself in Matius' safehouse the first time, and the Gladiator-turned-Priest immediately tries to adopt convince him to stay in the Order. He's in and out of the safehouse for a few years more (making friends w/ the Order and warming up to Matius and his unsubtle attempts at fathering him), when the incident with Lorek happens, Olgan takes the chance to flee the Jagd and change his life around.