Maechen



Maechen is a non-player character and scholar in Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2. He has a vast knowledge of the history and origins of all things related to Spira as well as its many cultures, and is infamous for his long-winded expositions. If the party speaks with him at various locations, he will tell stories about Spira's history or even describe some of Spira's inhabitants, such as the Hypello.

Final Fantasy X
Yuna and her guardians first meet Maechen on the Mi'ihen Highroad where he tells the tale of Lord Mi'ihen, the Crusaders, and the history of the Highroad. Thereafter he appears in many other locations, each time with a new story to tell. Many of his stories are long-winded, but much of Spira's history can only be learned from him.

On the Moonflow, Maechen appears to tell the player about shoopufs and the Hypello. In Guadosalam, he tells the player about the Farplane and the pyreflies. On the Thunder Plains, Maechen appears to tell the party about the plains and how the lightning towers were built. At the travel agency at Macalania, Maechen tells the lake is frozen due to the fayth in the nearby temple.

In the Calm Lands, Maechen tells the player how the plains have been used by summoners as a battleground when fighting Sin and that's how the plains acquire their name. He eventually resides in Mt. Gagazet, where he reveals much of the lesser discussed history of Yevon.

In the ending cinematics Maechen is seen in Besaid gathering around the bonfire with the Besaid Aurochs and Crusaders.

Final Fantasy X-2
Maechen returns in Final Fantasy X-2 and again, many details regarding Zanarkand, Vegnagun, Shuyin, and Lenne can be learned from him.

Maechen is first met in Youth League's base in Mushroom Rock where he talks about the events that went on since he last met Yuna, telling of the formations of the different factions all around Spira. If the player listens all the way to the end Maechen wants to shake Yuna's hand, but appears confused by it, although it is not explained why.

Later, Maechen appears in Chateau Leblanc after the Gullwings receive an old sphere that shows Shuyin. Maechen talks how the man in the sphere looks like Tidus and gives hints that there may be a way for Yuna to see him again. Maechen is met again in the Celsius after the Thunder Plains concert where he tells the story of Shuyin and Lenne.

In the final conversation with him in Zanarkand, Maechen is revealed to be an unsent. His actual age at death is unknown, but he was alive since before the destruction of Zanarkand in the Machina War with Bevelle, one thousand years before the main storyline of Final Fantasy X. It is, in fact, Maechen's voice Yuna and company hear on the sphere salvages from atop Mt. Gagazet in the beginning of the game. Maechen had forgotten he was an unsent, it was only upon shaking Yuna's hand that he recalled shaking hands with Lenne as indicated by the sphere and realized how long he had actually been around.

Possibly in reference to his tendency to ramble, during this long sequence the player is given a choice to speed through the conversation multiple times. However, doing so will prevent full completion credit for the game.

Maechen seems to have sent himself, having accepted death and disperses into pyreflies. Rikku, however, seems to believe Maechen is still walking the world, and that he'll be back with more stories.

Voice
Maechen is voiced by Dwight Schultz in the English version.

Trivia

 * Listening to all of Maechen's stories in Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster will unlock the the "Good Listener" trophy.
 * In Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster, the player will not be able to pause the game or press the OK button to make Maechen talk faster when he's telling his stories. The only way to interrupt him is using the Soft Reset command or exit the game through the PlayStation menu.
 * After Maechen's story of Lenne and Shuyin on board the Celsius, he can be briefly seen walking down the corridor while slowly becoming transparent as the scene fades to black. Foreshadowing his unsent condition before the revelation in Chapter 5. Shinra is present in this scene to show "solidity" to the player.

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