Final Fantasy Wiki
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{{sideicon|prime=FFVIII}}
 
 
{{infobox character
 
{{infobox character
 
|name=Edea Kramer
 
|name=Edea Kramer
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|eye=Tawny green/gold
 
|eye=Tawny green/gold
 
|type=guest
 
|type=guest
|limitbreak=[[Ice Strike]]
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|limit break=[[Ice Strike]]
 
|weapon=[[Final Fantasy VIII weapons#None|None]]
 
|weapon=[[Final Fantasy VIII weapons#None|None]]
 
|designer=[[Tetsuya Nomura]]
 
|designer=[[Tetsuya Nomura]]
  +
|party member 1=Edea (Final Fantasy VIII gameplay)
|gameplay=true
 
  +
|party member game 1=FFVIII
 
|boss page=Edea (boss)
 
|boss page=Edea (boss)
 
|other appearances=true
 
|other appearances=true
 
|ffrk=true
 
|ffrk=true
 
}}
 
}}
{{Q|You must fight to the end! Even though it may bring tragedy to others!|Edea Kramer}}
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{{Quote|You must fight to the end! Even though it may bring tragedy to others!|Edea Kramer}}
'''Edea Kramer''', also known as '''Sorceress Edea''', or '''Matron''' {{J|ママ先生|Mama-Sensei}}, is an antagonist and a [[Guest|temporary-playable character]] from ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]''. She is a mysterious woman appointed as ambassador of [[Galbadia]].
+
'''Edea Kramer''', also known as '''Sorceress Edea''', or '''Matron''' {{J|ママ先生|Mama-Sensei}}, is an antagonist and a [[Guest|temporary-playable character]] from ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]''. She is a mysterious woman appointed as ambassador of [[Galbadia]]. She is a [[Sorceress (Final Fantasy VIII)|sorceress]] with mystical powers.
 
__TOC__
 
__TOC__
{{spoiler}}
 
 
==Profile==
 
==Profile==
 
{{spoiler}}
 
===Appearance===
 
===Appearance===
 
[[File:FFVIII Edea Cid Recording.png|thumb|left|Edea in the epilogue.]]
 
[[File:FFVIII Edea Cid Recording.png|thumb|left|Edea in the epilogue.]]
 
Edea is refined and ladylike, traits particularly evident during her [[Enthrall|possession]] when [[Ultimecia]] uses Edea's sophistication and physical beauty to beguile her enemies. She has long black hair and green eyes that are golden yellow when possessed by Ultimecia.
 
Edea is refined and ladylike, traits particularly evident during her [[Enthrall|possession]] when [[Ultimecia]] uses Edea's sophistication and physical beauty to beguile her enemies. She has long black hair and green eyes that are golden yellow when possessed by Ultimecia.
   
Normally she wears a modest black dress with little jewelry, but while possessed, Edea wears a purple skin-tight dress with a plunging neckline and feathers around the collar, a headpiece adorned with jewels and a metallic half-circle frame on her back with two long strips of sheer fabric hanging down each side. Before revealing her face at the parade, Edea wears a red mask to conceal her identity. Her long hair is magically shortened or hidden under her headgear as seen during the cutscene. During close-ups of her face during [[Full motion video|FMVs]], white lines can be observed extending from the corner of her eye and cheek.
+
Normally she wears a modest black dress with little jewelry, but while possessed, Edea wears a purple skin-tight dress with a plunging neckline and feathers around the collar, a headpiece adorned with jewels and a metallic half-circle frame on her back with two long strips of sheer fabric hanging down each side. The metallic half-circle holding Edea's cape is similar to the one worn by [[Wrexsoul]] in ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''. It only appears during FMV scenes and battles, and is not present in her field model.
  +
  +
Before revealing her face at the parade, Edea wears a red mask to conceal her identity. Her long hair is magically shortened or hidden under her headgear as seen during the cutscene. During close-ups of her face during [[Full motion video|FMVs]], white lines can be observed extending from the corner of her eye and cheek.
   
 
===Personality===
 
===Personality===
 
[[File:Edea's profile.jpg||left|thumb|Sorceress Edea.]]
 
[[File:Edea's profile.jpg||left|thumb|Sorceress Edea.]]
When first introduced, Edea is possessed by Ultimecia, a [[Sorceress (Final Fantasy VIII)|sorceress]] from the future, and is thus portrayed as a vain, power-hungry and remorseless sadist. All traces of her once kind and loving personality are purged from under Ultimecia's possession to be replaced by an all-consuming desire for world domination.
+
When first introduced, Edea is possessed by Ultimecia, a sorceress from the future, and is thus portrayed as a vain, power-hungry and remorseless sadist. All traces of her once kind and loving personality are purged from under Ultimecia's possession to be replaced by an all-consuming desire for world domination.
   
In actuality Edea is benign and gentle. Although she has been under the stigma of being a sorceress ever since the age of five, she doesn't resent the [[Final Fantasy VIII locations|world]] for the prejudice it must have shown her. She devotes her life to helping others, focusing upon the children she cares for in [[Edea's Orphanage|her orphanage]]. Those raised by her are reluctant to accept the deeds performed by a possessed Edea are those committed by their beloved matron.
+
In actuality, Edea is benign and gentle. Although she has been under the stigma of being a sorceress ever since the age of five, she doesn't resent the [[Final Fantasy VIII locations|world]] for the prejudice it must have shown her. She devotes her life to helping others, focusing upon the children she cares for in [[Edea's House|her orphanage]]. Those raised by her are reluctant to accept the deeds performed by a possessed Edea are those committed by their beloved matron.
{{-|left}}
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{{clear|left}}
   
 
==Story==
 
==Story==
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When she was five years old, Edea received [[sorceress power]]s from an unknown sorceress. She married [[Cid Kramer]], who knew she was a sorceress. They operated an orphanage for the [[Sorceress War]] orphans on the [[Centra]] continent with the orphans referring to Edea as "Matron".
 
When she was five years old, Edea received [[sorceress power]]s from an unknown sorceress. She married [[Cid Kramer]], who knew she was a sorceress. They operated an orphanage for the [[Sorceress War]] orphans on the [[Centra]] continent with the orphans referring to Edea as "Matron".
   
When [[Laguna Loire]] embarked on his search for his missing step-daughter [[Ellone]], he visited the orphanage, questioning Edea on what she might know about how to enter [[Esthar]]. Later, nearing the Sorceress War's end, [[Squall Leonhart|Squall]]—Laguna and [[Raine Loire|Raine's]] son—would be sent to Edea's orphanage by the people of [[Winhill]] after Raine's death. Ellone accompanied him, whom he called "sis".
+
When [[Laguna Loire]] embarked on his search for his missing step-daughter [[Ellone]], he visited the orphanage, questioning Edea on what she might know about how to enter [[Esthar]]. Later, nearing the Sorceress War's end, [[Squall Leonhart|Squall]]—Laguna and [[Raine Loire|Raine's]] son—would be sent to Edea's orphanage by the people of [[Winhill]] after Raine's death. Ellone, whom he called "sis", accompanied him.
   
 
[[File:Ultimecia transfers power.JPG|left|thumb|Edea receives Ultimecia's powers.]]
 
[[File:Ultimecia transfers power.JPG|left|thumb|Edea receives Ultimecia's powers.]]
When Squall was four years old Edea met [[Ultimecia|a dying sorceress]] and a teenage Squall who had [[Time travel|come from the future]]. The sorceress was dying, having been defeated by the teenage Squall, and Edea received her sorceress powers. Squall told Edea about the [[SeeD]] and the [[Garden]], saluting her with the SeeD salute, before disappearing back into the time portal.
+
When Squall was four years old Edea met [[Ultimecia|a dying sorceress]] and a teenage Squall who had [[Time travel|come from the future]]. The sorceress had been defeated by the teenage Squall, and Edea received her sorceress powers. Squall told Edea about the [[SeeD]] and the [[Garden]], saluting her with the SeeD salute, before disappearing back into the time portal.
   
 
Edea was stricken by this encounter, and puzzled the Squall from the future had told her SeeD and Garden were her ideas. She surmised that Squall, a boy from her orphanage, would one day kill an evil sorceress, and she and Cid began plans to create SeeD and Garden to prepare him. Cid left the orphanage to look for sponsors as they needed funding, and she stayed at the orphanage with the children.
 
Edea was stricken by this encounter, and puzzled the Squall from the future had told her SeeD and Garden were her ideas. She surmised that Squall, a boy from her orphanage, would one day kill an evil sorceress, and she and Cid began plans to create SeeD and Garden to prepare him. Cid left the orphanage to look for sponsors as they needed funding, and she stayed at the orphanage with the children.
   
Ellone was being sought by [[Dr. Odine]] of Esthar to complete his research on her and her special powers to send a person's consciousness back in time. Edea created the [[White SeeD]], a group of older orphans assigned to protect Ellone. Edea and Cid were permanently separated as Cid became the headmaster of [[Balamb Garden]], his quest being to train young people, Squall among them, as SeeDs to become strong enough to one day take on the sorceress from Edea's encounter. Edea stayed on the [[White SeeD Ship]] with the other orphans and Ellone.
+
Ellone was being sought by [[Dr. Odine]] of Esthar to complete his research on her and her special powers to send a person's consciousness back in time. Edea created the [[White SeeD]], a group of older orphans assigned to protect Ellone. Edea and Cid were permanently separated as Cid became the headmaster of [[Balamb Garden]], his quest being to train young people, Squall among them, as SeeDs to become strong enough to one day take on the sorceress from Edea's encounter. Edea was the captain of the [[White SeeD Ship]]<!--Cid says it after the Vienne Mountains dream--> that housed the other orphans and Ellone, and the ship became something of an orphanage in its own right.
   
Twelve years after Balamb Garden's completion, Ultimecia possessed Edea. It is unknown whether Edea left the White SeeD Ship before or after being possessed, but the White SeeDs and other orphans voyaged to Balamb Garden to tell Cid what had happened. Ultimecia used Edea's body and name as a vessel to seize power across the planet to use the resources she'd gather to hunt down Ellone to make use of her powers over time. Ultimecia wants to mobilize the Galbadian army to find her, but to do that she needs to take over Galbadia and she, under Edea's guise, allies with the president [[Vinzer Deling]].
+
Twelve years after Balamb Garden's completion, Ultimecia possessed Edea. It is unknown whether Edea left the White SeeD Ship before or after being possessed, but the White SeeDs and other orphans soon voyaged to Balamb Garden, perhaps to tell Cid what had happened. Ultimecia used Edea's body and name as a vessel to seize power across the planet to use the resources she'd gather to hunt down Ellone to make use of her powers over time, the Galbadians believing Edea to be the sorceress who has inherited [[Adel (Final Fantasy VIII)|Sorceress Adel]]'s powers.<ref>''Final Fantasy VIII'' script:<br/>'''Edea:''' Have you all heard of Sorceress Adel before? She was the ruler of Esthar during the Sorceress War. No one knows of her wherabouts... That's what I learned. The Galbadians must have thought I was the sorceress who received Sorceress Adel's powers.</ref><!--Edea says that when you talk to her at the orphanage after the battle of the gardens--> Ultimecia wants to mobilize the Galbadian army to find Ellone, but to do that she needs to take over Galbadia and she, under Edea's guise, allies with the president [[Vinzer Deling]].
   
 
[[File:FF8ScreenshotEdea8.jpg|thumb|right|Squall confronts "Edea".]]
 
[[File:FF8ScreenshotEdea8.jpg|thumb|right|Squall confronts "Edea".]]
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Edea wants to ensure Ultimecia will never possess her again and joins the party for a trip to Esthar in hopes Dr. Odine would rid her of her powers. Edea helps the party as they cross the [[Great Salt Lake]] and later when the Lunatic Pandora, now operated by Seifer and the G-Army, flies over [[Esthar City]]. Edea learns from Odine she had inadvertently relinquished her sorceress power to Rinoa. With the burden of her power lifted, Edea returns to the ruined orphanage with her husband, where she gives shelter, advice, and background information to the party.
 
Edea wants to ensure Ultimecia will never possess her again and joins the party for a trip to Esthar in hopes Dr. Odine would rid her of her powers. Edea helps the party as they cross the [[Great Salt Lake]] and later when the Lunatic Pandora, now operated by Seifer and the G-Army, flies over [[Esthar City]]. Edea learns from Odine she had inadvertently relinquished her sorceress power to Rinoa. With the burden of her power lifted, Edea returns to the ruined orphanage with her husband, where she gives shelter, advice, and background information to the party.
   
After a visit to the [[Lunar Base|Estharian space station]] the party returns to the orphanage with a cured Rinoa. The president of Esthar sends a message to the party asking to hire them on a SeeD mission to vanquish Ultimecia once and for all, and Edea wishes them good luck. Squall and his friends travel to the future and kill Ultimecia, and Edea and Cid attend the victory celebrations in Balamb Garden.
+
After a visit to the [[Lunar Base|Estharian space station]] the party returns to Edea's house with a cured Rinoa. The president of Esthar sends a message to the party asking to hire them on a SeeD mission to vanquish Ultimecia once and for all, and Edea wishes them good luck. Squall and his friends travel to the future and kill Ultimecia, and Edea and Cid attend the victory celebrations in Balamb Garden.
{{-}}
+
{{clear}}
 
{{endspoiler}}
 
{{endspoiler}}
   
 
==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
 
[[File:FF8 Edea Battle.png|right|150px|Battle render.]]
 
[[File:FF8 Edea Battle.png|right|150px|Battle render.]]
{{main|/Gameplay|t1=Edea Kramer gameplay}}
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{{main|Edea (Final Fantasy VIII gameplay)|t1=Edea Kramer gameplay}}
Edea appears twice as a [[Edea (boss)|boss]]. During the second fight, the party can [[Draw (Final Fantasy VIII)|draw]] the Guardian Force [[Alexander (Final Fantasy VIII)|Alexander]] from her.
+
Edea appears twice as a [[Edea (boss)|boss]]. During the second fight, the party can [[Draw (Final Fantasy VIII)|draw]] the [[Guardian Force]] [[Alexander (Final Fantasy VIII)|Alexander]] from her.
   
 
Edea is also a temporarily playable character. She has no equippable weapon. Her [[Limit Break (Final Fantasy VIII)|Limit Break]] is [[Ice Strike]], which hurls large icicles at one enemy target, and is unaffected by her [[Crisis Level]].
 
Edea is also a temporarily playable character. She has no equippable weapon. Her [[Limit Break (Final Fantasy VIII)|Limit Break]] is [[Ice Strike]], which hurls large icicles at one enemy target, and is unaffected by her [[Crisis Level]].
   
As with other characters, a [[Triple Triad (Final Fantasy VIII)|Triple Triad]] [[Final Fantasy VIII Triple Triad cards#Edea|card]] based on Edea can be obtained, uniquely by challenging Edea herself.
+
As with other characters, a [[Edea (Final Fantasy VIII card)|Triple Triad card based on Edea]] can be obtained, uniquely by challenging Edea herself.
{{-}}
+
{{clear}}
 
==Creation and development==
 
[[File:Edea FFVIII Art.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Sorceress Edea artwork.]]
 
Edea's character was designed for ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'',<ref>[http://thelifestream.net/weekly-famitsu-issue-no-1224-yoshinori-kitase-interview/ Weekly Famitsu Issue no. 1224 Yoshinori Kitase Interview translated by TheLifestream.net]</ref> and [[Tetsuya Nomura]] intended the design to emulate the style of [[Yoshitaka Amano]]. It was not until ''Final Fantasy VIII'' Nomura found a way to use her.
 
{{-}}
 
   
 
==Musical themes==
 
==Musical themes==
There are two themes accompanying Edea's presence. "SUCCESSION OF WITCHES" accompanies her when she appears as an antagonist, most notably played when she first encounters Seifer in [[Timber]]. However, this is considered Ultimecia's theme. The other theme is called "Truth," and plays at Edea's Orphanage. Her [[List of battle themes|battle theme]] is "Premonition."
+
There are two themes accompanying Edea's presence. "SUCCESSION OF WITCHES" accompanies her when she appears as an antagonist, most notably played when she first encounters Seifer in [[Timber]]. However, this is considered Ultimecia's theme. The other theme is called "Truth" and plays at Edea's House. Her [[List of battle themes|battle theme]] is "Premonition".
   
 
==Other appearances==
 
==Other appearances==
 
{{main|/Other appearances|t1=Edea Kramer other appearances}}
 
{{main|/Other appearances|t1=Edea Kramer other appearances}}
 
Edea has made appearances in the following games in the [[Final Fantasy series|''Final Fantasy'' series]]:
 
Edea has made appearances in the following games in the [[Final Fantasy series|''Final Fantasy'' series]]:
*''[[/Other appearances#PocketStation memorycard icons|PocketStation memorycard icons]]'' as an icon.
+
*[[/Other appearances#PocketStation memorycard icons|PocketStation memorycard icons]] as an icon.
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy|Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy]]'' as a costume.
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy|Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy]]'' as a costume.
*''[[/Other appearance#Dissidia Final Fantasy NT|Dissidia Final Fantasy NT]]'' as a costume.
+
*''[[/Other appearances#Dissidia Final Fantasy NT|Dissidia Final Fantasy NT]]'' as a costume.
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call|Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call]]'' as an enemy.
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call|Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call]]'' as an enemy.
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Pictlogica Final Fantasy|Pictlogica Final Fantasy]]'' as a playable character.
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Pictlogica Final Fantasy|Pictlogica Final Fantasy]]'' as a playable character.
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade|Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade]]'' as a summonable [[Legend (Airborne Brigade)|Legend]].
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade|Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade]]'' as a summonable [[Legend (Airborne Brigade)|Legend]].
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy Artniks|Final Fantasy Artniks]]'' as a series of [[Final Fantasy Artniks cards|cards]].
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy Artniks|Final Fantasy Artniks]]'' as a series of [[Final Fantasy Artniks cards|cards]].
*''[[/Record Keeper|Final Fantasy Record Keeper]]'' as a playable character.
+
*''[[ (Record Keeper)|Final Fantasy Record Keeper]]'' as a playable character.
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy World Wide Words|Final Fantasy World Wide Words]]''.
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy World Wide Words|Final Fantasy World Wide Words]]''.
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy Trading Card Game|Final Fantasy Trading Card Game]]'' as a series of [[Final Fantasy Trading Card Game cards|cards]].
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy Trading Card Game|Final Fantasy Trading Card Game]]'' as a series of [[Final Fantasy Trading Card Game cards|cards]].
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Triple Triad|Triple Triad]]'' as a card.
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Triple Triad|Triple Triad]]'' as a card.
  +
  +
===Other media===
 
In ''[[Final Fantasy XV]]'', one of the businesses in [[Insomnia]] is "Mama Edea's", a reference to the matron Edea Kramer.
  +
  +
==Behind the scenes==
 
[[File:Edea FFVIII Art.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Sorceress Edea artwork.]]
 
Edea's character was designed for ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'',<ref>{{Refwebsite| page url = http://thelifestream.net/weekly-famitsu-issue-no-1224-yoshinori-kitase-interview/| page name = Weekly Famitsu Issue no. 1224 Yoshinori Kitase Interview translated by TheLifestream.net| site url = http://thelifestream.net| site name = The Lifestream| access time = 15:01, July 04, 2020 (UTC)}}</ref> and [[Tetsuya Nomura]] intended the design to emulate the style of [[Yoshitaka Amano]]. It was not until ''Final Fantasy VIII'' Nomura found a way to use her.
 
{{clear}}
   
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
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Edea repels a sniper bullet from FFVIII Remastered.png|Edea blocks a bullet with magic.
 
Edea repels a sniper bullet from FFVIII Remastered.png|Edea blocks a bullet with magic.
 
Edeas eye closeup from FFVIII Remastered.png|Close-up of Edea's eye.
 
Edeas eye closeup from FFVIII Remastered.png|Close-up of Edea's eye.
  +
The party remembers Matron from FFVIII Remastered.png|The party remembers Matron.
  +
Galbadia Garden HeadmasterOffice.jpg|Edea on her "throne" in Galbadia Garden.
 
Edeathruglass.JPG|Edea bursts through the ceiling.
 
Edeathruglass.JPG|Edea bursts through the ceiling.
 
FF8ScreenshotEdea4.jpg|Edea in Galbadia Garden auditorium.
 
FF8ScreenshotEdea4.jpg|Edea in Galbadia Garden auditorium.
  +
Edea at the orphanage from FFVIII Remastered.png|Edea at the orphanage.
 
FF8ScreenshotEdea7.jpg|Edea meets Squall.
 
FF8ScreenshotEdea7.jpg|Edea meets Squall.
 
RealTT108.png|[[Triple Triad (Final Fantasy VIII)|Triple Triad]] card.
 
RealTT108.png|[[Triple Triad (Final Fantasy VIII)|Triple Triad]] card.
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{{Etym|Kramer}}
 
{{Etym|Kramer}}
 
==Trivia==
 
*The metallic half-circle holding Edea's cape is similar to the one worn by [[Wrexsoul]] in ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''. It only appears during FMV scenes and battles, and is not present in her field model.
 
*In ''[[Final Fantasy XV]]'', one of the businesses in [[Insomnia]] is "Mama Edea's", a reference to the matron Edea Kramer.
 
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
+
{{citations}}
   
 
{{navbox characters FFVIII}}
 
{{navbox characters FFVIII}}
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[[it:Edea Kramer]]
 
[[it:Edea Kramer]]
 
[[pl:Czarodziejka Edea]]
 
[[pl:Czarodziejka Edea]]
  +
[[pt-br:Edea Kramer]]
 
[[ru:Эдея Крамер]]
 
[[ru:Эдея Крамер]]
 
[[Category:Characters in Final Fantasy VIII]]
 
[[Category:Characters in Final Fantasy VIII]]

Revision as of 15:33, 23 January 2022

You must fight to the end! Even though it may bring tragedy to others!

Edea Kramer

Edea Kramer, also known as Sorceress Edea, or Matron (ママ先生, Mama-Sensei?), is an antagonist and a temporary-playable character from Final Fantasy VIII. She is a mysterious woman appointed as ambassador of Galbadia. She is a sorceress with mystical powers.

Profile

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

Appearance

FFVIII Edea Cid Recording

Edea in the epilogue.

Edea is refined and ladylike, traits particularly evident during her possession when Ultimecia uses Edea's sophistication and physical beauty to beguile her enemies. She has long black hair and green eyes that are golden yellow when possessed by Ultimecia.

Normally she wears a modest black dress with little jewelry, but while possessed, Edea wears a purple skin-tight dress with a plunging neckline and feathers around the collar, a headpiece adorned with jewels and a metallic half-circle frame on her back with two long strips of sheer fabric hanging down each side. The metallic half-circle holding Edea's cape is similar to the one worn by Wrexsoul in Final Fantasy VI. It only appears during FMV scenes and battles, and is not present in her field model.

Before revealing her face at the parade, Edea wears a red mask to conceal her identity. Her long hair is magically shortened or hidden under her headgear as seen during the cutscene. During close-ups of her face during FMVs, white lines can be observed extending from the corner of her eye and cheek.

Personality

Edea's profile

Sorceress Edea.

When first introduced, Edea is possessed by Ultimecia, a sorceress from the future, and is thus portrayed as a vain, power-hungry and remorseless sadist. All traces of her once kind and loving personality are purged from under Ultimecia's possession to be replaced by an all-consuming desire for world domination.

In actuality, Edea is benign and gentle. Although she has been under the stigma of being a sorceress ever since the age of five, she doesn't resent the world for the prejudice it must have shown her. She devotes her life to helping others, focusing upon the children she cares for in her orphanage. Those raised by her are reluctant to accept the deeds performed by a possessed Edea are those committed by their beloved matron.

Story

Edea and Laguna

Edea is visited by Laguna.

When she was five years old, Edea received sorceress powers from an unknown sorceress. She married Cid Kramer, who knew she was a sorceress. They operated an orphanage for the Sorceress War orphans on the Centra continent with the orphans referring to Edea as "Matron".

When Laguna Loire embarked on his search for his missing step-daughter Ellone, he visited the orphanage, questioning Edea on what she might know about how to enter Esthar. Later, nearing the Sorceress War's end, Squall—Laguna and Raine's son—would be sent to Edea's orphanage by the people of Winhill after Raine's death. Ellone, whom he called "sis", accompanied him.

Ultimecia transfers power

Edea receives Ultimecia's powers.

When Squall was four years old Edea met a dying sorceress and a teenage Squall who had come from the future. The sorceress had been defeated by the teenage Squall, and Edea received her sorceress powers. Squall told Edea about the SeeD and the Garden, saluting her with the SeeD salute, before disappearing back into the time portal.

Edea was stricken by this encounter, and puzzled the Squall from the future had told her SeeD and Garden were her ideas. She surmised that Squall, a boy from her orphanage, would one day kill an evil sorceress, and she and Cid began plans to create SeeD and Garden to prepare him. Cid left the orphanage to look for sponsors as they needed funding, and she stayed at the orphanage with the children.

Ellone was being sought by Dr. Odine of Esthar to complete his research on her and her special powers to send a person's consciousness back in time. Edea created the White SeeD, a group of older orphans assigned to protect Ellone. Edea and Cid were permanently separated as Cid became the headmaster of Balamb Garden, his quest being to train young people, Squall among them, as SeeDs to become strong enough to one day take on the sorceress from Edea's encounter. Edea was the captain of the White SeeD Ship that housed the other orphans and Ellone, and the ship became something of an orphanage in its own right.

Twelve years after Balamb Garden's completion, Ultimecia possessed Edea. It is unknown whether Edea left the White SeeD Ship before or after being possessed, but the White SeeDs and other orphans soon voyaged to Balamb Garden, perhaps to tell Cid what had happened. Ultimecia used Edea's body and name as a vessel to seize power across the planet to use the resources she'd gather to hunt down Ellone to make use of her powers over time, the Galbadians believing Edea to be the sorceress who has inherited Sorceress Adel's powers.[1] Ultimecia wants to mobilize the Galbadian army to find Ellone, but to do that she needs to take over Galbadia and she, under Edea's guise, allies with the president Vinzer Deling.

FF8ScreenshotEdea8

Squall confronts "Edea".

During a live television broadcast meant to introduce her to the world as a new Galbadian ambassador, Seifer, a rogue SeeD cadet, takes the president hostage and Ultimecia in Edea's body spirits him away with her. Deeming Seifer potentially useful for her, Ultimecia makes Seifer her sorceress' knight. While possessed by Ultimecia, Edea's "shell" kills President Deling, survives an assassination attempt by SeeD, and takes command of the Galbadian army. She declares SeeD as her enemy and orders missile attacks on Trabia and Balamb Gardens while she makes Galbadia Garden her base of operations.

While Balamb Garden escapes the missile attack by activating its mobile functions and moving away from the spot the missiles were programmed to target, Trabia Garden is not as lucky. Ultimecia orders the G-Forces to look for Ellone with Seifer in command, who appoints his friends Fujin and Raijin as commanders. Squall becomes the commander of Balamb Garden and begins the war against Edea and her G-Forces despite now knowing her as his former Matron.

During the Battle of the Gardens Edea falls in battle and the near-death experience expels her sorceress power that seeks for a new host in Rinoa Heartilly, a member of Squall's party. Ultimecia possesses Rinoa to order Seifer to rouse the Lunatic Pandora, an Estharian weapon of mass destruction, before Rinoa falls comatose. Seifer departs to carry out the task with the G-Forces, and Edea regains control over body and mind.

Everyone retreats to the old orphanage where Edea is reunited with Cid. Edea explains what had happened to her and Ultimecia's true goal of finding Ellone: casting a spell that would destroy the world as they know it, time compression. Edea is unaware she has lost her sorceress powers, and only knows Ultimecia has left her, and is unable to help Rinoa who remains comatose. She helps Squall look for Ellone by telling him where to find the White SeeD Ship, and gives him a letter of introduction so the crew would accept him onboard.

FF8ScreenshotOdine2

Edea accompanies the SeeD group to Esthar.

Edea wants to ensure Ultimecia will never possess her again and joins the party for a trip to Esthar in hopes Dr. Odine would rid her of her powers. Edea helps the party as they cross the Great Salt Lake and later when the Lunatic Pandora, now operated by Seifer and the G-Army, flies over Esthar City. Edea learns from Odine she had inadvertently relinquished her sorceress power to Rinoa. With the burden of her power lifted, Edea returns to the ruined orphanage with her husband, where she gives shelter, advice, and background information to the party.

After a visit to the Estharian space station the party returns to Edea's house with a cured Rinoa. The president of Esthar sends a message to the party asking to hire them on a SeeD mission to vanquish Ultimecia once and for all, and Edea wishes them good luck. Squall and his friends travel to the future and kill Ultimecia, and Edea and Cid attend the victory celebrations in Balamb Garden.

Spoilers end here.

Gameplay

Battle render.

Edea appears twice as a boss. During the second fight, the party can draw the Guardian Force Alexander from her.

Edea is also a temporarily playable character. She has no equippable weapon. Her Limit Break is Ice Strike, which hurls large icicles at one enemy target, and is unaffected by her Crisis Level.

As with other characters, a Triple Triad card based on Edea can be obtained, uniquely by challenging Edea herself.

Musical themes

There are two themes accompanying Edea's presence. "SUCCESSION OF WITCHES" accompanies her when she appears as an antagonist, most notably played when she first encounters Seifer in Timber. However, this is considered Ultimecia's theme. The other theme is called "Truth" and plays at Edea's House. Her battle theme is "Premonition".

Other appearances

Edea has made appearances in the following games in the Final Fantasy series:

Other media

In Final Fantasy XV, one of the businesses in Insomnia is "Mama Edea's", a reference to the matron Edea Kramer.

Behind the scenes

Edea FFVIII Art

Sorceress Edea artwork.

Edea's character was designed for Final Fantasy VII,[2] and Tetsuya Nomura intended the design to emulate the style of Yoshitaka Amano. It was not until Final Fantasy VIII Nomura found a way to use her.

Gallery

Etymology

"Edea" is a female name with French and Australian origins. It may also be derived from Greek mythology, specifically from "Medeia" (Latinised as "Medea") who was a sorceress; her name also means "cunning".

Kramer is a Dutch and Low German word for a small merchant, hawker, or retailer and is a common occupational surname. It can also be an Anglicized version of the High German surname Krämer.

References

  1. Final Fantasy VIII script:
    Edea: Have you all heard of Sorceress Adel before? She was the ruler of Esthar during the Sorceress War. No one knows of her wherabouts... That's what I learned. The Galbadians must have thought I was the sorceress who received Sorceress Adel's powers.
  2. Weekly Famitsu Issue no. 1224 Yoshinori Kitase Interview translated by TheLifestream.net (Accessed: July 04, 2020) at The Lifestream