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A treasure hunter and trail-worn traveler, searching the world over for relics of the past...
Description
Locke Cole (written Lock in Japanese) is a playable character from Final Fantasy VI. He is an adventurer and thief who insists he is actually a "treasure hunter", and is a member of the Returners, the resistance group opposing the Gestahlian Empire.
Locke acts as a spy, saboteur, and scout for the Returners. He is introduced to the player when he is contacted by Arvis in Narshe to rescue Terra from the city guard and smuggle her out of the city. Later when sent to infiltrate the occupied South Figaro, Locke meets an Imperial general turned traitor, Celes, and the two slowly form a friendship that turns into mutually romantic affection. However, Locke is haunted by a troubled incident in his past that has plagued him with guilty and regret and instilled in him a need to protect the women in his life.
Profile
Appearance
Locke is a young man with messy pale blond hair and a bandana - at times his hair has been depicted as white. He wears a vest over an off-white undershirt, and gloves and pants that match vest, and brown boots. His concept art depict his clothes as black with blue lining, while his sprites have them as entirely blue. His bandana also varies in design and how he wears it, it is striped and worn over his hair in concept art and in his sprites is smaller with no patter and worn under his bangs. Locke's designs in spin-off appearances have used blue of various shades as well as black for his outfit and gone with varying designs for his bandana.
Some alternate concept art for Locke depicts him with a mustache, but he has never had one in-game in any title. He has also been depicted in art with a black top and no vest, with a white top and no vest and red pants, and with a pink vest and white pants. These outfits too have never been adapted to any other appearance.
Locke's weapon in concept art is a short, curved dagger with a notch on the inside of the blade near the hilt, which is yellow or gold. In spin-off appearances, whatever weapon Locke wields varies in specific details, but is universally some manner of curved knife. Dissidia Final Fantasy NT and its mobile phone spin-off Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia give Locke a weapon directly based on his original concept art and names it the Main Gauche, and he dual-wields two copies of it in a reverse grip, similar to fellow thief Zidane Tribal. Locke's ultimate weapon in versions of Final Fantasy VI that feature the Dragons' Den is the Zwill Crossblade. He is also associated with boomerangs and throwing rings.
Personality
I'll never let go. I promise.
Locke to Celes
Locke is cheerful, adventurous, and courageous. He is always eager to go exploring and look for treasure, and is particularly eager to fight against the Empire. He is often snarky and sly, making jokes at the expense of others (particularly Edgar) and coming up with bold plans. A running gag in Final Fantasy VI is that Locke loathes being called a thief and insists he is a "treasure hunter".
Despite his outward pleasant demeanor, Locke is motivated to fight the Empire out of guilt; his lover Rachel was killed in an Imperial raid and Locke blames the Empire for her death, but he also blames himself, as Rachel had developed amnesia saving him from a fall and he had left her to start a new life without him when the raid occurred. Locke has spent an untold amount of time scouring the world for a rumored "treasure" the Empire has that can revive the dead, to use it to revive Rachel and atone what he feels is one of the worst mistakes he has made.
Abilities
In Final Fantasy VI and spin-off titles, Locke is focused on swiftness and the Steal ability. His ability set tends to be focused on the acquisition of items, through abilities like Steal and Treasure Hunter. He otherwise focuses on speed and evasion, with abilities to dodge attacks and escape from battle. Because of his storyline association with the Phoenix in Final Fantasy VI, spin-off titles closely associate Locke with the Phoenix, variably allowing him to summon it or giving his attacks the imagery of a flaming bird.
Story
Rachel and Locke explore a cave.
According to developer statements, Locke was raised by his father, who was a world-travelling treasure hunter. After his death Locke became romantically involved with a woman named Rachel in Kohlingen, the only citizen of the town who treated Locke well and referred to him as a treasure hunter. Rachel's father didn't accept Locke, so he tried to prove himself to him by taking Rachel on an adventure through a dangerous cave.[4]
A bridge began to collapse as Locke crossed it, and Rachel rushed forward and pushed him to safety, falling herself. Locke saved her and took her back to Kohlingen, but when she woke up she had lost her memory. Rachel's father, furious and blaming Locke for what happened, threw him out of the house, and Rachel rejected him, having no idea who he was. A dejected Locke left Kohlingen to let her rebuild her life without him in the way. When he returned a year later, Locke learned the town had been attacked by the Empire and Rachel was dead. An eccentric old man living on the outskirts of town had preserved her body, though she was still dead. Locke resolved to find a way to revive Rachel to make up for his mistakes that cost her her life. He eventually joined the Returners to fight the Empire and became a contact for Edgar, the King of Figaro who is secretly supporting the Returners.
Locke meets with Arvis.
Locke is called to Narshe by Arvis to aid Terra in getting out of town, and directs Locke to the Narshe Mines where she fled to escape the town guards. Locke finds an unconscious Terra shortly before the guards do, but with the help of ten moogles living in the minds, the guards are defeated and Locke takes Terra to the edge of town. She awakens and Locke discovers she has no memories and he vows to protect her until her memory returns. The two set off south to Figaro Castle to meet Edgar. While they are at Figaro, the Imperial Kefka comes looking for Terra and Edgar feigns ignorance. Locke shows Terra to a room to stay the night and informs her of Edgar's secret alliance with the Returners. That night Kefka attacks the castle and Terra, Locke and Edgar escape on chocobos.
The three make their way through Mt. Kolts and to the Returner Hideout to meet the leader of the Returners, Banon. While attempting to persuade Terra to join them, a Returner brings word that the Empire has invaded South Figaro to use as a staging ground for further incursions on the north. Locke agrees to infiltrate the town and sabotage the Empire to slow their advance while the Returners evacuate, and he will escape town and make his way to Narshe to meet up with the party when he can.
After doing enough damage to the Empire Locke decides to get out of South Figaro. Using disguises to sneak among the townsfolk and the Imperials, Locke makes his way into a series of hidden passages under the town. There he finds Celes, an Imperial general turned traitor who is being held prisoner. Locke frees her and insists on escaping together despite her doubts, and the two are able to make it out of town and to the South Figaro Cave. The two run into an Imperial weapon in the cave, Tunnel Armor, but with aid from Celes' Runic skill, the two defeat it and continue on to Narshe. Along the way Celes informs Locke that Kefka is planning an attack on Narshe to seize a frozen esper that was excavated in the town mines.
Locke arrives with Celes at Narshe and she is immediately confronted by Cyan, a warrior of Doma who recognizes her as an Imperial who decimated Maranda, but Locke defends her and insists she has reformed. Everyone gathers to defend Narshe against Kefka and his troops, and afterward Terra reacts with the frozen esper, transforms into an esper-like creature, and flies away. The group agrees they need to find her and set out to explore the western side of the continent. They find her under the care of the esper Ramuh in Zozo, still transformed. Ramuh asks the group to infiltrate the Imperial capital Vector and rescue the espers imprisoned in the Magitek Research Facility, as he believes one of them could help Terra.
Celes volunteers to lead the expedition, as she knows the Empire well, and Locke volunteers to accompanying her, interested in searching the Empire for a "legendary treasure". The two go to [[Jidoor] for leads on how to get to the southern continent, and hear of a man named Setzer that owns the world's only airship, the Blackjack. Setzer is in love with Maria, the star of Maria and Draco opera, and intends to abduct her from the Opera House during production. Intent on meeting Setzer to get his aid in reaching the south, Locke convinces the Impresario to set a trap for him; Celes bears an uncanny resemblance to Maria, so Locke suggests she take Maria's place in the opera and allow herself to be abducted by Setzer so she can sneak Locke and the party onto the Blackjack. While Celes is initially indignant over the idea, she agrees.
Locke turns red seeing Celes in opera costume.
During the production Locke goes to see how Celes is doing preparing for her number, and reddens upon seeing her dressed up as Maria, flustered by her beauty. Celes questions why Locke has helped her, and Locke admits he is tired of losing "girls he likes". Locke watches from the wings as Celes performs, but as he leaves he notices a letter from Ultros threatening to sabotage the opera. As the climactic duel of the opera occurs, Ultros is up in the rafters intending to drop a massive weight onto Celes. Locke and the party rush up to the rafters and confront Ultros, and the two both fall to the stage, incapacitating the two male leads. Locke improvises that he shall be the one to win Celes' hand, and the party engages Ultros. Though Ultros flees, Setzer appears in the confusion and makes off with Celes.
Celes throws a rope down for Locke and the party to board the airship and they confront Setzer. While he is unwilling to aid them against the Empire, he is attracted to Celes even more than Maria, and declares he'll help them if she agrees to marry him. Locke protests but Celes agrees, on the condition they use a coin flip to decide - if it is tails, Celes will marry Setzer, but if it is heads he will help them no strings attached. Setzer accepts the terms and Celes uses a two-headed coin for the flip, and though Setzer quickly realizes this he complies anyway, amused by her trick. The Blackjack lands near Albrook and the party heads to Vector.
At the Magitek Research Facility the party releases the captive espers, but are too late to stop them from dying and turning into magicite. They meet the empire's main Magitek engineer, Cid, who implies Celes faked her betrayal of the Empire to infiltrate the Returners. Locke is shocked by the accusation and Kefka arrives on the scene and confirms it. Locke hesitates when Celes asks if he trusts her, and Kefka has Imperial troops attack the party. Celes proves her loyalty by teleporting herself, Kefka, and his soldiers away, and Locke and the others escape the facility and return to Zozo.
Celes gives a cold shoulder to Locke.
After espers emerge from the Esper World and devastate the Empire, Emperor Gestahl holds a banquet and asks Terra to work with the Empire to find the espers and bring an end to the war. Locke insists on accompanying Terra and asks the rest of the party to investigate the Empire to ensure Gestahl's intentions are genuine. Terra and Locke go to Albrook and meet the Empire's embassador, General Leo, and he reveals their expedition will be joined by the mercenary Shadow, and Celes. Locke is stunned to see Celes and she turns and leaves when he approaches her. The night before the expedition leaves, Locke goes outside and sees Celes, who refuses to look at him. Locke admits he momentarily doubted her but still wants to be friends, but Celes leaves without speaking. On the boat trip to Thamasa, Celes eventually tries to approach Locke as they prepare to disembark, but he walks away.
Locke, Terra and Shadow enter the town of Thamasa where they meet up with Strago, who denies knowing anything of espers. That night his granddaughter, Relm Arrowny, is trapped in a burning house and Strago reveals his magical abilities in fighting the flames, before he, Locke and Terra rush into the house to rescue Relm. Afterward Strago agrees to help Terra and Locke look for the espers and they head for the Espers' Gathering Place, Relm following them and joining them after she frightens off Ultros. Terra and Locke speak to the espers' leader, Yura, and take him to Thamasa for negotiations with Leo.
Kefka interrupts the negotiations and wounds everyone but Leo, and reveals everything was a ploy to gather magicite. Kefka kills Yura and the other espers, then Leo when he tries to stop him, and heads for the Esper World with Emperor Gestahl to claim the Warring Triad, a trio of deities who brought magic to the world. The island the Cave to the Sealed Gate is one is risen as the Floating Continent. Terra, Locke, Strago, Relm, and Celes meet up with the other Returners and attack the Floating Continent, but as Kefka moves the Warring Triad out of alignment he destroys the world and the party is separated.
In the World of Ruin Locke finds an injured seagull and bandages it with his bandanna. Celes finds the bandanna on the seagull and the discovery rejuvenates her hope of finding her estranged friends and she sets out to gather everyone up to face Kefka, now the world's ruler.
Rachel's final moment.
At some point after the cataclysm, Locke learned that the legendary treasure he had been seeking was the magicite Phoenix, and he had a lead on its location, the Phoenix Cave. Locke ventures into the cave and retrieves Phoenix as the other party members find him. They take Locke back to Kohlingen and he uses the Phoenix to revive Rachel, though only for a few moments. Rachel reaffirms her love for him and stands by her decision to sacrifice herself for him, and tells Locke to let go of his guilt and let himself love again. Rachel merges with the Phoenix to restore it to full power, and Locke, invigorated by the experience, rejoins the party.
After the party attacks Kefka's Tower and kills Kefka, the tower begins to collapse. As they flee Celes drops Locke's bandana and goes back to get it, but the floor collapses under her. Locke dives and grabs her as she falls, refusing to let go, and pulls her to safety. The party makes it to Setzer's new airship in time and fly over the world as the population begins to rebuild.
Gameplay
Locke has the traits of a Thief, able to use the Steal command to steal items from enemies, and having some relics to argument Steal by boosting its success rate or upgrading it to Mug. His standout stats are speed and evasion, but he is also a bit more durable in combat than most Thieves, able to equip swords and most shields and heavy armor. His Desperation Attack is Mirage Dive that deals magical damage to one enemy.
Behind the scenes
Locke's original design was a slightly older, dark and mysterious character. He was supposed to be a partner and rival of sorts to the male character that developed into Terra Branford, and wielded a "magic sword". As development proceeded the ideas of a foil to Terra that wielded a magic sword were transferred to Celes and her Runic ability, and Locke's personality was tweaked and he became the more "regular" character he is in the final game.[4][5]
After it was decided Final Fantasy VI would feature an ensemble cast with no clear main protagonist, everyone in the development team were encouraged to provide ideas for characters and their episodes. Locke's character and story were colored by influence from Hironobu Sakaguchi.[6]
Locke in a proto-Final Fantasy VII.
A concept image early in the development of Final Fantasy VII features an isometric view and sprites based on Final Fantasy VI characters, including Locke.
Pop cultural impact
Author Scott Lynch makes an homage to Locke with the titular thief and con artist of his book The Lies of Locke Lamora,;[7] the main character, Locke Lamora, is loosely based on Locke Cole.
In The Order of the Stick, Elan dresses up as Locke when he tries to board the Blackjack with Thog dressed up as Mog. The wig and bandanna were discarded when he was discovered to be a fake, although he retains all other parts of Locke's clothing style.
Musical themes
Locke's theme is a heroic introduction played during his and the moogles' mission to protect Terra. His leitmotif is reprised in "Forever Rachel" and the "Ending Theme", and in the latter his theme plays in counterpoint with Celes's theme.
The original version from Final Fantasy VI is included on the music player in Final Fantasy XV. The Memories of FFVI album it is the eight track of is bought for 100 gil from JM Market in Taelpar Rest Area.
His theme appears in Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call and is also on the Best of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call album. It also appears as a Battle Music Sequence in Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival.
Other appearances
Appearance in Dissidia Final Fantasy NT.
Locke has made appearances in the following games in the Final Fantasy series:
- Final Fantasy VI: The Interactive CG Game as a playable character (demo).
- Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII as a garb.
- Final Fantasy Tactics S as a playable character.
- Dissidia Final Fantasy as a cameo.
- Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy as a cameo.
- Dissida Final Fantasy NT as a playable character.
- Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia as a playable character.
- Theatrhythm Final Fantasy as a playable character.
- Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call as a playable character.
- Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival as a playable character.
- Pictlogica Final Fantasy as a playable character.
- Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade as a playable character.
- Final Fantasy All the Bravest as a playable character.
- Final Fantasy Record Keeper as a playable character.
- Final Fantasy World Wide Words.
- Final Fantasy Brave Exvius as a summonable vision.
- Final Fantasy Trading Card Game as a series of cards.
- Triple Triad as a card.
Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances
Locke in the crowds of the Coliseum.
- In Secret of Evermore, Locke appears among the spectators in the Antiqua Coliseum alongside other Final Fantasy VI characters.
- In Rudra no Hihō, two thieves by the name of Cid and Dune are view by the main characters as thieves and the party treats them as such. In these encounters, both thieves will repeatedly tell them that they are Treasure Hunters much in the same fashion to when it occurred to Locke.
Gallery
Etymology
Locke is a surname of Old English and Old German origin and contains the elements "woods", "pond", and "fortified place", indicating that the person lived near such a landmark. It was used as an occupational name for a locksmith.
Cole is an English name that comes from the Old English col, which can mean "charcoal" or "coal-black".
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Final Fantasy VI Settei Shiryō-hen, p.14
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive Volume 1, p.270
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/dissidia/comments/8w03i4/lockes_english_va_is_jonathan_von_mering/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 V Jump issue (in Japanese) (dead) (Accessed: September 25, 2009) at Infoseek
- ↑ Final Fantasy VI – 1994 Developer Interview (Accessed: December 09, 2018) at shmuplations
- ↑ The Making Of: Final Fantasy VI (dead) (Accessed: February 21, 2015) at Edge Online
- ↑ Scott Lynch official website