Characters.

	At the age of thirteen, Cloud left his hometown of Nivelheim to join the Shinra forces. Circumstances forced him from the army, and the ex-Soldier now wanders the world, a brooding mercenary who will accept any job - if the price is right. Reluctantly allied with the rebel force Avalanche, the fiercely independent Cloud joins their fight to preserve his planet's makou energy. Cloud cleaves enemies in twain with gigantic double-handed swords.
Aeris is a beautiful and demure young woman. When she was young, her real mother died, and Aeris' relationship with her adoptive mother is often strained. Aeris runs a flower shop in Midgar and becomes involved with Avalanche unintentionally. She is deeply religious and spiritual. While physically weak, her great magical skill make her an asset to any team.
	Barret Wallace is the focused and determined leader of Avalanche, the rebels fighting the destructive policies of the Shinra Corporation. His right hand has been replaced by a prosthetic gun grafted directly onto his arm. Barret lost his wife Mina when his hometown Corel was destroyed; now, he is left only with his beloved daughter Marin. Despite this great tragedy, his outlook is generally positive. Barret prefers brute strength to agile and swift attacks.
Vincent is shrouded in mystery: cool, calculating, and stoic, his black robe hides all emotion - save his eyes, with their icy, piercing, continual gaze. With a quick wit and deadly aim, Vincent is one to be feared. His metallic claw and strange powers were forced upon him when the Shinra Corporation performed hideous experiments on his body. A single bullet is all he needs to kill.
	Cait Sith tells fortunes from his booth at a gargantuan entertainment complex, the Gold Saucer. This zany cat-creature rides upon a fat, stuffed, cave-moogle Golem (the moogle has a visible zipper on his back). Cait Sith commands the moogle with commands shouted in his megaphone. He also has a slot machine attack with several random (and interesting) attacks.
Foul-mouthed but kind-hearted, Cid can pilot any machine known to man. He was a test pilot for Shinra's rocket in the past, but had to abandon his dreams of flying into space when Shinra cut funding to the project. Today, he is mayor of Rocket Town, where he can be always be found with his goggles, aviator jacket (with "High Wind" and "Air Master" patches), and several packs of cigarettes. Don't let his agitating attitude put you off; Cid truly has a heart of gold. His long lances give him a decisive advantage in any situcation.
	Tifa is an upbeat young woman who always has a cheerful word for her comrades. While stunningly gorgeous, she can duke it out with the best of 'em! When not aiding Avalanche, Tifa tends a bar in the slums. She still harbors a childhood crush on Cloud - but is too shy to reveal her feelings. She an expert with kicks, and her left shoe has a metal-plated sole - for extra damage.
Sephiroth is the former leader of the Shinra army. In his days as a Soldier, Cloud looked to Sephiroth as a leader and role model. Sephiroth, long thought dead, has returned -- but why? His origins and destiny are equally hazy. He wields the holy sword Masamune.
	Red XIII is a ferocious beast with flaming red fur. Despite his bestial appearance, he is amazingly eloquent and fantastically intelligent - an astronomer, no less. His kind can live for hundreds of years. Conjecture: Red XIII is super-intelligent, a lives for hundreds of years, and currently resides with the Shinra Corporation (as a pet). This information, coupled with his name, "Red XIII," make it seem that he is a genetic experiment of the Shinra Corporation - perhaps the thirteenth of his kind? This explanation accounts for his tattooed "serial number," intelligence, and unique appearance.
Yufi is the direct decendant of a tradition-bound ninja clan - but she couldn't care less about "tradtition." She forcefully joins Avalanche, hoping to use them to obtain an unknown object. She is sly and completely self-centered, and her young age leads to brash decision-making and tumultuous relationships. Her powerful weapons, however, make her a useful member.