An Ode to Tellah

Tellah has always been one of my favorite characters in fiction. It's a simple story, true, but the arc and characterization at the time were way ahead of other games. A large part of Tellah is from Tolkien's Gandalf, but still unique in his humanness.

The most fascinating part of any Sage character is also the fact that they can do both Black and White magic. It seems contradictory that one could heal as well as destroy, and that's the sage's essence. Given Tellah's 90 maximum magic points, this dynamic is even more pronounced, creating a character that makes the user decide which to use. It's excused by his age - he's old, so he can't use magic for that long.

We first meet Tellah sitting in a cave, unable to defeat a giant octopus, and haven't we all been there? He's trying to stop his daughter from marrying a musician, like any good dad would do. He finds his daughter dead and swears revenge.

He does this a few more times - swearing revenge is what he's really good at. That, and beards.

Tellah runs off after finding his daughter dead, and we meet him again on Mt. Ordeals. It's the place... for ordeals. He's seeking to learn Meteo - which will allow him to deal 9999 damage. Tellah doesn't seem to know that that whole 5th character thing ain't happenin' in this game.

He learns the spell on Mt. Ordeals for one reason or other and then is relatively helpless for the rest of his time in the game.

Oh, except for the fact that he can defeat one of the game's major bosses in two hits because he knows Lit3 and can rape Cagnazzo's face. Which I'm sure Cagnazzo does not appreciate.

As the game progresses towards Golbez, Tellah gets more and more agitated, wondering why we're flying the airship so fast, simultaneously urging the party to hurry for the early - bird special, wondering where the Stuckey's is and generally being old and bearded.

Ah, but his death is a blaze of geriatric glory!

As sad as it is, how many of us would appreciate a death avenging a loved one by reigning meteors down on the black knight who killed her with such force that it takes our lives!? Mourned and appreciated by all, aged, respected and powerful?

And as soon as you're dead, a little girl matches your greatest accomplishment and uses it regularly. Rydia learns Meteo later on, and doesn't seem to have that much trouble.

Kids these days are full of shit.