Carriére

### Age

16 (born March, 1768) (Ascension, Hear My Story Final Fantasy IX)32 (chronological age, Final Fantasy IX-0: Alexander Edition, The Zodiac Era

## Gameplay Details

### Armor

Mystic armor, robes

world, meeting new people.”

**Carriére,** also referred to as **Derek**,known as **Braska** or ***aristocracy summoner*** in the SNES version, is the protagonist of *Mist Incarnate ~Final Fantasy IX~.* He was a major character in the *Zodiac Trilogy* series. He was a playable character in *Final Fantasy VI: Presentiment Era.* He is a young man, village summoner, and the son of Mother Ayesha born in circa 1768.

## Profile

### Personality

Carrière is a quiet, concentrated, self-direct man. He was very dissimilar to his older sister, in terms of demeanor; more closely resembling his mother, who was once gentle and kind. He had far stronger magic than her and his mother, but ceased using it because of how his mother had changed. He was a very introverted child, with his sister being his only friend.

### Appearance

Carrière's official artwork depicts him wearing a white, ankle-low robe with a red belt across his waist coupled with red gloves and black boots. His facial appearance and attire varied to appear more Western in some releases throughout the Zodiac Trilogy series, including *Chrono Trigger: The Zodiac Era* and *Veracity Kingsglaive Unveils*.

## Story

**––—Spoiler warning: *Plot and/or ending details follow.––—***

### Gaia 1800

Carrière is a summoner who lived among the villagers of Madain Sari. Unlike the other summoners, Carrière possessed a source of power; a power unlike any other. Being a child of the motherly summoner, it is, without a doubt, Carrière would hold such immense power. Though, that power remains unheralded. During Ascension, it is believed Carrière had perished during the Fall of Gaia, and the motherly summoner protected only what she could of the surviving village. However, his presence can be felt and his voice can be heard shrouding the village, yet a body has not been found.

### 706 Valendian

#### Nightmares

In a monologue tone, Carrière explains the nightmares he has been having since the ascension, signifying he has indeed survived the event. His next lines signify he has been watching over the party, mainly, Nyx and Rydia since their time in Gaia as he speaks of his mother's death. Carrière knows Nyx and Rydia confronted his mother Holocene 1800, and believes Nyx killed her without a passing thought in his mind. Despite her acts to reach immortality, she's still his mother and should have been spared. He believes it was Nyx alone who instigated the elimination of his mother, as if it had been Rydia and Eiko alone, she would still be alive. Carrière doesn't speak of his sister's whereabouts, though, it is likely she has passed since her defeat as with Ayesha.

Carrière states he is afraid of Nyx, as he may underestimate his strength considering he was able to defeat the holy summoner known for much power and magical capabilities. Carrière fears if Nyx could take his mother's life, he would not hesitate to do the same with his own. Carrière questions what he should do now, lost in thought, he wonders if he should fight and live, fight in his mother's honor, or if Nyx will get him instead. After pondering for a while, Carrière seemingly comes to the conclusion he cannot see to fight Nyx. Knowing his mother's acts of abuse—the power of the villagers including Sara and himself were true, Carrière feels weakened, and decides to flee. It is unclear what point in time this monologue takes place. However, it can be speculated some time during his early years.

#### Entering the Vortex

On route to the Ozmone Plain, caught in the storm, the party finds the time vortex forming in the sky. Carrière points that is the one he fell from before. He explains that this time he will finish what once could not, without hesitation, stating the enemy inside is his affair. Nyx wonders why Carrière plans on fighting this battle alone; knowing that is true, Terra expects the battle to be treacherous and suggest he allow them to lend their arm in the fight. Carrière, refusing their aid, claims the foe is unlike any other they've faced. He states the dark god desired power of the beast and he got it; pointing what the party would find in their would be beyond their efforts, should they not possess the same strength as himself. Carrière vows to set time right again and put an end to dark god, even if he's have to sacrifice his life as a result. Since Carrière's arrival to the Golden Age, it appears though was not youth of age sixteen as the ascension, but a grown man by then. And he desires to fight the battle alone to avenge his ménage and carry on his mother's legacy. Carrière explains that, despite Schala's warnings, he could only lean onto the crutch of power. Seeing how without it, the world would really know no true end.

#### Void Beyond Time

At the Void Beyond Time, Carrière guides aged Rydia to the Wings of Time that is to return her to her present era. Rydia, wondering if this is it, where everything returns to the way it was. Carrière replies, *"the way it has always been and not the tampered life caused by unheralded actions"*, referring to the action from the beginning of the contingency. Rydia then asks what will become of Carrière after she departures. Carrière doesn't respond to such question. She then asks what of Johnny. Carrière replies he doesn't know. Rydia wonders, supposing if he has become lost in time between the events. Carrière claims he doubts it, stating all the gates are closed and that he's out there somewhere, implying Carrière will likely visit him using the Wings of Time, given it is the only method of time travel without the use of gates. Carrière states, once he has done his task, the village will await him, referring to the village of summoners. Lastly, he tells Rydia, she need not worry about him, dwell not on it and to return to her time; live and be strong. Rydia kindly tells Carrière he does the same, as he says his final goodbye to her as she enters the Epoch, returning to her era.

### Presentiment Era

#### Discovery

Carrière was discovered by Cid wounded on the Thundra. Cid claims things have felt bizarre after finding Carrière. Nevertheless, he took him under his care, nursed him back to health. However, it wouldn't be long before he was forced to become a Magitek Knight. Carrière became one of the Empire's top generals due to his natural abilities of magic and summoning , but retained a good and honorable spirit.

#### Reunion

Carrière meets Terra, he recognizes her, commenting on her ability of magic and alluding to the entity's past orchestration.

#### Espers and Eidolons

In the battle's aftermath Terra transforms into an esper and flies to the southwest, Carrière is not as surprised as the other Returners as he himself is not new to such interaction. Finding her in Zozo, Ramuh advises the Returners to infiltrate the Magitek Research Facility and free the espers there in the hopes one of them can help her. Carrière states the compatibility humans and Eidolons can have to coexist. When the Returners tell Terra they'll be back for her, Carrière insures them she will recover from the event. When asked how he's so sure, he mentions the Woman in Flight has not left yet still. This alludes to power of the entity and how much control over the events she has.

#### The Opera

In Jidoor, the group discovers Carrière bears an uncanny resemblance to a famous opera star Colin. With the knowledge that the owner of the airship Blackjack, Steiner Reyes, intends to kidnap and marry Colin, the Returners set a trap for him at the Opera House. Though initially hesitant, Carrière impersonates Colin and takes his place in the opera, the plan being that Steiner will kidnap him and Carrière can sneak Locke and the others aboard his airship.

#### Magitek Factory

Infiltrating the Magitek Research Facility, the group frees several espers from captivity but the espers are too weak and transform into magicite, entrusting their power to the Returners. Carrière is baffled upon encountering the Espers Shiva and Ifrit, stating he feels no connection to them. Cid approaches Carrière and asks him about the rumors that he had feigned treachery to infiltrate the Returners as a spy. Kefka appears and taunts the group, claiming Carrière had deceived them just as a late general would have and was loyal to the Empire. Locke grows hesitant and Kefka has his soldiers attack them. Carrière summons Mateus to attack Kefka and his soldiers, buying the others time to escape the facility to the Blackjack and flee Vector.

#### To Thamasa

On the way to Thamasa, Locke attempts to approach Carrière but he refuses to speak to him, confused in his mind when Locke mentions *"friends".*

#### Confrontation on the Floating Continent

Gestahl and Kefka enter the Esper World and raise the Floating Continent, the Warring Triad at its summit. The Returners storm the continent to confront the pair and Carrière attempts to reason with the emperor. Gestahl paralyzes Carrière's allies and offers him the chance to rule the world with him and Kefka, stating Carrière has power unlike any other. Kefka hands Carrière a sword and demands he kill them, Carrière takes a moment to think, stating power only breed war, and the wrongs he's done—blaming himself also for the events that happen in Gaia. In resistance, Carrière stabs Kefka instead. Kefka flies into a rage, and demands the Triad give him their power.

Kefka kills Gestahl when he intervenes and knocks Carrière aside, moving the Warring Triad out of alignment. Clyde buys time for Carrière and the others to escape, yet the damage is done: Kefka has disrupted the balance of power between the gods and drastically shifted the face of the planet.

#### The Past

A year later Carrière awakes from a coma on a Solitary Island in Cid's care who tells him the world has been sliding further into ruin and whatever survivors remained on the island with them have perished or killed themselves. Carrière takes this time to rekindle his scatter memories, remembering his past his sister, growing up and events leading to his truncate memory.
He also remembers the man who would later go on to kill his mother. Cid asks
Carrière why he refers to his allies as "comrades" instead friends, to Carrière's reply, he's never had friends—it was only his sister by his side most of his life, while his mother exploited their powers for her own agenda.

Cid comforts Carrière and tells him his the closest thing he has to family. Carrière repays his kindness by caring for him while he is ill and depending on the quality of fish he feeds him, Cid will either live or die.

#### Revelation

If he dies, Carrière travels to the northern part of the island and leaps into the sea to kill himself. He survives and washes ashore where he finds a wounded bird, its wound wrapped in a ribbon. Carrière, recognizing the ribbon is in fact Nyx's
wonders how it could be, stating he had already moved onto eternal repose. Carrière takes this as a sign Nyx could possibly still be alive and finds a letter from Cid, directing him to a raft hidden in the basement of their home. Before he leaves, he mentions the promise he made to Aged Rydia at the end of Veracity Kingsglaive Unveils.

If Cid is saved he shows Carrière the raft himself. Cid tasks Carrière to refer to his friends as friends and not comrades. Agreeing, Carrière also states that the wrongs will not be fully righted solely by defeating Kefka. Cid mentions the Dark God without hesitation. Surprised, Carrière wonders how he knew so. Carrière leaves the island to return to the mainland and find his friends.

On the way out of Kefka's collapsing tower, just as Clyde is about to stay behind, Carrière interferes and takes the moment to tell him to keep fighting and stay alive for Relm. Due to the past interaction between Clyde and Carriere, Clyde is convinced to go along with him, escaping the tower and living.

***––—Spoilers end here––—***

## Gameplay

While Carrière appears as an NPC in *Chrono Trigger: The Zodiac Era*, the player has access to abilities that are notably his, as these specific abilities are named after him. Carrière Pentagram and Carrière Delta Attack are the three abilities accessible in the game. Carrière Pentagram deals non-elemental damage to one foe and Carrière Delta Attack deals massive damage to all foes. Carrière Delta Attack is a Delta Attack in contrast to the Magus Sisters' Delta Attack.

### Job Class

Carriere's official Job class is Summoner. However, unlike Rydia or Yuna, his magic situates to that of Red Mages; having access to black and white magic, and in some installments, arcane magic. He also has access to sword weapons, a trait common of Red Mages.

### Presentiment Era

Carrière is a summoner wielding many Eidolons and magic capabilities. Carrière joins the party with Fenrir learned. In earlier versions, he learned Eidolons naturally at the following level:

* *Shiva—Level—10*
* *Ifrit—Level—15*
* *Ramuh—Level—21*
* *Atomos—Level—28*
* *Carbuncle—Level—32*
* *Sylph—Level—36*
* *Ixion—Level—41*
* *Titan—Level—47*
* *Valefor—Level—54*
* *Anima—Level—60*
* *Alexander—Level—68*
* *Bahamut—Level—76*
* *Ark—Level—80*
* *Ozma—Level—88*
* *Dark Bahamut—Level—92*
* *Kaiser Dragon—Level—98*

The following Eidolons would have been learned from the following esper magicites:

* *Odin—Odin/Raiden Magicite—Acquisition Rate ~3%*
* *Leviathan—Bismarck Magicite—Acquisition Rate ~3%*
* *Phoenix—Phoenix Magicite—Acquisition Rate ~3%*
* *Yojimbo—Raiden Magicite—Acquisition Rate ~3%*
* *Magus Sisters—Kirin Magicite—Acquisition Rate ~4%*
* *Asura—Seraph Magicite—Acquisition Rate ~5%*
* *Madeen—Alexander Magicite—Acquisition Rate ~2%*

Due to a bug with the summon command, Eidolons are not learned naturally at a certain level, or learned from magicite. Carrière has the above Eidolons learned, however, higher tier summons yield more MP use. He learns the following magic naturally:

* *Cura—Level—10*
* *Blizzard—Level—15*
* *Poison—Level—21*
* *Drain—Level—28*
* *Blizzara—Level—32*
* *Bio—Level—36*
* *Thundara—Level—41*
* *Firaga—Level—47*
* *Blizzaga—Level—54*
* *Meltdown—Level—60*
* *Flare—Level—68*
* *Arise—Level—76*
* *Reraise—Level—80*
* *Meteor—Level—88*
* *Ultima—Level—92*
* *Holy—Level—98*

## Quotes

* *"He killed my mother, Ayesha, without even a moment of doubt, despite her acts to reach immortality, she was still my mother."*
* *"Yes, where the man himself awaits. The one who desired power of the beast."*
* *"Even if I have to sacrifice my life as a result."*
* *"Despite her warnings, I could only lean onto the crutch of power... Without it, the world would truly know, no end."*
* *"Apparition in its physical form, Rydia."*
* *"Don't let this happen to me, Nyx!"*
* *"Why did you bring me here, Nyx? Why would you do this to me?"*
* *"This was the chance to allow him to move on."*
* *"The souls of those who died suddenly don't realize they're dead. Sometimes they stay put and roam that particular place."*
* *"This is where the fault lines collide. Listen to the planet's heartbeat. Breathe slowly, and calm your mind. Let memories return to you. Stay pure of thought and be at one with the arcane."*
* *"Please, you must stay strong! Grasp my power, I bestow to you!"*

## Musical themes

"Ashes & Tears" is the eponymous theme of Carrière in Chrono Trigger: The Zodiac Era. The score that plays is "Fermata In Mistic Air" mixed with Black Fairy by Akira Yamaoka. The score mixes two melodies based on the weather condition of the Ozmone Plain.

## Trivia

* Carrière was born 1768, which is sixteen years before Garnet was born. By then, when Garnet was born 1784, Carrière was aged sixteen, the age of which a summoner of the village would then be permitted to leave with any Eidolon of their choice. Unheralded his life would face the fate of the ascension.
* Using the ability Carrière Delta Attack, Carrière's voice is briefly heard reciting the lines of the Eidolon Wall.
* Save the Caliber is Carrière's signature weapon. He is seen wielding it during the final confrontation against the dark god.
* In *Chrono Trigger: The Zodiac Era,* Carrière is 32 years of age, same age as Nyx.
* Carrière is named "Braska", a summoner's name to fit within the limits of the SNES. Carrière's last name was never officially revealed. The name derives from Lord Braska via *Final Fantasy X.*
* Carrière has all the summons identical to Garnet's summons. This includes, Shiva, Ifrit, Ramuh, Atomos, Odin, Leviathan, Bahamut and Ark. Garnet and Carrière where both born in the village of Madain sari, yet Garnet was born 16 years after Carrière.
* Carrière's summons of Ramuh, Shiva and Ifrit are not Espers, but Eidolons. The distinction between summoned beasts can be seen as Esper Ifrit and Shiva turn themselves into magicite, and Carrière summons are unaffected.
* Carrière has the same Eidolons as Eiko, including, Fenrir, Phoenix, Carbuncle and Madeen.
* In the SNES version Carrière wields the Kaiser Dragon Eidolon.
* Carrière weilds the non-summonable Eidolons from Final Fantasy IX: Alexander and Ozma.
* Carrière wields all Aeons Yuna acquires in *Final Fantasy X.* This includes: Valefor, Ixion, Anima, Yojimbo and the Magus Sisters, also known as *Carrière Delta Attack.*
* Carrière's loyalty and connection to the Eidolons is very similar to Rydia's connection to the Eidolons.
* Carrière mentions an attempted extraction of his Eidolons, similar to the extraction of Garnet's Eidolons.
* When Carrière rekindles his past, he mentions Nyx, Crono and Rydia.
* Opera Perfomers, Colin, Ipsen and Prince Rasler allude to Ipsen, Colin in *Final Fantasy IX* and Rasler in *Final Fantasy XII.*
* Carrière's memories of himself and sister's powers being abused by their mother is a direct reference to Schala, Janus and Queen Zeal.
* Throughout *Final Fantasy VI: Presentiment Era,* Carrière will fourth wall Celes.
* Carriere's official Job class is Summoner. However, unlike Rydia or Yuna, he uses magic situated to that of Red Mages; having access to black and white magic, and in some installments, arcane magic. He also has access to sword weapons, a trait common of Red Mages.
* Carrière's appearance is different in *Veracity Kingsglaive Unveils* and varies across the Zodiac Trilogy series.
* Mr. Branford confirmed, before recent tragic events, that the concept design and name of Carrière Braska was originally Derek Gainsborough.