Editing Gaia (character)

{{Character infobox
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{{tab|Echoes of Mana}}[[File:Gaias Gift unframed EOM artwork.png|250px]]<br>''Echoes of Mana'' artwork
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{{tab|Adventures of Mana}}[[File:Gaia Pass AOM screenshot.png|250px]]<br>''Adventures of Mana'' sprite
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{{tab|Heroes of Mana}}[[File:Gaia HOM sprite.png]]<br>''Heroes of Mana'' sprite
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{{tab|Dawn of Mana}}[[File:Gaia Chapter 3 DOM screenshot.png|250px]]<br>''Dawn of Mana'' screenshot
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{{tab|Legend of Mana}}[[File:Gaeus LOM sprite.png|250px]]<br>''Legend of Mana'' screenshot
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{{tab|Final Fantasy Adventure}}[[File:Gaia Pass FFA screenshot.png|250px]]<br>''Final Fantasy Adventure'' screenshot
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|name = Gaia
|first_appearance = ''[[Legend of Mana]]'' (1999)
|latest_appearance = ''[[Echoes of Mana]]'' (2022)
|title = The Face of the Earth<br>[[Seven Wisdoms]]
|homeland = [[Luon Highway]]<sup>LoM</sup><br>[[Mortmont]]<sup>DoM</sup>
|faction = 
|role = Support
|gender = Male
|species = 
|other_forms = [[Gaia Stones]]
|counterparts =
|voice_actor = 
}}
{{quote2|People have the power to make their own decisions. That is what she is trying to teach you. Listen to her words.|Gaia - Legend of Mana}}
'''Gaia''', also known as '''Gaeus''', is a recurring character in the ''[[Mana (series)|Mana]]'' series.
==Background==
Gaia is a sentient earth spirit generally depicted as a rocky face. He is usually sympathetic to the protagonists and provides help by dispensing his wisdom. In ''Final Fantasy Adventure'' and its two remakes, he has a less defined personality and is treated more as an mindless nuisance. The ''World of Mana'' games frequently depict him along with [[Treant]] acting both as voices of reason.

==History==
===''[[Final Fantasy Adventure]]/[[Adventures of Mana]]''===
{{main|Gaia Pass (Adventures of Mana)|Gaia Pass}}
According to a Dwarf found in [[Dwarf Cave (Adventures of Mana)|Dwarf Cave]], the [[Gaia Pass (Adventures of Mana)|Gaia Pass]] was originally an ancient beast turned to stone to prevent it from devouring the mountain's [[Mythril]].

The dwarfs of [[Dwarf Cave]] are all too well aware of Gaia's existence and its taste for the mystical metal known as mythril. The blacksmith [[Watts]] went out from the cave to the [[Forbidden Mines]] in search of some, but has not returned.

[[Fuji]] has been abducted by the Duchy of [[Glaive]] after her visit to Wendel. To rescue her, [[Sumo]] must cross the pass to a lake where Glaive's [[airship]] is moored, but he is rejected by the rock in his current state. This leads him on a detour to repair a rusted mine cart, rescue Watts, vanquish a [[Megapede]], and finally procure a chunk of unrefined mythril. Watts then takes it back to Dwarf Cave and crafts three pieces of mythril gear for Sumo in thanks for his help.

Clad in mythic silver, the cave at last accepts Sumo as worthy of it. When he reaches the southern exit, [[Bogard]] catches up to him and offers to help him rescue Fuji.

===''[[Legend of Mana]]''===
{{quote2|A huge face on a mountainside that is also one of the Seven Wisdoms. He always has answers to any questions.|In-game Encyclopedia}}
{{main|Gaia (Legend of Mana)}}

Gaia, also known as Gaeus in the original version, is one of the [[Seven Wisdoms]] of [[Fa'Diel]]. He takes the guise of a huge face carved on the side of a cliff in [[Luon Highway]]. He will diligently listen to everyone standing before him, dispensing them with his timeless knowledge. A couple of quests involve bringing party members to him, including [[Daena]] and [[Bud]].

Players can also get [[Gaia's Tears]] and [[Blacksmithing|forge]] them to create the Gaia equipment.

===''[[Sword of Mana]]''===
{{main|Gaia Cave}}
[[File:Gaia Cave scenery SwoM screenshot.png|thumb|Gaia's Facade]]
After the [[Fuji|Heroine]] is taken hostage by the [[Dark Lord (Sword of Mana)|Dark Lord]] in [[Wendel (Sword of Mana)|Wendel]], and the Hero receives the [[Mana Spirits|spirit]] of light [[Wisp]]. He must venture through Gaia's Cave to reach [[Westlake]] and enter the [[Airship (Sword of Mana)|Airship]] to rescue the Heroine.

During the first visit, he finds the cave closed, but after a brief cutscene, it's revealed to be a [[Gaia|living entity]], which briefly awakens from its slumber, but the Hero ends up not noticing.

Following the dwarves advice, after going to the [[Abandoned Mine]] and taking the mythril, the Hero returns once more to the facade, discovering that it's indeed alive.

The Facade sees the mythril and swallows it along with the Hero, causing the Hero to enter the cave.

Deep in the cave, the protagonist will find [[Gnome]] sleeping underground, he will wake up and tell that he was also swallowed by Gaia fifty years ago, shortly after, he will join the hero to rescue him. Gnome will be able to destroy the [[Stone Seal]] and the Hero will be able to make his way to Lake Vicinity.

Players can also summon Gaia from ''Legend of Mana'' should they collect at lead 75 [[Amigo|amigos]]. It attacks all enemies on screen and inflcit the [[Petrify (status)|Petrify]] status.

===''[[Children of Mana]]''===
[[File:Gaia Fiery Sands CoM screenshot.png|thumb|Tamber meeting with Gaia]]
Gaia's spirit is first encountered after the protagonist defeats [[Thaydoll]] summoned by the [[Mana Lord]] in the [[Fiery Sands]]. the rocky spirit explains that by defeating [[Malevodon|Malevodons]] with the [[Mana Sword]], it restored the two fused [[Benevodon|Benevodons]] to their true form, allowing them to be reborn. He then adds that the Holy blade has the power to restore the world to its proper state. He entrusts the protagonist to stop the Mana Lord in his devious schemes and entrusts them with the [[Stone of Gaia]] before disappearing.

Gaia's Stone in combination with [[Treant's Branch]] are able to neutralize the [[Ice Citadel]]'s barrier and both spirits use their power to suppress the [[Mana Surge]] coming to the kingdom of [[Brightwood|Wendel]], tharthing the evildoer's plans to raise an indestuctible Mana tempest.

Gaia and Treant return once again at [[Mana Village]] after rescuing [[Tess]] from [[Illusia Ruins]]. They instruct the player on the Mana Lord's whereabouts and guide them deep under the roots of the [[Mana Tree]] to the [[Path of Life]].

Both spirits are seen welcoming the hero and Tess after defeating the [[Scion of Mana]], ushering the dawn of Mana's Progeny. They fade away along with [[Illusia Isle]] and the Benevodons.

===''[[Dawn of Mana]]''===
Gaia is encountered at the end of [[Chapter 3 (Dawn of Mana)|Chapter 3]] atop [[Mortmont]]. He welcomes [[Keldric]] and [[Faye]] while bemoaning the loss of his friend [[Treant]] at the hand of [[Thanatos (Dawn of Mana)|Thanatos]]. He explains to both of them that Thanatos are spirits born of the [[Echo (Dawn of Mana)|Echoes]] that slumber deep within the petrified [[Mana Tree]]. The world would be plunged into darkness should they escape, but light through prayer can bring them down. He also mentions that an injured [[Flammie (Dawn of Mana)|Guardian Beast]] came to sleep under his care aeons ago. He is unfortunately destroyed by [[Lorimar (Dawn of Mana)|Lorimarian]] cannons while Keldric is saved in the nick of time by the awaken Flammie.

The rock reappears in spirit form to Faye a year after a manipulated [[Ritzia]] opened the [[Door to Mavolia]]. The Spirit Child hears the voices of Trent and Gaia in her head, advising her to abandon her mission since humans have brought this curse on themselves. The little sprite replies she still wants to fight on Keldy's side, which brings joy to both guardians. They entrust their protection and guidance to Faye in her mission to save the world. They later console Keldric after he defeats his [[Grim Lekius|corrupted]] best friend [[Lekius]] atop the hanging gardens of [[Jadd Castle]].

Both Treant and Gaia's spirits come back again during the final confrontation with [[Medusa (Dawn of Mana)|Anise]] as the young hero explore the tortuous hallways of the [[Nethermanse]], cheering him one last time.

===''[[Heroes of Mana]]''===
{{quote2|A giant geological lifeform that produces Gaia's stones. It is told that a matrix Gaia exists somewhere in the word, but this is as yet unconfirmed.|Notebook}}
According to [[Yurchael]], Gaia appears as crystallized versions of itself all over the world. Its power can be borrowed to build magical structures that can prove handy in battle.

Gaia appears as a ressource deposit on each mission maps. The player can assign gathering [[Unit (Heroes of Mana)|units]] to harvest [[Gaia Stones]] from it to allow [[Structure (Heroes of Mana)|structures]] to be built inside the [[Nightswan|ship]]. Once the source is depleted of its resources, the mine collapses and cannot be used until the mission ends.

This is the first and only time Gaia has appeared without any spoken line in the ''Mana'' series.
{{-}}

===''[[Circle of Mana]]''===
Gaia makes a cameo appearance in the online game, along with several other characters from the ''[[Mana (series)|Mana]]'' series. He appears in 2 sets of cards.<br>
{|width=95% class="wikitable"
|-style="text-align:center;"
! Rank !! Attribute !!width=10%| Name !!colspan=4 width=60%| Classes !! Quote
|-style="text-align:center;"
| SUR || {{hover|技|Jap:Skill}} || {{hover|ファ・ディールの救世主|Jap:Saviors of Fa'Diel}} || [[File:SUR 0089 ファ・ディールの救世主.jpg|100px]]<br>{{hover|夢の声を聞きし者たち|Jap:Those who Hear the Voices of Dreams}} || [[File:SUR 0090 ファ・ディールの救世主.jpg|100px]]<br>{{hover|珠魅を救いし者たち|Jap:Those who Save Jumis}} || [[File:SUR 0091 ファ・ディールの救世主.jpg|100px]]<br>{{hover|[光]世界の呪縛を解き放つ者たち|Jap:[Light] Those of Life the Curse of the World}} || [[File:SUR 0092 ファ・ディールの救世主.jpg|100px]]<br>{{hover|[闇]赤き竜帝を倒し者たち|Jap:[Dark] Those who Defeat the Red Dragon Emperor}} ||主人公は夢を見た。神々しい大樹が浮かびそして、女神の声が聞こえる。夢から目覚めた主人公は、その声に従うように、目覚めたばかりの世界へと足を踏み出す。<br>The hero had a dream. A divine tree appears, and the voice of a goddess is heard. The protagonist wakes up from his dream and follows the voice as he steps into the world he just woke up from.
|-style="text-align:center;"
| SSUR || {{hover|魔|Jap:Demon}} || {{hover|ガイア|Jap:Gaia}} || [[File:SSUR 0153 ガイア.jpg|100px]]<br>{{hover|大地の顔|Jap:Face of the Earth}} || [[File:SSUR 0154 ガイア.jpg|100px]]<br>{{hover|知恵深き巨岩|Jap:Giant Rock of Wisdom}} || [[File:SSUR 0155 ガイア.jpg|100px]]<br>{{hover|[光]マナの七賢人|Jap:[Light] Seven Wisdoms of Mana}} || [[File:SSUR 0156 ガイア.jpg|100px]]<br>{{hover|[闇]星の語り部|Jap:[Dark] Star Storyteller}} ||「人は、自分で自分を決める力を持っている。あなたは、それを知るべきだ…」<br>People have the power to decide for themselves. You should know that...
|-style="text-align:center;"
|}

===''[[Echoes of Mana]]''===
While not physically appearing in the game, Gaia was depicted in one [[Memory Gem|memory gem]]:

* [[Gaia's Gift]]

==Trivia==
* While not appearing in ''[[Secret of Mana]]'', there is a location called [[Gaia's Navel]] in the original installment. The HD remake adds Gaia to multiple surrounding areas, such as [[Gaia Lowlands]], [[Southeast Gaia Lowlands]], etc.

==Gallery==
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
Gaia HOM sprite.png|Gaia<big>HoM</big>
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=
|JapR=
|JapM=
|Spa=
|SpaM=
|Fra=
|FraM=
|Ger=
|GerM= 
|Ita={{wp|Gaius (praenomen)|Gaius}}
|ItaM=Latin common personal name
}}

{{AoM characters}}
{{LoM characters}}
{{SwoM characters}}
{{CoM characters}}
{{DoM characters}}
{{HoM misc}}
[[Category:Male characters]]
[[Category:Supporting characters]]
[[Category:Gods]]
[[Category:Seven Wisdoms]]
[[Category:Adventures of Mana characters]]
[[Category:Legend of Mana characters]]
[[Category:Children of Mana characters]]
[[Category:Dawn of Mana characters]]
[[Category:Heroes of Mana characters]]