Gaia (character)

Gaia
Echoes of Mana artwork Adventures of Mana sprite Heroes of Mana sprite Dawn of Mana screenshot Legend of Mana screenshot Final Fantasy Adventure screenshot
First appearance	Legend of Mana (1999)
Latest appearance	Echoes of Mana (2022)
Title(s)	The Face of the Earth Seven Wisdoms
Role	Support
Gender	Male

Gaia, also known as Gaeus, is a recurring character in the 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 article: Gaia Pass (Adventures of Mana)

According to a Dwarf found in Dwarf Cave, the 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

“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 article: 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 forge them to create the Gaia equipment.

Sword of Mana

Main article: Gaia Cave

Gaia's Facade

After the Heroine is taken hostage by the Dark Lord in Wendel, and the Hero receives the spirit of light Wisp. He must venture through Gaia's Cave to reach Westlake and enter the 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 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.

Children of Mana

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 Malevodons with the Mana Sword, it restored the two fused 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 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 atop Mortmont. He welcomes Keldric and Faye while bemoaning the loss of his friend Treant at the hand of Thanatos. He explains to both of them that Thanatos are spirits born of the 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 Guardian Beast came to sleep under his care aeons ago. He is unfortunately destroyed by 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 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 Anise as the young hero explore the tortuous hallways of the Nethermanse, cheering him one last time.

Heroes of Mana

“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 units to harvest Gaia Stones from it to allow structures to be built inside the 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. He appears in 2 sets of cards.

Rank	Attribute	Name	Classes				Quote
SUR	技	ファ・ディールの救世主	夢の声を聞きし者たち	珠魅を救いし者たち	[光]世界の呪縛を解き放つ者たち	[闇]赤き竜帝を倒し者たち	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。 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.
SSUR	魔	ガイア	大地の顔	知恵深き巨岩	[光]マナの七賢人	[闇]星の語り部	「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…」 People have the power to decide for themselves. You should know that...

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

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Gaia (character).

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  GaiaHoM

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Italian	Gaius	Latin common personal name

	Randi --"Whoa! What's a Rabite doing in a place like this?"
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