WARNING: THIS CONTAINS SEVERAL HEAVY SPOILERS: IF YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT COSPLAY CRISIS'S PLOT, DON'T READ THIS POST!Name: Shadz Barentain (Originally Valentine, he changed it after the release of
Final Fantasy VII)
Age: Appears 20, is actually around 45 or so
Birthday: October 18th
Shadz started out as a Turk for Omniax's dirty jobs, though he knew many of the scientists and researchers well. Namely, Yagami Atsureki, Alicia Ultma, Lucidia Selene and Lorel Camren, who was eventually dubbed 'Hojo' by Shadz after playing
Final Fantasy VII.
During the research taking place on the entity known as Jenova and 'okam', Shadz met and fell in love with Lucidia while befriending Yagami. However, Lucidia left him for Lorel, and in despair Shadz decided to take a job working half way across the world.
When he returned a few years later, he discovered that Lucidia had a baby and had become extremely sick because of Lorel experimenting on her. He decides to kill Lorel and find out more about the baby, however he is stopped by Yagami and informed that the child is in fact his, and as a result of a genetic oddity in Yagami the child was able to carry and survive with Jenova inside him, which could potentially threaten the very fabric of the world.
Shadz decides not to tell Yagami that he plans to kill the baby, and Yagami says that he can never tell his wife about the baby, since it was Lorel's idea in the first place. He also says that his wife is expecting her own baby soon and asks Shadz if he likes the name Cloud for a boy.
Shadz says it's a bit of a strange one and says to name him Kumo, since it means both 'cloud' and 'spider'.
Shadz dons a new outfit attempts to kill the child a few days later but is stopped by Yagami who reluctantly shoots his friend in the chest and says he can't let him kill his own flesh and blood, even if it is a threat.
Lorel takes this oppurtunity to experiment on Shadz and attempt to make him strong enough to enable metamorphosis. He creates three forms, however he is still dying and in an attempt to save him Lucidia fuses tainted okam and Protomateria inside him, and is immediately put to sleep.
Shadz did not awaken until sometime during 2008 when a LANDSLIDE division was exploring the mansion. He befriends Kyer, who reminded him of Lucidia, and decides to protect her.
He eventually discovers Lorel's experimenting and almost hurts the LANDSLIDE members, but manages to control himself. He decides to track down Lorel and Yagami if he can, though he soon discovers that Yagami disappeared years ago, but left a living legacy; Kumo. He decides to try and track down Kumo and meet him, initially believing Kyer's sister's vaguely described friend to be him, but discovers it's Levi Raionomoi, who he has also heard of through reports of the Banora incident, and challenges him to a gun duel, but Levi leaves after the Banora incident is mentioned.
On his birthday that year, 2009, Kyer gifts him with an intricate, heavily detailed Vincent Valentine coat. When he questions her decision in getting him such an item, she replies with 'It...just seemed to suit you, I guess'.
Shadz decides to attempt tracking down Lorel on his own and fails miserably, and ends up getting dragged to the Cosplay event in Japan, and becoming the party's number 1 informant on Omniax's structure.
Shadz is generally broody and a bit of a loner, preferring the company of Kyer to all other party members. Lulu claims that he's in love with her, but he rebuts this and says 'That'd be a bit pedophile-esque, Lu. It's more father daughter in my opinion, since I am old enough to be her father.' He, however, is an invaluable team member and is extremely vital in plot progression.
Though his character was even removed from KH because of his similarities to Cloud, Shadz is fairly more similar to Levi. They both wear black and red as dominant colours, know fair amounts about Omniax and are prone from keeping major secrets away from their friends.
Levi also considered wearing three leg belts after seeing Vincent Valentine's Dirge of Cerberus gun holster, but opted for the single crossover belt.
Levi's simularities would be further thrust into the spotlight if a sequel to Cosplay Crisis was ever made (WHICH IT WON'T BE).
Note: Shadz cannot use his metamorphosis during battles, and remains predominantly cutscene-based besides the battle against Galian Beast in the Forest of Despair, where Kumo and Levi are attacked by him.
