Which character(s) do you think has the most tragic backstory? My top choices would be:

1). Lauriam

His sister was murdered and he didn't know at first, then after a long time of searching he found that his comrades knew what had happened and one of them was involved... he would have felt so betrayed and heartbroken all at the same time. And this one line(KHIII novel spoilers):

Spoiler

Please, little flower, I only wanted you to blossom forever.

The fact he was still aware of that in his current state is very tragic. 

2). Aqua

Aqua saved her friends, but wasn't able to reunite with them; instead, she wandered in a dark, scary place, seeing worlds she had visited fallen to darkness, illusions of her best friends, and fighting herself; and despite the hopelessness of her situation she still fought. 

3). Xehanort

After the info revealed in Dark Road, I have to say he has a tragic backstory. Some of his friends were killed and he probably hated the World because of that, wanting to restart the World so people wouldn't have to suffer like he did.

What are your choices?

Namine is also a contender, depending on what we're calling a backstory. I'm gonna assume that the whole of CoM can be classified as her backstory, considering that was when she was created.

Namine is frequently called "witch" and eventually ends up calling herself that, even though it's evident she doesn't like it. Marluxia literally threatened to kill her, as well as using her as a human shield against Axel, and he and Larxene see her as a tool to be used. Her early life she was held captive by the Organization XIII, and was consistently threatened, gaslighted, pushed around, etc. Namine was all alone in the world and took that chance to replace herself with Kairi in Sora's memories - before her good nature and conscience made her reveal the truth to him, eventually leading to Sora picking his old memories and Kairi over her, leaving Namine, once again, alone, until Riku shows up. Even then she still had DiZ to contend with.

Of course in Days and KH2 the sadness isn't over for her; but I'll leave it there because this was just for character's backstory. So if CoM counts as a backstory, Namine has got to be one of the most tragic, even though she didn't have to endure it as long as Marluxia/Aqua/Xehanort did.

Roxas. His existence was sheer happenstance and yet seen as unsuitable even to exist by some. He was manipulated and used by Xemnas for his ability to use the keyblade, Axel's companionship with him meant only to make him more self-sufficient for missions and less zombie-like (which backfired big time). Even then Xion was designed as a back-up, eventually draining his strength and meant to erase his existence altogether. He lost trust in Axel and was forced to put an end to Xion without realising until her death, and in fighting to regain his life was stripped of his memories and used by DiZ, who treated him as sub-human and expendable. His last ditch effort to get back existence led to him being forced to admit defeat to Sora, accepting his fate.

Xion. Created as a puppet, a replica designed to be a contingency in case Roxas didn't work out. Her growing confidence undermined she wasn't even declared fit to be seen in a group of Nobodies, a class of being already looked down on for just existing. Going through an existential crisis upon learning of her origins and begging her best friend, one of her only friends, to kill her so she couldn't be his demise, then completely forgotten to the point not even someone who specialised in memory manipulation could do anything, and knowing this would be the case.

This one may be controversial, but Terra. Raised at the Land of Departure with only Eraqus and Aqua for company as far as we know (he was in his late teens when Ventus joined them), seeing the former as a father figure. Aqua shone despite Terra being just as good as her, and he didn't have an outlet or someone to talk to about his insecurities or the growing darkness inside him, which he knew Eraqus and Aqua wouldn't understand. Taking into account one of the short stories he also lacked the sweet tooth the others had, another connection he didn't have. Take out the context and it does sound like it could be applied to real life, a favoured sibling or student and the other is afraid to talk about their concerns, making it more tragic.

Edited December 23, 20204 yr by jbmasta

Been a while since I've played BBS but going to have to second Terra, he really was just trying to do good, protect his friends, and even tried to prove himself again to Eraqus when given the second chance.By the end of it all his body ends up possessed and used by Xehanort. The thought of him having to watch things unfold for so long while unable to even be in control himself is just really sad to me, and despite that all he still wanted to set things right, and I think that made the BBS trio's reunion in KH III all the more satisfying, and emotional....Also everything that jbmasta said about Terra as well.  

I'd also probably put the Days trio up there as well, but Terra's my top pick. 

8 hours ago, Double OKP said:

 

 

His sister was murdered and he didn't know at first, then after a long time of searching he found that his comrades knew what had happened and one of them was involved... he would have felt so betrayed and heartbroken all at the same time. And this one line(KHIII novel spoilers):

  Hide contents

Please, little flower, I only wanted you to blossom forever.

The fact he was still aware of that in his current state is very tragic. 

 

hang on, there's proof of that. the novels arent canon

13 hours ago, ocean's rage said:

hang on, there's proof of that. the novels arent canon

Aren't they secondary canon? 

10 hours ago, Double OKP said:

Aren't they secondary canon? 

they cant be many of the things in them end up be contradicted by the games

20 hours ago, ocean's rage said:

they cant be many of the things in them end up be contradicted by the games

Ah I see. The KHIII Ultimania character files, which are secondary canon, confirmed that 

Spoiler

Marluxia remembered the name of a small flower, which the novel mentioned in that same section. To me, it seems pretty possible that he could be aware of Strelitzia's death, but who knows.