Baten Kaitos Origins takes place 20 years prior to the start of the original. You play as Sagi, a member of the empire's "Elite" force of fighters. Sagi heads off on a quest to determine the nature of a mysterious change that's appearing in the world. Actually, you don't play as Sagi like you play as the main characters of other RPGs. You actually play as a spirit that resides within Sagi, an entity that represents Sagi's "true self," and give "advice" to Sagi as the game progresses. The notion of a spirit residing in a character is actually a part of the Baten Kaitos storyline. The world of Baten Kaitos was formed when the living spirits of two separate worlds connected, and people who have spirits within them are considered wise.