Citan Uzuki

Citan Uzuki

The idea of humanity being secretly ruled by an invisible, almost-omnipresent empire sounds ridiculous. Certainly the playable characters of the Xenogears videogame must have thought so. But it’s not a joke. The Solarian Empire exists. Their influence stretches across a global theater. They have fingers in the pies of nearly every government on the face of the planet. And the governments they don’t control, there’s a Solarian plan to make sure they will.

This idea sounds even more laughable the second time around. But in a sea of uncertainty, Citan Uzuki is an island of balance. When the party reacts to the lengths Solaris will go to for the sake of their master plan, it’s Citan who provides the raw truth. Solaris exists. The rumors are all true. Humanity is nothing to them. Little more than domesticated animals. Citan knows this. Because he’s been there. But more on that in a bit.

Citan’s essentially the shadow of main protagonist Fei Fong Wong. Where Fei goes, Citan is already at his side, ready to lend a helping hand or emotional support in the face of naked cruelty. He’s not only Fei’s mentor, but perhaps his best friend.

Unfortunately, Citan’s true agenda is far more complex than anyone realizes.

Given Solaris’ reach, it’s not unsurprising for the older generation of characters to have spent time in Solaris. But while others broke ties and descended to the surface, Citan is in the direct employ of Emperor Cain, Solaris’ ancient ruler. His task: keeping tabs on Fei.

Fei’s more than a simple painter. He is the reincarnation of the Contact (he who inherits God’s strength). Cain and the Gazel Ministry – the computerized, disembodied spirits of the planet’s first humans – have much to fear from Fei’s power. Though under orders to eliminate Fei if the worst happened, Citan’s supervision allows Fei to mature beyond the need for simple slaughter. Citan has a large influence on who Fei is and what he becomes.

Outside of this, Citan lends a great deal of insight to his comrades. His detailed knowledge of the Solarian society allows him to create both short-term and long-term strategies. Helping Crown Prince Bart Fatima regain the Aveh throne is important, not only for the people but to ensure a unified front to better assault Solaris. Nor does Citan twiddle his thumbs on the sidelines. He’s out there with the others, fighting Solarian cruelty face-to-face. There is no better ally to have.

An omnipresent empire ruling over humanity in secret? An empire whose influence can be found in governments around the globe? All while being invisible to the naked eye? Preposterous. Except it’s all true. Solaris exists. You want to free the people? Start listening to Citan Uzuki. With his council, victory is more than the light at the end of the tunnel. With him on your side, freedom just might have a chance.

Elly Van Houton

Elly Van Houton

Elly Van Houton is the most important woman in the Xenogears videogame universe. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Elly is introduced as a soldier of the Solarian Empire. A rising star in the legendary Jugend military school, her elemental affinity is second to none. Raised in the belief that the Solarian people are, by divine right, the natural overlords of the surface dwelling Lambs, Elly is completely unprepared for her first meeting with protagonist Fei Fong Wong. Realizing that they have more in common than Solarian dogma would admit, Elly begins a long, reluctant conversion to the side of good.

But it turns out this is nothing she’s done before. Elly is the latest reincarnation of the Antitype, a being born from the god-like entity Wave Existence ten thousand years prior to the Xenogears story. Created to be the companion of Abel – Fei’s first incarnation – Elly has been at Fei’s side countless times throughout history. The reasons behind her creation: to help Fei make contact with the Wave Existence, thus giving him the power to destroy the Zohar Engine and free the Existence captured within it. Unfortunately, she has little success in this regard, often dying before she can complete her mission.

Elly’s willingness to help others is a constant theme throughout her incarnations. Five hundred years before the game’s story, Elly is Mother Sophia, the figure-head of the Nisan religion. Her presence is a calm beacon during the Shevat/Solarian war, drawing people together in the hopes of a better future. She even calmed the heart of Krelian, a man once governed by cynicism and bitterness. Sophia gave him a purpose outside battle and a love for science that would be present throughout his life. Unfortunately her death triggered Krelian’s obsession to create a God and the subsequent machinations throughout the game. Later on – most likely an echo of Sophia’s generosity – Elly becomes a similar symbol to the people suffering by Solarian cruelty.

There are thematic tragedies common to all her incarnations. She often dies before Fei; her last words are telling him to live. A popular argument is that Sophia’s death when Lacan – Fei’s incarnation of that time – made contact with the Existence was a crucial factor in his transformation into the uber-powerful Grahf and the global destruction that followed.

Elly Van Houton was just another Solarian soldier, committed to the Solarian dogma without question. Yet bit by bit she challenges the unnecessary cruelty of her Solarian superiors. Confronted with the mass genocide of the earthbound Kislev Empire, Elly finally takes action and nearly sacrifices herself so that more Kislev people can evacuate. Her love gives Fei the strength to resist his sadistic split personality Id, as well as giving him a place and person to return to after the necessary war effort. Few women can do so much good in one lifetime, never mind ten thousand years’ worth. It’s what makes her an incredible character.

Maria Balthasar – A Girl And Her Giant Robot

Maria Balthasar – A Girl And Her Giant Robot

One of the several things that videogame Xenogears excels at is taking the time to develop the stories of its playable characters. Each character has his or her own multi-faceted story, and told with such grace that it doesn’t just merge with the overlying plot, it enriches and adds meaning to it. Of those characters, Maria Balthasar’s story has the most emotional payoff.

Maria’s story starts – as does many of the other characters – with the antagonistic empire of Solaris. Owning the world through manipulation of faith, politics and eugenics, Solaris sought to develop its Gear (the game’s giant robots) technology. They took Maria and her family hostage to force her father Nikolai into building a superior breed of Gears.

But taking Maria hostage wasn’t enough incentive for Solaris. In order to ensure Nikolai’s sincerest efforts, Solarian authorities brainwashed him into their slave. Nikolai’s last act as a free man was to send Maria and prototype Gear Seibzehn to safety.

Such emotional trauma would be too much for a normal child to handle. But instead of bowing down to the tragedy, Maria and Seibzhen become the unofficial guardians of Shevat, Solaris’ rival superpower.

Maria obviously holds a grudge against Solaris. But it’s not until main protagonist Fei Fong Wong and his group enters her life that her past comes full circle. Solarian authority long dreamt of merging a pilot with its Gear. Nikolai achieved such a breakthrough. By using the neural tissue of Wels – humans devolved by genetic experiments – as the new Gears’ circuitry, Nikolai bridged that divide. Not only did he make thought and action instantaneous, but removed a pilot’s conscience from the equation. The name of this ultimate Gear: Achtzehn.

Debuting as the head of a major Solarian assault force, Achtzehn easily renders the Gears of Fei’s group useless with its advanced jamming technology. Only Seibzehn stands a chance against Achtzehn, but Maria cannot pilot it. Not against the one person she loves the most.

Achtzehn’s host mind is Nikolai Balthasar. The creator became his creation.

Maria grew up on the dreams of seeing her father one last time. He’s been the source of her strength, her inspiration in times of trouble. She couldn’t hurt him. It takes the intervention of Chu-Chu – one of the last of the planet’s native species – for Maria to realize her father died a long time ago. Wielding Seibzhen, Maria confronts Achtzehn.

But Nikolai has one more trick up his sleeve. Seibzehn’s presence unlocks Nikolai’s last message. Father and daughter exchange one last goodbye. Then Nikolai uses Seibzehn’s hidden weaponry to destroy Achtzehn once and for all.

Maria’s trauma could have made her a bitter person. Instead she uses her father’s memory to grow stronger and to be there for others. Though she had to watch her father die a second time, she at least has the condolence of granting her father the peace he so richly deserves.

Margie Fatima

Margie Fatima

The saying goes, “Behind every great man, there’s a great woman.” In the case of Xenogears videogame character Bart Fatima, that woman is a girl. Her name is Marguerite Fatima. She’s his cousin.

Margie isn’t any ordinary little girl. She’s the Nisan Mother, leader of the Nisan religion. Like Bart she’s the last living members of the Aveh monarchy (of which Bart is the deposed Crown Prince). She ascended to the position when her mother and grandmother were murdered during current despot Shakhan’s coup of the Aveh monarchy. Yet even at the tender age of ten, Margie handles her responsibility with astounding grace.

Margie’s one tough little girl. It is clear upon her return to Nisan (after being kidnapped by Shakhan’s forces) that she wants to break down and cry. Instead puts on a cheery front and teases Bart in front of main protagonist Fei Fong Wong. From that moment on, Margie becomes a member of the Xenogears team. She doesn’t fight in battle; instead she is the designated “party-changer.” The player has to talk to her to switch playable characters into the current battle party. This means the player will constantly interact with her, solidifying her position as a true ally.

Her relationship with Bart is more complex. In the days after Shakhan’s coup, Bart withstood torture to protect her. Thus, Margie constantly feels like she owes Bart for his protection, and bemoans the fact that she doesn’t have the strength to stand by his side and help him. Thus she often puts herself in danger in order to even the score. Her second kidnapping by Shakhan resulted from such a venture.

On the other hand, Margie is one of Bart’s true friends. Thanks to their responsibilities and social obligations, they’re uniquely suited to understand the other’s burdens. Their playful, almost bickering banter is an example of how relaxed they are in the other’s company. Margie’s always quick to point out Bart’s mistakes, and regularly admonishes him for his immaturity. Save for Bart’s minders Sigurd and Maison, Margie’s the only one to gets away with such chiding.

Margie also acts as Bart’s emotional mediator. Bart has a notable problem with expressing his emotions. Of particular note is his difficulty to apologize (something he does regularly due to his impulsive nature). Oftimes Margie explains Bart’s feelings to those he’s indirectly wronged.

For every great man, there is a great woman standing at his side. Margie Fatima is that woman. She shoulders the responsibility of being her religion’s leader with a maturity beyond her years. She has the incredible ability of being the Nisan Mother, yet is able to find friendship in her followers. To the nuns of Nisan, she is Margie first and the Nisan Mother second. Her responsibilities makes her the perfect person to understand Bart’s predicament as the Crown Prince, which is why the two are best friends. You can’t ask for a better friend than Margie Fatima. You just can’t.

Jesse Black

Jesse Black – Not Your Typical Father

In a perfect world, family comes first. But it’s not a perfect world. Sometimes people had to look at the bigger picture. Sometimes the only way to do the right thing is to leave your old life behind. In the Xenogears videogame, this is the crisis of Jesse Black.

Jesse’s story begins with the Solarian Empire, the game’s antagonistic, zealot empire. Attending the prestigious Jugend academy, Jesse quickly rose through the ranks. Not only did he found the elite Elements unit (composed of key characters Hyuga Ricdeau, Sigurd Harcount and Kahran Ramsus), but was eventually elected commander-in-chief of Gebler, Solaris’ military branch.

But that was before he found out what Solaris really was about. Drugs placed in Solarian food to keep the population docile. Or the empire’s nasty habit of abducting the earthbound population for slave labor or experimentation. Disgusted, Jesse takes his family – wife Racquel, son Billy and daughter Primera – done to the surface world, far from Solaris’ reach.

For a while, they were happy. But one day Jesse leaves the house and never comes back. He returns as unexpectedly as he left. Things have changed drastically: Racquel’s murdered, Billy’s joined the Ethos priesthood (a Solarian front), and Primera’s unable to speak. Jesse’s changed too, but for worse: Beer and women are his new pastimes, and he doesn’t care who he offends pursuing them. Real father-of-the-year material, this guy.

So what was so important that Jesse had to abandon his family? The M plan. Solaris, as expected, has the top choice in Gears (giant robots). But they sought a way to boost Gear performance to an even higher level. The M Plan called for the dissection of captured humans and used their neural tissue to fuse man with machine. Jessie was looking at the bigger picture. To stop the M Plan, he had to abandon his family. It was the only way to keep them from Solaris’ crosshairs.

Unfortunately, Jesse’s transformation from loving father to drunken whoremonger is one of the game’s unexplained details due to financial concerns and deadlines. There are two theories. The obvious theory is that Racquel’s death broke him, forcing him to bury his guilt with booze.

Digging into the Perfect Works (the official Xenogears encyclopedia), reveals another possibility: the death of Joshua Blanche. According to Works, Jesse’s facial scars are the result of surgery to mimic Blanche’s likeness. Jesse even went so far as to adopt Joshua’s clothing as a tribute. Again, thanks to financial concerns, all these theories are speculative.

In a perfect world, family comes first. But the Xenogears world isn’t perfect. Solaris sees humanity as domesticated animals. They do not give a second thought about abduction or experimentation. And why would they? Humanity are basically sheep. They deserve to be enslaved. Sometimes you have to sacrifice what’s dearest to you in order to keep it safe. That’s what I remember Jesse Black for.

Rico Banderas

Rico Banderas

It’s become a tradition for RPGs (Role Playing Games) to have an interspecies cast of playable characters. Everything from anthropomorphic frogs to steam-powered robots have made their mark in the RPG industry. For 1998 videogame Xenogears, that role falls onto Ricardo “Rico” Banderas.

Rico’s origins literally begin in the gutters. First introduced in the Kislev Empire’s Prison Block, Rico is the “Champ,” the champion of Kislev’s Battling Arena, a gladiatorial event involving Gears (the game’s giant robots) a la the Hunger Games. His victories gain him prestige: his subordinates are the highest officials in the prison hierarchy. Everyone gathers around Rico in the hope that some of his victories rub off on him, or getting street credit by association. Kaiser Sigmund might rule Kislev, but Rico rules the nation’s undesirables.

But there’s one little snag. Champions of the Battling Tournaments receive a full pardon as part of their prize. Rico won three Tournaments in a row, yet he remains within the prison system. In this case, he is the archetypical institutionalized man. In the prison, he has authority and respect. Put him outside the prison, and all that prestige vanishes. This compliments his emotional complexity. It’s no secret that Rico hates Kislev and wouldn’t shed a tear if its people were burned to the ground. Yet he remains. A home hated by its residents is still a home. It isn’t until main protagonist Fei comes along that Rico changes his tune and defends Kislev against a terrible nuclear event. He hides his feelings behind a “tough-as-nails” attitude, but Rico comes out of his shell thanks to Fei.

Xenogears is notable for giving the characters an elaborate backstory, but the sad fact is that the game suffered both money and time constraints. Things were cut out to meet the deadline, and Rico’s backstory was one such thing.

It’s a shame, because the plot involved a lot of maturity for the world’s most badass Champion. Flashbacks hint that Rico is the son of Kislev leader Kaiser Sigmund. This plot arc’s similar to Bart Fatima, a desert pirate who is actually the last of the Fatima dynasty, the original rulers of the Aveh nation. Thanks to Fei and his comrades, Bart succeeds in overthrowing the imposter Shakhan. Seeing that a united front is essential in combating the antagonistic nation Solaris, the liberation of Kislev seems like a logical step forward. Aside from the final confession of a minor enemy, Rico’s history is swept under the rug.

A common RPG tradition is to have characters of multiple species. I’ve seen intelligent, articulate people made out of a cloud. Or a walking, talking raindrop. I wish I was kidding, but I’m not. Rico Banderas breaks the mold by hiding his vulnerability behind an intense hate for his predicament, yet is capable of changing his destiny and go towards something better in the real world. It’s just unfortunate that Rico received the short end of the stick because of money issues.

Sigurd Harcount

Sigurd Harcourt

Of all the supporting characters in the Xenogears videogame, Sigurd Harcount carries a heavy role. Sigurd is the first mate of the sand cruiser Yggdrasil. But he’s also the minder and teacher of desert pirate Bart Fatima. But Bart isn’t any old desert pirate. He’s actually the Crown Prince of Aveh, deposed by Solaris (the game’s antagonistic empire) emissary Shakhan. Just like Bart, Sigurd has a few secrets of his own.

Like many other characters, Sigurd’s past involve Solarian machinations. Solaris has a habit to abduct the earthbound population for manual labor and various experiments. Sigurd was taken for the latter reason. Brainwashed into Solarian service, Sigurd made his way through Jugend, Solaris’ prestigious military academy. Together with fellow cadets Jesiah Black, Kahran Ramsus, and Hyuga Ricdeau, he creates the elite “Element” unit; the cream of the Jugend crop. He would have been Solaris’ rising star if it weren’t for one little thing: Shakhan’s coup of the Aveh nation.

News of Bart’s impeding fate at Shakhan’s hands breaks Sigurd’s brainwashing. He arrives to the surface world just in time to save Bart and his cousin Margie from a grisly death. From thereon he dedicates his life to free Aveh from Shakhan’s grasp and see Bart as the King Aveh deserves (a task made difficult because of Bart’s impulsive nature).

Fast forward several game hours. Sigurd and company escort Bart to the Nisan Mausoleum – the burial grounds for past Aveh kings – in order to retrieve the all-powerful Omnigear of ancient Aveh legend. Though regularly sealed by the Fatima Jasper (the retina imprints of the Aveh dynasty) Shakhan plans to use the eyes of Margie’s deceased mother to open the seal. Bart and company must race against time to keep the Omnigear from Shakhan’s hands.

Given that Bart only has one eye (due to an unexplained accident), he needs Margie to open the seals. But the worst happens: Shakhan has been waiting in secret, using the threat of his plan to trick Bart into opening the seals for him. Margie makes a beeline toward the hangar in order to operate the Omnigear. But the door is re-sealed before Bart can follow. Without Margie to provide the additional retina scan, the group is locked out of the hangar.

It’s then that Sigurd’s final secret comes to light. He volunteers to take Margie’s place at the retina scanner: and it works. The seal can only be unlocked with the eyes of the Aveh dynasty, and it works. Sigurd is more than Bart’s teacher. He’s his half-brother.

Sigurd’s had a torrid history: abduction, brainwashing, servitude. But his loyalty to Bart and his homeland was enough to break the brainwashing. It’s heartwarming, actually. If a videogame character was able to transcend a crippling tragedy, maybe it can inspire real people to do the same.

Emeralda

Emeralda

If the videogame Xenogears was a play, then the stage would span across ten thousand years of history. Characters who are centuries apart would come together and add their own history to the rich tapestry that is Xenogears’ plot. It’s the characters that elevates the stage to a grand opera; without them, the game would just be another generic “let’s-save-the-world” copy.

Today’s character analysis features Emeralda Kasim.

Four thousand years before the game’s main plot, the Zeboim civilization was the planet’s major superpower. Zeboim’s technology matched the level of modern day societies: electricity and television were commonplace. However, the inhabitants suffered from genetic decay. The average Zeboim’s lifespan was thirty years. Additionally, the decay made a large amount of women infertile. If nothing was to be done soon, the Zeboim civilization would soon become extinct.

This is where Emeralda comes in. Nano-engineer Kim Kasim – an incarnation of main protagonist Fei Fong Wong – tried his hand in creating a new life. He created a nano-machine colony (a host of artificial cells that work together not unlike how the human body’s cells act to regulate the systems necessary for life). Kim imprinted both his genetic code and that of his wife Elly – an incarnation of deuterogamist Elly Van Houton – into the colony’s structure, effectively making Emeralda the child they were unable to conceive.

However, tragedy strikes in the form of Miang. Miang is the eternal agent of the antagonist weapon/deity Deus. Her main responsibility is to mold humanity into suitable vessels for Deus to absorb and repair itself from the crash-landing upon the Xenogears planet ten thousand years ago. Seeing the Zeboim civilization as a failure due to genetic breakdown, Miang engineers a nuclear war to annihilate Zeboim, hoping to “start over” with the survivors.

Emeralda survives the destruction thanks to Kim’s foresight, but she’s dissembled into a catatonic state. Four thousand years later, she gains her original, child-like form when key antagonist Krelian kidnaps her. Once he obtains all the data Emeralda’s genetics provide, Krelian intentionally places her in Fei’s way in the hope that Fei will eliminate her for him. Instead, Emeralda joins Fei’s cause.

What’s interesting about Emeralda is that her origins are backed by real-life science. Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of matter on the atomic and molecular scale. It’s taking something as small as a human cell and transforming it into something else entirely. A common example in science fiction is the instant regeneration of human cells to fill the void when the body is fatally struck, giving humanity a kind of immortality. Whatever or not real-life nano-technology can fulfill this function is a question of time and research, but the possibilities are endless.

Emeralda is the literal connection between Xenogears’ past and present, bringing the plot full circle in the tragic circumstances of her creation. She enriches the overall tapestry of Xenogears’ rich history, as well as being the symbol of hope for the future. That is what makes her story so interesting.

Kahran Ramsus

Kahran Ramsus

At first glance, Kahran Ramsus has it all. He’s the commander of the Gebler army, the military branch of the Solaris Empire. He has power, respect, and authority. There’s just one problem.

He doesn’t take rejection very well.

The 1998 videogame Xenogears is infamous for the psychological conditions of its characters. Main protagonist Fei Fong Wong suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (multiple personalities). Ramsus harbors an inferiority complex: one that brings great tragedy to his story.

Ramsus’ inferiority issues stem from the failure of his own invulnerably-assumed strength. Ramsus was present at the destruction of Elru (a colony made famous for its red-haired destroyer). Witnessing firsthand how the later-titled Demon of Elru destroys Gears (the game’s giant robots) singlehandedly, Ramsus watches helplessly as the Demon routs his forces. Then he suffers a serious blow once the Demon summons his Gear and annihilates Elru. This is the first crack in Ramsus’ sanity. He sees his survival as a record of his failure, something that haunts him despite the confident persona he’s created for himself.

However, Ramsus’ fears of Elru are quickly overshadowed by his rivalry with Fei. While Fei’s fighting style (similar to the Demon’s) is the first nail in Ramsus’ psychological coffin, Fei’s name triggers a deeper resonance within Ramsus. From that point onward, Ramsus is obsessed with Fei. Just the mere mention of Fei’s name makes him rabid. He continually disobeys orders to go after Fei. Nothing else counts. It doesn’t matter if he was the pride of the prestigious Jugend academy. It doesn’t matter if he was an Element, the cream of the Jugend crop. All that matters to Ramsus is that Fei exists. As long as Fei’s around, Ramsus cannot be whole.

It’s towards the game’s end that Ramsus’ obsession comes to light. He is an artificial being. Officially he was created to be the clone of Emperor Cain, Solaris’ ancient ruler. Unofficially, he was meant to be an artificial Contact (a being who can make contact with God and receive his power). On the eve of his conception, Fei is discovered to be the true Contact. Thus, Ramsus no longer has use, and is discarded. It’s a slight that Ramsus never forgets.

The Xenogears characters have mental conditions that revolve around real-life concepts. Ramsus’ psychological condition is an echo of self-actualization, a theory of need fulfillment put forth by psychologist Abraham Maslow. Maslow’s theory constitutes a set of conditions that must be met for a person to become the best version of him/herself. Unfortunately for Ramsus, the person standing in the way of self-actualization is Fei. In order to complete himself, he must eliminate Fei.

Ramsus is the typical rags-to-riches character. He fought from the gutters of his birth and attained the highest honors of his society. Yet his rejection sowed seeds of helplessness, seeds that bloomed in the form of Fei’s existence. His spiraling tale of destruction is sad, but richly intricate for a videogame character.

Krelian

Krelian

500 years before the plot of the Xenogears videogame, the antagonistic nation Solaris is having trouble with their indoctrinated servants. The Lambs – as the Solarians call the earthbound population – are gathering under the Nisan religion, thanks to the efforts of Mother Sophia, the faction’s figurehead. Under Sophia’s tutelage, the Lambs are beginning to shrug off the influence of their Solarian masters. The course is clear. Sophia must be eliminated. Hence the beginning of the Shevat-Solarian War.

For some, Sophia’s death rallies the creation of the modern nations populating the Xenogears world. For Lacan, Sophia’s lover, her sacrifice leads him down a dark path of corruption and global destruction. But he is not the only one broken by Sophia’s death. There is another.

His name is Krelian.

Krelian is introduced as an agent of the Nimrod nation, sent to kill Sophia, whose growing popularity made her a legitimate threat to their sovereignty. Instead Krelian falls in love with Sophia. Her inspiration leads him down the road of science, a calling that Krelian would follow the rest of his life.

Then tragedy strikes. Sophia’s forces are betrayed by Shevat (exchanging Sophia for Solaris’ surrender and their ally/enemy Miang). With her comrades on the point of annihilation, Sophia sacrifices herself for her people’s safety. Krelian is crushed. He cannot believe a God that would allow Sophia to die so needlessly. Henceforth, Krelian vows to create a God in Sophia’s memory.

Over the next five hundred years, Krelian uses his scientific knowledge towards that goal. He secures dominion over Cain and the Gazel Ministry – Solaris’ ancient rulers – by giving them the nanotechnology-based immortality he mastered during his time with Shevat. Because he is the only one able to maintain that immortality, Krelian enslaves Cain and the Ministry, makes himself Solaris’ de facto leader, and establishes all the resources he needs in one fell swoop.

Krelian shows little regard to the people he manipulates or those standing in his way. He created the Wels, a prehistoric branch of humanity re-engineered through nanotechnology. The Wels’ purpose: their primal state makes them the most compatible with Deus’ (the sentient weapon/God revered by Solaris) organic structure.

Krelian is a master manipulator. He abandoned the artificially-created antagonist Kahran Ramsus upon learning the Contact – he who inherited God’s strength – was reborn as main protagonist Fei Fong Wong. Ramsus’ survival is unexpected, but even then Krelian incorporates him into a plan: He hints that Cain’s – from which Ramsus was cloned – death would give Ramsus the power he needs. Krelian wins again, securing an ally and gets rid of Cain, whose guilt made him an obstacle.

Krelian is straight out of a Greek tragedy. He wanted to spare humanity suffering by returning the universe to its natural state (to become one with God’s eternal love). But he slaughtered billions, manipulated thousands in doing so. It’s no excuse, but he is human. That’s what makes him such an incredible character.