List of major characters in Xenosaga
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The following is a list of major characters in the Xenosaga series. In order to be on this list, the character must be present in multiple episodes in addition to providing some sort of influence to the main storyline.
Contents |
[edit] Playable characters
- chaos (Yeshua) (ケイオス)
- Jin Uzuki (ジン・ウヅキ)
- Gaignun Kukai, Jr. (Rubedo)
- KOS-MOS
- MOMO Mizrahi
- Allen Ridgely (アレン・リッジリー)
- Shion Uzuki (シオン・ウヅキ)
- Ziggurat 8 (Ziggy) (ジギー )
- Canaan (カナン)
- Miyuki Itsumi (ミユキ・イツミ)
[edit] Canaan
Canaan (カナン) is a special Realian created by Vector Industries. He is the only Realian (except for MOMO) who can pilot an E.S., specifically E.S. Asher. He is not designed like the other Realians and is referred to as an "Enhanced Memory Model" model by MOMO when they first meet in Helmer's office.
Canaan was sent on a mission during the Miltian Conflict by Lieutenant General Helmer along with chaos to retrieve the U.R.T.V.s and the Y-Data. During their mission the U-TIC Organization activates the Song of Nephilim. Canaan starts to become affected by it, but he fights off being overcome by it. Nearby Federation Soldiers in A.M.W.S. are affected, and start attacking Canaan and chaos. Jin Uzuki arrives in time and aids them. Shortly after that Jin shows them to the U.R.T.V.s. location at Labyrinthos, headquarters of U-TIC. Margulis appears, and he and Jin fight. After the fight, Jin entrusts Canaan with information regarding the Miltian Conflict, which is also a fragment of the Y-Data. After uploading the data into Canaan, Jin leaves. Then something happens to Canaan (appearing as a strange black cloud in the sky which engulfs Canaan and causes him to pass out; chaos also sees this, but it is unknown if he was affected) and the information is inaccessible to him. After that is a mystery but after sometime passes they find two of the U.R.T.V.s. They are Rubedo aka Jr. who is carrying out a wounded Nigredo (aka Gaignun Kukai). They rescue them both but no other U.R.T.V.s. are reported being saved.
14 years later Canaan is still unable to read the data that is locked inside his head. A side-effect of his mysterious affliction is occasional black-outs accompanied by dataloss. He has spent much time during the years since the Miltian Conflict at Vector's 2nd Division on Second Milita attempting to extract the Y-data from his head. Representative Helmer asked him to aid Jr., chaos, Ziggy, and MOMO as they are under attack by U-TIC A.W.M.S. Units. He arrives in time and finishes the fight, by attacking Pellegri. During the fight their E.S. units freeze as if they're stopped in time. This is possibly their Vessels of Anima reacting to each other, or some unknown phenomena causing this. (the player can see someone for a brief second in an E.S. with arms crossed on a building. It is not known who is standing there.) Eventually during the game he joins the main characters (as an NPC) as they return to Old Milita to extract the data and analyze it.
With his name "Canaan," it has been speculated that he shares something in common with Lactis, a prototype Realian from Xenosaga: Pied Piper. In Xenosaga: Pied Piper, a Mysterious Voice (chaos) speaks to Lactis, and tells him to protect "Canaan," which the voice says, is "inside" of Lactis. In Xenosaga I&II there are hints that Lactis was Canaan's past incarnation. In Episode III, it is confirmed that Canaan and Lactis are one and the same; created at first to observe Jan Sauer and Voyager, and then today to observe Shion and co. In the time of Pied Piper, the recording component("personality") used was that of Lactis, and afterwards, the recording component was reformatted and the personality in use now is the current Canaan.
In Episode III, the special chracteristics of Program Canaan allow Canaan to secure a bypass route to Wilhelm's power. Canaan cleverly using Voyager's desires, connects Voyager's consciousness with the Compass of Order and Chaos, which takes Canaan and Voyager into phase space, destroying them both.
Canaan is a temporary playable character for Episode III. In the Japanese version of Episodes II and III, he is voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya (神谷 浩史); in the English version of Episode II, he is voiced by Beng Spies; in the English version of Episode III, he is voiced by Steven Blum.
"Canaan" is an ancient term meaning the area around present-day Israel, western Jordan, southern Syria and southern Lebanon. It is also the name of one of the grandsons of the biblical Noah. Canaan, the fourth son of Ham, was cursed by Noah for the wrongdoings of his father.
[edit] Elsa Crew
These six men, along with several droids, own and operate the passenger/cargo cruiser Elsa Von Brabant, also known as the Elsa. Despite their humble status as a small tramp freighter, they are privately employed by the Kukai Foundation (due to Matthews' enormous debt to Gaignun Kukai), and are commonly called upon by the Foundation to take part in dangerous missions. However, this does not stop Captain Matthews from involving the Elsa in shady side jobs in desperate attempts to pay off his debt.
[edit] Captain Matthews
Captain Matthews (マシューズ) is the Captain of the Elsa. He owes a substantial debt to Gaignun Kukai. Matthews once served as a Galaxy Federation Marine with current Ormus Society A.M.W.S. pilot Hermann. He is also an avid fan of the Seraphim Sisters, and often dreams of going to one of their concerts once the debt has been cleared. He wears a hat that says "Caution! I'm a boozer. Banzai! Banzai!"
Captain Matthews' infamous debt is reportedly due to his frequent and frivolous spending habits. According to chaos, "no one holds a greater amount of debt than the Captain." One of the most difficult Global Samaritan missions in Episode II involve helping the Elsa droids to pay off the gargantuan debt. It is unknown whether or not the debt will have reappeared a year later in Episode III'. (It is thought that Captain Matthews' name may be derived from the Biblical Apostle Matthew, who was believed to be a tax collector.)
Captain Matthews seems to have a certain fondness for the varied and eccentric droids that serve on board the ship, (which is returned in kind), and he has named them all after his favorite drinks. In the Japanese version, he is voiced by Unshou Ishizuka (石塚 運昇); in the English versions of the Xenosaga games, he is voiced by Kirk Thornton.
[edit] Hammer
Hammer (ハマー) is the navigator of the Elsa Von Brabant. Hammer has a vast knowledge of the U.M.N. net, which got him into trouble in his teens, when he hacked into a criminal organization's database. It was Captain Matthews who rescued him during this time. Despite his near fugitive status since then, his genius and engineering skill has resulted in Vector's many failed attempts to recruit him. At times his opinion on how to fly the ship clashes with that of Tony, whom he has been friends with since childhood.
In spite of the fact that its his job, Hammer doesn't seem to like scavenging the wreckage of starship disasters, like the wreck of the Woglinde. However, once he gets down to business, any misgivings he has about scavenging quickly vanish: Hammer made quick work out of both the Federation escape pod and the wrecked U-TIC AutoTechs that made their way onto the Elsa. chaos' A.G.W.S. unit in Episode I was pieced together by Hammer from A.G.W.S. parts scavenged from battle fields.
This character in Xenosaga resembles a non-anthropomorphic animal version of a similar character also named Hammer in Xenogears. In the Japanese version, he is voiced by Taiki Matsuno (松野 太紀); in the English version of Episode I, he is voiced by Michael Lindsay; in the English versions of Episodes II and III, he is voiced by Jason Spisak.
[edit] Tony
Tony (トニー) is the Elsa's skilled helmsman, who enjoys piloting in difficult situations. Although quite normal and pleasant most of the time (several comments suggest that Tony is slightly spiritual and philosophical at times), his personality completely changes while piloting; he becomes a complete maniac. Tony's piloting skills come into play several times throughout the series; he outruns a squad of U-TIC Auto-Techs by riding the column wall in Hyperspace, gets Shion and her companions into and out of Proto Merkabah and seamlessly guides the Elsa through a maze of Ormus Society warships bent on destroying the ship before it can reach Old Miltia. At the end of Epiosde II, Tony is seen aboard the Elsa ferrying Jin Uzuki back to Second Miltia. In Episode III, Tony returns once again as the Elsa's pilot, shuttling the party to and from most of the major locations in the game. When Voyager invades the Elsa's hangar looking to abduct KOS-MOS Ver. 3's remains and return them to Wilhelm. Tony participates in the battle to save her, brandishing twin pistols — one black, one white.
Although Tony is well known as a "ladies man," there have been rumors that he may in fact be bisexual, due to the many accusing dialogues given by an Durandal NPC named Ginevra in Episode II who claims to be his former girlfriend. However, there is the possibility that these are just paranoid accusations, as Tony had recently broken up with her.
Tony claims to be the best pilot anywhere, according to chaos, but as Tony has a massive ego when it comes to his helmsmanship ("Tony, numero uno!"), the truth of this remains unknown. In the Japanese version, he is voiced by Takehito Koyasu (子安 武人)
[edit] chaos
chaos joined the Elsa Crew two years prior to the events of Episode I. He is described in the ODM as the one who ensures the safety of the crew during their travels. In that respect, it could be said that chaos is ship security, as he certainly serves that function. But he also serves in many other ship tasks, such as several in-flight functions and the moving of cargo. Essentially, he is a jack-of-all-trades.
[edit] Professor
Haksheen White, aka The Professor (ハカセ) is an eccentric old scientist who is obsessed with creating an "Indestructible Giant Robot." With help from Shion and friends in Episode I he creates Erde Kaiser, a giant combiner-robot from old parts found in various Segment Addresses. In Xenosaga: The Animation the Professor has a prominent role in the episodes which take place on the Foundation. He oversees Shion's Encephalon dive when she dives into KOS-MOS' mainframe in order to retrieve evidence that proves the Kukai Foundation's innocence in the Woglinde disaster. Erde Kaiser appears on a poster in the Professor's lab but does not physically appear in the anime.
In Episode I he was living on the Kukai Foundation, but in Episode II through circumstances not quite understood, even to Captain Matthews, the Professor relocated his Robot Academy onto the Elsa. With the help of Shion and friends, the Professor defeated his archnemesis, the Dark Professor and Dark Erde Kaiser.
He designed and built the Elsa Evolution.
In Episode III, the Professor is still aboard the Elsa, and appears to be more involved in the main plotline, even appearing in full cutscenes. He, along with Scott and Allen rebuild KOS-MOS after she is destroyed by T-elos on Rennes-le-Chateau. He calls Allen "Assistant #2" and KOS-MOS "Assistant #3".
In Episode III, he is voiced by Takeshi Aono (青野 武) in the Japanese version and by Steve Blum in the English version.
[edit] Assistant Scott
Assistant Scott (スコットクン) is the assistant of the Professor who built Erde Kaiser. His bizarre name is due to the fact that the Professor insists on calling him "Assistant Scott", and Scott happily goes along with it, as he is simply overjoyed to be assistant to the Professor he idolizes. He assists the Professor in building the Erde Kaiser mecha in Episode I and Episode II. He also assisted the party in hacking KOS-MOS in the anime. He is currently a member of the Elsa Crew, along with the Professor.
Assistant Scott and the Professor often argue, but are united in their fanatical enthusiasm for building giant robots. As seen in the anime and Episode I, Assistant Scott sometimes feels that the Professor doesn't appreciate him. In the anime, Assistant Scott seemed to find a kindred spirit in Allen, which also seemed to be echoed by Assistant Scott in Episode II when he was happy to learn that Allen had come aboard the Elsa.
Like the Professor, Assistant Scott has a larger role in the plot of Episode III, helping to rebuild KOS-MOS after she is destroyed by T-elos. In the Japanese Episode III, he is voiced by Kazuya Nakai (中井 和哉).
[edit] Febronia
Febronia (フェブロニア), aka Feb, was a Realian belonging to the Uzuki family. She ran a small church near the U-TIC HQ on Old Miltia, and was also Shion's nanny. No longer a "living being," she was killed at her church 14 years prior to the events of Xenosaga Episode I. Feb's sisters Cecily and Cathe were part of a machine keeping the Original Zohar in power, deep within the walls of Labyrinthos on Old Miltia. In Episode I, Feb helps Shion confront her haunted past, and in Episode II she lures Shion to Old Miltia to "save" Cecily and Cathe and is therefore key to the destruction of the Patriarch. In Episode III, important details of her past are revealed, i.e. her relationship with former Lieutenant and current Testament Virgil: During the Miltian Conflict, Virgil was badly injured, and Febronia took him in and tended to his wounds. The two developed a deep affection for one another. However, when rampant Realians attacked her church, Virgil was in no condition to fight them off. In an attempt to protect Virgil and young Shion, Febronia essentially offered herself to the Realian mob and was brutally killed. Virgil witnessed this, and it was the primary factor in causing both his intense hatred of all Realians and his DME Addiction.
While she is an important character in all three episodes, Febronia is conspicuously absent from the TV Asahi animated adaptation of Episode I entitled Xenosaga: The Animation, save a half-second long cameo at Virgil's death. This vision of Virgil's also appears in I&II. In the Japanese game trilogy, she is voiced by Mariko Kouda (國府田 マリ子); in English, she is voiced by Kari Wahlgren.
[edit] Gaignun Kukai
Gaignun Kukai (ガイナン・クーカイ) is the chairman of the Kukai Foundation, a special organization based in Miltia. His older brother Jr., charades as Gaignun's son. Gaignun is the charismatic leader of the massive and wealthy Kukai Foundation. Gaignun has black hair and deep green eyes. His gentle personality and humanitarian nature is well respected both within and outside the Foundation. Gaignun is falsely listed as the first son and heir to the industrialist Soze Kukai.
Gaignun Kukai is really U.R.T.V. Unit #669, who is a biological weapon designed to combat U-DO. U.R.T.V. Unit #669 is nicknamed Nigredo (ニグレド), a reference to his black hair. Gaignun can telepathically communicate with Jr. and Albedo and can use his voice to hypnotically manipulate people, if need be he can telekinetically destroy a person. "Kukai" was a fictional persona created by the Second Miltian government as a means to pool their special operation funds. Following the Miltian Conflict and Helmer's rescue of Gaignun and Jr., they took on the Kukai surname to justify and establish the Kukai Foundation. This also allowed the U.R.T.V. units to live their lives more normally.
In Episode II, Gaignun's past relationships with Albedo and Jr. are explored. which include subconscious dives into Sakura Mizarhi's mind in order to allow her to speak once again. These adventures showed the rift growing between the trio of U.R.T.V. units, which eventually led to a breakdown during the Miltian Conflict, causing Albedo to come into contact with U-DO and become insane. At the end of Episode II, Gaignun suffers from a double personality; one part is Gaignun, the other is Dimitri Yuriev, his father. Dimitri most likely created Gaignun just as a host for his consciousness, for he transmigrated into his body at the time of his "death" in TC 4753. Yuriev awakened in Gaignun's body during the events of Episode II. Although Gaignun's consciousness now struggles to regain control of his own body, Yuriev currently has complete control of him.
Gaignun shares his name with the horse Roland, a general of medieval French King Charlemagne and wielder of the legendary blade Durandal rode into battle on. Kukai is also the name of a famous Japanese Buddhist monk; Buddhist undertones can also be seen in Xenosaga. The name Nigredo refers to the philosophic beliefs of Carl Jung, who believed that the process of self-realization has three major steps, which he named using terms derived from alchemy, which he studied prior to developing his theories. These three steps are known as Nigredo, the death of the old, perceived self, Albedo, the discovering of one’s inner identity, and Rubedo, the process of living a self-aware life.
In the series, Jr. and Gaignun both raised a cat named Gaignun, which is the origin of Nigredo's alias. In the Japanese version, he is voiced by Koichi Yamadera (山寺 宏一) and in the English series, he is voiced by Crispin Freeman, whereas the child Nigredo is voiced by Mikako Takahashi (高橋 美佳子) in Japanese, Jennifer Hale in the English Episode II, and Wendee Lee in the English Episode III.
[edit] Mary Godwin
Mary Godwin (メリィ・ゴドウィン) is the close sister of Shelley Godwin. Although she holds no true rank in the Kukai Foundation organization, Mary functions as Jr.'s second-in-command on board Durandal as well as the Chief of the Kukai Foundation's Strategy Division. Everyone in the Foundation respects her and values her opinions in spite of her unofficial affiliation. In fact, many members of the Kukai Foundation have initiated the "Mary & Shelley Fan Club", at the suggestion of Jr. himself. Mary is quite fond of Jr. in spite of his childlike appearance. She was born on Miltia but speaks with an unknown planetary accent. Mary is also fun loving and the life of the party within the Foundation.
Her name, along with Shelley's, comes from Mary Shelley, the creator of Frankenstein. In the Japanese version of the games, she is voiced by Rie Kugimiya (釘宮 理恵), and in the anime, by Ryoko Shiraishi (白石 涼子). In the English version of the games, she is voiced by Wendee Lee in Episode I, and by Ali Hillis in Episodes II and III.
Mary is also becomes a temporarily playable character in Episode I. She appears in Jr.'s introduction when he has to infiltrate the U-TIC battleship. Mary, along with another Kukai Foundation soldier, are in A.G.W.S. during battle sequences; neither of them have in-battle character models like Virgil does. Mary pilots a pink Vector A.G.W.S.
[edit] Shelley Godwin
Shelley Godwin (シェリィ・ゴトウィン) is the navigator and helmsman of the Durandal. Along with Mary, Shelley is often seen with Gaignun Kukai. She is idolized by many of the Kukai Foundation through the "Mary & Shelley Fan Club" as well. Shelley possesses a genius IQ, and is capable of performing and excelling in many complicated tasks while navigating the massive Durandal through the far reaches of space. She was also once part of a group of people who were illegally "owned" by a pharmaceutical company that used them as guinea pigs. Twelve years ago, Gaignun saved Shelley and Mary and they made the Foundation their new home.
In the Japanese version of the games, she is voiced by Yumi Takada (高田 由美), and in the anime, by Wakana Yamazaki (山崎 和佳奈). In the English version of the games, she is voiced Dorothy Elias-Fahn in Episode I and Ali Hillis in Episodes II and III.
[edit] Helmer
Helmer (ヘルマー) was once a Lieutenant General in the Federation military and was the one who gave orders to chaos and Canaan to secure the U.R.T.V.s. Following the incident, he got into politics and eventually worked his way up the ladder to be come Second Miltia's representative in the Galaxy Federation Government. Along with former U.R.T.V.s Rubedo (#666) and Nigredo (#669) he co-established the Kukai Foundation, which was created to investigate the Miltian Conflict 14 years ago on Old Milita and keep tabs on the secret U-TIC Organization. Indeed, Helmer has a solid friendship with Jr. and Gaignun, as is evident by the formation of the aforementioned Foundation.
Helmer seems to be well known in the Xenosaga universe. Besides knowning Canaan, chaos, Jr., Gaignun, Dr. Juli Mizrahi and Jin Uzuki he is also on good terms with Vector Industries' CEO Wilhelm. The two were seen discussing matters of security prior to Wilhelm's assistance with the Song of Nephilim incident and the Gnosis attack on the Kukai Foundation. However, this is the only time the two discussed matters; they are not close allies. The Patriarch of the Ormus Society also seems to know him and is not very fond of him, and that sentiment is also echoed by Commander Margulis.
In Xenosaga Episode I, Helmer was in trouble with the Galaxy Federation when an Ormus/U-TIC insider in the Federation helped hatch a plot that framed both Second Miltia (Helmer's planet) and the Kukai Foundation for the destruction of the Woglinde. Helmer and the Federation showed no signs of improving relations after Xenosaga Episode I, although they are not enemies. Moreover, Helmer's role in both Xenosaga Episode I and II remains strictly behind the desk. Outside of the Miltian Conflict, Helmer's most significant roles include careful handling of the aforementioned "framing incident", the arrangement of saving Shion and her allies on numerous occasions, and many other political matters seen in the series. Helmer also seems to have extensive knowelege of the wave existence known as "U-DO" that may extend upon what happened at Miltia.
Helmer appears very briefly in Episode III, though never in person in the game. He is last seen during the Planetary Dissappearance Phenomenon, where he gives an update on the situation to Jr. and the party and says a quick but meaningful good bye before the Durandal loses the signal from Second Miltia.
Although Helmer's role on the political stage is significant, several matters about this man are still shrowded in history, including his role in the Miltian Conflict. Nevertheless, it is clear that Helmer is a protagonist; he has no significant connections to Ormus or any of its fronts. He has a friendly working relationship with Wilhelm; however, he does not seem to be privy to or aware of any of his plans. Moreover, Helmer was clearly an enemy of Ormus and even Albedo. In the Japanese version, he is voiced by Masaru Ikeda (池田 勝); in the English Episode I, he is voiced by Beau Billingslea; in the English Episode II, he is voiced by Stuart Robinson; and in the English Episode III, he is voiced by Keith Szarabajka.
[edit] Juli Mizrahi
Dr. Juli Mizrahi (ユリ・ミズラヒ) heads investigations into the appearances of the alien scourge called the Gnosis. She formed the Subcommittee on Close Encounters, also known as the S.O.C.E., in T.C. 4754. Based in Federation Capital Fifth Jerusalem, she is the ex-wife of Joachim Mizrahi, creator of MOMO and founder of U-TIC. Although the 100 Series Realian child is registered as her daughter, Juli has a secret reason for wanting the cyborg mercenary Ziggurat 8 to transport MOMO to the Miltian star system, instead of bringing her back to the Federation Capital: the analysis of the Y-Data hidden deep within MOMO's subconscious.
In Episode I, Juli would rather not have anything to do with MOMO, even though she is legally MOMO's mother. She never quite got comfortable with the fact that her husband, Joachim created MOMO in the image of their late daughter, Sakura. She felt like MOMO was some sort of sick attempt to replace or recreate Sakura and she couldn't bring herself to try and relate to her. After speaking with Ziggy however her view of MOMO started to change. Ziggy, who had come to know MOMO as a real person since he rescued her, suggested that Juli not see MOMO as an attempt to replace her daughter but as a second daughter. Juli began to open up more and more to MOMO after that point and began to realize that she was indeed her own unique person and not just a copy of Sakura. After the events in Xenosaga Episode II, she decided to live with MOMO and accepted her role as her mother, with Ziggy on standby should a crisis arise.
Her maiden name is Niwashiro.
In German, "Juli" means "July."
In the Japanese Version, she is voiced by Naomi Shindou (進藤 尚美); in the English version, she is voiced by Kim Mai Guest.
[edit] Miyuki Itsumi
Miyuki Itsumi (ミユキ・イツミ) is a systems programmer in Vector Industries First R&D Division involved in the KOS-MOS project under Chief Engineer Shion Uzuki. Miyuki is an avid mechanic, Episode I's onboard encyclopedia describes her as an otaku. She is always throwing together new inventions and constantly badgers her fellow R&D colleagues to be her guinea pigs. Shion's M.W.S. Mk. I and Mk. II are both products of her engineering genius. While she is very good friends with Miyuki, Shion is often greatly annoyed by her constant expense authorization requests so she can build new experimental products under the pretense of the K-PX Project. Miyuki has made quite the hobby out of sending off patent applications to the Federation Patent Office, though it's not known how many of her inventions actually have authorized patents. She seems to be rather wrapped up in herself and her work though because she seems capable of completely forgetting about other people, like Allen. However, Itsumi is somewhat involved in a relationship with Togashi, a fellow Vector employee.
After the Woglinde was destroyed by the Gnosis, Miyuki puts in a transfer to Second Second Division and is accepted. Her former supervisor Shion, who was separated from her team as a result of the incident, didn't learn about it until much later. Miyuki came riding to Shion and her companions' rescue in Episode I when the Gnosis mounted an assault on the Kukai Foundation when they were drawn to Second Miltia by Albedo and the Song of Nephilim. After Vector's new anti-Gnosis super weapon, the Rhine Maiden had cleared out most of the Gnosis from the surrounding area Miyuki supplied Shion and KOS-MOS with a Phase Transfer or P.T. cartridge which KOS-MOS could integrate into her present armament and use to reveal whatever was drawing the Gnosis to Second Miltia. It is not stated which of the four Vector vessels (the Woglinde II, the Wellgunde, the Floβhilde or Vector's headquarters the Dämmerung) Miyuki was onboard at the time of the incident. Shion asks here where she's contacting them from, but Miyuki doesn't answer the question and elects to boast about the Rhine Maiden instead.
In Episode II Miyuki's role is negligible at the very best, appearing only at the start of Disc Two after Shion's opening narrative and at the end of the game when she welcomes her and Allen home on the Dämmerung after their ordeal at Old Miltia.
When Shion leaves her job at Vector after the events of Xenosaga: A Missing Year, Miyuki keeps in constant contact with her. She even goes so far as to offer her direct help when she begins to work with the anti-Vector organization Scientia. At the start of Episode III she joins in on a mission to break into Vector's top secret S-Line Division databank and steal classified data on the Zohar control program Lemegeton. She later turns up on Fifth Jerusalem to help the party break into the Project Zohar weapons testing facility in order to rescue KOS-MOS from the scrap heap. In both instances she is a playable guest character, one of three in the game.
In the Japanese version, she is voiced by Emi Uwagawa (宇和川 恵美); in the English Episode I, she is voiced by Julie Anne Taylor, in the English Episodes II and III, she is voiced by Heather Hogan.
[edit] Nephilim
Nephilim (ネピリム) is a mysterious red-haired girl who first appears before Shion in the Encephalon. She also appears when Shion sees the Zohar Emulator for the first time onboard the Woglinde. Later she appears in Shion's dreams warning her about Cherenkov's condition. Shion was the only one able to see Nephilim until she and the party arrived at Encephalon where everybody can normally see her. In the Encephalon, Nephilim warns the party about U-DO and the awakening of the "true form of KOS-MOS." Abel is shown briefly appearing before Shion Uzuki and Dr. Juli Mizrahi scribbling a picture of a girl who looks like Nephilim.
Every time Shion sees Nephilim, a cross is seen swinging back and forth similar to the cross animation sequence that appears every time Fei Fong Wong sees himself as a child in Xenogears. An interesting similarity is that she very much resembles a young Elly from Xenogears. This is further shown in that Abel appears to be drawing a picture of a girl who looks something like Nephilim.
She existed as a human during the era of Lost Jerusalem. At that time, the Zohar was excavated from Lake Turkana and shipped to Toronto, Canada, where its analysis began. After it had been discovered that the Zohar produced tremendous energy in response to a specific brainwave wavelength, everyone had become fixated upon finding a method to extract it. Systems programmer Grimoire Verum completed the control program Lemegeton based on the ancient language that had been unearthed from the same ruins as the Zohar.
The system went out of control during a control experiment, and the young girl participating in the experiment became the first to disappear. The disappearance phenomenon continued to expand, eventually erasing all of Earth from dimensional space. The girl who disappeared at this time was none other than Nephilim.
From the fact the girl's disappearance coincided with the appearance of Abel, it can be deduced that the two share a cause-and-effect relationship.
The Song of Nephilim is the result of amplifying the wavelength created by the Lemegeton through the use of a giant tuning fork. That system was designed and built by Joachim Mizrahi.
"Nephilim" is the name of the race of giants referred to in the Bible. According to the Book of Enoch and the Bible, the Nephilim were the offspring of the "sons of God" (angels) who descended to Earth and cohabited with the "daughters of men." This was one of the reasons for the Great Flood. Nephilim means "watchers," or "those who have come down," although Nephila also means "Orion" in Aramaic. This alludes to an extraterrestrial influence. In the Japanese version of Xenosaga, she is voiced by Yumi Touma (冬馬 由美), who also, rather ironically, (or perhaps intentionally because of) did the voice of Elhaym Van Houten in Xenogears; in the English Episode I, she is voiced by Anne Sherman, in the English Episodes II and III, she is voiced by Kim Mai Guest.
During the ending clip from Xenosaga III, Nephilim is seen absorbing power and transforming into an adult version of her self looking exactly like Elly.
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] References
- Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
- Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse
- Xenosaga: Pied Piper
