Riou (Suikoden)

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Official artwork of Riou from Suikoden Card Stories

Riou is the main protagonist in Konami's role playing game Suikoden II. He also makes cameo appearances in Suikogaiden Vol 1 and Suikogaiden Vol 2. Riou was a soldier of the Highland Army's Unicorn Youth Brigade but he later becomes the Commander-in-Chief of the Dunan Unification Army.

1 Statistics
2 Biography
3 Weapon
4 Trivia

[edit] Statistics

Name: Riou
Alias: Hero 2
Star of Destiny: Tenkai
Age: 15 (Suikoden II)
Origin: Kyaro, Highland Kingdom (Present Higheast Province)
Height: 5'9
Race: Human
Rune: Bright Shield Rune (Half of the Rune of Beginning)
Family: Genkaku (Adoptive father, deceased), Nanami (Adoptive sister)
Affiliation: None
Previous Affiliations: Highland Unicorn Youth Brigade, Viktor's Mercenaries, Dunan Unification Army
Events Involved in: Dunan Unification War

[edit] Biography

Riou was originally a war orphan. Along with his adopted-sister, Nanami, they were taken in by the old hero, Genkaku. Riou and Nanami grew up in the small Highland town, Kyaro. There Riou was picked on by the other kids because he was Genkaku's son. He eventually met Jowy Atreides, another boy who was a victim of the ruthless bullies. Nanami would eventually come to their rescue and save them.
The three friends would often train under Genkaku and become great fighters. Riou and Jowy would eventually join the Unicorn Youth Brigade after the death of Genkaku. Fortunately, they would not have to go to war thanks to Highland and the City-State of Jowston signing a peace treaty. Unfortunately, Highland's own forces ambushed the youth brigade, slaughtering all the young soldiers trying to frame the traitorous act on Jowston. Riou and Jowy managed to escape by jumping off a cliff and streaming down the river.

Life only got harder down the road for Riou, having becoming separated from Jowy, he was found by a band of mercenaries under the command of Viktor. Riou was taken in as a guest and allowed to stay in a cell and do daily chores. One night, Jowy appeared and rescued him and together they tried to escape but were caught by Flik and Viktor.

Not learning their lesson, Riou and Jowy attempted to flee again and succeeded. They retreated to nearby village, Ryube where they met traveling performers who traveled with them to Kyaro. Riou reunited with his sister, Nanami there but the reunion was shortlived as Riou's former captain, Rowd appeared on the scene to arrest Riou.

Riou and Jowy were both tortured and placed in a cell but thanks to the efforts of Flik and Viktor they were saved. They went to rescue Nanami as well, who has escaped all by herself. They then escaped Highland through the North Sparrow Pass and returned to Viktor's mercenary fortress where Viktor allowed them to stay and asked them to help recruit more mercenaries.

Riou, Jowy and Nanami go about recruiting a few mercenaries for Viktor. They eventually ended up in Toto Village, the place where Jowy had been after Riou and him had become separated. Jowy introduced Riou and Nanami to Pilika, the little girl who rescued him. Pilika secretly told Riou and Jowy that she wanted to buy a wooden amulet for her father's birthday and it can be found in the capital, Muse.

Riou and Jowy travelled to Muse and buy the amulet for Pilika, but when they returned, Toto had been burned down to the ground. Pilika managed to survive because she hid well. As she tried to explain to Jowy what had happened, a young woman called Apple arrived and asked Riou and Jowy to take her to Viktor's fortress.

Riou and Jowy escorted Apple back to Viktor's fortress and Apple explained to Viktor what happened and about Highland's plans. Viktor asked them to find Tsai who lived in the forest north of Ryube. Riou and Jowy brought Tsai back to Viktor, on the way, witnessing Luca Blight's insanity. Viktor allowed them to leave afterwards but Riou and Jowy decided to help against Highland. Flik agreed to let them help if Riou would manage to even wound him in a duel, Riou succeeds and was given his own unit.

After this, Riou ends up becoming the head of the City-States army and Leader. As Jowy became a well thought of soldier for Highland. They fought many horrible battles and Riou actually defeated Luca! But when he thought it was over Jowy married Jillia and so now he became the King of Highland. So now he and Jowy has to fight against one another.

But Riou decided to go back to Tenzan path where Jowy and Riou made a pact that if they got separated along the way they would both come back to that spot. Riou walked up only to see Jowy waiting there. Jowy and Riou end up having a duel to finally finish the war at Jowy's request and insistence, when the battle starts you have the option to refuse to attack Jowy or defeat him (which kills him). By not choosing to deplete his lifebar you spare Jowy and the battle ends with Jowy asking why do you not fight, after then Jowy's Rune proceeds to take his life away due to numerous usage. (If you have completed the goal of gaining Riou's last spell Forgivers Sign the ending changes from here.) Riou's Bright Shield Rune begins to heal Jowy, Leknaat appears and informs them that Jowy will live, she then tells them to go experience the world.

Jowy is reluctant to do so feeling guilt over all the people he has hurt to get this far but Leknaat tells him forthright that his sins won't disappear but she believes he can make the world a better place. Jowy with new fortitude decides that Leknaat maybe right and with your encouragement and agrees to travel the world with you. Upon leaving you find Shu who hoped that you would remain to lead the country but allows you to do as you wish, desiring that you'll return one day to lead the country. Nanami is then revealed to be alive, it is explained that she faked her death so Riou wouldn't worry about her anymore and concentrate on his duties.

All three visit Kyaro one last time before leaving on their journey.

[edit] Weapon

Riou was taught how to use a tonfa by his adopted father, Genkaku.

Twin Fang (Level 1-5)
Twin Heaven Fang (Level 6-12)
Twin Destiny Fang (Level 13-16)

[edit] Trivia

Riou is not his canonical first name in the games, but the one used in the novelizations. It is generally used in fanon in order to disambiguate the character from the other nameless protagonists in the series.