List of antagonists in Xenosaga
The following is a list of major villains/antagonists in the Xenosaga series.
Albedo
Albedo (アルベト) is the twin brother of Jr. and is able to regenerate lost limbs, making him practically immortal. He also has the ability to create space-time anomalies when linked with U-DO. See his main article for more information.
Dimitri Yuriev
Dr. Dimitri Yuriev (ディミトリ・ユーリエフ) is the head of the Yuriev Institute and one of the principle antagonists of the Xenosaga series. His life is dedicated mainly to the study and destruction of U-DO. He was the genetic father of all the U.R.T.V. units. He was killed by Nigredo because Nigredo no longer wanted to complete his mission of killing the Red Dragon. The Red Dragon is in fact Rubedo (Jr.), and Gaignun was created to kill Rubedo in case his unstable powers flared out of control.
After being shot and killed by Nigredo, Dimitri Yuriev's spirit apparently entered him and stayed in a state of stasis for fourteen years. In Episode II, he finally "awakens" and takes over Nigredo's (now known as Gaignun Kukai) body for a short period of time. This is also referred to by Albedo in the final sequence of the game when he warns Jr.: "Beware of Nigredo’s shadow. Think why it is he doesn't react to U-DO." In Episode III Gaignun, under Yuriev's control, is seen attempting to interact with the Zohar Emulators stored away in the Durandal's quarantine area. Yuriev's quest for the destruction of U-DO overwhelms any sympathy he may have had for human life or for his U.R.T.V "children"; in Episode II he reveals to Rubedo (Jr.) that he would have considered the loss of Old Miltia acceptable if U-DO had been destroyed. This obsession is subdued but ever-present, in stark contrast to Margulis' arrogance or Albedo's insanity. His loyal operatives within the Federation, the Salvator Faction, are distinguished by navy-blue uniforms and red berets, a design that appears in flashbacks in Xenogears. In Episode II he uses them to secure the Federation Parliament on Fifth Jerusalem after it falls into disorder.
Dimitri Yuriev has apparently existed for over a hundred years, making an appearance in the Xenosaga side story Pied Piper. After stretching life extension technology to its limits, he has successfully transmigrated his consciousness into another host body, namely Gaignun Kukai. In the Japanese version, he is voiced by Osamu Saka (阪 脩). In the English version of Episode II he is voiced by Keith Szarabajka.
In Episode III Yuriev has a new voice actor. He is a manipulative father, presenting Jr. with the choice of either killing Gaignun along with Yuriev, or being destroyed himself. He continuously calls his children failures. In episode three, Albedo hints that Gaignun always wanted to make Yuirev proud, so that leaves many questions left unanswered as to whether Gaignun willingly gave up his body to Yuriev or not.
Heinlein
Heinlein is an enigmatic figure; not even Margulis knows exactly who he is or what he looks like. He is the acting leader of the Ormus organization, replacing the old Patriarch after his timely death at the hands of the Testaments. Both Margulis and Sellers are under Heinlein’s wing, and all three are high ranking cardinals in Ormus. Heinlein was in league with Margulis and Sellers to overthrow the old Patriarch during the resurgence of Old Miltia. Not only is he the U-TIC Commander, Heinlein is also the CEO of Hyams Group, the main corporate competitor of Vector Industries. Since Hyams is in control of a 13th Zohar Emulator, Heinlein is the only person who has rivaled the research of Dr. Mizrahi, although Sellers has been working on enhancing the research as well. In the Catholic church, the rank of cardinal falls directly under the pope. Based on this, Heinlein is the most fitting successor to the Patriarch.
Heinlein funds both the U-TIC Organization and the Immigrant Fleet through Hyams. U-TIC is a dummy arm of the Immigrant Fleet, and the Yuriev Institute is originally an arm of the Hyams Group. These four factions are collectively controlled under Ormus, who are pulling the strings. Considering the high level of manipulation and under-the-table funding taking place throughout Ormus and its many front organizations, all roads lead back to Heinlein as the master manipulator of the supernetwork. He is always disguised by a white light when approached by his second in command, Margulis.
In Episode III, Heinlein is revealed to be Wilhelm; his goal in using and starting Ormus is twofold: to control the balance of power, and to protect the trigger for the universe's failsafe: Lemegeton, the words of the so-called "Messiah". Wilhelm under Heinlein had the true control over the Ormus society even when the Patriarchs were in power; they were scapegoats and figureheads without even knowing it.
He shares his name with Robert A. Heinlein, author of Starship Troopers, Stranger in a Strange Land, and countless other science fiction novels.
Margulis
Margulis (マーグリス) is one of the main villains in Xenosaga Episode I and II. In the Episode I, very little is known about him besides the fact that he pursues the Y-Data hidden in MOMO's subconscious, he wields a sword with spiritual abilities (possibly some form of Ether-based kenjutsu), and that he is lieutenant commander of the U-TIC, answering only to Commander Heinlein. His second in command is Pellegri. With the development of Episode II, Margulis' role is increased. Both forceful and arrogant, he cares little for the lives of those sacrificed by his actions or for his goals, whether civilians or his own operatives. Nonetheless he shows a dislike for torture, evidenced in seeing Albedo's 'perverse taste in hobbies'. In Episode III it is revealed that he has a black-plated E.S. named Levi with a large broadsword and two wing-like drones.
During the Miltian Conflict, 14 years before the events of Xenosaga Episode I, Margulis was a double agent serving as a Colonel in the Federation Military and working for U-TIC and the Ormus Society at the same time. One of the soldiers under his command, Jin Uzuki - Shion Uzuki's older brother - had discovered his treachery and was going to use the Y-Data to reveal his and his superiors' dealings to the proper authority. Before he could do that, Margulis confronted Jin and the two engaged in a heated sword fight which resulted in Jin giving Margulis the sword scar that appears on his face in the game's present-day timeframe. Later, it is revealed that both men were actually taught by Jin Uzuki's grandfather in the ways of martial arts, swordplay, and Ether manipulation. Jin claims that Margulis "betrayed" his grandfather, but what he meant by that is not explicitly known. He could have meant betrayed him on principle by siding with U-TIC and becoming a criminal, or perhaps Margulis played a role in the old man's death.
After the U.R.T.V. Albedo stole the Y-Data from MOMO's subconscious, the U-TIC Organization and their allies (or one might argue them to be their leaders) the Immigrant Fleet made a raid on the planet Old Miltia to gain possession of the Original Zohar, now unlocked with the Y-Data. Once there, another personal duel between Jin and Margulis ensued. Upon being defeated, he exclaimed that it would be too late to stop the plans of using the Zohar, since the Zohar was already in the possession of the Patriarch. With Margulis' plan set in motion, he supposedly abandons the Patriarch to be killed by Shion and friends in the Ω System, so that the Patriarch would be replaced by Heinlein. Margulis was in on this because Heinlein, Sellers, and Margulis are all connected to a project involving Hyams, which the Patriarch has no knowledge in. In other words, Margulis, Sellers, and Heinlein have their own motives that will be revealed in Xenosaga Episode III. In the prologue of Episode III, Margulis makes it clear that at least one of his goals is a return to Lost Jerusalem. In the Japanese version, he is voiced by Jouji Nakata (中田 譲治). In the English version, he is voiced by Michael McConnohie.
Patriarch Sergius
Sergius XVII (教皇セルギウス17世 ), known only as the Patriarch in Episode II, is the leader of the Immigrant Fleet and, ultimately, head of the Ormus Society prior his death in Episode II. Sergius was obsessed with obtaining the Zohar for the ultimate power that his religion preached about. He used Ormus, the Immigrant Fleet and its dummy corporations and contacts, including the Hyams Group, the U-TIC Organization and the URTV Albedo, to re-open the way to Old Miltia. His goal was to retrieve the Original Zohar and Proto Ω, the ultimate weapon in the known galaxy. However, his subordinates, namely Margulis, had other plans. They wanted to take control over Ormus and return it to its original mission: finding and returning to Lost Jerselam. They believed that Sergius had led Ormus astray with his lust for power. Therefore, when Sergius summons Proto Ω and the Ω System with it, they abandon him. Sergius is left on his own when the Federation attacks the Ω System and when Shion and her friends strom the facility. They confront the Patriarch and are breifly aided by Albedo, but Sergius turns Proto Ω's Phase Transfer Cannon on him and atomizes him. He then turns Proto Ω on Shion and her friends and they fight and defeat it.
In a desperate move Sergius tried to fire Proto Ω's Phase Transfer Cannon again, however the Red, Blue and Black Testament appear and effortlessly destroy him and Proto Ω leaving only the Zohar behind. Sergius aknowledges the Testaments when they appear before him, but no clear information on how he knows of the Testaments exists.
Sergius is mentioned several times in Episode III but does not make any appearances in the game's flashbacks to the Miltian Conflict.
In Pied Piper, another Sergius, Sergius XIV becomes head of Ormus after his predacessor, Patriarch Julius XVIII, is assassinated. While Julius sought peace between the peoples of the Federation and the Immigrant Fleet, Sergius wants to use the people of the Zohar to lead the way to (presumably) Lost Jeruselum. When Voyager appears and attempts to make contact with U-DO however, the people of the Zohar are killed and the Sergius is visibly shaken by the sight before being rushed away by a subordinate. Sergius XVII later inherits the Patriarchacy and the name Sergius.
In the Japanese version of Episode II, the Patriarch is known as the Pope. The title was changed for the North American release of the game due to religious sensitivity issues.
Sergius appears in the Episode I portion of Xenosaga I&II during the U-TIC Organization's attempt to frame the Kukai Foundation for the destruction of the Woglinde. Acting as the representative for the Immigrant Fleet, the Patriarch addresses the Executive Committee on Fifth Jeruselam in the place of the random U-TIC affiliated representative seen in Episode I, his motives being to use the government to acquire not only MOMO but the Foundation's twelve Zohar Emulators as well. His role in the Episode II portion of the game is very similar to his role in the PlayStation 2 version of Episode II.
Sergius' odd appearance is one of Xenosaga's unsolved mysteries. In Episode II he has yellow eyes, white hair and corpse-like grey skin, leading some to question whether or not he was fully human or possibly even a Realian. No explanation for his unusual looks has been given to date, however in Xenosaga I&II he appears to have a more healthier skin tone. In the Japanese verion of Episode II he is voiced by Chikao Ōtsuka (大塚 周夫). In the English version of Episode II he is voiced by Michael Bell.
Pellegri
Pellegri (ペレグリー) serves as Commander Margulis' aid de camp. She was stationed with other U-TIC officers on the asteroid complex Pleroma and was displaced when it was abandoned and later destroyed by Sellers. She seems far more conscionable than her commander, as she expressed her outrage to Margulis when the failure of the Zohar Link Experiment on Ariadne resulted in the planet's disappearance and the loss of over half a billion innocent lives. That being said she is capable of turning off her emotional side and becoming very callous and objective-driven when she needs to be. She is not very fond of Life Recycling variants, like the U.R.T.V.s and super soldiers like Cherenkov.
In Episode II Pellegri is given command of the E.S. Issachar, a powerful mech capable of outclassing every other machine the Federation could field. Along with her wingmen Herman and Richard she was ordered to retrieve the 100 Series Observational Realian MOMO on Second Miltia. Her mission ultimately fails when Canaan arrives in the E.S. Asher and drives the three of them off before they can capture MOMO. Pellegri later reappears on the Ormus Stronghold where she confronts Shion, Jr., Jin, and the others as they are attempting to escape the fortress. After being defeated a second time Pellegri escapes and is not seen again for the rest of the episode.
Recent trailers for Episode III have shown E.S. Issachar in action once again, piloted by Pellegri. She is still a part of Heinlein's plot and is working to see the new Ormus Patriarch's goals fulfilled.
In the TV Asahi anime Xenosaga: The Animation, Pellegri appears to have once been a student of Jin Uzuki's grandfather, the martial arts expert who taught Margulis, Shion Uzuki, and Jin Uzuki himself how to fight and manipulate the elements like fire, ice, and lightning. It is quite possible that this is where Margulis and Pellegri first met, and this is how she was first introduced to U-TIC and the Ormus Society. There was a lot of tension between Pellegri and Jin when they confronted each other in the anime; this could possibly stem from a failed romantic relationship or just from her and Margulis' betrayal of his grandfather. If Jin and Pellegri were involved romantically, it was glossed over in the game, as he had the perfect opportunity to confront her on the Ormus Stronghold and simply chose to remain silent (although the party were inside of their E.S. units while they were facing Pellegri, so it could be assumed that Jin didn't recognize her voice that time). Xenosaga: The Animation was also known for its wild deviations from the actual storyline of the Xenosaga games, so everything in this section of the article should be taken at face value and heavily scrutinized when compared with the games' actual storyline. However, a recent trailer for Episode III shows Pellegri in a heated confrontation with Jin just between their E.S.'s, Reuben and Issachar, do battle.
In the Japanese version, she is voiced by Eriko Hara (原えりこ). In the English version, she is voiced by Kari Wahlgren.
Sellers
Dr. Sellers (セラーズ) is a scientist and was once a colleague and rival of the legendary Dr. Joachim Mizrahi. He wears mechanical sunglasses and has short, dark blood-red hair. He is a paraplegic man confined to a futuristic hoverchair thanks to Mizrahi, who shot him once in each leg shortly before he committed suicide on the night of the Miltian Conflict.
Sellers is a man who has no real loyalties and constantly allies himself with whomever can best further his own ambitions. During the Miltian Conflict he worked with Mizrahi and Suou Uzuki in the U-TIC Organization where he researched the Zohar, the Vessels of Anima, Proto Ω and the Zohar control program Lemegeton. Durring the 14 year span between the Miltian Conflict and Episode I-II he joined the Ormus Society through a "personal contact" (most likely Margulis) and he continued to research the Zohar and the Vessels of Anima under Patriarch Sergius and Cardinal Heinlein. Unlike Margulis and Pellegri, Sellers had no official rank in Ormus, he was just a scientist. Despite his lack of standing he has enough authority to order the destruction of the Ormus asteroid base Pleroma after Margulis abandons it.
After Sergius' death he deserts Ormus and joins the Salvator Faction under Dimitri Yuriev in Episode III. Just like when he worked for U-TIC and Ormus, Sellers has no real loyalty to the Federation and seems to detest Yuriev as a person. He doesn't care what Yuriev is trying to accomplish, he just wants to further his research on the Zohar and the Federation's new weapon Ω Res Novae. When the party confronts him on the Federation's new flagship, Tactical Warship Merkabah, he reveals that his entire career has been dedicated to trying to surpass his rival Joachim Mizrahi by any means necessary. While working for Yuriev he came to the ultimate realization that all his works were just pale imitations of Mizrahi's, and that ultimately he himself was just a pale imitation of the man. With nothing left to live for he betrays Yuriev as well, telling the party of his true nature and his plans for the Zohar Emulators aboard the Durandal. He then disappears and is assumably absorbed along with the Merkabah by Abel's Ark.
Sellers appears to be based off Dr. Strangelove the title character from the movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Dr. Strangelove, portrayed by actor Peter Sellers, appears as a wheelchair-bound square faced man who always wears sunglasses and has his hair combed over to the left. In the Japanese version, he is voiced by Masaharu Satou (佐藤 正治) and in the English version of Episode II and III he his voiced by Steve Blum. No actor is credited with the roll of Sellers in the English Episode I.
T-elos
T-elos is a mysterious battle android similar to KOS-MOS, but unknown to most of Vector Industries. Its designs were featured in a U-TIC ship in Episode I; however, details on it are currently unknown. Note that telos is a Greek word meaning purpose, or goal; the final end of a process. This seems to tie in with her rumored function and eventual task of destroying KOS-MOS.
A few known features are that she is the diametric opposite of KOS-MOS, wearing a black suit with red and dark purple highlights to contrast KOS-MOS' white, blue and grey uniforms. Notably her uniform resembles almost exactly KOS-MOS' Ver. 4 form, the ultimate form of KOS-MOS. T-elos also has dark skin, blue eyes, and silver hair. She seems to possess a sapient personality unlike KOS-MOS' robotic personality. It is also stated that her power is three times that of KOS-MOS (the current third form of KOS-MOS, but it is not yet confirmed if she is in par with KOS-MOS on her fourth form), and she emits red energy instead of blue energy. She appears to rely primarily on her physical strength and energy generation, though she does have an arm blade, an energy revolver similar to KOS-MOS and the U-TENERITAS attack, which is located on her chest just above her heart, and opens into a quadropod structure which focuses a ball of red plasma. The T-elos project is being headed by a man named Rote Mantel (Roth Mandel in the English version), a mysterious scientist working with the military. Rote Mantel means "red cloak" in German. Similar to KOS-MOS, T-elos' development code, Episode III is TP-XX.
On a related note, T-elos's energy blade is on her left hand (as in her attack 'L-Blade' compared to KOS-MOS's 'R-Blade'). In Latin, sinister and dexter originally means left and right respectively, suggested that KOS-MOS is dexterous/skillful whilst T-elos is sinister/malicious, sometimes even downright sadistic. It could also be a reference to the left-right brain specialization, as the left-brain controls right-side of the body and vice versa; namely the left brain is concerned with linear thought and structure and right with intuition and creativity. This could explain the personality differences as KOS-MOS carries out her duties with efficiency whilst T-elos seems vain, brutal and borderline sadistic. If this is true, the two may be 'halves' awaiting reunion, as shown in a recent trailer in which KOS-MOS and T-elos place their heads together whilst enveloped in golden light. In Episode III this is confirmed, as T-elos reveals that she has the body of Maria (Mary Magdalene) whilst KOS-MOS holds her soul. Seeing her robotic composition, it may be that her composition is similar to the DNA or more simply the external appearance of Maria.
Furthermore, another of her attacks involving a revolver identical to KOS-MOS' pistol named "Magdalene 16", is the name of the follower and (according to the Gospel of Mary Magdalene) confidante of Jesus, or "Yeshua". As one of the protagonists, chaos, has the same hair, skin and eye colors as she does, there is likely a connection between them.
In a rather appropriate decision, T-elos' voice in the Japanese version is provided by none other than Mariko Suzuki (鈴木 麻里子), who also does the voice for KOS-MOS. This also holds true in the English version of the game, in which both KOS-MOS and T-elos are voiced by Bridget Hoffman.
Testaments
The Testaments are Wilhelm's closest assistants and servants. Characterized by colored robes with matching beaklike masks, the true nature and power of the Testaments is unknown. It is hinted that they possess the power to manipulate space, and they seem to be able to appear and disappear at will. Also, each Testament has their own E.S., a special kind of spacecraft that contains a Vessel of Anima. Four Testaments exist by the end of Episode II: red, blue, black, and white.
See main article: The Testaments
Wilhelm
Wilhelm (ヴィルヘルム) is the mysterious founder and CEO of the largest interplanetary conglomerate, Vector Industries. He also served as the Executive Committee Director of the Galaxy Federation, up to a decade ago. To be the founder of Vector, Wilhelm must be very old, much older than any normal human could possibly live. This is because Vector funded the Masuda expedition (featured at the very beginning of Episode I) that uncovered the Zohar over 4000 years ago from present time. He also has an active role in the events of Pied Piper, 100 years ago from present time. It is speculated that Wilhelm is not human. He is one of the most suspicious and enigmatic characters in the Xenosaga series; it seems he is manipulating every other conglomerate and individual towards some mysterious goal. Wilhelm also has an affinity for referring to life's situations as if they were all a part of a universal theatrical drama, and is an avid fan of chess, adding fuel to the dramatic approach of his manipulations. He seems to have a background with chaos, as the two are seen having a conversation at the end of Episode II, in which Wilhelm refers to him as Yeshua.
According to the ODM("Original Design Materials"), Wilhelm "knows everything." In the Japanese version, he is voiced by Nobuyuki Hiyama (檜山 修之). In the English version of Episode I he is voiced by Richard Cansino, in Episode II he is voiced by Jason Spisak.
| Xenogears |
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xenosaga |
| ||||
| Xenoblade Chronicles |
| ||||
| Crossover games | |||||
| Companies | |||||
| People | |||||
