List of characters in Tales of the Abyss

Unreferenced|date=December 2006This is a listing of the various characters that are featured in the Namco RPG, Tales of the Abyss.

Playable characters

Luke fon Fabre

Age: 17

Height: 171 cm, 67 in, 5'7"

Weight: 68 kg, 150 lbs

Class: Swordsman

Voiced By: Chihiro Suzuki (Japanese), Yuri Lowenthal (English)

Luke is the only son of a noble family of the Kimlasca Kingdom. Ever since a kidnapping incident when he was ten years old, he has lived isolated in his father's manor. Early in the story, it is explained that the shock of the kidnapping erased all of his memories prior to the event. Spoiled because of his lineage, Luke is terribly selfish and ignorant of what the real world is like. His only hobby is swordsmanship, training with Van, a soldier and teacher he admires very much. Along with his rough, yet skilled, swordplay, Luke also possesses the ability to create a "hyperresonance" on his own, a sort of power that usually requires more than one person.

Later in the game, it is revealed that the reason Luke has no memories is because he is a replica (in layman's terms, a clone). A replica has no memories of their "original", essentially starting their existence as a blank slate. The "original" Luke is actually a God-General named Asch. The first time Luke realizes this, he is devastated, but later realizes that this means he can become his own person. Following his part in the fall of Akzeriuth (due to Van's manipulation), Luke is abandoned by his friends because of his selfish, spoiled attitude. Coming to realize his own faults, Luke vows to change and tries to redeem himself for the destruction of Akzeriuth. Though he eventually regains the trust of his comrades, his guilt, and the weight of being a mere replica, continues to weigh on him throughout the adventure.

After defeating Van in the Absorption Gate, Luke begins to suffer from an inferiority complex, believing that with Asch alive, he has no reason to exist. However, when he makes the decision to sacrifice himself to save the world, Luke finally realizes his own self-worth, though this seems to come too late, as he learns he is fated to fade away regardless. In a trial-by-combat, Luke defeats Asch on Eldrant, settling who will go on to face Van. When Asch is killed by replicated Oracle Knights, his power flows into Luke, allowing Luke to use a more powerful hyperresonance. Finally, the party meets Van atop Eldrant and defeats him.

Tearfully saying goodbye to his companions, Luke uses his power and mystical weapon called the Key of Lorelei to free Lorelei. Meanwhile, he and Asch seem to merge in a process called "The Big Bang". After the ending credits, a "Luke" emerges from the remains of Eldrant. Though it is never revealed if it is Luke and/or Asch, the individual can be seen carrying the Key of Lorelei on his back in the same manner in which Luke carried his own swords, being accessible by a left-handed person such as himself.

In an interview with 1up.com, R&D Producer Yoshito Higuchi was asked which of the two returned at the game's conclusion. Higuchi stated: "Which do you think it is? It's whoever you think it is. That's the answer." [ [http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?pager.offset=0&cId=3167420//1up.com Preview: Tales of Vesperia interview] . 1up.com Apri1 16 , 2008] .]

Tear Grants

Age: 16

Height: 162 cm, 64 in, 5'4"

Weight: 50 kg, 110 lbs

Class: Melodist; Cleric

Voiced By: Yukana (Japanese), Heather Halley (English)

Tear is a soldier of the Order of Lorelei, being a Locrian Sergeant of the Oracle Knights Intelligence Division, which presides over the Score. She is a user of the Seventh Fonon. Born bearing the name Mystearica Aura Fende, she lost her mother while she was young (and never knew her father), and was later raised to be a soldier. She is extremely disciplined and feels compelled to be a soldier at all times. Taught to be quiet and controlled, she can seem cold. In actuality though, she merely represses her feminine side, mostly demonstrated by her love of cute things.

Tear is the younger sister of Vandesdelca "Van" Grants, the head of the Six God-Generals. In addition, Legretta the Quick was her former teacher while she was still in training under the Order of Lorelei. Tear is also a descendant of Yulia , part of her mission was to locate the Seventh Fonstone for Grand Maestro Mohs. However, as the story progresses, she comes to realize that things are much more complicated. When it is revealed that the mastermind behind a plot to destroy the world is her brother Van, Tear resolves herself to stop him, even at the cost of her true feelings. Though Van has no intention of harming his dear sister, they are forced to battle one another. During the party's final battle with Van, Tear sings the Grand Fonic Hymn, which frees Lorelei from within Van and contributes to his defeat. Ironically, Tear comes to realize that it was Van who'd taught her the Hymn all along, saying "I remember... you used to always sing it to me when I would cry..."

At the onset of the adventure, Tear and Luke share a mutual disdain for one another. While he regards her as "bossy", she likewise thinks of him as "childish". However, when Luke vows to change himself, she agrees to watch over him at his request. Slowly, she falls in love with him (and through Luke's journal entries and the scene at Chesedonia before the group departs for Eldrant, it is implied that his feelings are mutual towards her), as her parting words ("I love you") show.

Jade Curtiss

Age: 35

Height: 186 cm, 73 in, 6'1"

Weight: 74 kg, 163 lbs

Class: Fonist

Jade is an officer of the Malkuth Empire, Colonel of the Third Division. He's a very complex character, acting in conflicting ways frequently, though the characters are presented with a very calm and continuously smiling facade. Jade is a sarcastic and pessimistic individual at times; while at others he'll be honest and logical. The two go hand in hand though- he is sarcastic and his sarcasm usually points quite obviously to what his opinion is. The oldest member of the party, he usually jokes about his age, once stating that his joints ached and he couldn't do heavy lifting. He is an accomplished Fonic Artes user, and is also good with the spear which he creates using the said artes. Jade almost never shows his true feelings, usually opting to hide behind a smile.

The Colonel is also known as "Jade the Necromancer" among the Malkuth army corps and is feared by them. He is said to have looted the corpses of dead men. And at one Anise asks him why he is so powerful and he jokingly answers with, "Simple. I drink people's blood." During a mission aboard the land dreadnaught the Tartarus, which is under his command, he encounters Luke and Tear while escaping bandits.

Some call him the right-hand man of the Malkuth Emperor, Peony The IX, who is Jade's childhood friend. The two joke quite closely in the brief time you encounter His Majesty and it seems that he is the only one who can truly rattle Jade. The Emperor brings out an odd bout of teasing from Jade that many of the party never have seen and are alarmed to find that someone can make Jade flustered.

On the other hand the only person ever to make Jade truly angry in the game is Dist (Saphir) spurned by his general dislike of the effeminate, snivelly man, and the fact that he pursues fomicry makes him actually angry, a shock to all of the party. When he does finally get a chance to question him, the party is excluded from the room. Jade appears to torture him and continues to do so in sense throughout the game. He baits and taunts the other man and enjoys making him annoyed, like anyone else. The fact that Jade cares for him, or what he used to be, is shown when he says good bye to the God-General. Like Dist, the only version of him that was anything worth remembering was the one in the past that Jade did not like reliving. In contrast to Dist, who idolized that era and Jade as well, which is again made clear when he meets Nebilim.

Jade was also the inventor of Fomicry, a means by which to make replicas. Then known as Dr. Jade Balfour, Jade was a child genius. His sister, Nephry, refers to him as a "devil" that didn't truly grasp the concept of life and death. He wonders if he still does. At a young age, he met a Locrian Colonel named Gelda Nebilim. Retired from the Order of Lorelei, Nebilim started to teach at Keterburg, taking Jade, Nephry and Saphir (later known as Dist the Reaper) as students while Peony watched in hiding. However, one day, Jade wanted to learn what would happen when one who could not use the Seventh Fonon acquired it. When he cast the fonic arte on himself, the experiment went out of control and Nebilim was killed. The experiment also set her house ablaze, leading the residents of Keterburg to believe that Nebilim died in the fire. He attempted to create a replica of Nebilim using the First through Sixth Fonons, but the mental deterioration caused by this method made it into a mindless destroyer. Hence, the replica Nebilim was sealed away. Following this, Jade gave up on fomicry research. Dist, on the other hand, desired to resurrect Nebilim without any heed to what his actions might cause. However, before the final battle at Eldrant, Jade did express his desire in renewing fomicry research in the hopes that replicas would be viewed as more than mere substitutes.

Jade can be blunt at times, not prone to mincing words when he has a point to make. He has a very analytical mind and his trust is almost impossible to attain. He is also fiendishly clever; his use of deadpan sarcasm, off-color humor, and a constant smile make it extremely difficult to know what he is thinking. However, Emperor Peony seems to be the only one who can provoke a reaction from Jade and the rest of cast speculates that the Emperor is the only person who truly understands him.

Anise Tatlin

Age: 13

Height: 152 cm, 60 in, 5'

Weight: 42 kg, 93 lbs

Class: Fon Master Guardian

Anise is the guardian of the Order of Lorelei's highest official, the Fon Master. She is a bright and cheerful little girl, but can sometimes show a darker, almost scary side when provoked, and often hide her emotions when she is suffering. She seeks to marry into money, and it seems that she has been conspiring to become Luke's wife ever since meeting him. As a doll master, she can make her stuffed toy, Tokunaga, gigantic and ride on it in battle as it attacks enemies. She controls the doll by use of various equipable magic rods, with which she can also cast spells. Accessories can make this doll into a variety of Namco characters, like the Prince from Katamari Damacy, Reala from Tales of Destiny 2, KOS-MOS of Xenosaga and Presea Combatir from Tales of Symphonia.

It is revealed later in the game that Anise is actually a spy working for Grand Maestro Mohs, albeit unwillingly. She reported every action the party took to Mohs, enabling the God Generals to continuously track the party. Her parents owed Mohs a large debt and were forced to work for the Order of Lorelei without pay. It was because of this that she was made a Fon Master Guardian. When Mohs takes Ion to Zaleho Volcano, she is forced to betray the party to save her parents (whom Mohs was using as hostages to ensure Anise's cooperation). Anise feels guilty about Ion's death, and when the party is forced to defeat Arietta in a duel, she feels guilty despite having a rivalry with Arietta. The party, however, does not blame Anise for her actions and welcomes her back to their ranks. Anise eventually gives up her hopes of marrying rich, instead resolving herself to rebuilding the Order of Lorelei in Ion's vision and becoming its first female Fon Master.

Guy Cecil

Age: 21

Height: 184 cm, 72 in, 6'

Weight: 79 kg, 174.2 lbs

Class: Swordsman

Guy is a servant of the House of Fabre. He was originally hired to be Luke's babysitter, but now he acts like an older brother and best friend to Luke. He considers himself somewhat responsible for how Luke grew up to be spoiled and selfish. He is a swordsman specializing in fast attacks and fontech. Guy is suave and confesses that he "likes looking at beautiful women", but he is afraid of physical contact with women due to a past traumatic event (though he slowly overcomes his phobia).

Near the beginning of the game, Guy is hit by Sync's "Cursed Slot" and, a while later, loses control and attacks Luke. However, Ion explains that a Cursed Slot does not control its victim, but rather allows them to lose their inhibitions and act on subconscious feelings. Luke realizes that, deep down, Guy did want to kill him. It is eventually revealed that Guy's anger is actually directed at Asch, the "original" Luke, for being the son of Duke Fabre. Guy's real name is Gailardia Galan Gardios, last scion of the ruling family of the island nation of Hod. During the war against and destruction of Hod, Duke Fabre invaded the Gardios house and killed the family. All the women of the house, including Guy's sister, rushed to save him, but were slaughtered before his eyes; he awoke to find himself buried in their corpses, resulting in his . He then infiltrated House Fabre as a servant and vowed privately to repay the Duke for his actions. However, Guy's friendship with Luke changed his mind and he rejected his revenge, although he admits to still having some suppressed rage regarding the issue. Guy was later honored for his friendship with Luke by Duke Fabre: he returned to Guy the Gardios family sword, which the duke had kept as a war trophy.

Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear

Age: 18

Height: 168 cm, 66 in, 5'6"

Weight: 53 kg, 117 lbs

Class: Archer

Natalia is the princess of the Kimlasca Kingdom. She is sublime and proud, but at the same time is very humble and feels that the function of nobility is to tend to the needs of their subjects. Her empathy with the common man comes as a pleasant surprise to most, and she is responsible for several popular public works projects. She is also Luke's fiancée, and often scolds him for not accepting the responsibilities and duties of nobility. Natalia is also a Seventh Fonist and, like Tear, she has the ability to heal.

It is revealed that Natalia is not truly of the royal bloodline. Natalia was born as Meryl, the daughter of a maid in the royal house, Sylvia, and Badaq, a mercenary working in the desert near Chesadonia. When the new princess, who was to be named Natalia, was stillborn, the recently born Meryl was taken from Sylvia and Badaq by Sylvia's mother and, given the new name Natalia, became the princess instead. Having lost her daughter, Sylvia became delirious and committed suicide by drowning herself in the sea. Overcome by grief, Badaq cast off his old life and wandered the world, eventually being found by Van, who made him one of the Six God-Generals, Largo the Black Lion. Natalia grew up as the princess, having no idea of her real past. When she finally learns the truth and confronts her real father, Largo, he tells her the whole story of her birth and her mother's death. In the end, he does not acknowledge Natalia as Meryl, and tells her that considers his true daughter to be dead. However, after the party defeats Largo in the Absorption Gate, he calls Natalia "Meryl" as he dies, and Natalia finally calls him "father".

In addition to this, throughout most of their adventure, Natalia has difficulty choosing between her feelings for Asch, who is revealed to be the real Luke fon Fabre, and "Luke", who turns out to be Asch's replica. She considers them both to be her "dear friends" and can't bring herself to choose which, if either, she wishes to marry in order to fulfill their betrothal. At the game's conclusion, however, Asch is killed, and Natalia becomes distraught, nearly costing the entire party their lives. She then realizes that she has clung too tightly to the formalities of nobility (particularly regarding the betrothal), and says that she will accept whatever role Luke chooses in life as his "childhood friend".

Other protagonists

Fon Master Ion

Age: 14

Height: 166 cm, 65 in, 5'5"

Weight: 58 kg, 128 lbs

Class: Fon Master

anime voices|Ikue Otani|Erin Fitzgerald, Yumiko Kobayashi (Anime)

Fon Master Ion is the leader of the Order of Lorelei, a neutral theocracy currently trying to calm the power struggle between the Malkuth Empire and the Kingdom of Kimlasca. Though he is not a playable character, he accompanies Luke's party for most of the game. He is calm in most situations, and can utilize Daathic Fonic Artes, though that can be exhausting. Ion is worried about the state of the world and its obsession with the fulfillment of the Score. Unlike most members of the Order, he believes that the Score is but one of many possibilities that can occur.

Ion is actually the seventh replica of the original Ion, and has been in the original's place for two years. The original Ion had been dying of a mysterious disease and allowed Van to create replicas of him. Of the replicas, the Ion that the party befriends was the one with capabilities closest to the original's Daathic Fonic Artes ability. The rest of the replicas (minus Florian/Ion VIII, who was kept for the use of Van and Mohs for reading Yulia's Score) were sent to Mt. Zaleho to be thrown into the volcano, but one (Sync/Ion V) managed to escape.

During a revisit to Mt. Zaleho, Mohs forces Ion to read the Fonstone that would cost him his life. Reading the Score off the tablets uses a great amount of energy, and Ion is pushed too far, as the Seventh Fonons inside his body separate. Before he passes away, though, Ion gives Luke the Score, which he can use to save the world, and transfers his clean Seventh Fonons to Tear in exchange for her miasma-poisoned Seventh Fonons, curing her. Anise is partly responsible for Ion's death because she tricked the party and brought Ion to Mohs. Neither Ion nor the party blames her, though, because Mohs was threatening to hurt her parents. The whole party is driven on by the memory of Ion, a victim of Mohs' obsession with the Score.

Mieu

Age: Child

Height: 30 cm, 12 in, 1'

Weight:?

Class: Cheagle

Mieu is a blue Cheagle. Cheagles are considered holy by the Order of Lorelei due to a pact formed with Yulia, symbolized by the Sorcerer's Ring. The Sorcerer's Ring enables Cheagles to communicate with other creatures and humans, as well as use the power of various Fonons to gain new skills (like flight by flapping their ears).He joins Luke's group when the elder Cheagle bans him for one cycle of the seasons for setting fire to the forest in which the Ligers live, which caused the ligers to hunt the Cheagles for food. Mieu quickly grows fond of Luke, referring to him as "Master," and naively accepting the name, "Thing". Though Luke originally abuses and ridicules Mieu with little provocation, he eventually comes to regret his actions. Mieu, however, thought of Luke's actions as mere play and affection, thanking Luke for his "name".

Oracle Knights

These are the soldiers of the Order of Lorelei, which play many roles throughout the game. Dorian General Van Grants is the commanding officer of the Six God-Generals, along with the Order of Lorelei's main army of Oracle Knights. Oracle Knights are generally honorable and highly trained soldiers, ready to fight and die for the Order.

Van Grants

Age: 27

Height: 189 cm, 74 in, 6'2"

Weight: 86 kg, 190 lbs

Class: Magic Swordsman

Commandant Vandesdelca "Van" Grants is Luke's teacher and Tear's brother, as well as the main antagonist of the game. He's also a seventh fonist. As stated above, he leads both the Six God-Generals and the Order of Lorelei's main army.

Van was once the servant of Guy's family as part of the Fende family (his real name being "Vandesdelca Musto Fende"), but when Hod was destroyed, he and his pregnant mother fell to the Qliphoth. His mother soon died after giving birth to his sister, Tear, and they were adopted by Teodoro Grants, the Mayor of Yulia City, as his grandchildren. Like his younger sister, Van did not find Yulia City to be a suitable home. Instead, both were treated as outsiders, even after becoming Oracle Knights. When Van learned that Hod's destruction was in the Score, and that the prediction had been kept secret, he began to hate the Score and decided that a world with the Score must be destroyed. Van soon discovered that replicas are born outside the Score's control and decided to make a world created entirely from replicated people and landscape, at the sacrifice of the original world and population.

Needing the power of hyperresonance to progress his plans, Van kidnapped Luke fon Fabre, a boy who could harness this power. In order to avoid detection, he created a replica of Luke while the original renamed himself "Asch". Van remained close to the replica Luke, becoming a beloved teacher to him. He later reveals, however, that this was merely a ploy, and abandons the replica to die. To Van's surprise, the replica (now calling himself "Luke fon Fabre" in the original's stead), survives and surpasses the power of his original and defeats him. Saved by absorbing Lorelei (the incarnation of the Seventh Fonon) into his body, Van continued his plans. Nonetheless, he is defeated by Luke and his companions a second time and dies before his plans could come to fruition.

Six God-Generals

Asch the Bloody

Japanese Name: Fresh Blood Asch

Age: 17

Height: 171 cm, 67 in, 5'7"

Weight: 68 kg, 150lbs

Class: Magic Swordsman

Voiced By: Chihiro Suzuki (Japanese), Yuri Lowenthal (English)

Asch's main role in Tales of the Abyss is to follow and observe the party as they make their journey, especially Luke and Ion. An enigmatic character, he usually opts for traveling and fighting alone. While Asch may act arrogantly at times, he is a fearless fighter and his skill is undeniable.

Asch is the original Luke fon Fabre, and the original Light of the Sacred Flame. Seven years ago, Van kidnapped him. The replica Luke was the one brought back to the Fabre Manor, while the original Luke joined the Oracle Knights and chose a new name for himself: Asch, symbolizing the charred remains of the Sacred Flame. He and Luke have the same fighting style, as Van Grants taught them both. Admiring Van greatly, Asch only rebelled against him after he revealed his plan for a replica world, something Asch could not go along with, as he had grown to despise replicas—especially Luke. Though Luke is blameless, Asch hates him for taking his true life from him; his family, his status, and the attention of Van, their beloved teacher. Near the conclusion, Luke defeats Asch in a one-on-one battle in Eldrant to determine who is the "real" Luke and should go on to defeat Van. Later, while trying to contact Luke via mental link, Asch is stabbed and killed by replicated Oracle Knights, telling Luke that the rest is up to him before he dies. His death enables Luke to use a second-order hyperresonance to save the party from a trap.

After Van's defeat, Luke uses the complete Key of Lorelei as Eldrant begins collapsing. Asch falls through the collapsing ceiling, and is caught by Luke. It is speculated that Luke and Asch merge together in a phenomenon called the Big Bang, and in a post-credits scene, someone that looks very similar to Luke is seen returning from the wreckage, but it is never definitely stated which of the two, or a combination of them, has truly returned.

For a small amount of time, Asch is a playable character. Using a glitch can enable Asch to remain in the party and replace Luke in battles. Doing so however, the player is unable to access some sidequests in the game and miss some treasures, but the main story is unaffected.

Legretta the Quick

Japanese Name: Magic Bullet Regret

Age: 26

Height: 168 cm, 66 in, 5'6"

Weight: 52 kg, 115 lbs

Class: Sharp-Shooter

Legretta was Tear's instructor when Tear was still a cadet in the Oracle Knights; as such, the two bonded and became very close, with a relationship somewhere in between that of two sisters and a mother and daughter. She wields a pair of Fonic Guns and is a brilliant strategist. In addition to using her Fonic Guns in battle, she also utilizes light-based fonic artes. As Van's right hand, she is an experienced and honorable soldier.

Her real name is Giselle Oslo, as stated in her letter to Tear, which can be found at Van's gravesite in Yulia City. Her letter also revealed that she originally went after Van as revenge for her brother's death, because Van had sent him into a battle where it was certain that he would die, as was dictated by the Score. Unfortunately, when she tried to kill him, he defeated her. But in instead of punishment Van made her his aide, telling her she could kill him when she found an opening, as he hoped to test whether his life could defeat the Score. Later in the game, Legretta appears as the first boss on Eldrant, which is shortly followed by her death. Before dying, she states that she had loved Van and his ideals and was willing to die for him.

Arietta the Wild

Japanese Name: Mysterious Beast Arietta

Age: 16

Height: 148 cm, 58 in, 4'10"

Weight: 42 kg, 93 lbs

Class: Beastmaster

Arietta is a timid girl who was raised by Ligers after losing her parents to a tidal wave, which wiped out the Isle of Feres. Since then, she has learned to control monsters and animals to aid her in battle. She also specializes in dark based fonic artes such as Bloody Howling and Negative Gate and she also casts defensive fonic artes such as Barrier and Sharpness on her monster companions in battle. In her two last battle the player can steal the Time-Traveling Girl and the Rare Genius from her as accessories for Anise. Arietta was once the Fon Master Guardian of Ion, and despises Anise for "taking Ion away" from her. Arietta wishes to kill Luke's party for killing the Liger Queen early in the game, which Arietta refers to as "Mommy".

In reality, the Ion that accompanies the party is one of many replicas of the original. Arietta was not aware of this, nor of the fact that she was removed as Fon Master Guardian to keep the replica's identity secret, and Largo suggests that she would have committed suicide if she had learned of what had happened to the original Ion. Having nowhere to go, Arietta joined Van's six God-Generals. Van also turned the slowly sinking Isle of Feres into Arietta's secret private boat, which also once served as Van's headquarters. Following Ion's death, Arietta blamed Anise (although Anise was partly responsible, as she had been forced into betraying Ion by Grand Maestro Mohs) and challenged her (and the party) to a duel to the death, which she lost. Tragically, Arietta died without realizing the Ion she sought after so much was not the one she loved.

Dist the Reaper

Japanese Name: Death God Dist

Age: 35

Height: 174 cm, 69 in, 5'9"

Weight: 62 kg, 137 lbs

Class: Fon Machine user

A Fonon scholar, and somewhat of an effeminate narcissist, Dist can control Fon Machines that he has designed, such as Kaiser Dist X. He is often found seated in a flying chair, and constantly throws a fit when he feels ignored or is picked on, particularly by his fellow God-General Sync and his childhood love-hate relationship friend, Jade. He calls himself "Dist the Rose", in his opinion "Dist the Reaper" is a barbaric name, but Jade sometimes mocks him with "Dist the Runny" (as Jade claims that Dist's nose tends to run when he gets upset, which Dist denies). The two have known each other since childhood (In which Jade likely teased and ignored Dist as he does now). Surprisingly, Dist is the only God-General who does not have a Mystic Arte despite an unused anime cut-in of him being found in the Japanese version. This is likely because he is the only god-general who is never fought directly, as his machines do the fighting for him while he observes. It was also revealed that Anise's doll, Tokunaga, was Dist's creation as well.

His real name is Saphir Wyon Neis. He, Jade, Nephry (Jade's sister) and Peony studied with each other under Professor Gelda Nebilim in Keterburg. Even then, Dist always vied for Jade's attention; one of the main reasons he joined the Six God-Generals was to be noticed by Jade. Dist had no intention of helping Van, but rather, obtain the replica information of his deceased teacher, Nebilim, from Mohs. While Jade abandoned his desire to create a replica of his deceased instructor, Dist strove to continue in hopes of returning Jade to his state before Nebilim was killed. When he could not obtain Nebilim's replica data, he intended to release the first replica of Nebilim, a heartless monster obsessed with killing, created by Jade (which can later be earned as an optional boss battle). Dist seemingly ended his life in a failed suicide bombing attempt to kill off Luke and his companions at the Tower of Rem after his third and last robot was defeated, but should the player decide to undertake the Nebilim sidequest, Dist makes another appearance near the end of the sidequest. However, the Nebilim replica attacked and wounded him the minute she is revived by the Catalysts, making another clear point in the idea that though similar, replicas are not the same as their originals. Despite being (apparently) fatally wounded, Dist managed to survive and pursued the party to Grand Chokmah, where he was arrested by Jade. He is the only God-General to survive in the game.

Sync the Tempest

Japanese Name: Synch the Gale

Age: 14

Height: 166 cm, 65 in, 5'5"

Weight: 58 kg, 128 lbs

Class: Martial Artist

anime voices|Ikue Otani|Erin Fitzgerald, Yumiko Kobayashi (Anime)

Sync is a quick fighter, often subduing his opponents with rapid physical attacks, coupled with formidable Fonic Artes. He is also capable of placing an enemy in a "Cursed Slot", an exceedingly rare ability that only a Fon Master can use. He is a martial artist, as well as the strategist for the Six God-Generals' missions. While his bird-like mask is almost always on, at one point Guy knocks it off his face with a sword swipe and remarks that he looks incredibly similar to someone else.

Later in the story, the player finds out that Sync's remarkable similarity is to Ion, and that Sync is his fifth replica. Initially, seven replicas were made with the consent of the original Ion (who had been dying of an unknown disease) and authorization of Van. However, Sync, Florian, and the replica referred to as, "Ion", were the only three surviving replicas. The Ion that accompanies the party was the replica with Daathic Fonic Artes capabilities closest to the original Fon Master Ion. The rest of the replicas were sent to Mt. Zaleho to be thrown to the magma, but Sync managed to escape, a testament to how brilliant a strategist he is, being able to think of an escape plan after just being born. After his escape, he joins Van in his plot to overturn the Score, training vigorously to earn the rank of God-General and the feared nickname "Sync the Tempest". Still, Sync later declares his hate for Van, since he still lives only at Van's behest even after he is brought back into life a second time by Van himself inside the planet's core using Lorelei's trapped power. Sync hates the fact that he exists as "garbage"; he feels he has no purpose for living and is only an empty vessel for Van's will, and blames the Score for causing him to be "stuck with this pathetic life." He uses his resemblance to Ion in order to unnerve the party, particularly Anise, who felt responsible for Ion's eventual demise, and even can speak in Ion's voice. Sync finally dies on Eldrant after battling Luke and his companions one last time, with Anise recoiling in pity afterwards at seeing a duplicate of Ion actually being so twisted and cruel.

Largo the Black Lion

Age: 48

Height: 211 cm, 83 in, 6'11"

Weight: 118 kg, 260 lbs

Class: Scythe-wielder

A leader of the shock troops, Largo is a formidable opponent. Though fairly slow on the battlefield, his attacks are strong.

It is revealed that Largo is Natalia's father, and that Natalia, in fact, is not of the royal Kimlasca-Lanvaldear bloodline. Natalia was born as Meryl, the daughter of a maid in the royal house named Sylvia, and Badaq, a mercenary who worked in the desert. Though Sylvia had been frail, the Score insisted that she bear a child, and also predicted that the child would become the Kimlascan princess. When the royal family's daughter, who was to be named Natalia, was stillborn, Meryl was taken from Sylvia and Badaq and became the new Princess Natalia. Due to losing her daughter, Sylvia became delirious and committed suicide by drowning herself in the Sea of Baticul. Badaq, overcome with grief, left Baticul and wandered aimlessly before being found by Van, who explained his ideals to Badaq. Having come to hate the Score after learning of its role in his wife's death, Badaq agreed with Van's plan to destroy it and became Largo, one of the Six God-Generals, casting aside his old life and even abandoning his daughter.

Largo is an honorable fighter, often showing his opponents courtesy and respect. However, this is not to be mistaken for mercy, as Largo explains that to show mercy to an enemy is to insult the ideas they fight for. Unfortunately, his own daughter is no exception. Largo is defeated and attempts to kill Luke with his last strength, but Natalia hits him with an arrow. Largo acknowledges Natalia as his daughter and, before he dies, that the party must not show their enemy mercy or they will never be able to defeat "him", although it is not certain whether he is referring to Van or himself. Natalia is upset to lose her father, but believes that he was trying to tell her something important with his parting words, although she will not say how she interprets them.

Political leaders

Kimlasca-Lanvaldear

King Ingobert VI

Voiced By: Katsumi Chō (Japanese)

Father of Princess Natalia and brother of Suzanne, Luke's mother.

A normally kindly and decent man, he is manipulated by Mohs into declaring war on the Malkuth Empire and shunning both heirs to the throne (Natalia & Luke) after learning that they are impostors (Natalia is not truly his daughter and "Luke" is a replica). Later, he comes to realize the error of his ways and accepts both back into his family, realizing that while Natalia may not be his real daughter, he raised her as though she were.

Duke Fabre

Luke's father and the brother-in-law of King Ingobert. Duke Fabre is very protective of his son, forbidding him from leaving the house after he was kidnapped seven years prior. He remains distant from Luke and rarely shows him kindness.

However, after it is revealed the Luke is a replica and that Asch is his true son, Duke Fabre accepts both of them as his "sons". The reason why he was distant towards Luke was because the Score ruled that Luke would die at Akzeriuth, and the Duke felt that there was no meaning in loving a son who was fated to die. This is also the reason he confined Luke to the manor, so that he would not be kidnapped again and lose the opportunity to die at Akzeriuth. It is also revealed that Duke Fabre is the man who led the attack on Hod that killed Guy's family. Though Guy originally plotted revenge against the Duke alongside Van Grants, his friendship with Luke caused him to reconsider his feelings.

Viridian

The governor of the research town of Belkend. However, his authority was subverted by Van using the city as his base. With the vouches of Hencken and Cathy, Viridian helps the party, even when they were on the run from the Kimlascan military, and continues to for the rest of the game.

Jozette Cecille

Voiced By: Chie Nakamura (Japanese)

A Brigadier General of the Kimlascan army.

If the player does certain requirements, General Cecille and General Frings will be engaged. After the peace treaty was made, they were going to get married after Frings' assignment. Unfortunately, Frings dies from his wounds after replicas of Kimlascan soldiers attack him. Cecille goes to the Tower of Rem after hearing that a replica of Frings is there, but is convinced by Luke's party that the Frings she sees is a replica and she comes to understand that Frings cannot be replaced.

According to tradition, brides are to make the clothes for the groom for the wedding day. Since Frings died, Cecille gives the clothes to Guy, her cousin.

Malkuth Empire

Emperor Peony IX

Voiced By: Takumi Yamazaki (Japanese), Darran Norris (English)

A childhood friend of Jade Curtiss, Nephry Balfour, and Dist. Peony is a very laidback, unconventional monarch. He trusts Jade explicitly and is perhaps the only man to truly understand him. Peony has a soft spot for animals called "rappigs", which he keeps as pets named after people he likes (including Jade, Nephry, Saphir/Dist, Aslan Frings, Gelda Nebilim, and Luke). He was once in love with Nephry, even setting aside a mansion he intended to share with her. However, because she was a "commoner", they could not wed. In the end, she married someone else and the emperor has never completely moved on (as he now still refuses to marry any other). This has not deterred him from being something of a lecher, however, as he eagerly accepts any opportunity to ogle women (most notably, by providing free passes to the Keterburg spa, and then providing lewd bathing suits as gifts).

Nephry Osborne

The sister of Jade, childhood friend of Dist and Emperor Peony, and student of the deceased Professor Nebilim. Following the death of Nebilim, each of them went their separate ways, with Nephry marrying and becoming the governor of Keterburg, her hometown. Emperor Peony was in love with her, though she married another.

Elder McGovern

Voiced By: Fumihiko Gotō (Japanese)

The leader of the town of St. Binah, McGovern is a former Field Marshal in the Malkuth military, where he was an expert on ancient verses and fonic weapons. His son, Glenn, is currently a General. Elder and Glenn McGovern were caught in the sinking St. Binah, but were saved by the Albiore II.

Rose

The mayor of the farming town of Engeve. She has a son who works in Chesedonia.

Aslan Frings

A Brigadier General of the Malkuth Imperial Forces.

After saving General Cecille from falling, he took her as a prisoner in Engeve, when they were in the Qliphoth. There was then a prisoner's trade and Cecille was sent free. But believing what was written in his Score, Frings proposed to Cecille. Cecille appreciated Frings' feelings, but their nations were at in war and a relative of hers (Guy's mother, her aunt) had married to Malkuth, which would have soiled the Cecille's name.

When the peace treaty was signed, Frings and Cecille were free to marry. Unfortunately, after Frings returned from his assignment, investigating the Absorption Gate, a replica army bearing the Kimlascan flag killed off his men and fatally wounded Frings using suicidal bombing tactics. Frings died from his wounds, but not before expressing that he would have wished to lived longer in a world unbounded by the Score and wishing for "her" to live on in the new world without the Score.

Order of Lorelei

Grand Maestro Mohs

The high priest of the Order of Lorelei and the man second in power only to the Fonmaster. He is also the person that Tear Grants, along with the Oracle Knights, reports to directly.

Mohs believes whole-heartedly in the Score and its promise to lead mankind into prosperity. He seeks to cause a war between Malkuth and Kimlasca, as it was written in the Score. To this end, he will deploy any means necessary, including the extortion and kidnapping of Anise Tatlin's parents, murdering anyone who goes against the Score and, ultimately, attempting to become Fonmaster himself. In the end, acquiring the power of the Seventh Fonon transforms him into a hideous monster and drives him insane, prompting the party to defeat him in order to put an end to his misery.

Teodoro Grants

Teodoro is the Mayor of Yulia City and (adoptive) grandfather of Van and Tear. He has a strained relationship with both of the Fende children. Van does not get along with Teodoro because Teodoro is a devout follower of the Score, which Van despises with all his heart. Tear's relationship with Teodoro is equally strained because she is aware that he views her only as a descendant Yulia Jue, therefore, as a tool with unique powers to carry out the score. Teodoro raises Tear without any love or care, furthering her isolation since Van was frequently away from the city, and restricts her from leaving the city aside from missions, leaving her with barely any more freedom than Luke had the beginning of the game.

Eventually, Teodoro and Tear's relationship disintegrates completely when she learns that Teodoro had been aware the Akzeriuth would fall and did nothing about it and is further disgusted when she discovers that her homeland's destruction was foretold by the Score. Like Van, Tear becomes disgusted with and disdains Teodoro's foolish adherence to the Score.

Other

Astor

The leader and richest man in the neutral trade town of Chesedonia. He is also the head of the Merchant Guild. He worked with Ion to set up the trade system and also to keep Chesedonia neutral. Has a bizarre habit of giggling mid-sentence.

Minor characters

Noelle

Voiced By: Chie Nakamura (Japanese)

The pilot of the party's airship, the Albiore II. She is the sister of the pilot of the of the Albiores I and III, Ginji. Second only to her brother in piloting skills, she eagerly assists the main party as they dart from country to country on their quest to protect the world. She also appears to have a slight crush on Luke from how she acts around him.

Ginji

The pilot of Asch's airship, the Albiore III. Ginji is the brother of Noelle and grandson of Iemon. During the game, the party takes on an event where they must retrieve a flightstone. After being given a time limit, the party goes through the Meggioran Highlands where the player may, or may not, save him. If he is not saved, Aston becomes the pilot for the Albiore III.

The Dark Wings

A trio of bandits who also perform under the name 'the Black Dream'. They consist of Noir, York, and Urushi, who make their hideout in Nam Combanda Isle. Though originally a minor nuisance to the party, they are hired by Asch later in storyline, and are often a good source of information on his actions and whereabouts.

Class I and Class M

A group of six researchers who frequently aid the party who often compete with each other on projects. The party convinces them to work together to help them use the Tartarus to stop the core's vibration.

Class M
* Iemon: The grandfather of Noelle and Ginji. He dies when he and Tamara surprise the Oracle Knights who arrive to capture the party in Sheridan. A replica of him is seen in the Tower of Rem.
* Tamara: Another Class M researcher who helps hold off the Oracle Knights with an improvised flamethrower. An Oracle Knight cuts her down shortly after the party escapes.
* Aston: One of two survivors of the Oracle Knights' attack on Sheridan. He builds the Albiore III for Asch, keeping busy as a means of warding off his grief. Should the player have failed to save Ginji's life earlier in the game, he will pilot the Albiore III for Asch.

Class I
* Hencken: A researcher in Class I who holds off Van when he catches up to the party in Sheridan's harbor, wanting to take responsibility for Spinoza betraying Class I. Luke reluctantly agrees to leave, apologizing before he does. After Van mortally wounds him and Cathy, Hencken remarks that Luke should be grateful for what he has done rather than regret his loss.
* Cathy: Another Class I researcher who dies with Hencken when Van attacks in Sheridan's harbor.
* Spinoza, Another Class I researcher from Belkend, who had previously worked on fomicry despite his colleagues' objections. He aided Van out of fear, sharing the replica data integral to his plans and reporting on Luke and the rest of Class I's doings. After an attack on Sheridan by the Oracle Knights, the party pursues Spinoza, who reveals that he feels guilty about his colleagues' deaths. Out of repentance, he aids the party in finding ways to stop the miasma.

Florian

The third replica of Fon Master Ion introduced in the story (aside from the replacement "Ion" and Sync). It seems that he had been hidden away by Mohs until he could be used to read the Score of the Seventh Fonstone after the death of the seventh Ion replica (the one who had been Fon Master during the game's events). After being rescued by the party, Anise brings him back to Daath so that he will not be abandoned, and gives him the name Florian, meaning "Innocent one" in ancient Ispanian. Once there, Florian becomes uncomfortable because of his close resemblance to the deceased Fon Master. The only person he feels comfortable with is Anise, who is the only one who does not treat him strangely.

Pamela & Oliver Tatlin

Anise Tatlin's parents. They are forced to work in Daath Cathedral under Grand Maestro Mohs because of a debt that they were tricked into. Anise tirelessly seeks ways to get rich quick so that she may free her parents from their debt. They are later kidnapped by Mohs in the storyline shortly before Anise betrays the party.

Mary Gardios

Voiced By: Chie Nakamura (Japanese)

Guy's older sister, who urged that he hide and survive as the heir to House Gardios when Kimlasca attacked Hod. A Kimlascan soldier strikes her down, and Guy is buried with her and the other womens' corpses, losing his memory and becoming scared of contact with women as a result of the trauma. She is later replicated and appears at the Tower of Rem as the primary representative of the non-functioning replicas.

Gelda Nebilim

Nebilim is a Locrian Colonel who retired from the Order of Lorelei and taught at Keterburg. Jade, Nephry, Dist, and Peony were her students.

The original Nebilim died after Jade experimented with the Seventh Fonon and destroyed her house. In a state of near-death, Jade tried to replicate her using an older version of Fomicry. However, the replica was mentally unstable due to it being created by using the First through Sixth Fonons. The replica was eventually sealed away after killing a small company of Fonists while she searched for Fonons of Rem and Shadow to become complete.Jade and Dist changed their Fomicry research to using only the Seventh Fonon after the incident. Jade ultimately abandoned Fomicry research forever while, on the other hand, Dist continued to search for a way to replicate Nebilim. He joined the God-Generals while leaking information to Mohs at the same time in order to obtain Nebilim's data. When he failed to do so, he planned to release the sealed Nebilim replica. He broke the seal with the help of Luke and his companions collecting the Planetary Fonic Arte Catalyst Weapons. The replica was released, and nearly killed Dist with an energy blast. The party eventually weakened the replica enough for Jade to cast the Planetary Fonic Arte, and the Nebilim replica was destroyed forever.

See also

* Tales of the Abyss
* Tales (role-playing game series)
* Namco Tales Studio
* Kosuke Fujishima (character designer)

References

1. (2005) Namco Bandai Games: Tales Of The Abyss Official Site http://tales.namco.com/abyss"