Schneizel el Britannia: Damocles and the FLEIJAs are simply machines in the end. We can always rebuild them.
Kanon Maldini: But sir, you know the Toromo Agency doesn't have the resources. Nor does Rosenberg.
Schneizel: Yes but Lelouch is now the enemy of the world. If it turns out our system has destroyed him, there will be plenty of organizations happy to build FLEIJAs for us.
Kanon Maldini: But sir, you know the Toromo Agency doesn't have the resources. Nor does Rosenberg.
Schneizel: Yes but Lelouch is now the enemy of the world. If it turns out our system has destroyed him, there will be plenty of organizations happy to build FLEIJAs for us.
The setting of Code Geass deals with an abundance of schemers playing off one another. While the parts often get too complicated for the individuals to manage and direct there are some brilliant exceptions.
Works within sections listed by release date.
All spoilers are unmarked. You Have Been Warned!
Lelouch of the Rebellion
- C.C. is an ancient, immortal girl who bestows Lelouch vi Britannia with Geass and becomes his most trusted subordinate. Far more level-headed than he, C.C. is able to discern the details of a trap laid by his antagonistic sister Cornelia and is the one to trick the Britannian forces while ensuring his escape. Showing herself to be a tactical Knightmare Frame pilot in her own right, C.C. even painfully gives her own life such that Lelouch may save his little sister Nunnally. Reviving, C.C. orchestrates the plot to return Lelouch's memories after they are sealed by his father Emperor Charles, going on to work with him and electing to abandon Charles's plot to merge all of humanity. After Charles is killed by Lelouch, C.C. works with him to enact his plot to unite the world's hatred unto himself, playing her role perfectly before accepting his death to move on with restored interest in living.
- Lloyd Asplund is a devious Britannian scientist giddily creating swathes of specialized Knightmares for the Empire, simply for the pleasure of science. Choosing Suzaku Kururugi as as the pilot for his latest invention, the "Lancelot", Lloyd constantly keeps Suzaku tactically supplied and upgraded to help him take down any and all enemies he faces. Despite a claim to not care for Suzaku more than as a pawn, Lloyd's softer side shows when he ambushes foes and saves Suzaku's life, Lloyd often switching loyalties himself to keep his position of power. When Lelouch takes control of Brittania, Lloyd gets himself a position as Lelouch's right-hand and plays a key role in his master plot to unite the world, Lloyd's scientific genius serving as one of the most brilliant abilities in the story.
- Emperor Charles zi Britannia, 98th Emperor of Britannia, presents as a fascist Social Darwinist who believes in a world where equality cannot exist. In truth, Charles' views were shaped growing up in the brutal, cutthroat court of Britannia until he and his twin brother V.V. outmanuevered their enemies to make Charles Emperor. Secretly researching the Geass and testing his many children, Charles utilizes his empire as little more than a distraction, placing his children in Japan to eventually gain access to the Sword of Akasha. Playing the entire world, Charles eventually sees his twin brother dead for his own betrayal and to seize immortality, intending to initiate the Ragnarok Connection and kill "God" itself to merge mankind into one single mind.
- Empress-Consort Marianne vi Britannia, aka "Marianne the Flash", is Charles' true love and a match for him in ruthless deception. Known for her immense piloting skill and iron will, Marianne was betrayed by V.V. who loathed her influence over his brother. Transferring her mind into the young girl Anya Stroud, Marianne remains dormant there, taking control as strategically necessary to deceive her enemies and even her own children to help Charles pull off the Ragnarok Connection and bring about the world both seek.
- Prince Schneizel el Britannia, the Prime Minister of the Holy Britannian Empire, is the only strategic match for his brother Lelouch. Seeking to force peace upon all of mankind, Schneizel operates with supposed loyalty to his father, winning countless battles for his nation while manipulating and recruiting subordinates for his own ends. By withholding key pieces of information, Schneizel even manages to wrestle away control of the Black Knights from the charismatic Lelouch's leadership to turn the tides of battle in his own favor. Arming his ship the Damocles with the destructive FLEIJA warheads, Schneizel aims to take it to orbit to force an end to conflict and even when beaten, Lelouch ensures he remain de facto leader of Britannia, knowing Schneizel's acumen will keep his sister safe as the new ruler.
Prequels & Side-Stories
- Renya of Darkness: Sir Dash was once "Forest", a nameless orphan brought in by a family of nobles and tricked into having them killed. Escaping with his stepsister Haltia, Dash was gifted with the power of Geass but its awakening rendered her comatose. Setting in motion a plot to manipulate his way into possessing a pendant to revive Haltia, Dash sets forth a course of actions to bring it and hero Renya closer to his clutches while creating powerful Knightmares of people using his Geass. Considering his Knightmares his dear companions, Dash ultimately dies only moments before completing his goal and even then is reunited with a forgiving Haltia in the afterlife.
- Akito the Exiled: Ryo Sayama and Yukiya Naruse are a revolutionary leader and criminal hacker working to create a country for the lost and rejected. Luring a group of criminals to steal their Knightmare frame and kill them, the two nearly kidnap a high-ranking European Union general. Ostensibly working with the heroes, they initially make plans to betray and kill them before interest in their ideals leads Ryo and Yukiya to become true comrades to hero Akito Hyuga, willing to lay down their lives for him.
Compilation Movies Continuity
- This version of Lelouch vi Britannia/Lamperouge is a brilliant rebellion leader who possesses far more grace and charisma than his original series' counterpart. Using his natural affinity for chess and strategy to turn a ragtag group of resistance fighters into an elite terrorist organization called the Black Knights, Lelouch, under the guise of "Zero", uses them and his power of Geass to wage a massive war campaign against his own father and the Holy Britannian Empire. Lelouch pulls off a variety of successful ploys that cripple major parts of Britannian infrastructure, turns tragedies into propaganda to garner more support for his cause, and even fakes amnesia for months to fool his opponents into overlooking his continued scheming. After utterly outdoing his father Charles and brother Schneizel, Lelouch deliberately paints himself as a villain to unite the world against him before sacrificing his own life to solidify the Black Knights as a heroic group to bring all nations into peace. Upon being resurrected, Lelouch immediately steps right back into action, outwitting Zilkhistan despite Queen Shanma's time manipulation powers and once again saving the world, then deciding to peacefully Walk the Earth with his longtime partner C.C. to ensure peace reigns forever.
- Heartbroken by his death, here C.C. attempts to resurrect Lelouch, though only succeeds in restoring his body. On her mission to reclaim his soul, C.C. dodges assassins left and right and rendezvous with the former Black Knights to infiltrate a Zilkhstanian prison housing a supernatural device which she uses to restore Lelouch. When Lelouch's sister Nunnally is held captive by the nation's rulers, C.C. plays the role of her lover's tactical advisor, as always helping with his brilliant strategies and even talking Zilkhstan de facto ruler Shamna into giving up her plans and helps reclaim Nunnally from the surreal "C's world". Ending the film accepting Lelouch's marriage proposal, he and C.C. set off, vowing to rid the world of those who would use the power of Geass for evil.
Other Continuities
- Suzaku of the Counterattack: These versions of Prince Schneizel el Britannia and Lloyd Asplund plot to use C.C. to turn Schneizel into a god and end conflict. Schneizel oversees multiple assassinations to cover his tracks while Lloyd manipulates Suzaku Kururugi into becoming the test pilot for their Lancelot system. Murdering his father the Emperor, Schneizel frames his brother Lelouch to come within a hair's breadth of victory before Suzaku kills him, while Lloyd merely congratulates their foes for beating them.
- Tales of an Alternate Shogunate: This version of Lelouch Lamperouge, commander of The Shinsengumi, is really Zero, the affluent leader of the well-intentioned Black Restoration Order. Seeking to end Britannian oppression of Feudal Japan, Lelouch leads his soldiers to steal Knightmares from the Brittannians, able to match the army in strength. Evading capture and luring out the Britannian leader, Lelouch sways many of his enemy's best soldiers to his own side, freeing Japan before quietly departing.
