Characters from Arc the Lad series, including Twilight of the Spirits and End of Darkness. As with many character pages, some spoilers will be unmarked. You Have Been Warned.

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Heroes

The Whole Team

Archaic Weapon for an Advanced Age: In a world full of metal buildings, trains, airships and robots, almost all the playable characters fights with swords, lances, whips, cards etc.
- Subverted with Diekbeck, Cheryl, and Shu from the main trilogy and Samson from Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits.
Back-to-Back Badasses: Done by Arc and Elc, Shu and Tosh in Arc II.
Battle Couple: Arc and Kukuru, Tosh and Shu, Shante and Gruga...
Bounty Hunter: Elc, Shu, Alec, and Edda have this job.
Large Ham: During the assault in Romalia, in Arc the Lad II, when the party members assemble, they start introducing themselves with names such: "Fire Master Elc", "Song-Princess" Shante, "Great Magic Master Gogen", "Tosh of the Monji family", "Brakia Warrior, Gruga" etc.
Monster Allies: Chongara summons them through his magic pot, Lieza can tame and add them to the party rooster as optional characters and Theo can turn them into cards and summon them in battle.
The Magnificent: After the events of Arc the Lad II, Arc and Kukuru became the "Great Hero and the Holy Mother".
Non-Player Character: The cast of the first two games return as this in the third; except Elc, Tosh and Shu who became Temporarily party members.
One-Man Army: Many characters follow this, and are usually smart enough to include this into their plan. It is even lampshaded in the second game of the series:
Shu: I know someone who's rowdy enough to hold off ten guards. He can be a decoy while I set the bombs."
Tosh: Who are you talking about?
Shu: Uh, you, Tosh!
Royals Who Actually Do Something: Arc, Kukuru and Sania.
Your Terrorists Are Our Freedom Fighters: In Arc II, the party has to destroy Mind Control towers, built in the middle of densely populated metropolis, with little regard for the collateral damagea.

Arc the Lad 1

Arc Eda Ricolne

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arc_the_lad_arc.jpg

Voiced By: Hiro Yuki (JP)

Arc is a young boy from Touvil in Seirya. He lives alone with his mother, as his father Yoshua left on a mission 10 years ago and has not been seen since. His quest begins as he goes to help Kukuru re-ignite the Flame Cion and receives the blessing from the Guardians. Arc is somewhat disillusioned that humans are good-natured, but believes overall that people are good and he is determined to find the Ark so that he may save the world.

Anti-Hero: Arc Ricolne is very pragmatic, and will do whatever it takes to defeat Romalia, and while he does not willingly target civilians, he shows little concern for collateral damage when he or one of his allies start to blow things up.
The Chosen One: Deconstructed. Arc was not chosen by the spirits; Yoshua, his father, contacted them and made a deal with them: they would give Arc control over the elements in order to use him as their proxy. The player is actually told about this before the first battle begins. What's interesting is that it foreshadows the many deconstructions of RPG cliché that will happen later.
Dark Messiah: Arc. He's a genuine Messianic Archetype, but he has very little concern for collateral damage when fighting against the forces of Romalia and the Dark One. If civilians are killed when he blows up an enemy facility, that's one thing he won't angst about.
- In Arc's defense, Romalia intentionally puts their doomsday devices in the middle of population centers, specifically to discredit their enemies. Civilian casualties are inevitable when fighting them.
Demon Slaying: Does this a lot, since the main antagonists are demons disguised as humans trying to release an sealed Eldritch Abomination.
Disappeared Dad: His father Yoshua has been missing for ten years until the beginning of the game.
Hero with Bad Publicity: Arc ends the first game and begins the second as a wanted criminal, accused of both regicide (he was framed) and terrorism (for blowing up mind control devices disguised as landmarks and otherwise fighting against The Empire).
Heroes Prefer Swords: Arc is the main character and uses swords as his weapon.
Heroic Sacrifice: Arc sacrifices himself to re-seal the Dark One in the end of Arc 2.
In the Hood: In Arc II, Arc disguise himself as a hunter to approach Gallarno.
Magic Knight: Arc can use four out of the six elements: wind, fire, earth and light.
Magnetic Hero: Arc. Lampshaded when he arrives to save Poco, and Poco comments afterward that, with Arc there to inspire him, he suddenly felt like he could fight with his cymbals, and so he did.
Protagonist Title: Regardless of him being a main character, or even being in the game at all.
Together in Death: With Kukuru, in the end of Arc the Lad II.

Kukuru

Voiced By: Konami Yoshida (JP) / Yūko Mizutani (JP)

Kukuru is a member of the Sacred White Clan in Touvil. She is seen extinguishing the Flame Cion in the game's opening, but after doing so, she finds out that monsters have appeared. Arc rushes to help her and re-ignites the Flame Cion. Days later, she decides to help Arc in his quest, telling him that she believes it is her destiny to follow the one who has been blessed by the Guardians.

Anyone Can Die: After King Gaidel reseases the seal of the Dark One, Kukuru attempts to re-seal it, but the Dark One was too much for her to handle and she is killed.
Arranged Marriage: To the prince of Seirya, who is actually Arc.
Chickification: Subverted. In Arc the Lad II, Kukuru seems to have become this, but she later proves that she still can kick an enormous amount of ass when she manages to invert her Demonic Possession and takes control of the Dark One's body long enough to allow Arc to seal it again, while she is already dead.
Demonic Possession: In the ending of Arc the Lad II, the Dark One manage to take control of Kukuru and "absorb" her, only to discover that Arc's Girlfriend's soul is stronger than his own: she promptly inverts the demonic possession and gives Arc the time to seal him again.
Holy Hand Grenade: Divine Judgment, her only skill of the Light element.
Miko: She is a member of the Sacred White Clan.
The Smurfette Principle: She is he only female main character in the first game.
Together in Death: With Arc, in the end of Arc the Lad II.

Poco

Voiced By: Chika Sakamoto (JP)

Poco is a member of Palencia Military Corps, who were all unfortunately annihilated, leaving him the only survivor. He claims that he never wanted to be a soldier, but rather a musician; his fighting skills reflect that, as he uses his musical instruments to execute both physical and magical attacks. Poco is very timid and always hungry, constantly wanting to stay out of trouble. He believes that fighting with Arc makes him much braver, and continues to help him in his quest.

Cowardly Lion: In his case, the fear inside him boosts his survival instincts and turns a klutz that he is into a badass Magic Knight.
Instrument of Murder: Poco's weapon of choice is a pair of cymbals.
Lethal Joke Character: Poco is a musician. A cowardly musician who probably does not know how to handle a gun correctly. He is also the deadliest soldier of Seirya's army (Arc and Kukuru are not soldiers, Tosh is para-military).
Magic Music: Poco, a proud member of the Palencia army's... drum corps. That won't stop him from beating you like one, though.
Making a Splash: His element is water, but all of his attacks are music-based.
Sole Survivor: Poco's brigade has been devestated by the monsters on Colbo Plain.

Tosh

Voiced By: Nobuyuki Hiyama (JP)

Tosh is a Hot-Blooded guard in the town of Palencia (who are not the same guards as are in Palencia Castle). He was arrested for treason by Andel, who had several townspeople killed. Tosh tried to defend the townspeople and thus was arrested. After being thrown into a prison cell, he breaks out to find out that the guards from Palencia Castle are monsters, and tries to kill them. He helps Arc after the spirit of his sword instructs him to. He is very headstrong and brash, though he reveres his late father Monji as an excellent warrior.

A Father to His Men: In Arc the Lad III, Tosh becomes this to his subordinates in Testa.
Badass Normal: Tosh does not have the magical abilities of Arc, Gogen or Elc, but he still manages to do just as much damage with his Katana.
Everything's Better with Samurai / Street Samurai: Tosh is a Samurai tossed in a Schizo Tech universe.
Playing with Fire: Tosh can use magic from the Fire element.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Red to Shu's blue.
Too Long; Didn't Dub: Some of his katana attacks display text in japanese.

Gogen

Voiced By: Mahito Tsujimura (JP)

Gogen is the "ancient book" which Arc's father sent him to find. Gogen has been around for at least 3,000 years, and he has quite a bit of knowledge about the world. It is later revealed that Gogen was one of the original Seven Braves, warriors that fought to prevent the Dark One from creating chaos in the world. Gogen is a mage, and thus his strongest attacks are his spells.

Black Mage: Gogen can use five out of the six elements: wind, fire, ice/water, earth and light.
Eccentric Mentor: In the North American version, Gogen is portrayed as a silly person, serving as the witty comic relief.
Eyes Always Shut: Thanks to his long eyebrows.
Really 700 Years Old: Gogen may look like an old man, but he's still in good shape for a guy who spent 30 centuries watching the prison of an Eldritch Abomination.
Sealed Badass in a Can: Gogen is this and Sealed Good in a Can. He willingly sealed himself with the Dark One 3,000 years ago so he would still be around to fight him again if someone release it.
Teleportation: One of his magics. It can be used to reach isolated treasure chests in certain stages.

Chongara

Voiced By: Kenichi Ogata (JP)

A merchant from Alatos, Chongara was saved by Yoshua while searching for treasure in the pyramid ruins. In gratitude, Chongara agreed on his request to help Yoshua's son, Arc, to find the Light Guardian. After hearing the Light Guardian's speech, Chongara decides to help Arc for the rest of his quest.

Amnesiac Hero: In Arc the Lad III.
Combination Attack: Fujin and Raijin have the powers Wind and Storm, respectively, which can only be used together on a single foe.
Demoted to Extra: In Arc 2, he is the only one of the main characters that isn't playable.
Enemy Scan: His Search spell gives you enemy statistics.
Gold Tooth of Wealth: Chongara the merchant sports a gold tooth in the anime.
Improbable Weapon User: Along with bringing monsters out of it, Chongara attacks using the Summon Pot.
Interspecies Friendship: He was already pals with Odon, a summon creature, before joining Arc on his quest.
Non-Player Character: Chongara becomes this in Arc II.
Shapeshifter Weapon: Odon can mimic any creature, gaining access to their magic in the process. Allies can also be copied, but their magic is excluded.
Summon Magic: Chongara can summon supernatural beings from his magic pot.
Support Party Member: Mofly and Kelack fall into this the most, the former able to make floors over pits, the latter largely being a source of an extra Cure spell. Hemo-ji's main purpose is to turn enemies into more Hemo-ji, lowering their attack and defense while leaving them unable to cast spells.
Third-Person Person: Referring to himself in the third person is part of his unique accent.
You No Take Candle: Chongara talks this way.

Iga

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arc_the_lad_iga.jpg

Voiced By: Kiyoyuki Yanada (JP)

Iga is a Warrior Monk from Amaidar. The Archmonk of Amaidar tricks Iga into believing Arc wants to steal the sacred scrolls of Amaidar, thus he does not allow Arc passage to Mt. Amaidar, where the Earth Guardian is. He challenges Arc to a fight to settle this dispute. After losing, he finds out that the Archmonk is actually a monster, and after they kill it, Iga takes them to the Earth Guardian, and then decides to continue helping Arc in his quest.

Bare-Fisted Monk: Being a monk, Iga fights with his fists.
Eyes Always Shut: In the anime.
Dangerous Forbidden Technique: "Amaidar Fist"
Defeat Means Playable: Iga challenges Arc to a fight in the first game.
Demoted to Extra: In the anime, Iga spends most of his time in the Sanctuary of the Spirits, acting as Kukuru's bodyguard. He gets less screen time than any other main character (except Diekbeck and Gruga, who each only appear in one episode and are Put on a Bus; and Sania who didn't even appear in the anime at all).
Dishing Out Dirt: Uses magic from the Earth element and protects the entrance to Mt. Amaidar, where the Earth Guardian rests.
The Quiet One: In the anime, where he rarely speaks.
Spanner in the Works: In Arc II, he pretends to be captured by a hunter (who is actually Arc) to infiltrate Romalia and destroy Gallarno's Doppelganger Machine.
Too Long; Didn't Dub: His special techs shows text in japanese.

Choko / Choco

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arc_the_lad_choko8.png

Voiced By: Konami Yoshida (JP), Kath Soucie (EN)

Choko is a optional character found by the party on the last floor of the Alatos Dungeon. She has the appearence of a playful little girl, wearing a mask to scare Arc and the group. In Twilight of the Spirits, she claims to be a Deimos.

Armed Legs: Choko delivers powerful kicks in battles.
Bragging Rights Reward: In the first game, acquiring Choko was largely just for kicks, as she was inaccessible in story battles; only random encounters allowed her to spawn.
Lethal Joke Character: Gameplay-wise, she is always the most powerful party member of any game in which she can be recruitable.
Magical Girl: Choko fills the role both in appearance and in special attacks.
Secret Character: As a summon for Chongara in the first game. She returns as an Optional Party Member in Arc II and Arc IV: Twilight of the Spirits, for Darc's party.
Where I Was Born and Razed: In the second game, it is revealed that she used to live in a village called Tokoko, but she destroyed it, or more accurately, her evil Split Personality did.

Arc the Lad 2

Elc

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arc_the_lad_elc.jpg

Voiced By: Ai Orikasa (JP)

He is a member of a tribe which has the power to manipulate flames, but his village was destroyed and his family was killed in an attack by the Romalian army, which were searching for the statue of the Spirit of Flame under orders of Andel. After that assault, Elc was taken by them to the "White House", a laboratory that creates "Chimeras" (human-monster hybrids); after managing to escape from there, he is found by Shu, who takes him in and helps him to become a bounty Hunter. Elc has a sarcastic personality and also has a deep resentment towards Arc as he saw the Silver Noah in the assault of his village, and thus believes Arc was the one who led that operation.

Adaptation Name Change: He is referred as Elk in the anime.
Amnesiac Hero: Prior to the game events, thanks to "control medicines".
Angst Coma: At the end of the White House story arc, Elc ends up at the ground zero of an explosion which leave him half dead. While Kukuru manages to heal his physical wounds, he remains comatose as a result of the guilt he feels from being unable to protect/avenge his tribe nor save Mariel from the White House.
Brought Down to Normal: In the anime, the Spirit of Flame removes Elc's ability to control fire after the young warrior enter in a Heroic BSoD state.
Declaration of Protection: Elc makes one to Lieza.
Doomed Hometown: His village was destroyed by the Romalian Army, who were after the statue of the Spirit of Flame.
Failure Knight: Elc carries the weight of not being able to save his childhood friends Mariel and Ginie from the White House.
Heart Broken Badass: After what happens to his first love, it is no wonder he chooses to side with internationally wanted terrorists.
Hero on Hiatus: Elc ends in a comatose status after the White House story arc.
I Let Gwen Stacy Die: Elc failure on saving Mariel (and the others childrens) from the White House, lead him to a angst coma.
Last of His Kind: The only member of the tribe who has spared by the Romalian army due to his potencial and was send to the White House for experimentation.
Orphanage of Fear: Elc was raised in the White House (where the employees are pretty much on Cthulhu's payroll), a facility that hides very dark, horrific secrets: the orphans, who are either forcefully taken from their parents, or witnesses of their families slaughter and people's genocide (Elc's case), are kept complacent by being forced to take "control medicines" which pretty much end up wiping their memories, until they are either dissected (chairs equipped with huge rotating saws are found in the basement) or turned into mind-controled chimeras.
Playing with Fire: His tribe has the power to control flames.
Revenge: Elc's main goal is to avenge the death of his tribe and his childhood friends Mariel and Ginie.
Supporting Protagonist: He's the main viewpoint character in 2, but it's still Arc's story.

Lieza

Voiced By: Yoko Asada (JP)

Born in the village of Holn, Lieza has the ability to control monsters. This attracted the attention of the Romalia military, which began to look for Lieza, as she would be useful for their Chimera project. Lieza meets with Elc at Aldia Skyport, where she and her pet monster Paundit are being held hostage. Lieza has the unique ability to capture most of the monsters present in the game with her Ravish skill; those monsters become playable after they're caught.

The Beastmaster: Lieza can tame enemy monsters and add them to the party.
Apocalypse Maiden: In the anime Lieza, like Kukuru, has the power to communicate with the spirits; this power can also be used to unseal the Ark, in which the Dark One is sealed. Needless to say, one of the villains realizes this and brainwash her to open it and bring the "Great Disaster".
Damsel in Distress: Especially in the anime, where Clive decides to use Lieza's powers to communicate with the spirits for his own purpose.
Dishing Out Dirt: Her element is Earth.
Hypnotize the Captive: Was on the receiving end of this in the anime, after being captured by Clive. Elc and his friends fight their way into enemy territory to try and rescue her, but it's been a trap all along. Lieza has been hypnotized to stab her friend and escape with her new master, Clive, who uses her powers to open a seal that will unleash darkness upon the world.
Mon: Lieza can capture enemy monsters and use them in battles.
Mysterious Waif: A mysterious girl possessing a unique ability who is persued by The Mafia during the first portion of the game.
Replacement Goldfish: Of Mariel, to Elc.
Take My Hand!: In the last episode of the anime, Lieza tries to save Clive from being sucked into the darkness of the Ark. He refuses her help.

Paundit

Lieza's wolf companion.

An Ice Person: Can use ice magic.
Noble Wolf: Lieza's loyal Canine Companion.
Satellite Character: His only purpose in the story is to show that Lieza can tame monsters.

Shu

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arc_the_lad_shu.jpg

Voiced By: Shuichi Ikeda (JP)

A Gratuitous Ninja with a Dark and Troubled Past. Shu works as a Bounty Hunter in the city of Indigos and is the one who found Elc, then a little kid, in the desert and acted as a Mentor Archetype to him, helping Elc to become a bounty hunter himself. Later, he acts as a supporting ally to Elc, and helps him to hide and take care of Lieza after she is hurt in an attack of the Cabal, a mob-like organization at Aldia Skyport. In the Arc the Lad anime, it seems that he is on a relationship with Shante.

Big Brother Mentor: Shu is this for Elc in the beginning of the second game. Elc handles most things alone, but when he winds up in a jam, he knows where to go for advice and backup.
Blow You Away; His element is wind.
Dark and Troubled Past: At some point of his life, Shu was about to be executed, but a man saved him and gave Shu his new life as a bounty hunter.
The Gunslinger: Fights with a machinegun.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Blue to Tosh's red.
Time Bomb: One of his skills; detonate on the enemy after 3 turns.

Shante

Voiced By: Michiko Neya (JP)

Shante is a singer at Indigos' local pub; she and her brother Alfred were abandoned by their parents when they were children, and since then Shante worked very hard to give herself and her brother a decent life. However, Alfred suddenly disappeared and Shante began to look for him willing to do anything in order to get her brother back.

Adaptation Name Change: In the anime her name is translated as Chante du 'u Homme.
Armed Legs: If you equip Shante with shoes as a weapon, she'll take her high heels off and beat the monsters/terrorists/etc over the head with them.
The Chanteuse: She certainly dresses typically for the part of lounge singer.
Curtains Match the Window: Her in-game sprite has blue hair and eyes.
Holy Hand Grenade: Divine Judgment, her only skill of the Light element.
I Have Your Wife: The Cabal has her brother, Alfred hostage. Or so she thought.
An Ice Person: Her element is Water, so her offensive spells are ice-based.
Mind-Control Music: In Arc III, Shante's song has this effect. Hence why she has to hire Hunters with earplugs as bodyguards.
The Mole: She is forced to cooperate with the Cabal because Gallarno is holding her brother, Alfred hostage. Unknowingly to her that he is dead.
Put on a Bus: Anime only. Shante disappears after showing an escape route out the apartment they are in to Elc and Lieza, after the Cabal breaks in.
- The Bus Came Back: She makes a short appearance in the episode 24, in which she saves a woman and her son from a chimera.
Ship Tease: With Gruga (game) and Shu (anime).

Gruga

Voiced By: Takashi Nagasako (JP)

Gruga is the leader of Brakia, a country which was fighting a war of independence with another country, Niedel; however as the war advanced he became depressed because of the increasing casualties and out of guilt resigned his leadership. He later went to live on the island of Clenia with his daughter Elena, becoming a respected person in the process.

The Big Guy: Of the Gentle Giant type. Gruga is the tallest and physically strongest party member.
Drowning My Sorrows: Gruga falls into a drunk depression after Elena finds out that he isn't her real father and she leaves him, though he gets better after making the resolve to bring her back, and they reconcile later on.
Healthcare Motivation: Gruga enters the tournament to win the money to pay to cure his adopted daughter's blindness.
I Have Your Daughter: While Gruga was fighting in the tournament, Elena was kidnapped by Romalia chimeras and used as bait to capture Gruga and turn him into one too.
Light 'em Up: His element is Light.
Parental Substitute: To Elena, whose actual parents were killed in the war of independence between Clenia and Niedel. Or so he thought.
Stripperiffic

Sania

Voiced By: Hekiru Shiina (JP)

Sania initially appears as a fortune teller, and joins the party with no apparent reason; however she quickly requests assistance from Iga and reveals that she is the princess of Millmarna, and her only objective in life is to kill General Yagun to exact revenge, because Yagun was the one who ordered the murder of her parents, the King and Queen of Millmarna.

Adapted Out: Sania, and consequently the Millmarna story arc, is absent on the anime adaptation.
Casting a Shadow: Her spells are Darkness-based.
Fortune Teller: Sania is introduced as one.
Improbable Weapon User: Tarot cards.
Revenge: Sania plans to get revenge on Yagun for the death of her parents.
You Killed My Father: Sania's parents, the royal family of Millmanna, were murdered by Yagun.

Diekbeck

Voiced By: Toranori Yoshikawa (JP), Michael Bell (EN)

Diekbeck is a robot sealed in the ruins on the island of Yagos that was created many centuries prior to the game's events.

Arch-Enemy: Diekbeck nemesis is Grolgalde, a robot created to destroy the Seven Heroes.
Benevolent A.I.:
Diekbeck: Grolgalde will not return from this defeat.
Tosh: Though he was our adversary, I feel he was a victim as well. His purpose was to obey the command of his creator.
Diekbeck: It is what we, as machines, were created to do. Grolgalde only existed because a human or humans wished it to be. We do as we are programmed.
Demoted to Extra: Appeared in only one episode of the anime, and stays behind on Yagos island instead of joining the party.
Mecha Expansion Pack: Diekbeck can be updated with Power Units, which are found in ruins and dungeons, but are mostly optional.
Powers as Programs: Diekbeck ONLY learns new abilities through Power Units, specialized accessories only he can wear.
Secret Character: For Kharg's party, in Twilight of the Spirits.
Sealed Good in a Can: He was sealed in the ruins on the island of Yagos.
Token Non-Human: The cute Robot Buddy of the team.

Arc the Lad 3

Alec

Country Mouse: Alec was raised in a small farm town, Sasha Village.
Non-Elemental: Most of his offensive spells are this, except Crystal Dust
Sole Survivor: Of Romalia, during the Great Disaster.

Lutz

Country Mouse: He was born in Sasha Village.
Small Town Boredom: His excuse for leaving Sasha Village and join Alec in his quest to became a Hunter.

Theo

Missing Mom: His mother was a legendary Cardist who disappeared mysteriously, shortly after he was born. In truth, she was kidnapped by the Academy and is implied to have died of exhaustionn after being forced to perfect a dragon-machine monster called "Fear Crimson" for them.
Summon Magic: His Cardist ability.

Cheryl

Dark Is Not Evil: Night Raid.
Disappeared Dad: Cheryl briefly sees him in one of the guild jobs.
The Gunslinger: Fight using guns.
Insert Grenade Here: Napalm Edge.
Like Parent, Like Child: Cheryl inherited her father talent for guns and machinery in general.

Marsia

Black Mage: Marsia have spells of all the six elements: Air Blast, Heat Shell, Water Crumble, Land Ax, Light Arrow and Dark Extreme.
Non-Elemental: Giga Plasma, which Marsia learns after beating all the elemental wizards.

Velhart

BFS: His weapon of choice is a giant sword.
Loners Are Freaks: Velhart spends most of his day training alone, rarely engaging in conversation with others. Only when the conversation turns to his brother does Velhart demonstrate any emotion at all.
"Not So Different" Remark: Velhart realized that the Ghost Warrior was the same as he was being, hungry for more power and glory.
Unknown Rival: Gruga's.
You Killed My Father: Seville Kills his brother, Leshalt.

Anrietta Rochefort

Brutal Honesty: Poor Spicey...
Lonely Rich Kid: Her parents are always working overseas, leaving Anrietta with their butler Sebastian.
Optional Party Member: She and her family have a series of Hunter missions that you can complete, and in the final one, she asks to come with Alec's party. Allowing this marks the mission as "failed", however.
Squishy Wizard: She has some decent spells available, but considering she's extremely low-leveled by the time she's part of the group, she can't take hits until the player does enough grinding to help her catch up.

Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits

Arc the Lad: End of Darkness

Major Villains

The Ruler of Darkness

Also known as: The Dark One (Working Designs translation), Lord of the Black Abyss (Twilight of the Spirits)

Voiced By: Shōzō Iizuka (JP), Richard McGonagle (EN)

A God Am I: The Dark One sees himself that way. Then again, being an immortal Eldritch Abomination gives you some credible reason to call yourself a god.
Apocalypse Wow: In Arc II, the Dark One causes one as soon as he is set free. It's remembered as the "Great Disaster" in the sequels.
Big Bad: The central antagonist of the first two games.
Cutscene Power to the Max: See the "Apocalypse Wow" trope.
Eye Motifs: His base form is a giant Faceless Eye with tentacles.
Final Boss: In the second, third, and fourth games.
Greater-Scope Villain: Of the third and fourth games.
I Have Many Names: "The Dark One", "The Ruler of Darkness" and "Lord of the Black Abyss".
Killed Off for Real: He finally meets his end in the fourth game, thanks to The Five Guardian Spirits whisking themselves away from the human world into the spirit world and staying there forever to ensure he can never be revived again.
Manipulative Bastard: He manipulates several people from the shadows to ensure his undisputed rule over the world — from manipulating the Romalian Kingdom to tricking Kharg and Darc into gathering the Five Great Spirit Stones by posing as Zev.
Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Lord of the Black Abyss.
Omnicidal Maniac: No matter the era, he kills without remorse to try to bring himself closer to darkness.
Sealed Evil in a Can: Has been sealed in the Ark.
Take Over the World: Subverted. The Dark One does not want to control mankind: he already was in charge before becoming an Eldritch Abomination, and by controlling Romalia, he was once again the ruler of mankind at the beginning of the first game. The only problem is, this was not enough for him; what he wanted was control over the whole planet, including the whole ecosystem, even if it meant remaking it from scratch.
The Voice: in the first game.

The Four Generals of Darkness

The Four Generals that serve the Ruler of Darkness. They are major antagonists of the first two games.

Adaptational Wimp: The Four generals in The Anime of the Game are depicted as much weaker than their games counterparts and, despite being The Heavy, end up serving as Unwitting Pawns to the true Big Bad of the anime, Clive.
Arch-Enemy: Andel to Arc, Gallarno to Elc and Yagun to Sania.
Fat Bastard: Gallarno, Yagun and Zalbad in the anime.
The Heavy: It's the direct actions of the generals that drives the plot in the first two games, since they leader, the Dark One is sealed.
One-Winged Angel: Each general have his own chimera form. In the anime, only Gallarno show his.
What Happened to the Mouse?: Andel and Zalbad fates in the anime. Andel is seen for last time watching the final battle between the heroes and Clive, Zalbad is seen fighting Tosh and Shu. Considering that he is lastly seen fighting, one can pressume that he was Killed Offscreen.

Andel

Barrier Warrior: In the anime Andel uses one to protect himself from a enraged Elc.
Evil Chancellor: Works as a one for the clueless King of Palencia.
Hostage for MacGuffin: Andel forces this situation on the party in the ending of the first game.
Obviously Evil: When acting as a chancellor, he always try to convince the king to not listen to Arc.
Sore Loser: After being defeated in the north pole's Martyr Tower, Andel uses the last of his power to destroy the ark, so that Arc won´t be able to seal the Dark One.

Yagun

Bad Boss: Yagun has no concern for his subordinates and don´t mind sacrificing them if they are in the way. In the anime, Elc menages to infiltrate and damage his ship; his subordinates prepare to abandon ship, only for Yagun to pick up a handgun and shot all of them.
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: In the anime, General Yagun get impaled by Elc after a short fight. He survives long enough to throw a grenade at his opponent and jump ship.
Not Quite Dead: He presumably dies when Sania fires the train cannon on Yagun's headquarters. Actually she killed his Doppelgänger.
Parrot Pet Position: His pet monkey, who is the real Yagun in the game version, likes to rest on his shoulder.

Gallarno

Disc-One Final Boss: In Arc the Lad 2. His defeat represents the end of Elc story arc.
The Don: Of the Cabal.
Master of Illusion: The Doppelgänger Machine, his Trump Card, which is used to disguise his goons as impostors of the heroes and cause distrust amongst them. Unfortunate for Gallarno, Iga fooled his plans.
Power-Upgrading Deformation: Gallarno chimera form suffers from this, hence why he is forced to take suppressing medicines frequently to maintain his human form.
Somebody Set Up Us the Bomb: During the fight between Elc and Mariel, Gallarno detonates a bomb he had previously implanted in her body.
Smug Snake: Galarno serves his country by being a a mob boss and politician on another continent.
Villain with Good Publicity: Publicity, Gallarno is known as a respectable politician.
You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: In the anime, after realizing that even his chimera form is not match for Arc, Gallarno run away only to be executed by his former secretary Clive.

Zalbad

Barrier Warrior / Stone Wall: During his fight, Zalbad shuts himself on a pyramid-looking object and send minions to deal with the party.
Bald of Evil / Beard of Evil
The Dragon: To the Dark One.
Empty Promise: Even after the heroes break through Romalia walls and charge at the castle, he Keeps telling the King that "Everything is going to be all right". Justified, as this is all part of his plan to unseal the Dark one.
The Leader: Of the Four generals.
Tanks for Nothing: In the anime, Zalbad uses a tank against Tosh and Shu. He is apparently defeated off screen by them.
Thanatos Gambit: The Dark One cannot be released from his imprisonment by any Demon (of which the four main antagonists are). It was Zalbad's plan lose to the heroes, so when the protagonists finally come face to face with the human king the demons 'served' he is completely panicked. The king then feels so backed into a corner and afraid of them that he has 'no choice' but to release the Dark One.

Anime-only characters

Clive

Voiced By: Nobuo Tobita (JP)

Clive is a anime-only character introduced as Gallarno's subordinate. He is the main antagonist of the anime.

Casting a Shadow: Clive fights by summoning darkness spears from the Ark during the final fight with Arc, Lukuru, Elc and Lieza.
Dragon-in-Chief: Works for Gallarno, but in the end Clive is the true Big Bad of the anime.
Four Eyes, Zero Soul
Graceful Loser: Clive refuses Lieza's help and is sucked with the darkness into the Ark.
Lack of Empathy: The reason why the spirits refused to acknowledge him, despite he being able to communicate with them.
Manipulative Bastard: Manipulates the Four Generals of Darkness, Celentia, Arc and Elc.
Revenge: Toward the guardian spirits who refused to acknowledged him. For this Clive wants to open the Ark (which the spirts forbidden to do) and bring a world of death and silence.
Elc: Why do innocent people have to be sacrificed to you evil desire?
Clive: What unexpected words! No matter with method i have to use, i will live for revenge. I never thought that you would criticize that.
The Sociopath
Villain Teleportation: Clive does this after kidnapping Lieza in the Sanctuary of the Spirits.

Celentia

Voiced By: Fumiko Oosaka (JP)

Celentia is the leader of the Crusade without a Name, a organization founded by Gallarno that provides medical assistence to injuried soldiers in the battlefield regardless of what side they're on. She first appears helping Elc and Lieza during a train inspection, and latter save the duo in the desert. Although she appears as a nice and well-intentioned person, Elc and Lieza soon find out her true colors.

Battleaxe Nurse: An evil nurse who works with Gallarno.
Disposable Woman: Clive allows her to be consumed by the darkness, as she has no more use to him.
Face of an Angel, Mind of a Demon / Light Is Not Good: Celentia appears as a well mannered person who only wants to help the injured. Not only her "nice girl act is a facade", but she also sends the people the crusade helps to a lab and implanted with eggs from the Holy Mother to turn them into Chimeras.
Ignored Enamored Underling: Has romantic feelings for Clive, who think of her as nothing but a pawn, whom he allows to be consumed by the darkness of the sealed ark, as he no longer needs her.
Mad Love: Celentia tends to be too clingy with Clive, through he shows no interest in her.
Villain with Good Publicity: Celentia is seen as a saint who travels to dangerous places to save injured peoples.

The Academy

The main antagonists of Arc the Lad III.

The Professor / Lugwig

Anti-Villain: A Well-Intentioned Extremist whose goal is to bring the world to how it was before the Great Disaster, and yet he isn't above stealing, kidnapping and committing murder.
Big Bad: The main antagonist Of Arc the Lad III.
Redemption Earns Life: Becomes The Atoner in the ending, after he unseals the Dark One and almost cause a second Great Disaster.
The Unfought: Because he has a Heel Realization after accidently releasing The Dark One.

Sharon

Heel–Face Turn: Pulls one later in the game, after Leshalt is killed for refusing to cooperate.
Mind-Control Device: Sharon has a device that allow her to control monsters.
Morality Pet: To the Professor.
The Smurfette Principle: The only female member of the Academy.

Seville

Co-Dragons: With Galdo, to the Professor.
Katanas Are Better: His weapon.
Undying Loyalty: To the Professor.

Galdo

Broken Pedestal: Alec becomes a Hunter because one saved his life when he was young. He later finds that Hunter working for the Academy.
Co-Dragons: With Seville, to the Professor.
Fallen Hero: Galdo who used to be a Hunter who during the Great Disaster, became terrified with how little the Guild could do to the victims and was recruited by the Professor to join the Academy.
Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: Carries a huge shield.
Villain Teleportation: Galdo does this after his fight with Alec's crew at the Secret Base.

Others

Allies and Friends

Yoshua

Arc's father, who has been missing for ten years until the beginning of the game.

Bargain with Heaven: Make a deal with the Guardian Spirits, exchanging his life for their blessing so that he may help Arc in his quest.
Daddy Had a Good Reason for Abandoning You: Yoshua disappeared 10 years before the beginning of the first game. By the end of Arc 2, we learn that the spirits granted him the power to time travel, in order to Set Right What Once Went Wrong. He failed.

King of Palencia

The unnamed king of Palencia, who hear of Arc's exploits and accept to help him in his quest of finding the Ark. He is Arc's uncle and Yoshua's brother.

Clueless Boss: See Horrible Judge of Character.
Horrible Judge of Character: Andel, his obviously Evil Chancellor can attest to this.
Sacrificial Lamb: Andel kills him and puts the blame on Arc, to rule the country by himself.

Mariel and Ginie

Elc's childhood friends from the White House.

Adaptation Dye-Job: In the game, Mariel's sprite is a long-haired blonde, much like Lieza; in the anime she is a short-haired brunette.
An Ice Person: Mariel can use ice magic.
Brainwashed and Crazy: Ginie suffers a brainwash and becames a serial killer for Gallarno. Also happens to Mariel, thanks to a Mind-Control Device that Gallarno uses to make her fight Elc to the death.
Combat Tentacles: Ginie's chimera form has those in the anime.
Laser-Guided Amnesia: Like all the others orphans in the White House, Mariel and Ginie were forced to take "control medicines" to prevent rebellion.
Kill It with Fire: How Elc kills Ginie in the anime.
Mercy Kill: In the anime, Elc is forced to do this to both. First, he is forced to fight a grudgeful grown up Ginie and incinerate him. Later, he encounters Mariel, changed into a barely sentient womb for the chimeras the bad guys are using as mooks. He strangles her to end her suffering.
- In Arc the Lad II, Elc puts Ginie ("The Slasher") out of his misery although he didn´t realized it was him until is was too late. When Elc infiltrates the White House, he is locked in a room with a brainwashed Mariel, who begs Elc to kill her. Elc cannot bring himself do so, then Gallarno detonates a bomb he has previously implanted in her body as a last resort attempt to kill them both.
Orphanage of Fear: like Elc, Mariel and Ginie were raised in the White House.
Plot-Relevant Age-Up: Both suffer from this in the anime.
Red Baron: Ginie becomes know as "The Slasher".
Why Am I Ticking?: During the fight between Elc and Mariel, Gallarno reveals that he has implanted a bomb in her body as a backup plan in case she loses.

Elena

Gruga's adopted daughter.

Damsel in Distress: Elena is kidnapped by during the Clentia tournament. Later, she is taken by her biological father, Rygar.
Disabled Means Helpless: Gruga is always concerned with Elena, because she is blind.
Parental Abandonment: Her biological parents died in the war of independence between Clenia and Niedel, although she don't know that and belives that Gruga is her biological father.
Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Elena don't appear in the anime, however Elc meets a blind flower seller girl who lost her parents in a war and lives with a chimera, who treat her like a daughter.
You're Not My Father: A heartbroken Elena says this to Gruga once she meets Rygar, her biological father, and realises that Gruga lied to her the entire time. Later, she sees Rygar true colors and re-accept Gruga back as her father.

Enemies

Alfred

A terrorist, who Elc meets in the beginning of Arc the lad II. He is Shante's brother.

Adaptation Dye-Job: Alfred sprite got green hair. In the anime version, he has blonde spiked hair and dresses like a delinquent.
Power-Upgrading Deformation: His chimera form, only show in the anime, where he is forced to take special medicines to maintain his human form.
Summon Magic: He can summon bats to help him.
Warmup Boss: The first boss Of Arc the Lad II.
You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Not long after his introduction he is killed by the Cabal, who appeared to recapture Lieza and Paundit.

Kasadoll

Kasadoll is a Romalian General who nearly succeeds in wiping out the Saryu of Balbalard, and incites war amongst the citizens of both Balbalard and Zariban.

Actually a Doombot: At the pyramid, when asked by the heroes on how he survived, Kasadoll reveals that they only killed a Golem chimera disguised as him.
Kasadoll: If you thought that battle was too easy, you were right. it wasn't me.
Cloning Gambit: It is revealed that Kasadoll had many 'clones' created at the Chimera lab in Romalia, and those were sent around the world to hasten the global conflict.
Not Quite Dead: Thanks to his Cloning Gambit.
Rape as Drama / Shoot the Hostage:
Kasadoll: (to Nam) I was the one that finished you hostage, too. But not before showing her the love she so desperately craved.

King Gaidel

The king of Romalia, who the Four Generals of Darkness serve.

Clueless Boss: He is nothing more than a puppet in the hands of the Four Generals.
Deal with the Devil: Make one with the Dark One, after the heroes defeat the last general.
Dirty Coward: Exploited by Zalbad as part of his Thanatos Gambit to release the Dark One.
The Emperor: Although he is called a "king", Gaidel fits this trope, as he rules Romalia (a heavily militarized country) with an iron fist and plans to conquer the others nations and expand his territory.
Evil Counterpart: To the king of Palencia.
Evil Is Not a Toy: Gaidel is killed by the Dark One as soon as he set free.
Puppet King: It's pretty clear that it is Zalbad that runs things in Romalia.
Take Over the World: His main goal.
Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Releases the Dark One, who consequently, causes the "Great Disaster".

The Five Guardian Spirits

The Guardians of Fire, Light, Earth, Wind, and Water are the spirits of nature which help Arc in his quest, but his existence gradually fades because of the villains’ actions.

But Now I Must Go: At the end of the fourth game, they all leave the human world for the spirit world for good to prevent the revival of The Dark One forever, even if it means depriving the human world of magic.
Elemental Powers: Plus Light.
Spirit Advisor: To the heroes.

Characters / Arc the Lad aka: Arc The Lad Twilight Of The Spirits

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