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| “ | "Fool! Know when to use that big gun, and on whom! You failed because you try to solve everything with force. You have muscles instead of brains."
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Kahran Ramsus, known in Japanese as Carlin Ramses (カーラン・ラムサス, kāran ramusasu), is an antagonist in Xenogears.
He is the calm, aloof head officer of Gebler and leader of the Elements. First seen with his chief lieutenant, Myyah Hawwa, his meeting with Fei Fong Wong hints at a deep connection with Fei's forgotten past.
Appearance[]
Ramsus has short white hair with fringes in each sides and amber eyes. His main appearance has him wearing a different shades of purple and white military jacket with a green gem in the center, gray pants with an orange belt and white boots.
When he had a nightmare about Id and his Gear while he was sleeping with Myyah Hawwa, he only wears a pair of black briefs.
In his youth as the wind element, Ramsus wears a black and orange suit with the green gem at the center.
Personality[]
Ramsus is a proud, stoic, professional soldier whose abilities surpass any in Solaris. Despite this, Ramsus suffers from a crippling inferiority complex, something Myyah and Karellen continually use to manipulate him throughout his life.
Born to assume a role that was usurped by Fei Fong Wong, Ramsus feels trapped in Fei's shadow, and as long as Fei exists, Ramsus is merely an artificial lifeform with no place in the world. His attempts to prove he is neither trash or useless fuel most of his decisions, even to the detriment of losing what he has gained.
Rising from the depths of Solaris's refuse pile, Ramsus takes pride in his grueling climb to his position as a member of the first iteration of the Elements, alongside Hyuga, Sigurd, and Jessiah. However, Sigurd and Jessiah's subsequent desertions opened old wounds, heightening his distrust of others.[1]
While Ramsus displays many of the same traits many in Solaris have, his policies in regards to hierarchy are based on abilities, rather than class, an ideal shared by the Jugend Military Academy where he was taught. To this end, he is and was well-respected by many. However, as Citan later explained, Ramsus's ideal of society based on merit merely shifted a society based on class to one of skill, something which made Citan grow disillusioned with him.[2]
Following the same tradition that was set when he was an Element, Ramsus recruited what he thought were the best operatives for a new generation of Elements, all based on their abilities, each of whom are deeply loyal to him. As Ramsus's obsession with Fei grows deeper and darker, however, many, like the Elements, find it completely at odds with the man they knew before and grow concerned for his well-being.
Biography[]
Karellen and Myyah discuss Ramsus's fate.
Created in 9975, Ramsus is a clone of Emperor Cain, created by Karellen with the cooperation of Myyah Hawwa using Cain's DNA. His main purpose was to eventually assassinate Cain, who had become a hindrence to Karellen and the Gazel Ministry.[3]
In 9985, Myyah contacted Karellen and told him to abandon the ten year old Ramsus because she already found the Contact: her current incarnation's young son, Fei Fong Wong. Ramsus was subsequently abandoned in a pile of refuse before he could reach his second stage of growth and gain a human form.[1]
Instead, the ten year old Ramsus killed a lost fifteen year old second level civilian named Kahran Bekker and fused with him. Soraya Saga's short story "Dark Summer" details Ramsus's uneasy settling into the identity of his new body, his enmeshed memories, and how his adjustments were noted by Bekker's parents.
Kahran Ramsus as the Wind Element.
When Kahran Bekker's parents eventually passed away, Ramsus changed his name in the Solaris register, becoming Kahran Ramsus, and then entered Jugend Military Academy.[4] Soon after enrolling, Ramsus also met a young woman whose name he didn't learn, who would go on to become the penultimate incarnation of Myyah a month after they met.[5][1]
Halfway through 9985, Hyuga Ricdeau and Sigurd Harcourt entered Jugend with Kahran Ramsus's recommendation. Joined by longtime Jugend student Jessie Black, they became the first iteration of the Elements in 9986, with Ramsus serving as the Wind Element. Which each coming from different tiers of Solaris society, Ramsus's high ideals gained the admiration of his fellow colleagues, who looked to him as a possible source for change in Solaris's class system[6].
The first blow to the Elements soon came in 9987. A month after Minister Shakhan carried a coup d'etat in Aveh, Sigurd deserted Solaris and went to the surface, intent on rescuring his half-brother, Bart. The second blow came a few years later in 9990, when Jesiah fled with his family. Myyah was temporarily given a position as one of the Elements, before Ramsus gave her a position as a Guardian Angel, as well his personal supporting officer.[7]
In 9993, Ramsus was sent to Elru to quell the first stirrings of rebellion. There, he had a nearly fatal encounter with a twelve year old Id, who went on to destroy the Gebler Corp, as well as all of Elru.
Later, Ramsus found an orphan in the ruins of Elru, Dominia Yizkor, and became her sponsor. They returned to Solaris and he enrolled her at Jugend. Around this time, he also saved Seraphita from being processed at a Soylent facility, and became the sponsor of Kelvena in Jugend despite her third-class status. These three, and Tolone, would later become his elite force, the second iteration of the Elements.
Xenogears[]
| “ | He looks... completely different... and there's no response. Is it just my imagination? But that technique was indeed his... What's more... the name Fei... Where have I...
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” |
Kahran Ramsus first appears when his Gebler aerial battleship docks at Bledavik. Shakhan compliments Ramsus' victory over Kislev units. Ramsus ignores him and instead berates Vanderkam. Ramsus, Myyah, and Shakhan then go to Fatima Castle, where Ramsus asks Shakhan about the Fatima Jasper. Shakhan replies that the kidnapped Marguerite "Margie" Fatima has not revealed its location. Ramsus takes Myyah with him to question Margie, and politely asks her about the Fatima Jasper, but Margie does not give him any useful information.
As the Bledavik Tournament begins, Ramsus and Myyah encounter Shakhan again. A bored Ramsus says that he does not have time "for such gay revelry" leaves without Myyah, who decides to watch the tournament.
As Bart attempts to rescue Margie, he is intercepted by Ramsus and Myyah. The four fight until Fei appears. As they battle, Fei's name and technique remind Ramsus of someone from his past. Fei, Bart, and Margie run into an elevator and escape. Ramsus intends to pursue them in his Gear, but changes his plans after receiving a message from Hyuga Ricdeau. That night, Ramsus dreams about a red-haired man who destroys his army. He is terrified when he awakens, but he tells Myyah that it was nothing, and leaves the room.
Soon afterward, Ramsus ambushes the Yggdrasil. Knowing that his "old friend" Sigurd from Solaris is aboard, Ramsus ceases fire and orders their surrender. When they refuse to surrender, Ramsus reluctantly resumes the attack. At this point, however, a powerful red Gear appears. Ramsus identifies it as the 'Demon of Elru' and immediately goes to his Gear, Wyvern, in order to challenge it. The red Gear easily demolishes Ramsus' Gear, causing Myyah to rescue Ramsus and retreat. Later, Grahf appears and informs Ramsus that Fei is on the Goliath airship. Ramsus ignores his obligation to excavate the Anima Relics and angrily orders an attack. Aside, Myyah says to Grahf, "He's the very meaning of Kahr's existence."
After Bart accidentally shoots down the Goliath, Fei is saved by the Thames. Myyah informs Ramsus, and he changes course. When they arrive, Ramsus and Myyah encounter Fei underwater. Ramsus calls Fei his "archrival" and asks, "What happened to your other Gear!?" Ramsus severely injures Fei and nearly drowns him, but Elehayym Van Houten attacks Ramsus' Gear with Aerods, forcing Ramsus and Myyah to retreat.
After Fei recovers and goes to Babel Tower, Ramsus and Myyah attack in their Gears again. After Ramsus is wounded, Shevat appears and attacks Ramsus' ship, forcing another retreat. Ramsus reports to the Ezekiel, where the Gazel Ministry degrades him. They point out his various failures and call him "trash." Despite his wounds, Ramsus is determined to prove his worth to the Ministry and defeat Fei.
When Elly is taken to Karellen's laboratory, Ramsus shows up and demands to know where Fei is. After ranting about Fei, Ramsus takes a mental stabilizer and leaves without getting an answer from Elly. Ramsus then encounters Citan. Disappointed, Ramsus says that Citan betrayed him. When Citan says that he chose to side with Fei, Ramsus becomes enraged, and says that anyone who sides with Fei is his enemy. When Ramsus again fails to defeat Fei, Karellen aligns Ramsus' Gear with an Anima Relic and sends him after Fei. While Ramsus is in his Gear, Karellen contacts him and tells him that he wants Elly. Ramsus finds Fei and demands Elly. After realizing that his new Gear is more powerful then Fei's, however, Ramsus ignores his orders to get Elly, even when Fei and Elly surrender. Instead, Ramsus continues to assault Fei. Fei's Gear crashes in the forest, and Ramsus leaves satisfied.
When Fei leaves the woods, he encounters Ramsus again. Since Melchior and Isaac Balthasar upgraded Fei's Gear to be able to use System Id, Fei wins the battle. Ramsus then launches an assault on Nisan in order to find Fei again. Finding Elly instead, Ramsus grabs her in his Gear's fist and threatens to crush her in order to lure Fei out, but is stopped by Renk. Elly then asks why he is so fixated on Fei. Ramsus tells his story:
I was created to have the powers equivalent to those of Emperor Cain. You could say I was to be the ideal form which all people strive to become... However... once Fei was born... I was... rejected... I was given life in a pile of trash... Born in the dark, cold abyss of worthlessness... But I was able to crawl out of there! I was able to survive on my own strength! In order to get back at all those who have forsaken me! Despite all of that, I was able to get this far! I was able to provide myself with the warmth that I required to continue living! But, he had to come back and intervene in my life one more time! He tried to take away from me again! As long as he exists... I don't belong anywhere...
Back in Solaris, Ramsus laments his ineffectiveness in front of the Gazel Ministry, Karellen, and Myyah. Karellen and Myyah convince him that he needs to kill Cain in order to obtain all of the divided power. Ramsus proceeds to decapitate Cain. Ramsus is unaware that he was being manipulated by Karellen. Ramsus, a clone of Cain, was the only one who could assassinate Cain.
Ramsus attempts to kill Myyah and Karellen, but fails.
In Merkava, Ramsus challenges Fei once again. This time, he explains his past to Fei. He says that he was created in Karellen's lab in order to be a superior being and artificial contact. Karen Wong, however, informed Karellen that her son, Fei, would be a true contact. Karellen considered Ramsus worthless, and trashed him. In the ensuing battle, Fei defeats Ramsus again. Fei's party encounters Karellen and Myyah at Deus, but Ramsus catches up to them. Myyah tells Ramsus that his only purpose was to kill Cain. He angrily slashes Myyah and Karellen with his sword, seemingly killing both of them. Karellen, however, quickly regenerates via his nanomachines, and Myyah awakens in her last incarnation: Elly.
The party rescue Ramsus and the Elements as they flee Merkava. In the infirmary, a broken Ramsus debases himself with insults. Slapping his former colleague, Citan forces Ramsus to look at the Elements and tells him that he can pity himself all he wants, but every insult he throws at himself, he throws at them for continuing to believe in him and see the good in him. Ramsus, forced to see the Elements beyond the shadow of Fei's existence, realizes that the acceptance he yearned for had been close to him all this time.
Later, as Citan recounts this story to Fei with Zephyr, Fei resolves that, when his battle is over, he will fight Ramsus one on one "in sport". Zephyr comments that Ramsus likely desires the same.
Gameplay[]
Xenogears - Ramsus & Miang (Boss)
Fei and Bart fight Myyah and Ramsus.
In boss battles, Ramsus is fought twice along with Myyah against Bart and Margie who assists him and later being aided by Fei.
Ramsus is an excellent swordsman who wields a sword in certain battles. His basic attack is to slash his opponent three times with a stab and two slashes. After being defeated by Bart, Fei arrives to knock him down with his Raijin. Ramsus has a unique ability called the Mirror Stance where he protects himself to raise both attack and defense within that stance. During that stance, if his opponent attacks him, he will make a counterattack with the same attack as before but the damage he gives them deals enough extensive damage to make his opponent fall. His sword play rivals Dominia in terms of gameplay.
In Gear battles, his Gear, Wyvern and his Omnigear, Vendetta are wielding the sword. Vendetta uses its bare fists to slash its opponent like its own sword. His sword fight is based on Iaido as a contrast to Citan's Iaido fighting style with the pilot himself and his Omnigear, Fenrir. His sword style heavily relies on the two-handed style where it can charge itself and hit its opponent with one heavy slash. When using his Omnigear, his attacks has a drastic change and fights similarly to the pilot, Ramsus himself as a previous boss character who can slash his opponent with three slashes with his own hands-like sword and also to counterattack its opponent when being attacked. It has a skill called Blaze Rose to amass from power to attack which it builds up to make his powerful signature ether magic, Megaflare for an extensive damage. This ability is demonstrated where he destroys Weltall and also severely injures both Fei and Elly inside the Gear before being rebuilt as Weltall-2.
His other Gear, Amphysvena, is Karellen's Omnigear. It can fight in barefists but has a wave ability to put its opponents' HP into 1 and make its opponents' status down. Its basic attack shoots a projectile to its opponent, but can counter them with the same attack while being attacked.
Artificial Contact[]
Ramsus was meant to be an artificial Contact and a clone of Cain, but neither experiment was fully successful. Ramsus does not exhibit the powers of a Contact, nor the full abilities of the emperor. However, he possesses the ability to pilot any Omnigear he desires, in other words, the ability to align with any of the Anima Relics. He also possesses the ability to kill Cain, a power no other man, Karellen, Grahf and Id included, may reach.
Quotes[]
- ''I'm afraid I do not have time for such gay revelry.'' (Ramsus, denying Shakhan's invite to the Aveh fighting tournament)
Etymology[]
Ramses is a variant of the name Ramesses, which was given in English transliteration to a number of Egyptian pharaohs.
Trivia[]
- Perfect Works notes that his appearance is a mixture of two people: Emperor Cain, and Kahran Bekker.[1]
Gallery[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Perfect Works, pg. 176.
- ↑ Citan: "Yes, I certainly thought so at first. But then I realized his way of thinking was not that much of a change from the previous system. Basically, the only difference was whether they stressed people's rank and class, or their skill. The words had changed, but it was still no different from what Solaris itself had been doing until then. He had no intentions of bringing everyone a better way of life."
- ↑ Perfect Works, pg. 174.
- ↑ Perfect Works, pg. 204-205.
- ↑ Perfect Works, pg. 17.
- ↑ CITAN: "At that time, Ramsus was our hope. He had high ideals and wanted to change the system in Solaris. To us test subjects and lower level citizens, he was truly all that we wished for."
- ↑ Perfect Works, pg. 166.