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"Sophia... Please guide me... I will destroy all false pretenses of love, for you...

Karellen (カレルレン, kareruren), known as Krelian in the English localization, is a major antagonist in Xenogears, ruling along the likes of Cain over the nation of Solaris.

Using the power of science and technology, such as nanomachines, Karellen retains the appearance and health of a young man, but speaks and acts like a man wise beyond his years.

Personality[]

Before Karellen met Sophia, he was known for his ruthless and cold demeanor as a mercenary.[1] However, when meeting a young Sophia, who thanked him for coming to kill her, he turned against his country and his orders, choosing instead to flee with her.

Due to Sophia's lack of fear of him, Karellen remained Sophia's loyal protector and supporter, staying by her side while in hiding and after she returned to become the reformed Nisan Orthodoxy's new Mother.[2]

It was due to Sophia's influence that Karellen developed a peace of mind, and "how to live as a human."[3] Sophia also encouraged Karellen to begin reading, which "sparked [his] interest in studying", and in turn, him receiving tutelage under Melchior.[4] Later in the conversation, Lacan teased Karellen about how the "art of war was all [he] thought about".

After Sophia's death, Karellen lost his faith, and vowed to create a true deity at any cost.[5] As he learned more, his goal shifted turns freeing humanity from its imperfect 'love' and return all to waves, where it can be one with the Wave Existence.[6]

Biography[]

BlueHair

Blue-haired Karellen as the leader of the Nimrod-Nisan army.

Karellen was born in 9465 in the country of Nimrod, which at that time was the second largest country on the surface. His mother Eleazar, who was unmarried when he was born, died of an unknown cause later that year.

As a young man, Karellen enters Nimrod's Laodicea Mercenaries, eventually becoming their leader by his early 20s.[7] He became known for his military prowess and cold-hearted demeanor.[2][1]

In 9488, the age of 23, Karellen was tasked by the Emperor of Nimrod, Kusel Laodicea, to lead a team to kill the chosen candidate for the Nisan Mother, the 13 year old Sophia. With his team, they slayed more than half the Penuel faction[8], after which Karellen went to assassinate Sophia. However, after she thanked him for coming to kill her, he found himself unable to do the task, and instead disobeyed his orders to flee with Sophia.

Karellen briefly met with Lacan during a localized uprising against Solaris.[9][10]

In 9495, after the Nisan Sect splintered and King Kusel was assassinated, Karellen and Sophia returned along with Jacqueline, Penuel's niece, who reunited the split factions of the Nisan Sect to become the Nisan Orthodoxy, with Sophia serving as the Mother. Karellen became the leader of the Monastery Corps.[1]

Xenogears_-_42_-_The_Story_of_500_Years_Ago,_Part_Three

Xenogears - 42 - The Story of 500 Years Ago, Part Three

Sophia's last moments

In 9496, the Shevat-Solaris War between Solaris and the Lambs began. Nisan was initially neutral in the war, but was quickly drawn in as refugees fled to them.[11]

At some point in time during this, Karellen studied under Taura Melchior. Coming across a copy of Kim's incomplete research report, Karellen developed an interest in nanotechnology.

In 9499, Karellen urges Lacan to paint Sophia's portrait.

As Sophia became reacquainted with her childhood friend, Lacan, Karellen struggled with his feelings, as both he and Lacan loved Sophia. However, Sophia seemed to have more feelings towards Lacan. This, combined with Lacan's inability to accept her feelings due to his own fears, frustrated Karellen.[12]

CreateGod

Karellen vows to create God.

At the end of the war in 9500, Sophia sacrificed herself while helping clear a route for allies to escape. Her death devastated Karellen. In his grief, while questioning the existence of God, he remembered Sophia's words--that faith in God should not be sought externally, but rather that it comes from within. Misunderstanding her meaning, he resolves that if God does not exist, he would create Him with his own hands--an effort he would come to call Project Noah.

In 9501, the Diabolos Collapse occurred due to Lacan becoming Grahf, wiping out almost all of humanity. The loss of his friend strengthened Karellen's resolve to fulfill Project Noah.

At an unknown point in time, Karellen met Myyah Hawwa, and she told him about the truth of the many mysteries of the world. She told him about Deus, and he agreed to join her mission to revive Deus.

In 9506, Karellen met Cain, the Emperor of Solaris. Due to Karellen's knowledge of nanotechnology, Karellen made himself quite useful to the Emperor, although Cain would eventually become a hindrance in his mission. Later that year, Karellen successfully revived eight of the Gazel Ministers as computer data in the SOL-9000. Due to his vast knowledge and skills, Karellen quickly became the most powerful and important person in Solaris, even more so than the Emperor and Gazel Ministry.

In 9511, realizing Deus' resurrection would not occur for several hundred more years, Karellen used nanotechnology to permanently extend the life of not only himself, but also Queen Zephyr and the three Shevat sages: Gaspar Uzuki, Taura Melchior and Isaac Balthasar. Karellen did this as punishment for Shevat's indirect hand in Sophia's death.

In 9698, the surviving upper tiers of Solaris needed to collect resources and labor from the surface for rebuilding their nation. However, with the memory of the Shevat-Solaris War still fresh in surface-dwellers' minds, Solaris was afraid of sparking another war.[13][14]

To protect against this, Solaris used Karellen's knowledge to create Limiters, which were dispersed into the surface dweller population. With this, the memory of the Great War was suppressed, along with people's inherent abilities. In addition, it was now easier for Emperor Cain and the Gazel Ministry to control the populace on a subconscious level.[14][15] The Limiters' seal was maintained through the food and medicine produced through the Soylent System, which was being fed to the populace.

In 9959, Karellen initiated the fifth stage of the Malakh Plan. He came into contact with Myyah's 996th incarnation.

RamsusTube

Karellen and Myyah (Karen) creating Ramsus.

In 9975, unable to locate the current incarnation of the Contact, Myyah cooperated with Karellen to clone an artificial Contact of Emperor Cain using Emperor Cain's DNA: Ramsus.

In 9985, Myyah possessed Karen Wong, Fei's mother, and alerted Karellen of the new Contact's existence. With the original Contact now in their hands, there was no need for a clone, and so, Karellen and Myyah trashed the 10 year old Ramsus.

In 9991, Karellen planned the third invasion of Shevat.

Xenogears[]

Ezekiel2

Karellen's ship, the Ezekiel.

The first mention of Karellen is by a member of the Gazel Ministry, who says that Karellen is going to Aquvy in order to intercept the Thames, which had discovered the ruins of Zeboim. Karellen's interest is not in the ruins themselves, but in "Zeboim's legacy": nanotechnology, something the Ethos kept secret. The Gazel Ministry question Karellen's motives, with one stating "[t]here are times when even we do not know what he is thinking."

Soon afterward, Karellen makes his first appearance in the game, aboard the Solaris ship Ezekiel. After the Ezekiel fires upon the Thames fleet, Karellen orders the crew to use his test subjects, the Wels, "for retrieval and elimination".

Later, some of the party arrives in Zeboim and discover Emeralda, but Bishop Stone arrives on behalf of Karellen, stating "if Karellen uses the nanomachine colony, at least we can save some chosen people." As the party battles with Id, who also wants Emeralda, Stone escapes with Emeralda.

Karellen is later seen reporting to the Gazel Ministry that he has obtained Emeralda; he also reminds the Ministry that he revived them and will not take orders from them. In a later meeting with the Gazel, Karellen announces that he has gathered all the data that he needs from Emeralda, and so he does not care what happens to it.

Karellen is next seen using one of his clones of Emperor Cain, in order to speak to the people of Solaris. At this point, Elehayym Van Houten reveals a key plot point to Fei Fong Wong: Karellen is the real leader of Solaris. Fei suddenly blacks out and remembers his previous incarnation, Lacan, speaking with Karellen in Nisan 500 years ago. Karellen begins mentioning something about saving people's lives, especially Sophia's, but at that point Fei awakens.

KarellenElly

"Elehayym, you are beautiful. When I look at you, I appreciate the artistic aspect of the human form, its elaborateness... I can't help but feel the importance of that. As if my molecular machine is unworthy of you."

Fei and Elly enter Karellen's laboratory in an effort to rescue the rest of their party, but Karellen captures them as well. Karellen discovers that Elly has the 'Urobolus Ring' and is the 'Mother.' He also calls Elly "beautiful" and says that she has not changed "since then." After Karellen exits, however, Citan Uzuki helps the party, including Elly, escape.

Back on the Ezekiel, Karellen again speaks with the Gazel Ministry. He says that he has sent Ramsus to handle Fei. When a Minister questions Karellen about his amicable past with Lacan, Karellen responds, "I've thrown away all feelings of human emotion. All I need is her." Karellen then contacts Ramsus and tells him to retrieve Elly, but Ramsus ignores these orders, since he is only concerned with defeating Fei.

Karellen appears in another discussion with the Gazel Ministry. Here, he reinforces the importance of Elly to him, but also says that since he can get her any time, it does not have to be now.

Presumably, this delay is because of Karellen's conspiracy against Cain. The Gazel Ministry states that Cain "dares to go against our objectives." After the Ministry harasses Ramsus by calling him "worthless" for the last time, Karellen initiates his plan. He tells Ramsus—Karellen's creation who is able to kill Cain—that Cain's existence divides Ramsus' power. Ramsus, desperate for more power in order to defeat Fei, complies with Karellen's orders. In a key statement, Karellen tells Cain, "I try to lead the people 'in my own way.'" Ramsus then successfully assassinates Cain.

After Cain's death, the Gazel Ministry uses the Gaetia Key in order to make Mahanon rise from under the sea. In Mahanon, Fei and his party discover Razael's Tree, but Karellen appears and takes it, along with Deus. With Grahf's help, Karellen captures the party; Karellen needs them as bait in order to lure Elly to him. Karellen takes the party to Golgoda and crucifies them.

Elly goes alone to Golgoda. Karellen offers to let the rest of the party live if Elly can defeat two Gears. She does so, and Karellen keeps his promise. Karellen then returns to the Ezekiel after announcing that he is going to take Elly with him.

On the Ezekiel, Karellen meets once more with the Gazel Ministry. At this point, Karellen betrays them, claiming that since they have activated the Gaetia Key, he no longer needs them. While he is erasing them, he strongly rejects their claim that they could have become god, stating that humans can only entrust themselves to god.

Karellen then constructs the Ark of Merkava by using his knowledge of nanotechnology and Razael's Tree and takes Deus and Elly with him. While Fei and the party attempt to rescue Elly in Merkava, they meet up with Ramsus. At this point, a flashback shows that Karellen created Ramsus as an artificial Contact, but discarded him after learning from Myyah Hawwa that the true Contact, Fei, was born.

XenoGraph

Ramsus attempts to kill Myyah and Karellen.

In front of Deus's massive form, the party finds Karellen and Myyah waiting for them, as well as an unconscious Elly, bound on a cross. Karellan explains that Elly, as the Mother, must be sacrificed in order to revive Deus.

Ramsus then appears, questioning his purpose in life, and is taunted by Myyah and Karellen. Ramsus, realizing he had been used, kills her and Karellen. As she collapses, Myyah remarks that, as she couldn't kill herself, this was the only way she could die. Meanwhile, due to Karellen's body being mostly composed of nanomachines, he quickly revives.

As planned, Elly becomes the next incarnation of Myyah, and shoots Fei as soon as he freed her. After revealing the truth about Deus's nature and its coming plans for humanity, the 'Last Myyah' is reabsorbed into Deus, in order to serve as the main protocol to Kadomony.[16] The party is forced to retreat as Merkava raises into the sky.

Karellen, having also been absorbed by Deus, does not appear again (minus flashbacks) until after Deus is defeated by Fei's party, Fei, in the Xenogears, pursues after Elly's signal into a rift high in the atmosphere.

Inside, Karellen confronts Fei, asking why he is so attached to all the imperfections of human existence that he would prefer it over reverting everything back to when it all began, when all was one in the realm of God.[6] Because humans live in an imperfect state, unable to have true free will or to be able to love without loss, Karellen wants to revert everything to the perfect, unified state of waves, filled with the love of god.

Final_Boss_Urobolus_-_Xenogears

Final Boss Urobolus - Xenogears

Karellen pits Fei in Xenogears against Urobolus.

Fei rejects Karellen's ideology, stating that humanity's imperfections meant they had to help each other in order to live, which led to mutual understanding. Perfection is not needed for love to exist, and Fei understands this through Elly and her actions. He argues that Elly is trying to heal Karellen's heart, and that Karellen doesn't need to "become one with god" in order to understand her love.

Karellen challenges Fei, telling him to prove this love that could make him independent of God, and calls forth Urobolus, a gigantic serpent-like being, bearing the last visage of Myyah. Xenogears appears, and Fei phases into it, using it to defeat Urobolus.

After Fei defeats Urobolus, Elly appears, revealing that Karellen willingly released her. She tells Fei that Karellen was deeply saddened by Sophia's death and, despite knowing the weight of his actions, he felt he had to go forward for humanity's sake.[17]

I_envy_you_two

I envy you two

Karellen moves on to "walk with God".

Karellen appears again after Fei almost sacrifices himself to save Elly in the dimensional rift. Karellen says that now that there is no more god, this is now their planet. He then reveals that won't he be returning with them, as he can no longer live as an ordinary human after everything he has done. When Fei begs for Karellen to reconsider, Karellen smiles sadly and replies that he has chosen to "walk with god" by following the Wave Existence back to its higher dimension, via the Path of Sephirot.

Karellen turns away and sheds a tear as two glowing wings bloom on his shoulders. Before he disappears, he says, "Actually, I envy you two."

After the end of the credits, a golden feather is seen falling over the Kadomony's stasis pod, echoing the feathers that sprouted from Karellen's back.

Quotes[]

  • "Even so, there was a time when I did some pretty vicious things... I lashed out at random... Everyone around me feared me... Even my friends. I lived a life surrounded by people who looked at me with fear in their eyes. But she was the only one who wasn't afraid of me. She would just smile. Peace of mind... She was the one who taught me what that was and how I could receive it... She taught me how to live as a human..." (in a flashback)
  • "We were sacrificed as pawns... In order to protect their own authority... Sophia was... Is this the ideal world we've been searching for? What have we been doing? Heading toward Sophia's ideals? Is this our salvation? This isn't fair... Sophia was sacrificed... for those bastards... Sophia said, if you just have faith the path to what you hope for will open." (in a flashback)
  • "What may be an eternity to man is a moment for god. I have no need for hesitation."
  • "I see... So you've seen the research facility. Presently, the Solaris researchers are working on genetic engineering down there. It's just a nest for fools who've learned the despicable pleasure of... ...playing with their own organic creations. They seek only serendipity and inhumanity. That is not my place. I specialize in molecular engineering... Nanotechnology."
  • "Elehayym, you are beautiful. When I look at you, I appreciate the artistic aspect of the human form, its elaborateness... I can't help but feel the importance of that. As if my molecular machine is unworthy of you. You haven't changed 'since then'. Just like the 'other one', Lacan..."
  • "I've thrown away all feelings of human emotion. All I need is her."
  • "God? Who said you'd be God? What impertinence! We are humans. We were created to be terminal interfaces of God. It is the same for you, who were once humans. Man cannot become God. We can only entrust ourselves to God." (to Gazel Ministry)
  • "Yes. It is indeed time for the resurrection of god."
  • "Lacan... Why such reluctance to become one with the god? What attachment could you possibly have to this wretched old world? What meaning can be found in living out such a short existence... hurting others, hurting yourself, grinding one another down... only to inevitably die and return to dust?"
  • "For someone to gain something means another must lose it... It is impossible to make humankind share limited "things" and "affections"... So I came to the conclusion that everything must be reverted back to where it all began. To go back to when all was one... waves, and nothing else... It is not my -Human's- ego... It is the will of the 'Waves' ...the will of -god-..."
  • "Show me this power of humans! Show me this -love- that you say can make you independent of god..."
    KrelianWeeps

    Karellen weeps.

  • "Now there is no more god. This is no longer their planet, this is your home planet that you are now standing on."
  • "Since that time, I have stopped being human. I have committed so many sins that any attempt at living as a human is impossible. The only one who could have forgiven me is..."
  • "Always the peacemaker, eh Lacan? But, regardless, I cannot go. It is something I have already decided. I'm going to walk with god, even if there is no place left for me upon my return."

Trivia[]

BlueHair

Blue-haired Karellen in Nisan flashbacks.

  • Karellen, understandably, calls Fei "Lacan" and not "Fei", and also does the same with Grahf.
  • In his final scene, Karellen says, "The only one who could have forgiven me is God." From the English dub it isn't clear if the final word is "God" or "gone," but in the Japanese version, he says god (神, kami).
  • During the game, Karellen appears with blonde-colored hair. In the Nisan flashback scenes, however, he has midnight blue-colored hair. The hair color change is never explained in the game or in Perfect Works.
  • The name Karellen is a reference to a character in Arthur C. Clarke's novel, Childhood's End. In their respective stories, both characters take it upon themselves to serve as a guiding force for all of humanity, with the intention of helping it to evolve to a higher form. Coincidentally, the author and Karellen's English voice actor both share the surname of Clarke.
  • Karellen's ultimate goals and final plans bear a striking resemblance to the theological idea of apocatastasis.
  • He shares many traits and parallels with Xenosaga antagonist Wilhelm.
  • Karellen also has many similarities with the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 character Amalthus.
  • Due to the gap in age, how they grew up together, and other factors, Karellen and Sophia's relationship is similar to Lora and Jin from Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
  • The English and Japanese voice actors for Karellen (Cam Clarke and Ryotaro Okiayu) would both later go on to voice Aoi Rokusho in Naruto.

Gallery[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Perfect Works, pg. 173.
  2. 2.0 2.1 KRELIAN: "Even so, there was a time when I did some pretty vicious things. I lashed out at random... Everyone around me feared me... Even my friends. I lived a life surrounded by people who looked at me with fear in their eyes. But she was the only one who wasn't afraid of me. She would just smile."
  3. KARELLEN: "Peace of mind... She was the one who taught me what that was and how I could receive it... She taught me how to live as a human..."
  4. KRELIAN: "Sophia told me the best way to calm the heart is to read a book... It's a good opportunity. And it has sparked my interest in studying."
  5. ZEPHYR: "Krelian, who followed closely under her as the leader of the Nisan sect's militia, completely lost faith after calling out to a god that would not respond. "I will create god with my own hands!" ... were the last words he uttered before he disappeared."
  6. 6.0 6.1 KRELIAN: How can you be so sure? Humans will never come to understand each other. 'You said that she is the person you love. But can you say that you even truly understand each other? All humans do is place themselves at a comfortable distance from each other and call that 'mutual understanding', 'spiritual unity', or 'true love'... but it is all lies! Man cannot associate with others without first deceiving themselves. That is the way that they were created. FEI: But one being's ego can't determine everyone's fate! People have the right to choose their own destiny! That is why humans have free will! KRELIAN: And what if that 'will' itself was predetermined? What then? Oh, what folly!? Humans are just primitive life forms that have no such things as free will... Mankind has merely been allowed to live in an imperfect state... "as is", "as will be"... It is for this very reason... because humans have this wretched 'will' or whatnot... that humans must experience sadness and loss. For someone to gain something means another must lose it... It is impossible to make humankind share limited "things" and "affections"... So I came to the conclusion that everything must be reverted back to where it all began. To go back to when all was one... waves, and nothing else... It is not my -Human's- ego... It is the will of the 'Waves'... the will of -god-...
  7. Perfect Works, pg 172.
  8. Perfect Works, pg. 165.
  9. Perfect Works, pg. 159.
  10. Perfect Works, pg. 15.
  11. Perfect Works, pg. 22.
  12. KRELIAN: "You're just running away! You can't bear it when she smiles at you. By painting her portrait, you noticed the gap between your own inner emptiness and her inner abundance. And you could not fill that gap... That's why you are quitting your painting. You are refusing her! Even so, you still can't bring yourself to leave her, can you? In spite of that... why is it that she continues to smile at you? You who can't accept her feelings... You who won't accept her feelings... Tell me why!? If it was me... who was receiving... such feelings..."
  13. Perfect Works, pg 16.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Perfect Works, pg 26.
  15. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :1
  16. Perfect Works, pg. 170.
  17. ELLY: "Fei... It was Krelian... Krelian released me..." FEI: "Krelian...?" ELLY: "Yes. I came to understand after becoming one with Krelian... His heart was so full of sadness. That is why he desired for he and I to become one with god... Because that would be the return to the beginning of everything... He told me... "You should be with him..." That is what he said... You see... He already knew! Yes, he already knew... how I felt, how you felt... But there was nothing we or he could do... He had no choice but to go forward... even if it meant he lost all feelings, lost everything that was human! For all humankind's sake... There was no going back... Even looking back held too many memories... And he would have... just wanted to go back... Even though he couldn't... So please forgive him... Krelian loved people more than anyone else..." FEI: "I... I, somehow... knew it all along... I just knew he was really that kind of person..."
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