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“ | "The people of this world have cast away their will to create, drowning themselves instead in an endless cycle of consumption. What you see now is the deceitful light cast by their stagnant eyes. The people you've encountered in your lifetime are not people at all. They're less than human – mere sacks of flesh and bone. Only upon the realization of self-will, can a person truly be called a man."
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Margulis (マーグリス, Māgurisu) is one of the main recurring antagonists in Xenosaga. Very little is initially known about him aside from the fact that he pursues the Y-Data hidden in MOMO Mizrahi's subconscious, he wields a sword with spiritual abilities, and that he is commander of the U-TIC Organization. His associates are his second-in-command, Pellegri, Andrew Cherenkov, a misfit Super Soldier variant, U-TIC scientist Sellers, and the rogue U.R.T.V. Albedo Piazzolla.
Personality[]
Margulis is a stern, fervent warrior who is adept at swordfighting.
The Chief Inquisitor of the secret society Ormus, Margulis feels his purpose is helping achieve Ormus's original goal, which was to return to Lost Jerusalem.[1] Because of this, he views Sergius XVII to be a petty and foolish old man who has lost sight of Ormus's intended purpose. In contrast, Margulis believes Heinlein feels the same as him and follows his orders unquestioningly because of it.
Margulis believes that "only upon the realization of self-will, can a person truly be called a man." To him, a man who doesn't change the world, leave behind an impact and a legacy, is not a real man, but just a dispensable number in an overpopulated world, fated to disappear from history. To Margulis, those who lack will aren't people. They "look" human, have human faces, and speak the same language, but in his eyes, they're "mere sacks of flesh and bone", with little to no will of their own.
By the time of Xenosaga, Margulis feels that the vast majority of humanity has a "consumer" mindset of endless consumption, rather than creativity and creation. Most people lack the will to change the world, and instead, merely accept it for the way it is with complacency and condonation.
With the development of Episode II, Margulis' role is increased. Both forceful and arrogant, he cares little for the lives of those sacrificed by his actions, whether civilians or his own operatives. At one point, Margulis taunts Jr. by casually referencing the deaths of 1.5 billion during the Ariadne Incident, calling them "weed-like" and "arguably even more worthless" than the Gnosis.[2]
In Episode III, it is revealed that he has a black-plated E.S. Levi, with a large broadsword and two wing-like drones.
When confronted with the truth of Ormus and Heinlein's true identity as Wilhelm, Margulis felt that those who died without knowing the truth were happier for it. However, for him, there was no chance for him to deny the person he was, or try a different path in life. To that end, he persists, in order to justify his own reasons and life.[1][3]
Background[]
Michtam[]
Born a member of planet Michtam's people of Zohar, he resented the Galaxy Federation for its destruction of his homeland in T.C. 4747 when he was around 24 years old.
At at unknown point in time, Margulis pledged loyalty to Cardinal Heinlein and Ormus in hopes of fulfilling the people of Zohar's greatest wish: a return to the holy motherland of Lost Jerusalem.
"Betrayal" of Ouga Uzuki[]
Both Margulis and Jin Uzuki were actually taught by Jin's grandfather, Ouga Uzuki, in the ways of martial arts, swordplay, and Ether manipulation. Jin claims that Margulis "betrayed" his grandfather, but what he meant by that is not explicitly known. Either way, Margulis' betrayal is one of the major driving forces behind Jin's pursuit of Margulis and, ultimately, Ormus and the mystery behind the Miltian Conflict and the Zohar.
Miltian Conflict[]
During the Miltian Conflict on Miltia, 14 years before the events of Xenosaga Episode I, Margulis was a double agent serving as a Colonel in the Federation Military and working for U-TIC and the Ormus Society at the same time. Margulis tried to start up the sealed Zohar, but the reason for this has not been recorded.
One of the soldiers under his command, Jin Uzuki, Shion Uzuki's older brother, had discovered his treachery and was going to use the Y-Data to reveal his and his superiors' dealings to the proper authority. Before he could do that, Margulis confronted Jin and the two engaged in a heated sword fight which resulted in Jin giving Margulis the sword scar that appears on his face in the game's present-day timeframe.
Albedo was saved by Kirschwassers who took him on the Song of Nephilim, shortly after he turned on Jr. and Gaignun at Labyrinthos. He was found there by Sellers and his U-TIC Organization personnel, who were preparing to abandon Miltia using the Song as a giant lifeboat. After that, Albedo was taken in by Ormus and placed under Margulis' jurisdiction most likely.[citation needed]
Intermission of 14 years and Andrew Cherenkov[]
U-TIC was not entirely erased. It was reformed by Margulis and went into a long period of dormancy.
Margulis found out about Cherenkov and took him under his wing into the U-TIC Organization. Margulis became Cherenkov's mentor, and Cherenkov found a sense of purpose in Margulis.
Margulis told Cherenkov that he saw the failures of Cherenkov's repeated personality reconditionings as proof that Cherenkov "refused to succumb" to a civilization of people Margulis viewed as stagnant and "less than human".
One of Cherenkov's first missions was to steal the KOS-MOS Archetype, an android being developed by Vector Industries. Cherenkov was given a remote control device by Kevin Winnicot. Being only partially complete, KOS-MOS malfunctioned when Cherenkov activated her and murdered nearly all of the people in the room at time, including Kevin.
Another mission Margulis gave to Cherenkov was the Zohar Link Experiment.
Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht[]
Margulis first appears on a monitor in in a conversation with Cherenkov, both of them trying to secure and retrieve the Zohar Emulator in the Woglinde.[1]
Ziggy reaches the U-TIC headquarters, Pleroma, and rescues MOMO Mizrahi, fighting Margulis on his way out.
When Andrew Cherenkov dies in the Cathedral Ship, when Margulis receives a report of his death, he remains quiet, closing his eyes as the report ends.
As part of Plan 31 and Plan 401, Margulis deploys the 474th Special Operations Fleet, the fleet that attacked Jr. and his associates. Margulis predicted that the Kukai Foundation would take action to investigate the Woglinde incident.
Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse[]
Margulis talks with the Patriarch Sergius XVII of Ormus, explaining that Albedo Piazzolla will unlock the safeguard on the Y-Data and lead them to Old Miltia. The two also discuss Ormus operative Heinlein's motives.
After the U.R.T.V. Albedo Piazzolla stole the Y-Data from MOMO's subconscious, the U-TIC Organization and their allies, the Immigrant Fleet, made a raid on the planet Old Miltia to gain possession of the Original Zohar, now unlocked with the Y-Data.
Once there, another personal duel between Jin and Margulis ensued in Labyrinthos. Upon being defeated, he exclaimed that it would be too late to stop the plans of using the Zohar, since the Zohar was already in the possession of the Patriarch.
With Margulis' plan set in motion, he supposedly abandons the Patriarch to be killed by Shion and friends in the Omega System, so that the Patriarch would be replaced by Heinlein, and then Margulis would obtain more power. Margulis was in on this because Heinlein, Sellers, and Margulis are all connected to a project involving Hyams Group, which the Patriarch has no knowledge in.
Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra[]
At the beginning of the game, Margulis reveals that he is one of the "people of the Zohar", born on planet Michtam, also known as Abraxas, what he believes to be the birthplace of Ormus. He believes that the Immigrant Fleet's return to Michtam is a sign of the beginning of their return to Lost Jerusalem.
However, doubts begin to form in Margulis' mind when Heinlein begins issuing orders that seem to contradict Ormus' goals. For example, Heinlein orders Margulis to hold off his fleet from going to Rennes-le-Château, to abandon Omega Res Novae, and later, obtaining the original Zohar on Abel's Ark. Margulis follows these orders with a measure of reluctance right up until the end of the game when Heinlein orders the fleet to abandon Michtam.
When Margulis shows his stubborn dedication to the ideals of Ormus, "Heinlein" realizes there is no helping him. He steps forth finally and reveals his true form to his devout disciple; Wilhelm of Vector. When Wilhelm explains Ormus' true purpose to Margulis, to protect the "words of God" (Lemegeton) and the "relics of God" (The Zohar, Zarathustra, the Anima, etc) Margulis questions whether or not everything he had worked for was all in vain. He then questions his own faith before coming to terms with the fact that a return to Lost Jerusalem is indeed impossible. Wilhelm says Margulis' faith was too strong and "overly strong faith clouds the eyes." This leads to a crisis of faith and disillusionment in Margulis.
On Michtam, Margulis approaches Jin, Shion and their allies. Margulis reveals his feelings of being betrayed, feeling that "People of Zohar" are just "fools made to dance to a tune of lies". Margulis fights Jin and everyone else in the E.S. Levi one last time.
After being defeated and with his E.S. close to the point of self-destructing, Margulis stabs himself through the abdomen with his own sword, not wanting to give Jin the "satisfaction" of killing him.
Quotes[]
- "UZUKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"
- "You're going to help us out. Machines like you exist to be used. What happens to you after that, god only knows... Assuming you people even have a god, that is." (to MOMO)
- "We'd like to have a word with the man you have hidden inside of you." (to MOMO)
- "You chose to reject the false light, refused to succumb to their lies. That's why you never faltered, even after all the personality reconditioning. Long ago, man was forced to leave behind his homeland. This was brought about by the masses who extinguished the very light that drove their will. So how about it, Cherenkov? Let us rekindle the torch so that human consciousness may once again be resurrected. For our sake... and that of our god."
- "What's one-and-a-half billion people to us?" (after the destruction of Ariadne)
- "Respect? For what? Save your philanthropy for someone that cares." (to Pellegri)
- "I'll make sure you die a painful death someday, Uzuki!"
- Margulis: "Your attitude reminds me of a man I know and I don't like it. Curiosity can prove to be fatal. You would do well to remember that."
Shion: "Ha!" - "Look at the remains of a dream. The final product of human intelligence, human technology that can surpass even God. The end result of desire for forbidden power. The very definition of a nightmare."
- "I, too, was unable to rise above my human existence. It may have been I who sealed this planet into a nightmare. You could say I was pure. If I'd stopped to think for a moment, it all would have been obvious. But the word "martyrdom," seduced and clouded my eyes."
- "Uzuki, those who died with their beliefs were the happy ones. But what about me? There's nothing more pathetic than a pet who's been abandoned by his master. Lacking the strength of the wild, he merely exposes his pitiful form to the world and waits to die. But it is the same for you. Ormus, Vector, the Federation, Miltia... All of them were nothing but actors for the one objective. What does the term "People of Zohar" mean for us now? We're just fools made to dance to a tune of lies."
- "Even a fool has his pride. But after being betrayed and rejected by all I've believed in, there is still one thing left for me. You, Uzuki. My showdown with you is the only thing that will not betray me."
- "You were able to kill Pellegri. And I'm sure that you'll be able to satisfy me, as well, Jin Uzuki! As a warrior, and as a man, I will leave my mark upon the world!"
- "I'll send you all to hell!"
- "Jin, you are exceptional. But your strength means that you will always be alone in this world. You've cast aside the few people... who understood you, by your own hands. Now, there is no one left who understands you."
- "It's all right. This is my wish. I have lived to settle the score with you. At this moment, I am not going to... lose to you!"
Trivia[]
- According to Xenosaga: Official Design Materials, Margulis is classified as an Enneagram type 8, along with Albedo, Gaignun, Jr., and Virgil.
- Margulis has his own theme.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Xenosaga Episode III Official Perfect Guide, "19. Martyrs (Ormus's Truth)".
- ↑ Jr.: Do you have any idea what's gonna happen?
Margulis: Of course I do.
Margulis: The annoying Gnosis, as well as a few pathetic, weed-like humans, who are arguably even more worthless than the Gnosis, are going to disappear.
Margulis: Just like Ariadne. - ↑ Xenosaga Perfect Guide, <<The Religious Group's Reason for Existence>>.