GetBackers - Ginji Amano

 

Ginji Amano

Voiced by: Showtaro Morikubo (as an adult), Ryōko Shiraishi (as a child) (Japanese); J. Shanon Weaver (English))

Ginji Amano (天野銀次, Amano Ginji) is the "G" in the GetBackers. He is 18 years old in the manga. Ginji was formerly the leader of a gang called the VOLTS in Infinity Fortress, the fearsome Lightning Emperor (雷帝, Raitei).

He received the title Lightning Emperor because of his ability to control electricity. This control grants him several unique abilities such as amazing regenerative power and the ability to become a human magnet and battery. Despite Ginji's dark past, his demeanor is one of an unassuming, energetic, and friendly boy with a strong sense of justice. He makes friends easily, often without trying and is trusting and open to an almost naive extent. However, when exposed to remnants of his past, he has a tendency to revert to his darker "Lightning Emperor" persona. For comical purposes, he also turns droopy and super deformed, most likely designed after a Tarepanda. He's frequently beaten up by Ban for doing stupid things. As a child, his guardian was Takeru Teshimine, then ruler of the Limitless Fortress. Ginji founded the "VOLTS", a gang led by The Lightning Emperor, and "The Four Kings of the VOLTS" to protect the Infinity Fortress from the monsters of the Beltline. During the era of the VOLTS, only one man (Midou Ban) is known to have defeated the Lightning Emperor, though not in a fight of physical strength. All Ban did was show him that he was causing pain to many. While they were fighting, Lightning Emperor summoned lightning which resulted in a huge blast. Though Ban escaped from the blast, he was able to see the infinite energy flowing in the Lightning Emperor, which made it impossible to beat him. Then, Ban remembered that the Lightning Emperor only appeared after Ban attacked one of his friends. He then showed him that though the Lightning Emperor said that he would protect everyone, he himself killed many since many were caught up in the blast. After seeing the devastation, he caused, the Lightning Emperor shrieked and expelled all the power within him, turning back into Ginji. Ban noticed that he has changed and did not deliver the killing blow to Ginji as he sat in front of him, his head bowed and crying.

Little is known of his past until the last volume of the manga where it is revealed that his mother, who Teshimine told Ginji was waiting for him in Babylon City, had created the world in which the GetBackers live. Her reason for doing this was that in the real world (Babylon City), Ginji had died as a child. Unbearably sad, she considered cloning him, but realized that it would not be the same child, she created a back-up of the world where he could live and grow.

When transformed into the Lightning Emperor, Ginji glows with a brilliant light and has bolts of electricity flowing around him. Although sharing the same body as that of Ginji, the Lightning Emperor is the polar opposite of the happy-go-lucky Ginji; his features harden, and he becomes merciless towards almost anyone. He first came into being when Ginji was a young boy, as the Beltline monsters invaded the lower levels of the Limitless Fortress. Ginji and a friend were attempting to escape from the hunters when Ginji's friend was struck by an arrow. The whole invasion force was annihilated in an instant. From that point on, whenever Ginji is confronted with a difficult situation, emotionally or physically, the Lightning Emperor appears to make everything that troubles Ginji disappear. However, this ultimately causes more pain for the peaceful Ginji, as death is the last thing he wants.

In the "Get Back the Lost Time" arc, after the Lightning Emperor was successfully able to defeat the Voodoo King, it is revealed that the Lightning Emperor would never appear again as his reason for existing was over. The Lightning Emperor, who was born from the synchronization of Ginji's rage and Infinity Fortress' power, existed to defeat the person whose purpose was disrupting the plans of the "Archive" (the Voodoo King). His purpose was to protect the world without judgment from Good or Evil.

The source of the Lightning Emperor's power is the limitless energy currents flowing through the Infinity Fortress, and as such, he draws as much power from them as he needs. Sometimes, though, this can put the Infinity Fortress in a bad situation if the Lightning Emperor calls for more power in a single instant than the tower is capable of producing. For this reason, he is dangerous to the "Brain Trust" in Babylon City who possess the "Archive" (the sum total of human knowledge past, present and future) as he could potentially erase the "Archive" if he blacked out the Limitless Fortress. Another reason why Ginji/the Lightning Emperor is so dangerous inside Infinity Fortress is because his existence is "random" in the Babylon City Archives. This means his existence was not foretold and therefore his existence inside Infinity Fortress changes all the prophecies made by the Brain Trust. The reason for this most likely has to do with his mother.

Get Backers - Ban Midou

 

Ban Midou

Voiced by: Nobutoshi Canna, Naomi Shindou (as child) (Japanese); Rich McDonald (ep 1-5) Jason Liebrecht (ep 6-49) (English)

Ban Midou as depicted in the anime.

Ban Midou (美堂蛮, Midō Ban) is one of the main protagonists in GetBackers. His name came from his mother's surname "Midou" and "Ban" from the Japanese word for Savage (野蛮, Yaban). The "ban" can mean "barbarian" or "uncouth/vulgar".^[1] This is the result of the first meeting between Paul and Ban. When Der Kaiser first introduced the infant Ban to Paul, Ban kicked Paul in the face while being held by him, causing Paul to insist that the ban in yaban suited the child perfectly.

Known variously as "The Man with the Evil Eye" (邪眼の男, Jagan no otoko) and "The Genius of Battles", he is the "B" in the GetBackers. He is 18 years old in the manga and 21 years old in the anime. He is one quarter German and is the grandchild of the "Last Witch of the 20th Century". Ban is a brother-like figure to Himiko Kudou after she came to terms with her brother's death, and, later revealed in volume 38 of the manga, is actually related to her by blood through the Witch Queen.

In the GetBackers duo, he is the one who thinks of the plans for their moves. Initially, Ginji Amano was seen to be a sidekick to him (in fact, when they first formed their partnership, Ban insisted that Ginji was only his sidekick), but as the story progressed, Ginji gradually held his own in their missions, and Ban acknowledged him as an equal.

Ban is very intelligent, having studied fighting techniques, science, history, music, art and magic from a very young age as a result of being hunted in Europe by shamans during his childhood. He often surprises everyone with his knowledge and abilities, such as being able to play the violin. He also bears a striking resemblance to his father. In fact, in the arcs where his hair is "down" ("Venus de Milo" and "Kiryuudo" arcs), he looks like Der Kaiser during his Getbackers days with Paul. Another trait which both father and son share is that while they may appear cold and ruthless on the surface, they are actually very warm and caring towards their friends.

Ban inherited his powers from his grandmother. Ban utilizes two main abilities. His primary technique is the Evil Eye (邪眼, Jagan), which allows him to force anyone he makes eye contact with watch a one-minute-long illusion. It should only be used three times per day and cannot be used on the same person again for the next 24 hours. Furthermore, while the illusion only lasts for one minute, should Ban will it, the one affected by the Jagan can be placed inside a time-warp zone via the illusion created by the technique, meaning that to them, one minute in real life could last up to several hours in the Jagan's influence. It is rare for Ban to use the Evil Eye to defeat his opponents, preferring to use it to aid in the retrieval process or to give clients happy/nightmarish dreams; however, he has been shown to use it in defeating Takuma Fudou's insight during the blank second.

If the user were to use the Jagan a fourth time within a 24-hour period, they would receive a penalty for using it. After the fourth use the user disappears both from the physical world and from the memories of all who know him. With this in mind, Ban requested one final duel with Akabane. After an intense struggle, the two manage to strike each other, causing Ban to collapse and Akabane to disappear. However, Akabane had not died, as assumed, but instead, implanted a surgical scalpel into Ban's chest as a "final favor", given to Ban for allowing Akabane to see his own limits. Akabane later explained that because having Ban disappear would be a pity, he attempted to fool the "Archive" by faking Ban's death and delaying Ban's disappearance from using his fourth Jagan just long enough for Ginji to reach Babylon City and resolve everything, thus saving Ban from disappearing.

His second ability is the Snakebite. Because he is a direct descendant of the Witch clan, and was born under the star of Asclepius, he possesses incredible superhuman strength, which gives him a gripping force of 200 kilograms in each hand. It is also shown that he is strong enough to break open the doors of an armored steel truck and punch hard enough to create large craters in the ground or break walls, occasionally even collapsing multistory buildings. Ban can augment the strength of his Snakebite by reciting a certain chant in order to draw power from Asclepius, with the resulting force being sufficient to devastate even the most formidable of opponents with just a single blow. The full extent of the Asclepius curse upon Ban is expressed through his entire right arm degenerating into a grotesque state not unlike a demon's limb, granting Ban even greater power but at the risk of losing himself to his savage instincts. Later Ban manages to transcend the Asclepius curse and draw out his full potential on his own, which is reflected by the manifestation of a single angel wing behind his right shoulder.

In the "Get Back the Lost Time" arc, his skills grow by leaps and bounds due to his learning abilities. Against Natsuhiko, he manages to execute a new move, "Snake Kill", using his left hand.

Anime News Network praised the style of the Jagan in the manga to be a "horrifying nightmare". The Tokyo Pop translation of the Ban Midou dialogues has been criticized for making him sound like a gangster.

Hoshin Engi - Yozen

 

Yozen (楊戩, Yōzen)

Voiced by: Susumu Chiba (1st series), Yūichi Nakamura (2nd series) (Japanese); Ben Wolfe (1st series), Ian Ferguson (2nd series) (English)

A disciple at the Kongrong Mountains. Actually, he is the son of the leader of Kingoto, Tsutenkyoushu and a yokai senin. He surpassed his teacher Gyakutei Shinjin and has power equal to a senin, but because he does not want to take a student, he remains one himself. His senin name is Kenseijiro Shinkun. He is a person of extreme confidence and takes great pride in his appearance. At first, he doubted Taikobo's strength, and proposed a test, but finally approved of his means and became an ally. He has the ability to change into the body of any living thing, although his favorite transformation is that of Dakki. When transforming into a doshi or senin, he can use the other's paope, but if they are a higher level, he cannot copy them perfectly. Because of his ability to transform without using paope, even the Seninkai call him the genius disciple. Halfway through the series, he learns how to use a partial transformation and only change part of his body. This way, he can copy multiple of paope at the same time. When he becomes hanyotai, his strength is increased. His own paope are 'Sansento,' a giant trident that can release a shock wave, and 'Kotenken' a paope with the appearance of a dog which lives in his sleeve and can be called to attack enemies or used as a riding mount to fly. Towards the end, he obtained the cape super paope 'Rikukonhan,' which wraps up enemies so that not even their soul escapes. After the final battle, he founded the new Seninkai.

Hoshin Engi - Nataku

 

Nataku ([哪吒]

Voiced by: Kōki Miyata (1st series), Makoto Furukawa (2nd series) (Japanese); Derek Wade (1st series), Justin Briner (2nd series) (English)

A living human-paope (divine superweapon) hybrid, he was once dead and now revived, with the aid of Taiitsu, built via lotus plant. He exists largely to fight and is more "directed" by Taikobo (provided that he actually listens), albeit at times that becomes hazardous to Taikobo's health, as Nataku has no qualms about shooting his weapons at people. He can fly thanks to his special paope, Fuukarin, which are metal wheels. He also possesses a weapon paope in the shape of 2 iron bracelets called Kenkonen, which work as homing missiles and striking his target with tremendous force. Throughout the manga, Nataku gets several upgrades from Taiitsu. Towards the end, Nataku receives the super paope Kinkousen (previously wielded by Chou Koumei) and has it integrated within his body, allowing him to summon up to seven dragons made of light.

Nataku may seem cold and emotionless, but, according to himself, he has a serious grudge against his father who was responsible for destroying the grave his mother made for him when he died; Nataku has had many chances to kill his father, but never did. Nataku also has a soft spot for his mother, and takes care of Ko Tensho as a brother figure.

Windy card

 

Hoshin Engi - Taikobo

 

Taikobo (太公望, Taikōbō)

Voiced by: Hiro Yūki (1st series), Kensho Ono (2nd series) (Japanese); J. Shannon Weaver (1st series), Josh Grelle^[1] (2nd series) (English)

The protagonist of the series. He is a disciple at the Kongrong Mountains and Genshi Tenson's best pupil. He received the Hoshin Project from Genshi Tenson, and became a strategist to defeat the collapsing Yin dynasty and to help King Bu of Zhou. Although he wears very strange clothes, he has the sharpest mind in Kongrong. Taikobo was the son of the leader of the Qiang tribe, and was named Ryobo, but he lost his parents in a Yin human hunt. After twelve years on earth, he became a disciple, and with 30 years of study, attained Senin level power.

Although Taikobo is still an average Senin with a low rank, he is the personal disciple of the leader of Kongrong, Genshi Tenson, so his position in the Sennin World is high. At the beginning of the story, he receives a retractable baton-shaped paope (magic tool) called Dashinben, which grants him the power to create and control wind. Later, because of the Orb of Revival, the Dashinben gets an upgrade, a larger shape and improved abilities. Eventually, his Dashinben is upgraded by fusing with the paope 'Kyokoki' that can absorb the Kongrong Mountains's energy for recovery, and the super paope, 'Taikyokuzu,' that negates all other paope's power, draw magic seals and can heal injuries. Basically, his speciality is fighting by wits, and using cleverness to swindle his enemies, so that sometimes even his allies boo him. His constant companion, main ally, and mode of transportation is the spirit beast, Supushan. Taikobo's real age is at least 72 years old, and contrary to his boyish appearance, love of peaches and sweet things, and dislike of shots and medicine, his speech and mannerisms are that of an old man. His personality is aloof, and he has a strong belief in a peaceful Human World. Additionally, he is left-handed, but during the fight with Inkou (the older), he lost his left arm up to the elbow. Soon after, he received an artificial arm created by Taiitsu Shinjin.

Taikobo is a vegetarian. Although Taikobo is often criticized by other characters for being very 'un-protagonist-like,' he was voted first in a Weekly Shonen Jump character poll twice. Sometimes he's drawn as a cat-like alien creature. The last volume of the Kanzenban came with a limited edition plush toy of this form.

Hoshin Engi - Daki

 

Dakki (妲己)

Voiced by: Yumi Kakazu (1st series), Yōko Hikasa (2nd series) (Japanese); Claire Hamilton (1st series), Alexis Tipton^[1] (2nd series) (English)

The main antagonist of the series. Overtaking So Dakki's body (a young woman who was brought to the imperial palace to be King Chu's 200th wife) Dakki the Sennyo bewitched the Emperor with the aid of her spell of Temptation, causing King Chu to come under her control. The vixen demon is 5,000 years old, very beautiful and intelligent to the point when she could be labeled as "genius". In the anime, she is pictured as the evil, selfish empress who wants nothing but power and cares only about herself and her two adoptive sisters Okijin and Kokibi.

She is capable of using multiple paopes at once (ex: two fans, the Veil of Temptation). Her most important paope is the Veil of Temptation and she is rarely seen without it. It emits a strong scent which affects all men and bring them under control. After her descent into the Human World, she took many names (Ou Shi, Bakki) and seduced the leaders, living in luxury. At first, she was content to throw over the top and overpriced parties, but after several hundreds of years, she mastered the Temptation spell and began her reign of cruelty.

Dakki obviously enjoys other people's torment. She even built torture devices like the Horaku or the Taibon (a pit full of poisonous snakes). She is a very good actress and is capable of hiding her emotions. Another ability would be her good knowledge of human psychology. In the manga, when Chu O's first wife was imprisoned, Dakki knew the woman could not stand the pressure any longer and allowed the guard to give the true empress anything she wished for, knowing that she will ask for a dagger in order to commit suicide. She predicted Bunchu's reaction when Hiko Ko left Choka. Bunchu and Hiko were friends and Bunchu would rather kill Hiko himself than let Dakki decide how and when it would be done.

She shows sympathy only to her sisters and to her adopted son, Ou Eki/O Tenkun. Cruel as Dakki might be, she turned out not to be entirely evil in the end. In the manga the reason Dakki worked for Joka was at first due to her desire for power. But after she learned about the Ancients and that they fused with the planet, she was deeply affected and so her secret goal became to obtain Joka's body so she too may become one with the world. In this way she was able to save Taikobo at the end.

In the manga, her lines almost always end with heart shapes.

zymeth lotus clan

 In "Battle Realms: Winter of the Wolf," Zymeth, the immortal leader of the Lotus Clan, is portrayed as a powerful sorcerer with an aura of dark mysticism. His appearance and abilities are deeply intertwined with the clan's theme of corruption and mastery over dark magic. Here’s a detailed look at his powers, abilities, and physical appearance:

Physical Appearance

Zymeth's appearance is designed to evoke a sense of dark power and ancient wisdom. Key elements of his appearance include:

• Age and Immortality: Zymeth appears old and wizened, a testament to his unnatural longevity. His age is evident in his deeply lined face and white hair, which give him a sage-like appearance.
• Eyes: His eyes glow with an eerie, unnatural light, often depicted as a vibrant blue or purple, indicating his immense magical prowess and the dark energies he commands.
• Attire: Zymeth wears elaborate robes adorned with mystical symbols and dark colors, typically black and deep purples, which signify his high status and connection to dark magic. His attire is often accented with metallic elements like shoulder guards or a breastplate, giving him a regal yet foreboding presence.
• Staff: He carries a staff topped with a magical crystal or symbol, which serves as both a conduit for his powers and a symbol of his leadership.

Powers and Abilities

Zymeth's abilities in "Winter of the Wolf" are formidable, making him one of the most powerful characters in the game. His powers are primarily focused on elemental control, particularly lightning, and his deep knowledge of dark magic.

1. Elemental Control: Lightning

   • Lightning Strike: Zymeth can summon powerful bolts of lightning to strike his enemies. This ability allows him to target and destroy enemy units or structures from a distance, causing significant damage and often killing weaker units outright.
   • Storm Summoning: He has the power to conjure storms, affecting a larger area and causing widespread damage to enemy forces. This ability can turn the tide of battle, especially against clustered enemy units.

2. Dark Magic and Necromancy

   • Resurrection: Similar to other high-ranking Lotus sorcerers, Zymeth can raise fallen warriors from the dead to fight once more. This ability ensures that his forces remain strong even after sustaining heavy casualties.
   • Curses: Zymeth can cast powerful curses on enemy units, weakening them and reducing their effectiveness in battle. These curses can slow enemies, reduce their damage output, or cause them to take increased damage from other attacks.

3. Aura of Fear

   • Intimidating Presence: Zymeth's very presence on the battlefield can instill fear in enemy units, lowering their morale and combat effectiveness. This psychological warfare aspect is crucial in large-scale engagements, as it can cause enemy units to flee or fight less effectively.

4. Immortality and Resilience

   • Regeneration: Zymeth's connection to dark magic grants him a form of regeneration, allowing him to recover from injuries more quickly than normal units. This makes him exceptionally difficult to kill and able to endure prolonged battles.
   • Magical Defense: His mastery of magic also provides him with strong defenses against magical attacks, making him resilient against enemy spellcasters.

Role in Gameplay

In "Winter of the Wolf," Zymeth is a central figure for players who choose the Lotus Clan. His powers and abilities make him an invaluable asset on the battlefield, capable of turning the tide of battle through his powerful spells and strategic impact. His leadership and magical prowess not only bolster the strength of his troops but also serve to intimidate and disrupt enemy forces.

Strategic Use

• Offensive Capabilities: Zymeth’s lightning-based attacks and storm summoning are best used to weaken enemy formations before a major assault. Players can leverage his ranged magical attacks to soften up key targets or eliminate high-value units.
• Support Role: By raising fallen warriors and casting curses, Zymeth can support his troops, maintaining their numbers and weakening the opposition. His ability to resurrect units ensures that the Lotus Clan’s forces can sustain prolonged engagements.
• Psychological Warfare: His aura of fear and intimidating presence can be used to demoralize enemies, causing them to break and flee, especially when combined with other powerful units and spells.

 Zymeth is a powerful and enigmatic figure in "Battle Realms: Winter of the Wolf," embodying the dark and mystical essence of the Lotus Clan. His combination of elemental control, dark magic, and resilient nature make him a formidable leader and a key component of the Lotus Clan’s strategy and success on the battlefield.

lotus clan - battle realms

 In the real-time strategy game "Battle Realms," the Lotus Clan is one of the four primary clans, known for its dark, mystical, and corrupted nature. The Lotus Clan excels in sorcery and uses twisted forms of magic to empower its warriors and buildings. Below is a detailed look at some of the notable characters and units within the Lotus Clan:

The Lotus Clan in "Battle Realms" is a faction steeped in dark magic, corruption, and an insatiable thirst for power. Originating from a lineage of noble warriors who fell from grace, the Lotus Clan has transformed into a sinister force, driven by the pursuit of forbidden knowledge and the mastery of necromancy and sorcery. Their units, heroes, and buildings all reflect this dark transformation.

History and Background

The Lotus Clan's history is one of tragedy and corruption. Originally part of the Serpent Clan, they were once noble guardians of ancient knowledge and arcane arts. However, the clan's relentless pursuit of forbidden knowledge led to their downfall. The use of dark magic corrupted their bodies and minds, turning them into twisted and malevolent beings. Now, they seek to spread their corruption and dominate the lands of Battle Realms.

Key Characters

1. Zymeth:

   • Role: The Leader of the Lotus Clan
   • Description: Zymeth is the immortal and powerful leader of the Lotus Clan. He is a master of dark magic and embodies the clan's corruption and mysticism. Zymeth wields devastating magical abilities and can control the elements, particularly lightning, to decimate his enemies. His presence on the battlefield is both inspiring to his troops and terrifying to his foes.

2. Issyl:

   • Role: High Priest of the Lotus Clan
   • Description: Issyl is a high-ranking sorcerer within the Lotus Clan. He is a master of life and death, capable of resurrecting fallen warriors and inflicting powerful curses upon enemies. Issyl’s knowledge of dark rituals makes him a formidable opponent, and he often channels his magic through forbidden artifacts and ancient tomes.

3. Tarr:

   • Role: Warlock and Master of Summoning
   • Description: Tarr is a warlock who specializes in summoning creatures and creating abominations to aid the Lotus Clan in battle. His mastery of dark summoning arts allows him to conjure powerful minions that can overwhelm enemies. Tarr is known for his ruthless tactics and willingness to use any means necessary to achieve victory.

Notable Units

1. Acolyte:

   • Role: Basic Infantry
   • Description: Acolytes are the fundamental soldiers of the Lotus Clan, trained in both melee combat and basic magical attacks. They serve as the backbone of the clan's army, capable of using their sorcery to weaken enemies before engaging in close combat.

2. Channeler:

   • Role: Support Unit
   • Description: Channelers are spellcasters who support the Lotus Clan's forces by channeling their magical energies to heal allies and cast debilitating curses on enemies. They are essential for maintaining the longevity and effectiveness of the clan’s army during prolonged engagements.

3. Blade Acolyte:

   • Role: Elite Infantry
   • Description: Blade Acolytes are highly trained warriors who have mastered both swordsmanship and dark magic. They are formidable in close combat and can use their magical abilities to enhance their physical attacks, making them deadly opponents on the battlefield.

4. Warlock:

   • Role: Ranged Magic Unit
   • Description: Warlocks are powerful spellcasters who attack from a distance using destructive spells. They excel at causing havoc among enemy ranks with their potent magic, capable of inflicting significant damage over a wide area.

5. Infested One:

   • Role: Heavy Infantry
   • Description: Infested Ones are warriors who have been transformed by dark magic into grotesque, powerful fighters. Their bodies are fused with parasitic entities that grant them enhanced strength and resilience. These fearsome units are used to break enemy lines and sow terror.

Buildings

1. Crypt of Brothers:

   • Function: Training Ground
   • Description: The Crypt of Brothers is where the Lotus Clan’s warriors are trained in the arts of dark magic and combat. This building produces the basic infantry units of the clan and serves as a vital structure for maintaining the clan’s military strength.

2. Chamber of Pain:

   • Function: Enhancement and Research
   • Description: The Chamber of Pain is a dark and foreboding place where warriors undergo painful rituals to gain new abilities and enhancements. It is also a site for researching new magical technologies that can provide the Lotus Clan with an edge in battle.

3. Well of Shadows:

   • Function: Resource and Healing
   • Description: The Well of Shadows is a mystical structure that gathers dark energies and uses them to heal and empower the clan’s units. It is essential for sustaining the Lotus Clan’s forces during prolonged engagements.

The Lotus Clan is characterized by its reliance on dark magic, unorthodox tactics, and the use of corrupted, powerful warriors. Players who choose the Lotus Clan must master the delicate balance between sorcery and combat to dominate their enemies on the battlefield.

In "Battle Realms: Winter of the Wolf," the Lotus Clan retains its dark and sinister nature while introducing new elements that expand on its rich and twisted lore. This expansion pack delves deeper into the clan's origins and its ongoing struggle for power, offering players a closer look at its corrupted magic and the twisted minds behind its rise.

Historical Background and Context

"Winter of the Wolf" provides additional backstory for the Lotus Clan, shedding light on their origins and the events that led to their current state of corruption. Initially part of the noble Serpent Clan, the Lotus Clan broke away due to their leaders' obsession with forbidden knowledge and dark magic. Over time, their pursuit of power led to physical and moral decay, transforming them into the malevolent faction known today.

Key Characters

1. Zymeth

   • Role: Leader of the Lotus Clan
   • Description: Zymeth remains the undisputed leader, his immortality and command over elemental forces solidifying his place at the top. His vision of a world dominated by the Lotus Clan drives his every action, using his vast magical powers to ensure their supremacy.

2. Issyl

   • Role: High Priest and Sorcerer
   • Description: Issyl continues to be a key figure, his mastery over life and death making him a pivotal character. His ability to manipulate life energy and resurrect fallen warriors is crucial in the Lotus Clan's strategy, maintaining their fearsome presence on the battlefield.

3. Tarr

   • Role: Warlock and Summoner
   • Description: Tarr’s expertise in summoning and dark rituals is further explored. His ability to conjure powerful creatures and abominations underscores the clan’s reliance on twisted forms of magic to gain the upper hand in battle.

4. Koril

   • Role: Shadow Ninja
   • Description: Koril, a master assassin and spy, embodies the stealth and cunning of the Lotus Clan. His skills in espionage and assassination make him a valuable asset, capable of undermining enemy plans from the shadows.

New and Notable Units

"Winter of the Wolf" introduces new units and enhancements that deepen the strategic options for the Lotus Clan:

1. Leaf Disciple

   • Role: Elite Ranged Unit
   • Description: Leaf Disciples are archers infused with dark magic, capable of firing arrows that drain the life force of their targets. Their ability to weaken enemies from a distance complements the clan's emphasis on magical warfare.

2. Doomweaver

   • Role: Heavy Magic Unit
   • Description: Doomweavers are powerful spellcasters who can cast devastating area-of-effect spells. Their presence can turn the tide of battle, making them invaluable in large-scale confrontations.

3. Unclean One

   • Role: Siege Unit
   • Description: Unclean Ones are grotesque, corrupted beasts used to demolish enemy structures. Their brute strength and resilience make them ideal for breaking through fortified defenses.

Buildings and Infrastructure

The architecture of the Lotus Clan continues to reflect their dark, mystical nature, with some enhancements and new additions in "Winter of the Wolf":

1. Crypt of Brothers

   • Function: Training Ground
   • Description: The primary facility for training basic infantry, the Crypt of Brothers remains a crucial part of the clan's infrastructure. Here, acolytes are trained in the arts of dark magic and combat.

2. Chamber of Pain

   • Function: Enhancement and Research
   • Description: This building symbolizes the clan's willingness to endure and inflict suffering for power. It remains essential for enhancing units and researching new magical technologies.

3. Well of Shadows

   • Function: Resource and Healing
   • Description: The Well of Shadows continues to be vital for gathering dark energies and healing units. Its ability to sustain and empower the Lotus Clan’s forces is crucial for their prolonged campaigns.

4. Dark Altar

   • Function: Advanced Magic Research
   • Description: A new addition in "Winter of the Wolf," the Dark Altar allows for the research and development of advanced spells and abilities. It serves as a focal point for the clan’s magical advancements.

Tactics and Strategy

In "Winter of the Wolf," the Lotus Clan’s strategic approach remains rooted in their mastery of dark magic and corruption. Key tactics include:

• Magic Dominance: Leveraging powerful spellcasters like Doomweavers to control the battlefield and inflict massive damage.
• Life Drain and Resurrection: Utilizing units like Leaf Disciples and the abilities of Issyl to weaken enemies and sustain their own forces through resurrection and life drain.
• Summoning and Curses: Employing summoners like Tarr to bring forth powerful creatures and casting curses to debilitate opponents.
• Stealth and Espionage: Using characters like Koril to gather intelligence and perform critical assassinations, disrupting enemy strategies.

Overall Theme and Aesthetic

The Lotus Clan in "Winter of the Wolf" continues to be characterized by their dark, mystical aesthetic. Their units and buildings are designed with a gothic and eerie style, reflecting their corrupt nature and mastery of forbidden magic. The clan’s theme revolves around the use of necromancy, dark rituals, and the transformation of both land and people through corrupt practices.

"Battle Realms: Winter of the Wolf" expands on the Lotus Clan’s lore and capabilities, providing players with deeper insights into their dark magic and strategic depth. The new units, buildings, and characters introduced in this expansion enrich the gameplay experience, making the Lotus Clan a compelling and formidable faction to master.

Kokuboro - Kekkaishi characters

 

Kokuboro

The members of Kokuboro: from left to right: Aihi, Gagin, Byaku, Hekian, Koshu, Kaguro, and Shion.

The Kokuboro (黒芒楼, Kokubōrō) are a group of ayakashi who seek Karasumori's power in order to regenerate their leader, Princess. Kokuboro is also the name of the group's castle and the alternate world where they reside. They are the first major antagonist in the first half of the manga series, and the main antagonists in the anime. Their home is a region called the "Black Pampas Grass" (黒芒, Kurosusuki).

Princess (姫, Hime)

Voiced by: Naoko Matsui (Japanese); Stephanie Sheh (English)

A nine-tailed fox that is able to take on a human shape, she is a demon whose powers nearly rival those of a god, the most prominent display of her power being the creation of Kokuboro's castle and the alternate dimension in which it resides. However, she is afflicted with a mysterious illness and, following the ending of the Kokuboro arc, an unexplained illness that leaves her bedridden and unable to move. She eventually perishes at the ending of the Kokuboro arc as the illness claims her life, and transforms back into a nine-tailed fox. When Yoshimori meets her, he notes that even though she is an ayakashi, she has an air of elegance and respectability around her that is comparable to a princess in contrast to "common" ayakashi auras which apparently arouses hatred and a sense of disgust.

Byaku (白)

Voiced by: Kenjiro Tsuda (Japanese); Roger Craig Smith (English)

79 years old. However, looks to be around his late 20s to early 30s due to experimentation on his body he had received years previously. Strong follower of the "princess". Has an oversized left eye, with several special abilities that include being able to control bug ayakashi, controlling minds, regeneration, and gathering information from bug ayakashi that enter his body through it. Was thought to be an ayakashi, but he is actually still a human whose name is Shiranuma (白沼). Was believed to be killed by his former colleague and love rival Heisuke, and Heisuke's summoned demon servant, Kagami, but survived to carry out Princess as the Black Pampas Grass collapsed with her demise, the collapse of the dimension killing him as well.

Aihi (藍緋)

Voiced by: Sachiko Kojima (Japanese); Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (English)

A scientist with blue hair, and high-level demon, her true form a flower-like cyclops. Years ago, as she was hunting humans, befriended a weak, young man who was, surprisingly not afraid of her. She became curious of him, they eventually developed a sort of friendship. Sensing he was dying, he lured her to his house and trapped her using special talismans so she could stay for the few months until his death. Eventually she came to like him, and after the sudden change in his brother's death that give him the will to live makes her envious of humans, wishing to be like them and abstaining from eating them if possible. Having been controlled by Byaku, she is forced into working for him in developing the human skin suits modeled after the man she met. Though free of Byaku's worms, Aihi fights with Kaguro as she tries to escape from the dimension and is mortally wounded. Dying, she releases dandelion-like seeds from her body, one of which was saved by Shion before she left. In the anime, one of her seeds is able to escape the dimension and return to the home of the man, now elderly.

Gagin (牙銀)

Voiced by: Kenta Miyake (Japanese); Keith Silverstein (English)

With no human skin, he looks like a centaur with six arms. With skin on he looks like a large man (easily 2 meters tall) with ancient warrior armor on with spiky gray hair. He appears to have a short temper and is easily one of the most reckless in the Kokuboro and has a great desire to find strong opponents when the opportunity is given to him. He is very powerful and can throw balls of fire in battle that vary depending on his will. They can range from small, but fast, to immeasurable large and powerful, he was even capable of being able to nearly defeat Gen Shisho (who had completely transformed into his ayakashi form) and Yoshimori and Tokine simultaneously all by himself. Was killed by Masamori's zekkai in the manga, and in the anime by Yoshimori's kekkai.

Shion (紫遠)

Voiced by: Masako Katsuki (Japanese); Tricia Pierce (English)

She can control spider-like creatures to force others to do as she tells. She appears to be one of the most laid-back among the Kokuboro, but has proven herself to be a capable opponent as she was able to kill Heisuke by making him become host to her spiders and forced his arm to shoot himself, but this was later proven untrue as it was a weak Ayakashi that Heisuke had try on the human skin that he had taken from one of the ayakashi that was discovered by Yoshimori's grandfather. Once dressed up as Kaguro to lure Yoshimori to Kokuboro and while she had captured him, she had restrained Yoshimori under her spider creatures. She never participated in fighting the intruders during the destruction of their headquarters. She is also one of the few head officers of Kokuboro to survive the battle alongside Hekian who she had quickly taken under her control for his arrogant comments and knowledge of an escape route before leaving the collapsing dimension. She is also revealed to never have been controlled by one of Byako's worms like the rest of Kokuboro and had simply been faking it, as she stated to Hekian, because she had liked living with the organization as a home and being able to do as she pleased.

Koshu (江朱, Kōshu)

Voiced by: Nobutoshi Canna (Japanese); Sam Riegel (English)

Works at the "general affairs department". His job was to maintain and redesign the castle of Kokuboro when need be. As such he is very protective of it, willing to fight any intruders that try to enter it despite his limited powers (this results in his demise in both versions of Kekkaishi). When he has no human skin, he looks like an angry octopus with long tentacles. When he has his human skin on, he looks like an extremely small man with glasses and wears a flamboyant priest-styled kimono. He is considered one of the weakest of the Kokuboro higher-ups as he did not last long in a fight in the manga or anime. Was killed by Yoshimori in the manga, and by Tokine in the anime.

Hekian (碧闇)

Voiced by: Kenshō Yamamoto (Japanese); Richard Cansino (English)

Works at the "bureau department". With human skin, he usually has a turban and draping garments, making it impossible to see his face. He appears to possess an ability that he calls the "Thousand Eyes", this allows him to be able to see spiritual energy to such a level that he can see past the swamp like water that covers the previous Landlord of Karusmori, however only states that he could see that there was a bottomless darkness that could be seen. He is considered one of the weakest amongst his group as even Shion was able to easily defeat him and put him under control with little effort. He is later on, at the end of the battle at Kokuboro, taken by surprise and controlled by one of Shion's spiders and turned into one of her subordinate puppets after he revealed he knew a way out in a condescending manner.

Kaguro (火黒)

Voiced by: Hiroaki Hirata (Japanese); Troy Baker (English)

A S-Class Ayakashi, Kaguro is one of the few members of the Kokuboro to act on his whim while possessing superhuman speed and able to generate blades from his body. Kaguro was once a human swordsman named Genichiro Kuroda (黒田 源一郎, Kuroda Gen'ichirō), a student of a dojo who was friends with his rival Sakai. But unable to beat Sakai, Kuroda's frustration and his friend's advice, misunderstanding the meaning, led him to go on a killing spree. In the process, Kuroda lost his humanity and killed Sakai prior to assuming his current form. Donning a human skin and leading a group of Akayashi in an attempt to take over Karasumori, Kaguro develops an interest in Yoshimori, who is unknowingly able to use Zekkai, a technique that Kaguro saw first hand when he was still human. After killing Gen, whom he attempted to have walk in his footsteps, Kaguro battles Yoshimori in the collapsing Kokuboro castle before being killed in battle by the kekkaishi.

Haroku (波緑)

Voiced by: Daisuke Nakamura

When turned into a beast, he looks quite like a frog with long hair. Was killed by Yoshimori.

Sekia (赤亜)

Voiced by: Setsuji Satoh (Japanese); Steve Staley (English)

Looks like a squid with four eyes when he has no human skin. Was killed by Kaguro.

Haizen (灰泉)

Ayakashi in human skin that has the power to melt kekkai with a green substance from his mouth. Was killed by Tokine's arrow-like kekkai.

Sanan (茶南)

Voiced by: Shunsuke Sakuya (Japanese); Richard Cansino (English)

Looks like a bat with two eyes parallel to each other. Was killed by Kaguro.

Observer (監視者, Kanshisha)

Voiced by: Takuma Takewaka (Japanese); Keith Silverstein (English)

An unnamed agent of Kokuboro as well as its first notable on-screen one, his main purpose is to collect data and return it to headquarters. He was first detected by Masamori, and then after a skirmish with the Shirahago, his skin begins to deteriorate and then is discovered by Yoshimori. After a short fight with the kekkaishi, he returns to Byaku, only to die after handing over the information. His only known power is that he can stretch his arm to any length and bend it as much as he desired.

Sakon (左近)

Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi (Japanese) David Vincent (English)

Works at the executive department and is Gagin's right hand man. He replaced Gagin after his death as leader of the executive department and launched an attack on Karasumori but was defeated by Masamori's zekkai. With no human skin, he looks like a giant demon lizard. He has the power to control wind and use it as tornadoes for attack. The princess is shown to have great disdain for Sakon, as he possesses an evil aura greater than Gagin's, and she cannot tell what he is really thinking.