Richard

Richard (リチャード) is a playable character in Tales of Graces. He is the prince of the Windor country and a close friend of Asbel Lhant.

Prologue
Richard is first seen sitting alone in a dark room with a saddened expression on his face before he notices someone at the window. That someone is Asbel as he pushes the windows open, making the room brighter. At first, Richard rejects Asbel's offer to go out and play, believing the only reasons people would want to get close to him is so they could use him and gain something in return, but soon realizes that Asbel is different. When Richard offered Asbel his ring in exchange for having saved his life, Asbel angrily rejects it, stating that he did not save him to gain something or that he was a prince. Along with Sophie, the two made a vow of friendship at the flower garden, carving their names onto the tree. Richard promises that he will never forget that moment.

After Asbel and Sophie arrive in Barona, he meets up with them in town and decides to go exploring in the capital city. However, Richard arrives early and gets taken into the underground cave by monsters. When Asbel and the others arrive in the cave, they discover an unconscious Richard on the ground, and Asbel hurries up to wake him. While he and Sophie tend to Richard, a monster appears and attacks Hubert Oswell and Cheria Barnes, leaving them unconscious. Sophie manages to defeat the monster, but at the cost of her life. The monster, with the last of its power, jumps to Richard and inserts itself into Richard's body. After the incident, Richard is confined in his estate and not allowed to leave.

The War for Windor
Seven years later, Richard's father, the King of Windor, is murdered by Richard's uncle, Cedric. Richard manages to escape and meets Asbel and Sophie in the Barona Catacombs. Along the way they meet Pascal and manage to return to Richard to Grelsyde. While in Grelsyde, the party is ordered to infiltrate the Wallbridge Fortress. At the Wallbridge Fortress, Richard is stabbed by a soldier and seems to be dead, but Richard begins to go berserk and kills the soldier brutally. The party is then forced to fight Malik Ceasar and defeat him. The party makes their way to Windor Castle and defeat Cedric. After Cedric is defeated, Richard grabs his rapier and kills his uncle, despite what the party said. Richard is then crowned the King of Windor and smirks in triumph.

Betraying Asbel
After regaining his kingdom, Richard show signs of brutal behavior and eventually attacks Lhant. Asbel tries to reason with Richard, but Richard attacks both Asbel and Hubert. Sophie arrives and fights Richard for a short while, but Richard remains victorious and tries to kill Sophie. Asbel intervenes and manages to attack Richard, causing Richard to stop. The party is forced to fight Richard and manage to defeat him. After being defeated, Richard is taken back to Barona by his soldiers.

Richard then appears in the Strahta Desert Ruins and drains the energy out of the Valkines cryas there. Asbel, again tries to reason with Richard, but Richard sends his monsters to attack the party. Richard is not seen again until the party defeats Kurt in the Fendel Glacier Ruins. When he arrives, he manages to absorb he energy out of Fendel's valkines cryas. After doing some research, the party learns that Richard is being controlled by a being named Lambda. When the party arrives on World's Eye, Richard appears again and fights the party. After being defeated, Richard appears to fighting Lambda's control and Sophie speaks to Richard, but Lambda regains control and fires an attack at Sophie. Richard then forms Lambda's Cocoon and sends powerful monsters throughout the world. After returning from healing Sophie, Asbel and the others manage to infiltrate Lambda's Cocoon. Within the Cocoon, they find Richard fused with Lambda and are forced to fight him. After defeating Richard and Emeraude, Richard accepts Lambda back into his body and destroys the Cocoon. Richard escapes and waits for Asbel and the others in the final dungeon.

End of Madness
The party meets with Richard in the final dungeon, but Richard refuses to listen to their words before attacking them. After Richard is defeated, he regains control and tries to fight Lambda's influence. He tells Asbel that he does not know which feelings belong to himself or Lambda, because in some way the two feelings are identical. He then asks Asbel to kill him and Lambda while he is still in control, knowing what they are doing is wrong. But Asbel refuses, telling him that he is his friend. Richard thanks him for that, but he continues to urge Asbel to hurry and end him as Lambda starts taking control again. Lambda is angered by Richard's betrayal, and he attempts to kill Richard himself by doing what he had done to Emeraude, but Asbel is able to pull Richard out of Lambda's grasp, thus saving him. At the end of the game, Richard arrives in Lhant with Windol soldiers and helps to defeat Lambda's monsters attacking the city.

Appearance and Personality
Richard is calm and collected, he takes polictial affairs very personally, and is quite peace-loving. He loves his country and will do anything to help his people. He trusts his friends, Asbel and Sophie, with his most personal issues and together they help each other out. After Lambda's possession takes effect, he becomes quite the opposite, doubting his friends and having a huge hatred for people. This is highly due to Lambda's nature of sorrow and loneliness.

After being released from Lambda's control, Richard returns to his former self, even more so due to the trouble he caused and attempts to atone for his actions. He has also become quite silly as his lack of common social skill has led to fairly awkward moments between him and the party. The experiences he has from being with the party properly has also given him a renewed sense of how to go about his duties as King, especially learning more about being with his friends. In the Future arc, he expresses himself very jovially and spends a good deal of time relating to Asbel and the others in numerous and often surprising ways; for example, he and Malik become quite the theatrical jokers, creatively teasing the other party members at their expense.

Fighting Style
Richard fights with rapiers in battle. As a child, Richard was instructed in swordplay and knows a few artes that reflect emphasis on speed and multiple hits. As an adult, Richard uses two different fighting styles, the Fencing Blade Artes Style (細剣技) and the Offensive Burst Style (攻撃術). While his "Artes Style" is active, Richard relies on thrusting at the enemies with his rapier, using classic swordsman artes, which include Akisazame and Raijinken. His Burst Style artes often deal with wind and darkness-related spells such as Reap Will and Shade Imperial. While Richard is possessed by Lambda, his "Artes Style" changes and relies on attacking with his fist and wings.

In Tales of Graces ƒ, his artes and Burst Styles are expanded to include more varied abilities. Of particular note, Richard directly copies a move from each of the other party members in the future arc, to reflect his newly restored friendship with them. In Tales of Graces ƒ, Richard's Accelerate Mode is called High Spell (ハイスペル), which halves his spell casting time for all spells.

Relationships
Asbel Lhant - Richard places tremendous trust and fellowship in Asbel, realizing he is different, that he does not intend to use him to gain something, and that is why he likes him. Seven years later, Asbel becomes one of the few people he trusts, especially after he becomes more posessed as he prioritizes Asbel above all else. When he returns to normal, he becomes closer friends with Asbel and attempts to push his and Cheria's romance.

Sophie - Both are quiet and rarely speak, but they are still friends. But, seven years later, a rift is formed between the two due to what lies dormant inside Richard, making the two unable to touch. In a skit, during the prologue, Richard tells Sophie that they are alike in someway, but see things differently. During the "Lineage and Legacies" story arc, Richard becomes much closer to Sophie, and they both reconcile. In a scene, he decides to share with her his secret hiding place.

Malik Caesar - Upon seeing Malik, Richard attempts to hide, telling Asbel that that person knows him. Malik takes notice almost immediately, and approaches them. Asbel intervenes, and covers for Richard. Malik plays into it and tells Richard to become stronger, for their sake, and also, whispers for him to be careful, before walking off. Richard thanks Malik, in his mind. Seven years later, Malik is forced to fight Richard due to the fact that he is loyal only to his country, not the ruler.

Trivia

 * During the Lineage and Legacies story arc, Richard creates an alter-ego known as the "Mask of Barona", who in certain skits, appears out of nowhere to help people. However, his advice or methods of helping people are usually uneventful. Additionally, some of the other party members are able to see through his disguise.