Lloyd Irving

Lloyd Irving is the main character of Tales of Symphonia, the sixth major release in the Tales series.

This page contains Tales of Symphonia spoilers.

Character
Lloyd uses skill and logic to make up for what he lacks in knowledge, which is often a joke throughout the series as he fails to answer various educational questions. He is generally idealistic, and tries to do what he believes is best for the worlds of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla. Early in the game, Lloyd makes very rash decisions regardless of what consequences his actions may have, which he later realizes and repents. Kratos compares him to Mithos, saying the only difference between them is that Lloyd is capable of acknowledging his own mistakes. Another character also compares Lloyd to Mithos saying he is idealistic and very dearly wants to save both worlds but Lloyd denies that he is like Mithos and says he does not want to save the worlds Mithos' way but rather, his own way, without sacrifice.

Family
During the beginning of the game we learn that Lloyd is an orphan, raised by a Dwarven blacksmith by the name of Dirk. He finds out that his mother, Anna, was murdered by the Desians because she was protecting a special Exsphere that they wanted.Lloyd begins to think his real father also suffered the same fate. Later, after Colette had been treated for the Chronic Angelus Crystallus Inofficium, it is revealed that Kratos Aurion is his real father. In the Flannior cutscene with Kratos he reveals the whole story of Anna's death despite Lloyd's protests of not wanting to hear the story. He said that Anna, after turning into a exubla in the presence of Kratos and their 4-year old son, had regained her old self for only a minute and begged Kratos to kill her saying that she didn't want to hurt them. Kratos hesitates and Anna turns back into an exubla and begins to attack Lloyd who is guarded by Noishe, hence Noishe's fear of monsters. Kratos eventually gets Anna over the cliff but Noishe and Lloyd also fall. Anna, badly injured, regains her normal form and is found by Dirk who Anna explans everything too and asks him to take care of Lloyd and Noishe. Kratos descends the cliff to find Anna, but no signs of Lloyd or Noishe, and corpses of Desians lying around, half eaten by monsters. This sight leads Kratos to beleive Lloyd had dided in the fall and eaten by monsters.

Relationships with Other Characters
Colette - Colette is the in-game pairing for Lloyd. He views her in the beginning of the game as a good friend, although later on there are hints that he is developing stronger feelings for her. He is striving throughout gameplay to protect her. During many cutscenes, the two are alone and he often can tell her feelings quite accurately.

Genis - Genis is Lloyd's best friend. Even when it is revealed that Genis is a half-elf, not a full elf as he has led everyone to believe, Lloyd still accepts him completely. While Genis is the more logical and weighs the consequences of their actions more, he still respects Lloyd. On Derris Kharlan, Genis admits that he's a coward compared to Lloyd and that he's always looked up to Lloyd's ability to rush in head forward and succeed.

Kratos - Lloyd harbours a jealous sentiment towards Kratos in the beginning due to his superior sword skills and his condescending nature. He is always striving to best Kratos, and often yells at him for being a jerk. When he learns that Kratos is his father, he denies it at first and is quite shocked. As the game progresses through, he accepts Kratos as his father in the end. If players choose choices that go against Zelos, after he dies he is replaced by Kratos who has similar attacks and also posesses the First Aid ability.

Presea and Regal - Lloyd often gives advice that, while not perfect or clearly thought through, helps Presea and Regal combat their dark past. Lloyd also often teases Genis for his affection for Presea, and often tells Regal that he can't keep looking into the past.

Raine - He refers to her as "Professor Raine" and thinks very highly of her. Although he finds her lessons overbearing and unneccesary, he accepts her even when he learns that she is a half-elf.

Sheena - Lloyd is one of the first to trust Sheena when she tells the party of her mission and gladly welcomes her to join them. If players decide to favor Sheena, she eventually becomes Lloyd's new love interest instead of Colette.

Zelos - Lloyd's relationship with Zelos changes depending on the player's choice. If the player continues to choose choices that favor Kratos, Lloyd's game relationship with Zelos is one of distrust and suspicion, and eventually is forced to kill him, while if the player chooses choices for Zelos, he becomes a trusted friend.