Dark Wings

The Dark Wings (漆黒の翼, Shikkoku no Tsubasa^?, "Jet Black Wings") are a frequently recurring group of characters who appear in certain Tales games.

Appearances

Tales of Destiny

Known as the Black Wings in Tales of Destiny, the group appears as a trio of professional, yet often blundering, lens hunters that the party runs into at several different locations. They serve primarily as comic relief, often mistaking the party as a group of dedicated fans who follow them throughout the world. Their group consists of three individuals who style themselves with unique titles: John the Beast, Whirlwind Milly, and their leader Grid the Omnipotent.

Tales of Eternia

The Dark Wings of Tales of Eternia are a small group of adventurers who are traveling around to spread their name and become more famous. They appear in several locations on both worlds of Inferia and Celestia, and there is a wanted poster for them on the ship between Mintche and Inferia City, noting that they are stowaways. As an homage to the Black Wings of Tales of Destiny, the Dark Wings refer to themselves by self-styled titles: John the Dark Panther, Millie the Dark Rose, and Grid the Dark Dragon King.

Tales of Symphonia

In Tales of Symphonia, the Dark Wings pose as the Chosen's group to swindle various communities for money. They are encountered several times throughout the story, often as a nuisance for Lloyd Irving and his group. Their actions have caused the party to take various detours to reacquire items that the Dark Wings had stolen, with the criminals themselves being unaware of how valuable the items are for the Journey of Regeneration.

Tales of Rebirth

The Dark Wings of Tales of Rebirth are a trio of knights who work for the Royal Shield. They are known as Ginnal, Dornb, and Yusia. They are given the task to detain Veigue Lungberg and his team under direct orders from the Saleh and Tohma of the Four Stars. They first appear at the Great Larulen Bridge outside of Sulz to ambush Veigue and his team. They make several other appearances before meeting the party a final time at the Garden of Illusion within the Tower of Nereg. They are corrupted to insanity by Saleh's influence, and he forces them to fight the party once more. After they are defeated, the enchantment is broken, and they are left without memories of the fight. Upon realizing what they have done, they proclaim that they are reborn, cutting their ties with the Royal Shield.

Tales of the Abyss

File:The dark wings.jpg

York (left), Noir (center), and Urushi (right) as they appear in the Tales of the Abyss anime.

The Dark Wings are a group of three thieves in Tales of the Abyss. Their group consists of two men named Urushi and York, and their female leader, Noir. They are met fairly early in the game in the city of Chesedonia, shortly after the party defeats Dist on the Katsbert Ferry. They appear to be quite infamous amongst the people of both Malkuth and Kimlasca, and are encountered by the party several times throughout the story. While they appear to be no more than mere thieves, they serve a somewhat large role in the game. They also have an alias as a harmless circus troupe known as the Black Dream, and they use this disguise when they are out stealing. They actually prove to be quite useful to the protagonists, often giving out subtle hints to Luke fon Fabre about where to go next sometimes, also giving him a clues about what Asch is planning. Towards the later parts of the game, they work under him to help him search for the Jewel of Lorelei so that he can find it before the God Generals do.

It is revealed much later in the story that the Dark Wings are far more than mere thieves. If the player takes part in saving the Black Dream in Grand Chokmah from being beaten up, Noir will thank the group and give the player the "Key of Darkness" item, which enables the player to enter a room in Nam Cobanda Isle that would be locked otherwise. Once inside, Noir and the other members proceed to tell the group that they were survivors from the Isle of Feres when the tidal wave destroyed it. They managed to get on a passing ship and began to live their lives as the Black Dream.

Upon seeing how people were treated in both Kimlasca and Malkuth however, they began to consider becoming noble thieves. They learned that both Kimlasca and Malkuth were so dependent on the Score that they neglected a large portion of their own people, having completely abandoned them for the Score. The Black Dream began to pick up people who were abandoned and welcomed them to their family. However, the people needed a place to stay, so the Dark Wings created Nam Cobanda Isle, surrounding it with whirlpools and other security measures to ensure that neither Kimlasca nor Malkuth could ever reach them and the people that they neglected. The Dark Wings then began to pilfer things from both kingdoms to provide for the people of Nam Cobanda Isle, while simultaeneously recruiting more abandoned people as the Black Dream circus troupe. The people of Nam Cobanda Isle were put to work as performers in the circus, and they helped the Dark Wings to recruit more people.

The Dark Wings also revealed that the people of Nam Cobanda Isle did not know that that the leaders of the Black Dream were also the notorious thieves themselves. The group also stated that only other fellow thieves know of their true identity and not the circus performers.

Tales of Vesperia

While the Dark Wings do not appear physically in Tales of Vesperia, they are mentioned in a skit. In the skit, Karol Capel informs the party they are a very well-known thieves' guild consisting of three members.

Tales of Graces

During their quest for finding the Requiem, Asbel Lhant and his friends happen upon a group of siblings who intend to found a Dark Wings shop.

Tales of Xillia

In Sharilton, there is a man collecting Jet Black Feathers. During the quest for the Feathers, Jude Mathis and his friends learn about a group calling themselves Dark Wings who supposedly steal from the rich and give to the poor.