Martel Temple

File:Iselia Chapel.jpg

Iselia Chapel in Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

The Martel Temple, also sometimes referred to as Iselia Chapel, is an area in the world of Sylvarant in Tales of Symphonia. It is also the place where the last Chosen receives her Oracle. Later in the game, through a side-quest, it also becomes the home for the Summon Spirit of Heart, Verius.

Story

Arrival of the Oracle

The party first visits the Iselia Chapel when the Oracle arrives. When Lloyd Irving, Colette Brunel and Genis Sage arrive, the temple is under attack by Desians. When they get to the entrance, they see Botta and his men threatening Phaidra, Colette’s grandmother. When they trio are discovered, Botta sends Vidarr to attack Colette. When Lloyd and his friends are losing, Kratos Aurion arrives and saves them. After the battle, Kratos introduces himself as a mercenary, and Colette’s grandmother Phaidra accepts to let him take the job of guarding Colette safe to the altar. Lloyd insists on coming, though Kratos tells him to go home, which makes Lloyd angry. Regardless of the choice the player takes afterward, Lloyd will manage to come with them, and gets Genis into it as well.

When inside, after Kratos has given Lloyd the Training Manual, Colette says they need the Sorcerer's Ring to get to the Oracle. After going through a trial of golems, they obtain the Sorcerer's Ring and go into the Room of the Seal. There, Lloyd sees a shining gem in the middle of the altar, and assumes that it is the Cruxis Crystal. Colette answers positively and that people have told her that she was born with that in her hand. Suddenly, after a glint of light, they meet an angel, Remiel. Remiel says that he is an angel of Cruxis, and is to give the Chosen of Mana her power and send her to the Tower of Salvation. Colette accepts her duty, and Remiel will give Colette the Cruxis Crystal on the altar. He also makes the Tower of Salvation to appear, a symbol that the Journey of Regeneration has started. After this, Colette is official titled the Chosen One, and begins her journey to regenerate the world. Right before Remiel leaves, Colette also tries to ask if he is her real father, in which he says yes.

While Colette and Kratos go before them, Lloyd and Genis talk shortly about how family still is family even though the rumors about Frank not being Colette’s real father (as she is born by angels) is now proven true. When they get down, they meet Raine, showing a strong affection for the temple. When she sees them, however, she punishes them for not being in class. Afterward, she tells that class is over for today, and that they should go home. When outside they hear a maniac laugh, but Genis tells Lloyd not to think about it.

Corrine’s rebirth

Later on in the game in Disc 2, Sheena says she hears Corrine within the temple. They go further to investigate, and when they arrive in the Room of the Seal, it is revealed that Corrine was transformed into Verius the Summon Spirit of Heart by Sheena's love after sacrificing his life for her. In the end, Verius says he cannot join Sheena, but this proves that Iselia has its own Summon Spirit from now on.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

• Temple of the Church of Martel. It is said the oracle from the angels was handed down here.

In the sequel of Tales of Symphonia, the Martel Temple is known for being the place that started the very last Journey of Regeneration. For the moment, it is undergoing repairing.

Footfalls of Tomorrow

The new protagonists Emil Castagnier and Marta Lualdi go to the Martel Temple to talk to Dirk, who is doing repairs there for the moment. When they ask if he is Lloyd’s father, Dirk says that they are, even though they are not related by blood. Emil suddenly burst out and asks why he is not ashamed over raising Lloyd. Dirk, however, says that he did not raise a man who runs from his own responsibilities, thus he is sure that Lloyd has a reason for not saying anything. Before they leave, Dirk asks them to give Lloyd a message: “Noishe is getting lonely, so come home soon”.

Eternal Bond

In the last chapter, together with the cast from the original game, they all visit the temple to meet up with Verius to get help sealing away Ratatosk’s personality in Emil. Verius says that he will help Emil, but only if he wishes to seal away the other him by all of his heart. Emil is not sure what he should do, but suddenly Ratatosk takes control, and attacks the concerned Lloyd. Lloyd loses Lumen’s core, and Ratatosk immediately takes it and wakes Lumen, remembering the first moments from when he merged from the core six months ago; in reality, Lloyd was the one who saved Marta, but he followed a Vanguard-member who ran away, when Ratatosk awakened.

Emil gets control back again shortly after, and apologizes to Lloyd for his behavior, in which Lloyd forgives him. Emil will now be able to use light-based artes.

When going outside again, they hear Dirk yell, and Lloyd hurries down to him. Monsters have suddenly appeared, and Dirk tries to defend himself with his grand hammer (similar to the one he uses in the anime). After defeating all the monsters, Ratatosk once again takes control, but only halfway. However, Emil manages to get some control, and they are both meeting each other face to face in a different dimension, possibly Emil’s mind. After the conversation, Emil decides to lend Verius’ power, and seals Ratatosk’s personality away. Emil can no longer be in Ratatosk-Mode when fighting, and must therefore believe in his own strength.

Tales of Symphonia manga

There are not many differences between the game and the manga. When Lloyd, Genis and Colette arrive, they see the priest down the stairs, like the game will have it if Lloyd stands against Genis at the school. One difference may be that while Lloyd and the others were about to get killed by Vidarr, Kratos shows up and cuts the foe’s arm off. Alone, he kills Vidarr, and the manga continues almost like in the game.

One of the major differences must be that Corrine does not awaken as Verius in the Martel Temple; instead, he is reborn in the Temple of Lightning in the fight against Volt, almost right after dying.

Tales of Symphonia: The Animation

Unlike in the game and the manga, Colette is already at the Martel Temple with three priests and guards, preparing for the Oracle. When they are met by Remiel, he asks if she is ready to accept the task of the Chosen One. As Colette accepts, Remiel gives her the Cruxis Crystal and bestows the Tower of Salvation. After Remiel is gone, the priests kneel before Colette, telling her about the fate of the previous Chosen twenty years ago, and apologize for the burden they are giving her.

Just as Colette promises the priests to fulfill the Journey of Regeneration, the windows break, and countless of arrows are shot into the church, aiming for Colette. However the priests stand up before her, saving her. She then sees that Desians are invading, and hides. One after one, the guards are killed, and Colette are forced to fight them. However, just then, Lloyd, Genis and Raine arrive. While Genis and Raine look for the injured priests, Lloyd hurries over to Colette to help her. Just as he is about to fight, Kratos comes, apologizing for being late. The difference from the game seems to be that Kratos already was hired to protect Colette, instead of being just a wandering mercenary. With one single swing, he kills nearly all the soldiers, except one who tries to take Colette. Lloyd stops him, however, and suddenly something on his hand shines, revealing his Exsphere. With its help, Lloyd uses a Kogahazan on the soldier, finally killing him.

However, even though they think it is over, a real Desian who was guarding the temple (possibly to make sure Colette would receive the Oracle) sees this scene, and immediately runs over to the human ranch to report it.