Mithos Yggdrasill | |
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Information | |
Appearance | Tales of Symphonia |
Hometown | Heimdall |
Residences | Vinheim |
Age | •Physically 14 •Chronologically 4,000+ |
Height | 153 cm |
Weight | 41 kg |
Race | Half-elf, Angel |
Occupation | •Four Seraphim •Leader of Cruxis |
Weapon | •Bracelet •Eternal Sword (TotR) |
Japanese Voice Actor | •Minami Takayama (Mithos) •Hideyuki Tanaka (Yggdrasill) |
English Voice Actor | •Brianne Siddall (Mithos) •James Arnold Taylor (Yggdrasill) |
Character Designer | Kousuke Fujishima |
Mithos Yggdrasill (ミトス・ユグドラシル Mitosu Yugudorashiru?, "Mitos Yggdrasill") is the primary antagonist and final boss in Tales of Symphonia.
History[]
Past[]
Mithos's full name is Mithos Yggdrasill, although this is not revealed until extremely late in the story. Part of the character's intrigue is that "Mithos" is known as a great hero who is believed to have sacrificed himself to restore mana to the world, whereas "Yggdrasill" is a great villain, an angel with terrifying power who is renowned for incredible feats, but whose past is completely unknown. In other words, "Mithos" is the true form of Mithos the Hero, whilst the "Yggdrasill" form is just a form he took on to be a "more befitting leader of Cruxis".
According to legend, Mithos and his three companions stopped the Ancient Kharlan War and restored peace to the world by sealing away the Desians, who caused the war. Later, however, the war is discovered to have been between Sylvarant and Tethe'alla; the Desians did not even exist at the time. This group of mythical heroes was composed of three half-elves: Mithos, himself, his sister Martel Yggdrasill, and Yuan Ka-Fai, and one human Kratos Aurion. They would later be referred to as the Four Seraphim, the founders and leaders of Cruxis, which has existed for well over 4,000 years by the time of Tales of Symphonia. Although Martel was slain in the war, her soul still exists in a dormant state within her Exsphere, where it is preserved by the Great Seed.
During the Kharlan War, the four companions went through many great hardships due to discrimination against half-elves, fueled by both humans and elves. Because of this discrimination, Mithos and Martel were blamed for an unnamed misfortune and expelled from their home of Heimdall. They heard of Sylvarant's approaching invasion of Tethea'lla and tried to warn Tethea'lla's king, only to be ignored because of their race. After the fall of Tethea'lla's capital, Mithos and Martel were joined by a Meltokio knight named Kratos, who trained Mithos as a swordsman and mage. Yuan would complete their party later on. Mithos would eventually go on to become the great hero of legend by single-handedly making pacts with each of the Summon Spirits, although he had Kratos make a pact with the King of Summon Spirits, Origin, in his place. Mithos then had Origin create the near-omnipotent Eternal Sword, which he used to split the world in two to create the parallel worlds of Tethe'alla and Sylvarant, in order to prevent more magitechnology from being created.
The Ancient Kharlan War was caused by magitechnology, which consumes vast amounts of mana. By splitting the world in two and having them vie for the small amount of remaining mana, Mithos effectively stopped the creation of magitechnology and prevented a second cataclysmic global war. Part of the pact with Origin was a promise that he would restore the Great Seed to the world so that it could grow again, thereby restoring mana to the land. Instead, Mithos took it to Derris-Kharlan in order to revive and protect his dead sister, thereby breaking his pact with the Summon Spirits.
Mithos was originally a pure-hearted and idealistic boy with a strong desire for peace and unity, despite the discrimination he faced as a half-elf. However, the death of his sister deepened his hatred for humanity and made him lose track of whether the world or her life was more important to him. He took her final words to heart; her wish was for a world without discrimination, which he interpreted as a wish to end discrimination only against half-elves. What Martel truly wanted was an end to discrimination between all the different races, as stated by Yuan. Mithos's ideals then became twisted; he came to the conclusion that the only way for discrimination to end was, in his own words, turn every living being into the same race, as a "Lifeless Being".
To this end, he began mutating half-elves using a superior form of Exsphere known as Cruxis Crystals. These Cruxis Crystals turned their subjects into near-immortal, angel-like entities at the cost of the things that made them human. These "angels" are often referred to as "lifeless beings". Even if the body of an angel was destroyed, the Exsphere would also need to be destroyed as well for them to truly die; it was possible to live on in a Cruxis Crystal even after the body of its host had been destroyed. Mithos also founded the Church of Martel and thereafter became the absolute ruler of the two worlds. In order to resurrect Martel, Mithos would need to find a subject whose mana signature was nearly identical to Martel's. Acting as a supreme lord of the angels, he manipulated the bloodlines of the citizens of both worlds for over 4,000 years in order to create this vessel. Mithos declared Martel a goddess and manipulated history to remember her as a hero.
Life and Eventual Death[]
Despite the fact that he truly means well and believes that he is saving the world, Mithos creates enemies everywhere; even his former companions, Kratos and Yuan, turn against him. Seventeen years before the game begins, Kratos escapes from Mithos's grasp and takes a human wife, Anna. They have a son, Lloyd Irving, but due to the interference of Kvar, one of the Five Desian Grand Cardinals, Anna is killed and Lloyd is lost. Believing that his son is dead, Kratos gives up on life and returns to Mithos.
Lloyd does not discover who his true father is until late in the story. Yuan, the third of the Four Seraphim, is a scheming and devious warrior. Instead of opposing Mithos directly, as Kratos had done, he chooses to become a double agent, using his influence and knowledge of Cruxis's actions to foil their plans with his secret underground organization, the Renegades. Yuan was engaged to Martel before she died, and this is the only reason that Mithos does not kill him when he uncovers his betrayal, believing Martel would never forgive him if he did. With his cover blown, Yuan is forced to oppose Mithos directly by cooperating with Lloyd's group. Kratos also betrays Mithos once more by gathering materials that would allow Lloyd to wield the Eternal Sword.
After Ozette is destroyed by the Light of Judgment sent down from the heavens by Cruxis, Mithos appears for the first time in his child form. He convinces the party that he is an outsider of Ozette and joins the group, befriending Genis Sage. He gives Genis his panpipes, which are later used to summon both Mithos and the Summon Spirit Aska. Mithos next appears in his angelic form at the Tower of Salvation, where he saves Genis's life and drops the panpipes in the process. Genis then begins to suspect Mithos's true identity. Mithos's stay with the party marks his own internal conflict, which he speaks of only with Noishe. For the first time since his sister's death, he considers the possibility that what he is doing is wrong, and struggles with a growing liking for the group, particularly Genis, Raine, and Lloyd. He also says that he is tired of his prolonged existence, and that if he is wrong, he has no reason for living.
Later in the story, in the Hall of the Great Seed, Mithos manages to revive Martel by channeling his sister's consciousness through Colette Brunel. However, contrary to Mithos's expectations, the awakened Martel condemns her brother's actions. She begs him to stop creating his Age of Lifeless Beings and tells him that what he has been doing is wrong. Mithos is unable to accept that this is what Martel would really say, believing her sister would never reject him. Outraged, he attacks the party and loses, his body vanishing into his Cruxis Crystal.
Unbeknownst to the rest of the party, his Crystal is picked up by Genis, Mithos's only true friend. After the duel between Lloyd and Kratos in Heimdall and the making of the pact between Sheena Fujibayashi and Origin, Mithos's spirit leaves the Cruxis Crystal and tries to possess Lloyd. He is stopped by whoever Lloyd has the best relationship with, and Mithos takes over that person instead, escaping to Derris-Kharlan. If Lloyd's best relationship is with Kratos, Mithos will possess whoever Lloyd has the second best relationship with. Believing that his sister wanted to leave the world, he takes Derris-Kharlan with him which, in turn, separates it from the world. Mithos and Lloyd's kidnapped friend are found in Derris-Kharlan, where Lloyd rescues them from Mithos's control.
As they make their way through the now abandoned city of Welgaia, which served as the main base for Cruxis, Mithos's spirit within the Cruxis Crystal reaches out to each of the remaining party members in a desperate attempt to get them to join him. One by one, the party rejects Mithos, pledging to risk everything in order to stop him. Mithos fights the group one last time in his castle, where the Great Seed appears to be, in an attempt to destroy the world and build a new one on Derris-Kharlan just for himself and his sister. When Mithos is finally defeated and killed in the throne room of his castle, he tells the party that he feels no regret for the choices he made, and, if given the chance, he would do everything all over again. Lloyd then destroys Mithos's Cruxis Crystal, truly killing him.
In the PlayStation 2 and later versions of the game, an additional battle was added in the optional dungeon Niflheim. At the end of the dungeon, Lloyd's group must face copies of Mithos, Kratos and Yuan, who explain that they have been left as guardians until someone who can destroy the world of Niflheim arrives. As they were still on their quest to save the Great Tree, they could not leave their real bodies, only their memories. Before they disappear, Mithos asks if they have succeeded in their quest to make half-elves less hated, and asks Lloyd to help their real selves revive the Tree.
Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World[]
Although Mithos himself does not reappear in Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World, he is mentioned by Lloyd many times during the eighth chapter of the game. After visiting the Tower of Salvation, a skit triggers with Tenebrae, the Centurion of Darkness, who asks Lloyd of Mithos's whereabouts. Lloyd responds that Mithos became the new World Tree himself, or so he believes, with no mention of his time as an antagonist. When Emil Castagnier talks to Lloyd in Flanoir, Mithos is also briefly mentioned when Lloyd says that one time he had a friend that he could not save, and as a result, he had to kill him.
It is also revealed that Mithos, alongside his sister Martel, and companions, Kratos and Yuan, met Ratatosk during the events of the Kharlan War and forged a pact with him, obtaining the Derris Emblem in the process. Much like the other Summon Spirits with whom Mithos established a pact, Ratatosk is betrayed when Mithos decides to seal Origin within Kratos and take the Great Seed for himself for the sake of saving his sister, thereby breaking his promise to the Summon Spirits. However, unlike the other Summon Spirits, Ratatosk openly shows his hatred for Mithos and his former companions by placing a curse on anyone who dares to enter the Ginnungagap with the Derris Emblem.
Appearance and Personality[]
Mithos appears in a total of four forms throughout the story. In his angelic form, he appears as a tall, adult Mithos, complete with angel wings, which he uses to portray the leader of Cruxis. His jade eyes lack pupils, signifying the "lifeless" state Cruxis angels enter. His true form is a short, blonde-haired, innocent-looking half-elf, which he uses to infiltrate the group. His avenger form is similar to his child form with rainbow-colored angel wings, which he reverts to when he is angry.
After the death of Martel, Mithos becomes deranged and obsessed with resurrecting his sister. Whenever a Chosen fails to inherit Martel's soul, Mithos discards them like a worthless piece of garbage. He even goes so far as to admit that if it were not for Martel's wishes to spare Yuan, he would have killed the latter immediately. When Martel speaks against Mithos through Colette, it is revealed that Mithos does not believe that his sister would ever reject him. When Martel leaves Colette's body, Mithos, yet again twists Martel's words into something she does not want. During the final battle, Mithos admits that he would not care less for the world, that his sister was everything to him, believing that whoever was against him could never understand how he feels.
This all could likely be attributed from the circumstances of his youth. He relied heavily on Martel as a parental figure in a world that despised people like them. As Martel was a kindly individual, and as evident in her dialogue with Mithos, it can be assumed that Martel lacked the will to teach Mithos any real discipline, which can also be why he throws a temper tantrum like a child when Martel speaks against his wishes.
Fighting Style[]
Mithos acts in a similar manner in all of his fights. He has devastating magical powers at both melee and long range. While he moves slowly across the battle field, he prefers to teleport around the area to evade his enemies. Like other angel enemies, Mithos is strong against light and weak against darkness. When fighting Mithos's first form as the final boss, his normal attacks do not guard break from the rear. With his powers in regards to his child form, Mithos is also shown to be a proficient magic swordsman, demonstrated in Tales of Fandom Vol.2, Tales of Symphonia: The Animation and Tales of the Rays, as it was stated that he too trained under Kratos. In Tales of Tactics, he wields twin rapiers.
Mithos's final form is a giant, fearsome robot-like creature, in which the only recognizable part is Yggdrasill's head inside the "cockpit". The form is the physical manifestation of all of Mithos's sins, similar to those of the previously defeated mini bosses known only as The Judged, The Neglected and The Fugitive.
Other Appearances[]
Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3[]
Mithos also appears in his Yggdrasill form in Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3 as a boss in the ancient city. His costume can be crafted and used by Julio Sven, and it is also worn by Julio's evil self in the final boss battle, along with the evil Caro Orange wearing Shizel's costume.
Tales of the Rays[]
Mithos appears in his true form as member of the Salvation Front's Four Shadow Generals, recruited by the promise of bringing Martel back to life. When the Front later splinters due to a difference in opinions, he sides with the majority faction under Phantom, believing only they can fulfill his wish. However with Phantom's defeat, Mithos and the rest of the faction end up absorbed into the Asgard Empire. During this time, Martel is exoflected just as originally promised. Afterward, Mithos continues to aid the Empire but grows concerned about their motives regarding spirits, particularly the potential existence of the Spirit Martel and the plans for her if so.
The mutual relationship between Mithos and the Empire soon begins to crumble when Dist abducts Martel for the Empire's possession ceremony. Mithos then accepts aid from Kratos and Sync and together they investigate a lead about Martel being held at a temple. Once there, they encounter Sigurd and Mercuria who threaten to destroy Martel's heart core unless Mithos turns his blade on his allies. The boy complies but is unable to finish them off as reinforcements arrive. However, Mercuria is satisfied believing Mithos proved his loyalty and orders him to retreat.
Mithos becomes disheartened with no further information about Martel's location, but he soon finds another lead regarding Sellund Castle and promptly leaves only to find just Martel's heart core. While there, he encounters Mileena's party and is inadvertently discovered by Mercuria who interprets this meeting as another betrayal and leaves with her forces. Now no longer in good graces with Asgard, Mithos agrees to visit the party's hideout to discuss what he knows but during the meeting, he quietly slips away into the forest.
Lloyd follows Mithos alone and attempts to reason with him, believing his life in Tir Na Nog is a chance for him to atone even if it may not affect his original self in their home world. The fallen hero cannot bring himself to accept Lloyd's words and challenges him to a duel. Lloyd emerges victorious and Mithos comes to the conclusion that Lloyd embodies the path he chose not to follow. Once again, Lloyd offers him a second chance and Mithos accepts, placing his trust in stopping Mercuria and expecting Lloyd to uphold his ideals.
Finally obtaining a confirmed sighting on Martel, Mithos and the rest of the party go to a chiral refinery to find Nazar holding her hostage. The party manages separate them but Nazar then launches a feint attack that catches Mithos off-guard. Martel, having never actually lost her heart core, immediately jumps between them to protect her brother. Believing it was mortal blow, Martel bids farewell to Mithos and apologizes for leaving him once again.
Fortunately, Kratos and his team arrive as the former proceeds to share his mana at the potential cost of his own life. After repelling the remaining enemy forces, the party returns to the Heimdallr to treat the injured. With his former teacher in critical condition, Mithos attempts to share his mana but Kratos' body rejects it. Now desperate, Mithos turns to Lloyd and Kor Meteor for help. Using the latter's Spiria Link, they manage to rebuild Kratos' will to live and he accepts Mithos' mana.
With his sister and teacher both safe, Mithos continues to assist the party with the knowledge he obtained while in the Empire and offers whatever uses his handicapped Eternal Sword may have.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Mithos's surname is derived from Yggdrasil, a great tree in Norse mythology.
- In Tales of Phantasia, the World Tree providing infinite mana is known as "Yggdrasill". At the end of Tales of Symphonia, when the Giant Kharlan Tree is revived, Lloyd is prompted to give it a name, but that name is never revealed.
- Scenario writer Takumi Miyajima stated that she wrote Mithos's character with the intent of him being voiced by Minami Takayama. She later requested for Takayama to be cast in the role.
- The producer for Tales of the Rays stated that Mithos is left-handed leaning ambidextrous.
- Mithos's outfit appears as a legacy costume for Patty Fleur in PlayStation 3 and Definitive Edition releases of Tales of Vesperia. Yggdrasill's outfit appears as a legacy costume for Chalcedony Akerman in Tales of Hearts R.
- In the Cast of Characters section in Tales of Crestoria, both Mithos and Yggdrasill are considered separate characters, though they share the same description.