Amalthus
| Amalthus | |
|---|---|
Praetor Amalthus in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 | |
| Species | Indoline |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 500+ |
| Designer | Masatsugu Saito |
| Japanese VA | Junichi Suwabe unknown (Child) |
| English VA | Corey Johnson Becca Stewart (Child)[1] |
| Appearances | Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Torna ~ The Golden Country Super Smash Bros. Ultimate |
Amalthus (マルベーニ) is a character in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Torna ~ The Golden Country. He is a Quaestor, and later the Praetor, of the Indoline Praetorium.
Appearance and personality[edit]
As Quaestor, Amalthus is a man with white hair and gold eyes. He wears a white cap, purple and white long sleeved shirt, black pants, and black and white boots. As Praetor, Amalthus grew sideburns and a beard, and now wears a large crown and a white collared robe with gold decorations, with wedge-shaped ornaments hanging on the collar.
Amalthus is a friendly man, regretful of awakening Malos and unintentionally unleashing him on Alrest. He is also somewhat melancholy, believing that mankind is taking a step back due to war. Amalthus is also an excellent diplomat, as he was able to order a ceasefire between Mor Ardain and Uraya as the two nations were about to go to war.
Story arc[edit]
Xenoblade Chronicles 2[edit]
Amalthus is first seen in a flashback during Pyra's narration of her and Malos's origins as Aegises. He is seen climbing the World Tree in hope of finding Elysium and meeting the Architect. But when he arrived he found it empty, and as proof that he reached Elysium, he brought back two Core Crystals: those of Malos and Mythra. When he returned to Alrest, he awakened Malos, who used his destructive power to lay waste to Alrest without restraint.
Amalthus is later seen praying to an icon of the World Tree in Indol.
In another flashback, Amalthus observes a mural that depicts the creation of Alrest. He then returns to his room to consider his plans, and then climbs the World Tree, as depicted in Pyra's narration. As he explores the caves, he comes across a gate that leads to Elysium. The flashback continues with Amalthus running back with Mythra and Malos's Core Crystals in his satchel. As he makes his way down, he slips and falls, but his fall is caught by a branch. When he returns to Indol he awakens Malos, but the flashback is interrupted by one of the Indoline Monks who notifies him of Rex's arrival.
Amalthus greets Rex as he and his party arrive at the throne room. Amalthus introduces himself, saying that he and Rex are both Aegis drivers and that he considers themselves to be equals. Amalthus then notices Pyra, remarking that she's different. When Rex shows Amalthus Minoth's Gunknife, his warrior monks raise their weapons to defend him, only for the Praetor to signal them to stand down. As Amalthus examines his former Blade's weapon, Rex tells him that he's looking for a way to Elysium, saying that Cole mentioned that Amalthus would know a way. As Amalthus responds, an image of Malos briefly overlaps with Amalthus and it momentarily sounds as though both Amalthus and Malos are speaking together. Amalthus tells the party the reason why he climbed the World Tree, that he found neither Elysium or the Architect, and that he believes himself to have been unworthy. The mirage of Malos fades as Amalthus agrees to help Rex, mentioning that it may be his fate to do so, before asking for Pyra to meet with him alone.
After word is received that one of the excavated Titan weapons excavated in Temperantia (a demilitarized zone between Mor Ardain and Uraya) fired upon the Urayan forces stationed there, Amalthus summons the party to relay the news. Mòrag is angered on the turn of events, saying that her people would never go to war against Niall's will and prompting her to investigate the cause. Amalthus requests the rest of the party to assist Mòrag in her investigation; his Blade, Fan La Norne, volunteers to join.
Although the party is able to stop the Titan weapon in Temperantia (resulting in the death of Fan), the Ardainian and Urayan forces advance regardless, to Mòrag's fury. Before they clash, Amalthus intervenes by flying Indol between the warring nations to prevent further escalation.
Amalthus summons the heads of both nations, Emperor Niall Ardanach of Mor Ardain and Queen Raqura of Uraya, in a Ruler's Congress to discuss the apparent breach of the peace treaty between Mor Ardain and Uraya. Amalthus thanks both heads for agreeing to a ceasefire, but Raqura questions Indol's intervention, citing the Osirian Treaty (signed 350 years prior) stating that the Indoline Praetorium must refrain from intervening in times of war. She supposes that he must have a suitable justification. Amalthus then introduces Niranira and Zeke to take part in the negotiations. Niall states that investigations are ongoing as to the cause of the incidents, which Raqura disbelieves; Amalthus defends Niall's innocence in the matter, noting that there are witnesses to the event, and explains that Torna are at fault. Mythra is summoned, and she reveals that the wounds inflicted on Malos during the Aegis War didn't fully heal. She further believes that Malos's end goal is to reach Elysium to heal until his powers return, and then destroy humanity. Amalthus then laments his role in unleashing Malos, revealing to the Congress that he is in fact his Driver. He cites that his reason to forbid passage to the World Tree had been due to the Aegis War, but noting that the laws of humanity don't apply to Malos, he believes the time has come to lift the ban on travel to the World Tree.
After the meeting, Amalthus thanks Mythra for participating in the Ruler's Congress. Mythra retorts that he didn't earn her trust, but notes that since Rex is going to Elysium, he and Malos might cross paths again. Amalthus is surprised that Mythra is devoted to Rex; Mythra says it's for both of their sakes. In turn, she asks him what he's living for; Amalthus does not answer. He is later seen conducting Fan's funeral outside the Audience Chamber.
Amalthus is later seen cleansing the Core Crystals which the party witnesses. He claims that it increases the resonance success rate with potential Drivers. He further claims that this power was awakened in him when he became Malos's Driver. Rex wonders if he is able to do the same due to being Pyra and Mythra's Driver. Amalthus then shows the party a map of Alrest, pointing out the Great Void which is carved out by Ophion guarding the World Tree. He explains that the only thing that can rescind Ophion's order is the Omega Fetter which can be found in Tantal; he makes Rex a special envoy to Tantal for this reason. Amalthus then warns the party that Torna might seek the Omega Fetter for themselves, and requests the party to inform him about what they find in Elysium.
Amalthus briefly reminisces of him witnessing Malos's awakening. Amalthus learns from Hector that the Aegis has fallen in the hands of Torna, prompting him to start an unknown ceremony.
Amalthus is seen in a flashback where he saves Zeke and Pandoria's lives, surgically infusing a portion of her Core Crystal into Zeke.
When the party and Jin reaches the Tornan titan's matrix in the Land of Morytha, he reveals to the party that Amalthus was responsible for destroying the last remnants of Torna and Lora's death. Jin also reveals Amalthus's true nature and goals of acquiring the Aegis to use it to destroy everything.
When the party reaches the Sky Bridge at the World Tree, Rex wonders why Amalthus hates everything before coming to the conclusion that he wants to destroy the whole world. Meanwhile, while Indol is on its way to World Tree by hiding in the Cloud Sea, Amalthus reminisces of his mother's death as a child in a flashback, after seeing her mother's corpse, he kills her murderers in their sleep with a rock. One of his warrior monks notifies him that they're about to exit the Cloud Sea soon and begin their attack on the Marsanes.
While Indol is battling Torna, Amalthus reminisces of him witnesses Malos's destructive power against a fleet of ships, amazing him. Back in Indol, Malos decides to leave him, much to his shock, claiming that he has full control of his powers. After his departure, Amalthus wonders if someone can control the other Core Crystal and send them after Malos. Back in the present, Amalthus grins malevolently while watching the party's progression on a holographic screen.
As the party ascends the World Tree, they were intercepted by a group of Indoline monks sent by Amalthus, to pass an order to Rex to use Mythra to destroy the Marsanes which he refuses. The monks then retaliated, only for them to be swiftly defeated by the party. Amalthus then makes his move by taking control of the party's Blades as well as Nia, he then projects a hologram of himself to the party, revealing that he absorbed half of Haze's Core Crystal. Amalthus then forces Mythra to command Siren to attack the Marsanes, but Siren misses due to Mythra resisting Amalthus's control. Amalthus then proclaims himself the Master Driver, revealing through Haze's Core Crystal, he has gained control of every Blades, even the Titans. Rex then accuses him of causing the Aegis War, before Amalthus attacks the Marsanes again with Siren, but misses again due to Mythra resisting him before Rex is able to finally break Amalthus's grip on Mythra with his power.
Meanwhile, some Blade Bots manages to destroy one of Indol's amplification towers, weakening Amalthus's power a little bit. In desperation, Amalthus summons Mor Ardain, and then Uraya to attack the World Tree.
In a flashback, Amalthus is seen at a refugee camp, spreading Indol's teachings. He is later helping an injured man, only to find the same man robbing a family's house after murdering its inhabitants. Just as the man was about to stab their baby, Amalthus kills the man and took the baby. He then asks the Architect if this the world as he intended.
In the present, after Mikhail transforms the Marsanes into a battle ready mech, Amalthus is amazed how some of old Torna's technology still works before being hailed by Mikhail. Amalthus then tries to take control of Mikhail but fails due to him to being a Blade Eater. Shocked, knowing that the Blade Eater technology doesn't exist outside Indol until he realizes that he's one of the Tornan refugees he thought he disposed of. Mikhail then continues his assault on Indol (showing anger that Amalthus didn't even bother evacuating the people) until Genbu, (also summoned by Amalthus) ambushes him.
Genbu's arrival stuns the party, realizing the possibility that Amalthus might destroy Alrest before Malos does, Rex and Pneuma with Poppi's assistance destroys the remaining amplification towers, freeing the Titans from Amalthus's grip. In fury Amalthus fires on the party with Indol, only to be saved by Mikhail. After Mikhail sends the party off to confront Jin and Malos one last time, he turns his attention to stopping Amalthus, grabbing Indol and slamming it against the World Tree. Enraged, Amalthus attempts to retaliate only for Mikhail to sacrifice himself to sink Indol, with Amalthus apparently going down with it.
In flashback involving him and Zeke, they discuss about killing and it makes people weak, a trait Amalthus claim before declaring his hatred of the world.
Amalthus unfortunately survived the explosion. With the cores he cleansed, he mutates into a horrible monstrosity with six tentacles on his back. He then catches up to the party at Lv. 4, Megrez by killing Patroka with one of his tentacles and absorbs her Core Crystal. He then claims to be an agent of the Architect's will; Dromarch and Pandoria rebuke his claims. Pneuma realizes that Amalthus's worldview is what caused Malos to be the same way. Akhos tries to attack Amalthus in revenge despite Jin's protests, only to be grabbed by Amalthus, who chastises him for being a mere Blade whose very existence depends on how long the Driver lives. Rex and the rest of the party try to save Akhos but to no avail, with Zeke telling Amalthus that they are all friends with the Blades. Amalthus is angered by the concept and tears out Akhos's Core Crystal, killing him before engaging the party.
Despite his immense power, he is defeated. Refusing to accept defeat, Amalthus fuses with the World Tree to destroy it from within, before he tries to absorb Jin's Core Crystal as well, only for his attack to be blocked by Rex and Pneuma, who then transforms back into Mythra and explains that if he got ahold of Jin's core, Amalthus would be unstoppable. Jin, having a change of heart, tells Rex to stop Malos and tell him the answer he found, as he believes Malos is still searching for his own identity. Jin then confronts Amalthus. Jin uses the last of his power to impale Amalthus with several icicles, killing him. As he is dying, he is greeted by a vision of his mother.
In a flashback between Amalthus and Zeke, he recalls how his rescue of Zeke and Pandoria is similar to his mother's death.
The Architect reveals to the party that he did not intervene in Amalthus's theft of Logos and Pneuma's Cores, believing it to be fate. He also reveals Malos is motivated by Amalthus's despair.
Torna ~ The Golden Country[edit]
Future Redeemed[edit]
Amalthus is seen in a flashback in Future Redeemed during Shulk and Rex's narration on the origin of the world.
Having seen the worst of humanity first-hand, and with his search for answers yielding Malos, Amalthus turns from a man of faith into a malicious, power-hungry zealot. He believes that the Architect has ordained him to destroy the world, and takes to it in a way that is meticulous and calculated, researching Blades and Titans in order to determine how to weaken them and cause them to die out of apparent natural causes. He shows no scruples over the human test subjects captured and sacrificed for these experiments - the ends justify the means.
While he does oppose Malos, it is only because Malos is too immediately destructive. Amalthus wants to see the world whither and die slowly, with him as the only apparent savior. As soon as Malos is out of the picture, he stages a coup d'état over Indol to become the Praetor, and quickly uses his position to try and hunt down the other Aegis so she is no threat to him either. At no time does he ever show remorse for these acts - only satisfaction.
By the time of the main game, Amalthus has developed a full-on god complex. He believes that he is the only one worthy to meet the Architect and interpret his intent, and will do anything to prevent others from doing so. He uses his power of cleansing Core Crystals to control their supply and thus maninpulate how other nations wage war, giving him indirect control over the entirety of Alrest. Once he starts to lose his leverage, he turns violent and maniacal, combining his power as a Master Driver with the power of Haze's Core Crystal to force Titans under his control without a thought for their populations. His desperation only increases after Indol is felled, resorting to transforming himself in order to fight Rex's party personally, all the while still convinced that he is doing the right thing.
When Amalthus appears in the World Tree after Indol is destroyed, he takes on a much bulkier form. It is composed of carapace-like white armor covered in glowing blue lights, several tentacles sprouting from his back, and red eyes with slit-like pupils. He created this form by absorbing the Core Crystals of many Blades, and demonstrates the ability to snatch Cores directly out of living Blades to empower himself. At his most desperate, he can create an immense number of tentacles that can fuse with the surfaces around him.
Lore[edit]
As an NPC[edit]
| Praetor Amalthus | |
|---|---|
| Location | Indol |
| Species | Indoline |
| Gender | Male |
| Time | Anytime |
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
Amalthus appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a Spirit.
Trivia[edit]
- The name "Amalthus" is likely based on Thomas Robert Malthus, an infamous British economist whose theories on overpopulation were blamed for his government's inaction during the Irish Potato Famine.
- Amalthus shares similarities to other characters within the Xeno series; see Thematic parallels for details.
- In Japanese, Amalthus is voiced by Junichi Suwabe, who also voices Umon.
- In English, young Amalthus is voiced by Becca Stewart, who also voices Pandoria.
In other languages[edit]
Gallery[edit]
Artwork[edit]
Screenshots[edit]
Xenoblade Chronicles 2[edit]
Amalthus after absorbing Haze's Core Crystal.
Torna ~ The Golden Country[edit]
References[edit]
|
Characters in Xenoblade Chronicles 2
| |
|---|---|
| Playable Drivers | Mòrag • Nia • Rex • Tora • Vandham • Zeke |
| Main playable Blades | Brighid • Dromarch • Mythra • Pandoria • Pneuma • Poppi • Pyra • Roc |
| Optional playable Blades | Adenine • Aegaeon • Agate • Azami • Boreas • Dagas • Dahlia • Electra • Finch • Floren • Godfrey • Gorg • Herald • Kasandra • Kora • KOS-MOS • Newt • Nim • Perceval • Perun • Praxis • Sheba • T-elos • Theory • Ursula • Vale • Vess • Wulfric • Zenobia |
| DLC Blades | Corvin • Crossette • Elma • Fiora • Poppibuster • Shulk |
| Torna | Akhos • Cressidus • Jin • Lora • Malos • Mikhail • Obrona • Patroka • Perdido • Sever |
| Argentum | Bana • Niranira • Pupunin • Spraine |
| Gormott | Dughall • Padraig • Rhys • Umon |
| Uraya | Iona • Cole • Raqura • Yew • Zuo |
| Mor Ardain | Lila • Muimui • Niall • Roderich • Soosoo • Tatazo |
| Leftheria | Addam • Gramps • Corinne |
| Indol | Amalthus • Fan la Norne |
| Tantal | Eulogimenos • Fortis • Genbu • Turters |
| Other | The Architect • Galea • Klaus • Nopon Archsage • Ontos |
|
Characters in Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country
| |
|---|---|
| Playable Drivers | Addam • Hugo • Lora |
| Playable Blades | Aegaeon • Brighid • Haze • Jin • Minoth • Mythra |
| Supporting characters | Amalthus • Azurda • Baltrich • Mikhail • Milton • Ornelia • Pyra • Rhadallis • Rynea • Stannif • Teo • Tornan King • Zettar |
| Antagonists | Gort • Malos |