Wilhelm
Wilhelm | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Gender | Male |
Age | 20 (Appearance) |
Height | 170 cm |
Weight | 54 kg |
Japanese VA | Nobuyuki Hiyama Hikaru Midorikawa (The Animation) |
English VA | Richard Cansino (XS1) Jason Spisak (XS2, XS3) |
Appearances | Xenosaga Episode I Xenosaga Episode II Xenosaga Episode III Xenosaga: Pied Piper Xenosaga I & II Xenosaga: The Animation Xenosaga Episode I (manga) |
Wilhelm (ヴィルヘルム) is a supporting character in the Xenosaga series. He is the founder and CEO of Vector Industries, making him Shion's, Allen's and Miyuki's employer.
Appearance and personality[edit]
Wihelm is a man with red eyes and white fringe-styled hair. Wilhelm wears an all black uniform with a gold cross decoration on his chest.
Wilhelm is an unflappable person who rarely shows emotion. What emotion he does show is subtle. He speaks and behaves in a measured, calm way. Even when genuinely surprised he does not raise his voice or become animated.
Story arc[edit]
History[edit]
Wilhelm is the founder and CEO of the interplanetary corporation Vector Industries. He also is the former Executive Committee Director of the Galaxy Federation. Wilhelm resides in the Dämmerung, a giant spacecraft/colony that acts as the headquarters for Vector.
Pied Piper[edit]
Wilhelm appears in two scenes in Xenosaga: Pied Piper. His assistant Kayla reports to him over new developments surrounding Dmitri Yuriev. Wilhelm has no reason to worry. He claims that the soul of the investigator of Voyager has a soul burning with radiance beyond compare, but he is not the only one burning so brightly. He speaks of using Lactis, who is carrying a program called "Canaan" which is searching the start system for humans with a certain factor. After Kayla leaves, Wilhelm speaks of chaos, who spoke to Jan in a vision and how getting help from others isn't like him. He is content for the day chaos will once again return to the stage. Towards the end of the game when Voyager tries to call forth U-DO using the Zohar, Wilhelm appears, saying U-DO will not respond and that it has already learned what it wanted to know. Wilhelm offers to be Voyager's new partner and make him very happy. Claiming he has been watching him for a long time, he offers to give him a new world he hasn't even imagined. Voyager accepts the offer and becomes the Black Testament.
Episode I[edit]
Wilhelm first appears in a scene shortly after Shion and the others make their way onto the Elsa. A mysterious hooded man, the Red Testament reports to him information from KOS-MOS. They discuss KOS-MOS' prime directive to protect Shion, as well as the data for the Rhine Maiden being complete. Wilhelm is pleased that all phenomena are moving forward as specified by his Compass of Order.
Later in the game when the Kukai Foundation is framed by the U-TIC Organization for the destruction of the Woglinde, Wilhelm personally contacts Representative Helmer, offering his assistance. Wilhelm claims he will make recommendations to Parliament, dispatch the Dämmerung in the Miltian system and agrees to lend KOS-MOS to Gaignun. Wilhelm is later seen playing chess with the Red Testament when the Song of Nephilim starts being heard and a large mass of Gnosis appear by the Kukai Foundation. Wilhelm orders the Dämmerung to utilize the Rhine Maiden, a weapon that destroys a massive amount of Gnosis. Wilhelm has one final conversation with the Red Testament near the end of the game where they talk about Albedo being the one who is able to open the door to Abel's Ark. Wilhelm is doubtful of Albedo's ability to link with U-DO however.
Episode II[edit]
Wilhelm is first seen talking to Helmer as Second Miltia and the Federation prepare for war against Ormus. He later appears in a scene with the Red Testament after Shion and Allen escape the Dämmerung on Dinah. They discuss Albedo's ascension and the awakening of KOS-MOS. Wilhelm references someone needing to play the role of the villain, he also states that he enjoys human suffering. Wilhelm is seen again towards the end of the game when Abel's Ark appears. Although they are not present in the same location, he speaks to chaos, whom he calls Yeshua about the fact that chaos will no longer be holding back and will be entering the stage. Wilhelm appears in the final scene of the game along with the Testaments as they welcome Albedo as the White Testament. He also speaks about the Y-Data, that a great deal of it is missing and that the answer lies in the U.M.N.
Episode III[edit]
Wilhelm is one of the primary antagonists of Episode III. Wilhelm is first seen with the Red Testament, talking about Shion's activities, and his mission to Rennes-le-Château, the Zohar Project demonstration on Fifth Jerusalem, and Ormus as well as warning him that Shion's contact with KOS-MOS is taking its toll on her, telling him that he must succeed this time. As the Red Testament departs, Wilhelm remarks that Shion emits good wavelengths which he agrees.
- Main article: Heinlein
Wilhelm is the Guardian of the Lower Domain and has lived for countless millennia. He is a being created by the Collective Unconscious to protect the Lower Domain from the universe's collapse. To this end, he has reset time repeatedly, a cycle known as the Eternal Recurrence. He is extremely manipulative, having guided humanity towards countless Eternal Recurrences. A perceptive man, he lures people to his side by offering something they desire or forcing them to watch those they care about suffer. Wilhelm is also a sadist, explicitly stating that he enjoys human suffering and demonstrated through his torture of Shion. Because of his machinations, Wilhelm is the central antagonist of the Xenosaga trilogy.
Lore[edit]
- Wilhelm is a fan of the board game, Chess and is often seen playing it with the Red Testament.
- Wilhelm enjoys Richard Wagner's music.
Database[edit]
Episode I
Wilhelm
Founder and CEO of the interplanetary conglomerate, Vector Industries.
He also served as the Executive Committee Director of the Galaxy Federation, up to a decade ago.
Like chaos, his origins and personal history are shrouded in mystery.
A man in a scarlet cloak, his advisor and aide, is ever present at his side and the strains of Wagner can always be heard in his office.
Episode III
Wilhelm
Founder of Vector Industries.
Founder and CEO of interplanetary conglomerate Vector Industries. Having created the U.M.N., a giant network unifying all of space, and built facilities for hyperspace navigation, the company has become the de facto nucleus of all civilization, with a firm grasp of all the latest technology.
Once the Galaxy Federation Executive Committee Director, his origins and personal history are shrouded in mystery. Furthermore, in addition to his official role, he commands the secret order of cloaked figures known as Testaments, attempting to meddle with the destinies of Shion, KOS-MOS, and the others.
The only ones to understand Wilhelm's fixation with Shion and KOS-MOS--his purpose and motivation--are the Testaments, and even they may not truly understand his plans.
Supposedly, his office is constantly filled with the music of Wagner.
Calling chaos Yeshua and reading the movements of the Compass of Order and Chaos, he plots to change the very shape of the world. In trying to bend the movement of the God-ordained compass towards his own desired conclusion, he makes himself a traitor unto God.
What he is attempting to accomplish can be inferred from the words he once spoke to Kevin as a boy: eternal recurrence. Millenia ago, when the will of humanity resonated with chaos' power of Anima-- the failsafe of the universe--the universe's destruction was ordained.
Wilhelm chose eternal recurrence through Zarathustra as a means of averting that destruction--rewinding time to the past and living in an eternal cycle.
Vector, Ormus, the Testaments, and finally KOS-MOS and Shion--he waited until the moment that all the necessary factors were lined up.
It is unsure whether the current cycle is the tenth recurrence, or even the hundredth, but the distortions created by the repetition gradually changed people's consciousness. Ultimately, mankind rejected his power, choosing to progress to the future by their own will.
While his methods differed from Shion's, Wilhelm undoubtedly sought to save the world just the same. Or perhaps what he truly wanted was a revolution in mankind's consciousness, brought about by the cyclical recurrence of time.
Heinlein
Hyams Corporation representative and Ormus cardinal.
Hyams Corporation representative and Ormus cardinal. Responsible for technological research and development and securing funds, he is the second most influential member of Ormus, after Sergius XVII. Despite this, he has never shown himself in public; even Margulis and his men have never seen him directly.
Many, including Margulis, sympathize with Heinlein’s wish for a return to Lost Jerusalem through Ormus, and give him their loyalty. After the death of Sergius XVII, he assumes control of Ormus and moves to take back Ormus’s holy land, Michtam.
His true identity is Wilhelm, who owned and operated both Vector and Hyams. The development of a Vector-manufactured E.S. at Labyrinthos was all part of Wilhelm’s plan.
Freaks
ヴィルヘルム
ヴェクターの総帥。'秩序の羅針盤'を所有している。
ヴェクター・インダストリーの創設者にして総帥。星団連邦枢機院会議議長の職に就いていたが、その他の経歴の一切は謎に包まれている。ヘルマーとの会話から、ヴィルヘルムは彼よりも高い地位にいると推測させるが、幼さの残る外見とのギャプからか非常に不思議な存在に見える。また正体不明の赤い外套の男も従えているで、この関係も不可解としか言いようがない。これらの不可解さはヴィルヘルム本人に対してもそうであるが、ヴェクターという巨大企業体の存在そのものに対してのものでもあるのだろう。'秩序の羅針盤'を所有し、未来の全てを見通しているかのような態度は、神の声を聴く預言者のようだ。
Wilhelm
Chief of Vector. Possesses the "Compass of Order".
Founder and General Manager of Vector Industries. He once held the position of Director of the Galaxy Federation Executive Committee, but all other details about his career are shrouded in mystery. From his conversations with Helmer, it can be inferred that Wilhelm is of a higher status than him, but his presence is quite mysterious, perhaps due to the gap between his youthful appearance and his personality. He is also accompanied by an unidentified man in a red cloak, and their association is puzzling, to say the least. These perplexities apply not only to Wilhelm himself, but also to the very existence of the mega-corporation Vector. Possessing the "Compass of Order" with the demeanor of being able to see into the whole future, he is like a prophet listening to the voice of God.
Xenosaga I & II
ハインライン
ハイアムズ社代表であり、オルムス枢機卿の一人。
オルムスにおいては異端審問官を統べる立場に立ち、技術開発や資金の調達などを一手に引き受けており、実質的に、セルギウス17世に次ぐ実力者である。
だが、これまで人前にその姿を現した事はなく、彼を総帥と崇めるマーグリス達にでさえ、その姿を直接見せることはない。
Heinlein
Hyams Corporation representative and an Ormus Cardinal.
Within Ormus, he commands the inquisitors, and is responsible for technological development and fundraising, making him the second most powerful figure after Sergius XVII.
Despite this, he has never shown himself in public before; even Margulis and the others, who venerate him as their leader, have never seen him directly.
ヴィルヘルム
星間コングロマリット『ヴェクター・インダストリー』の創設者にしてCEO。
U.M.N.と呼ばれる全宇宙を連結する巨大なネットワークを創り、超空間航法を行う為の設備を建設し、事実上文明圏全体の核となる事業、技術のすべて掌握している。
かつて、星団連邦枢機院会議議長の職に就いていた時期もあるが、その出自、経歴の一切は謎に包まれている。
Wilhelm
Founder and CEO of the interstellar conglomerate "Vector Industries".
They established the giant network that connects the entire universe known as the U.M.N., built facilities for hyperspace navigation, and are in control of virtually all core businesses and technologies in the entire sphere of civilization.
He once served as Director of the Galaxy Federation Executive Committee, but his background and career are shrouded in mystery.
ヴィルヘルム その2
表の顔とは別に、謎の外套者“テスタメント”達を使役し、シオンやKOS-MOS達の運命に干渉しようとする、裏の顔も持ち合わせている。
何故、彼がシオンやKOS-MOSにこだわるのか、その目的や行動理由を知るのはテスタメントだけである。ただ、その彼らでさえも、ヴィルヘルムの真意を理解しているかは定かではない。
彼はケイオスを“イエオーシュア”と呼び、“秩序と混沌の羅針盤”の動きを読み取る。
Wilhelm Part 2
Beyond his public face, he also has a sinister side commanding the mysterious cloaked figures known as "Testaments" in an attempt to meddle with the destines of Shion, KOS-MOS, and the others.
Only the Testaments know his goals and motives for his actions, and why he is so fixated on Shion and KOS-MOS. However, whether even they understand Wilhelm's true intentions is uncertain.
He refers to chaos as "Yeshua", and reads the movements of the "Compass of Order and Chaos".
Trivia[edit]
- Episode I's Weekly Xenosaga magazine vol. 1 states that Wilhelm only "appears" to be male. However, this is updated to just "male" in his character profiles for following Episode II and Episode III magazine issues.
- Episode II's Weekly Xenosaga magazine vol. 1 states that Wilhelm has the appearance of a 16-17 year old. This was updated to age 20 in Episode III's magazine vol. 2.
- Similar to Krelian from Xenogears, despite being the central antagonist, Wilhelm is not fought at all at any point throughout the trilogy.
- Wilhelm's motives and nature are similar to Xenoblade Chronicles 3's main antagonist, Z; see Thematic parallels for details.
- Wilhelm is likely named after Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche. Eternal Recurrence was proposed as a concept by Nietzsche in a form very similar to how it appears in Xenosaga, and the subtitles of the mainline Xenosaga games — respectively Der Wille zur Macht, Jenseits von Gut und Böse, and Also Sprach Zarathustra — are named after various works of Nietzsche.
- Wilhelm's Japanese voice actor in Xenosaga: The Animation, Hikaru Midorikawa, also voices Fei in Xenogears and U-DO in Xenosaga Episode III.
- Wilhelm's English voice actor in Xenosaga Episode II and Episode III, Jason Spisak, also voices Richard and Hammer in the same games.
See also[edit]
Gallery[edit]
Official artwork[edit]
Xenosaga Episode I[edit]
Screenshots[edit]
Xenosaga Episode II[edit]
Screenshots[edit]
Xenosaga Episode III[edit]
Screenshots[edit]
Character portraits[edit]
Models[edit]
Xenosaga I & II[edit]
CG images[edit]
Character portraits[edit]
Characters of Xenosaga
| |
---|---|
Main playable characters | chaos • Jin • Jr. • KOS-MOS • MOMO • Shion • Ziggy |
Vector | Alex • Allen • Bunnie • Kayla • Kevin • Mantel • Miyuki • T-elos • Togashi • Wilhelm |
Elsa/Durandal | Alby • Gaignun • Hammer • Mary • Matthews • Professor • Scott • Shelley • Tony |
Ormus/U-TIC | Cherenkov • Heinlein • Hermann • Joachim • Julius XVIII • Kirsch • Margulis • Orgulla • Pellegri • Richard • Sellers • Sergius XIV • Sergius XVII • Vanderkam |
Galaxy Federation | Canaan • Caspase • Helmer • Juli • Lapis • Moriyama • Ruryk • Virgil |
Yuriev Institute/Salvator Faction | Albedo • Citrine • Sakura • Yuriev • Zora |
Miltia | Aizen • Almadel • Aoi • Cathe • Cecily • Febronia • Mai • Suou |
Abraxas | Alexei • Bugs • Erich • Joaquin • Klaus • Lactis • McCallum • Melisse • Mikhail • Sharon |
Lost Jerusalem | Grimoire • Jesus • Mary Magdalene • Masuda • Nephilim |
Other | Abel • Boss • Coconut Monkey • Dark Professor • Doctus • Other Professor • U-DO • Voyager |