Tuesday, October 1, 2019

The connections between the individual Stars of Destiny in Suikoden games - Part 1

As you might know, I love the Suikoden series so very much, for continuity nods and interesting character-driven plots. With Suikoden V finally out of the way I can try my hand at analyzing the possible connections of the 108 Stars of Destiny each game had to offer. I got the inspiration from a forum thread that did the same thing, but here's my take on these possible roles. This will be three posts long just so you know.

1 - Tenkai - Chief Star of Heaven - The Opportune Rain
Tir McDohl, Riou, Thomas, Lazlo En Kuldes, Freyjadour Falenas
I've made a post on this one already, but I'll reiterate, it's usually not just the game hero but the gatherer of stars, which would explain Thomas here, since he wasn't the main hero in III.

2 - Tengou - Star of Conflagration - The Jade Ch'i lin
Lepant, Ridley Wizen/Boris Wizen, Sasarai, Lino En Kuldes, Raja
All are generals and leaders of some kind, always plot-relevant in some way and always loyal with strong units in war battles.

3 - Tenki - Star of Wisdom - The Great Intelligence
Mathiu Silverberg, Shu, Caesar Silverberg, Elenor Silverberg, Lucretia Merces
The main strategist for the HQ in the game and always the most cunning individual who specializes in strategy.

4 - Tenkan - Star of Idleness - Dragon Entering the Clouds
Luc, Luc, Luc, Ted, Zerase
Always powerful and reliable wizards with unique runes. This star is often a Tablet Guardian in the case of Luc in the first two games and Zerase.

5 - Tenyu - Star of Bravery - The Great Sword
Humphrey Mintz, Humphrey Mintz, Dupa, Tal, Craig Laden
Usually a plot-relevant, powerful general and/or a party member who joins through plot. Tal isn't a general, but he's still a powerful physical fighter.

6 - Tenyuu - Star of Heroic Ferocity - The Leopard Headed
Kasim Hazil, Hauser, Yuber, Izak, Galleon
Another powerful general and plot-relevant party member like the previous star. Izak again isn't a general but still a powerful physical fighter. Same with Galleon but he's more of a senior knight.

7 - Tenmou - Star of Swift Courage - The Fire in the Thunder Clap
Kwanda Rosman, Kiba Windamier, Shiba, Axel, Boz Wilde
The Suikosource tablet page says "strong village leader" although I'm sure that starts from III to V. And even then, they aren't the real leaders of their places (Dupa is the lizard chief, not Shiba, Axel is the son of Na-Nal's chief). Kwanda and Kiba are both enemy generals fought who defect to the player's side. Usable generals in war too.

8 - Teni - Star of Majesty - The Double Whip of Iron
Pesmerga, Pesmerga, Lucia, Selma, Nakula
Generally strong party members and/or leaders. Usually has a vendetta against someone. Nakula against Sagiri and Nether Gate, Pesmerga against Yuber, Lucia against Teresa in II then later Chris. Selma may or may not have a vendetta, but it would probably be against humans as a whole.

9 - Tenei - Heroic Star - The Little Li Kuan
Gremio, Sierra Mikain, Yuiri, Aldo, Lyon
It says "sworn protector" and I guess that makes sense, especially with Gremio and Lyon being protectors of the main hero. Aldo feels the need to protect Ted as well. As for Sierra and Yuiri, they are usually protectors of their villages I guess.

10 - Tenki - Lofty Star - The Little Whirlwind
Warren, Teresa Wisemail, Salome Harras, Schtolteheim Reinbach III, Talgeyl
It says "town mayor" but I don't think any of these apply to anyone other than Teresa and Talgeyl, and even then they are acting mayors. Salome is the most bureaucratic of the Zexen Knights I guess, while Reinbach is the son of a mayor. Warren I'm not sure about.

11 - Tenfu - Star of Wealth - The Eagle Who Smites the Heavens
Kun To, Nina, Jimba, Chiepoo, Euram Barows/Eresh
Well, I'd say they are all wealthy in some way, Jimba being Wyatt Lightfellow can afford a nice house in Zexen, and Euram is of course wealthy. Chiepoo strives to be wealthy and Kun To is a notorious smuggler which hints he's wealthy. Nina could afford college I guess. Generally though, all do something rather important to each game's plot in completely different ways. Only one that's odd here is Eresh, which has no connection.

12 - Tenman - Star of Abundance - The Beautiful Bearded
Cleo, Abizboah/Feather/Siegfried, Juan, Paula, Dinn
25 - Tentai - Retreating Star - The Winged Tiger
Pahn, Abizboah/Feather/Siegfried, Cecile, Jewel, Shoon
I put these two together because they are both generally connected as subordinates to the Tenkai Star, especially in I (Cleo and Pahn both bodyguards to Tir), III (Juan and Cecile close friends to Thomas), and IV (Paula and Jewel both are Razril knights along with Lazlo). No real connection between Dinn and Shoon, although both were friendly with the Prince before he became the Tenkai Star I guess, which would make sense for the rest too. And the Listening Crystal monsters in II are out of place I'd say.

13 - Tenko - Lone Star - The Tattooed Priest
Viktor, Viktor, Sergeant Joe, Kika, Kyle
Always a powerful plot-relevant warrior that serves as a right-hand man sort of star to the hero (Sgt. Joe is a bit of an exception due to being only Hugo's right hand man, not necessarily for the other protagonists).

14 - Tensyo - Wounded Star - The Hairy Priest
Valeria, Valeria or Tomo, Hugo, Keneth, Zegai
With the name "Wounded Star" I assume that the people here have lost something of sorts. Both Valeria and Hugo have lost homes in their games, while Zegai loses his freedom and to a lesser extent Keneth as well (both of them don't enjoy the comforts of the places they are in I guess or something like that). Tomo is an exception to this I guess, although her father leaving her for a bit may count as "wounded"

15 - Tenritsu - Star of the Standing Spear - Warrior of the Two Spears
Griffith, Fitcher, Bazba, Ramada, Isato
All are involved in plot, though usually in tertiary or relatively minor roles, especially Bazba. Fitcher and Ramada, the two non-playable ones, have the biggest roles overall in their games, but other than plot relevance I know no real connections to think of.

16 - Tensyo - The Swift Star - The Featherless Arrow
Clive, Clive, Yun, Travis, Haswar Falenas
Yun and Haswar are both spiritual mystics of sorts, while Clive and Travis are generally loners who hang around mysterious locations perhaps. I guess they are all connected in the settings they are usually found in.

17 - Tenan - Dark Star - Blue Faced Beast
Flik, Flik, Edge, Snowe Vingerhut, Belcoot
Dashing swordsman archetype, usually good-looking and plot relevant (except Edge)

18 - Tenyu - Guardian Star - The Wielder of the Golden Sword
Camille, Tsai, Yumi, Rachel, Norma
The forum thread says the title is "Master Halberdier" which fits all except Yumi since they use polearms. Yumi is certainly out of place there, but I can't figure out any other connection.

19 - Tenku - Empty Star - The Swift Vanguard
Kreutz, Jess, Fubar, Helga, Ax
This one I can't really find much connection on, other than Fubar and Ax being animals and all being playable except Jess.

20 - Tensoku - Speedy Star - The Magic Messenger
Stallion, Stallion, Nash Latkje, Cedric, Cathari
Other than Nash, all are super speedy thanks to the True Holy/Godspeed Rune they have. Nash is still a fast character.

21 - Teni - Strange Star - The Red-headed Devil
Kage, Georg Prime, Aila, Keen, Georg Prime
The thread says that these stars all do something dedicated but would make them seem bad. I guess that's fair especially for Georg and Aila, Georg moreso in V due to his role and Aila for joining with the HSBDF despite being Karayan. Keen ends up joining to keep a tab on Sigurd while Kage is a ninja for hire. All are technically assassins except Aila.

22 - Tensatsu - Murderous Star - The Black Whirlwind
Fu Su Lu, Hanna, Hallec, Gau, Ernst
All are considered beastly fighters who have animal motives or instincts, the first three just being powerful warriors with animal skins (Hanna is the least beastly), while Gau is feral and Ernst is cursed.

23 - Tenbi - Lowly Star - The Nine Dragoned
Kirkis, Killey, Chris Lightfellow, Gretchen, Killey
Can't find a connection here other than them all being party members.

24 - Lewd Star - The Indominable One
Milich Oppenheimer, Anita, Estella, Konrad, Shula Valya
Except Shula, all are well-versed in magic, with Milich and Anita being good with swords as well. Milich and Shula are quite narcissistic as well.

26 - Tenjyu - Star of Longevity - The Dragon Who Roils Ivers
Sonya Shulen, Nanami, Geddoe, Katarina Cott, Bernadette Egan
All are related to parents or parent figures of the protagonists. Sonya loved Teo. Nanami was Riou's sister, who's adoptive father was Genkaku. Bernadette is related to Ferid, Prince's father. Lazlo's father wasn't Glen but he was a parental figure I guess, although he was Katarina's actual father. Then there's Geddoe, who, in line with the Longevity issue, has lived long, but he's also related to Wyatt, Chris's father, who was his comrade-in-arms. Both Katarina and Bernadette have their own father issues it seems.

27 - Tenken - Dagger Star - God of Swift Death
Anji, Rina, Melville, Lo Seng, Volga
29 - Tenzai - Star of Sin - The Short Lived
Kanak, Eilie, Alanis, Lo Fong, Wasil
31 - Tenpai - The Vanquished Star - The Fierce King of Devils
Leonardo, Bolgan, Elliot, Lo Hak, Orok
Obviously a trio of stars who are usually together, will usually stay united together in any case.

28 - Tenhei - Leveled Star - The Boatman
Tai Ho, Tai Ho, Ace, Shiramine, Lance
30 - Tenson - Broken Star - White Stripes in the Waves
Yam Koo, Yam Koo, Queen, Ugetsu, Flail
A duo of stars, usually involves fishermen in the case of I, II, and IV. For V, I wish Logg and Lun were swapped with Lance and Flail here, since the latter two are non-human and the former two are fisherman. Ace and Queen are part of a larger group.

32 - Tenrou - The Goal Star - The Sick Kuan So
Hix, Hix, Franz, Rakgi, Yoran
33 - Tensui - Star of Intelligence - One who heeds not his life
Tengaar, Tengaar, Iku, Rikie, Nick
Another duo of stars, usually a boy/girl pair with the exception of Yoran and Nick who are both male.

34 - Tenbou - Savage Star - Double-Headed Snake
Varkas, Freed Yamamoto, Scott, Jango, Wilhelm
35 - Tenkoku - Wailing Star - The Double Tailed Scorpion
Sydonia, Yoshino Yamamoto, Ernie, Brec, Mueller
Yet another duo of stars, except for Scott and Ernie in III who aren't a duo. Will usually join together and in I and II, party members while in IV and V, war units.

36 - Tenkou - Clever Star - The Prodigal
Eileen, Chaco, Dios, Flare en Kuldes, Toma
Usually connected with the Tengou Star for the most part, with Eileen and Flare being relatives and Dios being Sasarai's closest partner. Chaco and Ridley's connection is that they both fight for Two River. Toma and Raja's connection is perhaps the weakest, but both fight together so why not.

Continued in the next post

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