Post by Melissa Foxworthy on Dec 4, 2007 1:11:52 GMT -5
Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
It is the year T.C. 4768, and mankind exists on distant planets and artificial colonies. Earth is seemingly gone; it has been erased from starmaps and renamed "Lost Jerusalem". The capital of all known space is Fifth Jerusalem, where the Galaxy Federation supposedly keeps watch over mankind.
For the past fourteen years, a mysterious enemy known as the Gnosis has attacked man's colonies seemingly indiscriminately. It is largely believed that the Gnosis were brought into the universe by a scientist named Joachim Mizrahi during the Miltian Conflict of T.C. 4753, but there is more to that story than the public really knows.
The Zohar, a central artifact and plot device in the Xenosaga series..Since its discovery on Lost Jerusalem, an artifact known as the Zohar has been highly sought after, despite having caused the disappearance of Earth. Several factions—chiefly the underground Ormus society and the aforementioned Galaxy Federation—wish to harness its power. Both groups believe that the Zohar's significance is threefold; is a power source, the cause of the Gnosis crisis, and the key to U-DO, a being from a higher dimension. Thus, the two factions believe that the Zohar could be the key to the Gnosis destruction and a pathway to unlimited power. At the same time, the Kukai Foundation, an independent organization secretly founded by the autonomous Second Miltian government, also seeks to gather the Zohar and the Zohar Emulators while investigating the conspiracy surrounding them.
Since the age of Lost Jerusalem, many researchers have studied and attempted to control the Zohar. Among the results of this research was the development of several Zohar Emulators. However, the original Zohar's power still eclipses the energy output of any known Emulator, despite the fact that one of the Emulators caused the disappearance of the planet Ariadne. More importantly, no Emulator is capable of the true function of the Zohar.
As a result, the Ormus society and the Galaxy Federation are obsessed with finding the original Zohar that was sealed away on Miltia at the end of the Miltian Conflict. However, the key to unlocking Miltia and the Original Zohar is contained within the Y-Data, which is hidden within the mind of a Realian called MOMO. In order to retrieve the Y-Data, Ormus hatches a plot against the Galaxy Federation and its allies by using a series of dummy organizations and insiders, as well as its military force, the U-TIC Organization and an enigmatic figure known as Albedo. In turn, the Galaxy Federation employs a cyborg named Ziggurat 8 to rescue MOMO and act as her bodyguard.
Meanwhile, Vector Industries, the largest corporation in existence and the primary arms manufacturer for the Galaxy Federation, is currently researching new ways to use nanotechnology to build an unstoppable anti-gnosis battle android, code-named KOS-MOS. This is quite unusual, since androids have been replaced for many years by artificial life-forms known as Realians. However, Vector Industries and their head of first R&D division, Shion Uzuki, have other ideas. Shion, a simple software researcher traveling on the starship Woglinde, becomes involved in a conspiracy not only to control the mysterious Gnosis and Original Zohar, but to reshape the destiny of all mankind.
Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse
Episode II begins with a flashback of the Miltian Conflict, where chaos and Canaan are ordered to pilot E.S. Asher to Old Miltia and retrieve the U.R.T.V. units from the Realian rioting near Labyrinthos, the U-TIC Organization headquarters. Along the way, the two men encounter Federation officer Jin Uzuki, who is investigating the root of the Conflict. Uzuki believes that the entire Conflict is a set-up to turn U-TIC into a scapegoat, which, in turn, will keep the larger organization hidden in the shadows. Jin Uzuki holds what that organization wants: the Y-Data, which holds the key to Joachim Mizrahi's research on the Original Zohar. The trio encounters U-TIC operative Margulis along the way, who demands that the Y-Data be returned. Uzuki defeats Margulis in a swordfight. Canaan is then entrusted with the Y-Data, which is the last thing that Canaan remembers from the Conflict before a dark shadow engulfs him.
In the present day, Margulis talks with the Patriarch of Ormus, explaining that Albedo will unlock the safeguard on the Y-Data and lead them to Old Miltia. The two also discuss Ormus operative Heinlein's motives. On Second Miltia, Canaan leaves the investigation disappointed once again; he can not activate the Y-Data stored within him or figure out what transpired after the shadow appeared. Meanwhile, Shion Uzuki and the rest of the party arrive at Second Miltia, where they part their separate ways. Jr., MOMO, Ziggy, and chaos are chased by U-TIC operatives wishing to capture MOMO once again. However, the attacks are thwarted. At Second Miltia's Vector Industries headquarters, Shion, Allen Ridgeley, and KOS-MOS are briefed of the increasing Gnosis threat. Soon after, Shion is reunited with her brother, Jin Uzuki, who is now running a bookstore. Eventually, both parties are reunited during MOMO's analysis of the Y-Data via the U.M.N. During the analysis, Albedo gains control and dives into MOMO's subconscious via the Encephalon. The party follows; Jr. experiences the history behind the U.R.T.V. units, which include him, Albedo, Gaignun Kukai, and Citrine. However, the party is too late; Albedo manages to unlock the safeguard on the Y-Data and open up Old Miltia.
Seizing the moment, both the Federation and Ormus ("Immigrant") fleets launch their invasion into Old Miltian space with a mutual goal of seizing the Original Zohar. The Immigrant/Ormus fleet gains the advantage and quickly descends to Old Miltia. Meanwhile, Shion and Allen return to the Dämmerung to report the recent events to Vector Industries. On Second Miltia, Representative Helmer decides to launch an attack on Old Miltia in conjunction with the Kukai Foundation, Vector Industries, and S.O.C.E.; this way, the Original Zohar is apprehended by a neutral party. However, after Shion encounters Febronia, she remembers that her goal was to venture to Old Miltia and "save Febronia's sisters". Shion and Allen escape from the Dämmerung. Wilhelm watches the escape and states that Shion is an important figure that can not be lost, and KOS-MOS will be the key to absolute knowledge. Therefore, he decides to activate KOS-MOS secretly to assist Shion and Allen at Old Miltia. However, as they progress into Old Miltian space, their advance is cut short by the Black Testament, which forces the group to retreat to the conveniently approaching Elsa.
Reunited, the party launches another strike into Old Miltian space by flying between the two black holes of the Abyss, destroying an Ormus Stronghold along the way. After weaving through the space battle between the Federation and Ormus/Immigrant fleets, the Elsa lands beside Labyrinthos. Inside Labyrinthos, Jin Uzuki confirms his suspicions: Joachim Mizrahi was being used during the Miltian Conflict, the U-TIC Organization, Immigrant Fleet, and Hyams are all fronts for the Ormus society, and Mizrahi forced Old Miltia into the abyss to prevent the re-awakening of U-DO, a powerful wave existence fused with the Original Zohar. In other words, Mizrahi was a hero who was initially manipulated by Ormus, the true organization behind U-TIC and the Immigrant fleet.
The Ω SystemAt the core of Labyrinthos, Margulis and Jin Uzuki face off once again. Afterward, Shion noticed that Febronia's sisters—Cecily and Cathe, are part of the safeguard to maintain the Zohar. However, the Ormus Patriarch appears, and explains the Ormus and the Zohar will guide humans for eternity. U-DO and the Zohar begin to glow, and KOS-MOS tries to stop it by destroying Cecily and Cathe. The gambit fails; the Patriarch summons another Mizrahi invention—Proto Ω—to fuse with the Zohar and create a weapon that could strike anywhere in space. The Patriarch explains that he will use Ω to destroy the Gnosis and command the galaxy under Ormus. The party is then forced to escape as Old Miltia is morphed into the Ω System, which is the result of the Zohar and Ω fusion. Meanwhile, Gaignun Kukai morphs into Yuriev, the U.R.T.V. creator. Margulis and Hyams scientist, Sellers, betray the Patriarch in favor of Heinlein. The Patriarch is left in the Ω System to fend for himself.
Shion and her allies enter the Ω System and confront the Patriarch, who had previously defeated Albedo. The Testaments defeat the Patriarch and revive Albedo so that he can morph Miltian space into a space-time anomaly. After Albedo does this, Jr. decides to confront his brother personally; he dives into the anomaly and defeats Albedo. Although the space-time anomaly is destroyed, the Original Zohar remains floating in space. Before the Durandal and the Kukai Foundation can rush to acquire it, a star system-sized Gnosis appears: Abel's Ark. Abel's Ark retrieves the Original Zohar and vanishes. Both chaos and Wilhelm observe with deep interest; the latter also addresses the former as "Yeshua" (the original Aramaic name of Jesus Christ). After these events, the party separates to try and lead normal lives, although Jin worries that the chain of events is not over (Ormus is still alive, and the Zohar was abruptly seized by a mysterious force). The game ends with Wilhelm and his Testaments welcoming a fourth member to the fold, who is the last Testament needed for Wilhelm's plan. Wilhelm calls this man, cloaked all in white, the "Weaver of the Eternal Circle of Zarathustra."
Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra
It is one year after the events of Episode II and Shion Uzuki has left Vector Industries. After the "Missing Year" fiasco, in which she uncovered information that revealed her former employer's shadowy intentions and her father's involvement with the U-TIC organization, Shion joined the anti-Vector group, Scientia. While separated from her comrades from previous Xenosaga games, save Canaan and Miyuki, she is inexorably drawn back into their intertwined fates when she is contacted by Allen Ridgeley. Shion travels to Fifth Jerusalem, where the previous Xenosaga crew is reunited. At the CAT Facility, a mysterious new researcher, Roth Mantel, has unveiled a next-generation model of android named T-elos, who bears a startling resemblance to KOS-MOS. After a series of experimental demonstrations, overseen by such VIPs as Juli Mizrahi, Mantel informs the Vector staff that the KOS-MOS project is being scrapped. Jr. and the others stage an infiltration into the CAT Facility and recover KOS-MOS before rendezvousing with the Durandal and the Elsa.
Xenosaga: The Animation
Xenosaga: The Animation (ゼノサーガ THE ANIMATION, Zenosāga: Za Animēshon?) is a 12-episode anime television series by Toei Animation, which premiered on TV Asahi in Japan on January 5, 2005. The series is based on the PlayStation 2 game Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht, with several changes to the storyline, including omissions (Jr., Ziggy, and MOMO's first appearance in Episode I, the removal of Cherenkov and the Cathedral Ship) and additions (before the destruction of the Woglinde, Shion becomes good friends with one of Albedo's "personal assistant" Realians, the Kirschwassers, Virgil surviving until episode 9). Some scenes were entirely re-written for the show's purposes, with the Encephalon dive and the final confrontation with Albedo on the Proto Merkabah being major examples.
It is the year T.C. 4768, and mankind exists on distant planets and artificial colonies. Earth is seemingly gone; it has been erased from starmaps and renamed "Lost Jerusalem". The capital of all known space is Fifth Jerusalem, where the Galaxy Federation supposedly keeps watch over mankind.
For the past fourteen years, a mysterious enemy known as the Gnosis has attacked man's colonies seemingly indiscriminately. It is largely believed that the Gnosis were brought into the universe by a scientist named Joachim Mizrahi during the Miltian Conflict of T.C. 4753, but there is more to that story than the public really knows.
The Zohar, a central artifact and plot device in the Xenosaga series..Since its discovery on Lost Jerusalem, an artifact known as the Zohar has been highly sought after, despite having caused the disappearance of Earth. Several factions—chiefly the underground Ormus society and the aforementioned Galaxy Federation—wish to harness its power. Both groups believe that the Zohar's significance is threefold; is a power source, the cause of the Gnosis crisis, and the key to U-DO, a being from a higher dimension. Thus, the two factions believe that the Zohar could be the key to the Gnosis destruction and a pathway to unlimited power. At the same time, the Kukai Foundation, an independent organization secretly founded by the autonomous Second Miltian government, also seeks to gather the Zohar and the Zohar Emulators while investigating the conspiracy surrounding them.
Since the age of Lost Jerusalem, many researchers have studied and attempted to control the Zohar. Among the results of this research was the development of several Zohar Emulators. However, the original Zohar's power still eclipses the energy output of any known Emulator, despite the fact that one of the Emulators caused the disappearance of the planet Ariadne. More importantly, no Emulator is capable of the true function of the Zohar.
As a result, the Ormus society and the Galaxy Federation are obsessed with finding the original Zohar that was sealed away on Miltia at the end of the Miltian Conflict. However, the key to unlocking Miltia and the Original Zohar is contained within the Y-Data, which is hidden within the mind of a Realian called MOMO. In order to retrieve the Y-Data, Ormus hatches a plot against the Galaxy Federation and its allies by using a series of dummy organizations and insiders, as well as its military force, the U-TIC Organization and an enigmatic figure known as Albedo. In turn, the Galaxy Federation employs a cyborg named Ziggurat 8 to rescue MOMO and act as her bodyguard.
Meanwhile, Vector Industries, the largest corporation in existence and the primary arms manufacturer for the Galaxy Federation, is currently researching new ways to use nanotechnology to build an unstoppable anti-gnosis battle android, code-named KOS-MOS. This is quite unusual, since androids have been replaced for many years by artificial life-forms known as Realians. However, Vector Industries and their head of first R&D division, Shion Uzuki, have other ideas. Shion, a simple software researcher traveling on the starship Woglinde, becomes involved in a conspiracy not only to control the mysterious Gnosis and Original Zohar, but to reshape the destiny of all mankind.
Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse
Episode II begins with a flashback of the Miltian Conflict, where chaos and Canaan are ordered to pilot E.S. Asher to Old Miltia and retrieve the U.R.T.V. units from the Realian rioting near Labyrinthos, the U-TIC Organization headquarters. Along the way, the two men encounter Federation officer Jin Uzuki, who is investigating the root of the Conflict. Uzuki believes that the entire Conflict is a set-up to turn U-TIC into a scapegoat, which, in turn, will keep the larger organization hidden in the shadows. Jin Uzuki holds what that organization wants: the Y-Data, which holds the key to Joachim Mizrahi's research on the Original Zohar. The trio encounters U-TIC operative Margulis along the way, who demands that the Y-Data be returned. Uzuki defeats Margulis in a swordfight. Canaan is then entrusted with the Y-Data, which is the last thing that Canaan remembers from the Conflict before a dark shadow engulfs him.
In the present day, Margulis talks with the Patriarch of Ormus, explaining that Albedo will unlock the safeguard on the Y-Data and lead them to Old Miltia. The two also discuss Ormus operative Heinlein's motives. On Second Miltia, Canaan leaves the investigation disappointed once again; he can not activate the Y-Data stored within him or figure out what transpired after the shadow appeared. Meanwhile, Shion Uzuki and the rest of the party arrive at Second Miltia, where they part their separate ways. Jr., MOMO, Ziggy, and chaos are chased by U-TIC operatives wishing to capture MOMO once again. However, the attacks are thwarted. At Second Miltia's Vector Industries headquarters, Shion, Allen Ridgeley, and KOS-MOS are briefed of the increasing Gnosis threat. Soon after, Shion is reunited with her brother, Jin Uzuki, who is now running a bookstore. Eventually, both parties are reunited during MOMO's analysis of the Y-Data via the U.M.N. During the analysis, Albedo gains control and dives into MOMO's subconscious via the Encephalon. The party follows; Jr. experiences the history behind the U.R.T.V. units, which include him, Albedo, Gaignun Kukai, and Citrine. However, the party is too late; Albedo manages to unlock the safeguard on the Y-Data and open up Old Miltia.
Seizing the moment, both the Federation and Ormus ("Immigrant") fleets launch their invasion into Old Miltian space with a mutual goal of seizing the Original Zohar. The Immigrant/Ormus fleet gains the advantage and quickly descends to Old Miltia. Meanwhile, Shion and Allen return to the Dämmerung to report the recent events to Vector Industries. On Second Miltia, Representative Helmer decides to launch an attack on Old Miltia in conjunction with the Kukai Foundation, Vector Industries, and S.O.C.E.; this way, the Original Zohar is apprehended by a neutral party. However, after Shion encounters Febronia, she remembers that her goal was to venture to Old Miltia and "save Febronia's sisters". Shion and Allen escape from the Dämmerung. Wilhelm watches the escape and states that Shion is an important figure that can not be lost, and KOS-MOS will be the key to absolute knowledge. Therefore, he decides to activate KOS-MOS secretly to assist Shion and Allen at Old Miltia. However, as they progress into Old Miltian space, their advance is cut short by the Black Testament, which forces the group to retreat to the conveniently approaching Elsa.
Reunited, the party launches another strike into Old Miltian space by flying between the two black holes of the Abyss, destroying an Ormus Stronghold along the way. After weaving through the space battle between the Federation and Ormus/Immigrant fleets, the Elsa lands beside Labyrinthos. Inside Labyrinthos, Jin Uzuki confirms his suspicions: Joachim Mizrahi was being used during the Miltian Conflict, the U-TIC Organization, Immigrant Fleet, and Hyams are all fronts for the Ormus society, and Mizrahi forced Old Miltia into the abyss to prevent the re-awakening of U-DO, a powerful wave existence fused with the Original Zohar. In other words, Mizrahi was a hero who was initially manipulated by Ormus, the true organization behind U-TIC and the Immigrant fleet.
The Ω SystemAt the core of Labyrinthos, Margulis and Jin Uzuki face off once again. Afterward, Shion noticed that Febronia's sisters—Cecily and Cathe, are part of the safeguard to maintain the Zohar. However, the Ormus Patriarch appears, and explains the Ormus and the Zohar will guide humans for eternity. U-DO and the Zohar begin to glow, and KOS-MOS tries to stop it by destroying Cecily and Cathe. The gambit fails; the Patriarch summons another Mizrahi invention—Proto Ω—to fuse with the Zohar and create a weapon that could strike anywhere in space. The Patriarch explains that he will use Ω to destroy the Gnosis and command the galaxy under Ormus. The party is then forced to escape as Old Miltia is morphed into the Ω System, which is the result of the Zohar and Ω fusion. Meanwhile, Gaignun Kukai morphs into Yuriev, the U.R.T.V. creator. Margulis and Hyams scientist, Sellers, betray the Patriarch in favor of Heinlein. The Patriarch is left in the Ω System to fend for himself.
Shion and her allies enter the Ω System and confront the Patriarch, who had previously defeated Albedo. The Testaments defeat the Patriarch and revive Albedo so that he can morph Miltian space into a space-time anomaly. After Albedo does this, Jr. decides to confront his brother personally; he dives into the anomaly and defeats Albedo. Although the space-time anomaly is destroyed, the Original Zohar remains floating in space. Before the Durandal and the Kukai Foundation can rush to acquire it, a star system-sized Gnosis appears: Abel's Ark. Abel's Ark retrieves the Original Zohar and vanishes. Both chaos and Wilhelm observe with deep interest; the latter also addresses the former as "Yeshua" (the original Aramaic name of Jesus Christ). After these events, the party separates to try and lead normal lives, although Jin worries that the chain of events is not over (Ormus is still alive, and the Zohar was abruptly seized by a mysterious force). The game ends with Wilhelm and his Testaments welcoming a fourth member to the fold, who is the last Testament needed for Wilhelm's plan. Wilhelm calls this man, cloaked all in white, the "Weaver of the Eternal Circle of Zarathustra."
Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra
It is one year after the events of Episode II and Shion Uzuki has left Vector Industries. After the "Missing Year" fiasco, in which she uncovered information that revealed her former employer's shadowy intentions and her father's involvement with the U-TIC organization, Shion joined the anti-Vector group, Scientia. While separated from her comrades from previous Xenosaga games, save Canaan and Miyuki, she is inexorably drawn back into their intertwined fates when she is contacted by Allen Ridgeley. Shion travels to Fifth Jerusalem, where the previous Xenosaga crew is reunited. At the CAT Facility, a mysterious new researcher, Roth Mantel, has unveiled a next-generation model of android named T-elos, who bears a startling resemblance to KOS-MOS. After a series of experimental demonstrations, overseen by such VIPs as Juli Mizrahi, Mantel informs the Vector staff that the KOS-MOS project is being scrapped. Jr. and the others stage an infiltration into the CAT Facility and recover KOS-MOS before rendezvousing with the Durandal and the Elsa.
Xenosaga: The Animation
Xenosaga: The Animation (ゼノサーガ THE ANIMATION, Zenosāga: Za Animēshon?) is a 12-episode anime television series by Toei Animation, which premiered on TV Asahi in Japan on January 5, 2005. The series is based on the PlayStation 2 game Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht, with several changes to the storyline, including omissions (Jr., Ziggy, and MOMO's first appearance in Episode I, the removal of Cherenkov and the Cathedral Ship) and additions (before the destruction of the Woglinde, Shion becomes good friends with one of Albedo's "personal assistant" Realians, the Kirschwassers, Virgil surviving until episode 9). Some scenes were entirely re-written for the show's purposes, with the Encephalon dive and the final confrontation with Albedo on the Proto Merkabah being major examples.