Forcystus

Forcystus is a fictional character from the Namco role-playing game Tales of Symphonia.

Forcystus is characterized by his eyepatch, arm cannon and sea-green hair. One of the Desian Five Grand Cardinals, he is the leader of the Iselia Human Ranch.

Forcystus made his first appearance when Lloyd and Genis were caught attacking three of his ranch guards, who were whipping Marble, an elderly woman being held prisoner there. Using the gate surveillance system, the Grand Cardinal managed to track the trespassers back to the nearby village of Iselia. The following morning, as Lloyd and Genis hurried off to find Colette's group, Iselia was attacked by Desians. Forcystus denied Lloyd's protests of both factions violating the village-to-ranch peace treaty - in actuality, it was the Renegades who attacked Colette at the beginning of the game; as they were Desian look-alikes it was easy to confuse the two. The Cardinal then set a hideous monster on Lloyd and Genis but it was soon defeated. However, the creature turned out to be Marble, deformed and mutated by the Exsphere the Desians had made her wear. In her last few moments of life, she wounded Forcystus and forced the invaders to retreat.

After the Great Tree germinated and started destroying Sylvarant, Lloyd and his friends, as well as their temporary ally, Kratos, returned to the Iselia Ranch to shut off the Mana Reactor there and cut off its connection to the Great Seed. This was also used as a chance to free the prisoners there. Despite the fact that Martel would soon be entirely consumed by the Great Tree, Forcystus had apparently been given orders to leave it alone. He attempted to block the path to the reactor but was unsuccessful and fell into it.

Just as the group was about to leave, Forcystus staggered out, determined to stop them. He shot Lloyd down and cursed Kratos for betraying Cruxis. He then aimed at Chocolat (a girl who had recently been transferred from the Palmacosta Ranch to the one in Iselia) but Colette jumped in the way and took the hit instead. Angry, Lloyd charged at Forcystus with his swords and quickly ended his life. With his final breath, he praised Yggdrasill and the New Age of Half-Elves.

The Desian Hero

"That Forcystus guy was a little different from the other Grand Cardinals." - Lloyd

"He was a Desian hero who once single-handedly slaughtered a group of humans who were leading a massacre of half-elves. It is said that he was of knightly virtue; kind and compassionate to his allies, and a fierce god of death to his enemies." - Kratos

"If Forcystus had been born into a world where everyone accepted each other, then maybe we would have been able to get along." - Lloyd

Forcystus is one of the more tragic characters in Tales of Symphonia. Though he appears cruel and evil at first, once the plot deepens and the horrific discrimination against half-elves is shown, it is not surprising that he tried to fight against it. He just did it the wrong way - by joining Cruxis. He fought fanatically, religiously even, for his cause, with the level of loyalty only shown elsewhere by Pronyma. He is also one of the more developed antagonists, and also appears to be one of the more knowledgeable, as only he and Pronyma seem to know anything about Derris-Kharlan and Yggdrasill's greater plan.

It should also be noted that Forcystus is the only Grand Cardinal who agrees to a peace treaty with humans. He is also never shown attacking the village without provocation, showing integrity in the fact that he doesn't break the treaty.

Quotes

• "I am Forcystus, one of the Desian Five Grand Cardinals. I am a superior half-elf who rules over the farm where we cultivate you pathetic humans."
• "Because of your actions, I bring judgement upon this village. Now, recieve your punishment!"
• "That's the Exsphere from the Angelus Project that we've been searching for! Give it to me!"
• "Lloyd! As long as you have that Exsphere, we will always come after you!"
• "Well, well, so you remember me. Looks like I'll have to take care of you personally."
• "How dare you speak ill of Lord Yggdrasill!"
• "You speak as if you know him. Who are you?"
• "You will not get past me!"
• "Inferior beings deserve to perish!"
• "I am one of the Five Grand Cardinals! I won't die so easily! I'm taking all of you inferior beings with me!"
• "I see...I get it now...You're Kratos..."
• "Lord Yggdrasill trusted you, yet in the end you betray us! This is why humans can never be trusted!"
• "Lord Yggdrasill! Glory to the New Age of Half-Elves!"