The Kooluk Empire
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Fort El-Eal
Governor of El-Eal
- Voiced by: Seiro Ogino (JP)
A Governor working for the Kooluk Empire, tasked with the expansion of it's empire territory by conquering the Island Nations. Gives direct orders to Troy and Colton.
- Big Bad Wannabe: He works for the Kooluk Empire, who seeks to expand its territory by conquering the Island Nations, and give direct orders to Troy and Colton. However, he is betrayed by Graham Cray and locked in a dungeon.
- Et Tu, Brute?: Is betrayed by Cray and left to die in prison.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": His real name is unknown.
- Non-Action Big Bad: He spends the whole game in his fort, giving orders to Troy and Colton.
- Robbing the Dead: During the invasion of Fort El-Eal, the player can steal a Darkness Cape from his corpse.
- Slouch of Villainy: As seen in his character art.
- The Unfought: By the time the heroes invades Fort Al-Real, he's already dead.
- Villain's Dying Grace: Gives Ramada a map of Fort El-Eal (which the heroes use to attack the fort), and dies shortly thereafter.
Troy
- Voiced by: Tadasuke Oomizu (JP) and Dave Wittenberg (US)
The commander of Kooluk first fleet, Troy is a renowned war hero and a skilled swordsman.
- Anti-Villain: Of the My Country, Right or Wrong type.
- Better to Die than Be Killed: Towards the end of the game, he meets his match and is defeated. Troy stayed on board his ship as it sank, as he proclaimed his return to the sea.
- The Captain: He is a legendary officer in the Kooluk Navy and leads the first fleet.
- Cool Sword: Fights with one.
- Death by Irony: In his final moments, Troy realizes that Lazlo, the person who led the Island Nations against the Kooluk invaders, defeated his fleet and destroyed Fort El-Eal, is that exiled guy he let escape because it wasn't a treat to his plans.
- Determinator: Even after his fleet is defeated and Fort El-Eal is destroyed, Troy refuses to give up or surrender and goes by himself after the Lazlo, on a sinking ship, for a final duel against him.
- The Dragon: Follows direct orders from the Governor of Fort El-Eal. After the governor got "sick", Troy starts receiving order from Cray instead.
- Face Death with Dignity: After the final duel, Lazlo can ask troy to come with him, but he will turn down the offer and chooses to go down with his ship.
- Final Boss Preview: Lazlo and his allies fight Troy and Colton in a Hopeless Boss Fight shortly after escaping the Deserted Island.
- Graceful Loser: Troy acknowledges his defeat after being defeated by Lazlo.
- Only Sane Man: He is the only one who protests to the destruction of Iluya Island.
- Post-Final Boss: He is the last enemy of the game, fought in a duel battle.
- Rank Scales with Asskicking: He commands Kooluk first fleet and is the strongest Kooluk general and a renowed war hero.
- Red Baron: He is known as the "Child of the Sea God".
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The blue Oni to Colton's red. Troy is serious, collected and rational.
- Redemption Rejection: After the final duel battle, Lazlo can ask him to join the group, but Troy refuses with a Don't You Dare Pity Me! and chooses to sinks with his ship.
- Respected by the Respected: Troy is seen a renowned war hero in the Kooluk Empire and even his adversaries, such as Glenn Cott from Razril speak of his feats during the knights graduation.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: He often found himself at odds with Cray's overly violent methods of conquering the southern islands.
- Throwing Down the Gauntlet: After the collapse of El-Eal, he rams the hero's ship and challenges him to a final duel.
Colton
- Voiced by: Toshihiko Nakajima (JP) and Michael Forest (US)
Colton is an admiral and commander of Kooluk second fleet. He has a short temper and acts as Troy's assistant.
- Anti-Villain: Like Troy, he is just acting according to his country's interests.
- Cool Sword: Fights with one.
- Defiant to the End: Even after being defeated and captured by the Liberation Army, Colton refuses to cooperate with his captors and remain silent until the end of the war.
- Fat Bastard: Appears to be overweight.
- Hopeless Boss Fight: Is fought alongside Troy after escaping the Deserted island.
- Number Two: He is the commander of the Kooluk second fleet and a personal attendant to Troy.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The red oni to Troy's blue. Colton is headstrong, stubborn, and has a very short temper.
- The Reveal: He is Helmut's father.
- The Unfought: Downplayed. Colton is fought alongside Troy in a Hopeless Boss Fight and, latter, is confronted during a Naval Battle for Obel freedom and captured.
Helmut
Chian Star
- Voiced by: Akira Iwase (JP) and Richard Cansino (US)
One of the Kooluk captains of the fleet in charge of keeping Razril occupied. Helmut is the Chian Star, also known as the Strong Star, of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
- Combination Attack: Helmut can participate in the Adonis Attack alongside Hervey and Sigurd.
- Cool Sword: Helmut wields the Officer's Sword ++.
- Cultured Warrior
- Defeat Means Friendship: Will join the party after being defeated during the naval battle for retaking Razil, if Lazlo refuses to Finish Him!.
- Elemental Powers: In Naval Battles, Helmut can use Rune Cannons of every element and has excellent affinity with the Wind Rune.
- Heel–Face Turn: Helmut originally fought for Kooluk and led the assault and takeover of Razril, although he is uncomfortable with this. Lazlo eventually makes him see sense, and when Razril was liberated, he joins the allies.
- Just Following Orders
- The Reveal: He is actually Colton's son.
- The Unfought: Downplayed. Helmut is fought during a naval battle, but never directly.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Despite defecting and having to face his father in combat, Colton seems very proud of his son and tells Helmut to live his life as he sees fit.
The Final Boss
The Giant Tree
- Barrier Change Boss: Its elemental weakness becomes the opposite of its color, which changes at each turn.
- Charged Attack: Unleashes a powerful non-elemental One-Hit Kill move on the party when it´s colored white.
- Giant Space Flea Out Of Nowhere: Downplayed. The Giant Tree's existence is mentioned in the Backstory, and the sequel clears things up for those who didn't piece things together on their own.
- Flunky Boss: The tree fights alongside two "Seed of Light", who can be revived after being killed.
- Greater-Scope Villain: Of the Outside-Context Problem variant.
- When Trees Attack: A giant interdimensional monster tree from the another dimmension.
Cray Trading Company and associates
Graham Cray
- Voiced by: Kazuhiro Nakata (JP) and Douglas Rye (US)
A shady individual aiding the Kooluk empire in its expansion campaign. He is an Arms Dealer know as "The Merchant of Death".
- A Pupil of Mine Until He Turned to Evil: He is a former strategy student under Elenor's tuition.
- An Arm and a Leg: Self-amputation. Cray cut-off his left hand to get rid of the cursed Rune of Punishment, only for it to jump to his son.
- Artifact of Doom: Years previously, under unknown circumstances, he had come in contact with the Rune of Punishment, becoming its bearer.
- Artificial Limbs: Graham Cray severed his left arm to get rid of the Rune of Punishment and replaced it with a steel one that shoot poisoned darts.
- Bad Boss: He used the Giant Rune Cannon to nuke a island of harmless civilians, in which Kate and some of Kooluk soldiers were stationed, just to demonstrate the destructive power of his weapon to the Governor.
- He also ordered Ramada and his subordinates to kill Lazlo and steal his Rune of Punishment, knowing that said rune would jump to one of them and Cray would have to kill they to get it.
- Bad Powers, Bad People: Fights with poisoned darts, defletor barriers, has a weapon powerful enough to nuke an island and can awaken a monstrous Giant Tree to fight for him.
- Barrier Warrior: Cray can summon a barrier around him, which reduces all attack damage by half and lasts for six turns.
- The Beastmaster: He activates the Giant Tree, the game's final boss.
- Big Bad: Becames Suikoden IV's primary antagonist after dealing with the governor.
- The Chessmaster: He manipulated the policies of the Kooluk Empire to try to achieve his ultimate goal: recover the Rune of Punishment.
- Disproportionate Retribution: When some nobles from the Scarlet Moon Empire, disguised as Kooluk soldiers, attacked Cray's hometown to start a False Flag Operation against the Kooluk Empire, his son had to use the Rune of Punishment to protect the town, losing his live and accidentally killing many others during the process. When Cray found out, not only he killed the nobles (which also caused Elenor, his mentor, to be kicked out of Scarlet Moon) but also burned down each one of their hometowns, Frederica's being one of them, for revenge.
- Doomed Hometown: He lived with his son at the nameless "Small Border Village", between Kooluk and the Scarlet Moon. When Scarlet Moon nobles attacked the village, Cray's son used the Rune of Punishment to protect it, but the rune killed both the invaders and the citizens, before claiming its owner live.
- Evil, Inc.: He established Cray Trading Company and its front Orark Maritime Trade in order to gather resources and establish an information network in order to ascertain the rune's location.
- Evil Genius: Being the disciple of the strategist Elenor Silverberg, Graham Cray is a intelligent and cunning man who manipulate those around him for his own ends and created the deadly Giant Rune Cannon. For battles, Cray prefers to use poison, barriers and even awakens the Giant Tree to fight for him.
- Evil Laugh: A loud one, after the hero tells him about seeing his son withing the Rune of Punishment memories.
- Foil: Cray parallels Windy in several ways.
- Design-wise, both characters are blue-eyed blondes. But Windy is long-haired and dresses in blue and white, while Cray has short hair, a large scar in his forehead, a metal arm and dresses in black and red.
- They used to have a high status within the Scarlet Moon Empire: Windy was Barbarossa's court magician, and Cray is a strategist-in-training under the famous Elenor Silverberg. Windy maintains her title trough the first game, while Cray was banished from Scarlet Moon for killing nobles.
- Cray and Windy are from remote villages destroyed because of a True Rune. The difference is that the Harmonian soldiers that invaded Gate Rune Village were after the True Gate Rune, while the sadist nobles that attacked Cray's hometown didn't knew about the Rune of Punishment existence.
- Both villains are after a True Rune said to be cursed, which ends up on the protagonists hands. However, Windy wants the Rune for its destructive power, while Cray wants it to see his deceased son.
- Neither antagonist fought the hero directly: Cray was defeated by Elenor's party, and Windy wasn't fought at all. Also, while Windy knew Tir's face and have crossed paths with him to claim his True Rune, Cray only meets Lazlo before the final battle.
- Both characters have ambiguous deaths, alongside someone related: Windy with Barbarossa, and Cray with Elenor.
- Good Scars, Evil Scars: Has a big one at his forehead.
- Humans Are Bastards: Considers humans (himself included) to be "the fools of the world". Elenor mocks him for reaching this conclusion.
- Kick the Dog: "Kick the island". Cray could have aimed the Giant Rune Cannon anywhere for a demonstration of its power, but choose the inhabited Iluya island just because it is near.
- Life-or-Limb Decision: Unable to control the Rune of Punishment, he eventually decided to cut off his own arm in desperation, freeing himself from the rune's curse.
- Never Found the Body: Following the defeat of the Giant Tree, he is presumed to have died in the subsequent collapse of El-Eal fortress, although his body was not found.
- Red and Black and Evil All Over: Wears dark Badass Longcoat and a red cape.
- Red Baron: "The Merchant of Death".
- Replacement Goldfish: Seems to consider the Rune of Punishment one for his lost son, as it carries his memories withing it.
- Shock and Awe: Uses a Lightning Rune during his boss fight.
- Status Effects: Fires poisoned darts from his artificial hand. In battle, it causes the "Sleep" status.
- Survivor Guilt: The Rune of Punishment's power transferred to his son, who used the Rune to stop Scarlet Moon nobles attacking the village where the Cray family lived, killing not only the nobles but a large number of villagers, as well as himself. Cray endlessly seeks the Rune, as it was the only thing left in his life which contained some essence of his son.
- "Uh-Oh" Eyes: He has particularly piercing, Icy Blue Eyes.
- Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: His son's death, caused by his fellow Scarlet Moon compatriots who attacked his hometown for "human-hunting", turned Cray into a sadistic and remorseless murderer, willing do manipulative and betray anyone to regain the True Rune of punishment and being able to see his son again.
Ramada
Tenritsu Star
- Voiced by: Yuji Kishi (JP) and Skip Stellrecht (US)
A spy and Arms Dealer from Cray Trading Company. Ramada is the Tenritsu Star, also known as the Star of the Standing Spear, of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
- Arms Dealer: He's a dealer in Rune Cannons and a supplier to Kooluk.
- Attack Animal: His Nasal Bird.
- Bald of Evil: Subverted when he does has a Heel–Face Turn and joins the Liberation Army.
- Heel–Face Turn: He was originally in league with the Cray Trading Company but having found out that Cray was manipulating him to obtain the Rune of Punishment, he joins the hero.
- Made of Iron: Despite not being a fighter, Ramada manages to survive two direct shots from Graham Cray poisoned darts in a short interval of time.
- The Men First: He willingly throws himself at Lazlo's mercy to save Akaghi and Mizuki. When he learns the truth of the Rune, he offers to work for Lazlo.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: He is far more intelligent and wily than he would have people believe.
- Parental Substitute: To Akaghi and Mizuki.
- Real Men Wear Pink: Ramada wears long pink pants.
- Smart People Wear Glasses: Ramada wear glasses and is seen as a intelectual Non-Action Guy.
- Taking the Bullet: In an act of redemption, he selflessly throws himself in front of a poison dart hurled at Elenor by Graham Cray, during the final battle. He lives to tell the tale.
- Unwitting Pawn: Graham Cray ordered him to kill Lazlo, knowing that, by doing so, the Rune of Punishment would have jumped to either Ramada, Akaghi and Mizuki, making it easier for him to obtain it. Subverted, as Lazlo defeats them and Desmond tells them about the cursed rune, convincing them to switch sides.
Akaghi
Chikou Star
- Voiced by: Shintarou Oohata (JP)
Akaghi is a Ninja from a destroyed community of ninjas, under Ramada care. He is the Chikou Star, also known as the Wild Star, of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
- Anime Hair: Akaghi sports a very impressive quiff.
- Combination Attack: Can perform the "Ninja Attack" (with Mizuki) and the "True Ninja Attack" (with Mizuki and Kate).
- Defeat Means Friendship: Joins Lazlo at Ramada's request.
- Dual Boss: He is fought alongside Mizuki.
- Elemental Powers: In Naval Battles, Akaghi can use Rune Cannons of every element, and has good affinity with the Lightning Rune.
- Heel–Face Turn: They are sent to assassinate the hero by the Cray Trading Co, but soon changes his loyalty when they finds out Graham Cray's true intentions.
- Highly-Visible Ninja: Akaghi wears a crimson gi; Mizuki wears bright turquoise and no mask.
- Ninja Log: His "dodging attack animation" has him being replaced by a log.
- Playing with Fire: In Tactics, his innate element is fire.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Red Oni to Mizuki's blue. Akaghi is passionate and headstrong, while Mizuki is cold and aloof.
- Rings of Death: Akaghi wields the Rippling Chakram. He was supposed to Dual Wield it, but lost one of the pair.
- Ship Tease: With his partner Mizuki.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: As a ninja character, Akaghi can appear and disappear out of tiny air, leaving only a gust of wind and some leaves behind.
- Straight Man and Wise Guy: Akaghi is the wiseguy to Mizuki's straight man.
- Technicolor Ninjas: he is stealthy enough to infiltrate the Obel Kingdom without being noticed.
Mizuki
Chikyou Star
- Voiced by: Shizuka Itoh (JP) and Dorothy Elias-Fahn
Mizuki is a kunoichi and an associate of Ramada. She grew up alongside Akaghi and Kate. She is the Chikyou Star, also known as the Star of Ambition, of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Mizuki has dark brown hair and is quiet and composed.
- Combination Attack: Can perform the "Ninja Attack" (with Akaghi) and the "True Ninja Attack" (with Akaghi and Kate).
- Defeat Means Friendship: After being defeated, she and Akaghi joins Lazlo after Ramada's request to spare them.
- Dual Boss: She is fought alongside Akaghi.
- Elemental Powers: In Naval Battles, Mizuki can use Rune Cannons of every element. She has good affinity with Fire and Water Runes.
- Heel–Face Turn: Change sides alongside Akaghi.
- The Quiet One: Mizuki is dutiful and will answers questions, but she is markedly the one character who does not put anything in the Comment Box.
- Making a Splash: In Tactics, her innate element is water.
- Ninja Log: Like Akaghi, Mizuki is replaced by a log when she dodge an attack.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Blue Oni to Akaghi's red. Mizuki is quiet, cold, and duty-driven, while Akaghi is more emotional and headstrong.
- Ship Tease: With Akaghi. Her sister thinks so, at least.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: Like Akaghi, she can "teleport" by making a hand seal and jumping, leaving only some leaves behind.
- Stock Ninja Weaponry: Use ninja claws for combat.
- Stripperiffic: Mizuki wears a blue Sexy Backless Outfit.
- Spinning Piledriver: Mizuki's "Shrike Rune" allows her to perform the standard ninja izuna drop attack.
- Technicolor Ninjas: Despite her clothes, Mizuki is stealthy enough to infiltrate the Obel Kingdom twice: First to assassinate Lazlo, and later to bring a letter to Flare.
- Wolverine Claws: Mizuki wields a clawed glove named Ardisia Crispa.
Kate
Chisoku Star
- Voiced by: Yuuki Kodaira (JP)
A Kunoichi from the same village as Mizuki and Akaghi, Kate was hired by the Cray Trading Company to gather intel on Iluya Island. She is the Chisoku Star, also known as The Star Of Haste, of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
- Badass in Distress: In Tactics, Kate is recruited on a Escort Mission in which you must protect her from enemy soldiers.
- Combination Attack: Kate performs the "True Ninja Attack" with Akaghi and Mizuki.
- Cool Big Sis: To Mizuki, who is from the same clan as her.
- Doomed Hometown: Kate's homeland was been eradicated sometime before the game events. She, Akagi and Mizuki as the only survivors.
- Elemental Powers: In Naval battles, Kate can use Rune Cannons of every element.
- In Suikoden IV, she has a Earth Rune attached, but is more compatible with the Fire Rune.
- Flower Motifs: Her weapons are named "Black Flower", "Red Flower" and "Death Flower".
- Heel–Face Turn: Mizuki manages to convince her to change sides after Cray nukes Iluya Island.
- Highly-Visible Ninja: She wears a bright violet and hot pink gi.
- Ice Queen: Her demeanor is pretty frosty.
- Leave Me Alone!: Unlike Akaghi and Mizuki, she prefers to work alone and rejects outsiders help.
- Ms. Fanservice: It's her Stripperiffic outfit that does it.
- Ninja Log: As with the above mentioned ninjas, Kate switch places with a log when an enemy attack misses her.
- Power at a Price: In Tactics, Kate has an Eagle Rune, unique to her, equipped. Its skills either raises the attack range but halves the accuracy, or deals more damage but leaves her unbalanced afterwards.
- Power Up Mount: In Tactics, Kate can ride kangacorns.
- Shipper on Deck: She wants Akaghi and Mizuki to get together.
- Shock and Awe: In Tactics, Kate's innate element is lightning.
- Stock Ninja Weaponry: Fights by throwing shurikens.
- Unusual Eyebrows: She has very plucked, Heian era-style eyebrows.
- Zen Survivor: Kate is one of the few other survivors of the Iluya explosion. Her backstory also reveals that the village she lived on was destroyed after the family of the person she served died, leaving her without a home.
Maxine
Chihei Star
- Voiced by: Hitomi Nabatame (JP)
A mercenary hired by Ramada to challenge the protagonist to duels across the various islands. Maxine is the Chihei Star, also known as the Smooth Star, of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
- Aloof Ally: Maxine don't like talking to others or staying in crowded places. After being recruited, she stays hidden behind a curtain in the ship's Ward room.
- Astonishingly Appropriate Appearance: In Suikoden Tactics, Maxine red clothes matches her innate element, fire, which is also the rune she has attached and have best compatibility with.
- Subverted in IV, as she has best affinity for wind magic.
- Color-Coded Wizardry: In Tactics, her innate element is fire and she has a Fire Rune. Fitting for someone who is fully dressed in red.
- Combination Attack: None in this game, but in Tactics, she can perform the the "Water Dragon Attack" (with Roget), the "Thunder God Attack" (with Simeon) and the "Sorcerer Attack" (with Jeane, Roget and Simeon).
- Defeat Means Friendship: Maxine is bested by Lazlo every time, and eventually, after Ramada joins, concedes defeat and joins, too.
- Elemental Powers: Contrary to what her appearance might suggest, Maxine comes equipped with a Cyclone Rune and an Earth Rune. She has excellent affinity with wind magic and good affinity with the others elements.
- In Naval Battles, she can use powerful Rune Cannons of every element.
- Lady of Black Magic: A sultry and quiet mercenary adept at offensive magic.
- Lady in Red: She's all in red — from her boots, body-suit, earrings, and makeup, and has the sexy, sultry personality to match.
- Magic Staff: She wields the Red Orb Rod.
- Playing with Fire: In Tactics, her innate element is fire and she joins with a Fire Rune attached.
- The Snark Knight: She's nonchalant at best and often downright prickly.
- Squishy Wizard: Maxine is a mage-type character, so she excels at magic attacks but lacks physical strength and resistance are very low.
- Throwing Down the Gauntlet: She is hired by Ramada to duel the hero in various places in an effort to defeat him. She always opens these duels with a confident "En garde!"
