- Not to be confused with Keres, an NPC that appears in Soulcalibur III.
Ker, Agent of Death (死の眷属ケール, or 死の司ケール[1]) is a servant Ares that is implanted inside Astaroth's core.
Although Ker had been mentioned a couple of times in past games, Soulcalibur VI is the first game to have Ker appear onscreen.
Role in the Soul series
Soulcalibur
Unbeknownst to Kunpaetku, Ares had Ker possess Astaroth's core.[2]
Soulcalibur II
Although Astaroth had been slain by Maxi in the previous game, Astaroth was able to revive himself after four years thanks to Ares' divine power, Ker, and the blood-stained soil of Ostrheinsburg.[2]
Soulcalibur III
Kunpaetku, realising that Astaroth was not following his orders, attempted to cast a controlling curse on his servant. Thanks to both the power of Ker and a fragment of Soul Edge, Astaroth resisted the cursed and headed towards the temple of his birth to destroy it, viewing the Fygul Cestemus cult as nothing more than an obstacle in his path.[3]
Soulcalibur IV
Finding out that he had been modelled after a frail human (Rock), Astaroth was was shaken to the core. Astaroth found Rock and nearly tore him apart but, as he pinned the human onto the ground, Astaroth's emotions began to surge and he started to change.
After he had finished his metamorphisis, he realised that Rock had escaped, but that mattered little to him now as he began to focus on Ares, his "master". He became furious at the fact that he had unquestionly obeyed Ares. From inside him, Ker attempted to let out a shriek in protest, but the rush of emotions surging through Astaroth drowned them out. Ker fell silent and yielded control of Astaroth to his new, ferocious thoughts.[4]
Soulcalibur VI
Just like in Soulcalibur, Ares implants Ker inside Astaroth's core without Kunpaetku's knowledge. Astaroth occasionally converses with Ker throughout his Soul Chronicle.
In early 1583 AD, due to Astaroth initially not being very intelligent upon his awakening, on Ares' request, Ker implants the memories of various fallen warriors within him. After seeing Astaroth's skills in battle and confirming that he is a success, Ker tells the golem that he should be thanking his master, Ares.
At the start of 1584 AD, after being ordered by Kunpaetku to obtain Soul Edge, Astaroth and a group of Lizardmen head straight towards Europe. However, they are stopped by followers of Kalnypalk and Kalnypolok—two high-ranking priests within Fygul Cestemus—due to their distrust of Kunpaetku. After slaying them all, Ker tells the golem that Ares is well known for his cleanliness and says that Astaroth could learn from him. Ker tells Astaroth that they will take care of all the "rubbish" he collects, as they have its uses. What these uses are isn't elaborated on.
As Astaroth and the horde of Lizardmen draw closer to Nightmare's location, he is stopped by a warrior, who intends on stopping the monsters' rampage. The warrior beseeches Ares for his blessing, which enrages Astaroth. After slaying the warrior and commenting that his attacks resembled that of the Lizardman Chief, Astaroth asks Ker about the encounter. Ker tells him that, for various reasons, there are humans who have been blessed with powers by Ares. After musing how complicated the lives of the gods are, Astaroth doesn't question Ker any further, although he's quite irritated by the gods' whims.
At the start of 1585 AD, Astaroth and the Lizardmen enter Ostrheinsburg Castle. Impressed by Astaroth's performance after witnessing him dispatch some of his malfested followers, Nightmare invites him to join his side, telling him that Soul Edge needs more souls to regain its power. Astaroth asks Ker that they think of Nightmare's offer, and Ker confirms that the Azure Knight is telling him the truth, and that Ares would not be happy if he were to receive Soul Edge as it is.
Halfway through 1586 AD, Astaroth was sensing that Soul Edge was near completion, and so he prepared for his rebellion against the Azure Knight. While lying in wait in Ostrheinsburg Castle for a high-quality soul, Ker informs the golem that a man had taken the hidden path into the castle. Astaroth had noticed the man as well, as he could sense the aura of someone who's near death, like Maxi, and finds Grøh. Astaroth gets excited after driving him off, exclaiming how he'll kill Nightmare and Ivy, and present Ares with a completed Soul Edge. However, after thinking about what happens after, Astaroth starts to stumble. Seeing that Astaroth is visibly rattled, Ker asks the golem if there's anything wrong, but he brushes her off.
Profile
Soulcalibur VI
An avatar of Ares, the Greek god of war, this agent of death would roam the battlefields of the world seeking out warriors to take to Hades. Ares, under the name of Palgaea, Fygul Cestemus's patron god, ordered Ker to inhabit the golem Astaroth's core and reinforce his unstable psyche. With his already inhumanly powerful physical form and the new skills and memories of fallen warriors granted to him by Ker, Astaroth was hailed as an almost unparalleled warrior.
Gallery
References
- ^ キャラクター｜アスタロス (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Amusement Inc. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ a b "Soul Calibur 2 - History - Astaroth". Soulcalibur. Namco Limited. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. Retrieved on February 29, 2024.
- ^ Character Profiles - Astaroth (Soulcalibur III)
- ^ Deats, Adam; Epstein, Joe (July 17, 2008). SOULCALIBUR IV Signature Series Fighter's Guide. BradyGames. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-7440-1006-0.