- Tee hee! Welcome to my shop!
The following article has significant spoilers for Suikoden V.
It bothers me how many come to my shop and don't even look at my runes...
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Zerase is the bearer of the unique Star Rune and apparently holding a connection to the Night Rune, and to a lesser extent, the 27 True Runes. She knows Leknaat and seems to hold a special interest in the Three Runes of Falena.
Zerase is the Tenkan Star from Suikoden V.
Profile
Appearance
Personality
Zerase is a bleak woman with a harsh outlook on people and the events surrounding them. It is implied that Zerase has extensive knowledge on the True Runes and Sindar however she makes it clear that she will reveal nothing about them to anyone who asks unless it is necessary. Mysterious and withdrawn, it takes a lot for the prince to earn her respect and even then her relationship with him is lukewarm at best. Nevertheless, she vows to help him in his quest and is shown to be stubbornly persistent towards keeping the Three Runes of Falena away from anyone unworthy of their power.
Story
Suikoden V
Background
Zerase is a mysterious magician with intimate knowledge of the three runes of Falena, the Night Rune, as well as the Sindar civilisation. She is also the bearer of the Star Rune, a rune born from the Night Rune, which is stated by Levi to be a unique, one-of-a-kind rune, like the Dawn Rune itself. Zerase could be quite impatient at times because she wants to get things done immediately. She also doesn't want anyone sneaking up on her.
Appearances in Rainwall
Zerase first appeared to the Prince and Lymsleia at the East Palace, where the Dawn Rune had been housed prior to the Lordlake Rebellion. Demanding to know if the rune had been found, Zerase chided Falena for its incompetence, much to Lymsleia's anger, before disappearing. She would not be seen again until Freyjadour and his party had fled to Rainwall, following the Godwin coup d'etat. She was seen in Rainwall, apparently attempting to concentrate on something and later, when the Prince uncovered the Dawn Rune in the Barows Mansion, Zerase appeared once more, remarking that the Prince had better live up to the expectations of the rune, or she would kill him.
The Twilight Rune and Alenia
Later, when Freyjadour had uncovered the Sindar ruins at Ceras Lake and designated them the headquarters of the Loyalist forces, Zerase appeared following the vision shown in the sealed room at the top of the ruins. Stating that she would answer no questions about the Sindar or the Dawn Rune (a statement which irked Lorelai and Zweig to great length), she did agree to oversee the Prince's handling of the rune, thus joining the Loyalist Army as a powerful magician.
During the siege of Doraat, when it was revealed that Alenia had become the bearer of the Twilight Rune, Zerase angrily accompanied the Prince in order to force its removal from its bearer, whom she considered unworthy. After defeating Alenia in battle, she tried to remove the Twilight Rune, which Alenia was rapidly losing control of, but failed when Dolph intercedes, escaping with Alenia before Zerase could extract the rune. Following the siege, she also had a short conversation with Jeane, whom she seemed to be familiar with. The wandering "rune scholar" Levi was piqued with curiosity upon the advent of the Twilight Rune, but was unable to learn anything from Zerase, although he did respect her considerable magic ability.
Following the siege, Zerase returned to the sealed room, refusing to reveal any more information on the Twilight Rune before Leknaat appeared. An astral projection of Leknaat appeared, evidenced by that Leknaat had questioned Zerase's presence, despite standing right next to her. The two seemed to be highly familiar with each other, Zerase noting that Leknaat was telling her to continue to aid Freyjadour in her own mysterious way. Zerase showed off the limits of her magical abilities by summoning forth the Tablet of Stars. Leknaat referred to Zerase as "Traveler of the stars", a title she later rejected.
She would assist the Prince in the New Queen's Campaign, fighting alongside Roy in order to challenge Alenia again in battle. Although Alenia was once again defeated, Zerase did not get a chance to take the Twilight Rune from her. However, despite a slight increase in her willingness to help, she was as cryptic as ever, refusing to reveal more about the nature of the runes even when it may have proved valuable in saving Lyon's life. Luckily, despite her inaction, Lyon was eventually saved.
Conflict with Sialeeds
During the siege of Stormfist, she realised that someone else must have equipped the Twilight Rune, someone actually chosen by the rune, when she saw the difference in power between its use in Doraat and its use in Stormfist, and so she accompanied the Prince and his companions in their infiltration of the city. She helped fight against Sialeeds, the new bearer of the rune, but was unable to persuade her to remove it.
She later got her one-on-one confrontation with Sialeeds at the Dam, her Star Rune clashing with Sialeed's Twilight Rune. However, her rune was not powerful enough to overcome the mastered Twilight Rune. Frustrated she remarked that she needed the Rune of the Night in order to overcome the rune's power. However, Sialeeds was soon defeated by the Prince and his companions and it was Zerase's knowledge of the Dawn and Twilight Runes that allowed the Prince and Sialeeds to cancel out the effects of the Sun Rune, used by the Godwin's in a final attempt to destroy the Loyalist forces.
After the War
Following the final defeat of Marscal Godwin and the Sun Rune Incarnation, Zerase oversaw the return of the Sun Rune to the Sun Palace. As soon as the task was complete, Zerase vanished, her wish to ensure the return of the three runes of Falena successful, and was never seen again.
Ending text
Just after the Sun Rune returns to the Sun Palace, Zerase vanishes and is never seen again.
Role in the Game
After acquiring the castle she'll appear suddenly and join.
Zerase is the most powerful magic user in the game, and arguably the best overall character in Suikoden V. The Star Rune is second only to the Twilight Rune in terms of damage caused, and she has a high number of magic points. Her weapon is only good for one hit, but does enough damage to be capable. She needs to be kept in the back row, however, as her defense and armor are both weak. With the Magic Absorb Rune, she can keep her MP refilled easily with physical attacks, supplying the player with a near endless stream of spells.
- Head - Star Rune
- R. Hand - Gained at Lv. 1
- L. Hand - Gained at Lv. 1
Zerase is an L-range fighter that uses a needle as a weapon.
| Weapon Growth | |||||||||||||||||
| Name | Shooting Star | Brilliant Star | Blinding Star | ||||||||||||||
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
| Strength | 20 | 30 | 45 | 60 | 80 | 100 | 120 | 135 | 145 | 160 | 170 | 185 | 210 | 220 | 230 | 245 | |
Zerase can participate in Conceit and Pride of Magic
| Character Skills | |
| Name | Max Rank |
| Stamina | C |
| Attack | C |
| Defense | C |
| Technique | C |
| Vitality | C |
| Agility | B |
| Character Skills | |
| Name | Max Rank |
| Magic | S |
| Magic Defense | S |
| Incantation | S |
| Tutor | SS |
| Character Skills | |
| Name | Max Rank |
| Divine Right | SS |
| Sacred Oath | SS |
Zerase leads a four-star Rune Archery unit on land and a Rune Archery Ship on water, and gives her unit one shot of the ultra powerful Star ability.
- Hmm, Zerase's a tricky one. Cautious, too. I couldn't find out much... She's pretty and wears black. She's got great magical powers and a very bad attitude. Other than that, that woman is a walking mystery.
- She keeps up a calm face, but people have overheard her grumbling. Like "the Sword of Night, blah, blah, blah," or "Why do I have to do this?" What's she talking about? I'm working on that.
- You know, I've never ever seen her sleep. Does she, even? Eh? Do I usually watch women while they're sleeping, you ask? That's strictly confidential.
- Warning
Somebody is investigating me. Make him stop.
- Second Warning
Are you illiterate? I said, 'Make him stop.'
- Final Warning