Royal

"'Sometimes... the next true leader of humans... the Medium which speaks for the humans to Him, the almighty... is chosen. ... I am that. I am to lead all of humanity after the dark day where Mother leaves the physical world, and my power has developed fully.' - Royal"

Royal is the current Progeny and next Medium in line to become Father of the One Concern. He is the only party member that is never a playable character, but he does assist Robin in several boss fights. As Progeny, he was divinely chosen to succeed Mother, and has lived a sheltered life that has led to him growing privileged and isolated. Having Transcended flawlessly into a Medium, Royal has limited power to control the Planet by manipulating Ivory.

=Official Bio= ROYAL Age 18 - From: City One - Likes: Flowers

''The holy progeny, destined to be the next great leader of the western faith after Mother. As such, he has been raised in very privileged and secluded environments, and doesn't quite have a grasp on the real world.'' -Limited Run Iconoclasts Classic Edition manual

=Abilities= As with all Transcendents, Royal has unnatural longevity and the ability to heal rapidly by absorbing Ivory from anything, including the ground. As a Medium, Royal's body was fully fused with Ivory during his Transcendence. This grants him the ability to manipulate Ivory. Unlike Agents, he does not have any prosthesis augmenting his body.

Royal is a younger, less mature Medium, and his powers are still developing and not nearly as strong as Mother's. Royal's exact abilities are not documented. No Medium is fully able to manipulate Ivory to the extent that Eyes or other components of the Planet can, but Royal's abilities seem particularly limited. Royal can be observed summoning small objects such as flowers, telekinetically operating Ivory machinery such as doors, and causing explosions to attack enemies or destroy objects.

=Story= Little is known of Royal's past other than he lived an incredibly sheltered life. While few specifics are known, Royal seemingly believes his every thought to be divinely inspired and incapable of error, which matches what he would have been taught about the Tri religion.

Camp
Royal is first introduced while he shirking from his task of assisting General Chrome hunt down the Pirates in the Shard Wasteland. Robin stumbles upon Royal as he is using his abilities to cause square flowers to grow from the ground and lamenting how he is being ordered around by the One Concern. As divinely chosen Progeny, he feels he should be master of his own destiny. When he notices Robin listening from behind him, he introduces himself. Robin notices and appreciates the flowers he has grown. Royal mentions that he has seen forgotten types of flowers in City One's ancient books, but that he can't seem to recreate them. Their conversation is interrupted when the Kibuka suddenly attacks. (See: Kibuka) The two defeat it together.

Royal drags a reluctant Robin back to the One Concern camp to be commended for her actions. Royal is unaware that Robin is wanted by the Concern, and instead of a commendation she is arrested and prepared for ritualistic execution. As a high-ranking religious authority, Royal is tasked with executing Robin. Instead of killing her, he causes a blast to knock her on top of the One Concern Relief Freight train as it is departing (along with Tolo, likely by accident). General Chrome pursues in a helicopter. (See: General Chrome) Royal again attempts to assist using his power, but he accidentally derails the train, sending everyone and everything aboard flying. The impact separates Robin and Royal from those pursuing them. Robin and Royal land near Isilugar. Royal wakes before Robin, who appears to be more severely knocked out.

Invading Isilugar
Mina heads to the wasteland and walks up to Royal after hearing the train crash. Recognizing Mina as a pirate but not knowing who she is, Royal tosses aside his white jacket that he wears as a progeny in order to disguise himself and claims to be a normal Settler unsympathetic to the One Concern. Mina does not know who Royal is and is skeptical, but she recognizes Robin, her friend who helped her escape capture by the concern, so she invites them both to recover and hide inside Isilugar, which happens to be nearby.

Royal discreetly asks Robin to not reveal his identity to the Isi, swearing that he disavows the One Concern. Robin keeps his secret during the time in Isilugar. While there, Royal observes the Isi settlements. One of the things he notices is that he recognizes the plants with round leaves growing there from ancient Concern texts. Royal also listens in while Mina explains the origin of the Isi Seeds to Robin. While the two are talking, he quietly goes outside to once again try summoning plants, but they are always square ones, not like the Isi plants.

Royal and Robin are separated when the One Concern Army attacks Isilugar and Robin and Mina dive underwater to save the city. When Mina asks whose fault the attack might be, one of Robin's possible answers is, "Maybe Royal." By the time Robin reaches the surface again, Royal has left.

Chasing Agent Black
As Robin, Elro, and Mina reach the base of The Tower in the Ferrier Shockwood, they take some time to figure out how to get past the electrical fence around it. In this time Royal walks up behind them. At this point, Mina confirms her suspicions that Royal is a part of the One Concern, and Royal announces himself as the future Medium. Mina suspects him of giving away Isilugar's location to the One Concern and being responsible for the invasion. Royal swears he disavows the Bastion. For evidence, Mina asks that Royal lets them into the tower. He obliges, but upon entry he finds that the Bastion Elite guarding the Tower have orders from Mother, the only religious figure higher than him, to capture and imprison Robin, Elro, and Mina. Royal angrily protests that his authority is defied, apologizes to Robin's party, and decides to find Mother, but he has no recourse as the Elites arrest them.

Lost
The next time Royal appears is in the Dark Cave. He is still trying to prove his loyalty to Robin and return to Mother. After the fight with the Possessed Thunk, the Silver Watchman follows after Robin further. Before the two can communicate, Royal bursts in from above, dropping a large rock on top of the Watchman. It knocks him under the bridge he is on and traps him underwater. Royal believes that he has saved Robin and proved his allegiance by eliminating an Agent, noting that his Implants don't work in water. After awkwardly describing his fondness for Robin, he asks to accompany her and escape the cave together. Robin is given the option and may choose Yes or No. If she chooses yes, Royal joins the party and accompanies her to the top of the Darland Ascent. If Robin chooses No, he simply remains there while she proceeds and catches up to her during the next cutscene.

A Way to Safety
When Robin discovers a broken Transcender on her way up Darland Ascent, Royal is enraged that such a holy machine has is in such a state, suspecting that it has been defiled. He explains its significance, detailing the process of Transcendence, Agents, and Mediums, and the role of Mother and himself as Progeny.

As they explore back underground searching for a way off the mountain, they come across a shaft that was sealed off by the One Concern a long time ago. Inside, they chance upon Captain Myron. He informs them that they are trapped due to the Omega Controller changing the landscape to shut them off from the summit, where the One Concern West is. Recognizing him, Royal declares his intent to arrest him on behalf of the Concern. Myron flippantly dismisses him, speaking about his task of defeating the monstrous enemy preventing him from completing his purpose. Royal scoffs at him, not believing such a thing exists. He tells Myron to point him to this monster that he might demonstrate his abilities as a Medium to destroy it, if it even exists. Myron hands over the key to the lower levels.

If Robin allowed Royal to come with her, they venture down together. Otherwise Royal takes the key and runs off ahead of her. Deep inside the sealed and abandoned spire until they find a pit of old Concern Controllers. Royal accidentally attacks the Omega Controller, thinking it to be an improperly placed Tri monument. It fights back, emerging from the bottom of the pile. (See: Omega Controller) Royal finds himself unable to affect it. Instead he uses his power to cause the emergency lift to rise so they can attempt to escape. As they flee, it pursues them and the cave walls bash off most of the machinery surrounding the controller. As it backs Robin and Royal into a corner, Myron and his boat appear, somehow falling from the caves above and landing on the controller, destroying the last of its machinery. The giant blue Eye that was controlling it persists its attack. With the machinery of the Omega Controller no longer protecting it, Robin is able to attack it with her tools. Myron stands at the bow, cursing at it while Robin defeats it. As the Eye dies, the Planet Spines below erupt, tossing Myron, Robin, Royal, the boat, and the dead Eye from the cave and onto the mountainside above. The blast clears the mountainside path eastward to the One Concern West.

Outside, Myron celebrates that the Omega Controller and the giant Eye controlling it are vanquished, and that the lands will now no longer change... assuming there aren't more the beings. Myron also notes that he believes that it is not actually the central controller of the planet's control system, and that the giant eye they defeated is actually a slave to a core intelligence elsewhere. He attempts to explain his findings that are outside of Tri scripture, but Royal ignores him. Royal is defiant, frustrated that he was not informed of the monstrosity that they faced underground despite being the holy Progeny and that a defiant Pirate is more informed than he is. After Myron leaves, Royal uses his powers again to be rid of the giant Eye. He is unable to destroy it and only manages to send it flying off into the distance, where it broadcasts some sort of light into the sky. At the time, Royal does not realize that the signal was an alert sent to Him.

After the Omega Controller clears the way to One Concern's westernmost entrance, Royal decides to enter ahead of Robin and have his subordinates escort her inside. He leaves Robin locked out.