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Ouroboros (身食らう蛇(みくらうへび) or ウロボロス) also known as the Society (結社(けっしゃ)), is a mysterious organization operating throughout 제무리아 and the main antagonistic forces in the series. It is the most prominent faction in the series, playing a significant role in each arc, with at least one member appearing in every game. The true origins, nature, and objectives of the organization remain among the series' largest and most long-running mysteries.

While individual members of the Society have occasionally allied with the protagonists, the organization itself serves as the overarching antagonist throughout the series.

Structure

Main articles: Anguis, Enforcers

Ouroboros is led by the 그랜드 마스터, loyally supported by the seven 앙기스. As of Trails beyond the Horizon, only six of the seven seats are occupied; if one seat does happen to open up, the Grandmaster is responsible for inviting someone to take this seat.

그랜드 마스터

Anguis I

캄파넬라

Anguis II

Anguis III

Anguis IV

Anguis V

Anguis VI

Anguis VII

13공방

철기대

집행자

Enhanced Jaegers

The plans drafted by the Grandmaster and overseen by the Anguis are executed by the powerful agents known as 집행자s, in addition to the Anguis themselves. A group of knights in the society known as the 철기대 work exclusively under the Seventh Anguis. Agents of the Society often fight along 인형병기s, or use them to impede their foes.

Each Anguis and Enforcer is assigned a number, with the Enforcer numbers being expressed in Roman numerals. It is unknown how the numbers are decided on; however, the seeming highest-ranking Anguis is named the first, and the two most powerful Enforcers have been assigned the numbers I and II.

A notable thing about the organization is its lack of an enforced chain of command. Ouroboros works under a principle of willing cooperation. A potential Anguis candidate may turn the Grandmaster's offer down, but this is exceedingly rare. Enforcers themselves also have several privileges, such as being able to refuse requests by an Anguis, work against the organization, go on hiatus or completely quit without consequences. Enforcers, and presumably the Anguis, can swear to other parties under the Grandmaster's name, which is seen as a high level of commitment and a promise not to violate the terms agreed on.

The society also has an army of Enhanced 엽병s under its control, which may have included 제스터 엽병단. The only named Enhanced Jaeger is 길버트 스타인, who is the leader of the 6th Regiment. Ouroboros' jaegers are not true jaegers, as they rely on biological enhancements to increase their strength, whereas a typical jaeger has years of experience in their career. Said biological enhancements also consist of mental suppression where they cannot reveal sensitive information and erasing their memories once their contracts have expired.

History

The Society's Technology

Ouroboros serves as a very powerful force that tends to work from the shadows. It has many powerful agents in its roster, some of whom have been granted powers that exist outside of Aidios' bounds. It also possesses a large amount of cutting edge technology, thanks to the 13공방 and the sharp yet loyal mind of the Sixth Anguis. Examples of its technology include the 글로리어스, its enormous fighter ship, and swathes of 인형병기s - robots capable of autonomous combat that frequently fight alongside the organization's members, and can also fight independently to impede the progress of its opponents. The meeting place of the Grandmaster, Anguis and Campanella is the 성신의 방.

Throughout the series, the organization's primary plan has been the 오르페우스 최종계획. It is thus far divided into 3 phases:

• The 복음계획 in 리벨 during 영웅전설 하늘의 궤적 FC, SC, the 3rd
• The 환염계획 in 크로스벨 and 에레보니아 during 영웅전설 벽의 궤적 and 영웅전설 섬의 궤적 I, II, III, IV
• The 영겁회귀계획 which was announced at the very end of 영웅전설 섬의 궤적 IV and begins at the end of 영웅전설 계의 궤적.

The specific ultimate objectives of the plan, as well as the origins of the organization, are largely shrouded in mystery. It is stated that the meaning behind the 그랜드 마스터's plans is guiding and witnessing what endings await the 일곱 지보 in the hands of the man of "this possible world".

Before the Gospel Plan

Ouroboros was founded in S.1184. Earliest reports of their involvement date back to S.1192, prior to the 백일전쟁, but it is generally assumed that the organization has been around for much longer. When 샤론 클루거 described how the organization destroyed the 월광목마단 in S.1194, she noted that it had been in its early days at that time.

Its leader, the 그랜드 마스터, started recruiting forces from S.1185 onward. In S.1186, she offered an invitation to Lianne Sandlot. Sandlot initially rejects her invitation to continue her search for 드라이켈스 라이제 아르노르's transmigrated soul. Once she finds him living a happy life as 길리아스 오스본, she is relieved to find 이슈멜가 has not yet transmigrated along. Reassured, but wary the darkness cannot have disappeared entirely, she considers and eventually accepts the 그랜드 마스터's invitation to serve her at Ouroboros.

The Grandmaster, however, immediately warns her of an impending crisis. The instant she took her eyes off Osborne, the darkness reared its head again. Lianne sped to Osborne's house, but was unable to make it in time: in order to save his son's life, Osborne had made a pact with Ishmelga, who had been waiting for 드라이켈스' reincarnation for 200 years. On that moment, Lianne decides to help advance Ouroboros' 환염계획, absorb the strength of the five other 기신 in her Knight and slaughter 이슈멜가 for once and for all. She assumes the identity of Arianrhod and began serving the Grandmaster as the Seventh 앙기스.

It is unknown if she was the first member to join. A number of other Anguis were recruited in the following years. One example was the ex-communicated bishop of the 칠요 교회, 게오르그 와이스만, who became the Third Anguis, and was responsible for bringing Enforcers 레베 (II) and 요슈아 아스트레이 (XIII) into the organization after Weissmann manipulated them following his instigation of the 백일전쟁 and 하멜의 비극. At some point, 맥번 had joined the Society as its most powerful Enforcer (I).

In S.1194, the organization's three most powerful agents - McBurn, Loewe and Arianrhod - destroyed the Order of the Moonlight Horse, at the time a rival faction to the society. Three members of the Order migrated to Ouroboros afterwards; these included 엘로이 하우드, who became the Fourth Anguis, as well as Sharon and the 황금접, who became Enforcers IX and III. In S.1197, 비타 클로틸드 left the 마녀의 권속 behind to join Ouroboros as the Second Anguis.

Although acting separately from the 유격사 협회, Ouroboros contributed to the D∴G 교단 섬멸작전. Two surviving victims of the cult later joined its ranks; 렌, who became Enforcer XV after being saved in a raid launched by Joshua and Loewe; and 엔네아, who joined Arianrhod's 철기대 unit, which had also included 뒤바리 and 아이네스.

Several other members are known to have joined Ouroboros prior to the Gospel Plan, albeit at unknown dates and for personal reasons. These include the First, Fifth and Sixth Anguis; as well as Enforcers 캄파넬라 (0), 루시올라 (VI), 발터 크론 (VIII) and 블블랑 (X).

The Gospel Plan

Main article: Gospel Plan

The aim of the first phase, the Gospel Plan, was to obtain the 일곱 지보 of Space, the 오리올, which was in the possession of the House of Auslese. The Aureole possesses the ability to generate infinite amounts of energy, which led its original owners to seal it away in an alternate dimension. Ouroboros used the 가스펠, a terminal of the Aureole, to release the seals situated in 왕도 그란셀's 봉인 구역 and the four 사륜의 탑. From the alternative dimension emerged the floating city of 리벨 아크, on which Ouroboros retrieved the Aureole from its core.

The Gospel Plan was guided by the Third Anguis, Weissmann, aided by Enforcers Loewe, Luciola, Walter, Bleublanc and Renne. Campanella acted purely as an observer on the Grandmaster's behalf. He and Sharon were also responsible for the 제국 길드 연속 습격 사건 in 에레보니아, a ploy done to keep 카시우스 브라이트 out of Liberl as he was perceived to be a threat to the Gospel Plan during its early phases.

Ultimately, the plan ended in success as the Aureole was obtained and granted to the Grandmaster by Campanella. However, it resulted in the deaths of Weissmann and Loewe. Following the events of the plan, Renne ended up permanently leaving while Luciola was deemed "missing".

The Phantasmal Blaze Plan

Main article: Phantasmal Blaze Plan

The second phase, the 환염계획, was "a plan to use the Hollow Phantasm of Crossbell to awaken the blaze in the Empire". For this plan, Ouroboros was operating simultaneously in 크로스벨 and 에레보니아. In Crossbell, they collaborated with the 크로이스가 to witness the completion of the man-made 제로의 지보. In 에레보니아, by assisting the 귀족 연합, they began to stage battles between the Sept-Terrion related Divine Knights until they were placed into a deadlock by 길리아스 오스본 who stole the plan from underneath them. Later, in pursuit of them reclaiming the plan, they decided to collaborate with him and advance his 거대한 황혼 계획 and were involved in 요르문간드 작전.

Members of the society working on its behalf for the plan at one point or another include: Anguis Vita, Novartis and Arianrhod; as well as Enforcers Campanella, McBurn, Sharon, Bleublanc, and a newly-joined Enforcer named 셜리 올랜도 (XVII). Arianrhod died during the plan, Sharon permanently left the society, while Vita, McBurn, Bleublanc and the Stahlritter all did not rejoin it making their future participation in the society uncertain. However, former 철혈의 아이들 and Erebonian Crown Prince 세드릭 라이제 아르노르 decided to join the Society as an Enforcer (XIX) after being freed from the 제국의 저주.

The plan ultimately culminated in the Sept-Terrions of Fire, Earth and Mirage all destroyed and unattainable.

Eternal Recurrence Plan

Main article: Eternal Recurrence Plan

The third phase, 영겁회귀계획, started after completion of the Phantasmal Blaze Plan. No information about this plan is known. It was announced by the Grandmaster at the very end of 영웅전설 섬의 궤적 IV following the end of the 거대한 황혼. When this plan was announced, the Grandmaster stated that the "nothingness of all" would come about in 3 years.

F. Novartis's actions during the events of 영웅전설 시작의 궤적 concerning 엘리시온 were stated by him to be his own personal project, and not on behalf of the Society. As he described it, the conclusion of the Rivalries marked the end of the Society's plans in Crossbell and Erebonia.

Half a year after the declaration of the Eternal Recurrence Plan, following the destruction of Elysium, the Grandmaster held a private communcation with 칼바드 공화국's new president, 로이 글램하트. The two made a mutual agreement that, for the next two and a half years, neither party would interfere in the others plans.

Harwood, Walter and Lucrezia were active in Calvard during the events of 영웅전설 여의 궤적. They were involved in the multifaction effort to defeat 아르마타, but what relevance this has to Ouroboros's greater plots is as yet unknown.

Later Campnella announces the commencement of Eternal Recurrence Plan in Calvard.

Rivalry with the Septian Church

Like Ouroboros, the Congregation of the Sacraments of the 칠요 교회, in particular the 성배기사단, seek 아티팩트s. There are, however, some differences in their approaches to artifacts.

The Septian Church has dedicated its chivalric order to retrieve 'live' artifacts to subsequently seal them away in 태초의 땅s underneath buildings of the Church, believing man to be corruptible by the power of such dangerous objects. Ouroboros, however, seeks the 일곱 지보 for a greater purpose aimed to guide "the souls of all" and hands Artifacts to people to witness how they will come to an end in human's hand.

Trivia

• A core tenet of Ouroboros is that its members must join of their own free will. However, they accepted Joshua as an Enforcer. An argument can be made that the new rewritten personality technically had free will, although one predisposed to being an assassin.

Gallery

• 
  The 성신의 방 which acts as a meeting place for Ouroboros
• 
  The 성신의 방 in the 영웅전설 하늘의 궤적 the 3rd evo OP
• 
  Art of the Seven 앙기스 found in 영웅전설 벽의 궤적
• 
  A 영웅전설 섬의 궤적 III key visual depitcing 집행자, 철기대 and 앙기스
• 
  Ouroboros Emblem in 영웅전설 섬의 궤적 IV OP
• 
  Depition of several 집행자 and 앙기스 from 영웅전설 섬의 궤적: Northern War

References

Notes

Sources