Soul Crusher's Influence

[Dark Genesis]

Okay maybe it's time for a semi-intelligent thread.

I've wondered about this for a while, but when Beld's blade became tainted in the Demon King's blood, becoming Soul Crusher, he was eventually corrupted by it and become the tyrant bent on conquering Lodoss that he was, waging war and even killing his old freind and comrade in arms.

My question is this: How was Ashram influenced by the sword? He seems to struggle with it at first, but eventually masters it. However, does he truly master the sword itself and whatever power it could hold over him, or is he in a constant battle with it to avoid it's taint?

There's only been 3 people who've possessed it too:

Beld: See above.

Parn: the only reason he avoided it's effects I believe was that the Holy Sword of Valis nullified the effects of Soul Crusher.

Ashram: ??? That's my question! ;)

[Robotech Master]

Many believe that while Ashram was loyal to Emperor Beld in every way, he was mentally superior to his King in certain aspects.

I'm not sure about Sword Skill though, since, if we go by the Canon material, the Novels and TV series, Beld was able to kill Fahn and then beat the crap out of King Kashue without even appearing to be tired (You see Fahn dead on the ground, Beld standing there totally pumped up for battle, and Kashue is barely standing and panting all the way). If it hadn't been for that Rouge Arrow distraction, Kashue probably wouldn't of won.

I believe that Ashram mastered the sword to where he was the Master, not the sword.

I DO think that it had a slight influence on him though, perhaps making him believe in all those crazy philosophies regarding Beld's dream, or reinforcing those things. But we KNOW for a fact that he still believed in that without the sword, and we have to remember that when Ashram made a conscience decision to end the war and leave, the Demon Sword was still at his side. So I guess he completely mastered its power.

And yes, Parn was not influenced because he had both swords which balanced eachother, and also gave him the power of the God of Evil (forget his name) and the Falis, which is why he was able to break Kardis barrier.

[Dark Genesis]

Hmmmm.... do you think it's just something caused by the sword when you have it in possession or perhaps it's a mental corruption sort of thing. Also, in ether case, I wonder if wielding the Holy Sword of Valis would reverse the effects too.

(Current post thought of while sitting in *@!$*%# computer game lag and much cursing.)

[assyria]

Someone told me once it was because Ashram was already evil, but I don't agree with that, because I don't believe Ashram to be evil. He was just always doing what he saw as the right thing to do.

My own theory on Ashram and the Demon Sword was that Ashrams own desire to succeeded in forefeeling Belds dream was stronger then the swords own power. Maybe it's not the best theory but it dose make sense. Ashram's feeling to Bled are very similar to those that Parn feels for Kashue. A mix of high resect and Hero worship.

In fact Ashrams must have been much strong if he could master Sole Crasher with his sole intent being to horror Beld's last wishers, or at least what Ashram felt were his last whishes. Also where Parn disagrees with Kashue on a number of occasions, I don't there where any time that could be said for Ashram…. disagreeing with Bled that is, not Kashue….

I truly believe if Bled had of told Ashram that the only for him way to unite Lodoss was for Ashram to dress in drag and start a performance art schools on Lodoss' highs mountain peak, Ashram probably would have done it no questions asked. Ashram was very obviously not someone who would let someone walk all over him and Beld is probably about the only person in the entire series that ashram takes orders, or even advise from really. To follow someone with that sort of unquestioning loyalty you must really have a hell of a lot of respect for them.

Possibly the Demon Sword or at least fighting to stay in control of it is what made him go a "little" mad after his loss against Kashue on Fire dragon mountain…..which if he hadn't been so badly hit in the fight with shooting star he could have won. Although I do think he became a better person after his loss to Kashue. "….Even more Kingly…."

Actually this thread leads me to ask the question; Does anyone to take over Lodoss for themselves and not because of someone else's dieing wish?

Ashram tries to do it for Bled…then later I think maybe for the people of Marmo,

And Bled, although mostly because his tainted by the demon swords, does it for Pharlis…or maybe that was just the romanticised manga version….

[Robotech Master]

Yes, all very true.

I'm not quite sure if Beld was doing what he was doing to honor Falaris, the Supreme God of Darkness. Wagnard seemed to think that thier mission to take control of Lodoss was for Falaris, but Beld said "We won't need him" when Wagnard said that they would have his blessings.

The Demon Sword was possessed by the Demon King, who was a mortal reincarnation of the God of Evil during the wars. If anything, I think he was probably doing all of that for himself.

As for Ashram, I agree that he isn't evil, especially given the decisions he makes near the end of the Novels and Tv series. I think he just dominated the sword.

The thing about his desire to fulfill Beld's dream being stronger than the control of the Demon sword *might* be true, although I don't know.

My theory is that since the Demon Sword was being used by Beld, and since Ashram wanted to carry out Beld's wishes in the first place, the sword probably didn't need to possess him, as the influence was already there.

By the time of the liberation of Kanon, Ashram had put those feelings to rest and probably controlled and mastered the sword by that time. After all, he spent 10 full years on Marmo, never doing anything outside of the island and never letting Lodoss know that he was still alive. Who knows what skills he mastered during that time.

[assyria]

::slaps forehead::

Sorry what I meant to say at the bottom of my last post was; that Bled tried to take over Lodoss for Flaus, priestess of Pharis ....As in the lady of Pharis.... Because there is no reference to it in the anime, but it seems to be what they suggest at the end of the Gray Witch manga, and mostly what the plot of Lady of Pharis seems to revolve around.

How true that is to the books I don't know....Maybe that was just Ochi-san and Yamada-san's take on it?