Chess Pieces (MÄR)

File:Chess Pieces emblem.jpg

Chess Pieces emblem

The Chess Pieces (チェスの兵隊, Chesu no Koma) is a fictional organization in the anime and manga series MÄR: Märchen Awakens Romance, by the author Nobuyuki Anzai. The army is the main antagonist factor of the series.

About

The Chess Pieces is a military faction which, over the 10 years it was in existence, has established supremacy over the rest of its rebellious kind in MÄR-Heaven; its notoriety for being the predominantly antagonist organization enjoys a prestige of such the name of Chess Pieces has become a taboo for generations to come. This organization's home to people from a mélange of backgrounds with a mélange of motives: discarded humans seeking a refuge, victims of social injustice wishing to avenge themselves upon their antagonists, radicals aiming to 'cleanse' the current MÄR-Heaven, or simply lusters of wealth, power, women, ÄRMs or war; all united under the same goal: to conquer the world.

History

The foundation for the Chess Pieces was first laid 10 years prior to the current storyline by two exiled Caldians, Diana (its would-be Queen) and Phantom (its would-be no.1 Knight) as they traveled across MÄR-Heaven. After Diana got selected into Lestava's Royal Family as the new queen it was Phantom and his counselor, Peta, who constructed the rest of the incomplete system, journeying through the land to collect efficient candidates. In 4 years' time their efforts came to fruition: the Chess Pieces, ferociously and ruthlessly, savaged the whole of MÄR-Heaven with the 1st Great War. However in the following War Game in which it faced up against the world defender Cross Guard, though able to claim the life of many opponents, even the Cross Guard leader Danna himself, the Chess was itself devastated with a staggering loss of members and Phantom's death, and was forced to retreat into darkness.

For the next 6 years under the leadership of deputy chief Knight Peta, the Chess slowly moved toward reconstruction, restoring its former grandeur and with Phantom's resurrection, returned to the world's knowledge with a 2nd Great War, which exceeded its predecessor in magnitude. In addition, some times prior to that, Queen Diana herself had come into the open, stealthily staged a coup d'état in Lestava and headquartered the entire Chess inside its castle, the news of which only known when Lestava's princess Snow eluded her grasp. However, despite this time's bettered maneuver, organization and force, in the 2nd War Game the tides of events still turned to the Chess' adversary's, MÄR team's advantage and led them to triumph. This fiasco is followed in the manga by the death of Phantom, Diana and lastly the King himself, which would throw the Chess into anarchy and eventual disbandment. The anime laid out its destruction from the War Game's aftermath to Phantom's abdication of his position and following death in a similar manner, with the deaths and desertions of many members. However the alleged manga Chess disintegration was replaced by the elimination of its (almost every) member, ordered by Diana and executed by its very King for their purpose of conquering MÄR-Heaven and Earth. In the end, with the King dead, the murdered Chess Pieces were revived, and the disbandment would then take place as was plotted.

Hierarchy & Methods of operation

The Chess ranks are based on the pieces in the game of chess with rank going from king down to queen, knights, rooks and pawns, separating the hierarchy into two parts. Its top is governed by the command force of one King and one Queen, which lurks in darkness most of the time the identity of its two members privy almost to none outside the Chess Pieces; headed by the Queen Diana. Second to it is the combat force consisted of echeloned Knights (elite fighters, leading operation executors), Bishops, Rooks and Pawns (foot soldiers); headed by the no.1 Knight Phantom. Chess members from Rook ranks upward is permitted the possession of class earrings (which are actually Dimension ÄRMs that allow them to communicate with other Chess Pieces, like the Cross Guard's are), individual masks, and/or hooded robes. Although the rudimentary rule for ranking one is based on their power (proved by mastery of ARMs or in less usual cases, impressive feats), it's also noted that soldiers of lower ranks can be stronger than their superiors .

In operation, Chess Pieces usually carry with them a card with the organization's emblem on it, and leave it at the target site each time they're done with havocking and along with it, their trademark announcement of victory 'checkmate' (which is also seldom recited by some Chess after winning a fight).

The Chess combat force employs draconian regimentations: subordinates, from Knights to Pawns, must comply to every order from the chief Knight, Phantom and any Chess Piece responsible for actions of disobedience will be punished severely - for example, not by physical means, but mental means: one's most precious is to be disciplined in one's stead and that way, rather than having a Chess Piece of enormous potentiality ruined, they will earn an exponentially strengthened (rage-fueled) member .

Members

King

(キング, Kingu)
Top class of the Chess Pieces, accessible to Queen class only.

• King

Queen

(クイーン, Kuin)
Second most powerful class of the Chess Pieces. The Queen insignia is a Queen-piece earring.

• Diana

Knights

(ナイト, Naito)
In the Chess combat force's hierarchy, Knights are top members highest ranked for their prowess. The number of Knights is strictly within 13, making up the alias Zodiac Knights (ゾディアックのナイト, Zodiakku no Naito) - each Knight has a Zodiac constellation correspondence , with the odd 13th is the number one Knight, Phantom. Each one when dubbed a Knight will have an insignia earring (the knight piece in a chess game) bestowed upon him/her, usually by Phantom.

• Phantom - No.1 Knight, 1st strongest Knight.
• Halloween- Second-in-command Knight, 2nd strongest Knight.
• Peta - Chief strategist Knight, 3rd strongest Knight.
• Chimera - 4th strongest Knight.
• Rolan - 5th strongest Knight.

• Weasel (ヴィーザル, Vidaru) - Voiced by: Kenichi Ogata

6th strongest Knight, Weasel is the last and oldest of the top-level knights (84 years old), but is nevertheless a nimble fighter. Vidar is easily distinguished due to his eccentric appearance with a tree growing out of his head containing all his magic power, and always seen holding a wood cane inside which he hides all his ÄRMs. As a Chess Pieces he's wicked, but is overall an amicable figure to his Chess fellows, and prefers courtesy for his opponents.

In the 1st War Games, Weasel fought Jack's father,Jake and grasped victory using his Guardian Bird of Rotten Wood, with Jake being fatally wounded (and dying at his home shortly thereafter, which was unknown to Weasel). He plays little to no role in the 2nd War, save for once in the War campaign when he took over an unnamed castle by his trees, and like most of the Chess Pieces spends the War Games observing the fights. He takes special notice of Jack since his debute of victory, for the boy also masters his wood element and uses Jake's memento scoop. He fights Jack in the final round of the 2nd War Games and is defeated by him, who used Kikazoku Fire to burn the tree on his head, eliminating the source of his power. Weasel compliments Jack by telling him that he has surpassed his father, and after the War Games ends, receives no more lines for the rest of the series. Weasel is a plant Guardian ÄRM user:

• Seed Cannon: A Nature ÄRM summoning cannons to fire fruits and vegetables as bullets.
• Bomb Grass: A Nature ÄRM which summons a strange kind of exploding plants.
• ???: A Nature ÄRM, a large leaf that is used by the user to float in the air.
• Deadly Field: A Darkness ÄRM, used to wither all the plants around the users, with the exception of the tree on top of Weasel's head.
• Yggdrasil: A Guardian ÄRM which calls out an enormous, invincible tree. Weasel can control various parts of the tree for an attack.
• Bird of Rotten Wood: Guardian ÄRM, a bird born with wooden structure of such blighted plant that will wither any greens to its own bleak figure.

• Ian - 7th strongest Knight.

• Magical Roe (マジカル・ロウ, Majikaru Rou) - Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki

Magical Roe is the 8th strongest Knight and a clown directly under Queen Diana's command. When Diana's stepdaughter, Princess of Lestava Snow's was little, she cried often and it was during one of those times that Diana introduced Lou to her. For her entertainment he always demonstrated many circus tricks and as they grew close, became her favorite babysitter and childhood friend. However later the two departed, at unknown point of Snow's life and under unknown circumstances.

In the 2nd War, Magical Roe reappeared in the War Games and fought Snow herself in the 6th round, secretly obeying Diana's order to kidnap Snow. While struggling with the thought of betraying his princess himself, Roe still proceeded with his mission and eventually managed to take Snow back to the Lestava headquarter, winning the Game fight by default. After the War Games' Final Battles when Team MÄR stormed Lestava Castle, he fought off Nanashi, Alan, and Gaira to prevent them from reaching Snow and ended up defeated, regretting his actions. In the anime adaption, instead he fought Alan and Ginta, and after his loss, Roe sacrificed his life to save Snow from Diana's Darkness ÄRM, atoning for his wrongdoings towards the princess. Magical Roe uses circus-themed ÄRM:

• Blade Ball: A Weapon ÄRM that creates a ball with sharp blades extending from it.
• Flare Wheel: A Nature ÄRM that create flame hoops to attack the target. Destroyed during his battle with Snow.
• Bubble Leo: A Nature ÄRM that resembles a bubble hoop creating lion-shaped bubbles to attack.
• Mimic Medallion: An ÄRM that mimics the ability of an opponent's ÄRM (i.e summons the same Guardian his opponent's ÄRM calls, but their power differ in accordance to the user's power).
• Trump Soldier: A Guardian ÄRM that creates card soldiers. The cover spread for the first chapter shows the outlines of this ÄRM.
• Nightmare: A Guardian ÄRM that creates many eyed, sharp-toothed spherical objects, which fly around and attack.

• Galian (ガリアン, Garian) - Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto (Japanese); Patrick Seitz (English)

9th strongest Knight, Galian is the former leader of the notorious thief guild Luberia, founding it as a sanctuary for the lowest of the world. As a leader he was an amicable figure and well-loved by his subordinate thieves, leading Luberia in a peaceful reign - until the 1st War started. The birth of a homicidal Chess Pieces army begot disasters and destructions all over MÄR-Heaven, which, while seen as a bad thing for 'business' by many Luberians, set Galian on constant agitation, eager to test his power. His first encounter with the Chess was inside a havoc-wrought castle they occupied, and after defeating many Pawns, Galian faced the strategist Knight Peta. Although Galian was easily worsted, Peta still acknowledged his great potentials and let him go after provocatively advising him to invest his power in a worthier place.

The 1st War Games concluded with the Chess' defeat, however that did little to help Galian's already triggered infatuation with their immense power. Predicting the Chess' inevitable return, he resolved to abandon Luberia and joined the Chess. During that time he found and saved a wounded man with no memory of his past life, but nevertheless endowed with latent might, whom he named Nanashi. Turning a deaf ear to his thieves' suspicion and cool reception towards Nanashi, Galian took Nanashi under his wings. To help him win Luberia's heart Galian sent a monster to the guild's fortress, which Nanashi outfought and earned him the respect of many, just like Galian wished. After that he trained Nanashi and when he was strong enough, he left his throne and the Electric Eyes ÄRMs, symbols of Luberia's leader to Nanashi, erased all memories regarding him and went to Peta to accept his previous offer. Over the years, his name also faded from Luberia's memories itself as the thieves recognized Nanashi as their true leader.

Although Galian severed all his ties to Luberia when he gave it up, the news Luberia's extermination (along with its ragged flag), brought to him by the perpetrator Peta himself comes as a great personal blow, though he denies it by setting fire to the flag. Knowing Nanashi's nature and his reaction to this homicide, Galian anticipated the man's participation in the 2nd War Games and entered it thus, to prove he had chosen the right path. With Phantom's approval, he revealed himself to Nanashi in the 5th round and the two battled, Nanashi's memories of him gradually returning. He's defeated by Nanashi and compliments him for having become a fine leader, admitting his envy. At the end of the series, Nanashi and Galian rule Luberia together. Like Nanashi, he fights with lightning-themed ÄRMs:

• Magic Rope: Weapon ÄRM, an urn containing ropes which tie the opponent. These ropes can keep coming after their target even after being cut and the only way to stop them is to destroy the urn.
• Electric Feather: A ring Weapon ÄRM that creates feathers which emit electricity.
• Electric Circuit (Electric Frisbee): Weapon ÄRM, objects of circular shape, that Galian uses for circumdate his opponent. This ÄRM has an electric power, that attack and inhibits the opponent.
• Hiraiken (Lightning Rod Sword): Nature ÄRM, a sword which absorbs lightning.
• ????: A Darkness ÄRM which erases memories.
• Torpedine: Emerging from thunderclouds to Galian's service, the electric beams that this monster emits shall banish all obstacles.

• Ash - 10th strongest Knight.
• Candice - 11th strongest Knight.

• Pinocchio (ピノキオン, Pinokion) - Voiced by: Nao Nasagawa

12th strongest Knight, Pinocchio is a puppet made by Diana for her little sister Dorothy when Dorothy was a child. He strives to defeat Dorothy to become human by Diana's magic and fights her in the 6th round of the War Games, but is ripped apart by Dorothy's ÄRM Toto. In a filler episode, he is shown rebuilt and assists Girom and Kouga when trying to capture Caldia's Grand Elder only to be defeated by Dorothy and Ginta. Also in the anime, they were last seen riding Kouga's Kung Fu Frog. Pinocchio is a direct reference to the main character of the tale Pinocchio. Pinocchio is a Weapon ÄRM user:

• Saw Blade: Weapon ÄRM. Creates 3 saw-like swords Pinocchio can use as weapons.
• Fastitocalon: A Guardian ÄRM that creates a giant whale to attack his foes. Those who are swallowed, save for the cursed Poko, ultimately die and are dissolved down to the bones thanks to its slimy digestive juices.

Pinocchio also has other abilities that are not ÄRM-based:

• Liar Nose: Pinocchio starts telling lies, causing his nose to grow until it becomes a cannon to blast his enemies.
• Third Arm: Pinocchio uses a third arm concealed above his right arm.
• Wire Hand: Pinocchio launches his hands on wires from all three of his arms to grab his opponent.
• Buzzsaw Chest: Pinocchio reveals a buzz saw in his chest for slicing up enemies. This is best used after grabbing his enemy with Wire Hand to pull them into it.

• Rapunzel (ラプンツェル, Rapunzeru) - Voiced by: Yuko Sazaki (Japanese); Melodee Spevack (English)

Rapunzel is the second weakest of the Knights and the older sister of Girom. As children the siblings were often abused by their mother, prompting them to chop her to death with an axe while she was sleeping one day and the two matricides ran away. Although she ranks no higher than the 2nd weakest Knight, Rapunzel is arrogant, riotous and, despite being quite far from most vision of beauty herself, always boasts of hers and looks down upon others'; earning her the dislike of many Knights. She was present as Phantom's revival. In the campaign of the 2nd War Games, Rapunzel was responsible for the capture of Reginrave castle.

Rapunzel was seen with the rest of the Knights after the 3rd Round. She persuaded Phantom to let her and Girom fight in the 4th Round. When someone on her team loses to Team MÄR, she challenges the loser of her team to a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors and ends up decapitating them if they lose. After Ginta defeated Girom, Rapunzel wanted to fight Ginta only for Dorothy to step in. She loses to Dorothy in the 4th round of the War Game. After the 5th Round of the War Games, her actions helps cement Phantom's judgment: as punishment for slaying her comrades, she has the rook Ian battle and kill her (by decapitation in the manga, and incineration in the anime) in battle in front of Girom's eyes and usurp her Knighthood.

Rapunzel is an obvious, though rather twisted, reference to the imprisoned beautiful girl in the fairytaleRapunzel, who also used her hair as the ladder for her capturer the evil enchantress, and later her rescuer, to climb up the tower in which she was held. Rapunzel's ÄRMs include:

• Ice Spikes: A Nature ÄRM which creates several streams of giant icicles along the ground. It can also be used to make a sort of bear trap out of two spiked walls.
• Hair Master: A Nature ÄRM allowing her to manipulate her already odd hair, turning it into several very sharp and hard, tentacle-like drills.

• Kouga (コウガ, Kouga) - Voiced by: Daisuke Gouri

The weakest Knight. Kouga is sensitive about his ugliness, due to which as a child he was always treated miserably. Kouga appears in the 6th Round of the War Games where he faces off against Alviss. He's extremely arrogant and dense, referring to himself as "Lord Me," or "The Great Me" (aka "Ore-sama") and hates anyone with good looks (e.g Alviss) as he thinks people with good appearance carries dark hearts. Although his magical powers and ÄRM strength are more along Bishop class, Kouga rose to Knight Class due to his vast amount of strength and a sturdy stamina which takes in unusually low damage from the most destructive of attacks.

Kouga appears cloaked throughout most of the series until War Games' 6th round, wherein he fights Alviss and loses. In a filler episode of the anime, he teams up with Pinocchio and Girom in a mission to kidnap the Kaldea Elder, and is later defeated by Dorothy and Ginta. He is last seen (in the anime only) somewhere with Pinocchio and Girom, riding Kung Fu frog. A user of ninja-themed Weapon ÄRMs:

• Daimonji: A Weapon ÄRM that forms a giant, five-bladed shuriken. Kouga uses this in hand-to-hand combat.
• Centipede: A Weapon ÄRM that turns into a huge centipede attached to the user's hand to attack.
• Smokescreen: A Nature ÄRM which creates gray mist that can hide almost anything, even magic power.
• Sand Hell: A Dimension ÄRM that creates quicksand around his opponent's feet.
• Kung Fu Frog: A Guardian ÄRM that summons a huge red frog to attack with martial arts. Its speed is said to be in the top class among Guardians.

Bishops

(ビショップ, Bishoppu)
The Bishops are the second-strongest group of the Chess Pieces after Knights. From this rank every rank is separated into 10 levels from weakest Level 10 upwards to strongest Level 1. Each of the Bishops wears a bishop earring as an insignia; designed like a shield with a cross rather than the actual piece in chess.

• Chaton - Voiced by: Miyu Matsuki
  

Chaton is a kitty girl and the strongest of the Level 1 Bishops. Chaton is always happy, almost to an annoying level. She has a comical, yet entirely serious, crush on Alan, much to his distaste as Alan, ridiculously in contrast to his looks and due to an ironic twist of his situation with Edward, is a cat phobic. She is a good friend with Loco, even though Chaton is quick to get on Loco's nerves. Chaton deeply cares for Loco and constantly looks out for her well-being, though this usually tends to annoy Loco.

Chaton first appears in the 6th Round of the War Games and Alan was surprised at her appearance when she removed her hooded robe. She quickly manages to defeat Alan (who mistook her for a Knight before the battle began) due to his Cat phobia, which he inherited from Edward. During Halloween and Alan's battle, Chaton and Loco kept arguing over who would win while watching from a castle balcony. During Phantom and Ginta's battle, after Ginta's Puss in Boots was introduced, Chaton commented that it is "the greatest Guardian ever", making her the only one who took it seriously.

In the anime, after the War Games are completed, she and Loco, while traveling through the desert, get captured by the Ghost Chess along with Team MÄR. Working together, all of them escape the Ghost Chess, although due to Loco's constant use of Darkness ÄRM Loco is reverted back into a baby. Chaton is quick to begin taking care of Loco, and later watches the death of Alan to King, much to her horror. During Alan's last moments, he gives Chaton his earring and she seeks out other Chess Piece members and interrogates them on King's current location. After King is defeated, Chaton lives together with Alan and Babbo, who help take care of Loco. She uses cat-themed ÄRMs:

• Para Claw: A ring Weapon ÄRM in the form of a powerful set of cat claws that paralyze the opponent.
• Cat Teaser: A ring Nature ÄRM in the form a of cat-toy shaped which allows the user to play puppeteer with his/her opponent's body.
• Meow Meow Blast: A ring Nature ÄRM that creates a powerful blast.
• Bururu: A ring Guardian ÄRM that summons a giant bulldog.

• Hamelin - Voiced by: Wataru Hatano (Japanese); Kirk Thornton (English)
  

Second of the Level 1 bishops to be introduced, Hamelin uses music-based ÄRM. The character is created by a subscriber and based off of The Pied Piper of Hamelin. He fought Alviss in the 5th Round of the War Games and lost. He is not seen in the final episode's end credits, suggesting he died at King's hands. His ÄRMs are:

• Soul Flute: Weapon ÄRM, a flute that saps the magical power of the user's opponent when he or she hears the music played on it.
• Charm Horn: A clarinet Weapon ÄRM that makes copies of user.
• ???: Nature ÄRM that wings its user.
• Bolino: A pendant Guardian ÄRM, a giant monster with a bat-like face.

• Emokis - Voiced by: Chiemi Chiba (Japanese); Mona Marshall (English)
  

The first of the Level 1 bishops to be introduced, Emokis is an ugly, fat but fairly agile girl who battles Snow in the 5th round of the War Game and angers the princess to no end by constantly boasting her beauty and commenting on how Snow's ugly in comparison to her. She is not seen in the final episode's end credits. She uses Nature ÄRMs:

• Flower Pluck: A Nature ÄRM in the form of a flower, every time one pulls a flower petal, putting it down to ugly/pretty and if the last petal is ugly then the person one is using the ÄRM on will be hit by an explosion.
• Dandarshi: A Guardian ÄRM which can be used as a sword. He acts like the "Magic Mirror" from the Snow White story, always being consulted by Emokis, regarding her self-proclaimed beauty, and has to lie from time to time to keep himself safe from her wrath.
• House of Cake: A Unique ÄRM which summons a giant candy house which one can eat. It makes the user fatter, but more powerful.

• Orco - Voiced by: Tomoyuki Shimura (Japanese); Kirk Thornton (English)
  

Orco is a large and foolish strong man who uses a body hardening ÄRM, and a psychotic killer who enjoys destruction. He was present at Phantom's revival and joined Girom in the destruction of Vestry during the Chess Piece's war campaign. When encountered by Dorothy and Nanashi, he fought them until he was struck down by Nanashi. Frightened and exhausted, Orco flees from the battle hoping to return to Vestry with more Chess Piece members, only to encounter Phantom (in Tom disguise) and is killed for his cowardice with Phantom telling him that he should "take lessons from Ginta in the afterlife." He uses Nature ÄRMs:

• ???: Nature ÄRM, an armband that hardens one's body.

• Garon - Voiced by: Hidenari Ugaki (Japanese); Douglas Rye (English)
  

Garon is the Chess Piece who fought Ginta in the first round of the War Games and the father of Leno and Pano. He is an honorable man, and Ginta ends up sparing him (partly due to intervention by Pano) after Babbo's Gargoyle form broke his ÄRM. He was killed by King but was revived when King was defeated. He uses Nature ÄRM:

• ???: Nature ÄRM, a ring that enhances one's strength. Garon has five of these.
• ???: Nature ÄRM, a ring that hardens one's body. Garon has five of these.

• Girom - Voiced by: Hoshiyuki Yoshino (Japanese); Eddie Frierson (English)
  

Girom, or Gillom in the game, is a psychotic boy about Ginta's age who enjoys killing, particularly women, much like his maniac older sister, the Knight Rapunzel. This is largely due, however, to the tremendous stress from their childhood abuse from their mother, whom they later killed. He was present at Phantom's revival, along with the Knights and several other Chess Pieces. He and Orco attacked Vestry during the Chess Piece's war campaign, under the order to search for a certain ÄRM. While searching the boat at the cave's end, he quickly meets up with and fights Ginta, who defeats him using Gargoyle.

Girom then showed up, along with his sister, in the 4th Round of the War Games, where he killed Aqua after her tie with Nanashi. As he wanted, Girom had a rematch with Ginta, and Girom almost won, due to Ginta's anger of him killing Aqua. Babbo later calmed Ginta down, however, and Ginta defeated Girom with Gargoyle, to which Girom also survived. He later witnessed his sister killed by Ian in battle as punishment for her killing of her teammates in the 4th Round. In a filler episode of the anime, he, along with Kouga and Pinocchio, kidnap the Kaldea Elder, to which Ginta and Dorothy come to rescue him. He is last seen (also in the anime only) with the two somewhere riding Kung Fu Frog. A user of ice-based Nature ÄRMs:

• Iced Earth: A ring Nature ÄRM and Girom's signature ÄRM, used to fire shards of ice at the enemy. It also has several other uses, such as creating an icicle around the user's arm to use as a sword.
• Crevice: A ring Nature ÄRM that creates a giant crevice beneath targets and plunges them through its endless depths.
• Egola: A ring Guardian ÄRM, summons a giant made of ice to attack the user's enemies. This giant's power increases in areas covered in ice. Destroyed by Gargoyle.
• ???? (anime only): A Guardian ÄRM, summons a sphere-shaped chunk of ice that shoots energy beams at the enemy.

• Maira - Voiced by: Keiichi Sonobe (Japanese); David Lodge (voice actor) (English)
  

Maira, black-cloaked masked man, takes pleasure in engulfing and digesting people with his ÄRM, the Guardian Vaqua, which came into his possession when he was a Pawn in the 1st War Games. In the anime, Maira gains the ÄRM during the 2nd War Games and uses it to defeat a Cross Guard member. Outside of being the Chess Piece members observing Ginta in his battle against Garon, he encounters Dorothy in the 2nd Round while falsely judging her capacity, and is condemned to death by Dorothy ordering her Guardian Toto to eat him, becoming the first casualty of the War Games. His ÄRMs are:

• Vaqua: A Guardian ÄRM in the form of a giant blob of slime with one eye. The blob will digest anything it swallows up into its body, such as ÄRM or even enemies themselves, and will regenerate from any damage.

• Mr. Hook - Voiced by: Kentarou Itou (Japanese); Doug Stone (voice actor) (English)
  

Mr. Hook is a Level 10 pirate-based Bishop who fought in the previous War Games named after Captain Hook (though he doesn't have a hook for a hand). He defeats Snow in the third round War Game but loses to Alviss in the next and becomes one of Rapunzel's Chess loser victims. He is stated to be one of the weakest Bishops. In the Japanese version, he commonly ends his sentences with 'zoyo'. A Weapon ÄRM user:

• Screw Saber: The untwisted foil release of Mr. Hook's corkscrew-twisted bracelet Weapon ÄRM.
• Fishing Rod: A ring Weapon ÄRM in the form of a fishing pole which can fling people up into the air.
• Harpoon Pierce: A ring Weapon ÄRM that summons a giant harpoon.
• Anger Anchor: A ring Weapon ÄRM which summons a giant anchor from the sky to crush enemies.

• Kollekio - Voiced by: Tetsuharu Ohta (Japanese); Michael Sorich (English)
  

Kollekio is a blue goblin bishop. He lost in the fight with Jack and was later decapitated by Rapunzel after losing Rock-Paper-Scissors. Kollekio commonly refers to himself in third person. A Weapon ÄRM user:

• Magic Hammer: A hammer Weapon ÄRM that when hits its targets will reduce their size to bean's size.
• Slowpoke: A ring Darkness ÄRM which can make someone unable to move with the side effect of the caster gaining temporary blindness.

• Aqua - Voiced by: Kimiko Koyama (Japanese); Stephanie Sheh (English)
  

Aqua is a pretty girl wearing a sea-themed ball dress. Despite being a Chess Piece, the happy and rather unpredictable Aqua always keeps a smile on her face, much to the surprise of Team MÄR. Aqua refers to everyone with honorific suffixes in the Japanese version, while in the English dub puts either "Mr." or "Miss" in front of everyone's names, including herself.

Aqua appears in the 3rd round of the 4th Battle. After witnessing several examples of how Rapunzel kills any losing Chess Pieces, Nanashi and Aqua fight each other, where Nanashi defeats Aqua with his Electric Eye. Nanashi, however, pretends that attack removed all of his energy in order to make the fight a draw and save Aqua. Although Rapunzel isn't happy about this, Aqua wins Rock-Paper-Scissors against her and Rapunzel doesn't kill her, but has her brother Girom do it in her stead. Her final words were an apology to Nanashi. After the battles of that match are over, Nanashi floats her body into the water as a burial. Her character is based off of The Little Mermaid. she uses sea-themed ÄRM:

• Akko: Guardian ÄRM used by Aqua, summons a giant mobile clam that can shoot pearls at the enemy and allows the user to hide inside of it. Unlike most Guardians, the user can still move while using it.
• Skate: A Weapon ÄRM (true name not stated in the series) that creates ice skates on the user's feet. She only used this once, drawing a target for Supikara.
• Supikara: A crown Nature ÄRM in the shape of a spiral seashell. By blowing in it, the user can call on sea creatures to aid in battle. Aqua wears Supikara on her head.

• Avrute - Voiced by: Daiki Matsubayashi (Japanese); Joe Cappelletti (English)
  

A jester-looking masked man, Avrute is always seen with his ÄRM in its activated state. He was quickly and easily defeated by Dorothy (before he could even do anything) who used her Ring Dagger on his non-vital points. He was killed by Rapunzel, without even having a chance to play Rock-Paper-Scissors, Rapunzel claiming she wouldn't waste her "special game" on trash. He uses Weapon ÄRM:

• Shelakey: A Weapon ÄRM in the shape of a large clawed gauntlet, it can supposedly cut through anything, even other ÄRMs. It appears to always be in its activated form.

• Kannochi - Voiced by: Hideyuki Umezu (Japanese); Dave Wittenberg (English)
  

Kannochi is the star-eyed round-headed Darkness ÄRM master Bishop (Rook in dubbed version) in gentlemen attire and a Dragon Cane ÄRM. Kannochi states that he could have just as easily joined the Cross Guard, showing he isn't actually evil. Kannochi, however, has a love of battle, and joined the Chess Pieces solely for that reason. Kannochi himself reveals that his first memory is from a battle. Kannochi finds no joy in killings and death.

Kannochi first appears in the 3rd Round of the War Games, where he sleeps through the entire round until his battle comes up. Although at first Kannochi had the advantage with his Darkness ÄRM Body Candle, he lost fighting Ginta and died, but encouraged Ginta into fighting the Knights of the Chess Piece. The way he was sitting and the way he fell was an reference to Humpty Dumpty. His ÄRMs include:

• Body Candle: A Darkness ÄRM that links the target's bodily status to a burning candle, causing them to melt down as it does until there is nothing left. Should it fail, its own user will compensate for its usage by melting himself at a remarkably fast rate.
• Dragon Rod: Kannochi's cane Nature ÄRM engraved with the head of a dragon which breaths fire.

Rooks

(ルーク, Ruku)
Rooks are the third strongest of the Chess Pieces after Bishops, they tend to be weak and more along the lines of above-average Pawns. Rook earrings are their insignia.

• Loco

• Leno - Voiced by: Makoto Yoshimura (Japanese); Doug Erholtz (English)
  

He is the son of Garon and Pano's brother, and the first enemy fought in the war games. He fought against Alviss, who easily beat him. He was killed by King and revived at the end, watching Pano and Jack from afar with his father. A Nature ÄRM user:

• Storm Kadarm: Weapon ÄRM, a set of swords that attacks to the user's arm. These can act as both shields and attacks.
• Flame Ball: Nature ÄRM, creates balls of fire that float around the user, can be launched as projectiles or used to strengthen weapons.

• Pano - Voiced by: Yuko Sasamoto (Japanese); Lia Sargent (English)
  

Pano is the sister of Leno and the daughter of Garon. Pano's most notable trait is her relationship with Jack, who she falls in love with during the series. She defeats him in the first round of the War Games, though loses to him during their rematch in the third. In both of her battles with Jack, at some point Jack is comically hit in the groin by Pano. Using Jack's mushrooms, it's discovered she's scared of bats, being immobilized, leeches, and likes pretty flowers and butterflies.

Pano first appeared with her family in the 1st Round of the War Games, where she managed to defeat Jack by hitting him in the groin with her Weapon ÄRM. Jack and Pano have a rematch in the 3rd Round, where Jack uses his mushrooms to force Pano to surrender. While under the effect of the mushrooms, Pano sees an absurdly handsome vision of Jack, and is quick to fall in love with him followed by a hug. Once the illusion is removed, however, Pano quickly becomes angry at Jack and kicks him in his "family jewels".

Pano later appeared during Jack's battle with Vizard, where she gave her support to Jack and encouraged him throughout the battle. In the anime, she later reappeared stealing food where she reunites with several members of Team MÄR, including Jack, where she reveals King's mass murder of several Chess Pieces, including her brother and farther. After King is defeated, Pano lives with Jack and his mother on their farm together, and it appears that her family supports her relationship with Jack. Pano is a Weapon ÄRM user:

• Ball Hammer: Pano's mace Weapon ÄRM. Its detachable ball head has radar skill to track down opponent and can separate into 4 sections to attack.

• Fuugi - Voiced by: Chihiro Suzuki (Japanese); Jaxon Lee (English)
  

A wind Nature ÄRM user, he fights Snow in the second round of the War Games and loses. He was killed by King amongst other unnamed Chess Piece members and revived at the end and last seen with Alibaba. In the sighting with Alibaba, it is shown that he might have a crush on the Princess of Reginleif. His ÄRMs include:

• Vindalva: Nature ÄRM. Allows the user to control wind to attack as blades, or produce giant tornadoes.

• Alibaba - Voiced by: Daisuke Kirii (Japanese); Vic Mignogna (English)
  

An arrogant Guardian ÄRM master Rook. In the third round, he tries to fight Alan to skip two ranks to Knight class with a victory, but is easily defeated and killed by being thrown into a volcano. In the anime adaptation, he is saved by one of Phantom's Dimensional ÄRM, but apparently died nevertheless shortly after his reappearance. It turned out he survived and returned to capture the Princess of Reginleif. Jack and Ginta pursued him and later got help from Loco. He was defeated by Ginta and was buried in the temple's cave-in. He was last seen at the end of the anime surprising Fuugi near the wedding of the Princess of Reginleif. The character is based on Aladdin and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves in 1001 Arabian Nights. A user of Arabian themed ÄRM:

• Genie's Lamp: A Guardian ÄRM in the shape of a lamp that releases a large genie with a will of its own, that attacks with an apparent "mega punch". Destroyed by Alan.

• Garia- Voiced by: Hirokazu Miura (Japanese); Dan Woren (English)
  

A Rook that wears a knight-like helmet to cover his face, he is seen very early in the series as a background character. He is often seen with the Chess Piece Knights and was present at Phantom's revival, implying that he may have taken part in the first War Games. He does not fight in the second War Games, and is easily defeated by Ginta during the attack on Caldia by Ginta's Hammer Arm. Garia was among the Rooks who tried to prevent Team MÄR from reaching Snow. When Alan was killed by the King, Garia was among the Rooks Chaton interrogated about his location. He uses a sword Weapon ÄRM.

• ????: A necklace Weapon ÄRM, possibly Magic Blade, that takes the form of a flat sword. Whether or not it has any special abilities are unknown.

• Rondo - Voiced by: Daiki Matsubayashi (Japanese); Jamieson Price (English)
  

A Rook who wears a headband that covers his right eye. He was present on the attack of Caldia Island, and lost fighting Ginta's Bubble Launcher on him and several other Chess Pieces. When Phantom arrived, he urged him to kill Ginta which Phantom declined at since he wanted to fight Ginta when he's at his best. He uses Weapon ÄRM.

• ????: A Weapon ÄRM that takes the form of a large, curved blade. Whether of not it has any special abilities is unknown.

• Bols - Voiced by: Kunihiro Kawamoto (Japanese); David Lodge (English)
  

A Rook who dresses up in a costume that closely resembles a strange Yeti-like creature. He was present on the attack on Caldia Island, and lost fighting Ginta's Bubble Launcher on him and several other Chess Pieces. Bols was one of the Rooks who tried to prevent Team MÄR from reaching Snow in their rescue mission inside Lestava castle. He uses Weapon ÄRM.

• ????: A Weapon ÄRM that takes the form of a strange wooden spear rather than the metal one Pawns use. Whether of not it has any special abilities is unknown.

• Kalerin - Voiced by: Youhei Nishina
  

A Rook who wears a strange mask decorated with geometric diamond. He was present during the attacks on Caldia Island, and lost fighting Ginta's Bubble Launcher on him and several other Chess Pieces. When Phantom arrived, he urged him to kill Ginta, which Phantom declined at since he wanted to fight Ginta when he's at his best. He uses Weapon ÄRM.

• ????: A Weapon ÄRM that takes the form of a hexagon-shaped bat. Whether of not it has any special abilities is unknown.

Pawns

(ポーン, Pon)
There are many Pawns in the Chess, and all but one (Gido) have not possessed individuality. Most are nameless and identical with black cloaks and masks. All Pawns are given a Weapon ÄRM, either a spear or two-blades that are attached to the user's arms.

• Gido - Voiced by: Megumi Toyoguchi (Japanese); Amanda Winn-Lee (English)
  

Gido is Ian's girlfriend and the only Pawn of the Chess Pieces to have an individual identity. She accompanied Ian in his second battle against Ginta. When Ian is taken down, she holds her ground against the others until she is knocked down by Jack's attack. Due to Ian's loss to Ginta the second time, Halloween had Ian punished by ordering Chimera to transform her into a half-monster with her body fused with tentacles, incapable of even holding normal conversation.

Eventually she is returned to her human form by Chimera's death and the couple leaves the Chess Pieces. In the anime, they meet up with Ash, who they quickly befriend, Ash dies protecting Ian and Gido from King, who return the favor by taking care of Ash's children friends. Once Ash is revived, she and Ian continue to live with Ash and his kids.

Other

• Zonnens
• Ghost Chess

See also

• War Game

External links

• [1]
• MÄR Heaven JOURNEY an Italian/English fan site.
• MÄR Heaven Japanese
• [2] a French fan site.