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.

Bio

Each member of the Chess Pieces joined with different objectives and are united under the same goal: to conquer the world. The combat force is led by Phantom, the strongest Knight. Its ranks are based on the pieces in the game of chess with rank going from King down to pawns, separating the hierarchy into two parts: the command force, consisting of King and Queen and the combat force made up of the Knights, Bishops, Rooks and Pawns. After the death of the top leaders, the desertion of some members, and the scattering of the Knights, the Chess Pieces ended up thrown in anarchy and eventually disbanded.

King

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

Orb

Danna Form Voiced by: Toshihiko Seki
Orb Voiced by: Ryuzaburo Otomo

File:Orb King.jpg

Kaldea's Orb inside a Kaldea chamber

True leader of the Chess Pieces, brainwasher of both the Queen and Phantom. King is the real villain of the series; pulling all the strings behind the curtain with the desire to cleanse the world of detestable humans. Although he appears in the bodies of Danna (Ginta's father), and the Babbo of 6 years ago, his true identity lies within those bodies: Kaldea's Orb - the soul incarnating the malice of humans. In the form of Danna, he weakened Ian and caused the deaths of Snow, Dorothy, Alviss, Alan, Nanashi and apparently Leno, Garon, Fuugi, Ash and a lot of unnamed Chess Piece members. He was finally defeated by Ginta, and Danna's soul returned to his own body. Kaldea's Orb later escape to Earth and takes on it's true form. It is eventually destroyed by Ginta's Golden Gargoyle. Everyone except Snow (whom was revived within Koyuki) was revived afterwards.

The Orb's forms include:

• Babbo: Orb's first host, transferred by Diana when she and Phantom escaped from Kaldea. He fought by Phantom's side and accompanied the No. 1 Knight's legendary frightening image.
• Danna: His current form of the former Cross Guard leader is how he secretly commanded the Chess after their first loss, transferred after the 1st War Game ended. Disguised as a masked & armored knight, he takes out most of the Chess Pieces when they lose and Team MÄR. Ginta uses Babbo's 7th version, the Union spell to separate Danna and the Orb in the manga, and Babbo's 4th version, Alice in the anime.
• True Form (manga): The true form of this malicous being is a eyeless corpse with a scythe, as revealed when Ginta and Orb both uploaded their consciousness into Babbo. Ginta manages to defeat him by pulling him out of Babbo and obliterating him with Gargoyle.
• True Form (anime): A larger Orb version of Tiamat, he manages to cross to our world in this form. He is powerful enough to have to be defeated by the Golden Gargoyle.

Danna-Orb's ÄRM include:

• Gigant Blade: A giant sword Weapon ÄRM with its handle run into the spine of its heavily spiked blade.
• Explode: (manga) Nature ÄRM, a semi-circular glass ball that encloses it's prey and explodes.
• Raijin Goyles: Nature ÄRM, two gyrating wheels of air that King launches at his opponents.
• Phoenix: From within the sacred flame of its cyclical rebirth, this Guardian is summoned to fight by the King's side and consume all his opponents in flame.
• Tiamat: Answering King's behest, the fallen mother goddess with her retained mythological appearance emerges from legend to bring retributions upon all those who rebel him.

Queen

(クイーン, Kuin)
Second most powerful class of the Chess Pieces before King.

Diana

(ディアナ, Deiana)
Voiced by: Michiko Neya (Japanese); Tara Platt (English)

File:ChessPieceQueen Diana.jpg

Diana in her Queen mask

2nd Queen of Lestava, Queen of the Chess Pieces, and the sister of Dorothy, Diana is the key opening all events to this story. 10 years ago, motivated by an immense craving for power, she unsealed the Orb which the sorcerers held under imprisonment, stole 798 ÄRMs (including Babbo) and freed Phantom after 10 years of his life-sentence. They fled Kaldea to the outside world, in which after 2 years of wandering Diana was chosen as Lestava kingdom's royal bride, Snow's step-mother, and in secret, enthroned as Chess Pieces' Queen being one of the founders. With the uprise of this army, she moved on to the next step of her plan to conquer the world: creating the Cross Guard, presenting them all with ÄRMs for weapon, and the outsider Danna for leader. Understandably, she was acknowledged as the one who walked MÄR-Heaven to victory - a position from which she could achieve her true goal: domination over Ginta's world, using Snow with her dimensional connection to Koyuki as a path . In the end, with a fatal strike from Dorothy's Ring Dagger, her ambition is stopped, freeing her from King's grasp to be herself, once more as a loving sister before she dies. A Guardian ÄRM user:

• Aeros Staff: The sceptre Weapon ÄRM mere possession of which symbolises Diana's supremacy; and which manifests the power she helds, having the blood of Dorothy's veins run in hers - wind mastery.
• Ring of End: (manga) Nature ÄRM, creates poisonous wheel of mists.
• ??? (anime): Nature ÄRM, a monster of purple slime.
• Death Cube (anime): Darkness ÄRM which locks a person inside a fluorescent Rubik's cube. It's designed to open only when the cube is solved (which must be dealt with extra meticulosity), and is fail-safed to claim the riddle solver's life afterwards.
• Dalia: Named for the Lithuanian goddess of fertility, this belt Ghost ÄRM fuses Diana's body with wings and claw in resemblance to a harpy.
• Octopus: Guardian ÄRM, a giant octopus.
• Pinocchio II: Guardian ÄRM, a giant remade version of her puppet Knight Pinocchio.
• Cerberus: Invoking her choker Guardian ÄRM, Diana conjures three voids which, upon contact, will release the chain binding this netherworld monstrosity - a dog with 2 heads of snake on its shoulder.

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), with the odd 13th is the number one Knight, Phantom. Each one when dubbed a Knight will have an insignia earing (the knight piece in a chess game) bestowed upon him/her, usually by Phantom. Some of the Knights are sometimes seen either masked or wearing hooded robes until their battle in the War Games. All Kinghts except Rapunzel have one powerful Guardian, often repersenting their nature.

Phantom

(ファントム, Fantomu)
Voiced by: Mitsuki Saiga (Japanese); Derek Stephen Prince (English)

File:Fantome ChessPiece.jpg

An unmasked Phantom, in the Final Battles against Ginta

Knighted by Diana as the commander-in-chief of Chess Piece army's combat force, Phantom is the ultimate warrior of the Zodiac, being unkillable in any circumstances with his body protected by the power of the Zombie Tattoo. He is the strongest of the Knights. To those who follow him a charismatic leader, to those who love him a respectable character, and to those who resent him a heartless killer, the no. 1 Knight always feigns a smiling mask, behind which dwells a raging disdain for humans, partly by King's brainwashing, and partly from the death of his parents who, unable to carry out the most severe punishment of Kaldea's rule for their 10-year-old son after his curious attempt to take the Orb, killed themselves - which he later begrudges as mere foolishness of love that cost him a decade of imprisonment. When he heard that Ginta is the new owner of the Babbo, he takes the form of a boy named Tom to get close to him during his visit in Vestry and between one of the rounds of the War Games. His identity was revealed to Ginta after the 3rd Round when he appeared with the other Knights. Unknown to even Phantom himself, the further he walks in the path of destruction, the more he has his real nature developed by King's shadow and by the time he realizes that, he's already been subjected to defeat at Ginta's hand and casted down as a useless puppet by Diana. A humble being now accepting destiny, Phantom assumes his past self, choosing death by Alviss with his last thought dedicated to a long lost love and the world he owes atonement, MÄR-Heaven (manga ending)./with little regret, invites his own demise with the Purific Ave while Alviss can't bring himself to (anime ending)).. A Guardian & Unique-typed ÄRM user:

• Dark Babbo: Phantom's previous ÄRM, inside which 6 years ago Orb resided. After he was killed by Danna, it also was secretly taken out, and the ÄRM was sealed. It is now used by Ginta.
  • Zombie Tattoo: Not an ÄRM, but a tattoo created by one of Babbo's old powers. It allows Phantom to resurrect himself every time he is killed, and only by removing the tattoo can one truly finish the Knight off, resulting in the removal of all tattoos casted by him hitherto (Alviss', Rolan's, and Peta's)
• Allu Majuu: An Unique-typed ÄRM in the shape of a heinous flame orb chained to a black halberd. When ordered, the orb will enlarge itself and engulf opponents.
• Phantom Glass: A Unique-typed ÄRM, a mirror which traps opponents inside it and shatters after a short amount of time (presumably coherent to the victim's magic level in the manga, while works on a mechanism with a hourglass in the anime), sharing the trapped ones a same fate.
• Phantom Cannon: (anime) Unique-typed ÄRM, releases blasts of energy from his palm.
• ???: Another Unique-typed ÄRM, a mass of hexagonal fragments. In its defense mode the fragments construct an impenetrable shield, and when discharged in attack mode they will launch consecutive shoots at the target.
• Soul of Infinity: A ghostly Unique-typed which has identical appearance to shapeless spirits and draws life energy.
• I-X: (pronounced in German) Among all the ÄRMs sewn, skewered, embedded into the dead left hand of Phantom, these ten Guardians are of his most proud arsenal.

Peta

(ペタ, Peta)
Voiced by: Kouichi Toochika (Japanese); Kyle Hebert (English)

File:Peta ChessPiece.jpg

An unmasked Peta

Born with a sly and cunning personality, this Knight is the strategic officer of the Zodiac. Having sworn respect and loyalty to Phantom a long time ago, Peta acts as both the no. 1 Knight's right-hand-man, best friend, and second strongest knight, sharing the dream of taking over MÄR-Heaven and living for eternity with the Zombie Tattoo. He alone reconstructed the Chess Pieces after Phantom's "death" at the end of the 1st War Game while waiting for his master's return. Nevertheless the two's wish remains an unfulfilled dream in the end, when Peta dies at Nanashi's hand as punishment for his Luberia homicide, much to Phantom's sorrow. When Peta died, an image of him, smiling, appeared before Phantom. A blood-themed ÄRM user:

• Death Scythe: Weapon ÄRM, a scythe engraved with a gory vulture's head.
• Blood Body: Nature ÄRM which recreates the body of the user into blood, thus immunizes it against all physical attacks.
• Blood Syringe: Unique ÄRM, spiked orbs which drain the blood of opponents and congeal them into stone-sized bullet.
• Garnet Claw: Ghost ÄRM, a set of razor-sharp blood-colored claws.
• Magic Mirror Ring: A Dimension ÄRM, used to record something then allow him to broadcast it over any/multiple reflective surfaces (even the moon) or through other communication type dimension ÄRMs. This is how people watch the War Games when the fighting takes place somewhere else.
• Dark Reflector: Dimension ÄRM. A round mirror which bounces attacks back away from the user.
• Abyss Cannon: (manga) Guardian ÄRM, a demon amassed of ghosts.
• Chain Soldiers: (anime) A Guardian ÄRM that summons several armored soldiers linked together with chains used to ensnare Peta's enemies. However, the soldiers are useless without their chains.
• Body Eye: Peta's opera necklace Guardian ÄRM which calls forth upon earth a wingless Diablo with runic bonds sealing its lower half. However the demon doesn't possess any satanic extraordinary; its power manifests in a myriad of bats while Body Eye itself wrecks massive destruction with its hands.

Halloween

(ハロウィン, Harouin)
Adult Voiced by: Hiroshi Matsumoto (Japanese); Richard Epcar (English)
Young Voiced by: Rikako Aikawa

File:Halloween theCrucified.jpg

Halloween

One of the Zodiac Knights, he is the third most powerful of the Knights below Phantom - the same position his archenemy Alan acquired in the Cross Guard. Alan and Halloween, then known as Pump, were close when they were children with the former always protecting the latter against bullies because he was weak, homeless, and had a penchant for dismembering livestock. During this time, inside his wretched heart hatred nurtured and, desiring the power to crush all others, he gruesomely murdered all children bullying him so far and ran away, only to return years later, irrecognizably, as Haritsuke Halloween (a.k.a Halloween the Crucified). They fought till both collapsed, and to 'commemorate' the moment, Halloween cursed Alan with a Darkness ÄRM, sealing him inside Edward the dog. Bearing the mutual grudge, the two re-encounter prior to and during in the 2nd war. The first time was when he was sent by Phantom to recall Ian and Loco from their mission to obtain Snow for Diana. The second time was when Phantom had him let Pozan allow Alan to participate in the 3rd Round of the War Games. When it came to their match in the final round, Alan presumably killed Halloween by using his guardian Saint Anger to punch him into the sky to unknown whereabouts this time, balancing it off.. Several times he is the pun of a joke about tomatoes because of his mask, which is mistaken for a tomato, earning him the nickname 'Tomato Head' from Alan since his mask gives him the most inhumane appearance of the Knights and the entire Chess army. A flame ÄRM user:

• Cross Dagger: Weapon ÄRM, the very cross tied to Halloween's back, that turns into, and shoots missiles of flame.
• Napalm Death: Weapon ÄRM which grows a large blossom from the back of Halloween's cross that shoots flames like a cannon.
• Flame Hand: Nature ÄRM which is used to create hands for Halloween, since he got himself tied to the cross.
• Antares: Nature ÄRM, creates balls of flame of multiple sizes used to throw at the enemy.
• ???: Nature ÄRM, two sticks with the tips on fire that shoots blasts of flame at the enemy. Held by Halloween using Flame Hand.
• Grave Hail: Darkness ÄRM, crosses, with several eyes and mouths on them, which shoots up from underground, similar to Alviss' 13 Totem Pole's Guardian style. In the anime this ÄRM instead summons several coffins, with the same eyes and mouths, which open up to reveal skeleton warriors to do Halloween's bidding.
• Igniel: A Darkness ÄRM. The one that combined Ed and Alan together.
• Trick-Or-Treat: A Guardian ÄRM that creates explosive plant creatures with Jack-o-lantern heads.
• Wakan Tanka: Though embodying the "divine sacred", summoning through Halloween's cross pendant ÄRM has minimized the "Great Spirit"'s omnipotence to the giant form of a winged skeleton-bodied skull, albeit retains some of its ascendancy - the scorching flame it breathes.

Chimera

(キメラ, Kimera)
Voiced by: Mie Sonozaki

File:Chimera2 ChessPiece.jpg

An unmasked Chimera, in the 4th opening "Kaze to RAINBOW

One of the six strongest knights having never spoken or shown feelings of any sort and being a user of the forbidden Ghost ÄRM, Chimera is perhaps the most mysterious of the Zodiac.. She is the 4th strongest Knight. It's unknown to others, except Peta, that Chimera was just a woman as normal as any other six years ago, until she met with her fiance, Marco, a remnant of the then-dispersed Chess Pieces. Although this never mattered to her, it did to others; Marco was killed right on their wedding and she herself was tortured, leaving her a disfigured body, and a life bereaved of hope. All that remained of her happiness - a scar across her face, the couple's wedding rings and a boiling desire to inflict her pains upon others one thousandfold, together aspired her to receive the Ghost ÄRMs from Peta and cast away her real name of Eileen, marking the woman's true loss of humanity. Thus, she became Chimera and hides her face under an awful mask. She accompanied Halloween in an attack at Acalupa Port and was the one responsible for defeating Gaira in the preliminaries of the War Games. She fought Dorothy in the final round of the War Games and lost. It's not until she witnesses her past images reflected in Ian and Gido that she recalls herself, and wishing for the two of them a better chance of happiness, Chimera undoes Gido's transformation and dies. But before Chimera, dies Ian asked her her real name she replied "Eileen.... What laugh huh?" Then died after undoing Gido monsterous transformation.

• ???: A Ghost ÄRM, turns the user's hand into a stretching monster-headed arm with sharp, canine teeth. This was one of three Ghost ÄRMs Peta gave to Chimera.
• ???: An unnamed ring Ghost ÄRM that will give the user a large number of eyes on one side of their face. Whether this has an actual purpose is unknown, it reflects on Chimera's inhumanity. This was one of three Ghost ÄRMs Peta gave to Chimera.
• Howling Demon: Ghost ÄRM, turns the user's hand into a salivating monster's mouth which shoots energy. This was one of three Ghost ÄRMs Peta gave to Chimera.
• Ogre Hand: Ghost ÄRM, turns the user's hands into long, giant clawed stretching arms.
• Ghost Tail: Ghost ÄRM, a sharp rag tail.
• ???: Guardian ÄRM, summons 4 eyed grotesque winged creatures.
• Chimaira: Far surpassing its monstrous mythological origin, this Ghost Guardian's drill-handed body synchronizes with Chimera's insanity to bring into existence a demon of monstrosity beyond belief.
• Hydra: (anime) From the darkest thread of legend this immemorial demon is brought forth and, merging with her deteriorated sanity, manifests a creature of such even Chimaira would dread.

Rolan

(ロラン, Roran)
Voiced by: Susumu Chiba (Japanese); Anthony Pulcini (English)

File:Roland ChessPiece.jpg

Rolan

Girly behaviour, stuttering speech and possessing a Zombie Tattoo, Rolan of the Knights is Alviss of Team MÄR's direct counterpart. The one prime difference between them is that while Alviss' feeling for Phantom is sheer hatred, Rolan's is almost like a sonly love, keeping him Phantom's company on the path to eternity. This is incomprehensible to others, given Phantom's fearful figure, but understandable for him, as Rolan once experienced Phantom's considerate side: Phantom was the only one to treat him - an orphaned boy starved to the point of being nearly dead - with tenderness, and the one to give him power, helping him rise to his current position as 5th strongest Knight. He accompanied Loco in an attack during the Chess Piece's war campaign and had a short fight with Alviss. He defeated Alviss in the 3rd Round of the War Games, but lost to him in the final round. Due to his special bond with Phantom, his inevitable ending struck Rolan devastated, and in the anime adaption Rolan stabbed himself almost to death just some moment prior to Phantom's, wishing they could once again meet in another, more peaceful, reborn life. At the end, he is seen alive with Candice, visiting Phantom's grave. He uses explosive Nature ÄRMs:

• Rapier Whip: A Weapon ÄRM, a sword that can stretch its blade like a whip and explodes when its tip touches an opponent. The anime also shows it having the ability to split to create more arms to use as whips. In the manga, it was destroyed in his battle with Alviss in the final rounds, but the anime shows him using it after this battle.
• Ailes d'Ange: (Elle d'Ange in English dub) The flocks of feather Nature ÄRM that adorn Rolan's right shoulder which wing him for mid-air combats. The wings can shoot out an endless stream of razor-sharp feathers.
• Stone Cube: A Nature ÄRM which makes giant stone cubes to crush the enemy or explode.
• Dark Ribbon: (anime) Nature ÄRM, ties adversaries in one fatal grip with the roots of the Dark Roses, which weaken them by sucking out their energy.
• ???: (anime) the unique ÄRM type, summons a cage inside which the trapped one cannot use ÄRMs, and will take on an immense electric jolt at each attempt to get out.
• Dark Cage: Another unique ÄRM type, sends out a giant bird cage to trap opponents. This may be a downgraded version of Alviss' Darkness ÄRM Caged Bird.
• Cockatrice: The bell Guardian ÄRM at the end of a chain seen at Rolan's waist that calls for the giant eagle of legend and its lethal petrifying breaths. The ÄRM requires an esoteric incantation to activate, however the procedure is skipped in the anime.

Vidar/Weasel

(ヴィーザル, Widaru)
Voiced by: Kenichi Ogata

File:Vidar ChessPiece.jpg

Vidar/Weasel

Last of the six strongest Knights and ranked the 6th strongest, Vidar (Weasel in the English anime) 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. In the Chess Piece's war campaign, he attacked an unnamed castle by covering it in wood. It was he who fought Jack's father, Jake in the 1st War Games, resulting in the man's death. He is defeated by Jack in the 2nd War Games (with the tree on his head destroyed also) who used Kikazoku Fire on him., and survived the attack. 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 Vidar's head.
• Yggdrasil: A Guardian ÄRM which calls out an enormous, invincible tree. Vidar 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

(イアン, Ian)
Voiced by: Shinji Kawada (Japanese); Doug Erholtz (English)

File:Ian ChessPiece.jpg

An unmasked Ian

This particularly belligerent Zodiac is a former Rook class of the Chess Pieces. He first appears alongside Loco to obtain Snow for Diana. This led him to his first fight with Ginta and later Alan until Snow was freed and Halloween was sent by Phantom to recall Ian and Loco. While the other Chess Piece members were attacking other locations, He and his beloved Gido attacked Alan while Ginta and the others were in the Training Gate. When Ginta emerged, both were defeated. After that, he attained one heart-breaking experience: Gido was transformed into a half-monster by the Knight Chimera as punishment for his second defeat at Ginta's hand, quite shattering their ambition to 'purify the world' under its banner. Resolved to save her, Ian trains inside the Training Gate to improve himself, first to kill Ginta - the reason for all his suffering, and second to kill Gido's persecutor. He obtained the Knight rank after he was order to fight Rapunzel to the death...which he won and became the 7th strongest Knight outranking Magical Lou. He then fights Ginta in the 6th Round of the War Games and loses, followed by him quitting the Knights. Although unsuccessful in the first, he accomplishes the latter, with Chimera weakened after the fight with Dorothy. With Gido back to normal, the couple promptly leaves the Chess Pieces, meets with Ash in the way and lives with him and his children ever since. A Weapon ÄRM user:

• Python Whip: A pair of Weapon ÄRMs that are snake-shaped whips. By concealing these in the long sleeves of his clothes, Ian is able to quickly strike with them before his opponent can see them, serving good confusion.
• Octopus: An 8-armed whip Weapon ÄRM with regenerative ability. After his training in the Shuuren no Mon, he upgrades it into a more deadly weapon with various forms, the Octopus 2.
• Octopus 2: Weapon ÄRM, a more powerful version of Octopus with various sharp weapons at the tip of each tentacle.
• ÄRM Break: A Weapon ÄRM when activated various weapons sprout forth from Ian's body or clothes. This subject is debatable as to whether this is a separate ÄRM or just another function of the Octopus 2.
• ???: It is unknown if this is an ÄRM or a weapon. Essentially a set of big claws attached to the user's wrist.
• ???: It is unknown if this is an ÄRM or a weapon. A set of big fans used to make wind to blow back opponents.
• Moon Fall: Weapon ÄRM, crescent boomerangs.
• Demonic Bond: A ring Darkness ÄRM which creates a chain binding the user and the opponent, used to wear out both's magic by draining their blood. Should this ÄRM be used for a long enough amount of time, both the user and his opponent may die.
• Iron Maiden: A ring Darkness ÄRM that takes the shape of the Iron Maiden upon summoning. Anyone who touches the Iron Maiden, or who is bound to it, will be unable to use Holy ÄRMs.
• Peryton: A ring Guardian ÄRM from which Ian calls forth the mutated hybrid of legend possessing greater prowess than its said origin is depicted.

Rapunzel

(ラプンツェル, Rapuntsuru)
Voiced by: Yuko Sazaki (Japanese); Melodee Spevack (English)

File:Rapunzel ChessPiece.jpg

Rapunzel when releasing her ÄRM Hair Master

The ice Nature ÄRM master big sister of the Bishop Girom responsible for the destruction of Reginrave castle. She is the second weakest Knight. 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. As a Knight Rapunzel is arrogant, riotous and, despite beng quite far from most vision of beauty herself, always boasts of hers and looks down upon others'. 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. As a consequence, her loss to Dorothy in the 4th round of the War Game only helps cement Phantom's judgement: as punishment for slaying her comrades, he has the rook Ian battle and kill her (by decapitation in the manga, and incineration in the anime), and usurp her Knighthood. 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 - an obvious pun on the name Rapunzel.

Ash

(アッシュ, Asshu)
Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi

File:Ash ChessPiece.jpg

Ash in his skull mask

Unlike other knights, he is very playful, enjoying having fun with children despite always wearing a mask with the appearance of a grim reaper with its tongue sticking out. He joined the Chess in the hope of using their immense power to conquer the world, ending all other wars countries might bring up, preventing the deaths of the children he loves. He is the 10th strongest Knight (formerly 9th strongest prior to Ian killing Rapunzel and ursurping her Knight rank). He fights Ginta in the 5th Round of the War Games, by his own request, and gives up after his Guardian ÄRM was defeated. After Diana's elimination of the other Chess soldiers, Ash is the only one known alive, and runs off with Ian and Gido to live with his children friends. Getting wind of the King and Queen's plan to create a dimensional path to Ginta's world, he attempts to thwart them but is killed by King while trying to protect Ian and others. At the end of the anime, he is revived, like most of the previous dead characters, and lives with his kids and still allows his friends Ian and Gido to live with him. A Dimension ÄRMs user:

• Walking Bomb: Weapon ÄRM, a bomb that enlarges itself every time a participant of the fight gets wounded, and ignites when it gets large enough.
• Shadowman: A Nature ÄRM that allows Ash's shadow to attack his enemy. Alan also has this ÄRM.
• Split Part: A pendant Dimension ÄRM, allows the user to split his body to attack in different directions.
• Psycho Space: A ring Dimension ÄRM, creates a different dimension that cuts off the opponent's magic in half.
• Eingang: A ring Dimension ÄRM which emits a beam Ash uses to fill the gap connecting Earth and MÄR-Heaven.
• Death: A pendant Guardian ÄRM which conjures for Ash a goalie-masked monster with ability of his likes - the ability to separate its body.

Candice

(キャンディス, Kyandisu)
Seiyū: Kumi Sakuma

File:Candice ChessPiece.jpg

An unmasked Candice

Once a violent and sadistic military officer while being a typical masochist, Candice fell in love with Phantom after being defeated by him and followed the man, willing to do anything for him to get his commends. She is the 11th strongest Knight (formerly 10th strongest prior to Ian killing Rapunzel and ursurping her Knight rank). In the Second War Games, she and Jack fought to a draw. Although her feelings are never adequately reciprocated, besides Peta and Rolan, Candice is the one with deepest feelings for Phantom, keeping her at his side until his last moment. Her last appearance is with the revived Rolan, wearing a cloak when visiting Phantom's grave. She uses stone Nature ÄRM:

• Boulder Axe: A large stone axe Weapon ÄRM.
• Boulder Claw: With this Nature ÄRM Candice creates two giant sets of stone claws over her real hands that she attacks her opponent with.
• Boulder Fang: A Nature ÄRM that launches sharp rock shards from under her enemies.
• Grand Boulder: A Nature ÄRM which creates giant boulders.
• Kukan Teni: A magic stone embedded into her maimed eye that she uses as a Dimension ÄRM in order to exchange her position with another one.
• Scale of Blessing: A scale in the shape of a clock, used to measure the injuries her body takes and change them into enormous magic power to summon her Guardian ÄRM.
• Gorgon: Fairly returning Candice's painstaking masochisms, her pendant ÄRM evoke the awake of Gorgoneion and petrification to all whom its gaze beholds.
• Lamia: (anime) From its river dwelling, the alluring nymphs answers Candice's seek for aid with its lyre's enchanting melody, and should the situation warrants, with force far more destructive.

Galian

(ガリアン, Garian)
Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto

File:Galian ChessPiece.jpg

Galian

Former leader of Luberia the notorious thief guild of MÄR-Heaven, but as he was born with ambitious nature, the role couldn't be satisfying enough... or not as much as the power promised for him inside the Chess Pieces. Therefore Galian left the position of leader to Nanashi and joined the Chess, but not before wiping Nanashi's memories of him. He is the 9th strongest Knight (formerly 8th strongest Knight prior to Ian killing Rapunzel and ursurping her Knight rank). Not surpisingly he fights Nanashi in the fifth round of the War Games (by his request) and is defeated by him. At the end of the anime, he and Nanashi lead the Thieves Guild together. Like Nanashi, he fights with lightning Nature 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.

Kouga

(コウガ, Kouga)
Voiced by: Daisuke Gouri

File:Kouga ChessPiece.jpg

Kouga showing his face.

The largest of the Knights. Sensitive about his ugliness, Kouga hates Alviss for being so handsome. He's extremely arrogant and dense, and refers to himself as "Lord Me," or "The Great Me" (aka "Ore-sama"). However Alviss defeats him with ease, commenting that his power level is even lower than Rapunzel's - making him the weakest Zodiac Knight of the Chess Pieces. 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.

Pinocchio

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

File:Pinocchio ChessPiece.jpg

Pinocchio

A puppet made by Diana when Dorothy was a child, Pinocchio is the 12th strongest Knight (formerly 11th strongest prior to Ian killing Rapunzel and ursurping her Knight rank). In the 6th round, it was ordered to defeat Dorothy if he wished to become human. Like his namesake, his nose grows when he lies, but it transforms into a cannon after about three lies and can be used to shoot his opponents. In the War Games at the Mushroom Field, he is ripped apart by Dorothy's ÄRM Toto. He is last seen (in the anime only) somewhere with Kouga and Girom riding Kung Fu Frog. Besides ÄRMs, he's also able to use his body as weapon. 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 buzzsaw in his chest for slicing up enemies. This is best used after grabbing his enemy with Wire Hand to pull them into it.

Magical Lou

(マジカル・ロウ, Majikaru Rou)
Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki

File:Lou ChessPiece.jpg

Magical Lou

A clown who was Snow's babysitter when she was younger by order of Diana.. He is the 8th strongest Knight (formerly 7th strongest prior to Ian killing Rapunzel and ursurping her Knight rank). He was later sent into the War Games in order to kidnap her, which he did successfully, much to his reluctancy. Thus, he won by default. In the anime adaption, he gave up his life to save Snow from Diana's Darkness ÄRM, atoning for his wrongdoings towards the princess. He 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.
• 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.
• Nightmare: A Guardian ÄRM that creates many eyed, sharp-toothed spherical objects, which fly around and attack.

Bishops

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

Chaton

File:Chaton MAR.jpg

Chaton

Voiced by: Miyu Matsuki
A kitty girl strongest of the Level 1 Bishops, who has a 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 Ed, is a cat-phobic and ends up losing to her because of it. She is much nicer then most of the Chess Pieces, even helping Mär defeat the Ghost Chess. She is good friends with Loco and even takes care of her after she is turned into a baby. At the end of the anime, she lives with Alan, Loco and Babbo. She uses cat-themed ÄRM:

• 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.

Emokis

Voiced by: Chiemi Chiba
The first of the Level 1 bishops (and the ugliest) 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 uses Nature ÄRMs:

• Dandarshia: A ring Guardian ÄRM in the form of a large, talking sword. He acts like the 'Magic Mirror' in Snow White always boasting her beauty, although he detests lying about it.
• Flower Pluck: A ring Nature ÄRM in the form of a large flower. Every time a petal is pulled out some of the opponents hair is pulled out paralyzing him or her in hilarious fashion. If, after pulling the petals and labeling them pretty or ugly, it ends on ugly the opponent will be caught in a large explosion.
• Candy House: A belt Nature ÄRM that summons a large house made of candy. Eating it will put on the user's weight as well as his/her strength.

Hamelin

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. Hamelin's ÄRM include:

• Soul Flute: A ring Weapon ÄRM in the form of a strange flute that saps the magic power of whoever hears its music.
• ???: An unnamed Nature ÄRM that gives him wings.
• Charm Horn: A ring Weapon ÄRM in the form of a medieval horn that creates copies of the user. The copies don't have shadows.
• Bolino: A Guardian ÄRM that summons a large creature with a bat-like face that attacks with its sword-like arms.

Orco

Voiced by: Tomoyuki Shimura (Japanese); Kirk Thornton (English)
A large and foolish strong man who uses a body hardening ÄRM, 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 removed his mask and fought them until he was struck down by Nanashi. Frightened, Orco flees from the battle hoping to return with more Chess Piece members, only to encounter Phantom (in Tom disguise) and is killed for his cowardice when Phantom used the Phantom Glass on him.

Garon

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). He was killed by King but was revived when King was defeated. He uses Nature ÄRM, which consists of five unnamed body-hardening rings, and five unnamed strength-enhancing rings.

Girom

Voiced by: Hoshiyuki Yoshino (Japanese); Eddie Frierson (English)
A psychotic boy about Ginta's age who enjoys killing women, much like his maniac older sister, the Knight Rapunzel. He was present at Phantom's revival. He and Orco attacked Vestry during the Chess Piece's war campaign. He loses to Ginta twice, the first inside a cave of Vestry, and second in the 4th battle of the War games. He witnessed his sister killed by Ian for battle for her killing of her teammates in the 4th Round of the War Games. In a filler episode of the anime, he is again defeated by Ginta at Kaldea along with Pinocchio and Kouga. He is last seen (also in the anime only) with the two somewhere riding Kung Fu Frog. A user of ice-based Nature ÄRMs.

Maira

Voiced by: Keiichi Sonobe (Japanese); David Lodge (English)
A black-cloaked masked man who 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. 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.

• 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
A pirate-based Bishop 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. 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.
• Anger Anchor: A ring Weapon ÄRM which summons a giant anchor from the sky to crush enemies.
• 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.

Kollekio

Voiced by: Tetsuharu Ohta (Japanese); Michael Sorich (English)
A blue goblin bishop. In his fight with Jack, he threw him a card that determined Jack's destiny. He lost to Jack when he threw his Earth Beans in Kollekio's mouth and was later decapitated by Rapunzel after losing Rock-Paper-Scissors. Korekkio commonly refers to himself in third person. A Weapon ÄRM user.

• Magic Hammer: A hammer thats shrinks people down when they are hit.
• Slowpoke: A Darkness Arm that makes the opponent unable to move at the price of temporary blindness to the user unless magical energy is detected.

Aqua

Voiced by: Kimiko Koyama (Japanese), Stephanie Sheh (English)
A pretty girl wearing a sea-themed ball dress who fights with aquatic-based Guardian ÄRM. Witnessing what's happened to her teammates in the Rapunzel's team if they lose, Nanashi intentionally makes their fight a draw, but she is killed by Girom nevertheless, even though she won Rock-Paper-Scissors against Rapunzel. 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.

Avrute

Voiced by: Daiki Matsubayashi (Japanese); Joe Cappelletti (English)
A jester-looking masked man. He was quickly and easily defeated by Dorothy (before he could even do anything) and was killed by Rapunzel, without even having a chance to play Rock-Paper-Scissors since she said he doesn't deserve the Rock-Paper-Scissors game. He uses Weapon ÄRM.

• Shelakey: A Weapon ÄRM in the shape of a large clawed gauntlet which Avrute wears on his right hand, it can supposedly cut through anything, even other ÄRMs.

Kannochi

Voiced by: Hideyuki Umezu (Japanese); Dave Wittenberg (English)
A star-eyed round-headed Darkness ÄRM master Bishop (Rook in dubbed version) in gentlemen attire and a Dragon Cane ÄRM who fights solely for thrills and attends little to the joy of killings, Kannochi states that he could have just as easily joined the Cross Guard, showing he isn't actually evil. He lost fighting Ginta in the 3rd round of the War Games 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 obvious reference to Humpty Dumpty.

• Body Candle: Darkness ÄRM, links the opponent to the candle on the user's head. As the candle melts, so does the target. Flames can be used to increase the speed at which the candle melts. If the Darkness ÄRM is reversed or canceled out, then the user will compensate for the usage by melting at a noticeably fast rate.
• Dragon Cane: Nature ÄRM in the form of a wooden cane with a dragon-like handle at the end that breathes fire. This is primarily used by Kannochi to increase the speed at which Body Candle melts.

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 earings are their insignia.

Loco

File:Loco ChessPiece.jpg

An unmasked Loco

Voiced by: Sawa Ishige (Japanese); Carrie Savage (English)
The strongest Rook and one of the first Chess Pieces to be introduced in the series, Loco's outward appearance is that of a nonchalant, emotionless little girl but inside, she's a 32-year-old mature woman. The reversion of her aging is due to the side-effects of her Darkness ÄRMs, which were bequeathed to her in the 1st War Game by their former master, who shrank to death after continuous use. She first appeared to accompany Ian into obtaining Snow for the Chess Piece Queen Diana until Phantom sent Halloween to recall them. She is a friend of the Bishop Chaton, even though Chaton is an annoyance to her. In the anime, Loco ages back into a baby after saving Chaton from being killed by the Ghost Chess, and is now being taken care of by her. She also has a crush on Halloween.

• Negzero: A pendant Darkness ÄRM that paralyzes the target, the side-effect is to reverse its user's aging.
• Straw Doll (Spikes and Hammer): A Darkness ÄRM in the shape of a straw man. Metal stakes are hammered into ringed points on the straw man's body to damage the enemy in a Voodoo doll fashion. Using this ÄRM causes the user to decrease in age.

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.

Pano

File:18 MAR.jpg

Pano wielding her Ball Hammer.

Voiced by: Yuko Sasamoto (Japanese); Lia Sargent (English)
Pano is the daughter of Garon and the sister of Leno, and the only Chess Piece to win in the first war games round against Jack, though she loses in their rematch. In both battles, at some point Jack is comically hit in the groin. She falls in love with Jack in the end and lives with him after the Chess falls apart. Using Jack's mushrooms, it's discovered she's scared of bats, being immobilized, leeches, and likes pretty flowers and butterflies. At the end of the anime she lives with Jack and his mom. A Weapon ÄRM user and is always wielding the Ball Hammer.

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 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 Regingrave.

Alibaba

Voiced by: Daisuke Kirii (Japanese); Vic Mignogna (English)
An arrogant Guardian 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. In the end it turned out he survived and was last seen surprising Fuugi. A user of Arabian themed ÄRM.The character is based on Aladdin and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves in 1001 Arabian Nights.

Garia

Voiced by: Hirokazu Miura
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 Kaldea. When Alan was killed by Danna-Orb, Garia was among the Rooks Chaton interrogated about his location. He uses a sword Weapon ÄRM.

Rondo

Voiced by: Daiki Matsubayashi
A Rook who was present on the attack of Kaldea Island, and lost fighting Ginta. He wears a headband that covers his right eye. He uses Weapon ÄRM.

Bols

Voiced by: Kunihiro Kawamoto
A Rook who was present on the attack on Kaldea Island, and lost fighting Ginta. He dresses up like a strange Yeti-like creature. He uses Weapon ÄRM.

Kalerin

Voiced by: Youhei Nishina
A Rook who was present on the attack of Kaldea Island, and lost fighting Ginta. He wears a strange mask decorated with geometric diamond. He uses Weapon ÄRM.

The Zonnen

Main article: Zonnens (MÄR)

Ghost Chess

Main Article: Ghost Chess (MÄR)

Pawns

{ポーン, Pono)
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.

Gido

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

File:Gido ChessPiece.jpg

Gido

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. After Ian lost 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 ÄRM. At the end of the anime, she and Ian continue to live with Ash and his kids.

Trivia

• One of the six strongest Knights, Vidar, noticeably has many versions of translations for his name (Veezle, Vizel, Pizel, etc...), among which Weasel is the name used in the serialized (official licensed American) manga. But since he has a Guardian ARM which summons Yggdrasil, the gigantic ash tree which connects nine worlds in Norse mythology, it's very possible the most correct form of his name is Vidar, a god residing in Asgard, son of Odin and slayer of the monstrous wolf Fenrir which killed Odin in the apocalyptic day of Ragnarök, also from the referred myths.
• The puppet Knight Pinocchio is a direct reference to the main character of the tale Pinocchio.
• The Knight Rapunzel who possesses the lethal ÄRM Hair Master which allows her to lengthen and use her hair at will is a warped version of an imprisoned beautiful girl in the fairytale Rapunzel, who also used her hair as the ladder for her capturer the evil enchantress to climb up the tower in which she was held.
• Hamelin is a direct reference to the legend "The Pied Piper of Hamelin".

External links

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