Amalthus

Amalthus is a character in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Torna ~ The Golden Country. He is a Quaestor, and later the Praetor, of the Indoline Praetorium.

Appearance and personality
As Quaestor, Amalthus is a man with white hair and gold eyes. He wears a white cap, purple and white long sleeved shirt, black pants, and black and white boots. As Praetor, Amalthus grew sideburns and a beard, and now wears a large crown and a white collared robe with gold decorations, with wedge-shaped ornaments hanging on the collar.

Amalthus is a friendly man, regretful of awakening Malos and unintentionally unleashing him on Alrest. He is also somewhat melancholy, believing that mankind is taking a step back due to war.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Amalthus is first seen in a flashback during Pyra's narration of her and Malos's origins as Aegises. He is seen climbing the World Tree in hope of finding Elysium and meeting the Architect. But when he arrived he found it empty, and as proof that he reached Elysium, he brought back two Core Crystals: those of Malos and Mythra. When he returned to Alrest, he awakened Malos, who used his destructive power to lay waste to Alrest without restraint.

Amalthus is later seen praying to an icon of the World Tree in Indol.

In another flashback, Amalthus observes a mural that depicts the creation of Alrest. He then returns to his room to consider his plans, and then climbs the World Tree, as depicted in Pyra's narration. As he explores the caves, he comes across a gate that leads to Elysium. The flashback continues with Amalthus running back with Mythra and Malos's Core Crystals in his satchel. As he makes his way down, he slips and falls, but his fall is caught by a branch. When he returns to Indol he awakens Malos, but the flashback is interrupted by one of the Indoline Monks who notifies him of Rex's arrival.

Amalthus greets Rex as he and his party arrive at the throne room. Amalthus introduces himself, saying that he and Rex are both Aegis drivers and that he considers themselves to be equals. Amalthus then notices Pyra, remarking that's she's different. When Rex shows Amalthus Minoth's Gunknife, his warrior monks raise their weapons to defend him, only for the Praetor to signal them to stand down. As Amalthus examines his former Blade's weapon, Rex tells him that he's looking for a way to Elysium, saying that Cole mentioned that Amalthus would know a way. As Amalthus responds, an image of Malos briefly overlaps with Amalthus and it momentarily sounds as though both Amalthus and Malos are speaking together. Amalthus tells the party the reason why he climbed the World Tree, that he found neither Elysium or the Architect, and that he believes himself to have been unworthy. The mirage of Malos fades as Amalthus agrees to help Rex, mentioning that it may be his fate to do so, before asking for Pyra to meet with him alone.

After word is received that one of the excavated Titan weapons excavated in Temperantia (a demilitarized zone between Mor Ardain and Uraya) fired upon the Urayan forces stationed there, Amalthus summons the party to relay the news. Mòrag is angered on the turn of events, saying that her people would never go to war against Niall's will and prompting her to investigate the cause. Amalthus requests the rest of the party to assist Mòrag in her investigation; his Blade, Fan La Norne, volunteers to join.

Although the party is able to stop the Titan weapon in Temperantia (resulting in the death of Fan), the Ardainian and Urayan forces advance regardless, to Mòrag's fury. Before they clash, Amalthus intervenes by flying Indol between the warring nations to prevent further escalation.

Amalthus summons the heads of both nations, Emperor Niall Ardanach of Mor Ardain and Queen Raqura of Uraya, in a Ruler's Congress to discuss the apparent breach of the peace treaty between Mor Ardain and Uraya. Amalthus thanks both heads for agreeing to a ceasefire, but Raqura questions Indol's intervention, citing the Osirian Treaty (signed 350 years prior) stating that the Indoline Praetorium must refrain from intervening in times of war. She supposes that he must have a suitable justification. Amalthus then introduces Niranira and Zeke to take part in the negotiations. Niall states that investigations are ongoing as to the cause of the incidents, which Raqura disbelieves; Amalthus defends Niall's innocence in the matter, noting that there are witnesses to the event, and explains that are at fault. Mythra is summoned, and she reveals that the wounds inflicted on Malos during the Aegis War didn't fully heal. She further believes that Malos's end goal is to reach Elysium to heal until his powers return, and then destroy humanity. Amalthus then laments his role in unleashing Malos, revealing to the Congress that he is in fact his Driver. He cites that his reason to forbid passage to the World Tree had been due to the Aegis War, but noting that the laws of humanity don't apply to Malos, he believes the time has come to lift the ban on travel to the World Tree.

After the meeting, Amalthus thanks Mythra for participating in the Ruler's Congress. Mythra retorts that he didn't earn her trust, but notes that since Rex is going to Elysium, he and Malos might cross paths again. Amalthus is surprised that Mythra is devoted to Rex; Mythra says it's for both of their sakes. In turn, she asks him what he's living for; Amalthus does not answer. He is later seen conducting Fan's funeral outside the Audience Chamber.

Amalthus is later seen cleansing the Core Crystals which the party witnesses. He claims that it increases the resonance success rate with potential Drivers. He further claims that this power was awakened in him when he became Malos's Driver. Rex wonders if he is able to do the same due to being Pyra and Mythra's Driver. Amalthus then shows the party a map of Alrest, pointing out the Great Void which is carved out by Ophion guarding the World Tree. He explains that the only thing that can rescind Ophion's order is the Omega Fetter which can be found in Tantal; he makes Rex a special envoy to Tantal for this reason. Amalthus then warns the party that Torna might seek the Omega Fetter for themselves, and requests the party to inform him about what they find in Elysium.

Amalthus is a cruel, power-hungry, and hateful man. Motivated by his mother's death and witnessing the worst of humanity first-hand, he hates the entire world, humanity, and even s and desires to destroy it all. He has no qualms about experimenting upon and even killing innocent people, as seen when he experimented on several Tornan refugees after the Kingdom of Torna's fall, as well as his invasion of Spessia. He also has a god complex, believing himself to be the agent of the Architect's will just as he believes Malos to be the mouthpiece. Amalthus has also shown a degree of sadism, as seen after he assassinated Baltrich (indirectly), and Rhadallis, as well as trying to force Mythra to destroy with Siren.

Amalthus views Blades (besides the Aegises) as "mere tools" and treats them accordingly. He holds a deep reverence for the Architect, which results in his opposition of Torna despite their shared goal of destroying Alrest.

Because of his machinations that resulted in the Aegis War, the coup d’état against Rhadallis, his role in the destruction of Tornan people, and the death of Lora, Amalthus is the central antagonist of Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

As a boss

 * Amalthus (boss)