Azan is an old-fashioned knight who practices a code of honor and loyalty.
Formerly a devout Vice-Commander of the Holy Iron Chain Knights, he leaves to become a supporting companion to Guts and a member of his party.
Quick Answers
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Appearance[]
Azan as he appears in the anime
Azan is an elderly man who is notorious for almost always wearing armor. He's balding and has a thick mustache. His helmet is reminiscent of a samurai warrior's kabuto, and his constitution is muscular, but stout.[1] Recently, he was shown to be a bit taller than dwarves.
Personality[]
Azan is a knight who follows the old fashioned code of honor as he fought Guts one on one and ordered the others to stand down.[2] He is shown to care for his fellow knights as shown when he felt ashamed when he fainted and trapped under the rappels and was unable to save them. He is shown to help others whenever he can as when he helped Schierke and her friends against the pirates without being asked. While chasing Guts he put his priority for helping those who needed help first as he ordered Jill's father to help her and her friend first. He also believes that when a man can't fight back or raise his sword, he must not be hurt and the one to do so is a shame on all knights. This was shown when Guts was captured and some of his troops tried to kill Guts. Azan is shown to have utter disgust for those who use women and children as hostages. He is also very strict when it comes to duty, seen when Serpico looked at two girls while being on duty. Azan is still single due to being part of the Holy See, but he told Serpico that if he could, he would drop the clothes for a wedding ring.
Abilities[]
Staff Mastery: Azan is shown to wield a staff with impressive skill.[2]
Enhanced Speed: Azan wields his staff with speed such that Guts himself, a very swift swordsman with a larger weapon, was surprised at Azan's speed despite his old age.[2]
Background[]
Azan gains his nickname "Bridge Knight", after saving his escort from one-hundred men on a bridge.
Prior to joining the Holy Chain Iron Knights, Azan was reknowned as the legendary "Bridge Knight". According to the legend, Azan once met a wounded elderly man on a bridge and helped him cross while fending off a group consisting of nearly a hundred horsemen.[2] After joining the Iron Chain Knights, Azan became vice-commander and the group's only veteran member by the time Farnese becomes the group's current leader.
A year after the end of the Hundred-Year War, Azan accompanied Farnese on her mission to investigate a prophecy of the Falcon of Darkness said to be birthed during the fifth solar eclipse. After the solar eclipse, Farnese and her forces find the "red lake" mentioned in the Holy See's prophecy: A shallow stream dyed red with the blood spilled from the remains of countless bodies of men and horses. Soon after, Azan accompanies Farnese on her mission hunt down and capture the black swordsman who the Holy See believe to have some connection to the "Falcon of Darkness".[3]
Story[]
Conviction Arc[]
Azan as he prepares to fight Guts.
When the Holy Iron Chain Knights catch up to and engage Guts, Azan decides to personally face him after seeing the swordsman wipe out some of their less experienced men. After Guts recognizes him by reputation, yet insults him by saying he had renounced his knighthood, Azan proceeds to overwhelm the swordsman in combat. But Guts, knowing he must escape, uses what little energy he had left to use Azan's staff as a springboard to jump over him and make an attempted dash at Farnese before he is covertly knocked out by Serpico. After Azan keeps their men from killing Guts to avenge their fallen comrades, noticing their leader in shock from drawing blood, he manages to get Farnese to regain their composure.[2] When Guts escape their custody with Farnese as his hostage, Azan is forced to focus on putting out the fire Guts caused while Serpico chases after him to save Farnese.[4]
Azan and his troops fighting the spirits of the dead.
Later deployed to the Tower of Conviction along with the rest of the Iron Chain Knights, Azan and his men find themselves at a losing battle against the countless restless spirits of the death that have amassed for the Incarnation Ceremony. While Azan survived thanks to his staff keeping him from being crushed under fallen debris, he was ashamed to have been unable to save his troops. Joining forces with Guts to fight the Kushan soldiers deployed to the ruins of Albion, Azan takes advantage of the group's focus on Griffith to lead Serpico, Farnese, Isidro, Nina, Jerome and Luca to safety. As Farnese and Serpico leave to follow Guts rather than accompany him, Azan decides to go to Vritannis to report what happened. Soon after completing his final task to the Holy See, Azan is excommunicated by the clergy.
Millennium Falcon Arc[]
Since his excommunication, Azan has been living on a random boat in the dock and got caught up in a dispute between Bonebeard and the team of Isidro and Mule Wolflame. In the aftermath of the Kushan attack on Vritannis ends up on Roderick's vessel the Seahorse on its voyage to Elfhelm, sparring with Isidro while keeping his helmet on to keep his identity a secret.
Fantasia Arc[]
Azan participates in battling against the Sea God's tentacles.
During the sudden appearance of trolls in the Kushan capital, Azan appears. Identifying himself as "The Black Mustache Knight", he helps Puck and Isidro face the astral beings The boy and the warrior share a comical moment together, with Isidro claiming to be getting ready for a solo trip, with Azan stating he could join him and traverse the land as the young fighter becomes stronger.[5]
Gallery[]
Portrayal[]
Japanese Voice Actor(s)[]
English Voice Actor(s)[]
Notes[]
- The Berserk Official Guidebook states that circa the Fantasia Arc, Azan is 46 years old, 157 cm, and 95 kg. (NOTE: The Berserk Official Guidebook is highly questionable in its veracity.)
- Azan is likely based on Musashibo Benkei, a Japanese warrior monk.
References[]
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 16, "Holy Iron Chain Knights (1)"
- ^ a b c d e Berserk :: Volume 16, "Holy Iron Chain Knights (2)"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 14, "Black Swordsman, Again"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 17, "The Unseen"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume TBA, "Those Who Dance Through the Depths of Hell"