For days I run through mountains and rivers, chasing my prey. I lurk alone deep in the forest. Through many nights... I lose track of time. And then... before I know it... I too have become a beast.
– Irvine[1]
Irvine (アーヴァイン Āvain?) is an apostle who serves together with Zodd, Locus, Grunbeld and Rakshas under the reborn Griffith in his Band of the Falcon as captain of the archers.
Quick Answers
What role does Irvine play in Griffith's Band of the Falcon?
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Personality[]
Irvine is a quiet, introverted man. Aside from his efficiency in battle, he doesn't show much concern for other matters relating to the Band of the Falcon. While on his own, Irvine enjoys hunting wildlife and camping in the woods whilst immersing himself in his only known pleasure: playing the lute by the campfire.[1]
Although he is an apostle, Irvine is shown to possess a somewhat tenderhearted side to his personality. For instance, on one occasion when Sonia asked if she could warm herself by his campfire, he not only allowed her to do so, but engaged her in friendly conversation and covered her with his coat when she fell asleep.[1]
Abilities[]
Irvine fights off the cockatrice.
Master Archer/Marksman: In his human form, Irvine is capable of firing multiple arrows at once with perfect accuracy at multiple targets at different distances from one another, at impossible range for a human. These arrows are often fired with enough force to dismember humans. His transformed state is capable of similar feats but on an even greater scale against more monstrous opponents.[2]
Superhuman Speed: Irvine is able to travel a battlefield at great speeds and scale large constructs with ease, an ability that is increased even further in his apostle form. At the battle of Vritannis, Irvine easily outdistances the Kushan advance.[3]
Organic Arrows: In his apostle form, Irvine is capable of forming his own arrows using hair from his tail; the hair condenses into sharp needles that, once shot, unravel violently after they reach a target's body, expanding into large thorny masses which tear it apart from the inside out. This allows a relatively small arrow to dismember even a large opponent. Additionally, Irvine utilizes the horns of his apostle form by tying a rope around them, fashioning a ballista-like weapon with which to shoot these arrows at a high velocity.[2]
Superhuman Strength: In his apostle form, Irvine is capable of using his horns to lift a felled tree easily, when four men had been unable even to budge it.[4]
Story[]
Millennium Falcon Arc[]
Irvine is introduced during the battle of Lumias firing multiple arrows that behead numerous Kushan soldiers. When the Kushan reinforcements begin to arrive Irvine fires a second volley, once again beheading the opposition.[5]
Irvine and his archers with the demon lancers assault Wyndham Palace, easily breaking through the Kushan lines. The apostle forces are confronted by a large number of daka, pishacha and Emperor Ganishka himself.[6] Although they can fend off the former, they cannot stop Ganishka when he enters his own apostle form. This is part of Griffith's plan, as he and Zodd break the roof of Charlotte's tower and free her from her captivity in the palace while Ganishka is busy.[7]
At the battle of Vritannis, Irvine kills almost all the Kushan generals, generating great chaos on the battlefield.[3]
In the final battle against Shiva Ganishka, he is seen fighting in his apostle form protecting Sonia.[2]
Fantasia Arc[]
Irvine, along with Laban and other Falconia soldiers, help refugees fleeing astral creatures. When a cockatrice emerges from the forest's darkness, he is forced to fight the creature using his apostle form, utilizing a much larger arrow made from his tail hair. Irvine fires his arrow directly into the cockatrice's mouth, killing it.[8] Irvine then clears the path for the refugees to make their way to Falconia, and takes note of Rickert shooting down several harpies with his repeater-crossbow.[4]
Some time later, when the Band of the Falcon faces an army of jötnar, the giant leader orders a massive hydra be brought to sic on the band. Zodd engages the hydra, while from afar Irvine supports him, shooting arrows into it. The finishing blow is dealt by Grunbeld, who burns the hydra with his fiery breath.[9] Irvine and his companions return triumphantly to Falconia.[10]
Some days later, Irvine, Sonia, and Mule gather on the outskirts of Falconia, meeting with Locus and Grunbeld, awaiting the return of Griffith and Zodd. Upon their arrival, Irvine and the others kneel, welcoming Griffith back as he carries Casca.[11] Afterwards, Irvine reports to Griffth at his palace that Casca was put back asleep after an escape attempt, describing her as a bird resting within a cage.[12]
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 29, "Homing"
- ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 34, "Medium of the Falcon"
- ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 32, "Great Invasion (2)"
- ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 37, "Paradise"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 23, "War Demons"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 27, "Daka"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 27, "Demon God"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 37, "Covered Wagon"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 40, "Jötunn"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 40, "Triumphant Return at Dawn"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 42, "A Dying Light in the Pitch Black Night"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 42, "The Red Raven Sleeps in her Birdcage"
Appendices[]
| God Hand |
| Apostles
Zodd · Wyald · Unidentified Roaming Apostle · The Count · Borkoff · Rosine · Unidentified Female Apostle · Snake Lord · Egg of the Perfect World · Rakshas · Locus · Grunbeld · Irvine · Ganishka |
| Pseudo-Apostles
Zondark · Elves of Misty Valley · Great Goat · Mozgus · Mozgus' Disciples · Ganishka's Spawn |
| Phenomena
Abyss · Brand of Sacrifice · Sacrificial Ceremony (Eclipse · Incarnation Ceremony) |
| Others
Beherit · Man-Made Beherit · Sea God · Daka · Dead Spirit · Demon Child (in essence) |