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Xelloss

(Written by Carmen Spray, 6/2001)

There's an old saying that runs: "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." In Xelloss' case, that saying should read: "If I want to have a good laugh, I'll ruin your plan- then get you to follow mine." Manipulative, secretive, irritating, crazy-making: all of these and many other epithets apply in force to the self-styled "Trickster Priest". It's a warning sign that Xelloss has given himself that title.

Xelloss is a Mazoku, which is bad enough- but he's not just any Mazoku. No, Xelloss happens to be the general-priest of Greater Beast Zelas-Metallium, one of the five demon lords underneath Ruby-Eye Shabranigdu. Created from the astral body of Zelas-Metallium herself (Mazoku can reproduce by splitting themselves, something like single-celled organisms), Xelloss is steeped in his Lord's power- and that's no trifling thing. Most Mazoku Lords have (or had) two primary subordinates- a general, and a priest. Zelas-Metallium, for reasons known only to herself, chose to create only one servant. Effectively this makes Xelloss the single most powerful Mazoku in existence that is not a lord itself.

Most people tend not to trust the main subordinate of a major demon, and rightfully so -- on more than one occasion, Xelloss has doublecrossed those who may have been unwary enough to drop their guard around him and consider him a friend. In fact, he's incredibly skillful at playing one side of a conflict against the other while remaining seemingly 'neutral', all by masterful (ab)use of information. Anyone who willingly follows Xelloss' hints and clues probably deserves the trouble that inevitably follows.

Information is Xelloss' most precious possession; he doesn't share what he knows freely. He might tell a story, but the parts he leaves out of the story are probably a lot more important than the ones he tells. Most direct questions put to him and any questions he doesn't feel like answering are met with a tsk-tsk waggle of his forefinger, and his catchphrase, "Sore wa himitsu desu," or, literally, "That is a secret." The exception to this seems to be that he'll allow Lina to browbeat hints out of him- but there seems to be a hidden agenda there too.

It could be as simple as the fact that Xel's a glutton for punishment, seeking to hurt, and to be hurt. Mazoku feed on pain and misery like humans consume food; Xelloss has a ... considerable appetite. He has an uncanny grasp of human nature, no respect for boundaries, and a smart-aleck tongue; he looks good in Chinese dresses (don't ask), and has little if any fear of ANYTHING. Normally, he wears a happy smile and his eyes are closed- but when those eyes glint open, you'd best be prepared for trouble. All too often though he tends to shuffle off to Buffalo the moment a situation gets serious.

Funny thing is, he has almost no weaknesses, so it's not that he can really be hurt in combat. Damage means little - he can regenerate fairly quickly, and physical damage is nigh irrelevant because his 'body' isn't really anything like a human's. Unlike Filia or Zelgadis, Xelloss' appearance is malleable, created wholecloth from his magic powers. (Even his clothes and staff are really part of his 'body'!) His true form remains largely in the astral side. Xelloss is also resistant to most magics and can even shrug off attacks from other Mazoku, simply because they aren't powerful enough to hurt him. The nature of Xelloss' resistance is not quite known, but it's a fact no Mazoku can be killed by any power lesser than itself.

Above all else, Xelloss is 100% loyal to his master. Zelas-Metallium has a secret agenda, and Xelloss does a very good job of sticking to it, as well as keeping it secret. No one is quite sure of what 'the plan' is, and Xelloss sure isn't revealing it. Occasionally it suits his purposes to cross paths with Lina and her adventurers, and even to help them now and then... but as Xelloss himself reminds them, "Never forget I am a Mazoku." Someday, the trickster just might turn into a serious foe...

Statistics

Full Name:	Xelloss *
Alternate Spellings: ( * indicates official spellings)	Zelos Zeros Xellos * (Software Sculptors) Xeloss Zerosu * (katakana)
Also known as:	The Trickster Priest
Sex:	Male
Blood Type:	Unknown / Not Applicable
Hometown:	Unknown / Not Applicable
Accomplishments:	* Singlehandedly responsible for death of hundreds of Ryuzoku (Dragon Race)
Specialty:	Subterfuge
Voice Actor (Japanese): (English):	Ishida Akira David Moo
Appearances:	Slayers NEXT (TV Series) Slayers TRY (TV Series)
Relatives:	Unknown