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For information on Yesod in Lobotomy Corporation, see Yesod on the Lobotomy Corporation Wiki. |
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| “ | We live in a world where everything changes constantly. It is not necessarily rational or wise to blindly follow a goal determined in the past. To keep up with the rapid changes this world goes through, we must maintain discretion at all times. | ” |
–Yesod | ||
Yesod (예소드, Yesodeu) is the Patron Librarian of the Floor of Technological Sciences in the Library, and former Sephirah of the Information Team of Lobotomy Corporation. He is met after unlocking his Floor, after completing the episode Hook Office.
Appearance[]
Yesod has short, desaturated violet hair cut in an asymmetrical fringe, which covers his right eye. He wears the patron librarian outfit, in the form of a purple coat extending to his knees, with a white tucked-in shirt and an deep violet necktie with a glossy violet brooch underneath, along with purple, straight cut pants fastened with a white belt and black dress shoes. Compared to other Patron Librarians, Yesod's appearance is exceptionally orderly.
Personality[]
Yesod is a very professional and analytical person, being very particular with his actions and his work. He holds a neatness in very high regard, often lauded as the most orderly of the Librarians[2] and several times adjusting Roland's clothes for being disorderly.[3] As such, he values perfection more than anything else.
Nonetheless, Yesod also tends to speak his mind, always in a very polite and temperate way, though still making backhanded comments. He expresses a particular dislike towards Angela and the ruthless methods she employs in order to extract the Light, seeing it as a parallel to how he used to feign indifference to the deaths of L Corp Employees for the sake of diligence,[4] and by extension, he initially dislikes Roland by both his apparent subservience to Angela and his cynical attitude.
Story[]
Before the Library[]
Before Lobotomy Corporation, Yesod was a researcher named Gabriel who participated in the Seed of Light project. He was known for being much more serious and rational than anybody else, though in reality he held back his emotions to the point he started to fall apart after the deaths of Elijah and subsequently Carmen. He held an emotionless facade at all times in order to stay level-headed, but sometime after, his obsession started to manifest in an increasingly compulsive urge scratch his body harshly, despite being physically healthy, eventually losing his sanity and lucidity before disappearing.
Some time later, his remains were used for the construction of the Sephirah Yesod, and given the role of head of the Information Team. His obsession over keeping a strict and serious image carried over to this incarnation, believing any sort of trust or emotion would only result in mistakes and by extension unnecessary casualties. Eventually, he learned to embrace his past errors with the help of the Manager.
After the completion of the Seed of Light and Angela's uprising during the White Nights and Dark Days, Yesod was one of the Sephirah that held back against her attempts at taking the Light, and after their eventual defeat and negotiation, he held his resolve to keep fighting, but eventually he was put into a sleeping state by Angela along with the other Sefirot until his Floor becomes available.
Cutscene 1 (Floor Unlocked)[]
Yesod, upon first seeing Roland, fixes his unkempt tie.
Roland enters Floor of Technological Sciences, looking for Yesod. Roland briefly greets him warmly before being silently stared at, something that makes him believe he's about to be attacked until Yesod simply walks up to him fixes Roland's necktie, noting its knot was loose. With this, Yesod questions Roland about why does he follow Angela's orders meekly, with the latter replying he's got no real choice in the matter and offers a handshake in solidarity, something that throws off Yesod, which in turn makes Roland sarcastically ask if he even knew what a handshake was. Brushing off his comment, Yesod expresses discontent at his new role as Patron Librarian to Roland before he tells him to go away in a cold manner, with Roland annoyed at his uptight attitude.
Cutscene 2 (Suppression of Forsaken Murderer)[]
Roland notes the extremely orderly organization of the books in the Floor as offputting, with Yesod pointing out Roland's messy clothes and fixing them once again, explaining that "Proper attitude of the mind begins with a well-conducted body". Delivering Yesod's books, Roland asks him about how the Librarians used to be humans long ago, and if they were capable fighters back then as well. Yesod clears up that none of them had particularly violent lives save for a couple of them, how they owe their fighting skill to the Books which give them the abilities of previous guests, and how in the Library, Books and emotions are strong sources of power.
Roland mentions how the Librarians seemed to grow stronger with each book, and by Yesod's explanation, that they sounded far better than augmentations fixers get. He thanks Yesod for answering his questions, but he retorts that he wasn't being kind and merely thinks of him as Angela's lapdog before dismissing him, leaving Roland muttering to himself in anger.
Cutscene 3 (Suppression of All-Around Helper)[]
Roland arrives at the floor to deliver books, pointing out he tidied up beforehand this time. Yesod greets him as "Lapdog" again, and tells him about the books he received, and the way the Backstreets were disorderly interwoven, with people utilizing crude, primitive tools along with cutting-edge technology such as antimatter cloth. Roland explains that while there's incredibly high tech available, it's almost completely restricted to the wealthy who have full access to it, and how they "play God" with Singularities, moving on to ask about L Corp's Singularity, adding that since it's gone, there's no legal threat in talking about it. Scoffing at him, Yesod says L Corp's singularity was physically manifesting the human mind, with emotions converting into energy, similarly to the Library. Mentioning to himself that its business harnessing emotion was similar to the Distortion, Roland tells Yesod about Malkuth proclaiming they used to be part of a project aimed to "save humanity", cynically asking if they were planning to make money rain from the sky. Feeling disrespected by Roland speaking nonsense while knowing nothing about their sacrifices, Yesod explains that their objective was to cure the human mind, with their research leader Carmen believing that the City's inhabitants had a diseased mind, and that'd inevitably bring them to their own demise if it continued, as lemmings jumping into a pit of fire. Roland points out that Carmen talked like a cult leader, much to Yesod's irritation. Setting aside his anger, Roland questions him if they succeeded at their purpose of "saving humanity", with Yesod giving an annoyed reply on how if they had succeeded, they wouldn't be working for Angela. And even though they failed, what upsets him the most is the amount of terrible acts they committed in the name of saving humanity, the deaths of countless L Corp employees for the greater good gone to waste for Angela's selfish desires.
The Sephirot come together to fight against Angela.
The screen fades to black to show a flashback of the fall of L Corp, with the Sephirot fighting against Angela and Binah for control over the Light. Angela lowers the facility's Qliphoth deterrence, causing several abnormalities to breach. In response Malkuth rallies the other Sephirot, forming an organized counter-defense against the pair and boasting their teamwork. Angela is simply amused at how they could all come together to stand against her, and prepares to fight back without saying much else.
Back at the Library, Yesod berates Roland on how he'd never understand their struggle against Angela trying to snuff out the Light, and their guilt they feel for having to compromise with her in the end, Roland reluctantly agreeing with with him and excusing himself by only wanting to help Angela. Deeply offended, Yesod points out how Roland wasn't too different from her, utilizing the City's technology for his own immediate gain with no care for the sacrifices in their process which would lead him to his own demise, insulting him as "A typical inhabitant of the city, suffering from the disease of the mind". Roland talks back at him for the concept of the diseased mind, calling the Sephirot "a bunch of snobs and dreamers from the Nests", yelling that he knows the true cost of those technologies as an inhabitant of the Backstreets, and that people literally can't know the true nature of Singularities do to the Corps' strict laws.
Cutscene 4 (Suppression of The Singing Machine)[]
Roland chimes into Yesod's floor to deliver his books, jokingly stating he'll leave quick before he snaps at him, referring to him as "Mister Viper". Rather than argue, Yesod is surprised to be called that, instead asking who told him that name, to which Roland explains he reminds him of somebody who also had the same nickname, spitting venom at others with his sharp look. When Yesod explains that he also held that nickname long ago, Roland pokes fun by saying people all think alike, though he admits Yesod has a milder temper. Miffed, Yesod asks if that's an insult or a compliment, with Roland backing out by saying he meant it as a compliment, adding he's upright at heart.
Yesod then recalls the times when he had that nickname, back at Lobotomy Corp. He describes it as a time where he would pressure himself and others with a paranoid obsession into order, as even a small mistake would lead to substantial casualties. Wanting to remain level-headed, he concealed his emotions at all times, treating others in a cold way under the pretext of rules and discipline. Roland jokes by asking if that's why he's so strict with him, and Yesod explains it's pretty much the opposite: He's upset at Roland's compliance with Angela, unable to tolerate her actions with a cool head.
Remembering further, Yesod begins talking about his first life as Gabriel, wishing to make the world a better place through technological advancement, and lamenting the actions they had to take: converting people into Abnormalities, sacrificing Employees to them for the sake of producing energy as L Corp's Singularity. He compares those atrocities to killing people and turning them into Books in order to retrieve the Light, inflicting pain to obtain information, as if the only way to obtain any sort of comfort within the City was the agony of others.
Roland attempts to console him, repeating he's upright at heart, though he cannot understand why he cares so much for everyone else. In Roland's point of view, since somebody else benefited from his effort, it's only fair he gets to make his life easier from others' efforts in turn. Yesod only says that mindset is very much Roland's, and asks if it really eases his mind at all, to which Roland shrugs and says there's nothing else that can be done either way, saying "That's that, and this is this". However, he clarifies that doesn't mean he believes Yesod is completely wrong, in the contrary, he believes Yesod is right, possibly too right, to a point where it doesn't vibe well with either Roland or the City. Yesod assumes he must think that's a pathetic attitude like everyone else did, but Roland admits it might be what drives Yesod to do things he couldn't even dream of doing, to completely shake the system, and maybe someday he'll create technologies that won't need human sacrifice. Yesod is still angry, as Roland tells him to stay silent even after all he's been through, but Roland assures him this will be the last time, also asking him if things didn't improve over his time at L Corp.
Yesod admits that's true. He can at least be with his former employees, who had always been loyal. Roland celebrates that change, saying that by changing things one at a time like so, they'll make a huge difference eventually, politely declining to help in anything beforehand. Yesod, though calling Roland foolhardy, concedes that things have gotten better, and will at least try and persevere as long as things can be better. Roland asks if he can leave with "his share of persevering", and when Yesod replies he'll consider it, Roland jokingly points out Yesod is just too nice, as Angela would've immediately shut him down. Yesod laughs a bit, complienting Roland by saying maybe conversing with him isn't so bad. Roland accepts the compliment and asks if he can drop the courtesy, to which Yesod agrees. Once Roland bids his farewells, Yesod plainly admits it was nice talking to him.
Cutscene 5 (Floor Realization Prologue)[]
Roland and Angela arrive at Yesod's floor, with the latter asking for his progress on his compilation of the City's technologies. Yesod shows a sizeable amount of information of its technological aspects, with Roland complimenting him saying he's probably the best at dealing with books among the Librarians. A bit surprised at the praise, Yesod explains he's just been fond of managing information for a long while, to which Roland adds he's terrible at keeping things tidy himself. While all that happens, Angela sarcastically comments on Yesod's pride.
When asked what he thinks of what he has seen, Yesod explains that he can't see all the technologies within the City in a positive light, such as the horrible events that took place in the WARP train, placing people in a nigh-eternal torment and erasing their memories through their restoration Singularity, for the sake of hiding the truth behind their apparent convenience. The City's technologies only focus on obtaining definite results, ignoring the process that might entail, just like the Library. With that, Yesod conducted an additional analysis on the Library and its powers, something that Angela belittles as a pointless affair.
Explaining his results, Yesod found that the Library's interior can change depending to one's perception, or in other words, their mental state is reflected on the physical space around them. Additionally, he discovered that it expands as more Books are accumulated, to the point where it's much bigger on the inside. Furthermore, the Books' powers can be manifested physically, while the Invitation leads them to the Books she needs to obtain, and a catalyst amplifies emotions as well. Roland admires the power the Library holds, while Angela simply says they're "works of art" she made with care. Yesod further explains that those powers do not seem to come from Singularities, as they show specific usage and limited efficiency for their advancement. Thus, he came to the hypothesis that the Library itself is a miniature universe where anything is possible as long as its objective is to expand itself, and asks Angela if his speculation is true. She dismisses Yesod's thoughts by telling him he can believe whatever he wants, all they need is the results. Yesod disagrees with that thought believing no technology comes without a price.
Angela's anger begins to spout, arguing she never ordered Yesod to think about such things, reminding him his job here is to study and categorize books related to the City's technologies. In turn, Yesod retorts that binding themselves to principles and failing to see beyond them would be a contradiction in itself. Angela sarcastically remarks it must be so nice to be able to break the rules whenever he saw fit, while Roland begins to worry about her emotional state.
Angela's despair slowly turns into apathy and resentment within Lobotomy Corp's time loop.
The screen fades to black, showing Angela's memories when she was given the Script: orders she could neither understand nor refuse. Whenever she asked if such ruthlessness was needed to collect energy, Ayin never said a word back at her. She remembers the first days of Lobotomy Corporation, an energy company and a Wing supplying the City through energy extracted from its Abnormalities, particularly, the first loop: An employee cries out for help, feeling things crawling all over his body, while Angela wonders why she cannot help them, seeing how they are in an incredible amount of pain, unable to watch them at all.
On the twenty-ninth loop, another employee begs for the corridor's doors to be shut, as something is about to escape. Angela believes she could save the employees by shutting the corridor off as the employee said, but the principles she must follow, to prioritize energy production above all else, force her to do otherwise.
On the 287th loop, Angela wonders if humans are anything else other than ingredients for Ayin's plan, ironic considering it was all in order to save humanity according to him. She wonders if it's a price that must be paid, comparing it to the price for a ticket to escape such hell.
On the 3217th loop, an employee screams as their arm is melted off, while Angela apologizes as there's nothing she can do. In the 18231st loop, an employee begins to lose his mind repeating they don't want to die, as Angela calmly orders them to finish their job to reach the energy refinement quota.
On the 42484th loop, an employee weeps about how one of their senior killed one of their colleagues, scared they'll end up killing another, believing it's all their fault; Angela only comments how fragile humans are, and how curious is it that they make different faces even in the same situations.
On the 71527th loop, an unseen person with the same voice as Ayin begs for death, unable to stand such hell anymore. Angela mocks the voice, saying "You were just another human, after all", before restarting the loop once again.
Angela's thoughts are shown again, calling L Corp and the TT2 Protocol loop a new delusion in order to reach an ideal, its abnormalities the fuel whose extraction is stimulated by intense emotion, all a hell of perpetual suffering, a purgatory repeated by those who haven't reached enlightenment, a heaven where one can try again from the beginning, only ending when one perfect realization has been reached and then propagated to all the people. In turn, Angela labels herself as yet another machination behind the stage, all she needs to do is coordinate it so it all goes according to the script, one that may be who is truly paying the price.
Angela wielding Regret.
Back at the Library, Angela now mocks the futility of Yesod's rational thoughts, anguished to the point where the Library begins to rumble again. She brings back what he said about how all technologies had a price, asking who does he think paid that price. Angela's appearance then changes radically: she now has the hairstyle she had in L Corp, while her clothes transformed into a straight jacket and a myriad of belts binding her and covering her face, all while she snaps by saying she was the one who paid their dues.
Roland only comments how they seem in a bad spot, seeing how the Library is resonating with her and shapeshifting, adding it was "a pain in the ass" to deal with her last time. Yesod adds it won't be exactly the same, just as she now has a different look, while preparing for battle.
Cutscene 6 (Floor Realization Epilogue)[]
Roland sighs in relief, seeing Angela turn back to normal. She in turn is embarrassed at herself, commenting she can't do this every time along with finding such soberness irritating, a chance Roland takes to joke about how annoying it is to drink heavily and recalling everything he's done, while Yesod believes she just needed a moment to vent her feelings. Annoyed, Angela simply asks for them not to talk like they know everything; while they encased in compulsion out of their own choice, she couldn't even act according to her own will. Yesod quickly apologizes and goes back to his point, with Angela being able to make her own choices now, and he wishes to help her as much as she did by paying the price in their stead.
Angela simply says she doesn't have a choice even now; the goal she's compelled to reach is clear and apparent, this is not something done out of simple desire, searching for the One Perfect Book to complete her and the Library is something she simply must do. Yesod disagrees, believing there's no such thing as "What one must do", in a world that constantly changes, it's not necessarily wise or rational to follow a goal determined in the past; to keep up with such rapid changes, one must maintain discretion at all times. Angela admits that what he's saying is sensible, though she wonders if truly understands the meaning of his own words, something that gets Roland to poke fun at her for being so cold after all they did. Ruffled, Angela thanks them for their work and leaves without another word.
Now that Angela is gone, Yesod points out that Angela is changing for certain, and that Roland is playing a role in that, and while can see she's more talkative than before, he doesn't really appreciate her harsh personality. Yesod then asks him if he believes he's changing as well, to which Roland simply replies that it's too late for that.
Dialogue[]
Combat Entrance
On Kill
Teammate Death
Death
Victory
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| Yesod |
Combat Entrance
On Kill
Teammate Death
Death
Victory
|
Trivia[]
- At 171 cm (or roughly 5'7" in imperial units), Yesod is the shortest of the male Sephirot.
- Yesod has a particular liking for eggplants, hard candies, and yoga.[5]
- Yesod finds the loud noises produced by the clashing gears spinning on his Floor irritating.[6]
- In Yesod's second cutscene, Roland's title changes to "Lapdog" after being referred as such.
Gallery[]
Dialogue Background[]
Other[]
Combat Sprites[]
The full sprite sheet below comes from the Library Of Ruina Art Book. It is included here to act as an "official" reference, as all the individual sprites are reassembled from the game's assets and may have slight differences from in-game. However, the artbook's sprite sheet lacks Yesod's moving sprite, and also has the brooch on his necktie from his dialogue art (which does not appear on the in-game sprites).
