Lepant

Lepant (レパント, Repanto) is a supporting character in Suikoden who makes an appearance in Suikoden II. Lepant is a rich merchant who joined the Toran Liberation Army and arose to become the President of the Toran Republic.

Suikoden
"Think of your friends. Think of your families. And fight for them!"

- Lepant

A wealthy merchant from Kouan, Lepant is a dedicated to his family. As a youth, Lepant was somewhat of a playboy, only ceasing such behavior after he met and fell in love with his wife, Eileen. Their son, Sheena, often exhibits such traits himself, which Lepant constantly chides him for despite having once had a similar nature.

Lepant gained greath wealth as a trader, and Mathiu Silverberg, an acquaintance of Lepant, decided that the Toran Liberation Army should try to recruit Lepant as he would prove useful. Knowing that Lepant was a man who honoured friendship, Mathiu felt that only his introduction would be needed to sway Lepant to join them.

However, Lepant refused to see any visitors, having his servant, Giovanni, warn away visitors as he feared that rebellious forces would attempt to get him involved in their activities. Desperate to get on audience with Lepant, the Toran Liberation Army eventually broke into Lepant's home, stealing one of his most treasured items, his family sword, Kirinji.

Lepant was quick to notice the theft, as Krin had told him where the thieves were. There, the Toran Liberation Army attempted to convince Lepant to join them, but Lepant refused, saying that he could not give up the life he enjoyed with his wife or make her miss him so. Understanding, the Toran Liberation Army returned Kirinji.

Despite regaining Kirinji, Lepant was unable to go back to his peaceful life. Within minutes of regaining the sword, Giovanni ran up to Lepant to inform him that Eileen had been captured by the new military commander of Kouan, Kraze Miles. Furious, Lepant quickly travelled to Kraze's mansion, where he demanded to address Kraze. Slaying all guards who got in his way, with help from Tir McDohl, the leader of the Toran Liberation Army, Lepant managed to break his way through Kraze's guards. Face to face with Eileen and her abductor, Lepant demanded his wife be returned. Though Kraze attempted to hold Eileen hostage, he was unsuccessful, and was executed immediately by the Toran Liberation Army party and Lepant. Lepant realized through the experience that he could no longer pretend to be blind to the injustices of the Scarlet Moon Empire just to protect his family.

Reunited with his wife, Lepant told Eileen that they could no longer be married as he was joining the Toran Liberation Army and would be unlikely to return. Eileen refused to accept this, and, insisting that she had been prepared for hard times since she had married him, insisted on joining the Toran Liberation Army along with him. Lepant consented to this, and the two quickly travelled to Toran Castle.

Lepant served the Toran Liberation Army throughout the war, contributing war strategies  , as well as becoming the commander of his own battalion. Lepant played a key role in Mathiu Silverberg's taking of Moravia, attacking the Fortress of Duha in order to divert reinforcements and then returning to Moravia Castle in order to defeat what remained of the Scarlet Moon Empire soldiers there. Further more, his well-known name and reputation helped boost the image of the Toran Liberation Army. He also helped them with the recruitment of officers by forcing his son Sheena to join the Toran Liberation Army as well.

After the fall of the Scarlet Moon Empire and the end of the Gate Rune War, Lepant was elected to as first President of the Toran Republic, a role he eventually accepted, though he felt that Tir McDohl should have been the one to hold such an office, rather than himself.

Trivia

 * Lepant is perhaps named after the town of Lepanto or the battle which took place there. On 7 October 1571, there was a large naval battle in the Gulf of Patras (Greece), near the town of Lepanto. The battle opposed the Christian coalition to the Ottoman leader.
 * Lepant passes his sword onto his son, Sheena, after taking on a more prominent government role.
 * Despite being a rather prominent character, storywise, Lepant is something of an average character in terms of gameplay.
 * Lepant is the only returning character in Suikoden II who receives a portrait, but never joins your party or your convoy.
 * Like Tir McDohl, Lepant's ending in Suikoden was inexplicably changed in the English versions of Suikoden; in his Japanese ending, he becomes elected the first president of the President of the Toran Republic, but the English version says that Lepant returns to Kouan to live in peace with his family.