Sonya Shulen

Sonya Shulen {{{jpname}}}, {{{roname}}}
108 Stars Tenjyu Star
Gender	Female
Race	Human
Age	28 (S1)
From	Gregminster, Toran Republic
Family	Kilauea Shulen (mother)
Appears in	Suikoden

Sonya Shulen (ソニア・シューレン, Sonia Shūren) is a character in Suikoden. Sonya is an admiral in the Scarlet Moon Empire and the Toran Republic.

History

.....you're beginning to resemble General Teo..... —  Sonya Shulen

Hey, we have a great relationship!

Sonya Shulen held a position as one of the Five Great Generals of the Scarlet Moon Empire. She is the daughter of Kilauea Shulen, who had fought in the War of Succession.

Sonya inherited her mother's position as a Great General and commander of the navy after her untimely death. She is said to have developed something of a complex from having to live up to the name and reputation of her highly esteemed mother. She was considered a brave and beautiful woman with shining golden hair and blue eyes.

When Sonya ascended to the position of Great General, it was Teo McDohl who was there to help her during her initial struggles adapting to such a lofty position. Their feelings of mutual respect eventually turned to romance. Teo was originally hesitant but eventually followed his heart.

In the past, she had a fierce rivalry with Anji, based on her position as a naval commander and his work as a pirate. Both had led battles and raids against one another on several occasions.

Anji went so far as to pin a wedding dress to the Floating Fortress of Shasarazade, a jab at Sonya's unwed status, saying that "This woman can still wear white!", that was said to have rendered her apoplectic with rage. In return, she arranged for the bandits to capture a supply of high-quality liquor only to lead a raid when the bandits were all drunk, dealing a large blow to their operations.

See! She still wants to look at us!

Sonya continued to be involved romantically with Teo during the Gate Rune War and the war would lead her to fight against his son, the leader of the Toran Liberation Army. Her grudge intensified when she heard that Teo had been killed by his son in combat.

She protected the Floating Fortress of Shasarazade and continued to fight on even after the battle was lost and the fortress engulfed in flames, both as a proud warrior of the Empire and to avenge the loss of the man she loved.

Defeated in combat, she attempted to kill herself only to be stopped and taken back to Toran Castle. Even after her capture, she refused to cooperate with the Liberation Army for a time until she gradually came to accept Teo's death and the reasoning behind it.

After talking with Cleo and the hero, she would agree to aid the Liberation Army, stating that she wished to see him die herself. Following the war, she became the admiral of the Toran Republic navy.

Gameplay

Enemy

Main article: Sonya Shulen (enemy)

Sonya Shulen is fought as a boss enemy in Suikoden. She is fought at the Floating Fortress of Shasarazade and is a difficult boss, not least because she must be fought without resting after battling the previous Shell Venus boss, forcing the party to rely on recovery items and their remaining MP. She is strong in both magic and physical attacks.

Recruitment

Recruitment
File:Sonya Shulen (Suikoden portrait).png	Talk to Sonya in the cell in the basement of your castle following the Battle at Floating Fortress Shasarazade. Ask her to join you, then tell her you don't care that she hates you.
Level Gender Range 48 Female S

Battle bonds

Good Will
Protects	This character does not protect anyone
Protected By	This character is not protected by anyone

Unite Attack
1	Beauty Attack w/ Cleo, Eileen

Equipment

Starting Equipment
Head	--
Body	Leather Armor
Shield	--
Other	Crimson Cape
Rune	Water

Equipment Type
Head	Helmet
Body	Light armour
Shield	Can equip
Other	Female

Stats

State Grades
HP	STR	DEX
E	C	D
CON	SPD	MGC
E	B	D
LCK
F

Stat Growth Rate
LV	HP	STR	DEX	CON	SPD	MGC	LCK
1	20	13	13	12	14	13	12
20	150	75	68	60	106	68	51
60	530	163	146	128	180	146	108
90	700	190	170	150	210	170	130

War

War Stats
Name	Type	Soldiers	Lead ATK	Sub ATK
Soldier Beauties	Magic	250	13	4

Weapon

Weapon
LV	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
ATK	5	7	9	12	16	20	33	40	48	59	70	80	102	115	134	150
Name	Blue						Turquoise Blue						Royal Blue
W Type						W Level					Element
One-handed sword						N/A					Water

Trivia

• If you are playing Suikoden efficiently for completion purposes, Sonya will be the last character you get to join.
• The blue magic-burst attack that Sonya uses when you fight her is not available through any rune in the game.
• There is a black cat who hangs out at the Mercenary Fortress in Suikoden II that, when inspected, will say "Sonya...". This is not a reference to Sonya, however, but rather a mistranslation of the cat meowing.
• Despite being the leader of the Soldier Beauties unit, Sonya can only be used as such in the last battle.

References

1. Genso Suikoden Short Story Collection 1 (ISBN 4-8402-1494-8), pages 149-176
2. Genso Suikoden Encyclopaedia (ISBN 4-575-16297-3), page 159
3. Genso Suikoden Genso Shinsho Vol.14 (ISBN 4-7753-0217-5), page 60
4. Genso Suikoden Kiwami Encyclopedia, pages 68-9