The Teras Pharma (テラスファルマ, Terasufaruma) are a form of powerful and rapidly multiplying monster that appear in Genso Suikoden Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki. They pose an existential crisis to the Holy Empire of Ionia and surrounding settlements.
Information
The origin of the Teras Pharma lies over 300 years ago. A vast empire, which ruled over two continents, found itself challenged by the power of the 108 Stars. On the brink of defeat, this empire researched the 108 Stars and developed what they believed was a countermeasure, the monsters known as the Teras Pharma.
The Teras Pharma did indeed defeat the 108 Stars but they could not be contained. Determined to devour everything in sight and multiply endless, the entire world was soon on the brink of destruction. In one isolated area of land, a group of sages were able to erect a barrier to repel the monsters, protecting this one small pocket of land.
Due to fluctuations in the barrier, it would be penetrable by the Teras Pharma every 100 years. As such, the Holy Empire of Ionia was founded by Renefarious in order to build a society that could potentially repel such an attack when the time came. Attacks were successfully repelled in HIY 100 and 200 but these victories also fractured the Holy Empire as its people began to aspire to life beyond preparing for monster attacks.
Fearful of the 108 Stars, the Yggdrasilian Throne would use the power of the Era Trees to disperse the Stars through the centuries. However, the use of the Era Trees by the Stars of Destiny ironically empowered the True Era Tree, the Infinity itself, cleansing the timeline of the anomalous Teras Pharma. Era Trees themselves also repulsed the Teras Pharma. This was used to protect Therbe Village from the monsters.
According to data found in the Tower of Zoe, Teras Pharma numbers had begun decreasing in HIY 250, and that a handful remained by HIY 298. However, increasing and increasing use of the Era Trees caused further recession, leading to native Teras Pharma becoming extinct by HIY 170.
In response to this, the Yggdrasilian Throne would begin cultivating Teras Pharma of their own and releasing them outside the barrier, all to maintain their control over the land. They would also supply this ability to the Vermilion Axe, in the hopes of creating a constant insurgency to unite the people against. These Teras Pharma, cultivated from the Era Tree deep within the Yggdrasilian Throne, were subtly different to their siblings, and were not repelled by Era Trees.
In branches of the Infinity where the 108 Stars were gathered in their entirety, the Teras Pharma were completely erased from the timeline, allowing all people to leave the barrier and inhabit the empty outside world once again.
References
- Genso Suikoden Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki The Complete Guide (ISBN 978-4-04-886462-6), page 241