Relius Clover

"I am the one who is quite normal here... It is this world that is insane."

Relius Clover, known to many as the Mad Puppeteer, is the patriarch of the Clover family and the former Colonel of the Novus Orbis Librarium's Engineering Department. He was once the leader of the Ten Sages, known as The One and formerly belonged to the Immortal Breakers, having worked alongside Valkenhayn R. Hellsing.

Relius first appeared as an NPC in BlazBlue: Continuum Shift and was made playable in its remake, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend.

Remix Heart, that which is inherited, Spiral Shift
After the annihilation of Ibukido, Relius visited the ruins, finding Meifang Lapislazuli there. He wondered how she had survived, marvelling at her soul. He had Ignis attempt to grab her, but the soldier relented, claiming her body belonged to the Imperator alone. Relius decided to observe her from then on. Relius immediately went missing afterwards, having taken Ignis to be with himself and leaving Nirvana behind. Sector Seven had attempted to keep track of him with undercover assistants, but all five of them had disappeared without a trace. Carl came home not long afterwards, and found the incomplete Nirvana with Ada's body inside.

He would later visit the Military Academy, eliminating the Guardian on the lower levels and telling Ignis to not pursue Cypher Albar as he was not worth their time. On the higher levels of the Academy, he came across Mai Natsume, noticing her soul is both male and female before leaving, noting how intriguing such a phenomenon is.

Variable Heart
Upon learning that Meifang had plans for both Mai and Bell, Relius went to the Hazuki estate in the 11th Hierarchical City of Shinatsu. There, he incapacitated Houichirou Hazuki and Rin Hazuki, using sorcery specifically to prevent Rin from copying his techniques with Vision. He held them there to prevent them from interfering with Meifang's plan, but let the couple free after stating that he would not go any further. Upon leaving the estate, Rin prevented Houichirou from attacking Relius, and the Colonel noted that Meifang had become boring.

Central Fiction
Like many others, Relius was absorbed into the Embryo and became one of the chosen – Ignis still accompanied him. His memories were completely unaffected, unlike many others who had been taken inside it. He found Makoto in the Kagutsuchi museum and began commenting on the strength and brightness of her soul despite her being taken into the Embryo. He later found Izanami bathing, and they discussed her vessel and the creation of Prime Fields before leaving for Ikaruga.

Independently, he found Nine and the two began discussing the Nox Nyctores, the Dark War, and how to remove the Tsukuyomi Unit that was protecting Amaterasu. He suggested contacting Hazama as he believed him to be bored with nothing more to do. A short time afterwards, he found Litchi, and commended her on being able to hold herself together inside the Embryo and using Lao Jiu to retrieve memories from the Boundary. He did warn her, however, that her body will deteriorate if she comes too close to Arakune In Akitsu, he found Ragna investigating the cauldron, and was fascinated at how he was able to hold his sense of self despite not being chosen. He battled him to verify some speculation and left soon afterwards after asking him to fight Izanami so he could watch the aftermath. The puppeteer later found Nu being assaulted by Arakune and he repelled the monster, then offered to conduct repairs on the Murakumo Unit.

His son had found him eventually, and asked Relius if he could be taught of his father’s knowledge. Relius agreed to help Carl, interested in what in his son could do with all of his knowledge. With this, Relius explained to him the Prime Field War, and how he had seen it with his own eyes, verifying the information. He sent his and Ignis’ information into the Embryo, finding Hakumen and Tsubaki within it – the data fought the member of the Six Heroes, and evaporated after it had observed what Relius needed. He told Terumi the shape of Hakumen’s soul and soon left the Embryo using the Boundary as a travelling device with Ignis as the method to survive inside it, having observed everything he desired after giving Carl one of his “eyes”.

Relius Clover
''Carl’s blood-related father. A well-known doll maker, who is also a Captain in the NOL. He is also the creator of the Boundary Interface Prime Field Devices.

''He covers his eyes with a mask, but generally maintains a chivalrous manner of speech and attitude. Nevertheless, one feels a darker side that he keeps hidden behind the façade, when coming into contact.

''His personality is extremely methodical, and egoistic. He cares little for anything that does not relate to his research, and he is witty enough to manipulate even Hazama – a bonafide mad scientist who sees humans as objects, and has no hard feelings using them in his experiments.

''As proof, he used his own wife as the basis for the Detonator, Ignis, and Ada as the platform for Nirvana.

''Upon discovering Shuichiro Ayatsuki’s ultimate and ancient creation, the Kushinada’s Lynchpin was located in Ikaruga, he wastes no time traveling there.

Trivia

 * Library Mode erroneously calls Relius a "Captain" of the NOL, but he was a "Colonel".