Editing Eraqus

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|image=[[File:Master Eraqus KHIII.png|300x400px]]

|charworld1=Scala ad Caelum

|charworld2=Land of Departure

'''Eraqus''', known to his students as '''Master Eraqus''', is a [[Keyblade Master]] who watches over the [[Land of Departure]]. He is the master of [[Terra]] and [[Aqua]], and he also serves as the second master of [[Ventus]]. In his youth, Eraqus studied with his friend [[Xehanort]] in [[Scala ad Caelum]]. Eraqus was introduced in ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'' and is the main supporting protagonist of ''[[Kingdom Hearts Dark Road]]''.

Master Eraqus was conceived as a ''Final Fantasy''-esque counterpart to Disney's Master Yen Sid, given that his name is an anagram of "Square", a reference to Square Enix, the developers of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, and his resemblance to Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of ''Final Fantasy'' mirrors Yen Sid's name being an anagram of his creator's name, Walt Disney. Tetsuya Nomura once forgot the basis of Eraqus's name, and had to be reminded by an employee that it was an anagram of "Square".<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania]]''''', '''Interviewer''': "Master Eraqus's name is an anagram of 'Square', right? / '''Tetsuya Nomura''': "Yes, but I didn't really think very hard on that name. Actually, I gave him that name while writing the original plot, but when I read through it later, I couldn't remember what it was supposed to mean. I asked around, but no one knew. Finally, the producer realized that it was supposed to be an anagram for Square and I thought, 'Oh yeah!' (laugh)." [https://www.khinsider.com/news/Full-Nomura-Interview-20-KH-Mysteries-Solved-1366 Translation via Lissar].</ref>

In the English version of the series, Eraqus is voiced by Mark Hamill, who was chosen specifically by Nomura because of his role as Luke Skywalker, his love of the ''Star Wars'' series, and his desire to pit ''Star Wars'' and ''Star Trek'' (a series that Nomura is also a fan of) against each other in a "dream match" by casting the late Leonard Nimoy of ''Star Trek'' fame as Master Xehanort, Eraqus's friend turned rival.<ref>'''The Making of ''Birth by Sleep'' - Addendum w/ Tetsuya Nomura''' - "Usually I choose actors whose voices are similar to the Japanese version, but this time around I focused more on candidates who were simply a good fit for the character. For Eraqus and Xehanort, I chose actors who I felt personified these characters best, but also wanted to be a bit playful in my decision-making."</ref><ref>'''Dengeki Magazine, July 7, 2010''' - '''Nomura:''' Mark Hamill will be voicing Master Eraqus, and the voice of Master Xehanort is Leonard Nimoy. It has become the dream battle between ''Star Wars'' and ''Star Trek''.--「スター・ウォーズ」と「スタートレック」の夢の競演になっています</ref>

===Before ''Kingdom Hearts Dark Road''===

Eraqus is a blueblood, descended from one of the [[Dandelions]].{{storylink|Secret Report 2}}{{?}}<!--cite dandelion bit to ultimania, with quote-->

===''Kingdom Hearts Dark Road''===

Eraqus is one of Xehanort's fellow classmates in [[Scala ad Caelum]], alongside [[Vor]], [[Hermod]], [[Urd]], [[Bragi]], and Baldr. They train together under Master [[Odin]]. He would often spend his days playing [[Alba & Ater]] with Xehanort.

One day, Master Odin informs everyone that the upperclassmen of Keyblade wielders had gone missing, including the sister of his fellow classmate, Baldr, and that his apprentices are to split into two groups to search the worlds. Eraqus travels with Xehanort and another apprentice, heading to [[Agrabah]] first.

While talking with [[Baldr]], it is revealed that Eraqus's grandfather battled the darkness.

In [[Scala ad Caelum]], [[Xehanort]] questions Eraqus about his knowledge of the [[Keyblade War]] and the "Lost Masters" during a game of Alba & Ater. After the game, the two offer each other their support.

[[File:Flashback The Keyblade Masters 01 KHBBS.png|thumb|left|200px|Eraqus warns Xehanort that recreating the χ-blade is a ridiculous idea.]]

After passing the [[Mark of Mastery exam]], Eraqus becomes a Keyblade Master and is entrusted to safeguard the [[Land of Departure]] while Xehanort leaves to travel the worlds as a Seeker. When the two meet again, Eraqus learns of Xehanort's scheme to cause a second [[Keyblade War]] in order to recreate the [[χ-blade]] and attempts to fight his former friend to stop him from carrying out what would destroy everything. However, his attempt is futile as Xehanort quickly takes him down and scars his face. Years later, Eraqus obtains apprentices of his own, Terra and Aqua, before taking Ventus under his wing from a seemingly repentant Xehanort.

===''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''===

[[File:Mark of Mastery 01 KHBBS.png|thumb|200px|Master Eraqus starting the Mark of Mastery exam.]]

Eraqus holds the Mark of Mastery exam for Terra and Aqua, with Ventus and Xehanort as witnesses. In the end, Eraqus names Aqua master while refusing to give Terra the mantle on the grounds that he is unable to control his darkness. Despite the formality, Eraqus confides to Terra that he has the potential to become a Keyblade Master. Little does Eraqus know that Xehanort had used his dark powers to tamper with the course of the Exam itself. Soon after, he conveys to Aqua the responsibilities that go with her status and what she is required to do if he died for any reason. With Xehanort nowhere to be seen, Eraqus sends Terra and Aqua to find him shortly after being contacted by Master [[Yen Sid]] about the spawning of the mysterious [[Unversed]]. Sensing a possible connection between the two events, Eraqus later instructs Aqua to look after Terra, as he fears his apprentice may be tempted by the darkness. However, after Terra departs, Aqua and Eraqus witness Ventus leaving as well, and he instructs Aqua to bring Ventus back.

 

Upon seeing Ventus later returning, Eraqus welcomes him back home with open arms, only to find the boy confused and enraged as he questions him about the χ-blade and his role in its creation. Eraqus, realizing that Xehanort never intended to give up his agenda and revealing to the boy his role in the plot, sees killing Ventus to be the only way to put Xehanort's plot to an end for good. However, Xehanort arranged Terra to arrive to save Ventus from Eraqus. Sensing that Terra has indeed descended into darkness, the youth refusing to let him kill Ventus, Eraqus is left with no choice but to eliminate them both. However, after throwing Ventus into a portal leading to the Destiny Islands, Terra mortally wounds Eraqus. In the end, Terra regretting fighting him while he sees that turning his Keyblade on his own apprentices was an error on judgment, Eraqus is struck from behind by Xehanort and fades in Terra's arms.  

Avenging Eraqus's death was among Terra's primary motives for defeating Xehanort during the events in the [[Keyblade Graveyard]]. However, after Xehanort uses Terra's body as the first of his [[Terra-Xehanort|vessels]], he learns that Eraqus entered Terra's heart and thus gave him the means to resist Xehanort.

[[File:Checkmate 01 KHIII.png|thumb|Eraqus and Xehanort leave for The Final World together.]]

After Master Xehanort is defeated and mortally wounded by [[Sora]], Eraqus leaves the newly-freed Terra's body in spirit form and persuades Xehanort to stand down, despite Xehanort's final attempts to enact the purge with the χ-blade. As Xehanort respectfully hands the χ-blade to Sora to close Kingdom Hearts, Eraqus shares a warm reunion with his three apprentices and entrusts Aqua's and Ventus's care to Terra before joining Xehanort as the two fade away peacefully as friends once again.

Terra, Aqua, and Ventus later place Eraqus's Keyblade in the ground in the Land of Departure with their Wayfinders as a makeshift gravestone to honor their fallen master.

Master Eraqus has slightly tan skin. He has jagged scars over his right eye and left cheek inflicted by Master Xehanort's [[Dark Volley]], much like the wounds Braig received from Terra. Eraqus has dark grey eyes, and black hair tied into a short, high topknot, with one bang falling off to the right side of his face. He also has a short, triangular {{w|soul patch}} and a mustache.  

Master Eraqus, like his student, Terra, bears a distinct Japanese influence in his choice of clothing. He wears a white, red-lined ''{{w|haori}}'' that has a hood, along with slightly shorter than normal, light-colored ''{{w|hakama}}''. Underneath his haori, he wears a navy blue shirt with a large white X pattern on the front.  

 

 

Master Eraqus physically resembles {{w|Hironobu Sakaguchi}}, the creator of the ''Final Fantasy'' series.{{fact}}

 

Despite his sometimes cold actions toward his apprentices, he still cares deeply for them. He has Aqua follow Terra out of concern for the youth, gives a pained apology to Ventus before attempting to destroy the boy, and sheds a tear when he is forced to face off against Terra. Despite the strain between him and Xehanort, Eraqus attempts to forgive his erstwhile friend, even welcoming him to help preside over the Mark of Mastery exam despite their last meeting ending in violence. Following his apparent demise at Xehanort's hands, Eraqus's influence and strength settle within Terra in order to help him counter Xehanort's possession and hopefully regain his body.

 

Despite some of his extreme measures, Eraqus is a forgiving person at heart as he takes Ventus in, despite the fact Xehanort scarred his face, and in the final confrontation with Xehanort years later, he persuades Xehanort to peacefully surrender and escorts Xehanort to the afterlife as his friend.

Master Eraqus serves as a boss battle for Terra after Terra prevents him from executing Ventus. During the battle, Eraqus uses many quick lunging attacks and is able to land many hits before the combo finisher. He also has several desperation attacks, each based on the light element.

 

As an apprentice in Scala ad Caelum, he specializes in buffing his allies' physical attacks.

Master Eraqus wields a rather basic Keyblade named "Master's Defender", which is grey in coloration. It has the appearance of an old-fashioned skeleton key, and the teeth are shaped like an "E". Its [[Keychain]] is [[Terra's Mark]]. He summons his Keyblade in a fashion similar to Terra, shrouded in a series of golden blocks. In battle, he holds his Keyblade in the {{w|chūdan-no-kamae}} stance.

 

As an apprentice at [[Scala ad Caelum]], Eraqus wielded the {{c|Keyblade|KHDR}}, the same as his classmates.

File:Master's Defender KHBBSFM.png|[[Master's Defender]]

==Notes and references==

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