If the recent story reveals got you even more excited for Metaphor: ReFantazio, Atlus has now shared new details about the eight tribes that should get you even more hyped up.
As revealed previously, this new game from Atlus’ Studio Zero is set in the Kingdom of Euchronia which has been plunged into uncertainty as the king has died with no direct heir. Soon, it’s revealed that the next ruler of the kingdom will be voted on by Euchronia’s denizens.
Now, Atlus shared new details on the kingdom, including the fact that it is composed of three nations that have preserved their long histories and cultures. This is thanks to the fast-flowing currents that surround the nations, preventing other kingdoms from invading them.
Here’s the map of the kingdom which players will become intimately familiar with as they play through the game:
In the kingdom lives eight major tribes who have varying physical features and cultures. Despite the kingdom supposedly being equal, the reality isn’t as rosy as it seems.
Meet the eight tribes in Metaphor: ReFantazio
As players progress through the story, they will meet many characters from these eight tribes, and they will discover their cultures as well as their plights.
Here’s a rundown of the major tribes:
The Clemar
This tribe boasts the largest population within the kingdom.
The horns growing on both sides of their heads serve as their defining physical feature. With average builds and physical ability, there’s no particularly superior aspect to them, but they also have few shortcomings.
They are often considered to be at the heart of the kingdom due to their occupancy of many influential government positions, the most prominent example being the Euchronian royal family. And for their part, they have unconsciously internalized this to hold a certain amount of truth.
They value freedom and despise unreasonable restrictions. Their desire to optimize anything and everything through debate and their failure to reconsider this approach under any circumstances have brought about undesired conflict on no few occasions.
The Roussainte
This tribe has the second largest population behind the Clemar.
Their long, pointed ears serve as their defining physical feature. They have impressive builds and physical ability, meaning a Roussainte woman will often have greater might than men of other tribes. As such, many of them are in the military, with many of its top seats held by people of this tribe. This is part of the reason they are viewed to be about as influential as the Clemar, with these two sometimes referred to as the primary tribes of the kingdom.
Many Roussaintes find pride in holding strength superior to others. This could be considered a commendable trait in that they simply wish to engage in mutual competition, but on the other hand, there are a number of Roussaintes with a thirst for conflict and a desire to define all things in terms of winning and losing.
The Rhoag
A tribe known for its long life.
Their lifespans are of incredible length, with some living over twice the average of other tribes. At the same time, they have a unique aging process: they reach adulthood in about the same amount of time as other tribes, meaning their middle-aged and elderly days span the great majority of their lifetime. For this reason, an elderly appearance is what typically comes to mind when speaking of them.
As a matter of course, they hold many high positions in organizations based around tradition. Their culture highly values the propagation of knowledge and ideals, and it’s even said that Rhoags won’t forget a debt for three generations.
Many Rhoags have unique patterns visible on their faces, but this is done with a traditional kind of makeup and does not occur naturally.
The Ishkia
A tribe graced with beautiful wings.
Their faces are also striking, with almond eyes and long eyelashes. Their population is the smallest of the eight tribes, but they are said to have heightened intelligence and actually have a strong sense of presence in the cities.
In fact, many make use of their intelligence in important positions as sanctors or scholars, and a number of them are quite wealthy. With this and their looks, they are often the target of admiration, but because many of them are accustomed to treating others as inferior, they also receive an equal amount of hatred.
The Nidia
A tribe with large eyes of a distinctive hue.
Their pupils take up an increased proportion of their eyes, and their pupils and irises are colored with a prismatic rainbow shine.
While they do not have any especially superior aspects to them, they are quite social, and it is said that many of them are adept at winning the hearts of others. However, that disposition is often construed negatively, leading them to be labeled as untrustworthy sweet-talkers or simply eccentric.
The Paripus
A tribe with ears and tails reminiscent of beasts.
Their fur and the color of their skin varies greatly among them, with some having somewhat cool colors that are unseen in other tribes.
They have considerable physical ability and are quite physical people, many of them holding hedonist values along with all the virtues and vices that come with them. They enjoy revelry and have the strength of not getting hung up on details, but this often presents itself as thoughtlessness.
As such, they have been unable to gain any political advantage despite being a major tribe similar in number to the Clemar and Roussainte, and they are somewhat looked down upon by the other tribes. This is especially true in the cities.
The Eugief
A tribe of small stature, with wings and ears similar to those of a bat.
On top of their unique appearance and small population, many of them are nocturnal and can see well at night, and their sense of hearing is well-developed, all of this leading to no small amount of revulsion and discrimination. As a result, most of them are forced to lead less than comfortable lives, and they have a low status among the tribes.
The majority of them have a gentle demeanor and value harmony. However, the other side to this is that they struggle to make big decisions and often get stuck in their tracks out of too much consideration of others. This is another factor contributing to their lower status.
The Mustari
A tribe with a third eye on their foreheads.
Their unique masks and way of dress make them quite eerie to others. While they are not a minority tribe as such, most of them live on the islands out in the sea, so they are not commonly encountered.
Because they follow their own religion separate from Sanctism, they often face persecution on the mainland and are referred to as pagans. They have an air of mystery.
About the Elda and the ‘Humans’
The game’s protagonist hails not from the eight tribes. Instead, he is an Elda, a mysterious tribe that some don’t even think is real.
The Elda
They lack distinctive features such as horns or long ears and are significantly fewer in number compared to other tribes. In places other than major cities, their existence is sometimes not even believed. As a result, just showing their face can cause unease, leading to discrimination and prejudice.
The Monsters Known as ‘Humans’
Finally, we have the “Humans.” Despite what they’re called, these Humans are the monsters that players face throughout their journey. What makes them interesting is that their designs are patterned after the fantastical yet disturbing figures in the paintings of the renowned artist Hieronymus Bosch (of The Garden of Earthly Delights fame).
These monsters are fearsome and mysterious, and more details about them will be shared in the game’s story.
Metaphor: ReFantazio will be released on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on October 11, 2024.