Raphael Sorel

Biography

Raphael Sorel first appeared in Soul Calibur II. He was part of a Aristocratic French family until the night of the Evil Seed when he was forced to kill a noble who was driven insane in self defense. Unfortunately for Raphael the noble was supported by the Sorel family. As such he was cast out of his family and household and forced to fend for himself as he fled from the townspeople who were after him for the murder. While escaping his pursuers he encounters a young girl named Amy who shelters him.

After he manages to escape he flees with Amy to begin a new life. It's not long before Raphael finds a letter which

connects the Soul Edge to the night of the Evil Seed which drove the noble that attacked him insane. Raphael fears that the sword may fall into the hands of the nobles, and as such sets off in Soul Calibur II to find the sword with the purpose of using it to destroy the nobles in order to create a world for his foster daughter Amy, who cannot open herself up to the world. Raphael manages to track down the Azure Knight, Nightmare, but is heavily wounded during the ensuing battle. In one final moment of desperation Raphael manages to gather enough strength to unleash a final attack into the eye of Soul Edge. His opponent screamed out in pain and Raphael lost consciousness. When he awoke he was surprised to find that he was still alive, and that the Azure Knight had left.

Raphael was able to drag himself back to the mansion, but passed out as he was near the brink of death. Amy finds him and tends to his wounds, saving his life. While recovering, however, his Soul Edge induced wounds were filled with an evil energy that he hadn't noticed. By the time he realized what was happening it was too late. He had been transformed along with Amy, who was infected due to her handling of his wounds. Their skin turned pale, and their eyes a blood red. By day they felt weak, but by night they where filled with strength and a powerful thirst. The local residents took note, and thinking it was a plague, attempted to drive them away. The thought of vengeance passed through Raphael's mind, but he decided to move away as Amy's safety was his top priority. He was able to move to a new location, Wallachia.

There he decided to change the world, as Amy could not interact with it in it's current state. As such he begin to infect other members of the town. One day however a visitor came with an amulet of a holy stone (Soul Calibur), and was able to revert the citizens back to their normal states. Upon hearing of the stone, Raphael attempted to steal it, only to have his hand burned upon contact with the stone. Enraged he destroyed it. In Soul Calibur III Raphael sets out with the purpose of destroying the source of the Holy Stone to ensure Amy's safety.

In Soul Calibur IV he learns of Soul Calibur and seeks its power to create a new world worthy of Amy.

Raphael has been confirmed to return in Soul Calibur V. It seems his story revolves around finding Amy, who has apparently gone missing.

Design

Raphel's fighting style is based on British fencing and has short quick attacks and lots of combos. When Team Soul designed Raphael the first aspect of his character that was chosen was his weapon, the fencer's foil. All other aspects of his character where then designed around the weapon/fighting style. His fighting style itself is quite accurate in the sense that his movements were captured via motion capture. In Soul Calibur III he was redesigned to show that he had physically been corrupted and to give him a more unique look. His costume in Soulcalibur IV resembles that of fellow vampire, Alucard, from Symphony of the Night.

Weapons

• 

  Flambert
• Epee
• Estoc
• Holy Antler
• Stiletto
• Schweizer
• Reiterpallasch
• Wo Dao
• Queen's Guard
• Soul Edge
• Amy
• Cane
• My Beloved

Stages

• Libary - South France Mansion (SCII)
• Castle Siege - Romanian Valley (SCIII)

Trivia

He is named after the famous painter, and even holds some of his characteristics, such as being left-handed. Also while his weapons themselves are named after actual weapons, almost none of these resemble their counterparts.

Raphael also is a hidden character in Namco's Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2

Ending

Soul Calibur III

Raphael acquires Soul Edge, and is seen stumbling back home slowly, possibly being weakened by the sun. He then collapses.

If the player inputs an ending Amy is shown sitting in a room. Raphael enters and tells Amy that it is time to create their own world, and both leave the room.

If no input occurs the screen fades to black and then shows Kilik ridding Amy of her illness. Kilik walks out of the room and Amy peers out of the window into the forest. The screen fades back to Raphael who continues walking saying that soon they shall have their own world.

Soul Calibur IV

Raphael and his servants reach Soul Calibur, Raphael lifts it and eliminates his servants with Soul Calibur, claiming that the world is only for him and Amy now that he has Soul Calibur, he then laughs manically.

A message then comes up, saying that Raphael and Amy found their ideal world.