WithSMTIV:A finally westward-bound it’s about time we put the finishing touches on our semi-ongoing coverage of the designs introduced therein, courtesy of artist Masayuki Doi. But hey, at least we’ll be going out on a high note with Mephisto, golden boy of Faustian legend and apparent purveyor of ignominious anime beach scenes!
RIght off the bat, Doi’s rendition is tilling heavily from the traditional theater dress worn in play and opera adapted from the Faust legend: a varying ensemble of red and black replete with pompous frills and occasionally certain jester-like features (notably emphasized in Kaneko’s original design employed in Megami Tensei II). But to narrow it down a bit, Mephisto’s primary inspiration appears to be the illustration pictured above, taken from a series by artist Leon Salut titled L'Art du Travestissement, circa 1885. Just about every feature of the torso is faithfully reproduced, while the less contiguous elements, such as the admittedly dapper cap, are simply culled from other takes on the iconic costume. Throw in some horns and such to suggest more hell-spawn than theater troupe and you’ve got one of the game’s more compelling fresh faces.
Mephisto himself is unfortunately locked away in some decidedly, uh, divisive DLC; practically a Faustian pact in and of itself. It’s a shame, seeing as, for our money, Mephisto stands among Doi’s greatest contributions to the roster.
The Demon Mephisto is an Infernal Spirit of great intellect and knowledge, a diverse Spirit that enjoys arts and verse as much as bringing destruction to the enemy of the Satanist. He resides in the second tier of the Boullan Echelon, that of The Hierarchy Of Keys and is also known as the Demon Mephistopheles.
Made infamous to most through the Faust and immortalized in the writings of Christopher Marlowe and his work Doctor Faustus the Demon Mephisto is widely regarded among Classical Satanists as the Demon of Pacts and is said to bestow great knowledge of any subject (particularly those related to Philosophy and the Occult) to those willing to trade with Him.
Mephisto is deeply involved with the Workings of the Kingdom Of Shadows - that realm which connects our World to the Spheres of Hell - and enters the mortal plane more often than most Demons, it is said (and it is true) that Mephisto will come to the Seeker without the aid of Evocation or any form of Ritual attracted alone by the desire in the individuals heart.
A Demon of unyielding loyalty to the Satanic Practitioner His wrath is insatiable if betrayed, He Governs the Spheres of Death, Pacts, Trading, Intellect, Knowledge, Protection, Conjuring, Empowerment and Vengeance.
The below artistic impression of Mephisto is typical of His portrayal in the Faustus legends and is very similar to how this Spirit appears, although at times this Demon will also take the form of a black skinned being, horned, cloven hooved and with piercing red eyes.
