New Gods

The New Gods are the primary antagonists of SaGa 2. Despite the title, the group is not an organization, but rather a title given to four individuals who have amassed enough power to rule their worlds as gods. Each has their own goals and motives for seeking Magi and they are opposed by the Guardians who try to protect the Magi from evil forces. They are all based on mythological gods from Hindu, Greek, Roman,Japanese, and Norse traditions.

Background
The New Gods are five of the most powerful people among the denizens of the Pillar of the Sky and have the potential to reshape the world much like how the legends state the old gods made the current one. Mot of their origins are unknown but Ashura and in the DS remake, it's implied they gained their powers from the influence of the Magi they have acquired. They each have their own goals and aspirations and it appears that although they are all aware off each other, they hardly work together. There motives vary from conquest, lust for power, narcissism, to simply a love of conflict. They do not necessarily care about the heroes and often ignore them or use them for their own gain. The plot is set in motion when a few of them decide to go after the Magi in order to rebuild the Goddess Statue and become a true god. This sets them in conflict with the Guardians, of whom the main characters father is an important member of.

Members
Ashura - Stories say that he was once a lowly Goblin who managed to amass enough Magi to be transformed into the six armed deity of war. He is a vicious war moner who has built an army from his desert world that has begun to invade other worlds in the search for Magi. Who captures the mysterious Mask who tried to sneak into his fortress and steal the Magi from him. He serves as the first antagonist for the party. He is based off of a race of war mongering gods in Hundu mythology.

Venus - Rules an advanced Acropolis as a goddess. Her high standards for beauty are so extreme that she exiles anyone from her city that doesn't meet them, even if the person is simply injured. It is implied she controls the lives of her citizens, even dictating who can marry who, but her populace has been brainwashed into fearing the world beyond the city walls and willfully subject themselves to her demands. She does not appear to be interest in collecting Magi, but nonetheless lies to the party when they first arrive about any of them being in her world. She loathes Ashura for his ugliness and she possesses the Aegis Shield Magi which protects her from elemental magic.She is loosely based off the Roman Goddess of Love.

Magnate - The true ruler of Edo. He controls the entire world through his son the shogun. He only appears after the party has successfully defeated his son and exposed the government of its corruption. He kills his son and then challenges the party on the roof of his castle for a final duel over the MAGI he possesses. He is loosely based off of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was deified after his own death as a Gongen, which are believed to be a type of Buddha who takes the form of a Kami and remains in the mortal world to guide the living.

Odin - A proud warrior who rules Valhalla, a world where the souls of great warriors come to when they die. He is the most neutral of the New Gods and the most friendly to the heroes. He may first meet the party after they fall in battle, but he will agree to send them back to the land of the living to fight on, with the condition that they must face him when they reach his world as part of the living. He has no real interest in Magi, and instead seeks a great battle which he feels he can get from the party as long as they continue to get stronger and travel between the worlds. He is based off of his namesake from Norse mythology.

Apollo - Apollo rules a large world that is filled with many mysteries and wonders. He is beloved by his people for being merciful and claiming to not care about Magi. He even willfully gives the party some Magi pieces and helps them gather more. In truth, Apollo wishes to collect all of the Magi in order to rebuild the Goddess Statue and use its powers to reign over all of the worlds as the only god. He is loosely based off the Greek god of the same name.