Issachar

Issachar is a character from Shin Megami Tensei IV.

Appearances

 * Shin Megami Tensei IV: Supporting Character

Personality
Although the same age, Issachar has always acted like a big brother to the protagonist.

More than anything, he is determined to become a samurai not just to rise in status, but to also protect the people he holds dear.

Shin Megami Tensei IV
Issachar was born in the village of Kichijoji and is the childhood friend of the protagonist.

At the start of the game, the protagonist is woken up and led by Issachar to the the ritual grounds of Mikado Castle, hoping to pass as a samurai and rise up from his Casualties status. Unfortunately, the results were not favorable for him and could only watch as his friend assumes the position that he was dreaming of for so long. Dejected, Issachar returns alone to Kichijoji afterwards.

The protagonist meets him again by the Kichijoji lakeside after accompanying Jonathan and Walter to buy some bread on the next day. The encounter is awkward and brief, with Issachar trying his best to be happy for his friend while dealing with his own frustration.

During the demon attack in Kichijoji in which the samurai were tasked to guide the fleeing villagers out of the forest, Issachar is seen again in the deeper section. Having just read the book of revelations being circulated by the so-called "Black Samurai", he has developed severe contempt over the disparity between the two caste and scoffs at how the samurai are just tools for the Luxuries.

The knowledge from the book coupled with his anger over these realizations and deep-seated bitterness over failing the ritual allowed Issachar to be possessed by a demon. He is then fought as a boss.

During the course of the battle, the demon-possessed Issachar will ask the protagonist what the latter considers to be his current caste. Depending on the answer, Issachar's combat turn will either end instantly or further increase. When low on HP, he will implore the protagonist to strike him down and end his misery.

Etymology
From the Book of Genesis, is the 9th son of Jacob, the ancestor of the tribes of Israel, and his first wife, Leah. Issachar succeeded part of his father's legacies and derived his own tribe of Israelite.

The name of Issachar's hometown, (キチジョージ), comes straight from one of the neighborhoods of Tokyo, Japan.