The Crystal Skulls (水晶髑髏*)? are a type of Rumor in Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
Appearances[]
- Persona 2: Innocent Sin: Plot device
History[]
The Crystal Skulls were supposedly pre-Columbian Mesoamerican artifacts that are created by the Aztecs that are said to contain mystical powers, including premonition, healing or even murder. The skulls were later found to be hoaxes originating from a workshop in Germany.
Profile[]
Persona 2: Innocent Sin[]
The five crystal skulls are used by the Masked Circle in order to drain Ideal Energy from those who possess dreams and utilize it to raise Xibalba so they can initiate their plan of bringing humanity to a utopian age. However, those who have their Ideal Energy drained turn into shadowmen, becoming invisible to normal people. Their existence is forgotten before they finally disappear. Joker has the Heaven Skull, King Leo has the Fire Skull, Queen Aquarius has the Wind Skull, Prince Taurus has the Earth Skull and Lady Scorpio has the Water Skull.
Only those who bear the constellation of the holy cross (people born under the constellations of Leo, Scorpio, Taurus and Aquarius) are able to fully control the skulls and consequently raise Xibalba, as explained by Lady Scorpio. The Last Battalion's Order of the Holy Lance is also qualified, as they represent all twelve signs of the zodiac. After defeating Joker, Nyarlathotep takes control of the Masked Circle and the Last Battalion, and steals the Heaven and Wind skulls while the remaining are given to the party's Shadow Selves. The party attempts to take the crystals under the belief that it will stop Xibalba's advance and the Oracle of Maia.
Shadow Tatsuya watches over the Fire Skull at Leo Temple, Shadow Eikichi watches over the Water Skull at Scorpio Temple, Shadow Lisa watches over the Earth Skull at Taurus Temple and Longinus #5-7 watch over the Wind Skull at Aquarius Temple. The party is free to clear the four temples in any order they want to, however the interior structure of each temple changes depending on the order chosen and once the party enters a temple they are unable to enter the others and must clear that one first. This is because of the elemental affinities of each skull: once the party collects a skull, the balance is broken and one element will be strengthened (more complicated) and another one will be weakened (simpler).
| Skull | Strengthened | Weakened |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Crystal Skull | Wind | Water |
| Water Crystal Skull | Fire | Earth |
| Earth Crystal Skull | Water | Wind |
| Wind Crystal Skull | Earth | Fire |
After collecting all four skulls, the party manages to chase the Fuhrer into the center of Xibalba, where they fight him for the Heaven Skull, only for the Fuhrer to reveal that the Crystal Skulls are pointless and attacks them. After the Furher exposes himself as Nyarlathotep, he reveals that the skulls are not required for Xibalba to move at all, as the spaceship itself only needs people believing in its mystical properties to move. The skulls are presumably distractions set up by Nyarlathotep to divert the party away from his real trump card; the Spear of Destiny, which would cause the apocalypse if Maya Amano were to be killed by it.
Quotes[]
Persona 2: Innocent Sin[]
"I am the skull of raging fire... If my slumber is disturbed, wind will go unchecked and water will lose its purpose..."
"I am the skull of the raging waters... If my slumber is disturbed, fire's wrath will grow stronger and the earth will be parched..."
"I am the skull of everlasting earth... If my slumber is disturbed, water will run rampant and wind will have no destination..."
"I am the skull of howling winds... If my slumber is disturbed, earth will become conceited and fire will lose its wrath..."
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Crystal Skulls being mere distractions to Nyarlathotep's real ace in his sleeve correspond to the skulls being hoaxes masquerading as mystical artifacts in real life.