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Priest Gaian

A Gaian Priest from Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE

The Ring of Gaea, also known as the Cult of Gaia (ガイア教団, Gaia Kyoudan)?, is a recurring cult which appears in the Shin Megami Tensei series. The Ring of Gaea are commonly associated with occult activities, and generally embody the Chaos alignment.

Gaeans typically believe in free will and that the strong should be the ones to rule. This commonly puts them at odds with the Order of Messiah, who are associated with the Law alignment.

The name of the cult is named after the great mother goddess Gaia from Greek mythology. In Shin Megami Tensei IV and Apocalypse, the statue of Mem Aleph is shown to be worshiped by the Gaeans, suggesting that she is the mother goddess that the Gaeans worshiped.

Appearances[]

Profile[]

Megami Tensei II[]

The precursor to the Ring of Gaea is known in Megami Tensei II as the Cult of Deva, which started in 2013. Its followers are referred to as "Devans." They are camped mostly in East Tokyo, having strong control over Ueno where many Sabbaths take place under their leader, Leonard. At a certain point in the story, they decide to kidnap Hiroko, the friend's lover, and hide her in Ikebukuro. After the defeat of Apollyon, the protagonist rescues Hiroko, who returns to the shelter.

After Leonard's defeat, the human members of the cult are freed from their brainwashing.

Shin Megami Tensei[]

Before the ICBM barrage caused by Thor, Gotou, who was himself an avid follower of the cult, led Japan under martial law and led the Gaeans using the aid of demons. Later on, Chaos Hero joins the Gaeans with his partner Rie after fusing with a demon at the Cathedral of Shadows.

During the section of the story concerning Tokyo Destinyland and Shinagawa, Echidna represents the Gaeans and the Chaos alignment in Tokyo Destinyland, while Haniel in Shinagawa represents the Messians and the Law alignment. If the protagonist kills Haniel and then chooses to help the Gaeans, they will be locked into the Chaos alignment. If they kill both Echidna and Haniel, the protagonist ends up in the Neutral path, and if they kill Echidna and then choose to help the Messians, the protagonist will be locked into the Law alignment.

Helping the Gaeans take over the Great Cathedral are four demons: Surt, Astaroth, Arioch and Asura.

Shin Megami Tensei II[]

The cult makes fewer appearances in the sequel. Ring of Gaea shrines exist in the slums of Valhalla and the ruins of old Tokyo, which provides lesser pricing for healing if one is Chaos alignment, in comparison to the Messian churches and neutral Healing Garages. On the way to Virocana however, the protagonist can find the soul of a member of the cult in a room and he will tell them that he was caught by the Messiah Church worshiping another deity and was executed.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne[]

The Gaian Cult is mentioned early in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. Prior to the protagonist's transformation into the Demi-fiend, he encounters Jyoji Hijiri, who gives him a copy of an occult magazine called Akayashi Monthly related to the cult.

Later, Chiaki reveals the Cult of Gaia is responsible for the murder incidents, and that Shinjuku Medical Hospital is the homebase of the Cult, via information from the occult magazine.

When the Conception occurs, the Hospital is the only place not affected by the destruction. In the updated re-release of Nocturne, Nocturne Maniax, it is revealed in the Amala Labyrinth that Hikawa was once a member of the Gaia Cult.

Hikawa eventually betrayed the cult after he obtained the Miroku Scripture. He then began his plans to destroy the cult with the Conception and establish his own Reason of Shijima to recreate the world to his liking.

Several Gaians and Messians alike were murdered by demons summoned by Hikawa at Yoyogi Park before the Conception, offered as a sacrifice to bring the Vortex World into existence.

In the Amala Labyrinth, the souls of the slain Messians and Gaians can be seen preaching their respective beliefs.

Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE[]

After the Great Destruction, the Gaians established a new base of operations in Souhonzan, and continue to preach their beliefs of freedom. Their leader is Lord Doukan, one of the Seven Philosophers.

Shin Megami Tensei IV[]

The Ring of Gaea appear in much the same vein as they are traditionally depicted, except that instead of the Order of Messiah, they are fighting an organization called the Ashura-kai, who seek to create order in a barren Tokyo where humans and demons co-exist. Their headquarters and place of worship is situated in Ginza at the temple Tsukiji Hongwanji. A statue of Mem Aleph serves as their sacred symbol.

They welcome everyone who wishes to join their ranks, but prospective members must pass a trial that entails keeping a candle burning while going through Tsukiji Hongwanji's labyrinthine corridors and fighting demons who try to put out the flame. Only those who reach the place of worship with a still-lit candle will earn their respect and recognition and join the group.

This group espouses the superiority of personal power, only allowing those they deem strong enough to be one of them. However, they do not discriminate between humans or demons. After the war between them and the Ashura-kai most members are killed, leaving Tsukiji Hongwanji empty and only a small number can be found in Ginza.

At the end of the game a young boy in Shibuya talks about a B grade occult magazine concerning the Gaea Cult. It is probably a reference to the magazine called Akayashi Monthly that Hijiri gave to the main character in the beginning of Nocturne.

Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse[]

"A religious group operating out of Tsukiji Konganji. Their principle doctrine is "survival of the fittest," be they demon or human. The Ring of Gaea used to be rivals of the Ashura-kai, but after their leader's death, the group at large has weakened.

The Ring of Gaea's dogma is modeled upon natural selection, but is often confused by its members to mean a "dog eat dog" philosophy. The teachings of Yuriko were the root of this violence. She instructed her followers to unleash their suppressed emotions upon the world to shape it as they saw fit. While it stands to reason that this may have been Yuriko's intent all along, her machinations remain a mystery.

When the Divine Powers appeared, they usurped Tsukiji Konganji from the Ring of Gaea. As a result, a factional rift within the Ring of Gaea formed, dividing its members between followers of Yuriko and those of the Divine Powers' Maitreya. Maitreya is believed to have played a crucial role in Tsukiji Konganji's takeover."
Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse Notes, entry - "Ring of Gaea"

The Maitreyan cultists sacrifice themselves willingly to Shesha before the second assault on Tsukiji Konganji, ending their faction. The Yuriko faction is lead by Mii and Kei, who have raised children in the Ring to be expendable tools. Toki, due to the influence of the Aether and Inanna, points out the hypocrisy of the Yuriko faction who coddle together for order while proclaiming strength and how strong they are, yet are never able to back up their boasts and acted as if they defeated the Maitreyans themselves who gave their lives for their beliefs.

The Yuriko faction work together with their former foes the Ashura-kai under Lucifer until his defeat in Armageddon, later joining in a temporary alliance with the other factions to stop the Divine Powers final scheme.

If Nanashi chooses to side with Dagda and betray his friends to create a new universe, the Yuriko faction learn of his victory over Krishna through a dream by Stephen and the threat he poses to them. Some of its members ally with the Hunters, Ashura-kai and Samurai to stop Nanashi, mostly to protect their most sacred training ground - the current universe. Despite their efforts, they are easily slain by Nanashi and his allies.

List of Demons[]

Shin Megami Tensei[]

Human Level
Suicide Unit 15
Death Rider 20
Fallen Monk 27
Oni Jorou 40
Dark Priest 52
Assassin 56
Amaterasu * 60

Shin Megami Tensei II[]

Human Level
Kugutsushi 8
Jiraiya 15
Onmyoji 22
Ashura 30
Kamen-Hijiri 39

Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX[]

Human Level
Onmyoji 22
Ashura 30
Kamen-Hijiri 39

Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE[]

Human Level
Frenzied Gaian 45
Ultimate Fanatic Assassin 55
Assassin 75


Shin Megami Tensei IV[]

The Ring of Gaea does not have its own race in Shin Megami Tensei IV, with its members instead being classified under the Human race. However, the members of that race identified as Gaeans will be listed here as well for the sake of completion.

Human Level
Gaea Man 12
Gaea Woman 34

List of Known Members[]

Gameplay Notes[]

  • Using recruited Gaeans in Fusion in Shin Megami Tensei or Shin Megami Tensei II will result in a random demon typically sharing the Chaos-alignment. Unlike regular fusions, this result will ignore the player character's level.


Race and species
Species Races
Gods Deity - Megami - Amatsu* - Enigma - Zealot* - Godly - Chaos - Lady* - Nymph - Vile* - Reaper* - Entity* - Meta* - Soshin
Kishin Tenma - Fury - Kishin - Lady* - Femme* - Vile* - Reaper* - Wargod - Kunitsu - Zealot* - Entity* - Shinshou - Tenjin*
Demonics Tyrant* - Genma* - Night* - Fairy* - Yoma* - Fiend* - Suiyou - Shinoma - Shin Akuma
Demons Tyrant* - Night* - Yoma* - Fairy*
Flying Herald - Divine - Fallen - Futenshi - Akuma
Avians Avian - Flight - Raptor
Dragons Dragon - Snake - Drake - Hiryu
Oni Touki - Brute - Femme* - Jirae* - Jaki - Haunt* - Henii
Beasts Avatar - Holy - Beast - Wilder - UMA - Food - Kaijuu
Vegetation Tree - Wood* - Jusei
Elements Element* - Mitama - Wood*
Fairies Fairy* - Jirae* - Genma* - Element*
Evil Spirits Haunt* - Spirit - Undead* - Rumor*
Humans Human - Gaean - Messian - Summoner - Meta* - Ranger - Hero - General - Famed - Therian* - Fiend* - Kyojin - Shinja
Fiends Fiend* - Therian*
Fouls Foul* - Vermin - Demonoid - Rumor* - Karma - Machine*
Ghosts Foul* - Undead*
Machines Machine* - Virus - Vaccine - Kugutsu
Other Zoma - Fake - Ghost - Foreigner - Horde - Primal - Enemy exclusive race
Godslayer - Goddess - Player Character exclusive race
Type Good - Evil - Holy - Ghost - Ogre - Fiend - Dragon - Alternate - Boss - Beast - Bird - Zombie - Myth
Order Pyro - Frost - Volt - Wind - Fury - Pagan - Skill - Fiend - Evil - Element - Spirit
* Asterisk denotes race that has been put under different species throughout the series.
Italic font denotes the race/species name (not in katakana for Western loanword) has not yet received any official English localization.
Kyūyaku Megami Tensei
Characters
Playable Protagonist - Partner - Friend - Orthrus - Atlas - Naga - Cerberus - Sword Knight - Baal - Lucifer - Ahura Mazda
Non-Playable Pazuzu - Hiroko - Mora - Mr. Suzuki - Bael - Masakado - Asmodeus - Izanagi - Belial - Izanami - Moloch - Belphegor - Mitra - Astaroth - Beelzebub - YHVH
Locations
Devil Busters Micon - Tower of Daedalus
Tokyo Keihin Shelter No. 3 - Haneda - Shinagawa - Ariake - Shiba - Tokyo Tower - Roppongi - Shibuya - Ginza - Ginza Underpass - Korakuen - Ikebukuro - Ueno - Shinjuku - Nakano - Intelligence Building - Adachi - Island of Dreams - Zaratan - Bael's Castle - Ground Zero - Suzuki Company Ltd.
Expanse Valley of Despair - Fields of Lunacy - Lands of Rage - Forest of Confusion - Mountain of Horror - Remote Island - Lucifer's Temple - Lucifer's Castle
Other River Styx - Hades - Garbage Mountain
Archives
Terminology Great Cataclysm - Order of Messiah - Deva Cult - Devil Busters - Demon Summoning Program (COMP / Magnetite) - Cathedral of Shadows (Fusion / Three-demon fusion) - Terminal - Rag's Jewelry - Code Breaker - Sabbath - Seven Pillars of Solomon
Archives Demons - Bosses - Items - Skills
Playable Characters Protagonist - Heroine - Law Hero - Chaos Hero - Pascal
Non-Playable Characters Stephen - Ozawa - Yuriko - Old Man - Gotou - Ambassador Thorman - En no Ozuno - Louis Cyphre - Soul Diver
Locations Tokyo - Kichijoji - Shinjuku - Ichigaya - Diamond Realm - Shibuya - Roppongi - Ginza Underpass - Ginza - Tokyo Tower - Shinagawa - Ikebukuro - Ueno - Tokyo Destinyland - Basilica - River Styx
Terminology Terminal - Alignment - Ring of Gaea - Order of Messiah - Great Cataclysm - Sword fusion - Four Heavenly Kings
Soundtracks Shin Megami Tensei Sound Collection
Archives Demons - Bosses - Skills - Items
Playable Characters Aleph/Hawk - Hiroko - Beth - Cerberus - Lucifer - Satan
Non-Playable Characters Okamoto - Gimmel - Zayin - Stephen - Haneda - Daleth - Red Bear - Madam - Hanada - The Center's Bishop - The Four Elders - Mekata - Puck - Hanoun - Mutant Elder - Hiruko - Taira no Masakado - Siren - Petersen - Michael - Raphael - Uriel - Gabriel - Fake YHVH - Seth - Virocana - Ozawa - Gotou - Gemori - Astaroth (Ishtar / Ashtar) - Kuzuryu - YHVH
Locations Tokyo Millennium - Underworld - Expanse - Eden - Diamond Realm - River Styx
Terminology Millennium Kingdom - Great Cataclysm - Order of Messiah - Ring of Gaea - Terminal - Sword fusion - Identification Program - Summon Doll - Seven Pillars of Solomon - Sabbath - Abaddon's Innards - Megiddo Arc
Content Demons - Bosses - Skills - Items
Characters
Playable Kei Azuma
Major Characters Baraki / Sumire - Mubiora / Miranda - Ferris - Tsuzumi - Seri - Naitou - Emi - Hayashi - Stephen - Sophia - Sariel - Adam & Eve - Maria - Lucifer - Yaldabaoth
Locations
Idea Space Tokyo Shibuya - Akihabara - Shinjuku - Kichijoji - Shinagawa - Ikebukuro - Roppongi - Ueno - Harajuku
Ring of Gaea Dragon Palace - Gaean Space
The Expanse Gehenna Castle
??? Paradise
Archives
Terminology Order of Messiah - Idea Space - Ring of Gaea - Debuggers - Central Administration Bureau - Neo Messiah - Navi
Mechanics Modules - Race Shift - Capacity - Reinforcements - RTS - Resistance Level - Cancel
Lists Demons - Bosses - Skills - Combos - RTS Missions - Items - Cosmetics
Development
Corporate Atlus Co., Ltd. - Nex Entertainment
Personnel Kazunori Sakai - Yasuomi Umetsu - Kazuma Kaneko
Other Media
Published Hinotama Game Comic Anthology
Maniax - Maniax Chronicle Edition - HD Remaster - Nocturne Konton - Novel
Characters
Playable Demi-fiend - Dante - Raidou Kuzunoha the XIV
Non-Playable Yuko Takao - Chiaki Hayasaka - Isamu Nitta - Hikawa - Jyoji Hijiri - Futomimi - Sakahagi - Heeho - Lady in Black - Lucifer - Kagutsuchi - Gouto-Douji
Locations
Vortex World Shinjuku Medical Center - Shibuya - Cathedral of Shadows - Amala Network - Ginza - Harumi Warehouse - Great Underpass of Ginza - Ikebukuro - Mantra's Headquarters - Labyrinth of Amala - Kabukicho Prison - Ikebukuro Tunnel - Asakusa - Asakusa Tunnel - Mifunashiro - Assembly of Nihilo: Marunouchi - Obelisk - Yoyogi Park - Amala Temple - Yurakucho Tunnel - Northern Temple - Diet Building - Bandou Shrine - Tower of Kagutsuchi
Music
Soundtracks Original Soundtrack - Maniax Soundtrack - Deluxe Pack Incence Disc - OST (US)
Themes Boss Battle - Normal Battle - Normal Battle ~Large Map~ - Normal Battle ~Town~
Archives
Terminology Candelabrum - Conception - Kagutsuchi - Macca - Magatama - Magatsuhi - Manikin - Reason - Yahirono Himorogi - Order of Messiah - Cult of Gaia - Demonic Sponsor - Shadow Vortex - Nightmare System - Terminal - Great Will
Lists Demons - Bosses - Skills - Items (Vending Machines) - Merchandise - Translations - Trophies - Patches and Updates - Steam Profile Items
Other Best of Demons
Other Media
Events Shin Megami Tensei Online Live 2021: Reason of Music
Characters Protagonist - Azura - DB Mikanagi - DB Kano - DB Kuroe - DB Yamaguchi - Kuzaka The Wise - Lord Judah - Madam Justice - Lord Doukan - Ogami - Setsu - Snakeman - Yamamoto the Steel-Willed - Louis Cyphre
Locations Arcadia - Cathedral of Shadows - Ichigaya - Ikebukuro - Nakano - Protopia - Second Home - Shibuya - Shinagawa - Shinjuku - Shinjuku Babel - Souhonzan - Suginami - Third Home - Ueno
Dungeons Suginami Tunnels - Basilica
Music "Amatsuchi" - "Haru Megido"
Terminology Cult of Gaia - Demon Buster - Great Cataclysm - Innocent - Millennium Kingdom - Obelisk - Order of Messiah - Seven Philosophers - Yagi - Chain of Curse
Archives Demons - Skills (Features)
Characters
Main Flynn - Isabeau - Jonathan - Walter - Burroughs
Supporting Hope - Issachar - Gabby - Navarre - Hugo - K - Tayama - Kaga - Hikaru - Fujiwara - Skins - Mastema - Stephen - Black Samurai - The White - Kiyoharu - Akira - Kenji - Aquila - Ahazuya Mikado - Charon - Mido - Lucifer - Merkabah - Masakado
Minor Terminal Guardian - Nozomi - Minako
Adaptations Gina - Stan - Al-mi'raj - Asuma - Nicola - Ys
Setting
Locations Eastern Kingdom of Mikado - Mikado Castle - Naraku - Kiccigiorgi - Tokyo - Ueno - Chiyoda - Shinjuku - Ikebukuro - Kagome Tower - Shibuya - Roppongi - Ginza - Tsukiji Hongwanji - Midtown - Reverse Hills - Camp Ichigaya - Blasted Tokyo - Pluto Castle - Infernal Tokyo - Monochrome Forest - Tokyo Bay - Minami Sunamachi - Purgatorium - Lucifer Palace - River Styx
Organizations Samurai - Hunter Association - Ashura-kai - Ring of Gaea - National Defense Divinities - Counter Demon Force
Archives
Terminology COMP - Gauntlet Rite - Press Turn Battle - Smirk - Domain - Horde - Terminal - Cathedral of Shadows - Red Pill - Hunter - Yamato Perpetual Reactor - Whisper event - Demonoid - Neurisher - Cocoon - Streetpass
Lists Demons (Evolutions - Special Fusions) - Bosses - Skills - Items - Apps - Quests - Translations
Other Media
Games Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse
Production Original Soundtrack
Publication DEMONIC GENE - -Prayers- - Artbook
Events Shin Megami Tensei Online Live 2021: Reason of Music
Characters
Main Nanashi - Dagda - Asahi - Navarre - Nozomi - Hallelujah - Gaston - Toki
Supporting Boss - Manabu - Nikkari - Danu - Dr. Matsuda - Saint Germain - Mii and Kei - Maruo - Tamagami - Hiroshi - The Patriots - Spirit of the Spring - Flynn - Isabeau - Jonathan - Walter
Monotheistic forces Adramelech - Merkabah - Lucifer - Satan - YHVH
Polytheistic Forces Krishna - Odin - Maitreya - Inanna - Shesha
DLC Shin Megami Tensei Hero - Aleph - Demi-fiend
Setting
Locations Eastern Kingdom of Mikado - Mikado Castle - Naraku - Kiccigiorgi - Tokyo - Ueno - Chiyoda - Shinjuku - Ikebukuro - Chaos Realm - Shibuya - Roppongi - Ginza - Tsukiji Konganji - Midtown - Minami Sunamachi - Reverse Hills - Camp Ichigaya - Kinshicho - Yomotsu Hirasaka - Fairy Forest - Kanda-no-yashiro - Cosmic Egg - YHVH's Universe - Tir Na Nog - Twisted Tokyo - Diamond Realm
Organizations Divine Powers - Samurai - Hunter Association - Ashura-kai - Ring of Gaea - National Defense Divinities - Counter Demon Force
Archives
Terminology COMP - Press Turn Battle - Smirk - Domain - Horde - Terminal - Cathedral of Shadows - Red Pill - Hunter - Yamato Perpetual Reactor - Skill Affinity - Armageddon - Streetpass - Godslayer - Kalki - Barrier - Jade Dagger - Power Spot - Aether - Tokugawa Mandala - Observation - Axiom
Lists Demons (Evolutions - Special Fusions) - Bosses - Skills - Items - Apps - Quests - Patches and Updates
Other Media
Games Shin Megami Tensei IV
Production Original Soundtrack
Publication Artbook
Events E3 2016
Shin Megami Tensei Online Live 2021: Reason of Music
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