Thaddeus and Autonymus
Trad and Zebbot are two characters that the Hero and his party encounter on the Falrod continent in Dragon Quest VII.
History
Trad is the captain of Falrod's army while Zebbot is a scientist who lives secluded west of Falrod. The game infers that they are brother-in-laws as Zebbot was romantically entangled to a woman named Eri. However, sometime before the party arrives, she dies. This has profound effect on Zebbot and he secludes himself away from everyone, working on robots in his seclusion. From this point on, Trad finds it difficult to talk to Zebbot as he becomes despondent and abrasive to everyone. Trad's relationship with Zebbot disintegrates from there.
Somtime before the party's arrival, the country is being attacked by MechSoldiers, mechanical androids from the Dark World with orders to kill the populace of Falrod. The citizen of Falrod and Falrish are demoralized at the length of the war and the casualties. Because the soldiers of Falrod are unable to withstand the massive attack of the MechSoldiers, the king has enlisted the help of mercenaries.
Synopsis
The party arrives to see Trad hold a strategy meeting with his troops. After it is done, he leaves to go to Falrod Castle.
After the party signs up to be mercenaries, Trad holds a meeting with all of the other soldiers and mercenaries. He asks them if anyone has any ideas on how to defeat the MechSoldiers. One of the soldiers suggest that they talk to Zebbot because he is a mechanical genius. Trad informs them that Zebbot wouldn't be interested in helping them. However, one of the soldiers conscripts the party to talk to Zebbot anyways. The party travel west to Zebbot's cabin. Inside, he is working on a mechanical being which is named Eri. When the party tries to talk to him, he ignores them at first. When they persist, Zebbot becomes abrasive, telling them that he has no concern with the populace of Falrod and that he has more concern with the MechSoldiers than the people.
The party returns to Falrod and inform Trad that Zebbot has refused to help. Trad chooses to accompany the party to speak with Zebbot. When they reach Zebbot's cabin. Zebbot rebuffs them again. Trad comments that it was a waste of time coming. As the party and Trad exit the cabin, a lone MechSoldier appears. It breaks down in front of the party. Zebbot, hearing the noise, comes outside his cabin to investigate. There he sees the MechSoldier. He and Trad take it inside where Zebbot tinkers with it. Trad orders the party to return to the castle because he fears that the MechSoldiers are invading the castle at the moment.
As the party is fighting wave after wave of enemies, something happens to the MechSoldiers. They start to attack each other. The party realized that there is a signal being broadcast from the MechSoldier that Zebbot fixed that is causing the robots to malfunction. With this new weapon, Trad feels confident that they can can invade the MechSoldier's Base.
The party heads east to the MechSoldier's Base. Zebbot and Trad arrive shortly after with the restored MechSoldier, now known as Eri. Eri broadcasts a signal that causes the MechSoldiers guarding the base unable to receive orders in the base. They malfunction and go berserk, allowing the party to continue. Thanks to Eri, the party is able to stop the menace caused by the MechSoldiers.
The party, Trad, and Zebbot appear before the king who thanks them for defeating the MechSoldiers. He tries to give them a reward but Trad refuses, saying that it was his duty to protect the country. Likewise, Zebbot is uninterested with a reward, leaving with Eri.
Present
In the present, Zebbot's Cabin is named a forbidden zone. Zebbot has been dead for a long time. His bones are lying on the bed while Eri is making soup. Eri's logic is that soup will make him better, not realizing that Zebbot has passed away.
