Rubiss

Rubiss
Dragon Quest II

Class	Goddess
Age	Ageless

Rubiss Apisto Karictis (ルビス・アピスト・カリクティス , Rubiss Apisto Karictis) is a creator Goddess who appears as the principal deity in several Dragon Quest games.

Appearances

Dragon Quest

Rubiss isn't mentioned in the original Famicom/NES versions of Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior, nor was she mentioned in the SNES or GBC remakes. However, as of the Japanese mobile phone remake, and carried into the iOS/Android re-release, Rubiss has been the subject of two brief prayers of adulation in the aftermath of the Hero's victory over the Dragonlord. Specifically, the Sage in the Southern Shrine who bestows the Hero with the Rainbow Drop, as well as the Sage in Cantlin who tells the Hero about the location of the Emblem of Erdrick mention Rubiss. The two sages have the exact same dialogue, as many of the citizens of Alefgard share dialogue with other characters of the same NPC class at this point in the end-game.

Dragon Quest II

The player can communicate with Rubiss by sailing to a small island shrine south of Midenhall. When presented with the five collected sigils, She will speak to the three cousins telepathically and give them a holy talisman to dispel wicked illusions.

Being her first appearance in the series, Rubiss is introduced to players as a protector Goddess who operates through her chosen ones, rather than directly intervening in world affairs. The fondness and loyalty to which she speaks of Erdrick elevates the character from but a mere ancient folk hero to a savior to whom the very gods are indebted. This relationship would be further expanded upon in the third game, especially the remade versions.

Rubiss' speech

The five sacred Sigils begin to glow brightly! A soothing, disembodied voice floats through the air...

"Who summons me..? Who calleth upon Rubiss, the spirit of the land...? Hm...? Ah...You are of the bloodline of Erdrick...I sense his presence within you... It is time, at long last, to fulfill the promise I made unto your dear ancestor so long ago... I do hereby bestow upon you a gift that shall give to you the power of true sight when you need it most... When illusions do assail you upon all sides, trust to that which I have given you this day... Then shall your eyes discern truth from falsity...being from seeming... Now go forth, scions of Erdrick, with my blessing...Wheresoever you wander, know that I do watch over you always..."

Dragon Quest III

Rubiss is held prisoner on the top floor of the Tower West of Kol, having been over-powered by Zoma and displaced as ruling deity of Alefgard. The heroes must use the Fairy Flute in front of the statue there in order to free her. Her rescue by Erdrick in this time of need would not be soon forgotten…

Dragon Quest VI

Rubiss is the mountain spirit the people of Weaver's Peak worship, and lives in an underwater shrine the heroes can visit only after they acquire Lorelei's harp and can traverse the Undersea. Her palace is relatively close to the Isle of Murdaw.

In the beginning of the game, she possesses Tania to speak directly to the Hero that he must reunite with his companions after the failed assault on Murdaw's Keep in the game's opening sequence.

Dragon Quest Builders

Rubiss is a major character in the game, being the guiding voice that directs the Builder in each chapter. Presented in a more humorous light than in past games, the goddess is frequently taken aback by the blunt and impatient craftsman's attitude. She warns the player that they are not a hero, and expressly forbids them from challenging the Dragonlord: their task is solely that of restoring the land and settlements of Alefgard.

Prior to the game's opening, her influence upon the world is weakened by the Dragonlord sheathing the sky in darkness as Zoma once did. Only the Builder can hear her voice throughout the game, and her words cannot reach them at all in the final chapter of the game until a pious princess' prayers counter the malefic mist. Once the castle of Tantegel and the legendary arms are restored, Rubiss praises the Builder and declares their work complete--she states that she and the revived Alefgard will wait for a new hero to appear to slay the Dragonlord. When her divine judgement is questioned, she reaffirms that the builder is forbidden from carrying out an assault on Charlock Castle and ceases communicating with the player.

During the battle with fiend, Rubiss will intervene and counter the maniac's magical seal by teleporting the friends the builder has made along their journey into the fray to deliver materials, food, and medicinal herbs before spiriting them away to safety. When the Builder proves victorious Rubiss admits she was mistaken, and thanks the little architect from the bottom of her heart before musing that the human spirit is something beyond even her reckoning.

Notes

A three-volume series of novels revolving around the goddess Rubiss before the creation of Alefgard was released in Japan in 1992 called Dragon Quest - Seirei Rubis Densetsu. Cover art for all three by Mutsumi Inomata, and these illustrations are the only depictions of Rubiss released by Square-Enix thus far.

Gallery

Dragon Quest Seirei Rubis Densetsu Vol. 1
Dragon Quest Seirei Rubis Densetsu Vol. 2
Dragon Quest Seirei Rubis Densetsu Vol. 3