Island War [Manga]

[revan5]

A warning for all readers-unless you are current with the manga you should be aware this entire thread is likely to be filled with spoilers.

Spoiler:

For those of you who are current with the manga, it is becoming abundantly clear that the island upon which all the characters reside is about to be torn apart by a fierce war. Riful seems set to attempt the awakening of the merged remains of Luciella/Rafaela while the Ghosts have kicked off the beginning of a large-scale anti-Organization rebellion. These actions will act as catalysts, along with those of Rubel/Organization's enemies (see Chapter 84) to start an island-wide war into which all sides will be drawn in a fight for supremacy & survival.

The Factions:

Ghosts
Western Abyssal(s?)
Southern Abyssals
The Organization
Organization's Enemy/Dragonkin (outside enemy not currently fighting on island but interfering)


But if you don't see what you want to talk about in the following section, don't worry! Feel free to discuss everything and anything regarding the Island War on this thread however much you like.
There are a number of areas in which to think about with the coming war:

1.) The Current Strategic Situation (balance of power (war strength, etc), strengths/weaknesses of each side, relations between factions)
B.) Changes in the Strategic situation? Causes? Possible future changes?
2.) What faction is most vulnerable to a shift in the balance of power? What actions will each faction take to compensate?
3.) What would happen if the mainland Organization/mainland Organization's Enemies + Dragonkin were to actively intervene?
4.) Chances of Factions' deaths/Ultimate fate of faction(s)...



I'll give an example of how you might approach this from the perspective of just one faction, the Ghosts:

1. Currently the Ghosts are the weakest of the four main factions actually on the island. Their top two fighters are sub-Abyssal strength but clearly stronger than the Organization's number 3 Audrey. Their equivalent strength is perhaps equal to all Claymores 2-15, but they will eventually be overwhelmed if by nothing else sheer numbers & Claymore Number 1, Alicia. However they have the advantages of being all of a relatively high level (excepting Clarice), having two Eyes (Galatea & Tabitha), being able to move unobserved due to Youki suppression, attracting defectors from the Organization, and also intelligence advantages that may help them turn most of the island's population/some Claymores against the organization. However, due to the current situation of having their numbers spread out, they are highly vulnerable to being picked off in small groups whereas they'd be more effective together in a single large group. Their current relations with Riful & the Organization seems to imply they will find themselves fighting one or both groups early on.

B.) With a possible awakening of the merged Rafaela/Luciella the Ghosts are going to become even more weak relative to the other factions. Their advantage of stealth however may make it less of a liability than it would otherwise be.

2.) Currently the Ghosts are not the faction most vulnerable to a shift in power due to their stealthy nature. Instead that is the Organization whose members are easily detected by the other three factions. It is likely that to compensate for a shift in power on the island the Ghosts will start attracting dissident claymores to their ranks through use of their nearly unmatched intelligence on the Organization (provided via Rubel/Organization's enemies).

3.) Were either side from the mainland to send forces to actively intervene in the island's affairs, the Ghosts might react by organizing the island's humans. What I mean by that is they currently have an army within almost arm's grasp literally. The city of Rabona maintains substantial armed forces (the only apparently on the island), is heavily fortified, and most importantly, is hardly friendly with the organization. It is not hard to imagine the Ghosts leading an army of human soldiers against an opposing army from either enemy side on the mainland if they are forced to. The reaction might be different if it is the mainland organization that sends the army, which might encourage the Ghosts to request aid from the opposing side & its Dragonkin rather than lead their own.

4.) For the Ghosts the chances of failure/death is very high, but coincidentally they also have a high chance of enduring the conflict, as they are highly mobile, stealthy, fairly strong, and tend to work in well-coordinated teams. However until they demonstrate the ability to take down an Abyssal one they will have little chance of ultimate success.

While I might have my opinion, I want to hear everyone's on what's about to happen or as it happens. With the first blows about to be exchanged, now is as good as any time to talk about where you see things, where they're going, and even indulge in some rampant speculation along the way.

[hell88]

Finally a thread for all this stuff! Now everyone can stop talking about it everywhere else!

BTW first post! I never get the first post. Now we just need a thread for Teresa and Priscilla.

[shelter]

As much as I think it's great that we can finally discuss these things out in the open, perhaps we might need to put some of the stuff into spoilers?

And for a start to this discussion, I believe that the term "Island War" is too narrow a term to describe the state of things with which the so-called Island is in now. Only the Ghosts understand that there's a greater conflict, but half of them seem to embroiled in personal struggles to consider the spectre of it. In addition, the term "Island War" assumes the Organization itself values the state of the island (or the island-state, if it makes any sense) & seeks to maintain the balance between yoma, AB, warrior, Organization & human - in that hierachical order.

Last but not least, "Island War" is a rather overarching term, but I noticed that there isn't much mention of the Dragon-Kin. I think they will play a crucial part in the battle should there be any war.

The politics of this "island" are rather complicated, really. And I think as Yagi releases more chapters we'll start to understand the fluidity of control in the Claymore world.

[KillerYomaFromSpace]

Isley is the one we don't know about yet, he will not ally Riful, but he may ally with the ghosts, the org, or the "others" (this faction really needs an oficial name)

We don't know about Raciela either, but I think Riful will get what she want, because right now, I see her faction as the weakest, with Raciela's boost it may become the strongest.

It's most likely that the ghosts are going to be a great power if they get Priscila and Miata to fight on their side, however, those may be double-edged weapons. They may also get Galatea, and future Claymores may join the cause too (maybe René, or Audrey (she didn't reveal who saved them)).
They may also get Isley if he turns out to be a good guy (but I hate the idea of a male fighter with the ghosts other than Raki (and because he is already with Clare)) and even if he join the ghosts he can still betray them at the end making him even more of an asshole instead.

The org has Alicia and Beth, and then a lot of useless claymores that will either join the rebellion or fall against the mighty yuma punch I think the org is pretty much screwed with so many powerful enemies out there.

About the other faction, we don't know much about them yet, but I think Rubel can tansform into a huge monster if he wants to, or else I don't know what would keep Clare for not ripping his head off in the next chapter.

[reexample]

support the upstairs.
so many words~it's too hard understanding to me~what's the "spoilers" refers to?
my english is poor and this is my first time to come this forum~

[Yosei]

Hi reexample, "spoilers" means some kind of information that could tell you something important about the real (canon) story, and if you don't know about it, you will get "spoiled". That is why people always warn others if they are giving spoilers. I hope that helps.

Welcome to the forum BTW

I know nothing about this manga, but looking at the summary by TC, it looks great!

[LONEWOLF13]

then what about the Armies of the mainland they might have there own powerful
warriors or perhaps even monsters that could best the AB of the North and west


well thats what i think

[reexample]

hi Yosei.thanks a lot~
i find it in baidu~"spoilers" in chinese means "剧透".
i think claymore is a attractive manga.

[Awakened]

I think all the factions on the island are weak. They all are looking for some advantage.

G10 needs some more Claymores.
Riful needs Racilia.
The Org have an AO, but she is to risky for any major war
Isley no longer has Priscilla

Isley is the only one that could have taken over the Island if he wanted. At this point he might be just as powerless as everyone else. He had Priscilla on his side, but now Priscilla is in Raki's pocket.

Ok, I take that back. Raki is the most powerful on the Island.


Edit: I just realized that Alicia and Beth have a major weak point. Yes it’s the soul-link. I always thought that someone has to physically disturb the soul-link. With Galatea on the ghost side, she can interfere with Beth from a distance, no need to get close. That means even if Beth have 45 Claymore surrounding her, their effort in defending her would be meaningless. Yes I know, Alicia would still be a danger to the ghost, but it's better to have Alicia going on a rampage, than to have to fight Alicia and the Org at the same time. The ghost can also go stealth right after disturbing the soul-link, and let Alicia take care of the Org.

[Yosei]

Originally Posted by reexample

hi Yosei.thanks a lot~
i find it in baidu~"spoilers" in chinese means "剧透".
i think claymore is a attractive manga.

Please ask me if you need any help. Enjoy your time here. You might like to check out the Image Thread, and also Galateasrbb has made an awesome game on the RPG thread.

[revan5]

Originally Posted by Awakened

I think all the factions on the island are weak. They all are looking for some advantage.

G10 needs some more Claymores.
Riful needs Racilia.
The Org have an AO, but she is to risky for any major war
Isley no longer has Priscilla

Isley is the only one that could have taken over the Island if he wanted. At this point he might be just as powerless as everyone else. He had Priscilla on his side, but now Priscilla is in Raki's pocket.

Ok, I take that back. Raki is the most powerful on the Island.


Edit: I just realized that Alicia and Beth have a major weak point. Yes it’s the soul-link. I always thought that someone has to physically disturb the soul-link. With Galatea on the ghost side, she can interfere with Beth from a distance, no need to get close. That means even if Beth have 45 Claymore surrounding her, their effort in defending her would be meaningless. Yes I know, Alicia would still be a danger to the ghost, but it's better to have Alicia going on a rampage, than to have to fight Alicia and the Org at the same time. The ghost can also go stealth right after disturbing the soul-link, and let Alicia take care of the Org.

Spoiler:

I don't know about Isley necessarily being uninvolved with what is going on right now. I would guess he actually gave Raki permission to take along Priscilla in the hope that she'd run into Riful and end Riful's resistance to his taking over the island. Chances are good that her being next to Raki was permitted on purpose by Isley in the context of some greater overall strategy.

[iLney]

@revan5:
The problem is Isley doesn't want the island in the first place

[revan5]

Originally Posted by iLney

@revan5:
The problem is Isley doesn't want the island in the first place

Then what are his motives?

[Negativedark]

Right now Isley is the wild card. But there is something I need to bring up about the ghosts. If they release their Youki, how much of an increase to their power will that give them?

Spoiler for Ghosts secret weapon:

Also there is another very powerful weapon they can use against the Org. The truth. Just hearing it made Clarice realize that she and Miatia could not return without bieng executed. Even if they don't immedieatly belive it, any Claymore who hears the truth will be confused and demoralized. Worst case scenario for the org will have dessertaion and revolt.

And lets not forget that Claire is the main charecter. I'm willing to bet that at some point she will surpase the abyssal level of power.

[Gangsta Spanksta]

I'm not so sure that the ghosts are the weakest group on the Island, at the moment. They seem to have two people who are at number one level -- not Teresa's. An AO is a number one awakened, and when Clare goes berserk the next time, she should be more powerful than the last time. At the end of this current arc, her power will probably rival Riful's, I think. The Org might not be as powerful as they think they are. They have Alicia and Beth, but what they really want is Clare, IMO. Also don't be so sure about Isley not allying with Riful; that would be a good twist.

[Gangsta Spanksta]

Originally Posted by reexample

hi Yosei.thanks a lot~
i find it in baidu~"spoilers" in chinese means "剧透".
i think claymore is a attractive manga.

Ah cool, you would be good to have around at the beginning of the month when the Chinese spoilers start coming around.

[MisterJB]

Originally Posted by revan5

Then what are his motives?

i think he just wanted to get the south part of the island if he wanted the whole thing he had plenty of time in those seven years with priscilla noone would be able to stop him

[iLney]

If he just wants the south, he would've taken it 100 years ago.

Of the 3 AO:

_Isley wants something we do not know
_Riful wants security and friends
_Luciela wants the island (it seems)

See the greedy one is always gone first

[MisterJB]

Originally Posted by iLney

If he just wants the south, he would've taken it 100 years ago.

Of the 3 AO:

_Isley wants something we do not know
_Riful wants security and friends
_Luciela wants the island (it seems)

See the greedy one is always gone first

we can't really say what luciela wanted we just see her figthing easley and getting killed by raphaela

[LONEWOLF13]

Originally Posted by Negativedark

Right now Isley is the wild card. But there is something I need to bring up about the ghosts. If they release their Youki, how much of an increase to their power will that give them?

Spoiler for Ghosts secret weapon:

Also there is another very powerful weapon they can use against the Org. The truth. Just hearing it made Clarice realize that she and Miatia could not return without bieng executed. Even if they don't immedieatly belive it, any Claymore who hears the truth will be confused and demoralized. Worst case scenario for the org will have dessertaion and revolt.

And lets not forget that Claire is the main charecter. I'm willing to bet that at some point she will surpase the abyssal level of power.

But she might loose her sanity and turn into pure bloodlust unless she's able to maintain it just like Isley.