Irina Clockworker

Irina Clockworker is a powerful sorceress from the Magic Kingdom Levianta and the counterpart to her sister-in-law, Elluka. Cunning and deceitful, she began collecting the Seven Deadly Sins and became involved in numerous conflicts before recombining with Elluka to form the entity of Ma.

Early Life
At some point in time, a young girl named "IR",diagnosed with Hereditary Evil Raiser Syndrome, was put in a lab and studied. After the girl was split into two halves, one half became Irina and she subsequently became part of the Clockworker family and the sibling of Kirill Clockworker. Learning the magical arts, she became a powerful sorceress and later met her brother's fiancée, Elluka Chirkrassia, coming to consider her a sister.

In EC 012, she was selected as a potential candidate for Project 'Ma', giving her the chance to rule the Magic Kingdom Levianta. With her sister-in-law, Elluka, also selected as a potential candidate, the two turned against each other in a bid to rule the Magic Kingdom and obtain everything. Their clash to decide who wielded the strongest magic ended with Elluka the victor and Irina struck down and believed dead.

Venomania Event
Having survived, Irina possessed a stuffed cat, using it as her new body. Afterwards, she began to acquire the Seven Deadly Sins and gathered the Venom Sword as one of her vessels of sin. Referring to herself as “I.R.”, Irina found and attached herself to Haru Netsuma, stealing her body and using it as a medium for her feline form. Towards the end of EC 135, she approached Cherubim, the estranged son of Duke Venomania, and offered him the Venom Sword to encourage the child to make a contract with the Demon of Lust.

Afterwards, she watched as the child slaughtered his family within their mansion and later smiled after he returned to his basement, witnessing him make the contract as she planned. As part of their deal, they agreed the new "Duke Sateriajis Venomania" could keep the sword and use it to acquire more power so long as he assisted her whenever she called upon him. After several months, I.R. returned to the Venomania manor in early April of EC 136, desiring to acquire one of her father's magical artifacts. Entering his basement, she was briefly greeted by Sateriajis before he realized it was her, and unenthusiastically asked why she came.

In response, the sorceress asked why he was so rude before asking if he was ready. As the duke asked what she meant, I.R. questioned if he was playing dumb and warned him that he would then need to return the sword. After he conceded, Venomania asked if they would leave her "body" and I.R. affirmed that it was more convenient, charging Mikulia Greonio with taking care of it. Releasing control of her vessel, the sorceress followed the duke out of the mansion and later leapt upon the his person. Hiding within his coat as they traveled, the sorceress took him to Mystic town in search of an altar in the Misty Mountains.

After Sateriajis found a guide, Lilien Tarner, to lead him to the location, I.R. climbed upon the duke's shoulder and continued their journey through the ruins until they arrived at the altar. As the duke expressed disbelief that Lilien had known Lukana Octo, I.R. retorted that Mystic was his concubine's hometown and that he should have expected it, chastising that he should learn more about the women he entranced. The duke joked how unusual it was for her to care about women; the sorceress responded that she too was once a woman and reminded him to fulfill their contract if he wanted more power.

Unlocking and entering the tomb, Venomana discovered a stone coffin filled with treasure, retracting the spoon from among the riches. The cat denied the duke's claim that it was vessel of sin. After explaining, the disappointed Venomania tossed the weapon, shocking the sorceress and she leapt after the tool. While retrieving it, she remembered the soldier trailing her, and decided to deal with her later and demanding they leave. The duke lectured that he wanted to avoid killing in his land and I.R. questioned if it was because the soldier was a woman, hearing his interest in adding her and other women into his harem.

The sorceress leaped back on his shoulder, noting that he was at least consistent. Traversing through the mountains again, she asked who would accommodate them during their stay and the duke replied they would stay with Earl Ferdinand. Noting the earl had been investigating the disappearances, she questioned his judgement. Arriving at the mansion, the sorceress attached herself to Ferdinand's wife. After the duke left for Mystic Town the next day, I.R. discovered the earl's secret collection of Princess Meilis' possessions. That night, after the duke returned from his stroll though the town, she told him he was late and showed him her findings in the secret room.

Describing Ferdinand's fetish for Meilis and his wife's apparent ignorance or apathy about it, citing that he was pathetic. After listening to the duke's fascination with the princess, she explored the mansion and discovered the earl's corpse within a room. Quoting the duke's earlier comments, she questioned the paradox of his words versus his actions, discerning he had murdered him. Sometime after, the two went after the soldier and the duke, after entrancing her, allowed I.R. to interrogate her. Learning she was not the actual soldier, Teto Cetera, but a school teacher, she extracted interesting information from her before returning to the mansion.

Several days since discovering the earl, the sorceress detached herself from her medium, touring the halls before seeing a visitor discover the bodies. Noting the duke's consequences for "showing off", she continued onward and sat along the mansion's walls. Sensing the duke's demon transformation, she spoke aloud that it had begun and began traveling back to see the result of his battle with the intruder. On her way, she found him in the halls and asked if their battle was over. The duke told her it had and the two left.

On their way back to Lasaland, the sorceress questioned if it was alright that he left Lilien there. When he told her she would come on her own, she chuckled and responded that he truly was evil. The duke told her they needed to hurry and she suggested they take a fast carriage. When the duke said they would take any carriage to the city, I.R. revealed what she learned from the woman and that she extracted some interesting information. As the duke noted that she too responded to his charm, she chuckled and commented on the things he ended up lusting for. I.R. retrieved her vessel, Haru, and remained for a time in his mansion. At some point, she departed.

Story of Evil
Sometime before EC 482, Irina adopted the pseudonym "Abyss I.R." and befriended Prim Marlon, promising to help the Queen Dowager of the Kingdom of Marlon carry out her plans in return for one of her children. After giving Prim the Venom Sword to seduce King Arth of the Kingdom of Lucifenia, Irina  used the child born from the engagement, Ney Marlon, as a guinea pig for her experiments. Later on, Prim forced Mikina Freesis to work for the sorceress. Using the Glass of Conchita, Irina caused an epidemic of the Goula disease in EC 490, wreaking havoc in Beelzenia which later successfully infected and killed King Arth as she planned.

Shortly afterwards, in EC 491, Irina collaborated with Prim's brother, Presi Rogzé, in an attempt to control Prince Alexiel and herald the downfall of the Lucifenian Royal Family. The sorceress buried one of the Four Mirrors of Lucifenia inside a black box on the beached shores of Lucifenia. From the Forest of Bewilderment, Irina watched as both twins, Riliane and Alexiel, unwittingly dug up the box and looked at the mirror. Using the mirror as a portal, Irina conjured the Demon of Gluttony from the vessel of Vanity and chase the wins. After the plan's failure and Presi's death, Irina listened to Ney's report on the matter, concerning Riliane being possessed and Presi's failure to defeat Elluka due to Mariam Futapie's intervention. Irina ordered Ney to infiltrate the Lucifenian palace, determining she would use the Glass of Conchita to create another epidemic of the Goula Disease and kill Queen Anne.

In EC 503, Irina stole Elluka's body and took up residence in Marlon, continuing to serve Prim. When Gumillia confronted Irina, Elluka stole her body back from Irina, forcing her back into her original form: the red cat.

Irina then possessed Mikina, stole the vessels of sin, and fled to Lucifenia. When Germaine Avadonia and Yukina Freesis tracked her down, Irina let Mikina confess what she had done as a sort of amusement. Irina then trapped Yukina inside a fiery prison using the Marlon Spoon. Riliane attempted to sneak up on Irina and steal the Spoon, while Germaine attacked Irina's red cat familiar. Irina attempted to use the Glass of Conchita on Riliane but failed, due to a supposed betrayal of the Demon of Gluttony and Ney's influence. With the red cat killed and Mikina released, Irina's spirit went undercover for a while. It was revealed that Irina took possesion of Germaine's body some time later.

Pere Noël
Forging her identity as "Julia Abelard", Irina amassed a large fortune, becoming a millionaire. At some point, she discovered a young boy named Lemy at an orphanage in the Lucifenian Republic's Rolled city and subsequently adopted him. At some point before EC 609, Julia met and became friends with Margarita Felix and formed the criminal organization Pere Noël with her, taking the codename "I. the Santa". Brainwashing Lemy to be a cold assassin for the organization, she recruited him as well.

In EC 609, Julia comforted Margarita as her failing marriage left her downtrodden and miserable. Concealing the instructions to create a deadly poison in the Clockworker's Doll, the sorceress gifted the doll to Margarita. After Margarita became possessed by the Demon of Sloth and eradicated her hometown of Toragay, Julia had already fled and avoided the Freesis Foundation's investigation.

Although her involvement with Pere Noël was suspected, I. the Santa continued commanding the organization and sent Lemy on nightly assasination missions throughout EC 610 to eliminate targets. During that same year, her organization gained two new members: VII. the Magician and VIII. the Sniper. Early on in the year, Julia assigned Sniper with assassination missions through letters containing instructions. Towards the end of EC 610, Lemy alerted Santa that Magician was a traitor and, grateful for his loyalty, Julia petted her child's head despite the fact VII. the Magician escaped.

At some point, Julia discovered that Sniper had been in a relationship with a member of the Freesis Foundation. Towards the end of the year, she sent a letter and revolver to the assassin, ordering her to kill the man. Learning Magician was actually Elluka, she sent a letter challenging Elluka to come find her at Marigold Plateau in Elphegort. At Marigold, Irina awaited for Elluka's arrival and afterward clashed with her "sister" before being defeated for the last time. At some point, she recombined with Elluka to form Ma.

Personality
Irina is a deceitful and manipulative woman. She often is shown using the vices and weakness of the people around her. She has shown a sadistic behavior when she allowed to Mikina confess to Yukina, just to torture the mother and her daughter.

Skills
Irina is a powerful sorceress and regarded with fear by her enemies. Her power as a witch was great enough that she was selected as a candidate to rule the Magic Kingdom, and was able to attain the position as Marlon's court mage. After her original "death", her spirit inhabited a stuff cat and was comfortable enough to use the familiar easily. Her most utilized ability is her Body Steal technique, allowing her spirit to possess a person's body and use it as a medium, interacting with people and objects they way a normal human can. Like a ragdoll, the medium can easily be released from her control at any time and Irina easily leaves and repossesses the vessel without much effort. The medium's expressions and reactions mirror her own (as the cat) and it is implied she must be nearby to maintain the technique, always keeping her cat body near the intended vessel at all times.

Another one of her techniques is the ability to directly inhabit a person's body, different from her Body Steal, which allows her soul to enter and control the person's body, using it as her own. The technique seems to force out the soul of it's owner, pushing out Elluka from her body when the technique was used against her. It also seems to inherit a degree of immortality, inhabiting Germaine without any noticeable aging for over a century.

Irina was also skilled at clockworking, creating the human-sized Clockworker's Doll so it could be the vessel of Sloth. She also is very knowledgable about the vessels of sin, easily acquiring and using them to their full capacity. Irina is also an expert at manipulation, taking advantage of people's desires, such as Sateriajis and Prim, to cause the epitomes of sin.

Appearance
The appearance of Irina's original human form is yet to be revealed. As a spirit, she appeared as a red Abyssinian cat with a jeweled necklace around her neck.

Because of her Body Steal Technique, the red cat always appeared alongside the body she was currently possessing. It is also worth noting that the person seen with her has red cat eyes, and the possessed person mimics Irina's expressions.

When by herself, Irina makes cat noises from time to time.

Character Connections
Kirill Clockworker: Irina's brother. Irina maintained a sisterly relationship with Kirill so that he loved her as much as he loved Elluka, however her feelings towards him are unknown. During her appearances in the Evillious Chronicles, Irina displayed no regret over his loss of reason and eventual death.

Elluka Clockworker: Irina's "other half." While Irina and Elluka lived in peace during the latter's engagement to Kirill, she turned on her when they were chosen as candidates for Project 'MA.' Later, Irina saw Elluka as her enemy and treated her with hostility throughout their existence, mockingly referring to her as "sister." She displayed inattention to Elluka's changing appearances, not initially recognizing her when she joined Pere Noël as VII. the Magician.

Gumillia: The apprentice of Irina's enemy. Irina saw Gumillia with a hostility as an extension of her hate for Elluka and fought with her, although displayed inattention to the latter and Elluka's relationship, such as referring to her with honorifics that Elluka didn't use. She also displayed inattention to Gumillia's appearance, failing to recognize her when she joined Pere Noël as VIII. the Sniper.

Sateriajis Venomania: Irina's partner. Irina viewed Venomania as having good potential for aiding her and becoming the Sinner of Lust, and so she helped him murder his family and provided him with the Venom Sword. She grew concerned by his careless acquisition of women for his harem; although she was amused by his consistency in goals, she believed many of the duke's actions, without considering the consequences, would cause trouble later.

Presi Rogzé: Irina's partner. She used Presi's ambitions to enlist his aid in attacking the twins Alexiel and Riliane, and later was amused at his rage when things did not go according to plan. She was not affected by his later death at the hands of Elluka and Mariam, having warned him of the Three Heroes beforehand.

Prim Marlon: Irina's partner. Irina viewed Prim as a means to orchestrate political chaos during the Story of Evil. She maintained a close confidential relationship with her, but would occasionally act against Prim's own interests, such as in her murder of Anne.

Ney Futapie: Irina's test subject. Irina viewed Ney as merely a means to further her own ends as an incarnation of Gretel. She relied on Ney's connection to the Wicked Maid as a way to have the Demon of Gluttony take to her and possess her.

Lemy Abelard: Irina's adopted son. Irina viewed Lemy as merely a means further her own ends, adopting him due to his being a reincarnation of Hänsel and brainwashing him into obeying her. She would maintain a false motherly relationship with him to keep his loyalty, using the body of Germaine Avadonia to remind him of Meta Salmhofer.

Margarita Blankenheim: Irina's partner. Irina saw in Margarita potential to become the Sinner of Sloth and destroy Toragay, and so maintained a friendly relationship with her while giving her the Gift and bringing her into Pere Noël.

Clockworker's Doll: A doll Irina made. Irina made the Clockworker's Doll with the intention of making it the vessel of Sloth, using it to influence Margarita into committing her mass murder on Toragay.

Haru Netsuma: A body Irina used as a medium. Irina saw Haru's body as suitable for her own appearance and used her as a medium during the Venomania Event. She displayed little personal attachment to the body, however, leaving it in Mikulia's care during her partnership with Venomania and later discarding it to move on to other hosts.

Germaine Avadonia: A body Irina inhabited. She originally knew Germaine as an enemy and fought with her during the Story of Evil, and later saw use in possessing her body to become Julia Abelard.

Ma: Irina and Elluka combined. Ma's tendency to associate with and manipulate the awakened vessels of sin is reminscent of Irina using the vessels and Demons of Sin to further her own goals.

Conceptualization and Origin

 * The name Irina comes from the Greek word Irini, which means "peace". Her pseudonym "Abyss I.R." may be a reference to the Abyssianian, a breed of cat that commonly has red fur. It also contains the first two letters of her real name.


 * Her pseudonym Julia Abelard also has a lot of references that link her with the figure Santa Claus, starting with her codename: I. the Santa. Another one is that Irina gave Margarita a "gift". Continuing this, Irina is represented by the Vocaloid Meiko, who is characterized by red clothing just like Santa Claus. Finally, the name of her criminal organization comes from Père Noël, which is french for 'Santa Claus'.

Curiosities

 * Many fans have speculated that Irina was originally represented by the Vocaloid Iroha Nekomura, due to the fact she loves cats and her name (Irina, Iroha), although this still has not been confirmed. After possessing Germaine, her pseudonym as I. the Santa and Julia Abelard was represented by MEIKO.

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