Tira (Soulcalibur)

In the in-game universe of Soul Calibur III there was an underground organization hidden in the shadows which went by the name "Bird of Passage". They were affiliated with no single side, forming contracts with the powerful and sending out assassins to eliminate important figures. The group kept its existence in secret, influencing the history of Europe from behind the scenes. Tira was raised by the group since childhood, stripped of her freedom and choice for her future. Since her younger days she grew accustomed to taking the lives of others without feeling anything. The act of killing became a regular routine in her life, so much that she needs to kill on a regular basis for the stimulation it provided. It is likely that (as is the case of her weapon) her name originates from Germanic roots, Tira meaning not normal.

Tira worked to improve her skills with a cheerful demeanor, as if she enjoyed her job, but even she herself wasn't aware that it was only to hide her true feelings. Tira was in the middle of a mission when the Evil Seed rained down. The leader's mind was burnt by the evil energy and the chain of command collapsed. Suddenly Tira was free from the underground and into the outside world. Eventually she forgot where she was when this event happened.

For a while Tira lived with an ordinary family in a quiet city among normal people. Unlike the world she had come from, nothing here satisfied her desire, but she thought that this lifestyle could be okay. But soon enough her peaceful days ended; one day she had set free the pet bird the family's child had been keeping without a clear reason and was scolded. That simple event triggered her dormant killing desire. By the time she realized what happened, she was standing before the corpses of her former "family". Realizing she couldn't live without killing, Tira began an aimless wandering, killing as she went.

One day she came to know the massacres caused by Nightmare. Her heart leapt at the thought of finding someone like herself. She tracked the Azure Knight and reached Ostrheinsburg, where she met a man carrying a scythe. The man revealed to her that what she sought was the wicked sword Soul Edge, and that Nightmare was just a puppet. Tira was somewhat disappointed for the revelation, but a short time later she heard rumors of the Azure Knight's reappearance. She followed the trail of slaughters and finally found Nightmare, the bringer of destruction and despair beyond her wildest dreams, finally finding someone to give herself entirely, she turned into the sword's faithful servant.

Now Tira operates secretly behind the scenes with two set objectives: destroy the spirit sword, and thus breaking the seal over Soul Edge's body; and locate a new host for the cursed sword, since his actual body is an unstable temporal shell and he needs a host with both strong spiritual will and a body to operate.

At the end of Soul Calibur 3 with Tira's story it depicts her walking through Sophitia's home looking for Soul Edge's new body.

• Left/Default-You'll find Sophitia's daughter and make her the new host.
• Right-Then you are ambushed by Sophitia and Cassandra and chased out the window. There, Soul Edge decides to possess Tira, her body and clothes turn purple as Soul Edge speaks through her, saying that her body will have to suffice "for now."

Aiselne Drossel

A ring blade used by Tira in the video game. Nothing is really known about this weapon. The blade of the ring is dull on the inside and sharp on the outside, allowing Tira to hold it and swing it around without injuring herself. Its name could be a mistranslation of "Eiserne Drossel", meaning "Iron Thrush" in German.

Note: "Drossel" also means "choke" or "throttle", but it can be inferred that in this use it was meant to be "Thrush" in keeping with the bird theme surrounding Tira.

Aside from her initial weapon Aiselne Drossel Tira also wields several other weapons; the second of these entitled Bifrost which is available in the weapon shop, followed by Ixion which is unlocked when meeting the requirement of clearing the fourth battle in Tales of the Souls. Similarly Vimana is unlocked prior to completion of the seventh stage; the weapns must then be purchased in the shop.

Soul Edge is Tira's weapon which is understandable given her 'evil' disposition despite the fact she is bipolar, no character wields both blades (meaning Soul Calibur also) in this edition. The method for unlocking this blade is to defeat Abyss in the Tales of Souls mode, in which her weapons is destroyed and she is forced to use Soul Edge. As stated in the trivia secion below this weapon signifies the Ouroboros. Every character has a weapon named The Ancient and Tira is no exception, she can obtain this method by clearing the tutorial or by defeating Olcadan during Tales of the Soul.

-- Ostrheinsburg Castle - Battlement

Much time has passed since this proud, once-impregnable fortress, with its four citadels, was reduced to ruin. The scars inflicted by giant siege engines several years ago tell the tale of the horror of war. After losing its first lord and falling into ruin, this castle was occupied by a terrible master known as the Azure Knight. The chaos of war, and then the Azure Knight, filled this land with bitter hatred. A miasmal fog still lingers over the castle even after the knight has left. It is said that this fictional land, avoided even by wild beasts, feels like home to those who have accepted evil into their hearts. Those who visit this place will surely see the dark birds that gather at the top of the tower of this crumbling castle.

Tira was shown in a magazine article for Soul Calibur IV, confirming her appearance in the PS3 and Xbox 360 game. She has gone under a very new look (possibly relating to the fact that in one of her Soul Calibur 3 endings she was possessed by Soul Edge). It is speculated that this less scantily clad look could be due to her undercleavage in her main outfit offending players of the game (on the official U.S. Soul Calibur 3 website, Tira's undercleavage is blurred).

• Technically, Tira only has the normal default stances, although some of her moves cause her to change her position.
• Her version of Soul Edge resembles the Ouroboros symbol (a snake devouring its own tail).
• The name "Tira" yields little clues as to her nationality and Namco have only revealed thus far in her bio that she is from "a European assassin's organisation". Tira can be a Celtic name - Tira/Tyra means "Of the earth". Tira is also a name in Hebrew meaning "Castle".
• Tira is the person who ambushed and killed a member of Yoshimitsu's clan at the start of his storyline, as confirmed when he cries, "My clan members cry out for vengeance!." In addition, if they meet during story mode, before the final battle, Yoshimitsu recognizes her weapon and he wonders if it is "the master" (referencing that she is controlled by Soul Edge).
• Strangely, Tira, when selected, can change her mood (as she is bipolar) during the course of the game. In character selection, her portrait will either smile or frown when one selects her. In addition, she has two different sets of battle/win/lose quotes (one for angry, and one for happy), and her attacks different have different effects, all of which toggle if she gets hit, does a certain move or taunts. When listening to her voice recordings, her face will also switch between moods. Phrases that fall under neither Mood, such as grunts, will just use what ever face she had last. As with every character, Tira has two different Character Selection quotes: one for each costume. Color Edits use the quote from the costume it is based on. When Tira is selected, her P1 self will say, "Let's play" while her P2 costume will proclaim, "I'll cut your heart out!". During the "Versus Battle" Loading Screen, she also has two sets of quotes while others only have one. For example, by pressing "G" during the Versus Loading Screen, she will alternatively say "Bye Bye!" or "Wanna Die?".
• Tira's discipline, "Soul of Tira" is unique as it is available to create-a-characters of the Thief and Assassin class. All other character's disciplines are only available to one class.
• Even if in most characters' Tales of Souls mode Tira is unquestionably loyal to Nightmare, she attacks him in Nightmare's Tales of Souls, in the cutscene prior to the fight she seems confused over why Soul Edge is clinging on to "the visage of that man for so long".
• In one of the Galleries of Soul Calibur III, there is a sketch of Tira as a Catgirl.
• Tira does not have an official nickname, but in the promotional videos of Soul Calibur III she's referred as "The Misguided Angel of Death".
• Tira's Destined Battle in Soul Calibur III is Yoshimitsu.
• The raven often seen throughout the series, often carrying a shard of Soul Edge, belongs to Tira.
• In Nightmare's Tales of Souls story it is noted Nightmare plans to devour her soul one day, but for now it "would not be wise to lose her as a servant."

• Soul Calibur III
• Soul Calibur III: Arcade Edition
• Soul Calibur IV