R E L A T I O N S

just how well does he play with others?


OSMUND SADDLER
The game's primary villain, the one pulling the strings. He is bent on world domination through the proliferation of his murderous cult, the Los Illuminados. According to Salazar's butler, Saddler somehow gained the trust of the young castellan. He seems to suggest that Saddler appealed to Salazar at a vulnerable point in his life, and used his dastardly charisma to convince him to release the Plagas.

Saddler seems to be a kind of idol of Salazar's; he respects him greatly and would apparently do most anything for him, including throwing away his own life. Even Leon acknowleges that Salazar had merely been a disposable pawn in his insane and terrible game. Thus, theirs is a sad story of trust and betrayal, of truth and deception.


LEON KENNEDY
The game's appealing and often sarcastic hero. Trusted with the safe return of the US President's daughter, he's stuck in rural Spain with not a whole lot to go on. He and Ashley encounter Salazar when they take refuge from Ganados in his castle.

Leon is not too fond of the young and eccentric castellan, finding him to be one of the greatest of annoyances. He despises the cult he represents and in doing so, despises him. However, through most of the game, Salazar seems to like toying with Leon, and enjoys playing the game of cat and mouse with him. This likely adds insult to injury where Leon's concerned. Despite the mutual antagonism, Leon seems to hold at least a shred of sympathy for Salazar after Saddler makes it clear just how "small-time" and disposable he considered his now dead operative to have been.


ASHLEY GRAHAM
The US President's daughter who is kidnapped by the Los Illuminados cult. As their captive, she encounters him several times while in his castle. Ashley, like Leon, does not hold the cult or its members too close to her heart. That includes Salazar, and her disdain for him is fairly obvious. He in turn shows little genuine interest in her, aside from her status as a catalyst for Saddler's plans.

It's interesting, though, to note that she and Salazar are of the same age, and of more or less 'noble' family. The two might have had much in common, but the circumstances just didn't allow for any real conversation.


BITORES MENDEZ
The 'big cheese' of the village that Leon first gets stuck in. He is a ruthless bodyguard and henchman of Saddler. Aside from his obvious partnership with the cult leader, we are not certain of the relationship between him and Salazar. The two do not visibly exchange words in game. However, both are held responsible for getting rid of Leon, and making sure the plan goes smoothly.

Of course, Mendez's screen time is brief, as Leon needs his eye in order to finally leave the village. Needless to say, he is killed as a final boss of the village area. Still, like Salazar, he is essentially presented as fodder in Saddler's broader war against Leon and his efforts to stymie the entire operation.