Bishop Ladja is a character in Dragon Quest V. He is one of the primary antagonists in the story, and is responsible for much of the hardships the Hero endures.
Characteristics
Bishop Ladja is one of the highest-ranking members of the Order of Zugzwang, frequently being paired with other cultists for missions on the surface world. He is a being of utmost evil, delighting in causing untold grief for others, spreading misery through the land by orchestrating political upheavals and ordering the abduction of innocents for slave labor. Behind this sadistic persona lies a cunning intellect and shrewd sense of practicality, as Ladja will do all he can to snuff out obstacles to the Order's goals before they have the chance to fully materialize.
While Ladja appears to be outranked by King Korol, he is the true right-hand man of the devil and did not hesitate to kill the King off when he failed to defeat the protagonists at Crocodileopolis. Ironically, Ladja's final moments would show that he is just as dispensable as all the other minions of Grandmaster Nimzo, with his master forsaking aiding him for his repeated failures and allowing the group of heroes to penetrate the defenses of Mt. Zugzwang.
Story
Bishop Ladja is first seen in the Ancient Ruins, blocking a young hero and Prince Harry from escaping, and easily defeats them in an unwinnable battle. When Pankraz arrives, he summons Kon the Knight and Slon the Rook to kill him, but fail to harm the man. Ladja changes tactics and levels his scythe against the hero's neck, threatening to kill the boy if Pankraz resists any further. The doomed father is beaten senseless by Kon and Slon, and is slain by Ladja with Kafrizzle mere seconds after telling the boy that his mother still lives. Mocking Pankraz in death, Ladja notices a peculiar bauble among the hero's possessions, and crushes it between his palms while uttering foreboding words of relief at it's destruction. Their business finished, Ladja and his minions carry the boys off to Mount Azimuth as slave labor for constructing a temple for the Order of Zugzwang, ignoring Sabre and expecting the cat to return to the wild.
He is not seen again until the events of Knightmare Towers, after the hero defeats Kon and rescues his wife. He reveals that the woman is of Zenithian descent and is destined to bear the legendary hero, so he petrifies both of them to prevent this. Unbeknownst to him, she had already given birth to the legendary hero, who along with his twin sister would eventually rescued their father eight years hence.
The hero and his children eventually encounter Ladja in the Talon Tower, searching for one of the dragon eyes that can restore the castle of Zenithia to it's full power to destroy it. After a boss battle, he flees. He is seen again in the Crocodilopolis, where he kills off King Korol, who was no longer needed by Nimzo after the reptiles' defeat. He is encountered for the last time in Mt. Zugzwang, where the hero and party finally avenge Pankraz's death.
Appearances
Bishop Ladja, first battle
Big Book of Beasts No. : Unnumbered boss
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Second battle
Big Book of Beasts No. : Unnumbered boss
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Third battle
Big Book of Beasts No. : Unnumbered boss
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Remake alterations
Ladja's role in the story of Dragon Quest V was expanded upon in the remakes.
Gallery
Original classic artwork
