Kushinada

Kushinada (クシナダ Kushinada) is a young woman living in Izumo, and is an NPC in Golden Sun: The Lost Age. She is the fiance to the warrior Susa. However, the vicious monster called the Serpent awakens in Gaia Rock, and the Izumoans determine that only offering one of the town's women to the Serpent as a sacrifice can appease it. By lottery, Kushinada is chosen to fill in this dreaded position. Kushinada secludes herself within a small house, trying to keep up her courage to face her eventual death and insisting that Susa and anyone else not be let in to see her until the time comes. Susa, in the meantime, selflessly goes into Gaia Rock to battle the beast outright, hoping to slay it using Dragonsbane and the Cloud Brand before the time of Kushinada's sacrifice.

In Golden Sun: The Lost Age
As it would turn out, Felix's travelling party happens to arrive in Izumo and head to Gaia Rock, having decided that they would explore the various Elemental Rocks and collect the various Psynergies contained within. As they do this, they find Susa is unable to defeat the Serpent, even with his knowledge of its weaknesses. However, Felix's party further weaken the nigh-invulnerable Serpent by shining sunlight onto it, allowing them to defeat it in battle, although they find they cannot finish it off. Susa seizes his chance and delivers the final blow with the Cloud Brand, slaying the Serpent and ending the need for a sacrifice, thus saving Kushinada's life. News of the Serpent's defeat travels fast and upon Felix's return to Izumo, they find the town filled with the music of celebration, holding a great festival, although the townsfolk do not know who it was that actually felled the Serpent. Felix's party introduces themselves rather humbly, giving Susa credit for the Serpent's defeat. Susa in turn, having returned later than Felix, is reluctant to accept the praise, and cites Felix as the main catalyst to the victory. Regardless, the fact that they all made it out alive causes Kushinada to become happy again, and she announces she plans to raise a son with Susa who they will call Takeru. She promises to tell Takeru about "Felix's great deeds", vowing to herself that if Felix's descendants are ever in trouble, Takeru will come to their aid.

In Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
A magazine preview has mentioned Susa and Kushinada (and presumably Takeru) will return in Dark Dawn. This can be considered confirmed. Their daughter Himi becomes a member of the player's group. Takeru heard that Isaac was in danger, and left Yamata City to find and help him. It is currently unknown whether the player ever meets him.

Kushinada is first seen in Dark Dawn praying desperately for her daughter, who has fallen asleep and cannot be woken. She works herself to exhaustion, and later collapses while the player is talking to Susa. Himi later wakes up, and after she decides to join the team, Kushinada is obviously devastated at the thought that both her children will be gone. She is placed in bed to rest, and Susa stays by her bed, watching over her.

=Quotes=
 * In Izumo:
 * Kushinada: "Susa, don't come for me... (trembles) If I see you, I'll surely lose the courage to sacrifice myself for Izumo."


 * woman: (Thinking) What if losing Kushinada makes Susa return to his wild ways?


 * In Izumo(after the serpent's defeat):
 * Kushinada: "I don't care who defeated the serpent... I'm more worried about what happened to Susa."


 * Kushinada: (Thinking) If Felix's descendants are ever in trouble, our Takeru will rush to their aid.

=Cultural reference= Kushinada is obviously the equivalent of the maiden in the Japanese Kushinada legend. In the legend, Kushinada was rescued from the serpent-dragon Yamata no Orochi by the god Susano-o, who afterwards married her.

Trivia

 * This family tree posted on Nintendo of America's official Twitter page claims that Kushinada is a playable character in the first two games, and that she does not return in any form in the third, both of which are erroneous.