Tuaparang

Tuaparang (ツァパラン Tsaparang) is a nation that appears and figures in the events of Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. It is described as a mysterious country that excels in both science and military power and is conducting secretive maneuvers. Two commanders from the nation, Blados and Chalis, serve as antagonists of the game, along with Arcanus and Volechek.

The nation's Japanese name Tsaparang is derived from the real-world capital of the ancient Guge kingdom in Tibet that has been theorized to be the inspiration for the legends of Shangri-La, a mythical paradise.

As of Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, many plot details about Tuaparang are left unresolved, and as such the nation is only vaguely described at best. However, several facts are revealed. Firstly, the nation both knows about and wields great technological power, such as the flying ship that is seen in the game's prologue and ending sequences, and using items like Psy Grenades in battle. Their knowledge of ancient technology is shown as Blados and Chalis use Matthew's group (as well as Volechek) to power-up the Apollo Lens, giving them access to the greatest weapon from Weyard's ancient past. They are ruled by a monarch called the High Empyror (who is mentioned, but never seen). Alex's relation to the Tuaparang is unclear, as he works with them for much of the game, but Chalis suggests he has ulterior motives in the finale and might betray the High Empyror [1]. In fact, that may have already happened, since firing the Apollo Lens at the Eclipse Tower may or may not have been the will of the High Empyror of Tuaparang [2]. It is also unclear how the Tuaparang got their knowledge, as they did not always live aboard the flying ship, as a book in Sana states that they were once an actual nation, which was wiped from the face of Weyard, only for them to re-emerge on the ship, renaming themselves the "Zenith Tribe". Zenith is a term used when describing the direction above a given point.

One last, but highly noteworthy fact, is that Tuaparang are mentioned by Alex to be descendants of the Umbra Clan, whom he describes as Dark Adepts. Alex goes on to imply that some citizens of Tuaparang are secretly capable of using Dark Psynergy, and that Blados, Chalis and their reinforcements arriving on the airship are among them, i.e. they are Dark Psynergy users [3]. Alex also suggests that Blados and Chalis may have been attempting some kind of coup or other military act against supposedly their own nation; he notes that the Apollo lens was pointing on a trajectory towards either the area around Sol Sanctum or Tuarapang itself (i.e. the reinforcements were loyal to Blados and Chalis, not Tuaparang, and might have wanted to destroy Tuaparang).

This also offers a clue about the whereabouts of Tuaparang. If Alex refers to the original dwelling of Tuaparang, following the trajectory from mid-Angara to Sol Sanctum would suggest that the nation is in the far West by Northwest of Weyard, likely in an area that was previously cut off from the main world due to the expansion of Gaia Falls prior to the Golden Sun event, considering the Sana book reference. If Alex refers to the current whereabouts of the Tuaparang mothership, his statement would be evidence in support of the fact that Tuaparang is over the remains of Sol Sanctum, which is also hinted at in the prologue of the game.

Trivia

 * It is never explained in-game exactly why and how the Tuaparang know so much about the Alchemy Machines, as well as Luna Tower and the Apollo Lens. There are clues that could link the Tuaparang to both the Exathi and the Neox, which would explain their knowledge of ancient devices. One is that the Tuaparang airships appear to use Zol blocks to assist propulsion; the Exathi who lived in Passaj were master zol-smiths. Another clue is the alternate name of the Tuaparang; the Zenith Tribe. Zenith is described as "an imaginary point directly "above" a particular location, on the imaginary celestial sphere." The Neox were interested in the sky, observing celestial objects and taking note of all the twelve Zodiacs. Zenith would be the point between all the Zodiacs, straight up. A third clue is that Chalis, after the final boss has been defeated, tries to persuade Matthew to borrow her the Umbra Gear, implying that she is able to wear it. The Jenei (likely the Neox tribe) made the Umbra Gear specifically for ancient Beastmen/Exathi due to their cooperation. Chalis also has horns (which could be accessories), which could also imply some of the Tuaparang have Beastmen-ancestry.