Osmund Saddler was the leader of the Los Illuminados cult, an age-old cult from a certain region in Southern Europe, and the main conspirator in the plot involving the kidnapping of Ashley Graham, the daughter of the American President. He wore a purple robe as a symbol of his status as the most powerful leader of the cult, and carried a Plaga-entangled cane. He was known for his charming charisma and cold-blooded, jingoistic and religious nature. 1 2
History
Not much is known about Saddler's history. The only known record of him begins in 2004. After charming Ramon Salazar, the current landowner of a mountain region in Southern Europe, and convincing him that his family had wronged the cult generations ago, he released the "Plaga" parasite for use as an "innovative missionary method" to spread the beliefs of the cult, a method that the cult had used since antiquity. He took the dominant species Plaga into his own body, and also gave it to Salazar. This Plaga had the ability to control other Plaga, while granting the host superhuman abilities and allowing them to retain their free will. With the parasite, he began a plan to gain control over the local region. He ventured to the nearby village and administered the dominant species Plaga to Bitores Mendez, the village chief, and managed to earn his respect and loyalty.
One Sunday, at the order of Mendez, the villagers gathered at the local church where Saddler held a sermon which lasted for hours. With his charisma, he managed to sway the villagers to view the cult as a benevolent force. Eventually, Saddler arranged for every villager to be injected with the Plaga, which would put them under his control. Under the pretense of a "blood cleansing ritual", all of the villagers received the parasite. With the Plaga, Saddler gained absolute control over the region, and the villagers and cultists became "Ganado", cattle for the cult.
However, he was unable to control his desire for power, and began using the parasites in experimental bioweapons development. He took over an island, established a base and research facilities and hired researchers, such as Luis Sera, to study the Plaga and develop ways to use their properties for use as bioweapons. He then devised a plan to take complete control of the world through the power of the Plaga. The first step in this scheme was to kidnap Ashley Graham, the daughter of the U.S. President. He planned to first command the great nations from within and then ultimately rule the world, beginning with the U.S., where he planned to grasp power by spreading the cult into key power centers, such as Congress, the Department of Justice, government cabinets, the military and large corporations.
At some point, Albert Wesker learned of the parasite and sought to take it for himself. He sent Jack Krauser to infiltrate the cult, where he learned of the plan to kidnap Ashley Graham, and then carried out the kidnapping himself. However, Saddler did not trust Krauser due to the fact that he was American. Despite this, he allowed him to be administered with the dominant species Plaga, but was kept away from the "sample" Wesker wanted. The cult injected Ashley with the Plaga, and intended to use her in a "ritual" which would enable her to spread the parasite to others within the U.S. Government after ransom money was paid.
In Autumn, the cult spotted U.S. agent Leon S. Kennedy searching in Europe and went into alert. Kennedy eventually discovered the village based on eyewitness information. There, he eventually rescued Ashley and was confronted by Saddler. Later, Saddler sent waves of Ganado after them in an effort to recapture Ashley, but failed, and eventually focused on Luis Sera, who had stolen the "sample" for a third party. Saddler managed to take back the sample by killing Sera, and made his way to the cult's island base. After learning of Salazar's trouble in killing Kennedy, he ordered Krauser to assassinate Kennedy himself. Later, he recaptured Ashley and was responsible for having a helicopter, sent to help Kennedy, shot down.
Saddler confronted Kennedy again, but was interrupted by Ada Wong. After a battle, Saddler rendered Ada unconscious and captured her. Eventually, he was confronted by Kennedy again. After attempting to manipulate the parasite within Kennedy's body, Saddler discovered that it was no longer there, as he had removed the parasites from his and Ashley's bodies. Realizing that his plan was now ruined, Saddler decided to unleash the power of the parasite in his body. The parasite cells that were densely compressed within his body suddenly deformed and expanded outside the body, forming the shape of a giant tentacle creature. Saddler's body, which hangs suspended from the middle, had the appearance of a cocoon that was discarded by an insect that had grown into adult form. The master and servant roles of the parasite and the host had become reversed, resulting in a monstrous appearance.
After a prolonged battle and with the help of Ada Wong, Kennedy destroyed Saddler's mutated form with a special rocket.
Footnotes
- 1. biohazard 4 Kaitai Shinsho (Page Page 163)
- 2. BIOHAZARD archives II (Page 071, 097)