Aesop Carl

— Rumor

 Difficulty
 Birthday
 Age
 Career
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 Clues
 Echoes
 Voice Actor

**Aesop Carl**, or the **Embalmer**, is one of **33** Survivors  currently featured in *Identity V* .

## Overview

The Embalmer is a support character who can embalm teammates in his coffin, under the condition that he has seen them at some point during the match. The coffin can be used once each to "rebirth" and rescue the chaired survivor who has been embalmed on the coffin as long as two survivors are still in match. If the coffined Survivor is the only one left, or if all survivors are chaired, the coffin will not activate and the Survivor will be sent back to the Manor.

Tide Turner is immediately activated when a Survivor emerges from a coffin, regardless of the Embalmer's Persona Tree. The Tide Turner does not use up the Embalmer's own (if the Embalmer has equipped Tide Turner).

The Embalmer decodes slower together with other characters. He does not have any natural kiting debuffs.

## Background

The end of the journey of life is always the same, and Aesop Carl is the ultimate destination for most people's dreams. He strictly follows each step of the procedure and gives the greatest respect to those who arrive at the terminal. So when he found the letter in a beautiful traveler, Aesop decided to complete his last wish for the unfortunate mother.

"On August 7, 1888, I ushered in a female body, she was stabbed 39 times in the face with a knife. She was unrecognizable. I opened my suitcase. This is the tool I rely on to survive. I can make the dead return to life. I worked hard to fix her face. She might have been a beautiful and wealthy woman during her lifetime. I groped for her pocket and found an invitation and another letter. The letter seemed to be for her daughter, and contained a photo. Probably, following this invitation, she could find her daughter. I don't know why, but I decided to accept the invitation as my own. I should return this letter to her daughter at the manor." *(As Aesop Carl was a "fan-designed" character before it got chosen by NetEase, this paragraph of description was from the original designer instead of the official record from Identity V. It seemed to be partially contradicting Aesop's deduction for some details about the reason he went to the manor do not match up. Please be noted.)*

## External Traits

The Embalmer carries his Makeup Box everywhere. Opening it will summon a Coffin with a surrogate in it and immediately provides the Rebirth ability.
When a player with the Rebirth ability is knocked down or placed on a Rocket Chair, the Embalmer will have 3 seconds to make a choice. Selecting "Rebirth Now" will immediately cause the player to enter the Rebirth process, while retaining the effects and the current Coffin. When no selection is made, the Rebirth process will start by default. The Embalmer can summon a Coffin where he stands.
**Rebirth**

## Deduction Target

*All completed Objectives reward the player with +335 Logic Points  for the Logic Path*

1. **Apprentice**
The day my mother embraced Death, I decided to be his apprentice.
	* Basic Objective: Record the appearance of other Survivors 1 time
	* Advanced Objective 1: Record the appearance of other Survivors 2 times
	* Advanced Objective 2: Record the appearance of other Survivors 3 timesConclusion
A photo: An elderly embalmer led Carl out of the cemetery by the hand while Carl looked back at the gravestone behind him.
2. **Maybe, I...**
I think what he really needs a doctor...
	* Basic Objective: Successfully heal 1 teammates
	* Advance Objective 1: Successfully heal 2 teammates
	* Advance Objective 2: Successfully heal 2 teammatesConclusion
A school withdrawal letter: Aesop may have autism, or some other problems. Either way, I'm very sorry, Sir. We regret to inform you that he is unable to study here.
3. **Steps**
Calm, accurate, decisive.
	* Basic Objective: Complete 3 perfect calibrations
	* Advance Objective 1: Complete 4 perfect calibrations
	* Advance Objective 2: Complete 5 perfect calibrationsConclusion
A step-by-step guide: Try to convince them, and if that still doesn't work, go ahead and inject them with some bromide hydrate...
4. **Bouquet of Death**
Bright colors also occasionally appear at the gray cemetery. Sometimes it's from the flowers, other times it's from blood.
	* Basic Objective: Escape from the Hunter 1 time
	* Advance Objective 1: Escape from the Hunter 2 times
	* Advance Objective 2: Escape from the Hunter 2 timesConclusion
A letter: Dear Aesop, it has been a while since we last talked. In the afternoon, I will wait for you in the yellow rose garden in the eastern corner of the cemetery. I look forward to seeing you.
5. **Be Brave**
Those wanderers... are too timid.
	* Basic Objective: Solo decode 1 cipher machine
	* Advance Objective 1: Solo decode 2 cipher machines
	* Advance Objective 2: Solo decode 2 cipher machinesConclusion
A report of death: Time and cause of death is unknown. The only what we can be clear about is the administrator's signature. So, be brave and say goodbye to the world.
6. **After the bloom**
The stairway of Death is not suitable for growing plant.
	* Basic Objective: Open the exit gate 1 time
	* Advance Objective 1: Open the exit gate 1 time
	* Advance Objective 2: Open the exit gate 1 timeConclusion
"My child, she was meant to die, and as for me, I was just there to help. Look, yellow rose bushes. It's a fitting place for her long sleep."
7. **Suspension Period**
He is ready to leave...
	* Basic Objective: Summon a Coffin 1 time
	* Advance Objective 1: Summon a Coffin 1 time
	* Advance Objective 2: Summon a Coffin 1 timeConclusion
A diary entry: He got an invitation. I didn't read it, but the fern's wax made me think he wasn't coming back.
8. **The Last Lesson**
The topic is more complicated than I thought.
	* Basic Objective: Stun a Hunter with a pallet 1 time
	* Advance Objective 1: Stun a Hunter with a pallet 2 times
	* Advance Objective 2: Stun a Hunter with a pallet 3 timesConclusion
A report: Jerry Carl has suffered multiple injuries, including a comminuted fracture from a fall, massive bleeding from a sharp object, and extensive tissue contusions.
9. **Messenger**
I believe it's for me, and she's just the messenger.
	* Basic Objective: You are resurrected from the Coffin 1 time
	* Advance Objective 1: You are resurrected from the Coffin 1 time
	* Advance Objective 2: You are resurrected from the Coffin 1 timeConclusion
A list of items: A few items and an invitation letter. Fern wax from Oletus Manor.
10. **Graduation**
His face was solemn and serene in the coffin. I believe he will be satisfied with my answer.
	* Basic Objective: Embalm teammate 1 time
	* Advance Objective 1: Embalm teammates 2 times
	* Advance Objective 2: Embalm teammates 2 timesConclusion
A diary: I can feel waves of bromide flowing through his veins. I know I will become him, and he will become what he himself would despise.
11. **Keep an Appointment**
I can't refuse the invitation. There are too many lost people out there.
	* Basic Objective: Complete 3 perfect calibrations
	* Advance Objective 1: Complete 4 perfect calibrations
	* Advance Objective 2: Complete 5 perfect calibrationsConclusion
A diary entry: I can finally understand the joy he experiences every time he guides lost people from darkness. I also understand why he was eager to keep his appointment.

### Full Conclusion

'Aesop Carl' is not his real name. He adopted his last name from Jerry Carl, the embalmer from his mother's funeral. His first name is unconfirmed to actually be ‘Aesop’ though it is likely due to the letter from his mother. Aesop is implied to have originally came from a family of the upper class (the ownership of his Silver Comb accessory and his expertise in dancing and music is indicative of wealthy status in the Victorian Era), but due to not fully explained circumstances his mother decided to entrust him to Jerry Carl after her death. It has been theorized Aesop was potentially an illegitimate child among nobles, and his mother thought he would be safer this way being taken care of by a third party. Aesop was described by his mother as a kind and gentle person in childhood. Jerry helped Aesop become interested in the art of embalming, because it is an activity that "helps" people, allowing him to take on an apprenticeship with him at the morgue. Aesop received a letter saying he was deemed unsuitable for school education, as the school states in his expulsion letter he may have some sort of mental disorder such as autism, so he became Jerry's full time apprentice.

As Aesop entered his new middle class with Jerry Carl, it turned out Jerry was actually a serial killer who used the guise of embalming to give his victims 'mercy kills'. He taught Aesop into learning how to use manipulation and persuasion to guide people to their deaths, convincing them that death is far better for them than life and Aesop was simply "helping" them. If these tactics didn't work, he was told to use bromide hydrate (a highly toxic body preserver). Around the period after Aesop dropped out of school, he received a letter from a woman who was asking to see him again after a very long time. It has been debated it was either his own mother faking her original death, or his mother's friend. When Aesop came to meet her, she was found dead in the rose garden and appeared to have been killed by Jerry. With Jerry present, he told a very distressed Aesop that she was meant to die one day and that all he did was help her. Regardless of how much he subscribed to Jerry's philosophical teachings, it is possible Aesop regrets her death (referring to the description of his Remains of Yellow Roses accessory).

Later, Jerry Carl received an invitation to the manor. He returned from it alive, although with severe injuries (implying he escaped or won the game at the cost of his own health). Aesop guided Jerry into death using the tactics that he taught him. Aesop became his mentor, and his mentor became what he hated; someone who died without accepting it. Aesop found a similar invitation letter to the manor on a girl he was embalming and took it for himself, as he believed the letter was really for him and the girl was the messenger. Jerry's mission being to guide lost people - those who are heavily injured or unable to find satisfaction in life - to their deaths as he claims, Aesop believed he finally understood why Jerry found so much joy in his work finally after killing Jerry.

## Birthday Letter

Dear Aesop,

You must be confused when you receive this letter.
I'm really grateful to my most loyal friend, Elisa, for delivering it.

I wonder what you are like nowadays.
In my memory, you're a kind and gentle child.
In my dire days, I used to dream of watching you grow up into a popular and elegant gentleman like your father.
Such a dream is so beautiful that I thought I could endure any suffering.
Yet...

Fortunately, Mr.Carl was there to raise you. Perhaps this can alleviate my sins.
While he is a man of few words and may have an odd temper, please trust that he is a good person.
After all, when I was suffering, he was there to help me, so that my collapsing soul could find comfort and relief.

I know this is a weak argument.
But please don't doubt my love for you.
Please believe that I've tried my best. I wish I will have the chance to tell you in person.

"Happy birthday, my dear child."

And...please forgive me.

I wish you all the best.
Your cowardly mother,
Y.R

## Tips

* Aesop's skill is pretty useless if not used correctly. His coffin allows you to be reborn after 3 seconds. During this time, your coffin’s location is revealed to the hunter and they can run to the coffin to hit you. You will receive 10 seconds Tide Turner after the rebirth. If the hunter catches up to you, you will be tied again, lose 1 stage of being chaired and will lose your coffin.
* Once all ciphers are decoded Tide Turner will no longer be given to those with a coffin and coffins will disappear when the embalmer exits the gate.
* If the hunter loses you, and you escape, it will let your teammates have more time to decode.
* When the hunter sees that you are using your coffin, there is a large chance that it will go away and around to let you die by bleeding or force you to lose your Exit Path trait.
* Remember, always place your coffin as far as possible from rocket chairs, cipher machines (avoid Teleport) and place it in some area that has pallets or windows to let you escape easier right after the rebirth.
* Coffins can also have collision.
* Remember, you cannot be healed for 10 seconds after being reborn from the coffin as Tide Turner is automatically induced. This is the same for teammates.
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7EJmYBFYjM, there is a trick to help your teammate escape at 10:13

## Gallery

* Concept Art

## Trivia

* He is described as unsociable, persistent, professional, and curious.
* Aesop is listed to be middle class.
* He enjoys being alone and is skilled in holding funerals.
* Aesop is uncomfortable around living people, but feels more comfortable with the deceased, as he is around them often.
* He speaks slowly, softly, and sounds young with low magneticity.
* He is the only survivor who doesn't shake while opening the exit gate.
* He was born on May 11 and is younger than Emma (The Gardener) as he is 21.
* Aesop is a fan-designed character who won a design contest and got implemented into the game.
* On the official Japanese twitter, when someone asked to be embalmed by Aesop, he replies "Even if death is beautiful... let's celebrate life...As long as you're still alive, do not let me be present in your life." This has brought up debate over whether or not Aesop actually ever enjoyed embalming murder in itself and only enjoyed it finally ending Jerry's life.
* On the official English twitter, Aesop is featured in an art piece for a tweet dedicated to World Autism Awareness Day. This further supports the confirmation of Aesop being autistic, an addition to the implications previously made in his deductions.

## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/identityvjp/status/1193895916219928576?s=21
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/GameIdentityV/status/1377772770340311041