Jorhan Stahl

Watch out while reading this, or don't at all, until you know what's coming. This article contains heavy spoilers. Read ahead with caution.

Jorhan Stahl
Age	53-54 (Killzone 3) 84 (Killzone Shadow Fall)
Born	2306
Died	July 7th, 2390
Status	Deceased
Race	Helghast
Planet	Helghan
Title	Chairman, CEO
Affiliation	Stahl Arms Helghan Empire Black Hand
Family	Khage Stahl (father)
Appearances
Game(s)	Killzone 3 Killzone Shadow Fall
Book(s)	Killzone: Ascendancy
Voice Actor	Malcolm McDowell (KZ3) Gideon Emery (KZSF)

"The time has come for some new fucking management."

―Jorhan Stahl

Jorhan Brimve Stahl was the Chairman and CEO of Stahl Arms. He is the main antagonist in Killzone 3 and Killzone Shadow Fall (alongside Thomas Sinclair). Stahl was a close advisor to Scolar Visari and held a great deal of influence in the Helghan Empire, but was disillusioned with Helghan's government and attempted to stage a coup d’état to assume himself as the planet's new leader.

Biography

Jorhan Stahl is the son of Khage Stahl, the founder of Stahl Arms, the primary weapons manufacturer for the Helghast military. Khage worked as a pipeline engineer in the Petrusite mines prior to founding Stahl Arms. He saw firsthand how Scolar Visari and his associates profited from the suffering of the Helghan people while publicly and rightfully blaming the Vektans for all their ills, and how Visari consolidated power amongst a chosen few selected solely based on their loyalty to him.

As a result, Khage developed a strong contempt for Visari's hypocrisy while publicly serving as a major collaborator of the Autarch. Khage ultimately made a failed attempt to seize control of the Helghast State for himself which was thwarted by Admiral Orlock and other associates of Visari, and ended up dying in obscurity. Jorhan inherited his father's ambition, and his secret contempt for Visari and his chosen elites, but didn't share the more noble intentions of his father's, due to his blind hatred for the Helghast government and what they did to his family.

Despite his secret ambitions, Stahl presented himself as a strong collaborator of Visari, but maintains his disdain for the Autarch and the current Helghan government. During the events of Operation Archangel, he was involved in the plot to detonate an ISA nuclear weapon over the Helghast capital of Pyrrhus to destroy the ISA forces in the city and ostensibly rally the Helghast people against the ISA. He correctly guessed that the ISA would make a successful escape after Visari's death. He later took advantage of the Helghan military's failed attempt to destroy the remaining ISA forces in an attempt to paint Orlock's command as incompetent.

Power Struggle

Following the death of Emperor Visari, Stahl had been attending the Helghast Senate and having heated discussions with Admiral Orlock over who should be Visari's successor, and dealing with the remnants of Battle Group Mandrake that were present on Helghan. Meanwhile, Stahl had also been harvesting irradiated Petrusite left over from the nuclear detonation of Pyrrhus to be use in creating new powerful, devastating weapons to be use in his plans to attack Earth. Furthermore, Stahl had no desire to share his new arsenal with the Helghast military, and especially to his political enemies, as he selfishly sought to win Helghan's war in his favor.

After the Helghast military failed to neutralize the ISA remnants, Stahl sent his personal army to capture Captain Jason Narville, Tomas Sevchenko and the other remaining ISA survivors, who are successful in doing so. However, some of the prisoners were rescued by Rico's Raiders led by ISA Master Sergeant Rico Velasquez and Jammer.

Stahl set up a live execution of the ISA prisoners of war, with Narville among them, as part of his propaganda piece to fueling his criticisms of the Senate and most especially Admiral Orlock. However, the execution was foiled by Velasquez and Sevchenko, who freed Narville and the POWs and as well discovering Stahl's plans to attack on Earth. Stahl escaped to his cruiser.

While Stahl was uploading his war plans to his cruiser, he was contacted by Orlock and the Helghast Senate, who they expressed their anger towards Stahl for not only failing to execute Visari's killers, but also for humiliating himself in front of the entire nation. It was at that moment that they revealed to Stahl that they have elected Orlock as the new Autarch, to Stahl's outrage, who orders him to turn over all his weapons to the military. Furthermore, Orlock and the Senate threatened to name him an enemy of the state and immediately execute him if he fails to comply. Stahl reluctantly consented.

Stahl met with Orlock on an arranged meeting at the space elevator to comply with Orlock's orders to surrender his fleet. Rather than following his orders, Stahl ordered Orlock to submit to him after having learned of Orlock's intentions to kill him. When Orlock refused, Stahl ordered his cruiser open fire on the First Army's fleet, causing a battle to break out between Orlock's and Stahl's forces. Stahl also demonstrated that he developed not only more uses for Petrusite weapons, but also energy shielding for his cruisers. He then forced Orlock to his knees at gunpoint but only for the more experienced Orlock to stab Stahl in the gut, forcing Stahl to flee from Orlock. Stahl eventually overpowered Orlock in a surprise attack from behind, mercilessly beating him with a rusted piece of metal before pinning him to the ground under a fallen console.

Stahl held Orlock at gunpoint but stayed his hand momentarily when Orlock tried to reason with Stahl by stating that he was taking the Helghast towards destruction. Stahl considered Orlock's words, but rambled on a new idea of using his Petrusite weapons and invasion fleet to kill everyone on Earth rather than conquering it, and in the process intimidating the colonies to fall in line to the Helghast, thus no longer needing aid from Orlock. As Stahl rambled his plan, Orlock tried to shoot Stahl, but his shots missed as Stahl predicted the move. Stahl then finally killed Orlock with a shot of irradiated Petrusite from a StA-5X Arc Cannon.

Stahl proceeded to board his flagship, preparing to launch his attack on Earth. However, his ship came under attack by Strike Fighters piloted by ISA soldiers led by Sevchenko. Stahl's cruiser was destroyed in an intense battle, forcing him to flee in an escape pod as his ship's Petrusite arsenal was released on Helghan's surface, devastating the entire planet.

Post-War

Helghan's devastation from the Terracide had deeply affected Stahl, who developed a pathological hatred for humans and blaming the Vektans for the Terracide. With the public believing Stahl's demise, Stahl took advantage of this as he gathered Helghan's survivors that remained on their planet and spent in the next thirty years rebuilding the Helghast military and amassing an army, under the cover of mining operations, preparing for their new war against Vekta. During the interim, Stahl had remained in contact with the New Helghan government under Chancellor Hera Visari, and was the benefactor of the Black Hand.

In 2390, Stahl obtained the cooperation of defecting VSA scientist Dr. Hillary Massar, who agreed to create a bio-tech weapon designed to exterminate all humans and half-breeds. Stahl's survival and his plans was eventually discovered by the VSA when the Shadow Marshal Lucas Kellan found the Black Hand leader Vladko Tyran in a teleconference with Stahl.

The VSA dispatched an ISA fleet to assault Stahl's base on Helghan. Once the ISA engaged his forces, Stahl activated Massar's weapon in which it destroyed the ISA fleet. Stahl was soon confronted in his sanctum by Lucas Kellan, whom he told Kellan that killing him would make no difference, since others will simply take his place; he states that the Helghast will never stop fighting, even if they must suffer constant defeats, and claiming that one day, the Helghast will win. Stahl further states that the Terracide had a purpose: to purge the weak, and that Vekta will suffer the same fate. Moments after, Stahl is shot dead by VSA Director Thomas Sinclair, who also killed Lucas for his betrayal to him. 

Characteristics

"I know what this nation needs, and I will cut out this disease of compliance and subjugation."

―Jorhan Stahl

Jorhan Stahl was a slim, gaunt man, probably in his 40's or 50's, with white hair. He shares many common Helghast traits, such as warmongering and aggressive behavior. Stahl seems to favor the use of deception and advanced technology to achieve victory, and speaks contemptuously of the more traditional "brute force" approach espoused by the Helghast leadership.

He seems to hold a great deal of contempt towards the reigning Helghan government and the regular military, regarding them as "predictable idiots". Despite this, he does value the Helghan ideals of racial purity and superiority as he seems to have a strong hatred and disgust for half-breeds, furthered by the theory that Visari's own daughter and granddaughter were not of pure Helghan blood. The Terracide further exacerbated his anti-human views, blaming humanity in general for the destruction of Helghan and the subjugation of his people. He even went as far as to make a weapon designed to kill humans and hybrid Helghans.

Although-well spoken and intelligent, Stahl frequently uses vulgar words, which stands in contrast to the much more formal manner of speech used by all other Helghast. Extremely ambitious and ruthless, Stahl had his own agenda separate from that of the rest of the Helghast leadership, with his ultimate goal being nothing less than complete galactic domination, as revealed in his final speech to Autarch Orlock in which he expresses his plans to subjugate the Helghast Senate, kill everyone on Earth, and rule over Helghan and the human colonies through fear of his planet-destroying weaponry.

Conversations

Killzone 3

A New Beginning

Show: Stahl's Execution

HAZMAT Trooper: "Are you guys the executioners? Right over there." Stahl: "And I know what this nation needs. And I will cut out this disease of compliance and subjugation. So to honor Visari, tomorrow we launch the greatest military campaign in our history. And to celebrate that I will give you justice... revenge... and the death of his killers!" (Sev aims the weapon at Stahl) Stahl: "What?" (Sev removes his Helghast facemask) Stahl: "You!" Sev: "Yeah. Me."

Pyrrhus Evac

Show: Scattered ISA

Orlock: "As the senators can see, the ISA forces are in disarray. Within three hours my forces will overwhelm them. Visari's killers will not survive." (Senators clap) Stahl: "Am I missing something here? What about the tank group on the left?" Orlock: "Jorhan Stahl. Well, I'm thrilled to see that the private sector is interested in state affairs. Again." Stahl: "The ISA tank group on the left. I mean are you ignoring it on purpose, or-- This is part of some strategy beyond our understanding, is it?" Orlock: "You build the weapons, Stahl. I'll decide how to use them." Stahl: "Am I the only person here who is not part of this archaic thinking? I mean overwhelming numbers are simply not enough. Listen, why not bargain with the ISA? Lure them towards us. Promise them... whatever. And when they're close... all in one place... then we kill them." Orlock: "Visari may have tolerated you, Stahl. But I - am NOT - Visari." Stahl: "Unfortunately, that is abundantly clear. Does it hurt? Knowing that no matter what you do, you'll never emerge from Visari's shadow? Is that why you let him die?" Orlock: "The Helghast will never, NEVER, bargain with the ISA. There will be no quarter." (Orlock presses a button) Orlock: "Attention all troops. This is the Admiral. Double your efforts. I want the ISA dead within the hour."

Six Months On

Show: Tensions

Stahl: "Where is the ISA? Why haven't you found them yet?" Gunstelling "They've proven to be more tenacious than expected." Stahl: "Which was my exact point six months ago. You should have listened to me. But no, you had to do it your way. You had to pound them until they surrendered." Orlock: "The ISA will be dealt with in due time." Stahl: "Yes well, that's exactly what you said. You said "hours", not months. The people of Helghan want results. Not empty promises from you, Orlock." Orlock: "Once again you've somehow managed to distract us from the real topic at hand. Why haven't you delivered your weapon prototypes to the military?" Stahl: "Because Admiral, this is irradiated Petrusite. And I will not place weapons of such magnitude into the hands of a total incompetent." Senator 2: "Order! Order!" Gunstelling: "You've gone too far, Stahl! The Admiral has been instrumental in the negotiations with the Vektan government." Stahl: "Too little. Too late." Kuisma: "Given the Admiral's continued failure to eradicate the ISA. I motion that the Helghan military be turned over to someone who will, use it more effectively: Chariman Stahl." Orlock: "He's an industrialist." Kuisma: "With a sizable private military and the technology to back it up." Gunstelling: "Do we have a second? Motion denied." Stahl: "As long as this man remains in charge, I refuse to commit my resources to your cause." Senator 4: "We need him." Gunstelling: "Just a moment, Chairman. Will you give us time to reconsider?" Orlock: "What?" Stahl: "In two days time, I'll be making a live broadcast to the Helghan Nation." Gunstelling: "About what?" Stahl: "Something that will make your decision so much easier."

Stahl Arms Infiltration

Show: Visari's Revenge

HAZMAT Trooper: "Are you guys the executioners? Right over there." Stahl: "Captain Narville. Do you know who I am?" (Narville does not answer) Stahl: "Typical." (Stahl executes a prisoner) Narville: "We are prisoners of war! We have rights! You just violated the Stockholm Treaty!" Stahl: "Stockholm? What planet do you think you're on?" (Cameras are being turend on) Stahl: "Show time!" Helghast: "We go live in 3, 2..." Stahl: "Good Day my fellow Helghans. I am Jorhan Stahl. This is something of a rarity for me because speeches are not my forte. But honesty is. I believe what I have to say today you will find very refreshing. My father and Visari, both great leaders. They built this country from nothing. Using sharp minds committed to our future. Together they built a nation. Visari gave us purpose and hope. My father's factory gave us the most powerful army... ...the universe has ever known! But our army has failed us! They have allowed themselves to grow fat, lazy and careless. But that... changes today. A time has come for some new fucking management. And I know what this nation needs. And I will cut out this disease of compliance and subjugation. So to honor Visari, tomorrow we launch the greatest military campaign in our history. And to celebrate that I will give you justice... revenge... and the death of his killers!" (Sev turns on Stahl) Stahl: "What?" (Sev takes off his helmet) Stahl: "You!" Sev: "Yeah. Me." (Sev fires at Stahl, but misses, killing some soldiers and destroying the camera) Stahl: "Move!" (At the Helghast High Council) Orlock: "This is an outrage!" (Back at Stahl Narville gets untied) Narville: "Rico! You're alive!" Rico: "No thanks to you." Narville: "What!?" Rico: "Go help Sev."

Show: Earth plans

HAZMAT Trooper: "Clear." HAZMAT Trooper 2: "Sir, we need to get you out of here." Stahl: "Not yet. I have to upload the battle plans to my cruiser. Orlock's going to jump all over m--" (Stahl's computer is interrupted by Orlock) Orlock: "Stahl." Stahl: "I don't really have time to listen to you gloat." Orlock: "Stahl." Stahl: "What?" Orlock: "You're to turn over your Petrusite weapons, hardware, personnel, and yourself to my control." Stahl: "Don't be absurd." Gunstelling: "Chairman Stahl, not only have you failed to execute Visari's killers, but you've managed to humiliate yourself in front of the entire nation." Stahl: "Gentlemen, I understand you're upset. I've made you look bad. But the people won't give a damn about today the instant Earth becomes our territory. If you change my invasion plan, you risk all of that." Gunstelling: "Chairman, this is not a negotiation. You will do as the Autarch commands." Stahl: "Autarch? Autarch? You made him Visari's heir?!" Gunstelling: "Chairman, if you refuse, you will be considered an enemy of the state and we will execute you. Do you accept the Autarch's rule?" (Stahl bows in defeat) Orlock: "Good. The invasion fleet is gathering in orbit around the space elevator. Deliver the weapons in person. Immediately." (Senate breaks connection) Stahl: "NO! NO! NO! Prepare my fleet. NOW, YOU IDIOT!!!" (Back in the Senate chambers) Orlock: "The moment I have the weapons, I want Stahl killed. Is that understood?" Gunstelling: "As you command."

Interception

Show: Arrival at the space station
HAZMAT Trooper: "Your shuttle is ready, Chairman. The Autarch is waiting for you on the spacestation." Helghast: "Chairman Stahl. You are cleared for landing."

Show: Stahl and Orlock

Helghast: "Sir, the ISA army is here. They took out the MAWLR and they are coming up the space elevator." Orlock: "ENOUGH with the ISA! Either they die, or you do." (Stahl arrives) Stahl: "By the order of the High Council, I, Jorhan Brimve Stahl, report for duty. I am willing to serve in whatever capacity the State wishes. This is it? I thought you'd have more security." Orlock: "Like father, like son. It seems failure is the family business." Stahl: "Ironic that you needed both of us to help get you where you are." Orlock: "Did he bring the weapons?" Helghast 2: "Electrostatic energy profile confirmed on the chairman's cruisr. They're all there, sir." Orlock: "You should be proud, Stahl. Your weapons are going to usher in a new era of Helghan dominance. I'll speak highly of you at your funeral. Arrest the chairman." Stahl: "Ah yes... The men of our proud and painfully underpaid military. They're all so pathetically predictable. Commodore, are you ready?" Commodore: "Yes, Chairman Stahl." Stahl: "Fire." Orlock: "You wouldn't dare." (The Khage opens fire on the Helghast fleet and blocks incoming missiles) Orlock: "You've developed energy shielding? When?" Stahl: "You're not watching." (Stahl's battleships destroy two other cruisers) Orlock: "This is how you'll get the senate to accept you?" Stahl: "The senate will beg me to forgive them! Right after you do. Get on your knees, now ! Get on your knees! YEEEEEEEEE!" (A small battle takes place) Orlock: "I know you're still here, Stahl. You can't hide forever!"

Show: The end of Orlock

Orlock: "Wait! Stahl, think about what you're doing. You're going to leave Helghan defenseless." Stahl: "That's it? That's the best you've got? Hahaha!" Orlock: "Listen! Even if you win. Do you really think Helghan's enemies will give you time to rebuild? Look around you, Stahl. You're destroying our people." Stahl: "Unless... What if I had no enemies left to fight? What if I used my weapons and killed everyone on Earth? The colonies would be terrified. They'd (snaps fingers) fall into line. And I wouldn't need your help." (Orlock tries to shoot Stahl) Stahl: "Like I said. You're predictable." (Kills Orlock with a petrusite cannon) Stahl: "Shit, that must have hurt." HAZMAT Trooper: "Chairman Stahl!" Stahl: "Report." HAZMAT Trooper: "As per your orders, the weapons are primed for full deployment in the Earth's atmosphere. We're ready to jump to warp at the moment you're back aboard your cruiser." HAZMAT Trooper 2: "Sir, ISA troops are approaching." (Stahl turns to Orlock's remains) Stahl: "You couldn't even get that right. Utterly useless. GO! The moment we're off the station... destroy it." HAZMAT Trooper: "But sir, the men." Stahl: "Fuck 'em."

Show: Emergency landing
HAZMAT Trooper: "The coil is overloading. We have to go." Stahl: "No!" HAZMAT Trooper: "Chairman, you can't stop it. It's too late." Stahl: "Watch me." (Khage dives towards Helghan) Stahl: "Come on. Come on."

Quotes

Killzone Shadow Fall

• "I can see you are determined to kill me. I understand. You want to protect your home. It is admirable. You show something a great many of your kind lack. Vektans are selfish, they care only about themselves. They look at their fellow man and resent him. Each one seeking more than the other. There is no love in your hearts, only greed. It is because of this weakness that you cannot endure like we can. We have something much stronger than you. We have belief. A belief that cannot be shaken no matter how hard you try. Know that killing me changes nothing. It only prolongs the inevitable. It is simply a matter of biology. You were born on the wrong side, Marshal. Others will rise up behind me and take my place. Eventually we will win."
• "The Terracide happened for a reason, the weak perished. Those of us that survived, were meant to. Now it is time for you to suffer that same fate. History demands it. The Helghast cannot live in Vekta's shadow any longer."

Gallery

Killzone 3

Stahl concept art

Stahl with Mael Radec.

Killzone Shadow Fall

Death of Stahl.

Stahl's dossier file.

Trivia

• Stahl is German for "steel".
• His name is a wordplay on Joseph Stalin's name, in addition to Stalin and Stahl both meaning steel. Furthermore, both him and Stalin attempt to seize power after the death of a popular leader.
• Stahl's "Stockholm? What planet do you think you're on?!" line was came up by Art Director Jan-Bart van Beek.
• In Killzone: Ascendancy the novelization emphasizes that Stahl has a personal escape pod in his control room aboard his supercruiser, but does not explicitly state that he was able to use it to escape before his ship was hit by Sevchenko's nuke. His appearance in Shadow Fall however confirms that he did survive.
• Stahl may have been acquaintances with Colonel Mael Radec, based on the Killzone 3 cinematic intro.
• Stahl is very dismissive of the Helghast military in which he called them "incompetent," and preferring his private military. This view is further reinforced by his having two Capture Troopers from his private army as bodyguards when meeting the rest of the Helghast military leadership.
• Stahl is based on real-life German industrialists who supported Nazi Germany's war effort, such as Ferdinand Porsche and Alfried Krupp.
• Stahl also seems to be partially inspired by Joseph Goebbels, chief propagandist of Nazi Germany and close ally of Adolf Hitler. In a reference to Goebbels' Propaganda Ministry, Stahl served as the voice for the propaganda speakers and capture and hold areas in Killzone 3's multiplayer "Warzone" mode. Stahl appeared to be a trusted member of Visari's inner circle of advisors, much like Goebbels was to Hitler's inner circle, and sharing the same cunning and cruelty that allowed them to gain important positions in their respective political administrations without partaking in military service or in the tenser moments of their political parties seizing power, as opposed to many members of both the Helghan Empire and Nazi Party.
• Stahl's face characteristics was modelled after actor Ian Holm.
• Stahl appears in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale as a icon.