Cliff Schezar

Cliff initially behaves as a courteous and humorous host. He understands Vash's attraction to his guest and uses an affable manner to make his request for protection appear ordinary.

He is also intelligent and observant. Cliff notices how Vash evades gunfire, demonstrating that he is more perceptive than his harmless presentation initially suggests.

His friendliness conceals a ruthless determination to preserve his wealth. He has monopolized the local water supply and is willing to kill to prevent the truth from being exposed.

Cliff is an ordinary human rather than a superhuman gunfighter, but he is comfortable with firearms. He uses a rifle and handgun and has four additional guns concealed beneath his suit.

His greater advantage is preparation. He uses his estate, reputation and knowledge of the local situation to control the circumstances around people investigating him.

Even so, he cannot match Vash's speed and reflexes once Vash understands what is happening.

Cliff appears in "Truth of Mistake," an anime-original story. Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson arrive at his mansion while searching for water and discover that Vash has already been hired as his bodyguard.

The apparent threat is Marianne Aura Cayzen, whom Cliff presents as an intruder. Marianne is actually a marshal investigating Cliff's control of the water supply, while Cliff's bodyguard scheme is intended to protect his monopoly and facilitate her murder.

Vash exposes Cliff's scheme, allowing Marianne to arrest him. Cliff and Marianne later receive a brief cameo in Trigun Maximum, but their main story belongs to the 1998 anime.

Vash the Stampede is hired by Cliff as a bodyguard. Vash ultimately turns against Cliff's plan after uncovering the truth about the water monopoly and Marianne.

Marianne Aura Cayzen stays at Cliff's estate while secretly investigating him. She is a marshal seeking evidence against Cliff and eventually arrests him.

Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson encounter Cliff while searching for water and become caught in the dispute surrounding his estate.