Rod Reiss

Rod is outwardly soft-spoken, patient and paternal, especially when attempting to gain Historia's trust. He prefers persuasion and emotional pressure to direct physical confrontation.

His decisions reveal a strong commitment to preserving the Reiss family's inherited system. Rod regards the Founding Titan and the traditions surrounding it with near-religious reverence, continuing to defend them even after witnessing their limitations.

He is also unwilling to make sacrifices personally when alternatives exist. That contradiction becomes especially important when his plans require another member of his family to bear a burden he refuses to accept himself.

Rod has extensive knowledge of the Reiss family's history, Titan inheritance and the Founding Titan.

As a member of the royal bloodline, he possesses the ancestry necessary for the Founding Titan's complete power, provided he were to inherit it. He nevertheless does not possess a Titan power during most of his life.

Politically, Rod exercises influence through the royal government and Interior Military Police despite maintaining a relatively obscure public identity.

After ingesting Titan serum improperly, Rod transforms into an enormous abnormal Titan. His body reaches roughly 120 meters in total length, although its distorted proportions force him to crawl rather than walk upright. The heat produced by his body is intense enough to burn nearby vegetation and people.

Rod emerges as a central figure when the government begins moving against the Survey Corps. He seeks to regain control of Eren and reconnect with Historia.

Rod is revealed as the true ruler behind the puppet monarchy and as Historia's father. The Reiss family is the genuine royal bloodline descended from Karl Fritz.

Years earlier, Rod's brother Uri inherited the Founding Titan from their father, and the power later passed to Rod's daughter Frieda. Grisha Yeager attacked the Reiss chapel during Wall Maria's fall, killed Frieda and most of Rod's family, and stole the Founder.

Rod brings Historia and Eren beneath the Reiss chapel and attempts to persuade his daughter to transform, eat Eren and restore the Founding Titan to royal hands.

Historia rejects his plan and destroys the syringe. Rod desperately licks spilled Titan serum from the floor and transforms into a gigantic abnormal Titan that begins crawling toward Orvud District.

The military destroys his Titan body with explosives, and Historia personally strikes the exposed nape, publicly establishing herself as humanity's new queen.

Historia Reiss is Rod's illegitimate daughter with Alma. He initially keeps her at a distance but later attempts to make her inherit the Founding Titan.

Alma is Historia's mother and Rod's former lover.

Uri Reiss is Rod's younger brother and the family member who agrees to inherit the Founding Titan when Rod refuses to do so.

Frieda Reiss is Rod's eldest daughter and later inherits the Founding Titan from Uri.

Dirk Reiss, Abel Reiss, Urklyn Reiss, and Florian Reiss are Rod's other children.

Grisha Yeager attacks the Reiss family chapel, kills Frieda and most of Rod's family, and steals the Founding Titan.

Eren Yeager possesses the power Rod wants returned to his family.

Kenny Ackerman serves the royal government while pursuing his own interest in the Founding Titan.

Karl Fritz is Rod's royal ancestor whose Vow Renouncing War controls later Reiss inheritors of the Founding Titan.