Kiijo (character)

Kiijo is the young protagonist of Machine Island.

She has a natural affinity for machines, and is mature and responsible beyond her years. Kiijo would never abandon someone in need.

She is caught between the conflicting factions of technology and god worship on Hiija, as she is the Granddaughter of the former High Priestess, Uxmal, but spent most of her life learning the inner workings of machines from Ajaw.

Kiijo has great respect for Uxmal, but doesn't share her views on technology in general, though she finds the increasing sickness and pollution worrying.

When Kiijo was young(8-12??) her parents died in a freak accident at Ajaws factory. She insisted on staying there, numb from her loss, to pour all she had into learning machines, so as to prevent such an accident from ever happening again. Uxmal resented the technology even more after the accident. During this time Ajaw was both her mentor, but also the closest thing she had to a parent.

At the beginning of the game she has recently abandoned Ajaws factory to take care of her sick grandmother who, though estranged, is her last living family member.

Kiijo is trying to please both sides of the conflict and is very self-sacrificing in her helpfulness. When a more active conflict breaks out between the two factions, she is forced to think about herself, and what she believes in to take an active part in finding the balance between both worlds and restore harmony to the island of Hiija.

Ending idea
After she successfully deactivates all the machines and brings the gods back, the people want to banish Ajaw, however, Kiijo defends him and points out how the people of the village themselves are also to blame for turning their back on both Ajaw and Uxmal and for being greedy and not appreciating what they have. She then proposes a new way of life, where both gods and machines can exist. She proposes using their machines to make their life easier while leaving the shrines untouched (or at least, not exploit as much energy from the statues). The praying temples are restored while their agriculture was taken care of by the machines.