Los Iluminados Cult

Lore & Background

Los Iluminados is led by Osmund Saddler, who reveals his plan to Leon after Ashley is rescued from a church: he intends to use the parasite injected into Ashley to manipulate her into injecting the President of the United States with a sample once she returns home. The cult's hierarchy includes Bitores Mendez, the village chief who captures Leon and injects him with Las Plagas, and Ramon Salazar, who owns a castle where Leon and Ashley are attacked by more Iluminados under his command. Another key figure is Luis Sera, a former Los Iluminados researcher and former police officer in Madrid, who helps Leon by searching for pills that slow the infection and a sample of Las Plagas, but is killed by Saddler. The cult's operations extend to a nearby island research facility, where Jack Krauser—a former training comrade of Leon believed dead—is responsible for Ashley's kidnapping, working with Ada Wong and Albert Wesker to secure a Plagas sample for their own agendas.

In Their Own Story

In 2004, U.S. government agent Leon S. Kennedy travels to an unnamed rural village in Spain to rescue Ashley Graham, the President's daughter, abducted by Los Iluminados. Leon encounters hostile villagers who pledge their lives to the cult. He is captured by village chief Bitores Mendez and injected with Las Plagas. Held captive with Luis Sera, they escape, and Leon finds Ashley in a church. After rescuing her, Saddler reveals his plan to use the parasite to infect the President. Leon fights through the village, killing Mendez, then takes refuge in a castle where he battles more Iluminados under Ramon Salazar. Luis brings Leon pills to slow the infection and a Las Plagas sample but is killed by Saddler. Leon kills Salazar, then travels to a nearby island research facility, where he discovers Krauser's involvement. After defeating Krauser, Leon rescues Ashley, and they remove the Plagas from their bodies using a specialized radiotherapeutic device. Leon confronts and kills Saddler with Ada's help, but Ada takes the sample at gunpoint and escapes by helicopter, leaving Leon and Ashley to flee on a Jet Ski as the island explodes.

Reader's Guide

Los Iluminados are the main enemies in Resident Evil 4, consisting of violent villagers called Los Ganados. They can dodge, wield melee and projectile weapons, work collectively, and communicate with each other. Once simple farmers, they became infected by Las Plagas, which can cause mutated parasites to sprout from their heads. Key cult members include Osmund Saddler (leader), Bitores Mendez (village chief), and Ramon Salazar (castle owner). The cult's plan involves using Ashley to infect the U.S. President. Players face them across the village, castle, and island locations. The cult is defeated when Leon kills Saddler and escapes the exploding island.

Did You Know?

• The cult members are referred to as Los Ganados, which means 'The Cattle' in Spanish.
• The parasite used by the cult is called Las Plagas, which means 'The Plague' in Spanish.
• Luis Sera, a former Los Iluminados researcher, helps Leon by providing pills that slow the Las Plagas infection.
• Jack Krauser, a former training comrade of Leon believed dead, was responsible for kidnapping Ashley as part of a plan to steal a Plagas sample for Albert Wesker.
• Ada Wong works with Albert Wesker to secure a Las Plagas sample, and after Leon kills Saddler, she takes the sample at gunpoint and escapes by helicopter.