Io Ishtar

About
Io Ishtar was part of the small Helman expedition to Ylapu in Rance IV under the command of Bitch Golch, along with Merim Tser, Hubert Lipton, and Dens Blau. Their goal was to reactivate a long dormant Toushin to use as a weapon for the Helman Empire. Io's role during the expedition was the group's mage, though she was also skilled in mind control. Once Bitch becomes aware of Rance's presence upon the floating island, she is sent off alone to infiltrate his group and uncover any information or artifacts he may possess - if neither, she is to manipulate Rance into finding these for the Helman group.

Rance eventually finds her being assaulted by a monster, believing her to be a helpless girl and waits for the perfect moment to rescue her. However, Io quickly dispatches the monster with her magic, then discovers Rance and puts him under her influence with her mind control, making him believe that he is in love with her. For a a time Io then directs much of Rance's actions - including several uncomfortable sexual activities involving Sill - until the intervention of the Rance Rescue Team, specifically Rick Addison defeating Rance and driving Io off.

Io is little seen for the remainder of the adventure, until near the end when Bitch trades her to Rance for the artifacts Rance has spent the entire adventure gathering so that he can "have his revenge." Rance quickly agrees. Despite receiving a good deal of carnal punishment from Rance (which she seems to somewhat enjoy), Io eventually rejoins as a member of Rance's party after the reactivation of Toushin Upsilon in an effort to save the world from the raging Toushin.

Trivia

 * Io is a bisexual who frequently used Sill to cater to her sadistic tendencies while having threesomes with Rance in Rance IV.
 * Her last appearance was at the end of Rance IV, where she was hitting on a male on-duty Helman soldier and was thus not seen in Kichikuou Rance or any of the other titles where Helman was involved.
 * During the events of Rance IX, she did not enter the line of combat and is thinking of retiring.
 * She is the first playable character to be from helman.