#and Ares and Shanan are by his side?

[randomnameless]

Final Chapter - Dozel to Freege!

Seliph continues to liberate the land of his grandfather, and settles down the feud the Chalphyians had with the Freeges for 3 generations.

AND WE SEE THE RISE AND FALL OF OUR HERO - SCIPIO OF JUNGBY

You had men out there? I forgot. I was focused on, you know, the Master Knight with a Holy Weapon.

I hope you’re calling your men cowards, not the Dozels! Or is it another way of Kaga to pile shit on the Dozels, even from within their side?

Yeah, once and for all given how you’re one of the rare bosses to run away and not to die when we defeat you.

A plan?

This is a way to warn the player of what kind of backup units/mechanics are going to happen, so we won’t be going “WTF” at, idk, ballistaes popping up after the 10th turn in a defense map, but it defeats the plot purpose!

there’s no surprise here, so of course Hilda’s plan doesn’t work. If we knew in FE5 that Dastard Jr was going to blow up the bridge after we sent units to cross it, then to send Reinhardt and his pals on us, it wouldn’t have the same impact - we would curse Saias less, but his “tactician” gimmick wouldn’t be translated into the game

Hilda means to fight to death. Well, this is the final map so...

The Gelbenritter, or what’s left of it looks menacing! Hopefully Arvis gave Seliph the Tyrfing in the previous chapter, else Seliph wouldn’t have been able to plow through those guys like Ares does on a regular basis - welp that sounds wrong doesn’t it

What do you mean, random? Is this not a holy war on its own, us having to fight against Loptyr himself?

HE ASKS US TO SUMMON THE TRIFORCE? SUMMON THE POWER OF THE HYLIAN GODDESSES SELIPH!

?? To this day, I still don’t understand what the fuck are those trails. Julia and Seliph? Leif and Seliph? Julia vs Julius? (one good light vs one evil light?)

At least he gave us sufficient funds to repair our HWs.

“slow down you jackass you have a horse now !”

“remember you’re weak and i have to protect you, the usual routine” “hey i have my holy weapon now”

? You’re scared now, but when we were fighting in Thracia you weren’t? OTOH this is the end of the journey, and during Siggy’s end everything burnt, so maybe Larcei’s afraid of that, or she knows that if she manages to rekt Julius before, now he is stronger.

IDK, maybe having your WIFE and not only her BLADE at your side?

Larcei’s supposed to find this romantic, or she’s pissed, idk.

Finally someone’s going to sing something good about the Crusdaders, Neir and co!

smite the devil with a demonic blade? Like in Pokémon when ghost attacks are very effective against ghost types?

Odo and Hezul hated each other guts or something? One is a saint, the other wields a demonic blade...

Apparently Baldur is only remembered as very pious, or something? the Tyrfing shines in the dark?

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER CRUSADERS DAMN IT

and Baldur “shines a light” but Heim “prays”? I mean, if something should be shiny and have a “light” imagery, it should be the Book of Naga, not the Tyrfing but...

Ooh!

So Heim prays to the white dragon who destroys the shadow dragon, that’s why praying is important and Heim’s reserved stuff!

So the white dragon means light? Baldur and Heim were cosy enough to share their attributes, or Baldur did something awesome to be called the holy knight with a sword that shines light?

Well, wait 60 turns and see.

for we have the power of savestates at our disposal?

OTOH, if Seliph and Julia die here... We can only pull a Manfroy with Linoan, and hope for her Naga-grandson to continue the fight

Children will finish what their parents started, the game is called Genealogy after all!

or he is talking about the power of savestates

MMH

Never lost? The Barahra family nearly went extinct because someone only had eyes for a married woman who ran away!

You believe in Lester, who’s only following us?

I believe in Linoan too, even if she isn’t in the game. Or by light you meant people who want to fight against Loptyr?

You raised more questions than answers, but this song makes me understand what the randoms in Granvalle are really thinking (or what Finn thinks they’re thinking^^) - only the sword crusader counts and that irks me a lot!

Stop swarming us from the rear damn it genealogy of the rear attack : the holy innuendo

Scipio is into dubious kinks

more seriously, who compares himself to a snake? That’s not a noble animal!

DERMOTT NO - he managed to dodge this

Hilda knew Tailte had another child? She must have heard about how Tine defected to join her brother and made 1+1.

She can dirty them around killing randoms, but not by killing Hilda? It doesn’t make any sense :’(

!

Hilda’s aware that she’s going to hell? Or that, whatever she is/was doing, she knew it was something that no one could condone?

HOW’S THAT “WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE”

You’re being rude to your street urchin of a cousin Scipio!

the sprites beg to differ, but again, to Scipio and everyone around his age who grew up in the empire Siggy and pals, even Briggid were traitors!

Family bonding time :)

ULSTER NO

YOU RUINED THEIR FAMILY BONDING TIME :’(

Maybe he felt conflicted by hearing that he is the son of Jamke and how the Empire and the Jungbies never gave a flying fuck about his country

Fee remembered that Arthur’s dad was the guy who berated Arthur’s mom for wanting to kill her own dad, Arthur mustn’t slay his relatives! So she’s the one to kill Hilda.

Farewell Hilda, at least you’ll join Blume and you’ll live happily ever after together, with your daughter joining you in the next update!

Come on i’ve seen this before

Try to be more inventive next time, would you?

Finally, we settle things with Freeges! By seizing their castles!

Seliph thinks of the children :)

Felipe ex machina

Oldvis had an aide? With Aida dead, he maybe wanted to share his dastardly plans to someone, or maybe he wanted to talk to anyone who wouldn’t trashtalk him unlike his son(s?)...

OMG OMG OMG

Even the ones from Thracia?

THEY’RE ALL HIDING!!!!

Which raises several issues, how can they all fit, how many were they, how come no one noticed that no children were in Belhalla and reported it to Julius, etc...

Remember that Hilda was the Queen of Miletos, so she spent the majority of her time there!!

And Freege isn’t Hilda’s city, but the Ducal seat of Blume and the Tordo royals!

and here the Ishtar gambit is revealed!

So Ishtar has wrath in her skillset? I never noticed

Hm... You haven’t met a lot of people.

She and Oldvis were really getting along then! We could glimpse it in their convo, too bad it ended in, well, you know. Loptyrpocalypse ruins everything.

Oh, so the children signed their presence sheet, then skipped the “i will sacrifice myself for the sake of Loptyr, our God and Savior” classes.

It still doesn’t make any sense, but why not

They’re going to gie you armorslayers and vulneraries, ask Leif!

Thank you revealing crucial elements of caracterisation the game couldn’t offer us in some other way

“Some results” is the reason why so many people joined Seliph’s quest, and the symbol of the Empire’s tyranny, but whatever

But yes, the real job awaits.

Dead is the only logical conclusion, but the game isn’t logical. And how’s that the only option? Master draconic tactician can’t guess that Loptyr murdered the only one who can kill him before she could hold the tome of Naga?

Or is he desperatly clinging to the little shred of hope he has of Julia being alive not to think about his own naivety of letting her get captured when she is the only one able to save the world?

That’s not what you told us in Chapter 6, you said only Seliph’s destiny was “to free the world from this evil grip” as the “one true heir of Saint Heim”

Freeing the world from the evil grip means getting rid of the idiot sitting in Belhalla, right?

Hopefully even this guy doesn’t contradict the game’s lore. At least one positive point I found about you, yay!

“what about you, you raised her for years?”

“i only fed her wild berries and gave her a roof - i spent more time training Arthur in wind magic than talking and being a relative to Julia, remember how i dropped her on you during your Isaachian campaign without any tomes or staves?”

Hopefully, Julia dosn’t need to be convinced by those dolts, because it’s her destiny as a Falchion to slay an evil Dragon!

[four-loose-screws]

FE4 Suzuki Novelization Translation (Gen II) - Chapter 9

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———————————

Chapter 9 - Dragon Knight Arion

T/W: Mention of likely one-sided romantic feelings between adopted siblings.

Ever since the child hunt was carried out at Grutia Castle, many of the citizens had come to see Seliph and his soldiers as a liberation army.

The same people also spread the news that General Hannibal's son had been taken hostage. His name was Coirpre, and he'd been entrusted to Luthecia Castle's General Disler.

"Let's save the hostage!" Seliph said. "If we do that, the general may respond with a ceasefire."

It was the liberation army's fundamental policy to avoid pointless battles as much as possible, and Hannibal's army was also very powerful, so reaching a conclusion without fighting him was the best possible option.

But to get to Luthecia Castle, they would have to get past Hannibal's army, which was stationed in front of Kapathogia Castle.

"Does anyone know of a road we can take that will allow us to avoid being seen by Hannibal's army?” Seliph asked.

The villagers took him into the mountains behind Kapathogia Castle, where hunters were using the land as their hunting grounds. 

According to the hunters, if they avoided General Hannibal's army and traveled on the foot to the base of the mountains, there was a road that circumvented the castle.

"Alright, let's take that road!" Seliph exclaimed.

Since the rescue mission was to be a surprise attack from beginning to end, it was best to only let a few people go, so they narrowed the group down to Seliph, Ares, and finally, Fee, who would act as a flying column. 

The problem was the countermeasure in case of Hannibal's army attacking before the rescue had been completed.

"I have a Sleep Staff. Whoever I use it on will sleep for four to five days straight." Lana said.

"I didn't know there was such a useful spell! Why haven't you used it until now?"

"The staff will break after one use, so I didn’t want to use it until we were in a desperate situation…"

Shanan was chosen to lead the army while they were gone. 

-

With the hunters as their guides, Seliph and the others headed out.

They traveled west in a straight line, then turned south at the foot of the mountains. That area was wooded, so they didn't have to worry about being seen by enemies.

The forest cleared when they neared the castle.

"Starting from here, we'll have to climb into the mountains a bit."

The path was steep, and they couldn't make much progress on foot.

Fee gave a report every day on what she observed from the skies.

On the evening of the fourth day since they'd set out, they made it to the backside of the castle.

"Up until this point, we haven't run into any enemies at all. But tomorrow, I suspect some will be flying around in this area, so I will go ahead to Luthecia Castle." Fee said, then turned west and flew away.

"What should we do? It may take a toll on our bodies, but it would be safest to travel behind the castle tonight because we'd be able to get past it very quickly."

They of course thought it best to follow the hunters' suggestion, and started moving again without taking time to rest.

The hunters were right. Because they were following right along a steep mountain, there were areas where they had to walk almost right against the castle wall. However, the soldiers didn't think anyone would ever pass through such an area, so they were able to safely make it through.

"For the last stretch, we should travel south. We'll soon come out to the main road that leads to Luthecia."

"Thank you. You might have saved a lot of lives by helping us. How can we repay you?"

"We don't need repayment. But…"

"But?"

"If you can, please save the children that were taken away to Miletos."

"Understood. We'll try as hard as we can. ...No way, are those children…"

"No, none of them are mine. But my sister's son was taken. He's a smart, cute kid, yet they had the gall to do something so terrible to him!"

-

When they arrived at the main road, they could see that Hannibal's army, located to the north, had begun to move. Though Seliph and the others did not know it, Hannibal knew that King Travant had deployed, and ordered his own army to attack.

"If the king himself has gone to battle, then we have no choice. All units, attack!"

However, Hannibal's army was made up entirely of infantry units, so they didn't make it in time to fight alongside Travant. By the time they neared Meath Castle, the dragon knight unit the king led was already completely destroyed.

Lana turned towards Hannibal's army and waved the Sleep Staff.

Hannibal, marching in the center of his army's formation, was enveloped by a white, heavy cloud. However, that didn't mean that the sleep magic affected everyone. The soldiers outside of its range remained loyal to their orders and continued their attack. Shannan and the rest of the liberation army had no choice but to fight them without stopping.

-

"Lana said that the sleep spell will last for four to five days. The others must come back with the rescued hostage by then."

Because they'd heard that the distance between Kapathogia Castle and Luthecia Castle would take two days to travel, they only had a small margin of leeway.

Seliph and Ares did not take any breaks aside from allowing their horses time to rest, continuing onward.

In the evening two days later, they'd come so far that they could see Luthecia Castle. Fee had arrived earlier, and came to report on the situation at the castle.

"There's hardly any soldiers here. I'm pretty sure there's just a front line and those rounded up to protect the main building."

"Then let's attack tomorrow at dawn. Fee, you fly over the castle wall, and open the gate. After that, we'll storm the castle."

With the plan for their surprise attack decided, Seliph and Ares got a full night's sleep for the first time in a long time.

The surprise attack was a success. General Disler was killed by Ares and Mystletainn the moment he came out of his bedroom in a panic. 

The other soldiers were mostly still in bed. By the time they woke up, the general was already dead, and upon hearing that news, they surrendered.

They found Coirpre in the dungeon. He'd been treated more like a prisoner than a hostage. From what they'd heard the villagers say, they'd gotten the feeling that General Disler had a bad reputation. 

Coirpre was still young, but already very proper and polite.

"I am Coirpre, General Hannibal's son. My father stated that he wanted a ceasefire with the liberation army, but King Travant misunderstood that, and took me as a hostage. So I beg of you! Please take me to my father! I want to convince him to stop fighting!"

Of course, that had been the reason for their surprise attack in Luthecia Castle. Seliph entrusted Ares to keep watch over the castle, and immediately left with Fee, taking Coirpre towards Kapathogia Castle.

Along the way, they saw a single dragon knight flying towards them. Fee readied a counterattack, but the dragon knight did not try to start a fight.

"You are Prince Seliph, yes? I am Altena, daughter of Quan of Leonster."

The dragon knight landed next to Seliph, dismounted her dragon, and greeted him.

"Oh, so you're Prince Leif's sister! He told me about you."

"My brother's story was true. Since I have learned the truth, I can't fight against you any longer. I too am a descendant of a Crusader. Please allow me to join the liberation army."

"Of course, with pleasure! Prince Leif will probably be happy as well when he hears the news.”

"I just have one request. Arion… No, Prince Arion. I don't want you to fight him. His way of thinking is completely different from the empire's."

"Even if you ask, I can't stop that from happening, though I don't want to fight Prince Arion, either. If only he'd made you the mediator of a ceasefire. Nothing would be better than that."

-

The liberation army met General Hannibal near Kapathogia Castle. He'd just woken up, and had left the battlefield to return to the castle and order all the soldiers there to deploy.

The moment he saw his son, he was surprised. But when he heard everything from Coirpre, he approached Seliph, and said, "I'd like to thank you for saving my son."

"General Hannibal, we are only fighting those who agree with the ideas of the empire. I've heard that you are also against the child hunts, and that King Travant is already dead. Why would we fight against each other any longer? Please end this battle. And, if possible, I want you to fight the empire with us. You are called "The Shield of Thracia." We are still young, so please be beside us to guide us."

"If you insist, then I have no choice but to accept. So long as you don’t mind fighting with an old man like me, then I will devote my strength to you. I'd also like you to add my son to your army. He probably told you this already, but I took him in and raised him. When I found him, he had a staff that seemed to have a long history. When he's old enough, we will learn the meaning of it. Seliph, I happily entrust him to you."

General Hannibal's remaining soldiers also joined them.

-

The liberation army, now even stronger, gathered in Luthecia Castle to capture Bishop Judah's Gruthia Castle.

At the same time, they received word that a large imperial cavalier unit had crossed the Miletos-Thracian border.

At the strategy meeting, Altena suggested that it would be the best course of action to settle that fight first.

"I know the terrain of that area very well. The road leading from the border to Luthecia Castle that the cavalier unit can take is a thin mountain path. How about Fee and I meet the enemies halfway, and reduce their numbers? If we swoop down to attack, then use that force to fly over the mountains, they won't be able to counterattack at all."

"That's a great idea, Lady Altena!" Hannibal agreed to the plan right away.

"Because the enemies are calvary, they'll attack by taking turns. If we reduce their numbers by even just a little bit, it will make things that much easier for the rest of the army."

When she’d joined the liberation army in Isaach, Fee was still just a trainee pegasus knight. However, after fighting in battle over the span of a year, she'd evolved into a seasoned falcon knight. She couldn't compete with Altena, who wielded a Holy Weapon, but her flying and combat skills certainly weren't inferior to Altena's.

The enemy cavaliers were worried by the two flying soldier's attacks. Because they didn't know when they would be attacked, their paranoia grew stronger and stronger without end. And even when they were attacked, they only had a split second to react, so there was no way for them to counterattack. No matter how well-trained they were, all they could do was take damage in a one-sided battle, causing their morale to drop. 

Once they were off the mountain road, the spirited imperial soldiers were no more. It wasn't just their numbers that had decreased. Their exhaustion and drop in morale was even greater.

The battle was as good as decided the moment they saw the main force of the liberation army spreading out and waiting for their arrival.

-

While the liberation army was marching towards Grutia Castle, Arion was in Thracia Castle, proposing a ceasefire over and over again. However, not a single soul agreed with him.

Several powerful iron ballistae were set up at Grutia Castle, however, the unit that was supposed to protect them was not there. 

The liberation army's calvary entered the edge of the ballistae's range, then charged at full speed ahead. Their goal was to move as quickly as possible and lower their chances of getting hit by the ballistae's bolts. 

Within the blink of an eye, they trampled the ballisticians, and captured Grutia Castle.

As if they had been waiting for that to happen, three dragon knight units flew from Thracia Castle and towards them all at once.

When Hannibal saw them, he turned pale. "That is the Three-Headed Dragon formation."

"What is that? This 'Three-Headed Dragon.'"

"Those units are each targeting Meath, Kapathogia, and Luthecia, a formation they call the 'Three-Headed Dragon.' They utilize it when an enemy is targeting Thracia and has gathered together too many of their troops in one place, and they wish to launch a counterattack all at once. Prince Arion practiced it many times."

 "I'll defend Meath!" Altena said. "Lana should have a Warp Staff. I want to get to Meath as soon as possible."

"Will you be okay on your own?"

"If we divide our numbers up too much, the main army will probably come attack us here. For now, I will protect Meath!"

"Let's do as Princess Altena says." Hannibal agreed. "I'll protect Kapathogia. I want those remaining to head for Luthecia and intercept the enemy unit headed there. When we do, that's where the real battle should begin. If we take out their commander, the subordinates will surely change course. In other words, they won't continue moving towards Luthecia. And if we defeat them entirely, they'll want the others to come reinforce them. Until then, Lady Altena and I will take care of those other enemies."

The fight went exactly as Hannibal had predicted. When the dragon knight unit headed for Luthecia saw Fee trying to intercept them, they turned towards Grutia Castle to fight the liberation army.

-

Once she'd lured the dragon knight unit a good distance away and defeated them, Fee and several cavaliers turned towards Kapathogia to provide reinforcements there.

Hannibal wielded a flame sword and fought the oncoming dragon knights. Though he suffered several wounds, he did not lose even the slightest bit of energy. He was able to hold out until reinforcements came, just as he'd promised.  

-

The day had come for Arion and his dragon knight unit to fight.

This was his response to Altena's final letter:

"As a warrior of Thracia, I cannot consider a ceasefire after you've killed this many of my soldiers. You too should know that very well. Now, I wait for the day of our final battle. From the beginning, I have thought not about whether we will win or lose, but that, as a warrior, my acts are not an embarrassment. Still, do not hold back. Tell Lord Seliph to come at us with everything he’s got."

Seliph said in response, "Thank you. Tomorrow, the last battle will finally begin. It may be difficult for you to fight, so you should stay on the rear line."

Altena did as Seliph suggested, and did not go out to the front line, instead flying high in the sky from the rear.

Even though the liberation army was fighting against the once great Thracian Dragon Knights, their numbers had already been so greatly reduced that the battle proceeded to go in the liberation army's favor.

Then, she saw a single dragon flying towards her.

"It's Big Brother." She realized it in an instant. "He's going to try to fight me."

Though she had Gáe Bolg, she knew that she was no match for Arion and Gungnir. At best, the fight would end in a tie.

'I will die by his hand.'

A sweet memory filled her heart.

When she'd stood up to Travant, she'd pictured her ideals in her mind, but never thought things would end up like this. For a moment, she worried that it was all her fault.

'What will become of Thracia now?'

She had no memory of Leonster. Thracia was her one and only home.

'Perhaps dying by his hand is the greatest end for me.’

She raised Gáe Bolg and yelled, "Let's do this, Brother!"

The two dragons flew towards each other in a straight line, with their opponent on their right side, as if they were in a jousting match.

As the distance between them shrank, Altena could see clearly the face of the man she loved. She could also see the sparkling tip of Gungnir, aiming straight for her.

'Watch my final attack!'

When they crossed paths, she thrust Gáe Bolg forward.

She felt resistance ripple through her arm.

However...

What about the attack aimed for her? Where was the blow from her beloved that was supposed to lead her to a sweet death?

She was in a state of total shock, but her eyes moved and laid upon her beloved's dragon, hurtling towards the ground.

"Brother!"

His dragon fell into a forest, and she lost sight of them.

"Brother!"

She burst into tears.

The battle was already over, but Altena did not return to land. She continued to fly through the skies, thinking of Arion.

No matter how many tears fell, they did not cease, continuing to stream down her face.

But, eventually, the time came and her tears to dry up.

And it was then that she understood the reason why her beloved did not strike her with Gungnir.

'Brother, you ordered me to live, right? I understand. I will live. I will fulfill my duty as the inheritor to Gáe Bolg. If that is what you wish, then that is what I will do. But, my life is terrible. All of my dreams have been crushed… The moment you were gone, I knew for sure. That for a long, long time, deep within the bottom of my heart, I've wanted you to hold me in your arms. Why did you give me that dream? And then go so nobly all by yourself…'

Altena soon landed at Thracia Castle.

Her tear stains had already vanished.

In their place was nothing but the face of Lance Knight Njörun's descendant.

[sinisteriisms-blog]

[ Guys, I just had a wonderful thought. As easily as Manfroy had kidnapped Dierdre, what if he also took baby Seliph away? ]

[sireneia-a]

i have nowhere else to post up this but i feel like i definitely want to get my impressions of the fe4 fuyuki manga out somewhere and trying to put this in a tweet thread would prolly be annoying

i fully expect my opinion to change with time cause i think making judgments on something in less than 24 hours of consuming it... doesn’t usually lead to the long-lasting opinions. manga and fe4 spoilers both in here under the cut. i’ll try not to judge the manga in terms of merely deviating from the original game too much cause it’s allowed to take its own liberties, and sometimes those deviations can actually be a really good thing ( e.g. gaiden manga for the most part ). if you want to know abt my opinion on deviations, i’m still Bitter(tm) that they took out lene. this’ll be pretty unorganized cause i’m just spitting out my thoughts without revision cause i don’t intend to make this an actual literary analysis essay. 

anyway, moving forth:

my opinion isn’t really positive. might as well just get that out the gate before i get into details.

i think the main issue i have is that this manga... feels very unfocused in what exactly it’s trying to accomplish. is it a war story? they don’t finish the war. is it a love story? well, that really only came in about halfway and doesn’t focus on the euphoria of love, just the angst associated with a love pentagon. is it a coming of age story? maybe. this might be the closest answer to the truth.

the pacing definitely leaves something to be desired. we go from pretty fast action of seliph being introduced and then taking up arms and then rescuing leif, but... then it just slows down for a filler chapter with all the army members hanging around and talking about how much they like seliph but how distant he is. it’s a weirdly slow chapter that comes out of nowhere, and the mood whiplash is so great; seeing leif go from being this vengeful, frustrated teen who just realized his god worship of seliph was unfounded to leif being a happy-go-lucky guy acting pestering others and teasing them in just a short amount of time... is Very Odd. i’m not against leif being able to show a more casual persona, but i definitely think it could’ve been handled better.

ced’s introduction is as this all mighty, powerful mysterious man and... then all that buildup just goes into making him a background character. it feels wasted, which is how i feel about a lot of this manga honestly.

the manga tries to have some arcs for characters, and i think it pulls it off best with tine, arthur, leif ( in his first few appearances before filler ) but otherwise it’s kinda Meh. there’s just a ton of loose ends that just don’t get resolved at all. i’m cool with this usually, but the fact that the only thing that seemed to really be concluded was seliph’s romance arc and nothing else made it feel extremely unfinished. the other characters in this love pentagon don’t really get closure either, ESPECIALLY FEBAIL.

speaking of febail. Well. i wish he was something more than just “the love rival” character. he’s introduced to get patty/lester development and to further seliph/lana as well. it’s a shame cause febail actually is one of my favorite gen 2 characters ngl and to see him getting reduced to this is.... Hrm. larcei also suffers from this issue too, not really having a character outside of being tended to by lana ( to show that lana is a capable cleric ), to be fawned over by iuchar and iucharba, and to fawn over shanan. ulster might be even worse, really only existing to be the protective older brother to larcei, but when she barely gets any screentime, he might as well be replaced by a stop sign.

i’m not saying we need multiple chapters focusing on characters’ developments either. it functioned just fine with arthur and tine, and leif had a REALLY good arc in the leonster castle chapter. i really liked how they handled fee too! even if she didn’t get any closure. i expected her to show how capable she was at some point and stick it to her dad, but nope.

the manga really likes to focus on seliph, leif, and ares. i get it, they’re the sons of their power trio of dads. i’m not at all surprised these are the three they chose to focus on, but man it doesn’t have a good pay-off imo. ares might be the best handled out of the three despite having his character tweaked a bit ( the fault of removing lene, i suppose ) and i actually liked his progression with the inner conflict of living in isolation. 

leif took a nosedive for the worse when he somehow began revolving his life around seliph despite the fact his first appearance was all about how he should not be heralding him as a god amongst men. leif was that character had a weird duality between being the “shounen best friend” trope for seliph, telling him to never stop believing in himself and reminding him how great he is amongst giving cheeky hints about the romance plot, and being his own character filled with angst. leif brings some nice laughs a few times i’ll admit, and even if it’s pretty ooc for him, i was okay with it i guess; the issue i had was just how his status as seliph’s best friend seemed to also come along with removing all of his initial character development. 

i’m not a fan of how leif’s last bit in the manga is admitting that he didn’t know what he’d do without seliph. leif’s got all this buildup of trying to take on travant because he wants revenge, and he’s shown himself to be capable before this. i think my issue with this is less about leif’s competency ( i really do think though leif’s whole thing of being a pretty horrible lord unit and then turning into this master of all trades in fe4 is super good ) and more about how we don’t really see seliph helping leif out much at all. leif is a pillar of emotional support for seliph, but it doesn’t ever get conveyed that it’s mutual even though the manga WANTS you to believe it is. when seliph goes to check out on leif, it’s always leif talking out his own feelings and coming to conclusions himself without any input on seliph’s end. when seliph does say something, it’s just to scold leif and remind him that they’re friends and that seliph can help him, but i... honestly didn’t want seliph to help leif defeat travant. it felt more like seliph was meddling more than anything, and i could easily see this being fixed with just some dialogue tweaks of seliph saying he wishes to support leif or doesn’t want to see him die. but it’s just “we’ll kill him together!”

seliph is just a standard protag who understands he needs to grow and he closes off his feelings. he is compassionate, charismatic, and he goes throughout the story changing people to ally themselves with him. this is most notable in how he convinces through sheer pacifism for iuchar and iucharba to join his side even though originally their role in the game was all about making a choice between one of the brothers.

speaking of the brothers, they also got shafted quite a bit. i mean, true to the game i suppose, but still. they both had pretty interesting characters when they first get introduced as sons who disapprove of their father but come out to fight because it’s what they’ve learned and been told to do. they don’t understand seliph but feel a sense of wavering conviction because they want to do the right thing. but... then it just goes to nothing, this beginning of a mini plot, because they meet larcei and since larcei barely gets a character in this manga, neither will these two. they fall head over heels for her and then lose their characters entirely. i don’t even know what the point of recruiting the BOTH of them was if they weren’t even going to do anything with them. like, sure, show that seliph is a good person. but they were going to show that seliph is great without this incident anyway. 

the fact that julia gets reduced to just a healer hopelessly in love with seliph is sad. she has this crucial plot importance and it’s hinted at with the chapter involving ishtar and julius, but it really goes nowhere because the manga decides halfway through its main focus is going to be the romance between seliph and lana, so we’re going to end the manga in the middle of chapter 9 instead of actual endgame. julia’s just a slightly upgraded form of febail’s character in this lbr. she’s a love rival character meant to inspire angst within lana. woo.............. she gets brownie points i guess for helping along ares’s arc, but eh.

altena was fine. i think they stuck to everything important about her: her devotion to thracia, her dilemma with leif, etc. the arion and altena plot was okay. hell, even though i really like coirpre’s close relationship with altena in the game, i thought how he served as a voice of reason for her in this without the two knowing each other was actually done really well! just. wish coirpre got recruited. but that’s just me being salty, and i really don’t have an actual valid complaint about coirpre’s writing and minimal involvement in the manga. he served a purpose and he did it pretty damn well.

overall?? i thought this manga was a poor adaptation, and i really don’t recommend it as a way to understand fe4 gen 2′s plot at all nor its characters. but it serves its function as supplementary material, and i heard it’s like infinitely shorter than oosawa if you want a shorter read! it’s got its good points with certain characters like i’ve said before ( the tine and leif recruitment chapters are VERY GOOD and i loved fee in this too! ) and the fact it got a few laughs out of me is something i didn’t expect coming into it. i’m personally okay with the art, though i do wish characters didn’t appear crosseyed as often as they do.

[arthoure]

seliph/ares making out in the woods after a dangerous battle

basiliskdragon said: pokes you firmly: ares/seliph

gabrieelreyes said: i will also second ares/seliph pls

I was drawing blanks on relief!makeouts but then you started talking about face kisses and wwwwELP. This also turned out way longer than intended so congratulations; once again this is all your fault: 

Ares is sitting up in his cot by the time Seliph has finished his after-meetings with Lewyn and Shanan. Nanna sits on a wooden stool and tends to a cut on his cheek with a needle and thread while he looks up at the tent’s canvas ceiling like enduring it is nothing but a chore. She is doting more than anything else, Seliph supposes. In the face of all the other wounds Ares had sustained, so many that he hadn’t had the breath to protest when Leif dragged him off the field, the sluggishly-bleeding line on his face, though deep, had been inconsequential.

He musters the stomach to look lower. Bandages cover Ares’s right arm and chest and stomach so thickly that hardly any skin is showing. Seliph’s cheeks heat regardless. It’s mostly anger, he reasons to himself. He has every right to be angry.

Nanna ties her last stitch and nods at Seliph when she notices him approaching. She goes quietly to another patient’s bed and Ares glares at her back when he realizes she’s left him to his fate. The full force of that glare, the Black Knight’s silent and infamous wrath, hits Seliph next, but he purses his lips and busies himself with removing his gloves, making a show of being unfazed.

“I suppose you know why I’m here,” he says.

“I’ve nothing to say to you.”

“You were too reckless, Ares.”

“I’m not in the mood for a lecture.”

“I can’t keep putting you in the ranks if all you do is break them.”

“So I was supposed to just leave your right flank open. Just let someone pincer in and slay the only hope we have.”

Seliph doesn’t retort, though he’d had no intention of giving over the argument when he is in the right. It’s just that Ares speaks so rarely of hope. He sits on the stool at his bedside and takes his chin to study Nanna’s handiwork. The stitches are clean and tidy, though the black thread against Ares’s pale skin seems instinctively wrong, somehow; makes Seliph’s gut twist like he’d eaten something too raw. Though Ares doesn’t pull away, he still finds a way to look at Seliph like his chin is jutted high and Seliph is at the end of his long Nordion nose.

“We’ve been over this,” Ares says.

“Yes, we have. And I said I didn’t, under any circumstance, want you behaving this way.”

“And it’s still irrelevant. Every foe I kill, every blow I take, is one less for you.”

Seliph sighs. The main problem with being with Ares, he’s found, is that they’re equally stubborn. They agree on most everything, but when they don’t, the impasse seems insurmountable. He glides his thumb gingerly over the cut, which almost parallels his sharp cheekbone.

“This could’ve been your eye,” he says. “Could you fight as fiercely with just one eye?”

“After some practice. Besides, it would make me look fearsome – rugged. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“No. I like your eyes.”

They’re the only telling part of him. They smile when his lips don’t, mourn when his voice is steady, fill with love when his tongue won’t shape the word. It has never been so hard for Seliph to speak or to show. If anyone can lose an eye, it can be him. He leans forward and kisses the lid of Ares’s, and then the skin just beneath it, and then each of his stitches, as gently as he can. Ares huffs: a small laugh.  

“This is hardly an admonishment.”

“I was never here to punish you. I’m here because you worried me so much.”

The ever-present confidence fades from Ares’s eyes. Seliph can see from their sudden emptiness, from the slight furrowing of his brow, that he’s confused. It’s not the first time Seliph has suspected that Ares is new to love without punishment, that he is unaccustomed to a touch not given out of possessiveness or anger. The thought makes Seliph press another kiss to his temple.

“I just want to talk you out of any future sallies,” he explains. “If I were to lose you…”

“That’s exactly the thought that led me here in the first place,” Ares argues, but the heat drops from his voice and he lowers his eyes. He mutters, “But I’ll consider being more careful. At your side, maybe, rather than dashing ahead.”

“At my side,” Seliph echoes. He reaches for Ares’s hand and squeezes, and though Ares’s eyebrows slope up even further, he squeezes back so hard it almost hurts. “I like the sound of that.” 

[randomnameless]

FE4 run - the unofficial 3rd Gen

Procrastination at its finest here - what would happen in this run of FE4 after several years?

warning, as always, this is not serious

Queen Larcei and King Seliph of Granvalle are actually pissed at the reconstruction and their own Kingdom - why should they start trading with Agustria first and help them more than help Isaach?

The “nobles” can’t tell them that they’re “barbarians” since Larcei is obviously Isaachian so they use the “it’s too far to send help there, we must secure the Yied Desert first if we want to cross and provide them with goods etc...” card.

But then Larcei tells them that Verdane is closer, and yet Granvalle isn’t helping her brother with his rebel-taming duties. Hell, if she could, she would go there to help him get rid of the bandits. But she can’t because she is Granvalle’s Queen.

Seliph understands that providing help to Verdane will bring less benefits to Granvalle than helping Agustria - who still has a functioning economy, and, besides, as the son of Sigurd, he feels indebted to the people of Agustria (he might have read a letter his cousin’s wife gave him).

So while he is a bit furious but powerless about helping in Isaach’s reconstruction, he continues with the general trend of his forefathers and doesn’t give a fig about Verdane.

Things are difficult in mainland Granvalle for Tine, because everyone and their cats hate Freege, and demand outrageous fees for Reparations about what the Freeges did during the War - when i say everyone and their cats it’s mainly the New Kingdom of Thracia and the Miletos guilds.

Tine and Nanna will never be friendly towards each other until their deaths.

She doesn’t care about Miletos though. Hopefully Seliph puts in place a new policy about “sharing the costs” so every Duchy has to participate. Ultimately, Seliph suspends the payment when he and his cousin have a heart-to-heart talk around the famous bottle of wine because Leif knows now that bleeding dry a country or a duchy isn’t the way to build a lasting peace between nations.

Tine also has problems in her personal life, because he husband is in Jungby and if they manage to get an Ulir Crusader, soon enough they will need a Tordo one but hey, there’s no one left with Tordo blood and there’s a duty not to let bloodlines extinguish (that’s the last thing Seliph heard from F!Lewyn).

Speaking of Jungby, as expected, Faval is the golden puppet Duke whereas Lester - who managed to convince his mom to come home - rules the house. They try to repair some of Faval’s early decisions like opening the castle to accomodate all orphans in the Duchy and giving a quarter of their treasury to the Conote orphanage he used to live in. Faval loves his wife, of course, but she has a duty to recreate a new Tordo line, just like he had to take his Holy Weapon and fight in the last Holy War. So he isn’t sad.

A bit pissed, but not sad.

Johalva was acclaimed as both as a hero and as a kinslayer by the randoms of Dozel. Lana was really pissed about this, but Johalva didn’t deny the various accusations but still add that he had to do those things to protect the civilians, the innocents etc and Julius was really mad, didn’t you see the big monster disappearing in the sky during the end of the war?

He finally managed to be acclaimed as a good Duke after head-butting with some of his fellow Dukes who called him a “disgrace” and managed to make Seliph reconsider his idea of taxing Dozel more than the other Duchies (Chalphy, Jungby and Edda) in the war reparations efforts.

He and Lana also made graves for Johan and Brian, but none were made for Danan.

Lana’s a bit worried about Neir blood disappearing, but given one or two generations cousins could marry and a Crusader could be born again.

Oifey trains Seliph’s son in the ways of chivalry like he did with Seliph when he was younger, he hopes that Seliph’s son will inherit the Chalphy duchy, because he doesn’t feel like he belongs here, in the halls and the throne that were supposed to be Lord Sigurd’s and Lord Byron’s.

Arthur’s dream never comes to fruition, and despite his best efforts, he cannot manage to make the world see Velthomer as anything else but a nest of vipers and other less than savoury people. Fee is the only reason why he didn’t pack his things and run away to Silesse after ten years of rule.

Cherry on top, despite being Azelle’s son, Arthur is also known for having been the one to have killed everyone in his maternal family, so the randoms think they get the short end of the stick - he even killed Lord Ishtore who participated in the child rescues with his sister!

Hopefully with a certain priest’s help, he still managed to rebuild the Duchy so they’re not in the Verdane tier of development anymore. After Arthur’s death, the randoms in Velthomer will say that he wasn’t so bad as a Duke.

Speaking of the savages, Ulster makes his base in Evans because it’s closer to Granvalle and to the royal forces he petitions to help against the barbarians.

When Julia finally joins her husband after being fed up with flower pot duties, she moves the new capital to Genoa. “Verdane” is too remote from everywhere, and in Genoa, they’re both close to Granvalle and to Miletos. Why Miletos? The closer they are to them, the harder it is for them to ignore Verdane, so they will have to listen and maybe obey when they petition for help or to stop putting stupid tariffs on their exports.

Why should they listen? Because Julia is Seliph’s sister and he cares a lot about her well-being.

Ultimately Ulster becomes King of Verdane, but Julia remains a Princess of Granvalle. Their son is the Prince of Persia Verdane and also a Prince of Granvalle. Hopefullu, the kid has major naga blood (even if ulster was overjoyed when the kid managed to “learn” Astra because those rumours about Julia and Seliph are still bothering him, just like they bother his sister) and even if he likes Verdane a lot, some people start to tell him that he has every right to sit in Belhalla and live with the civilised people.

He tells them to fig off.

In Agustria however, there are several rebellions brewing, even after Ares became King. Some former Princes/Kings call him an imposter, other call him too subservient towards Granvalle.

Strangely, though, Lene managed to usher a new era of show and other performing arts - to the point that the New Kingdom became reknown for its great arts. The children puppet shows about the Great King Ares vanquishing the Demon of Granvalle are always full. Through those shows, Agustrians manage to live in a collective fantasy of how they participated in ending the war and fought against Loptyr.

Shagall was the Shield that tried to protect Agustria from the Loptyrians during the first Gen and Eldingan was the Sword who defeated them, but through a deception the Loptyrians had Eldingan killed, so he passed the role of the Sword to his son Ares - everyone was happy, even the old Shagall partisans who, at first, didn’t want Ares or Eldie’s line to usurp the previous line of the Kings of Agustria and reminded Ares of Eldie and House Nodion’s vows.

Sadly enough, Lene wanted to make the lives of the performers and other orphans better with the economic profits earnt by those shoes, but it disappeared in the pockets of the people who were organising said shows. 

Delmud was busy ruling the rest of the country, and exchanging letters with his sister and King Seliph, as the cordial man he has always been.

In Thracia’s New Kingdom we had Leif and Nanna happily creating a new dynasty - and Altenna’s forever alone.

Arion disappeared, and everyone thought that the line of Dain perished with him. However, one of Leif’s former cleric friends told him that there is a child living in (again) an orphanage in Tahra who is Lord Arion’s kid, but for his own sake, it’s better to live as an ignorant peasant than as a prince who lost his kingdom, wouldn’t he agree?

Due to Altenna’s dedication, and Hannibal’s popularity, the Thracians weren’t that crushed when the unification happened, and even if the northeners still have a better lifestyle then their southerners brothers, at the end of Leif’s reign, both people start to have to same lifestyles as in, there are brigands and piss poor people on both sides of the peninsula, but also, rich merchants and assholes in the South too.

Leif is aware that when he asked money to Seliph he acted a bit selfishly, but his Kingdom passes first. They still managed to remain great friends, and Leif’s son married Seliph’s daughter.

In Silesse, Ced manages to get a major blooded baby on someone but realises that he was never cut out to be a King, given how the country governed itself without him during all those years. 

However, he didn’t bail out like his Father, and started to make several researches about dragons, and the mytical land of Archanea - prompted by Loptyr’s sight at the end of the war, and also, because of F!Lewyn.

He volunteered on the first expedition (passing through the northern seas of Silesse) but realised that his place was in Silesse, to study more and, maybe, start to develop trading routes to the new land. It’s only during the last years of his life that he managed to see a returning ship - after several years, sailors finally managed to land somewhere ; they brought him special endemic fruits found in that new land : Zofian Oranges.

The Isaachian people were happy when Shanan returned, because they heard disturbing rumours about their King misbehaving in Thracia and thought that if those rumours started, that meant that he was dead and some man tried to usurp his good name.

They were relieved when they saw him again.

Since the Isaachians had been freed early, they manage to reinstall some sort of government in Isaach (the capital) and everyone from the other kingdoms pledged their allegiance to Shanan - granted, they couldn’t find the former nobles of Sophara, so it was just some elders who participated in the ceremony.

Shanan was a bit disappointed that Granvalle didn’t send as much help as they expected, but thought that maybe Seliph was busy managing internal affairs.

Sadly for him, Patty gave birth to 3 children who all had the brand of Odo on their backs.

He decided that the eldest would remain in Isaac, one would go to Sophara and the last to Ganeishire. 

But the one who was in Sophara wanted to inherit Isaach’s throne, given how he was a boy while the eldest was a woman, and trouble ensued.

More trouble ensued when Seliph’s son didn’t want to return to Chalphy and remain in Belhalla, and when Julia’s granddaughter has had enough of Verdane and managed to steal the Book of Naga, wanting to return to Belhalla.

France Agustria declared itself the Holy land and elected a pope, who took residence in Orgahill and who managed to hear the voices whispers of the gods. Soon enough, being the eldest brother of the Pope, Ares’ son, when he became King, declared the Thracians heretics, for they were developing and practicing dark magic.

Miletos tried to rob everyone using the various tensions as catalysts, but, in the end, they were unable to do a thing when Ares’ second daughter managed to survive a shipwreck when Leif’s only son didn’t. Thracia accused Miletos of having staged an accident to get rid of their heir - Leif’s daughter managed to find (or forge, depends on the POV) a letter detailing how Agustria paid the corrupt Miletosians to sabotage her brother’s lifeboat.

Hopefully Seliph died a few years before the start of the Third War, so he never knew how much the next generation managed to screw what he and friends fought for.

the end

[randomnameless]

FE4 - EPILOGUE

It’s here everyone!

Finally! The epilogue, where i tried to screencap what i could. But more importantly, we know (or are told) that everything ended well in Jugdral, during King Seliph’s reign.

Leif finally managed to unify the peninsula!

“countless small nations constantly warring among themselves” --> i have the feeling whoever wrote that wasn’t a fan of Alster, Conote and Manster.

But with the restoration of House Leonster, the peninsula knows peace! GG House of Leonster! What would Thracia be without House Leonster!

Leif is the first ruler of this new Thracia, so that means New Thracia had several other rulers after him? I hope so.

King Leif?

Leif worked with Leif’s wife

Why is Cairpre called holy? Is it because he is a priest or is it due to his secret Blaggi blood (from his mom)?

Well, i always found it weird that the Thracian peninsula was composed of Thracia and “the northeners” - what kind of thracian people are we talking about, the southern ones of everyone as a whole?

So Alty managed to “rule/govern” the southern area on Leif’s request. Not a bad move.

:)

Her love and dedication for the soil that raised her, at least, Alty acknowledges (or the game) that she is first and foremost a princess to those people in the south. If only Travant was here to read those lines, he’d shed a tear, i’m sure.

So Leif’s full title would be Leif Faris Claus, first King of the Kingdom of New Thracia?

We started here after all!

hahaha

The people of Thracia - Leonster - had it easier because Leif was somehow stronger than Shanan? 

“who is this guy?” “i know it’s that shanam scoundrel”

Patty managed to be a queen in this run!

and she is also the granddaughter of the unnamed Lord of Sophara, but no one cares about Holyn or Isaach’s minor houses

“others” maybe those subkiddies that exist in other runs? or other randoms we never saw, or some with saw like that grandpa trying to marry his granddaughter to seliph?

BARBARIANS

country/state. But given how it’s written here, i’m not sure Isaach stopped being a barbarian country during shanan’s reign, but maybe during his son’s or grandson’s.

i wonder who annexed Agustria - maybe the commander who lead his forces to kill its previous King?

Agustria is a weird topic, because in the first gen the Freeges were supposed to go there, but ended up in Manster instead.

Jugdral AU : Blume and co never went to Manster, so Travant controled the peninsula during the second gen.

Led by the ghost of Eldie - let’s be real, House Nordion is Eldie and his son, no one gives a crap about Delmud

See? What was i saying

unless the beta still roamed in the epilogue, so the heirs of Eldie could be Ares and Delmud...

but curse the beta, it wasn’t released so Eldie sits on the throne of Chagall due to his Eldie-looks.

Hell, if Ares had his own Shanam (Arep?) would the people rally behind the faker because he looks like Eldie?

It is sad that Ares is acclaimed in Agustria because of his looks, the people here don’t know a thing about him, and i’m not sure if being eldie’s kid is more important than being a hero of the war in their eyes...

Queen Lene!

a random

King Ares managed to do great things during his reign?

yay!

So the civilised and arrogant guys returned to be Granvalle’s most crucial partner asap, but the brave Isaachians who helped Seliph during his quest and saved his life will have to wait decades before being seen as somehting else than barbarians from the east.

Never change Granvalle, never change.

it’s not because Arvis’ half Verdanite that he has to care about this place! Ask Seliph!

just like we did when we killed the royasl, took the surviving member of the line with us on our journeys, let Granvalle administer the remaining Verdanites and never ever gave a fig about Verdane anymore

wait wait

there are clans in Verdane???

“let’s call him heroic for the sake of it”

long-awaited return of Jamke or of Ulster?

I mean... if we don’t have some sort of “a letter written by Eldie 100% legit” kind of shenanigans, i can’t understand why “youths” would come to Ulster’s side. Why would they care about Jamke? He was a guy who left the country when it was in dire need of, idk, administration and never returned.

and let’s add he sided with Siggy, who invaded the land for friendship.

one year to get rid of bandits?

“no one year to cross the forest”

“rightful throne” again. What kind of rightful throne could Ulster claim? Rightful due to being Jamke’s son or rightful after having restored some order in the country?

with the support of Grannvale “and his wife, Princess Julia”

nope :)

With the help of Granvalle and Agustria? GDI, put the two most racist and assholic countries together to help a former barbarian country...

I mean Granvalle can’t really shit on him since Julia’s married to the guy - but would Julia’s kids end up in Verdane, with the book of Naga or remain in civilised Granvalle?

not this nonsense again

well, some lines are missing

but compare to Agustria where Ares managed to recreate, during his reign, a powerful country, Ulster worked to rebuild the peaceful Verdane but it isn’t said that Verdane managed to become a new country as important as Granvalle or a suitable partner during Ulster’s reign...

GG Ced! Well, the land isn’t that ruined and you have to thank your mom, your sister and Misha for that.

Really? I thought he tried to run away in the first gen, at least that what was Rahna said, and i can’t disagree with her.

so is Silesse a barbarian kingdom or a civilised state?

Ah, finally!

Poor guys

Tinni’s a lord.

Maybe Faval and Tinni can still meet each other once a in while, or something.

Lester? Lester what, Lester who? At least Delmud had a nickname!

Oifey’s the Lord of Chaphy now, even if he spent more of his life in Isaach than in Granvalle.

Finally!

“officially” maybe some people opposed it and wanted to put, idk, Julia on the throne? Or Julia’s husband (even if he is a Verdanite/Isaachian barbarian) à la Arvis’n’Deedee?

So Seliph is anointed by whoever is in charge of the Blaggi Church it’d be priceless if Saias did it

let me tell you : it failed.

uh... I could see Lana or Tinni, but Larcei?

HERE IT IS 

JULIA’S GREAT ROLE AFTER THE WAR

“Divine”? Maybe on par with the 12 Crusaders? Well, at least it’s in the ages to come, and not right now.

He will be remembered thousands of years later in the magical land of Ylisse!

The end!

[randomnameless]

Maybe I misunderstood, but Kaga didn't say Lex was the ONLY good Dozel, so much as his brother and father were rigid traditionalists who weren't connected with the current populace and thus weren't very popular among them. Like Lex was one of the first Dozels to look past the ancient grudge between them & Chalphy. The game did show Langobolt saying a prayer for Lord Ring & disgust at Andre's patricide, as well as reluctance to fight Lex, showing again his traditionalism(the good side to it).

I’m always for bringing more nuance to the Dozels, and if F!Lewyn is any indication as to what Kaga was thinking, there are no “good” Dozels, and Langobalt is the worst human being in both gens

a good dozel is a dead dozel

Lex went first and foremost on Siggy’s adventure for Azelle, he says it himself in the first chapters that he isn’t all buddy-buddy with Siggy and his Chalphian pals. Then Lex fights with Siggy, lives with Siggy, and is branded a traitor by his dad, just like Siggy.

Langbalt was not the best Lord/Duke around, he was willing to brand his son a traitor, and even called Danan useless, on top of being A-OK with regicide, and murdering Byron.

Langbalt wasn’t the mastermind F!Lewyn painted him to be Reptor was. He was just in because he didn’t like the Chalphys (it’s never explained why in the game btw) and wanted to get rid of Kurth too. He led his troops to Isaach, murdered (?) the good king Mananan and got rid of Marricle.

Was Reptor in to become the ultra mega emperor of the universe? I think so. Was Langbalt in for the same reasons? I don’t know, but I think we’re not supposed to see him as amibtious as Reptor, he was just the brawns to Reptor’s brain (or at least, that’s how it was painted).

Sadly we don’t learn a thing about the Dozel commoners, were they supporting Langbalt or Lex? Bear in mind that Dozel sent their men in the war against Isaach, because those barbarians pillaged Darna etc etc. Lex harbouring Prince Shanan could be seen as treason, even by the randomest peasant in the duchy (if he didn’t die during the war).

Danan being a tyrant in Isaach is obviously another story, Isaach is a conquered country, the conquered people are nothing but slaves (remember when Siggy invaded Granvalle and Augstria and the Granvallians were being asses to the verdanites/augstrians? It’s the same idea) and maybe mcRandom Dozel is super happy that his duchy managed to get rid of those barbarians and how they have to show them who’s the best/most civilised country - with all of the disgusting implications we learn of during the game.

We never saw what the randoms in Granvalle were thinking, because the only randoms we see in the last chapter are randoms begging us to save the world from Loptyr, without any words regarding the previous heads of their Duchies or anything else.

We don’t even know what the randoms were thinking about Lex during the first gen, or between the gens or thinking about Langbalt.

So when our Jo-bro tells his bro that the “people” are behind him and not behind Burian, we’re supposed to buy this thing, even taking into account how said jo-bro killed his own “good” brother for a stupid reason or taking into account how maybe Burian sided with Julius to prevent Julius going all Hilda on Dozel and killing them on a whim or somehting

It’s as if randoms are only here to praise us, but no one is here to call us on our shit, save randoms hailing from mystical land of thracia where a fisherman trashtalks prince leif

More seriously, it fits with Kaga’s idea of the game, we see the war through Jugdral’s lens, not through Seliph’s personal POV; so it doesn’t matter if randoms were a bit unhappy at things, in the end, the land is fred from Arvis, Emperor (?) Seliph rules Granvalle and the continent is “at peace” as in, no draconic threat or massive continental war happens.

Does it matter if Arthur/Jo-bro/whoever inherits Verdane has a hard time ruling their lands? Nope. Are we going to take into account peasants? Nope.

Think of it as SoV’s ending, Alm and Celica fred their land from the gods, they know some random are going to starve (especially the ones in Rigel?) without anyone to bless the crops, but it doesn’t matter because in the long run, the continent fares well

until chrom and his merry band of friends invade to get rid of Walhart

FE4′s own ending mentions this issue with Ares having to face a civil war in France Augstria, he ultimately becomes King and that’s the result we want to hear. Do we want to hear about Diarmuid’s heroic feats against Chagall’s lost bastard son? Nope. Do we want to hear about how Diarmuid helped peasants to revolt against Mc Beth’s widow who hired bandits to rape/pillage/burn for fun? Nope.

Ares became King, and it’s the only thing that matters in Agstria.

So back to the Dozels topic…

If Kaga wanted to show us “good” Dozels, he failed. Compare with what happened with the Freeges, or even Arvis himself. Hell, I’d say Lex counts as a “good” Dozel because he was with Siggy’s company, and the jobros don’t because most of the time we have a lex’s son to take over Dozel, and their antics with Larcei kill any sympatic points.

Maybe he didn’t want to make them one-dimensional so he added Burian, and Langobalt’s line about parricide (rans false given hom he branded his own son a traitor) might have existed to show how much of a little shit André was.

[moczothe1st]

Let’s Play Fire Emblem IV: Genealogy of the Holy War; Part 20: He’s Blume, Dabba Dee Dabba DIE

Part 19

Welcome back for another week of Fire Emblem IV: Genealogy of the Holy Oh Shit It’s Chapter Eight.  

I… have some war flashbacks going about this one.  I… yeah. Okay. Let’s… let’s just start the story.  Story. Please.

The peninsula’s north, once ruled by several small kingdoms, is graced with rich pastures, while the South, the Kingdom of Thracia, is a harsh wasteland dominated by vast mountains.  In ages past, seeking to claim the life-giving northern land as their own, Thracia’s infamous dracoknights have led countless brash attempts to conquer the north, only to be repelled at every turn by the might of House Leonster. Thracia looked to have won at last following their slaughter of Leonster’s army in the Yied Desert, only to be defeated in turn by Blume of Freege, who claimed the land as his own. And so, the so-called Kingdom of North Thracia was born as yet another servant state of the Empire.

Over a decade has passed since then. Not even Thracia’s King Travant, an ambitious man with a thirst for power and glory, dares to challenge the will of the Empire. And so, a strange peace looms over the region. Or so it did, until the arrival of Seliph and his liberation army

Blume’s defeat at his own capital has abruptly tipped the balance of the Thracian stalemate. Both the Alster and Leonster territories now lie under the liberation army’s control, forcing Blume to retreat to Connaught and muster the strength to take Alster back.  

(Oh fuck it’s Ishtar)

Braces itself for the threat of Thracian invaders.

Meanwhile, across the border in Thracia itself, both King Travant and his border watchman, General Maykov of Meath Castle, remain eerily silent. The people are united in their fondest wish: For the Thracian Peninsula to return to the rule of House Leonster.

And so dawns yet another battle…

Blume: Banba! How could the three of you let yourselves be cowed into fleeing? What a disgrace!

Banba: A thousand apologies, milord. However, you’ve nothing to worry about anymore.  Even as we speak, General Muhammad prepares his brigade to lay siege to Alster, and General Ovo’s cavalry are en route to Leonster. We, too, shall rejoin the fray shortly.

Blume: Hrm… don’t fail me this time.  And what of King Travant? Why are the promised Thracian reinforcements nowhere to be seen?  

(Because he’s arguably the one person in this peninsula who’s more of a douche than you, Blume ol’ buddy.)

Banba: We’ve yet to receive any response to any of our messengers so far.

Blume: Gah… what in the blazes is that snake thinking?

Banba: King Travant is an ambitious man. To blindly trust him would be foolish.  

(Shame you’re just a recolor of the standard female villain model, Banba. You just marked yourself as the smartest person in this country.)

Blume: … No matter. Even without his forces, we’ve enough power to stop the rebels cold. Banba, Fotla, Eriu!  Move out at once! This time, leave not a single rebel alive!

Banba: Yes, milord. We will not fail.  

Mr. Needypants: How long… how long will it be until Manster is free from the Empire?

Ced: Don’t lose hope now! Even as we speak, Lord Seliph and his liberators are out there fighting for the district. They’ll be here before long. Go! Tell your friends and family that your freedom is so very nearly in reach! Please, my friends, believe me. Manster’s freedom is fast approaching!

Beautiful Man 57: The Empire has already lost both Alster and Leonster to the Isaach rebels. He wishes to hire us to help reclaim them.

Travant, Ew: The Isaach rebels are led by that Seliph brat… Sigurd’s spawn, correct? Heh… poor, poor Blume. He’s getting so old, even little children are a thorn in his side! Pay Blume no heed, Arion. The Empire and the rebels are best left to break themselves on each other for now. We’ll mop up the leftovers once they’re nice and weak.

Arion: I should have known, Father… all along you’ve been waiting out Blume’s little storm, haven’t you?

Travant: But of course! It’d make no sense to bend over backward for the man who snatched the hard-won north out from under our noses, would it? Leonster’s downfall should have meant a peninsula unified under our rule… I’ll neither forgive nor forget Blume’s craven conquest.

(‘Craven’ by whose standards, Mr. ‘Take a Baby Hostage’?)

Arion: Even now, we still lack the power to truly face Grannvale on an even battlefield… I can only imagine your frustration, Father.

Travant: Thracia’s fate depends on a unified peninsula. The verdant northern soils are the perfect cure for the famine and poverty wracking our south. We’ve been shunned and vilified for centuries,  dismissed as ravenous hyenas… Yet what choice did we ever have? If not for our answer to this world’s craving for sellswords, Thracia would never have had the funds to barely survive as we do. We’ve toiled in poverty long enough, Arion. It’s high time Thracia carved itself a future! A future, I might add, which depends on the outcome of the game laid before us…

(I think, unfortunately, this is kind of a writing fumble. We’re apparently really supposed to buy Travant as a patriot willing to do terrible things for the good of his country, and yet everything he does just oozes liquid smug and cheerful evil. Just, I mean… once you’ve seen a man take a baby hostage so he can murder her dad more easily? It’s really hard to view him as well-intentioned on any level.)  

Lewyn: Do it. With Blume still on the loose in Connaught, there’s no sense in skimping on the defenses. Oh, and we’ve received a plea for help from the people of Manster Castle. The sooner our forces reach them, the better.

Seliph: Very well. We shall make the first move!

…………………….. And it shall be to go to the Arena!

Seliph: Seven wins, gained four levels: +6 HP, +2 Skill, +3 Strength, +2 Speed, +1 Defense, +1 Resistance

Julia: Seven wins, gained two levels: +2 HP, +1 Skill, +1 Speed, +2 Luck, +1 Resistance

Shanan: Seven wins, gained two levels: +3 HP, +2 Skill. Told you they were his only two good growths.

Oifey: Seven wins, gained one level: +2 HP, +1 Strength

Ulster: Seven wins, gained two levels: +1 HP, +1 Strength, +2 Speed, +1 Luck

Larcei: Seven wins, gained three levels: +3 HP, +2 Skill, +2 Strength, +3 Luck

Lester: Six wins, gained two levels: +2 HP, +1 Speed, +1 Strength, +2 Luck

Dermott: Six wins, gained two levels: +2 HP, +2 Skill, +2 Strength, +1 Luck+2 Defense

Fee:  Seven wins, gained three levels: +3 HP, +2 Skill, +2 Strength, +1 Speed, +1 Magic, +1 Luck

Arthur: Seven wins, gained three levels: +3 HP, +3 Skill, +2 Speed, +2 Magic, +1 Luck

Tinni: Seven wins, gained three levels: +3 HP, +2 Skill, +2 Speed, +1 Magic, +1 Luck

Patty: Six wins, gained three levels: +3 HP, +2 Skill, +2 Strength, +2 Speed, +3 Luck, +2 Defense, +1 Resistance

Johan: Four wins, gained one level: +1 HP, +1 Strength, +1 Speed, +1 Defense, +1 Resistance

Ares: Seven wins, gained three levels: +3 HP, +3 Strength, +1 Skill, +3 Speed, +2 Luck, +2 Defense, +1 Resistance

Leif: Seven wins, gained three levels: +3 HP, +2 Strength, +2 Skill, +1 Magic, +1 Speed, +3 Defense

Nanna: Seven wins, gained levels: +3 HP, +2 Skill, +3 Strength, +2 Speed, +2 Luck, +2 Defense.  She has apparently decided she won’t be a healer this run, but holy shit she’s going to break some heads.    

Finn: Seven wins, gained two levels: +1 HP, +1 Skill, +1 Strength, +1 Speed, +1 Defense

Oh, that’s the stuff. Now, let’s look at the actual chapter.

We start off with two castles, both on the far west side of the map; Leonster in the north and Alster in the south, the two castles Leif was bouncing around near in the last chapter. There’s only one path to take in this one: go straight at Blume in Connaught, then south to Manster, then right on further south to deal with Thracia inevitably being dicks.  However, do not assume. This is gonna be a slog. First order of business is to get some units up to Leonster; right now they only have Finn, Leif, and Nanna, who almost definitely cannot hold against what’s coming their way.  On the way, we have two conversations to share.

Julia: I’m… scared. I sense an evil presence… something dark… and it’s closing in…

Seliph: What do you mean?

Julia: Seliph… be on your guard… Ishtar is a fierce foe… you cannot fight her… you must not…

Seliph: Julia?! What’s happening to you?!

Julia: Ahh… I… w-what in the world just…?

Seliph: Julia… you’re…

(And Seliph gets +1 Luck from that, because…… shut up, that’s why. In fairness, Julia isn’t wrong.)

Arthur: Hrm… yeah, I guess.  

Fee: Hmmmmmmmm.  Who knew you had it in you? I never would’ve guessed that you’re even able to worry about anyone but yourself? I might have to rethink everything just a bit!

Arthur: Well, er, you’re a special case…

Fee: Eh?

Arthur: Er, never mind! Anyway, just don’t do anything too rash, alright? See you…

And Fee gets +3 HP, because… the worry… makes her more… able to take damage…?  Look, I don’t know.  It’s weird. And since there’s no enemies able to reach us, end turn here.

(Game, for fuck’s sake, that’s not even a palette swap of Chagall. It’s just him.  I know you need to save memory, but that’s just lazy.)

Muhammed (Seriously?): If anyone dares to question my command, come forth and allow me to relieve your neck of your head! No volunteers? Good. ATTACK!

(… Ah, I see. You had to re-use Chagall’s sprites so there was enough memory available for the most amazing looking man in the entire game. Okay, I forgive you.)

And with that, it’s our turn again. Ovo and the three mage sisters (… Are they sisters? I actually don’t know. They look identical, but so does) are moving toward Leonster and Leif, while Muhammed (Seriously, though?!) is moving toward Alster and Seliph. I have the cavalry brigade head up to reinforce Leif, along with Ulster since he can run very fast with his Leg Ring, while the rest of the ground-pounders stay with Seliph to help him stomp the armor unit.  And of course there’s bandits moving toward the villages, because fuck you, so we will need to hurry somewhat. I move right into the edge of the enemy range, and prepare for the assault, because I’ve worked out that this is the best way to do it. Boring but practical, man.  

Also, Finn can talk to Leif, somehow missed that last turn.  

(I hope you enjoy the politics of the Thracian Peninsula, because the next map is here too and it never stops sucking.)  

Finn: We aren’t in for an easy battle, but no matter what happens, we must persevere.  

Leif: I know, Finn.  

(“Did you seriously just tell me ‘fighting is hard but we should try to win’? Did you think this was a revelation?”)

Leif:  I’ve always dreamed that this day, the day of Leonster’s freedom, would come… I’ll do all I can to bring peace to the peninsula and save the people from King Blume’s tyranny. To fulfill Father’s final wishes at last… and if I need to lay down my life to make our dream a reality, then so be it.

Finn: Please, my lord! It ill-befits a future king to do something so rash! You mustn’t say such things!

(Okay, maybe Leif did need to be told that he should try to win.)

Leif: Er, you’re right… sorry, Finn. I know how hard you worked to protect me from the Empire’s pursuit in my youth. I recall how often you’d let yourself starve, just so I wouldn’t have to go without food… all my life you’ve made sacrifice after sacrifice for my sake, and only now do I understand this. I’ll always be grateful for all you’ve done, Finn.

Finn: My lord, the Thracian region has been plagued by strife for generations, but your father dared to dream of uniting it under a lasting peace. He may be gone, but you still yet live, and so too does the hope of fulfilling his dream. Only you stand a chance of uniting Thracia.

And with that Leif gains… holy crap, +3 Strength?! Okay, damn, Finn, tell Leif that he needs to win more often.  Never stop telling him he needs to win.  

End turn! Come at me, Blume.

Special Cousin Friend getting smashed in the face day! Now, let’s let them repay the enemy.

Okay, Seliph’s team pretty much owned, thanks for that very good dance, Lene, but Leif’s team is still undermanned and if they try to go toe-to-toe with the enemy, they’re screwed. So, to give them a chance to hold out until reinforcements arrive, I have Finn take out the vanguard:

And then they run south to park on the forests there.  I do not think any of them are in serious danger of dying, and this puts them close enough to the rest of the army that next turn Ares will show up to kill the entire enemy army by himself with his sheer awesomeness.  End turn!

(Where do these people keep getting reinforcements?!)

Faval: Look, Blume, I’m a busy man. Tell me what you want, or I’m leaving.  

Blume: Tch… Listen carefully. I’ve an employment opportunity for you.

Faval: … An employment opportunity?

Blume: Yes, Faval. I require your services in putting down the rebel army.  

Faval: Pass. I might be a mercenary, but I’m certainly not about to do your dirty work.  

(…. Then why did you come? You’re a mercenary, what did you think he wanted to see you for? A tea party?)

Blume: Oh, really? Then what will become of all those orphans in your care? Rumor has it your dear sister has taken to stealing the money you need to take care of them. Are you content with such a life?

Faval: I guess you’re right. I dunno if I can take Patty risking her life like this much longer. And we do sorely need the gold…

(I was going to make a crack about the SUBTLE HINTS as to the identity of Faval’s sister, but he kind of took the fun out of it.)

Blume: Bring me Seliph’s head, Faval, and you’ll have all the gold your orphans will ever need and more. Your dear sister would approve.

Faval: Deal. I know this’ll come back to bite me, but if it means saving the kids… you have my bow. Just this once.

Soooo. Patty’s brother. Means he’s Bridget’s son.  You know what bow he means, and we definitely need to get his sister up there to make sure he doesn’t shoot us with it.  But first, war:

Why do you people hate Nanna so much?!  Well, at least she badly wounded all of them, so we can just mop up an-

*sigh* Why do they have five healers with them? Seriously? Am I being trolled?

…. Fuck.

*phew* He can’t double. Okay, we got this  then. First step, remove that motherfucker.  

Thank you, Best Finn. Now, Lana busts out the Physic Staff to heal Nanna, and we send a few jerks to join their commander

Ulster’s amazing level would normally be the highlight there, but I honestly kind of prefer Leif busting out that weird multiform Dragonball Z shit for his critical hit animation. Way to rock, buddy.  Southern front, can you top them?

Awesome! Seliph is ready to promote, so I should maybe have him run back right now and sell the Paragon Ring for someone else to purchase? I mean, he actually hasn’t gotten very far yet. Either way, Muhammad’s group is now taken down and the other one has the whole horse division to fight, so we have things mostly under control. All that remains is to get people to those villages, and get Patty up to make sure her brother doesn’t murder us. End turn!

All right! Nanna continues her quest to become a frontline fighter, and honestly when she promotes she’s basically gonna be there. Is there someone else who can use her staff? She can’t really put it to the best use, frankly, and she can use the money to buy more swords.  

Our turn, and the mage sisters are almost to our doorstep, so it’s really time to finish off Ovo’s group. Luckily most of them chose to commit suicide by Nanna on their turn, so there’s actually only two left. So it’s as simple as staying just outside their range, except for Fee with her Bolt Sword handy  to meet Banba head on; Banba is the fire one and Fee’s going to have weapon triangle over her, so it should be a good way to soften her up to start off with.

Oh, and killing the last two guys, obviously.

Heeeeey, way to rock out, Johan! You don’t often impress me, but I cannot complain about your performance here.  I don’t think anything can ruin this good mood. End turn!

(OH FUCK IT’S ISHTAR)

Ishtar: What’s happened, Father? How could a pack of simple rebels get to you, of all people? This is so very unlike you.

Blume: These are no mere rebels! They’ve already slaughtered Ishtore, and Tinni is lost to us as well because of them… the defeated Banba and her sisters… I can’t leave this task to them again. You’re all I have left to depend on!

Ishtar: Understood, but I have one condition. I need the Book of Mjolnir. If I’m wielding Mjolnir, I won’t need an army with me. I alone will be more than enough.

(SHE’S NOT JOKING)

Blume: W-what?! You want me to… Fine. Very well. You can take Mjolnir.  But don’t you dare fail me now!

Ishtar: You can trust me, Father. By your leave.  

(NOT THE TIME, LADY)

All right. Okay. Okay. I have Larcei move toward one of the villages, kill the stupid mage sisters…

And… and prepare for the… issue.  The issue that’s coming toward us, very slowly, and we’re fucked.  

So this is Ishtar, and she’s just… she’s just the worst.  I mean, Mjolnir always turns anyone holding it into an utter bastard, but just for fun, compare her stats to the other two users of the tome.  

Look at those comparisons, and tell me what you see.  Reptor has more magic, certainly, both of them have more defense.... but speed. Ishtar’s speed is fucking 39, breaking the game’s speed cap, and of course her ability list includes Adept. So unlike her predecessors, she can double-attack, and getting hit twice with Mjolnir is a death sentence. 

And I don’t know, maybe all this sounds like she’s a super exciting challenge? But that’s also not true. See, she also has Vantage, meaning once her health gets below half she’ll always attack first, regardless of turn.  And if that happens, your odds of beating her drop a ton, because there’s not a lot of units who can take one hit from Ishtar, much less two if she procs Adept (and she will, right when it’s most inconvenient, because fuck you).  So fighting Ishtar is basically a game of tag with nuclear bombs. The actual fight is only going to last about thirty seconds when I actually meet her: either I take her out in one combat round, or she’ll kill someone and force a reset, period.

And there’s only a few units in our ranks who can pull that off: Arthur/Ares if they proc Critical, Shanan/Larcei/Ulster if they proc Astra.  

Most of the above cannot survive a counterattack from Ishtar.

It’s… it’s not a good situation.  

End turn. Nothing happens on the enemy phase beyond the slow inexorable approach of death, so I start off our new turn by clearing a village out:

And send Fee, Dermott, and Finn up toward the other one. They should be able to clear it before it’s totally destroyed, at least, and I’d like Fee to get some more money; I think she’s a good choice for the Paragon Ring after Seliph sells it in a minute here, since her level’s lagging a bit.  Ares and Arthur are both moving into position to deal with Ishtar, and hopefully between the two of them nobody will die, but before her Faval is in place and he’s going to be a problem all his own because we can’t kill the little prick.

I mean, we could,  but Patty would be sad.  End turn, and-

… Really? Right next to each other? You two are asses.  Okay, let’s try this.  

All right, Patty is now right at the edge of Faval’s movement, and to the south Arthur is ready to swoop up and fight Ishtar as she comes in behind him. This… will be tricky. Patty absolutely cannot fight Ishtar, probably not even after promoting, unless you somehow got very lucky with Luna and a Brave Sword.  For now, though, there’s nothing left to do but end our turn.  

Okay. Okay. We can do this. We CAN.  First, I have the northern troops clear that second village. Not because I’m procrastinating, I just enjoy clearing villages.

Nice Girl: I’ve heard all the stories about your army, and I’ve been praying you’d come. Lord Seliph is our beacon of hope! Here, take this power ring. It’s not much, but it’s all we have to show our gratitude.

… I didn’t remember that was there, but it’s pretty much exactly what Fee needed most of all, so happy coincidence.  Down at the front, Patty moves in to slap some sense into her bro.

Patty: Ugh… don’t tell me you actually let Blume buy out your bow arm!

Faval: Patty? Wait, why are you with the rebels?

Patty: To protect people, of course! We’ve come this far working together, and I know we’re gonna stop Blume for good! I don’t get it. Did you just go and forget everything?! That if it wasn’t for the Empire, none of the kids would be orphans!  But no, here you are, kissing up to the man who ruined all our friends’ lives!  What the heck were you thinking, Faval?!

Faval: You’re absolutely right…. I’m so sorry, Patty. I guess I just wasn’t thinking at all.  

Patty: Any scumbag can apologize until they’re blue in the face! If you’re really sorry, then get over here! Come help us fight for peace!

Faval: … Alright, Patty. I’m with you. You’ve certainly come a long way lately…

Patty: Hee hee… I guess I have!

You do you, Patty. Faval, welcome aboard. 

So here’s Faval, and he’s a solid unit overall, like his mom before him. His highest growths are going to be in Skill, Luck, and HP (a whopping 175% for that last one, thanks to having two Holy Bloods and a tanky father) but none of them are particularly bad other than Resistance. And he has a Holy Weapon, so he’s never going to be useless.  His only skill is Pursuit, but that’s really all he needs; he shouldn’t be up close to the enemy anyway.  

Now then. Ishtar.

Ares and Arthur are ready, and they’re our best options with Forseti and Mystletainn to rock out on her stupid face.  But because I love you, there is a little extra convo to have with Ishtar first, so… save state.    

(Remember they’re cousins, they know each other pretty well. Protip: Do not try to have this conversation in the actual game, Tinni is about to get crushed into a fine paste.)

Ishtar: You’ve turned traitor, then? I’m disappointed in you, Tinni!

Okay, now let’s do our real turn.  Arthur, you’re on point.  

(Your reluctance would seem a little more convincing if I hadn’t watched you vaporize your baby cousin thirty seconds ago.)

*deep breath* Arthur procced Critical. In the great game of Ishtar Rocket Tag, we came out on top… and thank God for it, because his resistance isn’t superb and I’m pretty sure her counter would have killed him.  I realize that this makes me look like a big whiner, but that was a stroke of absurd luck and I’m thanking my lucky stars individually and by name.  

… Interesting dying quote there.  

Oooooh dear.

Julius: Come, Ishtar. I need you.

Ishtar: Y-yes, milord! Anything you wish!

Well, that was fuckin’ ominous! Yeah. Yeah. Our first meeting with Crown Prince Julius and he… well he doesn’t seem like a nice young man, to say the least.  Um. Let’s… let’s just… go promote Seliph! Hahaha, yay, promotions! Not scary!

Congrats, Seliph. You’ve officially reached exactly where your dad started.  Though he does, for some reason, have the ability to dismount his horse and go back to being on foot at any time he chooses. It’s not entirely clear why he can do this, but he can. So if you run into somebody with a Horseslayer or something, that will be nice. I’m… not sure there are any more enemies with horseslayers in the game, but if there were Seliph would be all set.

Now, time to end this.

I realize this doesn’t look too bad, but appearances can unfortunately be very deceiving.  All three of those mages and Blume himself are all packing siege tomes, meaning that while you’re fighting your way through the armor leading the way, you are also going to be getting your ass bombarded constantly.  So to start, the best idea is to kill off the first group of armors outside the range of the mages, I think. I move Faval into their range to test out that shiny bow of his.  End turn!

…

They don’t move on their own! Dicks! Okay, we do this the hard way. 

Not bad, not bad. Unless of course all three of the mages and Blume all target the same person and they all hit, but… hahahahaha… what are the odds of that.  Hahahahaha.

End turn.

………….. This… game… is being so nice to me on this map.  What���s going on.  First I lucked out majorly on Ishtar, and now I’m lucking out on Blume.  What are you planning, game?!  

Okay. Okay. We just need to kill these guys and end the update before my luck can abandon me. Guys. Guys, hurry.

What’s going on. End turn, hurry.  Hurry you strange army of winners, I don’t know you but I love you.

My God even Johan can’t die anymore.

HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE…

You cannot stop me, Blume. Your lightning is weak and small.

*cough*

Sorry, went mad with power. Um…. Let’s see a shot of Tinni continuing her character growth, hm?

Blume: Gah...

Turns out little Tinni has a bit of a backbone to her when she’s not going to be immediately incinerated by divine lightning.  Not a  great fight, but unlike both his dick kids, Blume has no way to double attack or critical so he also can’t kill her as long as you make sure she gets healed between fights. If I could trust him to always go after her, I’d let her chip him down.  But he still has that damn Bolting tome, so I can’t.  So. Let’s end this.

………………. Okay, that’s Ares’s first bad level since he joined, so I’ll allow it.  From here, all that’s left is to take the castle, so I have everyone move south to get ready to cross the river when it opens, and… rock it, Seliph.

Lewyn: Don’t be too excited just yet. The real problem here is still Thracia.

Seliph: What makes you think so? What would cause Thracia to break neutrality now, of all times?

(“They are what is known, in tactical terms, as a bunch of dicks.”)

Lewyn: You’ve never had to deal with King Travant before. Just ask Prince Leif; if not for Travant, he would still have his parents. Travant’s murder of them was a cruel ambush, an insult to the honor of a knight like Quan.  Who knows what game he’s playing now…

I like that Lewyn’s summary is basically a fancier version of what I said.   See you next week when King Travant is a giant dick, because that’s the entirety of what he does, always. Laters!               

Part 21

[randomnameless]

Final chapter - Chalphy to Edda to Dozel !

Seliph starts to conquer the various duchies opposing him, faces the Great Wall (tm) and ends up killing an old man.

But who will inherit the duchy?

Who cares!

(given how the Edda part was too short, i added Dozel)

AND SO,

After years of fighting, Johalva returns home and meets his last brother.

Finally Seliph finishes the Dozel story.

Again, Who cares?

We finally learn the truth about Julia!

and we all say a bif F to Lewyn 

The Great Wall (tm) of Edda! Quite frankly, this part was annoying. Crusader or not, when Ced is targeted by a sleep staff, he sleeps.

maybe this wall was where Kaga thought “what if i make Staff Emblem 776 next?”

He has hard feelings even if he’s asleep! Granted, he didn’t die. Lucky him! And sorry for you, Voltz’s ripoff.

Prince Shanan isn’t being receptive. Scold him Patty! Is this a way to talk to your wife?!

SHE MADE A PIE HERE IT IS SUMIA HAD BEEN TAKING NOTES FROM PATTY’S HANDBOOK - kidding, it’s adorable but i agree with Shanan here.

Light Touch? We’re always needing gold Patty! Go and steal those fools, with your famous wind sword!

Now, he is only worried about your safety, even if he doesn’t know how to show it. he’s trying to look cool (tm) as if he was 12.

Shanan swallows his pride - he loves her (meals)! 

Daw :)

what the flying fuck did you put in this Patty??

DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU’RE TALKING TO??

Shanan wants to kill people, it’s a side effect from Patty’s lunch. Did she put some berserk powder in it?

Well, he’s completely stoned

This is so evil, i love it but don’t forget, Loptyr goon, that you are too, a mortal.

Hopefully Shanan managed to break free from the berserk pie, so Leif kills an old man instead. GG Leif? Why are you talking about damnation dude, did you know you were serving under Loptyr or were you feeling bad because you were ruling over Edda when it’s kind of common knowledge that Claude was murdered by the Loptyrians?

Julius doesn’t give a fig

So maybe Claude’d be happy that his land is now safe, but Claude DID NOT gave his life for Siggy’s cause!

He was branded a traitor because he knew too much from the Blaggi Tower - not because he was a friend of Siggy! Claude and Siggy bonded because they were both branded traitors ; but under no circumstances Claude was branded a traitor because of Siggy!

Honestly Seliph, not everyone died because of Siggy!

:) 

I made a post about it earlier

Giving crap advices #1 : look after them from now on, and completely ignore Lene and Cairpre who have Blaggi blood, and their children. I’m sure it won’t bring catastrophes.

Hopefully no one can look at that screen !

Ooh! If Brian stayed in the kitchen in the castle it’d have been a pain to seize it, OTOH, by charging on Chalphy, he is more dangerous due to his high mobility and stupid stats. Our useless units (Lester) can’t survive a fight with Duke Brian.

Legendary? So that means that the peons we’ve been killing in Isaach, who were with Danan, weren’t Dozel’s finest soldiers but mere peons?

Diarmuid is the son of the man who killed Langbalt, you had no chance.

He is the one and only Dozel slayer! Granted, here, he won’t be killing Brian (because he can’t)

Murder it was, and yes, at least two generations of Dozels were killed by Chalphians “wait i’m not from chalphy i’m leif from leonster” “you’re from chalphy”

The sass! Brian doesn’t call him a traitor though, but a moron! Maybe he still sees him as family, even if he turned against his bro and his dad. It’s kind of wholesome, in a way.

Not the people of Dozel Johalva. But look, he swears to look after his Duchy! yay?

Now Brian is mad, because Johalve mentioned the people? Is it a case where Brian thinks he has the HW so the people must be behind him as the Crusader, and Johalva is spouting nonsense, or Brian being mad because Johalva completely writes him off the future Dozel scenario, meaning that he wants to fight?

You made your big bro mad - honestly, idk if it was on purpose or not, but by his sheer class, Brian is stronger than his siblings and can wreck them without his HW.

Hopefully Ced finished to sleep and uses his magic to kill him. If it weren’t for him though... I wonder how you kill him in a sub only run. He has so much def, Seliph, Ares and Shanan can make the deal?

:’(

This line makes me so sad. Wrong about what? Fighting for the Empire? Why were you even fighting, did you even know what was going on? Did you agree with your dad’s policies in Isaach?

We will never know, and we’re not supposed to give a fig.

Farewell Brian.

i’ve seen this before

stop reusins your friend’s quotes damn it!

“there is a red castle over there, i’m sure we have to seize it somehow. It’s near!”

???

I kept on seeing this all around, but did Quan in FE4 ever mentioned that he wanted to unify the peninsula?

“his GRAND vision” damn it stop putting your words in Leif’s mouth Finn!

Quan’s GRAND vision was most likely to unify the peninsula but to get rid of every Thracian from it first.

“i’ll follow you even in maps were we can’t see a thing!”

Burn in hell - i didn’t hate anyone in FE4 before playing the game but now i do - hell even Chagall is better

yes, let’s play blame the dead. Seliph has had enough of his rant, and wants to continue to listen to his story.

and i thought F!Lewyn said it earlier that the gods were the dragons?

“I can’t say for sure” yes of course :) - but if there is one thing that’s interesting about this character it’s this line “our land’ misery was caused by the power of the dragonkin”

Without HB would Langbalt not be an ass or something? i don’t think so.

Bantu traveled a lot in his younger days, he went to another world! His recollection of the journey must be one of Tiki’s favourite stories.

Naga who? And what scripture? The Blaggi bible?

Bantu = Salamand? what shape did you take, Forseti?

Just like the covenant Erik of Laus wanted to make with Hector and Eliwood!

blood rites, yes. At least it’s not as hardcore as bathing naked in a pool of blood but...

F!Lewyn is upset that Seliph isn’t into blood rites unlike his ancestor Baldur.

“humble” well they managed to survive that far, against people who could magic unlike them! So they were pretty badass!

I wonder if Blaggi was disappointed when he saw the staff - until he learnt what was its power 

Sadly, not all of them. 

Fell power? Here again, being judgmental when you shouldn’t. Granted, we don’t know what was Loptyr, but in this verse, and at that time, the Earth Dragons aren’t reviled as being evil; heck, Medeus is a pretty chill guy right now.

Heim used to be a priest then, but Blaggi founded the church?

OH MY GOD

MAYBE THIS IS THE REASON WHY AZMUR WANTED A MAJOR NAGA ON THE THRONE BACK IN GEN1?

IS THIS WHY BARHARA IS THE RULING HOUSE IN JUGDRAL?

I WONDER WHO THAT IS

oh wait, F!Lewyn told us back in the prologue that it was you Seliph! Remember?

THREE?? WAIT SHE MENTION JULIUS AND AN USELESS CHARACTER IN THE LATEST CHAPTER COULD IT BE

IT MUST BE THAT USELESS CHARACTER

OMG OMG OMG

JULIA IS A PRINCESS???

And how dare you claim you learnt it recently, you spent 6 years with her, when everyone heard about Princess Julia missing, you found a kid clothed with royal clothes in the middle of nowhere, who had the same name as the missing princess, and you didn’t make the link?

F!Lewyn “i was expecting Tahra to fall” can’t fool anyone

LIAR

if it was really your reaction then you would NOT have sent her in Isaach WITHOUT any weapons, not let her out of your sight for even a millisecond, knowing well that without her Judgral is DOOMED

or maybe, if he really learnt it recently he’s all “welp i treated like lester when she was actually important^^”

oh, because if she wasn’t your sister you wouldn’t need to rescue her?! 

FE5!Leif wants to have some words with you two

If she isn’t a plot device i don’t what Julia is

[randomnameless]

Chapter 7 - Darna to Alster!

Seliph finally finishes this Naga forsaken map and says good bye to the Desert.

RETCONS RETCONS WHO WANTS RETCONS?

(joking, FE4 happened before FE5 so FE5 is the retcon game but)

Ares wants to talk to his friend - the reason why he turned blue to begin with 

but an idiot is here, blocking the doors.

so the only thing he can do in this situation, since he’s grey and can’t move, is talk to the guy.

don’t ask that

no “it is I, Ares the Black Knight”? Vengeance leaves no place to theatrics.

uh... yeah? Siggy couldn’t kill Eldie even if he wanted, he didn’t have the stats for that!

Poor Graine. Here you see miscommunication at its finest, granted, given how Eldie ignored his wife/son to run to his sister’s side and Siggy’s help, I understand why Grainne never got the true side of the story. Her version, and I believe the version of most Agustrians is “Siggy led an invasion in Agustria, Eldie died while defending his homeland and his King” which isn’t that far from reality actually! I love how Ares calls his mother “noble” and not just, my mother. Seliph is of course completely clueless, no one bothered him to keep him in touch with the Augstrian campaign - Aidean what were you doing?

uh... well, i’m sure they hold no hard feelings against each other because they were knights and knights simply do what they’re told, if they hate someone it’s the king who orders them to fight, but Eldie wasn’t totally happy at Siggy’s invasion/occupation. Hopefully Siggy went all “i’m just listening to orders i’m trying to write a letter to Azmur don’t worry” and Eldie believed him. If Chagall wasn’t such a douche the blame could be shared, but hey, we have the most perfect scapegoat so let us all blame Chagall, it makes the Augustrian campaign less catastrophic.

haha Seliph doesn’t understand a thing, Ares is the son of dad’s friend so we can be friends, right? It’s still kind of insensitive to call Ares’ lifelong grudge a “misunderstanding”, OTOH it’s clever because Seliph isn’t calling Ares’ “noble” mother a liar to his face!

Genealogy of the Holy War : sons must pay for the grudges of their fathers? S

Subverted here, Ares drops his grudge. If only we could have asked Brian or even Scipio to do the same :) But their dads had ugly sprites, so they couldn’t be Siggy’s friends so we don’t give figs about them :)

Not totally subverted though, Ares still has doubts and will murder Seliph if he lied.

i cringe a little at this line from Seliph tbh, the fate of the world resides on your shoulders (lel) because you’re the only Naga alive (lelel) F!Lewyn said so, and you’re willing to die just to please Ares? Seliph no :’(

hey you know what you could have met him when you were 3 weeks old if Eldie wasn’t such a douche and didn’t ignore his son and wife. During the occupation he could have sent them to say “hello” to Siggy and his family (or invited them at his place) before Chagall became a douche, but no, Eldie never gave a crap about his family - save for Raquie.

Once he is finished with Seliph Ares pushes him and runs to find his true friend

Here she is! He worries about her, how cute.

:’(

Ares apologises and calls himself a fool, poor Ares. And Lene confesses that she isn’t alright but she still trusted him even after he made himself a fool with that “killing Seliph” nonsense.

Daw! Why IS didn’t give them any lover convo?

Of course he won’t! He will take you home to Agustry! and then you’ll be eaten alive by the agustrian court

“are you the guy Ares wanted to kill?”

“Ares told me about you, he said “move imbecile i have to rescue Lene” when i tried to talk to him earlier”

No dancers in Isaach? 

i don’t know if that would be the word i’d use. Seliph is flustered seeing scantily clad women. Granted, any scantily clad woman would have been captured in Dozel!Isaach so...

and now for the retcon: Raquie’s children!

“who are you random knight?”

what are you talking about? Wait you didn’t knew you had a bro? But in FE5...

that’s understandable - save the part where Lewyn only tells you now that you have a sibling but fig that guy.

off screen, crawling after Shanan and Oifey because they said they could only carry one child and that one child was Seliph

hoho, so Nanna’s Leonster born, it fits with the timeline. The thing that doesn’t is Nanna still ignoring she has a bro :’(

is it me or FE4!Nanna seems to miss Raquie more than FE5!Nanna?

??? I thought you said you didn’t know you had a bro and now Raquie told you she left to meet him in Isaach??

Poor Nanna, she waited to see her, she had no mother figure during all those years

only kaga knows

she took her horse and fled with her horse in the desert with figging sand and it’s not like Quan did the same mistake but no 

meanwhile, two cousins chat

at least - well yeah at least because he had to backtrack to Darna and it took around 15 turns or something (thanks Naga for Lana’s warp staff)

prelude indeed, since Arvis hired Travant and co to assist in his coup

bad Leif, you forget how Travant first set your home in flames and only afterwards Blume arrived. You were sleeping during Finn’s history time or what?!

“my knight Finn” sounds... not strange, but I can’t see FE5!Leif calling Finn “his knight”. Finn is his father figure, he is Finn, not a knight. Heck I doubt FE5!Leif would even call Carrion and co “his knights”. August/Dorias would.

this is so... well, not strange because in FE5 Leif says retaking Leonster was his dream (Finn’s dream) but before chapter 6 he was happy living as a peasant in Fiana with his sisters (and Jugdral’s best mom) killing pirates. Maybe that’s not something you can tell to your kingly cousin, so it’s better to say that he wanted to fight since the beginning...

pff would you have helped against Raydrick when he stoned Eyvel - i mean when Dorias and co tried their multiple attempts at murdering Blume in his sleep? I don’t think so but it’s something Seliph has to say. He doesn’t have to apologise per se but... Well, the way Leif told his story we could think we should be berating Seliph/Siggy for the BBQ’s aftermath that impacted Leonster - in that regard Seliph HAS to apologise.

but this vision, of course, throws Travant in the “ignored” trashcan.

But Leif quickly apologises, it wasn’t his intention to put the blame on Seliph. It’s squarely his fault. RIP Dorias :’( (well Miranda has to share the blame too)

?? Of course he was worthy of being dubbed a knight of Nova he was a crusader. But Leif bragging about being the son of Quan? Heck, that’s something Finn/Dorias would say “don’t lose hope prince you’re the son of quan”, the words of support Ced shared with him when he was down! FE4!Leif is so... confident and assertive, it’s super... weird considering my only Leif experience was FE5!Leif.

It’s so weird that I don’t recall FE5!Leif saying something like that, or reclaiming himself of Quan’s legacy even once. 

“Marty, Othin, pack your things we’re going with Seliph now. Lifis too.”

“But Lord Leif, we’re returning to Fiana now” “don’t you dare i said we’re leaving.” Haha, restoring honor to Granvalle? It’s not about stopping the child hunts and stopping Loptyr’s resurrection? this is so un - FE5!Leif - like! remember the guy who screamed about honor and glory? he would have said those lines!

uh... sure, Quan helped Siggy a lot. And given how Quan died for/because/ during his quest to help Siggy, their deaths are linked.

OMG OMG OMG SOMEONE REMEMBERS

Indeed, but i can’t totally ignore the fact that maybe Ethlyn, even if she wasn’t a Chalpy anymore, wanted to restore her “birth” house’s name clean too, and was also worried about her dad - who didn’t even mention her but that’s how we roll in Jugdral daughters are worthless.

Again, Seliph apologises. Not for Leonster’s fate, but for Quan and Ethlyn on the behalf of his dad.

yes, the stories August told me said that Siggy manage to pierce Arvis’ plans before everyone else! He was a wise man!

As do I? What about “don’t hate the people, only the evil in their hearts?” “oh fig it”. 

pff hahaha if only you knew what were your dads’ last wishes! it was only about restoring chalphy’s good name!

he already said he was going to lend you his scrubs!

“damn that new blade shoots beams of light it’s so cool!”

“I GAVE YOU THOSE RIBBONS!” “hilda did and told me to hang myself with them it’s not a kindness”

hey look, it’s the imperial princess!

“Fear me else I’ll tell everything to daddy and he will Valflame you to oblivion”

because...

“THE MYSTELTAINN CRAVES THE BLOOD OF MEN”

but i thought Julius wanted to throw his party there? You can’t just rewarp in it, it’d be lame!

Wow no mercy for Blume? But yeah, per Aidean’s history lesson, when a baron escapes he will return to piss you off again until you kill him.

it could have been helped if we put men to block the exits, re you really a strategist? or maybe Blume just rewarped when Ares was busy screaming his finishing line for the finishing blow...

??? They’re happier than the Isaachians you fred from Danan’s rule? I honestly can’t believe it.

a real hope, not a joke like Leif’s failed attempts^^

yeah, they’re all stronger than you. Even your wife Larcei!

“have you seen that kid with Leif’s group? She can steal stuff with a magical staff!”

“just as planned and if you don’t i have a backup plan involving a minor character with naga blood”

lol Julia isn’t part of any plan.

[arthoure]

Hi! i was (not so anymore) discreetly checking out your blog and i caught onto smth that got my attention and i hopeyou dont mind me asking! would you explain more of seliph/ares? it sounds really interesting to hear more about in depth! thanks :o)

Angela is this you.

BUT JUST IN CASE IT’S NOT. Oh my god anon ohhhhh my god. 

So mostly my thoughts started rolling here, but then they never stopped. Like, I have to attempt to organize them bellow but sorry if they’re still super rambly.

1. Dynamic DuoI’m just really enamoured with the pair they make: the foils they are and how they bring out the best in each other. Seliph has always been raised knowing he’s supposed to take charge of things, but he doesn’t seem nearly as at-ease with it as Ares does, who just busts into castles full of noblemen like “Son of Eltshan, lord of the dead, hi how u doin.” He’s very ponderous and sometimes it’d be good for him to get a good, brash kick in the pants. He’s very sensitive and sometimes it’d be good for him to have someone more jaded around to point out that he shouldn’t beat himself up for the cruel sacrifices he has to make for the greater good. (He has Oifey and Shanan for that too, but I think that sort of reassurance from a peer and friend, someone his own age, is not to be underestimated). Likewise, Ares is so emotionally constipated and it’d be good for him to hang with someone who doesn’t accept stonewalling or table-flipping as an acceptable way to solve a problem, someone who is very communicative and calm. Imo they have a lot to learn from each other and those lessons could really round out their leadership styles. Seliph and Leif (and Ares and Leif) are good foils too, but Seliph and Ares are so dynamic when you stand them back-to-back. Like, nobody would want to fight one of them alone – imagine them together. 

(Their colour schemes are just nice too, in a medieval context, haha. Black for death and knowledge, blue for purity.) 

2. Seliph’s Friendship is Staggering for Ares, ContextuallyIt’s mentioned in one reference (uhggg I forget which) that Ares lived a very solitary life, so. Canon friendless emo kid suddenly meets a guy who pronounces them friends the moment they meet and KEEPS INSISTING IT AFTER RECEIVING A DEATH THREAT. Ares has learned to push people away, has learned that he can’t trust anyone, and Seliph is the first person he meets who just calls him on his bullshit and doesn’t let himself be pushed. Jabarro turns on him, Lene gets angry and tells Ares to leave, but Seliph insists on friendship, and I think after a life like Ares’s, that would be very profoundly touching (after he gets over being ANGRAY and bewildered). 

You get this impression that Ares is this very Stronk, Door-Smashing kind of guy and that Seliph is quiet and meek, but really their first meeting just showcases Seliph’s particular kind of strength and stubbornness. Ares is literally described in-game as someone you “wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley” but Seliph is unafraid, matches him turn for turn. He’s the first person Ares has met who can really keep up with him – and he actively wants Ares there, at his side. He has such a big heart ;^;.

3. Ending subtextSeliph has a cheesy line about them seeing their kingdoms to glory “hand in hand” and he doesn’t say it to any other dudes so idk make of that what you will (you already know what I’m making of it).

4. The Journey to Being BestiesBy the end of the game they’re canonically BFFs. We don’t get to see any of the development, but it’s not too hard to imagine. Best friends confide in each other – Ares is probably one of the only people (excluding Seliph’s mentors), maybe even the only person considering Leif’s view of Seliph, that has heard about Seliph’s doubts and insecurities. He’s certainly one of the only people who has seen the fabulous Heir of Light as a regular guy, a young man making mistakes and feeling uncertain, maybe getting tispy, maybe snoring, maybe sneezing at a bad moment. And by the end of the game Seliph has certainly seen the real Ares (because you can’t look at that guy and believe he’s not 99% an act. HE’S SUCH A HAM). The Black Knight with the bloodthirsty sword laughing at jokes, giving his cousin swordfighting lessons, maybe even disclosing some of his daddy issues. By the endgame Ares trusts Seliph, which makes him vulnerable to Seliph. One of the most misanthropic characters in the game follows one of the most hopeful, and allows some of that hope to rub off on him, even getting over a lifelong grudge to do so, and I think just on a thematic level that’s some pretty powerful stuff.   

5. The Lifelong Grudge“Enemies to lovers” has never really been my thing, but what I love about Ares’s grudge is that it’s completely unfounded. He goes his entire life believing Sigurd betrayed his father, and he’s consumed with getting his revenge, and then when he actually meets Seliph, Seliph completely rips the rug out from underneath him. He takes away Ares’s entire reason for living. (It’s both painful and hilarious, really.) Though it’s not covered in the game, I think it’s more than reasonable to assume that Seliph himself helps Ares come to terms with all this. The whole concept has such a neat phoenix effect with Eltshan and Sigurd’s tragedy: from all that manipulation and sorrow and anger come two very honest boys who manage to build upon the foundation laid for them, and make something better and more lasting. Even if they don’t end up as a romantic option, it’s canon that Grannvale and Augustria are each others’ greatest allies while Seliph and Ares are reigning. 

They’re sons who want nothing more than to make their fathers proud, and by becoming friends, they end up surpassing their fathers and redeeming their old mistakes. I think it would be a very empowering and validating experience for both of them. (For me it amplifies the shipping feels like 100%. Ares has had so few people who love and care about him, and for the person who loves him the most to be Seliph is such a sweet thought to me.)

6. Other random thingsThey’re a Darkness + Sunshine couple and that’s hilarious. Literally Andy and April from Parks and Rec.Ares: Someone’s going to die. Seliph: Of FUN! :D

I headcanon Ares as very tall and Seliph as shortish so that’s cute. Especially since Seliph has both the physical strength and emotional clout to make Ares look up at him, so to speak, if he really needs to.

Don’t you think they’d admire each other so so so much? Seliph watching Ares wrecking shop and thinking “wow he’s so badass and passionate he tries so hard at everything all the time”; and Ares watching Seliph comfort their peers the way he does in the endgame if anyone’s lover dies, thinking “oh my god he’s so nice and so giving what a genuinely good guy in a world of shitty people.”

Ares letting Seliph borrow his black cloak tho

Verbal, cute, emotionally-open Seliph remarking from time to time how glad he is that he and Ares met

They both have long hair and it seems pretty important to them (Seliph bc it’s Isaachian culture and Ares bc he wants to look Just Like Dad, I assume) so they can just like. Play with each others’ hair and other nice things. 

They’re foils but they still have a lot in common!! They can have cool spars with their sacred swords and long talks about JUSTICE and conspire about how tf to be kings when they were a refugee and a child soldier their whole lives.

There’s probably more???? I’m probably forgetting something. Feel free to pry further if you want I’m just a mess aaaaa

[randomnameless]

(Same anon about dating and stuff but not recolors I'm afraid) You know, I thought about an AU where Seliph is the emperor of Jugdral and it was depressing. It was based on this video where a guy killed of all his army to achieve this ending but I thought that was too dark and sad. So instead, this AU is based on a substitute run where no ONE was paired up in Gen 1. In other words, there is no Lana, Nanna, Faval and ect. existing. Continued in another ask as running out of space.

If the kids were mentioned, then it would be as names their "mothers" would name their children. However, the events of FE4 and FE5 stay the same, just Janne takes Nanna's role and Hawk leads the Magi group for examples. Anyway, Though out the Gen 2, all fixed characters who were guaranteed to rule a land were KIA. Shanan, Ares, Aletena, Leaf, and even Julia didn't make it. Their deaths take a toll on Seliph, with Oifey and the others comforting him. Continued in other ask GDI.

But the royals' lovers and closest friends/mentors/disciple take it harder, with some relationships being strained towards Seliph and others. Come to the end, and Seliph realizes that he is in the same position as Alvis, as the sole surviving Naga crusader and is forced to rule all of Jugdral as emperor. He has doubts and is afraid he'll make the same mistakes as Alvis did. But the rest of his comrades will be there to help him, reminding him he is not alone. Bittersweet, but more bitter however

Bitter ending AU from anon -

Really bitter though, no Leif, no Julia (T-T), no Altena, no Ares and well... no one? Seliph’d might worry he’ll become Arvis the second but everyone in the remaining world will really be out for (his?) blood. Just like you said, I can’t imagine Leif’s advisors/friends from FE5 being totally okay with cousin Seliph taking over because Leif died and he is the only one left!

(Miranda is still around, and Fergus too?) 

Just like the Naga Crusader issue - well Seliph isn’t a Crusader or if he is he is one just like Linoan - if he rules over the world because he is a Naga, some might try to use the same card using Linoan (too bad August might be cheering for Seliph’s side... unless he came to truly care about Leif and won’t stand by letting Cousin Seliph conquering the world). Stuff in Isaach? Well, they seem to like Seliph enough but they loved their King Shanan more, and if some idiot trains in their arena using not!Astra but some technique because her “heart and sword are in unison” the Isaach’s annexion is going to be contested (not saying Mareeta’ll be the new ruler, but if it is known major Odos are still alive i doubt Isaachians’ll be super happy with, even if they like him, a non-Odo on the throne).

But I guess the final (or ultimate) blow might come from Granvalle, some Crusader lines died and even if Oifey and the subs or randoms try their best to cheer Seliph, he’d still be alone on the throne. and i doubt Saias’ll be very happy knowing Seliph failed to protect Julia 

The more i think about it, the more i’m sad about Seliph. Poor Seliph. Don’t let this AU happen for his sake