#is it because Supreme Leader is a Hresvelg?

[randomnameless]

2 weeks later

They were probably close friends! I think Edelgard's actions did hurt Rhea so much because of the reasons outlined above, but over and on top of that, this is a betrayal from the descendent of her friend, the friend that she trusted enough to give her Crest to

Willy mention!

Bear in mind that during CF's final map - the one where our beloved Supreme Leader accuses her of hating human and humanity because she is a nabatean, but that was cut with the localisation for some reason - what are the names of the golems fielded in Firdhiad?

Chevalier - an apostle - Luca - a saint - and a bunch of other people we don't know but... one of the golem is named Wilhelm!

ergo, when Rhea is at her worst (tm) at least mentally, she relies on golems named after people who are/were pretty close to her, the apostles who helped her try to resurrect her mom once, a saint (we don't know what was her relation to Saint Luca) and... Willy, a human.

Interestingly, if you used Supreme Leader to fight her in the previous map, the "human hating Rhea" mourns having to fight Supreme Leader because... Supreme Leader is Willy's descendant, and 1k years later, to Rhea, Willy is still the guy who "supported and saved" her.

Fun fact, Nopes amped it up to 11 so much that whenever you pit Rhea (NG+ and in the history maps?) against Supreme Leader, Rhea always mentions Wilhelm, noting her resemblance to her 1k years long dead ancestor, or wishing he was still around.

To Rhea, the Hresvelgs are first and foremost, Willy's descendants and she has high expectations from them, or at least expect them to act in a way that would not shame or be contrary to what Willy himself once did, or would have done.

Which is why she takes the betrayal from House Hresvelg, especially, very bad, Nopes also gave some voice to Seteth and Flayn about being betrayed by the descendants of the ones they trusted but it feels less "personal" than Rhea's -

But let's not kid ourselves, the reason why she goes ballistic in CF isn't only because Willy's scion goes haywire, but because Sitri's kid - who might be or not her mom - tries to kill her or at least sides with Nemesis v.2.

So to comment on your original post @lumeha, Rhea is hurt in CF (and potentially in the other routes too, but since Billy and some humans are still on her side it's less pronounced) because - as she says it in her last battle quotes - she is betrayed again by humanity after having trusted them again.

Unlike her avian bro, she didn't fig away saying humanity sucks after the War of Heroes, no. Rhea remained because she cares about humans and Fodlan - both as her duty commands, as Sothis' proxy but also, I believe, on a personal level.

As you noted, she cares - loves? as much as she can given her special situation - humans and... CF/Flamey stuff is how they reward her lol - which is why the perceived betrayal hurts so much, and why she is so angry/disappointed/upset.

Thinking about it, like, genuinely, I think characterising Rhea as someone who hates humanity because of her reaction to Edelgard in the Holy Tomb... misses the fact that, for me, she can only react that strongly to what she sees as betrayal because she cares about humans as a whole. That's why it sends her into a spiral. That's why it hurts her to the point of anger : because it stabs her with pinpoint accuracy into the still bleeding parts of her, the part of her that is the only survivor of Zanado. The part of her that was beaten bloody open and to a pulp by humans who were greedy for power and didn't care who they killed in the process.

It feels to me like this is exactly why she gets so deeply affected by this - because she did put a lot of her chips on the bet that humans are better than Nemesis and the Agarthans. To the point of sparing the children of her enemies, their families, their clans. To the point of repeatedly opening her home for them.

That's... not the behaviour of someone who despises humanity

Is she letting herself be close to people ? No. But does that mean she doesn't care for them ? No, not at all. She is just. Closed off. That's not the same as not caring.

[randomnameless]

About that Listhea and Edelgard dialogue on crest and nobles, do you remember how in the begining of the game Hanneman wonders if Byleth as a Crest when they are a freaking commoner/mercenary ?

That's another reason why the doodoo about "crust = nobles" is, well, doodoo.

Thing is, Fodlan verse cannot be that well developed and written because Supreme Leader has to "have a point" for people who buy things at face value.

So we can't have succession crisis when commoners (maybe far far far far removed bastards?) pop up with a crest while the "noble line" doesn't have any to lampshade how the crust system is BaD because it decides inheritence... when Supreme Leader hammers that everyone with a crust is a noble.

Imagine a verse where Hanneman's crest detector machine is used to "discredit" or to give more credit to, say, someone's inheritance by checking if they have a crest or not, or House Goneril having to deal with Bob the fisher who has a Crest of Goneril, thus asks for his part of inheritance of the Goneril estate because that totes means he's part of this family?

In Supreme Leader and her court's views, Bob doesn't exist as a fisherman, Bob is already a noble! And if he isn't, well, he doesn't exist.

Are people anobled because they have a crust? Billy and Jerry are living proofs that no, they're not. But we can't focus on this too much, else Supreme Leader's spiel falls apart.

FWIW, there's a reason why I liked White Clouds, because, while it's a prologue, on its own, it gives a bit of meat to the Fodlan verse - because it's supposed to be a red herring route so you hear everything and yet see the dissonances for the big reveal (Flamey's identity!) to hit as "hard" as it does with all the sad uwus it entails, come the post-TS, we don't give a crap about Flamey anymore, and everyone drinks tea.

So, in a way, Hanneman could only wonder if Billy has a crest despite being a random in WC - because in the post TS routes, Supreme Leader has to have a point (they need those sad uwus!) and we don't care to find out or hear about magic blood, the player is hammered with "magic blood BaD because it exists".

[three-houses-text-files]

byleth/edelgard

c-s support + paired ending + night of the ball

c (i)

Edelgard: Uhh… Agh... Fath... Save... E: … E: Who could that be? E: Is that...a ghost? E: A ghost, perhaps? No, that is surely not the case. >We are within a monastery! No ghost would dare set foot in here... >What is that look upon your face? I am no ghost, if that is what was on your mind! E: No… Agh... Huh?! Who's there?! E: Professor… What are you doing here? >I heard something.

E: Oh? Perhaps I was talking in my sleep.

>I was restless.

E: What could that possibly mean?

E: In any case, please don't scare me like that.

>Bad dreams?

E: Ah… So you heard me, then. E: Yes, it was a nightmare. I've had them since I was a child. E: Stupid, pointless dreams I can't control… It's terribly frustrating.

>What are they about?

E: Just...my childhood. A time before I had realized who I was destined to become.

>Anything I can help with?

E: No. They're just worthless dreams of the past. Talking about it won't change a thing.

>You can trust me with anything.

E: I had a feeling you'd say that. I suppose I could try...

>It's none of my business.

E: Perhaps not. Still, here you are. Maybe I can trust you with this... E: But only if you swear not to tell a soul. E: I appreciate it. E: I dream of...my older brother, paralyzed, helpless…my older sister crying for help that never came…the youngest babbling words beyond meaning. E: I see my family dying slowly, waiting in the darkest depths for a glimmer of light. E: I once had ten siblings, eight older and two younger. E: Such a large family, and yet I became the heir to the throne. Do you know why? E: Every last one of them was crippled by disease or lost their mind or died. E: I was the only one left who could inherit the throne.

>That's awful. >How could such a thing happen...

E: Things kept getting worse. The darkness kept getting darker. In the end, I was the only one who survived. E: The nightmares are a reminder...to never forget. To never allow such terrible things to happen again. E: Never again... E: Even now, I'm the only one who can carry the weight of the Adrestian Empire. E: The future of the Empire...of everything…depends on me. E: Hm... I shared more than I intended to. I suppose there's something in the air tonight. E: I've never told anyone about my past before. Please...forget I said anything. Sleep well, my teacher.

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c (ii)

E: Ah, it's you. Out late again, I see. What brings you here?

>I could ask you the same.

E: I just wanted some fresh air. There's a lovely breeze tonight.

E: I always wander outside when sleep evades me.

>Trouble sleeping?

E: Is it that obvious?

E: I despise being cooped up when sleep evades me. I just have to get some fresh air.

>I couldn't sleep either.

E: So I see. Still, it's ill-advised to stay up so late.

>I'm exhausted.

E: Heh, I see. Well, don't let me keep you. Hurry back to your room, my teacher.

E: I should get some sleep too, but... E: Have you ever felt a sort of longing for the outdoors? E: I have. There are times I long for the warmth of the sun, for a sweet breeze on my face... E: Do you remember what I told you the other night? About...my past? E: None of my siblings had a chance to lead the sort of life they deserved. An ordinary life.

>Should I say I forgot? You asked me to forget...

E: Hm. Well, perhaps if I tell you more, it will come back to you.

>I remember.

E: My siblings and I were... We were imprisoned underground, beneath the palace. E: The objective was to endow our bodies with the power of a Major Crest. E: I have always possessed the Crest of Seiros, inherited through the Hresvelg bloodline. E: But it was only a Minor Crest, and most of my siblings bore no Crest at all. E: In order to create a peerless emperor to rule Fódlan, they violated our bodies by cutting open our very flesh. E: Now here I stand, the fruit of that endeavor: Edelgard von Hresvelg! E: But that came at too high a price... The others were sacrificed. E: Ours weren't the only lives devastated by that terrible process. Innocents died as well, without even knowing what they were dying for. E: And there you have it, the truth of the Hresvelg's Empire.

>Who is to blame?

E: The prime minister and his gaggle of nobles. They had the Empire under their thumbs. My father, the emperor, tried to stop him, but...it was futile.

E: My father was nothing but a puppet on a string by then. He was powerless to save us.

E: I know how it all sounds. But when you see my true strength, you will know I speak the truth.

>It's unbelievable.

E: It is. But when you see my true strength, you will know that I speak the truth.

E: I have kept it hidden all this time, but...I will reveal to you the power of my second Crest. E: It is the same as yours...the Crest of Flames. When it manifested for me, I swore a silent oath. E: For the sake of my family and for all the poor souls whose lives were traded for my existence... E: For their sake, I will build a world where such meaningless sacrifice is never again sanctioned. As emperor, I will change the world. I swear it.

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b

E: Ugh… I'm so sick of it all. E: There is so much to be done, yet all I encounter are new problems and pitfalls. E: Ugh... Sometimes I wish I could spend just one day doing absolutely nothing and gorging myself on sweets!

>This isn't like you.

E: Even I have moments of self-indulgence, you know.

>Such are the burdens of an emperor.

E: You sound just like Hubert. Am I not allowed a fleeting moment of self-indulgence?

>Let's do just that.

E: Do you mean it? Just the thought makes me happy.

E: But...Hubert would never allow it.

>That's too bad.

E: Indeed. It may not be possible now, but one day we will know the joys of idling. Mark my words.

>...

E: Is that a smirk I spy? Is it so amusing to you, me daydreaming of free time?

>It's pretty funny.

E: I see. I'm finally getting an idea of what you think of me.

>You misunderstand me.

E: Huh! Your silly grin says otherwise.

E: But let's put all that aside for now. There is something I've been meaning to tell you. E: I'm afraid this might sound a bit...sentimental. However... E: I want to thank you. Because of you, I feel I can walk my fated path without losing myself. E: If I were alone, I might have lost perspective and become a harsh leader with a heart of ice. E: But I'm not alone. With you by my side, I'm somehow free to be not only a leader but...simply Edelgard. (pre-skip) E: But you came back to me. With you by my side, I'm somehow free to be not only a leader but...simply Edelgard. (post-skip)

>I'm glad.

>You have many allies.

E: True. I am fortunate to be surrounded by many wonderful companions.

E: Nevertheless, you are...different from the rest. E: Until now, no one has been able to surpass me—much less command me. E: I have always been seen as an untouchable princess or emperor. E: No one spoke to me as an equal or met my gaze without flinching. E: It was lonely. Terribly lonely. The only person I could rely on as I tried to claw my way out of the darkness was myself. E: But you...you have been a brilliant light. Somehow, you have chased the darkness away. And for that...I will always be grateful.

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a

E: Yes? Oh! It's you, Professor. I was certain it was Hubert coming to drag me back to my duties. E: "Your Majesty, you must know your supreme talents are needed at present. Why not gaze at these documents instead of the sky?"

>That sounds like Hubert.

E: Doesn't it? And the worst part is that he's always right, so I can't even argue with him.

>That didn't sound like Hubert at all.

E: No? Well then. And here I thought my Hubert impression was second to none.

E: But that's enough about Hubert for the moment. E: While I have your attention, I'd like to thank you for your help in that last battle. E: As you well know, I'm perfectly capable of commanding the army by myself. E: However, when you're around, it's somehow different. E: I'm not sure I can properly explain it. I suppose your perspective on the battlefield is simply sharper than mine. E: When you're devising tactics and tricks for us, it's almost as though you can read the enemy's mind. E: There's no getting around it. Your talent for strategy far exceeds my own. I'm quite jealous in all honesty.

>You have many talents that I lack.

E: Is that a fact? Well, if you insist.

>Sometimes, I'm jealous of you too.

E: I suppose a flower from another's field is always more beautiful.

E: I'll admit, I think of you as rather detached, so to hear that you have emotions such as jealousy is...something of a relief.

>I'm not detached.

E: Oh, but you are! Don't even try to argue.

E: But I suppose I'm much the same. I've also distanced myself from the ordinary world.

>I could say the same of you.

E: I can't deny it. Ever since I underwent those...procedures, I've certainly distanced myself from the ordinary world.

E: It seems we were fated to be friends. E: Friends... That word somehow doesn't seem adequate. E: Besides, we've been friends for a long time, you and I. By now, we're so much more than that, at least in my mind. E: You know...instead of Edelgard, you can call me just El. If you so please. E: That's what my parents and closest sisters used to call me when I was little. E: Now there's no one left who calls me El... E: But with you, well...I think I could allow it. In fact, it would mean a great deal to me.

>Why is that?

>Why? Hmm...

E: Well, you have stood beside me and shared my burdens. As I said, you are much more than a friend.

E: In truth, you are like family to me. I suppose that's why.

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s

E: The children of the goddess have been defeated at last. The shape of the world will be forever changed. E: Humanity is free now. The world is ours once again. E: Can you believe it?

>I'm not sure.

E: I see. Well, one thing is certain. The fate of this world depends on the choices we make.

E: It's possible that people would have been happier continuing to mindlessly obey the goddess.

E: Our work is far from over. And we can't ignore the possibility that our enemies will resurface one day.

>It isn't over yet.

E: True. There is still much to be done.

E: We can't ignore the possibility that our enemies will resurface one day. In the end, the fate of this world depends on the choices we make.

E: I don't know what the future holds, but...come what may, will you stay by my side? E: You chose to protect me at the Holy Tomb. Will you choose me again? E: What I'm trying to say is...I need you.

>El... Please accept this gift.

E: You called me El. That's... I... That means more than I can say. E: And this ring... It's lovely. Thank you, my dearest friend. I will happily accept it. E: I must admit, I feared my feelings would be unrequited. E: So long as I had you by my side, it never mattered how many enemies I amassed. You were all I needed. E: All this time, I longed to share my feelings with you, and it seems you wished for the same. E: Now, our wishes have come true. This feeling... it's overwhelming.

>I promise to always be there for you.

E: I promise the same. Together, we can achieve anything.

>Now, your burdens are mine to bear.

E: Absolutely not��I won't allow it! From now on, we face the world and carry our burdens together.

E: We will crush those who slither in the dark and restore peace and order to Fódlan. E: I will then find a suitable successor and hand over the reins of the Empire. E: When all that is done, it will be just the two of us. I look forward to starting our life together in the light of a glorious new dawn.

>That seems a lifetime away.

E: It will be a long and difficult path, I'm afraid, but we must remain focused on our goals.

>Let's make it happen.

E: Yes, that is all we can do for now. We must remain focused on our goals.

E: To think that I may truly call you my partner and equal now... E: The solitary reign of Edelgard has come to an end. From now on, we walk this path together. E: With time and care, the darkness shrouding this world will be lifted. E: You and I will become the light that shines over Fódlan...just as you have shined upon my life.

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paired ending

Byleth and Edelgard ended the tyranny of a godlike being. Byleth was wounded and lost a the power of the progenitor god, but it mattered not, as he/she and Edelgard had each other. To ensure lasting peace, the two fought against those who slither in the dark, and to ensure a society where people can rise and fall by their own merits, they spent their lives reforming the antiquated class system. They achieved much in their time together, and it is said that they were sometimes spotted leaving the palace to privately enjoy the world they had created. How they spent those precious moments, none but the two of them will ever know.

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night of the ball

E: Ah, here you are. Are you waiting for someone?

>I'm not waiting for anyone.

E: Good. I would not wish to interrupt anything.

>I was waiting for you.

E: For me? Well, you should have summoned me earlier. Regardless, here I am.

>Has something happened?

E: No, nothing in particular. In fact, that's why I came here. E: This place, the Goddess Tower... It was special to my parents. E: My father attended the Officers Academy himself. A few years after graduating, he was crowned emperor. E: One day, during a visit to the monastery, he snuck into the Goddess Tower on a nostalgic whim. E: And there she was, my mother. She had just enrolled in the academy that very year. E: They were instantly drawn to each other. Love at first sight, you could say. It was the first time either had truly been in love...or so the story goes.

>Their first love?

E: Yes. Of course, as emperor, my father had already married for political reasons.

E: As the Empire demands many heirs, he also had numerous other lovers. E: In the end, my mother settled for becoming one of his many consorts. E: But I choose to believe there was genuine love between them.

E: Heh, I suppose it's a silly story to cling to.

>It's a lovely story.

E: Isn't it? It's a shame that the lovely stories ended after I was born.

E: For as long as I can remember, my mother had already been exiled from the capital.

E: It's strange. Something about you makes me reveal all of the things I so carefully keep concealed.

E: Hmm. For some reason, I feel compelled to tell you all of these things I have kept hidden.

>Who was your first true love?

E: I can't say the name, but it was a noble who I met in the Kingdom, a lifetime ago.

E: Anyway... What about you? It's your turn to reveal some long-held secret! E: You can share a story about your past...or perhaps tell me about your first love.

>I have no such stories.

E: You're telling the truth. I can tell. Hm... I wasn't even able to make you blush.

>Please don't ask that of me.

E: You realize that just makes me more curious than ever!

>Sorry...

E: Heh... No, I'm the one who should apologize. It wasn't my intention to pry. E: I'm just intrigued by you and your mysterious past. E: You have supposedly always been a mercenary, but I believe there is more to your story than that... E: Let's leave it there for today and return to the ball. E: There must be plenty of students hoping to talk with you...and to dance with you. E: I would not wish to prevent you from mingling. I cannot keep you all to myself, after all.

[faroreswinds]

An Overlooked Noble House from the Empire in 3H

I was doing some research for Crimson Flower because I thought it would be a good idea to do a big series on it and take a deeper look at it on a whole, when I found something rather intriguing that I don’t think a lot of people talk about. 

I suspect no one will read this because now that Pokemon is out, 3H will simply fall away into the abyss, but I wanted to share anyways. 

There are a series of books in the library, and a few of them touch on the noble houses from all the nations, including the Empire. 

One such house is House Gerth. This noble house was a house of dukes that inherited the titles of the “Minister’s of the Exterior”. Their main job was diplomacy, foreign relations, and maintaining relations between various provinces and the capital. In other words, they communicated and mediated between the Empire and outsiders. Their sole purpose was to be diplomats on the behalf the Empire. In fact, it was this house that secured a ceasefire between Brigid, Dagda, and the Empire. 

This is one of the houses that took part in the Insurrection of the Seven; however, the book notes that despite being involved in this soft coup, House Gerth remains pretty distant from the other nobles houses, while houses such as Arundel and Aegir remained pretty close. 

The book also notes that this coup was a response to Edelgard’s father attempting to consolidate all the power unto himself. In fact, House Hresvelg boasted supreme authority over its territories both within the Empire AND without until the Insurrection. In other words, Edelgard’s father saw himself as someone who owned a lot of territory and should hold extreme power, even outside the Empire’s borders. 

Although speculation on my part, I cannot help but find some meaning in these parts of the books. House Gerth, by virtue alone, must have been a house that valued diplomacy. It had to, or hopefully it did, for it to do its job properly. But when you have an emperor who craves more power for his own position and considered territories outside his empire’s borders to be his own, that has got to be worrisome for a noble family that cares about keeping relations strong between different parties. 

House Gerth’s involvement in stripping the emperor of his power could be a response to their core values, as a leader with complete power could be a direct threat to diplomacy. However, it could have also been a power grab. But since this house is noted to be distant from all other houses, I��m going to go out on a limb and say that this wasn’t a power grab. Why stay away from the other houses that helped you strip the emperor power unless it was never about power? I suspect it was the former: simply prevent the emperor from gaining absolute power.

Unfortunately, we know almost nothing about this house at all. We never meet its members. 

In fact, there is no student from House Gerth in Edelgard’s party at all. There were seven houses that took part of the Insurrection, and of those seven, five are a part of Edelgard’s core group: Hubert, Linhardt, Caspar, Bernadetta, and Ferdinand. House Arundel is a part of her family, as her mother and uncle are from this house, but there are no named members of House Gerth. 

It makes sense, considering Edelgard never once thinks of diplomacy as a method to get her ways...  The one house actually in charge of diplomacy, not involved at all in Edelgard’s core group? Not a single member, at all. 

I do not think much would be different if there was a member of House Gerth but it’s kind of interesting how the diplomacy house just doesn’t exist within Edelgard’s army or her closest allies. 

[fftwister]

Edelgard/Byleth C-S Support

Here’s Edelgard’s support chain with Byleth. I don’t think there’s much differing dialogue between m!Byleth and f!Byleth, but I could be wrong. Major spoilers below regarding what Edelgard’s deal is (+spoilers regarding BE route and Byleth in general). Once again, long post incoming.

???: Uhh... Agh... Fath... Save... Byleth: ... Dialogue Tree:

A: Who could that be? B: Is that...a ghost? ???: A ghost, perhaps? No, that is surely not the case. ???: We are within a monastery! No ghost would dare set foot in here... ???: What is that look upon your face? I am no ghost, if that is what was on your mind! Edelgard: No... Agh... Huh?! Who's there?! Professor... What are you doing here? Dialogue Tree:

A: I heard something. B: I was restless. Edelgard (A): Oh? Perhaps I was talking in my sleep. (B): What could that possibly mean? In any case, please don't scare me like that. Byleth: Bad dreams? Edelgard: Ah... So you heard me, then. Yes, it was a nightmare. I've had them since I was a child. Stupid, pointless dreams I can't control...It's terribly frustrating. Dialogue Tree:

A: What are they about? B: Anything I can help with? Edelgard (A): Just...my childhood. A time before I had realized who I was destined to become. (B): No. They're just worthless dreams of the past. Talking about it won't change a thing. Dialogue Tree:

A: You can trust me with anything. B: It's none of my business. Edelgard (A): I had a feeling you'd say that. I suppose I could try... (B): Perhaps not. Still, here you are. Maybe I can trust you with this... But only if you swear not to tell a soul. I appreciate it. I dream of...my older brother, paralyzed, helpless... my older sister crying for help that never came... the youngest babbling words beyond meaning. I see my family dying slowly, waiting in the darkest depths for a glimmer of light. I once had ten siblings, eight older and two younger. Such a large family, and yet I became the heir to the throne. Do you know why? Every last one of them was crippled by disease or lost their mind or died. I was the only one left who could inherit the throne. Dialogue Tree:

A: That's awful. B: How could such a thing happen... Edelgard: Things kept getting worse. The darkness kept getting darker. In the end, I was the only one who survived. The nightmares are a reminder...to never forget. To never allow such terrible things to happen again. Never again... Even now, I'm the only one who can carry the weight of the Adrestian Empire. The future of the Empire...of everything...depends on me. Hm... I shared more than I intended to. I suppose there's something in the air tonight. I've never told anyone about my past before. Please...forget I said anything. Sleep well, my teacher.

B Support

Edelgard: Ah, it's you. Out late again, I see. What brings you here? Dialogue Tree:

A: I could ask you the same. B: Trouble sleeping? Edelgard (A): I just wanted some fresh air. There's a lovely breeze tonight. I always wander outside when sleep evades me. (B): Is it that obvious? I despise being cooped up when sleep evades me. I just have to get some fresh air. Dialogue Tree:

A: I couldn't sleep either. B: I'm exhausted. Edelgard (A): So I see. Still, it's ill-advised to stay up so late. (B): Heh, I see. Well, don't let me keep you. Hurry back to your room, my teacher. I should get some sleep too, but... Have you ever felt a sort of longing for the outdoors? I have. There are times I long for the warmth of the sun, for a sweet breeze on my face... Do you remember what I told you the other night? About...my past? None of my siblings had a chance to lead the sort of life they deserved. An ordinary life. Dialogue Tree:

A: Should I say I forgot? You asked me to forget... B: I remember. Edelgard (A): Hm. Well, perhaps if I tell you more, it will come back to you. My siblings and I were... We were imprisoned underground, beneath the palace. The objective was to endow our bodies with the power of a Major Crest. I have always possessed the Crest of Seiros, inherited through the Hresvelg bloodline. But it was only a Minor Crest, and most of my siblings bore no Crest at all. In order to create a peerless emperor to rule Fódlan, they violated our bodies by cutting open our very flesh. Now here I stand, the fruit of that endeavor: Edelgard von Hresvelg! But that came at too high a price... The others were sacrificed. Ours weren't the only lives devastated by that terrible process. Innocents died as well, without even knowing what they were dying for. And there you have it, the truth of the Hresvelg's Empire. Dialogue Tree:

A: Who is to blame? B: It's unbelievable. Edelgard (A): The prime minister and his gaggle of nobles. They had the Empire under their thumbs. My father, the emperor, tried to stop him, but...it was futile. My father was nothing but a puppet on a string by then. He was powerless to save us. I know how it all sounds. But when you see my true strength, you will know I speak the truth. (B): It is. But when you see my true strength, you will know that I speak the truth. I have kept it hidden all this time, but...I will reveal to you the power of my second Crest. It is the same as yours...the Crest of Flames. When it manifested for me, I swore a silent oath. For the sake of my family and for all the poor souls whose lives were traded for my existence... For their sake, I will build a world where such meaningless sacrifice is never again sanctioned. As emperor, I will change the world. I swear it.

A Support

Edelgard: Ugh... I'm so sick of it all. There is so much to be done, yet all I encounter are new problems and pitfalls. Ugh... Sometimes I wish I could spend just one day doing absolutely nothing and gorging myself on sweets! Dialogue Tree:

A: This isn't like you. B: Such are the burdens of an emperor. C: Let's do just that. Edelgard (A): Even I have moments of self-indulgence, you know. (B): You sound just like Hubert. Am I not allowed a fleeting moment of self-indulgence? (C): Do you mean it? Just the thought makes me happy. But...Hubert would never allow it. Byleth: That's too bad. Edelgard: Indeed. It may not be possible now, but one day we will know the joys of idling. Mark my words. ... Is that a smirk I spy? Is it so amusing to you, me daydreaming of free time? Dialogue Tree:

A: It's pretty funny. B: You misunderstand me. Edelgard (A): I see. I'm finally getting an idea of what you think of me. (B): Huh! Your silly grin says otherwise. But let's put all that aside for now. There is something I've been meaning to tell you. I'm afraid this might sound a bit...sentimental. However... I want to thank you. Because of you, I feel I can walk my fated path without losing myself. If I were alone, I might have lost perspective and become a harsh leader with a heart of ice. But I'm not alone. With you by my side, I'm somehow free to be not only a leader but...simply Edelgard. ** But you came back to me. With you by my side, I'm somehow free to be not only a leader but...simply Edelgard. Dialogue Tree:

A: I'm glad. B: You have many allies. Edelgard: True. I am fortunate to be surrounded by many wonderful companions. Nevertheless, you are...different from the rest. Until now, no one has been able to surpass me— much less command me. I have always been seen as an untouchable princess or emperor. No one spoke to me as an equal or met my gaze without flinching. It was lonely. Terribly lonely. The only person I could rely on as I tried to claw my way out of the darkness was myself. But you...you have been a brilliant light. Somehow, you have chased the darkness away. And for that... I will always be grateful.

**I'm not sure whether the change regarding this clause is because of Byleth’s gender or because of the route you choose.

S Support

Edelgard: Yes? Oh! It's you, Professor. I was certain it was Hubert coming to drag me back to my duties. "Your Majesty, you must know your supreme talents are needed at present. Why not gaze at these documents instead of the sky?" Dialogue Tree:

A: That sounds like Hubert. B: That didn't sound like Hubert at all. Edelgard (A): Doesn't it? And the worst part is that he's always right, so I can't even argue with him. (B): No? Well then. And here I thought my Hubert impression was second to none. But that's enough about Hubert for the moment. While I have your attention, I'd like to thank you for your help in that last battle. As you well know, I'm perfectly capable of commanding the army by myself. However, when you're around, it's somehow different. I'm not sure I can properly explain it. I suppose your perspective on the battlefield is simply sharper than mine. When you're devising tactics and tricks for us, it's almost as though you can read the enemy's mind. There's no getting around it. Your talent for strategy far exceeds my own. I'm quite jealous in all honesty. Dialogue Tree:

A: You have many talents that I lack. B: Sometimes, I'm jealous of you too. Edelgard (A): Is that a fact? Well, if you insist. (B): I suppose a flower from another's field is always more beautiful. I'll admit, I think of you as rather detached, so to hear that you have emotions such as jealousy is...something of a relief. Dialogue Tree:

A: I'm not detached. B: I could say the same of you. Edelgard (A): Oh, but you are! Don't even try to argue. But I suppose I'm much the same. I've also distanced myself from the ordinary world. (B): I can't deny it. Ever since I underwent those...procedures, I've certainly distanced myself from the ordinary world. It seems we were fated to be friends. Friends... That word somehow doesn't seem adequate. Besides, we've been friends for a long time, you and I. By now, we're so much more than that, at least in my mind. You know...instead of Edelgard, you can call me ust El. If you so please. That's what my parents and closest sisters used to call me when I was little. Now there's no one left who calls me El... But with you, well...I think I could allow it. In fact, it would mean a great deal to me. Byleth: Why is that? Edelgard: Why? Hmm... Well, you have stood beside me and shared my burdens. As I said, you are much more than a friend. In truth, you are like family to me. I suppose that's why.

Final Dialogue (S-supported?)

Edelgard: The children of the goddess have been defeated at last. The shape of the world will be forever changed. Humanity is free now. The world is ours once again. Can you believe it? Dialogue Tree:

A: I'm not sure. B: It isn't over yet. Edelgard: I see. Well, one thing is certain. The fate of this world depends on the choices we make. It's possible that people would have been happier continuing to mindlessly obey the goddess. Our work is far from over. And we can't ignore the possibility that our enemies will resurface one day. Byleth: True. There is still much to be done. Edelgard: We can't ignore the possibility that our enemies will resurface one day. In the end, the fate of this world depends on the choices we make. I don't know what the future holds, but...come what may, will you stay by my side? You chose to protect me at the Holy Tomb. Will you choose me again? What I'm trying to say is...I need you. Byleth: El... Please accept this gift. Edelgard: You called me El. That's... I... That means more than I can say. And this ring... It's lovely. Thank you, my dearest friend. I will happily accept it. I must admit, I feared my feelings would be unrequited. So long as I had you by my side, it never mattered how many enemies I amassed. You were all I needed. All this time, I longed to share my feelings with you, and it seems you wished for the same. Now, our wishes have come true. This feeling...it's overwhelming. Dialogue Tree:

A: I promise to always be there for you. B: Now, your burdens are mine to bear. Edelgard (A): I promise the same. Together, we can achieve anything. (B): Absolutely not—I won't allow it! From now on, we face the world and carry our burdens together. We will crush those who slither in the dark and restore peace and order to Fódlan. I will then find a suitable successor and hand over the reins of the Empire. When all that is done, it will be just the two of us. I look forward to starting our life together in the light of a glorious new dawn. Dialogue Tree:

A: That seems a lifetime away. B: Let's make it happen. Edelgard (A): It will be a long and difficult path, I'm afraid, but we must remain focused on our goals. (B): Yes, that is all we can do for now. We must remain focused on our goals. To think that I may truly call you my partner and equal now... The solitary reign of Edelgard has come to an end. From now on, we walk this path together. With time and care, the darkness shrouding this world will be lifted. You and I will become the light that shines over Fódlan...just as you have shined upon my life.

[randomnameless]

I've heard you mention before how bad the Zahras chapter is in terms of characterization for the three lords, especially Dimitri, but can you specify the reasons why?

Thanks to the datamine, I can finally get those lines without having to screencap everything from youtube!

So,

For Dimitri, Claude says this :

I'm just gonna come out and say it: After the war, I'm going to abolish the Central Church and depose the archbishop. The people of Fódlan have been shackled by this decrepit system for too long, and I'm ending it.

So okayyy...

Claude just says he has some beef with the person Dimitri welcomed as a refugee. Why?

That's right. Think about it. Who steals your freedom and gives you an endless list of duties and obligations simply because you have a Crest?

Dimitri's obligations and duties are his, not because he has a crest, but because he is a King - just like King of Almyra would have obligations and duties not to let his own people starve or be used as meatshields in Saturday raids, or letting his spurned son mount the biggest invasion ever because he's too busy mopping about his missing son, but apparently the King of Almyra doesn't give a fuck about his people.

And while yes, Dimitri is a King because he was born with a crest as Lambert's son... The need to have a crested King never came from the Church, and let's be real, Dimitri, as the character we know, feels like he has a duty to people and wishes to help because he is Dimitri, even if he was crestless like Ashe, Dimitri would want to help (just like Ashe!).

Who forces you and your friends into a bunch of unwanted marriages and positions of power?

That's not the Church, for sure, but the feudal notion of nobility - even if, let's be real, it is completely hypocritical for Claude to say this, because the same notion of nobility also exists in places around the continent where the CoS has no sway like... Almyra?

And about the unwanted marriages, again, Claude knows (or should know) Lorenz and his marriage problems, it is not the Church who forces people in unwanted marriages, but the responsibilities that come with being a Noble - Lorenz marrying Marianne means both house Gloucester and House Edmund are strengthened and could work more closely, maybe being able to rival Riegan or even overtake them in an "importance" contest, Lorenz marrying Leonie means... House Gloucester stays House Gloucester.

It's also hilarious because AG has a NPC talking about her marriage to House Gautier (I think?), and she never mentions the Church, rather mentions how she ultimately loves her husband.

The church even forbids any official contact with outside regions!

Source : my chamber pot

Dimitri knows well, after having seen Rhea helping Duscurian refugees, that the Church does not forbid contact with "outside regions", hell, Faerghus and Duscur were on relative good grounds, before the Regicide.

Not exactly great for Faerghus, right? Being as close to Sreng and Albinea as you are.

If Faerghus has sour relationships with Sreng, it's because of border raids, but of course a Prince of Almyra will never talk about this :)

And we know Albinea trades a lot with Fodlan, in general, if their damn fruits being in every region is any indication - or this tidbit from the Book detailing the Royal Territories of Faerghus :

Dominic A small but beautiful barony. Its coastal cities have become a hub of commerce through trade with Albinea.

Too bad Claude speaks, again, with confidence, about something he doesn't know, but can you imagine a micro-second that Dimitri doesn't know who Dominic trades with? Gilbert, a second son of House Dominic, is pious to a fault - but apparently he never bothers telling his brother that trading with Albinea is BaD, so...

Claude, again, is presenting the contents of his chamber pot to Dimitri, asking him to trust him based on those.

Claude continues, after assuring Dimitri that Faerghus isn't his goal !

And really, our enemy isn't the actual church so much as the people at the top who make all the decisions.

Rhea BaD

So it's not even about the Church in General, but apparently, Rhea (as the people at the top) makes the decisions to, uh, prevent the world from interacting with Fodlan (but there are Morfis merchants in Garreg Mach???) - the same woman who, in AG, we hear busies herself helping children and refugees from Duscur after a fire or what not.

(And that's not talking about the kind of official "contact" Adrestia had with Brigid and Sreng...)

I'm sorry Claude, but if the Alliance doesn't want to have any "official" contact with Almyra, it's not because Rhea forbids said contact, but it's because your father, your brother and your retainer (?) Nader apparently do not see anything wrong with a penis measuring contest that consists in raiding, "rampaging" and "bringing souvenirs" from Fodlan for funsies.

So, after playing 12 chapters in AG where Dimitri knows what Rhea does, we could expect some rebuttal, right?

I understand where you're coming from, Claude, and on a personal level I actually agree with you.

Dimi, no :(

But as King, he is opposed, not because a King has to use his head and can't do stupid shit on a whim (like marrying the still current wife of a foreign leader!)

Yes, for three reasons. First, abolishing the church would deny the king's right to rule Faerghus. Without one, the people will descend into chaos and war. Would you be able to take responsibility for such a thing, once it came to pass?

My Bad!

That mention of the King's right to rule Faerghus coming from the Church was nonsensical during the discourse days, and still is, after Nopes.

If the Kingdom's name is "Holy", remember that a name and a history doesn't mean a thing when people don't want to follow it - again, remember what happened with Adrestia? They pissed on the Church, Rhea acting as a witness is a custom you can ignore whenever you want, and they are actually waging a war against the Church of Seiros, when Seiros herself fucking created (together with Willy!) the country who has her own symbol on their flag!

Faerghus won its independence against Adrestia, Church or no Church, Faerghus existed by fucking over the Empire (as it was led by Loog). Without the Church, and faced with a powerful Empire, are we really supposed to think Faerghians won't rally behind Loog's scion to, hm, protect them or at least ensure their continued independence from Adrestia?

Second, recklessly discarding the church will only incite discord among the clergy and its supporters.

This is a somewhat valid reason, as we know, the CoS helped the Kingdom in recent times, especially after the regicide. But they are also currently helping the Kingdom against Supreme Leader's war of conquest, let it be by taking care of randoms or sending its knights to support Faerghus.

Also, the Kingdom operates on "shat upon by this game" notions of gratitude, love and loyalty - unlike Adrestia, if Supreme Leader's stunt of backstabbing the CoS after they helped her get rid of "corruption" in the Empire is any indication. And I doubt the same Kingdom folk would readily accept it if their King suddenly got rid of the organisation/woman who helped them so much during their time of need.

And finally, a revolution of this nature will not only mean casualties among the commonfolk, but will endanger your own life as well.

I will have to check the JP text because this "revolution" word is a bit contrived - there's no revolution if you're just kicking out a religious organisation in YOUR Kingdom - but yes, commonfolk will be pissed (maybe take up weapons?) even if I'm pretty sure some "noblefolk" will also be pissed at this decision.

And because Dimitri worries about everyone - save for Rhea and the church apparently because they BaD - he also worries about Claude's life.

Leaving the first two for a second, I have some serious issues with that last one. I'm glad you're concerned for my safety, but I can take care of myself

Claude really replies with "leaving logic aside" and the commonfolk casualties he doesn't give a fuck about if GW is any indication, uwu don't worry about me I can watch over myself :)

Ah, good ol' Plot Armor :)

But don't you see? The people you wish to depose are human, just as you are.

Hahahan hilarious Dimitri, those people aren't human ! Supreme Leader told me!

No matter what ingenious scheme you come up with or how careful you try to be, they will suffer.

Is he trying to appeal to Claude's compassion and moral fiber? The guy who is, in GW, invading his country for funsies, staging a double invasion with Sreng forces who are just used as decoy/fodder?

And their vengeance will eventually find you, no matter how hard you try to stave it off. I know full well the guilt that accompanies such actions…and the retribution they provoke

Lol, no.

Who can give a fuck about the suffering of Nabateans/Church folk? Being backstabbed by everyone because of propaganda, and needing to die for reasons as consistent as a baby's first purée?

"don't do that Claude, Rhea will be angry and swear vengeance against you, and blablabla cycle of hatred and retributions and blabla"

Everyone has to deal with the consequences of their decisions. If you let it rule you, Fódlan never changes.

Says Mister "I abolished a Republic and created a Kingdom in the land that used to say "we bow to no king and to no emperor" " or "I'm invading your land and killing your people" or even "I'm enrolling Almyrans in my army who will rampage and bring souvenirs and the Leicesterians (?) are totally okay with it!" ?

Claude who never ever faces any consequences for his bonkers decision through the entire game? That guy? Talks about "dealing with the consequences"? Fodlan changing is more important than Fodlan dying?

(at least that's how it was for the Alliance turned Federation...)

But not taking the time to look where you're going will only lead you to stumble and fall. And if there are those who would be hurt by this, I consider it my duty to help them.

Dimitri wants to help... Claude, who would be hurt with this "revolution", but dgaf about getting rid of the Church, aka Rhea/Seteth/the clergy who would also, obviously, be "hurt" by this stupid idea?

Heh. There you go, trying to save everyone again. You really are too good for me!

Not everyone, as we all understood - the Church can burn :)

To be honest, I'm jealous of how you're not burdened with the same restrictions.

"tbh Claude, I'm jealous of how you don't give a fuck about the number of deaths your actions are causing"

Are we... sure that's Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd talking here? Really? Wasn't he body snatched by Chilon?

Forgot OOC, this line wouldn't even be said by this character.

In the world I'm trying to create, you wouldn't be burdened by them either. You could even… No, forget that. I'm serious about what I said, though. And I really do admire how you want to save everyone. Honestly, if you weren't a king, I think we could've been friends.

"In my world, you too wouldn't give a fuck about the deaths/suffering your actions are creating! You're only worried about them because you are king! But if you weren't, you could be an amoral asshole, just like me! Could we be fwends in an AU plz?"

I feel much the same. Had I joined with you, I might have been able to see a different vision of Fódlan.

"yeah!"

Sadly, Dimitri isn't able to throw his compassion and morals to the trashcan, so he cannot join Claude !

And if you consider this line can be said during the GW events (remember, the invasion, killing Matthias, killing his soldiers and his people, etc etc), this is even more insulting.

So, as a good friend said, this Zahrofl convo shits on FE16!Claude (but the games is all about it), but more importantly, it is the only place in the game where Dimitri is Nopes'd, aka, his character does a 180° and/or is butchered because the plot demands so.

Like, anon, can you imagine a second, Dimitri, the Dimitri, wishing he too, couldn't "be burdened"' by the suffering he creates?

Imo, it's on par with Supreme Leader suddenly loving the sun and loving to swim. That character wouldn't be Supreme Leader, just like the person in this convo, isn't Fodlan's Dimitri (tfw Engage's Emblem!Dimitri is more faithful to IS's idea of Dimitri than Nopes lol).

[randomnameless]

I missed that detail about House Vestra. House Vestra oversaw the consorts, while it's personal battalion of “sorcery engineers” are dressed as Slithers. And Hubert was given to Edelgard when she was four despite her being the 9th child of Ionius. Everything seems to point to House Vestra being Slithers pushing the moral decline of the Empire, and with the detail about consorts it could also be they were selectively breeding in order to create a perfect candidate for their plans. Their own Kwisatz Haderach as it were, after all they expect Edelgard to give them salvation.

Their own Kwisatz Haderach as it were, after all they expect Edelgard to give them salvation.

I'm having the worst mental images of Thales trying to have sexy times with random Empress #55 to further the breeding project and I'm not thanking you for that lol

More seriously,

As I mentioned in the other ask, the "get a heir with two crests" plans only popped up recently, since Word of God said the Ordelias were a prototype.

So why would they need to breed a perfect heir before having the idea to "infuse" one of them with the Crest of Flames or at least two crests ? Send a major blooded Seiros Hresvelg against Nabateans? It wouldn't work, the poor Hresvelg would be stomped on.

I always was under the impression that the Slither's influence was more in the lines of political influence, like saping the image the CoS had in Adrestia and ultimately, turn humans against Nabateans (again) while ruining things because that's what they do.

Emperor Proud (i don't have a name for him :() who ordered the Brigid and Dagda invasion was the kind of dude who, 1/ wanted to invade other countries bcs why not 2/the kind of dude who would be so angry at his people returning home without having conquered anything that said people prefer to die at sea, fighting.

Then we have the Emperor who was in charge during the Southern Church incident, who was so pissed that someone dared to rebel that they piss on an agreement their father made and banished that branch away, as an excuse to distance themselves more from the Central Church for ~reasons~.

Those Emperors are far from Willy, as Rhea (a biased source!) described him, or as the "Nobles of old" Hanneman, in a certain way Ferdie and Lorenz seem to admire. Did Adrestia fall bcs of Agarthan influence? I want to believe that it's not the case but... Fodlan games seem keen on putting everything "bad" that happens on the Agarthans, as if people can't be asses without an "alien" influence...

I've read your theory about Vestras being Agarthans themselves but, well, idk.

I really don't like blaming doylist writing here, but Hubert being given to Supreme Leader still reeks of the writers' lack of continuity guys, especially given the scarce mentions of her siblings and the unknown fate of her step-mothers - i know Mothers aren't prevalent in the FE series, but Anselma gets more mentions from her than Ionius's first (legal) wife!

Also, IDK where I read it, but it was said that House Vestra and House Hresvelg were together since the "dawn" of the Empire, imo it means since the Willy Era, so unless those "real Vestras" were bodysnatched after Willy and Rhea's departure, I can't believe the Vestras were Agarthans since day 1 (Macuil throws a tantrum over sparing the descendants of the Elites, imo he would never have accepted to work, less to even let live, an agarthan).

Back to them being there since the "dawn" of the Empire, does it also mean the harem tradition traces back to that era too?

Or, after seeing the fuckery that followed after Lycaon's death (Wilhelm, who could have assumed the throne again, fucked off instead of supporting the new emperor!) they devised to "look after/take care/organise" the harem and the Hresvelg heirs?

IDK

[randomnameless]

IDK if you've played FE5, and maybe that's what Raquie was refering to when he vague posted about systemic issues bringing bandits...

But in FE5, you basically have a character who used to be bandit, then was beaten by Best Mom Eyvel and started to try to turn over a new leaf and a new life : Dagda.

Through the course of the game, Leif is caught by the Empire, and Dagda wants to "round up his boys" (aka the former bandits who started a new life like him) to free Leif, but one his "boys", Gomez, refuses and basically keeps Dagda and his daughter Tanya hostage in their home, planning to kill them later.

(and he kills them if you don't unlock the gaiden chapter, I think it's the 8x).

During those chapters, we have a small discussion between Leif and August, Leif's "savvy" advisor, where Leif wonders why people in Thracia are bandits and if they can't have a better job/occupation instead, and August telling him that, basically, Thracia is a shit land not fit at all for farming, its people are very poor and starve, and sometimes, being a bandit is the only solution to survive/have something to eat.

And yet, while it makes us sort of sympathise with Gomez (who tried to do "honest" work and farm, but it doesn't work and he feels like his efforts are pointless), Gomez still wants to kill Dagda and Tanya, and depending on your runs, you cannot "capture" him (a mechanic introduced in FE5 where you basically beat an enemy and then release him instead of killing him), Gomez still dies.

FE5 has a lot of "pointless" deaths, but imo, the game also makes clear Gomez, despite his plight, was not "right" to capture/take his former boss hostage and ultimately kill him.

And through the course of the game, while we have Gomez, we also have Lifis, a bandit (pirate!) who seems to do pirate things for shit'n'giggles, the bandit in the Ralph'n'Amalda chapter who wants to capture villagers and sold them as slaves because it's a good source of income, meanwhile, we have the Dandelion Thieves, another group of, uh, bandits, but they don't do bandit things, they rescue people (well...) and are basically seen as honorable.

Tl;dr : even in FE5, the "I was sad once" or the "society made me like this" isn't a valable justification used to excuse bandits doing bandit things, especially when said bandit things are to kill, enslave or seduce randoms.

It also ignores the fact that well..the bandits are burning down villages and killing people. Like the plight of one's suffering is not an excuse for the crimes that they commit and while it's never too late to do the right thing and atone, it's not a pass to commit crimes. And like you mentioned, there's no evidence suggesting that the bandits in Firene or in any of the continents in Engage for that matter are doing the things they're doing because they're poor and starving; Engage doesn't want to well..engage with that cause that's not the focus (and it doesn't need to be).

Ugh, this feels like a continuation of that stupid "woobifying the villain" trend where their argument is "the villains suffered, so therefore their actions are justified and how dare the heroes try to stop them and uphold the status quo."

You are perfectly right anon. Céline could have still tried to arrest them, but let's not act as if her decision didn't had some justifications. She isn't doing it out of pure pleasure either, she simply want to protect her people.

Also that's going to be a little long but

When it comes to explaining why a crime is born you need to fufill a lot of conditions : when do people enter this crime ? at childhood or adulthood ? Is it linked to economic problem ? if so which one ? and why ?

I already talked about it but even if you, a player used to FE never diving onto why there is banditry in some part of the world, I simply don't think the idea that it is a result of economic hardship or a flawed system makes sense with what is presented of Firene

It's is canonically introduced as a pacifist country, the wealthiest of the 4 kingdom and holding philantrophic value as well as having a pastoral style of life. The Kingdom if Abundance is it called.

I received quite ago an anon ask that made the clever remark that if all the character originating from Firene had name derivated from fashion brands, was to show the wealth of Firene and when you look at the design for the Firenese they are all wearing outfits that look incredibly lavish and very designed, even in contrast of the other Royals. What's more in the jpn version, all of the member of the Firenese cast safe Alfred, Jean and sort of Boucheron speaks a very polite and fancy japanese, Etie even sounds a bit snobbish. And all of them are rich : Alfred and Céline, obviously as Royals, Etie being the daughter of a marquis, same for Chloé, Boucheron is the son of a count and while Louis holds from more common origins and that his father had to work harder to provide for the family, his polite speech and is outfit for Somniel and his personality in general seems to infer he was still from quite a wealthy family and it adds up with how he hails from a town that is famous for the grapes it produces. Mauvier too hails from a wealthy family and Jean, a commoner, is the son of a doctor and wants to be one. And he can freaking read and afford fridging glasses ! While it's likely thanks to his dad, his dad HAD to go through studies to be a doctor and even in medieval setting those were very pricey. So that's telling a lot of how the common people of Firene beneficiate from quite the wealthy style of life and if you compare the commoner outfit to the noble one avalaible in the Somniel, they aren't that different and those commoner outfits stands out a lot compared to the Brodian and Solmic one. From that we can deduce that the peasants in Firene are quite wealthy.

And it makes sense since Firene is mainly operating in interior from an economic point of view. It relies a lot on agriculture and since Firene is a land of abundance and fertility, they have a lot of land to cultivate. With most of the trade between farmer and merchants being operated in the inside, it creates more wealth for them since the concurance is so little and mainly between Firenese rather then with an exterior country for a less pricey product. This explain why there is so many farmer, peasants and merchants in Firene and you can expect the people to be quite wealthy, even among commoners.

This description doesn't fit one of a country who suffers from banditry because of poverty. Because poverty can be one of the main reason for the practice of banditry, but usually those are country that rely on agriculture and have a crisis in such domain like China or Russia at some points. Firene is described as an ever propesperous land, where even in autumn they can benefit from the recolts. The only season where it could be harder would be winter but seeing how the climate in Firene operates since they can cultivate oranges and grapes, fruits mainly developped into Mediteran region irl, and how Alfred and Céline describes it, I doubt they ever had to face a disastrous winter.

If you wanted to make that arguments for Brodia or Elusia, I could believe it since it has been established that those two had financial problem because of the war. Saphir is 35 and saw her villager ravaged as a child and all the character who had suffered from poverty are younger then her : Yunaka, a Brodia, was abandonned by her parents (in the manga, she was literaly sold), Griss (and in XenElyos Gregory) was sold to Sombron's cult when Marni was abandonned by her mother there too and they are both from Elusia. And the reason was because for the three of them, their parents were too poor to deal with them, having several other children to take care off in Marni's mother case, but in Yunaka and Griss, they were only children. From Alcryst's introduction in chapter 7, we also learn that there is thief there too.

For Firene it is much harder due to how the land is described in canon. It simply doesn't add up.

As for the bandits, seeing how the mainly operates around the Firene and Brodian border, it is likely because it is the less defended part of all Firene since there is no one to guard the border. But they clearly don't originate from there. Teronda is said to have taken over the village since he killed all the villagers and Mitan invaded the ruins because there was nobody there to make it her lair. However, it's no indicator they come from Firene. Their name don't evocate any fashion brand I know off, when even Jean's parent are named after it (Sean/Sean John and Anje from Maison Anje). Their name seems to be after a hotel brand and a confection brand ? But they don't have name that have any French signification, and their palette doesn't look very Firene either, with Mitan being closer but having colors much less bright. As for the highwaymen, in the JPN version their nationality isn't mentioned, it is likely that the localization added that were from Firene because they are said to attack shipment comming from Jean's village.

But again, even if they were from Firene, that begs the question of where exactly ? Because for them to move out this far, this clearly mean they had the means since someone really poor can't afford to leave their place. Or in that case they hail from a region where agriculture is less present and performant, so near the Firene border since there is more mountains and therefore is an environement less welcoming for agriculture, but it is invalidated by the presence of a village that they robbed off. The villager had some valuables, meaning they were still wealthy, and in the ruins that the bandits invaded there is a territory where agriculture can be grown there so... yeah, I don't buy it any seconds.

And the fact that they were able to set out a squad to kill an entire village.. people that are really poor don't have the means. They are also too numerous to fit that profile seeing how again, actual bandits operating because of their stomach being empty have less means, targets smaller targets and operates in a much less number.

And even if they had began a carrier because they were poor, by the time we fight them, it's obvious they amassed quite enough of the money to try to live another life rather then keeping this buissness they are involved in. But they didn't. They clearly can't have been kids that had been poor if they are from Firene and if they started out recently, their description invalidates this seeing how they have been operating for a while and are described as "willing to do any evil deed for the sake of treasure" or as "systematically stealing people". And seeing how Mitan steals mainly valuable, she isn't poor or starving, her target are too precise for that. (note it's their JPN descr, and in the case of Mitan, it implies she isn't targeting only merchants)

And again, seeing how the Royals are willing to spend any money possible to help their people since they hold philanthropic values, I don't see why they wouldn't try to help out their less favored citizens. After all, Alfred is willing to dig well himself for them. Céline to protect them had the gouvernement heighens the funds for the merchants and peasants trading the tea leaves that they spend time growing and even state in the jpn version she doubled the number of escorts. They did everything to rebuilt Florra port and to help the survivors heal and rebuilt the home that were ravaged by the Elusian army. They even went personally to help a little commoner, to collect the good that were stolen from their people and blames themselves for not having being arrived sooner to save that village of chapter 6. They would absolutely provide for their people if they were in need.

Another evidence of this is the plague and how they helped their citizens in thos time and speaking of which, I think the Plague is literaly the only ground someone could have to argue that Firene had economic hardship as a side effect of the plague, but you can't blame the Royals for it when even the King of Firene was struck by it and that at that time, they though Alfred caught it too. And seeing how Louis's father had to double up the work after losing his wife, it might be an indicator of it.

But again, as you pointed out too, the game never tried to infer that Firene had economic hardship, it does the exact opposite. But since the army is less present and that the country is so wealthy, it would obviously end up having some people choosing to be bandits to exploit others but with such an economic system, it's banditry that is hurting the economy ! It's perturbating trade, raving village and thus agricultural field and cultures, etc. They aren't poor or anything, they ARE what is causing economic hardship to Firene if any there is !!!

But as your rightfully point out, whatever is the reason that motivated them, it doesn't change the fact they choose to prioritize their own needs at the cost of the suffering of other and turned it into a literal buissness and commiting crime against humanity by sacking village, robbing of innocent people of their rightful belonging and commiting massing killing is not jusitifyable and makes me really doubt the claim they are simply trying to put the two together. Whether Céline was being harsh or not, they deemed others, villagers maybe even poorer and working hard to gain their life, to be lesser then then them and went on to rob them and kill them. And reminder that this is a SOFTCORE version of what actual bandits might commit as a crime, look for Berserk to get an idea closer to reality. But again, Céline herself still admitted to not completely liked that idea, but I really don't see how she is in the wrong here for punishing people who terrorized her citizens, killed them and steals them.

It got a bit long here, sorry I just brainstormed a lot and realized how it simply doesn't add up.

"Ugh, this feels like a continuation of that stupid "woobifying the villain" trend where their argument is "the villains suffered, so therefore their actions are justified and how dare the heroes try to stop them and uphold the status quo.""

Yes, I think that trend is VERY much a problem. Do you imagine if I tried to justify idk Rafal by saying "yes he destroyed an entire world and commiting 1 000 of attrocities but he was sud uwu" ? ugh, make me sick and it would go against his character since the whole point of his character is that he did it, acknowledges it and refuse to have someone take the blame for it, and goes into a whole redemption arc. Remove his crime and you lost 99% of what makes his character so savory !

But frankly, I think it's because of this trend that people can look at Zephia or Sombron and think the game is trying to redeem them or make them human or sympathetic for literaly giving an explanation as to what the heck they motivation are.

Besides that's like saying that it's fine to do evil when you are oppressed when as someone who holds that as a dear principle, you are responsible for your actions not matter what and can't blame any one but yourself for the choice you did. Which is also one of Engage's message : that no matter how you are born, you can still be a good person and that you should held responsability for your action and be ready to change to obtain forgivness. So, the whole defending the minro boss bandits in Engage thing is literaly going against the message of the game.

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Would Ionius have been retconned if he'd been in Nopes?

Hm,

It's kind of a complicated answer, given how Nopes and the Fodlan games in general deal with Ionius.

I mean, SB removed, off-screen, Vestra Sr who might have fiven any insight on the Insurrection of the Seven and revealed what happened to make him, a Vestra, ditch a Hresvelg - FE16 implied Vestra Sr wanted to protect Hubert (or at least his children? Since Hubert has a sister too in Nopes?).

Ludwig was sort of retconned as in wanting to MAGA and support Supreme Leader in her ordeal... while he opposed Ionius who tried to do the same thing. Ionius centralised power on himself and wiped Hrym - Supreme Leader centralises power on herself (iirc an imperial NPC says his family lost standing?) and has her own ideas about what Noble Houses should be/do - in her vision, Ludwig who's very proud to be an Aegir would be demoted to nothingness so...

If Ionius had been there, would we have gotten more insight and clues about what he was really trying to create, and how he and Supreme Leader differ (or how similar they are)?

SB already gives us breadcrumbs of Supreme Leader's accusations against Ludwig being horsecrap when Ferdie cannot find any evidence that Ludwig did the things Supreme Leader accuses him of having done - and, again, the entire thing about Ludwig having led the experiments is supported by thin air, save for Supreme Leader's words.

To be honest... If we got Ionius in SB, I suppose he would have had a similar role to the one he has in Tru Piss - he exists, but everything surrounding him, his politices, what he did, what he does and how he ends would have been ignored.

In an ideal world, Ionius would have had some importance managing Enbarr while Supreme Leader is leading the Army - or better, maybe Hubert would have had him killed (with Supreme Leader's agreement) to blame his sudden "assassination" on the Church's forces. And, idk, if you could transfer data from Tru Piss or what not, you'd unlock a scene where he, Supreme Leader and Hubert agree on this course of action, Ionius saying he has no strength left to reach his goals, but Supreme Leader, as the New Emperor, must unite Fodlan under Adrestia's banner and get rid of those pesky lizards to "return the world to Human hands", confirming that Supreme Leader's version of Willy's sekrit history comes from Ionius.

[randomnameless]

Rewatching Shez's supports with Edelgard, it kind of irritates me that Edelgard looks upset after Shez points out that the average farmer probably hates her for the war. Like, ma'am you knew this would lead to mass death and a lot of people not being fans of yours, and considering Hubert also points out the Edel's policies are meant to benefit nobles who give her money and troops and keep down the commonfolk, she shouldn't be surprised by this answer. Shez even softens the comment by saying "you must have a good reason" but it's like Edelgard can't handle hearing any kind of real criticism from people she respects (or claims to). I think it's another player-pandering thing, can't have the Lord be mad at you, but it just makes Edelgard look like a thin-skinned whiner who can't handle the harsh criticisms that her actions are going to bring her. At least when she went on about "her path of blood and death" in 3 Houses she seemed to have some sense of "yeah people will hate my guts." Idk it probably comes down to the developers being scared to have someone truly criticize Edelgard without pushback.

That supports irks me for other reasons lol, basically the fact that Barney points out how water is wet (something Supreme Sailor Fuku apparently missed, as you noticed) but within 1 convo they completely drop that plot line and get along with her plans because, eggtivation means that someone as bland as Barney - who could represent common sense - must also be drowned under liters of Hresvelg Grey.

Imo, it's not "your lord cannot be mad at you", but again and again with the Fodlan games, "no one can be mad at Supreme Leader, not even you(r self insert character)".

FWIW, FEH got her writing right - faced with contradictions and criticism, Supreme Leader ragingly storms out of a conversation when the characters aren't from Fodlan and thus cannot be eggtivated (or when the Fodlan team isn't writing them?).

Given how her Nopes' Big B's support basically has her say "you're either with me or against me", no wonder why criticism, at least in Nopes, is something unknown for her, hell, Ferdie must behead his father to demonstrate times after times that he and House Aegir aren't her enemies - in a way, even with the twist they added (let's ally with those icky disgusting beasts to get rid of uncle, and THEN we will free Fodlan from their scaly grasp!) Nopes wrote Supreme Leader to be even more uncompromising and more bull-headed than ever, if in Houses she had a modicum of self-awareness (she's still the Adrestian Emperor though!), in Nopes it's written away.

[randomnameless]

thinking about @fantasyinvader's recent Dimitri post -

I think one of the points I'm not really fond of with AM and Boarmitri's turn to Savior!Mitri is how Dee shifts his attention from the Means to the Ends.

And sure, we have to think about the bigger scope - criticise to prevent the "Ends" means putting an end to the "Means" - but what about the ones who were sacrificed, or the ones who are and written off as "means"?

Kleiman dude really believed he was doing the right thing by chopping Duscur people (or at least putting them under the bus for something he and his lord did).

Boarmitri reacts to the "slaughtering Duscur people" strongly, and would have killed him because hey, you were slaugthering people down (or are responsible for the persecution Duscur people suffered and are still going through).

Savior!Mitri? Will put his execution on hold, to consider what Kleiman dude meant by "doing the right thing".

But, regardless of why Kleiman Dude thought was "right" or for "justice", the thing is, he still organised the massacre of several people and wrongly framed innocents to hide their involvment, which led to their persecution/massacre.

"But Lambert was removing our rights and privileges" sure, what does this has anything to do with Dedue having lost his sister to senseless murder after being wrongfuly framed for regicide?

"Kleiman Dude really believed what he was doing was right" and ? Tell that to Felix's mom, what's going to happen? People do things for all kinds of reasons, so what?

-

Worst offender is, of course, Supreme Leader.

Boarmitri wants to cut her down to avenge the dead (and maybe stop the war?) but when Savior!Mitri finally hears her, uh, reasoning, he is resolved to kill her because that's her choice (uh) and it's their fate???

The fuck?

Sure he mentions putting an end to the war, but the entire "we have no other choice but to fight, because it's what she wants and that's the destiny we were born to", please no?

Hopefully the first sentence "end the war" exists, otherwise I'd really believe Dee makes this fight and final battle all about Supreme Leader (and blame fate because that's hresvelg grey for you) and completely ignores the people who are, uh, living in this Fodlan ravaged by war, the ones who died because of it or are still dying because that's what war does.

What about the ones who died? The ones who are dying (or are locked in a 5 stars resort doing zumba for 5 years) ? The ones who are turned in demonic beasts? The ones who are starving?

"We have no choice but to destroy each other... Such is the destiny we were born to."

who cares about casualties, let's agree to disagree about our Ends and blame fate instead.

:/

[randomnameless]

Ooh?!

I love this!

Especially the parallel to Supreme Leader and the last byzantine Emperor, because for all of the usual eurocentrism the fantasy games have, Adrestia, at least what we see from 1180, is heavily inspired by the Roman Empire, but by the Eastern Roman Empire (that would be called by people who were totes more roman than them because hey remembers how Big Carlos was totes called the Emperor of Romans in 800 ?) !

Enbarr’s architecture - from the few things we see - is more “eastern” than what you would expect from your usual medieval “France/England/Hollywood Middle Ages” veneer, and since I found it once I can’t unsee it anymore, Ionius’s small apparition and render mirrors Emperor Justinian I (especially their brooch!!)

And I must have had a dream about it, because I could have sworn Edelgard had a crown looking like this one at one point 

But I disgress.

If Maurice refers to the last Emperor of a dynasty who had an illustrous ancestor (Justinian I!) and who disintegrated his super Empire (even if it’s always more complicated than that) - I can see some similarities with Supreme Leader, who ends her dynasty too (but not because she is beheaded (uhh...)) and represents, in broad strokes, the concept of “the fall of a dynasty” like Maurice supposedly did but in a more metaphorical sense, while Maurice died because he was so unpopular that people rebelled and a general became Emperor and rekt’d him and his sons, Supreme Leader loses the Mandate of Heaven and the good Ruler, the one who has Heaven’s blessings because his people want him on the throne, is the Blaiddyd - the Hresvelg dynasty falls because no heirs, but more important, because they lost the Mandate.

Back to the Devil -

I love how the perceived powerlessness both apply to Supreme Leader (through Aymr and their link as you pointed out) and Marianne.

Supreme Leader thinks she’s powerless and has to side with Uncle’n’pals, until she realises she can’t spit on them and they’ll just shrug and because this game prefers Hresvelg Tea to realism, CF doesn’t end up with Firdhiad being Nuked just as Rhea died and Supreme Leader Hubert finally rekts Uncle.

Nopes doubles down on this, Supreme Leader realises she isn’t as powerless as she thought, since she cuts her ties to Uncle’n’pals earlier than she does in Houses... but on AG, when Uncle throws her a pokeball to brainwash her and turn her to Supreme Puppet, the pokeball is actually a crest stone, and iirc, it’s a crest stone with a crest of Maurice on it (also Lobotogard uses Aymr iirc?).

(knowing the devs by now, it makes some sort of sense, Edel still thinks she’s powerless, and without the power of the player, aka “u”, she actually is powerless!)

Marianne too, she thinks she is powerless against the “curse of the beast”, but when she is confronted to it, she realises her fears were unfounded, she manages to triumph over the devil arcana.

And in way, we can say Maurice (the Elite, Momo) doesn’t, he succumbed to his own shittiness (in Nopes it’s suggested he became a beast after slaugthering too much, and slaughtering a “holy warrior”) which makes him lose control, is he really powerless or is he still in control? Momo thinks only Nemesis can “liberate” him from his Fate...

But then we remember Momo’s perceived or real lack of choice in 1180 is the consequence of his choice to participate* in the Nabatean Genocide and side with Nemesis by slaughtering to his heart’s content, so the forced restraing put on him was actually brought upon his own choices and actions, Momo’s not powerless, he reaps what he sowed.

*There is that book where an Elite doesn’t know why Seiros hates them so much, and this has been taken as a proof that they didn’t participate in the Red Canyon - but as far as the Elites know, Seiros is a human like them, why would she even be upset for what happened to beasts/monsters living in a mountain? The Faustian deal the Elites made with Nemesis and the Agarthans wouldn’t be as interesting if they only ate “nabatean made jello” and picked a shiny club, but given how Nopes wants us to believe the Agarthans are responsible for everything wrong in Fodlan, i don’t even know anymore...

The Devil & FE3H

Contrary to how the card looks, The Devil is not actually about the devil sitting upon a stool in the back of the card, but about the two figures in front of it. A foil to The Lovers card, The Devil symbolises forced restraint and perceived powerlessness -- in other words, a lack of choice. 

The chains upon the two people’s heads are fitted loosely around their necks, showing that it’s a trick. The Devil tricks them into thinking they are stuck, but they can easily slip the chains from over their heads and escape. The problem is that both of them have succumbed to their basest instincts, shown by the horns upon their heads, and have fallen to addictions of pleasure and power, as symbolised by the tails of fruit and fire respectively. 

The crest associated with this card is the Crest of Maurice. The name itself likely belongs to the last Byzantine Emperor. His reign was troubled by constant warfare, most likely because that was the only thing he was good at. By keeping his people focused on wars, which he excelled at, they would ignore his other shortcomings. 

During battles, he was fierce and brilliant. He united a fractured Byzantine Empire. However, during peacetime, he was a poor ruler and his reign struggled financially. He made policies that did not keep the people’s needs in mind, leading to his citizens and military rebelling against him. 

The dragon associated with this crest is the Storm Dragon. This name could be alluding to the god of thunder, lightning, and storms. The problem with storms is that they are often necessary to bring rain. However, in their wake they can leave chaos and destruction. So storms can be balanced out in terms of the good and bad they bring to the world. 

In my mind, the Storm Dragon would be a cloudlike being that flies through the sky. Maybe its most prominent features would be its large black wings that darken the sky when an oncoming storm is near. 

Instead of connecting all these things to a bearer of the crest, I actually think Edelgard von Hresvelg is a better fit. Edelgard frequently alludes to herself as being trapped by Agarthan forces, being forced to do things she would never do. However, she actually has all the power to strike back against them. She is simply too focused on the power they bring her to do so. On the other hand, Edelgard is like the devil herself, tempting or manipulating others to her side with the promise of power (as she does for Ferdinand) or the promise of her love (as she does for Byleth). 

Maurice is also a good fit for the type of reign that Edelgard has on Adrestia. She brought harmony to Adrestia by taking the power of the nobles. And if she succeeds in her war of conquest, she will be seen as bringing Fòdlan back together in the history books. However, Edelgard gives little thought to the state of the world in peacetime. She does not consider the common citizen, starving them and using them in Agarthan experiments. She does not consider how a meritocracy could ever be fair, leaving Ferdinand to point out that free education must be necessary, otherwise the meritocracy would be nothing but a joke. Not only that, but her new weapon bears the Crest of Maurice, giving an indication that the writers may have meant for her to be connected to these ideas. 

Finally, the Storm Dragon seems to suggest Edelgard’s violent rule. While some may consider her conquest necessary or inevitable, it is destructive and the echoes of chaos will be felt for many generations. 

Personally, I think the writers did a fantastic job linking Edelgard to The Devil card, even more so than a reversed The High Priestess card. But what do you think? Could Marianne have filled these tough breeches as well as Edelgard?

Previous: Temperance

Next: The Tower

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In Ch 17 of SS after Dimitri dies, Ferdinand comments that Dimitri died because he couldn't keep his feelings in check and that led him to make bed decisions; he's sympathetic towards Dimitri and saddened by his death. In CF, he comments in Ch 16 that Dimitri's hate towards Edelgard means he shouldn't be in charge. He says a leader should be emotionally detached. Does Ferdinand therefore see Edelgard as an emotionally detached leader? His contrasting viewpoints of leadership are interesting.

Dimitri died because he couldn't keep his feelings in check and that led him to make bed decisions

I know it's a typo, but AU where Dimi dies because he picked the wrong "bedmate" and it started a continental war

More seriously,

SS!Ferdie's in a situation where he defected, because he felt it was the right thing to do, as the noble he wants to be, instead of coldly calculating his course of action -

and yet, I'm still willing to cut him some slack, because in the various cutscenes of Supreme Bullshit, the poor guy seems to be pressured into committing parricide to show his "loyalty", even if he never did anything to make Supreme Leader question it, bar bearing the "Von Aegir" surname...

Tru Piss!Ferdie becomes a sycophant and thinks everything his Leader does is wonderful, and should be emulated. Ferdie is someone who is driven by his emotions (his spiel and one sided rivalry to be the best noble out there!) so him saying rulers have to be detached can be seen as shitting on Dimitri, bowing in front of Supreme Leader, but also, him giving up on being a ruler, or someone who could set an example (aka the noble he wanted to be).

I believe Supreme Leader is seen as emotionally detached - because the rest of the BESF don't witness the rat scene or the Hresvelg artistic skills (tm) scene - it is something she pretends to be (when she compares Billy to herself) and Ferdie doesn't get any clue that it's a façade Supreme Leader is wearing.

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I forgot Saint Cichol's day :(

Fodlan AU :

Back when they were still kids living in Zanado, kid!Rhea gifted Cichol a stick figure drawing for his 1200th birthday, of them holding hands with a book for a bedtime story with some blurr that was supposed to represent Macuil in the background.

Cichol kept that drawing when he left Zanado to "explore" Enbarr, and forgot to remove it from his travel bag.

(let's say it was preserved with magic so the ink and the paper wouldn't fade over time)

After Nemesis' party, the drawing was what he thought to be the only memento he had left of his kid sister.

Returning to Garreg Mach, he put the drawing in his drawer, and once a mortified Rhea asked him what the crap he was doing with that "old stuff".

"It is just an old present."

Rhea believes he's teasing her and she doesn't like it at all, she learnt how to draw since that time! Maybe she can give him a new drawing for his next birthday?

(but then she feels like dirt : she cannot draw them together anymore, between his 1200th birthday and now, she ruined his life, made him a widow, made him lost his powers and is the reason why his daughter is convalescent! Maybe, deep inside, Cichol really hates her?)

Maybe a portrait of him and Cethleann would be better, but now that she thinks about it, she saw him talk to Manuela, maybe she can add her? But if she adds Manuela, she must add Hanneman, and Billy too, has a professor, but also, as a member of their family! And yet, she knows Catherine will be upset if she is left out of the portrait, adding Catherine also means adding Shamir, and she can visualise Flayn holding Cyril's hand while Alois would be in the background and...

Billy thus pops up after having waited 180 seconds behind the door of her office, to make their rapport, without hearing anything and spots her writing something? Or not?

Having never drawn anything before, because Jerry's picked lifestyle isn't suitable for children to draw, Billy is fascinated by the simple act of "drawing", and wants Rhea to teach them how to, before realising they didn't have anything planned for Seteth's birthday, isn't it Saint Cichol's day? Maybe he'd like a fishing rod? Or some flowers?

Rushing to meet Flayn, they ask her what he would like, only for Flayn to say that anything Billy will have picked would please him, especially if it's a handmade present. This is why she Mercedes graciously accepted to help her bake biscuits for his birthday (but she frowned when Flayn suggested to use fish stock to flavour them).

A bit lost, Billy wants to give a personalised letter to him with the flowers and fishing rod, and inspired by Rhea, they try to draw, but the result isn't satisfying. Maybe their students would know how to draw?

Supreme Leader brags about the famous "Hresvelg artistic skills" passed down since the dawn of the Empire, but Hubert makes her reconsider using her time displaying her talents to a mere mercenary turned professor.

Dimitri wishes to help, but since his days as a kid, he gave up on drawing anything on paper since he was afraid he would break any quill, but he remembers he played a lot with Felix back then, drawing their favourite knights in the snow (Felix calls him a moron and denies having wasted his time like that).

Claude pretends he doesn't know how to draw - fully aware that maybe his technique would betray his Almyran heritage - but tells Billy that Ignatz might help them... only for Billy to mention how Ignatz's current drawing reminds them of Rhea, and Ignatz being a bit embarassed because he was painting a portrait of Saint Seiros.

When Seteth receives his presents, he got a bottle of alcohol, several new quills, a pair of dices (if the bottle came from Manuela, who gifted him a pair of dices?), some sort of handrest to help him after hours of paperwork, a new lamp, edible biscuits shaped like lions (is Flayn subtly telling him she wants to spend more time with the Faerghan students?), an enormous flower bouquet with a happy birthday letter with what is supposed to be a cat (?), a new fishing rod and a portrait of his colleagues and family, save for Rhea herself.

Thanking everyone - even if he still told Manuela that no, they aren't going to finish her bottle in one night but he'll accept sharing a drink with coworkers - he makes sure to pat Rhea's head, when they're alone, to thank her personally. As expected, it annoys her and she calls him senile.

But isn't she the one who forgot to draw herself? She came a long way from her "stick figures" era, but she forgot the most important : them holding hands.

Rhea promises she'll think about it the next year, but then Flamey rings.

[randomnameless]

On the Alois/Noble post (not that anon btw) voted for the guy getting fired‚ so I don't have to give a serious answer (lol). However‚ correct me if I'm wrong the Noble and Commoner classes have 0 differences gameplay-wise? Maybe he had an altered backstory that wasn't updated for gameplay‚ maybe it was a mistake that was low priority that they forgot to change it (though Idk why you wouldn't change it immediately‚ not a game dev or programmer). [Or maybe it's 10k years of lore(!) and he descends from an ancient Embarr family! His parents would've told him about how they fell from nobility‚ and how they will reclaim their ancient status‚ land‚ and power (through the help of the dubstep wizards)! /j]

Yeah they don't have any difference, save for some fluff that was "more or less" tied to the subplot "commoners vs nobles" etc etc

But since this never went anywhere... I mean, you can get harmless fluff, look I'm nerding and being amazed at Unicorn Overlord changing banners depending on which leader you pick in an unit - it's harmless fluff.

And then you have this supposed "harmless" fluff the basically spells out how the devs didn't finish their game, nor had enough care about it to iron out the details for the playable cast - sure Alois wasn't as marketed as Linhardt, but damn. This thing - giving him the "noble" background class when his support and story reveal he should have been in the "commoner" class is... reminiscent of Hilda's sudden major Dain Blood in FE4's last chapter.

I'm willing to give FE4 some slack because it feels like a coding error and it's just one (a glaring one!) little blooper, but for a game delayed for at least a year released in 2019 it's... I mean, they had time to add a trillion cats and add Anna - who doesn't bring anything to the table as a character - in a DLC, but couldn't edit this background changing detail about Alois?

It makes me think of the outcry FEH had when they released Harmonic!Leanne'n'Azura, with people rightfully pointing out that Leanne's ears were round when, as a bird laguz, it should pointy

"who cares it's just an ear lol" "they basically changed her race, and in her game, it's supposed to be something really really important"

Oh well, enough negativity.

10k years of lore will reveal that Alois was sekritly a descendant of Willy's 120 children, the main Hresvelg branch tried to weed out their family line but those things never totally work (hell it's the plot of FE4!) and thus Alois and Supreme Leader are totes related because they shared a common ancestor 750 years ago.

Borrowing your hc, his parents knew - somehow - they were supposed to be more than mere merchants living in Faerghus, but they were attacked by a Giant Wolf and thus young Alois became an orphan. The nun who registered him recognised his family somehow, and knew he was a "noble" but decided to never reveal him the truth. This nun would sekritly be a cardinal, and reported to Rhea that a "Hresvelg" popped up at the Monastery, which prompted her to check and give a young Alois an extra candy for his birthday, in Willy's memory.

[randomnameless]

Yay !

Apparently when Uncle threw the crest stone at her and turned her in her hegemon form, she was brainwashed and reverted to her pre-experimentation person with memory loss or whatnot -

Again, it's a pretty way to write her out of the loop, so she won't face the consequences of her actions and instead the players will have sad uwus feels about her - which is a damn shame, because AM!Supreme Leader went out like a champ.

The Bergliez convo made me laugh lol, much like a similar convo that happens in TS when you're targeting the imperialists, suddenly they have a family and morals and don't want to get their sons killed or whatnot, I would have found this moving if Nopes!Caspar wasn't Nopes!Caspar, and if Leopold wasn't mowing down everyone and everything in the name of his Emperor, AND most especially in AG here, when apparently Adrestians are turning against their own randoms to the point of killing civilians, but Leopold's still more worried about his duty to his EMperor than his duty to his people.

Chivalry BaD.

The NPC angsting about the imperial bloodline is so bonkers - we're supposed to believe in 1000 years, no Hresvelg Bastards existed? Edel's dad had no siblings?

I know it's a way to retcon her missing siblings in the plot, but damn, it always felt ridiculous, especially in this game when Edel's own dad had 11 children. 11! Ionius himself had no siblings, or even cousins, or even bastard half siblings or children???

Yuri is pretty religious and, imo, the only reason why he sides against the Church in Tru Piss is because he sees the Empire as the winning side. He's one of the few characters who doesn't diss on Rhea, heck, in CS, he's basically her agent!

As for the support with Seteth...

Basically Yuri received a crest... and that saved him from a certain illness... much like Jeralt got a crest when Rhea saved him? Aubin was the one who saved Yuri, and while jury's out on what the fuck was Aubin the Apostle (a Nabatean or a human with nabatean blood?) - given how he gave his crest to save someone, I think he was a nabatean, but Seteth's words call doubt - was he a human who drank "red juice" and ended up with a crest? At least Seteth saw Aubin as a friend.

(tinfoil hat theory : Aubin was a nabatean who came to resent his blood, because that blood was the reason he was hunted (to be genocided and end up in a relic)).

It's more heartbreaking if you consider that Yuri's relic might be... Aubin's remains, I wonder how he would react to that - the old man he seems so fond of was slaughtered and turned into the weapon/accessory he can use...

idk if you can get Caterhine and Emile, but their support is nice

Prepare you aspirin, you will need it for the special chapters.

Azure Gleam Ch 14

I feel sad knowing this route is almost over :(

NARRATION

As much as Claude is annoying me right now, it's cool to see Faerghus, the Alliance, and the church all team up.

So it looks like we're fighting Caspar and Bergliez again. It's so much easier on me to kill the Empire characters lol.

It's so funny that all the Empire characters know something is weird with Edelgard, but are like "I'm still fighting anyways."

Is there any explanation of what happened to her? Or is this just a cope out so the war keeps going without making her into a flat-out evil.

Bergliez tells Caspar to run away. He's not though. And honestly, I don't want him. Not Hopes!Caspar at least. Brgliez keeps trying though, which guess he gets some dad points? Maybe? I like him more than Holst.

He compares what they're doing to captains that go down with their ship. So needless death. Ship captains have no choice, but they do and they keep fighting. Poor taste.

They're heading for the monastery. Shocking. I know. /s

I love how in the other routes, I protect Aegir. In this one, I'm sure I'll get to kill him. Feels good.

They talk strategy.

I honestly appreciate that this games goes a bit more into strategy. It's not super detailed, but more than Fire Emblem usually does lol.

Arval is like, ok, it's my turn. The suggestion is to just strike everyone all at once.

She's like, we've got the stronger army, let's act like it. I like that kind of thinking.

Felix calls Shez a boar lol. Says we have too boars in this army.

SIDE BATTLES/MAP

Shez tried to sympathize with Linhardt about possibly fighting Caspar and he's like "it doesn't really bother me" lol.

Felix admires Berlgeiz however the fuck you spell his name because he finds the sense of duty to the Empire despite it being a giant fuck up right now admirable. Coming from Felix, that's hysterical. I wish Shez had the option to tease Felix about it lol.

A scholar just said Dimitri appreciates their input (calculating how much food and raw materials is needed etc) unlike many other leaders. Happy to see more Dimitri praise in this game.

Petra once knocked Duke Aegir on his ass for insulting her father. I wonder if you get to learn this amazing piece of Petra lore in other routes or if this is an AG exclusive badassery.

Ok, so some random church NPC talked about how killing Edelgard would end the Emperor bloodline because there's rumors all her siblings are dead. Her backstory is really so weird. How would people not know about a bunch of dead princes and princesses?

Yuri is religious? He says he has a habit of praying before a big event, something he does because his mother did. I like it when characters add something unexpected to them that the usual stereotype of that character doesn't usually have.

If Hubert came up with "those who slither in the dark" as a nickname, how come everyone uses it? Even people who wouldn't know Hubert at all like Flayn?

Lorenz was just talking up how smart Claude is and all I can think is that GW!Claude isn't smart enough to find his way out of a wet paper bag.

I just got all of Shez's Blue Lions supports unlocked. Now I need to still get Flayn, Seteth, Catherine, Jeralt, and Byleth. I'm not sure I have enough time. But I'm going to try.

Duke Aegir is Thales' puppet. So TWSITD is ruling the Empire.

Edelgard just mindlessly listens to Aegir and Thales.

This lady turned on the Empire big time. Dimitri says he's still throwing her into a cell, lol.

Dimitri believes what she said though. He brings up the evidence he discovered while investigating in White Clouds. And also uses the Tomas situation as more evidence.

Dimitri now knows that his father, the knights, and the citizens of Duscur would all be alive without those mages.

He says they have the right to seek justice in the way they see fit. I love it. Not apologizing for defending themselves, but owning taking the initiative against TWSITD.

And there's a lot of people in the Blue Lions who has a personal beef with TWSITD.

I can finally give Dimitri the merc whistle! He also had a second set of dialogue on the map this chapter. It was about some Empire general we captured.

SHEZ & FELIX A

This one starts on a battlefield instead of training. Still very Felix.

And they're complimenting each other. Felix is complimenting someone. But it's their swordfighting so . . .

Shez is beginning to understanding Felix, saying he assigns a role to himself and carries it out. Which, she's not wrong.

Felix credits Rodrigue for his skill, lol. He also just complimented Rodrigue. Good for Felix.

His style is passed down in Fraldarius for generations. Because they're so tight. Man, the Dimitri/Felix yaoi writes itself.

Shez calls him indispensable to Dimitri and everyone. Felix is the lance and shield. Shez is the projectile like an arrow or stone.

She tells him to be more direct with compliments, Felix gets annoyed, but then says Shez is important to the army too.

Felix says Shez can't stay focused in battle - like she has someone talking to her in her head. More proof on how perceptive Felix is.

Also kudos to Byleth for Felix never noticing the same, which, imo, is perfectly in character for Byleth and Shez.

Shez is actually happy to know that Felix knows her so well that she spotted it. Since she gets sappy, Felix goes tsundere is like "I'm never complimenting you again!" Congrats, Shez, it means you're one of his people now if he's that emotionally fickle with you lamo.

This support was mostly just Shez and Felix gushing over how good the other is at fighting and how important they are to the group as a whole. I loved it. AG!Shez must be so much happier and more grounded than poor SB!Shez.

SHEZ & DIMITRI A

Dimitri is on break, but also depressed. Shez is concerned. Of course, it's because Dimitri can't relax. Other people are working, so he feels bad that he's not.

Shez asks why Dimitri is so insistent on it. Dimitri says it's the only way he knows how to be. That his life has never belonged to him because of his birthright.

Aaaaand of course the tragedy comes up, saying that makes him feel responsible too. So it's rooted partly in trauma :(

I can disagree or sympathize with him. Not sure which. I think I'm going to disagree, that it's not all his responsibility.

Ohh, Shez says he needs to trust people who wants to help.

Dimitri wants to ease the pain of the dead and living. That he'll have to make sacrifices to reach that goal, but doesn't want anyone else to suffer because of his goals. So he must carry the burden alone.

Shez is like, what about you're suffering and pain. That he can't care for others if he doesn't care for himself first.

Dimitri's like, I don't know how to respond to that - but like earnestly doesn't know. He doesn't know how to take care of his own pain nor what happiness would look like for him.

(God, this support is just making me love AM even more in retrospect, knowing that Dimitri gets to learn all of this, an my God wouldn't it be awesome if there was some kind of AG/AM blend that included this support somewhere in the middle)

Shez is like, how can you not know that? Asks what makes him smile? Like defeating a rival or a banquet.

Dimitri doesn't think he has the right to such happiness.

Good, God, Dimitri. He says he can only think of his death and leaving happy citizens and a peaceful kingdom behind.

Lord, nobody knows how much I love this. Like, not for Dimitri, boy needs therapy asap, and I want him to just be happy.

But, as a avid anime/manga and fantasy fan, do you know how many snot-nosed spoiled chosen ones and royalty and nobles I've come across who bitch and moan endlessly about their privileges lives because it comes with responsibilities and how they want to be a commoner with NO FUCKING IDEA what it's like to work day in and day out for someone who doesn't really care about you and will just replace you if convenient but your entire livelihood is dependent on spending most of your able-bodies life slaving away for them? Not to mention - back then - it would likely be some backbreaking work with shitty working conditions and no modern medicine or workers rights? It's so infuriating. Sometime they have a point, like pressure or whatever, but the older I get, the less I sympathize with their whining.

But Dimitri is like the exact opposite. He can't even be an individual away from his role at a leader because he's thrown too much of himself into it with no complaining at all. It's just so refreshing to see something the exact opposite of how this usually plays out, and is so much more interesting to explore than the same old for the xnth time.

Shez is like, you're dismal sometimes, she's not wrong. And is like why is death what makes me happy. Dimitri sounds like he doesn't even get that it sounded dismal while saying it.

She's like, what about partying with friends! Dimitri's like, wasted on me. But he says seeing his friends smile does make him happy.

Shez is annoyed with him lol. And is like, k, I'll just have to work twice as hard.

"You're going to take a break. And by the goddess, you're going to like it." I actually laughed. God, I love Shez.

She's like, you need to leave the office, bud. Dimitri says no words can express his gratitude.

I love their friendship so much. Like, I honestly don't think I ship it? I think they're just really tight friends, which Dimitri is such a shipping magnet, it's nice to see something as just pure friendship.

This is by far my favorite lord/Shez dynamic. Though, I think I ship Shez most with Byleth and I haven't even seen their supports yet.

ASHE & RAPHAEL C

Raphael is eating a lot. Shocking.

Raphael opened an inn??? And he's the cook. But he never gets compliments on his cooking, which makes him think his food tastes bad. He confesses that he doesn't know how to cook.

Ashe volunteers to teach Raphael how to cook.

Ashe thinks one of the best feelings in the world is when someone likes the food you cook.

Ashe test tries Raphael's food, which is just a pile of meat lol. Raphael doesn't understand why people would want anything else.

He describes Raphael's food like bacon wrapped around a salt lick lamo.

Unlike the Empire which won't eat their veggies like a bunch of spoiled brats, Ashe is promoting healthy veggie eating and understands food is best when you match complimentary flavors, including veggies, those Empire heathens.

Poor Raphael gets confused. Ashe talks about seasoning, and Raphael thinks like spring, summer, etc . . . and not like garlic.

Ashe is determined to help though.

Fairly wholesome support.

ASHE & INGRID B

They only got 1 support :(

Ingrid's troubled. Ashe notices. But she denies it.

Ashe encourages Ingrid to talk to him.

Ingrid's amazed by how fertile the lands are. And it's Faerghus lands. It's because of lack of snow and lots of fields.

Both Ashe and Ingrid notice things like the wheat fields.

Ingrid basically lives on rocks. So, hard to grow food.

Ashe thinks the effort will pay off later, even if Ingrid doesn't live long enough to see the results.

Ashe was quoting King Loog. Ingrid notices, lol. They start geeking out a bit. I love Ashe and Ingrid geeking out.

Dagda apparently also has soil issues. They have a crop they can grow despite that, but can't remember the name, but thinks Shamir might know. So Ingrid has hope she can learn it.

Ashe says he's just helping her as a friend, not a knight.

He can relate to being hungry because he grew up poor.

INGRID & ANNETTE B

Annette is trying to convince herself to grab something and run. Ingrid accidentally scares her. It's dark outside, so Annette's likely afraid of ghosts or something lol.

Of course, Annette wants a book she left in the mess hall. A woman after my own heart, braving fear because of love of a book.

Ingrid was heading there too. Annette's like this is destiny.

It's so dark even Ingrid gets spooked, but not as much as Annette. Who runs into a pile of crates lol.

Ingrid asks Annette if she's afraid of the dark. And poor Annette is, but really wishes she wasn't.

Ingrid, though, isn't afraid of the dark or ghosts. Annette is fascinated how Ingrid isn't afraid of ghosts.

Ingrid's brothers used to tell her those stories, but Ingrid thinks it's proof ghosts isn't real because you'd run into them more.

Ingrid actually wishes ghosts were real, because then she'd be able to talk to the dead still. But accepts that the dead are dead.

Annette circles that back to living while you're still alive.

Annette decides to walk back by herself to conquer her fears.

Ingrid is impressed with Annette's attitude.

INGRID & DEDUE A

This is a support I'm very curious about. It's their only one, but it's A. Plus, this game has handled Ingrid and Duscur much better.

Dedue has "brought substance" - it's just a cream puff lol.

Ingrid is happy with the timing. She's writing reports on their last fight in the Duscur region. And thinks it'll be a while until things stabilize.

Both Ingrid and Dedue agree that the Kingdom and Duscur have good and bad people. Ingrid gets upset over the innocent people getting lumped into the bad ones.

Dedue says he used to hate Faerghus, but meeting the nice people like Dimitri and others has made him expand his views.

People used to throw stones at Dedue - and Dimitri too :(

Ingrid says she would've remained gnorant about Duscur if she'd never meant Dedue.

Dedue says he finds Ingrid's willingness to change admirable. Ingrid admits she has a long way to go still.

She invites Dedue to go get a snack together and suggests an inn that Dimitri suggested with good food, owned by someone from Duscur. Pretty sure that was mentioned in her support with him.

Dedue is just pissed that Dimitri went wandering around town with only just Ingrid, seeing it as reckless, lamo.

I love all the Blue Lions, man.

YURI & SETETH A

Yuri fell for a trap. Because it was his "second worst" brush with death, Seteth is curious about the first. It was the plague that wrecked Faerghus (and killed Dimitri's mother). Yuri survived without a doctor's help.

An old man saved him. They found some old man on the road, took him in, and then later he saved Yuri. But is dead by now.

Seteth seems to know who it is.

There's a legend that one of the Ten Elites got sick and got healthy after getting a crest from a Saint.

So Seteth thinks Yuri got his rare crest from the actual saint? Or close descendant of.

So that explains why Yuri's hinted at living longer than average, and has a super rare crest.

Seteth is happy to learn one of his old friends may have found peace in his final moments because he got to save a child's life.

I don't know if his House's supports tells you about this lore, but it's cool to learn it here.

It's also nice to see Yuri talk to someone without picking a fight. He was so chill, almost friendly to Seteth rather than sounding a bit like a fanfic edgelord initially (like, I like Yuri, but some of him reeks of baby's first fanfic OC).

SHEZ & FLAYN A

Flayn's upset with Seteth, who told her no about something.

Man, Seteth and Flayn's relationship would be creepy as fuck if they were really siblings. Like, Seteth is extremely controlling of Flayn, and often it looks like the typical icky "my woman must remain pure!!!" Like, not only do they treat the women in their family like possessions, not people, but seem especially interested in owning their genitals and sexuality. It's so extremely weird and gross, and why I pretty much can't stand Holst anymore (he seemed alright at first, but some supports are so ick).

But learning that their father-daughter helps (it's still gross, but less weird because at least he's a legit authority figure in her life and not her . . . brother), but knowing it's actually because TWSITD want to torture Flayn to death, that his people got genocided and turned into super weapons, and that she healed so many people she nearly died too (which would leave him with no family) makes it not offputting. It's actually a pretty smart way of using tropes that seems set up to make us dislike him (over controlling father) and then a big "ohhhhh" once you learn the WHY isn't the typical creepy "my girl is not a whore!" obsession wayyyyy too many men have.

OK, back to the support now.

Seteth is trying to block Flayn from going out entirely. Poor Flayn. But with TWSITD on the move, it does make sense.

Shez is very concerned with Flayn. I love how empathetic Shez is while still being realistically distant enough to be a merc and pretty straight forward. I actually REALLY like Shez. Esp F!Shez.

Flayn is going to listen to Seteth because she doesn't want to make it hard on him.

After the war, they plan on going out together again.

Flayn is grateful it's F!Shez and not M!Shez bc a woman is less sus to Seteth than a man. I wonder how the M!Shez one goes.

Haha, Shez can offer to help Flayn sneak out, or talk her out of it. I totally offered to help her sneak out lol.

MAIN BATTLE

Do we ever learn what happened to Edelgard? Or did she get yeeted from the plot?

She's missing this battle. Aegir lost her. What an idiot. He looks so funny in that armor. I'm glad in this route at least, I get to kick his ass, not save his ass (unlike the other 2 routes).

I do not understand the hype around Caspar's dad. He folds like a twig when I fight him.

Killed Aegis. Such a tragedy. /s

OMG. I beat that chapter in like 4 minutes. Dimitri is so overleveled and stupidly strong. He just kills so fast. It's hilarious and fun. But I also miss S rank because I didn't kill enough. He kills too fast.

They still can't find Edelgard.

It'll be weird if we don't get a monastery chapter.

Byleth insists on looking for Edelgard more because he feels she's nearby.

Byleth and Shez look for Edelgard together. Which makes me hope we get dialogue between them.

Unless this is the start of the special chapter? Ok switching to the next post now.

xxxx