#leonster's fall

[laslow]

Byleth's comment pulls a laugh from Laslow. He's grateful for the break in the tension, cheeks crinkling as he grins. "Heh, much better for us this fake Dragon can't breathe fire!" The edges of his smile fade. "It's awful," he agrees, thinking back on the thief lords he'd once gotten involved with as a mercenary.

"A confident man indeed who will allow a roomful of actors armed to the teeth."

Laslow eyes their competition while Byleth handles the sign-up sheet. Some imposters look disarmingly convincing--and not just in costume. A cluster of fakes stand holding their lances with practiced ease, and a few look far too comfortable hefting axes over their shoulders.

He hums in acknowledgment, fingers tapping against the hilt of his own lance. Snatches of superficial conversation drift over to him. No smart mercenary would openly talk about their plans in a place like this; confronting the Dragon directly is the fastest way to end this whole affair.

At least, it should be.

"Laz-low!" A voice calls. The man in question takes a moment to react; honestly, how can someone butcher his name so terribly? He clears his throat and approaches the guard.

"Reporting for duty!"

The guard scoffs and scratches something on the paper. "Go on."

Laslow tosses a wink to Byleth over his shoulder before confidently striding through the doors. "Put your fears to rest! Lord Lei--WOAH!"

Arms shoot out to the sides for balance, weapons clattering to the floor as he stumbles over a previously dropped lance. Stupid weapons. Laslow wobbles, taking a few cautious, awkward steps before regaining his balance. Well, that's certainly one way to make an entrance.

"Ah, apologies for that mishap, Dragon!"

Happy Leif Leonster Day!

laslow​:

Unthinking, he tilts his head back, sticking his tongue out to catch a raindrop or two. It’s not until his cap begins to slide off his head he remembers they’re on a mission. He fixes the accessory with a wistful sigh. 

“Hm? Oh, well, that’s a long story. I’ve met actual dragons before–this guy probably chose the name just to be intimidating. But he’s no match for us, eh?” Laslow gently bumps his shoulder into Byleth’s. “Never fear with Ol’ Laslow here!” 

Their walk is, blessedly, uninterrupted, even upon entering the nondescript block of buildings said to house the Dragon. His grip on the lance tightens. “Ready, Byleth? Remember, accuracy doesn’t matter half as much as confidence in your act.” 

Watching Laslow frolic in the rain, Byleth wasn’t sure whether to roll their eyes at the behaviour or join in. Though tempted, professionalism honed from years on the job won out and they kept focus on the task at hand. 

Thankfully Laslow comes to his senses and struck up conversation as the made their way to the place of the auditions. So he’d met dragons too. Byleth refrained from mentioning the semi-dragon currently residing in their head. “I doubt this ‘Dragon’ is the fire breathing type” They injected “I’ve dealt with these kind of people before too, they’re usually all talk without the manpower to back it up. Though this person is more established to be able to pull of a heist of this size.” Byleth nodded in agreement to the statement about their combined skills. 

“And they’re even letting us turn up with weapons” Byleth said, indicating the lances they were both carrying. The door to the location was right infant of them by now. Pausing before entering, Byleth listened to Laslow’’s pep talk before pushing open the door and entering. The auditorium was bustling with other Leif’s in various stages of getup, from the impressive dress befitting royalty to those who looked like they’d just rocked up in their everyday dress. 

Finding someone official looking, Byleth greeted them. “Two more here to audition for the role of Lief” They told them. “Write your names down on the sheet and join the crowd.” They responded in a bored voice “Through those doors when your name is called” Byleth signed them both up. “Guess we now just wait”

[skelezomperman]

Comparing the First and Second Generation Trios of FE4

One of the themes of Genealogy of the Holy War is the juxtaposition of the actions and behaviors of the second generation characters against that of their parents. The child characters inherit the traits of their parents not just physically but also in terms of behavior. Yet in many ways, they end up doing better in the areas that their parents failed in; for example, Seliph does not rush into a relationship like Sigurd did. In this essay I will discuss this juxtaposition that occurs. 

Seliph vs Sigurd

Seliph and his father despite being related are rather different people. We see the contrast between Sigurd and Seliph on several different levels. Sigurd is the bold Holy Knight who never shirks away from the opportunity to correct a perceived wrong; Seliph is a nervous teenager who reluctantly assumes the role of Jugdral’s messiah. Sigurd is prone to immediately rushing to fight to correct an injustice as seen in his intervention in Verdane to rescue Edain; Seliph is reluctant to fight at times as seen when he needed to be coaxed by Lewyn to continue the Thracian campaign. Sigurd shows little reflective thought until he is prompted by external forces to think while Seliph oftentimes questions himself and his leadership as his story presses onwards.

An interesting contrast to look at would be the contrast between Sigurd’s relationship with Deirdre and Seliph’s possible relationships. Sigurd falls madly in love with Deirdre and the two marry very quickly after they first meet. Some people argue that this led to Deirdre’s location and abduction by Manfroy. (1) On the other hand, Seliph’s relationships proceed at a slower pace than Sigurd’s relationship with Deirdre. In his lover conversations with Larcei and Tine, Seliph directs his partner to fight by his side rather than Sigurd directing Deirdre to be behind him, while his conversation with Lana highlights a relationship where Seliph chooses to wait for Lana rather than jumping at anyone new (i.e., Julia). This shows a capability to stop and think that Sigurd did not show with Deirdre.

Seliph has a conversation directly with Sigurd at the end of Chapter 10 of Genealogy. Sigurd teaches Seliph the valuable lesson to learn the sorrow of the common people. This is what Sigurd failed to do: he failed to consider what regular people went through in Agustria and other lands where his actions had a direct impact. In other words, Sigurd was an excellent warrior but a poor ruler. Seliph learns from Sigurd and others that he must be compassionate and considerate to others; by doing this, he avoids repeating the mistakes of his father. In my opinion, this conversation showcases the theme of children learning from their parents’ mistakes more than any other scene in the game.

Leif vs Quan

Quan’s flaw is his inability to be aware of his surroundings. His famous lack of situational awareness contributes to his demise at the Aed Massacre. There, he thought that Thracia would attack Leonster in his absence rather than attack him directly. He somehow did not realize that cavalry is weak in the desert, a fact that any seasoned player of the Fire Emblem series could say. Some would also point to Quan’s involvement in the embargoes placed on Southern Thracia, claiming that this made the Aed Massacre deserved, though I would note that this policy predates Quan. Ethlyn has her shortcomings too; she is prone to throw herself into situations to follow her loved ones as seen when she rushed to Sigurd’s aid at the beginning of Genealogy.

Leif actually has similar shortcomings to his parents. In Thracia 776, he ordered his forces to support Ulster which resulted in the loss of much of his strength and the death of his key advisor in Dryas. This led to the siege of Leonster which Leif and friends barely survive. However, he has the luck of being in good hands - under the mentorship of August and Finn, he is able to learn both from his own mistakes and the mistakes of his father. Perhaps this is best seen later in the Thracia arc of Genealogy where Leif is able to recognize his long-lost sister and set the path for her recruitment. This eventually helps Leif accomplish the dream of unifying the Thracian peninsula under one rule – not just a pro-North rule but a rule that benefits all Thracians. And we see at least that the people like it, given Leif’s eventual title as “Sage-Lord.” (2)

Ares vs Eldigan

Both Eldigan and Ares are stuck in prickly situations for their first real appearances in the plot. Eldigan tries to negotiate with Chagall to prevent him from attacking the Grannvalians only for Chagall to imprison him. Meanwhile, Ares goes on a mission with Javarro to attack Seliph’s army only to realize that Lene was being taken in his absence. Their reactions are what makes the difference. Eldigan gives Chagall chance after chance to improve even though he literally killed his own father to begin the Agustrian arc. Even at the end where he is convinced by Lachesis to break off the attack against Sigurd, Eldigan does not outright break from Chagall. Ares, meanwhile, deserts Javarro when the latter taunts him over Lene. He is willing to even join his mortal enemy in Seliph if it means he can defeat Bramsel and save Lene. Ares’ willingness to change sides allowed him to not only survive but to save Lene whereas Eldigan’s stubborn stance led to his death and the occupation of Agustria. (3)

Perhaps the contrast expresses itself best in Agustria’s state under the care of each one. Agustria is totally occupied by Grannvale after Eldigan’s death. He tried to preserve Chagall since he saw him as the leader of Agustria but his efforts in standing by such a cruel man were in vain; they did nothing to save Agustria from its fate. Ares fixes the mess left behind by his father’s generation by unifying Agustria under his rule after the events of Genealogy. He even enlists the help of Leif in this campaign; he does not try to “go it alone” so to speak as Eldigan did. (4)

Tying in between it all

One could, perhaps, compare other children with their (possible) parents as well. For example, Ced has the interesting twist of outright repeating the mistake of his father Lewyn. He leaves his mother behind to try to search for Lewyn only to be distracted by the strife within Thracia. Nanna mirrors her mother just as Ares mirrors his father, except that she is able to convince Ares to directly make amends with Seliph in a way that Eldigan did not with Sigurd. I did not cover these cases in detail because I wished to limit the scope to Seliph, Leif, and Ares, but they do offer fodder for discussion. (5) So we return to our comparison of our trios. Sigurd, Eldigan, and Quan were not without their good qualities; they all had good hearts and genuinely cared for the people around them as well as for each other. But it turned out that Sigurd was too rash, Eldigan was too rigid, and Quan was too ignorant for the world that they lived in. Seliph, Leif, and Ares were not without their faults either; sometimes their faults caused problems as seen in the siege of Leonster. But each of them still improved on the faults of their parents and this helped them successfully defeat the Empire and become a well-loved leader in their native countries. But perhaps one fact that I cannot omit is how their fathers did assist in their growth. Quan somehow was wise enough to leave Finn behind with Leif and that choice, chance as it was, paved the way for Leif to lead a successful rebellion against the Empire. Ares was able to come around on Seliph because of a letter that Eldigan wrote. (6) And of course, Seliph was directly told by Sigurd to pay more attention to the common people. As much as one can malign the first generation trio, I must acknowledge how they provided for their children.

Conclusion

For me, Genealogy and Thracia fundamentally are not just stories about struggling with an evil mastermind. They showcase many problems in the world which the characters must also pay heed to. With the first part of Genealogy, I find it enthralling that the main characters not only have flaws on display but that their flaws directly lead to their downfall. It is certainly a draw, too, that the characters in the second part of Genealogy and in Thracia are confronted with the flaws of the earlier generations: the inability to pay attention to the needs of the people, the ongoing blood feud between North and South in Thracia, among other things. Of course, the children aren’t perfect either. Leif especially is still prone to making rash decisions even with good advisors around him. But isn’t that what usually happens in real life: each generation makes their own mistakes which must be fixed by later generations.

Footnotes:

I subscribe to the line of thinking that the Loptrians were on the verge of finding Deirdre in any case. Sigurd’s encounter with her at least led to the birth of Seliph.

Thracia 776 Leif ending

Of course as seen in Eldigan between a Rock and a Hard Place, the option of joining Sigurd wasn’t inherently desirable either. But I point out that for Ares, joining Seliph ran the risk of joining the losing side too. Ares had a lot to lose still.

Thracia 776 Nanna ending: “Following their victory at Belhalla, Nanna devoted herself to helping Leif liberate Agustria.”

The original draft of this piece actually included Ced and Nanna among others, but I felt that an in-depth discussion would be distracting to the main point.

I am assuming that the letter which Nanna gave to Ares was not a forgery. Genealogy does not give any direct reasons to doubt the letter’s authenticity.

[charmblooded]

@diadic asked:

  “ Diarmuid! That's you, isn't it?? ”  It's been some time since the two have seen one another, but once Leif recognizes it is the blond he's thinking of, he immediately moves to accost him in the hall. “ I assumed with Ares and Nanna here, it was you who was looking out for Agustria in their stead, fighting on Ares's behalf... But knowing you, you had something put in place, right? ” Even for the brief time where Diarmuid was separated from Lord Seliph and instead fighting for Leif's own ranks, Leonster's prince noted the other man's competency as a military officer, being exceedingly easy to work with and good for the army's productivity. If Agustria had him in its counsel, Leif was confident about its direction, but... He's here for a reason surely? Leif leans in a bit, speaking a bit more darkly and in hushed tones, wondering,  “ ...Or did something happen to Agustria??? ”

Diarmuid startles for a moment, but only briefly - the brown hair is a familiar sight, and his tense stance eases as he recognizes the other.

"Lord Leif!"

The other's name falls from his lips with glee, an echo of the way his own name had risen off the young lord's lips, and he opens his arms in way of greeting.

"It's good to see you well," and there is so much more he could say, so much more that struggles to reach his lips, so he settles for throwing an arm over Leif's shoulder, hoping that the warmth of his touch can bridge any gap words fail to reach.

When Leif's voice lowers, he presses his head towards the other, letting their whispers hang in the air.

"Augstria is fine," he promises, a promise he cannot truly be certain of, but he has put as many a measure as he can to assure such a thing. "I was worried about Lord Ares. I.. didn't get any letters from him for quite some time. I want to make sure he and the others were alright!"

A warm smile and warmer cheeks - he's a bit embarrassed by the fact he'd felt the need to see for himself, truth be told, when so many people relied on his presence to keep things stable. A selfish act. An indulgence.

[anruraiocht]

Abatina and carnation

botanical headcanons (no longer accepting)

abatina :   is there anything in life your muse has changed their mind about over time   ( due to becoming more educated on the topic ,   certain experiences  ,   etc .) , or that they   would   change their mind about under certain circumstances ?

ABATINA: THE EVER LOOMING SHADOW OF LEIF FARIS CLAUS

Smiles thinly.

Look. Look. I'm sorry for the feminism loss as well, but it is so hard to talk about Miranda without talking about Leif. Ten years of projecting all of your issues on a guy will do that to you.

When we first meet Miranda, she seems entirely adamant that she blames Leif for everything that has happened to her. The little blame game she tries to play is extremely emotionally driven (literally what was Leif, age 2, supposed to do girl) and falls apart under scrutiny.

like ok. let's walk through this for a second.

"it's leif's fault" > finn is the one who brought him there > finn only brought him because leonster fell > leonster fell because thracia attacked and ulster didn't step in until the end > (dominoes) (THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF NORTHERN THRACIA VS SOUTHERN THRACIA THAT BROUGHT US TO US POINT)

So. Obviously through the events of FE5 and experiencing the war firsthand, Miranda's opinion on Leif changes. She already knows, deep down, that it isn't actually Leif's fault, but it isn't until she is forced to contend with the reality of the situation that she is able to admit it.

carnation :   what is your muse’s relationship with their gender ? how do they express or not express this relationship ?

CARNATION: JUGDRALI MISOGYNY HITS DIFFERENT

(it gets long here)

Okay so let's get one thing straight: if Miranda was a man, she would be dead. Full stop. When you're taking over a kingdom, the last thing you want is to leave a male heir alive. A male heir, left alive, can eventually take back their kingdom and become king, but a female heir cannot. She, however, can be used as a hostage. And she is! For ~ten years! Before we even learn her name, Miranda's agency is stolen from her.

The moment Miranda gets agency (and her kingdom) back, her advisors tell her that she needs to marry Leif to tie Ulster to Leonster. It's no secret that the Munster District is doing. Uh. Bad. As in, Miranda and Leif are the only heirs left alive by the end of Thracia 776. It makes sense, strategically, to have the only two heirs left alive get married and merge their kingdoms and both of them understand this. Doesn't mean they have to like it, though!

Leif: "...And Ulster was successfully liberated by Lord Seliph, so the people should be happy that their princess was safe.”

Miranda: “Well, yes, but… The people want more than that. My advisors are urging me to marry you so that we can unite with Leonster. They think they can just tell me what to do because I’m a girl…” Leif: “Well, you and I are the only heirs that survived this turmoil. What your advisors are saying only makes sense. But I’m not sure…”

We're not gonna get into Leif's little unhinged moment that happens right after this btw. The important part here is that Miranda is frustrated. Obviously. Miranda has been living in the basement of a Loptr monastery for a year and it's not enough that she made it back alive. Well, yes, your highness, it's all well and good that you survived, but there's not much you can do for us as a princess... would you mind getting married? As soon as possible? To the guy you've projected all of your problems and issues on for the last decade? Thanks!

Jesus fucking Christ!!!!!!!!

When they pulled this line for one of Miranda's skill activation quotes in FEH (albeit shortened from 女だと思ってバカにしてるわ to 女だと思って…！), it has been translated as:

I am a girl, not a fool!

Which I think is very evocative of the way Miranda thinks of herself. She does not resent existing as a girl, but she does resent the way she is looked down upon for being a girl.

And while we're on the topic of how Miranda talks (the most inelegant segue in the world)...!

It's not as noticeable in English, nor is it especially noticeable when you first meet her and she's hissing and spitting at Leif, but Miranda uses feminine speech (女性語) when she speaks! This is a style of speaking in Japanese that is considered "ladylike" and formal, using more polite terms. Traditionally speaking, it's a style of speech associated with upper class ladies.

This is more noticeable in her Conomor recruitment dialogue...

コノモール もうおやめなさい！ ... それなのに あなたは何をしているの！

As well as her conversation with Leif in the last chapter...

リーフ王子 少しいいかしら ... 私・・・ あなたに謝らなければ ならないことがあるわ

I've bolded the relevant parts here. Miranda affixes the polite o- prefix to yamenasai and ends some of her sentences with the more traditionally feminine ending particles of no, wa, and kashira.

It's... a little hard to explain in English but the way she speaks is very princess-like haha.

There is also the Genderisms of Miranda's promoted class: Mage Knight. In FE4, Mage Knight is a male only class (as a promotion for Azelle and Arthur + enemy units). In FE5, we get our first female Mage Knights through Olwen and Miranda, but the rest of the Mage Knights in the game are male. We can say that Olwen is following in her brother Reinhardt's footsteps, but Miranda doesn't have that same connection. Would she be better served as a sage, considering her 70% magic growth and fucking 5% strength growth? Absolutely! However, she saw that sages get staff access and said oh no thank you. i'm here to kill and maim.

And she deserves it.

That last part isn't exactly related to genderisms (or is it? Every other girl capable of wielding magic in FE5 besides Miranda and Olwen gets staff access... :thonking: ) I just think it's very funny characterization through gameplay. her ass is NOT healing.

tl;dr: Miranda is a character that is defined by her status as a princess and as a girl.

[knighteclipsed]

♡

send me a ♡ and i’ll make up a fankid (closed, for now)

Profile

Name: Aidan

Gender: M (trans, he/him)

Class: Cavalier -> Paladin/Great Knight/Bow Knight

A highly skilled lance user with a sharp demeanor. He has a well-honed sense of battle and strong sense of community and companionship. Not much is known of his past, but he’s made it clear that he isn’t a fan of knighthood.

Appearance and Personality

A boy of roughly average height, if not a bit on the taller side. He has dark blue hair in waves and golden eyes, harkening back to his parents, though he seems to dress rather simply given his position as a mercenary leader. Naturally charismatic and generally considered to be good-looking, he has a way with people that can easily be envied.

In terms of personality, he’s one of the warmer and genuinely kinder Valter fankids I’ve made. He possesses natural leadership capabilities and puts them to good use—no matter what the odds are, he’ll fight for a way for everyone to survive. Alongside that, Aidan has a pretty strong understanding of his limitations, as well as the abilities of his allies—the boy is most comfortable when everyone’s efforts are coordinated, and every member of his team gets a chance to shine.

A polite speaker by heritage, raised by a knight and a general. He avoids offensive language, however, even when the situation is incredibly dire. Holds respect for all, save for the greedy upper-class and the manipulators in charge. If he took that one Fire Emblem archetype quiz, Aidan would be branded a Communist Commoner, and for good reason.

In his spare time, he likes to maintain weapons and equipment, as well as patch up clothing. He also has a great deal of skill when it comes to embroidery and baking. (He’s one with quite the sweet tooth.)

History

In youth, Aidan was taught much about knighthood and its principles, and as such, he’s intimately familiar with what it entails and what a ‘good knight’ should be. Taking from this, he’s incredibly devoted to doing what is right no matter the cost—but oddly enough, he does not take after either father’s perspective entirely. Rather than learning to sacrifice himself for others or others for himself, he decided that under no circumstance would he allow anyone to be lost.

This was affected heavily by his understanding of his fathers’ histories—what with the fall of Leonster and Valter’s exile. Aidan learned of these two (he was an avid reader) and internalized them, and he emerged with the belief that knighthood failed his fathers, and so he would not be taking part in it to any extent. As he grew older, this only became more apparent, and the boy only grew more steadfast in this oath. As soon as he was old enough to survive on his own, he left his household to become a mercenary and later came to lead a company of his own.

Combat

Aidan picked up the lance from both of his fathers, though he also has experience using bows from hunting, and he’s well-acquainted with how to ride and care for a horse. (He’d also be an excellent flier if it weren’t for his fear of heights.) He has no real preference for what weapon he wields however, instead choosing to go with whichever is most useful in the current situation. On top of that, he’s a skilled fighter with an experience-sharpened sense of battle, even if his earlier record is imperfect.

Aidan’s combat style is flexible, strong in both offense and defense. His ideal is to be able to attack and defend as necessary to fill in the gaps of his strategy, and at the same time to be adaptable and suit the needs of the ever-shifting battlefield. He’s the kind to often spar with allies and give advice as to where they can improve. He values a good opponent and is always seeking to better his own skills.

One of the Valter fankids to not inherit the ‘I like killing people gene.’ He finds the whole ordeal rather off-putting, to be frank, but he’s willing to fight for whatever he believes in, up until the bitter end. Despite this, he does not feel as though he could command others to follow suit, and so any retreat made in spite of that is because he values others over his own ideals. He would sooner detach himself from his company than bring them all to the grave with him—if they choose of their own volition to follow him, he’ll do everything in his power to make sure there isn’t a single casualty.

Summary

He’s an open-minded individual who nonetheless believes very strongly in his ideals. When he judges other people, he focuses only on their character—nothing else matters to him. Those he chooses to keep close can expect to be well-protected, while those that he antagonizes have reason to be uneasy.

Adjacent to all of the above, he does often find the amount of work he has to be overwhelming, but he’s gotten pretty good at having others handle the things that he doesn’t have to do himself. He recognizes life as a team effort, and works with others to achieve their dreams just as much as they help him achieve his own.

As for other benign quirks: Aidan is left-handed! In combat, however, this translates to ambidexterity. It leads to more interesting maneuvers considering that either hand can start or finish the attack—combat is the exception though, as most things just get done with his left.

He also only possesses a chestplate in terms of armor—it’s something he received from his fathers, but that’s it because the economy of Jugdral I think. The little capelet/scarf is also from that time period, and though he cites it as being a hassle to take care of, he actually really does like wearing it in combat.

The map where he is recruited would have him working with his company to fend off some enemy soldiers attacking the village that the player’s army is passing through. He would at first be concerned about allowing the player to assist (unsure of their intentions and cautious of a potential pincer), but should the lord or an adjacent character speak with him, he would be convinced to join forces for the greater good. Following the chapter’s end, he would narratively be hired (at no expense to the actual player), accompanying them for a contract that conveniently lasts until the end of the game. If the lord is also a noble of sorts, he would refuse to be called a knight despite his devotion to their cause.

He would fight both of his fathers if it came to it, but he would at least try to appeal to Finn’s sense of reason first. He would not feel bad if he dealt the final blow to Valter, but he would feel guilt if he was to do so to Finn.

Has very few paired endings, with all but maybe one or two being platonic. Someone who’s devoted to people as a collective, and doesn’t see a future where he ties himself to any one individual in particular.

Also the full design because he's small to me:

With armor:

[livingrief]

Finn is getting older!

I recalculated his age being 15 when he started serving quan --> filler time --> the beginning of fe4 --> the fall of leonster --> raising leif and nanna --> fe5 --> the latter half of fe4 --> the few years where he disappears I'm putting him at 40

[etymology-of-the-emblem]

Dryas / ドリアス

Dryas is a Leonstrian duke and later one of Leif's tacticians that led the kingdom's refugees following its fall to Grannvale in Fire Emblem: Thracia 776. Dryas is a Greek name derived from the word for oak, δρῦς (drûs). There are a few figures in Greek mythology who carry the name, but this localization likely comes from the Thracian prince Dryas, who was killed by his father Lycurgus in a fit of lunacy brought by the god Dionysus for the banishment of his cult.

In Japanese, his name is ドリアス (rōmaji: doriasu), rendered as Dorias. This name is most likely derivative of the Dorians (JP: ドーリア人; rōmaji: dōriajin), one of the four major ethnic groups of Classical Greece. Many Greek writers had their contradicting histories of the Dorians; Plato wrote in the Laws that they were an exiled group of the Achaeans. When many of the adults were fighting the Trojan War, the youths at home grew restless and rebellious. Upon the return of the soldiers come the war's close, they were met with uprising, slaughter, and exile. The exiled Achaeans were led by a figure named Dorieus (ドリエウス; rōmaji: dorieusu), whom the people named themselves after. The name ドリアス seems to blend elements of the Japanese names of the Dorians and Dorieus. It is also thematically appropriate given the duke's role amongst Leonster's refugees, much like Dorieus was the leader of the exiled Dorians.

[goldoanheart]

July Activity Check Passed!

total skill points: 40 -> 41 -> 42.

[monthly skill point]: +1 to axe (axe rank c+ (1/2))

other skill points: +1 to lance (arena, lance d+)

HOUSEKEEPING

waiting on partner:

opportunity of memories (sakura) just candlelight should do (ashe) leonster? i hardly know her (katarina) (any weapon +1) you know fliers are weak to arrows (valter) (bow +1) my good friend micaiah (derogatory) (leonardo) itty bitty axe buddies (kiran) (axe +1) of mice and men? (dimitri) (any skill +1) falling with style (raven) (riding/flying +1) linus pushes kurthnaga into a locker (linus) let me close my eyes in peace (delthea) cotton guarding from a cotton scoundrel (chad) (pokemon au) *through gritted teeth* honey, i’m home! (valter) toy story 25 (igrene) (lance +1) littler by littler (maria) feather blanket for wyverns (farina) (flying +1) baby dragon mukbang (veyle)

dropped:

n/a

completed:

n/a

requiring input:

a breath of fresh air (@lionscion)

[swiftscion]

Ethlyn didn't need the monastery's birthday calendar to know when Ayra's twins were born. She's always had a good head for dates and she'd been there when it happened. She'd been the first of the women in her brother's army to marry and the first to give birth. It had been nice when the others looked to her for her advice and she'd been happy to give it. She'd been more than happy to help out too. Ayra certainly had her hands full with the two of them.

And it seems Larcei's feisty nature continued into adulthood.

"Happy birthday, Larcei!" Ethlyn remembers too late that she has not actually interacted with the girl since she was almost two years old. "You don't remember me but I was there when you were born." That's a weird thing to say. She quickly adds in an attempt to make things less awkward, "I'm Ethlyn of Leonster. Your mom and I were good friends. I wanted to get you something that I think she would want you to have so. Here." She grins as she hands over a wooden box full of everything Larcei would need to maintain her sword. "Ayra taught me a lot about how to keep my own weapon in top shape. I'd been so used to someone doing it for me before. And, well, the tools provided by the monastery aren't the best quality, are they?"

//via birthday asks; still accepting!

First Deirdre, now Ethlyn. The stars must be watching over her, for Larcei runs into yet another link to her mother's past. Slowly, surely, she is piecing together Ayra's true nature. She's living vicariously through the stories they tell of her, imagining the character in weaved tales stroking her hair and feeding her soup. It is a soulless mortar for the mother-shaped hole in her heart, but it does the job of filling its gap.

Do I know you? is the first thing she wants to say, but before her lips can part and give way to words, Ethlyn explains herself. She receives a nod of understanding. This is good--very good. Maybe with her help, Larcei can get her hands on a stronger lead.

"Oh! Er, nice to meet you! I'm Larcei, but it seems you already know that... Heh..." sheepish is her smile, heistant is the hand that accepts her gift. Part of the Isaachian feels she hasn't done much to deserve something like this--not from Ethlyn, at least--but she remembers that's kind of the whole point of birthdays.

They are celebrating one's birth: an event they had no control over.

"But thanks! For the gift, I mean. Things that remind me of Mother," her hand smooths over the coarse wood, gloved fingers picking and prying it open, "are things I'll always cherish. I do my best to be just like her, after all!"

Smiling to herself a little, Larcei takes her eyes off the woman to admire her gift. Whetstones, handle wraps, sandpaper, even a set of smithing tools--all contained within one compact box, of high quality and ready to be used. They speak to her heart, more than any fancy jewelry or frilly skirts would.

She closes it once her eyes have had their fill, turning back up to Ethlyn with renewed warmth. "You said you were a Leonster, yeah? 'Apple doesn't fall too far from the tree."

[ladyleonster]

Just inside the door to Ethyln's dorm lies a medium-sized wicker basket, unassuming but for the bright red bow on its handle. Inside it are a variety of items. At the very top: a card of simple white, lying atop a picture frame of poplar wood very carefully packaged. Underneath that is a sketchbook and charcoal paints, all cradled by several balls of wool all in different shades of blue. 

The card reads:

Lady Ethyln,

Good tidings to you this winter. I am often told this festive season is best spent with family, and am inclined to agree; however, the sad truth is as one ages time for all of one's kin becomes harder and harder to parcel out.

I believe that makes it all the more important to do so for those near, and to remember the ones far.

(My apologies if the activities herein seem particularly hands on. I myself am nowhere near as talented at the creative arts as my siblings but they tell me it is not the overall aesthetic that matters but the intent.)

This sketchbook is a way for you to remember those both close and near as your heart truly sees them. There are plenty of pages for practice and once you are done perhaps you should like to put the picture of your dear ones in a frame? The picture frame herein is enchanted so that the image inside shall stay pristine for some time as I hope your cherished memories shall as well.

As for the wool… have you perhaps heard of the art of naalbinding? It is one of the oldest fabric creation techniques here in Fódlan, well known to both Adrestia and Fearghus - it is also sometimes called “single needle knitting”.

If you look at the bottom of the pile I have provided an example of what an hour or so of naalbinding might provide for you along with your own naal, or needle to use. It is a rather simple task wherein one holds the naal with the right hand and threads one end of yarn through it (removed from the ball, about the length of ones arm. My apologies if my own measurements do not match with your own). 

The other end of yarn is tied with a simple knot upon your left thumb and by pulling the naal through this knot one is able to create multiple links resulting in a strong fabric that can be molded to ones wants.

The season may call for gloves or a hat, perhaps? But a simple bracelet would be just as lovely I am sure. As matriarch to your clan my message for you is this: no child could ever turn their nose up at a gift from their mother, on the contrary I assure you whatever you make will be an item to be cherished.

Ethlyn never cared much for domestic pursuits growing up. Her tutors desperately tried getting her to care about feminine arts like drawing and painting, playing music, or various fiber crafts but she was far too stubborn to even consider trying to find joy in them. Putting a needle and thread in her hands was just another way to keep her inside and away from a sword like her brother.

But as she grew up, she began to appreciate them more. With a needle and thread, she could mend the tears in her stockings before she got scolded. Putting her focus into baking bread allowed her mind to calm down when she was agitated. And more importantly, she could use her skills to care for her father and brother.

She is surprised to find drawing and fiber crafting supplies in her mystery gift. Perhaps, once upon a time, she might have scoffed and crinkled her nose at the idea but the note included gives her much to think about.

Her own mother had not lived long enough for her to remember much.  Ethlyn did inherit her mother’s old jewelry but that was surely lost during the fall of Leonster and isn’t something she particularly wants to think about right now.  But she doesn’t recall anything her mother ever made for her.  Is that what she should be doing for Leif?  

She picks up a ball of yarn and threads the needle.  Her son is rather practical and utilitarian with his own choices in gifts and it is quite cold this time of year.  Even if she’s never been great at keeping her stitches even, a hat would still warm his ears and keep him from catching a cold.  Maybe if it doesn’t turn out too terribly, she will confess that it’s her handiwork and he can think of her when he wears it.

Of course, she has to actually make it first.

And figure out who it was that gave this to her to beg for help.  

[prosebrne-arc]

from @fillespreferees​   :   ❛   thanks for being here with me.   ❜   ((   Ethlyn for Selphina?   ))

askr feels all like a dream to the leonster,   and reality only continues to confuse her each morning when ethlyn is the first face that greets her.   this morning is a slow one; neither askran princess, prince, or commander have barged into the barracks with the urgency of a task.   ethlyn was there,   near selphina’s bed,   when she opened her eyes,   and she’s still there when the leonster awakens from dozing off.   an ungloved hand pulls gently at her cobalt tresses;   selphina sighs and tilts her head against ethlyn’s hand.   it is a silent,   slow morning,   but she knows well enough that they both deserve each long moment.

(   you feel at peace.   )   selphina hears ethlyn’s murmur through the fog in her head.   (   you no longer hear the crash of bells in the aftermath of meeting her eyes.   if it took an unrelenting clutch on her to heal your heart then you would stick to her as if the fates would have it no other way.   )   she blinks at ethlyn, legs curling up beneath the duvet as a bit of air slips beneath it.   her hands are still in her hair when selphina registers her words with a gentle hand reaching for her cheek.

she ignores the memory that burns at her eyes.   “   no,   do not thank me.   ”   she whispers,   because it truly could not have been her will thought brought them both together.   if anything,   it was a gift from the fates in response to selphina’s loyalty to leonster;   to ethlyn.   but still,   it was nothing of selphina’s.   it was not a conscious decision.   “   i hadn’t ... nothing of my doing had brought me here.   it is a blessing of askr.   ”

her thumb rubs ethlyn’s cheek and she laughs,   a melodic sound of chimes and joy.   “   but, thank you for coming back to me.   ”

broken words cling onto your tongue—   thank you for all you’ve done,   for me,   for your family.   (   and you would say it to her if not for the guilt in your throat.   )   she feels the tears before they have the chance to fall.   selphina moves out of ethlyn’s hold with another laugh,   her hands wiping away at her dry face as she rises from the pillows.   she no longer feels sorrow,   but some emotion akin to it gnaws at her.   she doesn’t have the time to identify—   and truly,   she isn’t sure if she’ll ever want to.

“   up with you!   ”   selphina teases,   a loving smile on her lips as she swats at ethlyn’s shoulder.   “   are you not hungry?   i’d rather cry with food in my stomach,   so let’s see what the kitchen has today.   ”

[skelezomperman]

I’m interested in seeing what prompts/scenarios you’d do for these Finn pairings since I found your Erinys x Finn series captivating and fitting for both characters:

Finn x Ayra

Finn x Edain

Finn x Tailtiu

Finn x Brigid

I'm glad you asked. To be honest, I'm not particularly interested in any of these with the possible exception of Finn/Brigid but I'll go through them one by one. (Spoilers ahead)

Finn/Ayra has probably had the most fan-content of these four, funny enough - mostly Japanese fanart. (It makes sense given that Ayra is perhaps the most popular Gen 1 female and Finn is the most popular non-Sigurd Gen 1 male.) I think this is perhaps the most realistic of the four to happen too. Yes, Ayra is a princess and Finn is a commoner, but Ayra isn't exactly surrounded by Isaachian nobles. She's estranged from everyone else so perhaps she could get with Finn? Larcei and Scathach being twins also helps the timeline because there's no need to worry about how and when two children are conceived and birthed. Sadly, the Finn/Larcei convo in Chapter 7 is rather generic, but it would be interesting. I actually think it's possible they wouldn't hate Finn, moreso that they thought he was dead and were surprised to find out he was alive. So a Finn/Ayra story, maybe it could involve Larcei and Scathach being excited to learn from their father and maybe being envious of him.

Finn/Edain is decent for continuity as well. How they fall in love, well, maybe Ethlyn and Edain were childhood friends and that's how he meets her, so arguably it's more likely than Finn/Ayra. And one could also say Lester has his hair color from Finn, though he clearly looks more like Lex. Still, this probably has the least fancontent of any of Finn's possible pairings in FE4. And again, Finn/Lana in Chapter 7 is generic but Lana would probably be understanding. I don't think Edain would harbor bad feelings against Finn for abandoning her like some of his other possible partners would, but Lester might end up getting a bad impression anyway. Perhaps that could cause some tension between the siblings in a story as well.

Finn/Tailtiu...the age old problem of how you fall in love with someone on the complete opposite side of the map. Tailtiu is the closest in age to Finn of these four, but I still find it hard to see her fall in love with him. On the surface she is less mature than him and I'm unsure if they ever spend enough time together to where Finn could really discover Tailtiu's true self (this is something that I really like about Azelle/Tailtiu). Like many Finn pairings, this one almost certainly requires a "one-night stand" use a euphemism for something very crude. I think such a pairing could explore both of them being thrust into maturing. And then there's the question of the kids. Arthur, already someone who has a lot of animosity towards his mother's family, now having animosity towards his own father. Well, maybe. I think it's a coin flip as to whether Arthur thinks that Finn is to blame or that the Empire is to blame for him being orphaned, either one works.

Almost all of the content with Finn/Brigid revolves around Finn/Eyvel, but let's focus on the Finn/Brigid dimension at least. Obviously Finn/Brigid implies that Finn gets the feels upon meeting his partner having completely lost her memory and I'm sure everyone knows how that goes, but what about the before-amnesia part? Brigid would almost certainly feel that the rug was swept from under her - she just met her sister again, married a guy and had two kids, and then he goes off to Leonster right after (or before) the second one is born. Tragedy! Would she have ill will once she regains her memory seven years after the end of the Holy War? Probably not, but that's because she's older and saw Finn's dedication while she was still Eyvel.

[livingrief]

When Ayra first lays eyes on the blue-haired man closest to her on the dance floor, she does not recognize him immediately. She's aware of Finn's arrival at Garreg Mach, but the years that never touched her have taken their toll on him. All the same, she needs only a moment before her face shifts and she approaches him with a smile.

"Finn!" She says, clapping him on the shoulder. "It is good to see you again. How have you —" Ayra breaks off, for the music begins anew. That, and surely there are better questions to ask given the Aed Massacre and the fall of Leonster. She knows from experience that his life cannot have been easy. It will not do to mar his evening by inquiring, nor her own by thinking of the fall of Isaach like this. Her smile falters only for a brief instant before she recovers.

"I suppose we can talk as we dance. Have you been enjoying the evening?"

The dancing begins with the most elegant of tenors, but for all the beauty and splendor that the party exudes, Finn knows he is out of place. He does not belong here. Coming here was a mere formality after all - Lady Ethlyn requesting his presence herself. He dare not defy her dear wish.

But it was stifling, if he were to think on it too much. Uncomfortable, at the very least. Preaned and clean to the finest, sitting here with all that was important to him and a room full of Fodlan's finest. His skin itched in a way that could not be cured. His throat threatened to constrict. Now that he thought on, he was dreadfully thirsty.

Yes, he was versed in a little dance. But Finn wished for no part in it. He was of little mood to celebrate in the first place. And such an act was so intimate....

But to the dance floor he was pushed somehow. The music begins anew and people circle one another, touching, tasting, getting to know the finery. Finn is repulsed. He has known enough humanity for his lifetime. He yearns for nothing, for weightlessness and an absence of thought.

Somehow, someone calls his name amidst the cacophony of talk and dance. He glances up to see the swath of obsidian hair and eyes, stars for days. Lady Ayra. But nothing quite comes from his lips. She is so young and he has lived lifetimes past her. What is there to say?

But ever so elegantly, her smile shifts, like the swift cut of a swordblade. Finn's mouth stays firm. He will not allow himself to be vulnerable - even with a former comrade.

"Fine, of course. It is a pleasant banquet." Nothing to note. The music takes them for a few steps. "How are you, Lady Ayra? I hear Larcei and Scathach are at this academy. You must be overjoyed." Overjoyed. Yes, that was the word. He should be too. After all, all those dearest to him were here.

But he was not.

The dance ends in a lull and Finn offers a bow. "Allow me to part for the evening. It was a pleasant surprise to see you, Lady Ayra."

Eyes remain cold and distant, the storm rages inside his indigo vision an agony unto their own. 

[goldoanheart]

May Activity Check Passed!

total points: 37 -> 38.

[monthly skill point]: +1 to reason (reason rank b+ (1/2))

other points: n/a

claims: n/a

Housekeeping

waiting on partner:

the moon and you in a transparent sky (artur)

opportunity of memories (sakura)

questions of love (serra) (reason or faith +1)

just candlelight should do (ashe)

a breath of fresh air (ares) (vampire au)

the bean bites back (edward)

leonster? i hardly know her (katarina) (any weapon +1)

you know fliers are weak to arrows (valter) (bow +1)

my good friend micaiah (derogatory) (leonardo)

what the (big) dog doin? (artur) (riding +1)

itty bitty axe buddies (kiran) (axe +1)

of mice and men? (dimitri) (any skill +1)

falling with style (raven) (riding/flying +1)

linus pushes kurthnaga into a locker (linus)

let me close my eyes in peace (delthea)

cotton guarding from a cotton scoundrel (chad) (pokemon au)

*through gritted teeth* honey, i'm home! (valter)

toy story 25 (igrene) (lance +1)

dropped:

friends in far places

yes, it is i lady lyndis… and her loyal kent? (authority +1)

completed:

n/a

[enarmor]

@ladyleonster sent:

[ Improvise ] - The sender doesn’t know how this dance goes and tries to improvise, dragging the receiver along the way.

She came into this event knowing her evening would be tainted with loss and loneliness but she'd been so determined to make the best of it. It was a chance to see Altena and Leif and spend time with her old friends as well. But it hadn't taken her long at all to ruin even that glimmer of happiness. No, she had to go and drive a wedge between herself and one of the friends she'd made.

She can't sit around all night moping so she takes the final swig of her bottle of champagne and leaves it and Raven's jacket on a table before sauntering up to a certain knight that she just happens to see heading toward the dance floor and she knows won't turn her down.

"Dance with me, Sain!" Ethlyn's voice slurs as she grabs his hand and flowers bloom as she pulls him close. She doens't know the steps but she doesn't care. She sets her hands on his shoulders and moves in time with the music the best she can. "Come on, maybe I'll give you that kiss you've been wanting. Since apparently that's just something I do now!"

Hollow victories aren't just hollow. They're hard to hold onto and they're coarse, like grains of sand slipping through one's fingers. They hardly take a physical form before the weight of sin becomes unbearable. Before the itchy feeling crawling up one's back seizes their arms and chokes them up. More often than not, those bittersweet moments are dropped--clattering to the floor along with any hope of resolution.

In many ways, the quick pain of defeat is preferable. It's easier to be hit in the face than forced to watch something you love be taken away from you.

Such is the fate of our sir knight.

He can smell the champagne in her breath, and more importantly, the desperation in her voice. And as he turns his nose to both--face scrunching into a pitied scowl--he can't tell which is uglier. This is not the Ethlyn he had come to know. Not the gentle-but-firm soul who mended his careless wound while putting a stern foot down against his antics. They've been through the motions before. He knows, more or less, how she sees him--because it's how most women see him. Sain is a fool. Or at least, he's supposed to be. It doesn't feel right when things are the other way around.

"M-My dear, hold on!" he protests, placing his hands onto her shoulders with a firm grip. In a state like this, he doesn't want them wandering. Nor does he want her wandering, potentially to someone who would see her as an opportunity... The Lance shudders at the thought.

"It would be my greatest wish to keep you company, but let's slow down. We've got all night to savor this moment." And by 'savoring the moment' he of course means sorting through whatever mess the Leonster has gotten herself into. With the last of his lightning coiling round her wrist, he seizes the lead in an easy dance. It isn't any trouble for one as experienced as he, so Sain uses it to pass the time and calm Ethlyn down. No big swings, no suddenly twirls. Just the gentle sway of their bodies in-tune with the soft ballad falling onto their ears.

"Besides, we wouldn't want you doing anything you might regret. Just, ah..." Pain seizes his throat. It could be so easy, to just lean in and take her. In many ways, he had been taught to do so. Told that women were the right of knights, that it is a lady's honor to receive a kiss from their hero. But he could never be happy winning like this. Reprimanding aside, Sain doesn't feel as though someone of his caliber needs the help of a bottle of booze.

So he breathes. Maybe next time, once he's charmed her with his word and his word alone.

"...Just dance with me, darling. And forget about what troubles you..."

✢⁎. your sunset

[markoftheasphodel]

Finn

send me a character i’ve written & i’ll tell you the top 3 to 5 concepts i keep in mind while writing them.

Oh boy. This gets into FE5 a bit because it has to.

1) He is really, really, REALLY devout and doesn’t waver. This such a deliberately key part of his character that there’s no way around it and I don’t think it’s a stretch to say as far as FE4 goes he’s up there with Claude in the “most devout playable characters” category (given Coirpre tells the Army of Light to fuck off should they not save his father) and Claude’s actually getting direct revelations from the gods. It’s not just the Miracle skill– IIRC both his kid and adult character profiles in Treasure mention it, plus in “Leonster’s Fall” we see how his faith holds up to being tested. The kingdom’s crumbling from inside and out and “earth goddess” Nova is doing a piss-poor job of protecting her own bloodline and he doesn’t waver or start asking questions of Heaven. He doubts himself, but not Nova. This to me is one of those key points of differentiation from similar characters like Seth or Frederick who have, uh, an alternate approach to the topic. Finn’s situation offers a million opportunities for a character to start having doubts about the gods or go full-on Book of Job about it and my take on it is, Finn never goes there.

2) But just because his faith is unshakable doesn’t mean his day-to-day moral code matches up to whatever he was taught in Knight School, or even the behavioral norms promoted by some of the other knight-type characters in Fire Emblem games. He sure ain’t about Truth, not when his whole life is wrapped up in lies of omission and untruths to protect kids from unpleasant realities, and the Light Inheritor manga takes that to a cold-blooded extreme of Lying For The Cause. You say stealing is wrong? Well, the Cause needs funds, too, plus there’s that whole “staying alive” thing, so let’s make off with this guy’s horse (FE5 manga), let’s empty the pockets of the brigands we’ve knocked out before we dump them in a field. Leif’s outgrown his old armor and Nanna wants a pony, so the money’s got to come from somewhere. Not to mention the highly, HIGHLY questionable company he’s keeping in FE5 thanks to the make-up of Leif’s army. FE5 takes some (deserved) shots at knightly ideals, but Finn’s doing a damn good job holding to all the Loyalty, Forbearance, Protection of the Weak  part of the package and that “no lying” part of the (mythical) ten commandments of chivalry is a luxury he just can’t afford. And single combat on the field of honor may be romantic, but it’s a hell of a lot more efficient to just drown a bunch of your enemies in one go (Oosawa manga). A pity that option wasn’t on the table in FE5. So it think it’s fair to say Finn’s got some “spirit of the law vs letter of the law” flexibility as far as fulfilling the terms of his mission goes.

3) He is not impressed by himself. I get the feeling some Western fans think his humility is an act– humble-bragging, or some other plot to score points with his superiors & peers. It’s… not? He genuinely doubts his own worth for the role that he’s given. However “badass” he comes across externally (I bet someone like Ronan or the FE4 subkiddies are impressed as hell to watch him fight) showing off is the LAST thing on his mind whether he’s whomping brigands or dealing with the Freege army. Like, it’s OK for fans to think he’s a badass. It’s OK for other characters to think that of him. Finn doesn’t think that way of himself. I’m not even sure he likes himself very much. 

4) And entwined with that self-doubt is Finn’s… personal awkwardness. It probably came out of his childhood– we know from Treasure his parents died when he was young and I assume his life at Leonster Castle was more hands-off and institutional as opposed to being actively taken in by the royal family as a sort of little brother for Quan. But we know from the various sources that he wasn’t a popular kid in Knight School, he’s not exactly excelling at Interpersonal Relations in FE5, and from the way he treats the other kids in the Fiana Militia we know he’s not the Team Dad. If he’s got to choose between Leif and Orsin-Halvan-Ronan, then the village boys can go cry in the proverbial corner. There’s something off about Finn that long pre-dates the tragedies of 761/762, and he seems only partially aware of it and sure doesn’t know how to fix it. 761/762 (Yied, Behalla, Fall of Leonster) made it all much worse– I personally credit his “coldness” to a mix of practised self-control and depression. But the upshot is, this is not a well-adjusted human being. He might loosen up among peers, or in a setting that isn’t war, but that fundamental thing that’s off about him isn’t going to go away after a couple of drinks with his friend(s). What made him unpopular at age 14 is probably twenty times worse when he’s 34. In FE5 he gives the whole army the boost of a leadership star (I’m sure it makes them all feel better having one actual professional soldier around) and yet gives personal support to NO ONE. Again, he impresses from a distance.

5) Oh yeah, the self-control thing. So Finn’s particular version of being a Perfect Knight is all about sacrifice and denial and… yeah. We all know the score. He wants nothing for himself, everything’s for king and country and the overall advancement of The Cause, and every time he starves or steals or lets allies sacrifice themselves themselves so he can escape with the kids it’s all part of a grand plan. In all of FE4 & FE5, I think there’s exactly one moment where the self-control slips and Finn lets us know what he actually wants: he wants to see Glade again. Complete with exclamation points. When you compare that one moment to his reaction to every other shocking thing that happens in FE5 (kidnappings, reunions, jail-breaks, petrification of allies, un-petrification of allies, battlefield setbacks, regaining Leonster, almost losing Leonster, etc), that this is the trigger for Finn to forget himself for moment has to be significant. Has to be. Why else is it even there? So yeah, the last thing I keep in my mind when writing Finn regardless of fic-verse or pairing is “I don’t think this guy is straight.” We can debate endlessly what he actually is but “straight male” ain’t believable to me, and I’m pretty much on-board with runespoor7 about the “gender identity: knight” idea too.