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Shadow of Valentia introduced a pretty interesting plot point that is curing of Dragon degeneration,Throughout the game Jedah the high priest of Dumah faithful tried(and briefly succeed) in either capturing Celica to sacrifice her brand bearer soul to Dumah(purportedly to cure him,But there some lines of dialogue that muddled his true motivation) Jedah: Cease your lamentations and come along, girl. I’ll send the boy to you shortly. That I can promise. Celica: No! Not Alm! You swore to leave him alone! Jedah: Keh heh heh… How hopeless a fool can you be? Rejoice, Lord Duma! I have brought the Brand-bearer who threatens your order. Take her soul unto you and feast! Ultimately I still think Jedah true intention is curing Duma and securing the future of Rigel and Valencia however. Aside from that the part about offering brand bearer to cure Duma degeneration doesn't seem that unsound considering how Loptous an inferior earth dragon can circumvent degeneration entirely using blood pact,It's hardly a strecht to think that Duma(and Mila) who's possibly the second strongest divine Dragon could employ a similar method. A healed Duma(and maybe Mila) would do wonders for Valentia/Valm too considering the fact that Grima would popped out later(The combined power of Duma and Mila was able to check Naga AND her army for nine days straight) Anyway that my take on the whole thing. PS.It's a bit of a shame that we don't have Celiac sacrifice route in echoes

I've recently been dabbling in some Fe8 plot analysis and that got me thinking about Lyon's role in the story and his impact on Grado/Magvel. Personally I don't find him too convincing as a sympathetic villain for a number of reasons. One thing I won't deny is the fact that he's certainly an interesting character on paper. While I'm not a fan of the route split in general, it definitely provided some interesting characterisation for him as in Ephraim's route we get to see his "Demon-king possessed" persona while in Eirika's we see more of his "normal" self. As such with Ephraim we get an insight into his insecurities and the bottled up jealousy he felt towards his former friend. I've always enjoyed antagonists having a meaningful connection with the protags (assuming it's done well that is) so having a former friend who's turned against you out of a mix of despair and resentment is a super interesting premise. Meanwhile we see "Lyon" showing more of his old persona when dealing with Eirika, all to lull her into the false sense of security that the DK capitalises on when he swindles her out of Renais' stone. I do quite like how overtly possessed he is on the former route while in the latter by contrast we don't actually know how much of Lyon we're seeing or not. That ambiguity adds a lot to him imo. However, I feel like a lot more could've been done in the present-day storywise to build him up as a truly unwilling villain. Reserving all his normal behaviour (polite, reserved, kind etc) for flashbacks worked to his detriment. We needed to see more of him wrestling with his possession. I'm thinking along the lines of Robin at the end of the Awakening Future Past DLC where they're able to over-power Grima's control and paralyse him for long enough for Lucina to deal the final blow, except throughout the whole of the game. Maybe DK!Lyon issues an order of no quarter to the Grado 6 through his Vigarde-mouthpiece but then normal!Lyon breaks through briefly and rescinds the order. It'd also be great to see them in Lyon's mindscape and witness their back and forths,that way we'd get a glimpse of his thoughts on the current war and he'd feel like less of a none-character. We also need to see more of his remorse for how things have turned out. We know from his backstory and experiments, he was messing with the forces at be for the sake of saving Grado so we know he'd likely be horrified by how things are playing out. It'd be great to see this in his interaction with the Lords; perhaps he calls out to Eirika in desperation to save him or he goads Ephraim into finishing him off for the greater good. This would also do a lot of good for Formotiis, as he doesn't really have any presence in the story so it'd be great to see how he manipulates his vessel and the other Grado higher-ups; it'd definitely make him feel a lot more malevolent and threatening. As for Lyon's backstory prior to the game's events, his relationship with Eirika and Ephraim was fine, although it'd be nice to get more of his feelings of inadequacy compared to the latter and his pining for the former. His experimentation with the stone of Grado is where things become problematic if you ask me. So his prohetic dark-magic-induced dream is fine but I wish more was done with it. Yes it might be a little cliche but imagine if the earthquake that he foresaw was actually something he later causes himself in a fateful confrontation with Ephraim at Grado hall while he's under the influence of the DK? How tragic would it be for him, the well-meaning (albeit clearly naive) prince, unintentioanlly brings about the very disaster he was willing to give up everything to avert. Doesn't get more unfortunate than the classic self-fulfilling prophecy. (And if we follow through with the mindscape idea, we'd get to see the fading away/corrupted Lyon who's been trapped within his own mind finally snap. We'd see the meek prince finally furious at the DK for his treachery; this being the catalyst for him to slowly claw back control from the Big F. I think it'd do a lot for his character as it'd cement his selfless nature. Yes he might not retaliate if you slight/abuse him but the second his people are in the firing line you see the anger) Having the Grado-destroying earthqauke it's prince was willing to make a deal with the literal devil to avoid happen off-screen/in the epilogue is sooo underwhelming. We want to see CARNAGE His actions in response to all this however are questionable at best and completely illogical at worst. Why not let your stalwart allies in Renais know? It's unlikely they'll try to capitalise on your misfortune considering the character of the royal family. If anything they'll offer you counsel and support? Why note confide in your dear friends the greif and hopelessness you feel because of this, on top of what you're going through with the death of your father. Why bury yourselff in the dark arts in an attempt to revive your decseased father? Motivations aside, we needed more focus on Lyon's impossible mission to cheat death and bring his father back rather than being the afterthought that it was in the actual story. Building on that master-gaslighter Formotiis idea from earlier, why not have the big F start to "haunt" Lyon as he conducts his research; filling the prince's head with misery and despair. We need to see the big F corrupting the sorrowful prince's worldvoew, isolating him from his friends and family and preying on his insecurities. The seedlings of inadequacy and self-doubt are already there so the DK already has a good base to work from. Let's see Lyon convince himself that he has no choice but to revive his wise father as the man is the only one capabe of preparing the Empire for the oncoming disaster. Let's see him categorically reject his fellow researchers' and advisors' pleas for him to stop and assume the throne because he'd do fine. I suggest this all because I have no idea what in-canon could lead a sane person to bet his nation's future on the devil-incarnate faustian bargain-style. Lyon himself IIRC attempts to use the DK's power via the dark stone and that's what gets him possessed. Without any of this his actions seem pretty careless and that really detracts from the whole tragic villain-angle. And this way, we're building a character arc for him; the man who once ran from his responsibilities and chased a delusion unleashing chaos on the world in the process later owns up to his mistakes and acknowledges what he did was wrong. This leads me to the biggest gripe I have about him, that being that: The man shoud've survived! (and been playable for that matter) I have no idea how this would be executed but towards the end of the story, once Grado has fallen and we're approaching the endgame we need to see Lyon eventually expel the Demon King from his body through sheer force of will - maybe with some power of friendship shenanigans or via a Sacred Stone. His fate in canon gives me some major Pelleas vibes in that he dies and is practically exonerated for what he's done for no good reason. (In the same way I prefer the NG+ option of Pelleas being able to live and ride out the consequences of his failures as King of Daein, I envision Lyon going through the same thing). I want to see him grapple with what he's done, resolve to throw himself into the fight to restore peace and return home in shame and have to work himself back from the gutter Emmeryn-style. Why would this do anything for him? Well we'd get to see the sincerity and kindheartedness that we've been told he seems to have so much of on display for once. Yes he might be hated by his people, but he throws himself into his role as king because he knows that's his duty and that it's his form of atonement and maybe in the epilogue we learn that he does infact one day re-earn their trust. As the old saying goes, trust takes years to build but an instant to lose so let's see the once popular prince go through such an arc! This certainly deviated from an analysis of Lyon's failings as a tragic villain to a full-blown character rewrite but unlike the other GBA-era antagonists (other than maybe Zephiel King of Bern) he actually seemed to have a lot of potential as an effective yet sympathetic villain. I guess that's why I find his whole premise so captivating. So what do you good people think? Lyon bad or Lyon Good? (And a thank you to anyone who braved that thesis. Much appreciated!)

I've got Fe8 on the brain now and something that always bothered me was how we start the game with Eirika but Ephraim's introduction and presence in the story from that point onwards just COMPLETELY invalidates her. Old point I appreciate but Sacred Stones was my first FE and I just remember finding it laughable how inconsequential her contribution to the story was. Even when I think back to the plot having not revisited the game for quite some time, I remember her list of achievements being: Going to Renvall to rescue her brother (who's "trapped" behind enemy lines in theory) but ends up needing saving herself First response 101: don't create another casualty for people to worry about! And Ephraim was going full Hannibal on Grado anyway, waging a pretty darn effective guerilla campaign with his merry band of men, so disrputing that's arguably on her too Hiking through the mountains, getting wrapped up in a civil war in a neutral nation that doesn't play a role in the wider conflict at all, rescuing Innes (who was fairly useless himself for someone in-lore meant to be an intelligent man, also this happens in both routes regardless) and failing in her main objective to secure Jehanna's stone . In other words she doesn't really achieve anything in her route. Admittedly a lot of this wasn't really on her but in that same timeframe Ephraim has conquered Grado off-screen, as you do I suppose, and found the time to make cross continent trek to her to break them out of that pincer attack between Caellach and Valter/siege of Jehanna Hall Handing over the stone to who "Lyon". While about as naive a choice you could make, I think it's fair to chalk that up to her trusting nature and her history with Lyon (that and it's more of a personal blunder rather than anythign strategic). Although Ephraim had to have the stone taken from him by force by comparsion, showing that even in the face of his former close friend, he put his duties as a leader before personal feelings. I actually really like the contrast in character between the 2 Lords, I just wish more was done with it. Yes Ephraim in-universe is just a bit too OP and some of the feats he accomplishes are ridiculous but even that could've been fine if we got that from him and Eirika's story was more of a coming of age story : Starting off naive and out of her depth but maturing as the story progresses and rising to become her brother's equal. Let's face it as they are now, Mr "I don't pick fights I can't win" is a static character but even that could work with some slight reframing of the story. Eirika was clearly intended to be the empath of the two (getting some major Alm/Celica dichotomy vibes here and like those two the former is presented by the story as being "correct" over the latter kinda defeating the point of their diverging view-points) so that should stay. Just have her become a little more capable and less in need of saving as the chapters go on. And arguably most importantly, if the early part of the story is kept intact, she NEEDS to have to come to Ephraim's rescue or something along those lines later on. That or she contributes to the wider campaign in some way that her brother couldn't. (Maybe she's able to pacify a brewing rebellion in the now-defeated Grado before they go after the Demon King through her inherent compassion, saving the Allied forces the trouble of dealing with the Grado Remnants). While not perfect at least in a narrative like that, her accomplishments would actually show that her world-view and methods are a credible alternative to Ephraim's brute force approach to all of his problems. Static characters work best when they encompass some kind of "Truth" which they have others acknowledge throughout the story (Goku and his insistence on showing mercy to each and everyone of his enemies being a good example of this). Ephraim definitely fits that more than his sister so having her turn the tables later on would've been sooo much more satisfying to see than the absolute Eirika dunk-fest the story actually was. (Spoiler tagging because I don't know what the policy on spoliers for an 18 year old game is) TLDR - Ephraim makes Eirika redundant by being crazily OP and that really grinds my gears.

I've always found it hard to believe that Lucina's timeline was completely doomed. I know we're told that one of the gemstones has been lost (would've been nice if we found out exactly how that happened in the future kids' supports or something but I appreciate that they themselves might not be aware of the details) so the Awakening can't be done but surely there were other options that could've been explored before dooming the timeline and jumping ship to the past. Does the Valentian falchion exist or has it been lost to the ages? What about dark magic? Have they interrogated any remaining Grimleal for any info? How do the Morgans factor into this? We know that Robin themselves has the power to defeat Grima but we never see the future children (main ones or FP timeline-ones) question if Morgan could do the same. When dealing with armageddon it seems like a sensible thing to explore. Even if the 12 don't know about Robin having children, Naga surely would but she doesn't seem to bring them up once. Even if they were clearly under Grima's sway in the FP timelines, we don't know if they even tried to reach out to/reason with them. We also know from the main campaign that Ylisse has no shortage of legendary weapons from other continents lying around. Yes they're implied to be thoroughly depowered due to their age but that's some serious fire-power not being put to use in the supposed war for the survival of the human race. While I know it's a work of retcon - the Thabes labyrinth is certainly something Naga should've been aware of. When looking to best a lovecraftian-style world ending threat, it seems a sensible move to investigate the ruins that it came from. Maybe you'll find something in it's origins that'll help you destory it for good. Another avenue that probably should've been explored was making a new contract with Naga over some other weapon rather than despairing over not being able to renew the existing contract with Falchion. Is it ever stated that Naga can't do this or is it something to do with her only existing in that ethereal form so she has no physical fangs left to forge a blade from? But that brings me to anther point of contention - in Shadow Dragon, if Marth fails to reclaim Falchion from Gharnef and Tiki hasn't been recruited to the party, you're whisked away to a gaiden where you recruit (the manakete of questionable canonicity) Nagi. She then gives the Hero-king-to-be a heavier lower Mt Falchion that was most likely forged from one of her own fangs. While I appreciate Nagi might not even exist in FEA, Tiki certainly does. Couldn't she produce a Falchion of her own and bless it like she does in the FP timeline when she ascends as that world's new Naga? Yes they don't have the completed binding shield but I always got the impression that the Awakening was there to RENEW the contract/re-bless the blade rather than empower it in the first place. Sure the peoples of the far-future might be a bit screwed what with no mechanism to re-energise this hypothetical Tiki!Falchion but hey at least Lucina and co are in the clear. On a final less relevant point, we're never told whether Naga herself knows that their universe operates on multiverse/many-worlds theory rather than linear back-to-the-future style time travel. Grima clearly thinks its the later since he thought he had to travel to the past to ensure the kids didn't jeopardise his existence . We also find out in Fates that because of some Silent!Dragon shenanigans and Grima's jump to and subsequent demise in the past, the future has been able to recover somewhat. I guess that kinda makes everything feel a little redundant by that point. Why doesn't Naga banish Grima to a desolate outrealm instead? He might be a destructive force of nature but he's seemingly unable to jump between realms so he'd be stuck there... I guess seeing that "resolution" to the original/future timeline just rubbed me the wrong way. Felt like a bit of a cop-out all things considered. I think what I'm trying to say is that I really want a prequel-sequel type game exploring Lucina's timeline XD

Welcome everyone to my complete chapter-by-chapter rewrite of the Golden Deer route! As I've discussed many times in the past with fellow members of the Serenes Forest community, most notably in this thread... ...Verdant Wind is a hot mess of a route that's in dire need of a good cleanup. And while there's undoubtedly many reasons as to why this route suffers from such widespread story and characterization problems, there remains one cause that stands out above the rest, and that's Silver Snow. Verdant Wind was half-assed, no way around it. Instead of investing the proper amount of time and attention needed to give Claude and the Golden Deer a unique, compelling story on par with what Crimson Flower and Azure Moon gave Edelgard and Dimitri, the devs simply cloned the plot of what's by far their all-around weakest route, resulting in the narrative disaster that is Verdant Wind. And the reason why I believe this route was half-assed so badly is Silver Snow. Silver Snow was the very first draft they wrote of the game's story, and it shows. But instead of letting it stay that way and focusing their efforts solely on the three lords' stories, they tried to develop their rough draft into an entire fourth route, and unfortunately it failed. And the story that paid the price for this unnecessary drain on the devs' time and resources was Claude's. So, moving forward into this rewrite we're gonna completely disregard Silver Snow and treat the game as though there are only three routes, with the effort they put into Silver Snow instead going towards fixing Verdant Wind. In other words: Three Houses, three lords, three routes. Now before we get started, I'd like to go over a few notes about this write-up as well as some non-chapter specific changes made to Verdant Wind. Right, that's all for notes. Now let's dive into the good stuff! Chapter 13 - Reunion at Dawn Chapter 14 - Valley of Torment Chapter 15 - The Rose-Colored River Chapter 16 - Blood of the Eagle and Lion Chapter 17 - The Impregnable Fortress Chapter 18 - The Aquatic Capital Chapter 19 - The Chaos of War Chapter 20 - Conclusion of the Crossing Roads Chapter 21 - The City Without Light Chapter 22 - Fódlan's New Dawn Ending Changes to other routes Phew, that was a lot to cover! To everyone who made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to read my rewrite and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback! 🙂

Welcome to Fates Fanfiction Central Previously much of the story discussion and fanfiction writing conversations were being held in Yari's Fixing Fates Story Issues (Spoilers) thread. Unfortunately it has grown too bloated for individual author's ideas to be easily seen by curious viewers (or for disorganized writers like myself who forget where they wrote down all their ideas). So I've created a new thread where everyone's ideas can be discussed and included in an easy to access OP. Feel free to message me if you'd like your ideas to be included in the OP. Each writer will have their own spoiler section for their ideas. As the thread titles suggests, the posts and ideas discussed here will concern MAJOR SPOILERS so venture in at your own risk. Now, without further ado, I offer you a survey. You can always add more information if the questions don't cover all the ideas you'd like recorded. FE Fates Fan Fiction Survey 1. What routes are you working on? Is it an amalgamation of all three? Is it an alternate universe style retelling? 2. What notable changes would you make to the plot? Are problematic elements (the curse, the magic throne, the crystal ball, operation tears, Nohr and Hoshido being too black and white, everything Aqua does) going to be addressed? Are there any themes to be communicated over each route? What is the overall direction and "point" of each route? 3. What notable changes would you make to the characters? What is Kamui all about (background, personality, abilities)? What is Aqua all about (personality, role in the plot)? What are the Hoshidan and Nohrian siblings all about (personalities, roles in the plot)? What is Garon, Mikoto, Lilith or any other important character all about? What is Hydra all about (role in the plot)? What changes will be made to minor characters 4. What notable changes would you make to the setting? What ideas do you have for world building? What kind of history does this continent have? What is the balance of natural and supernaturual elements? Are the Faceless and invisible enemies in your story? 5. Do any characters die? 6. Do you introduce any new characters? 7. Are any characters going to be cut? If your ideas are posted elsewhere on the internet, you may also include links to those sources. Different authors and their ideas. [spoiler=NekoKnight] FE Fates Fan Fiction Survey 1. What routes are you working on? Is it an amalgamation of all three? Is it an alternate universe style retelling? Working on Nohr but will consider doing Hoshido as well. There will be no 3rd route. 2. What notable changes would you make to the plot? Are problematic elements (the curse, the magic throne, the crystal ball, operation tears, Nohr and Hoshido being too black and white, everything Aqua does) going to be addressed? All of these plot elements have been discarded and work is being done to make Nohr/Hoshido less black and white. Are there any themes to be communicated over each route? As each route is defined by the choice Kamui makes, there will be a different theme, based on the faction you choose. Nohr is about duty over justice. Hoshido is about doing the moral thing over what you want to do. What is the overall direction and "point" of each route? Nohr will transition into the invasion more quickly, the conquest of Hoshido completed earlier and the latter 1/3 of the story being devoted to the rebellion against Garon. I haven't given Hoshido has much thought, but I imagine it would be a combination of defending themselves from the invasion, solving internal issues and defeating Garon. 3. What notable changes would you make to the characters? What is Kamui all about (background, personality, abilities)? -Kamui is idealistic but not as naive (he was only locked up for the first 6 years after his abduction). Is passionate about defending the weak and prefers non-lethal solutions to problems. In spite of a Nohrian upbringing, he believes in the inherit goodness of people. Kamui was kidnapped and ransomed to force a trade agreement with Hoshido but they refused. Kamui's dragon powers are a result of recieving certain genes. What is Aqua all about (personality, role in the plot)? -Aqua is the daughter of the Water Tribe chieftain in western Nohr (that giant lake area). She is never taken to Hoshido and replaces Rinka and Suzukaze as the prisoners you fight in the second chapter, after Marx puts down her tribe's rebellion. She has a friendly, if not occasionally snarky, personality. Her magical singing is a special skill taught in her clan. What are the Hoshidan and Nohrian siblings all about (personalities, roles in the plot)? -Ryoma is a stubborn upholder of traditions and doesn't believe in the social mobility common in Nohr. He holds a grudge against Nohr for killing his father and taking Kamui. He's aloof in person but passionate in battle. -Hinoka is a more experienced battle commander and warrior, something she dedicated herself to since Kamui's kidnapping. She is bold and reckless, but a paragon of Hoshidan warrior culture, alongside Ryoma. -Similar to the canon characterization, Takumi suffers from serious middle-child syndrome and works the hardest to prove himself. He hates Kamui most of all for consuming his older sibling's attention and for betraying Hoshido. -Sakura is mature for her age but is concerned about her ability to contribute to the family. She is serene and determined, the most like her mother out of the five siblings. -Marx is strictly concerned with chivalry and upholding one's duties. Though he is dedicated to justice and protecting the common people, he's stubbornly loyal to Garon. He is the 3rd eldest and last surviving child (his two older brothers died in the last Hoshido/Nohr conflict) of the king and queen. -Camilla has PTSD from her participation in the Waifu Wars but hides it behind a motherly facade. She has attachment anxiety and clings onto Kamui with the belief that his status as a foreigner will make him safe from Nohr's deadly court politics. She's both a talented warrior and political strategist making her one of Garon's favorite children. -Leon is a prodigal mage and able battle commander. He is an only child and had the happiest childhood amongst his siblings. His ruthlessness is inline with Nohrian values but often puts him at ends with the more idealistic Kamui. -Elise is also an only child and was born at the end of the Waifu Wars. She's neglected by her mother (who is busy enjoying an extravagant lifestyle as one of Garon's mistresses.) She often feels lonely and unneeded but tries to maintain a cheerful personality to support her siblings who she feels have worse problems than she does. What is Garon, Mikoto, Lilith or any other important character all about? -Garon is a strict and brutal leader who isn't shy about using underhanded tactics to further the interests of his kingdom. He has a hatred of Hoshidans, and while he isn't unnecessarily cruel to Kamui, he is emotionally distant to them. His existence is to show what Marx would become if not for Kamui's influence. There is no Gooron. -Mikoto has the same personality and role as her canon portrayal. -Lilith has been cut. What is Hydra all about (role in the plot)? -Hydra has been cut. What changes will be made to minor characters? [spoiler=Characters] [spoiler=Shared] Joker: Kamui's snarky but reliable butler. He's the youngest child of a minor noble family so he didn't have many opportunities to advance until he came into Kamui's household. He apprenticed under Gunter who taught him how to be a proper vassal. Silas: Kamui's childhood friend and a yet to be ordained knight under the service of Lord Ackerman (new character). He has the best rapport with Kamui and is thought by many to have feelings for them, although Kamui hasn't noticed. Aqua: The daughter of the water tribe's chieftain in Nohr. After her tribe's failed rebellion, she is kept as a political hostage and left in Kamui's household. She has mystical singing powers and a calm and caring personality that makes her fast friends with Sakura and Elise. Mozume: A farm girl orphaned after her village (which resides in eastern Nohr, an area with a notable population of Hoshidans) was razed by bandits. She's quite shy because of her accent but has a surprisingly bold personality if you get to know her. Ashura: An ex-ninja from the now non-existent Kouga country, he has lived a rough life of banditry and mercenary work since. He's cynical and slow to trust but has incredible insight to the underworld of Hoshido and Nohr. Suzukaze: A ninja of Hoshido but doesn't serve a particular lord. He is the twin brother of Saizo and caretaker for Midoriko. His polite and approachable demeanor makes him popular in the army. He is not fond of violence and prefers to use his talents for collecting information. He'll side with Kamui in Nohr when Kamui announces their plans to defeat Garon. Midoriko: A war orphan from the last Hoshido/Nohr war. She makes and sells medicine to make ends meet but she was looked after by both Suzukaze and Saizo. Her cute mannerisms and hardworking nature made her something of an idol in the army. She is recruited by Suzukaze after he pledges himself to Kamui and the defeat of Garon. Crimson: A Wyvern Knight and the daughter of the late king of Chevalier. She is determined to restore her country's honor after a certain incident. She's a skilled and powerful warrior but has a passion for decorating things. She will ally with Ryoma in Hoshido to make up for the wrongdoings of her father. She will ally with Kamui in Nohr after they help liberate Chevalier from a Nohrian assault. Shigure: Another member of the Water Tribe. Well meaning but brash, he tried to impress Aqua with his leadership abilities and convinced her father to rebel against Nohr. When his plan backfired, he deeply regretted his foolhardiness and pledged to rescue Aqua, independent of his village. By the time he meets the party he has almost given up hope and is planning a dangerous attack on the capital. [spoiler=Nohr] Gunter: A seasoned knight who acted as the master of arms for Garon's children. He is stern but kind, acting as a surrogate father to Kamui. He meets his unfortunate end at the Infinite Chasm after a routine scouting mission goes awry. Elfie: A noble-born knight and guardian of Princess Elise. She is extremely devoted to training and Elise's protection that many find her unsociable. Her single-minded determination and overwhelming strength has earned her a number of fans, however. She has the appetite of a bear but always burns off any weight she gains. Harold: A low-born man with a deep passion for justice. Before he came into the service of Princess Elise, he wandered around Nohr protecting the weak from harm, asking for little in return. He has remarkably bad luck and is never far from danger, but somehow he has always survived his encounters. He's the unknowing father of Lutz. Ophelia: A mercenary mage and former lover to Soleil. An eccentric girl obsessed with fancy names and spellcraft, she stands in contrast to her more grounded partner, Zero. She believes she was chosen for a grand purpose in life but is still searching for what that may be. She's hired by Leon to assist Kamui in the subjugation of the Ice Tribe. Zero: An orphan who grew up in the slums of Nohr's capital, he made a living as a thief, street ear and child prostitute. He has little conception of personal space and his lewd comments often put people on edge. He has a sadism streak and has been known to deliberately cripple targets, rather than outright kill them. Currently he is a mercenary hired by Prince Leon and works alongside Ophelia. Flora: A maid in service to Kamui's household and unknown to them, the daughter of the Ice Tribe's chieftain. She has a playful personality but occasionally has bouts of depression. While affectionate towards Kamui and Joker, she places her own family first and takes part in her family's rebellion. She dreams of eventually starting a family one day and returning to her village. Flannel: The chieftain of the werewolves at Garou Peak and the fiance of Velour. He seeks Kamui's aid when dark magic starts making his people go feral. While the Garou are generally reclusive, he has a fondness for making trips to the city and is a snappy dresser. He loves picking up knickknacks, a passion shared by his fiance. Luna: The daughter of a noble family and a vassal to Princess Camilla. Her mother was an extremely talented fighter herself leading to Luna acquiring an inferiority complex. She's highly competitive and is often irked by Belka's indifferent attitude to her challenges. Luna has a passion for shopping and works hard to pay for her hobby. Belka: An emotionally distant, former child assassin now serving as a vassal to Princess Camilla. She kills freely and barely reacts to the death of comrades, which has led some to describe her as as cold blooded as the wyvern she rides. She is seemingly incapable of feeling affection but is secretly lonely and laments not knowing how to communicate with others. [spoiler=Character Ages] Joker: 20 Silas: 16 Aqua: 17 Mozume: 15 Ashura: 35 Suzukaze: 18 Midoriko: 12 Crimson: 23 Shigure: 20 Gunter: 62 Elfie: 20 Harold: 29 Ophelia: 16 Zero: 21 Flora: 19 Flannel: 25 Luna: 18 Belka: 17 Nyx: 125 (although she stopped aging at 13) Charlotte: 20 Benoit: 27 Lazwald: 21 Pieri: 20 Seigbert: 20 Velour: 23 Lutz: 14 Soeleil: 17 Ignis: 28 4. What notable changes would you make to the setting? What ideas do you have for world building? What kind of history does this continent have? What is the balance of natural and supernatural elements? -The main plot is mostly a political struggle (no world ending dragons) although the fantasy tropes prevalent in Fire Emblem are still there. There are lingering influences of the dragons from the past (the physical state of the continent, the royal's dragon blood, and dragon spirits that occasionally possess people. Are the Faceless and invisible enemies in your story? -Faceless are removed and replaced with bandit attacks, or possessed enemies. There are no invisible enemies. 5. Do any characters die? Many characters do (particularly recruitable characters from the opposite route). Some allied characters may die as well. 6. Do you introduce any new characters? A few Nohrian characters are introduced. Lord Fulmore, the Warden of the South. Lord Ackerman, the Warden of the East. Chieftain Aquarion, Aqua's father. Also mentioned is Crimson's father, the king of Chevalier. If I write Hoshido, they are also get an assortment of lords. 7. Are any characters going to be cut? Cut Characters: Odin, Eponine, Foleo, Sophie, Kanna, Deere, Tsukuyomi, Mitama, Grey, Felicia and Izana (no longer recruit-able) [spoiler=Alazen] [spoiler=Some Key Differences] Kamui's Parentage: Kamui is not Hydra's birth child. He is the 2nd child of Mikoto and Sumeragi. -Warrant: The reveal that Kamui isn't Sumeragi's birth child is blatantly an excuse to let Kamui marry from both sets of siblings. 2nd Gen: There is no 2nd Gen. Nor is there a Secluded Realm. -Warrant: Fates' 2nd Gen manages to be even less significant than Awakening's. It's embarrassingly obvious that Fates' 2nd Gen was shoehorned due to the presence of a 2nd Gen in Awakening. The Secluded Realm serves as an excuse for the children to all be of fighting age without including a timeskip or time travel. Awakening Returnees: ​None beyond cameos that are treated as such. -Warrant: The Invisible Kingdom has failed to address the presence of the Awakening characters in a way that doesn't drag down the setting. Character Consolidation: Ryoma and Hinoka have been merged into one elder Hoshidan sibling, Elise and Sakura into one possible younger Nohr sibling. Felicia and Flora are one servant from the Ice Tribe. -Warrant: Of all their problems, the royal sisters suffer from a lack of significance for how close they supposedly are to Kamui. In particular, Hinoka's crowning moments include seeing through a disguise and Kamui pretending to slay her. Flora is noticeably more significant with a certainly more rounded characterization than Felicia. Examples of Cross-path Changes -Aqua has been removed from Fates entirely. Elements linked to her such as the prophecy have been removed or reworked. -No returning Awakening characters beyond cameos that aren't acknowledged as actually there. -There is no 2nd Gen. There is no Secluded Realm. Any 2nd Gen characters that can be salvaged will be recruitable conventionally. Examples of Hoshido Changes -The heavenly children are Firstborn Daughter Hinoka, Kamui, and Takumi. Ryoma and Hinoka have been merged into the eldest heavenly child. Sakura has been cut out to trim down on siblings. -One opposing leader in Hoshido is a daimyo whose territory was forced to surrender to Sumeragi. He or she has both the resentment and resources to oppose Sumeragi's children. -Rinka's ethnicity has a history of conflict with other Easterners. Examples of Nohr Changes -One of the Nohr sisters is axed. -Fake Garon is gone. An alternative is for Hydra's faction to make contact with Garon and send assistance. The Maids and Joker -Flora and Felicia are now one character. Her backstory is that she's the daughter of the ruler of a land conquered by Nohr. She was taken as a hostage to Nohr, putting her in the position to meet Kamui and be in his inner circle. She's an ally if Kamui stays with Nohr, an enemy if she leaves it. -Joker is the son of a Nohrian noble who had the clout to have him study in the castle. He meets Kamui and the two hit it off. A dependable schemer, he follows Kamui in all routes. Suzukaze and Saizou -The shinobi brothers are the sons of a Fuuma jizamurai. Fuuma was invaded and conquered by Sumeragi's army with the brothers' father killed in the war. The two brothers were taken to Hoshido as hostages. -Suzukaze knows what happened to his homeland and father, planting the seeds for leaving Hoshido 1. What routes are you working on? Is it an amalgamation of all three? Is it an alternate universe style retelling? At least 2 Paths (Hoshido, The New Order). 2. What notable changes would you make to the plot? Are problematic elements (the curse, the magic throne, the crystal ball, operation tears, Nohr and Hoshido being too black and white, everything Aqua does) going to be addressed?No curse, magic throne is out, got rid of the crystal, don't even think about Operation Tears, Nohr might be ''evil'' but Hoshido surely isn't ''good'', Aqua has been axed entirely. Are there any themes to be communicated over each route?A. How far will you go for your dream? To get what you're owed? B. How should the world be ruled? What is the overall direction and "point" of each route?Hoshido-Kamui leaves Nohr to claim his birthright. He works within Hoshido to get the trust of his peers, fighting both inner and outer threats. Nohr-Kamui works for validation from Marx and Garon. He's not out for Hoshidan blood, so he'd be down with the power blocs coming to an agreement. Touma-Kamui ends up in Touma after an accident near the chasm. Kamui has to spend some time in Touma, being informed by Lilith of Hydra, Touma, their rising army, and what they stand for. After indoctrination and being told about his origins, Kamui agrees to fight for Hydra against all who oppose them. 3. What notable changes would you make to the characters? What is Kamui all about (background, personality, abilities)?Kamui is the 2nd child of Mikoto and Sumeragi. Born with the bloodlines of two dragon lines, Kamui has features marking his divine lineage. Sumeragi could tell his son was set for greatness, and so doted on him when he could. Taking Kamui with him on a trip to Chevalier, Sumeragi is slain in an ambush. Seeing the small child brought before him, Garon immediately had him taken. Ending up in the capital, it was arranged for Kamui to live within Garon's household but not as if he was one of Garon's actual children. Kamui would be kept within reach of Garon and his children, yet at a distance. She would be at least occasionally given access to tutors and trainers that even a wealthy Nohrian would want, yet be told to sit a separate table from Garon and his children. Rumors spread that Kamui was a bastard child of Garon, which worked for the Nohr King since a predecessor of his married a Eastern spouse. Kamui internalizes Nohr ideals and conduct. Nohr is a society with a focus on status, bloodlines, inheritance, what have you. He also grows a respect and perhaps jealousy for Marx. He looks for validation from Garon yet resents him. He hits it off with Joker and Flora, gets along with Leon and Nohr Sister well enough, and has actually made a name for himself among the castle's staff for going around and actually aiding in their tasks (and nicely, admittedly after some practice). You can trust him to get his hands dirty and look after his troops. Having bloodlines of two dragons has its perks. He was born with a more potent form of Dragon's Vein that unfortunately also is a heavy drain on her once it reaches a certain point, along with the greater athletic skill seen in other royals. The Touma route has able to Kamui transform into a dragon using a dragonstone embedded sword forged in Touma after some time being indoctrinated and magiced on. What is Aqua all about (personality, role in the plot)?Aqua has been cut. Elements of her have been given to to other characters like Flora. What is Garon, Mikoto, Lilith or any other important character all about?Garon is out to bring glory to his house. Lilith is Hydra's agent who intervenes around the world. Mikoto is the current heavenly sovereign of Hoshido who has worked to strengthen or secure Hoshido. What is Hydra all about (role in the plot)?Hydra is the ruler of Touma who commands a rising force. Having become a gestalt of souls, Hydra directs his troops around the world to sow discord until he can forge a new nation. 4. What notable changes would you make to the setting? What ideas do you have for world building? The succession to Sumeragi's conquests is now iffy thanks to having 3 dragon blooded children. Traditionally, the succession process would have whichever child shows they were marked as heavenly take the throne unless the none of the children show such, in which case the solutions have shifted. Hinoka is the firstborn child with Mikoto's blood pact inheritance, Takumi has Sumeragi's and Kamui has both. You should keep in mind that Hoshido isn't really a country in modern way. Sumeragi conquered around the East and married into the heavenly family, one could say that Takumi would be the heir to the conquered territories instead of Hinoka. And with his blood, maybe Kamui could press a claim to all of it. What kind of history does this continent have?One of blood, skulduggery, scheming. What is the balance of natural and supernaturual elements?Hydra's empire is a growing threat, but there is no Fake Garon. Are the Faceless and invisible enemies in your story?Hydra links to the dead, pulling their souls or whatever to the gestalt. He can direct bodies and has a sort of wide vision. However, while his empire grows the tide gets bigger and bigger. Unless something is done, Hydra will be swept away. He's looking for a vessel to merge with to form a new dragon god. 6. Do you introduce any new characters? At least a few figures to flesh out the world. 7. Are any characters going to be cut? Aqua, Sakura, at least one Nohr sister, and Shenmei are examples. [spoiler=warchiefwilliams] 1. What routes are you working on? Is it an amalgamation of all three? Is it an alternate universe style retelling? · Depending on how much time I am able to find to write with my schedule, I will work on the Invisible Kingdom route but with heavy alterations to many of the plots more… “questionable” elements and characters. Later, if I feel up to it, and I am not lynched for the idea, I might try an alternate universe IK route with a new faction. 2. What notable changes would you make to the plot? · I want to make the plot more about the characters themselves and how they drive events forward through their actions as opposed to poorly implemented concepts dictating the characters actions, even if they must act OOC. I will also be reworking questionable plot decisions like: · Are problematic elements (the curse, the magic throne, the crystal ball, operation tears, Nohr and Hoshido being too black and white, everything Aqua does) going to be addressed? Where to begin? I will obviously be trying to flesh out the world, Nohr and Hoshido far more than was in the game, which will (hopefully) make each one seem less “black and white”. As for most of the magical plot contrivances holes elements, the curse will be removed, as I personally feel that if someone were to run around saying that there an invasion from a realm hidden from reality was imminent, then they would be locked up in the nearest insane asylum or praised as some new cult leader. There doesn’t need to be a death cruse here. Because Garon will just be possessed and not a familiar, the Throne itself is little more than a glorified throne in a big castle meant to show the power of the King of Hoshido.· Are there any themes to be communicated over each route? Pretty much the themes that were originally stressed in the advertising for this game. Because I am pushing the “decision” chapter back a ways (I thought chapter 6 was too early for that and, after seeing it, I feel vindicated in that belief) this will give time for Kamui to be exposed to both ideologies and make a better choice rather than simply picking one family over the other.· What is the overall direction and "point" of each route? In my view, the point of the IK route is to combine the strengths of both nations and cultures together to fight an external entity that threatens to destroy everything that both sides hold dear. It should be a story of coming together, overcoming differences and saving the world. It should also stress that there is no such thing as a fairy tale ending and that victory comes with a cost (a “beating around the bush” way for saying that characters WILL die).3. What notable changes would you make to the characters? · A lot of the characters will be either more fleshed out or have tweaks made to their background and personality to help make them less of walking tropes and more, well, well-developed. Some, mainly child characters, will be outright cut, due to character saturation and to them not being very interesting (in my view). · What is Kamui all about (background, personality, abilities)? Kamui remains the child of Mikoto and Anankos. As such he retains many of his abilities that are found in the game, i.e his dragon form. This detail, however, will not be simply glossed over by the story and will play a significant role during both the initial invasion of Hoshido, splitting off from both nations and during the revelations about the world. Kamui was kidnapped when he was only three years old, and other than some hazy images that he only glimpses in nightmares, believes that he is a child of Garon and one of the many dead concubines, similar to his Nohrian siblings. Due to coddling by his adopted family, retainers and (when he returns to Hoshido) his actual family, Kamui is a narcissist at the start of the story, believing that he is the perfect sibling. His extreme naivety will help cement this belief. As the story develops, Kamui’s narcissistic streak will break as he discovers the true cost of his beliefs and will slowly become a more jaded, cynical individual, especially as his decisions gets people close to him killed. I am placing Kamui’s age at a young 19.· What is Aqua all about (personality, role in the plot)? Aqua remains the child of Shenmei and the former King of Touma (who I have yet to make a name for). Unlike Kamui, Aqua remembers what happened in both the Sundering of Touma, an event that lead to her banishment to the real world and the deaths of her parents, as well as her own kidnapping from Castle Krakenburg and the deaths caused by that. In addition, her status as an outsider of the Hoshidoan caste system makes her, at least in the eyes of the public, little better than a criminal. Any attempt that she makes to try to explain the threat that Anankos poses to the real world are typically laughed off as the ravings of a mad princess and even the two people who show her some affection, Sakura and Hinoka, do not believe her. These factors combined make her an incredibly isolated and jaded individual, as well as an alcoholic, needing a fair amount of sake (while in Hoshido) and wine (while in Nohr) to get through the day. It is only after Kamui returns to Hoshido that she begins to see some hope for the future. Aqua is only a few months older than Kamui, though she is still 19 years old.· What are the Hoshidan and Nohrian siblings all about (personalities, roles in the plot)? I copied some of this from my post in the Headcanons thread. Camilla dotes on all her younger siblings as a way to attempt to cope with her role during the Concubine Wars. She especially dotes on Kamui due to his status as an outsider to the cutthroat nature of Nohrian politics and sees him as someone who won't ever try to stab her in the back. She does have a bit of a drinking problem, needing at least one bottle of wine to get through the day. Her role in the plot is to both be a mother figure to the younger members of her family, but also to be the one who monitors the political situation in both Nohr and Hoshido, as her specialty, besides splitting skulls with her axe, is political intrigue. Camilla is 23 years old. Marx is painfully aware that the Concubine Wars were effectively triggered by his mother, Queen Ekatrina and harbors a deep sense of survivor’s guilt, knowing that the vast majority of his extended family died because of his mother's actions. He doesn't show it though, bottling up his emotions and revealing almost nothing about how he really feels, even to his own family. Marx places a high value on loyalty to his country and especially loyalty to his father. However, as Garon begins to make decisions that endanger Nohr, Marx will begin to find himself questioning his loyalties. Unlike his younger sister, Marx chose to specialize in martial training, both as a warrior and as a strategist, relying on Camilla to help him navigate the political minefield that is Nohrian society and foreign policy. Marx is 24 years old. Leon is the most stable mentally of his siblings, if only because he knows constructive ways to deal with his emotions as opposed to lashing out during training (Marx) or drinking (Camilla). Leon prides himself in effectively merging his two older siblings’ specialties of military and political strategy, though his physical abilities are nowhere near as refined. Leon sees himself as the most pragmatic voice in the family, and is adaptable enough to know when to change his priorities to reflect the situation at hand. As such, he often finds himself advising all of his siblings (especially Kamui) on what is the probable best course of action. Leon is 18 years old. Elise sometimes wishes her family wasn't so defensive of her, but she is aware that she is the linchpin holding the Plantagenets (Nohrian royal surname) together, so she keeps up the facade of being a happy, innocent child. Deep down, she is aware of her family's past and wishes that she could comfort her siblings more than by just being the happy little sister. As previously stated, Elise feels like her role is to be a pinnacle of stability in a turbulent world. She is 16 years old. Ryoma is a strong believer in Hoshidoan superiority, but has a change of heart during the war, especially after during the abortive Chevalier Campaign and sees just how the rest of the world operates, realizing that several of Hoshido's societal and military traditions could condemn his kingdom to the ashes of history unless they change. Ryoma spends a lot of his time meditating on the samurai code and training to be as good of a king, if not a better one, than his father. Ryoma is 24 years old. Hinoka spends the vast majority of her time in training, both martial and statecraft, to the point where she only really has a close relationship with Ryoma. As such, her relationship with her younger siblings is not as strong as it seems. Hinoka, thanks to her early training under ImagawaYuugiri, has developed a rather brash and direct approach to most events, which has led to several near foreign affairs disasters. Hinoka is 20 years old. Takumi suffers from an extreme case of middle-child syndrome. In addition, the vast majority of importnat events in his life, including his birth, were overshadowed by Nohrian aggression that demanded his family's attention, leaving him with a negative view of Nohr and its people. Takmui has been struggling for the past few years to find something to excel at that his older siblings do not, though he has yet to find one. These feelings of inadequacy are only enhanced after Kamui’s return to Hoshido, which helps to drive him to Anankos’s control (at least at first). He continues to rely on old trinkets from when he was a child to calm himself though his retainers do what they can to help. He is 19 years old. Sakura wants to believe that everyone in the world is good and kind. A view that her family and retainers encourage to help keep her innocence alive for as long as possible, though the assassination of Midkoto breaks that mold. Sakura, however, quickly adapted to the new reality. She doesn’t like causing suffering, but her training in the healing arts means that the sight of blood and bodies does not scare her. Sakura is one of the few individuals in Hoshido who was not immediately suspicious of Aqua and instead tried to form some kind of relationship with her. Sakura is 17 years old. · What is Garon, Mikoto, Lilith or any other important characters all about? Here we go, I will refine more of these ideas laterGaron never becomes Gooron. Rather than be killed by IK forces and replaced, Anankos instead possesses him. This change manifests in his desire to severely weaken Hoshido or destroy, one of the major powers on the continent that could threaten his return. In order to maintain his cover, Anankos tries to imitate Garon’s prior behaviors and habits, though as time goes on, he loses patience and begins to force Garon to act more and more out of character (implied by supports between the Nohrian siblings who state that the current Garon isn’t the same one they knew as father. By the time it is discovered that Garon is under the control of Anankos, it is too late to save him, though he is able to die as himself as opposed to being Anankos’s slave. Garon is 55 at the start of the story Mikoto is not Shenmei’s sister, rather she was her close confidant and friend who was also part of the Anankos cult (one of the many Dark Dragon cults in Nohr that worship the Dark Dragons as the liberators of mankind). This was before the two of them fled to the Invisible Kingdom after the then Tactician Ektrina usurped Shenmei’s position as Queen of Nohr. After the Sundering, Mikoto fled from the Invisible Kingdom and was found by King Sumeragi, who took her in and eventually married her. After Sumeragi’s assassination, using magic she learned in the Invisible Kingdom, erects a barrier to dull aggression towards her home, though this does have the side effect of suppressing all dissent within Hoshido towards the government, stifling any opposition to her and the royal family. She still dies as a result of the assassination attempt in the Fire Plaza and is turned into one of Anankos’s agents. Mikoto is 34 at the start of the story. Lilith is a dragonkin (manakete) from the Invisible Kingdom originally. She is the child of two Astral Dragons within that hidden realm. Lillith fled from the Invisible Kingdom during the Sundering and, in an attempt to stave off degradation, chose to spend most of her time in her dragon form. Near-feral and injured after a few years, she encountered a young Kamui, Cyrus and Sophie (see other characters) who healed her wounds. Newly restored, she followed Kamui back to the Northern Citadel and was able to work there as a stable hand. When Kamui fell into the Invisible Chasm, she saved him and continued to accompany him on his travels (there is no My Castle here). She will later die trying to protect Kamui. Lilith appears to 17 though she is around 1457 years old. Iago is the son of a major noble family within Nohr’s capitol of Karakenburg. Despite being quite devious and snakelike, his talents as a strategist and his ability to find solutions to even the impossible. Like finding out that it was Queen Ektrina who struck the final blow of Concubine Wars by blowing up the tower containing the remaining concubines and their families, who were negociating an end to the war with Queen Ikona of Hoshido moderating (she died in the blast, which triggered the 4th Hoshido-Nohr War). Iago is loyal to his master to a fault, and has no problem throwing others under the bus if it means that his master is pleased with him. Ganz is a reformed mass murderer from the Underground District in Krakenburg. Originally, a soldier in Nohr’s Imperial Army, he earned a reputation as a ruthless man, driven to obtain victory at any cost. It was after he massacred almost everyone in an auxiliary unit that angered him was Ganz finally discharged and thrown in prison. Possessed Garon, wanting to sow as much chaos as possible, chose to free Ganz and place him in a commanding position within the Imperial Army, which Ganz took to with gusto, as he was now in a position to do as he pleased with the endorsement of the king. Ganz harbors a deep resentment towards all non-Nohrians, and believes that the entire world should belong to Nohr and he will kill anyone who thinks otherwise. · What is Hydra all about (role in the plot)? I will be calling him by his Japanese name, Anankos. Anankos is one of the few remaining Dark Astral Dragons left after the Great War in the far past, which split the continent. For the longest time, the Astral Dragons ruled the world under their hierarchy, governing the world in what they saw as the perfect order. Anankos is effectively their version of Satan, an individual who thought things should be run differently (ideally under him) and rebelled against the order, corrupting the original creation magic used to create the world into dark magic. At the war’s end, the few remaining dragons, including Anankos, fled to the Invisible Realm, leaving humanity, which had been the thralls of the dragons, free. Many cults in Nohr worship Anankos as the savior of mankind, while Hoshido’s religion despises him as the one who disrupted the order of the Astral Dragons. In reality, Anankos sought power for himself over the Astral Dragons and control of all creation. His lasting mark ensured the eventual extinction of the dragonkin, as the corruption of magic into dark magic triggered the degradation of the minds of all dragons who it touched. The minds of dragons could be preserved through the use of dragon stones, but only if they limited their time as dragons. Anankos’s degredation was even more severe as he was the original creator of dark magic. His attempts to stop it only delayed the inevitable. Eventually he had a relationship with one of his worshipers (Mikoto) in order to form a new vessel for himself. After Mikoto found out, she fled from the Invisible Kingdom as Anankos conquered it from the few remaining Astral Dragons. Upon securing his victory, and growing desperate, Anankos was able to trick three warriors from another realm to enter the world of fates (the Awakening trio) on the condition that he would restore their world, which he did. Though, they were unable to fully interpret his orders, causing them to be lead astray and conniving Anankos that humans could no longer be trusted with free will. Anankos still seeks to control all of creation, and will do whatever it takes. His interest in Kamui stems from the fact that he is the escaped vessel, thus being required to reverse Anankos’s degredation. · What changes will be made to minor characters Minor characters, like the named bosses, will have more of a role in their respective battles. There will likely be a few temporary OCs meant to fill roles required by the plot, such as army commanders and peasants.4. What notable changes would you make to the setting? · What ideas do you have for world building? I will post an in-depth outline of the countries of Fates within the next little bit, expect to see a description of each country, how its society operates, and how it fits in with the greater Nohr-Hoshido-IK conflict.· What kind of history does this continent have? This continent (which I will be calling Ivron, a name I got from a continent name generator) has had a long history of conflict. Whether it is the Great War of legend, the Wars of Nohrian Expansion, the Unification of Hoshido, or the multiple Nohrian-Hoshido wars, conflict is simply the way of the land. The creation of the Infinite Chasm during the Great War led to the cultural drift between the lands in the west and the east. The land to the far west is uninhabitable due to the same conflict.· What is the balance of natural and supernaturual elements? While supernatural elements (the Astral Dragons, Dark and Creation Magic, the creation of the garou and fox spirits) played a huge role in shaping the world, by this point in time, their overall role is no longer as prominent as it was. The secret arts of Creation Magic have long been both lost and out of reach of mankind and mankind can only harness the tiniest fraction of Dark Magic’s potential without being corrupted by it. The supernatural elements are there, but they do not play a major role in the story, at least in the beginning. Religion plays a large role in shaping Hoshido’s society, while Nohr’s religion played a large role in the past, worship of the Dark Dragons is less common now. The Shapeshifters (Garou and Fox Spirits) have longer lives than humans. The life expectancy for everyone isHuman: up to 90 years with proper care Garou: up to 180 years Fox Spirits: up to 250 years Manaketes/Dragonkin: functionally immortal. Can still die to natural causes · Are the Faceless and invisible enemies in your story? Yes, though with a few changes to how they function. Faceless are the result of decades of research by Dark Mages trying to create thralls to serve them. While physically potent, Faceless have little intelligence beyond survival instincts and whatever sense of purpose their creator gives them. While this makes them ideal tools of war, they are little more than that, tools. In addition, they cannot be directly controlled, and it was not uncommon for faceless to turn on their creators and their allies due to simple bloodlust. Invisible Kingdom forces are comprised of both the human forms of Astral and Dark Dragons (dragons who sided with Anankos) that serve Anankos in addition to a mixture of human forces who reside in the Invisible Kingdom. These humans are the descendants of those who chose to continue to serve the Astral Dragons rather than choose independence. 4. Do any characters die? · Yes. As I continue to create the plot, I will decide who will die. If you have a few ideas after reading all of this, please feel free to make recommendations. This is the list as it is now: · Mikoto will be killed during the assassination attempt in the Fire Plaza, just like she does in game. She will later be reconstituted as one of Anankos’s agents along with Sumeragi and a few others, similar to the Deadlords. · Garon will die two thirds of the way in after the cast becomes aware that he is possessed. He will be able to die free of Anankos’s influence though, so he won’t come back. · Ganz will be killed by Kamui after Kamui, who has begun uniting the two forces, finds him executing a group of Hoshido prisoners, including Hinoka and her retainers, though Kamui will be able to save them. · Some of the retainers will fall at some point, though I do not know when yet. · I am debating killing off some of the royals if it helps to serve the plot. 5. Do you introduce any new characters? · Other than temporary characters meant to flesh out the militaries of both Nohr and Hoshido, as well as commoners of the land, I will not be making new characters. This game already has a large cast, no need to add more fuel to the fire. 6. Are any characters going to be cut? · Most of the 2nd generation characters will be cut. This is due to their shoe-horned nature. The few that I believe are redeemable as tweaked characters are listed here: · Sophie: Cyrus’s younger sister who, along with her brother, were friends with Kamui. She, at the start, harbors an Oboro sized crush on Kamui. Both Sophie and Cyrus join Kamui early on, before he even gets to the Invisible Chasm for the first time. Sophie is 16 years old. · Eponnie: A young thief who was adopted by Zero after she attempted to rob a caravan that Prince Leon was a part of. Seeing her potential, Zero was able to stop Leon from killing her and, upon finding out that she was an orphan trying to survive on the outskirts of Krakenburg, adopted the young girl. She acts as Zero’s apprentice and as his informer on the events occupying Nohr’s lower classes in Krakenburg. Eponnie is 18 years old. · Ophelia: A young dark mage, her skills at magic attracted the attention of Odin, who was seeking to pass along the secrets of the “spell hand”. Her urge to learn about the secrets of dark magic caused her to take Odin’s teachings a bit too seriously, and she believes that she is “the chosen one”. Ophelia is 17 years old. · Lutz: Arthur’s son. After his mother’s passing during the 4th Nohr-Hoshido War (the one prior to the game) Lutz chose to take up the axe so that no other child would bear witness to their parent’s death. It was during this time that he met Michel, and trained him. Lutz and his father share a relationship similar to what Garcia and Ross from the Sacred Stones shared. Lutz is 15 years old. · Deere: Joker’s younger brother. Determined to follow his brother’s example, Deere began training to be a butler. His brother, while he does not approve of this, still tries to tutor him, though Joker’s love is tough love. Deere is 20 years old. · Matoi is a young noble of the Samurai Caste who, due to her talents, was trained personally by both Imagawa Yuugiri and Yamoto Hinoka in the art of aerial warfare. She seeks to be (what she sees) the best Pegasus Warrior. Despite her seemingly perfect nature, she is very modest and humble and nurses a few insecurities, especially regarding her appearance. Matoi is 19 years old. · Both Kinu and Velour left their villages seeking adventure and fortune despite the warnings of their Chiefs, Nishiki and Flannel respectively. They encountered each other near the Infinite Chasm, and have been traveling together for two years, exploring the world and finding treasures. Both Kinu and Velour are 20 years old, still very young for their respective species. · Kisargari and Shinonome are two of the few remaining members of the Yamoto Branch Family, which was mostly wiped out during the Chevalier Incident, where Sumeragi met his end. The role of the Branch Family is to be the last line of defense for the Royal Family and their retainers, and this is a role that both Kisargari and Shinonome take very seriously. Kisargari is 17 years old while Shinonome is 22 years old. · Midoriko: a young traveling member of Hoshido’s merchant class. She was orphaned during the 4th Nohr-Hoshido War and raised by the Hattori ninja clan, though particularly by Hattori Saizou and Hattori Kaze. She left home early on, having both aged quickly and extensively studied economics, and is determined to be the wealthiest merchant in the world. She sees the Secret Shop chain, run by Anna, as a major challenge to her goals. Midoriko is 14 years old. 7. For fun, here are the character ages as well as their last names · Marx Plantagenet: 24 years old · Camilla: 23 years old · Leon: 18 years old · Elise: 15 years old · Ryoma Yamoto: 24 years old · Hinoka: 20 years old · Takmui: 19 years old · Sakura: 16 years old · Kamui: 19 years old · Aqua: 19 years old · Felecia Arendelle: 19 years old · Flora Arendelle: 19 years old · Joker Girard: 21 years old · Cyrus Bedivere: 18 years old · Sophie Bedivere: 16 years old · Hattori Kaze: 26 years old · Gunther Guesculin: 55 years old · Tsu-Sho Mozume: 16 years old · Kouga Asyura: 41 years old · Izumo Izana: 35 years old · Hattori Saizou: 28 years old · Chiyome Kagerou: 24 years old · Asama: 40 years old · Chosokabe Setsuna: 20 years old · Fujiwara Hinata: 18 years old · Goto Oboro: 18 years old · Tiari Hana: 17 years old · Ashikaga Tsubaki: 19 years old · Inaba Fuuga: 40 years old · Inaba Tsukuyomi: 13 years old · Nishiki: 95 years old · Moagami Orochi: 26 years old · Rinkah: 17 years old · Mori Yurikama: 39 years old · Imagawa Yuugiri: 38 years old · Crimson Pyrmont: 18 years old · Lazwald/Inigo Montoya: 22 years old · Pieri Ravenkroft: 18 years old · Arthur Pendragon: 27 years old · Effie Tarth: 17 years old · Zero: 24 years old · Odin/Owain Lowell: 21 years old · Nyx Tartarus: 255 years old (I like to think that her curse outright stops her aging, making her very old) · Luna/Severa Lear: 22 years old · Belka: 18 years old · Benoit Nielson: 23 years old · Charlotte Goldberg: 18 years old · Flannel Bigby: 80 years old · Yamoto Midkoto: 34 years old · Garon Plantagenet: 55 years old · Iago: 35 years old · Ganz: 28 years old · Lilith: 17 years old (human appearance) · Deere Girad: 20 years old · Kinu: 20 years old · Velour: 20 years old · Ophelia Hathaway: 17 years old · Hattori Midoriko: 14 years old · Yamoto Kisagari: 18 years old · Yamoto Shinonome: 22 years old · Shimazu Matoi: 19 years old · Eponnie: 18 years old · Lutz Pendragon: 15 years old [spoiler=Azz] FE Fates Fan Fiction Survey 1. What routes are you working on? Is it an amalgamation of all three? Is it an alternate universe style retelling? The route I am working on is a combination of all 3. Pretty much the focus is at first, ending the war, reforming Nohr and then Touma stuff. Basically a 3rd path but better (I hope) 2. What notable changes would you make to the plot? Well, everything is pretty much being re-written story wise. It starts kind of like Revelations with more Hoshido characters joining at first, then slowly characters from Nohr join and the remainder from Hoshido join. 3. What notable changes would you make to the characters? Well for main characters, they have pretty much the same personality bases but have been expanded upon to not be so Kamui-centric. Character roles have been changed, people have set relationships, the four Touma bosses (Shenmei, Sumeragi, Mikoto and Garon), have all been re-written. Kamui and Aqua had massive over hauls as well as Hydra. The FEA trio have been re-written to not be FEA characters. All the kids have been re-written to have roles in the story. 4. What notable changes would you make to the setting? The setting for the most part is the same with a few exceptions. I still have to finalize things. 5. Do any characters die? Yes, characters do die. 6. Do you introduce any new characters? Pretty much all the capturable bosses, specifically Draj and Nacht, have been given some form of role outside of time chamber shenanigans. 7. Are any characters going to be cut? Not really unless you count the FEA trio being completely re-written. [spoiler=Damosel] If you're interested in reading my FE14 AU series A Marriage Of States. I also have an update and feedback thread on this site for the series. 1. What routes are you working on? NONE, I'm going Alternate Universe! Is it an amalgamation of all three? Pretty much everything EXCEPT Touma stuff. Is it an alternate universe style retelling? YES! Biggest differences- no ambush, no Kamui. 2. What notable changes would you make to the plot? I've made a bunch of changes because there's no Touma characters. So it's all Nohr/Hoshido drama, with arranged marriages for an alliance thrown in. Mainly- it's looking at the trouble you can have outside the battlefield. Are problematic elements (the curse, the magic throne, the crystal ball, operation tears, Nohr and Hoshido being too black and white, everything Aqua does) going to be addressed? Likely won't be any magic items from Touma showing up (so Hoshido's throne is just a fancy throne). I'm definitely trying to grey up both Hoshido and Nohr without making them unrecognisable- LOTS of worldbuilding. Are there any themes to be communicated over each route? Since I'm not stick to a route N/A What is the overall direction and "point" of each route? Character driven world exploration with a side of plot. 3. What notable changes would you make to the characters? Sumeragi isn't dead, neither is Ektrina. Garon is not a goo-monster and actually brokered a peace treaty. Because there's no Kamui I've shuffled a lot of characters whose backstory was associated with him. Gunter, Joker, and Cyrus all work for Marx instead (and have known him for years). I've also changed Flora and Felicia's circumstance in Nohr, they're no longer servants but "fostered" and Krackenstein castle (hostages essentially). The FE13 expies have been replaced with Nyx serving Leo, Charolette serving Camilla, and Gunter+Joker+Cyrus serving Marx. What is Kamui all about (background, personality, abilities)? Absenteeism. What is Aqua all about (personality, role in the plot)? Not-appearing-in-this-fic What are the Hoshidan and Nohrian siblings all about (personalities, roles in the plot)? Pretty similar to their game selves. Ryouma meditative and serious, Marx reserved and stubborn, Camilla doting and ruthless, Hinoka caring and bold, Takumi insightful and hotheaded, Leo clever and ooportunistic, Sakura shy and nuturing, Elise cheerful and excitable. Main difference is that Nohr and Hoshido have been at peace for twelve years and the oldest daughters/sons got hitched- so different reactions in line with different circmstances. What is Garon, Mikoto, Lilith or any other important character all about? Garons about being an ACTUAL father and king, though he still has his terrible person moments. Same can be said for Sumeragi. No Touma characters. Iago's a pain in the neck but not a psyco, Ganz is a criminal not given a military position. What is Hydra all about (role in the plot)? Nope. Nooooooooooooooooope. What changes will be made to minor characters? Well I've already given Lala (the songstress from Muse) as speaking bit. And the Boldts mentioned in the Saizou/Belka supports will fairly present. Daniela, Draj, Senou and other faced units will all be getting a heavy injection of personality when they make their appearances (and it WON'T be in hyperbolic time chambers) 4. What notable changes would you make to the setting? No monsters, no Hydra, no Touma, no Kamui. Impacts a bunch of stuff. What ideas do you have for world building? A lot. I was the first to suggest Hoshido have an inflexiable cast system that cause them issues. Wrote up a historical blurb on why drak mages in Nohr would dress like strippers. More stuff than I care to sum-up. What kind of history does this continent have? A tirbulent one. Once it was ruled by a single empire, but a terrible earthquake ripped it's capital assunder and two large kingdoms eventually rose from it's ashes. To the west, one founded by a warlord and those loyal to her subjegated the surrounding territories until they were able to work together for a sustainable society. To the east, a priest was raised up to commune with the gods for all of the land and eventually founded the line of kings. (and plenty more but, this is a brief sum-up) In more recent history Garon emancipated Chevalier from being a tributary and there worked out an alliance with Sumeragi. What is the balance of natural and supernaturual elements? Well there's still plenty of magic and worship of the gods. Closer to Jugdral than Ylisse though- as in most of the drama is started by people. Are the Faceless and invisible enemies in your story? Nuh-uh. 5. Do any characters die? Yes. It'd be a spoiler to say who. 6. Do you introduce any new characters? Kinda. I've give all the Nohr sib's mothers faces and names, as well as doing so for mentioned families like the Boldts. Mostly it's fleshing in NPCs rather than wholesale OCs. 7. Are any characters going to be cut? All of Touma, and FE13 expies. See second post for more authors (Party Moth, Ebony, wvype, Taka-kun, Loki Laufeyson, Sunwoo). See third post for more authors (Mox, Phillius). See fourth post for more authors (Nintendoentersoft, Metal Flash, Skywolfe, Yari, dtmahanen101, MCProductions, RedRob, Dangerus, Sire, SaiSymbolic, Abvora). See fifth post for more authors (Blade_of_Light, NightStar) *New* Support Conversations (NekoKnight, Pretty_Handsome, Etern@lDawn, wvype, Thane).