Marth's unjustified invasion

[Jotari]

A lot of talk has been going on since release about the morality of Three Houses characters, but today I'm going to call out a lord that's been avoiding responsibility for three decades now. And that's the supposed golden boy and lover of peace, Marth himself.

Now I'm not talking about his overall war (though I legitimately think that could be a discussion and I'm appreciative the anime decided to have it), I'm talking about his actions in Chapter 9.

In the previous chapters Marth's war hasn't been going great. His army has been pushed back. They need to escape the approaching Grust forces and as the game frames it "flee" to Pyrathi. Pyrathi is an isolationist kingdom ruled by a manakete. They absolutely could have joined the war on Doluna's side being the only other Manakete run kingdom on the continent, but instead they chose to be neutral and made no moves to attack Archanea or any other country. They kept to themselves, neutral.

Then Marth invaded them. His justification? Well he was desperate. Marth solidly declared in that action that "my needs take precedent over the needs of others". That invading a non hostile country is completely justifiable purely on the belief that it's necessary. The freedom of small nations very much not a thing Marth believes in nor is the concept of neutrality it seems. Though I do wonder if Marth would have taken the same approach had a human been in charge of Pyrathi. His conquest of this peaceful isolationist kingdom might not have just been based on prescribed need, but also racial reasons.

Pyrathi is never mentioned in the series again, so were left having no knowledge of how Marth's unprovoked invasion and killing of its monarch affected it.

[Acacia Sgt]

Yeah... no.

Marth in no way was the aggressor there. Mannu only saw his arrival and decided to attack him instead of, you know, tell him he's not welcomed and that if he insists in entering Pyrathi, he'd get attacked.

That didn't happen. He simply ordered his men to attack Marth. The only 'error' Marth committed here is fighting Pyrathi instead of leaving and... fight Grust's forces, that he was already fleeing from. To say he was deliberately invading Pyrathi is a big error, however.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Acacia Sgt

[CatManThree]

To be fair here, they had no intention of invading. They were simply seeking asylum there after having been pushed back and there seeming to be no other option. While it is definitely stupid to attempt to seek asylum with a neutral country at the last minute without negotiation or anything at all prior, their decision as ridiculous as it was because they only made out of desperation from what I can gather as they had no real other options at the time. 

Edited March 8, 2020 by CatManThree

[Zapp Branniglenn]

Whoa, so, we're not talking about the moral implications of pants-less war-making?

I know exactly what chapter you're talking about in a gameplay sense, but not in terms of narrative. All I remember is the map is loaded primarily with pirates so as to imply its an evil nation of marauders and not a government with a "legitimate" claim to its land. Of course such justifications can be a matter of perspective. To the Pyrathians, it's probably the Archaneans that are the pirates looking for conquest. And their leader probably earned his position through just being the strongest dude there - a literal dragon. If Pyrathi has an illegitimate claim to governance, then so do the Laguz nations of Tellius.

Ideally, Marth should have petitioned for asylum, since the island isn't some large city where it's feasible for groups of people to hide from authorities.

[Silver-Haired Maiden]

Uh, didn't Marth march an ARMY into Pyrathi? Without any word prior, that's very justifiably seen as an act of aggression by any country who is having the army marched in there. Had he sent an envoy on ahead to talk to the leader then maybe there would've been some justification but it's slim at best. The leader had no way of knowing it was not meant to be an invasion to garner extra troops in the current campaign Marth was over.

[Acacia Sgt]

4 minutes ago, Silver-Haired Maiden said:

Uh, didn't Marth march an ARMY into Pyrathi? Without any word prior, that's very justifiably seen as an act of aggression by any country who is having the army marched in there. Had he sent an envoy on ahead to talk to the leader then maybe there would've been some justification but it's slim at best. The leader had no way of knowing it was not meant to be an invasion to garner extra troops in the current campaign Marth was over.

It's hard to determined if Marth really did or not requested asylum, or announced he was not coming with hostile intentions.

The script is pretty much barebones when it comes to Chapter 9; and that's already saying something.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Acacia Sgt

[CatManThree]

3 minutes ago, Acacia Sgt said:

It's hard to determined if Marth really did or not requested asylum, or announced he was not coming with hostile intentions.

The script is pretty much barebones when it comes to Chapter 9; and that's already saying something.

"Grust had caught the League unawares, forcing them to flee to Pyrathi. But the kingdom of Pyrathi seldom made contact with the outside world, and their king, Mannu, was wroth when he heard of the League's unexpected visit." -The chapters opening in the NA release of SD

The fact their visit came as unexpected and Mannu reacted in such a way implies that they came without any announcement before they arrived.

Now its not stated, however it can be assumed they were way too desperate to wait to send a messenger and simply came in with the intention of contacting them directly.  Regardless you're still right in that the script is a quite barebones. Not enough context is provided to deduce whether they intended to invade or not; only that Mannu reacted to it as would any leader of an incredibly isolated island nation to an army from another nation showing up on your shores unexpectedly.

[Jotari]

35 minutes ago, Acacia Sgt said:

Yeah... no.

Marth in no way was the aggressor there. Mannu only saw his arrival and decided to attack him instead of, you know, tell him he's not welcomed and that if he insists in entering Pyrathi, he'd get attacked.

That didn't happen. He simply ordered his men to attack Marth. The only 'error' Marth committed here is fighting Pyrathi instead of leaving and... fight Grust's forces, that he was already fleeing from. To say he was deliberately invading Pyrathi is a big error, however.

That's what we call defending our boarders.

3 minutes ago, CatManThree said:

"Grust had caught the League unawares, forcing them to flee to Pyrathi. But the kingdom of Pyrathi seldom made contact with the outside world, and their king, Mannu, was wroth when he heard of the League's unexpected visit." -The chapters opening in the NA release of SD

The fact their visit came as unexpected and Mannu reacted in such a way implies that they came without any announcement before they arrived.

Now its not stated, however it can be assumed they were way too desperate to wait to send a messenger and simply came in with the intention of contacting them directly.  Regardless you're still right in that the script is a quite barebones. Not enough context is provided to deduce whether they intended to invade or not; only that Mannu reacted to it as would any leader of an incredibly isolated island nation to an army from another nation showing up on your shores unexpectedly.

Even if we take it that a request for assylum was sent we can also assume Mannu outright refused the request which he's fully entitled to do as a neutral party wanting to stay out of a war.

1 minute ago, CatManThree said:

"Grust had caught the League unawares, forcing them to flee to Pyrathi. But the kingdom of Pyrathi seldom made contact with the outside world, and their king, Mannu, was wroth when he heard of the League's unexpected visit." -The chapters opening in the NA release of SD

The fact their visit came as unexpected and Mannu reacted in such a way implies that they came without any announcement before they arrived.

Now its not stated, however it can be assumed they were way too desperate to wait to send a messenger and simply came in with the intention of contacting them directly.  Regardless you're still right in that the script is a quite barebones. Not enough context is provided to deduce whether they intended to invade or not; only that Mannu reacted to it as would any leader of an incredibly isolated island nation to an army from another nation showing up on your shores unexpectedly.

They are labelled as pirates but the narration itself says they rarely interact with the outside world. So perhaps they just pirate each other.

Weirdly in Mystery of the Emblem where the chapter is removed there is a single unit labelled Pyrathi (and not pirate, even though it's of the pirate class). True to Pyrathi's routes as far as I remember it doesn't agro your army but Marth can hunt it down to gain a silver axe.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Jotari

[Acacia Sgt]

Just now, CatManThree said:

"Grust had caught the League unawares, forcing them to flee to Pyrathi. But the kingdom of Pyrathi seldom made contact with the outside world, and their king, Mannu, was wroth when he heard of the League's unexpected visit." -The chapters opening in the NA release of SD

The fact their visit came as unexpected and Mannu reacted in such a way implies that they came without any announcement before they arrived.

Now its not stated, however it can be assumed they were way too desperate to wait to send a messenger and simply came in with the intention of contacting them directly.  Regardless you're still right in that the script is a quite barebones. Not enough context is provided to deduce whether they intended to invade or not; only that Mannu reacted to it as would any leader of an incredibly isolated island nation to an army from another nation showing up on your shores unexpectedly.

Well, here's the thing. It's not stated how King Mannu heard they were coming. Could've been a messenger form the League, could've been the locals seeing them coming. After all, it's not like going to Pyrathi was something Marth planned. So regardless of how Mannu gets told, it will be unexpected.

Also, looking at Pyrathi itself:

Marth's forces are in what looks to be the very edge of the Archanean mainland. They're not even in Pyrathi proper when Mannu orders them killed.

There is context. At the end of Chapter 8 Malledus clearly states they'll be fleeing to Pyrathi, not invade it.

1 minute ago, Jotari said:

That's what we call defending our boarders.

Borders can be defended in many ways. That very post you quoted I already explained he could've simply told Marth "No, you can't enter here. Don't involve us in your war."

Instead, he ordered him killed. Despite wanting to keep himself neutral, it was ultimately him who choose to get involved. It's his own fault.

 

[Jotari]

9 minutes ago, CatManThree said:

"Grust had caught the League unawares, forcing them to flee to Pyrathi. But the kingdom of Pyrathi seldom made contact with the outside world, and their king, Mannu, was wroth when he heard of the League's unexpected visit." -The chapters opening in the NA release of SD

The fact their visit came as unexpected and Mannu reacted in such a way implies that they came without any announcement before they arrived.

Now its not stated, however it can be assumed they were way too desperate to wait to send a messenger and simply came in with the intention of contacting them directly.  Regardless you're still right in that the script is a quite barebones. Not enough context is provided to deduce whether they intended to invade or not; only that Mannu reacted to it as would any leader of an incredibly isolated island nation to an army from another nation showing up on your shores unexpectedly.

3 minutes ago, Acacia Sgt said:

Well, here's the thing. It's not stated how King Mannu heard they were coming. Could've been a messenger form the League, could've been the locals seeing them coming. After all, it's not like going to Pyrathi was something Marth planned. So regardless of how Mannu gets told, it will be unexpected.

Also, looking at Pyrathi itself:

Marth's forces are in what looks to be the very edge of the Archanean mainland. They're not even in Pyrathi proper when Mannu orders them killed.

There is context. At the end of Chapter 8 Malledus clearly states they'll be fleeing to Pyrathi, not invade it.

Borders can be defended in many ways. That very post you quoted I already explained he could've simply told Marth "No, you can't enter here. Don't involve us in your war."

Instead, he ordered him killed. Despite wanting to keep himself neutral, it was ultimately him who choose to get involved. It's his own fault.

 

He orders his soldiers to kill anyone who steps in his land. Not hanging around outside. He's actually rather explicit that it's the physical act of trespassing on his land, which he considers of religious significance (that's some dragon lore that's never ever expanded upon), that is the crime he intends to punish.

(Quoted the wrong user first and stupid mobile won't let me correct the error).

 

Edited March 8, 2020 by Jotari

[Benice]

Hey if some random bloke with a large army and no pants walked into my house and started a camp, I'd be pretty hostile too. Just saying.

[Interdimensional Observer]

Given the king snaps into trying to kill Marth and doesn't look like the nicest guy, I'd assume he's a bad dude and the isolationism of the country was imposed by its tyrant b/c he's a senile and grouchy Manakete.

 

There was not all that reason for visiting Pyrathi anyhow if it was going to be risky. Look at this map:

Talys, home base, is not that much further away. Unless the gulf stream and trade winds were moving 10000km/hr in the western/southern direction, Marth could've returned to Talys. Probably had no time to pack many provisions, but how much starving would really happen in that extra time at sea?

And, what logic can you expect in an unimproved NES story? Get back to me if a remake ever adds a little conversation between Marth, Malledus, and Hardin where they actually discuss their next course of action.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Interdimensional Observer

[Acacia Sgt]

13 minutes ago, Jotari said:

He orders his soldiers to kill anyone who steps in his land. Not hanging around outside. He's actually rather explicit that it's the physical act of trespassing on his land, which he considers of religious significance (that's some dragon lore that's never ever expanded upon), that is the crime he intends to punish.

That's the thing. Marth could've yet to arrive and the soldiers already are ordered to kill him instead of, you know, warn him to not come any closer. He's already calling them invaders before they even arrive. He could've save himself the trouble by telling his soldiers to send warning to the League that they're not welcomed; and that if they do, they will be attacked.

It's true. Pyrathi frustratingly has so few information despite being something that should be important, considering what little we are told. Heck, Pyrathi is so small a footnote that Mystery Book 1 cut the chapter entirely. The script itself doesn't acknowledge the fact Mannu was killed. They just have Catria show up with Minverva's request for the League to rescue Maria.

Because of this, any kinda of definite declaration can't be done unless we ever get a remake that actually bothers to expand on the script.

8 minutes ago, Interdimensional Observer said:

Given the king snaps into trying to kill Marth and doesn't look like the nicest guy, I'd assume he's a bad dude and the isolationism of the country was imposed by its tyrant b/c he's a senile and grouchy Manakete.

Food for thought, the house you can visit has a kid with apparently no qualms of telling you where to find the one weapon that can kill his King. Sure, he's a kid; but one can wonder...

Wait, SF script has it as "Teenage Boy". Nevermind the kid part.

8 minutes ago, Interdimensional Observer said:

There was not all that reason for visiting Pyrathi anyhow if it was going to be risky. Look at this map:

Talys, home base, is not that much further away. Unless the gulf stream and trade winds were moving 10000km/hr in the western/southern direction, Marth could've returned to Talys. Probablt he had no time to pack many provisions, but how much starving would really happen in that time?

And, what logic can you expect in an unimproved NES story? Get back to me if a remake ever adds a little conversation between Marth, Malledus, and Hardin where they actually discuss their next course of action.

It depends if Marth and company had access to ships. They were in Port Warren; but there's no indication if they could've taken ships. In fact, Marth and company deliberately get away from the port to attack a distant castle. This is when Malledus tells Marth they should flee. Could they have the time to return to Warren and grab ships? Who knows. We don't know.

Unlike Talys, Pyrathi is close enough to the mainland there is an actual bridge to cross. At least, if that west piece of land in the chapter map is part of the mainland. Either way, Talys was out of the question, since they had no ships.

And indeed. Let's have actual info about the whole chain of events before we can properly judge.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Acacia Sgt

[Jotari]

2 minutes ago, Acacia Sgt said:

That's the thing. Marth could've yet to arrive and the soldiers already are ordered to kill him instead of, you know, warn him to not come any closer. He's already calling them invaders before they even arrive. He could've save himself the trouble by telling his soldiers to send warning to the League that they're not welcomed; and that if they do, they will be attacked.

It's true. Pyrathi frustratingly has so few information despite being something that should be important, considering what little we are told. Heck, Pyrathi is so small a footnote that Mystery Book 1 cut the chapter entirely. The script itself doesn't acknowledge the fact Mannu was killed. They just have Catria show up with Minverva's request for the League to rescue Maria.

Because of this, any kinda of definite declaration can't be done unless we ever get a remake that actually bothers to expand on the script.

Food for thought, the house you can visit has a kid with apparently no qualms of telling you where to find the one weapon that can kill his King. Sure, he's a kid; but one can wonder...

It depends if Marth and company had access to ships. They were in Port Warren; but there's no indication if they could've taken ships. In fact, Marth and company deliberately get away from the port to attack a distant castle. This is when Malledus tells Marth they should flee. Could they have the time to return to Warren and grab ships? Who knows. We don't know.

Unlike Talys, Pyrathi is close enough to the mainland there is an actual bridge to cross. At least, if that west piece of land is part of the mainland. Either way, Talys was out of the question, since they had no ships.

What we see is him pissed and muttering about people defiling his Hy soil, I don't think he'd be doing that if people weren't actually stepping in his land already.

7 minutes ago, Interdimensional Observer said:

Given the king snaps into trying to kill Marth and doesn't look like the nicest guy, I'd assume he's a bad dude and the isolationism of the country was imposed by its tyrant b/c he's a senile and grouchy Manakete.

 

There was not all that reason for visiting Pyrathi anyhow if it was going to be risky. Look at this map:

Talys, home base, is not that much further away. Unless the gulf stream and trade winds were moving 10000km/hr in the western/southern direction, Marth could've returned to Talys. Probably had no time to pack many provisions, but how much starving would really happen in that extra time at sea?

And, what logic can you expect in an unimproved NES story? Get back to me if a remake ever adds a little conversation between Marth, Malledus, and Hardin where they actually discuss their next course of action.

Looking at that map why on earth is Marth attacking from the North East. He should be coming from the south. Unless north on the map isn't north in the world and it needs to be rotated. When I tried to piece the Archanea chapters onto a map I did rotate some of them to fit geography better. Can't remember if I did for this one. Should check when I get back to my computer.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Jotari

[Acacia Sgt]

Just now, Jotari said:

What we see is him pissed and muttering about people defiling his Hy soil, I don't think he'd be doing that if people weren't actually stepping in his land already.

Then either no one has told him Jeorge entered Pyrathi also fleeing Grust, or he was only bothered that Marth had an actual army, and not simply droves of legit war refugees.

Either way... do we know King Mannu is the kind of guy to make sound and reasonable decisions? He's already going hardcore isolationist, and dragons... aren't always of sound mind, due to past history.

[Interdimensional Observer]

3 minutes ago, Acacia Sgt said:

Unlike Talys, Pyrathi is close enough to the mainland there is an actual bridge to cross. At least, if that west piece of land is part of the mainland. Either way, Talys was out of the question, since they had no ships.

You mean to say that the peninsula where Marth ends C8 is the same as or connected to the peninsula where he begins in C9?

I had never actually considered the possibility of a bridge connection. I had always assumed isolationist island country = no terrestrial connections. I could be wrong though.

[Acacia Sgt]

3 minutes ago, Interdimensional Observer said:

You mean to say that the peninsula where Marth ends C8 is the same as or connected to the peninsula where he begins in C9?

I had never actually considered the possibility of a bridge connection. I had always assumed isolationist island country = no terrestrial connections. I could be wrong though.

Couldn't find them on proper sizes, sorry. Anyway, judging from your map, considering how close Warren is to Pyrathis... yes, it's quite possible the land that the seize point of Ch8 is at could be the same land mass as the starting point of Ch9. Which means it's not the mainland; but another island. Still, if Archanea has a castle on the island, then it's not part of Pyrathi.

Regardless, it shows Marth really couldn't take ships since he got away from Warren... and that Malledus is the one at fault for having nowhere to run but Pyrathi, since he is the one who told MArth they should take the castle, sending them into a land dead-end.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Acacia Sgt

[Zapp Branniglenn]

If Marth hadn't been pilfering those crest stones, his transgression of trespassing in a holy space may have been forgiven.

2 minutes ago, Acacia Sgt said:

Either way... do we know King Mannu is the kind of guy to make sound and reasonable decisions? He's already going hardcore isolationist, and dragons... aren't always of sound mind, due to past history.

s' a little bit racist.

14 minutes ago, Interdimensional Observer said:

And, what logic can you expect in an unimproved NES story? Get back to me if a remake ever adds a little conversation between Marth, Malledus, and Hardin where they actually discuss their next course of action.

Not to be that guy who always pisses and moans about the quality of Shadow Dragon but holy hell the game was begging for a bit more context. If Echoes was as slap-dash as Shadow Dragon, we'd be considering the series dead. Again.

[Jotari]

12 minutes ago, Acacia Sgt said:

Then either no one has told him Jeorge entered Pyrathi also fleeing Grust, or he was only bothered that Marth had an actual army, and not simply droves of legit war refugees.

Either way... do we know King Mannu is the kind of guy to make sound and reasonable decisions? He's already going hardcore isolationist, and dragons... aren't always of sound mind, due to past history.

Tiki aside Manaketes have no predelection towards madness. And even if we disagree with Manny's isolationist neutral policies, he still has the right to have them. If Marth makes a habit of just ignoring the rights of every kingdom he doesn't agree with (or every one with a dragon in charge) then he's no better than Medeus.

10 minutes ago, Interdimensional Observer said:

You mean to say that the peninsula where Marth ends C8 is the same as or connected to the peninsula where he begins in C9?

I had never actually considered the possibility of a bridge connection. I had always assumed isolationist island country = no terrestrial connections. I could be wrong though.

Actually that probably is the implication if we look at the map again and assume the part labelled Warren is just the starting point of chapter 8 and that he moved up to the northern part during the course of the map. I think a land connection must be the case here as as said before if they had ships they could have went to Tayls.

 

Also I'm going too point out (no doubt due to it being a NES chapter), it's not a defend chapter. Marth's reaction wasn't to take a bit of safe land (like the Grust castle they conquered in Chapter 8 ) and defend himself while looking for further options, it was to go on the offensive and conquer the entire country.span widget

Edited March 8, 2020 by Jotari

[Acacia Sgt]

6 minutes ago, Glennstavos said:

s' a little bit racist.

Speciecist, actually. Also, that's a bold accusation to make when the statement implied nothing.

It's fact that dragons begin to loose their minds; and unless Tiki is simply a special case (Naga is more powerful yet she didn't had that problem, if this is about a case of power), then even becoming Manaketes doesn't make them escape that fate.

3 minutes ago, Jotari said:

Tiki aside Manaketes have no predelection towards madness. And even if we disagree with Manny's isolationist neutral policies, he still has the right to have them. If Marth makes a habit of just ignoring the rights of every kingdom he doesn't agree with (or every one with a dragon in charge) then he's no better than Medeus.

Also I'm going too point out (no doubt due to it being a NES chapter), it's not a defend chapter. Marth's reaction wasn't to take a bit of safe land and defend himself while looking for further options, it was to go on the offensive and conquer the entire country.

That we know of. Yes, he can do as he wants, it's his kingdom; but it's also his responsibility to make sure if they are not being threatened.

Where does Marth makes a habit of doing this? We aren't shown if he would've respected Mannu's wishes if he had actually been told to not enter.

That's more the problem the game doesn't have objectives other than Seize.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Acacia Sgt

[Jotari]

1 minute ago, Acacia Sgt said:

Speciecist, actually. Also, that's a bold accusation to make when the statement implied nothing.

It's fact that dragons begin to loose their minds; and unless Tiki is simply a special case (Naga is more powerful yet she didn't had that problem, if this is about a case of power), then even becoming Manaketes doesn't make them escape that fate.

Tiki's special case could just be because she's young (she is eventually allowed to wander around after all and it's somewhat implied Gotoh was just being paranoid as she never ever shows any signs of madness). Mila and Duma could potentially be evidence of Manaketes degrading but we don't k is for sure if they're actually Manaketes.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Jotari

[Acacia Sgt]

8 minutes ago, Jotari said:

Tiki's special case could just be because she's young (she is eventually allowed to wander around after all and it's somewhat implied Gotoh was just being paranoid as she never ever shows any signs of madness). Mila and Duma could potentially be evidence of Manaketes degrading but we don't k is for sure if they're actually Manaketes.

Even by the time of Awakening she is still doing those "go to sleep or else your mind might snap" naps, even with having deposited even more of her power in that place her paralogue takes place at. I might need to recheck the script for that. Either way, she still sleeps lots, even if by habit.

She was allowed out because the Orbs were restored to the Shield. Naga made that Shield to protect Tiki's mind; but Adrah stealing the orbs weakened the shield. That's why Tiki was sent to sleep by Gotoh and kept her sleeping for a long while.

Duma and Mila left Archanea in the middle of the Golden Age, before Degeneration was known, or even a thing. It's unlikely they became Manaketes. So they can't be used to judge this.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Acacia Sgt

[Jotari]

Just now, Acacia Sgt said:

Even by the time of Awakening she is still those "go to sleep or else your mind might snap" naps. I might need to recheck the script for that. Either way, she still sleeps lots, even if by habit.

Duma and Mila left Archanea in the middle of the Golden Age, before Degeneration was known, or even a thing. It's unlikely they became Manaketes. So they can't be used to judge this.

Unlikely if we assume the super powerful dragon beings never communicated with each other even when something as vital as "Do this or we could destroy the world with our power!" And Mila is seen with am orb like thing that could be a dragon stone. Not saying they are Manaketes though, just that it's possible they are and the game doesn't provide a solid case either way.

[Acacia Sgt]

10 minutes ago, Jotari said:

Unlikely if we assume the super powerful dragon beings never communicated with each other even when something as vital as "Do this or we could destroy the world with our power!" And Mila is seen with am orb like thing that could be a dragon stone. Not saying they are Manaketes though, just that it's possible they are and the game doesn't provide a solid case either way.

Duma was banished from Archanea, Mila chose to follow him in exile. I doubt anyone bothered, or even remembered, to go send the message. There were more pressing concerns. Naga maybe foretold things would go bad for dragons, since she did gave them a Kingsfang so any locals in the place they leave to would be able to defend themselves from them. But it's hard to tell if it was "Use in if the dragons that gave you this are going mad" or just a general "Use this if the dragons that gave you this are doing bad things to you".

Maybe. At least, Archanean dragons' dragonstones have almost always been depicted as orbs. Though even then, Divinestones are white, not red, which is what Mila's orb is colored. Divinestones also have criss-crossing rings, also missing from Mila's orb.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Acacia Sgt

[Zapp Branniglenn]

26 minutes ago, Acacia Sgt said:

Speciecist, actually. Also, that's a bold accusation to make when the statement implied nothing.

 

The "accusation" was a joke hinging on the fact that dragons don't exist. I'm aware of dragon deterioration as a plot point in fire emblem games, but decided to poke fun anyway. Also "racist" is grammatically correct, if we want to split hairs. Speaking scientifically, race is supposed to refer to species, not ethnicity. It's our real world use of the word "race" in reference to humans that has always been problematic - stemming from a point of history in which we categorized ethnicities into "subspecies" in order to define genetic supremacy. In the 21st century, we focus more on culture than genes. "There must be something wrong with dragons, as they characteristically are not sound of mind" is a racist sentiment, since dragons don't all come from a specific country or lineage. In fact they are confirmed to have multiple tribes and gene pools.

There are many more can of worms we may open from this discussion, or you can accept the joke for what it is.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Glennstavos