So it's time for us to finally visit and understand the final labelled nation of the game. Well, OK, we still need to work on our Phoenicis. Begnion is a nation that is very difficult to label as good or bad, due to the intense political gambits that take place here. However, do note that "theocracy". The goddess's opinions matter a great deal to the people of Begnion.
Sanaki is the nominal leader of Begnion. The title of "Apostle" is held by a specific family line who, starting with Yoram the Third, has the ability to hear the goddess's voice and can tell when weather or famine will strike in advance, among other visions.
And just look at her! Such an adorable child!
I was amazed to find out this was mentioned in-game. The Senators of Begnion apparently claim equal, if smaller, claims to being granted their seats by the goddess, and the fact there are Seven goes largely brushed aside later. We only actually get names for six.
Nothing like a city at the heart of the religious power of the continent that is very prosperous for some. Prepare to never hear the term "Sainted" again, though.
So Ashera's gone and locked herself at the top of a tower, huh? This tower was depicted in the attract cutscene, and as such is the very first thing players see of the world of Tellius.
Prerelease screenshots even depict it in the background of the status screen. I'm glad this got changed- it makes the status screen look very busy and it's not that important to Path of Radiance.
Culture shock as hell. Screw the Crimea/Begnion divide, they're going from Mercenary to Noble. Consider this the equivalent of switching from Normal/Casual to Maddening/Classic.
This map... is not really that great for training? It's called 試練 in JP, I guess?
Here's Mainal in non-sepia tones. Doesn't look that much more colourful, though.
Sanaki is doing her official business, sniffing out whether Elincia is in fact who she says she is. Can't give the Imperial Army to any old woman, after all.
Remember way back in Chapter 5, where Elincia brought up that her existence was revealed to the kings around the continent? Sanaki's either counting on you forgetting or was never informed when she was appointed. She's only been reigning Empress for five years at this point.
Now, see, knowing there is a woman called Princess Elincia is one thing. Whether it is this woman, though?
Clothes on her back. Oh, and one thing...
At no point do Ike, Elincia and Sanaki think to ask Kieran to vouch for her. He is a missable recruit, which is why they don't, but there's a bit of a knot to cut.
Ike tries doing so himself.
But what reason does Sanaki have to trust Ike?
This is a good suggestion. They've also been calling her Princess Elincia- that's certainly what we used to figure it out.
No documented lineage? I wonder how thorough Gawain was cutting away his old life. Perhaps Ike could have used that if he knew it well enough.
I wonder what experiences Sanaki has had to give her that impression.
Ike decides to put a little weight behind himself, and Sanaki is preparing herself for some surprise revelation. Again, it would be hilarious to see Ike claim himself to be the son of a former Rider of Daein.
Ike is asserting his moral character.
And the 20,000 Ranulf gave you from Caineghis.
"A liar", in this context, presumably refers to someone pretending to be Elincia.
It is so hilarious to see Lekain try to murder somebody for being mean to Sanaki. Lekain of Gaddos is a partial leader of the Senate (the Prime Minister has nominal leadership, but he reports more directly to Sanaki, whereas Lekain is the figurehead of the senate as an entity separate from Sanaki), and while only appears in this cutscene in Path of Radiance, he got promoted big time for Radiant Dawn.
We did sorta know Sephiran was a Begnion noble, of course, from the Black Knight mentioning it to Ashnard in Chapter 11. This is news to Ike, of course, and also fairly surprising to see his high stature's impact.
Not even Sanaki understands the true depths of Sephiran.
Belsys? I think that's a PAL region thing. In Radiant Dawn and in most online sources, Sephiran is the Duke of "Persis". His is not the only territory that gets chewed on by the localisers, and to be honest, the territories of Begnion are so minor in impact that there's a reason they got less attention. They don't have the same weight to them that, say, Aegir, Varley and Nuvelle do in Three Houses.
Sending Sephiran, of all people, on spy work. Sephiran, the Prime Minister.
Yeah, Sanaki knew all along we were who we say we are.
Sanaki is a ten year old child, and likes to do her own thing. Recall her ordering the boat to sail on her own time and wandering around randomly once a battle started.
The senators seem plenty mollified. This wretched sack of lard is Oliver of Tanas, and he will be the only senator whose name you need to remember for the content of Path of Radiance.
Lekain is completely flat-footed by Sanaki's ruse.
This is Hetzel of Asmin. He has three lines in this entire game, all of which are said in a row here. He's a fascinating character in Radiant Dawn, and is also remarkably the most pleasant of Begnion's senators.
Elincia doesn't seem all that grateful for the chance to tickle the Apostle to cure her boredom.
Neither does Ike.
Thanks, buddy, you're a pal. What's your angle?
Well hello there, Ike's angry face. Don't think this is the same one as when he confronted the Black Knight in Chapter 7, but I do think this is a redraw. Ike's elbow is slightly further from his body.
Ike calls Sanaki out for time and place, while flouting it himself.
Elincia's suffering to get this far has been too great to be met with this at the end.
This screenshot has been used as a meme, of course.
Elincia is both flattered and very concerned for Ike's safety.
"Treasonous" tongue, of course. Despite Ike and Crimea not being a part of Begnion, so there is no treachery to occur.
I love this line.
Perhaps more than Ike realises. Sanaki starts speaking that most impenetrable of codes, though, politics.
Translation: "These bloated gasbags would stab me in the back given half the chance, and I'd rather not let them think I'm a threat."
Translation: "Can you seriously not sit still for long enough to escape one of these ghastly meetings and vent on your own time?"
Translation: "If you make me do anything more serious, there's no hope for Crimea to receive our aid."
(Important to note that, while this is very definitely supposed to sound like a threat, at no point does Sanaki say that the consequence will be her doing.)
Ike's still completely at sea, of course.
Like with Soren, harsh but true. Her closing her eyes here is an actual expression, not a blinking frame.
Translation: "Elincia has no bargaining chips, so for the love of Ashera, help me make you some."
Translation: "I need to figure out how exactly I'm going to get this all to work."
Translation: "The senators have a lot to say about my actions, so keep in mind that it's not all on me."
Translation: "Please put in some practice at real diplomacy before the next time you meet me in front of the senators."
Ike walks away from the conversation under the impression that Sanaki is a royal brat. Which, to be fair, is the impression a lot of other people out-of-universe have too.
Titania helpfully points out something more immediately obvious to Ike.
To the people of Begnion, it would have been very justifiable had Ike been killed on the spot for what he did. Sanaki let him get away with it, though...
Good luck getting Elincia's help with that on her plate. Even if Begnion offered it, I shudder to imagine how favourable Elincia would be to accepting it.
Ike, of course, is furious.
Something I learnt for this blog, "prerogative" apparently means "exclusive right". Honestly, that just makes this hit even harder.
The nobility as a concept is fucking horrifying. Three Houses did something that not even Tellius was brave enough to do, despite throwing out lines like this, and actually included a character ready to tear it all down.
Ike apologises for how much he risked Elincia's sanctity.
Elincia doesn't have much experience with diplomacy herself, but does reassure Ike by telling him that even if it was a very risky move with a high chance of backfiring, it made her happy, at least.
Ike is already embarassed at the memory and it barely happened ten minutes ago.
Elincia has truly come to value the Greil Mercenaries as trusted companions, when she has had no one else.
I've been calling her "Elincia", without the Princess, for so long, the import of this request might slip you by for a few moments.
Ike has been diligent about proper decorum, of course. I mean, who would he be if not-
...Yes, in fact, he did. "You owe Elincia a proper apology", to be specific.
Ike is flustered.
I mean, she can one round ravens now, who else did you expect?
Also, notice how much money I spent. I got a few spare Elthunders started and also some miscellaneous other weapons. Better think on that.
Today's Supports. We get Mist and Jill started today. Mist/Jill grants [+0.5 Atk, +1 Def, +2.5 Avo] and a whole lot of feels.
Whether you're a backdoor "...intelligence" officer or a Daein soldier who hasn't even handed in her resignation, Mist will find you and she will feed you.
...Wait, there were those Daein soldiers last map she killed...
Jill turns aside the offer of peace. Honestly, by Ike's Info conversation, she's within her rights to leave altogether at this point.
This is a marked difference to that Info conversation. A month at sea has made an impact, it seems.
Jill was designed to appear 17, by the artbook, while Mist is definitely 15. Mia is also supposed to be 17 and Ilyana is down at 16.
You cannot resist Mist. Mist is friend shaped.
Four Info conversations today. Well, I say "conversation"...
Hello there, maid.
"Foggy". In Difficult Mode, this upcoming map is also in Fog of War. There's a lot of the regular kind even in Normal, though.
Always in beast form? You mean like a Demi Band?
It's... not that hard to kill a transformed laguz. What, have the designers not been expecting us to? The two maps we've fought laguz thus far haven't even been conducive to waiting out their gauge.
We've known that for ages, miss.
...That's what you think?
She's had the wrong impression on this one. Also it's spelled "Crikey".
"Hahaha, the maid is worried she's going to lose her job because she mistook a mercenary for a servant."
Ike had literally nothing to say that whole conversation, by the way. Let's go find someone he will have a word with.
Monkey's paw curls.
Well, at least we have a reason for his mood.
How cultured of you.
I'm no botanist, but I've always been a sunflower person. I think the flower he's talking about might be different, though.
...You little...
There are worse "flirt" characters in Fire Emblem history, but that's mostly because of how ineffectual Gatrie is than how good his character is.
This is the correct reaction, Ike.
I feel like I might throw up a little. Let's talk to someone awesome.
Hello, Astrid!
Ike's been so lost here, he needs people to talk to. Unfortunately, most of the permanent cast is as lost as him.
Astrid doesn't seem all that fond of the place herself, to be honest.
"House Damiell", to be precise. Damiell is not represented by a Senator, and the inner workings of Begnion's nobility get no real time in the spotlight- again, you want Three Houses for that.
Astrid is asserting her independence in a family that has given her very little of that.
Knighthood may or may not be the path for her, but it's a step in the right direction herself.
Again, a character that very much feels like a blueprint for Ingrid Galatea in Three Houses. Ingrid, though, gets treated better by the narrative- which is honestly saying a lot.
Astrid is ready to learn from Ike, and is hoping what he has to teach is what will help her grow.
Ike is more than happy to help. Now get back in the corner and let Astrid learn from the girls.
I'm sorry, but that quote and that portrait just make this look far too rude to go unmentioned.
So we have a serious conversation to have.
Marcia's resignation from the Holy Knights was not met with... universal approval, let's say?
We never even meet members of the Holy Knights other than Sigrun and Tanith.
Not. Worth it. Well, OK, you need to solve the problem, but still.
Ike doesn't want Marcia to feel too out of sorts, though.
Marcia has a job to do, and Ike wants to make sure she's OK to do it.
Ike is best big brother.
Marcia's bro, though, not so much.
I bought an Iron Bow from the shops last map. I have no idea why. I think I have too many. I probably had too many when it was just the one Astrid came with. Also note Astrid's inability to use a Longbow.
Today's general level ups.
And Astrid's level ups. Astrid's Paragon skill means doing this is cheaper than when it was for Mist.
Speaking of, some bonus level ups since I was OK with the price.
I sold the Longbows, and also wound up selling the Iron Bows too. Also did a lot of shopping- look at my cash reserves now!
So we picked up an Occult scroll in Chapter 13, and that sounds like something we want to use. The Occult scroll teaches a Mastery skill to a promoted class, always using up 20 Capacity. Mastery Skills are kinda... not great in the long run? Especially since you can't use many skills in conjunction with one. Here are ours:
- Titania, Astrid, Mist: Sol. Skill% chance of a hit healing the user for the same damage that was dealt to the enemy.
- Mia, [???]: Astra. Skill/2% chance of turning one hit into five half-strength hits.
- Ilyana, [???]: Flare. Skill% chance of halving the enemy Resistance.
- Marcia, Jill, [???], [???]: Stun. Skill/2% chance of rendering an enemy unable to Move for two turns.
- Lethe: Roar. A command skill that renders an enemy unable to perform any action for one turn. Usable once per battle.
- Nephenee: Luna. Skill% chance of halving enemy Defence.
I don't see some of these seeing use. Honestly, I barely see me using any Occults, or Scrolls in general, until much later.
Been here five days? I thought Sanaki said Crimea's future would not be uncertain for long.
OK, you can't mean to tell me you've explored all of Mainal in five days. I will give you that it probably looks very samey and tacky.
I wonder what Elincia and Sanaki are conversing about. I imagine there's a lot of logistics and planning going on.
Oh, that's your plan for everything.
Hello there, Sigrun. You came personally.
Ike does what Ike does best: Just come out and say it.
Mist is very embarassed about Sigrun being told she's bored.
Sanaki, Sigrun and Tanith are all very forgiving of Ike's lack of decorum.
Interesting.
Oh, Greil apparently took jobs from Ramon all the time.
This could've been delivered a little more clearly on the first go.
Because Titania is talking about Ike going along with this.
"Earning points", of course, that's what they're doing.
Interesting job description.
Whatever it is, let's do this!
The choice in what locations get named will never stop being hilarious.
And we're introduced to today's chapter boss complaining about the harvest season. An odd choice of-
...What is it you're farming, sir?
...Oh.
Oh.
"Why doesn't everyone just do the obvious thing and sell the rarest thing in the world for cash?"
That's an interesting way of looking at things.
The simple things in life. Selling a beautiful slave to get enough money for a new axe.
Gashilama has spotted us!
"This is a Fog of War map, right? Right?"
Fight scene.
This map is fairly simple, in all honesty. They really needed a chapter here for story and had an appropriate fight to include, but couldn't figure out what to put in that fight.
Hard Mode gives it a nice patina of Fog of War to give it something.
We do have a house here...
And two up here. They're in no danger.
...Say, that cavalier next to the cursor looks different from his neighbour.
Oh hey look, he has a Red Gem! All my financial troubles are solved! Well, OK, 2500G isn't that much...
This is the boss. Swordmasters, Berserkers and Snipers are very critty classes in series history, and Path of Radiance decided not to follow suit... until the localisation, where the localisers added it back in. So that's what this random boss is doing with 50 Crit. Do not engage in melee. He's nice and polite and won't move, though.
That is a lot of Fog.
Calill appears to have done a little too much shopping. I wish I'd been warned about that sooner!
Ooh, Largo comes up.
Calill is just here to cameo and give us an item. Do take a note of what she looks like, though- it'll make something we'll bump into later make more sense.
They just jump at her. And the men aren't much better.
Imagine if Supports did boost Crit in this game. Ilyana would just melt everything!
Your sixth sense sucks.
"You have a Red Gem."
Employed to who?
No. No it didn't.
...Pink hair, sister, pathetic slob...
Oh dear Ashera.
On a brighter note, this has been one kill and one damage with Astrid today. She's still gaining plenty of that EXP.
You call that Effective against fliers?
Astrid took a hit from that brigand and decided she must correct for it.
Lethe still has her Beorcguard and would not have taken Effective damage, but he still missed anyway. He drops this when he's done not using it.
(Also, is that a blur frame from Lethe's dodge in that image?)
"Are you a mercenary too, random cat?"
Well, your sister will probably have your head anyway.
Especially if this is your best effort.
...Oh.
Oops.
Oh no! Anyway.
<<
--
Marcia bumps into her brother in the middle of a slaving operation.
Like most people, he's terrified that his family caught him in the act.
I'm amazed he's still alive. Why didn't the pirates of Chapter 3 throw your carcass out into the ocean?
And this is where the debt collectors get brought up.
Just pay the original, slimeball.
You...
Marcia has had Enough Of This.
Honestly, I don't imagine Ike as being the sort of man to strike proper fear into Makalov's heart.
Now you care about things like etiquette, politeness and the right thing to do. Those guys are slavers, reminder.
If Marcia were not fighting for us, she would be dragging him along by the ear, horse and all.
Not worth it.
--
Gashilama quivers in terror.
But he has an ace in the hole. Hey, wait a second, did he say Feral?
Spawning directly behind him and being about as stationary (did I seriously not get a picture of this?) are two Feral tigers. These perversions of nature are locked in their transformed state with full bonuses. And yes, they will only be encountered as enemies.
Lethe visits this house. The people of Begnion seem more OK with a laguz doing this than Toha.
How to make a minor character sympathetic in four lines.
Also memorable. To an extent.
Vantage scroll. Vantage can be a bit of a tricky one, not sure where this is going.
This guy has a Laguz Bow that we add to our collection of anti-laguz weapons. The Laguz Bow is unique in that there is no anti-cavalry or anti-armour bow- this weapon seems specifically designed to show off how deep prejudice in Tellius goes.
I completely forgot to damage this guy before moving on. Astrid can't ORKO him, so it looks like Mist will be expected to take a hit.
Ike offers them a chance to surrender.
This is the closest Ike comes to saying "You'll get no sympathy from me" in his home game.
Mist is fine.
Cute, hilarious, and completely non-sequitir. "This" is a Secret Book. I wonder how usable it is dirty.
Some Strength is nice.
Not only can Marcia handle raven tribes, she can handle Feral Tigers. Yeah, she's covered.
Here's a crit frame before the blue flash starts. Marcia divebombs the enemy, hits, and flies off to space.
She comes back down for the level. Not that this level is a "down".
Astrid continues to gain her necessities in record time.
Well, OK, Ilyana can deep fry this other Feral Tiger. I say this, but she doesn't even need her Fire spell.
She gets more Magic. Incidentally, if you have Lethe (or Mordecai) attack a Feral One, you actually get unique conversations.
Lethe: H-hey! You’re a Gallian! Why are you guarding these humans?
Soldier: Grraaaooowwwrrr!
Lethe: You… are not sane, aren’t you? What have these human scum done to you?
Soldier: Graaaoowwrr! Grrraaaooowwwrrr!
Lethe: Ah, my poor laguz brother… I will destroy you myself… and end your pain.
Mordecai's is more or less the same, but one important note is that the Feral One has lines, which must mean they have portraits!
Yeah, uh... you only see this if you fight these particular Feral Ones with Lethe or Mordecai.
Mia can't oneround Gashilama with her Steel Sword- that said, I could probably manage it if I really wanted. Someone else can get the kill, though.
At least this is moderately amusing if horrifying.
No crit, from either side. Not that Gashilama had a snowball's chance in a forest fire of hitting the broad side of the barn Mia is standing in front of.
Maybe if you weren't a slave trader. Gashilama, too, has dialogue with Lethe I would like to share.
Gashilama: A female… Females are good. You’ll fetch a high price to the right buyer.
Lethe: …I hate humans. But you are beyond that word. Simply killing you won’t be enough. The pain, the suffering of my brethren… I will carve payment for that from your flesh!
As icky as this is, this does bring up that the people doing the slaving want laguz for pleasure. Considering other facts about the laguz, this is honestly kind of a weird revelation. Doesn't really come up later, though.
Ilyana scored the kill, getting most of the EXP needed to get to level 20.
Greil Mercenaries, away!
...Somehow, it still sounds cornier from me.
Wait, we're getting paid?
Oh yeah, what did we just do?
Uh huh.
Ooh, distraction!
When Ike is in "..." mode, you know he's getting better.
Thank you Sigrun, I feel loads better. Ike, though, is going to have a long conversation with Soren.
Cutscene time! We will be changing lanes to meet the laguz now. Like most cutscenes, this is more for showing off than for delivering plot, so there's no point me massively screenshotting. I will do a round of introductions, though.
This is the Dragon King Deghinsea of Goldoa, alongside his son Kurthnaga. I believe this is actually Deghinsea's only physical appearance in Path of Radiance, although he is a very important figure on the world stage.
The Lion King Caineghis of Gallia, we've met. He comes with some escorts that don't transform, but the blue cat is probably Ranulf and the bluish-black tiger might be Kysha? We won't meet Kysha until Radiant Dawn, which is why I hesitate to say for sure. Even if he is Kysha, the cat would not be Lyre.
This is the White Prince Reyson of Serenes, and his guardian Hawk King Tibarn of Phoenicis. We actually met Tibarn briefly in Chapter 13, though we didn't get an introduction. Reyson, though, is new. The hawks accompanying him are no doubt Janaff and Ulki, the Hawk King's trusted aides.
And here's Raven King Naesala of Kilvas, being all smug with his hair comb. His raven buddy is definitely not Nealuchi, I don't think, but that's the only other Kilvas raven we know of, so it's presumably generic.
This isn't a common event, but one arranged by Caineghis specifically for this war.
How nice of Deghinsea to lend a hand to the events of the world stage. Don't get used to it.
Caineghis explains the circumstances, and makes it clear why he believes the laguz should care. Honestly, I think the other Kings here would respond to this with "just let the place burn" if compelled out of the goodness of their hearts.
This includes the knight exchange program. Not sure what else they tried, though.
Ashnard's motives are unclear at best. They barely even get an explanation in the end. I'd expect no less from "the Mad King."
Daein's bloody conquest of Crimea has been ruthless, efficient, and Daein wants more.
Tibarn points out that the official explanation is that Elincia is in Gallia. Caineghis does confirm that this is the official story.
That complicates the issue.
At first, Caineghis thinks this is Tibarn's spies. I wonder if this is actual espionage on Tibarn's part or just Ulki looking in their direction every once in a while.
Caineghis is happy to hear everything worked out in the end, on his part. For us, though, we've got more to do.
Interesting hypothesis, Tibarn. Not unfounded.
Naesala has a different one.
He explains his version of events, including this rather jerkish sideswipe at Caineghis.
Yeah, uh, Daein knows Elincia has left Gallia.
Naesala does what Naesala does best.
Tibarn scoffs. Naesala asks if he really wants to know.
Whether he wants to know is one thing. If it involves dealing with the beorc, Tibarn is hard passing on doing it himself.
This note is relevant for later. Obviously, it's a cheap Naesala insult, but do keep in mind that Phoenicis chooses to attack only Begnion vessels.
Deghinsea gets fed up.
Busted.
Naesala has a very Naesala reaction.
Why do you care, Tibarn, that wasn't even a Begnion ship!
This is why Kurthnaga is here, to vouch for this.
Caineghis is not happy.
Naesala makes a bold proclamation that he intends to expand Kilvas. Or, well, he doesn't specify that. This sort of thing feels like it's been exactly worded in this way to make it easy to reinterpret as future revelations about Naesala occur. As you might expect, he does have a bit of a backstory and some nuance to his goals. I feel like I'm beginning to grasp how it all connects, but of course, I know all the pieces.
This is how Deghinsea chooses to rebuke Naesala. He doesn't want anything to do with stopping him, but warns him about what happens if you're too ruthless too openly.
One thing Naesala does is do things that make other people hate him. It's difficult to be in this position, and Naesala clearly sees a reason to do so, but this isn't the sort of decision you make lightly.
Deghinsea has this rebuke for Tibarn. Since Deg is so big on peace, he's not pleased that Tibarn isn't doing anything to help.
Tibarn is not interested.
Reyson is just as ready for Begnion blood as Tibarn is. Gashilama brought this up, and we'll hear the details on this later, which is when I'll go over it. Short version, Reyson has good reason for this.
Reyson can't do this himself, but since Tibarn is willing, he'll cheer him on.
Deghinsea is not a huge fan of revenge. Most people aren't. Or shouldn't be.
Deghinsea wonders what Gallia's plan is.
Caineghis's plan is "nothing".
Tibarn asks if he wants help murdering all the beorc.
Those forests Shinon didn't like? Daein's not gonna like them any more.
Naesala needles Caineghis about how he doesn't want to make his nation any bigger. Caineghis is happy with his borders where they are.
Deghinsea agrees with Caineghis. Begnion would not side with the laguz willingly. This is the right call.
This is a very important revelation, and Deghinsea is all about this. So it's a bad idea to start a war that engulfs all the nations of Tellius? In other news, water is wet.
This advice will go unheeded.
One turn too slow. If I fed Gashilama to Mia, I could've got it, I guess.
Next time: My favourite boy and his bundle of laguz.
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