Fire Emblem: Lineage of Holy War FAQ written by VGAP Version 1.0 ######################################################################## What is Fire Emblem? It's a series of Strategy-RPGs that were highly successful in Japan, but never made it to States (to the best of my knowledge). Think Shining Force or Final Fantasy Tactics, and you get the idea. Note that those games were actually made AFTER the first FE came out (on Famicom system), and not vice versa. Thus, FE is the inventor of this genre, and considered one of the best by Strategy-RPG maniacs like me. Fire Emblem: Lineage of Holy War is the fourth work of the series, and the second to the last installment on Super Famicom. This means that its cartridge is rather hard to obtain (I found it in a second-hand game shop in Tokyo), so unless you have got an emulator, you probably won't ever get to play it. Also, it has lots of text so you better be able to understand Japanese well. So why am I bothering to write this FAQ if so little Westerners are aware of the game? It's because this series has been my favorite for quite some time, and I want more people to enjoy this masterpiece. If you like Strategy-RPGs and can understand Japanese, I strongly encourage you to obtain means to play it, either with real game or via emulators. I won't be responsible for any possible (though very unlikely) legal repercussions from latter method, however. ^_^; A final note; I used as little Japanese as possible in this FAQ, and used literal translation for the name of classes, Skills, items, and such. They should hopefully be easily recognizable. Send your feedback to . Hey, somebody is reading this, right? Right? Hellooo? Anybody around here? ^_^; ######################################################################## CONTENTS: I: Version histories II: Basics II-1: Terrain effects II-2: Movements after action II-3: Proximity effects II-4: Advantages and disadvantages between weapons and magics II-5: Attack ranges II-6: Critical hits II-7: Unit stats II-8: Things to do in a castle II-8-i: Blacksmiths II-8-ii: Tool shop II-8-iii: Fortuneteller II-8-iv: Coliseum II-8-v: Second-hand shop II-8-vi: Storage shop II-9: Experience points II-10: Class change II-11: Villages III: Classes III-1: Basic classes III-2: Enemy-only classes IV: Characters IV-1: Characters for your army IV-1-i: First generation characters (from prologue to chapter 5) IV-1-ii: Second generation characters (from chapter 6 to epilogue) V: Skills *INCOMPLETE* VI: Items *INCOMPLETE* VII: Coupling *INCOMPLETE* VIII: Strategy guides for each chapter *INCOMPLETE* IX: Tips and hints *INCOMPLETE* X: Background story *INCOMPLETE* XI: Frequently asked questions *INCOMPLETE* XII: Disclaimer ######################################################################## I: Version histories Version 1.0: Only about half of what I planned is finished. If I get feedback that wants me to continue writing this, I will. So far, only sections I through IV are completed along with disclaimer at the end. ######################################################################## II: Basics Fire Emblem is a simulation of war. You have units (think of them like chessmen in chess) that can move and perform various actions such as attacking, using magic, changing weapons, and so forth. A unit will turn gray once you use it, and you won't be able to use it again within that turn (there is a notable exception to this by using Dancer's Dance skill). Once you have used all the units you want, it will then be your enemy's turn. Computer AI will be your opponent, and they are pretty darn smart. Once your enemy finishes his turn, it will then be allied army's turn (if there are any), then neutral army's turn (again, if there are any; usually it's just you and your enemy). Once every side has finished their turn, you can use your units again. This cycle continues on either until you win (by conquering enemy castles) or lose (by having your leader unit die, or having your base castle conquered). Sounds simple, right? Well, if you have played any Strategy-RPG before, then you KNOW that's anything but easy. There are many factors and random elements that can upset your plan unless you play it really well. Let's cover some basic knowledge, shall we? II-1: Terrain effects Depending on what kind of terrain you're standing on, you either get a plus or minus on your Dodge %. Here's a list of all the terrains you will come across: Deep Forest : +40 Mountain : +30 Castle : +30 Forest : +20 Village : +20 Church : 0 Castle Gate : 0 Desert : 0 Plain : 0 Road : -10 Bridge : -10 River : -30 Ocean : -30 Cliff : None High Mt. : None As you can see, places where you can move and hide under things easily have high pluses, while places where you are in a plain view and/or your movements are restricted have high minuses. Another thing to remember about terrains is that some places are harder to move through, and vice versa. You can move quicker (advance more spaces per turn) in road or bridge, while in forest or mountain your movements are hindered. Also, some terrains can't be accessed at all by some units, and cliffs and high mountains can be used only by flying units. Finally, on the subject of flying units, they can move over any terrains without any difficulties (this means that the speed they move over road and ocean are same), but they can't get terrain effects' Dodge % plusses/minuses either. II-2: Movements after action Units that are riding some sort of animal (horses, dragons, etc.) can move even after they have attacked or used magic. This feature can be very useful for hit-and-run tactics. Units on foot do not have this ability unless they have a special item called "Knight Ring". II-3: Proximity effects Every army has its leaders, though not necessarily present at front line. Their value as a leader is expressed in stars in status screen. The more stars he/she has, the more trusted he/she is. Units within 3 spaces of the leader will get plusses in Hit % and Dodge %. The amount of these bonuses are affected by # of stars the leader has: One star : 0 Two stars : +10 Three stars : +20 Four stars : +30 Five stars : +40 A unit with Charisma skill can also activate this effect, with exactly the same values as two stars. Another proximity effect that can occur is when a unit has his/her sibling or lover within 3 spaces, and either case will create the same effect as two-stars proximity effect. If those units are directly next to each other (no diagonals), they can sometimes invoke a powerful attack that has the same effect as the Critical Hit skill. Finally, these effects add up on each other, so in theory, you can give a unit +80 Hit % and Dodge % bonuses... But since very few commanders have 5 stars, and Charisma skill is very rare, this is impossible to achieve in the game. II-4: Advantages and disadvantages between weapons and magics There are 4 types of weapons and 5 types of magics in this game. Each of them usually have weapons that they are strong against, and also those that they are weak against. To be specific, consult the following chart: Weapons: Sword beat Ax Ax beat Spear Spear beat Sword Magics: Fire beat Wind Wind beat Thunder Thunder beat Fire Light and Dark beat Fire, Wind, and Thunder What kind of advantage do you exactly get? The one with advantage will get +20 bonuses in Hit % and Dodge %. This may not sound like much, but in reality it can mean a difference between life and death. What about Bow, the 4th weapon? It doesn't have any advantages nor disadvantages against other weapons. II-5: Attack ranges All weapons have set ranges for it. Melee weapons, such as swords, axes, and spears can be used only when the unit is directly next to enemy unit. Bows must be used one space away from the target; at close range, they are completely useless. All magics, and some special melee weapons, can be used both when next to the opponent or when one space away. Also, there exist enemy-only-units called Long Arches that can attack enemies that are 3~10 spaces away from it. Long Arches' attacks are much like bows, except that they are less likely to hit. There are even some enemy-only magics that have the same kind of range. II-6: Critical hits If certain conditions are met, the attacker's attack power doubles, thus doing at least twice of the normal damage. The easiest and most common way to achieve this effect is to attack a flying unit with bow. Certain other weapons can also do critical hits against specific units. The above methods are "guaranteed" ways of doing critical hits. But with "Critical" skill or any weapon that can grant its user that skill, a unit can pull off critical hits based on his/her Technique value. Note that ALL weapons can achieve this effect if it has killed at least 50 opponents, and the more the better. The number of opponents killed by a particular weapon is displayed by a number besides * mark shown in status screen. II-7: Unit stats If you press X with your cursor on a unit, you can see its stats, even if it's an enemy unit. These attributes can be described as follows: Level : the unit's current Level, with accumulated Experience Points in parenthesis HP : Current HP on left, and Maximum HP on right Attack: a symbol for the equipped weapon, and how much Attack Power the unit has; this is the sum of Strength/Magic Power and weapon's power Hit % : Technique X 2 + weapon's base Hit % Range : how much Range the equipped weapon allows Dodge %: Speed X 2 - weapon's weight + Luck Strength : how physically powerful the unit is; affects Attack Power Magic Power : how magically powerful the unit is; affects Attack Power Technique : how experienced the unit is; affects Hit % Speed : how fast the unit is; affects Dodge % Luck : how lucky the character is; affects Dodge % Defense : how well the unit can shrug off physical attacks Magic Def. : how well the unit can shrug off magical attacks Knowing how these values affect the unit's performance is extremely important. II-8: Things to do in a castle When a unit is visiting a castle or staying at the base castle, it can use various shops and services available at the place. Note that not every castle has all of features described here. II-8-i: Blacksmiths All weapons wear down after excessive use. You need to keep them fixed well by blacksmiths, or you can end up with a broken weapon! Naturally, the more powerful the weapon is, the more expensive it gets to fix it. II-8-ii: Tool shop Sells weapons and a few items. A good place to visit whenever you are in a new chapter. You can only buy things that you can actually use; no magic wand for a swordsman! II-8-iii: Fortuneteller The old magician can predict who the unit is romantically interested in, what is his/her winning record, and, in the second part of the game, can tell of his/her parents' names. All services free! II-8-iv: Coliseum Fight for money and experience! Provide your own weapons, please. Your opponent gets stronger as the story progresses. II-8-v: Second-hand shop Here a unit can sell his/her unnecessary stuff, or buy somebody else's pre-owned item. Like in tool shop, you can only buy stuff that you can actually use. II-8-vi: Storage shop You can store your weapons and items here, but nobody else can access it. No charge for service here, either. II-9: Experience points It's a fundamental rule of any RPG that the higher your Level is, the easier the going will be. In FE, there are three ways to earn Experience points: 1:) Fight with an enemy unit 2:) Use a magic wand 3:) Rescue a civilian In the case of first method, there are three possible results, and they all differ in the amount of Experience points you earn: 1:) Your attack(s) miss the opponent (no Experience points earned) 2:) Your attack(s) damage the opponent, but doesn't kill it (Experience points equal to (Opponent's Level - Your Level + 10) earned) 3:) Your attack(s) damage the opponent and kill it (Experience points equal to ((Opponent's Level - Your Level + 15) X 2) earned) In the second method, by using a magic wand, you get a predetermined Experience points for using that magic. The more powerful the magic is, the more Experience points you get. You advance a Level with every 100 points. On some chapters, there will be some helpless civilians escaping from enemy soldiers. You can go next to them and choose the "Rescue" command and advance a Level. This is a great way to raise weak units. II-10: Class change When a unit reaches Level 20 or higher, he/she can advance onto a higher class at base castle. This can bring all sorts of improvements, from added bonuses in attributes, new weapons, new skills, and even new movement ranges. It's safe to say that as soon as you reach Level 20, it's better to change your class at the earliest opportunity. II-11: Villages Scattered throughout every battlefield are villages, which are targeted by Thieves and other unruly enemy units. It can last 10 turns before it is completely destroyed. Send a unit to "Liberate" them, and you will get some money for your trouble. The amount you get is directly proportional to how well intact the village is, so don't be lazy and save them as quickly as possible! You also get information and, sometimes, items from villages. ######################################################################## III: Classes Classes are equivalent of Jobs in FF Tactics. They are basic classifications of what a unit is like. Some classes are really strong but have peculiar weaknesses, and some classes are very weak but have unique abilities. It's important to understand what each class is like, in order to form the best strategy possible. III-1: Basic classes These are classes available to your army. They are listed in a following format: class title Characters : what characters are of/can be this class Weapon Level: what weapons they can use, and how good they are at it Movement : how many spaces they can move when on plain Class Change: what class they can change into, or what bonuses they get Evaluation : my overall opinion of the class Junior Lord Characters : Celis Weapon Level: Sword* Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Lord Knight Evaluation : Weak at first, but grows at an impressive rate. Lord Knight Characters : Celis, Sigurd Weapon Level: Sword*, SpearB Movement : Horse, 9 Class Change: Strength+5, Technique+2, Speed+2, Defense+2, Magic Def.+3 Evaluation : A very useful unit. Celis especially will be almost unstoppable. Lance Knight Characters : Finn Weapon Level: SpearB Movement : Horse, 8 Class Change: Duke Knight Evaluation : Fairly useful as a bait/wall. Duke Knight Characters : Finn, Cuan Weapon Level: SpearA (* for Cuan) Movement : Horse, 9 Class Change: Strength+5, Technique+1, Speed+1, Defense+2, Magic Def.+3 Evaluation : A beefed-up version of Lance Knight. Good defense. Sword Armor Characters : Aidan Weapon Level: SwordB Movement : Walking, 5 Class Change: General Evaluation : Strong, hard, and slow as hell. Use as a wall and nothing else. General Characters : Aidan, Hannival Weapon Level: SwordA, SpearA, AxB, BowB Movement : Walking, 5 Class Change: Strength+1, Technique+1, Speed+2, Defense+2, Magic Def.+3 Evaluation : Stronger, harder, and still too slow. Has a Big Shield skill. Social Knight Characters : Alec, Noicht, Ares Weapon Level: SwordB (* for Ares), SpearC Movement : Horse, 8 Class Change: Paladin Evaluation : Generic cavalry soldiers. Never too strong. Paladin (from Social Knight) Characters : Alec, Noicht, Ares, Oyphe Weapon Level: SwordB (* for Ares, A for Oyphe), SpearB Movement : Horse, 9 Class Change: Strength+2, Magic Power+5, Technique+3, Speed+3, Defense+3, Magic Def.+5 Evaluation : Somewhat stronger, good against mages. Troubadour Characters : Etherine, Nanna Weapon Level: SwordA, WandC Movement : Horse, 8 Class Change: Paladin Evaluation : More useful than Social Knights, they can dive in middle of front line, heal someone, and return to safety. Paladin (from Troubadour) Characters : Etherine, Nanna Weapon Level: SwordA, WandC, SpearC Movement : Horse, 9 Class Change: Strength+6, Magic Power+2, Technique+3, Speed+3, Defense+6, Magic Def.+2 Evaluation : Equip good sword, and they can fight as well as heal! Ax Knight Characters : Rex, Johan Weapon Level: AxB Movement : Horse, 8 Class Change: Great Knight Evaluation : Good as a substitute for Sword Armor and General. Don't expect them to dodge many attacks. Great Knight Characters : Rex, Johan Weapon Level: AxA Movement : Horse, 9 Class Change: Strength+5, Technique+1, Speed+1, Defense+4, Magic Def.+3 Evaluation : Great Attack Power and Defense, but hampered by heavy ax. Free Knight Characters : Beowulf, Delmudd Weapon Level: SwordB (A for Delmudd) Movement : Horse, 8 Class Change: Forrest Knight Evaluation : Faster than Lance Knight or Ax knight, but not as strong. Forrest Knight Characters : Beowulf, Delmudd Weapon Level: SwordA Movement : Horse, 9 Class change: Strength+1, Technique+9, Speed+6, Defense+2, Magic Def.+3 Evaluation : Much better than Free Knight. Gets a Rapid Hit skill. Arch Knight Characters : Midiel, Lester Weapon Level: BowB Movement : Horse, 8 Class Change: Bow Knight Evaluation : Very useful for hit-and-run tactic. Bow Knight Characters : Midiel, Lester Weapon Level: BowA Movement : Horse, 9 Class Change: Strength+3, Technique+2, Speed+2, Defense+2, Magic Def.+3 Evaluation : Same role as Arch Knight, but even more powerful. Pegasus Knight Characters : Fury, Fee Weapon Level: SwordB, SpearB Movement : Flying, 8 Class Change: Falcon Knight Evaluation : One of the few flying units you get. Watch out for arrows! Falcon Knight Characters : Fury, Fee Weapon Level: SwordA, SpearA, WandC Movement : Flying, 8 Class Change: Magic Power+7, Technique+3, Speed+3, Defense+1, Magic Def.+5 Evaluation : Think as Paladin on pegasus. Good against mages. Princess Characters : Lachesis Weapon Level: SwordA, WandC Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Master Knight Evaluation : Unimpressive at first, but wait until class change... Master Knight (from Princess) Characters : Lachesis Weapon Level: LightC, can't use Dark, everything else A Movement : Horse, 9 Class Change: Strength+7, Technique+7, Speed+4, Defense+7 Evaluation : Can do anything from attack to heal. Gets a Pursuit skill. Prince Characters : Leef Weapon Level: SwordA Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Master Knight Evaluation : Useless at first, but raise his levels and... Master Knight (from Prince) Characters : Leef Weapon Level: LightC, can't use Dark, everything else A Movement : Horse, 9 Class Change: Strength+4, Magic Power+4, Technique+5, Speed+6, Defense+5, Magic Def.+4 Evaluation : A very powerful class. Need I say more? Gets a Pursuit skill. Mage Characters : Azel, Arthur, Tinny Weapon Level: FireC (B for Azel, and Arthur and Tinny as well if Azel is their father), ThunderC (B for Arthur and Tinny), WindC (Arthur will have Wind* and Tinny will have WindB if Levin is their father) Movement : Walking, 5 Class Change: Mage Knight Evaluation : Great against Armors, but weak Defense rating. Mage Knight Characters : Azel, Arthur Weapon Level: FireB (A for Azel, and Arthur as well if Azel is his father), ThunderB (A for Arthur), Wind B (Arthur will have Wind* if Levin is his father), SwordB (Arthur will have SwordA if Holin is his father) Movement : Horse, 9 Class Change: Strength+5, Magic Power+3, Technique+1, Speed+1, Defense+4, Magic Def.+2 Evaluation : Even better than Bow Knight for hit-and-run tactic. Thunder Mage Characters : Tiltu Weapon Level: ThunderA Movement : Walking, 5 Class Change: Mage Fighter Evaluation : Thunder-magic only. Not very useful. Mage Fighter Characters : Tiltu, Tinny Weapon Level: FireB (FireA for Tinny if Azel is her father), ThunderA, WindB (WindA for Tinny if Levin is her father), SwordC (SwordB for Tinny if Holin is her father), WandB (WandA for Tinny if Claude is her father) Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Strength+3, Magic Power+5, Technique+3, Speed+6, Defense+4, Magic Def.+5 Evaluation : Gets a Rapid Hit skill. Not a major powerhouse. Bow Fighter Characters : Jamka, Faval Weapon Level: BowB (Bow* for Faval) Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Sniper Evaluation : Stronger than Arch Knight, but on foot. Take your pick. Sniper Characters : Jamka, Faval, Brigit Weapon Level: BowA (Bow* for Faval and Brigit) Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Power+5, Technique+2, Speed+2, Defense+2, Magic Def.+3 Evaluation : Bow expert; great against flying units. Thief Characters : Deu, Patty Weapon Level: SwordC Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Thief Fighter Evaluation : Can steal money by attacking. Weak combat abilities. They can give their money to any unit in your army. Thief Fighter Characters : Deu, Patty Weapon Level: SwordA Movement : Walking, 7 Class Change: Strength+4, Magic Power+3, Technique+4, Speed+5, Defense+4, Magic Def.+3 Evaluation : So-so at fighting, but more opportunity to steal. Also gets a Pursuit skill. Sword Fighter Characters : Ayra, Holin, Skasaha, Lakche Weapon Level: SwordA (Sword* for Skasaha and Lakche if Holin is their father) Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Sword Master/Forrest Evaluation : Great fighters. Only weakness is magic. Forrest Characters : Holin, Skasaha Weapon Level: SwordA (Sword* for Skasaha if Holin is his father) Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Strength+5, Magic Power+3, Technique+2, Speed+2, Defense+2, Magic Def.+3 Evaluation : Sword professional. Balanced abilities. Sword Master Characters : Ayra, Shannon, Lakche Weapon Level: SwordA (Sword* for Shannon, and also Lakche if Holin is her father) Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Strength+5, Technique+5, Speed+5, Defense+2, Magic Def.+3 Evaluation : Rarely leaves an enemy alive. Gets a Rapid Hit skill. Priest Characters : Eddin, Rana, Corple Weapon Level: WandB (WandA for Corple, and Wand* if Claude is his father, and WandA for Rana as well if Claude is her father) Movement : Walking, 5 Class Change: High Priest Evaluation : Good at healing and nothing else. High Priest Characters : Eddin, Rana, Corple, Claude Weapon Level: WandA (Wand* for Claude, and Corple too if Claude is his father), FireC (FireB for Corple and Rana if Azel is their father), ThunderC, WindC (Wind* for Corple and WindB for Rana if Levin is their father) Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Magic Power+5, Technique+3, Speed+2, Defense+2, Magic Def.+1 Evaluation : Healing expert, but usually not good at combat. Ax Fighter Characters : Johalvier Weapon Level: AxB Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Warrior Evaluation : Like Sword Armor, but with Ax. Don't expect much. Warrior Characters : Johalvier Weapon Level: AxA, BowB Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Strength+3, Technique+2, Speed+2, Defense+2, Magic Def.+3 Evaluation : Good defense and strength, but not much else. Dragon Knight Characters : Althena Weapon Level: SwordA, Spear* Movement : Flying, 9 Class Change: Dragon Master Evaluation : Extremely weak to bows and magics, strong against everything else. Dragon Master Characters : Althena Weapon Level: SwordA, Spear* Movement : Flying, 9 Class Change: Strength+2, Technique+2, Speed+1, Defense+3 Evaluation : Still weak against bows and magics, but invincible against everything else. Bard Characters : Levin Weapon Level: FireC, ThunderC, Wind*, LightC Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Sage Evaluation : A very fast wind mage. Great Dodge %. Sage (from Bard) Characters : Levin, Sety Weapon Level: FireB (FireA for Sety if Azel is his father), ThunderB, WindB (Wind* for Levin and Sety too if Levin is his father), LightB, WandB (Wand* for Sety if Claude is his father) Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Magic Power+8, Technique+5, Speed+5, Magic Def.+5 Evaluation : Can fight and heal, and they are good at both. Gets a Pursuit skill. Shaman Characters : Diadra, Julia Weapon Level: WandB, Light* Movement : Walking, 5 Class Change: Sage Evaluation : A class for heroines. Incredible Magic and Magic Def. Sage (from Shaman) Characters : Julia Weapon Level: WandB, FireA, ThunderB, WindB, Light* Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: Magic Power+7, Technique+5, Speed+8, Magic Def.+2 Evaluation : Invincible against magic. Gets a Pursuit skill. Dancer Characters : Sylvia, Lynn Weapon Level: SwordC Movement : Walking, 6 Class Change: None Evaluation : Extremely weak, but can use the skill "Dance". Cannot change her class. III-2: Enemy-only classes Classes like Lord Knight and Dancer are available only to you, the player. So it makes sense that the enemy side will have some classes that you can't have, right? These are enemy-only classes that you will face in the game, in alphabetical order: Armor Sword Armor minus sword plus spear. Use your Mages. Ax Armor Sword Armor minus sword plus ax. Are you starting to see the pattern? Barbarian They are nothing more than Ax Fighters with a different name. Mow them down with your swordsmen. Baron Generals that can use magic. Lots of bosses are of this class. Bishop Think High Priest and Sage fused together. Not as scary as it sounds. Bow Armor Sword Armor minus sword plus bow. Surprise, surprise. Civilian Not really enemies, but innocents you must rescue. Each of them is worth 100 Experience points! Dark Bishop Bishops that use Dark magics. Not to be underestimated. Dark Mage Mages that specialize in Dark magic. Watch out! Dark Prince A special class reserved only for the last boss of the game, Julius. Even the strongest of the units are nothing more than flies to him. Dragon Rider A step below Dragon Knight. Shoot them down with bow. Emperor Only Arvis gets to be this class. Mega-powerful. Fire Mage Mages that specialize in Fire magic. Use Thunder spells against them. Hunter Like Barbarian, but with bow instead of ax. Not too difficult to deal with. Long Arch Immobile unit that has LONG range. Keep your flying units away. Mountain Thief Just like Barbarian, except that they can destroy villages. Pirate Barbarian-wannabe that can move over ocean very slowly. Queen Female version of Baron? Hilda-only class. Wind Mage Mage that specialize in Wind magic. Use Fire spells against them. ######################################################################## IV: Characters Every Strategy-RPG needs a cast of interesting characters. FE has a whole lot of characters, ranging from those that help you to those that you must defeat. Know both your allies and enemies; that's the first step to the victory! IV-1: Characters for your army Below are the characters that you can get in your army. Each of them are quite unique, and can grow into either a powerful individual or a fifth wheel of your army. Let's aim for the former, and know them well for success! Each of these characters will be described in the following format: Name : well, duh Background : why he/she fights Personality : what he/she is like Class : what class the character is (and what he/she can change into) Heritage : what Holy Blood the character has inherited (in second generation characters, this varies a LOT); if a star is by it, that means that character can use the legendary weapon that belonged to that particular Holy Warrior Recruiting : how and when you get that character Items : what items the character is recommended to use Skill : what skill(s) the character has Stats Growth: what attributes will grow big, and what will not (this is also very variable in second generation characters) Romance : who his/her recommended lover is Comment : my personal comment Substitute : (only for fourteen of second generation characters) the description of the substitute character in case the real character's mother died or struck out IV-1-i: First generation characters (from prologue to chapter 5) Name : Sigurd Background : He's son of the duke of Sialfy. He has been left responsible for the castle while his father is away, but gets involved in intercontinental war while trying to rescue Eddin, his childhood friend. Personality : He, like all RPG heroes, has a strong sense of justice and tries to live his life according to chivalry. However, he's rather vulnerable to beautiful women. This doesn't mean he's a flirt, he's just easily smitten. Class : Lord Knight Heritage : Baldo* Recruiting : He is your main character; hence, you start out with him. Items : His main weapon would be the Silver Sword he gets from Arvis. Return Ring is a MUST. Barrier Ring would be good as well, but not necessary. He gets Tilfing at chapter 5, but won't get much opportunity to use it. He can also use spears up to level B, but he probably won't need it. Skill : Pursuit Stats Growth: All of his attributes rise rather quickly, except for Magic Defense. Keep in mind that he can't change his class, so none of his stats will really max out. Romance : Due to the plot, he's stuck with Diadra and can't court any other women. Kinda sad, isn't it? Comment : Sigurd can be considered a "worthy leader", and he can always stand at the front-line to lead his troops. In fact, you may need to hold him back at the beginning, since he might hog all the Experience Points to himself and hinder the development of other units. Name : Alec Background : A knight serving Sigurd. He may not seem very knight-like, but he is ready to follow his lord anywhere. Personality : Calm and cool, with an easygoing air. He has a big mouth too. Class : Social Knight -> Paladin Heritage : none Recruiting : He starts out with Sigurd. Items : Get Sigurd's Steel Sword as quickly as possible, because he's going to need it. Iron/Steel Spear would also be good to use against swordsmen. Power Ring would help him a lot, but you probably won't be able to spare him one. Skill : Pursuit, Nullify Stats Growth: His Speed and Technique rise fairly quickly, but others are either dead average or even lower. Romance : He has a special Talk event with Sylvia, and will likely end up with her if nobody else claims her. But a more recommended mate would be Fury. Comment : Alec is definitely NOT someone you can rely on. But he's the only character other than Diadra that has the Nullify skill, so his skills might come in handy for his children. Name : Noicht Background : Also a knight serving Sigurd, he's Alec's good partner and rival. It goes without saying that he has sworn his life to Sigurd. Personality : Passionate and full of honor. Doesn't talk much unless needed. Class : Social Knight -> Paladin Heritage : none Recruiting : He starts out with Sigurd. Items : His initial weapon is Steel Sword, and he can't equip much of better weapons. A spear might come in handy, but not an absolute must. Speed Ring is recommended to take advantage of his Charge skill. Defense Sword will also be handy for him. Skill : Charge, Critical Stats Growth: Strength and Defense rise fairly well, but nothing else is noteworthy. Romance : Unlike Alec, Noicht doesn't really seem to care about opposite sex. But he would make an excellent mate for Ayra and Lachesis. Comment : Noicht is somewhat more useful than Alec, but not by much. If you raise him well, he can be used as a wall/bait. Name : Aidan Background : Another knight serving Sigurd, and another loyal follower of him. Personality : Sensitive about his natural slowness. Nevertheless, he's still a noble knight. Class : Sword Armor -> General Heritage : none Recruiting : He starts out with Sigurd. Items : He doesn't really need anything other than his Iron Sword, but after the class change, you might want to give him a spear or bow. In chapter 2, he gets Pursuit Ring, but other characters can make better use of it. Skill : Ambush, Big Shield (after class change) Stats Growth: His HP, Strength, and Defense rise at impressive rates, but other stats are horrible. Romance : Pity the girl who ends up with him! ^_^ Actually, his Ambush skill will be useful for Tiltu, and his stats growth rates come in handy for Ayra's son, Skasaha. Comment : Aidan might seem bothersome, but he's one of the best characters to use as a wall. Just watch out for enemy mages! Name : Azel Background : He's a younger half-brother of Arvis, the duke of Beltomer. He uses Sigurd's need of help as an excuse for a chance to get closer to Eddin. Personality : He respects and fears Arvis, admires Sigurd's leadership, and is in love with Eddin. Your average wimpy mage-prince. Class : Mage -> Mage Knight Heritage : Fara Recruiting : He comes to Sigurd's aid in second turn of prologue. Items : Specialize him in Fire magic. To deal more damage with his magic, a Magic Ring is also recommended. Skill : Pursuit Stats Growth: His Speed and Magic Power is quite impressive, making him quite a useful character. Change his class as quickly as possible, because he's GOOD! Romance : Initially, he's in love with Eddin, but he actually makes a better lover for Tiltu. Other than that, don't bother. Comment : Don't be fooled by his weak attitude; Azel can be quite deadly, especially in early stages, when enemies are very vulnerable against magic. Name : Rex Background : He's the second son of Langbart, the duke of Dozel. He tags along with Azel because he doesn't get along with his family. Personality : Rather cynical in nature, but loyal to his friends. Uncaring of his royal heritage, probably because he won't get the throne anyway due to being the second son. Class : Ax Knight -> Great Knight Heritage : Neir Recruiting : He joins in with Azel. Items : Give him any and all axes you get. The best one is the Hero Ax he gets in chapter 1. He can be twice as strong with Pursuit Ring. Skill : Ambush, Elite Stats Growth: Rex has one of the best growth rates in the game. His Defense becomes higher than Aidan's! Of course, his Magic Def. isn't all that high... But that's the norm for non-mage characters. Romance : He has some feelings for Ayra, and would make a good mate for her. Another excellent choice is Tiltu. Comment : Don't underestimate Rex. With a little tweaking, he can rival Sigurd or even Ayra. Just watch out for swordsmen! Name : Cuan Background : Prince of Lenster, and brother-in-law of Sigurd. Upon hearing Sigurd's plight, he runs in for aid. Their friendship was formed during their time as cadets. Personality : Much like Sigurd, he's your typical "noble prince" sort of guy. Firm and confident to the point of almost sounding arrogant. Class : Duke Knight Heritage : Noba* Recruiting : He automatically appears in the third turn of prologue. Items : He doesn't really need anything other than what he already has, but a Shield Ring would be nice. He gets Geyborg in chapter 3 but will have very little time to use it. Skill : Rapid Hit Stats Growth: Well-balanced growth rates, with particularly high Strength and Defense. The only thing he lacks is Magic Defense. Note that he can't change his class, so you might want to hold him back a little. Romance : He's stuck with Etherine from the moment he appears. Hence, he doesn't really have any choice in the matter. Comment : Cuan is great against sword-users, but often doesn't finish an opponent unless his Rapid Hit skill activates. Still, he makes a great front-line fighter. Name : Etherine Background : Younger sister of Sigurd, and married to Cuan. Quite obviously, she fights to help her brother and family. Personality : She's a proper lady from head to toe, but also has a bit of fierce streak within. Class : Troubadour -> Paladin Heritage : Bardo Recruiting : She joins in with Cuan. Items : The main weapon for her would be the Light Sword she gets from Diadra in chapter 2. Other than that, she probably won't need anything beyond her initial inventory. Skill : Critical Stats Growth: She grows at balanced rates, but isn't as good as her brother or husband. Magic Def. rises slightly quicker than average. Romance : She's already Cuan's wife, so there's nothing you can do with her. Comment : She isn't as weak as she appears, but there's no denying she's meant for a support role. Use her for healing when things are too dangerous for Priests. Name : Finn Background : As an apprentice knight of Lenster, he follows Cuan both for support and training. Later on, he will be guiding Cuan's son, Leef, as a mentor. Personality : He is very loyal to Cuan and the kingdom of Lenster. Idolizes Cuan, and tries to be like him. Class : Lance Knight -> Duke Knight Heritage : none Recruiting : He joins in with Cuan. Also rejoins in automatically in the beginning of chapter 7. Items : His best weapon is Hero Spear he gets from Cuan in chapter 2. Other than that he doesn't need anything, but a Shield Ring would come in handy. Skill : Pursuit, Prayer Stats Growth: Strong Luck, weak Magic Defense, and average in everything else. Romance : He can make a lover either in first half or second half, but not both (Sorry, no adultery!). In first half, Lachesis is recommended, while in second half, he has a rather slim chance with Althena, Cuan's daughter. Comment : Finn is the only character you can use in both parts of the game. He isn't a powerhouse, but you better raise him well because he has to protect Leef and Nanna in chapter 7. Name : Midiel Background : A knight of Yungvi, serving under Eddin. He joins Sigurd after failing to protect his lady, and tries to get her back. Personality : He is almost obsessed with Eddin, but is a noble knight in his own right. Class : Arch Knight -> Bow Knight Heritage : none Recruiting : He starts out as your ally, but is defeated by his enemy at the end of first turn of prologue. Once you conquer castle of Yungvi he recovers and joins automatically. Items : He starts out with Iron Bow, which isn't very good, so you should get something better like Silver Bow. If he manages to score with Eddin, he gets Hero Bow from her in chapter 4. Skill : Pursuit, Charge Stats Growth: His Luck and HP are low, but other stats rise just fine. Romance : Midiel is madly in love with his lady, Eddin. But if he gets dumped, he will make a move on her sister, Brigit. He makes a good father in either case. Comment : Don't underrate this guy. Midiel is THE unit for hit-and-run attack, and will be extremely valuable as a support. Name : Eddin Background : She is a duchess of Yungvi and also a childhood friend of Sigurd. She is kidnapped at prologue, but Jamka lets her escape in chapter 1. Personality : The very picture of "damsel in distress." She is nice to everyone and very selfless. Class : Priest -> High Priest Heritage : Ulir Recruiting : She escapes from her kidnappers in second turn of chapter one. Items : If it's a wand, Eddin will most likely be able to use it. You might want to give her some attack magic if you can spare it. Skill : none Stats Growth: Her Luck and HP rise rather quickly, but other than that don't count on much. Romance : She is literally the idol of your troops; hey, she got three men to join just for her! Either Jamka or Midiel will be a good husband for her, with a slight recommendation of Midiel. Don't bother with Azel. Comment : Eddin is great as a support, but NEVER put her on front line. Also, be sure to keep her pocket filled with money, because she can't fight in coliseum until she changes her class! Name : Deu Background : A thief caught in Marfa Castle. Thanks to Eddin's begging, Jamka lets him go as well. Personality : He's cheerful and easygoing, and doesn't really seem to care about a lot of things. Why he sticks to Sigurd is actually unknown. Class : Thief -> Thief Fighter Heritage : none Recruiting : He tags along with Eddin. Items : Thunder Sword is a MUST. This way, he can steal his opponent's money without putting himself at a risk. After his class changes, you might want to give him a Silver Claymore. Skill : Sunlight Slash, Bargain, Steal, Pursuit (after changing his class) Stats Growth: Although his HP growth is pitiful, everything else rise like a dream. Talk about potentials! Romance : He has a Talk event with Lachesis, but actually makes a better mate for Ayra and Brigit. Comment : Don't be fooled by Deu's initial weakness. He can actually rival with strong units like Sigurd and Ayra if properly raised. Name : Ayra Background : Sister to the king of Isaac. Her nephew, Shannon, was imprisoned as a hostage, and thus she must fight Sialfy army against her will. Personality : She is quite independent, and may even seem cold-hearted. But beneath the strict exterior is a soft, caring heart. She is willing to go to any length in order to protect Shannon. Class : Sword Fighter -> Sword Master Heritage : Odo Recruiting : Ouch! She appears as an enemy in chapter 1! You have to carefully draw her out, conquer Jenoa Castle, and then talk to her with Sigurd. Items : She gets a Hero Sword in chapter 3, so until then use her Iron Claymore. She doesn't really need anything else, although a Power Ring or a Skill Ring comes in handy. Skill : Pursuit, Meteor Slash, Nullify, Rapid Hit (after changing her class) Stats Growth: Her Technique can max out and her Speed is very high, but otherwise her stats are not impressive. Romance : Both Rex and Holin are interested in her, and both would make a great husband for her. Noicht and Deu are recommended as well. Even Aidan isn't bad. Comment : Ayra is arguably the deadliest character in Sigurd's army. Although she can't always stand in front-line due to her low defense, in a one-on-one duel nobody can beat her. Meteor Slash all the way! Name : Jamka Background : Third prince of Verdane. He gets fed up by his elder brothers' inhuman ways and lets Eddin escape. Unwilling to participate in a meaningless war caused by his father, he gladly betrays his homeland for Eddin later. Personality : Serious in nature and likes to give lectures in morality. Doesn't lose his composure easily. And, of course, he's in love with Eddin. Class : Bow Fighter -> Sniper Heritage : none Recruiting : He reluctantly fights against you near the end of chapter 1, but Eddin can easily persuade him into your army. Items : For a youngest prince of a barbaric country, he sure has a great equipment; Killer Bow! As if it isn't powerful enough, he can get Hero Bow as well if he scores Eddin. Speed Ring is an another good item for him. Skill : Pursuit, Rapid Hit, Charge Stats Growth: His Strength grows like a dream, but his Technique hardly ever rises for some reason. Everything else is average or a little above. Romance : He has a fair chance with Eddin, although the competition is severe. Even if he fails to win her, he can still try to score Brigit. And he's an excellent husband for both. Comment : If you ever thought that bow-users are weak, Jamka will prove you wrong. He can compete with Ayra for the greatest number of attacks per turn. Name : Diadra Background : A mysterious young woman living in Verdane. She falls in immediate and mutual love with Sigurd, and quickly marries him. Unfortunately, fate likes to play games with her... Personality : Extremely gentle and ladylike, even moreso than Eddin. Very, very, VERY devoted to Sigurd. Class : Shaman Heritage : Narga*, Loptous Recruiting : She joins automatically near the end of chapter 1, once Sigurd passes through a certain point. Items : She doesn't need anything beyond her initial equipment. Also, it is recommended to sell her Silence Wand and Aura at the beginning of chapter 3 and hand over her money to Sigurd. Skill : Nullify Stats Growth: Her Magic Power and Magic Def. go up more often than not, but her other stats are pretty awful. Note that for some reason, she can't change her class. Romance : She's forced by the plot to fall madly in love with Sigurd. However, their happy marriage does not last long... Comment : You can use Diadra for only a very short length of time. This is quite a pity, since she's the nightmare incarnate for every enemy mage... Oh well. Name : Holin Background : A gladiator making his name in a coliseum in Agustria. But it is rumored that he used to be a noble of Isaac. Once he is defeated in a battle, he wishes to join Sigurd's army to fight for a more virtuous cause. Personality : He craves fighting, but believes in fair play. Serious in most matters and somewhat passionate. Class : Sword Fighter -> Forrest Heritage : Odo Recruiting : You must defeat him in a coliseum in chapter 2. Items : His initial weapon is Iron Claymore, but Steel Claymore would be better. Defense Sword or Swallow Flipper would be good as well. Skill : Pursuit, Moonlight Slash Stats Growth: His Technique is guaranteed to max out, and his HP will be very high too. Other stats are rather average. Romance : He is Rex's rival for Ayra's heart. Since he is also a swordsman and a noble of Isaac, they have a lot in common. Comment : Holin is very strong on a one-on-one basis, but not so strong in army-to-army combat. He's great against Armors (and therefore most bosses), however, thanks to his Moonlight Slash skill. Name : Lachesis Background : Princess of Nodion Kingdom, and younger sister of Ertotian, Sigurd and Cuan's friend from their time as cadets. She is marked by a prince of a neighboring kingdom for a bride, who assaults her castle while her brother is held a prisoner. Predictably, it's Sigurd that runs to her rescue. Personality : Suffers from an acute case of brother-complex (Rumors abound... -_-;). Very princess-like, and daydreams of an ideal romance (preferably with her brother...). Still, she can be serious and strong when she needs to. Class : Princess -> Master Knight Heritage : Hezul Recruiting : She starts out as an ally, but gladly joins Sigurd's army when he talks to her. Items : Before changing her class, stick with Live Staff and Thief's Sword she gets from Deu. After changing class, she can use just about everything; Silver Spear is recommended. She also gets the Earth Sword from her brother. Skill : Charisma, Pursuit (after changing her class) Stats Growth: Her Strength and Luck are impressive, but the rest leave something to be desired. Romance : To quote her introductory speech, "I won't marry a man that cannot match my brother!" Strangely enough, Deu and Beowulf are her strongest candidates. Deu is lacking in skills, however, so I suggest either Beowulf or Noicht. Finn is acceptable as well. Comment : Lachesis is weak initially, but once she changes her class she becomes a jack-of-all-trade. Off the topic, she's also my favorite character. I thought she and Sigurd would be perfect together, but alas, it was not meant to be. Name : Beowulf Background : A mercenary hired by King Macbeth of Anfony. However, he offers to join Sigurd's army for 10000G. Personality : Cares about money and almost nothing else. He seems to have a soft spot for Lachesis, though. Class : Free Knight -> Forrest Knight Heritage : none Recruiting : You must pay him 10000G in chapter 2. Don't worry, that money will go into his inventory, so you can use it later. It doesn't matter who talks to him. Items : He has Steel Sword initially, but he should get better swords like Ironcutter Sword and Silver Sword. He can make a great use of Speed Ring. Skill : Pursuit, Charge, Rapid Hit (after changing his class) Stats Growth: His Strength and Technique rise relatively quickly, but other stats are not that impressive. Romance : He has a talk event with Lachesis, and makes a great husband for her. Other girls aren't interested, though. Comment : Beowulf is similar to Jamka, though slightly harder to use. Rest assured that he's worth every bit of gold you paid. Name : Levin Background : He claims to be a traveling minstrel, but in reality he is a prince of Silezia. He left his kingdom because he was fed up with the disputes over succession rights, which he has the utmost claim upon. He joins Sigurd's army while trying to protect villages in Agstria from thieves. Personality : He is rather carefree and immature, but can display the nerve of steel when in crisis. Somewhat of a playboy. Class : Bard -> Sage Heritage : Holsety* Recruiting : He joins automatically in chapter 2 once you conquer Highline Castle. Items : His initial equipment is El Wind, which is strong enough to use until he gets Holsety. Give him a wand or two after he is promoted to a Sage. Skill : Rapid Hit, Critical, Pursuit (after changing his class) Stats Growth: His Speed go up like crazy, and his Technique increase fairly quickly too. His other stats are average. Romance : He has two girls fighting over him!? Well, this casanova can be good for either of them, although Fury is slightly more recommended. Other girls? Well, Tiltu is all right, but don't mess with anyone else. Comment : Levin is unarguably the most useful character in the first generation. His Dodge % shoots up to the third digit when he equips Holsety! The sight of him alone massacring the entire enemy army without getting a scratch on himself will have you saying "WOW!!!" Name : Sylvia Background : A traveling dancer that has a crush on Levin. The only reason she joins Sigurd's army is so that she can stalk/follow Levin. Personality : Rather flighty and cheerful. Flirtatious, too. Class : Dancer Heritage : Blagi Recruiting : She tags along with Levin. Items : Sylvia must avoid any combat whatsoever. Therefore, she doesn't need any weapon at all. What she needs are Red Ring and Knight Ring to increase her mobility dramatically. Skill : Rapid Hit, Prayer, Dance Stats Growth: Her stats growth are horrible save for Magic Def., which go up fairly quickly. Romance : She boldly makes moves on Levin, but has to compete with Fury for his attention. If she strikes out, go for Claude. Alec also shows interest in her, but it's not a good combination. Comment : Sylvia's Dance skill will come in very handy, provided that you can keep her safe and out of danger. Name : Fury Background : A knight from Silezia. She was searching for the missing prince, Levin. Tricked by Shagarle, king of Agstria, she attacks Sigurd's troops believing that Levin is imprisoned by them. Personality : Strict on herself and values honor. Has an unsuccessfully repressed feeling for Levin. Class : Pegasus Knight -> Falcon Knight Heritage : none Recruiting : She shows up as an enemy in chapter 2, but Levin can easily persuade her. Items : The Thin Spear she has initially is actually a pretty good weapon, especially against sword-users. Give her a solid sword as well, and a healing staff after she changes her class. Skill : Pursuit Stats Growth: It's quite unfortunate that her growth rates suck overall. Even the highest ones are only average, and her HP might become lower than even Deu's! Still, you better raise her well because she has to carry out numerous special missions. Romance : Levin is the best choice; their skills merge well, too. If he's taken, Claude and Alec would tie for the second place. Choose between Valkyre Wand and Nullify skill. Comment : Fury is the only flying unit available in the first generation. If you raise her well, she will be quite an asset (no tasteless jokes, please) for you. Name : Brigit Background : She appears as the head of pirate at Ogrehill, but is revealed to be Eddin's long lost elder sister and a duchess of Yungvi. Her underlings betray her when she decides not to attack Sigurd's troops. Personality : As might be expected from a female boss of pirates, she's very rough (although dignified). She has a strong sense of honor and justice, however, which is why she was betrayed in the first place. Class : Sniper Heritage : Ulir* Recruiting : She automatically joins your troops in chapter 3, once you conquer Silveil Castle. Items : What she has from the beginning is enough, since she gets Ichieval from Eddin. The trick is to alternate between Ichieval and Steel Bow to save money. Skill : Pursuit Stats Growth: Her Luck will be the highest among your troops, and her HP will be pretty high as well. The problem comes in for her other stats, which are all average or lower. Romance : Like Eddin, Midiel or Jamka will be good for her, with a little favor for Jamka on my side. Deu is a dark-horse, but actually is pretty good too. Comment : Brigit will prove to be powerful thanks to her Ichieval. But as with all bow-users, don't leave her vulnerable to melee attacks! Name : Claude Background : Highest priest and ruler of Edda. He has come to aid Sigurd politically, but fails to perceive the conspiracy against him in time. On top of that, he's attacked by pirates from Ogrehill. Branded as a traitor, he has no choice but to stick with Sigurd. Personality : He is very wise and calm, and sympathetic to everyone. Hey, what else would you expect from a priest? Class : High Priest Heritage : Blagi* Recruiting : He joins automatically in chapter 3, coincidentally at the same time Brigit does. Items : He has two of the best wands (Reserve Wand and Valkyre Wand) in the game, but you should give something cheaper like Live Wand. Also get a cheap magic so that he can fight in coliseum. Skill : none Stats Growth: His Magic Def. gives Diadra a run for her money, and his Magic Power and Luck will be very high too. Don't expect much for anything else. Romance : Since he has no skill, the only purpose for him to have kids is to pass off the Valkyre Wand. Fury or Sylvia are the only choices he has; get the one that strikes out with Levin. Comment : Claude can use ALL wands in the game, but that's not much of an advantage since there's no point in one person hogging all the wands. Still, he's the man to use when many units are wounded. Name : Tiltu Background : A duchess of Freezi who followed Claude around, heedless of dangers involved. She, too, is branded as a traitor and seeks Sigurd's protection. Personality : Something of an airhead, despite her royal blood. She is also infatuated with Claude. Class : Thunder Mage -> Mage Fighter Heritage : Tordo Recruiting : She joins in along with Claude. Items : What she has initially are fine, but you might want to give her a Magic Ring to compensate her low Magic Power. Skill : Anger, Rapid Hit (after changing her class) Stats Growth: Her Technique, Speed, and Luck increase very quickly. Surprisingly, her Magic Power is only average. Romance : Do NOT pair her with Claude! You will end up wasting Valkyre Wand. The safest choice would be Azel, but you can also try Rex or even Aidan! Levin is an another choice although not particularly recommended. Comment : Tiltu is arguably the most troublesome character in the first generation. She shows up the last, and at such a low level too; if you don't raise her well, she will end up becoming the fifth wheel of your army. IV-1-ii: Second generation characters (from chapter 6 to epilogue) Name : Celis Background : Sigurd and Diadra's son. He lived as a fugitive in Isaac, but raises troops as the leader of the Liberation Army. Personality : Admires his father, Oyphe, and Shannon very much. Heavily influenced by his position, he is full of compassion and sense of justice. Class : Junior Lord -> Lord Knight Heritage : Baldo*, Narga, Loptous Recruiting : You start out with him in chapter 6. Items : All he would need is Sigurd's Silver Sword, provided that his father killed a lot of enemies with it. The more rings he inherits, the better. He gets Tilfing near the end of chapter 10, making him a flawless character. Skill : Pursuit, Nullify Stats Growth: Blessed with a great knight for a father and a powerful sorceress for a mother, ALL of his stats will be at least above average. Especially of note is his Magic Def., which will be the highest among fighter units. His Magic Power will also rise fairly well, but no benefit will come from it. Romance : He can pair up with almost any girl, although Rana seems to stand the best chance. He and Julia also have a mutual attraction upon their first meeting, but do you REALLY want to go for an incest? ^_^; Comment : Celis starts out much weaker than his father, but ends up becoming even better. After changing his class and getting Tilfing, there are very few units that can defeat him. Name : Skasaha Background : Ayra's son and elder brother of Lakche. He grew up with Celis in Isaac, and swore to fight for him till the very end. Personality : He makes a constant attempt to control his brash nature with a tight self-discipline. Very protective of Lakche. Class : Sword Fighter -> Forrest Heritage : Odo + whatever his father had Recruiting : He starts out with Celis. Items : If his father was a swordsman, he probably won't need anything extra. If not, bear with his initial Iron Claymore until he can buy better swords like Defense Sword or Hero Sword. Skill : Pursuit, Meteor Slash, Nullify + whatever his father had Stats Growth: With the exception of Magic Def., everything should rise smoothly. Strength, Technique, Speed, and Defense are most noteworthy. Romance : He doesn't look like a romantic type, but he has a good chance with Tinny for some reason. If you want to hear sweet words from him, however, he will have to try his chances at Rana. Comment : Skasaha can be either inferior or superior to his sister depending on who his father is. But even with a weak father, he's still Ayra's son, so Meteor Slash all the way! Substitute : If Skasaha wasn't born, Lodorban appears instead. He's also a Sword Fighter, but only has Pursuit and Ambush for his Skill. Needless to say, Lodorban is vastly incompetent compared to Skasaha. Name : Lakche Background : Ayra's daughter and little sister of Skasaha. Just like her brother, she grew up with Celis in Isaac, and fights alongside them. Personality : Somewhat tomboyish and very spirited. Hates the Empire and its troops with passion. Class : Sword Fighter -> Sword Master Heritage : Odo + whatever her father had Recruiting : She starts out with Celis. Items : She inherits Hero Sword from her mother, so nothing else is needed. Skill : Pursuit, Meteor Slash, Nullify, Rapid Hit (after changing her class) + whatever her father had Stats Growth: Her Technique and Speed are very likely to max out, and her other stats aren't bad either. Of course, Magic Def. is the usual exception. Romance : Johan and Johalvier are both obsessed with her; to them, it's either love or death. But if you don't care for a narcissist or a brute, go for Shannon. Just be aware, Patty is also trying to get him. Comment : If you liked Ayra (and who doesn't?), you will love Lakche. If it wasn't for her brother or Shannon, she would easily be the best multi-hitter of Celis' army. As it is, she is still guaranteed of third place at least. Substitute : If Lakche doesn't exist, you will have Ladney in her place. She, too, is a Sword Fighter, but has only Pursuit for her Skill; even more reasons to make sure that Ayra doesn't become an old maid. Name : Rana Background : Eddin's daughter and Lester's younger sister. She grew up with Celis in Isaac (talk about a pattern...) and follows him for support. Personality : Just like her mother, Rana is as feminine as a girl can be, not to mention ladylike. She also has a not-so-secret feelings for Celis. Class : Priest -> High Priest Heritage : Ulir + whatever her father had Recruiting : She starts out with Celis. Items : Since she will inherit all of Eddin's wands, you probably won't need to expand her inventory from its initial ones. Since she can't fight in coliseum until she becomes High Priest, Discount Bracelet will come in handy. If she has useful Skills, give her some attack magics, too. Skill : whatever her father had Stats Growth: Her HP and Luck rise very often, but other stats are only average. Depending on her father, her Strength can become higher than her Magic Power although there is absolutely no practical meaning in this. Romance : Her main target is Celis, obviously. But she can also try scoring Skasaha or Faval. Comment : If she doesn't have useful Skills, then you have an Eddin clone. If she gets some good Skills, she still isn't much of a fighter. Still, she should be useful as support. Substitute : Mana fills in for Rana, should she be unborn. Mana has no Skill and gets only a Live Wand, so obviously Rana is better. Still, as far as substitutes go, Mana is one of the more decent ones. Name : Delmudd Background : Lachesis' son and separated elder brother of Nanna. He is one of the children that grew up with Celis and consequently joins his troops. Personality : Tends to stay in background and doesn't stand out. He cares for his sister and is loyal to Celis, but that's about it. Class : Free Knight -> Forrest Knight Heritage : Hezul + whatever his father had Recruiting : He automatically appears in the third turn of chapter 6. Items : Hopefully he inherited good swords from his father. If not, he will have to buy a Silver Sword at least. Skill : Charisma + whatever his father had Stats Growth: His Strength will be pretty high, and other stats vary from good to bad depending on his father. None of them are likely to max out, however. Romance : Delmudd has arguably the worst luck with romance in Celis' army. He has no Talk events with any girl (except for his sister, and no, you CAN'T put them together), so you will have a hard time pairing him up with anyone. Comment : Is Delmudd a useless character? It all depends on what kind of Skill and equipment his father had (not that that's unimportant for other children). If his father was good, congratulations; otherwise, you will be hard-pressed to make him useful. Substitute : Should Lachesis strike out, Tristan will appear instead. Tristan is one of the rare substitutes that actually has a potential to surpass the "real" characters. He has Critical initially and gets Rapid Hit after changing class, so he can become halfway decent! Isn't that surprising? Name : Lester Background : Eddin's son and Rana's elder brother. Did I mention that he also grew up with Celis and all that? Personality : As can be expected, Lester is protective of Rana. He is fairly mild-tempered, however, perhaps due to his mother. Class : Arch Knight -> Bow Knight Heritage : Ulir + whatever his father had Recruiting : He comes along with Delmudd. Items : It all depends on who his mother chose for a husband. If he inherited Hero Bow, he won't need anything else; otherwise, get something better like Killer Bow or Silver Bow. Skill : whatever his father had Stats Growth: His HP and Luck will be very high, while other stats are about average or a little above. Romance : Although not as unlucky as Delmudd, Lester still has a very hard time wooing a girl. He does have a slight chance with Patty, but since she is trying to get Shannon, Lester will have a hard time indeed. Comment : As long as his father was a bow-user, Lester will be quite a useful character. Hit-and-run tactics can be very effective when fighting against a group of enemy units. Substitute : Lester's replacement character is called Dimna. He has a Pursuit Skill, so at least he is good for a support. But since he only has an Iron Bow for a weapon, you should skip the trouble and get Eddin a husband (as if she can stay single...). Name : Oyphe Background : In the first generation, he was nothing more than an advisor (although a good one) to Sigurd. This time, he has made himself Celis' mentor and guardian. Personality : VERY loyal to Sigurd (even though he's dead) and Celis. He raised a bunch of orphans (also known as Celis and co.), and as a result appears and behaves far older than his actual age. Class : Paladin Heritage : Baldo Recruiting : He comes along with Delmudd. Items : He should get a strong sword, such as Silver Sword or Steel Claymore. Add that to his initial Ironcutter and Hand Spear, and he won't need anything else. Skill : Pursuit, Critical Stats Growth: His stats all rise just fine, but on the flip side none of them will max out. And since he's already a Paladin, he can't change his class either. Romance : Oyphe is at least 15 years older than the majority of second-generation characters. While this sounds discouraging, he actually has a very good chance with Fee, of all the people! Talk about Lolita Complex! ^_^; Comment : Oyphe seems like a messiah among the puny children when he first appears, but gradually he will be surpassed by those that he had been protecting until he becomes not exactly useless but definitely not a powerhouse. Ah, the sad destiny of those aged paladins... Name : Julia Background : Levin introduces her as an amnesiac girl, but in truth she is Arvis and Diadra's daughter and Julius' little sister. This also means that she is Celis' younger half- sister. Personality : Very quiet and shy, as well as devoted to and madly in love with Celis. ^_^;;; Class : Shaman -> Sage Heritage : Narga*, Fala, Loptous Recruiting : She joins automatically when you conquer Ganesha Castle in chapter 6. Items : Julia initially has nothing, but will get a Relive Wand from Rana and either Resire or Aura from Celis. I recommend Resire, since it can drain HP from enemies. Skill : Pursuit, Rapid Hit, Nullify Stats Growth: Her Magic Power is likely to max out, and her Speed and Magic Def. will be very high too. Other stats, however, will rarely rise. Romance : She starts out being in mutual love with Celis, her half- brother! I'm not sure if you can really put them together, so I will let you be the judge on that. ^_^; However, it IS possible to pair her up with some other male. Comment : Julia is even more useful than her mother against magic-users. She can also use staffs, so she's good for support too. Be sure to raise her well, because you won't stand much chance in the last battle without her! Name : Fee Background : Fury's daughter and Sety's little sister. She was searching for her missing brother, and in the process met with Arthur. She decides to join Celis' army, figuring that she will have better access to information and safety. Personality : Apparently, she didn't inherit her mother's frigidness; Fee is rather easygoing and independent. Class : Pegasus Knight -> Falcon Knight Heritage : whatever her father had Recruiting : She joins in coincidentally at the same time Julia does. Items : She won't need anything besides what her mother has given her, provided that you gave Fury good enough equipment. Skill : Pursuit + whatever her father had Stats Growth: Her Speed, Defense, and Magic Def. can be fairly high, but don't expect much else. Her mother is Fury, after all... Romance : You would think that she is in love with Arthur, but the truth is that Oyphe stands a better chance, for some bizarre reason. Take your pick. Comment : Fee isn't a powerhouse, but she is one of the few flying units you will get, so you better raise her well. And just like her mother, watch out for arrows! Substitute : Should Fee be absent, Femina appears instead. Femina is also a Pegasus Knight and has a Rapid Hit for the Skill. Her equipment are weak, though, so she's definitely not Fee's equal. Name : Arthur Background : Tiltu's son and Tinny's elder brother. He had grown separated from his sister and mother, and was traveling from one place to another. It is during his search that he met with Fee. He joins Celis' troops for exactly the same reason as her. Personality : Rather easygoing although serious with his policies. He can show a surprising burst of temper, though. Class : Mage -> Mage Knight Heritage : Tordo + whatever his father had Recruiting : He comes along with Fee. Items : Even if he didn't get good magics from his father, his initial equipment, Wind, is good enough to use until he can buy something else. Magic Ring is recommended in case his Magic Power is low. Skill : Anger + whatever his father had Stats Growth: Just like his mother, his Technique, Speed, and Luck will be noteworthy. Other stats vary a lot depending on his father: if it was a mage-type unit, he will grow in a manner you would expect from a mage; if it was a fighter-type unit, he will have better Strength and Defense in exchange for Magic Power and Magic Def. Romance : He has a Talk event with Fee, so he has a fairly good chance with her. But he has to compete with Oyphe, of all the people! Other girls don't seem to be interested. Comment : Arthur can be very useful with either Pursuit or Ambush. Remember Azel's effectiveness against Armors? Now you have someone even better. Provided, of course, you didn't pick the wrong father... You can make him get Holsety and plow through the early chapters, although I wouldn't recommend it. Substitute : If Arthur doesn't appear, Amid will take his place. Amid is a Wind Mage that has Rapid Hit for a Skill. Under most circumstances, Amid is inferior to Arthur. Name : Johan Background : Second son of Danan, Rex's elder brother. He was left in charge of a territory in Isaac by his father, but had little desire for power. He throws them all away just to be with Lakche. Personality : Two words; Lakche-fanatic. Check out his dying quote: "Even if Johan is dead, his love shall live forever!" He freaks Lakche out by spouting poetry in the middle of battleground, for crying out loud! As much of a weird romantic he may be, he has a golden heart beneath with a sense of justice. He's still a narcissist, though. Class : Ax Knight -> Great Knight Heritage : Neir Recruiting : He appears as an enemy in chapter 6, but will gladly betray his father just by talking to Lakche. His squad of Ax Knights will assist him for the remainder of chapter. If you get Johan, you can't get Johalvier. Items : He has Speed Ring for some reason, but should sell it away as soon as possible since it's useless on him. What he needs is a Hero Ax, which he can get in chapter 6. And since he's the only unit who will have to rely on axes, give him all and every axes you get. Skill : Ambush Stats Growth: His Strength and Defense will rise fairly well, but don't count on other stats. Romance : Has eyes for Lakche only. Sadly, he has to compete against Shannon. Needless to say, his chances aren't very good. Comment : Johan is probably the funniest character in the game, but he really isn't that useful. In fact, he's only a step above useless in the last stage. Name : Johalvier Background : Danan's third son and Johan's little brother. Just like Johan, he was given a territory in Isaac to rule, but didn't care for it. Predictably, he's willing to join Celis' troops just to be with Lakche. Personality : He's supposed to be a prince, but acts and speaks more like a leader of bandits. He is in love with Lakche, but isn't as obsessed as his brother and is much saner. Perhaps that's why Lakche thinks better of him than she does of Johan. Class : Ax Fighter -> Warrior Heritage : Neir Recruiting : Just like his brother, Johalvier can be persuaded by Lakche. And his band of Ax Fighters will follow him for the remainder of the chapter. Again, you can't get Johan if you get Johalvier. Items : Get Hero Ax as soon as possible; without it, he's almost completely worthless. After changing his class, give him a Steel Bow. Skill : Charge Stats Growth: Identical to that of Johan. This means that you shouldn't expect much. Romance : Thanks to his higher level of sanity, he has a better chance than Johan does with Lakche. He still has to compete with Shannon, though. Comment : Johalvier isn't any better than his brother, but don't despair. He CAN be useful on a few occasions, so just be patient. Name : Leef Background : Cuan and Etherine's son and Althena's younger brother. This means that he and Celis are cousins. He was raised by Finn in Lenster and raised an army against Empire about the same time Celis did. He had less luck, however, and is in a dangerous situation with no troops left. Personality : Not as brave or confident as his father, Leef is nevertheless an honorable prince possessing both a calm mind and a passion for justice. He respects and trusts Finn above all else, and has some feelings for Nanna. Class : Prince -> Master Knight Heritage : Noba, Baldo Recruiting : He joins automatically at the beginning of chapter 7. Items : Light Sword from Etherine is what he should use. After changing class, give him a strong spear and whatever else you like. Skill : Rapid Hit, Critical, Pursuit (after changing his class) Stats Growth: His HP, Strength, Technique, Speed, and Defense rise at amazing rates. Magic Power and Magic Def. will be low, though. Romance : Nanna and he will make a great couple since they grew up together. He can also try his luck with Tinny. Comment : Leef is bothersome at first, but after changing his class, he will be one of the best units you have. So be patient and level him up, because he's more than worth it! Name : Nanna Background : Lachesis' daughter and Delmudd's little sister. She grew up with Leef and Finn in Lenster, and helped him raise an army against the empire. Personality : She doesn't have a brother-complex, thankfully. ^_^; She tends to be serious just about anytime, whether it's advising Leef or confronting Ares. Class : Troubadour -> Paladin Heritage : Hezul + whatever her father had Recruiting : She comes along with Leef. Items : What she gets from Lachesis should be fine, since she isn't a powerhouse anyway. Be sure that she has a Relive Wand or something similar. Skill : Charisma + whatever her father had Stats Growth: Her Strength and Luck should become high, but other stats aren't that impressive. Romance : She is almost assured of getting her childhood sweetheart, Leef. Ares is another option, but she will have a very difficult time then. Comment : Under most circumstances, Nanna will be doing what Etherine did. If she gets good Skills, however, she can fight as well as heal. Substitute : Nanna's replacement is Joanne, who has NO Skill whatsoever and starts out only with Iron Sword and Relive Wand. No matter what kind of a wimp Lachesis chose for her husband, Nanna can't be worse than Joanne! Name : Shannon Background : In the first generation, he showed up only as Ayra's nephew. Now he's a prince of Isaac and Oyphe's partner in raising Celis and others. He had been away to Yied Desert in quest for Divine Sword Balmunk and finds Patty in possession of it. Personality : Very serious and confident. He treats Celis like a little brother and is very loyal to him. There is also a scar within his soul; even after nearly two decades, he feels guilt about what happened to Diadra. Class : Sword Master Heritage : Odo* Recruiting : He joins automatically at the beginning of chapter 7, coincidentally at the same time Leef and others do. Items : Alternate using between Balmunk and his initial equipment, Steel Claymore. Beyond that, he won't need anything else. Just make sure he doesn't run out of money! Skill : Pursuit, Meteor Slash, Rapid Hit Stats Growth: His Strength, Technique, Speed, and Defense all rise at good rates. He's already a Sword Master though, so he can't change his class. Romance : Both Lakche and Patty desire him, the former subtly and the latter bluntly. Personally, I tried pairing him up with Althena, but it didn't work for some reason. I wonder why? Comment : Thanks to Bulmunk, Shannon is THE swordsman of the game. His Dodge % will be in three digits, so very few attacks can hit him. Add Meteor Slash to that, and you have a death incarnate in your hand. Don't use him too much, or other characters will remain weak! Name : Patty Background : Brigit's daughter and Faval's little sister. Also a cousin of Rana and Lester. She works(?) as a thief in order to support her brother maintain an orphanage. She is caught by Shannon after raiding Yied Temple. She joins Celis' troops supposedly to use her abilities for peace, but it's more like she's trying to get Shannon for herself. Personality : Similar to Deu although she tends to justify her thievery. She is infatuated with Shannon and has rather low respects for her elder brother. She also likes meeting celebrities. Class : Thief -> Thief Fighter Heritage : Ulir + whatever her father had Recruiting : She joins along with Shannon. Items : She is one of the rare girls that inherit her father's equipment, but since she can only use weak swords until her class changes (unless Holin is her father, in which case she will be able to use B swords from beginning), she should get a magic sword like Fire Sword. Other than that, she won't need anything. Skill : Steal + whatever her father had Stats Growth: Her HP and Luck will increase like crazy, and her Magic Power can be surprisingly high. Other stats are either average or a little above. Romance : Predictably, she will make bold moves on Shannon and will be fighting over him with Lakche. She can also try hitting on her cousin, Lester. Comment : Unlike Deu, Patty won't become a major force even after she becomes a Thief Fighter. She will be able to defend herself, but she can't compete against other prodigies in Celis' army. Substitute : Patty's substitute is named Daisy. She has Steal and Prayer and gets Pursuit once she changes her class, so she isn't that bad compared to some others. You can't expect either Patty or Daisy to be a strong fighter, anyway. Name : Tinny Background : Tiltu's daughter and Arthur's little sister. She had been separated from her brother and is living under her indifferent uncle and abusive aunt. She meets her brother and decides to fight for Celis' troops. Personality : Shy and indecisive, but shares her brother's occasional explosions of anger. She seems to be slightly attracted to Celis. Class : Mage -> Mage Fighter Heritage : Tordo + whatever her father had Recruiting : She appears as an enemy in chapter 7, but Arthur can easily persuade her. Items : For some reason, Tinny inherits El Thunder even if Tiltu kept her Tron. She can buy it back, or get some other magic. Give her a wand once she can use it. Skill : Anger, Rapid Hit (after changing her class) + whatever her father had Stats Growth: Her Technique, Speed, and Luck will rise very quickly, but just like her mother, she leaves something to be desired in terms of Magic Power. Don't expect much from other stats. Romance : She and Skasaha seem to be fairly compatible, but Sety is a better option to hear some lover's chat. You can even pair her up with Leef or Celis. Comment : Tinny is better than her mother, but no matter what you do, you can't really expect her to blast her way through the front-line. Not exactly useless, but definitely not dependable. Substitute : If you made Tiltu an old maid, you will get her niece named Linda, who is a Thunder Mage. Linda has Anger and Elite, yes, an Elite Skill! Yoo-hoo! Now here's a substitute character with a very good chance of being more useful than the "real" character! Name : Ares Background : Ertotian's son and Lachesis' nephew (no, Lachesis is NOT his mother! ^_^;), also cousin of Delmudd and Nanna. He was raised by a mercenary named Jabalow, but when his foster father tries to separate him from Lynn, he rebels and runs away into Celis' army. Personality : Ares believes that his birth father was killed by Sigurd, but his rational nature allows him to wait until he discovers the truth. Is in passionate, mutual love with Lynn. Class : Social Knight -> Paladin Heritage : Hezul* Recruiting : He betrays his army after you conquer Mergen Castle in chapter 7. Items : Mistletin is all he needs as a weapon. It's very expensive to fix, however, so get him a Thief Bracelet to steal money from enemies. Skill : Pursuit, Rapid Hit, Ambush Stats Growth: His HP, Strength, Speed, and Luck will be very impressive. He also has a relatively high Magic Def. Other stats are, somewhat disappointingly, only average. Romance : You will be hard-pressed to get him with anyone other than Lynn. Nanna has a slight chance, though. Comment : Didn't you keep wishing you can get Ertotian in your army? Ares will be even better! From the moment he shows up, he will be a valuable member of your troops, and only gets better. Thanks to Mistletin, he can mow down enemy mages. Name : Lynn Background : Sylvia's daughter and Corple's elder sister. She was caught by King Bramzel of Dana while Ares was away, and is held a prisoner. True to the pattern, she is waiting for her hero to rescue her. Personality : More serious than you would expect from a dancer, she has strong morals and isn't afraid to say them aloud. Loves Ares dearly. Class : Dancer Heritage : Blagi + whatever her father had Recruiting : After conquering Dana Castle in chapter 7, go inside with Ares. Items : As long as she inherits Red Ring and Knight Ring from her mother, she won't need anything. Skill : Rapid Hit, Dance, Prayer Stats Growth: Her Magic Def. will be fairly high, but don't expect much from anything else. Romance : She is practically destined with Ares. If Nanna steals him away, she will have a hard time finding a consolation prize. Comment : Lynn, just like her mother, should never fight, but will be a very valuable member due to her Dance Skill. Substitute : Leilia will replace Lynn if Sylvia remains single. Leilia has Dance (of course) and Charisma for her Skill, but the latter is kind of useless since Dancers aren't meant to stay on front-line. On top of that, she will have to save up money to buy Red Ring and Knight Ring for herself. Therefore, Lynn is better than Leilia in every way. Name : Faval Background : Brigit's son and Patty's older brother, and obviously Rana and Lester's cousin. He was managing an orphanage in Manster, but had to work as a mercenary for money. Promised of an immense support by Empire should he destroy Celis' army, he reluctantly fights against those he admires. Personality : Has a high moral code but is overwhelmed by need of money. He cares for Patty but has very little control over her actions. Class : Bow Fighter -> Sniper Heritage : Ulir* + whatever his father had Recruiting : He appears as an enemy in chapter 8, but Patty can easily persuade him. Items : For someone obviously pressed for money, he sure has two expensive bows: Silver Bow AND Ichieval! Use Ichieval when he is rich and Silver Bow when he's not. Skill : Pursuit + whatever his father had Stats Growth: All of his stats will rise at average speed or a little better, but this also means that none of them will really max out. His Magic Def. will be pretty low, as can be expected. Romance : Has a rather slim chance with Rana. Don't bother with other girls, they just aren't interested. Comment : Faval is THE best bow-user in the game, especially if his father was Jamka. He will be very useful against Armors and other enemies with high Defense. Substitute : If Brigit doesn't become a mother, Asaero will appear in Faval's place. Asaero has Pursuit and Charge and is fairly strong, but since he doesn't use Ichieval he has no way of surpassing Faval. Name : Sety Background : Fury's son and Fee's missing big brother. He had been traveling in search of his father, but takes pity in citizens of Manster and attempts to liberate it from Empire's oppression. When Dragon Knights from Trachea attacks, he lets the citizens escape and confront the enemy soldiers by himself. Celis is impressed by this heroic display of altruism and gladly lets him join. Personality : Very wise, sharp, brave, and selfless. You'll find it difficult not to admire this hero. Class : Sage Heritage : whatever his father had Recruiting : He appears as an ally in chapter 8, but Celis' approval is all he needs to join. Items : He has Lightning from the beginning, and can use it all the way until end. Give him some wands as well. If he has either Holsety or Valkyre Wand, he will be even more useful. Skill : Pursuit + whatever his father had Stats Growth: Depends on his father. If it was Levin, his Speed will max out very easily with high Magic Power, Technique, and Defense. If it was Claude, his Magic Power, Luck, and Magic Def. can reach maximum. If it was anyone else, then it's probably not that good. Romance : He gets along well with Tinny, and has a fairly good chance with her. He won't have much luck with anyone else. Comment : Sety is probably the best mage you will get (aside from Julia). If he has Holsety, he can join Shannon in massacring enemies. If he has Valkyre Wand, he is the healing god of your army. If he has neither, he's still an excellent character. Substitute : If Fury didn't bore Sety, Hawk will appear instead. Hawk has Pursuit and Rapid Hit for his Skills and Lightning for his initial equipment, so he is strongest out of all substitute characters. Still, Sety is most likely better. Name : Corple Background : Sylvia's son and Linn's little brother, even though neither of them is aware of their relation. He was adopted by Hannival, but is taken hostage in order to ensure his foster father's loyalty to Trachea Kingdom. Personality : Respects Hannival immensely and thinks of him as his true father. Kind of wimpy. Class : Priest -> High Priest Heritage : Blagi + whatever his father had Recruiting : He joins you when you conquer Lutekia Castle in chapter 9. Items : Has Reblow Wand from beginning which should come in handy if he didn't get any wands from his father. Depending on his father, he has the possibility to use Holsety or Valkyre Wand. Skill : Rapid Hit, Prayer + whatever his father had Stats Growth: His stats depend heavily on who his father was, but Magic Power, Luck, and Magic Def. tend to become pretty high. Romance : Being only a kid in a middle of lots of handsome men, poor Corple isn't likely to get a girlfriend anytime soon. Comment : Corple appears at Level 1 in such a late stage, but can be useful if you raise him. Aside from Sety, he is the only one who can inherit Valkyre Wand. He will be pretty useless in a fight unless he gets Holsety. Substitute : If Corple isn't available, Hannival adopts Sharloe instead. Sharloe has Charisma, but just like his sister Leilia, he really shouldn't be around front-line, so again it's useless. Sharloe is pretty much always inferior to Corple. Name : Hannival Background : A famous general of Trachea and foster father of Corple. He felt doubtful of fighting against Celis' troops, but didn't get any choice in the matter when Corple was taken as a hostage. Personality : Loyal to his king but also chivalrous. He cares for Corple as if he was his real son. Class : General Heritage : none Recruiting : He starts out as an enemy in chapter 9, but once you rescue Corple he can be persuaded by his adopted son. Items : He starts out with Silver Claymore and Swallow Flipper. If you don't intend on using him much, sell them away and give it to somebody else. If you do want to use him, add Steel Spear and Steel Bow and he will be ready to face any fighter. Skill : Rapid Hit, Ambush, Big Shield Stats Growth: His Strength and Defense will rise fairly well, but other stats are simply horrible. Romance : He has a Talk event with Althena, but that's about all the chance he has. And since Althena is the most difficult woman to win, Hannival will probably stay single. Comment : Hannival is somewhat hard to use effectively, but he is great as a wall unit. Just remember to keep away from mages at all costs. Name : Althena Background : Cuan and Etherine's daughter and Leef's elder sister. However, she is unaware of that fact and believes herself to be a daughter of King Trabant of Trachea. She fights against Celis' army until she is told of the truth by Leef. Personality : Sort of like Ayra; harsh and strong with a caring heart inside. She adores Finn and has a crush on her foster brother(?!), Allione. Class : Dragon Knight -> Dragon Master Heritage : Noba*, Baldo Recruiting : She appears as an enemy in chapter 8, but won't attack you. She appears again in chapter 9 and Leef can talk to her, provided that Finn is alive in the beginning of chapter 9. She goes back to Trachea Castle, and once you kill Trabant she will come back and join Celis' troops. Items : She has Geyborg from the beginning, so you won't need to give her any other spear. To fight against ax-users, give her a strong sword as well. And most importantly, get her a Barrier Ring to cover her low Magic Def. Skill : Rapid Hit, Critical, Pursuit (after changing her class) Stats Growth: Her Magic Power and Magic Def. will be very low, but other stats grow amazingly. Strength and Defense has a possibility of maxing out. Romance : She is easily the hardest woman to charm in the game. Finn and Hannival has a very small chance, but they probably won't score either. Other men seem to have no chance whatsoever, possibly because she has a crush for Allione. Comment : Althena is one of the strongest fighters you will get; her Strength and Defense will probably be the highest in your army. But she's weak against arrows and magics, so be careful not to send her to wrong type of enemies. ######################################################################## V: Skills IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS SECTION COMPLETED, E-MAIL TO ME!!! ######################################################################## VI: Items IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS SECTION COMPLETED, E-MAIL TO ME!!! ######################################################################## VII: Coupling IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS SECTION COMPLETED, E-MAIL TO ME!!! ######################################################################## VIII: Strategy guides for each chapter IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS SECTION COMPLETED, E-MAIL TO ME!!! ######################################################################## IX: Tips and hints IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS SECTION COMPLETED, E-MAIL TO ME!!! ######################################################################## X: Background story IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS SECTION COMPLETED, E-MAIL TO ME!!! ######################################################################## XI: Frequently asked questions IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS SECTION COMPLETED, E-MAIL TO ME!!! ######################################################################## XII: Disclaimer Fire Emblem, Super Famicom, and Super Nintendo Entertainment System belong to Nintendo. This FAQ is a property of Video Game Addicted Person and is meant to be a free resource only. All attempts at distribution, modification, and/or citation of any portion of this FAQ requires his permission. If you are reading this, you must have too much free time on your hand. ^_^