#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞

[arcstral]

—  Fire Emblem: Engage, The Emblem Marth Retrospective.  —

Marth in FE: Engage plays a fascinating supporting role.

He has a dynamic presence on the boxart though he’s not a character native to this installment; enlarged and immediately able to be seen on the left where the eyes tend to be first attracted. His title 'Emblem of Beginnings' implicates his role as the first emblem to be summoned on Elyos. He serves as the spokesman for the emblem family in a lot of cases, and provides worldly exposition for the ancient artifacts and plot detail uprisings.

If you acknowledge his role as a witness to every phase of Alear's life from beginning to end- the parts we see in game to the invisible sections we don't see a thousand years before- he suddenly becomes larger than life. The figure that has been with Alear longer than even Lumera. Someone who has seen everything there is to see about our protagonist, to an extent where if an omniscient narrator was ever needed to narrate the events of the game, the only qualified individual by necessity would have to be the ‘Emblem Marth’.

With that that said, I was initially willing to go into Engage thinking of its Marth as an offhand spinoff version. No different from the inconsequential single-beat portrayals of Smash or even Warriors. But this idea is wrong. Engage surprised me by putting a very human, very special Marth into my hands. An echo of the original Hero-King, Emblem Marth recognizes that he is only an emblem from the very first beat of his first appearance, and yet he's unaware of how faithful of a homage he is to the individual he's extracted from.

How much he takes the foundation and honors it elsewhere.

The Emblem Marth as set apart from simply Marth is a purely loyal existence from humble beginnings to bitter end. A millennial being who answers Alear’s call for aid at every cost and asks for nothing in return but to be remembered. His duty to protect this world is equal to his desire to be at Alear’s side. It's that enduring spirit of nobility, loyalty, and devotion to his friends, even forgiveness, that places him on par with his original.

It’s the adversities that best place these traits on show.

Chapter 10 happens and brings the sky crashing down. Suffering on that course, as the last and latest emblem ring to be reclaimed from enemy hands- utterly miserable to be torn apart from Alear and company as Veyle aptly put it- still he serves to provide nothing but love and forgiveness for Alear on their long awaited reunion. The fact that chapter 10's devastation happened at all despite the counsel he’s spared. His even greater forgiveness of Veyle is extended in the aftermath, a compassionate empathy toward her circumstances that reflects the kind he shows for others in his time- his enemies. Hardin and Katarina. Camus and Michalis.

When Veyle returns the ring of the Hero-King to Alear in Chapter 22, she observes that “it was lying by your side, as if it wanted to be with you”, and to me this statement was the most touching. Marth no matter the circumstance will never, ever leave Alear behind if he can help it. But that situation, and that tragic day, arrives. And his reception to the cold fact is graceful.

Accepting his death without complaint, he quells Alear's fears with the reiterated admission of duty, no longer to Altea or to Archanea, but to Elyos. The Emblems exist to protect this world and in that call to existence is a reason worth dying for. His cessation means nothing, Marth nobly says. 'I am of no consequence' he remarks to Velyle tangentially in his paralogue when she laments at the idea of fighting him, with words that resemble humility but in actuality prioritizes the things that he sees as truly important--others.

Duty is the overpowering virtue of Marth’s character. Whereas the original Hero-King cites himself a prince before a son or a brother, this one would call himself an Emblem above all else. That sense of duty to a world not his own even manifests in many different ways. From that unique perspective of both an emblem and a king comes his wisdom, the utmost belief that a world placed in Alear’s hands will know peace and prosperity, that it would be a beautiful place.

This interaction speaks of the telling final thoughts that the Emblem Marth possesses in the last chapter of his life; a dutiful onus to realize a successor to the emblems’ legacy, someone to watch over the lands they have protected for eons. To pick up the torch in their stead. This desire is coupled with his love and peace of mind. He is proud of Alear’s growth, has seen it himself over the course of a thousand years and then some. Of all Marth’s fond observations for the Divine One, such words might be the highest level of his praise.

Such words reflect the caliber of a noble and positive existence who is aware of his bitter end and smells only the flowers. An everbright future with or without the emblems.

When the Pact Ring paralogue finally rolls around, we begin with Marth’s explication about the origins of the ring which even Vander does not know. Detailing Lumera’s mysterious history as its previous owner, and the familiarity of the local surroundings to him, it ends with his sound advice that Alear think carefully on which ally to give it. He is more than aware of the special meaning of this ring and how it will strengthen the bonds between two people.

That knowledge conjoined with his long history as Alear’s partner and a Lythos emblem posits an important side to the conversation:

He is consistently a voice of wisdom yet this example is special; it is in the late Queen Lumera’s place that Marth acts, informing her child about the ring most conducive to their happiness, second only in importance to the emblems and the birthday ring staving off Alear’s corruption. Marth, as always, is watching over the Divine One, nudging them toward their own betterment. Once a long-standing guardian to Alear’s slumber, he watches over them in the innocent and unassuming manner of this guidance as well.

Ultimately, by the game’s ending I thought very deeply about what endeared me so much to this Marth. Why I mourned so much at his loss as a 'phony' version of the original and I think I can finally put it into words. It’s about how much he exemplifies the loyal Hachiko paradigm but ten times magnified. Waiting and watching at the side of his sleeping 'owner' for a thousand years, never failing to sally to Alear's side, and even when corrupted by the fell dragon incantation- even when unable to verbalize or express any component of free will- he's able to muster the scantest smile for Alear in their darkest hour.

Marth is the emblematic mascot who goes through a dozen different redesigns and cameos in the most offshoot games- the most of any existing FE protagonist in both aspects, all differing in appearance from one another in various degrees. In terms of those many portrayals that define Marth, FE17 is nevertheless set apart in this regard by its depth. Showing more than anything that a Marth of a vastly different premise and belonging to an alienated universe is still, well, Marth.

Someone who is dutiful to extremes and deeply appreciative of his bonds, unfailingly kind. Someone who has 'always been kind' as Alear puts it.

Marth's words that Sombron's Emblem will never come back to him again is mirrored for himself. He, too, will never return, and what’s left in the wake of this knowledge is a unique iteration worth mourning. Engage teaches me nothing new about Marth but it does tell me one thing. The hero known as 'Marth' is as much a character as well as the allegoric ideal that puts greater duty and lordly goodness on the table.

Marth is Marth says Engage and that will always be an immutable worldly comfort.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #the profound and almost unfathomable ideation of a bond with one thousand years worth of depth #engage opened my eyes to the trascendental kind of form a friendship could take #in any case the emblem marth was absolutely standout #i once read a jpn fetwt comment that complimented pikazo's artistic take on marth #but more importantly posited the idea that 'how marth looks doesn't matter. it's that noble quality that must stay the same' #really really stuck with me #marth being the 'mascot' of fire emblem is half a character and half an ideal #he defines what a lord is and i think engage covered that aspect wonderfully #engage spoilers

[arcstral]

𝐃𝐄𝐄𝐏   𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐄   𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑   𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐓

NAME.  MARTH LOWELL

BODY

HEIGHT:   174cm — 5′8.5"

STRENGTH ★★★☆☆   ( a strength once conducive to dual-wielding the falchion and binding shield without much strain. not overly impressive but he can pull his weight on the battlefield and during acts of manual labor. )

DEXTERITY ★★★★☆   ( light on his feet as expected of a duelist type swordsman. )

HEALTH ★★★★☆

ENERGY ★★★★☆   ( functional human being healthy circadian rhythm; rises early and goes to bed at a reasonable time which supplies him with a lot of energy. )

BEAUTY ★★★★★   ( in-game physical descriptors include ‘dashing’ and ‘having very sweet eyes’, spelling a gentle face that is popular with clerics, princesses, and romantics. )

STYLE ★★★☆☆   ( stately but predictable. doesn’t dress to revolutionize or make waves. )

HYGIENE ★★★★★  ( trimmed nails that are free of dirt, odorless body, and clean-shaven face. follows hygienic routines faithfully to ensure his appearance is fit for the public eye. )

SKILLS

PERCEPTION ★★★☆☆   ( a good head on his shoulders but over-trusting, placing faith in questionable former allies and leaning toward the belief that individuals- particularly, friends- must surely have reasons to commit their wrongs. )

COMMUNICATION ★★★★★   ( exceedingly transparent with his feelings and doesn’t shy away from conveying fears, dreams, or anxieties. )

PERSUASION ★★★☆☆   

MEDIATION ★★★★☆   ( naturally good at mediation, but balancing and checking the seven enclaves of a unified government help to keep it sharp. )

LITERACY ★★★★★   ( well-educated, having cultivated his reading and writing skills under a menagerie of royal tutors from an early age. )

CREATIVITY ★★★☆☆

COOKING ★★☆☆☆   ( knows the bare minimum of catching and cooking wild food in order to subsist outside of castle walls. otherwise, it’s an area of expertise he leaves faithfully to caeda. )

TECH SAVVY ★★☆☆☆  

COMBAT ★★★★☆   ( an able commander and swordsman alike; skilled spur-of-the-moment judgment, calm under pressure, and in possession of quick reflexes. )

SURVIVAL ★★★★☆   ( coming out alive from both of archanea’s wars with all his limbs, fingers, and teeth should be saying something. observed from his enemies, not too many soldiers or opposing commanders are lucky enough to say the same. )

STEALTH ★★★☆☆

STREET SMARTS ★★☆☆☆

SEDUCTION ★★☆☆☆   ( flusters easily and wouldn’t be able to seduce anyone with confidence on command. doing it without intention is a different story. he’s young, fit, and attractive so the pieces sometimes magically fall into place. )

LUCK ★★★★★   ( considers himself fortunate to possess so many wonderful allies and sources of companionship. )

HANDLING ANIMALS ★★☆☆☆  

PACIFYING CHILDREN ★★★★★   ( shown to interact in a caring and empathetic manner with children. soothing the divine dragon princess, tiki, with unerring success implicates a solid degree of talent. )

MIND

INTELLIGENCE ★★★★☆   ( capable of keeping stride with fast-moving stratagems and conversations at the war table, thoughtful, and emotionally intelligent. )

HAPPINESS ★★★★☆

SPIRITUALITY ★★★★☆   ( the altean heirloom, falchion, is within itself a bequest to mankind from their guardian god so his acceptance of religion is unavoidable. takes special care not to desecrate holy temples with the muddy operations of an army. )

CONFIDENCE ★★★★☆

HUMOR ★★★★☆   ( pleasantly good-humored; can whip out witty ripostes and speak the language of less solemn individuals if need be. )

ANXIETY ★☆☆☆☆

PATIENCE ★★★★☆ ( the patience of a sage. between his two-year stint hiding in talys, and the two-year period of reconstruction that postponed his own marriage, he’s invested in any undertaking for the long haul. )

PASSION ★★★★☆   ( shows commitment to his goal of peace, an earnest belief that goodness in human hearts will prevail, that broken lands and broken people can be rebuilt in time. )

NICE ☆★☆☆☆ MEAN   ( kind of manner and speech with rare deviation. only when faced with villains that commit brazen wrongdoings does he drop courtesies. )

BRAVE ☆☆★☆☆ COWARDLY   ( seemingly impenetrable as if his courage can never falter, but inwardly feels the fearsome weight of his responsibility. the soldiers that stand at his back are unable to see their leader’s frightened face and he states that he prefers it that way. )

PACIFIST ☆☆★☆☆ VIOLENT   ( pacifistic but not pacifist. even though he’s a man that values peace, he could never achieve it without fighting and winning wars first; a sour antithesis albeit one marth has come to accept. )

THOUGHTFUL ☆★☆☆☆ IMPULSIVE   ( a high level of empathy means that he approaches topics and individuals with great consideration. impulsivity even if felt isn’t something he honors especially with a number of prudent subordinates like jagen and malledus to rein him in. )

AGREEABLE ★☆☆☆☆ CONTRARY   ( doesn’t often speak or act in opposition against others, preferring to forge an understanding or to coexist at worst. )

IDEALISTIC ☆★☆☆☆ PRAGMATIC   ( a self-aware idealist, knows that he can’t save all lives under his jurisdiction or expect humanity to likewise choose good over evil but these are ideals he yearns for regardless. )

FRUGAL ☆★☆☆☆ BIG SPENDER   ( rightfully selective with his expenditures as a ruler. a formative few years spent in talys, a kingdom without an army to call its own and less wealth compared to altea, hammered in the importance of frugality and finances. )

EXTROVERT ☆★☆☆☆ INTROVERT    ( being surrounded by people, working with people, leading people- all these actions mean that extroversion is nurtured even if it’s not nature. )

COLLECTED ★☆☆☆☆ WILD   ( in order to uphold the image of a dependable figure of authority he keeps to his composure. very few of his knights have ever seen him behave otherwise. )

ambitious / possessive / stubborn / jealous / decisive / perfectionist

SOCIAL

CHARISMA ★★★★☆   ( well-spoken and authoritative, but it’s ultimately his sincerity and purity of heart that compels others to follow. an essence that drives his most compelling speeches. )

EMPATHY ★★★☆☆ --> ★★★★☆   ( though he feels for the suffering of innocents, the traitors to his kingdom including its civilians were once observed with less understanding. war, after all, can drive a stake of hatred through any heart. )

GENEROSITY ★★★★☆   ( is willing to hand out everything found in his pocket when asked for money. )

WEALTH ★★★★★   ( wealthiest man in archanea, no doubt. )

HONEST ☆★☆☆☆ DECEPTIVE   ( generally honest. stays faithful to the truth, but will lie to spare feelings on occasion. )

LEADER   ★☆☆☆☆ FOLLOWER   ( marth is a natural prince, now king, who honors the duty he bears to others and shoulders whatever social burdens are required. in the event that a leader is required he’ll step up to the plate without batting an eye, not out of pride or any particular desire, but simple nature. )

POLITE ★☆☆☆☆ RUDE   ( extends deference to all deserving individuals no matter their origins or caste. )

POLITICAL ★☆☆☆☆ INDIFFERENT   ( his royal station is closely intertwined with politics, even if he wanted to turn a blind eye he couldn’t. a person’s value served to said politics, however, has no relation in how he regards them. )

BELIEFS

HIGHER POWER ★★☆☆☆   ( after learning the revelation that naga, archanea’s warrior deity, was in actuality the divine dragon king, the expectations and beliefs he held toward a higher power have been humbled. the heavens brought a little closer to earth, seen as more mundane than otherworldly. )

FATE/DESTINY ★★★★☆   ( destiny in the words of malledus has lead him down the path he walks now, as anri’s successor, as heir to the falchion and the duty it entails. marth’s own conviction manifests in his attitude that fate brought him and kris together. )

MAGIC ★★★★★   ( it would be difficult to deny the existence of magic when his sister is a cleric and his best friend is a collegiate mage of khadein. this is to say nothing of the malevolent magicka that hounded his army through gharnef’s imhullu. )

SOULMATES ★★★★☆   ( his belief in soulmates bears certain equivalence to his belief in fate. his beloved caeda is one such soulmate; his other half and royal guard, kris, is another. )

GOOD AND EVIL ★★★★☆   ( to marth’s understanding, good and evil though existent occurs in intricate shades, especially in the case of evil. medeus who thrice subjugated mankind and proved the enemy of marth’s bloodline had seen first humans persecute his kind over centuries. humans themselves refract similarly complicated factors in their ugliest actions, as seen in michalis and camus. marth for this reason has never crossed the threshold of hate even for his most bitter enemies, excluding gharnef. )

LUCK ★★☆☆☆   ( places an average emphasis on luck that falls in line with lamenting a rainy day or a bad hand dealt in cards. )

PRIORITIES

FAMILY ★★★★★   ( if liberating archanea and reclaiming altea was marth’s most vocal priority, alongside it was the rescue of his older sister, elice. )

FRIENDS ★★★★★ ( you won’t find a man more appreciative of his friends. )

LOVE ★★★★☆   ( love though held dear to his heart must come secondary to the crown his head wears. )

HOME ★★★★★   ( marth has never failed to fight for the salvation of his lands and the subjects that live within them. a prevailing sense of guilt at his inability to protect his home from invaders suggests just how important he finds it. )

HEALTH ★★★★☆

PRAISE ★☆☆☆☆

JUSTICE ★★★★☆   ( laws and morals should be enforced for a world to be worth living in. in that regard he has shown himself to be fair yet merciful when administering punishments for crimes. )

TRUTH ★★★★★

POWER ★★☆☆☆   ( hardin of aurelis once ceded the rights to command the battlefield to marth, judging him to be someone who wouldn’t squander a position of power for his own gain. this perception is true. power whether social or physical, tangible or intangible, holds no importance to him. )

FAME ★☆☆☆☆   ( it’s ironic that he has little care for fame. his name will turn out to be the most famous throughout archanean and ylissean history. )

WEALTH ★★☆☆☆

OTHERS' OPINIONS ★★☆☆☆   ( validation or a lack thereof doesn’t weigh on him heavily, but it’s preferable to be regarded in a positive light over a negative one. )    

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #marth is a good man. maybe too good for this world #i say with whiplash after having just done rafal #having muses that play off two ends of a spectrum is f.u.n.

[arcstral]

bouquet and red heart <3

( i. create a bouquet for them! what do those flowers mean? are any of the flowers their particular favourite? )

First up in the bouquet: anemone! The preferential flower that blooms in the morning and closes its petals during the night. The reliance on daylight to realize its true beauty speaks to how 'light' is a recurring dominant motif in Marth's character expression from Lodestar to Prince of Light. A symbol of luck and protection that stays true to his own role in Archanean history.

As a reference to the tragic story of Anri and Artemis, this flower also symbolizes tragic romance; namely the separation between Aphrodite and Adonis, the latter who was murdered by the gods for their jealousy and the former who shed tears in the form of anemone flowers. It parallels how Anri was barred from consideration as a marriage candidate because the nobles—substituting the gods in this case—pompously decided he did not possess the right pedigree. Though Anri and Artemis were never to be, Marth at least transcended his forefather's fate.

The second flower in his repertoire is aster, the flower of flaring star-shaped blooms. Symbolizing love, wisdom, faith, and nobility, it otherwise bears usefulness as a talisman; believed to emit an aroma pungent enough to ward off serpents when burned. For a man who vanquishes so many dragons in his lifetime in the name of good, it's an all too fitting flower.

( ii. their love language(s)? )

Ironically, I believe floriography is a part of his material love language. He's a nobleman through and through so a more privileged activity like the meaningful use and delivery of fresh flowers is within his arsenal. Every flower has a different meaning and though they aren't ones he knows by heart, he takes the time to research their messages for his loved ones. I like to think that starting from the first year of their engagement as he grew more acclimated to peace Marth often sent flowers to Caeda's room in this way.

He also shows his love through caring questions, words of appreciation, and daily catchups no matter how busy his schedule might be. He's consistently interested in the affairs of his allies, of course, but extends special interest toward the well being of his loved ones; wondering how they've been, whether the day has been well for them, and if there is anything he can do to help. His expressions of gratitude for their role in his life also closely follow. It all points to his innermost desire to see them happy or to express how happy they make him in turn.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › royal mandate ‹ ASKBOX. ◞ #◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #arcaeda #very fitting asks from the caeda writer :)

[arcstral]

☄️ COMET - what do people assume about them? are they right?

( what do people assume about them? are they right? )

That he is the 'Hero-King.' Strong, leaderlike, and composed of all the righteous shapes that make up a royal messiah. Marth himself knows the reality. He was a powerless fugitive prince with just five knights to his name. He vowed over the stern of a boat that he would return to his conquered motherland and see it freed. Later that dream elevated to freedom for the entire continent, to the slaying of the Shadow Dragon, then to legend.

Marth in that time never once felt kingly or heroic or unconquerable. Lucina in Awakening coins him as a warrior-king who ruled with an iron fist, breaking evildoers with the swings of his sword made straight and true by his noble purpose. It's a far-cry from the man that he is, but less extravagant interpretations have glorified him the same. And what those people assume of him isn't totally wrong.

Heroes are elevated in proportion to how desperately the people needed them and Prince Marth of Altea entered the four-year ongoing War of Shadows alike a ray of light. With every step of his campaign staving back the shadows of traitors, patricides, regicides, banditry, arson, murder, and manakete conquest after the Archanean hegemony failed to provide salvation. His claim to glory was timing, it was consistency, and it was even the progenitor legend of the 'chosen one' wielding a blade of light and a shield of five orbs reflected in his image.

He proves to be the dragon-slaying savior not once but twice. He becomes king not merely over Altea, but the whole of Archanea, leading it to prosperity after two consecutive failed rulers. With or without his agreement on the matter, that is how a name like 'Hero-King' is born. Like a sheet of metal is beaten into shape by a hammer, how a figure over the course of multiple good deeds becomes so strengthened in memory, entangled with the image of hope that he's immortalized in Ylissean religion and history two thousand years later. How 'Hero-King' comes to stand on synonymous footing with Marth until there is scarce need for the original name.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › royal mandate ‹ ASKBOX. ◞ #◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #unsungblade #the dichotomy of man versus legend that is so constant so interesting and also so dehumanizing with marth #he's a hero of coincidence a hero that archanea needed in their darkest hour #he becomes so famous he's known first for his name of hero-king and then marth as an afterthought #the only character in fe13 who refers to him as marth without prompt is tiki and other characters correct 'oh you mean the hero king?' #it says volumes about how his memory develops over the passage of time

[arcstral]

{ 🔪 KNIFE - how do they react to injury / misfortune befalling their loved ones (significant other, family, friends)? do they put themselves at blame? ~~

( how do they react to injury / misfortune befalling their loved ones (significant other, family, friends)? do they put themselves at blame? )

Oh, absolutely. The heaviest trials experienced by his loved ones and army are considered the fallout of his bad decisions. As someone in a position of authority, Marth sees himself as the source of reasonable and concentrated blame—a stance he sometimes takes to extremes. He's the commander they rally behind, the man they've chosen to lead them onto a clear path, and when he fails to do so it processes to him as his betrayal of their trust. The grounds for a deep welling of disappointment in himself.

Nyna: “Well done, Marth. Our struggle is finally over. You have saved our world.”

Marth: “Not just me. Many fought at my side… And died.”

Nyna: “Marth… You loved her, didn’t you? Caeda."

Marth: “…She was the one I most wanted to keep safe. But I failed, and I have lost her forever… It occurs to me now that perhaps she was the one protecting me all along. Caeda… Why did you take up arms with a fool like me?”

When losing Caeda for example it becomes a personal kind of guilt. He's accepted her aid of his own volition, taken her to war when she had a life of peace waiting for her in Talys, and left her in pieces. Even with the nameless soldiers of the Archanea League who died in battle it's revealed that he continuously visits their graves two years after the fact. Whether it concerns his loved ones or his brothers-in-arms, Marth neither forgets the misfortune he causes others nor the everlasting guilt he pins on himself for it.

The variable dialogue shared between him and Kris expresses his self-centralized way of thinking. If many units are lost by the Chapter 18 checkpoint, Marth will express a staggering degree of grief and regret to the point where he struggles even to verbalize it. No matter the universal hardships faced across the board, in the end the blame circles around to him; his inability to be strong, or to measure up to the power of his forefather. He shirks accountability for success and absorbs every bit of it for failure, that's the kind of man he is.

Marth: "...The feeling of pain overwhelms me. When I think of the severely wounded, and the many who have fallen... Perhaps if I had been stronger like Anri, then everyone would still be alive... From now... From now on, I will definitely..."

Kris: "Sire......"

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › royal mandate ‹ ASKBOX. ◞ #◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #ephemeralove #kiss for reddot

[arcstral]

🌏 EARTH - will they give up the world for someone they love? is this decision easy for them?

( will they give up the world for someone they love? is this decision easy for them? )

Relinquish the world and everything he considers worth protecting within it or allow the life of a loved one to slip through his fingers. There's no doubt that it would be the most difficult decision Marth ever has to make. He would hem and haw, root his feet before the crossroads, and look first to every other solution in sight before landing upon the cruelest and most unfavorable outcome.

But ultimately, no; he wouldn't.

To the man who cites himself a Prince before a son or a brother the world comes first. It always does. His path has chosen him; so he serves a lifelong tenure of service to his people, whether they are Altean or the seven peoples of Archanea at large, and this leads him to fulfill the role of a dependable, dispassionate king even if he has to steel his resolve or bite his fist to do it. Even if it's not truly what he wants.

Ironically, his refusal to sacrifice the clerics in the battle against Medeus tells of many things. He's willing to strain against the limits of sensibility, willing to expend the precious few seconds they have toward a time-sensitive endeavor in saving the world from the revived Shadow Dragon and his legion of degenerated dragons, because the loss of four important noblewomen would throw the civilized world into imbalance–because every single face among them is someone both he and another deeply cared about. Because Marth himself bitterly detests the loss of life.

But without the rationale of numbers, without the semblance of a greater good to justify it, compassion alone cannot fuel his decisions and he understands that. Marth when faced with the choice to save the world or a single person that he loves will choose the world and he will hate himself for it.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › royal mandate ‹ ASKBOX. ◞ #◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #klagens #thank you for the ask rai :) :)

[arcstral]

𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑 𝐒𝐘𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌

RULES: bold what applies - italicize sometimes -strike out never. Tag some friends to play along! Repost, don’t reblog !

SUN • egotistical • melted wax wings and fingers • stretching sunburnt skin • the most generous soul • blood in the fruit • halos • anger on fire • high vitality • thunderous laughter • is pride really a sin? • halogenic aura

MERCURY • expansion of the mind • silver-tongued • an everlasting wanderer • polyglot • high dexterity • handwritten letters • innately critical • en vogue • eyes in the trees • hidden libraries • there’s always room for improvement

VENUS • in love with strangers • iridescent waters • love potions for your mirror • selfless devotion • shattering crystal • seafoam upon sand • the golden ratio • drowning in your own passion • material value & high principles • luring • plush lips

EARTH • fresh springs • tree hugger • we can start again tomorrow • a blazing rainforest • respects survival of the fittest • nature’s adversity • lazy bones • constantly evolving • flowers sprouting from wounds • a granite altar • fossilized remains

MOON • illusory • silver shimmer off the ocean • secrets and gossip • cycles of reincarnation • a crybaby • physically ethereal • shared glances with a stranger • cat eyes • mistrusting their intuition • fear is a prison • ornate magic wands

MARS • healthy competition • attraction and repulsion • magma and rubies • a blade being forged • wrath wrath wrath • malefic • intense eye contact • cannon fodder & fireworks • blood floods • copper taste on your tongue

JUPITER • red robes and a suit of armor • beacon of stability • leader by birth • thunderbolts and lightning • guilty but can’t stop • secret rich kid • golden touch golden tears • innate optimist • failure isn’t an option • constantly reaching for more • unfinished symphonies

SATURN • traditional • overbearing energy • a sculptor of reality • this existence is a karmic one • has a heart it’s just… way down deep • law, order & justice • avoid all necessary risk • the sound of shackles clanging • sisyphus’ struggle • grappling with the reality of time • self-governing

URANUS • psychedelic funk music • overflowing cups • a rebellion with skin • looking good in photo id • oblivious but caring • middle fingers in the air • double rainbows • icy diamond exterior • holographic • afraid of their own mediocrity • pearlescent smoke

NEPTUNE • an elegy for the lost • dissolving boundaries • white horses • the burden of mystical conditions • deceptive • escapism is their reality • a polarizing entity • artists soul • paranoia • searching for the unseen • a siren’s swan song

PLUTO • angel statues over graves • power • the cycle of necrosis • transformative • unfathomable depths • an ivory tower toppling over • screaming at the sky • violets and irises • eclipsed darkness • speaks with their shadow • sex, death, rebirth

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #saw this solar system based meme on the dash and 100% wanted to do it for mars #i mean marth :') #@ reincarnation cycles they aren't explicitly touched upon in archanea #but we get allusions to it via naga and tiki and in the distant sequel i.e. awakening #it's not any information that i put any weight in or chalk up to reincarnation specifically #but it's interesting that robin in awakening is alluded to having a similar “soul” to marth

[arcstral]

—  Mars; A Peaceful God of War(?)  —

The corruption of Marth's original name as well as the connotation attached to its origins is always a topic of fascination for me. Dubbed Mars after the Roman god of war, the inability to perfectly translate Japanese characters into English phonetics likely twisted the '-su' sound into a '-th' and that became the Marth we know today. In Japanese he's still named Mars and this in turn gives him an entirely different first flavor as a character than the western mistranslation, which can be considered very polarizing if one isn't aware of Greco-Roman pantheon specifics.

At face value, Mars, god of war, is not really illustrative of the kind-hearted and idealistic exemplar that modern day Marth represents. Closer inspection of his role within the four Archanea games does wonderfully to map out the key characteristics that make Marth, or Mars, so deserving of his name. A name that, at some points, even seems exceedingly suited to him at that; a veritable aptronym.

And it must be due to this scene, right?

The unwavering aplomb in the face of a fast approaching enemy host? The dedicated profession of his statement to not only defeat, but also totally destroy and “crush” imperial Archanea, fueled by his vindicated anger and moral superiority in this war at having his kingdom invaded by the suzerain he swore to serve?

Only a little. His faithful accuracy to Mars lies more namely in that Marth is twice-fold the commander of a vast liberation army and beacon of hope for the disillusioned people of Archanea, their military messiah the 'Hero-King' as in line with the hope-filled image of Mars—the patron god of defensive and offensive peacemaking, or use of the army as a facilitator for lasting peace. This as opposed to the Greek variant, Ares, that waged war negatively for anarchy, is an obvious and illuminating selection.

Nyna:  Grust’s artillery…Our opponent is mighty.

Marth:  Nonetheless we must face them head-on; they stand between us and Altea.

Nyna:  That hunger for danger worries me, Marth. Humanity’s hopes rest on your shoulders. I would sooner not see them crushed.

Marth:  Which? Humanity’s hopes, or my shoulders? …Have a little faith, Nyna. The enemy ballisticians can strike from afar, but they’re powerless up close. All we need to do is move in and silence them before they do too much damage. Watch!     (Chapter 13: Wooden Cavalry)

True to his etymological roots, and reflected by pieces of his dialogue alongside, Marth is not by any means an unremitting pacifist. He’s a trained commander, a necessary swordsman, and the military aspects of his character number many regardless of his peace-loving traits. It can be easy to overlook how committed and unswerving he is to his tactics just as well as to his own amicable ideals, but laid out before the player is stark evidence.

Coexisting with the noble prince is a determined, self-certain, and sometimes even cocksure commander. For one, there’s not a lot of meaning or intent to misconstrue with either the exchange he shares with Nyna when faced with the famed wooden cavalry of Grust, or even less, the very certain words he has for Cain in response to the knight’s report that imperial Archanea was closing in on their location.

Grust and imperial Archanea respectively were extolled as the most powerful armies in the world. These things mean nothing to a man like Marth who is backed by great extraneous purpose, a kingdom to save and a war to end much greater than his own fears.

Marth:  I'm truly glad that you came back unharmed, Cain.

Cain:  Yeah, somehow I managed to shake off the enemy and escape here.  But the enemy is already approaching from the north.

Marth:  Don't worry. We will crush them.   (Chapter 8: Soulful Bridge)

From his portrayal in the Maki Hakoda manga to Dragalia Lost to the animated OVA as well as the many expressions of his self-sacrificial nature in Shadow Dragon, Marth is not above using his emotional or physical well being for the sake of furthering his campaign. Furthermore, the Jagen of the manga adaptation states that Marth moves decisively, striking down the commander of an army and thus disabling its chain of command, removing the reason for the enemy soldiers to fight.

The manga insight, more importantly, illuminates the heart of Marth’s approach across most of his iterations. His desire to see the least amount of casualties amongst both allies and enemies leads to him employing strategies that will end his battles as quickly as tactical ability can allow. In the FE12 remake this line is reallocated to Kris, but originally it’s Marth who suggests the quickest route to Pales by cutting through Adrah Pass which is well aligned with his desired element of speed and highlights his military acumen.

Marth:  We must defeat Grust once and for all. If we march south without finishing them off, we have our rear exposed.

Nyna:  Then you mean to invade.

Marth:  Yes. And this time, General Camus will be there to meet us. I am sure of it. ‘Camus the Sable’, they call him. Many extol him as the most able warrior alive. It will be a fierce battle…but one we cannot avoid.

Nyna:  You are certain we must face him?”

Marth:  We have crippled Grust, but they will regroup and stand in our way again. No, we need to stamp this fire out before the wind catches it and starts spreading it anew.     (Chapter 19: Manakete Princess)

War to Marth isn’t won by overwhelming numbers or vast discrepancies in military technology or advancements, it’s the clever and never wasteful targeting of goals and expeditions. He cuts no corners and lays out no lace or frills on the explanation of his warpath. When Nyna asks if he means to invade Grust, he puts simply that he does without wavering at the semantics. At Castle Helena he launches another preemptive strike on the Grustian occupational forces stationed there, seizing gold and provisions to curb the army’s life flow.

He doesn’t only wage defensive warfare, but also more aggressive stratagems if he believes it will be a means to convincingly less bloody ends. The cleanest end to their war. His quote in FE11 especially invents the most lucid core of his approach to battle. He means to fight and he means to fight well; this in turn identifies just how precisely efficient he can be when exercising his role as commander over the Archanea League.

Malledus:  Sire, we are nearing the Macedonian border.

Marth:  Did you send a messenger?

Malledus:  Yes…but…

Marth:  They will not yield.

Malledus:  No reply came, sire…

Marth:  I knew they might not switch and join us, but I had at least hoped to avoid bloodshed…So be it. Macedon stands between us and Dolhr. And Gotoh is here somewhere as well. If the battle must be fought, I mean to fight it well.    (Chapter 21: Clash in Macedon)

His strict adherence to utility is softened by his consistent behavior of allowing his opponents to flee, reiterating to his soldiers never to pursue those who throw down their weapons or show their backs. His messenger to Michalis and his words to Camus—though both failed attempts—were inducted with the intention of parley and armistice. Marth is far from a purist, but he is a moral and pacifistic leader who is repulsed by human death, protracted war and suffering, and peace is his goal. That is where the distinction lies.

Mars, the Roman god of war, is the military god of moral war practice. True to his name, Marth is good at war but refines his temperament with the vision he has for peace. He’s good at war, but behind the hardened face of a commander is a sensitive man who deeply dislikes fighting. Be it the contrast between his gentle face and bellicose-sounding origins, or his aptitude and personality, there’s a dichotomous yet informative quality lying beneath the surface of his original name, ‘Mars’.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #for many many reasons i fell in love originally with the fe11 marth #his gritty and confident adherence to the multiple roles required of him be it prince or commander #it took my playing of fe3 to realize this wasn't a characterization unique to the remakes #marth though pacifistic isn't a pacifist #this distinction becomes more apparent when he's shown comparing his views to a more purist exemplar like celica in warriors #all things considered i would say the name mars was an excellent choice for him

[arcstral]

🌟 — a memory about a person or friend they’ve lost

     (  🌟  ;  a memory about a person or friend they’ve lost  )

              His rapier shatters somewhere in the stretch between the middle and end. The faithful blade is one of a half-dozen companions that followed him since the dark days of his refuge in Talys. When he possessed little more than his friendships and the rights to a stolen kingdom across the sea. But Marth thinks that tears aren’t worth spilling for a weapon no matter how old or loved; or rather, he thinks them better saved. He has lost one friend. By the end he will lose another.

               Like crimson bedrock, the newfound breastplate of Emperor Hardin is a greater fortress than the likes of Lang and even the mage dragon, Morzas, who impeded every blow of the like with his scales. The rapier etches its final wound and then the rest falls away, steel and hilt in two pieces clattering against a distant wall. Somewhere, though he hasn’t called for it, he’s tossed a different sword—he catches it with one hand, the lightsphere tucked tightly in the other as if only death could wrench away his grip.

               Hardin knows him far too well. Knows the way his Altean friend weaves and ducks, how he looks to favor his left side but advances with his right. How he aims smartly for the chinks between armor when faced with a general like Jiol, but swerves just shy of those points when that general is Hardin. But Marth knows him, too. Dark Emperor or not, the man he is now fights like the man he was. Hardin who made two thrusts of his spear and delayed the third by a second. Hardin who aimed his lance for the throat when backed into a corner like the Coyote he was named for.

               It would have been a fatal decision to duck the Gradivus. Anyone else would meet the lance with the space between his eyes by doing so. But he sidesteps the pronged head - he remembers - and his new brave sword stabs into the gap between shattered plates. A second time and blood sprays in an unending gush. Peace resting on the shoulders of his life, on the ooze of Hardin’s lifeblood, and he knows there will never be a more necessary death.

               Tears pricking his eyes, kneeling across bloody marble with a man he called friend, and Marth knows there will never be a life he misses more.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › royal mandate ‹ ASKBOX. ◞ #◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #asphuxia #YOU (grabbing cat by throat)

[arcstral]

🌈- A memory about when they first fell in love

     (  🌈  ;  a memory about when they first fell in love  )

               Each and every battle they share there’s a bit of sorrow in his heart, a little bit of wonder, at the lance clenched so firmly in her delicate hand. Always that much bloodier than when he had seen it last. The hours more she spends cleaning her armor, longer than anyone else because white can’t hide the stains as well as silver or blue. Still. It could seize his attention for hours if it wasn’t a battle that demanded it more. Caeda’s beauty.

                The beautiful, inspirational, talented way Caeda puts a man on the other side to death so that one of theirs can live. If he hesitates to kill—to be the cause of sorrow for some imaginary brother, son, daughter, husband, wife—he need only gaze up at the sky and there flies the unwavering reminder of someone who doesn’t. She shows him the way every time he looks. Everything is for a world where light can live. Where Caeda can live. But gawking at girls isn’t suitable behavior for a Prince - much less for his battles - and the first time he’s caught could very well be his last:

     Watch out, Marth!!

               When he hears the whizz of her javelin by his ear, he also feels its weight sink into a different body, mere inches away. The clatter of the brigand’s sword spells his near damnation. It registers that the princess has cut down an unnoticed foe determined to bring Marth to an end. Embarrassed, he shoots her a quick nod of thanks, stricken by his own flaws, but never the ones they share.

               How the speed, and the terror, of her response meant that she had been looking at him, too.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › royal mandate ‹ ASKBOX. ◞ #◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #ventusanimae

[arcstral]

[ 😇 ] what would your muse do if they became a god?

     (  what would your muse do if they became a god?  )

Most important of any acknowledgement is that Marth as god will never quite stop being king. The responsibility, and sorrow, Marth feels for every citizen pledged to his care—as well as every life he’s lost—remains his strongest motivation but also his strongest reminder of failure. Here is a fragile ruler made divine, haunted without rest by the lives that slip through his fingers. Give that once powerless hero the key and his chosen door is simple.

The promised land of his shining eye, and to others, an unrealistic heaven on earth. Marth’s deepest wish is a peaceful Archanea, but also a world where horrific deaths born of bloodshed, privation, and even illness scarcely touch. An external world where humans are never culled by irrational tragedies, accidents, and unthinkables—where no one need die for reasons beyond aging. Internally, a lawful society where those of sincerity are allowed to lead, and those who follow are justified for their trust. With undying godhood as his tool, Marth’s once impossible dream now possesses infinite means. It becomes an hourglass without a bottom.

But even with time on his side, whether or not he perfectly succeeds is unlikely. It’s far more likely that he will never. Even Gotoh warned of the complexity attached to humans who act upon their doubts and point their blames at each other; he can change the world, but Marth can never change humans. He himself knows this. However, with a peace-loving God at its helm, the Archanean civilization will one day reach a stage in his immortal lifetime where casualties are minimized by advancements in medical knowledge, technology, and procedural justice. Where the desire for peace is solidified in future generations as a testament to all the failures and sacrifices in history that came before them.

Until then he'll spend as many centuries as he needs to. Setting a torch to the root causes of famine, rot, and disease. Conditioning the ravaged lands of Archanea to prosper so that no hungry mouth will ever again know starvation, and abolishing the forces observed to pollute society throughout his wars. Though godhood like kingship will be difficult work—not thankless, but also not ever ending—Marth will never give up.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › royal mandate ‹ ASKBOX. ◞ #◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #madnessbefallen #emm asking the sexy sexy questions huhu #there is never going to be an end to war and strife #but that doesn't make human efforts for peace any less meaningful #marth having this type of understanding translates well to godhood because it means his motivations will never fall to a decay effect #a compassionate maker who's always invested in humanity's wellbeing and never faults it for its failures. Yeah....

[arcstral]

🙉 HEAR-NO-EVIL - what is the worse thing your oc could hear from someone?

( what is the worse thing your oc could hear from someone? )

I have no doubt in my mind that news of death concerning his loved ones would absolutely crush him. There are some people he simply can't live without. People who would cause him to navigate life much more aimlessly than before in light of their absence such as Caeda, Kris, Merric, Elice, and so on. Besides that the worst thing Marth could hear from someone is something he's actually heard before—twice in fact. The fall of Altea.

Marth's sense of obligation to his kingdom and people runs painfully deep. Altea's fall to the enemy is a loss he continues to associate with his own powerlessness. His ultimate failure as a monarch to provide protection and security to the thousands of citizens, tenants, and innocents that count on their prince to fulfill his role. Losing his lands to invaders twice was a brutally distressing tally. The first time it happened he engraved the pain into his memory, the second time he was brought to tears and even to question his fitness to rule.

Narrator: '"Only the castle remains… If we regain Altea Castle, where I was born and raised… Thank you, my friends… Thank you for believing in me…" Tears shimmered down Marth's face. And the girl who gently wiped away his tears couldn't stop her own…'

Marth: "Yet, because of Archanea's actions, so many innocent lives have been lost. How can I face them...? I've caused them great sorrow. Because I was too weak... Was I presumptuous in believing I could protect my homeland?"

It speaks volumes of how much torment and guilt he felt beyond the scenes. This is a man who held his head high when he learned that his mother had died, but cried for relief when setting two feet before his castle's gates. The girl in the narrative sequence is Caeda and she witnessed this saddening display to the inspiration of her own tears. Hearing that he lost Altea again a third time, at the same hands of self-perceived inability as before, would be the final nail in Marth's coffin.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › royal mandate ‹ ASKBOX. ◞ #◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #lionscion #this sort of aspect about marth is why i don't envy the responsibilities of kings and queens in reality #it's a lot to have so many people rely on you for their livelihoods #too much pressure man #that life isn't for me God bless the hero king

[arcstral]

🪤 MOUSE TRAP - what will always lure them into certain danger? a loved one in danger? a promise of something they are always searching for?

( what will always lure them into certain danger? a loved one in danger? a promise of something they are always searching for? )

Success on the battlefield is what will technically lure him closer to certain danger. Marth isn't an inherently bold person, he's really quite mild in every other aspect, but it's worth pointing out that he has an assertive streak when it comes to tactics. A keen observer could say almost that he becomes alike a different person. His plans at the war table are calculated with their risks, he's intelligent but also young and ambitious. Every battle he fights he means to 'fight well' but this in turn sometimes places him in harm's way.

Whether it's funneling his forces through the open fields against the ballistae of the Wooden Cavalry, routing the Sable Order once renown as the strongest military unit on the continent, or suggesting that they "crush" Hardin's contingent at the Chiasmir Bridge in direct confrontation, I think there is a very necessary separation of identity between Marth the Prince and Marth the Commander. When it's a senseless and unfair war that needs to be fought certain inhibitions need to be swept away.

A meek or passive strategist has little chance of evening odds that are already stacked against him.

With that said, it's one thing to play the chessboard, but he's not above using himself as an individual piece either. He's very active on the front lines, it doesn't sit well with Marth to leave any phase of the fighting to his allies alone; whether the dangers are small or large, he's guaranteed to be found in the thick of the fighting. Coincidentally, he's also one of the only warring members of royalty on the Archanean continent who doesn't ride a mount to battle. He takes his place among the infantry which makes him relatable with the footmen but simultaneously more susceptible to injury and getting caught out.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › royal mandate ‹ ASKBOX. ◞ #◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #gentlenekomata #thank you much <3 <3 #marth always stays true to his original god of war theme

[arcstral]

💥 COLLISON - what emotions do they have trouble dealing with?

( what emotions do they have trouble dealing with? )

Desire. It applies more to the younger Shadow Dragon Marth, but for several all-consuming years the only thoughts on his mind was Archanea's liberation, justice for his Altean brethren, and the ongoing war waged across the sea from Talys. Prince Marth of Altea fought hard and he fought well, but when it came time for all of that to end, the conclusive result was someone without purpose. Someone who saw the light at the end of the tunnel but didn't know precisely what to do with it except stand with his arms dumbly at his sides and bask in the feeling of finality. All his struggles were over... now what?

He went back to work.

Immediately making plans to return to Altea without taking his feelings for Caeda into consideration, essentially brushing away her confession and stifling them beneath a never ending and constantly revolving checklist of things to do. Marth was unable to exorcise the role of a wartime prince from a boy at peace. Things like love and leisure had nothing to do with him in his head. His inability to express and act on his wants was because he never learned how to place personal desires above communal ones. And that's how Nyna came to do Naga's work; by giving Marth the courage and directive to confess to Caeda himself.

To another extent Marth also struggles with his handling of grief. He detests it when allies lose their lives around them. It has a lot to do with how obligated he feels to preserve human life, and how his sister and Frey sacrificed themselves to ensure his safety, but it also bears roots in the way he lost his father and mother. He's a prince but he's also an orphan of war.

He lost his father on the banks of the Menedy to a warring party that hung the heads of the Archanean royal family on pikes. His civilian mother Liza was murdered by the Dolhrian mage-dragon Morzas within their own castle. He never properly had the time to grieve their losses and especially in the case of Liza, news of her death came on the same day that he liberated Altea. In the snowballing of the war that came after, Marth unhealthily buried his grief. The terrible crimes against humanity that stole his parents from him deeply impacted the way he perceived and reacted to deaths around him far more than he or anyone let on.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › royal mandate ‹ ASKBOX. ◞ #◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #atypicalsenerio #my mind is always trained on the utter despair that marth felt when he learned that his mother died #to a degree i think he expected it after years of silence #he still lamented the fact that he fought so hard to arrive at an empty shell of a home without his old life to return to #and that moment colored his relationship with grief forever

[arcstral]

⚙️ GEAR - what are your ocs thoughts on science & art? which do they give more importance to? how much value do they place on each?

( what are your ocs thoughts on science & art? which do they give more importance to? how much value do they place on each? )

also asked by @liegebound

He places relatively equal emphasis on science and art, interpreting their values in different ways from the standpoint of both a ruler and an individual.

Art for example equates to visual manifestations of culture and creativity; an indulgence that only countries with fully contented needs or otherwise enjoying a booming economy can partake in en masse. Marth sees art then as the standing evidence of peace. Even if he's no special connoisseur, even if he won't be the one to usher in a renaissance in this field, the connotations and meaning of art is something he appreciates. A meter of success that he even seeks for. Art signifies a land no longer held in a vice grip of war, the simple fact that it can flourish means that a king has done his job.

Science on the other hand bears an interpretation swayed by his experiences with people both evil and good, not to mention his roots as an Archanean. In Archanea it's no secret that the greatest medical and technological advancements are born through magic, and so magic in turn is virtually equatable to science. But when Marth thinks of his encounters with the Dark Pontifex in his wars, he recognizes an insidious employment of 'science' that returned the Shadow Dragon to life. That sundered men from their stalks like wheat through the Imhullu, created Gharnef's clones in Thabes, or brought seven kingdoms to their knees in a great and successive fall of domino blocks.

Science as he's seen it is fearsome. Marth dislikes it in truth, but it's a coin with two sides. Lena, Maria, Merric, Linde, Wendell, Gotoh; simple clerics and collegiate mages of Khadein alike teach him that magical science is not always wielded with bad intentions, that it even remains necessary to be understood for the sake of a safer humanity. Its common uses taught as much as its darkest secrets protected.

In the years following their second war, it's revealed that Elice and Merric—Marth's very own sister and brother-in-law—pilot a magic academy in the Pales capital. Marth wouldn't have subsidized a school of magic in the heart of Archanea, a locale with high visibility and historic value, if he didn't understand its importance. Wouldn't have allowed his closest familial associates to pursue this dream away from Altea if he didn't recognize the necessity. Because Marth has respect for magic, because he has a healthy balance of wariness and judgement, he is able to accept these decisions.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › royal mandate ‹ ASKBOX. ◞ #◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #shadoll #liegebound #very interesting topic to dig my claws into thank you both !!

[arcstral]

🌋 VOLCANO - how bad is their temper? is it a slow boil, or a instant explosion?

( how bad is their temper? is it a slow boil, or a instant explosion? )

Outside of blatant displays of injustice it is very difficult to make Marth angry to the point of visibility. He's levelheaded and only occasionally finds himself caught up in negative fits of emotion from time to time. By the turn of his second war he's become a graceful young man with a tall ceiling for tolerance and healthy emotional intelligence. That temperament is also the end result.

Narrator: Talys was a small border kingdom, with no grand order of knights to boast of, but its king selflessly gave Marth use of the isle’s eastern fortress. And as he saw the boy shake with anger and grief, he also gave wise counsel: “Prince Marth,” he said, “I do not doubt you love your sister something great. But you must be patient…time is on your side. If you stay here, and grow stronger, a time will come when you can help her.”

As suggested by the omniscent narrator, his fledgling years spent in Talys between ages fourteen and sixteen is when his temper was at its worst.

A displaced princeling filled with moody spells dry of a smile, periods spent wallowing in thought or raking the point of a pen over Dolhr on the map, over and over. Back then he didn't fly into rage so much as seethe in it. Pointing his anger and grief like a weapon toward the Gra traitors and Grust villains, toward Medeus and the dragonkin that composed his empire. He was just a boy, and he acted just how a privileged young boy with everything stripped away from his hands would.

Age and peace brought with it sharp differences. Now it's not that anger doesn't come easily to Marth, the same injustices and villains still incite his fury, it's more that he's able to regulate these emotions with greater aplomb. Less a boy and more a man. With his current breed of anger the lukewarm bubbles will show far sooner than the boil; in a noticeable tension to his body or an out-of-place quiet. At fourteen years old that same state was boyish, sullen, and unpredictable. Marth would have apologized to the Altean knights for how he behaved in those uncertain times.

#◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › royal mandate ‹ ASKBOX. ◞ #◜ ╰ ♕ ◦ › gathered wits ‹ INTROSPECTION. ◞ #aimlessarchery #thank you for the ask <3 #shadow dragon marth once again reigning supreme