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War of the Stones
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| “ | The protection of the blessed stones is lost. The dark is rising. Malevolence given will and form now walks these lands unopposed. Ancient king of shadows... they appear to be waiting for you. | ” | — Morva speaking to Fomortiis in Darkling Woods |
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The War of the Stones (Japanese: 戦い, War*) is a war that encompasses the events that transpired during Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones. In the context of Magvel, the war involved every country, Grado, Renais, Frelia, Rausten, Jehanna, and Carcino, and nearly every faction on the continent.
The War of the Stones was instigated by the Demon King Fomortiis, from his prison within Grado's Sacred Stone, using Lyon as a puppet he began a conquest to destroy every Sacred Stone on the continent and appoint himself and his Monster army as ruler over the continent.
Overview
Early stages
Before the seeds of conflict were sown, Eirika and Ephraim met Lyon for the first time in their childhood,[4] and became great friends. Eirika and Ephraim visited Lyon in Grado Keep often.
Some time in the year 801 or so[5] Lyon tells Ephraim and Eirika of his experiments with Grado's Sacred Stone, and his most recent success of healing young girl that had been nearly burned to death in a house fire.[6] While the twins express some concern about messing with power that should not be trifled with,[7] they still encourage Lyon to further his research and save more people.[8] However, Lyon is holding back some extremely important information regarding his research. Using a primitive version of a spell dubbed the "Time Shear",[9] Lyon saw within a vision that Grado would be destroyed within the next half-decade.[10]
Early in the year 802, after Eirika and Ephraim return to Renais, Lyon's father, Vigarde, dies from illness.[11] Vigarde's death, along with Lyon's knowledge of Grado's iminent destruction causes Lyon to push his research into dangerous territory, allowing himself under the Demon King's control, and separating the "Dark Stone" from the Sacred Stone of Grado's holy elements.[12]
The creation of the Dark Stone is also the catalyst for the resurgence of monster presence on Magevl. Though Grado has not yet declared war, Magvel is in a time of unrest. The princess of Rausten, L'Arachel, begins a journey across Magvel to purify it of monsters, keeping her identity as Rausten's heir secret.
Grado strikes
About a year after Vigarde's revival, and the destruction of Grado's Sacred Stone, the Demon King, masquerading as Lyon, commands Vigarde to attack Renais, making Ephraim and Eirika's country the first target. Ephriam sets out with a small force to defend the country shortly before the game's main narrative begins.[13]
Eirika flees to Frelia, and is granted refuge there by her friendship with Tana and Innes. After a short time in Frelia, Eirika decides to travel south in search of Ephraim. Unfortunately, Hayden is unable to provide a large force to defend Eirika in her travels, as Grado is on Frelia's doorstep. Eirika accepts Moulder and Vanessa into her service and begins her travels south towards Grado.
Eirika's first battle on her way to Grado is against monster forces in Za'ha Woods, here she meets Lute and Artur, who join Eirika's forces. Eirika also meets the, at the time, mysterious L'Arachel, Dozla, and Rennac, who claim to be travelers with the goal of destroying monsters across Magvel. The strange trio departs after they find out that Eirika's forces had already destroyed the attacking monsters.
Along the way, Eirika meets the priestess Natasha during the battle at the border town Serafew. Eirika protects Natasha, and Natasha is also able to convince the wayward gambler Joshua to join Eirika's forces. Natasha tells Eirika of the dark forces at work within Grado, and Eirika presses onward in her search for Ephraim.
After a few more battles, and more encounters with monsters from Darkling Woods, Eirika arrives at Renvall, the fortress that was rumored to have Ephraim within its walls. However, these rumors prove to be false, spread by the traitor Orson. Eirika finds herself fighting Grado forces within Renvall. Ephraim hears of her plight and comes out of hiding to rescue Eirika.
After escaping Renvall the reunited twins travel back to Frelia, discussing what Lyon could be doing and why Grado would attack along the way.
The twins are reunited, and split again
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After discussing their next move at Frelia, Ephraim and Eirika separate once more, with Ephraim leading a direct assault on Grado, and Eirikia journeying to request aid from Rausten.
Eirika's journey
Ephraim's journey
The Demon King's revival
After reuniting in Jehanna, Eirika and Ephraim discuss what they have seen. Eirika mentions that Lyon seems to be the old friend she has always known, and thinks he is still on their side, despite what is happening.[14] Ephraim, disturbingly, reports Lyon as behaving vastly different, to the point where Ephraim compares Lyon to something not human.[15]
Eirika and Ephraim decide it is time to recover Renais from Orson. The twins storm the castle with their forces and defeat Orson. At this time Myrrh also begins joining the twins in combat. Lyon and Riev are present within Renais castle before the battle but vanish before the fighting begins.
Even though the war is technically over, due to the fall of Grado, L'Arachel suggests the combined groups travel to Rausten to discuss their next move regarding the monsters and the Demon King. On their journey, Eirika and Ephraim encounter many Grado forces at the Narube River. They also encounter a major setback at Neleras Peak, Lyon is able to destroy Renais' sacred stone and escape.
Even with the loss of one of the last Sacred Stones weighing on them heavily, Eirika and Ephraim arrive at Rausten court, and are able to speak with Pontifex Mansel, as well as obtain the last remaining Sacred Stone. After nightfall a massive Grado force lead by Riev attacks under cover of darkness. Eirika and Ephraim stave off the attack and protect Mansel until dawn, after which the Grado forces retreat.
The next morning, Eirika and Ephraim are granted Latona and Ivaldi by Mansel to use in battle against the monsters of Darkling Woods. The group immediately heads for Darkling Woods, and the Black Temple, where the Demon King's corpse resides, and a revival ritual can be performed. Before they arrive, the Demon King kills the forest's guardian, Morva. Myrrh notices this, but does not comment on it to those around her. At the center of the woods, the group once again encounters Riev, though there are no Grado forces to be seen among the monster hordes. Riev eagerly defends the temple with the reanimated corpse of the Manakete, Morva.
After killing Riev and entering the temple, Eirika and Ephraim finally confront Lyon. The Demon King interrupts and insults Lyon shortly before sending more monsters after Eirika's and Ephraim's forces. Once the monsters and Lyon are defeated, the Demon King uses Lyon's corpse as the final piece to complete his revival.
The group arrives within the next portion of the temple, and beholds the revived Demon King. Fortunately, his full revival is short lived, as L'Arachel immediately uses the Sacred Stone of Rausten to bind his soul again.
However, the Demon King's animated corpse is still active and aggressive. After a fight with the reanimated monstrosity, the War of the Stones is over, and with the destruction of the Demon King's corpse, Fomortiis is unable to be resurrected in the future.
Aftermath
Despite the defeat of the Demon King, Magvel is still left in disarray after the war. The calamity destined to destroy Grado also occurs.[16] There also remains a single Sacred Stone on the continent.
However, while many places are destroyed and broken, the future of Magvel looks bright, and the continent is on its way to recovery, countries are rebuilding, and Darkling Woods is healing.
Trivia
Etymology and other languages
| Names, etymology, and in other regions | ||
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| Language | Name | Definition, etymology, and notes |
| English |
War of the Stones |
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References
- ↑ "In times of peace, tales of the past conflict has drifted into legend, and memories of the ancient dark arts have all but evaporated. It is now the year 803..." — Opening Narration, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "Myrrh: The darkness... It’s gone.
Saleh: Yes. That’s the end.
Myrrh: I guess so..." — Myrrh and Saleh, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones - ↑ "No, we’ve done far more than the legends ever told. We’ve destroyed the Demon King’s body. He can never come back." — Innes, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "A childhood friend appears before Eirika." — Opening narration for chapter 17, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "How do you intend to use the Sacred Stone, Lyon? Do you really think you can tap into its power?" — Ephraim in a flashback labeled as taking place two years prior to the events of the game, which takes place in ear 803, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "Uh-huh... A while back, a fire ravaged Serafew, and a little girl got trapped in the flames. Her burns were terrible: not even healing staves were able to cure her injuries. But just a sliver of the stone’s power restored her life and healed her wounds. We saved that girl’s life, Ephraim! Oh, if you could have seen the tears of joy in her mother’s eyes!" — Lyon, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "Do you think this is wise? The power contained within the stones is beyond our understanding... My father tells me that the stones possess a power not to be trifled with." — Eirika, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "Ephraim: If you hope to use the power of the Sacred Stone for good, I trust you can. I'm behind you all the way.
Eirika: I agree with Ephraim entirely. You spend every night in the library, studying cures for your father’s illness. The power of the Sacred Stones is too powerful to be used for personal gain. But you, Lyon... I think you’ll be fine. You’re the kindest person I know." — Ephraim and Eirika, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones - ↑ "We read of a spell entitled the time shear. It causes, in effect, a hole in time. This spell warps time, punches a hole through cause and effect.[..,]Oh, we dedicated years to studying this spell. You see, the greater the disaster, the farther it sends ripples through time. We learned to read these ripples from the future, hoping to save lives. " — Knoll discussing Lyon's studies with Natasha, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "...Within five years, half of Grado will be destroyed.[...]In the southern half of the continent, there will be a terrible quake. The ground will shake violently. The earth will crack open wide. Cities will fall. Fields will burn in the earth’s hot blood. Few will survive. This is what we have foreseen." — Knoll speaking with Natasha, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "One year ago, the emperor died of the illness that had plagued him." — Knoll, speaking to Ephraim at the end of Chapter 14, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "Prince Lyon told us he intended to use the Fire Emblem to restore the emperor. His death had been kept from the public, but rumors were beginning to fly. We knew we had to hurry, before the people learned the truth of the emperor’s death. Prince Lyon dedicated himself to research, skipping meals, foregoing sleep... And then...[...]I wasn’t there, so I did not witness it firsthand. By the time I arrived, the deed had already been done. The Fire Emblem had been shattered, split in two. One was a Sacred Stone, and the other..." — Knoll discussing the creation of the Dark Stone with Ephraim, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "We’ve lost contact with Prince Ephraim and can expect no aid from his men." — A generic soldier, discussing Ephraim's condition, in the prologue, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "I saw Lyon recently. Ephraim, you might know this, but after I abandoned the sea route to Rausten, I traveled overland with Prince Innes to Jehanna. We ran into trouble with Grado’s forces, and I chanced upon Lyon. He didn’t share the details of his situation, but he intimated that he was on our side. Despite all appearances, he was on our side. So Lyon..." — Eirika to Ephraim, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "Eirika, I also met Lyon.[...]Yes. But, he was like a completely different person. To be honest, he didn’t seem to be completely... human." — Ephraim discussing Lyon with Eirika, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- ↑ "I’m sorry, Eirika. I must journey to Grado. I just received word from Seth. In the south, within the empire, there has been an enormous landslide." — Ephraim in the epilogue, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
