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The Face Beneath

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Revision as of 03:19, 11 September 2020 by PikaSamus (talk | contribs) (Text replacement - "Japanese: {{hover|" to "Japanese: {{hl|")
The Face Beneath

Cm fe16 the face beneath.png

Location

Sealed Forest

Boss(es)

Death Knight

How many years has it been since we last spoke? I'm so sorry... I should have come back for you sooner... I'm sure it wasn't pleasant living in House Bartels.
— Mercedes

The Face Beneath (Japanese: 隠された素顔 Hidden Face) is a paralogue chapter in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It is available from Chapter 15 to Chapter 16 Silver Snow/Chapter 19 Azure Moon/Chapter 17 Verdant Wind and is unavailable on the Crimson Flower route. In order to attempt this paralogue, the player must have recruited Mercedes and Caspar and neither must have fallen in battle previously.

Plot

Main article: The Face Beneath/Script

Caspar reports that Imperial forces have been spotted in the Sealed Forest led by the Death Knight, and an apprehensive Mercedes reveals that she has been thinking about her younger brother Emile. Byleth leads their forces into the forest to drive off the Death Knight. In the forest, Mercedes confronts the Death Knight and asks him to remove his helmet, believing that he is Emile. Imperial reinforcements arrive and order the Death Knight to help them fight Byleth's forces, but the Death Knight refuses, citing a lack of interest in fighting.

Byleth and their companions defeat the Imperial soldiers. Afterwards, Mercedes asks the Death Knight to join their cause, and the Death Knight asks Mercedes to leave Garreg Mach Monastery; neither sibling is willing to back down. The Death Knight gives Mercedes the Heroes' Relic of House Bartels, the Rafail Gem; if Caspar defeated him, he also gifts him his Scythe of Sariel. The Death Knight vows to kill Mercedes the next time they meet before departing. Mercedes blames his upbringing in House Bartels for his current psychotic nature and believes that there is still a kind man within him.

Beginning log

Whispers of Death Knight sightings in Garreg Mach excite Caspar, but Mercedes has a much more pensive reaction. Something must be on her mind...

Chapter data

Normal Hard Maddening

Chapter Data
Conditions
Unit Data
Victory: Rout all enemies except the Death Knight Player Partner Other Enemy
Defeat: Byleth or Dimitri Azure Moon/Claude Verdant Wind dies*, the player's army is routed*, or Mercedes or Caspar dies 11 {{{partner}}} {{{other}}} 20+6

Preparations Battle

Cm fe16 the face beneath.png

Character data

Silver Snow Azure Moon Verdant Wind

Characters
New units

None

Available characters
Byleth m 02 ​Ferdinand 02 ​Linhardt 02 ​Caspar 02 ​Bernadetta 02 ​Dorothea 02 ​Petra 02 ​Felix 02 ​Ashe 02 ​Sylvain 02 ​Mercedes 02 ​Annette 02 ​Ingrid 02 ​Lorenz 02 ​Raphael 02 ​Ignatz 02 ​Lysithea 02 ​Marianne 02 ​Leonie 02 ​Anna ​Shamir ​Hanneman ​Manuela ​Alois ​Flayn ​Seteth ​Catherine ​Cyril 02 ​Hilda 02 ​Yuri 02 ​Balthus 02 ​Constance 04 ​Hapi 02 ​
Other characters may be available if the paralogue is attempted later.

Item data

Items
Name Obtainment Method
Is ns01 ore.png Umbral Steel Open the southeast chest
Is ns01 seal.png Dark Seal Dropped by the Death Knight
Is ns01 ring.png Accuracy Ring Steal from the Death Knight
Is ns01 potion.png Elixir Steal from the Death Knight
Is ns01 battalion infantry silver.png Church Soldiers Automatically at the end of the chapter
Is ns01 battalion infantry silver.png Bergliez War Group Automatically at the end of the chapter
Is ns01 gem relic.png Rafail Gem Automatically at the end of the chapter
Is ns01 lance black.png Scythe of Sariel Automatically at the end of the chapter if Caspar defeated the Death Knight

Enemy data

Note: The following enemies' levels are those assuming the player plays this paralogue during Chapter 15. On Maddening, their levels are 3 higher starting from Chapter 16.

Normal Hard Maddening

Enemy Units
Name Class Lv # Inventory and Skills Notes
Ma ns01 hero enemy.gif
Imperial Soldier Hero 29 5 Silver Sword
Swordfaire Vantage
• The southern two both begin moving if either is provoked.
• The northern two both begin moving if either of them or the nearby Bishop is provoked.
Ma ns01 fortress knight enemy.gif
Imperial Soldier Fortress Knight 29 3 Silver Axe
Axefaire Weight -5
Empire Armored Co. Lv 5: Impregnable Wall
The middle two both begin moving if either is provoked.
Ma ns01 dark mage enemy.gif
Imperial Soldier Dark Mage 29 1 Banshee Θ Miasma Δ
Miasma Δ Heartseeker
--
Ma ns01 dark mage enemy.gif
Imperial Soldier Dark Mage 29 1 Banshee Θ Miasma Δ Mire B
Miasma Δ Heartseeker
Empire Magic Users Lv 5: Resonant Flames
Begins moving if a nearby Sniper is provoked.
Ma ns01 sniper enemy.gif
Imperial Soldier Sniper 29 3 Silver Bow
Bowfaire Bowrange +1
The central two both begin moving if either of them or the nearby Dark Mage is provoked.
Ma ns01 dark knight enemy.gif
Imperial Soldier Dark Knight 29 1 Mire B
Canto Black Tomefaire Dark Tomefaire
--
Ma ns01 bishop enemy.gif
Imperial Soldier Bishop 29 1 Seraphim Physic
White Magic Uses x2 White Magic Heal +10 Terrain Resistance
Empire Magic Corps Lv 5: Group Flames
Begins moving if a nearby Hero is provoked.
Ma ns01 wild demonic beast enemy.gif
Wild Demonic Beast Wild Demonic Beast 29 1 Cracked Crest Stone
Poison Poison Strike Barrier Vital Defense Heartseeker Latent; active starting from health bar 2
Poison Breath
Is ns01 weakness sword.png Weak to Swords.
Ma ns01 wild demonic beast enemy.gif
Wild Demonic Beast Wild Demonic Beast 29 1 Cracked Crest Stone
Poison Poison Strike Barrier Vital Defense Heartseeker Latent; active starting from health bar 2
Poison Breath
Is ns01 weakness lance.png Weak to Lances.
Ma ns01 giant wolf enemy.gif
Giant Wolf Giant Wolf 29 1 Dark Stone (Wolf)
Pass Defiant Crit Enclosing Wall Keen Intuition Defiant Avo Latent; active starting from health bar 2
Cyclone
Is ns01 weakness sword.png Weak to Swords.
Ma ns01 wild demonic beast enemy.gif
Wild Demonic Beast Wild Demonic Beast 29 1 Cracked Crest Stone
Poison Poison Strike Barrier Vital Defense Heartseeker Latent; active starting from health bar 2
Poison Breath
Is ns01 weakness axe.png Weak to Axes.
Ma ns01 death knight enemy.gif
Death Knight Death Knight 31 1 Scythe of Sariel Accuracy Ring Elixir Dark SealThis item is dropped upon this unit's defeat.
Murderous Intent Canto Lancefaire Commander Counterattack Mastermind Poison Strike Lance Prowess Lv 5
Reaper Knights Lv 5: Assault Troop
• Starts on a heal tile +.
• Immobile until fought.
Reinforcements
Name Class Lv # Inventory and Skills Notes
Ma ns01 dark knight enemy.gif
Imperial Soldier Dark Knight 29 2 Mire B
Canto Black Tomefaire Dark Tomefaire
--
Ma ns01 hero enemy.gif
Imperial Soldier Hero 29 2 Silver Sword
Swordfaire Vantage
--
Ma ns01 sniper enemy.gif
Imperial Soldier Sniper 29 2 Silver Bow
Bowfaire Bowrange +1
--
Every non-monster enemy other than the Death Knight begins moving after any unit enters the central forested area.

Reinforcements

  • On turn 10, or upon any player unit other than Mercedes or Caspar ending their turn within three tiles of Mercedes or Caspar; on Maddening, these can move the turn they appear

Boss data

Stats with two figures separated by a ~ are presented as a range. The figures to the left of the ~ are taken during Chapter 15, the earliest possible point where this chapter may be undertaken; the figures to the right of the ~ are taken from Chapter 16, the point where this boss gains three levels and stops scaling.
Main article: Death Knight

Normal Hard Maddening

Strategy

This section details unofficial strategies that may help with completion of the chapter. This may not work for everybody.

Your first order of business is having Caspar take out the Death Knight so you can get his Scythe of Sariel for yourself. The most simple method is to give Caspar the biggest, nastiest axe you can afford, use the Smash combat art, and hope for a critical hit; Caspar has more than enough strength to one-shot him in this manner. Disregarding him, this battle is a fairly straightforward rout map. There's no need to rush, so pull each group in one at a time and overrun them before moving onward. The only thing to worry about is the reinforcements that rush Caspar and Mercedes on turn 10. If at all possible, try to reunite them with the rest of the army by then.

Trivia

  • The various spaces of "rock" terrain that can be seen on the map are actually the destroyed bodies of Golems.
  • If zoom view is used to observe the northern cliff, one can find a rock bearing the Crest of Flames.
  • This is the only chapter where, as an enemy, the Death Knight's level increases with the difficulty. In all other chapters, his stats increase with difficulty while his level remains the same.

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language Name Definition, etymology, and notes
English

The Face Beneath

--

Spanish

El enmascarado

The masked

French

Quand le masque tombe

When the mask falls

German

Das verborgene Antlitz

The hidden Face

Italian

Dietro la maschera

Behind the mask

Korean

감춰진 얼굴

Hidden face

Simplified Chinese

藏起来的真面目

Hidden identity

Traditional Chinese

藏起來的真面目

Hidden identity

Gallery

References

The Face Beneath
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Playable characters Black Eagles BernadettaCasparDorotheaEdelgardFerdinandHubertLinhardtPetra
Blue Lions AnnetteAsheDedueDimitriFelixIngridMercedesSylvain
Golden Deer ClaudeHildaIgnatzLeonieLorenzLysitheaMarianneRaphael
Other AloisAnnaDLCBylethCatherineCyrilFlaynGilbertHannemanJeritzaManuelaSetethShamir
Ashen WolvesDLC BalthusConstanceHapiYuri
Non-playable characters AbysskeeperDLCDuke AegirFlecheGatekeeperDuke GerthIonius IXJeraltJudithLadislavaNaderRandolphRheaRodrigueSothis
Bosses AcheronAelfricDLCAloisLord ArundelBiasBlaiddydCasparCatherineCharonChilonClaudeCorneliaDaphnelDedueDeath KnightDimitriDominicBaron DominicEdelgardFelixFerdinandFlame EmperorFlaynFraldariusGautierGloucesterGonerilGwendalHubertIngridThe Immaculate OneThe ImmovableJudithKostasKronyaLadislavaLamineLinhardtLonatoLorenzMercedesMetodeyMiklanMysonNaderNemesisBaron OchsDLCOdessePallardóPittacusRandolphRheaRieganRodrigueSetethShamirSolonSylvainThalesWandering BeastThe Wind Caller
Background characters Lord ArundelCount BergliezCorneliaMargrave GautierGlennCount GloucesterCount HevringHolstLambertMonicaPatriciaRufusSeirosSitriTomasTianaCount Varley
Personal weapons and regalia Aegis ShieldAreadbharAsclepiusAthameAxe of UkonvasaraAymrBlutgangCaduceus StaffCirce StaffCrusherFailnaughtFetters of DromiFreikugelThe InexhaustibleLance of RuinLúinOchain ShieldRafail GemScythe of SarielSeiros ShieldSpear of AssalSword of BegaltaSword of MoraltaSword of SeirosSword of the CreatorTathlum BowThunderbrandThyrsusVajra-Mushti
Chapters Part I
White Clouds
P: An Inevitable Encounter • 1: Three Houses • 2: Familiar Scenery • 3: Mutiny in the Mist • 4: The Goddess's Rite of Rebirth • 5: Tower of Black Winds • 6: Rumors of a Reaper • 7: Field of the Eagle and Lion • 8: The Flame in the Darkness • 9: The Cause of Sorrow • 10: Where the Goddess Dwells • 11: Throne of Knowledge • 12: To War Black Eagles, if Byleth sides against EdelgardBlue LionsGolden Deer / Outset of a Power Struggle Black Eagles, if Byleth sides with Edelgard
Part II Silver Snow
Silver Snow
13: Reunion at Dawn • 14: A King Without a Kingdom • 15: Valley of Torment • 16: The Rose-Colored River • 17: The Impregnable Fortress • 18: The Chaos of War • 19: Conclusion of the Crossing Roads • 20: The City Without Light • 21: Following a Dream
Azure Moon
Azure Moon
13: Reunion at Dawn • 14: The Delusional Prince • 15: Valley of Torment • 16: The Rose-Colored River • 17: Blood of the Eagle and Lion • 18: The King's Triumphant Return • 19: The Golden Deer's Plea • 20: The Impregnable Fortress • 21: Our Chosen Paths • 22: Oath of the Dagger
Verdant Wind
Verdant Wind
13: Reunion at Dawn • 14: The Alliance Leader's Ambitions • 15: Valley of Torment • 16: The Rose-Colored River • 17: Blood of the Eagle and Lion • 18: The Golden Scheme • 19: The Chaos of War • 20: Conclusion of the Crossing Roads • 21: The City Without Light • 22: Fódlan's New Dawn
Crimson Flower
Crimson Flower
13: Beyond Escape • 14: The Master Tactician • 15: Tempest of Swords and Shields • 16: Lady of Deceit • 17: Field of Revenge • 18: To the End of a Dream
Paralogues Paralogues Part I Black Market SchemeDLCA Cursed RelicDLCDeath TollDividing the World Black Eagles, if Byleth sides against EdelgardBlue LionsGolden DeerFalling Short of HeavenThe ForgottenLand of the Golden DeerAn Ocean ViewOil and WaterRumored NuptialsThe Secret MerchantDLC Blue LionsGolden DeerSword and Shield of SeirosTales of the Red CanyonTrue ChivalryWar for the Weak Blue Lions
Part II Darkness Beneath the Earth Crimson FlowerDividing the World Silver SnowAzure MoonVerdant WindEternal Guardian Silver SnowAzure MoonVerdant WindThe Face Beneath Silver SnowAzure MoonVerdant WindForeign Land and SkyForgotten HeroInsurmountable Crimson FlowerLegend of the LakeRetribution Silver SnowAzure MoonVerdant WindThe Secret MerchantDLC Crimson FlowerThe Silver Maiden Azure MoonThe Sleeping Sand Legend Verdant WindWeathervanes of Fódlan Azure Moon
Cindered Shadows
Cindered Shadows
1: The Fourth House • 2: What Lies Beneath • 3: The Rite of Rising • 4: Danger in the Dark • 5: Betrayal • 6: Return to Me • 7: Wolf Pack
Locations FódlanAdrestiaFaerghusGarreg Mach Monastery (Abyss) • LeicesterAlmyraBrigidDagdaSrengZahras
Groups, objects and concepts 10 ElitesAshen WolvesBlack Eagles (Black Eagle Strike Force) • Blue LionsChildren of the GoddessChurch of Seiros (Knights of Seiros) • Crests (Crest Stone) • Divine PulseGolden DeerHeroes' RelicsInsurrection of the SevenMonstersThose who slither in the darkTragedy of DuscurWar of Heroes
Lists AbilitiesChaptersCharactersClasses (Class change) • Hidden treasureItems (Monastery items) • QuestsScriptsSupportsWeapons
Related topics Music LibraryName chart • Other games (Warriors: Three Hopes) • Pre-release informationUnused contentDownloadable contentClass mastery