War of Shadows: Difference between revisions

The '''War of Shadows''' (Japanese: {{hl|暗黒戦争|Ankoku sensō}} ''War of Darkness'') was a war that lasted 6 years on the continent of [[Archanea (continent)|Archanea]] depicted by {{FE1}}, {{title|Mystery of the Emblem}} Book I, and {{title|Shadow Dragon}}, as well as {{FEBS}} and the [[List of bonus chapters in Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem: Heroes of Light and Shadow|bonus chapters]] of {{title|New Mystery of the Emblem}}.

Prior to the revival of [[Medeus]] and the start of the war, [[Gharnef]] studied alongside [[Miloah]] at [[Khadein]] under [[Gotoh]] for some time. When Gotoh appointed Miloah as the next pontifex of Khadein, Gharnef, driven by jealousy, stole the [[Darksphere]] and fled the city. Using the Darksphere's power, Gharnef created the tome [[Imhullu]], sealing his soul within the Darksphere in the process.<ref name="arlen">{{Cite|Gharnef, along with Pontifex Miloah, were Lord Gotoh's best pupils. But Lord Gotoh saw Gharnef's weakness, and so he left Khadein and the Aura tome to Pontifex Miloah. Gharnef, overcome by jealousy, stole the Darksphere from Lord Gotoh, and created the Imhullu tome. As a result... His heart was trapped within the Darksphere for all eternity.|[[Wendell]] to [[Arlen]] in [[Two Sorcerers|Chapter 10]]|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref>

In order to increase Dolhr's might, Gharnef began to manipulate the leaders of various nations. Gharnef captured the twin heirs of [[Grust]], [[Yuliya]] and [[Jubelo]], and imprisoned them in Khadein in order to blackmail King [[Ludwik]] into forming an alliance between Grust and Dolhr.<ref name="Grust royals">{{Cite|The late King Grust had two children. Princess Yuliya and Prince Jubelo. They're still young. Maybe thirteen, or fourteen; cute little twins, both of them. In the last war, Gharnef, the Dark Pontifex, kidnapped the twins to blackmail the king. They were taken to Khadein, the city of magic, and locked away in a pitch-black room. At great personal risk, Pontifex Wendell saved them. He took them to a monastery to protect them.|An old man from Grust in [[The Grustian Expedition|Chapter 1]]|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> King [[Osmond]] of [[Macedon]] and his son [[Michalis]] disagreed on the country's course for the coming war, between an alliance with [[Archanea (nation)|Archanea]] or Dolhr; Gharnef persuaded Michalis into killing his father, becoming King of Macedon, and forging an alliance with Dolhr, to the chagrin of his sister Princess [[Minerva]] who objected to Dolhr's actions.<ref>{{Cite|But instead, you let Gharnef trick you into destroying your family, and your kingdom with it.|[[Gotoh]] to [[Michalis]] in [[A Knight-Filled Sky|Chapter 22]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref> At some point, Gharnef convinced King [[Jiol]] of [[Gra]] to ally with Dolhr and betray [[Altea]].<ref>{{Cite|Betraying Altea was Gharnef's idea! Let...let him fight the brat!|[[Jiol]] in [[Land of Sorrow (Shadow Dragon)|Chapter 14]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref>

In the year 600, war began;<ref>{{Cite|600: The Dolhr Empire confronts Archanea and begins an invasion. Start of the War of Shadows.|Perfect ending timeline|Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> the armies of Dolhr, Grust, and Macedon made much progress on their respective fronts. By 602, Dolhr had reached Millennium Court, the capital of [[Archanea (nation)|Archanea]], and began a siege on the castle<ref>{{Cite|602: The Dolhr Empire's troops led by Medeus lay siege to Millennium Court.|Perfect ending timeline|Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> which, along with an intervention from [[Camus]] of Grust's [[Sable Order]], resulted in it's occupation and the capture of Princess [[Nyna]] and a group of Archanean Knights.<ref>Events of [[The Capital Falls]], {{FEBS}}</ref> Camus was placed in control of occupied Archanea and Nyna was considered to be in his custody; members of the Archanean royal family began to be exterminated, but Camus' authority saved Nyna from execution.<ref>{{Cite|'''Nyna:''' When the Dolhr-Grust allied forces seized control of Archanea, the entire royal family was killed, save me. I was given into Grust’s custody—the custody of the Sable Order, to be more specific. I am told Dolhr wished for my execution—and with it the end of the holy lineage of House Archanea—and Grust was willing to comply.<br>'''Marth:''' But you are not dead.<br>'''Nyna:''' That is right. I was not put to the sword. The Sable Order's captain came to my defense. His name...was Camus.|[[Nyna]] and [[Marth]] in [[Camus the Sable|Chapter 20]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref><ref name="beginning">{{Cite|Two years have passed since the millennial palace was seized by Grust's Camus the Sable. Emperor Medeus of Dolhr ordered Camus to take full control of the palace. However Camus defied his orders, by continuing to shelter Princess Nyna. As time passed, Medeus lost his patience with Camus and ordered his men to take Nyna captive.|Opening narration of [[The Beginning]] bonus episode|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref>

Also in 602, King [[Cornelius]] of Altea took the [[Falchion (Archanea)|Falchion]] and marched to confront Grust alongside the armies of Altea and Gra, leaving at home his family and a garrison of Gra soldiers.<ref>{{Cite|It fell upon the king of Altea, sole descendant of the dragon-slayer hero, to sally forth with the divine blade and fulfill his blood destiny. His son, Prince Marth, remained at home with the boy's mother, his elder sister, and a garrison manned by Altea's neighbor and ally, Gra.|Opening narration of [[Prologue I]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref> Upon confronting Grust, the Gra army attacked the Altean force, annihilating the Altean army and taking the Falchion.<ref>{{Cite|My condolences, sire. The king died valiantly on the fields of Gra. The traitors took from him the divine blade Falchion and gave no quarter to those of our soldiers who remained...|[[Cain]] in [[Prologue III]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref> At the same time, the Gra garrison began to attack those within the castle. Princess [[Elice]] stayed within the castle to buy time for Marth to escape alongside a retinue of knights and a court advisor.<ref>{{Cite|Stop! Sire, consider for a moment why the princess would go so far as to lie to you to ensure your escape. Your sister knows that you are the future of Altea—nay the whole land!|[[Malledus]] to [[Marth]] in [[Prologue III]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref> Marth and co. were pursued by Jiol,<ref>{{cite|Listen, men. Your target is the prince. Find the prince of Altea and bring me his head served on a shield!|[[Jiol]] in [[Prologue IV]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref> but manage to escape by boat to [[Talys]]<ref>{{Cite|From here, we will cross out of Altea and begin our escape to Talys. I trust you are prepared? [...] I've arranged for a boat to take us from the northeast shore.|[[Malledus]] in [[Prologue IV]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref> when [[Frey]], one of the Altean knights, served as a decoy.<ref>{{cite|You took that wound when Prince Marth, still a child, was forced to escape Altea Castle... In the jaws of death, surrounded by enemies, you alone became a decoy, in order to protect Prince Marth...|[[Kris]] in <choose><option>his</option><option>hers</option></choose> and [[Frey]]'s [[Frey/Conversations#Third conversation|third conversation]]|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> The King of Talys, [[Mostyn]], harbored Marth in the country's east fortress.<ref>{{Cite|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|Opening narration of [[Marth Embarks|Chapter 1]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref>

Over time, the Dolhr Empire grew to control most of the continent, facing continued resistance from [[Aurelis]]—Macedon's march into the country was slowed by its prince [[Hardin]].<ref>{{Cite|Trace a line around the continent’s north-eastern plains, and you have Aurelis. This kingdom alone had somehow resisted Dolhr's attempts to conquer it, but only by some miracle. By the time Marth arrived in Aurelis, much of its territory had already been carved up by Dolhr's ally Macedon. Still, the king's younger brother, Hardin, refused to give up without a fight. The people called him Coyote, and he intended to live up to the name.|Opening narration of [[Champions of Aurelis|Chapter 5]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref> In order to ensure Minerva's compliance with Dolhr, Princess [[Maria]], the youngest sister of the Macedonian royal family, was held prisoner in [[Castle Deil]].<ref>{{Cite|Prince Marth. I am Catria, of the Whitewinged Order of Macedon. I have come with a request from our mistress, the princess Minerva. She is planning to lead us against Dolhr in rebellion; however, her hands are tied so long as the enemy holds her younger sister, the princess Maria, captive.|[[Catria]] in [[The Pyrathi Dragon|Chapter 9]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref> Two years after the fall of Millennium Court, Camus' continued intervention in Medeus' attempts to execute Nyna forced Medeus to send soldiers to the palace to take her by force.<ref name="beginning"/> Camus decided to take Nyna to Aurelis and the protection of Prince Hardin to save her from Dolhr.<ref>{{Cite|I know. We must escape the palace at once. Sir Hardin, in the northern state of Aurelis, has the power to protect you. I'm sure he will extend you his courtesy.|[[Camus]] in [[The Beginning]] bonus episode|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> Camus and a small retinue of knights deserted from the Sable Order<ref>{{Cite|Then, at least take us three with you. We'll desert the army. That way, we won't bring trouble to our motherland, Grust.|[[Roberto]] in [[The Beginning]] bonus episode|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> and escorted Nyna to the Aurelian border, but were attacked by a contingent of the Dolhr army on the way.<ref>Events of [[The Beginning]] bonus episode, {{FE12}}</ref> Upon reaching the border and entrusting Nyna to Hardin,<ref>{{Cite|...Good, it seems we're in time. All hands, engage the Dolhrian army! I shall save Princess Nyna myself!|[[Hardin]] in [[The Beginning]] bonus episode|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> Camus surrendered to the Dolhr army<ref>{{Cite|'''Medeus:''' All hope turns in fear before me... Give up. Surrender quietly.<br>'''Camus:''' ...Very well. As you wish. ...I have fulfilled my duty...<br>'''Medeus:''' Men, seize him!|[[Medeus]] and [[Camus]] in [[The Beginning]] bonus episode|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> and was taken back to Dolhr where he was imprisoned at Medeus' behest.<ref>{{Cite|After that, Medeus stripped Camus of all his rights and privileges, confining him to a dungeon in Dolhr.|Epilogue of [[The Beginning]] bonus episode|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref>

[[File:Cg fe11 evt 04.png|thumb|left|Princess [[Nyna]] entrusting [[Marth]] with the Fire Emblem.]]

In 604, when a group of pirates attacked Talys, Marth left the east fort and routed the bandits from the island at the behest of its princess [[Caeda]].<ref>Events of [[Marth Embarks|Chapter 1]], {{FE11}}</ref> After clearing out the pirates, Marth and co. departed the island for Aurelis, travelling through Galder Harbor<ref>Events of [[The Pirates of Galder|Chapter 2]], {{FE11}}</ref> and the Samsooth Mountains, where they met the cleric [[Lena]] and the thief [[Julian]].<ref>Events of [[A Brush in the Teeth|Chapter 3]], {{FE11}}</ref> Upon their arrival in Aurelis, Marth met his old friend [[Merric]],<ref>{{Cite|'''Merric:''' Whilst studying magic in Khadein, I caught wind of a war brewing and decided to seek you out.<br>'''Marth:''' I see... Thank you, then. I need friends like you on the battlefield. You will fight with us, of course?<br>'''Merric:''' Of course! 'Twould be a passing shame if you didn’t get to see me flex a little magic muscle.|[[Merric]] and [[Marth]] in [[Battle in the Lea|Chapter 4]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref> as well as Merric's teacher [[Wendell]],<ref>{{Cite|Come, Merric. We'll fight together. Tell your prince of Altea that Wendell is at his service.|[[Wendell]] in [[Champions of Aurelis|Chapter 5]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref> and joined forces with Hardin before routing the Macedonian forces without and within Aurelis Castle.<ref>Events of Chapters [[Champions of Aurelis|5]] and [[Fire Emblem (Shadow Dragon)|6]]. {{FE11}}</ref> Once the Macedonians were driven from the castle, Marth met Nyna, who gave him the [[Fire Emblem (Archanean item)|Fire Emblem]], hoping that with it, he would save the world from Dolhr.<ref>{{Cite|Thank you, Marth. Then let me give you this. This crest is called the Fire Emblem. House Archanea bestows it only upon a true champion, one we believe has the power to save the world.|[[Nyna]] in [[Fire Emblem (Shadow Dragon)|Chapter 6]]|Shadow Dragon}}</ref>

[[File:Cg fe11 evt 07.png|thumb|The people of [[Altea]] celebrating [[Marth]]'s triumphant return.]]

[[File:Cg fe11 evt 11.png|thumb|left|[[Medeus]] after his defeat.]]

The war ended in the year 605.<ref>{{Cite|Medeus is defeated by Prince Marth, and the Dolhr Empire collapses. End of the War of Shadows (600–605).|Perfect ending timeline|Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref>

[[File:Cg fe12 i5.png|thumb|[[Hardin]] standing before the people of Archanea as their new king.]]

Following the defeat of Medeus, the Dolhr Empire lost power and dissolved.<ref>{{Cite|After Medeus’s demise, Dolhr would relax its shadowy grip on the land and fade into obscurity: the Empire was finished.|Epilogue|Shadow Dragon}}</ref> The war, however, had devastated the continent, requiring great efforts from each nation towards their own restorations.<ref>{{Cite|The warriors who had united under the Fire Emblem returned to their own lands, devoting themselves to the reconstruction of their homelands. Among the nations that made up the "Seven Kingdoms of Archanea", Gra and Grust were devastated. Altea, Aurelis, Macedon and Talys were left deeply scarred, and even the mighty Kingdom of Archanea was undergoing restoration.|Introduction to [[The Grustian Expedition|Chapter 1]]|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> Princess Nyna, as the last living member of the Archanean royal family, was forced by circumstance to choose a husband to be king of Archanea, eventually choosing Hardin.<ref>{{Cite|As you know, two years ago... Hardin and Princess Nyna were wed. In order to restore Archanea to glory, a king was needed. There were but two suitable individuals: King Aurelis's younger brother, Duke Hardin, and you, Prince Marth of Altea... Princess Nyna begged me to wait just a while longer, but once I insisted on its absolute urgency... She said that it could not be you, for Princess Caeda would grieve. In the end, Hardin was our only choice...|[[Boah]] in [[The Last Decisive Battle|Chapter 19]]|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> Hardin quickly managed to restore Archanea to power, reinstated it as the Holy Empire of Archanea, and became its emperor.<ref>{{Cite|After ascending the throne, Hardin aggressively restored the country in the twinkling of an eye, and formed a powerful army by gathering many soldiers. He then proclaimed the restoration of the Holy Archanean Empire, and himself Emperor.|Introduction to [[The Grustian Expedition|Chapter 1]]|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> Where other countries struggled to restore themselves, Archanea became the single most dominant nation on the continent.

Camus, Michalis, Gharnef, and Medeus each survived their encounters with the Archanean League. Camus survived the battle, but was found ashore on Valentia without memory.<ref>The fact that Camus is Zeke can be concluded from a number of factors, including great physical resemblance, similar martial capability, Zeke appearing in [[Valentia]] soon after Camus disappears from [[Archanea (continent)|Archanea]], and Zeke muttering [[Nyna]]'s name when discovered on Valentia (as seen in [[Mila's Turnwheel/Memory Prisms#Drifter from a Distant Land|a Memory Prism]]).</ref><!--I'd rather a concise quote from in-game or a developer or something, but failing that I'd rather not just list every possible thing that could link Zeke to Camus.--> Michalis was mortally injured, but was restored to health by his youngest sister, Maria, and managed to recover from his wounds.<ref>{{Cite|After I was defeated, I wandered the gap between life and death. When I had come to, in front of me, I saw Maria—her eyes full of tears—praying to the gods. While I treated her like a pawn, Maria, she shed tears for me...|[[Michalis]] in [[Sanctuary of Sorcery|Chapter 9]]|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> Gharnef's physical body was destroyed, but his soul endured within the Darksphere.<ref>{{Cite|Yes, you killed his body. But his soul was held prisoner by the Darksphere, and within it, his hatred only grew.|[[Gotoh]] in [[A Mystery Revealed|Chapter 14]]|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref> Medeus, by virtue of being an [[earth dragon]], survived the encounter and entered a deep slumber, one poised to last many centuries.<ref>{{Cite|'''Gotoh:''' However earth dragons boast tremendous life force, and cannot be completely eliminated so easily... Even now, they sleep at this altar.<br>'''Marth:''' You mean to say they'll awaken?!<br>'''Gotoh:''' Not exactly. Even sleeping earth dragons should not awaken for centuries or so. The next time Medeus awakens though, he will rise as a terrifying Shadow Dragon...|[[Gotoh]] and [[Marth]] in [[The Wyvern's Dale|Chapter 21]]|New Mystery of the Emblem}}</ref>

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==Trivia==

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==Etymology and other languages==