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Awakening (rite)

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Lucina performing the Awakening.
Hear me, Naga! I bear proof of our sacred covenant! In the name of the exalted blood, I ask for the divine dragon's power! Baptize me in fire, that I may become your true son!
— Chrom, performing the Awakening

The Awakening (Japanese: 覚醒の儀 Awakening Ceremony) is a sacred rite used to confer the power of the Divine Dragon Naga onto an individual, for use in combating evil. Three people are known to have performed the Awakening, all royal family of Ylisse: the nation's founder, Chrom and Lucina.

Overview

Requirements and nature

The basic requirement to perform the Awakening is the possession of the complete Fire Emblem with all five of its gemstones installed on the shield; in its complete form. Each gemstone bears a component of Naga's power, and so the shield needs to be at full strength with all five gemstones in order to possess enough power to invoke Naga.[1] While not explicitly stated, it is likely that successful performance of the Awakening is restricted to those possessing Naga's Holy Blood, a criteria met by all three known individuals to complete the Awakening.

The Awakening must be performed in a place where Naga's power radiates at its strongest; the exact meaning of this is undefined, but can be assumed to involve her presence in some form radiating an aura of power. Under normal circumstances, this site is Mount Prism, a peak in Ylisse's east deeply imbued with her energies; however, in an alternate timeline, after Mount Prism was defiled by the Risen, the site lost its power and Naga's power instead came to be focused at its strongest in her daughter, Tiki.[2]

Once one possesses the complete Emblem and has arrived at a suitable location, the Awakening rite is initiated with the recital of a specific oath to invoke Naga, as follows:

"Hear me, Naga! I bear proof of our sacred covenant! In the name of the exalted blood, I ask for the divine dragon's power! Baptize me in fire, that I may become your true son/daughter!"

Upon reciting the oath, the individual attempting the Awakening is exposed to Naga's holy fire as a test of body and soul: those who withstand her fire are deemed worthy of receiving her power, referred to by Naga as being "cleansed in [her] fire", whereas those who fail are burned to death.[3] One who successfully completes the Awakening receives the title of "Awakener" from Naga, who refers to them exclusively as such.[4] Once the Awakener has passed her test, they receive Naga's power in the form of the Falchion being restored to its full power, as the Exalted Falchion.

Although nominally speaking the Awakening cannot be performed if the Fire Emblem is not complete, a partial Awakening can still be performed with at least one gemstone absent; this Awakening still confers power upon Falchion, but significantly less and not enough to suitably combat Grima.[5]

Known performances

  • Founder of Ylisse: 1,000 years prior to the events of Awakening, an unnamed man performed the Awakening in order to defeat Grima for the first time.
  • Chrom: On the advice of Tiki, Chrom sought to complete the Fire Emblem in order to combat Grima, whose return was considered imminent by Tiki. Following Grima's successful resurrection by Validar, Chrom travelled to Mount Prism with the complete Emblem and performed the Awakening.
  • Lucina: Before travelling back in time to avert Grima's future, Lucina attempted to assemble the Fire Emblem and perform an Awakening to finish it herself, but failed in finding one of the gemstones. Even so, she was able to perform a partial Awakening which conferred a smaller amount of power to Falchion, transforming it into the Parallel Falchion.[5]
  • An alternate-timeline Lucina: In the Future Past DLC series, in an alternate timeline in which Grima killed Chrom and successfully dominated the entire world, Lucina sought to restore the Fire Emblem and perform the Awakening. Upon receiving the Emblem and all the gemstones, Lucina learned that Grima had long since killed Naga and Mount Prism had been rendered powerless by the Risen. She was still able to perform the Awakening, with Tiki's spirit now serving as the new Naga and Tiki's corpse in Ylisstol the new focus of Naga's power, and slew Grima.

Grima's Awakening ritual

According to Validar, the Awakening is not solely restricted to use for Naga; the same rites and the same Fire Emblem can be used to perform an Awakening for the Fell Dragon Grima.[6]

Requirements and nature

The Awakening ritual can only be performed by someone with the full mark of Grima, though Validar claimed to be capable of it, possibly to lure out Robin. [7]

Known performances

  • Robin: In an alternate timeline, Robin performed this ritual after killing Chrom.
  • Alternate timeline Grima: The Grima of Lucina's timeline followed her back in time in the form of the Hierophant and performed the ritual after Robin refused to do so.

Etymology and other languages

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

Awakening

--

Japanese

覚醒の儀

Awakening Ceremony

French

Éveil

Awakening

Gallery

References

  1. "Yes, there are five of them—Argent, Sable, Gules, Azure, and Vert. Each holds a portion of Naga's power. When mounted upon the Emblem, they allow one to perform the Awakening." — Tiki, Fire Emblem Awakening
  2. "Wrong again. You forget why the exalts performed the rite on Mount Prism in the first place. It was because the divine dragon's power was strongest there. But now that your Risen have defiled it, the mount no longer has any power. Naga's power has focused elsewhere in response. Do you know where? Inside the remains of the Voice, which you were foolish enough to leave... Right here. In Ylisstol." — Tiki, Fire Emblem Awakening
  3. "And I've been reading more about the Awakening ritual. It seems that whoever attempts the rite must brave Naga's fire. If both body and spirit survive the agony, they are blessed with the dragon's power. Otherwise, the candidate...dies." — Chrom, Fire Emblem Awakening
  4. "Be welcome, Awakener. Your heart has been tested and deemed worthy. Cleansed in my fire, your desire has proven to burn the stronger." — Naga, Fire Emblem Awakening
  5. 5.0 5.1 Serenes Forest: Fire Emblem Awakening official comic
  6. "The Awakening rite is not only for exalts and Naga, you know. With it, I'll arouse Grima!" — Validar, Fire Emblem Awakening
  7. "When Grima is called forth, he is brought back to life through the vessel of the one who performs the ceremony." (Art of Fire Emblem Awakening)
Fire Emblem Awakening
Playable characters AnnaAversaBasilioBradyChercheChromCordeliaCynthiaDonnelEmmerynFlaviaFrederickGaiusGangrelGeromeGregorHenryInigoKellamKjelleLaurentLibraLissaLon'quLucinaMaribelleMirielMorganNahNoireNowiOliviaOwainPannePriamRickenRobinSay'riSeveraStahlSullySumiaTharjaTikiVaikeVirionWalhartYarneYen'fay
Non-playable characters HollandMaidenNagaOld HubbaPhila
Bosses AlgolAnguillaArdriAversaBovisCampariCanisCassiusCervantesChalardDalenDaltonDracoEquusExcellusEzraFarberGallusGangrelGarrickGeckoGrimaGyralIgnatiusJamilLepusMarthMorristanMusMustafaNelsonNombryOrtonOvisPherosPorcusPriamRaimiRisen ChiefRoddickRugerSimiaTigrisValidarVastoVictorVincentWalhartXalbadorYen'fayZanth
Background characters First exaltKe'riMarth
DLC characters AlmCatriaCelicaEirikaEldiganElinciaEphraimEstIkeKatarinaLeifLynPrince MarthMicaiahPallaRoySeliph
SpotPass characters Shadow Dragon CaedaGharnefLindeMerricMinervaNavarreNynaOgmaPrince MarthTiki
Gaiden AlmBoeyCelicaClairCliveDeenLuthierMycenNomahValbar
Mystery of the Emblem AthenaCatriaEtzelHardinHoraceKatarinaKing MarthLegionMaliceNorne
Genealogy of the Holy War G1 ArdenArvisAyraDeirdreEthlynJamkeLewynQuanRaquesisSigurd
Genealogy of the Holy War G2 AltenaAresArthurCedFeeJuliaJuliusLarceiSeliphUlster
Thracia 776 DagdarEyvelFinnLeifMareetaNannaOlwenRaydrikSaiasSalem
Binding Blade CeciliaLilinaLughPercevalRaighRoyShannaSophiaWoltZephiel
Fire Emblem EliwoodFlorinaHectorJaffarKarelLynMatthewNergalNinoSerra
Sacred Stones AmeliaEirikaEphraimInnesL'ArachelLuteLyonMarisaMoulderSeth
Path of Radiance AshnardElinciaGeoffreyIkeLuciaMiaMistSorenTitaniaZihark
Radiant Dawn Black KnightBromEdwardLeonardoMicaiahNepheneeSanakiSephiranSigrunSothe
Others CamusIshtarLinusLloydNarcianOliverPetrineSelenaTravantUrsula
Regalia and personal weapons AmatsuArmadsBalmungBook of NagaDouble BowExcaliburFalchion (Exalted FalchionParallel Falchion) • ForsetiGáe BolgGoddess StaffGoetiaGradivusGrima's TruthGungnirHauteclereHelswathMercuriusMissiletainnMjölnirMystletainnNidhoggNoble RapierParthiaRagnellRapierSol KattiTyrfingValflameWolf BergYewfelle
Chapters Main story Pm: Invisible Ties • P: The Verge of History • 1: Unwelcome Change • 2: Shepherds • 3: Warrior Realm • 4: Two Falchions • 5: The Exalt and the King • 6: Foreseer • 7: Incursion • 8: The Grimleal • 9: Emmeryn • 10: Renewal • 11: Mad King Gangrel • 12: The Seacomers • 13: Of Sacred Blood • 14: Flames on the Blue • 15: Smoldering Resistance • 16: Naga's Voice • 17: Inexorable Death • 18: Sibling Blades • 19: The Conqueror • 20: The Sword or the Knee • 21: Five Gemstones • 22: An Ill Presage • 23: Invisible Ties • 24: Awakening • 25: To Slay a GodE: Grima
Paralogues 1: Sickle to Sword • 2: The Secret Seller • 3: A Strangled Peace • 4: Anna the Merchant • 5: Scion of Legend • 6: A Man for Flowers • 7: Noble Lineage • 8: A Duel Disgraced • 9: Wings of Justice • 10: Ambivalence • 11: Twin Wyverns • 12: Disowned by Time • 13: Rival Bands • 14: Shadow in the Sands • 15: A Shot from the Dark • 16: Daughter to Dragons • 17: The Threat of Silence • 18: The Dead King's Lament • 19: Irreconcilable Paths • 20: A Hard Miracle • 21: Ghost of a Blade • 22: The Wellspring of Truth • 23: The Radiant Hero
Xenologues Champions of Yore 1Champions of Yore 2Champions of Yore 3The Golden GaffeEXPonential GrowthInfinite RegaliaLost Bloodlines 1Lost Bloodlines 2Lost Bloodlines 3Smash Brethren 1Smash Brethren 2Smash Brethren 3Rogues & Redeemers 1Rogues & Redeemers 2Rogues & Redeemers 3Death's EmbraceFive-Anna FirefightRoster RescueHarvest ScrambleSummer ScrambleHot-Spring ScrambleThe Future Past 1The Future Past 2The Future Past 3Apotheosis
Locations YlisseFerox (Arena Ferox) • Outrealm Gate (Outrealms) • Plegia (Dragon's Table) • YlisseValmChon'sinRosanneValm
Groups, objects, and concepts AwakeningEinherjarFire EmblemGrimleal (Deadlords) • RisenShepherds
Lists ChaptersCharactersClasses (Class change) • Hidden treasureItemsScriptsSkillsSupportsWeapons
Related topics Ancient LettersBirthdayDouble DuelDownloadable contentName chartNintendo Dream comics • Other games (GaidenGenealogy of the Holy WarShadow DragonNew Mystery of the Emblem) • Pre-release information (Unused content) • Unit Gallery (Soundtrack) • SpotPassStreetPassTimelineWorld map