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Child hunts

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Artwork of Ishtar participating in the child hunts, from Fire Emblem Cipher.
What's going to happen to us? We're going to sacrificed to the dark god, that's what! We'll all be sent to Belhalla and executed... My sister was taken there and never returned...
— A child locked in the dungeons of Fort Dandrum.

The child hunts are an infamous practice of the Loptrian Empire. They are primarily depicted during the events of Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War and Thracia 776. It is an action in which members of the Loptr Church gather non-Loptrian children to be used in sacrificial rituals for their patron god, Loptous.

Overview

Selection

To qualify as a child eligible for sacrifice, they must be of any age between seven and thirteen.[1] There appear to be no other real requirements; both boys and girls are shown being taken away as sacrifices. It appears that not only commoner children are abducted, as even the child of the renowned Thracian general Hannibal, Coirpre, ended up taken.[2] The number of sacrifices sent to Grannvale at one point ballooned to the point of overrunning Chalphy castle with child prisoners;[3] suggesting a lax and wide ranging selection process. It is also said that hundreds of victims are sent off daily in just the Thracian peninsula;[4] further supporting the selection methods favoring increasing the numbers of sacrifices.

The victims were primarily abducted by the military forces of the noble houses of Grannvale; for example, the Friege noble house was responsible for numerous abductions occurring in the Munster District. Once the children are gathered, and generally stored in various prisons and dungeons, they would be received by Loptrian priests to be delivered to the Empire's capital.[5]

Fate of the victims

Common belief among the commoners of Jugdral is that the children taken in the child hunts were ritualistically killed; though the exact process appears to be a bit more involved. Nonetheless, it still results in the death of most victims.

According to Julius's explanation to Ishtar in Chapter 4 of Thracia 776, the children are rounded up from the non-Loptrian populace to determine their worthiness of becoming nobles in the new Loptrian Empire.[6] After the children are gathered, Julius and other Loptrian priest begin the grooming process to destroy familial ties and friendships. Once their mental demolishing is complete, the victims are put into numerous rounds of combat against one another to the death; the survivors are then deemed worthy of living in the Loptrian Empire.[7]

While Julius tells Ishtar that those deemed worthy become nobles if they survive,[6] he later uses the term "slave" when discussing the victims.[8] Considering Ishtar is his fiancée and already participates in the hunting for him reluctantly, he may have twisted his words to make it sound more appealing in his initial explanation.

History

Origins

The first known report of major child sacrifice in the name of Loptous occurred four years after the initial founding of the Loptrian Empire. In Miletos during the year Grann 452 an event, known as the "Sorrow of Miletos", occurred in which numerous children were offered as sacrifices.

During the revival of the Loptrian Empire

When Julius rose to power by suppressing his father, Arvis, he began reinstating many practices of the Loptrian Empire; the practice of child hunting included. News of the child hunts spread over Jugdral, though some initially thought these were nothing but rumors.[9]

The hunts were, of course, met with much opposition in many regions; regardless, several noble houses complied with the practice due to the alleged approval of Emperor Arvis.[10] Arvis himself opposed them, however, and covertly delivered children away from the Empire when he had the opportunity; he was generally prevented from doing so by Julius and the other Loptrians. The hunts were often the sparks causing rebellions in many regions, though until the rise of Seliph's and Leif's liberation armies they were generally successfully suppressed by the Empire.[11] In some cases nobles mostly cowed by the empire would refuse to enforce the practice while managing to stay subservient to the Empire.[12]

Groups, like the Magi and Fiana Freeblades, sprung up around Jugdral with the goal of opposing the Grannvale Empire and rescuing abducted children. The two before-mentioned groups were primarily active in the Munster District of the Thracian Peninsula. Soldiers of the empire, such as Olwen and Amalda, also worked against the child hunts by not reporting remote villages to the Empire[13] and by defecting to rebel groups.

The hunts ended with the death of Julius and the fall of the new Loptrian Empire at the hands of Seliph's liberation army in Grann 778.

In gameplay

Several children imprisoned during Chapter 3 of Thracia 776.

In Genealogy of the Holy War and Thracia 776, many Civilians that can be protected by the player are victims of child hunts. Like with other Civilians, protecting these NPCs grants rewards to the player: in Genealogy of the Holy War, the unit that rescues a Civilian gains 100 experience; in Thracia 776, the rewards for protecting Civilians vary by chapter and by Civilian.

Chapters that feature victims of child hunts are:

In Genealogy of the Holy War:
In Thracia 776:

Etymology and other languages

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

Child hunts

Used in various fan translations of Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War and Thracia 776.

Gallery

References

  1. "All children between the ages of 7 to 13 are kidnapped and sent to the Imperial capital of Belhalla. Once there, they are reborn as followers of the dark god Lopt." — August, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
  2. "Coirpre: Hello!
    Leif: Oh, you're the boy we met in Kelbeth... What are you doing here?
    Coirpre: Hannibal is my father.
    " — Coirpre to Leif, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
  3. "How shall I handle the excess of children? This castle is full as it is." — Ishtar, Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
  4. "Hundreds of children are being captured and sent to the Imperial capital daily, but all I can do is rescue a handful of them." — Amalda, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
  5. "Keep them there until the Lopt Church comes to pick them up." — Raydrik, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Ishtar, I think there's a misunderstanding. I am not telling them to kill the children. I just want to educate them to be fitting citizens for my empire. Those who withstand the training will earn high posts and rule over the other inferior citizens. In other words, they will become new nobles, Ishtar. I'm giving them a chance to grasp their happiness." — Julius, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
  7. "Julius: I'll groom them myself. After breaking all sibling and friendship ties, I'll match them up in a duel to the death. Those who survive shall go on to serve Loputous as faithful new inhabitants of the empire." — Julius, Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
  8. "Heh heh... Perfect. Break them down until they've lost the will to live. They become like puppets and make for excellent slaves of the Lopto Empire." — Julius, Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
  9. "This... This is the child hunting? I heard rumors, but I never thought they were actually doing it... This is terrible... Is this... Is this what my country has been doing!?" — Olwen, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
  10. "Palman: Now, now, Lady Amalda... I understand how you feel, but Emperor Alvis himself has approved of the child hunting." — Palman to Amalda, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
  11. "Uprisings have sprung up all over the continent, but not one has gotten anywhere. None of them stand a chance against the empire." — Lewyn, Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
  12. "Isaach is better off than most places. It sounds like Danann's two sons didn't go through with any of the child hunts." — Lewyn, Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
  13. "Bishop: Of course. The Empire wouldn't bother sending troops to a small village like this tucked away in the mountains. I will protect the children with my life. But what about you, Lady Amalda? If the Empire finds out about this, you will be in danger...
    Amalda: I am ashamed... I am ashamed that I cannot properly help the children, despite being a knight of Friege.
    " — Amalda to a bishop, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Playable characters First gen. AlecArdenAyraAzelleBeowolfBrigidChulainnClaudDeirdreDewEdainErinysEthlynFinnJamkeLachesisLewynLexMidirNaoiseQuanSigurdSilviaTailtiu
Second gen. AltenaAresArthur/AmidCed/HawkCoirpre/CharlotDiarmuid/TristanFebail/AsaelloFee/HerminaFinnHannibalIucharIucharbaJuliaLana/MuirneLarcei/CreidneLeifLene/LayleaLester/DeimneNanna/JeanneOifeyPatty/DaisyScáthach/DalvinSeliphShannanTine/Linda
Non-playable characters First gen. AidaAlvaAnnandArvisAzmurBatuByronCalfCigyunEldiganEthniaEvaEveGrahnyeImcaKurthManananMariccleOifeyLahnaRingShannanTravantVictor
Second gen. AnnaFelipeJakeLewynPalmarch
Bosses First gen. AndreyBeowolfBordeauxChagallCimbaethClementCuvuliDaccarDiMaggioDíthorbaDonovanDuvallElliotEldiganErinysGerrardJacobiJamkeLamiaLombardMacbethMagornMyosMunnirPamelaPapilioPhilipPizareReptorSandimaSlayderVajaWaltzZane
Second gen. AltenaAnguillaArionArvisBanbaBaranBlegBloomBovisBoyceBramselBrianCanisCoulterDagonDanannDistlerDracoEquusEriuFisherFotlaGallusHannibalHaroldHildaIshtarIshtoreIucharIucharbaJavarroJudahJuliaJuliusJuphielKanatzKutuzovLizaMabelManfroyMaykovMengMorriganMuhammadMusMusarOvisOvoPorcusRiddellRobertoRodanSchmidtScipioSimiaTine/LindaTigrisTravantZagam
Background characters BaldrBragiCedDáinnFjalarGairHeimHoðrForsetiLoptousMaeraNagaNálNjörunOdSalamanderThrudUllr
Holy Weapons BalmungForsetiGáe BolgGungnirHelswathLoptousMjölnirMystletainnNagaTyrfingValflameValkyrieYewfelle
Chapters First gen. P: Birth of a Holy Knight • 1: Lady of the Forest • 2: Crisis in Agustria • 3: Eldigan, the Lionheart • 4: Dance in the Skies • 5: Doorway to Destiny
Second gen. 6: Heir of Light • 7: Beyond the Desert • 8: The Wyvern Knights of Thracia • 9: For Whose Sake • 10: Light and DarkE: End of the Holy War
Locations JugdralAed Desert (Dahna) • Agustria (Bragi TowerNordionOrgahil) • Grannvale (BelhallaChalphyDozelEddaFriegeVelthomerYngvi) • Isaach (Tirnanog) • Munster District (ConnachtLeonsterMunsterUlster) • MiletosSilesseThraciaVerdane
Groups, objects and events 12 crusadersAed MassacreBattle of BelhallaChild huntsCross KnightsFall of LeonsterFinal Holy WarHoly BloodHoly WarKnight brigades of GrannvaleLanceritterLoptr Church (DeadlordsLoptrian Empire) • Miracle of DahnaQuintessence
Lists ChaptersCharactersClasses (Class change) • Hidden map eventsItemsScriptsSkillsWeapons
Related topics TreasureGenealogy of the Holy War ExceedŌsawa manga adaptationFujimori manga adaptationSuzuki novelizationHeir of LightName chart • Other games (Mystery of the EmblemThracia 776Awakening) • Timeline
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
Playable characters AlvaAmaldaAsbelBrightonCainCarrionCedConomorDagdarDalsinDeenDiarmuidEdaEyvelFergusFinnFredGalzusGladeHalvanHicksHomerIliosKarinLaraLeifLifisLinoanMachyuaMareetaMartyMirandaMishaNannaOlwenOsianPerneRalfRobertRonanSafySaiasSalemSaraSelphinaShannamShivaSleufTanyaTinaTroudeXavier
Non-playable characters AltenaArionAugustCoirpreDryasHannibalIshtarJuliaJuliusLewynSeliphTravant
Bosses AlphandBaldackBandolBaráthBucksBovisBrookCanisCoddaCohenCulloughCoulterDracoDvorakEichmannEisenauFardenFrausGomezGustafKempfLargoLifisLinecockListMcCloyMerlockMooreMuellerMusNikalafOltophPalmanPaulusPernePorcusRaydrikReinhardtLobosRumeiSaiasSeimetolTigrisTrumanVeldWeismannWolfXavierZaomZyle
Background characters AlfionaCalfEthlynQuan
Personal weapons Beo's SwordBragi SwordBlessed SwordBrave LanceDire ThunderDragon LanceForsetiGrafcaliburKiaLands SwordLight BrandLoptr SwordMareeta's SwordVougeRepairThiefUnlock
Chapters 1: The Warrior of Fiana • 2: The Coastal Village • 2x: The Corsair Isles • 3: Kelbeth's Gate • 4: The Dungeon • 4x: Hero on the Wind • 5: Mother and Daughter • 6: The Escape • 7: The Shield of Thracia • 8: Mount Violdrake • 8x: Dagdar's Manor • 9: The Banner of Njörun • 10: Nowell Valley • 11: Fort Dandrum • 11x: Murder Holes • 12: The Bandits of Dacia • 12x: The Dandelion • 13: The Walled City • 14: The Onslaught • 14x: Yearning to Breathe Free • 15: Two Paths • 16A: Norden Line • 17A: The Gates of Leonster • 16B: Dark Forest • 17B: The Gathering Storm • 18: The Liberation of Leonster • 19: The Empire's Wrath • 20: The Scion of Light • 21: The War of Liberation • 21x: The Prison Camp • 22: Across the River • 23: The Fiend's Lair • 24: The Baron in Black • 24x: The Loptrian AltarE: Sworn Upon a Sword
Locations JugdralMunster District (ConnachtLeonsterMunsterUlster) • Thracia (FianaTarrah)
Groups, objects and events 12 crusadersAed MassacreBattle of BelhallaCaptureChild huntsDandelion BanditsFall of LeonsterFatigueFiana FreebladesHoly BloodLifis PiratesLoptr Church (BergrosenDeadlords) • Magi
Lists ChaptersCharactersClasses (Class change) • ItemsScriptsSkillsSupportsWeapons
Related topics Other games (Genealogy of the Holy WarAwakening) • Name chartPre-release information (Unused content) • Sound RoomTimeline