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Dryas

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Dryas

FE776 Dryas.png
Artwork of Dryas from Thracia 776.

Gender

Male

Race

Human

Age

54

Family
Nationality

Munster District (Leonster)

Title(s)

Duke of Leonster

Appearance(s)

Thracia... No, this entire continent is watching over our fight. We must not only win: our victory must be one that gives courage to the people suffering from Imperial oppression. We should march in proudly from the front, flying the flag of Leonster.
— Dryas

Dryas (Japanese: ドリアス Dorias) was a knight and Duke of Leonster, and the father of fellow Leonster knight Selphina. A devoted warrior and strategic mind who was willing to sacrifice anything for the future of Leonster, Dryas played a key role in ensuring the young prince Leif survived the kingdom's downfall, and years later served as a tactician and advisor to the prince in his revolutionary war against the Grannvale Empire's control of Leonster.

Biography

Leonster's downfall

By Grann 762, Dryas had achieved the rank of general in the Leonster army despite his relative youth. In the prelude to the battle of River Thracia, Dryas was the only active general who remained behind in the Leonster capital, and so he was present when news returned from the front of King Calf's demise in battle. When news of Thracia's imminent attack on the capital came, Dryas was tasked by Queen Alfiona with working with Finn to ensure her infant grandson, Leif escaped and evaded capture. As part of Alfiona's plan, Dryas and his subordinates split up from Finn, Leif, Lachesis and Nanna and took a different escape route, in order to draw less attention, with the intent of having everybody rejoin Finn's group later.[1]

Three years later in Grann 765, Dryas, Leif, Finn and a retinue of Leonster refugees lived in Ulster under the protection of its royal family. After a failed assassination attempt on Bloom by an unknown party, Dryas assisted Leif, Finn, Lachesis and Nanna in escaping from the city; in a battle he waged against the Grannvale army to buy Leif time, he lost his right arm. Some time afterward, he entered the protection of Hannibal of Thracia and took up residence in Hannibal's mountain mansion, along with Selphina and other fugitive Leonster knights and nobles. In the intervening time, he took to training the young Leonster knights in his custody.

Guiding Leif

Following the Ulster battle, Leif had long believed Dryas to have died to protect him, and after meeting Hannibal himself eleven years later he rejoiced at the opportunity to reunite with Dryas. In Grann 776, Dryas, Selphina and the knights still resided at Hannibal's mansion, and Leif was sent by Hannibal to meet with them. Before Leif could arrive, however, the territory around the mansion experienced the sudden appearance of the Thracian army. Dryas assumed that Travant had learned of the Leonster refugees occupying it, but having received word from Hannibal of Leif's approach, he insisted that they wait for Leif and hold their ground. Upon Leif's arrival at the mansion, Dryas pledged his support as a tactician and his trainees joined Leif's army.

Following the escape from Tarrah, Dryas came into conflict with August over the army's next move. While Leonster was the agreed-upon destination for the revolution army, Dryas believed that the army should take the northern high road to Leonster in order to act as an inspiration to those suffering under Grannvale's rule, despite being fully aware of the inevitable casualties afforded by this direct route; August criticized him for his stance of putting glory over the lives of his men. Either way, upon reaching and reclaiming Leonster, Leif's army received word of a Grannvale crackdown on Ulster, and Dryas volunteered to lead an advance guard to assist the situation there while Leif remained behind to build up Leonster's defenses. A day later, Leif received word that Dryas's army had been overrun and decimated by Grannvale's might, and that Dryas had distracted the army to buy his surviving men time to escape, dying in battle as a result.

Fire Emblem: Thracia 776

Role

Portrait dryas fe05.png

Dryas is a non-playable character, appearing only in cutscenes, but he does have one effect on gameplay. In all chapters in which Dryas is with Leif's party (from 10 to 18 onward), Leif gains an additional authority star. August has the same effect, so both being present awards Leif two authority stars.

Personality

Dryas lived for his service to the Leonster royal family, being willing to sacrifice anything, including his own life, to ensure its survival without even the slightest hesitation. His loyalty to Leonster was unwavering, to the point where he seemed to exhibit a false, idealized view of the late Prince Quan, erroneously believing him to have been the sort to spare his enemies.[2] For all of his respect and reverence for Leif and the rest of the Leonster family, Dryas had no reservations about criticizing members of other ruling families, even going so far as to brutally lambast the late king of Ulster right to Miranda's face.[3]

While fundamentally a good and honorable man and an excellent tactician, Dryas nonetheless had an interest with symbolic inspiration and glory to the point of considering losing men in such gestures to be a worthy sacrifice; this was made primarily evident in his argument with August over which route to take to Leonster, with his assertion that taking the more heavily fortified and direct northern route would be superior solely because of the army's ability to use it to rally the spirits of the people, regardless of casualties.[4] He had no problem with openly admiring any similar knightly honor and military efficiency exhibited by enemy forces.[5]

Choose Your Legends placement history

Round Placement Character Votes
CYL 5
(2021)
661 Portrait dryas fe05 cyl.png
Dryas
Thracia 776
58
CYL 6
(2022)
725
(+62)
Portrait dryas fe05 cyl.png
Dryas
Thracia 776
37
(−21)
CYL 7
(2023)
660
(−65)
Portrait dryas fe05 cyl.png
Dryas
Thracia 776
45
(+8)
CYL 8
(2024)
636
(−24)
Portrait dryas fe05 cyl.png
Dryas
Thracia 776
56
(+11)
Total results This character has 4 entries across all Choose Your Legends polls. 196

Etymology and other languages

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

Dryas

Used in official websites. Dryas (Ancient Greek: Δρύας Drýas) is a name borne by several figures in Greek mythology that comes from δρῦς drŷs "oak".

English
(unofficial)

Dorius

Used in the Project Exile fan translation. Named after Darius the Great; intended to parallel Augustus.

Japanese

ドリアス

Officially romanized as Dorias.

Spanish

Dryas

--

French

Dryas

--

German

Dryas

--

Italian

Dryas

--

Portuguese

Dryas

--

Traditional Chinese

多利亞斯

Dryas

Gallery

Sprite Gallery
Portrait dryas fe05.png

Official artwork

Cipher artwork

References

  1. Fall of Leonster
  2. "Dryas: But you led your forces equally well, Lord Leif.
    Leif: Do you mean how I left General Largo alive?
    Dryas: Yes. Fighting with a just heart like that is exactly what Lord Quan would have done.
    " — Dryas and Leif, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
  3. "...Princess Miranda, I believe you are wrong. The Empire was always plotting to take Ulster. The prince was only an excuse to launch an attack. This may be rude, but your father was much too weak to be a king. He had a fine band of knights, but he refused to fight when Thracia was invaded, and neither did he come to Lenster's aid when we were in danger. And this is the result. Ulster's collapse was your father's responsibility, and nobody else's!" — Dryas, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
  4. "Dryas: Lord Leif, we must head west on this mountain path to exit onto the northern highroad."
    August: Count Dryas, are you sure we want to take the coastline? I believe we should head east down the mountain and attack Leonster from the south.
    Dryas: The thick forests of Millefeuille lie to the south of Leonster. Those forests are well-known for people losing their way in them.
    August: I'm aware of that. But that also means that the Empire's defenses would be lax. With our small numbers, we must take full advantage of the terrain.
    Dryas: I disagree. Thracia... No, this entire continent is watching over our fight. We must not only win, our victory must be one that gives courage to the people suffering from Imperial oppression. We should march in proudly from the front, flying the flag of Leonster.
    August: The northern highroad is practically Leonster's front door. Legions of enemy soldiers will be defending it. We will lose many of our troops.
    Dryas: I understand. But their deaths will be in glory and honor.
    August: Glory? ...Count Dryas, you knights are not the only ones fighting this battle. Some of us don't appreciate having your values one-sidedly forced upon us.
    " — Dryas and August, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
  5. "Dryas: General Largo... Quite a fine warrior.
    Leif: This is the first time I've ever fought the Friege army, but they were stronger than I expected... If that's what a small group of border guards is like, then I can only imagine how powerful the main army is.
    Dryas: Yes, the Friege family is a strict and respectable line of nobles, so they enforce honor even into their lowest ranking soldiers. I'm sure they are among the strictest and most organized armies on the continent.
    " — Dryas and Leif, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
Project Characters.png This article is part of Project Characters, a project focused on writing articles for every character present in the Fire Emblem series.
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