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Forneus

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Forneus

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Gender

Male[1]

Appearance(s)

Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

Two matters consumed Forneus, and he spent his life in their pursuit.
— Thabean Senate notes on Forneus

Forneus (Japanese: フォルネウス Forneus) was an alchemist residing in Thabes an unspecified, though presumably a very large, amount of time before 402 V.C.

Biography

Forneus was an esteemed Alchemist living in Thabes[2] long ago. After the death of his beloved wife, he became obsessed with raising the dead back to life.[citation needed] He initially conducted his studies with the blessings of the Thabean Senate. Forneus studied the thanatophages, a species of insect,[3] eventually creating an invention he dubbed a "death mask".[3] His desire was to create controllable undead as well as a "perfect life form".[4]

Eventually, however, the Senate became concerned with Forneus's activities, and sent messengers, then later soldiers, to stop him, though none returned. The Senate accepted the people they sent as lost, and sealed Forneus within his workshop with the Sage's Shield.[5]

At some point Forneus fed his creation his own blood; this caused the Creation to grow rapidly in size, and apparently granted it the ability to invade Forneus's mind.[6] Judging by the messages left by Forneus after this, it is possible that Forneus had unintentionally made a blood pact with his creation.

Many years later his creation would come to be known by the name "Grima". It is unknown if those in a blood pact with Grima are direct descendants of Forneus or if Grima blood-blonded with another. Forneus's death masks would also come to be known as the "Risen".

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

Role

Forneus does not make an in-person appearance in Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, though his workshop and the story surrounding it is the primary focus of Act 6.

In 402 V.C., Alm and Celica, after granting safe passage of an Archanean merchant, decide to explore Thabes Labyrinth. On their exploration down they encounter messages left by the Thabean Senate as well as Forneus himself.

Messages left in Thabes related to Forneus

Messages
Message Author
This is the Thabes Labyrinth. Let none set foot within its cursed halls. Thabean Senate
In Thabes lived an alchemist named Forneus, much praised for his genius.
In time, he would be feared by all.
Thabean Senate
Two matters consumed Forneus, and he spent his life in their pursuit. Thabean Senate
The first was how to wake the dead and control them as his army. Thabean Senate
The second was the creation of a singular, perfect being. Thabean Senate
We senators sent forth messengers to Forneus. None returned. Thabean Senate
Next, the Council dispatched soldiers. Still none returned. Thabean Senate
Thus, the Council chose to seal Forneus's workshop with him inside it. Thabean Senate
The seal they used was made to last until the city crumbled to sand. Thabean Senate
Here lies sealed the workshop of the demon alchemist Forneus. Thabean Senate
The critical component in the death mask is a particular shelled insect. Forneus
I have come to call these marvels of nature thanatophages. Forneus
Placed on a cadaver, thanatophages set down roots and assert control. Forneus
At last, blood from a divine dragon! Its power is terrifying. Beautiful. Forneus
The Senate has granted me all I need to craft life anew. I've succeeded. Forneus
At first, it was a tiny thing. But on day 80, I gave it my blood. It grew. Forneus
Its voice echoes in my head. Dark thoughts. Violent th— Forneus

Personality

Little of Forneus's personality is explicitly known. Forneus's desire to create a perfect life form and an undead army stemmed from the death of his beloved wife, whose face he modeled the death masks after.[citation needed] He was clearly dedicated to his studies. He also considered his proto-Risen to be adorable pets. It is possible he did not initially intend to defy the Thabean Senate, and went rogue under the control of his violently-inclined creation.

Etymology and other languages

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

Forneus

Forneus is a figure in mythology and a marquis of hell, and is primarily associated with knowledge and charisma among friend and foe. The mythological Forneus supposedly led twenty-nine legions of demons. This name was presumably chosen to relate to his knowledge as an alchemist and his desire for an undead army.

Japanese

フォルネウス

Forneus

Spanish

Forneus

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French

Forneus

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German

Forneus

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Italian

Forneus

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Dutch

Forneus

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Korean

포르네우스

Forneus

Simplified Chinese

佛鲁奈伍斯

Forneus

Traditional Chinese

佛魯奈伍斯

Forneus

References

  1. "Two matters consumed Forneus, and he spent his life in their pursuit." — The Thabean senate commenting on Forneus, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
  2. "In Thabes lived an alchemist named Forneus, much praised for his genius." — Message left in Thabes, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
  3. 3.0 3.1 " The critical component in the death mask is a particular shelled insect. I have come to call these marvels of nature thanatophages. Placed on a cadaver, thanatophages set down roots and assert control." — Notes left behind by Forneus, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
  4. "The first was how to wake the dead and control them as his army. The second was the creation of a singular, perfect being." — Message left by the Thabean Senate, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
  5. "Thus, the Council chose to seal Forneus's workshop with him inside it. The seal they used was made to last until the city crumbled to sand. Here lies sealed the workshop of the demon alchemist Forneus." — Message left by the Thabean Senate, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
  6. "At first, it was a tiny thing. But on day 80, I gave it my blood. It grew. Its voice echoes in my head. Dark thoughts. Violent th—" — What is presumably one of Forneus's last recorded notes, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
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 Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Playable characters Alm's Party AlmClairCliveDeltheaFayeForsythGrayKliffLukasLuthierMathildaMycenPythonSilqueTatianaTobinZeke
Celica's Party AtlasBoeyCatriaCelicaConradDeenEstFayeGennyJesseKamuiKliffLeonMaeNomahPallaSaberSonyaValbar
DLC EmmaRandalShadeYuzu
Non-playable characters HalcyonIrmaMassenaMilaPeddlers
Bosses ArgentumAurumBarthBerkutBlakeBrigand BossCerberusThe CreationDeenDeltheaDesaixDolthDumaFernandGarthGarciaGazelleGharnGriethHadesHestiaJamilJarth*JedahJeromeLawsonMagnusMarlaMikhailMuellerNaberiusNuibabaRineaRudolfSlaydeSonyaTatarrahWolffXaizorZaksonZeke
Background characters ForneusLima IVLiprica
Regalia and personal weapons Beloved ZofiaFalchionGradivusMercuriusParthiaRoyal Sword
Acts and Battles Prologue Alm and Celica
Act 1 1: Ram Woods Battle • 2: Fleecer's Forest Battle • 3: Thieves' Shrine • 4: Storming of Ram Valley • 5: Attack on the Southern Outpost • 6: First Battle of Southern Zofia • 7: Second Battle of Southern Zofia • 8: Deliverance Hideout • 9: Liberation of Zofia Castle
Act 2 1: Skirmish • 2: First Pirate Raid • 3: Second Pirate Raid • 4: Assault on the Pirate Throne • 5: Third Pirate Raid • 6: Beast Hunt • 7: Seabound Shrine • 8: Fourth Pirate Raid • 9: Fifth Pirate Raid • 10: Zofia Castle Battle
Act 3 Alm 1: Northern Zofia Battle • 2: First Battle of Zofia Forest • 3: Forest Crossroads Battle • 4: Siege of Desaix's Fortress • 5: Second Battle of Zofia Forest • 6: Sylvan Shrine • 7: Forest Northside Battle • 8: Retaking of the Sluice Gate
Celica 1: Zofian Coast Battle • 2: Skirmish • 3: Attack on the Desert Stronghold • 4N: Northern Desert Battle • 4S: Southern Desert Battle • 5: Attack on Grieth's Citadel • 6: Storming of the Valley Approach • 7: Dragon Shrine • 8: Liberation of the Temple of Mila
Act 4 Alm 1: Border Battle • 2: Rigel Forest Battle • 3: Fear Mountain Battle • 4: Fear Mountain Shrine • 5: Siege of Nuibaba's Abode • 6: Rigel Plains Battle • 7: Fight at the Dragon's Maw • 8: Rigel Falls Battle • 9: Secret Shrine • 10: Attack on the Last Bastion • 11: Attack on Rigel Castle
Celica 1: Dead Man's Mire Battle • 2: Skirmish • 3: Attack on Dolth Keep • 4: Lost Treescape • 5: Storming of Duma Gate • 6: The Swamps of Duma Battle • 7: Duma Tower
Act 5 1: Duma Temple • 2: The Final Battle
Act 6 1: Archanea Seaway 2 Battle • 2: Archanea Seaway 4 Battle • 3: Archanea Seaway 6 Battle • 4: Thabes Labyrinth
amiibo Duma's OrdealsMila's Ordeals
DLC The Astral TempleThe Inner SanctumBand of BandagesLords of the GraveWretches and RichesWealth Before HealthAltar of the DestrierAltar of the TitanAltar of the SkylordAltar of the SorceressAltar of the FaerieAltar of the OgreAltar of the MarksmanAltar of the SavantAltar of the QueenAltar of the King • 1: Battle of Zofia Harbor • 2: Outpost Rescue • 3: Flight from the Ruins • 4: Siege of Zofia CastleCipher Legends ICipher Legends IIMila's Bounty 1Mila's Bounty 2Mila's Bounty 3Mila's Bounty 4Mila's Bounty 5
Locations ValentiaRigel (Fear Mountain ShrineSecret ShrineLost TreescapeDuma TowerDuma Temple) • Zofia (Deliverance HideoutDragon ShrineNovisRamSylvan ShrineTemple of MilaSeabound ShrineThieves' Shrine) • ArchaneaThabes
Groups, objects and concepts Death MasksBook of Valentian RevelationsDeliveranceMila ShrineMila's TurnwheelTerrors
Lists Base conversationsActsCharactersClasses (Class change) • ItemsScriptsSidequestsSkillsSupportsWeapons
Related topics Ancient LettersName chartDownloadable content • Other games (GaidenShadow DragonNew Mystery of the EmblemAwakening) • Pre-release information (Unused content) • Sound TestTimelineWorld map