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Shrine of Seals

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Shrine of Seals

Ss fe06 map shrine of seals.png
Map noting the Shrine of Seals' location (marked with the flag) in The Binding Blade.

Chapter(s)

The Binding Blade:

The Blazing Blade:

Country

Bern

Appearance(s)

The Shrine of Seals (Japanese: 封印の神殿 Shrine of Seals) is a temple dating from the Scouring, located deep in the Kingdom of Bern in Elibe.

History

Following the defeat of Idunn, the demon dragon, at the end of the Scouring, Hartmut of the Eight Legends traveled deep into the remote mountains of what would later become Bern and constructed the Shrine of Seals as a place to safely keep Idunn, imprisoning her within it using the Binding Blade.[1] He then sealed the Binding Blade within its altar, locking it so that only the Fire Emblem could unseal it.[2] The shrine was also used by fellow general, Bramimond, to seal away their own legendary weapon, Apocalypse, within the shrine's depths. Bramimond then cast a seal across Elibe which locked away the other legendary weapons in their own hiding place, after which he permanently took up residence in the shrine's depths to guard the seal.

After finishing the Shrine of Seals, Hartmut founded the Kingdom of Bern so that his descendants could continue to guard the Shrine and Idunn. The obscure location of the shrine became a state secret of Bern, known only to members of the royal family and under extremely heavy protection,[3] and its very existence was little known as well. The rival kingdom Etruria once conducted a mission to find the shrine and investigate it upon learning of its existence, but none of the mission's members are known to have survived.[4]

Despite the secrecy and security, 980 years after the Scouring, the Lycian nobles Eliwood, Lyn and Hector were tasked by Athos with finding the Shrine of Seals in order to gain the power to defeat Nergal. They eventually earned passage and directions from Queen Hellene after retaking the Fire Emblem from the Black Fang and thwarting an assassination attempt on Prince Zephiel, and traveled there to prove to Athos their worth to wield the legendary weapons. At Athos's request, Bramimond undid the seals on the legendary weapons, allowing them to be used. Twenty years later, the Shrine of Seals was the site of one of the closing battles of the Disturbance of Bern and the bloodiest day in Elibe's history, when the Etrurian army under General Roy attacked it as the first part of their invasion of Bern. After defeating the Bern army and General Murdock, Roy used the Fire Emblem to claim the Binding Blade for use against King Zephiel and Idunn.

Structure

Surface altar

The ground-level part of the Shrine of Seals is relatively small, occupying a single raised chamber. An altar sits at the top of this chamber, and the Binding Blade was sealed within it until Roy obtained it.

Depths

Underground, the Shrine of Seals continues into a labyrinth where Bramimond once lived and where the legendary weapon Apocalypse is kept. The labyrinth is dark and hinders vision, and is liberally coated with traps intended to ward off would-be thieves of Apocalypse.[5]

Etymology and other languages

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

Shrine of Seals

Presumably named in analogy to the weapon it holds, although because this weapon is translated in English as "Binding Blade", each is inconsistent with the other. Some dialogue translates it as "sealed shrine".

Japanese

封印の神殿

Shrine of Seals

Spanish

Santuario de los Sellos

Sanctuary of the Seals

French

Temple des Sceaux

Temple of Seals

German

Schrein der Siegel

Shrine of Seals

Italian

Tempio dei sigilli

Temple of seals

Gallery

References

  1. "After persuading the others that it should be spared, Hartmut built a shrine hidden deep in what you now call Bern. There, he bound the demon dragon away using the blade and the Fire Emblem. After the founding of Bern, the shrine was protected by the royal family for generations." — Jahn, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
  2. "Merlinus: ...I can't seem to draw it from the stone.
    Roy: It's sealed in the altar. You must use the Fire Emblem.
    Merlinus: Use it? How?
    Roy: Princess Guinivere said that it goes in the socket on the hilt...
    " — Merlinus and Roy, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
  3. "I’ve heard it’s north of Bern. But the location of the shrine itself is secret. I doubt if anyone outside the royal family knows how to reach it." — Hawkeye, Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
  4. "I’m privy to the highest secrets of military information in Etruria. When we learned of the shrine’s existence, we investigated. However, none of our operatives returned. Bern’s defenses are formidable." — Pent, Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
  5. "Roy: There always seem to be traps where legendary weapons lie.
    Elffin: ...Perhaps they are meant to keep the unworthy from wielding them.
    Roy: Maybe so... But the traps are so intricate. I feel there must be something more to them than that.
    " — Roy and Elffin, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade

See also

Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
Playable characters AlenAstolfoBartheBartreBorsCathCeciliaChadClarineDayanDieckDorothyDouglasEchidnaElenElffinFaeFirGarretGeeseGonzalezGwendolynHughIgreneJunoKarelKleinLanceLarumLilinaLotLughMarcusMerlinusMeladyNiimeNoahOgierPercevalRaighRoyRutgerSaulShannaSinSophiaSueTheaTrecWardWoltYoderZelotZeiss
Trial Map characters BrunnyaEliwoodGalleGuinivereHectorMurdockNarcianZephiel
Non-playable characters EliwoodGuinivereHectorMaryMordred
Bosses ArcardoBorsBrakulBrunnyaChanDamasDebiasDoryEinErikFlaerGalleGuerreroHenningIdunnKabulKelKudokaJahnLeganceMaggieMarralMartelMonkeMorganMurdockNarcianNordOatesOrloPeresRaithRandyRoartzRobertsRoseRuudScollanScottSiguneSlaterThorilTickWagnerWindhamZephielZinque
Background characters AthosBariganBramimondDurbanElimineHanonHartmutRoland
Regalia and personal weapons ApocalypseArmadsAureolaBinding BladeDurandalEckesachsForblazeMaltetMulagirRapierStaff of the Saint
Chapters Tutorial • 1: Breath of Destiny • 2: Princess of Bern • 3: Latecomer's Sorrow • 4: Crumbling League • 5: Fire Emblem • 6: Ensnared • 7: The Ostian Revolt • 8: Reunion • 8x: The Blazing Blade • 9: The Misty Isles • 10A: Western Resistance • 11A: The Hero of the West • 10B: Amidst a Struggle • 11B: Flight Toward Freedom • 12: The True Enemy • 12x: The Thunder Axe • 13: Rescue Mission • 14: Arcadia • 14x: The Infernal Truth • 15: The Dragon Child • 16: Storming the Capital • 16x: The Glorious Ascension • 17A: Ocean's Parting • 18A: The Frozen River • 19A: Bitter Cold • 20A: Ilia's Salvation • 20Ax: The Freezing Lance • 17B: The Bishop's Teachings • 18B: The Laws of Sacae • 19B: Battle in Bulgar • 20B: The Silver Wolf • 20Bx: The Bow of Swift Wind • 21: The Binding Blade • 21x: The Elder Revelation • 22: Unattained Dream • 23: The Ghosts of Bern • 24: Legends and LiesF: Beyond Darkness
Trial Maps Valley of DeathRainy IslandSnowy DefensivePirate's ChallengeRoy's Trial
Locations ElibeBern (Dragon TempleShrine of Seals) • Etruria (Aquleia) • IliaLycia (AraphenLausOstiaPheraeThria) • Missur (ArcadiaNabata) • Sacae (BulgarTaras) • Western Isles
Groups, objects and concepts Disturbance of BernEnding WinterFire EmblemGenerals of EtruriaThe ScouringWar Dragons
Lists ChaptersCharactersClasses (Class change) • Hidden treasureItemsScriptsSupportsWeapons
Related topics Elibe DisturbanceHasha no TsurugiName chart • Other games (The Blazing Blade) • Pre-release information (Unused content) • Sound RoomTimeline
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
Playable characters AthosBartreCanasDartDorcasEliwoodErkFarinaFioraFlorinaGeitzGuyHarkenHawkeyeHeathHectorIsadoraJaffarKarelKarlaKentLegaultLouiseLowenLuciusLynMarcusMatthewMerlinusNilsNinianNinoOswinPentPriscillaRathRavenRebeccaRenaultSainSerraVaidaWallaceWil
Non-playable characters BramimondDesmondElbertEleanoraEphidelFaeFargusGuinivereHannahHausenHelleneHelmanIgorJahnJakeJanKishunaLeilaLilinaMarkMurdockNatalieReissmannRoySophiaUtherZephiel
Bosses AionBattaBaukerBernardBeyardBoiesBoolBrendanBugCameronCarjigaDamianDarinDenningDragonEaglerErikEubansFargusGeorgGlassGroznyiHeintzJasmineJermeKaimKennethKishunaLimstellaLinusLloydLundgrenMaximeMigalNergalOlegPascalPaulPuzonSealenSoniaTeodorUhaiUrsulaVaidaWireYogiZaganZoldamZugu
Background characters AenirAeshaAthosBariganBramimondDurbanElimineHanonHartmutHassarKellesMadelynRoland
Regalia and personal weapons ArmadsAureolaBasilikosDurandalEreshkigalExcaliburForblazeGespenstLuceMani KattiRapierRegal BladeRex HastaRienflecheSol KattiWolf Beil
Chapters Lyn's Tale P: A Girl from the Plains • 1: Footsteps of Fate • 2: Sword of Spirits • 3: Band of Mercenaries • 4: In Occupation's Shadow • 5: Beyond the Borders • 6: Blood of Pride • 7: Siblings Abroad • 7x: The Black Shadow • 8: Vortex of Strategy • 9: A Grim Reunion • 10: The Distant Plains
Eliwood's Tale 11: Taking Leave • 12: Birds of a Feather • 13: In Search of Truth • 13x: The Peddler Merlinus • 14: False Friends • 15: Noble Lady of Caelin • 16: Whereabouts Unknown • 16x: The Port of Badon • 17: Pirate Ship • 18: The Dread Isle • 18x: Imprisoner of Magic • 19: Dragon's Gate • 20: New Resolve • 21: Kinship's Bond • 22: Living Legend • 22x: Genesis • 23: Four-Fanged Offense (Lloyd, Linus) • 24: Unfulfilled Heart • 25: Pale Flower of Darkness (Kenneth, Jerme) • 26: Battle before Dawn • 26x: Night of Farewells • 27: Cog of Destiny • 28: Valorous Roland • 29: Sands of Time • 29x: Battle Preparations • 30: Victory or DeathF: Light (part 1part 2)
Hector's Tale 11: Another Journey • 12: Birds of a Feather • 13: In Search of Truth • 13x: The Peddler Merlinus • 14: False Friends • 15: Talons Alight • 16: Noble Lady of Caelin • 17: Whereabouts Unknown • 17x: The Port of Badon • 18: Pirate Ship • 19: The Dread Isle • 19x: Imprisoner of Magic • 19x pt 2: A Glimpse in Time • 20: Dragon's Gate • 21: New Resolve • 22: Kinship's Bond • 23: Living Legend • 23x: Genesis • 24: Four-Fanged Offense (Lloyd, Linus) • 25: Crazed Beast • 26: Unfulfilled Heart • 27: Pale Flower of Darkness (Kenneth, Jerme) • 28: Battle before Dawn • 28x: Night of Farewells • 29: Cog of Destiny • 30: The Berserker • 31: Sands of Time • 31x: Battle Preparations • 32: Victory or Death • 32x: The Value of LifeF: Light (part 1part 2)
Locations ElibeBern (Shrine of Seals) • EtruriaIliaLycia (AraphenCaelinCornwellKhatheletLausOstiaPheraeSantaruz) • Nabata Desert (Arcadia) • Sacae (Bulgar) • Valor (Dragon's Gate) • Western Isles
Groups, objects and concepts Black Fang (Four Fangs) • Fire EmblemGenerals of EtruriaMorphsQuintessenceThe Scouring
Lists ChaptersCharactersClasses (Class change) • Hidden treasureItemsScriptsSupportsWeapons
Related topics List of version differencesMario Kart: Double Dash!! bonus discName chart • Other games (The Binding Blade) • Pre-release information (Pre-release build 0206Pre-release build 0219Unused content) • Sound RoomTimeline