Fancast Overview: https://www.comicbookmovie.com/fan_fic/flixmentallo21-presents-fire-emblem-a-netflix-original-anime-series-overview-a150690
"Final" Thoughts: https://www.comicbookmovie.com/fan_fic/flixmentallo21-presents-fire-emblem-a-netflix-original-anime-series-final-thoughts-a152513
Remember when I said I wouldn't fancast some of the other Fire Emblem games? Well....I caved.
Notes:
1. Any hyperlinks appearing below character names will take you to the actor's filmography, to help familiarize you with their work.
2. Any characters with older art would theoretically have character models based on their modern redesigns, as seen by the headshot insets.
3. The weapons seen with the characters indicate their proficiencies, be they swords; axes; lances; bows; light magic; dark magic; anima magic; or staves.
4. Once again, all biographical info taken from, and slightly tweaked for my narrative purposes, the Fire Emblem Wiki. And sincerest apologies for the length.
Season One: The Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
Our narrator (Timothy Dalton) gives us a brief overview of Fire Emblem, a series of medieval epics said to rival the works of J.R.R. Tolkein and George R.R. Martin. After having taken us through the sagas of Elibe, Magvel, and Tellius, he feels it is time to acquaint us with the tetralogy that actually started the series--the saga of Archanea, beginning with its first book.
"Long ago, the Kingdom of Archanea, named for the continent on which it resided, was invaded by the Dolhr Empire, led by the Shadow Dragon, Medeus, and the people lived in fear and despair. However... a miracle occurred. Anri, a youth from the Kingdom of Altea, killed the Shadow Dragon using the divine sword Falchion. The Kingdom of Archanea was restored and the world entered an age of peace; but one hundred years later, Medeus was resurrected. He joined forces with the "Dark Pontifex" Gharnef, who shared his ambitions of ruling the world, and launched an attack on Archanea. Archanea was defeated by Dolhr's ally the Kingdom of Grust, and, aside from Princess Nyna, the royal family of Archanea was wiped out. Cornelius, the king of Altea and successor of the heroic Anri, left to battle Medeus, with the Falchion in hand. Meanwhile, Cornelius's only son and the prince of Altea, Marth, awaited his father's return as he passes his days with his combat training. He was soon attacked by the forces of Gra but, with the aid of his sister Elice and a small group of retainers, fled to the island nation of Talys. After years of living in hiding, Marth and his army rode out to reclaim Altea..."
A brief primer on the countries of Archanea:
Archanea
Archanea is the largest nation on the continent. Princess Nyna is the ruling figurehead, but she remains in exile since Dolhr's invasion. Archanea is a prosperous nation, made up of a variety of merchant towns.
Altea
Altea is an island kingdom at the center of the continent. Marth hails as prince from here, and has been in exile ever since Gra's betrayal. The hero Anri also hailed from this kingdom.
Dolhr
Dolhr is the home of the dragonkin and their tyrant ruler, Medeus. Under his rule, it had vast military ambition and once conquered the entire continent under the name of the Dolunian Empire. It wasn't until Anri slew Medeus using the legendary blade Falchion that peace was returned to Archanea.
Gra
Gra closely neighbours Altea, and was considered an ally until their sudden betrayal upon Medeus' return. Altea and Gra are closely connected due to Gra being created over an inheritance issue between Anri's two brothers, leading the Altean and Gra royal families to be intertwined.
Talys
Talys is a remote island nation to the east of Archanea. It is a peaceful nation, with a small army merely existent to defend against pirate raids. It is the home of Princess Caeda.
Macedon
Macedon neighbors Dolhr, and has allied with them upon Medeus's return. Princess Minerva hails from this nation and is famed for her pegasus knights known as the Whitewings, and Prince Michalis' dracoknights, the Dragoons.
Aurelis
Aurelis is a kingdom within the plains. Hardin, the king's brother, leads its knights to fight back against Dolhr and its allies.
Khadein
Khadein is situated in the middle of a vast desert and is home to scholars of magic. It was founded and is currently ruled by Gotoh, but during the war it was dominated by Gharnef, the Dark Pontifex.
Grust
Grust is a militant kingdom famous for its Sable Order of knights, led by Camus the Sable. Its king, Ludwik, feared the Shadow Dragon's might and thus joined forces with him.
Pyrathi
Pyrathi is an isolationist kingdom whose leader, Mannu, is rumoured to be a manakete.
Thabes
Thabes is a kingdom that was lost to time, along with its civilization and its treasures. It dwells in the vast desert region of Mamorthod. It is said that the divine dragon Naga's final resting place was at Thabes.
+Heroes (aka Playable Characters)
-Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor) as the voice of Marth, Prince of Altea
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0383603/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Marth is the prince of Altea, and the only son of King Cornelius, as well as the younger brother of princess Elice. Some time after Cornelius had departed with Falchion to challenge the forces of Dolhr, whose leader, Medeus had resurrected and rebuilt the empire, Marth remained behind in Altea with his mother and elder sister Elice, committing himself to his studies; with much of the Altean army out to war under Cornelius, the defence of Altea was maintained by a garrison of Gra. After Gra betrayed Altea in the middle of battle, with the King of Gra, Jiol, killing Cornelius, the garrison at Altea did the same, seizing the castle for Dolhr. While Elice stayed behind to buy Marth time, he fled the castle guided by his advisor Malledus, with a few Altean knights accompany him. From there, Marth reluctantly fled for the island nation of Talys, swearing he would one day return to free his homeland and seek vengeance upon Gra and Grust.
Marth is a kindhearted yet incredibly idealistic leader and has subtle pacifist morals. Said morals are a result of him experiencing loss directly, as his sister has been kidnapped twice and parents killed. His idealism does take a toll on him, however. He has been shown to be overly trusting at times as he has been betrayed and almost killed by two comrades. Regardless, his faith in his people do have its benefits, as recruitment of an assortment of people from different backgrounds directly contributed to his success in both wars. While Marth shares a passionate bond with Caeda, they tend to quarrel due to both having a similar fear about each other's well being, and wanting to protect one another. Marth has also been shown to be extremely humble; In addition, Marth often seeks consistent reassurance in his decisions, of which can be seen as both a flaw and a strength, as while it may hinder him at times, once determined, he becomes a beacon of inspiration for others. Outside of his duties, Marth can be aloof and rather shy when it comes to personal communication."
-Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men, When Marnie Was There) as the voice of Caeda, Princess of Talys
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2215143/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Caeda is the pure-hearted princess of Talys, daughter of King Mostyn, and a childhood friend and later wife of Marth. One day, Caeda flies her pegasus in a frenzied panic to the eastern fortress that Marth has taken up residence in on the island nation of Talys. There, she urgently seeks his assistance in eradicating a group of Galder Pirates besieging the castle. After Marth and his loyal retainers succeed in fulfilling her request, she then joins him on his conquest to bring the War of Shadows to an end. Along the way, Caeda proves to be instrumental in recruiting several characters to Marth's cause, including Castor, Navarre, Roger, Jake and Lorenz.
Caeda is portrayed as a kind, patient and a forgiving yet headstrong and stubborn individual, a fact that is evident through her interactions with various characters. able to overlook a given person's past and grant them chances to make repatriations. Caeda's relationship with Ogma best illustrates this point, as she, in spite of her reservations over his past life as a barbaric gladiator with an unquenchable thirst for mindless, meaningless battle, chooses to grant him a second chance at life by knighting him as one of her personal guards. When the situation mandates a need for Caeda to be serious however, she can be gravely so, a fact that sees her risking her safety in many a battlefield in order to seek reinforcements to turn the tide of battle in her favour, as is the case when she escapes her home castle in Talys during a Galder Pirate invasion. Bolstering her battlefield tactics, Caeda has been portrayed to be extremely perceptive and to possess a sharp memory. Caeda shares a close bond with Marth, one that eventually blossoms into a passionate love. As a result, she is exceedingly protective of Marth, a fact that has compelled her to personally enlist in his army to act as a member of his combat troops."
-Paul Eiding as the voice of Jagen, an Altean paladin
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Paul-Eiding/
"A veteran knight of Altea, Jagen acts as Marth's guardian and one of his advisors. He is often one of the people Marth turns to for guidance, and is portrayed as both prudent and wise. Jagen is fiercely patriotic to the country whom he has pledged his allegiance to (Altea), participating in many battles under its banner for decades."
*Picture Eiding's Grandpa Max from Ben 10 and you have the perfect voice for Jagen.*
-Darren Criss (Glee, American Crime Story) as the voice of Cain, an Altean cavalier (later a paladin)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2023050/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Cain is a hot-headed cavalier known by the alias 'The Bull'. Prior to the fall of Altea Castle, Cain fought under the banner of King Cornelius, who led the charge of the resistance against the betrayal of Gra. After King Cornelius tragically fell in battle, Cain was assigned the task of delivering his final words to Prince Marth. While enduring several wounds that he had sustained during the battle, Cain promptly rushed off in the direction of Altea Castle. Cain is passionately loyal to the liege that he serves, willing to overlook his personal welfare in order to fulfill his duties. Despite this, Cain has also revealed signs of being emotional, a fact that is depicted through his ardent, yet sorrowful, outburst where he vows to avenge the deaths of his king and fellow comrades. Through this outburst, it can also be determined that Cain views his role as a knight of Altea with immense pride, as he deems his sole survival amongst his beloved comrades to be a representation of cowardice and disgrace. Cain's devotion to Altea is one that transcends his representing the country on the battlefield."
*Inspired by his portrayal of another red-armored hothead, Sideswipe in the 2015 version of Transformers: Robots in Disguise.*
-Nick Zano (Legends of Tomorrow) as the voice of Abel, an Altean cavalier (later a paladin)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1214657/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Abel is a level-headed cavalier known by his alias 'The Panther'. Under the orders of Princess Elice, he and Frey assist Marth in escaping through the gates of Altea Castle. Thereafter joining up with Jagen and later Cain, Gordin, Draug and Norne, the small squadron of retainers manage to succeed in helping Marth in fleeing Altea and taking up refuge in Talys. Similar to many other knight characters in the aforementioned games, Abel is devoutly loyal to the liege that he serves, willing to sacrifice himself in the line of duty. This does not, however, deter him from attaining emotional fulfilment, as he opts to wed Est after the War of Shadows instead of continuing to serve Marth as a knight. Abel's love for Est is evidently very strong, to the point where he has tried to befriend Est's pegasus steed under the belief that it is a necessary prerequisite to marry her, although all his attempts have ended in failure."
-Robin Atkin Downes as the voice of Frey, an Altean cavalier (later a paladin)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Robin-Atkin-Downes/
"A knight of Altea under Jagen's command, he was bidden by Princess Elice to protect Marth, along with Abel, when it was discovered that Cornelius had been killed in action due to the treachery of the Gra forces, who had struck the Altean army from the rear. After joining up with Jagen and Cain at the gates of the castle, they aided in the prince’s escape and fled to the country’s borders to seek refuge in the kingdom of Talys. Just as they were about to reach the port to which they would seek passage to Talys, the main force of Gra, accompanied by the Sable Order of Knights, arrived in pursuit of the prince. Realizing that they would not be able to escape in time or defeat these powerful foes, Malledus suggested to Marth that one of his men leave for the southern fortress and dress himself to look like the prince to lure them away, giving the others enough time to escape. Although Marth was opposed to this gambit after learning that the decoy may not make it back alive, Frey leaves regardless and sacrifices himself for Marth’s sake. As with many of the other knights of Altea, Frey is characterized by his dedicated loyalty to his homeland and his prince. His willingness to sacrifice himself in order to let Marth escape to Talys can be seen as an indication of the depths of his fealty, since in doing so, he placed his own life in great jeopardy by luring the enemies away, by himself. Frey seems to have a brave, compassionate and self-denying personality, as he considers the well-being of others before his own."
-Max Burkholder as the voice of Gordin, an Altean archer (later a sniper)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1370269/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"A member of the archer division in the Altean Army, Gordin is the youngest of the first generation of Altean Knights, dreaming of becoming a full-fledged sniper despite his inexperience. During Gra's siege of Altea, he is taken captive and held in a prison near the border of the country. When news of Marth's imminent arrival reaches the region, Gordin is brought forward, gagged and bound, and outfitted in the uniform of a Gra soldier to bait Marth. In doing so, the Gra soldiers hope that Marth would be tricked into believing Gordin to be an enemy, and thereafter retaliate by attacking him. Gordin’s death is, thankfully, prevented, as Marth notices that he is gagged despite supposedly being an enemy. After removing his gag, Marth recognises Gordin’s face immediately, and thereafter allows the archer to fight by his side. Along the way, he apprentices himself to Jeorge to better his archery skills. Gordin is depicted to be lacking in self-confidence, causing him to hesitate before releasing each arrow, a fact that cripplingly hampers his marksmanship. He is a humble individual, as he, in spite of eventually beating his master in practice shooting, continues to seek his continued support and guidance. Gordin's lack of self-confidence is also explicated by an insecurity over his juvenile bearing, longing to establish a dignified, authoritative presence like Jagen. Gordin is also portrayed to maintain a very strong bond with his brother Ryan."
-Nolan North as the voice of Draug, an Altean armor knight (later a general)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Nolan-North/
"Draug is an armored knight in service to Altea. He and Norne meet up with Marth and his retainers after they manage to reach the escape point near the borders of Altea. After briefly introducing Norne to Marth, he then leads the small battalion to a vessel that he had prepared prior to their arrival, granting them the opportunity to successfully evade the Gra forces and seek refuge in Talys.
Draug is strongly patriotic, willing to lay his life on the line for the sake of protecting both his country and liege, a fact that is proven by his having dutifully fought alongside Marth for the duration of the the war. He is a humble individual; in spite of the valor that he has displayed on the battlefield, he chooses to be taciturn instead of vocal about his achievements. He is also portrayed as an honour-bound person, refusing to claim credit for achievements that he has not attained."
-Natalie Lander as the voice of Norne, an Altean archer (later a sniper)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Natalie-Lander/
"Norne is a volunteer soldier who hails from a village near Altea Castle. When Marth and his soldiers reach Draug, who has prepared a vessel for them, Norne follows him and is introduced to Marth. As an archer who possesses great skill with her bow, Norne volunteers to join Marth´s army when he is escaping from Altea. Norne has a somewhat cheery personality compared to others, and has mutual romantic affection for Draug. "
*Fittingly, Lander's lent her voice to a small number of Fire Emblem characters in recent years, including Fir from The Blazing Blade, Amelia from The Sacred Stones, and her very first character from the series, Elise from Fates.*
-Michael Bell as the voice of Wrys, a Talysian priest (later a bishop)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Michael-Bell/
"A curate from Talys, Wrys joins Marth to defend his country from the invasion of the Galder Pirates, later accompanying him during the War of Shadows. It can be observed that Wrys is a magnanimous individual, more than willing to provide assistance where possible."
*Having met Bell in real life, no way was I going to let one of my favorite veteran voice actors sit this one out, having only previously cast him as an NPC from The Blazing Blade.*
-Brian Bloom as the voice of Ogma, a Talysian mercenary (later a hero)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0089141/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"The hard-edged captain of a group of mercenaries comprising of Barst, Bord and Cord, Ogma is also the personal bodyguard of Princess Caeda of Talys. Ogma was born in Pyrathi as the son of a lower-ranking Archanean nobleman and a Grustian-born lady. During a political strife that broke out in Pales, Ogma's father was executed, and Ogma and his mother were left to fend for themselves. Tragedy later struck once again, as Ogma's mother perished in an attempt to protect her son, and he was later forced to become a gladiator in Knorda as a means of subsistence. During his stint as a gladiator, Ogma was captured and severely tormented for aiding in the escape of his fellow gladiator Samuel. In the midst of his torture, Princess Caeda intervened and halted his tormentors, later granting him the opportunity to escape from his life as a gladiator by appointing him as one of her personal bodyguards. From this point onwards, Ogma swore eternal fealty to Caeda, in gratitude for having extricated him from the mires of despair. At some point after he was given a new lease of life, Ogma stumbled upon Malice and Dice, who had collapsed on an unnamed road and were about to die from starvation. He saved them by giving them some food, although when reminded of his act of compassion much later, he had no recollection of it. The most prominent trait that defines Ogma is his unwavering sense of honour and loyalty. In spite of the agonising circumstances of his past, Ogma has not completely cast aside his humanity, regardless of his proclamation that the unslakable thirst for bloodshed through mindless, primitive fighting is ingrained within him."
*Bloom's Captain America, primarily as seen in the episode "Prisoner of War" from The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes was the main inspiration for this casting.*
-Bill Faggerbakke as the voice of Barst, a Talysian fighter (later a warrior)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Bill-Fagerbakke/
"Barst, alongside Bord and Cord, is a member of the Talysian mercenary group that is spearheaded by Ogma. It can be observed that Barst is a rather indecisive individual, unable to craft solid directions to follow in his life; the end of the War of Darkness sees him constantly switching from one occupation to another rather rapidly, never seeming to gain any satisfaction from any of them. His indecisiveness can be attributed to his dislike of the chaos of fighting, instead desiring to lead a peaceful life. In spite of this, one can tell that Barst is a steadfastly loyal individual, regarding the bonds that he forges with others with a keen earnestness. In his relationship with his two brothers, Barst cares about their sense of lifestyle."
-Dee Baker as the voice of Bord, a Talysian fighter (later a warrior)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Dee-Bradley-Baker/
"Bord is, alongside Barst and Cord, a member of the Talysian mercenary group that is spearheaded by Ogma. It comes as no surprise that a rivalry exists between Bord and Cord, where they constantly attempt to outdo each other in a variety of areas. This rivalry of theirs is one that has the tendency to become rather heated as the pair lose their cool while in the midst of arguing with each other; their rivalry also extends to the looks department, where Bord narcissistically proclaims that he is the more handsome of the two. In spite of his apparent hatred of Cord, it is quite evident that Bord, in actuality, cares for him tremendously."
-Steve Blum as the voice of Cord, a Talysian fighter (later a warrior)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Steve-Blum/
"Cord is, alongside Barst and Bord, a member of the Talysian mercenary group that is spearheaded by Ogma. It comes as no surprise that a rivalry exists between Bord and Cord, where they constantly attempt to outdo each other in a variety of areas. This rivalry of theirs is one that has the tendency to become rather heated as the pair lose their cool while in the midst of arguing with each other. In spite of his apparent hatred of Bord, Cord, in actuality, cares for him tremendously; although initially disgruntled towards Bord for constantly meddling in his affairs, eventually acknowledges that this is merely a means by which his brother expresses concern for him."
-Bumper Robinson as the voice of Castor, a Talysian longbow hunter (later a horseman)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Bumper-Robinson/
"About three years older than Caeda, Castor hails from a family comprising of seven other younger brothers and sisters. At an unknown point of time, his father had left the family for Galder, and Castor, along with his mother and siblings, was left to fend for himself. After his mother fell dangerously ill following the birth of her ninth child, Castor was forced to leave home in order to make a living and financially support his family. It led to him reluctantly joining up with the Galder Pirates, who face off with Marth's army. When Caeda speaks to him and learns of his plight, she immediately offers to provide him with the gold that he requires, urging him to leave the battlefield and return to his mother's side. Out of guilt, Castor decides to defect to Marth's army instead, as a means of atonement for his betrayal of Caeda's trust. Through the register that he employs in his hesitant speech, Castor can be perceived to be a rather timid individual who is lacking in confidence. He has also, contrary to earlier perceptions, shown to be perceptive and opportunistic at times."
-John DiMaggio as the voice of Darros, an ex-Galder pirate (later a berserker)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/John-DiMaggio/
"Darros was once a crewman of a simple fishing boat until it was besieged by the Galder Pirates. Picking up an axe lying nearby to defend himself from their onslaught, Darros soon came to the realisation that he was not attacked, owing to the fact that the pirates had mistaken him to be a member of their motley. Unwittingly inducted into the ranks of the pirates, Darros thereafter spent the next few years of his life pillaging and plundering for subsistence. Upon meeting Marth in Galder Harbor, Darros seizes the opportunity to indicate his interest in joining the prince's entourage, establishing his desire to swear off his dishonest ways as a pirate and start anew on a blank slate. He has the tendency to be rather obsessive when it comes to performing any task he is assigned, regardless of whether they are menial or not."
-Crispin Freeman as the voice of Julian, an ex-Soothsire thief
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Crispin-Freeman/
"A former member of the Soothsire band of thieves, Julian, upon falling in love with the sister Lena, makes the resolution to abandon his thieving ways. Thereafter referring to himself as an "Ally of Justice", he aids Prince Marth's army in the war. Julian is also acquainted with Rickard, who affectionately refers to him as "Chief". Despite the fact that he, as a former member of the Soothsires, once engaged in the wicked, deceitful act of thievery, Julian evidently possesses a heart of gold, one that is catalytically triggered when he first meets Lena and falls in love with her, spurring him into resolving to abandon his past and lead a life of honesty for her sake. Julian is also portrayed to be an individual who can be sly and cunning when he chooses to be, as he constantly employs reverse psychology on Rickard in order to guilt-trip him into confessing to succumbing to the temptation of thievery."
-Kate Higgins as the voice of Lena, a Macedonian cleric (later a bishop)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Kate-Higgins/
"Lena is a cleric who hails from a noble family in Macedon, and is also the lover of Julian. She joins Marth's army after they, with Julian's help, rescue her from the clutches of the Soothsire Thieves. Lena is portrayed as an individual who is compassionate, magnanimous and selfless, a fact that is strongly proven by her having made the act of harnessing her healing capabilities to tend to the needy her personal life's crusade. Further complementing these traits of Lena's is the fact that she is passionate in fulfilling her self-imposed duties as a cleric, one that has seen her going beyond the line of duty by completely disregarding her safety in order to provide assistance to the sick. Lena's passion is one that also extends to her inclination to be strong-willed and obstinate in standing up to defend her beliefs and convictions. Lena is also portrayed to be prudent in the manner by which she carries herself, as can be evidenced through her originally denying her romantic feelings towards Julian in recognition of her position as a noblewoman. In spite of the presence of all these positive traits that adorn Lena's portfolio, she has the tendency to be naive, a fact that stems from her inclination to believe that everyone is inherently good at heart."
-Anthony Ruivivar as the voice of Navarre, a wandering myrmidon (later a swordmaster)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0749570/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"A stoic mercenary who is also known by the alias "Crimson Fencer", Navarre is infamous for the dual-wielding fighting style that he employs with the eastern Killing Edge, alongside his inclination to work with bandits for unknown reasons. When hired by the Soothsire Thieves, he is sent after the fleeing Julian and Lena. While in the midst of carrying out his mission, Navarre is interrupted by Caeda, who pleads with him to either defect to Marth's army or turn his blade against her. Due to his personal conviction to not harm women or children whom he encounters, he relents and agrees to aid Caeda's cause. Cold, calm and aloof, Navarre is depicted as the stereotypical lone wolf, where he has the tendency to work alone and entirely out of his own personal motivations. He has described himself as a killer, only utilizing his skills to improve his fighting abilities and is constantly seeking out stronger swordsmen on his quest for power. Thus he is not bound to any nation or cause except to the ones who will give him the biggest pay or will offer him the biggest challenge. He has not, however, completely abandoned his humanity, a fact that is evidenced through his resolve to not reign harm upon both women and children and instead seek to protect them. In the end, Navarre does not fight for personal glory, merely to hone his skill with the blade, but will fight for what is right in situations. Navarre is not completely devoid of the ability to express his emotions, however."
-Yuri Lowenthal as the voice of Merric, an Altean mage (later a sage)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Yuri-Lowenthal/
"Merric is an Altean noble who studies magic in Khadein under the tutelage of Wendell. He is also known to have grown up alongside the royal siblings Prince Marth and Princess Elice, the latter of whom he is in love with. When Marth pays a visit to a village in Aurelis, Merric emerges to greet him, where he reveals that while studying magic in Khadein prior to the events of the story, he caught wind of the unrest taking place in Altea, motivating him into returning in order to lend his assistance to Marth's cause. At this point, Merric has already mastered the tome of Excalibur and received it from Wendell, wielding it in his quest to help Marth bring the War of Shadows to a close. Merric is portrayed as an amicable character who delights in forming many a camaraderie with the people whom he encounters. He is naive to a fault, extremely humble, and studious, possessing an inslakable curiosity to unravel the mysteries of magic."
*Lowenthal luckily voices him in the Fire Emblem Heroes mobile game, making this the second game reprisal I've used (after Hawkeye in The Blazing Blade). Ironically, Lowenthal also has been the main voice of Marth since the character cameoed in the video game Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.*
-Benjamin Diskin as the voice of Matthis, a Macedonian cavalier (later a paladin)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Benjamin-Diskin/
"Matthis is a character who initially enlists in the Macedonian army against his will, later defecting to Marth's army on his sister's urging. After Lena bluntly rejected the marriage proposal of Prince Michalis of Macedon and departed from the country, Matthis, her older brother, was left to face the wrath of Michalis in the wake of his humiliation. Michalis, in a spate of vindictive hatred, then forced Matthis to enlist in the ranks of the Macedonian army against his will or risk being executed. Matthis is portrayed as an individual who has an acute distaste for war and violence, preferring to lead a life of idle tranquility. His stints with the Macedonian army are entirely the result of his having been threatened with death should he not comply, and through this, one can determine that he is a rather cowardly and timid person, preferring to preserve his own personal safety and well-being over fighting for the honor of his country."
*Diskin's experience with the franchise includes his voicing Fates' Jakob and Saizo, and The Blazing Blade's Matthew in Heroes.*
-Oded Fehr as the voice of Hardin, prince of Aurelis
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004912/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Also known under the alias Coyote, Hardin is a descendant of the hero Marlon and the younger brother of the King of Aurelis. After Hardin's older brother, the King of Aurelis, took ill, Hardin was ceded the helm of Aurelis, whereupon he swiftly reformed the nation's laws. During this time, Hardin seized the opportunity to banish the Aurelian nobles who were responsible for keeping the people of the plains, including the likes of Roshea, Vyland, Wolf and Sedgar, as slaves. The slaves were thereafter liberated, and the higher-ranking ones amongst them were inaugurated as the new lords of Aurelis. By the time the events of the story, much of Aurelis has been dominated by the Dolhr Empire. Hardin, leading the rebellion army opposing the Dolhr Empire, refuses to bow down to the enemy, gallantly executing his duties without falter. He and Nyna have sought refuge in the Northern Fortress of Aurelis, and upon sighting the imminent arrival of Marth's army, Hardin eagerly assembles his men, comprising of Roshea, Vyland, Wolf and Sedgar, thereafter heading out to rendezvous with it. Having been reinforced by the might of Marth's army, Hardin is able to successfully rid the land of Aurelis of Dolhr's presence, and he thereafter aids Marth in bringing the War of Shadows to a conclusion.
Hardin is portrayed as an individual who is valorous and honourable, fighting for the sake of maintaining justice in order to ensure that the common citizenry is able to lead peaceful lives that are free from the dangers of vice; he is quite a scrupulous strategist in achieving his aims. "
-Ike Amadi as the voice of Wolf, an Aurelis horseman
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Ike-Amadi/
"A member of the people residing in the plains of Aurelis, Wolf was captured and made a slave to the aristocracy. He was, along with his fellow kinsmen, later liberated when Hardin assumed the leadership of the country from the former King of Aurelis. Some time after being freed from slavery, Wolf, alongside Roshea, Vyland and Sedgar, made a collective vow to devote their lives to serving Hardin, thereafter swearing fealty to him.
He is an individual who does not warm up to strangers very easily, and is especially hostile and condescending to those whom he considers to be beneath him. When faced with people who temper their strength for the sake of protecting the lives of their lieges, however, Wolf humbly acknowledges them with respect, as he considers them to be projections of his own loyalty to Hardin. "
-Steve Blum as the voice of Sedgar, an Aurelis horseman
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Steve-Blum/
"Sedgar is a member of the Aurelian Knights serving under the banner of Hardin. Sedgar has a penchant for weapon maintenance, as he meticulously performs a wide range of tasks that include keeping stock of the army's weapon inventory, organising the equipment and repairing defects. Through Sedgar scrutinising attention to detail, one can also perceive him to be a highly adaptable person; although he once exclusively specialised in bow maintenance, he came to expand his skill to other weapon type in order to keep pace with Wolf's growing weapon versatility."
-Scott Menville as the voice of Roshea, an Aurelis cavalier (later a paladin)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Scott-Menville/
"Roshea is a young member of Hardin's army who joined Marth in his first campaign against Medeus and later joined the Wolfguard."
-Roger Craig Smith as the voice of Vyland, an Aurelis cavalier (later a paladin)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Roger-Craig-Smith/
"Vyland is a member of the Aurelian Knights under Hardin."
-Frank Welker as the voice of Wendell, a Khadein sage
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Frank-Welker/
"Wendell is a sage of Khadein who disdains fighting, as well as the teacher of Merric and Arlen. He fled his country to escape Gharnef's rule. When Marth talks to Wendell he explains his ethical values, which convinces him to join Marth's army."
-Zach Callison as the voice of Rickard, a wandering thief
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Zach-Callison/
"Rickard is a very skilled and optimistic thief, who greatly admires Julian. He often addresses Julian as 'Chief'."
-Elodie Yung as the voice of Athenais, a wandering myrmidon (later a swordmaster)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1392388/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Athena was saved from drowning by villagers of a town near Castle Archanea and in return she offered to rescue the town's children when they were captured by pirates. The village elder, worried for her safety, convinces her to stay until help arrives. When Marth arrives at the village, she requests to join Marth in saving the children. After the battle, she decides to permanently join Marth's army. Athena is a skilled warrior who lives by a strict code of repaying any act of kindness given to her in full. She speaks with a heavy accent, notably saying "W" with "V" sounds and commonly refers to herself in the plural "we". It is not known where she hails from, but she is unfamiliar with some words used in basic speech and even mishears words on occasion."
-Iqbal Theba as the voice of Bantu, a Manakete
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0857290/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Little is known about Bantu's background outside his history with Tiki and his strong resistance to madness, unlike other Manaketes. Prior to the events of the story, Bantu took pity on the Divine Dragon Tiki, who was sent to sleep in the Ice Dragon Temple by her mother to protect her from lapsing into insanity. He then chose to, against Gotoh's strict instructions, rouse her from her slumber and thereafter explore the human realm with her. At some point of time during his travels with her, the two were separated. When Marth visits the Lefcandith village that he later takes up temporary residence in, Bantu, in a state of panicked agitation, urges him to aid him in locating Tiki. The pair is reunited in the Fane of Raman, where he is instrumental in freeing her from the spell of hypnosis that Gharnef had placed on her. Bantu can best be perceived to be in possession of a gentle, docile disposition, a fact made evident through the mild register that he employs in his speech. Further bolstering Bantu's personality is the fact that he is rather tender-hearted, where he uses his heart as a moral compass more than he does his mind. In spite of his forbearing countenance, Bantu evidently wields a very strong will; one that is strong enough to resist being driven to madness like the bulk of his kin was. Bantu is shown to possess a strong moral compass, and unlike many of his kind, refuses to hate humans."
-P.J. Byrne as the voice of Caesar, a mercenary (later a hero) from Port Warren
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0126260/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Caesar is a mercenary hired to protect Port Warren, along with his partner Radd. He also has a sick unseen sister whom he tries to earn money for by taking jobs as a hired sword. Caesar cares deeply for his ill sister and will do anything to earn gold to help nurse her, even if it meant selling his soul to the devil. The medicine his sister requires is expensive, and the mercenary salary Caesar earns is not enough to pay for his sister's health, which explains why he takes on harder jobs far away from his home such as fighting with the Altean army to earn a higher payment. Caesar also acts as a mentor to Radd and can be quite strict."
-Taylor Gray (Star Wars: Rebels) as the voice of Radd, a myrmidon (later a swordmaster) from Port Warren
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2342402/?ref_=nv_sr_1
" is the second mercenary from the harbor town, Port Warren, who joins the Archanean League along with his partner Caesar. After fighting off the Grustian soldiers that surround the town of Warren in, Radd continues to offer his service to Marth until the War of Shadows is brought to an end. Caesar tries to give Radd advice based on the information learned from the book he owns because they are fighting in a war, and that he is going to need it, which Radd has a hard time with because he is not good at learning by reading, but only by actions (or it could possibly be because the book is written in a different language, it could be hard for him to understand). He also tells Radd that all the fighting style Radd uses on the battlefield must not always rely on what is written in the book, but his strength also comes from within his instincts. Because of this, Radd often looks up to him because he is always giving it is all on learning new things such as observing how each soldier fights on the field and sparing with them to learn new techniques."
-Sean Astin as the voice of Roger, a Grustian knight (later a general)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000276/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"He is a knight of Grust and recruited in the middle of the battle at Port Warren by Caeda, who asks him if he believes in love, causing him to develop a crush on her."
-Charlie Schlatter as the voice of Jeorge, an Archanean sniper
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Charlie-Schlatter/
"Jeorge is considered the best sniper on the continent, and is widely renowned for his peerless marksmanship. During the events of the War of Shadows, he joins the Archanean League after hearing of Princess Nyna’s alliance with Marth and to offer his own assistance. Out of respect for his prestige and his accomplishments throughout the course of the war he is conferred the honor of wielding the Parthia, one of the three national regalia of Archanea. He also becomes a mentor to Gordin. Jeorge is characterized by his patriotic devotion to his homeland, the kingdom of Archanea. Throughout the war, his convictions stay steadfast and focused wholly on serving the best interests of Princess Nyna and his country. Unlike his compatriot Astram however, Jeorge seems to be more sensible and realistic about it. His unrivaled skill in archery commands great respect from others, and is what initially draws Gordin to him in the first place. Gordin holds Jeorge in high esteem and attributes his personal improvements as an archer from being taught by the master sniper himself. Jeorge is an honorable and considerate man who only seems to follow the commands of people he respects. although Jeorge was the heir to a powerful noble family, he has a wayward personality for a nobleman, since he seemed to hate his life of aristocracy and preferred traveling around at a young age."
*Here's where the casting got its influence: Jeorge, in the Fire Emblem Heroes game, is voiced by Mick Wingert, who took over for Adrian Pasdar as Iron Man in Avengers Assemble. In one of the more recent episodes of the latest season of the show, Schlatter voiced the younger version of Iron Man's father Howard Stark.*
-Emma Tremblay (Supergirl) as the voice of Maria, youngest princess of Macedon
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4590173/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Maria is the youngest member of the royal family of Macedon and the younger sister of Michalis and Minerva. She is also a Cleric who becomes a hostage to secure Macedon's allegiance with Dolhr. When Minerva discovered that Maria was taken hostage, she realized that Michalis murdered their father, but is forced to fight with Macedon to keep Maria alive. Maria then stays as a hostage in Castle Deil in occupied Archanea. According to the timelines, this may have been a period of six years. Minerva continues to serve Dolhr and concedes to her superior generals, such as Harmein, and the general of Castle Deil, Zharov, until she decides to lead a revolt against her brother. She sends her subordinate Catria to Marth to request that he rescue Maria from Castle Deil. When Marth releases Maria from her imprisonment, she thanks him and decides that she is going to join him in battle, as she is tired of feeling helpless. After Maria is rescued, Minerva is able to join Marth as well. Maria is cheerful, optimistic, and stubborn. She loves her siblings and will do anything she can to help them, even willingly becoming a hostage for Michalis. Maria is new to the battlefield, but her determination is shown when she refuses to leave the battlefield despite Minerva's concern, insisting that she wants to stay with her sister and become strong enough to protect herself. Even though she does not enjoy fighting, she dreams of becoming as strong as her older siblings, aspiring to be like them to be able to protect them. Despite her incredible benevolence, Maria is, however, still young. She is also honest and outspoken, and her catchphrase is "No protesting!"."
-Katie McGrath (Merlin, Supergirl) as the voice of Minerva, eldest princess of Macedon
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2692146/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Minerva is the princess of Macedon, the middle child of the Macedonian royal family, being the younger sister of Michalis and older sister of Maria, and the leader of the Whitewings: Palla, Catria, and Est. Michalis seizes control of Macedon and allies with Dolhr. Minerva resents the idea, but before she can act, Michalis imprisons their younger sister Maria, making her Dolhr's hostage, and informs Minerva that Maria will be put to death if she does not cooperate with Dolhr. Upon hearing this, Minerva realizes that Michalis has killed her father, but, as she cares deeply for her sister Maria, she has no choice but to serve him. Minerva serves Macedon against her judgment to protect Maria for a period of six years. As Michalis is King of Macedon, Minerva becomes Macedon's main general. Her service ends when Marth and his army manage to rescue Maria; as thanks, Minerva fights alongside Marth for the duration of the war, while managing to reunite with the Whitewings. Maintaining an air of class and composure, Minerva is a blunt, direct, yet refined individual with a tendency to come off as rather strict and intimidating. However, behind her general deportment, Minerva is kind, genuine, and often an elder sister figure towards those who are close to her. Growing up in her brother Michalis's shadow, Minerva has always been hypercritical of herself and has cripplingly low self-esteem, as she detests praise, being in positions of reverence, or being idolized by Maria."
*A Merlin alum is a definite fit for a Fire Emblem adaptation--I'm surprised I didn't think of this sooner.*
-Miranda Cosgrove (Rise) as the voice of Linde, a Khadein mage (later a sage)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1388927/?ref_=nv_sr_3
"Linde is the daughter of Miloah, one of Gotoh's best students, thus enabling her to use the powerful Aura spell. She is targeted by Gharnef's men, so she disguises herself as a boy, but in turn, she is captured and brought to a slave market. Marth frees Linde, and she decides to join him to fight and avenge her murdered father. While a very high-ranking noblewoman, Linde is not the type to sit around and watch the world burn around her, as though somewhat used to her privileges, she endures many hardships that would break most people by adapting to the situation. The loss of her father deeply affects her in both good and bad ways, since she strongly desires revenge, but made her relate with those who lost family more easily."
-Marc Thompson as the voice of Jake, an Archanean ballistician
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/marc-thompson/
"Jake is an Archanean ballistician drafted into service by Dolhr at the behest of Grust's forces, where he is assigned to a unit led by the Manakete Khozen that guards the outer perimeters of Archanea Palace. Marth and company meet Jake's sweetheart Anna in the nearby village of Knorda, where she tells them that, not wanting Jake to be hurt by the Archanean League, they should tell Jake to quit fighting as she's worried sick about him. After Jake joined the league, Anna cheered on her "honeycomb." Jake is a man who seems to actually dislike fighting, and he and Anna are quite smitten with one another. Although he does flirt with other girls, Anna does not seem to mind this very much, and she even recommends that Marth use this to his advantage. He also strikes up a friendship with Beck, the second ballistician recruited into the army, over their shared specialties."
-Cindy Robinson as the voice of Midia, an Archanean paladin
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Cindy-Robinson/
"Midia is a knight of Archanea and the lover of Astram. Midia is the daughter of Marquess Charon of Deil, which is a powerful noble house in Archanea. When Dolhr rises to power, some of the other noble families betray Archanea to side with the Empire. After her father is killed and Deil is seized by Dolhr, Midia continues to fight back, but she is ultimately captured and imprisoned in Archanea Castle alongside Boah, Tomas, Dolph, and Macellan. During Marth's liberation of Archanea Castle, she is rescued and joins his army. Later in the story, she meets Astram on the battlefield and recruits him into the army. Midia is very passionate about her relationship with Astram, as well as her service to her country. It is revealed that much of her life is centered about Astram and they are considered to be the "perfect couple" because of how madly in love they are with each other. She is also willing to die as long it benefits Archanea."
-Vinnie Jones as the voices of Dolph and Macellan, Archanean knights
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005068/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Dolph and his twin brother Macellan are knights of Archanea who, along with Midia, Tomas, and Boah, are captured and held prisoner by Dolhr until Marth's forces free them. Dolph is something of a glutton, and enjoys eating; Macellan is shown to be a gourmet who enjoys cooking. Dolph has a self-sacrificing personality, and believes as a knight it is his duty to act as a living shield for his comrades. It is revealed he and Macellan used their bodies to shield the arrows of the executioners from hitting his fellow knights during the War of Shadows."
-Yuri Lowenthal as the voice of Tomas, an Archanean archer
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Yuri-Lowenthal/
"Tomas is an archer under Midia's command. It is implied he was assigned to Archanea's occupation forces in Gra, but left the army when he witnessed the brutal treatment of the country's citizens, and that the Gra soldiers were being sacrificed to delay the Altean army. Little is shown of his personality, though he would seem to be duty driven, and with great loyalty towards royalty such as Marth and Nyna."
-Michael Forest as the voice of Boah, an Archanean bishop
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Michael-Forest/
"Boah is a bishop in the service of Archanea who is imprisoned after the country is conquered by Dolhr."
-Wally Wingert as the voice of Horace, an Archanean general
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Wally-Wingert/
"Horace is knight who hails from a town near Castle Archanea. His loyalty to his homeland is absolute. When his people were being threatened by Dolunian general Dejanira, Horace was forced to betray his homeland and enlist himself under the ranks of Dolhr. All began to brand Horace as a traitor once he began serving Dolhr, but Horace did it in act of protecting his people, as even stated by a few villagers from the nearby villages. Once Dejanira has finally been killed, Horace is relieved and turns himself in to the Altean Army. He joins Marth´s army on orders of Princess Nyna, and because he needed to "pay for his treason against the crown"."
-Quinton Flynn as the voice of Beck, an Archanean ballistician
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Quinton-Flynn/
"Beck was a member of the Archanean army who took part during their battle against the Macedonian's forces occupying Castle Deil. After his shameful defeat, he took refuge in a village by Fort Menedy, located between the borders of Grust and Altea. Beck appears before Marth when he enters the village in between the battle against Grust's Wooden Cavalry, a mighty artillery of Ballisticians who strike their enemies from a far with devastating weapons. When he heard the Altean army were marching towards Fort Menedy, he readied his Ballista and hoped to take on to the battlefield once more, and remains in Marth's army. Beck can be considered a prideful individual who enjoys the taste of battle, as well as being easily ashamed when battle has been lost. Beck also prefers not to speak formally, as he claims it makes a person sound cold and distant."
-Gabriel Mann as the voice of Astram, an Archanean hero
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0542759/?ref_=nv_sr_2
"Astram is a mercenary of Archanea and the lover of Midia. He was forced to join the Dolunian forces under his ruler's orders. However, Midia managed to convince him to join the Archanean League, on Marth's side. Astram is fiercely loyal to Archanea. He is quick to threaten characters he suspects for treason, and often without provocation."
-Melissa Disney as the voice of Palla, a Macedonian pegasus knight (later a falcoknight)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0228396/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Palla is the eldest sister of Catria and Est, and raised them after their parents died. Loyal to Princess Minerva of Macedon, she was part of the Whitewings, an elite Pegasus squad from Macedon. The Whitewings wanted to join the Altean army alongside Minerva, but when Prince Michalis heard this, he locked his and Minerva's younger sister Maria, in jail to prevent Minerva and the sisters from turning on him. When Marth eventually rescued Maria, Palla and her sister Catria set off to look for Marth and Minerva. When they found them, they joined the Altean army. During the war, Palla developed a crush on Abel. As the elder sister of the three Whitewings, Palla is mild-mannered and down to earth, always caring about her sisters. However, she also has a stubborn side and absolutely will not budge after a decision is made."
-Kari Wahlgren as the voice of Catria, a Macedonian pegasus knight (later a falcoknight)
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Kari-Wahlgren/
"Catria is the middle sister of the Pegasus Knights Palla and Est. When Minerva's younger sister, Maria, is held in captivity to blackmail the elder princess into fighting against the Archanean League, Catria and her sisters are forced to fight too. However, as Maria is rescued by Prince Marth, they become free to join his army and fight alongside Minerva again. As the middle sister of the three Whitewings of Archanea, Catria often acts as the buffer between her two sisters and rarely pushes her own thoughts on the matter. This, according to her, is because whenever she has something to say, one of her sisters will always say it first, and assumes its common for middle children such as herself. Though she has a cool and serious personality, she's not entirely unfeeling, with her stating that people tend to assume she's completely stoic because she's more reserved than either Palla or Est. It is hinted that she might have an unrequited crush on Marth."
-David Kaye as the voice of Arran, an Altean paladin
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/David-Kaye/
"Arran is a former knight captain living in Altea who went into hiding after Dolhr's take over. was once a knight of another kingdom and slaughtered a group of peasants, revolting due to a bad winter harvest, at the request of his former lord. Arran was never able to forgive himself, and left the services of his former country, wandering in search of what being a knight truly means. In joining Marth's army, he had found his purpose. Before joining Marth though, he and the hero Samson 'test' Marth by seeing if he can bring peace between the two feuding villages they respectively reside in. Marth and Caeda manage to succeed, allowing Arran to join their forces."
-Dameon Clarke as the voice of Samson, an Altean hero
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Dameon-Clarke/
"Samson is a former gladitorial fighter currently residing in Altea. Before joining Marth though, he and the paladin Arran 'test' Marth by seeing if he can bring peace between the two feuding villages they respectively reside in. Marth and Caeda manage to succeed, allowing Samson to join their forces. Unlike most mercenaries, Samson puts his morals ahead of his payment, and will not cheapen his ideals for anyone. Samson has no desire for political power, and enjoys his simple life. While Samson has lived in Altea for many years, he does not count himself strictly as an Altean, and has traveled the world, having protected a village in Archanea's capital of Pales for a while sometime prior to the War of Shadows."
*In the actual games, the player has to choose between visiting either one of the villages where Arran or Samson dwell. Choosing one prevents you from recruiting the other character.*
-John Harlan Kim (The Librarians) as the voice of Xane, a travelling freelancer
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2279247/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Xane is one of the few Divine Dragon survivors of the war against the Earth Dragons. After the war, he threw away his Dragonstone and lost the ability to transform into a dragon. However, he has a mysterious ability to shape-shift into anything except a dragon. He works under Gotoh, despite their differing views of humanity. Xane is a carefree and somewhat effeminate person who likes to play jokes (at one point he annoys Tiki by imitating her and repeating everything she says). He has some sympathy to the Fire, Mage, and Earth Dragon Tribes that ended up forming the Dolhr Empire, to the extent that he has stated some dislike towards humans due to seeing them mistreat the powerless manakete tribes in the past. At one point, even claiming to Marth that he was just an onlooker in the battle between Anri and Medeus. Nevertheless, he does possess firm senses of honor and duty, as shown to his loyalty to Marth and Gotoh, and refused to join up with Dolhr when they tried to press him into joining."
*Given that Kim played a bit of a trickster character on The Librarians, I thought Xane would be a decent fit for him.*
-Bryce Papenbrook as the voice of Etzel, an eccentric sorceror
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Bryce-Papenbrook/
"Etzel is a wandering spell-slinger that got caught up in the War of Shadows. He had a wife named Ursula, who died in one of many attacks that Dolhr launched, and all that is left of her is her ring he holds as a memento. During his travels, Etzel was captured by Dolunian General Dactyl. He was held as a prisoner of Helena Castle, a stronghold and key supply fort of Grust and Dolhr, during the events after Marth had reclaimed his homeland, Altea. When the Altean Army began marching towards Helena Castle, Dactyl strips Etzel of his weapon, along with his ring he holds in memory of his wife, Ursula. After giving it a second thought, Dactyl uses the ring as an advantage to force Etzel to fight against the Altean Army, not caring on how experienced he was in combat. After Dactyl is killed, Etzel regains his ring and joins Marth intending to end the war."
-Willa Holland (Arrow) as the voice of Est, a Macedonian pegasus knight (later a falcoknight)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1473267/?ref_=nv_sr_2
"Est is the youngest of the Pegasus Sisters of Macedon under Minerva's command. Unlike her elder sisters Palla and Catria, she joins up later when Marth's army heads towards the Fane of Raman, as she decided to steal back the Archanean regalia, the sword Mercurius, before returning to her sisters. She falls in love with Abel, and eventually marries him and moves to Altea. As the youngest of the three Whitewing sisters, Est is pure and innocent and often gets told off by her sisters. Though she often gets into trouble, Est regularly mentions that she wants to stop being a warrior, settle down, and run a shop with her husband."
*I've been wanting to bring Holland into one of my fan-pieces, and this seemed like a good start. Hopefully, you'll see her again as Oedipus (a parody of Elektra) in my fancast for a movie of The Tick.*
-Quvenzhané Wallis as the voice of Tiki, a Manakete
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4832920/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Born on February 28, 500 years before the start of the Archanean Calendar, Tiki is the Princess of the Divine Dragon tribe, and a daughter of Naga. The power that she wields is one that is said to be tremendous to the point where if she were to degenerate, the humans residing within the continent of Archanea would be eradicated. In a desperate bid to shield the human race from the instability of Tiki's power, Naga makes the decision to send Tiki into a state of slumber in the Ice Dragon Temple to suppress her power. Naga then orders Gotoh to watch over Tiki. When the Shield of Seals is stolen and broken apart by Adrah, Gotoh extends Tiki's sleep, as she would be unable to control herself without the Shield's protection. Every so often, Tiki would awake from her sleep either from the constant nightmares that plagued her or out of a need to eat. Either way, one of the three other dragons at the shrine - Xane, Gotoh, and Bantu - would comfort or feed her and she would shortly be sent back to her slumber. During these short periods, she develops an almost familial relationship with the three, seeing Bantu as a beloved uncle, Xane vaguely akin to an annoying elder brother, and Gotoh as a strict, but fair figure of authority (although Gotoh is convinced that she must hate him for having subjected her to her millenia-long sleep). She also becomes used to Xane's shape-shifting antics enough to immediately see through them. A thousand years after she was left in the Ice Dragon Temple, Bantu rouses Tiki from her sleep and proceeds to introduce her into the realm of human civilization, where he works tirelessly to care for her. This time of bliss proves to be transient, as the pair is later separated. Shortly after their separation, Tiki is captured and brainwashed by Gharnef, and is compelled to fight against Marth. Bantu succeeds in urging her to snap out of her trance, whereupon she resolves to join Marth's cause, with the jubilant eagerness that she displays in doing so possibly functioning as an indication of her having grown infatuated with him. The remainder of the war sees Tiki meeting Xane again, who constantly frustrates her by imitating her actions. It is later revealed that Xane is present under Gotoh's orders, to protect Tiki. Tiki, despite being able to turn into a dragon, is a typical child having an innocent outlook on life and easily attaches to others. As a result of Tiki's long slumber, she hates falling asleep as it had left her alone for several hundred years. She also refuses to eat vegetables unless they have been pickled first."
-Peter Renaday as the voice of Lorenz, a Grustian general
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Peter-Renaday/
"Lorenz was a general of Grust and old friend to King Mostyn of Talys. Though loyal to Grust, when King Ludwik sided with Dolhr out of fear, Lorenz was infuriated and futilely attempted to convince him otherwise. Despite this, Lorenz didn't leave his post, continuing to lead Grust's forces alongside Camus. During the Archanean Alliance's invasion of Grust, Prince Marth of Altea and Caeda, Mostyn's daughter, convinced him to defect to the Alliance by arguing that Lorenz simply obeying his orders and siding with Dolhr would not result in any future for his kingdom nor humanity, and that instead he was preserving Ludwik's reign and Grust's future by turning against Dolhr."
-Kevin Michael Richardson as the voice of Hymir, a Grustian warrior
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Kevin-Michael-Richardson/
"Hymir is a villager of a Grustian town who is giant in size, which causes people to call him an ogre. However, he does show care for them and even fights on his own in order to save the villagers, who fell into a trap by Grust in attempting to eradicate them all. Later, Marth's army arrives there to help. Because of their mutual intention to save the villagers, Marth soon convinces Ymir to join the army."
-Erica Durance as the voice of Elice, princess of Altea
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1570568/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Elice is the daughter of Cornelius and Liza and the older sister of Marth. When the Dolhr Empire attacks Altea, she chooses to stay with the Altean people and sends Marth and later Malledus away so that they can survive. Ultimately, she is captured by Gharnef, who wants to use her to gain access to the Aum Staff. After Gharnef is finally defeated, Marth frees her and she joins the Altean army. Elice is a calm and composed woman who cares deeply for her younger brother Marth and both of her parents Liza and Cornelius, to the point where she risks her life by staying in Altea to safeguard Marth's escape into Talys; she later tells him that she was 'ready for the worst' if that is what was needed to get him to safety."
-Nafessa Williams (Black Lightning) as the voice of Nagi, a Manakete
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4049910/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Nagi is the older sister of Tiki, and the guardian of a tower called the Alterspire. Before Marth and his forces take on Medeus, Gotoh sends them to a tower in another world telling them to seek the aid of the tower's master. After passing the trials within, Marth's soul cries out to Nagi, waking her from her slumber. Although she can only remember her own name and has vague familiarity when Marth mentions Gotoh, she feels that she must join Marth in his battle against Medeus, a sentiment affirmed by her younger sister."
*Nagi is the one character I tweaked the most, as in the actual game of Shadow Dragon, she's an exclusive character whose special chapter can only be unlocked if Tiki is killed and the Falchion sword is lost in the prior chapters. Upon clearing Nagi's chapter, you both recruit her (replacing Gotoh in the final chapter) and get a version of Falchion that isn't as strong. Also, there are theories about Nagi that claim she is either a reincarnation of Naga or an alternate, future version of Tiki, which are a bit confusing for the uninitiated. I decided that for my narrative purposes her character would be streamlined. Fire Emblem is a franchise rife with sibling characters, so what's two more to be added to the mix?*
-Tony Amendola (Continuum) as the voice of Gotoh, the White Sage
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0024593/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Gotoh is one of the few Divine Dragons who survived the war against the Earth Dragons and lost the ability to transform into a dragon after discarding his Dragonstone. After Naga's death, Gotoh was commanded to guard humanity. When Medeus and Dolhr began their war against humanity, Gotoh led Anri to the Ice Dragon Temple, where Anri claimed the Falchion that was later used to defeat Medeus. Eventually, he founded the nation of Khadein and trained two pupils, Miloah and Gharnef, both of whom strove for justice. He chose Miloah to be his successor and gave the Aura spell to him because he had more empathy and compassion than Gharnef. Out of jealousy, Gharnef stole the Darksphere and used it to create the Imhullu tome, which resulted in his soul being twisted. Ever since that incident, Gotoh has been observing Gharnef's actions, hoping that someone would eventually stop him. When Marth proves to be the person to do it, Gotoh begins assisting him in his quest by giving out advice via a spiritual projection of himself. Late in the story, Gotoh points out Michalis's foolish behavior during their conversation. He also creates the Starlight tome, which is required to break through the barrier of Imhullu, by using the Lightsphere and the Starsphere that Marth brings to him. He then joins Marth's army in the final battle against Medeus."
+Allies to the Heroes (aka NPC's or Non-Player Characters)
-Bill Ratner as the voice of Cornelius, king of Altea
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Bill-Ratner/
"Cornelius is the late king of Altea, the husband of Liza, and the father of Elice and Marth. Cornelius tried to fight against the invading forces of Dolhr with Anri's sword, Falchion, but was betrayed by his ally Jiol, the king of Gra, and killed in battle. Only one of his knights, Cain, survived, escaping to tell Marth about his father's fate and last words."
-Alan Oppenheimer as the voice of Malledus, royal advisor to Marth
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Alan-Oppenheimer/
"Malledus is Marth's elderly tactician and the first tactician to appear in the Fire Emblem series. Malledus was also the former confidant to Marth's late father, King Cornelius."
*After meeting Oppenheimer at Comikaze in L.A. last October, I knew I wanted to use him in a future cast, and with Malledus, it wouldn't be the first time he'd portrayed a trusted advisor to the main hero, if Man-At-Arms or Norman Burg are any indicators.*
-Dan Gilvezan as the voice of Mostyn, king of Talys
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Dan-Gilvezan/
"Mostyn is the first king of Talys, who united the island tribes. He is the father of Caeda and is friends with Lorenz of Grust. He hid Marth in Talys after his flight from Altea, and was rescued by him when pirates under Gazzak attacked the castle."
*Gilvezan is another favorite voice actor of mine who I've always wanted to use for a cast or two.*
-Amy Pemberton (Legends of Tomorrow) as the voice of Nyna, princess of Archanea
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1683343/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Nyna is the princess of Archanea and only surviving member of the royal family, as the rest were slain when the Dolhr Empire invaded her country. She is also the ex-lover of Camus. After Archanea's fall to the Dolhr Empire, Nyna and her personal guard, Dolph, Tomas, Macellan, and Midia, were led by Boah to escape Castle Archanea. During the escape, they were ambushed, leading Boah to attempt to reason with the Dolhrian soldiers to ensure Nyna's safety. Nyna, defying Boah's attempt, ordered her soldiers to fight the Dolhrians. Reinforcements arrived shortly after, eventually leading Nyna and her entourage to be cornered in a room in which she meets Grustian Sable Knight Camus. One of her knights, Midia, charges at Camus who strikes her down, and upon her fall, Nyna urges Camus to kill her because she has no wish to live with Midia fallen. Camus instead attempts to reason with Nyna and expound on why he killed her father as well as the matter of keeping Nyna alive. After being explained that King Archanea was a hedonistic and malignant ruler and Nyna's leadership paired with the adoration of her people was now required to usher a renewing of Archanea, Nyna scoffed at Camus. Camus then confronts her about the Archanean occupation in which he would be willing to collaborate with Nyna for the reformation and reconstruction of Archanea. Nyna agrees but explains that she will always bear hatred of him and will not hesitate to kill him when the time comes to reform an Archanean league to combat Dolhr in the future. Nyna then dedicates the next two years into assembling an army and reconstructing Archanea to overthrow the empire. Nyna was eventually handed her over to Archanea's ally, Prince Hardin of Aurelis. With Hardin's help, she meets up Marth and accompanies him in his quest, gifting him with the Archanean royal treasure, the Fire Emblem. In the later stages of the war, Marth is placed in opposition to Camus, who refuses to surrender, even when Nyna begs him to, due to his deep loyalty to his country, and ultimately defeats him. Nyna is struck with grief when Camus is presumed to have died, as she is in love with him, but continues to accompany Marth on the rest of his quest for the sake of Archanea. Nyna shows a lot of emotional strength and shows true qualities of a leader of the people, inspiring many people to fight for her. She is a kind and understanding woman and earned the respect of Marth."
+Major Villains and Antagonists
-Tom Wyner as the voice of Jiol, king of Gra
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tom-wyner
"Jiol is the corrupt and cowardly king of Gra. Though he and his country of Gra are allies of Altea, he betrays them and sides with Medeus out of cowardice. Jiol died at the hands of the Altean League. He was succeeded by Sheena, the daughter of his second wife."
-Ben Barnes (The Punisher) as the voice of Camus, commander of the Grustian Sable Order
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1602660/?ref_=nv_sr_1
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0255124/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Michalis is the prince-turned-king of Macedon, and the older brother of Minerva and Maria. Michalis murders his own father, King Osmond of Macedon, because he believes that he was a weak ruler and allowed Archanea to push them around. It is also implied that Gharnef might have played off Michalis's ambitions. He is eager to prove that Macedon is the strongest nation on the continent of Archanea and has the right to conquer every other country, thus he agreed to form an alliance with the Dolhr Empire. Noticing the possibility of conflict with Minerva, he manipulates Maria into being captured by Grust, which uses her as a hostage against her older sister. However, he feels remorse for this, despite his lack of such for killing his father. He originally plans to fight against Dolhr once Macedon becomes the most powerful nation, but he loses sight of this goal the longer that he works with them. When Matthis first meets Marth, he initially believes that Marth will kill him because Michalis "puts the most scared-looking soldiers on the front line for a reason" and kills those who defy him. However, Michalis is tolerant with Gotoh, who continues to warn him that he is walking on the path of destruction. He finally faces Minerva in a battle that results in him becoming badly wounded and being presumed to have died."
-Peter Stormare as the voice of Gharnef, the Dark Pontifex
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001780/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Gharnef was once a star pupil of Gotoh, along with Miloah, but due to his lack of a caring heart, he was disqualified to become the inheritor of the Aura spell. Out of jealousy, Gharnef stole the Darksphere, which twisted his soul, and crafted from it the spell Imhullu. Sometime afterwards, he visited an orphanage ravaged by war and used the feelings of despair in Eremiya, the orphanage's bishop, to wipe her memories and bewitch her to put other orphans through brutal training to become assassins. Eventually, he put his plans into motion. He took over Khadein by killing Miloah, revived Medeus and his Dolhr Empire, and manipulated Michalis into killing his father by spreading a rumor that King Osmond was planning to choose Minerva as his successor. He worked with Dolhr and their allies to conquer the world, although he planned to eventually betray them in the end and crush Medeus with the Imhullu spell and the Falchion. He led the attack on Altea (and may have been the one to kill Marth's father Cornelius) in order to gain the Falchion and kidnap Elice, so that he could gain use of the Aum Staff. However, Marth later defeated him and slew Medeus."
-Kevin Grevioux as the voice of Medeus, Emperor of Dolhr
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340485/?ref_=nv_sr_1
"Medeus was the prince of the Earth Dragon royal family and lived during the Golden Age of the Dragons. However, when the decline of dragonkind began to occur, where birth rates failed and the dragons slowly began to suffer degeneration, the Divine Dragon elders proposed that dragons take on human forms as Manaketes. While the rest of the Earth Dragons, along with many dragons, pridefully rejected the notion of becoming humans, whom many dragons viewed as insects unfit to rule in their stead, Medeus was the only one that chose to take on a Manakete form, thus being spared from degenerating into madness. The degeneration of the Earth Dragons caused a great war between them and Naga's Divine Dragon tribe, resulting in the Earth Dragons being sealed away underneath the Dragon's Table. As the last remaining Earth Dragon that had not succumbed to degeneration, Naga entrusted Medeus to guard the seal. As Medeus guarded the seal for centuries, he would be forced to watch as his fellow Manaketes were persecuted by humans, causing the former prince to slowly growing to detest mankind. Centuries after the founding of the Holy Kingdom of Archanea, over a millennium after the Earth Dragons were sealed away, Medeus' hatred had reached its zenith, and he founded the Dolhr Empire after uniting all the Manaketes barring Divine Dragons, the empire openly hostile towards humans who didn't accept Manaketes as their masters. Three years later, Medeus wages war on Archanea, which was known as the War of Liberation, in retaliation for how Manaketes were treated by humans. The war had Dolhr launch an attack on the Archanean capital, which fell under Dolhr's might. However, despite Medeus' attempt to wipe out the royal family, one member, princess Artemis, would escape and sought refuge in Altea, where she would meet Anri. Despite that, the victory over Archanea resulted in Medeus soon conquering the rest of the continent and ruling over the land for five years. Eventually, a rebellion rose that was led by Duke Cartas (who had been given the Fire Emblem by Artemis to ensure he would win), and General Ordwin of Archanea. As Dolhr's forces were pushed back, Medeus decided to enter the fray himself, and easily turned the tides as he crushed Cartas' army. As all hope seemed to be lost, Anri joined the battle, wielding Falchion, which was forged by Naga's fang to give humans the ability to fight dragons. After a ferocious battle, Medeus was slain by Anri, and the Dolhr Empire had fallen. Despite having been killed by Anri, due to Earth Dragons possessing a substantial amount of life force, Medeus had not truly died, and was soon resurrected by Gharnef, a vengeful sorcerer that intended to use Dolhr and its allies to conquer the world, before he would betray Medeus and kill him using the Imhullu spell and Falchion. However, due to the resurrection being incomplete, Medeus was incapable of utilizing his full powers outside the castle. After reviving the Dolhr Empire, Medeus made use of Gharnef's schemes to acquire human nations as allies, being Grust, Gra, and Macedon. With the power of his Empire, along with his allies, and through Gra betraying Altea, Medeus had Cornelius killed and conquered Archanea once more. However, once again, Medeus' attempt to exterminate the Archanean royal family failed once more, as princess Nyna entered the custody and protection of Camus of Grust when he occupied the capital. Despite trying to get Camus to surrender Nyna to be personally imprisoned by Medeus himself, the knight showed no fear towards Medeus and continued to refuse. Eventually, Medeus' patience ran dry, and he ordered Bulzark, a Fire Dragon Manakete, to bring a battalion and forcibly bring Nyna to him, even permitting Camus to be killed if he should resist. Camus, however, proved to be far more trouble, as he and his of his men from the Sable Order annihilated the entire battalion and Bulzark himself. This forced Medeus to personally enter and confront Camus, who was by himself at that point while Nyna and his men escaped. While Medeus praised Camus for his skill and forcing Medeus' hand, likening him to Anri even, Medeus had Camus captured, where the knight would go through torture and humiliation as an example for defying the Earth Dragon. Camus' actions, though, allowed Nyna to eventually meet Marth, who would form and lead the Archanean League and carry the Fire Emblem, and lead an assault against the Dolhr Empire. Eventually being cornered in his palace in the Dolhr Keep, Medeus confronted Anri's descendant and unleashed his full powers, but just like before, he was slain once more, ending his reign of terror for the second time."
Next time: Our attention turns westward to Archanea's neighboring continent Valentia, where two youths are caught up in a war between the nations of Rigel and Zofia, each on their own journeys to restore peace to the land. All this and more in "Fire Emblem: Archanea" Season Two: "The Shadows of Valentia", a JaredWebb12 production.