| 1 | !!'''''Unmarked Spoiler Warning''''': Because of the numerous ways that different subplots can lead to different endings, events that occur earlier in the game are unlikely to be spoiled out at all unless they lead into later events. |
| 2 | |
| 3 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 4 | |
| 5 | !Western Nova |
| 6 | |
| 7 | The nobility closest to the capital on Lampsi Island consists mostly of the royal family and their relatives, who stretch across the duchies of Caloris, Merva, and Mazomba. Also near them is Ursul, whose ducal family are pariahs within Nova due to their active Lumen magic and the belief that they betrayed the country centuries ago. Most of these provinces are bordered by the ocean to the west, and to the north Ursul is bordered by the nation Tombula. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | [[folder:Elodie]] |
| 10 | !!!Crown Princess of Nova |
| 11 | [[quoteright:229:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/9b83bcd248f96db0265f0a2f55f5ecf5.png]] |
| 12 | |
| 13 | The heir to the throne of the kingdom, and the player character. Elodie has been abruptly pulled out of school following the sudden death of her mother, the queen. With a little less than a year remaining before Elodie reaches her fifteenth birthday and is legally acknowledged as an adult, she must take a crash course on skills essential for maintaining her rule, as well as navigate the many situations she will find herself in over the next forty weeks. |
| 14 | ---- |
| 15 | * ZeroPercentApprovalRating: Played sufficiently poorly, Elodie can drive off all of her supporters, leading her to only be able to hold on to the throne through raw terror. |
| 16 | * AbdicateTheThrone: If Elodie is [[spoiler:sufficiently cruel]], she can desert Nova [[spoiler:to become Togami's enforcer]]. This results in Laurent taking the throne if he's still alive, and Nova falling into civil war if he's dead (since the nobility does not trust the next-in-line Charlotte not to turn out like Elodie did). |
| 17 | * ActionGirl: If trained appropriately, she can become a badass who personally defeats assassins, criminals, rival nobles, and even marauding invaders. |
| 18 | * AgeGapRomance: Many of her marriage candidates are significantly older than her. Talarist is 26, while Banion (31), Brin (33), Kevan (33), and Ignatius (38) are all over twice Elodie's age. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Anciet is 8 (a little more than half Elodie's age). |
| 19 | * ArrangedMarriage: She can be pressured into marrying certain people, but the clearest forms of arranged marriage are [[spoiler:being made to marry Thaddeus as part of a compromise deal with Arisse]], [[spoiler:being pressured into marriage with Talarist if she bluffs that she's already allied with Talasse]], and [[spoiler:arranging her own marriage with Adair]]. As seen with the last one, Elodie usually has a say in her choice of future husband, and will usually get to pick someone shortly before her coronation, but in the majority of cases these marriages are for political or social reasons rather than for any special connection to her betrothed. |
| 20 | * AssassinOutclassin: If she is the victim of an assassination attempt on Week 16, she can personally subdue the man. |
| 21 | * AwesomeMomentOfCrowning: Her coronation, should she make it to that moment. |
| 22 | * BabiesEverAfter: Elodie is ''[[MandatoryMotherhood expected]]'' to give birth to at least one heir for her throne. Some of the epilogue slides about her marriages explicitly state how many children she has or if anything unusual occurs with them. [[spoiler:It's also explicitly noted if she's rendered sterile and unable to have a child.]] |
| 23 | * BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: It's possible to increase her Cruelty by hunting animals, even more so if she's angry. |
| 24 | * TheBard: If you develop her skills, Elodie turns out to be a truly exceptional musician, and music is the only festival contest that she can win outright instead of just giving a good showing. Given that her name is Elodie (Melody), this is essentially a sneakily enforced example of MeaningfulName. |
| 25 | * BenevolentMageRuler: One possible outcome for Elodie. [[spoiler:In combination with the right choices, this is also the only way that other Lumens in Nova can have a happy ending.]] |
| 26 | * BondOneLiner: If [[spoiler:Kevan]] challenges a highly-skilled Lumen Elodie to a duel, she can swiftly burn him to death, quipping with "I decline." |
| 27 | * TheCaligula: It's possible to play Elodie as a raging psychopath who executes people at the slightest provocation. |
| 28 | * AChildShallLeadThem: With Fidelia dying suddenly, the crown goes to her direct heir, even though she's not yet an adult. The legal age of adulthood is fifteen, however, and Elodie is just forty weeks away from that. Even when she's still fourteen and in training, she has the freedom to make almost every decision she wants, with only a few direct orders from advisers stopping her. |
| 29 | * CrimeOfSelfDefense: She can potentially cause serious damage to her friendship with [[spoiler:Charlotte if she kills Lucille in self-defense at the ball. Fortunately, they mend fences after it's exposed that Lucille was plotting to kill Elodie and install Charlotte as Queen of Nova.]] |
| 30 | * CruelAndUnusualDeath: Elodie can be victim to many of these throughout the game, although [[spoiler:being inflicted with locked-in syndrome and left to slowly wither away]] is probably at the top of the list. |
| 31 | * DidNotGetTheGuy: This can happen to her, if she's managed to sever ties with her intended romantic partner. The epilogue rarely covers if she sought romance with someone else or not and usually ends the story of her love life at the rejection. |
| 32 | * DrivenToSuicide: |
| 33 | ** One possible endgame choice, if [[spoiler:the kraken awakens and Elodie chooses to sacrifice herself to it to stop it]]. The wording destroys any sense of this being a HeroicSacrifice and shows that she feels like she couldn't have been a good queen anyway and that she's just relieved she can stop making choices and reunite with her mother. If her dominant mood is Depressed, she makes this choice automatically. |
| 34 | ** Implied to be her plan in another endgame choice: [[spoiler:She contemplates removing her Lumen crystal to hide it from Togami, with the full knowledge the crystal is bound to her until she dies, and she simply states a farewell. Joslyn immediately grabs her and tells her that he refuses to let her die.]] Elodie survives the scene, but the game still ends with her loss of power. |
| 35 | * DumpThemAll: Elodie can refuse to propose to any of her named marriage candidates on the thirty-ninth week, which results in her partner being an unnamed person (or multiple unnamed persons) that best suits her personality. Subverted if she's interested in Brin or Alice, as they will be in the same pool of "no one" candidates and take priority. |
| 36 | * EvilMakeover: The ending where she becomes [[spoiler:Togami's minion]] depicts her wearing a slinky black dress and an evil smirk. |
| 37 | * FaceHeelTurn: Should she choose to join [[spoiler:Togami's side near the end]], Elodie will gladly [[spoiler:become his enforcer and]] use both her magical and political power to revel in her sadistic urges. Granted, with the amount of Cruelty needed to get this ending, Elodie wasn't much of a face to begin with, but this moment officially marks the point where she jumps off the slippery slope and betrays her country. |
| 38 | * GoodIsNotSoft: Even reaching coronation with exactly zero cruelty stat doesn't mean she got there without some personal body count. This includes [[spoiler:killing Lucille (if she decided to confront Lucille during the gala) and the wife-strangler (although it's more a case of HoistByHisOwnPetard) magically in self-defense, has Arisse executed for instigating the civil war, killing Kevan when he challenged her to a duel and she choose sword as her weapon, either destroying Togami's fleet or killing him directly if she accept his magic duel challenge, and (if she was not confronted earlier) has Lucille assassinated later on once her EvilPlan was discovered.]] [[spoiler:It is also implied that if Elodie directly lead her fleet with sufficient magic skill, she ''personally'' killed Shanjia's soldiers and sailors by blasting their ships.]] |
| 39 | * IBangedYourMom: Averted, as Elodie never tries to gloat with this should she marry [[spoiler:Ignatius]], and their relationship is actually a rather sweet affair where he finally manages to meet someone who respects him, after years of his loved ones picking other people over him. This doesn't stop [[spoiler:Briony]] from making gagging sounds every time she sees them together, due to her being ''older'' than Elodie. |
| 40 | * KickTheDog: A sign that Elodie is becoming increasingly cruel is if she goes to the dungeons and pokes the prisoners with a stick for her own amusement. |
| 41 | * KillTheCutie: If Elodie is a benevolent and highly adored ruler, her possible death(s) can be seen as this. |
| 42 | * LaserBlade: A very skilled Lumen Elodie can use her powers to make a sword out of light. [[spoiler:This is one of the ways she can get an upper hand on Togami, although she better have actual swordfighting knowledge to back this up.]] |
| 43 | * LightEmUp: Elodie's magical affinity is light, and if she's sufficiently skilled, she can even [[HardLight form it into solid objects]]. |
| 44 | * LightIsNotGood: Elodie's magical affinity is light, but this doesn't stop her from being a cruel person if so desired. |
| 45 | * MagicKnight: She can train in both martial skills and Lumen magic. [[spoiler:Doing so will give her an edge in the duel against Togami, who's a powerful mage, [[CripplingOverspecialization but lacks experience in physical combat]].]] |
| 46 | * MandatoryMotherhood: Elodie is expected to have children that will inherit her throne, and preferably children of legitimate birth and respectable fathers. |
| 47 | * MarryForLove: Most of Elodie's marriages are done for political reasons, but there are a few people she can marry based on deep affection and love: [[spoiler:Ignatius, Brin, Talarist (assuming they take their time with a courtship), Evrard, an unnamed Earl, and possibly Anciet. The best ending for Kevan ends with them in love as well, even if [[PerfectlyArrangedMarriage it starts out political]].]] |
| 48 | * MartialPacifist: Among possible paths are for Elodie to be as benevolent as possible, while making sure that anyone who ever dare to threaten her or her Realm will pay the heavy price, as [[spoiler:Lucille, the wife strangler, and Togami]] can potentially learn the hard way. In one of the epilogue, if you keep Elodie's cruelty stat low enough and reach coronation with military skills maxed, she will massively expand Novan military for purely defensive purpose rather than to threaten/subjugate other domains. |
| 49 | * MistakenForCheating: Can happen to Elodie both during the game and in the epilogues: |
| 50 | ** During the game, if Elodie is betrothed to Talarist but dances with Banion at the gala after he makes suggestive remarks, it's implied to everyone that she intends to break off the engagement with the former in order to marry the latter, even if she had no clue what Banion was implying. Elodie can willingly go with it or be coerced into the arrangement, but this has repercussions with Talasse. |
| 51 | ** In the epilogues, [[spoiler:Thaddeus]] will become very jealous if he has reason to believe Elodie is having an affair. In one scenario, if the rumors that she's been with other noblemen can't be proven false, he and Elodie will divorce, and she'll end up back in the arms of the person who started those rumors (having himself been dumped by Elodie earlier). |
| 52 | * ModestRoyalty: While she'll still wear a PimpedOutDress for her coronation and the final slide of the epilogue, Elodie otherwise has quite plain clothing choices to wear throughout the game, starting with the basic school uniform she begins with. Other outfits for her include a scholar's dress, a nurse's gown, and exercise clothes. While narration occasionally notes she's wearing a specific formal outfit, her portrait will show whatever skill-related outfit she is wearing, making it seem like she's dressed in her exercise clothes at a grand ball. |
| 53 | * {{Patricide}}: If she is cruel enough, [[spoiler:she can murder her own father as a show of loyalty to Togami before abandoning Nova to become his hatchet woman]]. |
| 54 | * PlayerCharacter: She is the main character of the game, and the player controls her conversation choices and skill development as she matures into the Queen of Nova. |
| 55 | * PoliticallyActivePrincess: It's practically required for Elodie to become this, as people come to her seeking her decisions about military incidents, crimes and punishments, and questionable successions -- and that's not getting into what happens if she throws herself deeper into the intrigue linking the nobility together. Justified: When Fidelia was queen, Elodie wasn't expected to do anything more than focus on school. Her mother's sudden death means that Elodie will be crowned in less than a year, and thus many people act as if she is already officially queen. |
| 56 | * PrettyPrincessPowerhouse: Elodie is a cute little pink-haired princess, with several (skill-boosting) outfits to choose from. These skills can include Weaponry, Athleticism, Military, and Lumen, and she can use them for things like [[spoiler:fighting Togami in a duel]] or [[spoiler:personally leading her naval fleet]]. Being a young crown princess in training for the throne doesn't mean Elodie can't tackle certain threats with a head-on approach. Solving issues with her military, magic, and weapon skills is the clearest example, although with the right training, Elodie can be a GuileHeroine who unflinchingly talks down those who want her dead. |
| 57 | * PrincessesRule: Elodie cannot be officially crowned queen until she's of-age, and Joslyn appears to be acting as her regent, but otherwise Elodie is given a lot of influence and authority, with only certain orders from Joslyn and [[spoiler:Arisse (if she's an adviser)]] being able to veto anything she chooses. |
| 58 | * RankScalesWithAsskicking: If sufficiently skilled, Elodie can easily defeat other people in battle, even if they attack her with only seconds of warning. Justified since Elodie spends most of the game under threat of assassination and needs to be able to defend herself if necessary. |
| 59 | * ReallyGetsAround: A couple of endgame possibilities have Elodie take many lovers over the course of her life, usually when she doesn't marry. |
| 60 | * RepressiveButEfficient: It's possible for her to become a cruel queen who tortures and executes people at a whim, while sparking scientific revolutions along with keeping Nova relatively safe and stable. |
| 61 | * RoseHairedSweetie: She is usually this, unless Elodie is especially cruel or melancholy in a given playthrough. |
| 62 | * SorcerousOverlord: A possible ending for Elodie if she's a cruel Lumen. It's especially apparent if she does things like [[spoiler:ritually sacrifice her cousin to a kraken that she summoned with her ''own'' magic]] or crush a commoner rebellion by showing off her magic, potentially burning many citizens. Even worse if she got military skills maxed, with the strong implication that her reign of terror will spread beyond Nova's current borders. |
| 63 | * SpyCatsuit: The [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/longlivethequeen/images/2/2b/Catsuit.png Catsuit]] for Intrigue, a.k.a spying. |
| 64 | * TheSpymaster: With enough Intrigue knowledge during midgame, Elodie can put her agents on alert for potential dangers and [[spoiler:hire Sabine as a spy and not just a bard]]. If Intrigue is her highest category at the end of the game, Elodie becomes especially notable for using her information network to always be ahead of her enemies. |
| 65 | * SweetTooth: She is shown to love sweets. The official trailer even mentions "Her only weakness is chocolate", which will [[TamperingWithFoodAndDrink become a problem]] in Week 32... |
| 66 | * TantrumThrowing: Throws a temper tantrum if she is deposed in a vote of no confidence in Week 17. |
| 67 | -->'''Elodie:''' ''[realizes she's lost]'' No! No, no, no!\ |
| 68 | '''Joslyn:''' *sigh* Elodie, go to your room.\ |
| 69 | '''Elodie:''' You can't make me! I'm the Queen!\ |
| 70 | '''Banion:''' No. You are not. |
| 71 | * ThroughHisStomach: Two of her most loving potential relationships are with bakers. [[spoiler:Her weakness for sweets, of course, can have [[TamperingWithFoodAndDrink other consequences]] that will end your game run.]] |
| 72 | * TilMurderDoUsPart: If Elodie is pressured into breaking her engagement to [[spoiler:Banion]] in order to marry [[spoiler:Thaddeus]] and can't find a way to appease the former, [[spoiler:he'll start rumors that Elodie is having affairs with other noblemen, potentially leading to Thaddeus divorcing her. She'll end up back with Banion due to the need for an heir, but she'll vow to herself that the marriage will end as soon as she has a child -- and, as a cruel Elodie notes, so will Banion's life.]] |
| 73 | * UniversallyBelovedLeader: Played sufficiently well, Elodie can win the hearts of all of her subjects. |
| 74 | * VillainProtagonist: She's the main character, and she can be played as a murderous psychopath. |
| 75 | * WarHawk: If Elodie's cruelty stat is high enough and military skills maxed, it's implied that she embraces expansionist policy in order to restore Old Nova's glory. |
| 76 | * WidowedAtTheWedding: Implied in one ending. Should Elodie propose marriage to [[spoiler:Kevan]] when he holds her responsible for [[spoiler:Briony]] or [[spoiler:Arisse]]'s deaths, he'll try to murder her during their wedding. It's mentioned that the royal guards are able to take him down, though this doesn't specify if he was killed on the spot, taken prisoner and later executed, or left in the dungeons indefinitely. In any case, Elodie isn't too comfortable with the idea of marrying again anytime soon. |
| 77 | * YouKilledMyFather: If [[spoiler:Togami]] kills Joslyn, he gloats that he's also responsible for Fidelia's death. If Elodie doesn't immediately attack [[spoiler:Togami in a berserk rage]] (and get roasted for it), and Julianna or Selene's Lumen quests were started, Elodie can go to them, and they'll ask her if she still wants to become a Lumen so that she can avenge her parents' deaths. She can agree to this and accept her crystal in the epilogue, although it's not noted if she ever does begin plans for retaliation. |
| 78 | [[/folder]] |
| 79 | |
| 80 | [[folder:Joslyn]] |
| 81 | !!!King-Dowager of Nova, Duke of Caloris |
| 82 | [[quoteright:296:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d8e23e095de5ee937a9f5da2cfc562d2.png]] |
| 83 | |
| 84 | Elodie's father and Fidelia's widower. He acts as Elodie's regent as she prepares for her coronation, although he will almost always defer to her own decisions should she be called on to make a choice. |
| 85 | ---- |
| 86 | * ActionDad: Harshly subverted. Joslyn can stand up to [[spoiler:Togami]] to protect Elodie's life, but he will almost always be killed, as he is an untrained Lumen who only activated his crystal literal minutes ago. Even if Joslyn manages to prepare for Lumen threats in advance, he only survives because of a magical artifact he brings with him, and the physical and mental effects of the battle severely limits his quality of life. |
| 87 | * BabiesEverAfter: Joslyn is being encouraged to produce an heir for Caloris, since Elodie can't inherit the duchy. [[spoiler:Averted in many scenarios, as Joslyn will refuse to remarry and presumably remain single for the rest of his days. However, if he marries Brin, he'll have at least one son with her that Elodie ends up raising along with her own child(ren). If he marries a priestess from Caloris, she'll end up pregnant very quickly. It's not stated if he has children with Sirin, but since he only marries her if the pressure for an heir is especially high, children are likely at least planned.]] |
| 88 | * TheBeard: A possibility. [[spoiler:Both he and Brin need heirs]], but he's uninterested in remarrying, and she's gay. They can end up married to each other, with [[spoiler:Brin spending more time with Elodie (who herself has married Banion only to get closer to Brin) than with Joslyn]]. |
| 89 | * CatchPhrase: "As you wish", in response to Elodie's decisions. |
| 90 | * CruelAndUnusualDeath: If Elodie decides [[spoiler:to join her power with Togami's]], he will incinerate Joslyn with her blessing. There's little description of this, but Elodie's own experiences with setting people ablaze is not at all reassuring. Even if it was a quick death, the very thought of his own child sacrificing his life to prove her loyalty [[spoiler:to an invader]] is cruel enough. |
| 91 | * {{Deuteragonist}}: He's far and away the most prominent character besides Elodie herself. He's the only one guaranteed to be by your side throughout most of the game [[spoiler:and can only die under two circumstances in Week 36 out of 40, one of the two ending the game on the spot]], and he is often shown reacting to the decisions Elodie makes. |
| 92 | * DoesNotLikeMagic: Although Joslyn is far from the only person to hold anti-Lumen beliefs, his are particularly prominent since he's so involved in Elodie's life and thus can comment on Julianna's offer, Elodie's use of magic, and other consequences of Lumen powers. He does trust and love certain Lumens, and he doesn't think less of Fidelia and Elodie despite the costs their magic has (unless Elodie's plans get the treasury guards killed or [[spoiler:summon a kraken]]), but on the other hand, he is outright hostile towards Julianna and doesn't object if Elodie immediately jails her. [[spoiler:Because of this and the general secrecy in his family, he has access to a trove of powerful magical artifacts, including his own ancestral Lumen crystal, but only extreme circumstances will make him even consider using any of it.]] |
| 93 | * GodzillaThreshold: It would take an absolute crisis to get him to [[spoiler:become a Lumen]]. Elodie being forced into a suicidal duel with a violent warlord fits the bill. |
| 94 | * HappilyMarried: It's said that he and Fidelia were very much in love. One of the epilogues where Elodie [[MarryForLove marries for love]] reinforces this by saying she wants a romantic relationship like what her parents had. Even if Joslyn is considering remarriage, what he says suggests that it's something he doesn't ''want'' to do but ''has'' to in order to secure an heir for Caloris, and he assures Elodie that nothing can ever replace Fidelia. |
| 95 | * HeroicSacrifice: If Elodie isn't a Lumen and can't find another way to deal with [[spoiler:Togami]], Joslyn will [[spoiler:activate his own Lumen crystal to]] take her place in the duel -- and he will almost always be killed doing so. Even in the rare circumstance he made preparations for the battle and can actually win, he'll be left severely impaired physically and mentally, with memory loss and the risk of people trying to take advantage of him to gain status. |
| 96 | * KeepingSecretsSucks: Joslyn has inherited a collection of magical items, [[spoiler:the Caloris Lumen crystal]], and an oath to keep all of this a secret, even from Elodie. This can very well lead to either or both of their deaths if they're not prepared to handle an invasion from a powerful Lumen. Additionally, he also keeps secret the existence of a son born by a maid and not Fidelia -- assuming the apparent son is telling the truth, that is, since Joslyn's words won't be trusted given his poor mental condition, if he's even alive to verify the young man's claims. |
| 97 | * MysteriousMist: The one non-artifact-derived power he's shown demonstrating during [[spoiler:his brief time as a Lumen is summoning an obscuring fog]]. |
| 98 | * PapaWolf: Do not ''ever'' threaten Elodie's life, intentionally or otherwise. [[spoiler:He'll even allow himself to become the very thing he hates and run into almost certain death if it means saving Elodie's life.]] |
| 99 | * ParentWithNewParamour: As the recently-widowed father of the soon-to-be Queen of Nova and the heirless Duke of his own territory, Joslyn is considered a very desirable person to court, although the only woman Elodie comes across is Sirin, whom she immediately takes offense to. Depending on if any other nobles make marriage arrangements, he might end up marrying Sirin, with or without Elodie's approval. [[spoiler:He can also marry a priestess from Caloris or the Duchess of Hellas, the latter of which is approved by Elodie -- because she and Brin are actually using the DoubleInLawMarriage as an excuse to stay close to ''each other''.]] |
| 100 | * ProperlyParanoid: His anti-Lumen beliefs, should Elodie become a Lumen herself and make decisions that destroy the lives of individuals and the stability of the country, up to and including [[spoiler:causing an earthquake that severely damages his duchy and sets loose all sorts of monsters]]. It should also be considered that [[spoiler:Fidelia was killed by a Lumen who wanted her powers and is banking on Elodie being an inexperienced Lumen so that he can also kill her and take the royal crystal for himself -- magic is responsible for the tragedies preceding the game and will be responsible for the violence near the end of the game]]. |
| 101 | * PuppetKing: He's theoretically the regent king of Nova until Elodie comes of age, but in practice he only really flexes his authority over her to keep her Lumen powers out of her hands and otherwise defers to her in all judgements. [[spoiler: Notably subverted if he ends up taking her place in the duel against Togami; when Elodie starts to object, he tells her to be quiet and that she isn't the ruler of Nova yet.]] |
| 102 | * PushoverParents: Due to being drowned in grief, he lets Elodie do whatever she wants (even become a budding [[TheCaligula Caligula]]). The only exceptions are his attempts to prevent her from getting her Lumen crystal [[spoiler: or if he steps up to take Elodie's place in the duel against Togami.]] |
| 103 | * SenselessSacrifice: If [[spoiler:Joslyn is killed by Togami and Elodie doesn't have ''very'' good Composure, she will go berserk, attack Togami, be killed on the spot, and render Joslyn's sacrifice meaningless]]. |
| 104 | * StrongFamilyResemblance: He and his brother Armand have [[OnlySixFaces identical faces]]. |
| 105 | * SuccessionCrisis: Though only certain plot points will bring this to the player's attention, Caloris is on the verge of facing one: Elodie cannot become the Duchess because of her royal duties, and Fidelia died before she and Joslyn could have more children. Joslyn is under pressure to provide an heir for his duchy (even if he doesn't ''want'' to remarry), which can end in several ways: |
| 106 | ** If the pressure is especially high, or if [[spoiler:Caloris becomes a disaster zone]], he'll marry either Sirin or a priestess from Caloris, in the latter case fathering children rather quickly. |
| 107 | ** [[spoiler:Brin]] might suggest marrying Joslyn while [[spoiler:Elodie marries Banion]] so that [[spoiler:the two women can be closer]]; this is convenient for [[spoiler:Brin]], too, given that [[spoiler:she herself has her own problems with producing an heir]]. |
| 108 | ** Joslyn can die or be severely injured following [[spoiler:the duel with Togami, and in both cases an illegitimate son comes forward, although Elodie can't fully believe this person is actually her half-brother. If the apparent son is turned away, either a minor lord is elevated into the duchy, or Elodie gives Caloris to Laurent and Merva to Lucille.]] |
| 109 | ** Or, Joslyn can simply refuse marriage altogether and direct potential suitors to his brother instead. Although it's never stated in the game, he could still name any nieces and nephews heirs in order to keep Caloris in his family, something that other nobles in the game do if they aren't able to have children. Alternatively, since Elodie is his biological daughter, he could adopt one of her children as his heir. |
| 110 | * WeAllDieSomeday: Joslyn's response when Elodie learns that the accepted defense against a powerful keythong is to just let it eat people until it decides to leave? "Everyone dies in the end." Cue +1 Depression. |
| 111 | [[/folder]] |
| 112 | |
| 113 | [[folder:Fidelia]] |
| 114 | !!!Queen of Nova (former) |
| 115 | |
| 116 | The late queen who died under sudden and uncertain circumstances. While no visual representation for her is given, the legacy and mysteries she left behind continue to influence Elodie and many of those who come to her. |
| 117 | ---- |
| 118 | * HappilyMarried: It's said that she and Joslyn were truly in love, since Joslyn is quite resistant to the idea of remarrying. One of the epilogues where Elodie [[MarryForLove marries for love]] reinforces this by saying she wants a romantic relationship like what her parents had. |
| 119 | * PlotTriggeringDeath: The whole game is kicked off by Fidelia's abrupt death, forcing Elodie to take a crash course on lessons for becoming a queen and throwing her into the political turmoil following her mother's death. [[spoiler:The invasion from Shanjia is the culmination of the plots made by the person who killed Fidelia; Togami ''wanted'' the relatively weak Elodie to face him in a duel and lose.]] |
| 120 | * PosthumousCharacter: Fidelia dies shortly before the game begins, but she remains a lasting impact on the game due to the political situations she solved (or didn't solve). [[spoiler:Her death itself is just the first step in a plan that threatens Elodie's life as well.]] |
| 121 | * ProperLady: If Elodie reaches coronation with Royal Demeanor maxed, the ending slide may note that she inherited the same royal grace and solemnity as her mother. Considering that Royal Demeanor includes Composure, Elegance, and Presence, it seems that Fidelia was one of these. |
| 122 | [[/folder]] |
| 123 | |
| 124 | [[folder:Laurent]] |
| 125 | !!!Duke of Merva |
| 126 | [[quoteright:256:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/36a1517d761a6403df5bcf858e27cdb5.png]] |
| 127 | |
| 128 | Elodie's maternal uncle. He is currently first-in-line to the throne, being Fidelia's brother, and was elevated by her to the ducal seat of Merva, which had been in the crown's control for several decades. |
| 129 | ---- |
| 130 | * AlliterativeFamily: Married to '''L'''ucille. |
| 131 | * DecidedByOneVote: Laurent usually abstains during the vote of no-confidence; since he's currently Elodie's heir, he's clearly biased against anything that'd force her to exchange her crown for a marriage. However, if the vote somehow comes to a tie, Elodie and Lucille will prompt him to speak up. He does indeed vote in Elodie's favor. |
| 132 | * DrivenToMadness: If he's imprisoned [[spoiler:under the belief that he tried to assassinate Elodie]], he'll come down with a violent fever, after which he spends his days sitting silently in his cell, rocking in place and slamming himself against the bars. A knowledgeable Elodie suspects [[spoiler:the cause might be poison, but there isn't a chance to prove it, and nothing else can be done to help or harm Laurent]]. |
| 133 | * IdiotHair: A tiny sprig, [[spoiler:which may hint at his failure to notice his wife's plotting]]. |
| 134 | * TheScapegoat: If Elodie faces [[spoiler:an assassin she suspects or knows is from Merva]], she can accuse Laurent of trying to kill her and punish him accordingly. It's actually [[spoiler:''Lucille'' who's trying to kill her; if Elodie brings up the incident with the snake, Lucille will even act shocked and horrified, begging Elodie not to hurt Charlotte. Even if Elodie does later learn that Lucille was the true enemy, it's too late to help Laurent, who's either long dead or was driven insane in jail. Laurent can also be executed along with Lucille if Elodie takes action closer to the end of the game]]. |
| 135 | * SelectiveObliviousness: The amount of scheming Lucille does behind his back makes one wonder if he really doesn't notice anything amiss or if he's just choosing not to pay attention. [[spoiler:WordOfGod states that Laurent ought to at least be ''suspicious'' by the time Lucille starts taking direct action against Elodie, but leaves it ambiguous as to whether he doesn't notice his wife's plots or is choosing not to]]. |
| 136 | [[/folder]] |
| 137 | |
| 138 | [[folder:Lucille]] |
| 139 | !!!Duchess-Consort of Merva, Countess of Nix |
| 140 | [[quoteright:220:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6ba95d3813ba5dcb9c71a567df68c046.png]] |
| 141 | |
| 142 | Elodie's aunt, through her marriage to Laurent. Basic knowledge in Internal Affairs reveals that she claimed to be from the extinct Merva ducal family but couldn't prove her ancestry; as a compromise, her husband Laurent was made the new Duke of Merva. |
| 143 | ---- |
| 144 | * AlliterativeFamily: Married to '''L'''aurent. |
| 145 | * AmbiguouslyBi: An offhand remark from Brin reveals that she and Lucille were once in a relationship, but no more is said about the subject of Lucille's sexuality, [[spoiler:particularly whether or not she's also attracted to men. At the very least, she doesn't love ''Laurent'' and is willing to throw him under the bus if he's no longer useful to her.]] |
| 146 | * TheBadGuyWins: Your choices can lead to Lucille not only [[KarmaHoudini never having to suffer the consequences of her actions]] but also winning everything she desires. [[spoiler:If Joslyn dies and you fail to kill her or appease her by giving her Merva, she poisons Elodie and renders her barren, ensuring that Charlotte will ascend to the throne.]] |
| 147 | * BigBad: [[spoiler:Lucille wants to eliminate all immediate heirs to the throne and make Charlotte the queen so that they can rule together. Thus, Lucille is responsible for numerous attempts on Elodie's life: the snake in the garden, one of the assassins at the parade, the bandits who attack the carriage, and the poisoned chocolates. Even if Elodie survives all this, if circumstances align, Lucille will poison her to make her barren. Notably, though, Lucille can be confronted halfway through the game, either killed right on the spot or made into an ally (which stops unprovoked attempts on Elodie's life, though she doesn't seem to have given up completely on having Charlotte become queen). If Elodie has recruited Sabine as a spy, she can have Lucille (and/or her whole family) assassinated late into the game.]] |
| 148 | * ConvenientlyUnverifiableCoverStory: She claimed to be from the extinct Merva line and requested title to the duchy, but had no proof to back up her claims. As a compromise, Fidelia granted the title to Laurent. |
| 149 | * CourtMage: [[spoiler: Elodie can make her into her Lumen Minister if she discovers early on that Lucille is a Lumen. While this hurts her social standing if Lumen approval in Nova doesn't improve, she gains enough prestige that she stops actively trying to kill Elodie.]] |
| 150 | * EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: [[spoiler:Her whole plan centers on being able to elevate Charlotte to the throne. She's protective of her and will do anything to keep her safe, including setting Laurent up as a scapegoat while (correctly) swearing up and down that Charlotte is innocent. And if Elodie wants to kill Charlotte, she ''damn well better'' make sure Lucille is dead as well...]] |
| 151 | * EvilAunt: She's Elodie's maternal aunt by marriage, and [[spoiler:she's personally responsible for nearly all of the crap Elodie goes through on her road to coronation]]. |
| 152 | * HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:If Elodie hires Lucille as a Lumen Minister, she stops all attempts on Elodie's life... unless Elodie sacrifices Charlotte to the kraken, in which case Lucille kills her in her sleep. But it's hard to say that was entirely undeserved. On the other hand, if Joslyn dies and Elodie chooses to make Laurent the Duke of Caloris and Lucille the Duchess of Merva, she won't poison Elodie in the epilogue and seems just as appeased with this choice.]] |
| 153 | * HoistByHerOwnPetard: [[spoiler:If Elodie found out that she is a Lumen during the gala then (rightfully) accuse her of hiding something, she will overconfidently try to kill Elodie using her magic power, believing that Elodie is just a rookie Lumen she can easily curb-stomp. If Elodie's magic resistance capability is strong enough however, her magic attack will overflow and ended up killing her instead.]] [[spoiler:Alternatively, Elodie can learn about her assassination attempts and trace it back to her, leading to her (and possibly also include her family) own assassination.]] |
| 154 | * KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:It is entirely possible that Elodie never finds out who planted the snake and who sent the bandits and the chocolates, and Lucille is never brought to task over her attempts to assassinate Elodie. It's even more prominent if she manages to sterilize Elodie, thus ensuring that Charlotte will one day inherit the throne (and in one case even earning herself a position as Prime Minister). Even if Elodie makes it to coronation, [[TheBadGuyWins Lucille can end up with everything she wants]].]] |
| 155 | * KnightTemplarParent: [[spoiler:Everything she does is done for the sake of Charlotte, although Sabine claims that Lucille might also be trying to rule through her daughter.]] |
| 156 | * MamaBear: [[spoiler:If Elodie makes the mistake of turning Charlotte into a HumanSacrifice while Lucille is still alive, Lucille will kill her in retribution the following week.]] |
| 157 | * MeaninglessVillainVictory: [[spoiler: If Elodie has Laurent imprisoned or executed and decides to become Togami's minion, this leaves an empty spot for Charlotte to be princess with Lucille as regent just like she wanted...in theory. With the Novan people being hostile to the idea of another young ruler and rumors of Charlotte having Lumen powers, rebellion breaks out, rendering Lucille's rise to power moot.]] |
| 158 | * OutlivingOnesOffspring: Charlotte can predecease her if [[spoiler:a cruel Elodie or one aware of Lucille's treachery feeds Charlotte to the kraken. Of course, doing so irrevocably signs Elodie's death warrant.]] |
| 159 | * PowerOfTheVoid: [[spoiler:Lucille's Lumen powers invoke the absence of things, including sound, movement, and life. She can use this to force someone into silence or inflict a condition similar to locked-in syndrome. In one ending, she even summons beams of darkness that tear people apart with silent explosions.]] |
| 160 | * TilMurderDoUsPart: [[spoiler:If Lucille's journals are decoded in the epilogue, it's revealed that she was also planning on killing her husband so that Charlotte would be left as the only royal heir. While Laurent does turn up mutilated and dead in the ending where the family evades arrest, it's not clear exactly what happened to him. WordOfGod on the [[http://hanakoforum.nfshost.com/community/viewtopic.php?p=11094#p11094 Hanako Games forums]] does suggest Lucille is the culprit, though.]] |
| 161 | * WalkingSpoiler: There are many important things to Lucille's character, and even plot threads discovered in the first half of the game lead to massive spoilers later on if tugged just the right way. |
| 162 | * WouldHurtAChild: [[spoiler:She makes several attempts on Elodie's life by sending assassins and other dangers to her, and if challenged, she'll directly attack Elodie (although in one case, it's provoked by what Elodie does to Charlotte).]] |
| 163 | [[/folder]] |
| 164 | |
| 165 | [[folder:Charlotte]] |
| 166 | !!!Lady Merva |
| 167 | [[quoteright:201:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fa2b87422d12613fb009c3d4d2419783.png]] |
| 168 | |
| 169 | Elodie's cousin and close friend since childhood. She is currently second-in-line to the throne of Nova, as well as the stated heir to Merva. |
| 170 | ---- |
| 171 | * AcquiredPoisonImmunity: In-universe, this is suspected as the reason why [[spoiler:Charlotte survives if the deadly milk viper bites her]]. [[spoiler:It's possible that her healing powers could have also played a role in her recovery, but if Elodie becomes suspicious that the snake was planted as a trap, she'll note that regularly swallowing small doses of venom would have allowed temporary immunity and run with that idea to form an accusation.]] |
| 172 | * BreakTheCutie: Can go through quite a lot of this. [[spoiler:Especially if her mother and/or father dies/is driven insane or she gets assaulted by a mob for healing a dying boy.]] |
| 173 | * BrokenPedestal: Can end up losing all faith in [[spoiler:her mother after her treachery is revealed]]. |
| 174 | * AChildShallLeadThem: Defied if this comes up. [[spoiler:After the cruel Elodie betrays Nova and her own father to become the loyal minion of an invading king, Charlotte will be next-in-line should Laurent have also been disposed of earlier. However, thanks to Elodie's reputation, the nobility refuses to have another underage ruler, especially since Charlotte is herself rumored to have dark magic. This results in a civil war, and while Charlotte's fate is unknown, Nova itself loses its power.]] |
| 175 | * TheCutie: Doesn't seem to have a bad bone in her body. |
| 176 | * HealingHands: Charlotte inherently has these powers despite not being a Lumen (WordOfGod states that it comes from [[spoiler: being the child of an active Lumen and a potential Lumen]]), and she can heal Elodie early on if she gets bitten by the milk viper. [[spoiler:In the epilogue, a fully Lumen Charlotte might heal a dying boy, although the reaction is [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished not so grateful]]...]] |
| 177 | * HumanSacrifice: [[spoiler:If Elodie accidentally summons a kraken and is aware about Charlotte's Lumen potential, she'll be suggested as a possible sacrifice to appease the kraken, assuming that Elodie is either very cruel or also aware of Lucille's plans.]] |
| 178 | * IncorruptiblePurePureness: She is a sweet and caring young girl who risks her life to save her cousin. Her powers are based around healing and [[spoiler:she has no involvement in her mother's plots]]. Considering the kind of world she lives in, this can go very badly for her... |
| 179 | * KillTheCutie: [[spoiler:She may die alongside her parents if Elodie thinks she is in on the plot against her. Then Elodie can sacrifice her to appease the kraken if she is cruel enough, although Lucille has to have been dealt with in order for her to take this option and survive.]] |
| 180 | * NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: |
| 181 | ** Charlotte might save Elodie's life after the snake attack using healing magic. [[spoiler:This knowledge can lead to Lucille dying at the gala, or Charlotte being sacrificed to a kraken.]] |
| 182 | ** In an epilogue where Charlotte becomes a Lumen but the reputation of Lumens is still low, [[spoiler:she'll risk herself by healing a dying child in Mead. A mob repays her for this by nearly drowning her ''and'' the boy, and the experience terrifies her so much that she doesn't leave Merva again for years.]] |
| 183 | * PuppetQueen: [[spoiler:Based on Sabine's investigation, it is implied that once Lucille's EvilPlan to elevate Charlotte as Nova's Queen succeeded, Charlotte will be little more than a figurehead for her mother.]] |
| 184 | * SelectiveObliviousness: If she finds out that [[spoiler: her mother plotted to have Elodie killed, she basically refuses to acknowledge it.]] |
| 185 | * SinsOfOurFathers: A potential end to her plotline if [[spoiler:Elodie finds out her mother has tried to assassinate her. This can result in Charlotte being banished from Nova or put to the sword along with the entire Mervan ducal family, or fed to a kraken.]] |
| 186 | * UnexpectedSuccessor: [[spoiler:If the years pass on in the epilogue and Elodie finds herself unable to have children, there will most likely be a note of the crown being passed on to one of her cousins, with one specific ending naming Charlotte in particular.]] Subverted in a more abrupt scenario, in which [[spoiler:Elodie executes or imprisons Laurent, then runs away to Shanjia, leaving Charlotte as the heir to the crown. However, the nobility is unsettled by the idea of yet another underage, possible-Lumen princess stepping up to the throne and rebel against the idea.]] |
| 187 | * YouKilledMyMother: She'll be terrified of and avoid Elodie at a party if [[spoiler:the latter kills Lucille in self-defense (much to Elodie's sadness and regret). The epilogue will have them eventually mend their friendship due to deciphering Lucille's journal proving that her [[BitchInSheepsClothing late mother]] planned not only to kill Elodie, but her husband and Charlotte's father Laurent as well. Unless either of them gets eaten by the kraken, that is.]] |
| 188 | [[/folder]] |
| 189 | |
| 190 | [[folder:Julianna]] |
| 191 | !!!Duchess of Ursul |
| 192 | [[quoteright:201:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/9cf0ea3a493f56ca980803a49d015feb.png]] |
| 193 | |
| 194 | A woman who approaches the castle with the intent of becoming one of Elodie's tutors. As she is the only publicly-known Lumen besides the current ruler of Nova, she faces constant scorn by those who don't trust her and her powers. |
| 195 | ---- |
| 196 | * AloofAlly: Julianna does not seem to particularly care about Elodie. While she'll teach her magic, she refuses to tell her anything more than minimally necessary, even if it's likely to be important. |
| 197 | * ButchLesbian: She's boyish and masculine, though very pretty. |
| 198 | * CourtMage: She offers to become this for Elodie, teaching her how to bond with her crystal and train her powers to the fullest. She also works as a general adviser for matters dealing with magic, [[spoiler:especially striking down a murderer who's secretly a Lumen]]. |
| 199 | * DishingOutDirt: Her powers have an affinity with earth, up to and including the ability to [[spoiler:cause massive earthquakes, albeit with the help of other Lumens]]. She also might have something to do with the fact that earthquakes keep hitting potential Tombulan invaders, [[spoiler:given that they successfully infiltrate Ursul if Julianna has been killed]]. |
| 200 | * GoodIsNotNice: She's a loyal servant of Nova, but doesn't treat Elodie with any respect. |
| 201 | * IceQueen: She can be pretty mean to Elodie at times. |
| 202 | * IronLady: The duchess is not one to be trifled with. |
| 203 | * JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Ultimately one of the few characters whose first loyalty is to the good of Nova, with no interest in personal advancement. That is, to the good of ''the country as a whole''. She is perfectly willing to let Elodie die (or even kill her!) if she thinks ''that'' is for the long-term good of Nova. |
| 204 | * MagicKnight: Julianna has some familiarity with a sword; the first example of her skills is the fairly underwhelming defeat of a snake, but she can later use her sword to [[spoiler:slice at the wife-strangler with sharp waves of energy]]. |
| 205 | * MandatoryMotherhood: Averted. While she does have a heritable title, she is never going to have sex with a man, and unlike Brin, nobody can compel her otherwise. [[spoiler: In one ending, she gets around this by adopting her niece, Briony.]] |
| 206 | * MarryForLove: [[spoiler:If Lumens become loved in society, Elodie convinces Julianna and Selene to get married. They remain devoted to each other alone and don't intend to bear biological children.]] |
| 207 | * MyGreatestFailure: In one conversation with her, Elodie accuses her of having something to do with Fidelia's death, and Julianna reveals that she feels somewhat responsible for it because she wasn't in the palace when Fidelia died and never even realized that she was in danger. |
| 208 | * {{Nephewism}}: [[spoiler:In an epilogue where Lumens are accepted and Julianna is able to marry Selene, she'll also adopt Briony as the heir to both her duchy and her crystal, with Corisande's blessing.]] |
| 209 | * NobleFugitive: Julianna becomes this if she's left in jail indefinitely, before managing to make an escape. Granted, by this point, she's been stripped of her titles and is technically no longer a noble. It's not clear where exactly Julianna is hiding, and most of the courses of action Elodie can take against her don't end in her being successfully caught and leave this plot thread unresolved -- unless she gives out the right information, allowing an archer to shoot Julianna dead. |
| 210 | * NonIdleRich: Unlike much of the country's other nobility, she very clearly ''does'' stuff. She trained Fidelia in magic and seeks out Elodie at the beginning of the game to train her as well. It's also implied that she's keeping potential Tombulan invaders out of Ursul. [[spoiler: They successfully invade if Julianna is killed.]] |
| 211 | * SailorSenshiSendUp: She's a ButchLesbian AloofAlly with the power to shoot energy blades from her sword, or to shake the world -- all traits taken from [[Franchise/SailorMoon Sailor Uranus]]. Interestingly, Julianna bears a strong resemblance to [[ShyBlueHairedGirl Sailor Mercury]] who Sailor Uranus has been contrasted against. |
| 212 | * {{Tritagonist}}: One of two candidates for the title of tertiary main character, along with Selene. If you choose to recruit her as your Lumen mentor, she instructs you in the ways of magic and offers magical solutions to many of the problems you encounter. |
| 213 | * YouNeverAsked: She often witholds information from Elodie unless she has enough skill to uncover it for herself. Notably, this includes Selene's status as a Lumen despite the fact that in Week 34 [[spoiler:a Shanjian war fleet is sailing for Nova and this information could mean the difference between victory and defeat]]. |
| 214 | [[/folder]] |
| 215 | |
| 216 | !Eastern Nova |
| 217 | Bordered by mountain ranges and the countries of Pyrias, Yeveh, and Talasse, the eastern lands of Nova are heavily connected politically. The current nobles of Mead, Kigal, and Elath can call the Duchess of Lillah mother, grandmother, and wife. Turmoil, both international and internal, is hidden within the history of these families. The outlier is Sudbury, which has its own relatively self-contained scandals. |
| 218 | ---- |
| 219 | |
| 220 | [[folder:Arisse]] |
| 221 | !!!Duchess of Lillah |
| 222 | [[quoteright:245:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/3b53f3acaceb768fc721a3b8c35df543.png]] |
| 223 | |
| 224 | Called Nova's Eastern Queen by many, Arisse is known for her widespread family connections, giving her influence in Kigal, Mead, and Elath. |
| 225 | ---- |
| 226 | * CoolOldLady: As the 'Eastern Queen' of Nova, she holds considerable influence and power. She has mastered the game of courtly intrigue and won't hesitate to put Elodie in her place should she screw up too much. |
| 227 | * CynicalMentor: Can become this to Elodie. She has little faith in Elodie's abilities as a ruler and her remarks can be rather scathing (she only becomes an adviser, invited or not, if she thinks Elodie has badly messed up). Her advice is nonetheless solid and in the best interest of Nova and her family (if not necessarily Elodie's). |
| 228 | * HeroAntagonist: [[spoiler:If she opposes Elodie and starts a civil war, it's because Elodie has shown herself to be tyrannical queen, an incompetent queen, or both.]] |
| 229 | * IronLady: Arisse has so much influence over the eastern duchies that some consider her a second queen, and she's willing to make sacrifices to maintain reputation and stability, including [[spoiler:murdering her relatives to stop them from abusing others]] and [[spoiler:waging civil war to keep Nova out of an incompetent Elodie's hands]]. |
| 230 | * MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: [[spoiler:When their abuses of other people went too far to stop any other way, Arisse had her ex-husband Jael and stepson Hyacinth killed and was able to cover up her tracks. In-game, Arisse herself can be assassinated this way, her death set up to look like she passed away in her sleep from the stress of age and grief; most characters will fall for this, barring one of her sons.]] |
| 231 | * OnlySaneMan: Her family is an ongoing catastrophe, and she's about the only one keeping it from getting any worse. Almost every other adult in the mess is some kind of screwed up, as are some of the kids. |
| 232 | * RapeAndRevenge: Not for her, but for [[spoiler:Kevan]]. [[spoiler:She immediately divorced Jael when she found out he was sexually abusing him, and when he kept trying to contact Kevan, she arranged to have Jael killed. Since she couldn't be definitively linked to his death and most people hated him anyway, she faced no legal consequences, although her relationship with Kevan never recovered.]] |
| 233 | * ReasonableAuthorityFigure: She's the reason that the eastern part of Nova is mostly stable right now, despite the sheer magnitude of their family problems. And while she can do some questionable things if the situation calls for it, her ultimate goals are to preserve her family's power and keep Nova's handbasket out of Hell. |
| 234 | * TheyreCalledPersonalIssuesForAReason: Arisse might start hinting at an event that traumatized [[spoiler:Thaddeus]] before stopping herself and saying that it's not Elodie's place to question her ''or'' the person she's speaking of, and that he will come to her with his past if he wants to do so. Justified in that not only is she herself not the one afflicted by troubles following the event and thus not in a position to talk about his past without his consent, but [[spoiler:outing what happened to Thaddeus would also out Kevan being directly abused]]. |
| 235 | * UptownGirl: Her second husband, Jael, was a commoner. [[spoiler:Subverted when she ended up divorcing and killing him, though not for reasons to do with his social status but rather with the crimes he committed.]] |
| 236 | * VicariouslyAmbitious: Most of Arisse's actions are motivated not so much by the pursuit of personal power as a desire to protect her family and see it prosper. |
| 237 | [[/folder]] |
| 238 | |
| 239 | [[folder:Corisande]] |
| 240 | !!!Duchess of Mead |
| 241 | [[quoteright:232:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bcb6db9034f44790c8786641bcc8d35f.png]] |
| 242 | |
| 243 | The eldest of Arisse's children and the first from her marriage to Nalin, the Duke of Mead, she is also Briony's mother and is married to Julianna's disinherited brother. |
| 244 | ---- |
| 245 | * BrotherSisterIncest: [[spoiler:She and Kevan have been involved with each other for an unknown period of time, and he currently lives with her and her family.]] |
| 246 | * HappyMarriageCharade: Under most circumstances, Ignatius and Corisande seem to be very close at the gala, even if he's rather possessive in the way her holds her. [[spoiler:This is because of Corisande's ongoing affair with Kevan. They fight over this in private and Ignatius wants a divorce, but he can't bring himself to do it because he has no home of his own to fall back on... unless Elodie has made him Duke of Ursul, in which case he and Corisande are distant at the gala and will eventually go through with the divorce. And if a vote of no confidence is held, Corisande actually seems ''happy'' that the marriage is over, given that she gives Elodie her vote.]] |
| 247 | * ItsAllMyFault: Elodie can ''force'' Corisande to feel this if she claims that [[spoiler:it was her own neglect and attempts to push Briony away from home that drove her to run away into the Old Forest, where she met a violent death. Corisande is brought to tears over this.]] |
| 248 | * KeepingSecretsSucks: |
| 249 | ** [[spoiler:Corisande doesn't allow Briony to come home so that she doesn't have to see her parents fighting and her mother being overly affectionate with her (Briony's) uncle -- which would in turn reveal Kevan being raped by his stepfather and Arisse having Jael killed for it. This attempt to distance Briony from what's going on makes her feel neglected and unwanted, and her attempts to get her parents' attention could very well get her killed by monsters. And Elodie can rub it in further by placing all the blame on Corisande as she weeps for her dead child.]] |
| 250 | ** She's also affected by a different set of secrets. [[spoiler:Her half-brother, the last Duke of Mead, was a SerialKiller who preyed on his servants, and her mother ended up having him killed and making it look like a suicide. However, the way the whole thing was hushed up -- for example, claiming a missing person had gone and joined the army -- made the sister of one of the victims think all the nobles of Mead were complicit, and she tried to poison Corisande as revenge.]] |
| 251 | * ParentalNeglect: [[spoiler: Subverted. Briony is often kept away from home and feels unwanted as a result. However, Corisande genuinely loves her daughter Briony and is only keeping her away so that she doesn't have to come home and see her family falling apart.]] |
| 252 | * TheScapegoat: The woman who tries to poison Corisande blames her and her family for her brother's presumed death ten years ago, after his disappearance while working for the Mead family was covered up. Said deaths and disappearances were actually the work of Hyacinth, Corisande's half-brother and the Duke of Mead before her, and [[spoiler:Arisse eventually had him killed to stop him from abusing any more servants]]. Having the knowledge and tact to explain this to the woman is essential to a peaceful end to the trial. |
| 253 | [[/folder]] |
| 254 | |
| 255 | [[folder:Ignatius]] |
| 256 | !!!Duke-Consort of Mead |
| 257 | [[quoteright:249:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/31fba21f77cbd1d2713ce3b0c5ac7b61.png]] |
| 258 | |
| 259 | The elder brother of Julianna. For reasons unstated, he was passed over for inheritance in favor of his sister. He's now married to Corisande and is the father of Briony and Noll. |
| 260 | ---- |
| 261 | * AgeGapRomance: [[spoiler:If Elodie knows that Ignatius is single and tries to pursue him, he's quite unsettled at the idea of a girl younger than his own daughter proposing to him (at thirty-eight, he's the oldest of her named prospects). The fact that she's the one who gave him a title means that he doesn't want to reject her openly, and he agrees to spend time with her so long as she doesn't make any advances. Under certain circumstances, he and Elodie actually do end up married, much to Briony's complete disgust. Despite Briony's disapproval however, their marriage is rather [[MarryForLove a happy and loving one.]]]] |
| 262 | * EveryoneHasStandards: In the [[WordOfGod Words of God]], he [[spoiler:abstains from the vote of no confidence if you replaced Julianna with him, which is preceded by keeping Julianna in the dungeon for weeks until he shows up to ask what you're going to do with her]] "because he's grateful to you but he also thinks you're nuts." [[spoiler:Funnily enough, you can ''only'' romance him by leaving Julianna to rot.]] |
| 263 | * HappyMarriageCharade: Under most circumstances, Ignatius and Corisande seem to be very close at the gala, even if he's rather possessive in the way her holds her. [[spoiler:This is because of Corisande's ongoing affair with Kevan, which compounds Ignatius's preexisting troubles with trust and family. They fight over this in private and Ignatius wants a divorce, but he can't bring himself to do it because he has no home of his own to fall back on... unless Elodie has made him Duke of Ursul, in which case he and Corisande are distant at the gala and will eventually go through with the divorce.]] |
| 264 | * PassedOverInheritance: It's not stated why this happened, but his father gave Ursul to Julianna, even though she's younger than Ignatius, and it's noted in an epilogue that he felt betrayed by his father's choice. If Julianna is jailed indefinitely, Elodie has no choice but to appoint him Duke of Ursul in her place. |
| 265 | * TheUnfavorite: Exaggerated: [[spoiler:''Everyone'' in Ignatius's family seems to prefer someone or some place over him. Paulus choosing Julianna as his heir over Ignatius is the traditional example, although it's never stated if he had reasons justifying this choice. But then there's Corisande, who has an affair going on with her own brother. Even the children prefer to stay in Mead where they grew up, rather than joining their father in Ursul if he becomes its new Duke (even though Noll is presumably heir to Ursul).]] |
| 266 | [[/folder]] |
| 267 | |
| 268 | [[folder:Briony]] |
| 269 | !!!Lady Mead |
| 270 | [[quoteright:224:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/613519b9cbb5289fae06ce3069d3dde9.png]] |
| 271 | |
| 272 | One of Elodie's former classmates. Briony contacts her throughout the game, giving insight into some of the events going on in eastern Nova, and constantly pushing her for ideas of a fun escape from constant studying. She's evidently skilled in swordsmanship, archery, and cyphering. |
| 273 | ---- |
| 274 | * AdoptivePeerParent: Elodie, if she plays her cards right, can end up being Briony's new adoptive mother by way of Ignatius. Elodie is more than a year ''younger'' than Briony. |
| 275 | * AmbiguouslyBi: Briony definitely has an interest in Elodie if [[spoiler:they survive the Old Forest together]], and they can conduct a very public courtship and remain close even when they end this. The ambiguity comes from the fact that they both go on to marry men afterwards; it's not mentioned how much of this is sincerity and how much is obligation. |
| 276 | * CurtainsMatchTheWindow: Along with her green hair, she seems to get green eyes from her parents. |
| 277 | * EscortMission: [[spoiler:Following Briony into the Old Forest almost immediately turns into this, as the two quickly discover that any combat skills they have are useless against the monsters stalking them. Still, it's Elodie's experience that determine whether or not either of them make it out of the forest alive, while Briony is completely reliant on her. She even ends up injured if they can't reach their horses in time -- in a subversion, at this point, Elodie ''can'' keep running alone to safety and leave Briony to die, without it being an instant fail condition (although the consequences of this can have fatal results).]] |
| 278 | * GayOption: Having a certain scene with Briony allows her and Elodie to start a romance in the epilogue, although they can't officially commit to each other. |
| 279 | * GlorySeeker: Briony is dead-set on going into the Old Forest to find treasure so that others, especially her parents, will praise her. [[spoiler:She ''absolutely '''will''' die'' unless Elodie finds some way to either guide her out of the forest safely or stop her from going entirely; one of these ways to save her life involves addressing her reasons for seeking the treasure. The civil war will also keep her from going to the Old Forest.]] |
| 280 | * LadyInWaiting: She is given the title of royal Lady-in-Waiting in her epilogue with Elodie. She's also given the less-formal title of Lady of the Royal Bedchamber. |
| 281 | * LifesavingMisfortune: [[spoiler:Either being stuck in her Duchy or held as a hostage during the civil war will prevent her from going to the Old Forest for the treasure hunt she really craves for. However, considering the monsters lurking in said forest, it ended up saving her life.]] |
| 282 | * MoralityPet: Both of the only options to decrease cruelty involve her. [[spoiler:Either sending her home as a gesture of good will during the civil war or refusing to abandon her in the Old Forest at your own risk lowers Elodie's cruelty.]] |
| 283 | * ParentalNeglect: Briony has been left at school for an excessive amount of time and isn't allowed to come back home to Mead, and she's convinced that her parents are outright ignoring her. This is the main reason she's thinking of ways to act out and demand their attention. [[spoiler:Her parents are keeping her away from home so she won't be affected by certain problems going on with them and her uncle.]] |
| 284 | * RegalRinglets: Her twintails are curled at the ends. |
| 285 | * RescueRomance: [[spoiler:Actually entering the Old Forest with Briony and then helping save her life is regarded by Briony to be the most romantic thing she's ever experienced, and it opens up the ability to have a relationship with her in the ending; their courtship involves the slaying of imaginary dragons.]] |
| 286 | * RoyalBrat: While more sane than most of her family, Briony doesn't really stop to consider the effects her actions will have on others. She wants to go into the Old Forest unprepared (which is not just point-blank ''stupid'', but outright ''suicidal'') to find treasure. More humorously, she doesn't even have a ''clue'' what's going on if [[spoiler:you take her hostage in the event of a civil war]]. |
| 287 | * TheRunaway: Unless talked out of it, Briony will ditch her escorts at Sudbury so that she can make a journey into the Old Forest, either running off to an unknown area or stopping temporarily at the castle with Elodie's help. It initially seems like the Attention-Seeking variant, but pulling at just the right thread reveals that it's born from feelings of abandonment from her ParentalNeglect. [[spoiler:It's also horrifically deconstructed: Briony will die in the Old Forest unless Elodie can help her escape, stop her from going, or she is trapped during the civil war. Her death will eventually have devastating effects on her mother and her uncle. There's also the chance that Elodie goes with her and they ''both'' get killed by the monsters.]] |
| 288 | * UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Her decision to go on an adventure to the Old Forest [[spoiler:can result in not just her getting killed, but Kevan going berserk and challening Elodie to a duel that will likely end with one of them joining her in the dead book]]. |
| 289 | * WellDoneDaughterGirl: If a skilled Elodie manages to talk things out with Briony, she'll learn that she wants to find the lost treasure to get her parents' attention; they've been distant with her for the past few years and don't even let her come home from school. [[spoiler:The reason they're keeping her away from home is to protect her from some disturbing family secrets.]] |
| 290 | [[/folder]] |
| 291 | |
| 292 | [[folder:Kevan]] |
| 293 | !!!Earl of Io |
| 294 | [[quoteright:272:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4beada8d4dc815810f76fdc9a2a51683.png]] |
| 295 | |
| 296 | Arisse's second child from her marriage to Nalin. With no major title of his own, he appears to have taken to living with the ducal family of Mead. |
| 297 | ---- |
| 298 | * AxCrazy: His HairTriggerTemper is so dangerous that when he jumps to conclusions about his family's enemies, he doesn't even try to check out his suspicions before trying to murder the person responsible. |
| 299 | * BerserkButton: Do not ever pose a threat to his family's safety. Don't even ''look'' suspicious if something's happened to them. He ''will'' be seeking vengeance. |
| 300 | * BrotherSisterIncest: [[spoiler:He and Corisande have been involved with each other for an unknown period of time.]] |
| 301 | * CruelAndUnusualDeath: [[spoiler:If a highly skilled Lumen Elodie refuses to duel him, she can simply set him on fire. The result is so horrific that noble and commoner approval ratings for Elodie take a massive plunge. An alternate outcome sees Kevan turned into an arrow pincushion after he tries to kill Elodie in front of numerous trained archers.]] |
| 302 | * DefiantToTheEnd: A non-heroic version when losing the duels at the tournament. [[spoiler:If Elodie wins the stave duel, he initially refuses to surrender, saying he would rather die. If she wins the sword duel -- fatally injuring him in the process -- his last act is to spit at her.]] |
| 303 | * FieryRedhead: He's got a mop of bright orange hair, he's rather infamous among the nobles for his temper, his portrait is perpetually scowling, and his two appearances in-game have him baying for the blood of someone he believes has harmed his family. |
| 304 | * FreudianExcuse: [[spoiler:He was sexually abused by one of his stepfathers, and the fallout from it being discovered continued to stew his problems, culminating in his sexual relationship with one of his sisters. He resents Arisse for getting rid of Jael, and yet is so devoted to her and the rest of his family that he wishes to destroy any threat to their lives, real or imagined. This leads to him trying to kill Elodie in almost every playthrough for getting his relatives killed, even if she had nothing to do with any of it.]] |
| 305 | * HairTriggerTemper: If Elodie is too blunt in asking about if the previous Duke of Mead might have killed the attempted murderer's brother, Kevan will insult her and kill the woman himself, ranting that no one will get away with harming his family. [[spoiler:He can also blame Elodie for Briony's death, even if their only correspondence the whole game was through letters that don't even mention the Old Forest.]] |
| 306 | * HotBlooded: During the duel with Elodie, great mention is made of him roaring like a bull and generally acting like an unchained beast. |
| 307 | * IronicDeath: Can be narrowly averted. [[spoiler:If Elodie presses his BerserkButton in his first appearance, he pulls a knife and cuts the prisoner's throat. If Elodie fails to talk him down after winning the stave duel, he tries to attack her against duel regulations and is restrained by the onlookers. One of them is readying a knife to slit ''his'' throat on the spot before Elodie stops them.]] |
| 308 | * LargeHam: With the exception of one line that occurs if Elodie tactfully asks him about the commoner who tried to poison his sister and whether her brother could have been killed by someone in Kevan's family (he grudgingly acknowledges it's "not impossible"), every word he utters is frothing with volcanic rage. |
| 309 | * LeeroyJenkins: When his anger overwhelms him (which happens a lot), his actions tend to be extremely rash. Case in point, him challenging Elodie to a duel in front of [[spoiler:a group of trained, tourney-winning archers. Then he attacks her even if she refuses him, resulting in him becoming a HumanPincushion.]] |
| 310 | * LivingEmotionalCrutch: [[spoiler:Elodie becomes this to him if they have a successful marriage. It's also heavily implied that Corisande is his crutch during the events of the game.]] |
| 311 | * MassiveNumberedSiblings: This applies to many of Arisse's relatives who appear in the story, but Elodie lampshades it when Kevan comes in ranting about a woman trying to kill his sister -- her first reaction is to ask ''which sister''. (Corisande and Charmion are his full-sisters, but he also has Adele as a half-sister.) |
| 312 | * MeaningfulName: Well, meaningful title, at least. Io is a moon of Jupiter and the most volcanic object in our solar system. Given his temper... |
| 313 | * TheMentallyDisturbed: Kevan is ''not well''. He has an extremely short fuse, is mentioned to "shout at shadows", and [[spoiler:has an incestuous relationship with his own sister]]. It's strongly implied that he was permanently traumatized by [[spoiler:being sexually abused by his stepfather]]. |
| 314 | * MisplacedRetribution: [[spoiler:If Briony dies at all, Kevan will blame Elodie for it and challenge her to a duel to the death. This is even if Elodie didn't even attend the party where Briony proposes the idea in the first place, meaning chances are good she really has nothing to do with the girl's death.]] |
| 315 | * MistakenForGay: Under certain circumstances, if Elodie proposes to him, he rejects her without explanation and she'll assume that since he's never seen with women outside his family, he's most likely gay. [[spoiler:While his precise orientation is not stated, he ''does'' have romantic interests towards women -- the problem is that he has an unhealthy and violent history with sexuality, making it difficult for him to put his trust in people. And there's a ''reason'' he spends so much time with his sister.]] |
| 316 | * MoralityChain: [[spoiler:His family, especially Briony and Arisse -- if the former dies in any way or the latter is executed after the civil war, he'll blame their deaths on Elodie. One the other hand, if Elodie has a successful marriage with Kevan, she'll become one for him, to the point where he openly admits he'd be unable to live without her.]] |
| 317 | * NotSoDifferentRemark: Kevan wants the attempted poisoner hanged for nearly killing his sister, but Elodie is capable of explaining to him that Corisande was a mistaken target and the woman just wanted to avenge her own brother's death at the hands of a noble. [[spoiler:And later on, Kevan can try to kill Elodie out of the (sometimes correct) belief that she's reponsible for Briony or Arisse's deaths.]] |
| 318 | -->'''Elodie''': She acted for the love of her sibling. Surely you can understand that? |
| 319 | * ParentalIncest: [[spoiler:His stepfather Jael abused him up until he was killed. Kevan words it in a way that implies some consent, but the very nature of a step-parent/child relationship, Kevan's age at the time, and Jael's rumored history of violence all suggest otherwise.]] |
| 320 | * PassedOverInheritance: [[spoiler:If Arisse dies, the duchy is given to his younger half-brother Kiran. Possible reasons for this include Kevan's strained relationship with his mother, his unstable and violent behavior, and the fact that Kiran and his full siblings inherit no titles from their late commoner father.]] |
| 321 | * PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: [[spoiler:If Elodie learns his family secret and proposes marriage, he eventually opens up to and falls deeply, passionately in love with her, turning a political marriage into this.]] |
| 322 | * RapeAsBackstory: [[spoiler:Jael sexually abused Kevan sometime during his adolescence. This becomes the root of all his problems concerning his family and those who endanger them, especially after his mother decides to deal with Jael herself.]] |
| 323 | * RevengeBeforeReason: [[spoiler:If Elodie refuses to duel him and he goes after her anyway, he'll quickly find out just how badly trying to murder someone in front of a tournament full of trained archers will go. There's also the possibility that his revenge is misplaced entirely, if Arisse is alive and Elodie had little to do with Briony's death.]] |
| 324 | * TheyreCalledPersonalIssuesForAReason: [[spoiler:Kevan will never tell Elodie about what happened to him unless she comes to him first after finding out the information from others, and even then he won't explain it in further detail until he's had several months to build up trust for her.]] |
| 325 | * TilMurderDoUsPart: [[spoiler:If Kevan holds Elodie responsible for the death of his relatives and she wants to marry him, he'll accept her proposal, just to try and skewer her during the wedding. He takes enough time out to denounce Elodie that her guards are able to stop him, however.]] |
| 326 | * WalkingSpoiler: It's difficult to explain his motivations for many of his actions without discussing late-game information that can only be uncovered on a very specific subplot branch. |
| 327 | * WouldHurtAChild: [[spoiler:Has no compunctions about challenging a fourteen-year-old to a swordfight to the death, or stabbing her outright if she refuses. He tips the odds even more in his favor by wearing armor when she isn't.]] |
| 328 | * YouKilledMyMother: If [[spoiler:Briony dies at all]] or [[spoiler:Arisse is executed after the civil war]], he will [[spoiler:challenge Elodie to a duel to the death at the tournament, and if this is either avoided or he survives without being jailed, he'll also try to kill her at their wedding if she proposes to him. Kevan will blame Elodie for Briony's death even if she has little to do with her decision to go to the Old Forest, up to and including having ''no idea whatsoever'' where Briony even ran off to.]] Subverted in one case, though: [[spoiler:If Arisse is quietly assassinated, ''Kevan'' isn't the one who realizes Elodie's at fault.]] |
| 329 | [[/folder]] |
| 330 | |
| 331 | [[folder:Fabian]] |
| 332 | !!!Duke-Regent of Elath, Earl of Titan |
| 333 | [[quoteright:224:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/9c6e3066bb8fb70d5b45d4ed788b3b73.png]] |
| 334 | |
| 335 | The elderly father of the future Duke of Elath, Adair. Previously married twice, he is now currently married to Arisse, who herself has been widowed twice. |
| 336 | ---- |
| 337 | * CharacterDeath: [[spoiler:He dies from old age in Week 22, forcing Elodie to decide who will receive custody of the young Adair; her decision can keep Adair safe or get him killed. It's actually possible to get Fabian's input prior to his death, if you manage to catch an omen warning you of his impending death.]] |
| 338 | * {{Gonk}}: His age is heavily detailed in his portrait by his narrowed eyes, deep wrinkles, prominent nose, and blemished skin; compare him to Arisse, who is seven years younger and has relatively few wrinkles on a face otherwise similar to those of younger women. Fabian ''is'' nearing the end of his life, though, so his ragged appearance may not be without cause. |
| 339 | * OldManMarryingAChild: Fabian was 48 and Cayleigh was 17 when Adair was born, and an offhand remark suggests he knew Cayleigh several years before their marriage. While Cayleigh was considered of-age by the time Adair was conceived, it's still noted as unusual for someone to marry and have a child so young unless the succession is in danger, as was the case with her. Fabian even suggests that Elodie carry out a downplayed version of the latter trope with Adair. (There is only a two-year age difference between him and Elodie, but at the time of engagement, Adair happens to be a very young ''twelve''.) |
| 340 | -->'''Fabian:''' Was that not what you had in mind when you danced with him? Get them young, train them how you want them? Didn't work out so well for me with my Cayleigh, may the gods protect her soul. |
| 341 | [[/folder]] |
| 342 | |
| 343 | [[folder:Adair]] |
| 344 | !!!Young Lord of Elath |
| 345 | [[quoteright:203:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/65d27b0215d458d3b603a86065e3c9c0.png]] |
| 346 | |
| 347 | A shy boy who will become the Duke of Elath when he comes of age in a few years. Until then, a regent must handle the affairs of Elath for him. |
| 348 | ---- |
| 349 | * AscendedExtra: Originally little more than a walking plot device and one of Elodie's less-developed marriage partners, an update eventually gave Adair a portrait and some possible scenes with Elodie if they do become engaged during the game. |
| 350 | * BondingOverMissingParents: An optional scene, under the right conditions. [[spoiler:If Joslyn dies and Adair is at the castle as Elodie's fiance, she can visit him on the weekend, and he'll try to comfort her by offering to catch beetles with her. She notes how pitiful it must appear for the future king and queen to be little more than orphans digging around in mud, but she's just happy that she isn't alone.]] |
| 351 | * ChildhoodMarriagePromise: While it's more politically charged than the usual examples, since Adair and Elodie don't know each other closely and Elodie arranges it on her own with little to no input from Adair, it's possible to move him to the castle as her fiance, marrying him years later when he's of-age. |
| 352 | * DeathByChildbirth: His mother Cayleigh died giving birth to him. It's suggested that her death occurred because she was ''seventeen'' at the time, being rushed into marriage and motherhood thanks to the threat towards Elath's succession. |
| 353 | * DeathOfAChild: [[spoiler:If he is sent to live with his grandfather, he may be assassinated in order to ensure that Talarist inherits the duchy of Elath. It's a common outcome on first playthroughs.]] |
| 354 | * HeartwarmingOrphan: Fabian dies halfway through the game, and depending on who Adair is left with, he can share light-hearted scenes with Elodie, thanking her for leaving him with family or sending him to a place with lots of interesting frogs and landmarks. If she actually keeps him as her fiance, he even gets to directly interact with her on some weekends. |
| 355 | * HenpeckedHusband: {{Implied|Trope}} if Elodie marries him without bonding with him. Adair is used to being told what to do by older people, so Elodie is clearly the dominant partner. |
| 356 | * IdiotHair: More of an innocent than an idiot. |
| 357 | * OneHeadTaller: {{Inverted|Trope}}. He is a head shorter than Elodie due to his young age. This may be mentioned at the grand ball. |
| 358 | * RoyalHarem: [[spoiler:If Elodie marries Adair but finds out she can't have children, she'll hire some companions for him so that he can father an heir for Elath.]] |
| 359 | [[/folder]] |
| 360 | |
| 361 | [[folder:Lieke]] |
| 362 | !!!Duchess-Regent of Sudbury, Countess of Dis |
| 363 | [[quoteright:218:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ea262b54e00e13a00506156bb3e505ba.png]] |
| 364 | |
| 365 | Gwenelle's mother and the regent of Sudbury until her daughter comes of age. Though she is currently married to Bennett, she was formerly married to the now-deceased Duke of Sudbury, Yannik. |
| 366 | ---- |
| 367 | * AgeGapRomance: Lieke's first husband was twice her age, and at the time of Gwenelle's birth and their subsequent divorce, this places Lieke at 20 and Yannik at over 40 (considered old in the context of both their marriage and the general setting). There was little actual romance in the marriage, though, given Lieke divorcing and remarrying so quickly and Yannik being apparently fine with this arrangement; it's unclear if Lieke was just looking to secure her place in higher nobility, or if there are other, unstated reasons for bearing the Duke's heir. Conversely, her second husband Bennett is seven years her junior. |
| 368 | * AmicableExes: Lieke divorced Yannik as soon as Gwenelle was born in order to be free to marry someone else. While the other nobles considered this to be incredibly rude, Yannik had no problem with this, possibly because it was a MarriageOfConvenience all along. |
| 369 | * MarryForLove: Implied to be the reason Lieke married Bennett. Though exact years aren't given, Bennett was disinherited by the time he married Lieke and had no titles to offer, making the marriage unlikely to be political. While Bennett and Lieke only interact in one scene, they use affectionate names for each other, and Bennett's able to defuse an argument between Lieke and Gwenelle. |
| 370 | * OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: "Lieke" is a Dutch nickname for "Angelique", which only Bennett calls her. |
| 371 | * PaletteSwap: Her portrait is a recolored version of Lucille's, with different eyes and clothes. |
| 372 | [[/folder]] |
| 373 | |
| 374 | [[folder:Bennett]] |
| 375 | !!!Earl-Consort of Dis |
| 376 | [[quoteright:248:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bddbf689b38300b9379a2f99abe3f442.png]] |
| 377 | |
| 378 | Brother to Banion and Brin, and husband of Lieke. He was disinherited by his family and has no claim to Maree and Hellas at the start of the game, instead living in Sudbury with his wife and child. |
| 379 | ---- |
| 380 | * AdoptivePeerParent: He's only thirteen years older than his step-daughter Gwenelle. He's been married to her mother Lieke since Gwenelle was a baby, and she considers him her father. |
| 381 | * AlliterativeFamily: The siblings Brin, Banion, and Bennett. |
| 382 | * AscendedExtra: For a while, Bennett had little more than a name and, and the event that he needed to be called upon, a PaletteSwap portrait. A later update gave him another scene that expands upon his backstory and gives a little bit of perspective to both his own motivations (and, indirectly, the motivations of Lieke and Gwenelle). |
| 383 | * BlackSheep: [[spoiler:Running away from home and not being there when his mother died]] has severely strained his relationship with his siblings. Banion and Brin don't even mention him, [[spoiler:but Gwenelle claims that they've never forgiven him for being away when his mother died.]] Additionally, Bennett will ''always'' support Elodie in the vote of no confidence, even though Banion will be executed if she wins and even though Brin was likely executed before this -- there is clearly no loyalty between them anymore. |
| 384 | * IHaveNoSon: After Bennett [[spoiler:ran away from home]], his mother disowned him completely. |
| 385 | * MarryForLove: Implied to be the reason Lieke married Bennett. Though exact years aren't given, Bennett was disinherited by the time he married Lieke and had no titles to offer, making the marriage unlikely to be political. Though Bennett and Lieke only interact in one scene, they use affectionate names for each other, and Bennett's able to defuse an argument between Lieke and Gwenelle. |
| 386 | * NeverGotToSayGoodbye: [[spoiler:While Bennett was traveling the world after running away from home, his mother died. She had already disowned him at this point, but this ended any chance of reconciliation between them and is said to have also estranged him from Brin and Banion.]] |
| 387 | * PaletteSwap: Bennett's portrait is a recolored version of Banion's, with some detail changes. |
| 388 | * PassedOverInheritance: While as the youngest of three children he was unlikely to gain either of the two duchies, he could have still inherited either of the two minor titles in his family, if not for the falling out that followed [[spoiler:him leaving home]]. As it stands, he has no titles of his own and is at best an Earl-Consort... Unless Elodie manages to strip some titles from his siblings, in which case not only can Bennett become the Duke of Hellas or Maree, but he can be Duke of Hellas ''and'' his son Anciet can be the future Duke of Maree! |
| 389 | * TheRunaway: [[spoiler:Bennett was this many years ago, and while the reason for this was not given, it was the final straw for his relationship with his family.]] |
| 390 | * StrongFamilyResemblance: To the point where he and Banion can easily be mistaken for identical twins. The only physical difference is that Bennett's eye color is blue-purple and Banion's is a neutral blue. |
| 391 | * UnexpectedSuccessor: Becomes a minor plot point if Elodie has his siblings stripped of their nobility or outright executed. Bennett defuses the argument between his wife and daughter by pointing out that while Gwenelle has been preparing her whole life to inherit Sudbury, he never expected to be appointed Duke of Hellas or Maree and thus needs Lieke's aid. |
| 392 | [[/folder]] |
| 393 | |
| 394 | [[folder:Gwenelle]] |
| 395 | !!!Lady Sudbury |
| 396 | [[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/24ca992ae2fc029e2a7e22e0619aaa49.png]] |
| 397 | |
| 398 | Daughter of Lieke and Yannik, she is the heir to Sudbury. While she is still known as Lady Sudbury at the beginning of the game, the first time Elodie is able to meet her during the story is at her fifteenth birthday party, at which she is officially acknowledged as the Duchess of Sudbury. |
| 399 | ---- |
| 400 | * AChildShallLeadThem: Gwenelle is rather young to be a Duchess, turning fifteen halfway through the game. However, Sudbury belonged to Yannik and not Lieke, so she is expected to lose her power over Sudbury once her daughter comes of age. Gwenelle herself points out that she has to assert herself as an adult and not a child if she wants any respect. |
| 401 | * HappilyAdopted: Bennett and Lieke have been married since Gwenelle was an infant, and she considers Bennett to be her father. |
| 402 | [[/folder]] |
| 403 | |
| 404 | [[folder:Misc. Nobles]] |
| 405 | |
| 406 | Included among the other named nobles in eastern Nova are the younger children of Arisse, most of whom lack any titles, and the ducal family of Kigal, many of whom are her grandchildren through her daughter Charmion. Although they make few onscreen appearances, they have some involvement in certain story branches thanks to their connections to Arisse, and a number of Elodie's marriage candidates are among this group. |
| 407 | ---- |
| 408 | * FreudianExcuse: [[spoiler:Thaddeus is noted to be a violent troublemaker, to the point where Arisse initially refuses to bring him to the castle even though he's betrothed to Elodie. She says that he is a fragile but good child whose behavioral troubles come from something he witnessed as a child -- though she refuses to say it without his permission, a different plot branch reveals that he caught his father raping his half-brother. Arisse killing his father after this may have also compounded Thaddeus's problems.]] |
| 409 | * TheGhost: Most of these characters are not seen onscreen, despite three of them (Linley, Kiran, Thaddeus) being potential husbands for Elodie. Charmion is also never seen, even though she's a full sibling of the more prominent Corisande and Kevan, and [[spoiler:is one of the civil war leaders along with Arisse and Corisande]], and while Severin, the Duke of Kigal, ''does'' have a speaking role and a portrait, it's only shown under certain circumstances and only for one line. |
| 410 | * MamasBabyPapasMaybe: If Elodie and Thaddeus marry, but Elodie carries on a secret affair with Banion. [[spoiler:Elodie gives birth to a blond haired son whom ''everyone'' strongly suspects was fathered by Banion. Thaddeus is probably aware of this, too, but adamantly refuses to acknowledge the rumours and is very protective of the boy, whom he treats as his son no matter what.]] |
| 411 | * MassiveNumberedSiblings: Charmion and Severin have seven children between them, ages ranging from seventeen to six. Charmion herself is part of a large family as well, with two full siblings, four half-siblings, and multiple step-siblings. If Elodie marries Charmion's son Linley, they can end up with four children of their own. |
| 412 | * NiceGuy: This is Elodie's perception of her former schoolmate and potential marriage option Linley, the second son of the Duke of Kigal. The game doesn't provide any evidence to the contrary. |
| 413 | * PaletteSwap: Severin's portrait is a differently-colored, differently-clothed, less morose version of Laurent's. |
| 414 | * PrimalScene: [[spoiler:As a child, Thaddeus walked in on his father Jael raping Kevan. The aftermath of this discovery tore apart much of Arisse's family, and Thaddeus himself is still traumatized from the experience and frequently lashes out at others.]] |
| 415 | * SuddenlySuitableSuitor: Kiran is selectable as an endgame marriage prospect if he succeeded his mother as Duke of Lillah (at which point we learn that Elodie is at least physically attracted to him). What has to happen to bring this about means that it still doesn't go very well. |
| 416 | * YouKilledMyMother: Played with. [[spoiler:If Arisse is executed at the conclusion of the civil war and Elodie proposes to Kiran anyway, he'll politely reject her, emphasizing that he doesn't begrudge her for what happened. However, if Elodie went the stealthier route of assassinating Arisse before she could start a rebellion, Kiran will happily marry her...and then discover documents that link her to Arisse's supposedly natural death. The last mention of Kiran is of him preparing to wage his own civil war against Elodie.]] |
| 417 | [[/folder]] |
| 418 | |
| 419 | !Southern Nova |
| 420 | Maree and Hellas are neighboring duchies led by siblings Banion and Brin, both of whom are single and have no recognized heirs. In recent years, the two provinces have been in disputes with the bordering nation Ixion over the ownership of territories, and matters finally come to a head shortly after Elodie returns to the capital. |
| 421 | ---- |
| 422 | |
| 423 | [[folder:Banion]] |
| 424 | !!!Duke of Maree, Earl of Serenitatis |
| 425 | [[quoteright:268:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4cc6e2aabe80c95a0282f2be5b811161.png]] |
| 426 | |
| 427 | The middle child of his family. When Ixion invades one of his provinces, Banion seeks Elodie's help in resolving the matter. |
| 428 | ---- |
| 429 | * AlliterativeFamily: The siblings Brin, Banion, and Bennett. |
| 430 | * AndNowYouMustMarryMe: If Brin is forced to marry an Ixionite, at the ball, Banion will make remarks suggesting he and Elodie are engaged and invite her to dance. If she doesn't understand the implications and dances with him, she will automatically and begrudgingly accept. If she's already engaged to Talarist, she has the option of sticking with him, but Banion notes that this stains her virtue in the eyes of the nobles. If she understands the implications and dances with him anyway, she can simply tell him that she's the Queen and will do whatever she wants with him, which he is subtly impressed by. |
| 431 | * TheBeard: He becomes this if [[spoiler:Elodie marries him while Brin marries Joslyn; the two women spend much more time with each other than with their respective husbands. Subverted if Brin ''doesn't'' get married to Joslyn, however, as in this scenario Elodie is noted to be close to ''both'' siblings.]] |
| 432 | * DeadGuyJunior: Can potentially happen if Elodie is plain ''[[TooDumbToLive stupid]]'' enough to [[spoiler:execute his sister and then marry him. Shortly after impregnating Elodie with his daughter, he poisons Elodie, and then names the newborn girl Brin after his deceased sister.]] |
| 433 | * EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: He might be a conniving and power-hungry noble, but his attempted assassination and coup against Elodie is more rooted in avenging his sister, whom Elodie can disinherit, force to marry into a family in an enemy country, or even outright execute. |
| 434 | * GoldDigger: It's noted that Banion has been waiting for years for a powerful noblewoman to accept his courtship. While he's content enough to settle for a Duchess, he'll also take any opportunity he can to become betrothed to Elodie, up to and including pressuring her into a marriage by pretending they're having an affair, or by claiming she's unfit to rule and should give the crown to her husband (and, as the only Duke who is single, unrelated, and of-age, of ''course'' that duty falls to him). If Elodie marries him without either asserting her authority or tempering the marriage with [[spoiler:Brin]], she's said to constantly struggle with Banion's own political agendas. |
| 435 | * GracefulLoser: He'll acknowledge whenever Elodie beats him in a verbal spar and doesn't resist his impending doom if you order his execution after his plot to dethrone her fails. |
| 436 | * IncompatibleOrientation: In the past, Banion attempted to court Julianna but was rejected. The same passage that reveals this also suggests she was more interested in his sister, something that Brin herself can confirm later. |
| 437 | * OffWithHisHead: Elodie can order his execution if he insults her at the grand ball; Banion will be able to talk himself out of it if Elodie isn't a skilled speaker and is unpopular with the rest of the nobility, but if not, he will be executed. His death can also be ordered if Elodie faced an assassin the previous week -- even if the clues point to another duchy being behind the assassin. |
| 438 | * SiblingTriangle: |
| 439 | ** He tried and failed to pursue a romance with Julianna, who ended up dating his sister Brin for a while, with him completely unaware. |
| 440 | ** Subverted with Elodie should [[spoiler:Brin strongly encourage a marriage between her and Banion. While it's noted that Elodie spends a lot of time with Brin, she appears to also be close with Banion, giving it more of the impression of a polyamorous trio than a love triangle, especially if Brin adopts Banion's son from before his marriage. Elodie's not quite as close to Banion if Brin marries Joslyn, but both couples raise their children together.]] |
| 441 | * SmugSnake: He really is full of himself when he tries to turn the nobility against Elodie, which only makes him look all the more pathetic should the princess outwit him. Even the vote of no confidence that he calls can be surprisingly hard to lose, which makes his power play appear even less thought out. |
| 442 | * StrongFamilyResemblance: |
| 443 | ** With his brother Bennett, to the point where they can easily be mistaken for identical twins. The only physical difference is that Bennett's eye color is blue-purple and Banion's is a neutral blue. |
| 444 | ** If Elodie marries Thaddeus, but chooses to carry on an affair with Banion, [[spoiler:she gives birth to a son who ''very'' strongly resembles him.]] |
| 445 | * WomanScorned: Gender-inverted. If his engagement with Elodie is broken off and she doesn't find a way to appease him, [[spoiler:Banion will spread rumors that Elodie is cheating on Thaddeus with other noblemen. This will usually lead to irreversible damage to his trust and the end of their marriage, after which Banion swoops in to marry the still-heirless Elodie even though she rightfully suspects he's behind the rumors. If his letter was given to Arisse, though, she'll expose him as the source of the rumors and make him a laughingstock among the nobility.]] |
| 446 | [[/folder]] |
| 447 | |
| 448 | [[folder:Brin]] |
| 449 | !!!Duchess of Hellas, Countess of Dysnomia |
| 450 | [[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fd8d6db86bb8b1a2a514ed4930744190.png]] |
| 451 | |
| 452 | The eldest sibling of her family, Brin accompanies Banion to the meeting with Ixion's diplomat. A bit of digging reveals that she was the one who instigated the incidents with Ixion. |
| 453 | ---- |
| 454 | * AgeGapRomance: [[spoiler:Elodie can successfully initiate an intimate relationship with this woman, who is ''more than twice her age''. Brin will make sure if the flirtation was intentional, and if it was, the relationship can well prove long-lasting - which is what Brin wants to have, as all her previous girlfriends ultimately left her. Unlike other adult suitors, Brin is in it for the girl, not for her title, although there is one ending where she ends up Queen Consort too.]] |
| 455 | * AlliterativeFamily: The siblings Brin, Banion, and Bennett. |
| 456 | * ArrangedMarriage: If Elodie figures out that Brin tried to take over Ixion territory, she can offer a truce by forcing Brin to marry an Ixionite lord and give him an heir. [[spoiler:Subverted if Elodie also knows that Brin is gay, as she'll then pull her aside and suggest that she divorce him after she has their child; indeed, if Brin becomes relevant in the epilogue, it'll be noted that she broke off the marriage as soon as she could, though she maintained a cordial relationship with her ex-husband on Elodie's orders.]] |
| 457 | * TheBeard: A possibility. [[spoiler:Both she and Joslyn need heirs, but he's uninterested in remarrying, and she's gay. They can end up married to each other, with Brin spending more time with Elodie (who herself has married Banion only to get closer to Brin) than with Joslyn.]] |
| 458 | * DeadGuyJunior: [[spoiler:If Elodie executes Brin and proposes marriage to Banion anyway, he'll name their daughter after his sister.]] |
| 459 | * FlowerMotifs: If Elodie dances with her, she'll send her a bouquet of flowers that symbolize a secret love. Brin also wears a flower as an accessory. |
| 460 | * GayOption: The most prominent of Elodie's possible female lovers, with more than one epilogue that can be gained with her depending on if either of them marry someone else. [[spoiler:Under very specific circumstances, they can even get married to each other.]] |
| 461 | %%* LipstickLesbian |
| 462 | * MandatoryMotherhood: One of her problems is that she's gay, but her position requires her to have an heir to her position - and unlike Julianna, she isn't able to refuse point-blank if the Queen insists. [[spoiler: That said, bringing this up is one way to defuse Brin's animosity toward being forced into an ArrangedMarriage to stop a war - because she does have to have an heir, having a foreign husband means that there won't be as much fallout if she decides to trash him once the requisite baby has been made.]] |
| 463 | * MarryForLove: [[spoiler:If Elodie is unable to have children and is interested in Brin, she'll see no point in a political marriage and marry Brin instead.]] |
| 464 | * {{Nephewism}}: [[spoiler:If Brin has no husband, she'll adopt Banion's son from one of his earlier relationships as her heir.]] |
| 465 | * OffWithHerHead: One of the other possible punishments Brin can face if her involvement with Ixion is discovered. |
| 466 | * OlderThanTheyLook: Even given the art style, she has hair decs, much larger eyes than her brothers, and spaghetti straps on her dress. She's thirty-three. |
| 467 | * SuddenlySuitableSuitor: [[spoiler:Downplayed, as in most scenarios Brin can start a lifelong relationship with Elodie, but they can't marry, and Elodie finds a surrogate father to produce a royal heir. However, if Elodie finds herself unable to have children, then she'll decide there's no reason in trying to find a male spouse for political reasons and instead outright marries Brin.]] |
| 468 | |
| 469 | [[/folder]] |
| 470 | |
| 471 | !Other Nobles |
| 472 | Throughout the game, Elodie encounters a few other members of nobility -- some who own only minor lands and titles, and others who are important figures hailing from other countries. |
| 473 | ---- |
| 474 | |
| 475 | [[folder:Sirin]] |
| 476 | !!!Countess of Miranda and Callisto |
| 477 | [[quoteright:232:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2b110c0f898cb74cd89d73191e9bf158.png]] |
| 478 | |
| 479 | A minor Novan noble who is attempting to court Joslyn. |
| 480 | ---- |
| 481 | * GoldDigger: Elodie can accuse her of being this, based on how much she has to gain by courting Joslyn; while it's not clear how much truth is in this, Sirin quickly shrinks back and leaves the room, and she apparently doesn't return to Joslyn. |
| 482 | * ParentWithNewParamour: Elodie encounters Sirin about halfway through the game and is ''absolutely livid'' at the idea of someone trying to date her father, partly because she believes suitors are just trying to gain status through him and partly because she doesn't want anyone to replace her mother. If Elodie has put the pressure of marriage onto the nobility and doesn't successfully scare off Sirin, and if Joslyn isn't involved in any other event, he'll end up marrying her, though no further comment is given by Elodie. |
| 483 | * RomancingTheWidow: Or Widower, in this case. Joslyn is fairly resistant to the idea of remarrying, but Sirin makes an attempt to court him anyway. Depending on just how much urgency there is for him to secure an heir, this might actually lead into a marriage. |
| 484 | * SlutShaming: If Elodie attempts to insult her with false flattery but blows a flattery check, she tries to insinuate Sirin is a whore. [[InsultBackfire It backfires rather magnificently.]] |
| 485 | -->'''Elodie:''' My, what large breasts you have. Putting them on display for any particular reason?\ |
| 486 | '''Sirin:''' Really, my dear, it's not polite to comment on a lady's attributes like that. [[ACupAngst But you are young. You will... grow.]]\ |
| 487 | '''Elodie:''' Ooo! |
| 488 | [[/folder]] |
| 489 | |
| 490 | [[folder:Talarist]] |
| 491 | !!!Duke of Sedna |
| 492 | [[quoteright:245:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/9561a0324bbff303ca34a6bb9b059be7.png]] |
| 493 | |
| 494 | A duke from the neighboring kingdom Talasse. He sends Elodie a gift early in the game, intending to court or even marry her. |
| 495 | ---- |
| 496 | * AdultsAreUseless: Averted. If you're engaged to him and invite him to the Grand Ball, he's extremely helpful in navigating the dangers of the dance floor, in particular [[spoiler: Banion's games]]. |
| 497 | * ArrangedMarriage: Aside from him trying to arrange his own marriage to Elodie, [[spoiler:Elodie can arrange ''another'' marriage for him: if Adair is killed and Elodie does not pick his successor in-game, the epilogue tells how she raised a promising young administrator to the rank of duchess and married her to Talarist, legally next in line to inherit Elath, to both end the succession dispute and keep the duchy of Elath out of the direct control of a foreigner.]] |
| 498 | * TheBadGuyWins: Depending on your decisions, it's possible for him to become an antagonist to Elodie and get everything he wants. [[spoiler:If you don't betrothe yourself to him, send Adair to his grandfather, and name him the Duke of Elath, he is strongly implied to have assassinated a twelve-year-old child and been rewarded for it with the duchy he wants.]] |
| 499 | * DotingParent: If he and Elodie become parents after waiting to get married, the narrative describes him as never tiring of buying presents for his little girls. |
| 500 | * FirstGuyWins: He is the first potential marriage candidate Elodie meets, and he can win Elodie if she accepts his courtship in Week 12 or chooses him in Week 39. He's actually a pretty useful guy to have around as your fiancé, as he can bail you out of troublesome encounters with Ixion, Banion, and [[spoiler:the remnants of Togami's army]]. |
| 501 | * GoldDigger: He's more subtle about his intentions than Banion, but he approaches Elodie for the sake of becoming King-Consort of Nova. Later updates hint more at this if he and Elodie marry right after her coronation and WordOfGod [[http://steamcommunity.com/app/251990/discussions/0/648814844821751391/#c648814844828315320 outright confirms it]]. |
| 502 | * MyBiologicalClockIsTicking: [[spoiler:If he and Elodie wait to marry but she ''cannot'' have children, he eventually asks her for a divorce, "pleading his desire for a family." It's not stated whether said desire is purely personal, political, or some combination of the two.]] |
| 503 | * PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: [[spoiler:If Elodie chooses to marry him at the end of the game or postpone their wedding (while Adair is alive and Elodie can have children), this seems to be the case for the two. There's no mention of anything being wrong in their marriage, and the epilogue overall paints a happy picture of the family they raise together.]] |
| 504 | * RightfulKingReturns: Talarist, at least, is under the impression of this if he [[spoiler:invades Elath after a Novan is named the new Duke after Adair's assassination, claiming that Elath is his birthright]]. While Talarist's ancestors ''are'' of Elath blood and may have been cheated out of their duchy (the Elath-Sedna heir died in suspicious circumstances and the title passed to a distant but full-Novan relative instead of the late heir's sibling), his actions against Nova are treated as a problem, one that Elodie has to address. |
| 505 | * SettleForSibling: If Elodie tries to propose to Talarist after rudely rejecting him, he'll mock her lack of manners in front of the Talassian court and even recite the poem about the squid if he's gotten his hands on it. Elodie then proceeds to marry his younger brother Signuel, elevating him above Talarist. |
| 506 | * WomanScorned: Gender-inverted. [[spoiler:Dumping him for Thaddeus gets Elodie an anonymous threatening letter in the mail. Dumping him (publicly) for Banion upsets him to the point where his king writes Elodie suggesting that she pay Talarist a tribute to calm him down. If Elodie chooses not to appease him (or made it seem like she intended to go through with the marriage by inviting him to the traditionally Novan gala), he'll use the insult as justification to invade Elath in the epilogue.]] Subverted in that Elodie can accept his gift and then turn him down, and he'll be perfectly fine with her answer. [[spoiler:That is, assuming Elodie was polite in turning him down or didn't use his gift to bluff an alliance between them that didn't yet exist...]] |
| 507 | * WouldHurtAChild: [[spoiler:Twelve-year-old Adair is assassinated if Elodie doesn't put him with someone who can protect him, and it's strongly implied he's the culprit. While he tries to claim that he WouldntHurtAChild if directly questioned, there's overwhelming circumstantial evidence showing how much he stands to gain from Adair's death. It also doesn't help his case that this assassination doesn't happen if Talarist is engaged to Elodie.]] |
| 508 | [[/folder]] |
| 509 | |
| 510 | [[folder:Togami]] |
| 511 | !!!King of Shanjia |
| 512 | [[quoteright:261:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4a21437053aa91d4cb0b82623c6254fa.png]] |
| 513 | |
| 514 | The king of a country across the sea from Nova. |
| 515 | ---- |
| 516 | * TheBadGuyWins: If you play poorly enough, it's possible that Elodie will have to put everything she has and [[spoiler:watch her father die in front of her]], just to merely ''survive'' her encounter with Togami. [[spoiler:He gets Caloris' Lumen crystal, the Novan military gets practically annihilated, and Western Nova is highly likely to suffer RapePillageAndBurn by his army.]] [[spoiler:And this is before taking into account the possibility of Elodie ''joining'' him...]] |
| 517 | * BigBad: [[spoiler:Togami is one of the major villains of the game and the one that Elodie absolutely has to confront in some way at the end, even if through a naval battle. He's also responsible for the main plot of the game coming into place as he killed Fidelia then intends to kill Elodie in a formal duel so he can steal her Lumen crystal.]] |
| 518 | * EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: [[spoiler:Junko loves him very, very, much. Something she'll make grotesquely clear to Elodie if her husband is killed on Novan soil. As for Togami, he too cares deeply for his wife and children, and if Elodie can remind him of how important they are to him, she can bring the war to a peaceful conclusion.]] |
| 519 | * HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:If Elodie is both a skilled musician and strong speaker, she can convince Togami that there is no reason to keep conquering other nations and keep accumulating power, and he makes peace with her. The epilogue notes that Shanjia's expansionist policy comes to an end after this.]] |
| 520 | * HoistByHisOwnPetard: Possible. [[spoiler:His plan was to kill Fidelia, wait for Elodie to inherit the royal crystal, and then kill ''her'' next in a formal Lumen duel. It's very possible that Elodie is not nearly as inexperienced as he expects her to be and has enough skill and cunning to defeat his invasion fleet before they even reach Nova soil, beat him in a fight, or even kill him with an earthquake.]] |
| 521 | * IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten: [[spoiler:If you have Elodie offer to give her power to him, he will consider it on the condition that she kill her beloved father. If she does so, then he gladly takes her on as his minion]] |
| 522 | * KarmaHoudini: |
| 523 | ** [[spoiler:Prior to any encounter with him, Togami is responsible for the violent invasion and occupations of various countries (Nova included) and the death of Queen Fidelia. It's possible for him to get away with not just that, but also with killing Joslyn (with or without Elodie's blessing) and leaving with increased magical power. Even being able to talk him into a HeelFaceTurn doesn't quite make up for everything he's done these past years, and Elodie never learns that he had killed her mother.]] |
| 524 | ** Downplayed if [[spoiler: Elodie managed to destroy his fleet in naval battle, then the Prisoners of War got either conscripted or executed, with only the higher ranked ones got ransomed. Although he somehow managed to survive his fleet's sinking and plotting for second invasion attempt, it heavily strained Shanjia's treasury and resources, so he will have to deal with internal tensions and possible insurrection. It will take quite a long time for Shanjia to be able to threaten Nova again]]. |
| 525 | * MistakenForCheating: [[spoiler:If Elodie gives her power to him and follows him back to Shanjia, Junko regards her with high suspicion due to her being unattached, attractive, and clearly not at all worried about morality. This is addressed very quickly however, and Togami sends Elodie away to the edge of Shanjia so that he can monitor her from afar without the appearance of infidelity.]] |
| 526 | * RagsToRiches: Togami was a [[spoiler:court musician]] that Junko took in as her consort before writing laws that allowed him and their children to have claim to the throne. |
| 527 | * RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: He wears a black coat and crown,has red eyes and red jewels in his crown, and [[spoiler:he's the most dangerous antagonist in the game]]. |
| 528 | * RedEyesTakeWarning: [[spoiler:While there's one other character with red eyes, they're vastly outnumbered by all the other eye colors, and Togami is one of the main antagonists in the game.]] |
| 529 | * ShoutOut: [[VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc His name is Togami, and his wife is named Junko.]] |
| 530 | * SorcerousOverlord: [[spoiler:He's currently the true power behind Shanjia, which lately has been expanding its empire by invading smaller nations. He's not above killing the members of another country's royal family if it means taking their royal Lumen crystal away from them for his own purposes, and it's implied that his next plan after this is to invade a country rumored to have numerous Lumen shamans.]] |
| 531 | * SquishyWizard: [[spoiler:His one weakness is his lack of skill in ''physical'' combat, which can cost him his life at Elodie's hands if [[MagicKnight she isn't so limited in that particular field]]]]. |
| 532 | * WalkingSpoiler: It's difficult to discuss anything about him without spoiling some major plot points. |
| 533 | * WhiteHairBlackHeart: [[spoiler:His heart isn't dark enough to shut out any chance of redemption, but most of the time, he's perfectly willing to conquer and murder to get what he wants.]] |
| 534 | * WouldHurtAChild: [[spoiler:His whole plan hinges on the idea that Elodie is not just a child, but a ''weak'' child who is totally unprepared to duel with him; if she wins their duel, he'll be able to take and use her Lumen crystal. Even if he's tricked into taking Joslyn's crystal, Togami will still go out of his way to kill Elodie (who, as far as he knows, poses no threat or importance to him anymore) if she charges him for ''gloating about killing her parents''.]] |
| 535 | [[/folder]] |
| 536 | |
| 537 | !Other Characters |
| 538 | Elodie encounters several other recurring characters throughout the game, even though said individuals are commoners or otherwise lack any known link to nobility. |
| 539 | ---- |
| 540 | |
| 541 | [[folder:Alice]] |
| 542 | [[quoteright:234:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/a1b254c97c2b3ee8a19f1bd3d72e2143.png]] |
| 543 | |
| 544 | A baker's daughter who works as a maid in the castle. She frequently delivers messages and items that have been sent to Elodie. |
| 545 | ---- |
| 546 | * AscendedExtra: In the demo version, Alice lacks a portrait and a name and is treated as a generic maid. In the full game, she's given an identity and [[spoiler:some epilogue scenes with a cruel Elodie]]. |
| 547 | * ButtMonkey: Elodie can humiliate Alice in front of an entire ballroom of nobles, intimidate her into accepting a noble's gift, or flog her simply for bumping into Elodie in a hall. At its worst, either [[spoiler:Alice ends up becoming what appears to be a SexSlave to Elodie]] or [[spoiler:her family flees the capital to stay away from Elodie, and Alice is interrogated and flogged before she can join their escape]]. |
| 548 | * GayOption: She's one of the women Elodie can have a relationship with. (The term "relationship" is used loosely when considering that this seems to be built on Elodie harassing and intimidating Alice until something comes of it.) |
| 549 | * MoralityPet: It's entirely possible to be a cruel, evil queen while still being friendly and respectful to her. |
| 550 | * ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler:If a cruel Elodie pursues her brother Evrard, he and the rest of the family moves out of the capital. Alice is left behind and is violently interrogated about their whereabouts, but she later disappears, presumably joining her family in refuge.]] |
| 551 | * SexSlave: Implied to become this in one of the epilogues. [[spoiler:An Elodie who's been cruel to everyone and especially Alice might indulge in multiple relationships throughout her reign. Her longest-lasting one is mentioned to be with Alice, who is given gifts of clothes and jewelry by Elodie but is forced to always wear a jewelled collar. The relationship is almost certainly coerced, thanks to the inherent power imbalance and Elodie's intimidating nature, especially given the personal ways she harasses Alice to unlock this epilogue.]] |
| 552 | [[/folder]] |
| 553 | |
| 554 | [[folder:Selene]] |
| 555 | !!!Priestess of the Second Circle |
| 556 | [[quoteright:236:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d6dc2dbc23eb210fb35033bf24f61025.png]] |
| 557 | |
| 558 | A priestess who works in the palace's sacred grove. She is one of Elodie's Faith tutors, as well as a potential Lumen tutor. |
| 559 | ---- |
| 560 | * BrutalHonesty: Unlike Julianna, she treats Elodie like an adult and a Queen, which means that she doesn't sugarcoat the situation when she says that it's time to ShootTheDog. |
| 561 | * CourtMage: If Julianna is sent back to Ursul, Selene attempts to teach Elodie herself and become this. However, Selene is not open about her Lumen status to anyone else, to the point where people doubt that she even has connections to Julianna. |
| 562 | * GoodIsNotNice: She has the good of the kingdom in mind, but despite being a priestess, she can be quite ruthless about how she deals with potential problems. The treasury guards and the wife-strangler can find themselves being forcefully drowned by Selene. |
| 563 | * LipstickLesbian: A feminine priestess and lover of Duchess Julianna. |
| 564 | * MakingASplash: Her magical affinity is with seawater. Selene's divination methods involve bowls of water, and she is useful for tracking something in the ocean. |
| 565 | * MarryForLove: [[spoiler:If Lumens become accepted in society, Selene will be open not just about her powers, but about her relationship with Julianna. With Elodie's encouragement, she marries Julianna and goes with her to Ursul, even though this means she must leave the priesthood.]] |
| 566 | * SailorSenshiSendUp: An expy of [[Franchise/SailorMoon Sailor Neptune]]. She has powers related to divination and the ocean, and is the more feminine counterpart to Julianna (who is an expy of Sailor Uranus). If Julianna is around, Selene will fade into the background and become a SatelliteLoveInterest as well. |
| 567 | * SilkHidingSteel: The admittedly biased Brin derides her as a "meek little temple novice," and her portrait is considerably more placid and feminine than Julianna's, but she's quite blunt when the time comes to ShootTheDog. |
| 568 | * {{Tritagonist}}: One of two candidates for the title of tertiary main character, along with Julianna. If you choose to send Julianna away and then recruit Selene as your Lumen mentor, she instructs you in the ways of magic and offers magical solutions to many of the problems you encounter. |
| 569 | [[/folder]] |
| 570 | |
| 571 | [[folder:Evrard]] |
| 572 | [[quoteright:279:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/e07efb59794ba0434fe9b77eac534757.png]] |
| 573 | |
| 574 | A young man that Elodie might find sneaking onto castle grounds throughout the game. |
| 575 | ---- |
| 576 | * FlorenceNightingaleEffect: [[spoiler:If Evrard becomes the Royal Food Taster and Elodie has low approval, someone will poison her food in the epilogue. Evrard gets sick from the taste test and Elodie nurses him back to health, opening a way for them to start a romance even in an unstable Nova.]] |
| 577 | * MarryForLove: [[spoiler:As Evrard is a commoner, Elodie has little to gain and a lot to lose by marrying him, and yet if she continues her friendship with him, it can blossom into love. Elodie will only be able to act on these feelings and marry Evrard under certain circumstances, though.]] |
| 578 | * RagsToRoyalty: If you do everything right, [[spoiler:it's possible for Evrard to go from a baseborn baker to the King-Consort of Nova]]. |
| 579 | * SecretCharacter: Despite (or perhaps because of) how few appearances he has in the game and how dependent they are on passing just the right checks on previous encounters, most of the information that can be gotten about him requires very specific skills and decisions. Most players likely won't even know he exists. |
| 580 | * ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler:If a cruel Elodie tries to pursue him, she'll learn that he and his family have relocated, presumably to escape any sort of direct or indirect violence.]] |
| 581 | * ThroughHerStomach: If they've had previously good encounters, Evrard will offer Elodie a basket of blueberry cookies. She can accept these to continue their friendship, although whether or not she makes him eat a cookie first to test for poison will affect the direction this goes in. [[spoiler:And if she tries to court him just to find out he fled the capital due to her cruelty, she'll marry someone else and forbid her children from ever eating blueberry cookies.]] |
| 582 | * UptownGirl: Elodie is able to fall in love with and get married to Evrard. [[spoiler:However, under most circumstances, she is pressured into marrying a noble instead to ensure the stability of Nova and can only look wistfully upon her attraction. Being able to marry Evrard requires no outstanding problems in Nova so that Elodie has the confidence to indulge and follow her heart -- or for the situation to be bad enough that Evrard ends up eating poison meant for Elodie.]] |
| 583 | [[/folder]] |
| 584 | |
| 585 | [[folder:Sabine]] |
| 586 | [[quoteright:245:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d551d6b76e72a5b13044ad46cf1421d1.png]] |
| 587 | |
| 588 | A musician who approaches Elodie with the intention of being accepted into her court. |
| 589 | ---- |
| 590 | * AscendedExtra: Downplayed. Originally, Sabine was a nameless character who merely helped progress certain events. Late updates to the script gave her a name and a face, as well as a new subquest with her and some weekend activities, one of which expands on her own wishes. But she doesn't deviate far from her earlier incarnation and doesn't get as much new depth as, say Adair (who was in a similar situation as her but got significant characterization from his added scenes). |
| 591 | * TheBard: Sabine is a minstrel who hopes that Elodie will hire her. [[spoiler:Sabine is actually a merely average musician, but she can still entertain untrained ears, boosting morale for the citizens even if Elodie doesn't recognize her espionage skills. If Elodie wins the music tournament, Sabine reveals she has a genuine interest in improving her music abilities and asks if they can practice together.]] |
| 592 | * CassandraTruth: In Week 37, she can inform you that [[spoiler:your aunt Lucille is the one who orchestrated several assassination attempts against you. Elodie can refuse to believe her and have her imprisoned or executed.]] |
| 593 | * GayOption: Elodie can suggest it, but Sabine turns her down flat. |
| 594 | * HiddenDepths: Discovering much of Sabine's role requires scratching away the surface with the appropriate skills. |
| 595 | * OffWithHerHead: [[spoiler:If Elodie decides that Sabine is lying when she reports that Lucille is trying to kill her, she has the option of sending her to the chopping block.]] |
| 596 | * SpySpeak: Elodie has to know how to use this in order to [[spoiler:ascertain that Sabine is skilled in espionage and hire her to spy on people. The pair speak in metaphors as Elodie tests Sabine, ending with Sabine saying that she knows how to juggle dangers.]] |
| 597 | * WanderingMinstrel: Implied to be what she is before becoming a bard in Nova. [[spoiler:Traveling to other locations ''does'' give her freedom to collect and deliver information.]] |
| 598 | [[/folder]] |
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