FE Villain Headcanons

[Silver-Haired Maiden]

I know a major thing to any form of media is a good villain. FE has had its share of good villains and... not so good villains.

The addition of Grima to Heroes got me wondering - since there's a lot unknown about the villains in FE what are your ideas or headcanons about them? If not that, what do you want to see from the villains? How would you improve them, if you would at all?

[omegaxis1]

Validar

Based on how I depict the Grimleal Religion here:

And how close the religion ended up following Heroes Grima (I cannot believe that I was actually right), here's how I think my headcanon for Validar goes.

Validar was actually a good kid. Someone that had a good heart. However, as per the religion, the child that will end up being the new leader is taught the cruelties of mankind by their parent. They see murder, pillaging, slaughter, anything that destroys their childhood innocence. Slowly, little by little, Validar becomes warped and begins to lose hope for humanity.

However, his father cements Validar's despair by fighting Validar to the death when Validar was just the age of 10-12. He invokes Validar's inner demons, his anger, hatred, fear, all of that, to make Validar strike his father down. And after he realizes that he murdered his father, and his father leave him behind the words that this pain that Validar feels, this cruelty he was subjugated to, it was all because of fate being altered, and because Grima was stopped a thousand years back, humanity and them have to suffer for it.

This ultimately drives Validar insane, and he ultimately believes that the world's destiny is for huanity to be exterminated and Grima to be revived, so that the world can start over again.

This will be part of my fic that is about Robin's mother.

[Jingle Jangle]

• Manfroy read the script of Fe4, that's how he know events ahead of time.
• Zelgius is a different character in Radiant Dawn after the castle fell on him all the warp power affected his mind.
• Fe4 is a play, that's why the same faced bosses appear throughout the game.
• Ishtar being a nice person is propaganda in Fe4.
• Ashera doesn't want Beorc and Laguz to intermingle because she played Sonic 06.
• Rudolf believes that complex plans that span years will always work.

[Zepler]

I hope I don't get docked for spoilers... but here is my favorite pros and cons on FE Villians.

• Grima is interesting, but defiantly, needed more of a background and plot in Awakening.  He pretty much was mentioned, but appeared out of nowhere. 
• PoR, RD and SS have a final boss that isn't a dragon, and I give kudos for that. (If i'm correct, somebody may have to verify that for me.)
• Zephial's backstory helped strengthen his plans and motives. Most FE Villains don't have that. *cough* Ganon *cough* And I'm pretty sure Zephial took more action in fighting and such... instead of just barking orders and screaming. (Somebody might have to verify this too.)
• The multiple villains in SoV. It felt like everything built up to the final boss, which was nice. Berkut's story fit pretty much like a glove with the rest of the story line, even with the remake odds stacked against him. Fernand did feel underwhelmed. Celica's arc did lack more notable villains...

 

• Ganon needed at least A side-story, back story, SOMETHING. We know he is dark, ruthless and evil, but it just... happened. Nothing really built up to that. We honestly didn't need the Laslow, Severa and Odin backstory arc... I think it would be better if the DLC was focused on the events leading up to Ganon's madness and such. (The War before the main chapter. Lots of video games do that, so why couldn't Fates?)(Same with the Revalations final boss...)
• The Black Fangs seemed interesting... I've never played The Binding/Blazing series. I can't say for myself, but from my view... I think they are just like the Pirates in SD and Walhart's Empire in Awakening. But I need to do my research on that.

[Etrurian emperor]

With how he has at least three daughters despite his advanced age we can safely believe in the headcanon that Jedah is considered VERY sexually appealing to the female members of the Duma cult. 

[The Roger The Paladin]

27 minutes ago, Etrurian emperor said:

With how he has at least three daughters despite his advanced age we can safely believe in the headcanon that Jedah is considered VERY sexually appealing to the female members of the Duma cult. 

Either that or he's like some other cult leaders I can think of. *cough* Jim Jones *cough*.
Pardon, I have a chest infection.
 

9 hours ago, Jingle Jangle said:

• Manfroy read the script of Fe4, that's how he know events ahead of time.
• Zelgius is a different character in Radiant Dawn after the castle fell on him all the warp power affected his mind.
• Fe4 is a play, that's why the same faced bosses appear throughout the game.
• Ishtar being a nice person is propaganda in Fe4.
• Ashera doesn't want Beorc and Laguz to intermingle because she played Sonic 06.
• Rudolf believes that complex plans that span years will always work.

The Ashera one killed me.
My one, is the Fire Dragon at the end of Fire Emblem Blazing Blade is just pissed off there were no manaketes in the game (well, none that you could have transform).
Also Validar is actually just a really big Aladdin fan and modelled himself after Jaffar (not the assassin).
Finally, the reason Lyon was so desperate to resurrect his father was to avoid "Lyon King" jokes the moment he ascended the throne.

[Silver-Haired Maiden]

These are all really fun :)

If Validar had that backstory I might like him a lot more than just the "mwa ha ha!" villain that he currently seems to be.

There are so many different directions to go with villains that don't seem to be done. Most of the time it seems that they're evil for evil's sake.

3 hours ago, Mad-manakete said:

Either that or he's like some other cult leaders I can think of. *cough* Jim Jones *cough*.
Pardon, I have a chest infection.
 

The Ashera one killed me.
My one, is the Fire Dragon at the end of Fire Emblem Blazing Blade is just pissed off there were no manaketes in the game (well, none that you could have transform).
Also Validar is actually just a really big Aladdin fan and modelled himself after Jaffar (not the assassin).
Finally, the reason Lyon was so desperate to resurrect his father was to avoid "Lyon King" jokes the moment he ascended the throne.

Lyon King is probably the funniest thing I've heard all day so thank you for that xD

[omegaxis1]

1 hour ago, Silver-Haired Maiden said:

If Validar had that backstory I might like him a lot more than just the "mwa ha ha!" villain that he currently seems to be.

Once I get the fic done, I'll show you to it so you can give it a read. XP

[Silver-Haired Maiden]

1 hour ago, omegaxis1 said:

Once I get the fic done, I'll show you to it so you can give it a read. XP

I would like that! :)

I can't really say I have any funny headcanons myself but I have one.

Ashunera visits the heroes from RD without them knowing it from time to time. Keeping an eye on them, seeing if they're happy. She also watches over Ike on his journey.

Sephiran works as a go between for the different nations now, hoping to ensure another massacre like the Serenes Forest one never happens again.

[omegaxis1]

10 minutes ago, Silver-Haired Maiden said:

I would like that! :)

You should see the new thread I recently posted up here. Being about Grima and the Fellbloodline. 

Oh, got another headcanon for a villain: Garon.

Garon was as he was depicted, a kind and righteous man, but was too much of a ladies man and could not help but bring consorts in. However, as the concubine wars kept going, the loss of his children and the feud slowly began to warp Garon's mind, and he finally had enough, and executed or threatened execution to his consorts if they tried anything like that again. 

[Jotari]

*Medeus (and Mannu) were present at the Miracle of Darna. Because why not? They're big deals in dragon society.

*Manfroy's incompetence in the second gen is due to senility.

*Someone beat me to it, but the Duna Cult produces some damn effective Viagra.

*Rudolf didn't actually have any plan in Echoes. He originally planned on sealing Duma himself, but when Mila sealed Falchion he was shit out of options and just sulked in his castle. Only when. Alm was near his front door and he realised who he was, did he decide to give destiny a chance.

*The fire dragons in FE7 were pacifist refugees, just like Ninian and Nils. They only fought in self defense after the racist crusaders Braimmond and Athos convinced the heroes they were dangerous (or Imin regards to the first one, only fought in self defense when Nergal started stealing it's life force). 

[Etrurian emperor]

A headcannon I've been mulling over to make the Black knight work as a villain again is that the Black knight isn't a disguise worn by Zelgius but that Zelgius is the disguise of the black knight. The honorable soldier who would rather avoid taking a life is just a front while the battle obsessed sociopath who murders people just to find out if he can is who Zelgius actually is. He tends to disregard most statements made by Zelgius when the black knight has personal stakes in the matter.

Edited February 28, 2018 by Etrurian emperor

[indigoasis]

13 minutes ago, Etrurian emperor said:

A headcannon I've been mulling over to make the Black knight work as a villain again is that the Black knight isn't a disguise worn by Zelgius but that Zelgius is the disguise of the black knight. The honorable soldier who would rather avoid taking a life is just a front while the battle obsessed sociopath who murders people just to find out if he can is who Zelgius actually is. He tends to disregard most statements made by Zelgius when the black knight has personal stakes in the matter.

I actually really like that. It sounds great.

As for me, my favorite villain is Arvis (is he really a bad guy, though?), so I have my thoughts about him. So as I'm sure we all know by now, 

Spoiler

Arvis completely cooked Sigurd's army (pun intended), but something seems off. I know in a prototype story for the game, Azelle was planned to have survived the Battle of Belhalla. So my headcanon is that Arvis had most everyone else killed off, except Azelle, as that's his half brother who he loves dearly (he said so himself), and keeps Azelle in hiding somewhere, keeping him safe. As to where, we have no clue, but I would assume Velthomer or something.

 

[DragonFlames]

12 minutes ago, Etrurian emperor said:

A headcannon I've been mulling over to make the Black knight work as a villain again is that the Black knight isn't a disguise worn by Zelgius but that Zelgius is the disguise of the black knight. The honorable soldier who would rather avoid taking a life is just a front while the battle obsessed sociopath who murders people just to find out if he can is who Zelgius actually is. He tends to disregard most statements made by Zelgius when the black knight has personal stakes in the matter.

Ooh, this one is REALLY good. I like it!

Here's a few of mine:

• The real King Garon was killed by Iago to allow Anankos to possess / replace him. Iago is not actually King Garon's retainer or Nohr's military strategist, but a minion of Anankos'.
• Gharnef actually co-founded the Duma Faithful with Jedah and planned to prepare for the arrival of his master by supporting Medeus in wrecking Akaneia and then dispatch him so Duma can take over the continent unopposed, hence why he looks like he does.
• Jedah himself went insane after two of his daughters died of an unknown illness. Duma revived their bodies in exchange for Jedah's eternal loyalty.
• The creation of Grima was a last ditch effort by Forneus to kill both Medeus and Duma once and for all. But the alchemist lost sight of his original goal and fell victim to the temptation of ultimate power.
• Berkut is actually John Travolta, which is why girls fall for him if he dances with them

[Jotari]

36 minutes ago, Etrurian emperor said:

A headcannon I've been mulling over to make the Black knight work as a villain again is that the Black knight isn't a disguise worn by Zelgius but that Zelgius is the disguise of the black knight. The honorable soldier who would rather avoid taking a life is just a front while the battle obsessed sociopath who murders people just to find out if he can is who Zelgius actually is. He tends to disregard most statements made by Zelgius when the black knight has personal stakes in the matter.

This holds a lot of credence, considering the black Knight persona is who he chooses to confront the heroes with in the tower despite working with Levail and Begnion troops.

[omegaxis1]

53 minutes ago, Etrurian emperor said:

A headcannon I've been mulling over to make the Black knight work as a villain again is that the Black knight isn't a disguise worn by Zelgius but that Zelgius is the disguise of the black knight. The honorable soldier who would rather avoid taking a life is just a front while the battle obsessed sociopath who murders people just to find out if he can is who Zelgius actually is. He tends to disregard most statements made by Zelgius when the black knight has personal stakes in the matter.

I feel that makes a lot of sense. Hell, when Zelgius took off the Black Knight mask and confronted Ike, he was talking as the Black Knight would. He was not showing the kind of way that he used to be as Zelgius, but rather spoke as he would as the Black Knight.

[Etrurian emperor]

24 minutes ago, AlmondJuice said:

I actually really like that. It sounds great.

As for me, my favorite villain is Arvis (is he really a bad guy, though?), so I have my thoughts about him. So as I'm sure we all know by now, 

  Hide contents

Arvis completely cooked Sigurd's army (pun intended), but something seems off. I know in a prototype story for the game, Azelle was planned to have survived the Battle of Belhalla. So my headcanon is that Arvis had most everyone else killed off, except Azelle, as that's his half brother who he loves dearly (he said so himself), and keeps Azelle in hiding somewhere, keeping him safe. As to where, we have no clue, but I would assume Velthomer or something.

 

Azelle does seem the most likely male to survive Barhara. Arvis redeeming trait is that he really does love his loved ones so Azelle being spared is far more likely then the alternative.

I have a feeling Manfroy might be to blame for Azelle (probably) no longer being alive in the second Gen. Arvis having a soft spot for his little brother might make Azelle the only one that could have talked Arvis out of his current course and the Lopt can't have that. I always assumed Azelle got spared but met an unfortunate ''accident'' somewhere between the time skip. 

[Jotari]

1 hour ago, Etrurian emperor said:

Azelle does seem the most likely male to survive Barhara. Arvis redeeming trait is that he really does love his loved ones so Azelle being spared is far more likely then the alternative.

I have a feeling Manfroy might be to blame for Azelle (probably) no longer being alive in the second Gen. Arvis having a soft spot for his little brother might make Azelle the only one that could have talked Arvis out of his current course and the Lopt can't have that. I always assumed Azelle got spared but met an unfortunate ''accident'' somewhere between the time skip. 

Course it was a battle too. More than possible that, despite Alvis' best intentions, a stray meteor still hit Azelle and killed.

[Etrurian emperor]

A headcannon I have about Garon is that he and Sumeragi mutually killed each other.

Its real Garon who kills Sumeragi and kidnaps Corrin. Then sometime after Elise is born ghost Sumeragi kills Garon so Anankos can turn him into Gooron.

[DragonFlames]

1 hour ago, Etrurian emperor said:

A headcannon I have about Garon is that he and Sumeragi mutually killed each other.

Its real Garon who kills Sumeragi and kidnaps Corrin. Then sometime after Elise is born ghost Sumeragi kills Garon so Anankos can turn him into Gooron.

Why weren't you hired to write Fates?

[The Roger The Paladin]

8 minutes ago, DragonFlames said:

Why weren't you hired to write Fates?

Presumably because he's not in Japan. Maybe.

[Jotari]

1 hour ago, Etrurian emperor said:

A headcannon I have about Garon is that he and Sumeragi mutually killed each other.

Its real Garon who kills Sumeragi and kidnaps Corrin. Then sometime after Elise is born ghost Sumeragi kills Garon so Anankos can turn him into Gooron.

A spoiler I heard before finishing Revelations actually made the plot...uh, what's the opposite of retroactive? Proactive? Anyway, before finishing the game I read a comment along the lines of "Conquest and Birthright aren't actually happy endings though, since Anankos and Sumeragi are still around." I have no idea why the poster specified Sumeragi (and not Arete or Mikoto or just saying Anankos) since he doesn't actually possess any agency, but it made me go wow, Corrin's father is still around and he's secretly just as bad as Garon some how! Didn't see that coming! So I was kind of disappointed when Sumeragi did reappear and he was just like a mind slave that had absolutely no role or intentions in the grand scheme of things.

This was only tangentially related to your comment and this thread and I probably shouldn't have brought it up.

[Etrurian emperor]

1 hour ago, DragonFlames said:

Why weren't you hired to write Fates?

Its either because I would be really bad at writing down any good and bad idea I'd have or because IS isn't even aware of my existence.

But I do like the compliment 

[Punished Dayni]

1 hour ago, Etrurian emperor said:

A headcannon I have about Garon is that he and Sumeragi mutually killed each other.

Its real Garon who kills Sumeragi and kidnaps Corrin. Then sometime after Elise is born ghost Sumeragi kills Garon so Anankos can turn him into Gooron.

..... My mind's legit blown. Literally the best idea for Fates (aside from making an FE CYOA) and it's not in the game.

Thanks S. Kaga Fates Mangaka.

As for me, I obviously think the extended material related to Manfroy is canon. However, I also think that Manfroy may have had a goal lost in his years seeking to resurrect Loptyr and the impact that Judgral dark magic would have on him: he would have wanted to create a nation that wouldn't persecute people for their heritage, but even if he didn't want it to be Loptyrians on top at one point, that got lost in his focus on creating it for decades. It was Arvis who actually did that before Julius started taking more influence as emperor.

Narican is also probably one of the most real people, in that he is so self-obsessed that you probably know at least one person like him.

Also that Garon and Anankos didn't really have a plan for Corrin at first: they wanted Mikoto dead, but they don't really know if what happened would, or if Mikoto would die by Ganglari. At least I think so, it wouldn't be the only plothole in Fates.

[Paper Jam]

Quote

PoR, RD and SS have a final boss that isn't a dragon, and I give kudos for that. (If i'm correct, somebody may have to verify that for me.)

Technically, Ashnard rides a dragon in PoR.

But the final boss in that game is definitely Ashnard, not Rajaion.

Edited March 1, 2018 by Paper Jam