Today in things I can't stop thinking about: Owain.
Owain shares his name with the Arthurian hero and historical figure, Owain mab Urien. I'm not particularly well versed in Arthurian legend, but I'm familiar with the literary Welsh tale, Breuddwyd Rhonabwy (The Dream of Rhonabwy), from the Llyfr Coch Hergest.
During a prophetic game of the chess-like gwyddbwyll against King Arthur, Owain's servant bears him urgent news: his ravens, numerous as an army, are under attack by Arthur's men. He demands the king call them off, but Arthur merely replies, "your move." Three times he demands, and yet he still replies, "your move."
Owain has had enough; he commands his servant raise his banner and rally his remaining ravens. They attack Arthur's men, and kill many. Their retaliation is realised by the king, and he demands Owain call them off. Owain merely replies, "your move, lord."
King Arthur stands up, and crushes the pieces of the bord in his hand.
Gwyddbwyll is a mystical game, crafted by the gods themselves. What meaning do their parallel battles hold? No idea. Seriously, we have no idea what this story means.
Like other Fire Emblem characters, his name bears no compelling semblance to his mythological counterpart. He does, however, have an interesting connection to the Cretan Bull.
Awakening uses the Bergian astrology's zodiac to represent the 13 child units - with the specifics revealed by the order of the paralogues. Owain is represented by Taurus, which clues us in to look to this myth. Actually, don't look too hard at the whole myth, just this part: Lissa is unsure of her royal heritage until Owain proves it by revealing his brand. The Cretan Bull was sent by Poseidon to Minos as proof of his right to rule as king.
Do we look to Odin, his ravens, and his penchant for poetry for more insight to Owain's (Odin's) character? Surprisingly, yes.
Do we look to bull worship in Minoan culture, a probable inspiration for the story of the Minotaur — and by extension the Cretan Bull — as a source of inspiration? Probably not, but I'm thinking about it anyway.
Do the creators of Fire Emblem really think that hard about the allusions they make? Hell no they don't!
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