Cyril frowns and nearly wants to run away from this... thing Lady Rhea's displaying.
Sure, he told her he wouldn't mind participating in this Harvest Festival thing, but only because she asked him and seemed a bit happy about hosting it in Garreg Mach.
And he heard her, talking to a sighing Seteth, how she likes watching students wear cute costumes and enjoy themselves during the festival.
So he said he didn't mind, and when Lady Rhea clapped her hands and said she would prepare a costume for him, he nodded. He thought it would maybe be a tunic with embroided pumpkins or something, not this... goofy white costume.
Why is it even smiling like the cuddling things the children of the monastery sleep with?
Cyril asks Rhea if it shouldn't look more fearsome, and Rhea asks him a if he believes the Immaculate One is fearsome.
"Of course it is, isn't it a huge monster who attacks people and rains death from above?"
Cyril adds how even in Almyra there are songs and legends about it, a white man-eating monster larger than the largest wyvern, living in Fodlan and killing anyone who enters its lair!
Rhea gently replies how this is what some people perceive the Immaculate One as, but in the Seiros faith, it is a guardian who protects Fodlan from serious threats, not a monster, and definitely not a man-eating one!
"But if you make it smile like that, wouldn't it be insulting to the faith?"
Rhea raises a brow when Cyril explains how it looks like the things sewn for the children, the smiling lion plushies, or the bears, or even the horses... He doubts the monks would be happy if she, the Archbishop, puts the Immaculate One on the same level as those cuddling toys.
Cyril's surprised when Rhea laughs, explaining how she's sure the Immaculate One would prefer to been seen as goofy and something bringing comfort rather than be feared as a monster.
Faced with Cyril's look of disbelief, she suggests the Immaculate One might be a shy being who would like to make more friendly relationships, but is afraid of people rejecting her due to her appearance, which is why she is not seen around a lot.
"You're joking right?"
Cyril then crosses his arms, but says if he ever meets the Immaculate One, he will ask her if she prefers to look like a harmless cuddling toy or to look like a cool and fearsome beast.
Rhea pats his head, promising she will remember this.
Dimitri meets Rhea one final time to tell her he's basically leaving her to die because he has to protect the kingdom and he feels like trash but he has to
Rhea understands and asks him not to be so hard on himself but makes him promise, if a new relic associated to the Crest of Seiros pops up, to destroy the crest stone embedded in the Relic, because she doesn't want to be used against people she cares about
Manuela complains about how she behaved for the last five years, let it be for the White Heron Cup and the festival or even Garreg Mach's foundation day, but the festivities were "dull".
So the Monastery better prepare for the next Saint Seiros day, because she will make it way more festive than it has ever been!
Obviously, Seteth lectures Manuela about proper conduct, Saint Seiros' day is supposed to be a day of quiet and peaceful devotion, and remembrance of the peace the goddess and the saints fought for.
Manuela argues he's not the highest authority in the Monastery, so she can, and will, ask the Archbishop herself.
Seteth frowns, he knows exactly what is going to happen : Rhea will obviously allow Manuela to do as she pleases because she finds ridiculous costumes and glitters and feathers "fun" or "stylish", and the Monastery's reputation will plummet down.
And yet, it's also her birthday so... maybe he could be a bit more lenient. And maybe tolerate feathers, only for one day. Or half a day.
As expected, Rhea enthusiastically agrees with Manuela - even when she asks to dip a little in the Church's "celebration" funds to order sequin - but inside is completely lost : what are sequins ?
Rhea asks Flayn, maybe her niece will be able to to determine what is this new thing humanity came up with, since she hangs out with "young" humans.
Cethleann ends up frustrated , reporting many students were surprised with her question, as if "sequins" were something very common.
Monks told her they have no place in a place of holy worship.
Asking Catherine and Shamir proved unproductive, since they squinted and told her whatever Manuela is coming up with, she must know they played no part in her madness.
Rhea then asks Billy, if they have any idea about what are sequins.
Billy shrugs, they don't know. But they can ask Jeralt!
Jeralt looks at Billy, and sighs, saying it's something not pratical and usually used for shows. And before they ask, no, his mercenary company will not hire anyone wearing sequins.
Billy frowns - as much as they can - they saw once a rival mercenary company wearing flashy clothes and poofy pants, and thought they looked really cool, and no one called them names like "ashen demons". Maybe they too, were wearing sequins? If they did then... it makes people look cool.
Jeralt immediately makes the link when they see Billy going to Rhea's audience chamber and hears their kid saying "sequins make people look awesome".
Remembering how Rhea - rather her pretending to be someone else 260 years ago - was the one who insisted to add a feather to the headgears of infantry knights who specialised in axes and swords, he barges in and interrupts their conversation : no, sequins are ridiculous, and if she adds some to the uniforms of the knights of Seiros, he will immediately leave the Monastery.
Also, no poofy sleeves or pants, and no flashy colors.
"But are they festive?"
Jeralt replies by dragging a frowning Billy away from the audience room.
Saint Seiros day happens as usual, and while Rhea nods and acts as she usually does during previous Saint Seiros days, she wonders if Manuela's celebrations were somehow cancelled at the last minute.
However, comes the night - when students are supposed to be asleep and all - and Billy knocks at her door, telling her something very important is happening and she has to join.
Rhea is surprised to see Billy wear an unusual costume, with mismatched colors, poofy sleeves and pants and frills everywhere.
To her, it seems as if Billy is truly happy to wear this costume, so she smiles proudly when they tell her they used their first allowance to buy it. Even if it meant not listening to Jeralt.
Rhea nods, and tells them they look really festive.
Billy smiles.
Then they lead Rhea to the reception hall, where some knights, some monks and members of the officer's academy are reunited, wearing odd costumes, but some have large hats with colorful feathers.
Also, now in the light, she spots some of them faintly glittering or something, but maybe it's just her mind playing tricks?
Everyone, bar Seteth, Catherine and Shamir, is chatting happily and Rhea is afraid her sudden apparition will put a damper on the mood, but Manuela excitedly gives her a ridiculous hat with large coloured feathers on it. Possibly a Giant Bird's.
Cyril looks ready to protest, but Catherine does, telling Manuela she can't expect the Archbishop to play along with her idiot idea.
Seteth, wearing the same kind of ridiculous outfit as Billy, knows better, and Rhea puts the feathered hat on.
Then the party starts, a band not affiliated at all to the Mittelfrank Opera starts to play and Rhea is a bit surprised at how everyone doesn't seem to mind her presence, too busy pestering and ranting about Manuela's ridiculous "opera clothes" - save for Billy who really likes their costume, and says to everyone how they asked Manuela's friends if they could buy it instead of just borrowing it for the evening.
Then Manuela makes a speech about Saint Seiros' day being a day of devotion and gratitude to the peaceful times they're living in but also to celebrate and remember there's light ahead.
Manuela ends by giving several very ostentious winks in Flayn's general direction, who finally catches them when Catherine points them out, and she uses an "old spell to strengthen the moon's radiance in the room" - which suspiciously sounds, to Rhea, like she's using Nabatean magic to do so! - and yet, before she can gently remind her niece they are supposed to be hiding and pretend they are totally regular humans, she's suddenly blinded by glittering lights everywhere.
When she finally can see again - ignoring Shamir's threats to make Manuela eat her damn feathers if she ends up blinded by all of her party tricks - everyone is sparkling thanks to the small flat beads like things sewed in the costumes!
Manuela then asks Rhea if she believes, as the Archbishop of the Church of Seiros if the saints would approve of such a luminous and festive display for Saint Seiros' day : Seteth replies they would never have approved of such a ridiculous thing, Rhea ignores him and nods to Manuela saying Saint Seiros would have loved it, she's sure of it.
Flayn adds they would definitely have been enthusiastic about it, glaring at her "brother" for some reason.
Then the party resumes, with more music, people surrendering to the ridiculous setting and enjoying themselves. Billy wonders why the students couldn't be invited though, maybe they would have liked it? But maybe they didn't have enough costumes.
Anyways, since it's Rhea's birthday, they pull of a Zanado fruit from one of their poofy pants' pocket, and offers it to her while everyone looks, a bit dumbfounded - why is the new professor giving inedible trash to the Archbishop?
Rhea's overjoyed and thanks them a lot, telling Billy they were right about sequins, they really make people look pretty bright and awesome.
Cyril gives Rhea fresh flowers he grew specially for the occasion, saying it's not much but next time he promises he'll give her something ever more special and more awesome - but Rhea cuts him with a hug, thanking him dearly, and pretends not to hear Shamir call her out for "spoiling the kid".
Manuela is a bit surprised though, she never knew today was the Archbishop's birthday, what a coincidence it happens on Saint Seiros' day!
Everyone goes silent when Alois asks her how old is she anyways - trying to make light conversation while the cooks panick because a birthday means a cake, and they haven't prepared one ! - Jeralt chuckles while Seteth panicks and tries to come up with some roundabout explanation.
Rhea smiles, and replies she's 17.
Everyone laughs a bit, relieved the Archbishop has a sense of humour, and the party goes on, even if Flayn pesters Manuela about making an even grander party like this for Cethleann's Day, because Cethleann would surely appreciate to have everyone shine and enjoy themselves, also, she would like if fish was served, and if they could still dance and listen to the music all night long.
Seteth takes her away, though, or at least intended to when he hears Rhea talk to a monk how sequins could be integrated in ceremonial outfits for everyone, because it makes "life shine brighter" and how the Goddess would surely appreciate the effort.
Billy still think the students lost an occasion to look "awesome" since they couldn't be invited, and ask Rhea to teach them how to sew to add sequins to the student's uniforms, if they start now, they should be ready for next year.
Rhea nods a bit too eagerly - but Supreme Leader declares war on the church before Billy can even finish the first costume.
I was looking at the names of the other Sacred Weapons in FE3H and now I wonder if the Swords of Moralta and Begalta are named for the Nabateans who presumably wielded them (same as how Serios' sword is named for her). Both are Celtic names for mythical weapons, but I noticed that they have the crests of Chevalier and Riegan respectively, AKA the Sun and Moon Dragons. Now I wonder if maybe they were twins who both wielded swords or something like that.
Hi!
I can only say "maybe" because 10k years of lore, but if following the theory crests aren't unique and like, Sothis might have created more than one kid per sign (maybe 5 earth dragons besides Cichol, etc etc) but that would be nice !
Isn't the Riegan sign the one for a star dragon though?
Maybe both Chevalier, Moralta and Begalta were Sun dragons, Moralta and Begalta would have died around Nemesis' party or before ?
Imagine if they were originally smiths - Begalta and Moralta both - and taught Indech (and maybe Macuil) how to make weapons? The swords would be meant for other dragons (a star dragon who might have been the one Riegan pilfered, ditto for a shield dragon and Fraldarius?) but with no one left to use them, Macuil decided to wield the blade crafted by his teachers and meant for their deceased siblings?
Now that I think about it, maybe the Saints' (and apostles, if they were nabateans) weapons and equipment were mementos of their lost siblings, if Seiros the Warrior copied Gun-Fu Sis' hairdo, maybe Macuil used his brother/sister's sword to avenge them, or something - wouldn't it be sort of poetic if he kills Riegan with the blade that was meant for the dragon Riegan consumed?
But if the blades were, say, a set of two, made by a Sun dragon for Begalta and Moralta, shield and star dragons - maybe those swords are the only way they are remembered and survive through Fodlan, assuming they were the dragons consumed by Riegan and Fraldarius, they lost their names and powers to their killers, and yet, their name is still around thanks to those swords!
and not as, you know, gross eldritch abominations who might or not be sentient
Thinking about a random AG AU I had that is basically "Flayn facetanks an axe, and the Lions are more pissed and worried about her than curious or frightened about the fact that Flayn's apparently hardy enough to deflect blows with her face"
Given how Nabatean bones are, per a book, as hard as crucible steel (or more durable than anything that isn't crucible steel) I was wondering if, even in their humanoid form, Nabateans could actually resist "more" to some hits than humans.
Of course it's not translated at all in gameplay because this verse is a bootleg Jugdral copy when it comes to ludonarration, but what if it was the case?
Something like, if they concentrate enough or channel enough magic (but still not enough to transform!), Nabateans can make their "skin" as hard as it would be if they were to transform, aka when they passively get the ancient dragonskin skill.
Still, everyone is worried about Flayn in that AU, so unless she agrees to become an armored healer on a horse, she is forbidden from facetanking anything anymore.
Earrings could have been the most common jewels/trinkets Nabateans used to have, from an era where they could show their ears.
Let it only be for aesthetics or a cultural thing, “pimping” ears used to be something very common back in Zanado. Some Nabateans even went to human places to discover/share/find out what kind of new jewelry humans discovered/came up with and they’d bring some back to Zanado.
Indech left Zanado to develop his craftsman skills and some humans joined him in his workshop.
Of course, after the Nabatean Purge and the subsequent Red Canyon events, surviving Nabateans had to hide their ears, thus no earrings anymore.
Surviving Rhea couldn’t be a Nabatean in Fodlan anymore thus became Seiros the Human.
And yet, even as Seiros the Human, dropping the earring tradition meant dropping Nabatean pride, or what once was their custom - could she really accept to abandon everything that was “Nabatean” to become a human? Faced with this dilemma, Willy said something stupid like changing Fodlan so she could finally wear earrings without spending hours debating the pros and cons of such a “risky” move.
The War of Heroes ends, and Rhea has two pairs of earrings, one from a sister who wanted to gift her own pair to her youngest sibling when it would be her time to “leave to discover the human world”, and one from Willy to wear when Fodlan will have “changed”.
Of course, she never get the occasion to wear them.
Citrus finds them, and after hearing the importance of earrings, has a pair crafted for the “baby” to wear.
Jerry pawned them during his flight.
Rhea’s earrings are lost when the monastery is sacked.
Post AG/AM, for her 1***th birthday, Flayn wears three pairs of earrings, one from her Uncle, one she bought from a Duscur craftsman and the old pair that belonged to her mother.
Both Rhea and Seteth are worried about her showing her ears, but Annette only asks if she thinks she too, would look good wearing multiple earrings, while Dimitri wonders if they won’t both get a frostbite.
Based on Rhea's two onscreen death scenes in Houses and Hopes, I wonder if the scale on the Nabateans' foreheads that shows their Crest (as seen in the art books) is their weak spot when transformed. It stood out to me that Claude shot Rhea exactly there when he killed her.
We don't have canon to explicitely tell us it is their weak spot...
But, imo, we have enough clues to tell us that crest stones, even in their transformed states, are very important to Nabateans (iirc the blue wild demonic beasts have cracked crest stones, and are feral and "beyond saving" according to Flayn herself?), now I could get Supreme Leader getting a post-it from Uncle telling her what is the best spot to kill giant lizards, but Fraud?
Maybe it was a lucky intuition and/or strike !
LBR, given how Rhea can fly, the sheer fact that she stays on the ground at bow/Aymr range is, imo, akin to plot armor, but here it's plot induced dumbery because she has to be able to be killed by the cast, and can't snipe Hyper Beams/Aeroblasts from the sky :(
I know this is just connecting 2 points bcs 10k years of lore and whatnot but
JP!Constance's wording is more explicit - House Nuvelle has been "passing down the bloodline of Saint Noa" through the ages, and this was especially hidden from the Empire (and not only hidden in general - the script could have said it was kept hidden without adding any mention about the Empire, JP wording, imo, emphasises that their tie to Noa was purposedly kept a secret from Enbarr!) -
Why was this hidden from the Empire from the beginning, if Noa was a Saint aka chummy with Seiros, and Willy + Lycaon were Nabatean pals?
honeypotting and headcanon tainted glasses reads "bloodline of Saint Noa" as not only talking about Noa's crust, but being a direct descendant of Noa.
(hc ramblings under the cut)
Adding that Constance's dad - let it be in JP or in the localised versions - called the Chalice something the "Progenitor God" crafted, when this title is almost exclusively used by Nabateans... It'd make a compelling argument that Noa (and the other 3 apostles) were Nabateans, and House Nuvelle's members are actually part lizard themselves, but through generations, they lost most of their nabatean traits, save for their crests.
-> House Nuvelle was apparently Ionius'd (rather, Thales'd) for losing some battles during the Dagdan invasion - where Shamir fought and lost her og!partner, but Shamir herself has a line during an explore section, I think, where she calls Fodlan strange because long-lived people exist : what if she wasn't talking about Jerry (or the Nabateans, since Rhea's tenure as the Archbishop for several years + her lack of apparent aging is never mentionned!), but some elusive members of House Nuvelle who inherited part of Noa's longer lifespan?
But where would Noa be then, if she was a lizard? Did she left Fodlan, or died from old age like Aubin ? What about her own hybrid kids - would their lifespan mean they could still be around during Constance's time ? Or they had to hide and "fake their death" much like Archbishop Rheond to avoid suspicions, especially if they are hiding their bloodline from the Emperor himself?
In the "pincushion'd Lycaon AU", maybe Noa's kids initially welcome Lycaon on the throne and swear to help him because he's a nice dude, but also, their cousin ? And then he "falls down some stairs", Willy bails out, Rhea immediately tries to find way for Sothis to return, which might alert Noa that Lycaon didn't really fell down from some stairs but was killed, and if he was killed because he was not human, then it means her own children aren't safe either.
Would it be an incentive to participate in the first Rite of Rising - if Sothis returns, surely the world won't hunt Nabateans or their children anymore.
It fails, thus Noa's only solution to protect her family from humans - especially the Enbarrites who already killed her nephew - is to pretend her children and their own children are humans themselves, thus hide their Nabatean traits (crest + long lives + pointy ears + hair) and maybe fake their deaths at some point.
1k years later, the members of House Nuvelle mostly forgot why they have to hide their crests and abilities from the Empire, but remember that they have to do so + some knowledge is still passed down about legends from the CoS (Sothis being the Progenitor God and the Chalice's existence).
Now, Constance's dad was most likely trying to arrange a wedding to Emile before shit hit the fan - would that mean Constance would have left for House Bartels, or Emile would have joined House Nuvelle? If they still want to hide their crest of Noa, it would make more sense for Emile to join House Nuvelle, and the potential Noa crested kids would still be kept "safe and hidden" from Enbarr?
Also...
Constance mentions how she lost everything and she's the "only one left" from House Nuvelle - I understand this as her family was killed and her house fell (even if she wasn't married on spot, but managed to be sent to Firdhiad to enroll in the Magic School of Sorcery and later enroll in GM? What made Constance different from Mama Martritz and newborn!Mercie?) in 1175.
The Insurrection happened in 1171, Supreme Leader returned to Adrestia in 1174 with Arun-Thales and we know, despite Aegir being the nominal head of the Empire, that Thales was running the show through his meatsuit, acting as "the regent".
Science experiments started in 1174, House Nuvelle fell in 1175 - maybe Constance was away, but I wonder what if Solon/Chilon/Ananximandros or even Cleo wanted to perform new experiments on the elusive members of House Nuvelle, especially if word got out that they might be more "bestial than they pretended to be"?
Nothing was conclusive, which could justify why Constance wasn't hunted herself, bcs Solon would need a "purer" form of beast, but will only catch Flayn later.
Oh well, this is just honeypotting and crafting hcs out of thin air but, House Nuvelle being - in the holding hands sense - Nabatean blooded in an Adrestia that was supposed to welcome them, only to, at inception (rather, 97 years later) violently reject their kin fascinates me, in the sense that they too, are hiding and acting "strange" but in order to not be persecuted/hunted/pincushion'd. the cruelest thing would be that Rhea would have gladly offered them help and assistance, but since Enbarr knows she's not human, her intervention might out the Nuvelles as, well, not human themselves.
Constance personal arc against Supreme Leader - opposing her or joining her - would be even more, uh, steeped in dark irony than Lysithea joining the BESF because, in this situation, Constance sides with the people who ended her house and might have butchered her family, but also supports the ascension of someone who would most likely cast her away if she knew she had a lizard in her ancestry.
