And now for a personal favorite of this author’s, another one whose existence spawned the idea for this blog: Hector, Marquess of House Ostia!
Hector is one of the main characters and lords of Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, released in 2003. His first appearance was actually in the game released immediately prior, The Binding Blade, which is Blazing’s sequel.
As with other Fire Emblem installments, the basic game mechanic is to build teams of playable units on chess-like maps to defeat opponents with the power of RNJesus. Released during the franchise’s GameBoy Advance era, some of the mechanics are a little more based around luck and grinding.
Thankfully, even if the RNG has decided not to grace you with its favor on that day, Hector’s broad, broad shoulders are happy to carry the team for you, even on his story, which is the most difficult of three routes. As an unpromoted unit, he easily reaches the cap on his Strength and Defence stats, meaning he’ll slam into his opponent like a truck, and laugh off any paltry attempts at reciprocation.
And he doesn’t just carry the combat - his presence in the story is marked, given that he is the lord of one storyline, and assists in another. It is his stalwart loyalty and love for his friends and family that are the catalyst for many of the chapters in the story. Even in cut-scenes, he makes his presence known and lightens an otherwise bleak story, in one notable instance plucking a child from the desert sands and carting him around on his shoulders, laughing.
In other appearances, namely the Heroes mobile game, his role is expanded and he is given more lines, in many instances commenting on how surprising it is to see a book in his hands. Yes, of course he knows how to read! He’s a marquess, after all!
And most importantly, during his travels he makes friends and close connections, all of whom come to trust Hector with their lives - and regardless of the player’s choices in Hector’s supports, he will go on to have an adorable daughter, named Lillina. DILF alert.
