How conflicted do you think the soldiers who are still faithful to the Goddess herself (not necessarily the Church) feel about going against the Church? Wouldn't they feel like they are betraying the Goddess?
I imagine it varies from soldier to soldier, day to day. Church holidays are no doubt going to be harder on those who are struggling than any other date, as an example. By and large, it seems the soldiers of the faith among our ranks feel that the Church betrayed the goddess and her people. While the reaction to this ranges from grief to rage, it acts as motivation for them regardless.
When they see all that the Church of Seiros has done and indeed, not done, most of the faithful see that their actions do not align with their teachings.
I suspect that the professor’s involvement is another considerable factor here. Many have observed their strength as the Ashen Demon and rather than seeing Byleth as an unholy entity as the title implies, the people revere them. Their very presence reassures the faithful that they are making the right choice.
Although I don’t agree with their decision to replace one figurehead with another, I can at least take satisfaction in knowing they’ve chosen someone with more integrity than Rhea. Not that it’s especially difficult to do so.
What are your opinions for each of the DLC fighters of SBBU (both Fighter's Pass 1 and 2)?
You’re seeking combative advice, is that right? I suppose I can oblige. The challenge of assessing fighters from realms other than my own, the professor aside, should prove rewarding.
Byleth: Despite my initial skepticism of their integrity, the professor is a capable fighter. That obviously did little to endear them to those engaging in this inter-realm combat arena, however. That they seemed to slow themselves down to add to the illusion of competition certainly didn’t help matters. In general, it seems as though our professor did not fare as well there as in Fódlan. All the better for us, if I am to be honest.
Pyra and Mythra: I can see why they opted to fight together. The weakness of one is guarded by the strengths of the other. Mythra is far faster and more difficult to hit than Pyra, who brings greater strength with her reduced speed and reaction time. They are decent combatants, but it is their tactical applications that set them apart.
Terry: His technically proficient approach to fisticuffs may seem alienating to the more casual takes that are common in this arena, but they do have their place. The most compelling attribute he has an opponent is delving into deeper reserves of strength when the situation is at its most dire. I’m familiar with the prospect, and I can respect that in another soldier. I’ve no doubt Caspar would be elated to meet him as well.
Min Min: Compared to the combatants here to compete, it is unfortunate that Min Min is easily overlooked. She can undoubtedly fend for herself and has promising potential as a fighter. It may be that she is out of her depths among such adept adversaries, but that makes it all the more impressive that Min Min has continued to fight.
Kazuya: Even more technically proficient than Terry, Kazuya is a considerable threat within this arena. One could argue he has been preparing for such a scenario for the majority of his life and indeed, longer than some of his fellow combatants have been alive. That experience is reflected in his skills, but I would say it does leave him open to a small chance of being outdone by simpler yet effective techniques.
Dragon Quest Hero: If I were in the professor’s shoes, this opponent would be my primary concern. He is equally capable with his sword as he is magic and other, less officially regarded techniques. It’s unclear where such tremendous strength and versatility comes from, but it does remind me of the professor’s own discreet duality. It is not a good omen for those competing.
Steve and Alex: Frankly, this pair appears lost when placed among the other fighters present at the arena. They do appear to adapt quite well, and for that, I can commend them. Innovation is an admirable trait regardless of context. For those only resorting to violence as necessary against natural threats, they have both refined their skills to inflict substantial damage that factors in the surroundings to their best uses. They may not stand out overly much, but they do warrant praise for the effort required to compete here.
Sephiroth: It may offend him not to be regarded among the best this realm has to offer, but I have no issues saying I care not at all what he thinks. Speaking objectively, he is a strategic and powerful opponent with very little in the way of weaknesses. Like most sword fighters, he excels within a certain range of his targets, and he is more than capable of maintaining that optimal distance. Should he fall short and take enough damage, there is yet more strength he can draw on, and that does present quite a challenge to those he’s faced in battle.
Banjo and Kazooie: They are surprisingly skilled, despite their harmless appearances. Their situation is similar to Pyra and Mythra in that they clearly fight better alongside one another. A tactical series of ranged feather attacks will accrue enough damage that the close-range attacks from Banjo could be sufficient to win the match. If nothing else, they do seem to enjoy their time there. I suppose that’s all that matters.
Joker: Dynamic as his fighting style is, there can be no doubt that he is a worthwhile contender. He is prepared for a large range of combative situations and thrives best where the battle plan is flexible. Ranged and close quarters adversaries are equally at risk with Joker present. Where his strength is clearly no match for some of those fighters, his skill is the true threat.
Sora: I admit, I was initially surprised at his involvement. I’d failed to factor in his competitive nature at first, and that clarified the matter very effectively. He capitalizes on his good instincts and intuitive skills through his combative arts, although he does have his flaws in magical spells. It is rather impressive how quickly he can close distance and fight mid-air. I imagine our own aerial units could learn a great deal from him despite his youth and relative inexperience.
She is seeing to Imperial matters at the moment. I believe she has Byleth with her as support, as she often does these days. Given her standing, I’m certain you appreciate the need to wait while her duties are tended to.
Furthermore, I would prefer to prepare her for meeting you. Her siblings did not survive in this realm. A measure of sensitivity to her emotional state is in order. As her brother, I know the delay may prove difficult. Know that your patience is instrumental in ensuring she is not harmed by meeting you rather than consoled.
Have you ever heard the professor actually talk or is it all just hand signs?
The professor does speak more often than not, although it's not unlikely to see them signing in private and casual environments. For meetings and official matters, they appear to prefer speaking aloud.
But since the Black Eagle Strike Force has learned most if not all hand signs, it can be more comfortable to sign in our midst.
Yay you liked my gift. MAybe I should give you more gifts more often Hubert but only stuff that you'd enjoy of course.
If you insist. I’ve not denied the professor even when they presented less than satisfactory items to include a particularly garish necklace and a running account of so-called chivalrous acts. Should you focus on gifts that offer practical value, I imagine I would be grateful.
To be clear... I request that you keep flower crowns to a minimum.
(This is technically a year late but I still want to ask) What was your reaction when Byleth was announced for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? Will you support them?
While I was surprised to see that our professor had assumed another responsibility when there was already more than enough to occupy their time, I must admit that the role suits them. Who better to represent us than the one to turn the tide of war? They have supported Her Majesty and our allies in pursuits both on and off the battlefield. I can only offer the same in return for their steadfast loyalty. Whatever they need from me, I will give it gladly.
So what happened after Byleth lost got knocked out?
It was a rather hectic time, and many years ago now at that. By my recollection, the monastery continued to fall apart after the battle came to an end and the Church’s forces withdrew. At the time, we lacked the means and spare time to restore Garreg Mach as a strategic vantage point, and we left it to rot knowing that our opponents had been considerably less prepared for this than we were.
I’m confident there are events in our reports that cover more than what a single person could observe, of course. Simply because they were unprepared does not mean they were unwilling to fight. The Alliance, amongst itself, and the Kingdom, against us at nearly every turn. We had some supporters there, but nowhere near as widespread as that from our neighbors to the east.
Ferdinand was quite pleased that House Gloucester remained in support of the Empire, naturally. He and Lorenz have always been inseparable, or so I’ve gathered.
The apparent loss of the professor was not a light one. Her Majesty was heartbroken, although she may say otherwise. She felt their loss more strongly than any of us, I would say. It was no secret among her generals that she would openly wish for Byleth to return and aid us in turning the tide of war.
Morale suffered for it as well, considered many of our allies were swayed by Byleth’s presence. We were able to recover with the reminder that remaining here was tantamount to the professor’s last wish: to side with Lady Edelgard and her war against the church. But, despite our advantage of planning ahead, the forces we faced rallied more might than anticipated. Then, of course, there was the matter of Those Who Slither in the Dark... As they suspected our intent to come for them next, they made a pest of themselves in the five years without our professor. Indeed, they continue to do so.
After the first year or two, I’m afraid there’s not much to tell. Loath as I am to admit it, we were making only slow progress before Byleth saw fit to wake up from their nap at the river, of all places.
i understand that you probably didn't focus on making friends during your time in academy, considering everything. but was there any classmates especially hard to hold at arm's length before the war started and before you knew whether they'd stay loyal to edelgard and you?
I didn’t, you’re correct.
I would argue that Byleth themselves was particularly difficult to dissuade, given that I knew they couldn’t be trusted but had grown rather close to Her Majesty... But I presume you mean for myself.
Needless to say, I never doubted Petra and didn’t bother keeping her at a distance.
But for those where it proved difficult, Caspar and Bernadetta rank highly. Caspar, through sheer persistence and an obvious need to keep an eye on him for his own sake. Bernadetta was due more to my knowledge of her personal history. She deserved someone watching out for her.
Obviously, any concerns I had for their loyalty were unfounded.
