TheBranded (Japanese:印付きMarked Ones) are a race present inFire Emblem: Path of Radiance andFire Emblem: Radiant Dawn. They are the result of breeding betweenlaguz andbeorc,^[1] and bear a mark signifying their heritage.^[2] In both laguz and beorc societies inTellius, they are a stigmatized race, looked down upon by both as less than human owing to their mutual mythologies falsely claiming the sexual union of a laguz and beorc to be a crime against the goddess:^[3] the beorc call them "Branded" in reference to their mark, while the laguz call them "parentless" and typically refuse to acknowledge them. According to laguz legend, when a parentless one comes into being, a century of destruction follows.^[4]

History

The first branded in history was the child ofAltina, first empress ofBegnion, andLehran, herheron advisor and husband.^[5]Dheginsea andSoan, close friends of the lovers, celebrated the glorious pregnancy, thinking the child would be a symbol of peace between the two races,laguz andbeorc.^[6] Not long after the child's birth, it became apparent thatLehran had lost his laguz ability to transform and singgaldrar.^[7] He recognized that this news would not go over well with the people ofTellius, and went into hiding to find a solution to the problem.^[8] When he emerged, he told Altina to tell the people he died in an accident, and that the birth of their child was a false rumor.^[9] Lehran went toGoldoa and lived in secret with Dheginsea,^[10] while Altina found a new, beorc husband, and with him raised the child as if it was theirs.^[11]

From then on, unions between laguz and beorc became known as "crimes against thegoddess."^[12] Still, there were couples that did mate, and pregnancies occasionally resulted. However, these were quickly covered up once the parents learned of the consequences.^[13] The child was raised by the beorc parent, and everything was assumed to be normal.^[14]

However, generations later, some descendants of these unions began to bear marks—reminders of their ancestor's sins. The marks happened to look a bit like those ofSpirit Charmers. The bearers of the marks then tried to cover themselves up by dabbling in the dark arts. In time, they found they aged much slower than other beorc,^[15] and most chose to hide, living outside normal society. Rumors had spread though, and everywhere people started shunning the Branded—laguz even executed them in honor killings.^[16] They were marked unclean beings, doomed to a life of hatred and oppression.

At some point in time, an independent settlement of branded was founded in the middle of theGrann Desert.Stefan resides there, and, in support conversations withSoren invites him to join the settlement and be with others like him.^[17] Soren denies the offer, preferring to stay withIke. After the events ofRadiant Dawn, Stefan's settlement grows larger, eventually becoming its own nation.^[18]

Characteristics

Physical appearance

Branded are generally very similar in appearance tobeorc. In fact, they do not show any of the distinct characteristics of a laguz. The most obvious trait of a branded is the mark they bear on their skin, the placement of which differs among members of the race. For example,Micaiah and her grandmotherMisaha both show their mark on their right hands, butSoren andStefan refer to their marks as being on their foreheads, andZelgius' brand can be seen on his back. The shape of the brand seems to differ depending on the tribe of the laguz ancestor. Micaiah and Misaha's brands are the same shape, indicating theirheron ancestor,Lehran. Soren's is different, indicating hisdragon heritage. Zelgius' mark appears to be different from the two previously mentioned, and probably indicates his laguz ancestor was either ahawk or araven. Many branded cover up their marks with pieces of clothing, if they are able, to try and conceal their heritage.

Extended lifespan

In addition, Branded age slower than normal beorc. This is less noticeable during childhood; Soren, for example, seemed to age like an ordinary beorc until he was about sixteen years old.^[19] Eventually, however, the difference in age becomes quite apparent. The rate slows differently depending on the type of laguz blood the person has.^[20] Branded with dragon ancestors, for example, age much slower than Branded with any other type of blood.

Thefirst volume ofTellius Recollection goes into some detail to the average lifespan of Branded based on which laguz tribe they share heritage with. It states that Branded with black dragon heritage have an average lifespan of 185 years, those of lion heritage 94 years, and tiger heritage 65 years.^[21]

Behavior

Because of all the persecution Branded face, many live reclusive or nomadic lives. They hide among the beorc, covering their brands and not getting close to anyone. It's nearly impossible for Branded to live with laguz, because the laguz have a certain instinct for identifying them. Some laguz can sense Branded more easily than others, and the ones that can't quickly catch on. The laguz then treat the Branded as if they don't exist, referring to them as "parentless", and denying that laguz blood flows in their veins.

Branded also have a knack for identifying each other, as doesYune (and presumablyAshera).Stefan very easily identifiesSoren as Branded, andSoren andMicaiah recognize each other's heritage.^[22] Yune identifies all three as something she's never seen before,^[23] at first thinking Micaiah was the only one in existence.

Branded are known for having special powers that normal beorc don't have. This is typically affected by the type of laguz blood given by their ancestors. Beast tribe blood can contribute to strength, while bird tribe blood may contribute to speed, and heron blood to magical powers. Not much is known of these powers, other than they are the main factor contributing to Branded hatred among beorc.^[24]

Notable Branded characters

Micaiah

Main article:Micaiah

Micaiah is aheron branded, descended fromLehran andAltina, and granddaughter ofMisaha. She was assumed to have been killed by the heron clan along with her grandmother, but she actually survived, and ended up inDaein. Her branded heritage allows her to hear the voice ofYune and sing the galdr of release. It also gives her the power to sense what people are feeling, predict future events, andheal people without staves. Her companion,Sothe, advises her to keep these powers secret as they travel together, but her motivation to help people is too powerful, and she becomes famous for her abilities.

Soren

Main article:Soren

Soren is ablack dragon branded, son ofAshnard andAlmedha. Ashnard thought that if his offspring was borne of dragon blood, he would be a powerful asset in helping him rule the world. However, when Soren was born without any dragon traits, Ashnard abandoned him. Soren was then raised by another woman for a while, then sold to a sage who assumed he was aSpirit Charmer. Eventually the sage died, and Soren wandered aroundGallia untilIke found him and took him in. Soren's tactical genius is a result of his branded heritage.

Stefan

Main article:Stefan

Stefan is most likely alion branded, as evidenced by his ending inRadiant Dawn, which refers to him as "Lion-blooded", as well as his Japanese name,Soanvalcke, the first four letters of which are the same as the great lion hero,Soan. He lives in an independent colony in theGrann Desert, gathering other branded people to live a life away from the judgement of thelaguz andbeorc. Having suffered under the burden of his blood, he harbors a hatred for most other creatures, mainly the people ofBegnion. His branded heritage contributes to his skill with the sword.

Zelgius

Main article:Zelgius

Zelgius is revealed to be branded in one ofSephiran's memory scenes at the end ofRadiant Dawn. Zelgius entrusts him to Sephiran, vowing to serve him and showing him the brand on his back. Zelgius becomes a great general, and is eventually given command of theBegnion army. He is a man of many secrets, and reports only to Sephiran, regardless of what others may believe. He is very reclusive, and lets no one get to know him, save Sephiran. His branded heritage contributes to his great strength and speed, even while wearing his heavy armor. Given this, as well asKyza's description of him being "raven-haired"^[25] in the North American version ofRadiant Dawn, it is likely that he is araven branded.

Petrine

Main article:Petrine

Petrine is revealed to be branded in a special boss conversation withSoren. She recognizes the mark on his forehead, and refers to herself as being the same; her own mark appears to be situated on the right side of her chest. Petrine serves as one ofDaein'sFour Riders, taking orders from KingAshnard. She has a very intense hatred oflaguz, out of spite for spoiling her blood and condemning her to a life of prejudice. Being in the Daein army, she has plenty of opportunities to seek revenge on them, and does so without hesitation. Being liked by none and feared by most, she is the perfect candidate for one ofAshnard's generals.

Misaha

Main article:Misaha

Misaha is aheron branded, descended fromLehran andAltina, and grandmother ofMicaiah andSanaki. Her heritage endowed her with the ability to hear the voice of the goddess. As Apostle ofBegnion, she was one of the most beloved rulers of her time. She was a strong woman, and had every intention of ruling her country justly, despite her competition: the power-hungry senate. In an effort to inform her people of the true nature of the Apostles, she decided to reveal her branded heritage to her people. In retaliation, the senate assassinated her, blaming the murder on theheron clan that gave Misaha her branded blood.

Amy

Main article:Amy

Amy is the adopted child ofCalill andLargo. She is revealed to be branded in a conversation betweenStefan andYune. Yune mentions "the little girl who stays by theQueen ofCrimea" (in reference to Amy) in a list of people with blood like Stefan's. Amy lived with her adoptive parents in their bar untilAshera cast her judgement uponTellius. Amy was one of the few civilians who was not turned to stone, and was found byGeoffrey crying before her petrified father. She accompanied Geoffrey on their journey to theTower of Guidance, and was reunited with her mother on the way.

Flavor text

Etymology and other languages

Gallery

• 
  Micaiah's heron brand inRadiant Dawn.
• 
  Zelgius's brand inRadiant Dawn.
• 
  Misaha's heron brand inRadiant Dawn.

References

See also

• Holy Blood