| Site News |
|---|
| Warning: This wiki containsspoilers. Read at your own risk! Social media: If you would like, please joinour Discord server, and/or follow us onX (Twitter),Bluesky, orTumblr! |
The Black Pillar
 | It has been requested that image(s) be placed in this page or section. Please submit images to help improve this page and talk on this page's talk page about what images are needed. Remove this when this has been fixed. |
| ||||||||||
|
| “ | The man you call Father...is not King Garon. Not anymore. The man masquerading as your father is not of this world. He's being controlled by something—by a demon of some sort. | ” | — Azura |
|---|
The Black Pillar (Japanese:鈍く崩れ落ちてA Slow Collapse) is the fifteenth chapter of theConquest campaign inFire Emblem Fates. In this chapter,Corrin, feeling conflicted over theirdecision to side withNohr, followsAzura into a lake and into astrange land. Corrin, Azura, andGunter, who ended up in this area after surviving hisfall into theBottomless Canyon, must make their way through the possessed local populace in hopes of getting out of the area.
Plot
- Main article:
The Black Pillar/Script
 | This article or section does not meet Fire Emblem Wiki'squality standards. Pleaseimprove it as you see fit.Editing help is available. This article has been flagged sincetoo long; this should be a summary, not a play-by-play. |
In a lakeside forest,Corrin states that they can't fall asleep due to the thought of attacking innocents and it hurts their heart, noting theincident inCheve and thehunt for theCyrkensian singers; Corrin then states that they wonder if they did the right thing and asks themselves ifsiding withNohr was a mistake. As Corrin mulls over whether they should havesided withHoshido instead, then states that they could never betrayXander and theirotherNohriansiblings, they noticeAzura by the shore of the lake and decides to talk to her about their decision to side with Nohr given hersimilar plight; as Corrin follows Azura's singingLost in Thoughts All Alone toward her, Corrin notes the song as the one performed inNestra that painedGaron and wonders if Azura was indeed the singer who made that performance before dismissing the idea. Corrin spots Azura walking into the lake fully clothed, then vanishing in a pillar of light; as Corrin notices Azura not coming back up, they decide to go after her on the presumption that she may be drowning.
(Cutscene: "Invisible Door") As Azura continues to sink into the lake surrounded by the light, Corrin steps into the light and gets sucked into a tunnel-like stream. Corrin later appears ina field with numerous floating islands in view as well as some broken skies; upon Corrin catching sight of Azura, Azura saddeningly asks Corrin why they are in the area.
Corrin starts to explain that they were attempting to save Azura from drowning, only for Azura to tell Corrin that he/she shouldn't be in the area and to leave while they still can; Corrin then asks Azura where they are when an invader comes onto the scene and attempts to attack Azura, prompting Corrin tojump in and block the attack. Corrin asks about the invader and their motives, to which Azura states that they need to get Corrin out of the area quickly--the invader may look human, but it is now an emotionless monster that will surely destroy them if they get too close--only for Corrin to state that there is nowhere to run; Azura notices that their path has closed and that they'll have to fight their way through, and asks Corrin not to die on her before the truth can be revealed.Gunter appears on the scene and takes out the invader that attacked Corrin and Azura, to which a bewildered Corrin asks Gunter if he's not a ghost; Gunter states that he's fine and won't tolerate being called a ghost, then states that he saw Corrin and Azura in trouble and arrived to help. Corrin, being glad that Gunter is alive, asks him why he's in this area, to which Gunter states that they can discuss matters later, that now is the time that they deal with the invaders, to which Corrin states is a valid point and that they are glad to have Gunter fighting by their side again.Preparations take place at this point; the battle begins once preparations are complete.
Should the end of turn 20 player phase be reached with neither the bossHero defeated nor all player units escaped, Azura states that they have run out of time and tells Corrin that they did all they could; theGame Over screen implies that the group failed to escape the invaders.
Once the battle ends, Corrin asks Gunter where he's been, to which Gunter recallsHansknocking him into theBottomless Canyon, stating that he hit solid ground yet not the canyon floor, then reveals that he had to fight off invaders in this land; Gunter reveals that Azura came to him after multiple such skirmishes against invaders, prompting Corrin to ask him if he knows Azura, to which Azura confirms. Azura states that she often came to this area during times she felt lost and lonely during her time in Hoshido, trying to derive clues as to how to find peace for the world, and encountered Gunter on one such visit at the brink of death; Gunter states that it was Azura that taught him how to survive in this place and that he would not have survived if it weren't for her, to which Azura states that she doesn't deserve his praise--she was captured by Hoshidan soldiers after leaving Gunter's side and wasn't able to come back for him until just recently, then apologizes to Gunter for leaving him alone, to which Gunter states he's just glad to see Azura again. Corrin asks where they are currently situated, revealing both Gunter's route and the route he and Azura took; Azura states that they are in a land far away from both Hoshido and Nohr, one where time flows differently. Azura then states that Corrin and Gunter cannot talk about this area to anyone in the outside world, asa curse will cause anyone who does so to vanish and that they should all be fine if they heed the curse; Azura then beckons Corrin and Gunter into following her.
Over at the edge of one of the floating islands, Azura states that they're in an area that leads to the Bottomless Canyon back on the other side, and that if they jump from there they can return to the Bottomless Canyon; Corrin deduces that this is how Azura travels back and forth between the realms, to which Azura states that she always travels through the water. Corrin then asks why they don't travel back the way they came, to which Azura states that she and Corrin are the only ones that can travel between the realms through the water, and that the Bottomless Canyon route is the only way they can bring Gunter back with them--something she learned the hard way, having attempted to take Gunter back through the water the previous time but was unable to; Corrin asks why they and Azura are the only ones that can travel through the water, to which Azura states that she can't discuss that right now and that they should leave before more invaders arrive. We witness Azura jump first, followed by Corrin after deliberating with Gunter.
Corrin comes to again at the Bottomless Canyon and sees Azura, to which Corrin asks where Gunter is; Azura states that the differing flow of time means there's a lag between when one jumps and when one arrives, and that Gunter will arrive eventually. Azura then states that there's something she needs to tell Corrin--and that obtaining peace will involve dethroning Garon; Corrin questions this motive, to which Azura reveals his traits to which Corrin doesn't deny before asking if there's another way. Azura states that she hoped to shield Corrin from the information she's about to reveal, but states that it's time they knew--the figure Corrin knew as their father growing up isn't Garon anymore, but instead a man masquerading as him that's not of this world possessed bysome sort of demon and that she can prove it to them with a crystal that she's holding. Azura states that the crystal ball came from the realm they were just in, and that it has the power to reveal the truth--but it can only be operated by either an incredibly gifted mage such as Leo or someone with highly potentdragon blood in their veins such as Corrin to access its power at will; Azura asks Corrin to touch the crystal, to which they do so, causing the crystal ball to reveal an image of Garon transforming intoa disfigured creature, to which Azura states that Corrin now knows the truth about Garon. Corrin asks Azura if there's still a way they can save Garon, to which Azura states that there isn't--his soul is corrupted beyond saving, the best they can do for him is to release his soul into the afterlife, and that she did all she could to help when she sang the song on stage at the Cyrkensia opera house.
Azura states that she thought she could use Lost in Thoughts All Alone to turn Garon back to normal, and realized that he was beyond salvaging when the song didn't work; Azura then states that it's her fault the innocent Cyrkensian singers were targeted and that she'll never forgive herself for that turn of events, to which Corrin states that they also suffered failures on the path to peace, wanting to end the war without sacrificing innocent lives yet couldn't stop the events in Cheve. Corrin agrees that Garon needs to be stopped and that Xander and the others need to know, then asks how the others can be made to know in a way that they will be believed yet without mentioning the other realm; Azura states that the method involved will be risky, and that it will involve conquering Hoshido, winning the war in Garon's name, then getting Garon to sit on the Hoshidan throne, to which Corrin states thatMikotostated that whomever sits on the Hoshidan throne regains their true form and mind. Azura states that the crystal revealed the truth about Garon to them, then states that the throne can be used to do the same to Xander and the others, but for the plan to work, they'll have to continue following Garon's orders--and that means fightingRyoma and theirotherHoshidansiblings; Corrin states that they are willing to pay the price of their happiness for the good of the world, with Corrin and Azura vowing to obtain victory for Nohr on their path to peace. Gunter finally arrives on the scene, to which Azura states she's glad he made it back safely; Azura states that they should go and rejoin the rest of the army, stating that Garon will grow suspicious if they're gone too long. The player may save their game at this point.
Upon returning toMy Castle, Lilith asks Corrin if she could have a moment of their time, then reveals that a familiar face has come to see them.Jakob/Felicia appear and see that Corrin is doing well, and that they could not rest until they found them once word reached to them that Corrin went missing, stating they've been traveling across dimensional barriers and states that now that they're by Corrin's side again, that they'll now fight alongside them. Jakob/Felicia will now be available to the player's army at this point.
Summary
Corrin follows Azura, hoping to discuss King Garon's cruel methods. Mysterious enemies ruin the plan when they launch an unexpected attack.
Chapter data
Normal/HardLunatic
| ||||||
|
| |||||
| Victory: Defeat the bossHero or have all units escape | Player | Partner | Other | Enemy | Third | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defeat:Corrin dies*, the player's army is routed*, or 20 turns pass | 3 | {{{partner}}} | {{{other}}} | 25 | {{{third}}} | |
| ||||||
| Map dimensions: 30 columns by 30 rows | ||||||
| ||||||
|
| |||||
| Victory: Defeat the bossHero or have all units escape | Player | Partner | Other | Enemy | Third | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defeat:Corrin dies*, the player's army is routed*, or 20 turns pass | 3 | {{{partner}}} | {{{other}}} | 29 | {{{third}}} | |
| ||||||
| Map dimensions: 30 columns by 30 rows | ||||||
{{{content3}}}
{{{content4}}}
{{{content5}}}
{{{content6}}}
{{{content7}}}
{{{content8}}}
{{{content9}}}
{{{content10}}}
{{{content11}}}
{{{content12}}}
{{{content13}}}
{{{content14}}}
{{{content15}}}
Character data
| Characters | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New units | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forcibly deployed characters | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
   | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Available characters | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Undeployable characters | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
                  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Felicia is only a returning character if Corrin is male, while Jakob is only a returning character if Corrin is female; whichever of the two is not a returning character is recruited at the end of this chapter. The returning characters list does not include any characters recruitable inparalogues orxenologues, as the player may not have taken on any available paralogue chapters yet. The list also does not include anybonus units, as they are recruitable at the player's discretion.
Item data
| ||||||||||||||||||
|
Dragon Vein data
The Dragon Vein in this chapter is stated to have the effect "Split each allied unit into two bodies". Note that, if eitherCorrin orAzura already have a Replica on the field created viaReplicate, they will not have a Replica created over at the destination effect area of the Dragon Vein. It is located as follows:
- Column 8, row 7: One square south, one square west ofGunter's initial position
Enemy data
NormalHardLunatic
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
{{{content4}}}
{{{content5}}}
{{{content6}}}
{{{content7}}}
{{{content8}}}
{{{content9}}}
{{{content10}}}
{{{content11}}}
{{{content12}}}
{{{content13}}}
{{{content14}}}
{{{content15}}}
Boss data
NormalHard/Lunatic
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
{{{content3}}}
{{{content4}}}
{{{content5}}}
{{{content6}}}
{{{content7}}}
{{{content8}}}
{{{content9}}}
{{{content10}}}
{{{content11}}}
{{{content12}}}
{{{content13}}}
{{{content14}}}
{{{content15}}}
Strategy
| This section details unofficial strategies that may help with completion of the chapter. This may not work for everybody. |
At the beginning of this chapter, Gunter makes his triumphant return. His growths are poor and his bases relative to his level are just as bad, but his powerful personal skill Forceful Partner makes him a serviceable pair-up bot for Corrin for the rest of the game. You are stuck with just Corrin, Azura and Gunter for this chapter, as for plot reasons, you cannot use any other units, meaning your only sources of healing are items andHealing Descant (unless you reclassed Azura to the Sky Knight). If you are the type of player who likes to promote their units at later levels, now is a perfect time to promote Corrin and/or level them up to promote later.
Immediately have Corrin activate the Dragon Vein. This sends replicas of Corrin, Gunter and Azura to the southern east part of the map. Replicas share HP and inventory with their source units, they will always have the same weapon equipped, will carry over buff and debuff effects, and they will die if their source dies (and vice versa), replicas also cannot use supports. Also, Replica-Corrin and Replica-Azura cannot use the Convoy and Sing commands. Pair up Gunter with Corrin and have them lure in the first Villager. Meanwhile, Replica-Gunter should also pair up with Replica-Corrin and pull in the nearby Soldier. The source units shouldn't have too much trouble making their way to the escape point to the east, it's also a good idea to mainly use different characters for different parts of the map (like Corrin at the northern part and Gunter at the southern part) so you don't stack up damage on one unit and die quicker as a result. You can retreat immediately once the source units get to the north eastern part of the map, but keep in mind that doing so will make you miss out on the other rewards. If you want to defeat the enemy commander, you're going to want to keep a brisk pace in order to come under the 20 turn time limit. Be smart and aggressive, heal when you need to, and you should come out on top.
When you return to My Castle after this chapter, Jakob joins you if Corrin is male and Felicia joins you if Corrin is female. Jakob is extremely disappointing compared to his showing with a female Corrin. Without his early marriage to Corrin and access to good physical classes like Wyvern Lord, he's just a crummy Butler who can't fight like Kaze and can't heal like Felicia. Felicia with a female Corrin is much more useful. She starts off with a C rank in daggers, giving her instant access to the Flame Shuriken, and she can also serve as a good medic. She also compliments Leo's statline very well as a pair-up bot.
Trivia
- This chapter is the only one that takes place inValla that is not playable in theRevelation campaign.
- This chapter's map is reused inRevelation Chapter 19.
- This chapter is one of a few in theFire Emblem series, and one of even fewer on a Normal difficulty, to include apreparations phase that allows the player to deploy only two units initially (not includingGunter, who is on the field during the phase but does not appear in the deployment list) and unable to use other units due to story reasons; the battle preparations phase is included despite all chosen character deployments (Corrin andAzura) being mandatory, likely to allow the player to manage their inventory beforehand.
- Should Azura have been killed prior to this chapter's events, then this chapter becomes a rare instance in the series where a battle preparations phase is included yet the player may deploy only one character, with Corrin being the only deployable character in this instance.
- This chapter is also the first one in the series that is not ascenario DLC chapter to disallow deployment ofbonus units in a situation where a player may have already earned access to them.
Etymology and other languages
| Names, etymology, and in other regions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Name | Definition, etymology, and notes |
| English | The Black Pillar | -- |
| Japanese | 鈍く崩れ落ちて | A Slow Collapse |
| Spanish | El pilar negro | The black pillar |
| French | La colonne noire | The black column |
| German | Die dunkle Säule | The Dark Pillar |
| Italian | La colonna nera | The black column |
| Korean | 서서히 무너지고 | Collapses Slowly |
Gallery
This section has been marked as astub. Please help improve the page by adding information.
References
| ← Voice of Paradise • | The Black Pillar | • Invasion → |
|---|
