I would rather die than kneel to some whelp who was birthed in the hay.
„
~ Fernand
“
My king is dead. My country fallen. But I'll not hand this land over to you. Now, it is the Rigelian Empire's turn. Lord Berkut shall lead us and unite Valentia under one noble order!
„
~ Fernand preparing to battle the Deliverance in Northern Zofia.
“
Your existence is a black mark on the honor of Zofia. It ends today!
„
~ Fernand before fighting the heroes at the Zofia-Rigel border.
Fernand is a major antagonist of Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, the remake of Fire Emblem Gaiden. One of the founding members of the Zofian resistance army called the Deliverance, Fernand abandons the group when fellow founder Clive cedes his leadership to the commoner Alm. He then sides with Desaix and becomes a soldier of Rigel. Fernand is voiced in Japanese by Kenji Nojima and in English by Ray Chase.
Fernand is a young man with a narrow face and short gray hair. He wears green armor over dark green pants.
Personality
Fernand is a blunt man who freely speaks his mind about anything that offends his moral scruples. Before the death of his parents, he was fiercely loyal to the Kingdom of Zofia and his close friend Clive. After his parents were killed in a peasant insurrection, however, Fernand developed a deep hatred for the lower class, to the point of abandoning the Deliverance when a Alm becomes leader, and insulting Lukas for being born in a lesser noble house. When fatally wounded, however, Fernand realizes his bigotry blinded him to the truth and regrets his actions.
Biography
Past
The second child of a Zofian noble family, Fernand had an elder sister and two younger half-siblings, all of which he was close to. Young Fernand was also friends with the siblings Clive and Clair, whose family had close ties with his.
When Zofia's patron goddess Mila vanished, the country entered a terrible famine. Many commoners felt that the nobles were hoarding all resources for themselves, which led to a rebellion on the lands where Fernand's family lived, resulting in the deaths of everyone except himself. This event caused him to develop an immense hatred for commoners.
War of Deliverance
After Desaix becomes Chancellor of Zofia, he heavily taxed the people, continued to starve them, and allowed corrupt soldiers and ruffians to steal from the populace. Clive, Clair, and Clive's fiance Mathilda founded the Deliverance, a resistance army determined to overthrow Desaix and liberate Zofia. After learning that Desaix's men took Clair captive and held her at the recently claimed Southern Outpost, he rides out to aid her. However, he discovered that fellow Deliverance member Lukas already rescued Clair after recruited a group of Ram villagers, including a young man named Alm, to liberate the outpost. Fernand is frustrated that Lukas has allowed commoners to join the Deliverance, but Clair reminded him of Clive's belief that a soldier's worth is not determined by their birth. He returned to the Deliverance Hideout in disgust when Clair decided to remain with the Ram villagers instead of coming with him.
Later, Alm's group arrived at the Deliverance Hideout shortly and are greeted happily by Clive, who is grateful that they saved his sister. He decides that, with the increasing number of commoners joining the Deliverance, he should cede his leadership to Alm, as he is the grandson of the former Zofian general Mycen, who rose from humble beginnings to legendary knight. Fernand is so outraged by Clive's decision, he immediately left the Deliverance, and was arrested by Desaix's soldiers shortly thereafter. At Zofia Castle, Fernand was brought before Desaix himself and told the chancellor of his decision to abandon the Deliverance, as well as of its new leader. Desaix mulled over this new information, and decided that in lieu of killing Fernand, he would have him serve under Berkut, the imperial prince of Rigel, who Desaix believed better fit Fernand's ideals. Fernand tells Berkut of Alm, and is won over when Berkut states that a commoner cannot hope to successfully lead an army. When the Deliverance stormed Zofia Castle, the two watch the battle between them and Desaix's forces, but the Deliverance proved victorious, forcing Fernand to retreat with Berkut.
Fernand reappears to the Deliverance in Northern Zofia, as part of a Rigelian battalion led by Zakson. The members of the Deliverance are shocked that Fernand joined the Rigelian army, but Fernand explains that he believes Rigel's morals and standards are worth fighting for, and that he would rather see Berkut unite Valentia under Rigel's rule than fight for Zofia alongside a group of commoners. Fernand also states that Clive was wrong in making Alm the leader of the Deliverance, since Alm is not really Mycen's grandson. Abattle ensues, and the Deliverance is once again victorious, killing Zakson and forcing Fernand to retreat. He rejoins Berkut at the Forest Crossroads, where the prince decides to challenge the Deliverance for "sport" with a small group consisting of himself, Fernand, and another cavalier. This proves to be a misjudgment on Berkut's part, as all are defeated and forced to withdraw.
Before leaving for Rigel, Fernand visits Desaix's Fortress, where Mathilda is being held prisoner. Fernand tells Mathilda of his decision to leave the Deliverance. Mathilda attempts to make him reconsider, but he states that he has no desire to fight for Zofia again. However, he tells her that, were she by his side, he might have remained with the Deliverance. Fernand departs, saying what he expects to be his final farewell to Mathilda, as she is to be executed by Desaix.
Fernand later encounters the Deliverance on the border between Zofia and Rigel, where Berkut intends to atone for his previous defeat. Despite their best efforts, the Deliverance once again defeats them, with Fernand telling Berkut to retreat. However, Berkut breaks a mirror that had been given to him by the Nuibaba of the Duma Faithful as a last resort. Ghostly hands to rise out of the earth and attack the Deliverance. While Alm is able to reverse the mirror's spell thanks to a charm that had been given to him years earlier by his friend Celica, Fernand is visibly shocked at what happened and begins to question the true goals of Rigel and the Faithful.
Death
The War of the Deliverance ends with the death of Emperor Rudolf and the revelation that Alm is his true son, making him the rightful successor to Rigel's throne. Fernand looks for Berkut to console him, finding him deep in Duma Tower. There, consumed by revenge, Berkut sacrifices his fiance Rinea to Duma for power. An unhinged Berkut forces Rinea, now a soulless Witch, to attack Fernand, which mortally wounds him. He has enough strength to reach the entrance, where he encounters the Deliverance one final time. Collapsing into Clive's arms, Fernand begs Alm and Clive to stop Berkut and Duma, and apoligizes for all of his actions. Before Clive can do anything to save him, Fernand passes away.
Quotes
“
Who among you will face me?
„
~ Fernand while fighting enemies while in the Deliverance.
“
Now that was enjoyable.
„
~ Fernand after defeating enemies while in the Deliverance.
“
Is this some manner of folly to you, Lukas? Am I to be amused? Such baseborn curs cannot possibly aid our cause. The Deliverance has no place for brats with pitchforks.
„
~ Fernand complaining to Lukas.
“
Hah! As if the word of a backwater noble carries weight with me. Your entire house should be kissing the Knights of Zofia's feet!
„
~ Fernand insulting Lukas.
“
Yes! Yes, exactly! Truer words were never spoken, Lord Berkut!
„
~ Lukas agreeing with Berkut that the lowborn are incapable of leading armies.
“
Does that really surprise you, Clive? You and the Deliverance took all I believed in and trod it into the mire. In Rigel, they still have ideals worth upholding.
„
~ Fernand to Clive in Northern Zofia.
“
Come at me. Surely you detestable vermin don't think you can stand against a true nobleman?
„
~ Fernand as he fights the heroes in Northern Zofia.
“
Nnngh... I have... no choice... I must fall back... and rejoin Lord Berkut in the main force...
„
~ Fernand as he is defeated in Northern Zofia.
“
I needn't test you as Lord Berkut does. I already know how pathetic you are!
„
~ Berkut before fighting the heroes at the Forest Crossroads.
“
Careless... But next time will be different.
„
~ Fernand as he is defeated at the Forest Crossroads.
“
Zofia? You mean the proud kingdom whose riches fell to wild and ignorant savages? Zofia is dead to me. I have buried her and will not look back.
„
~ Fernand to Mathilda.
“
...With you by my side, I might have chosen differently.
„
~ Fernand turning down Mathilda's request to rejoin the Deliverance.
“
Gyaugh! How... how can I lose to such rabble...?
„
~ Fernand as he is defeated at the Zofia-Rigel border.
“
Did that power truly come from Duma? There is no pride in resorting to such unholy means. What is it the Empire—no, the Duma Faithful—are trying to accomplish?
„
~ Fernand unnerved by the effects of Nuibaba's mirror.
Gallery
Fernand's portrait.
Fernand's cavalier map sprite as a member of the Deliverance.
Fernand's cavalier map sprite after joining the Rigelian army.
Fernand's paladin map sprite.
Fernand furious over Clive's decision to cede his leadership to Alm.
Fernand, Berkut, and a Rigelian cavalier at the Forest Crossroads.
Fernand telling Mathilda he has sided with Desaix.
In addition to Fernand, Ray Chase also provides the English voices of Fire Emblem heroes Roy and Alfonse. He also voiced Gaius in English from Fire Emblem Heroes onward.
