#CYL 5

[ali-yona]

his ass does NOT need 5 whole swords. his greed sickens me......

[randomnameless]

Three houses get more representation in heroes because its popular ?

I guess?

My issue isn't with how popular or loved Fodlan is, but what FEH was supposed to be.

With FE Cipher, even if Fates and Awakening were very popular, we still had entire sets featuring FE6 characters. Ditto for FE4/5/8 (tfw a Bael got its own card).

CYL is a popularity contest, that much I understand.

And yet, I also understand FEH is supposed to be a celebration of the franchise itself - bla bla FEH is a main game because Vero is a paid DLC in Engage bla but would anyone really pay 60 bucks to play book 1 and 6 about Vero's story? Really ? If this is a main game , then the first warriors game is one too lol - so why are the same 3 games over represented ?

In Cipher, we had a Fates set, then a Jugdral set (featuring CIpher OCs?), then an Archanea set, then an awakening set, then a Valentia one, etc etc.

But if they follow the current FEH, it'd be one fodlan set, one thracia set, one fodlan set, one awakening set, one fodlan set, one tellius set, one fodlan set, one elibe set, one fodlan set etc.

I really get how popular units/games will always sell and the fan favourites are always represented, I played through 2 Tales gacha games lol, Links had basically a bajillion of Leons and Yuris while poor Caius barely existed, and Rowen never got a premium unit!

CYL is a fan event - for sure - but beyond CYL, it's just FEH that tires me - it's not a celebration of the FE series anymore, it's just a cashgrab to take money from some fans using their current obsession (Fateswakening in Year1-2, Fodlan now) so while it never concerned me in the first few years, I dgaf and moved on, wondering if the units I like would ever get a thing (and they did! Saias was released for free lol) but now with the state of powercreep the game has?

You have to roll for units, to get their skills and fodder them to units you care about, and even then, they might not be able to clean PVE content - I like when things are challenging, sure, but the last Seer's Snare was a cruel wake-up : even with the newest shiny skills and whatnot, Caineghis cannot compete with duo!Anna. P!Naesala has the WTA against them? Who gives a fig, he dies on initiation.

Hegemongard was just a prelude to what FEH would become lol - even if, with investment, old units could still put up a fight against her, but you had to get dedicated team to counter her.

Now? With a team with W!Mitris, L!Alear and A!Elincia? Good luck tanking anything lol - sure, Tina is a godsend and I find if hilarious how this random nobody from FE5 is supposed to counter the crazed current meta, but it's the same issue - sell ridiculous units, and sell ridiculous counters.

It's the essence of a gacha game.

Maybe the next A!Caineghis or maybe a L!Caineghis will make the character relevant again - at least if you want to play and use him, but... as far as FEH is concerned, no one gaf about Cain, so he might have gotten a refine and yet he'll not get another unit. Forgive him in you want to play PVE content - or roll for new premium units and field him as a cute mascot.

[narugen]

i genuinely love writing so much ohhhh bringing my ideas to Life… sharing it with others… i know what it’s like to head into a tag and see NO CONTENT for a pairing except for that One Person carrying the ship on ao3 so it’s Nice being that person this time around??!??

[snowflop]

I want to be a hater about the cyl results so I'm making my own post so i can bitch in the tags about it. The tags will get long so the tldr is BOOOO everybody but Alfonse.

[three-o-clock-things]

watch none of my cyl votes place

[apollo-just-ice]

If you see this you should vote for Bruno in CYL bc I am getting lowkey stressed at the idea of making content in time for CYL voting to rally votes,,,,

Lol yes ik he’s not gonna win but I want him to get a decent ranking,,,

Plz? :)

[oh-cool-a-burning-sword]

aight so CYL results are in and though I didn't vote for him this year I will 100% be getting Soren. No doubt about that. Maybe also Male Robin if Instys doesn't decide to make him Grima again (doubt it since well... Grima's their own character on there, but you never know)

Fem Corrin winning's nice, though I would have preferred if her male counterpart had one. And then Gullveig being in first place... well usually brand new FEH ocs score high on CYL so I'm not too surprised.

Part of me is also kinda glad that both Shez's are still on the top 20. Male Shez being on 12th place while Female Shez is 14th. Not just that but Arval apparently scored 55th which isn't too high but seeing as there's over 400 characters it's still kinda neat. Though I'm sure that next year the placements will drop, especially since next year will include Engage characters. Wonder if one of these three will get an Alt tho.

[arklay]

lmao my eyesight rip

[alexissara]

5 Years Of Three Houses, 5 Years Of Loving Edelgard.

5 Years ago today, I was first able to enter the continent of Fodlan, I meet Edelgard and from there I fell for a character in a way I never had before. I was already a professional writer with published worked and focused on Character driven work but I was still blown away by what an amazing character Edelgard was. 5 years ago, I got Engaged at a queer con, I was playing my 2nd route of three houses having played from Three Houses. The game was with me at this wonderful landing point in my life, it was there during the rough covid era struggles, when I was deeply, deeply sick, I was sicker than I ever been, not with Covid but with stomach issues and was hospitalized multiple times in one month ending in a surgery. I ran a roleplay inspired by Three Houses in Thirsty Sword Lesbians which I played for many years, I dated one of my exes through the whole campaign and grew a lot closer to one of my current girlfriends through it. I refined a version of one of my favorite OCs Ever Lena to do a Three Houses OC AU version of her for a different roleplay and while that fell through she did end up being used for that previously mentioned TSL game.

I reviewed Three Houses after finishing all four routes, I wanted to be really through and experience every route, every story, every FF romance arc, etc before I reviewed it. I gave the game a 7/10, I think now I'd give it an 8/10 maybe but a review score is what I think of the game as an overall package. The life changing power of Crimson Flower was really the big deal for me. That was 10/10, that was peak, it was just that the other routes were nowhere near as good for me. Edelgard the revolutionary who is happy to cast herself as a villain if that's what it takes to change the oppression in the world, something that was so strong, so powerful that it was reflected into our world. She was so good at being a character who impacted a fictional world, the only reason things happen at all that people to this day get angry about people loving her, discourse about her, cast her off, make up shit, show their political asses, etc. What a fucking character to be hated so strongly, for so long by this rabid group. Keeping love from a small fan base over time is hard but maintaining hate as a fictional character, that's harder especially with a 24/7 culture war of new women to hate. However, she also maintained love, Edelgard is the most popular character in all of Fire Emblem, in the 5 years she's got the most fan art, the most votes in CYL, she clearly makes nearly the most money in the gacha given how often they make new versions of her or rerun her, she is the moment.

Of course, it is not just Edelgard I love but the Black Eagles as a whole from the classic roster to the extended family of Mercedes, Lyesthia, Shamir, Leonie, to the Hopes additions of Monica and Shez. Edelgard stands so tall but she doesn't overshadow her amazing allies in changing the world. Even the men, me a famous not man enjoyer, finds at worst like, kinda boring rather than like repulsive. Plus I really love Hubert and Jeritza both as characters and think they are lovely, brilliant characters I wouldn't want to see replaced.

Three Houses hit me in a way "better" games haven't hit me in. I still think about the characters, the world, the politics, the ideas, the lore, the romances, everything so often, daily. I love so much art, most of this little blog is me talking about art I engaged with and I struggle to think of another piece of art that took me by storm in the same ways that Three Houses has. I'd love to have another game sweep me off my feet and have me giggling like someone who just met their idol but even if it doesn't happen again I am glad it happened with Three Houses.

Then there was Three Hopes and I fucking love Three Hopes, it only exists in the context of Houses but Scarlet Blaze and Golden Wildfire blew me the fuck away. Both routes do a ton for the characters in the series, the plots are fantastic, bringing Monica back and making her one of the best characters in the Fire Emblem series was so fucking great, and I adore the Warriors gameplay. Three Houses was a gift that not only gave itself but Hopes which really just furthered helped put Houses in focus, tie in way more lore, way more context, and way more information. I could explore the world of Fodlan even more honestly, I still hope for Hopes DLC because I just love this game.

It was so amazing to see Edeglard freed of Those Who Slither in the dark and the way her revolution works if she could just have saved her lesbian best friend and probably girlfriend. I loved to see the new amazing paralogues, the way the war shakes out, how she operates free of enemies resting in her house, how the nobles react when Edelgard is a free agent, the way the church fights back in this new time line. It really exciting and it is fun to see how the world once again revolves around the actions and moves of Edelgard and how she sets Fodlan Ablaze with change but now with more time to do things more carefully. It is such a great alterative look.

I don't have enough glowing things to say about Three Houses but I do have some things to say for the future of my favorite video game series. I deeply hope the future of Fire Emblem is more like Houses and not like the games around it. Houses was a return to form and the first story that blew me away since Radiant Dawn. I want more games that have the style and budget and scope and ambition of a Houses. I don't really trust intelligent systems to bring me that kind of story, so I hope they work with Koei again in the future and let their writers do their thing,

I love the smaller scale Fire Emblems but I can play indie games and smaller budget SRPGs and get the scope and ambition of a smaller scale Fire Emblem but only Nintendo money can bring the kind of game Houses is to the table. I really want to see the expensive class system brought back hopefully without the sexism and the big roster of characters and so much of the little things that made houses so charming. I don't need multiple routes but I would like a good political message like Crimson Flower to be in the future. I don't know if I'll ever love a character not made by me or my loves ones as much as I love Edelgard again but I want them try and I want them to pull it off.

Happy 5 Years Fire Emblem Three Houses, you are something special. If you want to see more of me gushing about houses you can read my fics here https://archiveofourown.org/users/AlexisSara/works?fandom_id=23985107

[elluia]

Choose Your Legends 8 ended with lots of surprises, and it's time to celebrate!

I've seen concerning amounts of salt and bashing on the games involved or not, so this will be a positive post! I'm tired of the fandom's dumb takes and toxicity so let's praise everyone for the amazing scores and stories that unfolded during this vote!

First let's start with the link to all the official CYL art since Year 1 of FEH, enjoy the trip down memory lane!

https://fire-emblem-heroes.com/fr/sp/illustrations/

(I nabbed that chibi Soren right away, bless Kita Senri)

CYL 8 Male winners:

🥇1: Alfonse | A beautifully deserved win for our well-written OC lord who keeps the story of Heroes entertaining with his crazy one-liners and unhinged plans, with more tender moments with his family and friends to soften him. I hope we get to see him grown-up like Legendary Veronica.

🥈2: Felix | I love seeing non-lord characters emerge from the voting. His voters have shown their supports 4 years in a row and it paid off! Especially nice win because Felix has been shafted by IS with a silly seasonal and an ok god-sword pre-TS unit.

CYL 8 Female winners:

🥇1: Bernadetta | Just like Felix, her voters lost to circumstances (aka the surprise Gullveig sweep), so I'm glad for them! Plus her post-TS personality should force the writers to tone down the moe nervous trait that flanderizes her character.

🥈2: Female Robin | She's finally free to be in the common summoning pool as herself, not Grima! She has too few alts to her name, and she marks the first time both genders of an avatar have won CYL, so good job!

About the Engage non-sweep, don't get disheartened! The votes for Engage were equal to Three Houses, but they were split between A LOT of fan favourites for both genders, while the FE3H fans rallied one last time for 1 male and 1 female representation, without competition from their lords. It's a respectable result, and the bashing on Engage is disingenuous and undeserved.

I've seen the top 5 from each game and I'm happy to see Finn up there for Thracia and Mae for Echoes. I hope to see Linoan soon, and other alts for Berkut and Rinea. People rallied for Athos to get in the game already, for Lloyd to have new art, for Seth and Titania to get the stats they deserve...

Fan favourites like Lyon or the Black Knight still score high. Azura received love. Even Elincia who's already been very lucky in 2023 got in the top for PoR and RD! I love to see people rally for a Sentinel Nephenee too.

We continue to see Leo and Takumi side by side, chilling in the male top 20 like BFFs. It's adorable.

This CYL8 follows in the steps of CYL7 with no main lords, only favourites and avatars.

Next year I hope to see Jugdral and Elyos win, but for now I'm happy with the 4 we have 🥰

[fire-emblem-drabbles]

By Your Side

Pairing: Alfonse x reader

Prompt: The summoner has a lot of anxiety :(

Description: When you found out there were small attacks all around Askr, you agreed it would be a good idea to stay behind at the castle to dispatch heroes to help defend the people. But when you find out that Alfonse has gone out alone to draw the enemy attack, you can't help but find yourself worrying about him.

Content Warning: None

Word Count: 1515

Notes: I finally got around to catching up in the story in feh, and when I played 8/3 I kinda lost my mind. Alfonse why would you go alone TAKE ME WITH YOU also this is not edited its...nearly 5 am. Happy cyl Alfonse!!

You couldn’t help but pace in worry at the castle. You should have known he would do something like this-- you should have insisted on going with him, or having a small unit follow him as he went off. Something, anything to ease your anxiety.

“Did he think I wouldn’t figure it out?” Between the look of guilt on Ratatoskr’s face and the serious one on his, there wasn’t much they could hide from you. More so because he asked you to stay here. You weren’t even able to join the small squad that went after his smoke signal, too nervous and jittery to join some of the heroes as they went with Anna, Sharena, and Ratatoskr to assist Alfonse. You were instead left at the castle, where the sheer amount of heroes around could assure your safety. You just wish he would have told you.

Now, all you could do was worry, anxiously watching the doors and waiting for your party to return home. Your lucky then, that not a moment later than a frown gracing your face do the doors open and welcome the party home. You rush to them, some quick words shared with commander Anna about the situation before you push past to Alfonse, taking in how he was a little worse for ware. You should have known to send a healer with them-- but that wasn’t what was important now.

“Alfonse…” You frown and take him in, seeing how troubled his features were. “You’re hurt.” You don’t know what else to say in the moment, gentle hand tracing the thin cuts along his face.

“Not too bad. Your reinforcements arrived just in time.” He smiles, soft and gentle at you. The same one that’s caused your heartbeat to pick up again and again.

“Still, come with me. Let’s get them taken care of.” It’s an obvious ploy to get him alone, that anyone could see but no one argues as you lead him away from the main entrance by hand. When the two of you are out of earshot, he speaks.

“I’m sorry to have worried you.” It’s the first thing that leaves his mouth, but you don’t stop walking with him, don’t stop holding his hand. You don’t even turn his way, least he see the emotion that’s surely taken over your features.

“I just…” You sigh, all too soon the two of you are outside the door to your chambers. “Please, come in.” You open the door and gesture for him to enter. Alfonse, the softest of frowns on his face, obliges, keeping his eyes on you even as he takes a familiar seat in your casual area. You follow in after him, closing the door and turning to him.

“I’ve been here how long, by your side, and you don’t think to tell me?” You didn’t mean to sound so accusatory, but the words seemed to have a mind of your own as the worry you once felt melts into hurt. “I know we didn’t have much time, but together we could have… could have thought of something better. Together.” You offer weakly, too pent up to sit and instead tugging at the sleeves of your cloak in attempt to stave off the excess energy you felt.

“_____…” It softens you, the way your name leaves him so gently. Even then, there’s a certain resolution to him as he speaks. “I… won’t say you’re wrong. But I would do it again.” He closes his eyes, something he tends to do when he felt serious enough. “We’re so close to peace, and I can’t let anything threaten it… knowing I was the enemies target, I had to act.”

“...Don’t you know peace will mean very little to Askr, if they lose their prince to get it?” Alfonse’s eyes seem to widen as I say the words, but I continue. “I, certainly, wouldn’t know what to do in a world where you weren’t by my side.” I sigh heavily, suddenly feeling very weary. I take a seat next to him on the love seat.

“...I know this. But I would still give my life to protect that peace, any time it was threatened. It it what a prince owes to his people.” He clutches the fabric of his pants tightly, something clearly still bothering him.

“Then you owe it to me, your tactician, to warn me when you go off defending that peace.” You reach for his hand again. In seeing this, Alfonse stops clutching at his pants and instead holds your hand in turn. “All I ask is that you try to refrain from doing something like this in the future.” Your eyes meet as you speak and suddenly you can feel warmth filling your cheeks.

“I’ll do my best.” Despite the heavy conversation, Alfonse manages a smile for you. He squeezes you hand gently as well, and you smile back.

“...I was really scared, when I heard word you were setting out alone.” I close my eyes, sitting back against the back of the couch. “For the first time in a long time, I felt kind of powerless. What could I do if I wasn’t by your side? If I wasn’t there to guide you and protect you.”

“I understand.” You can tell he’s choosing his words carefully. Was his heart beating as fast as yours? “There have been times in the past I failed to protect you, where I let the enemy get their hands on you…”

You think back to your time with Kvasir and Gulvieg. You were ultimately safe, and in fact treated rather well by both of them but the entire time, your allies were worried about you. You recall very clearly the relief on Alfonse’s face when you were reunited… And how happy you were to be with him again, too.

“But I always found you again. I was always the one fighting to get you back. I… never let anyone take that responsibility from me.” He admits freely, voice still sounding so clear. “When you’re not by my side, I also worry. I often don’t feel quite myself.” While this was something Alfonse had admitted before, it felt different all the sudden. “I need to protect this peace so I can experience it with you by my side, _____.” He smiles, shy and charming as he looks your way.

He’s not the same person you met when you were first summoned her. He’s grown, matured even more into his role as prince. You love him all the same, though. You’ve loved him this entire time. It gets caught in your throat every time though. You don’t want to ruin this. But you can’t imagine a life without him, either.

“I want to protect it with you. Always.” You hope that will suffice, with the way you squeeze his hand and emotion warbles in your tone. Even then, you want to tell him. There have been so many moments with him-- ones that have surely been more happy, more right. But you had never loved him more than you did in this moment, when the threat of losing him was suddenly so real.

You let the silence blossom between the two of you as your try to find your courage. As you clench and unclench his hand, take deep breaths and let them fall from your nose. As you close your eyes and sneak glances at him (noticing, with a flush, that he’s unabashedly studying you with a smile on his face).

“Alfonse?” You speak his name and look his way, even though you know you’ve already got his attention.

“Yes?” He hums softly in return. You swallow hard on the words that so many times have begged to leave your lips.

“I love you. I love you so much, I…” You stutter as you struggle to find the right words.

“I love you too.” He says it as if he has a million times. Maybe he has. “And I know how you feel,” He holds a sad smile, as he turns to you and cups your cheek with his free hand. “All I can say is that I’m here now. And I’m safe.”

“Don’t be so dumb again.” You close your eyes as you feel yourself begin to cry. Was it relief? Sadness? “Please?”

“Only if you promise the same.” He laughs softly, wiping your tears away. “You know… I never knew it would be so easy.” He confesses. “I had wanted to tell you for so long but…” There’s color to his cheeks, but fondness to his tone.

“I was just… thinking about how you could be gone, without me ever telling you, and I…” You shake your head. “It became more urgent, I suppose.” I laugh softly as well.

“Imagine how I felt.” He laughs as well, but it does cause you to pause and consider how he’s acted in the wake of your return from enemy encounters.

“Let’s promise to take better care of each other then.” You smile, moving in to press your forehead against his.

“Deal.”

[yanderefairyangel]

This fandom is as predictable as I expected when I saw the result for CYL...

Stop theorising, here is why we didn't have an Engage sweep

If you compare the result to last year, less people have participated to CYL this year compared to the previous one. Bernadetta is the one who got most voted and received a total of 19, 600 vote. 2 years ago, CYL 6, the one who got voted most was Chrom who received a total of 42,134 votes. Just to give you an idea.

People were already rooting for the current winner last year. Bernadetta and F!Robin in particular were so disappointed that Gullveig won they made a more intense campaing this year.

Felix and Bernadetta are present in both 3H and Hopes, so if you take that into account, this mean they had more chances as they have 2 games they are featured in. An example, if you look at how much vote Leif received, he placed pretty well in both game he is featured in and his vote are all counted regardless of if you vote for him in Genealogy or Thracia

The votes for Engage character were very split out. If you looked up, you would see people were voting for many characters, including those who didn't made it in FEH yet and even the DLC characters. THE DLC CHARACTERS. In reality a lot of people voted for Engage. How do I know that ? Someone made a post comparing the votes and

Engage is second, right after the Foldan games. And if you look at the actual result

5 male units from Engage made it in the top 20, with 3 making it to the top 10

7 female units made it to the top 20, with at least 4 in the top 10

This means that a total of 12 units from Engage placed well. And from this 5 units are those who are featured in Engage's own top 5 having placed in top 10.

So if you make the maths, it's very easy to see that all votes were very much spread out because all combined we arrive to a result of 61,427 votes for the Engage character who made it to the top 20

Besides, as you can see Judgral receives less vote yet Sigurd is 4th place. Because most people who voted for Genealogy voted for Sigurd, so several fans voted for one single character instead of focusing individually on their own blorbo

so no, "No Engage sweep" doesn't mean "Engage bad" or whatever the heck I saw about the game itself.

It's just that Engage fans all voted for one character in this one cast in particular and it resulted in no real leading figure for the votes whereas people who voted for Awakening or 3H games were dominated by one lead figure due to fans voting for said characters for quite a moment

[emblemxeno]

Fire Emblem Heroes-CYL Bonus Quotes + My Ideas for the Ones Who Don't Have Them

Choose Your Legends Winners have bonus quotes when they are on a team you enter a map with and playing with English voices (only the English voices have these quotes actually)! These are popular or funny quotes from their home games or other appearances, like Smash Bros.

CYL1

"The future is *not* written."-Lucina's victory quote in Smash Bros.

"Roy's our boy!"-Roy's crowd chant in Smash Bros.

"I'll be your peerless warrior!"-Lyn's promising words to Mark at the end of FE7 prologue

"You... like Ike?"-Ike's crowd chant in Smash Bros.

CYL2

"Take me with you!"-Veronica... I think she says this once to Bruno, but I can't find where specificailly

"Together, we will always stay."-Ephraim's A Support with Eirika

"Nothing will ever come between us."-Celica to Alm as kids during Echoes' opening movie

"I just gotta be me, y'know?"-Hector's A Support with Lyn

CYL5

"Let's go rescue my brother!"-Eirika to her troops at the end of FE8 chapter 6

"Caeda, what's wrong!?"-Marth to Caeda in FE1 chapter 1

"Please forgive me, Goddess..."-A constant sentiment of Marianne's character, and said verbatim once she slays her first enemy in FE16 chapter 2

"There was something to report, wasn't there?"-A staple of Gatekeeper's dialogue, said verbatim in FE16 chapter 5

CYL6

"I am *no* chatterbox."-Reference to Hapi's nickname for Byleth

"There is more than one truth."-What Sigurd's ghost says to Seliph, after Seliph lands the finishing blow on Arvis and waits next to the beach in FE4 chapter 10

"My... autograph?"-Tiki's C Support with Anna

"You are yourself."-Chrom's consoling words to Robin in FE13 chapter 13

CYL8

"Now... what was so damned important?"-F!Robin's B Support with Chrom

"You must be joking."-Felix during his Goddess Tower event in FE16 chapter 9

"One day... I'll be left alone."-A reference to the correct response to one of her advice box questions during FE16's war phase (this one I'm not 100% on, if anyone has corrections let me know in the replies)

"I'm going to kill you, too."-Alfonse to Letizia during Book 6, Chapter 5, Part 5: I Killed Him

However, the winners of CYL3 (2019), CYL4 (2020), and CYL7 (2023) don't have these bonus quotes. The reasons, if the directors or higher ups of the localization team forgot or they weren't too high priority for the time, are unknown. So I thought I'd take a stab at what I think they'd be for those winners.

CYL3

"I'll have their heads on a platter!"-Camilla at the of FE14 chapter 3

"I'm proud I took your hand."-Eliwood's A support with Hector

"I have finally found my purpose."-Micaiah at the end of FE10 chapter 3-F

"This isn't where things end for us!"-Alm to Celica before returning to face Duma together in Echoes Act 5

CYL4

"You think I'm special?"-Lysithea's A support with Claude

"We'll scale the walls between us!"-Claude during Verdant Wind's final cutscene

"Take your first step!"-Edelgard to the Black Eagles after escaping the Holy Tomb

"I am finally home again..."-Dimitri at the end of Azure Moon chapter 18

CYL7

"Remember where you came from."-Mikoto to Corrin at the end of FE14 Revelation chapter 24

"My only wish was to see you again."-Soren to Ike in their base conversation in FE10 Endgame 5

"A gift of revelation..."-Seiðr to the Summoner, Book 7, Chapter 5, Part 1: Goddess's Descent

"Get eaten by a bear. I don't give a damn."-M!Robin's B support with Aversa

[lampreylarry]

Winter Gifts

CYL Day: 5

A cute art commission I got from @ArayaEjiri on twitter

Please continue voting for Female robin and help her win!

vote for her in the link below.

[silverdrive92]

CYL8 Forging Bonds in a nutshell:

Robin: Me, Myself, and Grima 2: Electric Boogaloo

Bernadetta: 5 Guys, Bernie & Fries

Felix: 1 Girl, 2 Swords, All Felix.

Alfonse: If I had a nickel for every time Ray Chase won CYL, I'd have 2 nickels.

[fefuckability]

The Thracia 776 Bracket Qualifier! Starts Monday, July 1st at 3pm EDT

Here’s how it’s going to work:

There are going to be nine qualifying polls (six for the men, three for the women)

Pick your most bangable favorite from each poll

Polls will run for one week (I’d prefer 3 days but alas Tumblr doesn’t offer the option yet)

The top 32 male characters and the top 16 female characters will qualify for the men’s and women’s bracket

Polls:

Qualifier 1 (Finn, Osian, Halvan, Dagdar, Marty, Ronan, Lifis, Brighton)

Qualifier 2 (Fergus, Dalsin, Hicks, Shiva, Carrion, Cain, Alva, Robert)

Qualifier 3 (Fred, Salem, Perne, Troude, Glade, Deen, Homer, Ralf)

Qualifier 4 (Ilios, Sleuf, Shannam, Xavier, Conomor, Diarmuid, Saias, Ced)

Qualifier 5 (Galzus, August, Julius, Manfroy, Hannibal, Dryas, Arion, Travant)

Qualifier 6 (Bloom, Raydrik, Veld, Kempf, Reinhardt, Lewyn, Seliph, Leif*)

Qualifier 7 (Eyvel, Tanya, Safy, Machyua, Lara, Karin)

Qualifier 8 (Nanna, Selphina, Olwen, Mareeta, Linoan, Misha)

Qualifier 9 (Amalda, Ishtar, Altena, Julia, Eda)

I am also adding a Google Form to submit characters for an enby bracket so Limstella, Kyza, Mark, and Bramimond don’t get left out. These can be characters from any game as long as there is canon basis for them being nonbinary.

Extra notes under the cut

Characters who are excluded from voting:

Anyone who obviously both looks and acts like a literal child. I am not taking Kaga/manga ages into account. IS is very inconsistent on whether or not they bother following them anyway. So the standard is literally "if a reasonable adult could look at this character and immediately clock them as a child, then they're out". Some characters are borderline so discretion may be used

Palette swaps or characters who are mostly the same portrait with only slight variation to hair, outfit, etc. (so, basically, all of the tertiary antagonists lol)

Anyone who lacks either a unique portrait or a unique name

Characters who do not have a unique human form

Special Notes:

While Genealogy and Thracia have mostly different casts, there are going to be some characters that overlap. e.g. Lewyn, Seliph, Altena, Ced, etc. Since I've never actually played Thracia I have no idea how involved some of these characters are, but I've decided to just run them twice (once on Thracia, once on the Genealogy polls when we get there). If you don't think they belong with Thracia then feel free to not vote for them.

We're using whatever name popped up for them on the wiki when I googled "Thracia characters", which seems to be the localized names IS uses for them in the CYL polls.

*Leif was very borderline on whether or not I should include him. I've ultimately decided to include him because of his presence in Genealogy, where he's older. Since he uses the same design for both games I thought it'd be odd if I put him on the Genealogy bracket but not on the Thracia bracket. Feel free to not vote for him if you don't like that he's here