#despite nergal not appearing and eliwood not saying anything

[incorrectgbafequotes]

[crystalelemental]

Character Analysis - Limstella

I was asked today why I cared so much about Limstella, and of course, it turned into a whole thing.  I promise, there are legitimate reasons, aside from the fact that I just think they're super cute.  And fit the bill of being kinda creepy.  Basically they hit a lot of points for favoritism with me.  But, in proper "my favorite is a side character" fashion, I feel like Limstella has a lot of personality and depth to them, that is revealed through smaller bits of dialogue and interactions.

Consider this my early propaganda for CYL5.

Limstella's Role Let's start with this: it's true that Limstella gets very minimal dialogue, and has basically nothing to do aside from "be Nergal's right hand Morph," and "collect quintessence from the strongest fighters in the world."  They really don't have a ton to do.

At least, overtly.  You see, I think Limstella is, on their own, the lore of this game.  Blazing Blade's main story is pretty standard, and doesn't show much at first in Eliwood's mode.  But in Hector's mode, we get a lot more depth, particularly for the villains.  We learn about Nergal's origins, a bit more about one of his earliest Morphs, and some added dialogue from Nergal.  It poses the question of whether they, as living beings, share the same experiences as humans, and what exactly do they think and feel?  All of that adds a lot of philosophical inquiries about the nature of morphs, and Limstella embodies all of that.

What is a Morph? Canas: "Bishop, I must ask you...do you think these morphs have souls? Renault: "Souls?" Canas: "Yes, I am dreadfully curious to know.  The Elimineans say that all creatures possess souls...all those created by the gods, that is.  But what of those created by man?  And these manufactured beings...do they dream?  Do they think - and suffer - as we do?  Or must their emotions be...crafted...by another?"

Canas and Renault's supports are, in my mind, the best in the entire series.  Nothing has been able to top the level of impact this conversation had for me.  Not just because of how compelling it is as a philosophical notion, but because of how it contextualizes and mirrors everything we, the player, experience through what we see of the Morphs.

Think about the Morphs we encounter.  Ephidel, Sonia, Limstella, Kishuna, and Denning.  These are the main named Morphs who exist within the game.  How do they seem to you?  Ephidel seems cocky and conniving.  He drives the initial conflict that gets Eliwood's father drawn in, by being persuasive enough to manipulate leaders of nations to folly.  Sonia...is a bitch.  She's cruel, manipulative, and highly vocal in her disdain for other morphs, and people she considers lesser.  On their own, we would never really think twice about Canas' questions: of course Morphs think and feel like humans.

But then there are the exceptions.  Denning exists as a living recording of a message, and nothing else.  Kishuna is stated to be the first Morph that Nergal attempted to embed emotions into, and doesn't say or do anything aside from wander around and exude a sense of sadness.  Limstella acts coolly and rationally, and doesn't seem to engage much with anyone.  By their account, Morphs do not show emotion or thought.

How can these two types of Morphs both exist?  Do they, or do they not, feel?  As Canas asks: do they naturally feel such things, or must it be crafted?  This is an incredibly compelling question, and while each has a bit of the story to tell, I’m just going to focus on Limstella for this, and how their interactions showcase the answer the game provides.

Limstella as a Character Limstella doesn't get many interactions, but the ones they do get are important.

The big one I love is Sonia.  Sonia's unique quirk for a Morph is that she doesn't know she's not human.  As a result, Sonia acts high and mighty, and looks down on the constructs that are just tools for Nergal's use.  Sonia believes that she, and she alone, is important to Nergal, not as a tool, but as a person.  She believes whole-heartedly that Nergal needs and respects her, and that is why she's obedient.  Keep this in mind as we talk more about their interactions.

When Limstella and Sonia do talk, it is just before Chapter 26x.  Sonia is rude to Limstella, talking down to them and saying "Take heed how casually you call a human by name, you puppet."  They're interrupted by Brendan Reed, who appears to finally challenge Sonia.  He dies, but Sonia is injured in the fight.  Limstella offers to cover for her, maintaining diligence to her duty, unfazed by Sonia's comments.  After all, Morphs have no emotions.  Sonia tells Limstella to leave, she doesn't need help and is a perfect human.

Of course, after the battle, Sonia is defeated but not dead.  Limstella appears again, and in Sonia's final moments, Limstella speaks to her.

Limstella: "Sonia." Sonia: "Le--Leave me...accursed puppet...  Lord Nergal...aah...help...me." Limstella: "Puppets have no essence to harvest.  You no longer have any use to Lord Nergal..." Sonia: "What?!  What...did...  What are you...  I am human...” Limstella: "......"  *leaves* Sonia: Wait!  ...urrg!"  I am...hu...ma......"

I adore this bit. You could easily see this line as just an emotionless commentary on what Limstella's role is meant to be: collecting quintessence from the strong.  Sonia is dying, so Limstella’s come to collect.  But there's none here, so they make note of it and leave.  But consider the following points:

Use of the term "puppet," which directly echoes how Sonia has derisively referred to them, and all Morphs.

The inclusion of a comment that Sonia had no further use for Nergal.  Limstella is speaking directly to Sonia, not commentating, and they're very explicit about Sonia not having use to Nergal specifically.

Limstella knew Sonia was a Morph in advance.  Limstella doesn’t try to steal quintessence at all.  If they didn’t know, they would have tried.  Moreover, if this were just carrying out their orders, they wouldn’t have stuck around, if they knew there was nothing to harvest.  They know there's nothing to be gained.  And yet, they waited here for Sonia to fall, then showed up just to say this.

This isn't emotionless commentary.  This is a malicious act of intent.  Limstella acted of their own will, deciding to stick around, wait for Sonia to be on death’s door, all to taunt her in her final moments, spitting her own words back in her face and rubbing it in that Nergal (1) has no use for her anymore, and (2) imply that he never cared if she died at all.  That's a powerful, emotional act for a being with no emotions.

But why?  Why go to such lengths for this?  Limstella is designed to only adhere to their duty, yet they wasted their time and effort on a petty jab.  What would compel them to do this?  Think about the most powerful line Limstella has: their death quote.

"I am not human.  This body and this heart are constructs.  Yes, as is this sorrow."  This one line reveals a lot about Limstella for those who haven't been following the Morphs as closely.  In this one line, they express both that they are aware of themselves as a construct that does not feel, but simultaneously admits to feeling sorrow.  Despite this internal state of experience, Limstella denies it, stating that it all must be fake.  There can't be anything real in there.

Limstella's Sorrow and Motivation Consider this: why is it that Limstella is feeling sorrow?  You could argue it's over their own death, but that would more likely elicit fear than sorrow.  Sorrow means there's something weighing heavily upon the person.  Even as they die, something weighs on Limstella.

Further consider: prior to the battle, we get this exchange:

Nergal: "I have given you magic stronger than any seen on the continent.  Through this magic, you have gained much power.  Perfect strength and perfect beauty.  You are my masterpiece, Limstella." Limstella: "......" Nergal: "Your flesh cannot endure the power of this sorcery.  Before tomorrow, your entire body will be corrupted.  But that is what you desire, yes?  The chance to die for me?" Limstella: "As you wish."

Limstella's sorrow at her death wouldn't make sense if this were true.  If their wish were truly to fully serve Nergal, and nothing else, then they would have no need for sorrow.  They fulfilled their duty.  After all, in this exchange, Nergal expresses that Limstella will die either way, and that failure to stop the others isn't imperative.  Which means that it's not just death, and it's not failing to stop Eliwood and company.

It's leaving Nergal.  It's no longer being able to serve at his side.  Limstella doesn't comment on this, and carries out their duty as expected, but has lingering regret that they cannot persist.  It's leaving Nergal that hurts.

Think back on the Sonia interaction.  I had asked, why would Limstella go out of their way to be so petty?  Because Sonia wasn't just dismissive of Morphs.  Sonia looked down on Morphs as tools, and in so doing, implied that she was more important to Nergal, as a person.  And that's where the anger stems from.  Had it just been insults, there likely wouldn't have been a need to stick around.  But it's the ability to rub it in Sonia's face that she's not only a Morph like the others, but significantly less important to Nergal, that Limstella takes to.  More than anything, it's about showing Sonia her place, and it's beneath them.

So when it's Limstella's turn to go out and die for Nergal, there's regret.  They care deeply for Nergal, but in this moment, it’s clear the sentiment isn’t reciprocated.  After all, we have this exchange between Canas and Renault to hammer it home:

Canas: "You see, we know so little of Nergal.  Why, for example, did he begin creating Morphs?  After his falling out with the Archsage Athos, did he feel alone in the world?  Did he need the company of someone who could understand him?  Was he forced to...create...such a being?" Renault: "...not exactly." Canas: "Oh?" Renault: "He has no care for his creations...  He merely brought them into this world to serve him.  His only interest is himself.  Those...things...that he discards.  They lose their way...and wander.  And he cares not.  Morphs...are the mere fact of existence...once meaning has been stripped away."

Nergal doesn’t care.  And he hasn’t cared for as long as Renault’s known him, which is a good while at this point.  But if you got the extra chapters, we know full well this wasn't always the case for Nergal.

Nergal and Limstella Remember, other Morphs exist, and through them, we also gain some insight into the mystery of what Morphs are, and their relation to Nergal.  Kishuna has some great flashback moments, of both his creation and being discarded.  For instance, compare Chapter 23x - Genesis:

Nergal: "I name you Kishuna.  You are the only morph to whom I've given emotions.  It won't suffice simply to refer to you as a number.  It is said man was sculpted by the hands of the gods.  If so, then you, who were sculpted by these, my hands...and I, whose labors gave you breath and life...What are we, then?  What does that make us?  In your fabricated heart, which I gave unto you, what is it that you believe, Kishuna?"

with Chapter 32x - the Value of Life:

Nergal: "What do you want, monster?  You cannot fight, you cannot harvest quintessence.  Powerless and frail, you're naught but a false puppet, a pale imitation.  Is that all I was capable of creating in the past...this fool?  Absolutely worthless.  You are my blunder, my failed morph...  You are of no use to me.  Go somewhere and rot away into dust."

A great deal of time has clearly passed between these scenes, and we get the direct impression that Nergal has gone from reverence toward his success at creating a Morph with emotions, to caring nothing for their feelings and wanting to only create entities with power.

Now, considering Denning, the most recently created Morph.  He's a boss unit, and fairly strong, but exists only as a record to play.  Strength and the ability to perform this one basic function is all he needed, and all he makes them for.  But the other recent morph, Sonia, is incredibly emotional, to the point she doesn't recognize she's not human.  Nergal's power has clearly developed.  He's succeeded in being able to fully craft overt emotions in his Morphs, but selectively decides whether a Morph needs those emotions to fill an end goal; otherwise, he's created what is a pure puppet with no overt signs of anything.

However, Kishuna is Nergal's 252nd Morph, and it wasn't until then that he began actively selecting for emotions or not-emotions.  After this point, it's safe to assume that Morphs show emotions overtly based on Nergal's preference.  While it's hard to say when each Morph showed up...I think it's safe to say Limstella happened before Kishuna.

Limstella doesn't emote overtly, but at the same time clearly experiences emotion.  If, after Kishuna, Nergal selects for overt emotion or not, then Limstella, who does not overtly emote but still experiences emotion, must have come prior to having this control.  They have emotion, but it was never an intended result.  It was never part of the plan.  And if Kishuna was created with the sole purpose of creating emotions in Morphs, then it suggests not only that they pre-date Kishuna’s creation, but also that Nergal himself believes they did not feel.

On top of that, there's one other major note that's easy to miss.  Limstella is referred to as the Morph who is always at Nergal's side.  Unlike other Morphs, Nergal keeps Limstella close.  Which implies that he is attached to them.  Which is strange, right?  Since Renault notes that Nergal cares nothing for his Morphs, it's strange for him to maintain an attachment.  After all, we see that he once cared about Kishuna, but when that faded, he cast Kishuna aside without a second thought.  But he never pushes Limstella away.

This leads into heavy headcanon territory.  Bear with me.

Nergal's memories are eaten away as he creates Morphs, but certain things are retained, albeit loosely.  We see Nergal make an unintentional trip to his old workshop.  He's able to remember this place, and feels that it is significant; that something was lost here.  He just can't remember what or why.  When he dies, in the Japanese version, he says the name of his wife, not quintessence, implying that the memory of his wife exists, but in name only.  Strong attachments and powerful, emotional memories stick, devoid of context.  Given that Nergal is purely detached from his recent creations, it should be assumed that any attachment he still demonstrates, even indirectly, is because they are a powerful associated memory for him.  And wow, is he ever attached to Limstella.  More than any other, he sings their praises, referring to them as his masterpiece, and a perfect creation.  They alone receive these accolades, and a power unlike any seen on the continent.  Clearly, Limstella is important to Nergal as well.

But why?  To answer that, consider two aspects.  First: what was Nergal's motivation for creating Morphs at first?  To revive his wife.  In the Scouring, his wife was killed by humans.  Eventually, in his travels with Athos, he finds Arcadia, and discovers the forbidden art of manipulating quintessence.  He starts small but works his way up quickly to humans, which is when he needed to be stopped.  All of this, was to bring his wife back.

Second: think about Sonia.  Specifically, her appearance and role.  Sonia and Limstella are, visually, very similar.  And Sonia's role is to entice Brendan Reed.  To be, at least visually, the ideal wife.  And she looks a lot like Limstella.

Consider: what is the first thing Nergal would do, upon realizing that he can manipulate human quintessence?  He’s worked all the way up to this, it’s worth a shot, right?

I believe Limstella was Nergal's first Morph, created in an attempt to revive his wife.  Visually, Limstella must look just like her.  After all, a proper attempt means trying to get everything right.  Think of how much emotion would have gone into creating such a being.  Fear of failure, hope for success, uncertainty about his abilities, desperation to try.  So much must have went into this creation, this full attempt to revive his beloved.

And when it’s finished...there’s nothing of her.  Just a construct, visually identical, but without the love in her eyes, or any recollection.  Just...passive devotion.  Is it any wonder Nergal would consider this only a partial success?  But really, what are you going to do, get rid of it?  It’s been hundreds of years, and while you’re off, you were close.  The image is right, you just need to impart that soul, and find a greater source of power.  After all, dragons are stronger than humans, and likely require much greater quintessence.

You just got evicted from Arcadia, and it’s unlikely you can go back and steal the life force of a proper dragon, so you decide to address the emotion issue first.  You work tirelessly on new projects, trying to finally impart a proper soul to the Morphs you create.  And finally, you get it right.  Kishuna is born, and unlike the others, this is a proper step, and one deserving of a proper name.  With that task complete, you set about the search for greater power, to fuel a proper revival.  But by this point, you’ve been doing this work for a while, and dark magic takes its toll.  Memories start fading, and while you can feel the draw toward your end goals, the specifics evade you.  All you remember now is to seek power, and that any Morph not up to the task is cast aside.  But for some reason, you can’t cast aside Limstella.  They are at your side, always.  Until one day, even that fades away, and you send them off to die.

Consider this from Limstella’s perspective.  You are created, in the image of this man’s wife, with all of these powerful emotions poured into your creation.  And internally, you are devoted.  You exist to serve him, and serve you shall.  Yet for all that, he cannot acknowledge that you feel anything at all.  You are hollow, empty.  Others are created, mass-produced, in an effort to fix what was defective in you.  You follow at his side, eager to see his ambitions realized, until the day he’s so far gone that he discards you too.  You feel something, an ache in your chest, a longing you can’t place.  Yet that can’t be real.  Morphs cannot feel anything at all, and you, in particular, never could.  That was your failing all along.

Conclusion Renault: "You asked me before...whether or not Morphs had a soul.  What do you think?” Canas: "Before...I would have said that I do not know.  But now, perhaps I do...  Morphs...do have souls...that is what I believe."

This is the end of Canas and Renault’s philosophical conversation.  Morphs do have souls.  That is the answer the game provides.  Regardless of whether it’s overt or covert, all Morphs have souls.

I think Limstella's character exists as a reflection of this question, and the answer the game provides.  It’s something that, in your first playthrough, probably passes by.  At most, you wonder it yourself when Limstella speaks their last.  But on another playthrough, you start to catch the hints that something more was there.  There’s emotion, a soul, hiding within.  Which is what makes Limstella such a tragic figure.  Despite those feelings, they’re treated as a delusion, a defect, something that cannot possible exist within them, until they too believe the lie.  Limstella exists as a showcase that all living beings, regardless of origin or upbringing, possess this capacity, and is a perfect answer to the questions that Canas poses for the audience.