#leaving him @ a one-dimensional character only focused on murdering his own brother and everyone around him.

[sorrowful-prince-pelleas]

Thoughts on Panne and Reyson

For me, one of the worst moments in Awakening is the part where, after chapter 6, Emmeryn apologizes to Panne for what happened to the Taguel.

It’s an obvious attempt to parallel the scene in Path of Radiance where Sanaki apologizes to Reyson for the Serenes forest massacre, but without the necessary effort done to execute the scene well.

First and foremost, in Awakening, we know nothing about the Taguel before the apology. And even then, all we find out (before supports) is that Panne is the last Taguel, and that they were shapeshifters. And that her warren owes Ylisse a debt. And that humans killed Taguel.

Panne I am a taguel. The… The last taguel. We are shape-shifters. Most of your kind called us “beast” or “coney” in the midst of their hunt. I only helped you because my warren owes Ylisse a debt. Do not think us friends, you and I!

Panne Yes, it’s precious little your kind seem to understand. It was man-spawn like you that invaded our warren and slaughtered my people.

But the qestions still remain. What humans? Were they Plegians, Feroxians or Ylisseans? Why does she owe Ylisse a debt? It’s not very clear, and it makes Panne’s story convoluted and hard to understand. The relationship between her and Ylisse is hard to understand - she owes them for something, and yet hates them?

On the other hand, in PoR, we find out the entire story (or what isn’t supposed to be revealed later) before meeting Reyson.

Specifically,

Nasir It begins with the assassination of the previous Begnion apostle. It was twenty years ago… One year after the declaration of emancipation was made. The leader at the time was the Apostle Misaha, who was more adored by the public than any apostle before…or since. When she was assassinated, the citizenry was wracked with grief. All of Begnion despaired. And then, a rumor began to circulate that the assassination was the work of the Serenes herons. In the twinkling of an eye, the rumor spread throughout the Begnion capital. One night shortly thereafter, it happened. The citizens grew violent. They massed at the edge of Serenes Forest, home of their supposed enemy, and set it to burn. The crowd raged on for three nights, and in the end, the heron clan was lost. and

Nasir Apostle? The remainder of the tale is yours. You stand as the empress of Begnion. You are responsible for the acts of your citizens, are you not?

Sanaki …False. The accusation was completely false.

Ike The assassination of the apostle was not the work of the Serenes clan?

Sanaki That is correct.

Nasir The heron clan possess no fighting skills. Their tribe survived by living a life of peace and piety within their forest. Unlike other laguz, they never focused on developing their strength for the purposes of combat. Anyone with any knowledge of laguz would have known such a thing. At the very least, the citizens of Begnion would have known this. However, they had lost their leader, and in their grief, they cared little for the truth. They were merely looking for some way to vent their rage and despair. Isn’t that true…Apostle?

This sets up the story - we now know what happened, and this also sets up an arc where technically, Sanaki is to blame. The relationship between her and the bird tribes is clarified as well -

Nasir Ike, the bird tribes of Phoenicis target only Begnion ships with their piracy. The ravens of Kilvas are after cargo, and so they attack everyone with equal vigor. The hawk clans, however, hold the heron clan as brethren…and still remember the false accusations. And their brutal murder.

Another thing that hurts the Awakening version is that Emmeryn is not given a story arc though this, while Sanaki is.

Sanaki is first introduced as a selfish, rude, bratty girl - she makes people’s lives difficult on the boat by hiding, she makes fun of a grieving Elincia, and waves her power as an Empress around. However, in the following chapters, you see a slowly-emerging different side to her.

She tries to help the laguz, trying to go around the Senate. She wants to restore peace, and apologize to the heron clan for what she did.

Sanaki …I’m…sorry…I am ignorant as to what words of contrition will be appropriate to one of the heron tribe. Yet I stand before you as a representative of my people… From the depths of my heart I apologize to you… I am sorry… So truly sorry…

This line especially speaks about how Sanaki truly feels - despite her arrogance and her cruel words, despite her brilliant political mind and her ability to hide so much from her Senate and her people, she’s still the 12 year old Empress that’s reponsible for a genocide.

Leanne herself, a being that can read thoughts says :

Leanne (Brother..it is enough, is it not? Forgive this child. Her apology is…so sincere.)

This all comes together to show Sanaki in a very new light.

With Emmeryn, on the other hand, it doesn’t work. When she apologizes to Panne,

Emmeryn …There is truth to your words, perhaps. I’m told that, in taguel society, everyone is treated as an equal. Mankind could have learned much from your warren. The words may come too late and mean too little, but I am deeply sorry. We have stolen your friends and family and made the world a lesser place.

Panne …You seem sincere, man-spawn. You feel my pain as your own. …I’ve never felt that before. Look at me. …See what I am. I will never trust mankind. But you… Perhaps you truly are not like the others.

It doesn’t tell you anything new about the character - it doesn’t show you a different, more forgiving, more compelling side to Emmeryn, because she has never been portrayed as anything otherwise.

Sigrun Emp-Empress Sanaki! What are you doing? You are the apostle! You cannot bend your knee to another!

Ike Peace! Let her speak her heart.

Sigrun I…um…

Reyson …

Sanaki I’m sorry…I’m sorry…

Phila Your Grace—you had no fault in this!

Panne You claim to be blameless, and yet you would apologize? Pah! Your words are but wind.

Emmeryn I know… But they are all I have.

As well, in comparing the two post-apologies, Sanaki’s feels a lot more genuine - even when dealing with a genocide, Emmeryn is peaceful and optimistic and eloquent. Sanaki seems to be barely holding it together - and it hits home a lot more.

The reactions of the retainers, while the same, don’t work to the same effect - Sigrun seems genuinely shocked - this is not only not appropriate, but this is also out of character for Sanaki.

Why is Phila reacting so dramatically? This is not the first time that Emmeryn reacted calmly and apologetically to a situation.

In chapter 5, she responds to Gangrel’s taunting by saying

Emmeryn King Gangrel, I’ve come for the truth of this unfortunate incident between us.

So being needlessly polite is in character for Emmeryn, and something that she does decently often. So again, why is Phila so bizarrely surprised?

There’s also the third aspect of this scene doing nothing for Panne’s characterization, compared to it basically changing Reyson as a person - he goes from wanting humanity destroyed

Reyson Please, give me a little time. I cannot allow these humans to remain in the forest.

Tibarn I understand how you feel, but we’re completely outnumbered. Let us wait for another day–

Reyson Once I stand at the altar, I can take care of them. Every one of them.

Tibarn You can’t mean… Are you thinking of using the forbidden magic?

Reyson …Yes. I will sing those monsters the dirge of ruin.

and

Reyson I know. This thing I intend to do brings dishonor to my house. And yet…I cannot forgive. And their past actions weren’t enough; now, they violate the sanctity of the forest without a trace of regret! Accursed humans…I will never forgive them!

to

Tibarn That was the original plan, but…Someone here insisted that we follow you. Quite unreasonably, I might add.

Reyson You treated us with courtesy, beorc. We must act accordingly. Isn’t that so, Leanne?

Leanne (Yes, Yes, brother.)

Reyson You said your name was Ike, correct?

Ike Yes.

Reyson You aided my sister and me during a time of danger. We herons hold courtesy in high esteem. We must repay our debt to you.

Ike That’s really not necessary.

Reyson We are practitioners of seid magic. We cannot fight, but we can imbue our allies with strength. If you so wish it, I will travel with you. In this way I will repay you for what you have done.

through a combination of Ike and company saving his sister and Sanaki taking responsibility for what happened. That develops Reyson as a character and makes him interesting and three-dimensional.

Panne doesn’t change. She starts out disliking humanity, and continues to do that in her supports, leaving her as undeveloped as she was when you first met her.