Please include which units the quote is from.

Is he still alive? Because he gave Alfonse some of his power and just vanished afterwards. Considering Nifl's trial for Fjorm he doesn't have to die to share his power. Like where is he? He could really help rn

^{Alt Text: Kiran and Fafnir. Fafnir is covered in blood and bringing Kiran close to his body. In one hand, he is holding Kiran's cheek, smearing the blood on his glove onto their face. With his other hand, he is bringing his cape around Kiran to shroud it. Kiran is looking up at Fafnir with tears in their eyes.}

I killed them all for you. <3

Everyone needs to get crazy about Book V. Please.

I know a majority of the paralogues are barebones but do you all have a favourite or any stand outs? I really love lore being explored or alluded at, even if it’s a lighthearted non canon event.

Bet that hit some nostalgia from at least some of you.

I’ve been drawing Kiran and Alfonse since 2020. I should draw them more often. If you’re interested, I’ll tell you a little bit about her and their relationship!

Kiran is a cheerful summoner because she was finally able to leave her dull world behind and feel useful in society.

She’s kind, sensitive, emotional, and introverted. She’d love to get along with everyone. She loves teasing Alfonse to get him to lighten up and be less serious.

Spending so much time with the Prince of Askr has inevitably brought them closer! Despite all these years, they aren’t officially a couple, but they love spending time together.

Everyone knows about their relationship, but Alfonse keeps saying he’d like Kiran to go back to her world. This makes her very sad because she’s already decided where she wants to spend the rest of her life.

I hope you’ll like these two 🥰

✨✨✨

All my links are here to support me, Thank You ❤️

Artist Card

With Heidr's amazing refine and remix, I knew I had to make her my 3rd +10 Astra Mythic after Plumeria and Seidr. Mila was already a part of my Light Mythic core, along with Peony and now Gróa, so this was just a matter of getting the last couple merges. I got Heidr from +1 to +10 and Mila from +7 to +10 in around 1000 orbs! During these summons I also got TEN Rearmed Lysitheas, 1 L!Female Corrin, 1 Ullr, and 1 Mirabilis (as seen on the 3rd slide). With these copies of Lysithea and an extra copy of Emblem Byleth, I was able to fodder Instruct 4 on both Heidr and Mila! Now onto the builds:

Heidr:

Weapon/Assist: Heidr/Gold Serpent+ - An amazing refine and remix PRF skill

Special: Logic (from Lysithea)

Ring: Celica which combines well with her extra action and Pass. Could also give her Micaiah Ring

A: Life and Death 4 - Budget skill to proc Instruct on Atk/Spd

B: Atk/Spd Favor - An amazing supportive B skill

C: Instruct 4 - An amazing supportive C skill that will grant Great Talent to Atk/Spd to allies within 2 spaces

Seal: HP +6 Atk/Spd +4 for more visible stats

Mila:

Weapon: Nurturing Breath - I was thinking of giving her Arcane Outburst but the visible stats on this weapon refine are better for Instruct 4

Assist: Smite

Special: Dragon's Roar

Ring: Corrin to help prevent warping. Sometimes in non-Fire seasons I give her Byleth Ring

A: Stronghold - Budget skill that grants visible Def/Res +7 to proc Instruct

B: Atk/Spd Favor (from Lysithea) - I wish I had Atk/Def Favor but this is still one of her best supportive B skills

C: Instruct 4 - An amazing supportive C skill that will grant Great Talent to Atk/Def/Res to allies within 2 spaces

Seal: HP +6 Def/Res +4 for more visible stats. Will replace with Atk/Def/Res +4 in the next update

So I've been playing a lot of NintenDoku recently and noticed that there is a community driven ranking for different categories. In the mobile department Heroes takes spot 1, Mario Run 2 and Mario Kart Tour 3.

Have you played all mobile games? Is this ranking accurate?

Edit: forgot to post the source: https://www.n-puzzle.com/en/best-nintendo-games

Edit 2: People are asking me where to play NintenDoku. Here is the link: https://www.n-puzzle.com/en/nintendoku

Does someone know of Units whose combined Stats can reach over 400? I only know of Surtr so far.

Anyone want my Ephraim for the next binding worlds?

Is it longer than you thought? This took me way longer than it should have, after getting to the section on training I got a block, something fierce. But I'm kinda happy because I got to incorporate his sports day alt into this. It didn't add much but it did reinforce some ideas I already had about his character. So some preface, I am a homosexual cis male, I do think he hot but I wouldn't have written all of this if I didn't like his character too. I'm not going to pretend it's anything deep or well written but over the course of 5 versions and 1 book (lol imagine feh’s story dragged out to a full length book), he's been given good enough characterization. Honestly if you remove the divine elements and tweek some points, he'd fit right at home with the quirky casts from all over this series. This analysis is based purely on the English translation but I will briefly discuss Japanese differences as well. 

This essay isn't supposed to make you like him, nor am I saying he is a good character. I simply tried my best to analyze his words and actions as objectively as possible, but that's never going to be possible. As a fan there's obviously going to be bias towards him, to view him more favorably. Also, I wouldn't say I'm a particularly good writer and this is a way too long a reddit post analysing a pretty poorly written character from a niche franchises spinoff gacha game. This is not going to be formal, I used so many “I think” and “I believe”s in my more subjective interpretations. The different sections are pretty independent of each other so leaving and coming back shouldn't be a problem, but it does make the transition between pretty sudden and clunky to read in one sitting. All dialogue in 【like this】 are direct quotes. I worked hard on this but also don't take it too seriously. 

Thank you to anyone who's made it this far. I already know I'm going to get comments saying “he's a deer guy that can't shut up about training, it's not that deep dude” Like I get it, so just don't. If you somehow see this and were going to make a comment like that, leave it alone, let it go. 

Hopelessness

【I learned something I did not want to know. Since then, I've wondered why I was born… What is my purpose? The answer escapes me, even now… But many humans share in this same confusion… Yet they live on, pressing onward each day… Speaking of it… lifts a weight from my shoulders. Thank you for your ear, 【Summoner】...】

This line is what gives me the strength to write this, to cope hard enough and say he is a fully fledged character that, or at the very least, has more depth than a puddle. 

Most people reading this probably already know the gist of his role in the book 8 story, exposition dump, but I think most gloss over how exactly he does it. Upon his first encounter with the order he says

【I am Eikþyrnir. I guard Yggdrasill. I fight Intruders. Læraðr gave me this task. I bare you no ill will, but I must kill you now.】

He's kind of like a camus, he'll follow læraðr’s orders even though we know from later events that he's conflicted. He says it so bluntly and to the point that he sounds almost robotic. Then in their second encounter 

【I stopped trying to think... It's easier this way. My body obeys the orders Læraðr gave to me.】

Again he reiterates how he’ll “obey” Larry but ominously emphasizes that it is his body doing the obeying, that his actions are made completely devoid of his own will. But we know that Larry doesn't possess some special control over him, and that's what his preceding dialogue showcases. He willing decided to stop thinking for himself, to obey Larry because it's “easier”

【I stopped trying to think... It's easier this way.

【I learned by accident... It was easier not to know.】

【I didn't want to tell you. It's easier to live without knowing... It would have been better.】

【It would be easier if we never knew.】

Eikþyrnir knew the truth the entire time, he knew that they, the quieting hands, were fakes. That they were people with their own existence, made to play pretend till their purpose is filled and they are disposed of. He knew and he resigned himself to that fact, he didn't fight it, didn't tell his “sisters”, didn't run and hide, he gave up and gave in completely to læraðr's will. Even when rat and heiðrún sided with the order he still couldn't find the will to oppose Larry. Even when alfonse questioned him the first time he says to rat 

【You're happy you're not knowing.】

The truth utterly broke him, and he (selflessly) selfishly decided to keep it to himself, that the situation is so hopelessly bleak that there's no point in subjecting his sisters to the same turmoil he feels. That telling them wouldn't change anything so there'd be no point. In the last chapters of book 8, eikþyrnir reveals the truth. He reveals it only because he can no longer stand seeing hræsvelgr rant about the importance of family, obeying a “father” that couldn’t care less for her. He offers no warmth in his explanation, just the harsh reality and ends with their deaths being an inevitability not something escapable 

【Hræsvelgr. Læraðr it's not your family. We are... fakes. We were tricked into believing we’re his children.】

【We are shells, hollowed out and made to pretend…】

【We are not the first of his big children… Care to guess how many there have?】

People rightfully criticize how eik acts as a plot device in his book, and I agree; BUT my take is that I think that's the point. Hræsvelgr and níðhöggr fight for læraðr at the end, ratatoskr and heiðrún fight against læraðr (even though heiðrún also has questionable story presence it's still a fact that she is intentionally opposing Larry). Eikþyrnir does neither, he stops fighting the order because he doesn’t want to fight his sisters and, for the same reason, doesn't take up arms against Lar lar. However, I believe he also concluded it's pointless to resistance. I think eikþyrnir is, in book 8, supposed to be the character that has sunk into despair so deep they're portrayed as indecisive and spineless, the kind of character that you expect to gain resolve in the final act but eik doesn't. Eikþyrnir does nothing in the story because he literally doesn't want to, he's waiting for death to come and the cycle to continue 

【We're no different than those children. We've been given their memories, and when we are of no more use, we will be discarded... Our time will come soon enough. Others will follow after us, and the cycle will repeat.】

To the chagrin of at least the people here, OCs tend to get their base version in as mythics, most during the book. I don't know how it is for other OCs, for eikþyrnir this seems to him after the book but it's still pretty ambiguous. Frankly speaking, the above line is the only time any of his alts even hint at his underlying existential crisis. On one hand this quote seems to imply that he's somewhat dealing with his trauma, that he'll continue on even if he doesn't find his answer. However, on the other hand it creates a kind of dissonance between book 8 eik and all his subsequent appearances, did he truly move on, does he just have no reason to bring it up, or is this even the same eikþyrnir. The second one is the most satisfying answer to me, so I hope that's the answer (but FEH does have a tendency to make even the OCs more one note than they already are). 

Lastly, if he doesn't consider Larry his father why does he consider his sisters… his sisters (highly doubtful that they were already siblings before becoming The hands). And continuing this train of thought, does he really consider himself eikþyrnir. More than anyone else he knows he isn't 

【My memories are complex. But I will recount them as if they are accurate. For I, too, recall having a weak body.】

It's unclear how much, but he evidently does remember his existence before becoming eikþyrnir. It would be so much easier to accept and embrace your new existence and self when you have no recollection of the old you, but he does. How can he still claim them as his sister's after having delivered that the grim reality. The answer to the question of his identity is no doubt complex in both being and not being eikþyrnir at the same time. His identity probably also lends itself to his existential fears, but there's just not much to work off here. At the end of the day, his sisters are his, and læraðr is…

Parental Betrayal

Regardless of Larry's own views, does eik view the lars as the same person or 2 separate individuals, or some weird hybrid option? I think it's a cut and dry one and the same, eik never makes a distinction between the branch and the god. Therefore, to eikþyrnir, Læraðr was a once virtuous man who fell from grace. 

【Læraðr was our leader, our father. He was… everything…】

So the real burning question I'm sure none of you have asked, does eikþyrnir hate læraðr? Um… well… No, he does not. Even while delivering the revelations, the worst thing eikþyrnir can say about him is that he is a liar (objectively true) 

【That man is not our father. He's a liar.】

No damnations, no contentments, no misgivings. Ignoring the question of eikþyrnir’s identity for a second, imagine if you were in this situation. The parent(s) you loved, the ones you thought loved you back, never did. They were using you the entire time, for the sole purpose of getting back you… returning to the question of why does eik consider his sisters his sisters, but doesn't consider Lar Lar his father, I think the answer is that læraðr doesn't consider eikþyrnir his son. Even though eik knows he's a fake, he still has all the memories and experiences of the OG. He KNOWS the loving and caring father lars used to be

【I have happy memories of Læraðr giving us gifts during celebrations.】

Even if they are fake, and eik has memories of his former life, læraðr's actions are still a betrayal and for eik, destroyed the bond between parent and child. If læraðr had decided to be that caring father to the hands, then eik would consider him to be his father just like he does his sisters.

【Læraðr doesn't care about us. He only wants his true family.】

But læraðr is solely focused on his real children even though the fakes, for all intents and purposes, are exact copies of the originals. Læraðr’s horrible actions aside, eikþyrnir still has respect and admiration for the person Larry used to be 

【The same clothing as Læraðr? An honor I am unfit for… 】

【Now, I teach people throughout the nine realms how to heal themselves through training. It's how I show respect to Læraðr.】

In fact, one of eikþyrnir’s core traits, his love for life, is a direct consequence of læraðr instilling that virtue in him. I can't give an exact answer on what eik feels towards lard but it's not hate. 

【This is the same clothing as Læraðr. I must uphold his will to value and respect life.】

Tr*in

You can honestly go and forget about everything from the previous parts. Basically none of it matters or pertains to his character outside of book 8 and in few and far between pieces of dialogue.

【A member of Yggdrasill's Healing Hands who firmly believes that any illness or injury can be resolved through training the body and building strength.】

This is a decent description of the general basis of eikþyrnir but it fails to grasp the full breadth and intensity of his belief 

His dedication can be equated to religious fervor, it feels like almost every other word he says is train or training (it's not). He goes to the beach and spends it training, he turns delivering presents into training, he gives children weights for Christmas. Narcian wants people to praise him more, eikþyrnir’s solution, train. Ylgr wants to be useful to her siblings, train. Training is so overwhelming and all encompassing his personality, he definitely comes across as one note but that singular note is layered enough to be somewhat interesting. Returning to Narcian, he asks 

Again eik answers with train, but he also explains the reasons why

【Yes. A well-forged body draws people to you. And your dauntless spirit shines as well.】

Consciously or not people really do make judgments based on appearance and attitude. Having an admirable physique and demonstrating a hard-working attitude do increase the likelihood of compliments, even more so in this idealistic world of knights and chivalry. Eikþyrnir seems to decently understand some level of social interactions in human nature. Let's look at ylgr’s problem next

【Training is the best remedy for a lack of confidence. After giving advice to Ylgr, I started seeing her at the training grounds. Her strength, forged by sweat and effort, will be a force to aid her brother and sister.】

Eik surmises that ylgr lacks confidence; it definitely seems like she does, but that doesn't mean it's the root of her problem. Either way it shows that he is at least somewhat insightful and aware to the state of others. And so, just like before, his solution to her problem is to train, as that will boost her confidence and make her a more reliable ally in general. 

Pretty commonly these big and/or jockish characters tend to be portrayed as ranging from somewhat naive and oblivious to straight up dumb (IQ and EQ rated separately). Eikþyrnir does demonstrate some level of thoughtfulness and insight: assessing the problem, determining solutions, and utilizing training for novel results. The “problem” is the efficacy, eikþyrnir has a completely one track mind. He already decided the solution was training before even knowing their problems. Looking at ylgr again, he suggests training to boost her confidence, if that's what she even needs, but training isn't guaranteed to increase her confidence. He says “training is the best remedy for lack of confidence” but that's flat out wrong, and not applicable to all people. 

Eikþyrnir isn't stupid, he's right that training has utility and he's smart enough to know how to apply it in various situations but his insistence on interjecting “training” into all areas undermines his ability to give good advice. 

But what is training for him? Obviously most of what he talks about is strength or endurance training but

【Meditating as the waves hit the rocks strengthens the mind.】

Like previously stated, training can boost confidence but he's deliberately engaging in mental conditioning. Something like meditation wouldn't usually be part of physical conditioning, especially for bodybuilding and physical therapy (eikþyrnir’s 2 biggest design inspirations). Of course there's a certain element of mind over matter, conquering the flesh, that does relate back to weightlifting however, that doesn't change that he considers meditation a form of training. So when eik says 

【Everyone chooses their own form of training. The important thing is the desire to train.】

It's somewhat ambiguous what form training could take. Would he consider studying training? In either case, self improvement is his point and a major driver in his own training. The summer banner/paralogue’s name (a new self) is wholly attributed eikþyrnir forging “a new self”

【I have no talent for swimming, so I've been training mostly on dry land. Yet, seeing people courageously stride into the ocean makes me wonder… The best training consists of surmounting hardship. So I will overcome fear and take on the challenge of the ocean. And in doing so, become a new me.】

Once again, eik demonstrates his rationale. He has a problem: he can't swim and he's afraid, most likely of the ocean; and so, in order to overcome his fear and learn how to swim… he trains. 

【I still cannot swim. But it was a good vacation. I enjoyed spending time with Heiðrún and others. I also learned that there are other, more productive ways to train. You are looking at a new me. Wait… Is this the reason you invited me here?】

It doesn't work out, he still can't swim and it's unclear if he's still afraid or not, *and yet* his “new self” came to fruition. He may not have achieved his goal but he still bettered himself, he has gained something that has tangibly affected him to the point where he can claim he has become “a new self”.

【I will resume training tomorrow. My goal is to climb closer to the heights you've achieved, even if just a little…】

I don't know the exact achievements he could be referring to, but I highly doubt IS is inferring anything physical. Whatever the “heights” may be, it is something we (the summoner) have attained that eik hasn't. His answer to reaching those “heights” is to train, even though those achievements likely have nothing to do with physical strength. So to Eikþyrnir, training is so much more than just building muscle or improving health, not to downplay those aspects of course. Training is the mechanism that allows us to achieve, and actualize the ultimate goal of improving one's self. 

Mentality 

Delving a bit deeper on his thoughts of… thoughts. Training can improve confidence, create discipline, grow determination but it also takes those elements to get the most out of training. For eikþyrnir, exercise and mental fortitude go hand in hand, ambition being directly linked to the strength gained by training 

【Our strength grows with our ambition. I will help anyone who is motivated.】

But, also the mind still needs to be train itself, so that strength of will thrives as well

【My heart must be forged alongside my body】

But you can't be so discipline you don't allow yourself happiness either 

【Mending the body is one thing, but training with others does its own kind of healing.】

Humans are social animals, like before, eikþyrnir understands social aspects and effects they have. In this case, the positive feelings that can come from group activity. 

【Both body and mind grow stronger with training.】

And that's where true strength lies. A heart that's unshakable, unbreakable, determined and dedicated. Life can be difficult but having the right mindset and outlook the grapple with the harsh reality and hardships is what eik trains his and others hearts to be, he is 

【Strength lies in the spirit.】

Obsession?

【So you train alongside your comrades and then also alone. Is this an obsession?】

Ha, the irony right? In this instance, he's calling out Alfred on overexerting himself. Regardless of how much eikþyrnir talks about training, he's not actually training all the time. He trains in an entirely healthy way, promoting the importance of diet and sleep. 

【Muscle development is not enough. The Heroes will do well to remember that rest and nutrition are also vital.】

As well as not pushing too hard

【Proper training is dependent on each Hero's needs. They must know their limits.】

Eikþyrnir is most likely thinking of training 24/7, ways to improve, changing regimens, exercise variations, what works best in a given situation, working with the heroes themselves but he himself is not engaging in training at every waking moment.

【You are enthusiastic, but overexertion is poison to the body.】

So does eik not consider himself obsessed? Considering the connotation obsessed has and what he says to Alfred next, no. Like Alfred, he'd say he's devoted his heart and soul to training. He may not always be training, but when you devote yourself to exercise it can be all consuming in every facet of your life. 

Muscle

Question, does eikþyrnir like to show off? Yes actually, he does. He's not boisterous about it however, his art depicting him flexing is not wrong. Eikþyrnir takes immense pride in his physique.

【You like my muscles? Thank you for noticing.】

He's worked hard to achieve what he has, his muscles are proof, of his drive, health, and commitment to his family

【Muscle is power】 【pure endurance】 【I need not talk much. My muscles do that for me.】 He knows he's big and muscular, he has unshakable confidence in himself but never boasts, nor compares himself to others. Even when challenged by a child

He earnestly faces him, even giving praise to Boyd, but there are hints of cockiness in the line. Eik respects Boyd's spirit but the result is already a forgone conclusion. Eikþyrnir isn't an arrogant character, but he's still the type to make demonstrations of his efforts. He oozes confidence, with full self-assurance. 

As for muscle itself, well

【Muscles solve every problem.】

As discussed earlier, “training solves everything” but now here it's muscle? He's using them a bit interchangeably, muscle is proof of the hard work and dedication that goes into training, but also the means to the end. There are many different ways to train, not all of them include strength/resistance training; but both kinds *are* important to eik. Training increases fitness but the muscles themselves are what actually makes one fit, at least to him which is true to a degree. In the main forging bonds story, Wakened Dark, featuring male/female grima, R!Noire, and A!tharja; eikþyrnir asks noire what she's good at 

Fire Emblem is an anime game, proportions were never going to be entirely accurate, but even then I doubt noire's legs are *that* meaty. None of her  depictions present her with particularly big or defined legs, realistically they probably have some nice definition but aren't particularly big. The point being that even without her legs bulging with muscle, eikþyrnir still acknowledges she has an aptitude for running. Muscles are a fundamentally vital part of our anatomy, blinking to walking to breathing; almost every action we perform throughout the day requires the use of muscles. Therefore, muscles are important to health and overall well being but there are levels to the way eikþyrnir thinks. There's normal healing and improving quality of life attitude, this represents his physical therapist side, then there's his “my muscles speak for me” “muscle is power” attitude, representing his bodybuilder side.

So to him muscles/ a healthy physique represent physical health, they are proof that someone is healthy (disclaimer to say that someone can look healthy but still be ill) and in doing so they are a tool that allows us to live life.

【Our bodies are our treasures. Keeping them healthy and strong is what allows us to live our lives.】

BUT it doesn't end there

Bodybuilding

He continues to train to further build his muscles and increase what his body can handle, a la bodybuilding. He’s not forcing others to be hugely muscled-

【You look pale, and your muscles are not very developed. Your circulation must be poor. Worry not. I will teach you the right method of training. Even a beginner can do it. Now, let us start.】

【Toys and clothing, books and sweets. I understand why children may want these things. But no present compares to the gift of training. A body fortified against illness, a spirit that never breaks. A healthy heart in a strong body. That sounds like the perfect gift to me.】

-but he can be very pushy about general fitness. When it comes to himself though, he's incredibly strict, remarking pretty harshly on his own inadequacies

【Is my body really...stiffening up in this cold? Pitiful. I must train harder…】

【Pathetic... For the slightest heat to overwhelm my body…】

【This was...a challenge. I have not trained my body hard enough!】

Once again demonstrating his confidence and pride. He clearly holds himself in high regard and is confident that he could, and should be able to do more. He's persistently pursuing muscle and better physicality to accomplish increasingly unrealistic feats (I'd assume these are still pretty unrealistic even in fire emblems fantasy universe). 

【Heavy armor is unnecessary. The body must be forged, made into steel. Then no blade can pierce it.】

【A body that has been trained well deflects such things like the winter's cold.】

A drive for personal growth is great but, like in bodybuilding, it can turn into a toxic mentality, especially when it leads to harming oneself or those around you. Not to say that eik’s mindset is toxic, simply because there is no evidence negative consequences of his mindset to claim that. At the very least, these are the standards he holds himself too, not others. He has a desire to help those motivated but he doesn't disparage those who aren't on his level. 

Musclelaneous 

Competitive spirit

It shouldn't be a stretch to say that eikþyrnir likes training, however he has an affinity towards competition as well. Likely because competition is a non-threatening way to show and use one's honed body through a passionate clashing of spirits. In cyl9 's main FB story, eik’s challenge is an arm wrestling match. In Wakened Dark’s main FB story eik challenges the grima to prove humanities resilience and to boost noire's confidence. On fitness day, he displays interest in getting to see the last event. 

Assertiveness and Willful ignorance 

Obviously, eikþyrnir isn't a himbo as he lacks the more simple-minded traits of contemporaries, but his pushiness and tendency to lack situational awareness and ignore negativity/rejection is himbo-esque. Once again, in the Wakened Dark FB, the grimas make no effort to him their dubious intent an yet 

Based on the rest of the FB he might have thought of them as not a threat but it doesn't change how this looks. 

Slow went in one ear and out the other, it's not a bad trait to focus on the positive, but here it does feel like he intentionally ignored slow. 

【Are you...all right? You are at a fitness festival, yet do not wish to train?】

He directly acknowledges that tharja doesn't want to train and-

【N-No! I don't want any part of this!】

【Now then, I'll be on my way.】

【No, you don't need to show your gratitude... I'm perfectly fine, so—】

-it's evidently clear tharja does not want to be there nor take part in training. Yet he keeps pushing, not respecting her boundaries. Though by the end of their exchange she seems to have given in 

【Is this what you get out of exercise? \sigh* I really do loathe physical activities!*】

It doesn't change his inconsiderate attitude. To a lesser extent, he takes this approach to the summoner as well. However, since the summoner has no agency, there's nothing to say that eikþyrnir is forcing this upon them. 

Inspired 

He's constantly motivated by and finds inspiration in others 

【But many humans share in this same confusion… Yet they live on, pressing onward each day…】

【Yet, seeing people courageously stride into the ocean makes me wonder…】

【Reindeer are such strong creatures. With legs that effortlessly power through snow. It's inspiring.】

Localization

As I stated at the start, this analysis is based on the English localization, even so I did want to mention one thing. Reviewing sports day eikþyrnir’s, It stood out that his level 40 confession was exceptionally short. Not to say that they're every particularly long, at least eik’s aren't, but this was definitely shorter than average. I then compared it to the Japanese one, and well…

This was translated using Google so it's not going to be 100% accurate and any cultural nuance is lost, or otherwise lost on me. With that being said, the meaning is pretty much the same, the main difference being that the localization team completely cut out his explanation. Also the team downplayed his relationship to the summoner cutting specific mention of them as well as having heroes do push-ups, not just him and the summoner. The changes made didn't affect the overall meaning but the dialogue does feel shallower. This happened with some of his dialogue in other alts as well but I highly doubt it's specific to him. 

Shout outs to the jpn version of that reindeer line just above, if it's accurate 

【These are antlers modeled after reindeer. Those strong legs and core, undeterred by the snowfields... I wish I could be like them.】

He's getting body envy from reindeer… when he himself is a type of cervidae (family name for deer).

Unanswered questions 

As previously mentioned, brave eikþyrnir's forging bonds gave a bit more information on why he knew the truth of the hands. 

【My memories are complex. But I will recount them as if they are accurate. For I, too, recall having a weak body.】

Loserðr might have made a mistake when imbuing him with the heart seed for him to have retained the memories of his past self. But there's still so many unanswered questions, did ligma know that eik remembered, does current eik have the same personality as the original, how did eik know Larzarus was a fake, about what the king did, etc  

Hot Take

I do not like brave eikþyrnir’s forging bonds, the actual content is fine but it could have been saved for a harmonic if IS made those for m/m. What I don't like about it is what it could have been, alfred’s sister showed up in eik's FB but none of eik’s did. I understand the point was to showcase his and Alfred's similarities but I think they should have gone with a different premise. That might have been the one chance the healing hands had at having novel, peace time character interactions outside of the short NY paralogue. The book 8 tempest trial story could provide more meaningful characterization to the hands, but it wouldn't be their normal day to day interactions, that I was hoping the FB would provide. 

Conclusion

So eikþyrnir

Who art at the gym

Hallowed be thy dumbbell

Thy workout come

Thy pump be done

On askr as it is in yggdrasil

Give us this regimen our daily carbs

And forgive us our cheat days

As we forgive those 

Who don't re-rack the weights 

And lead us not into stagnation 

But deliver us our gains 

For thine body is a temple

Muscle is power

Train your heart

For ever and ever

Larry

His passion for life drives him; he believes in humanities’ tenacity to persevere. Exercise is the means by which he heals, but also, for him, it is the means to prevent injury and doubt from ever sitting in. Having a strong able body and steadfast resolve makes it easier to overcome the trials and tribulations life throws at us. 

Book VIII eikþyrnir is him without his drive. He continues his training physical, but mentally, he has lost the resolve to live. Mental health is just as important to him as physical well-being. Confidence in ones self is a vital parts of that. Moving past book VIII, eikþyrnir reignites his passion for living, he continues to grow himself to live out peaceful days with his family. 

He brims with confidence, flexing his muscles as proof of his commitment to his family. He's always striving to become an even better version of him and as meddlesome as he can be, he just wants people to be able to live their lives to the fullest. Confident but not arrogant. Assertive but not bossy. Obstinate but not dumb. Surface level stoicism hides the underlying emotional component to all of his actions. Eikþyrnir is a deer and he's here to help you become the best you you can be.

【Each one of us has something precious to protect. My muscles give me the strength to do that. Muscles fend off illness, uncertainty, even fatigue. They are the most powerful armor. Understand? That is why I promote training above all else.】

Asked a while back about foddering Caladbolg to Alear and I decided to go ahead and do it, very shit edited artist’s rendition on the second image

Basically gave her all the shiny toys the new version came with (and saved myself a forma soul doing it later as I didn’t have anyone else in mind I wanted Caladbolg on)

Not much to say here, standard infantry sword stuff. She runs in, nukes, builds up great talent, runs out and hopes I didn’t forget canto control on the battlefield. Very fun build, on a character I love a lot.

I also do not have a better echo skill. Or special. I’m not killing L!Diamant for Archrival.

^{man I miss Vine, Tails...}

QotD: What do you think IntSys will do for CYL8's refines?

Alright preface this to say I never cared about AR and just usually do my best but maybe the past year or so, its getting pretty hard to even win any matches. The blue horse lady stops your move, traps, their save unit is OP and my save unit dies in 1 hit or doesnt even trigger at all, etc etc. I do have some new units like the snake lady, new Alm, new Roy, etc and I am still getting blasted where it feels like my units are paper and cant do anything lol. Am I just really bad or any general tips on beating these new busted units lol?

I’m thinking of foddering Alear to my +7 Byleth, mainly for Arcane Caladbolg.

Current Byleth build:
Arcane Renegade / Reposition / Archrival / Duelist’s Blow / Pair Up 4 / Atk/Spd Faith / DC(M) / Tumultuous Echo

Alear has Arcane Caladbolg, Swift Life, A/S Taker Burst and Thunder Specter.

The weapon feels like the obvious upgrade, but I’m not sure if any of the other skills are actually worth taking too. Would Pair Up 4 still be better than A/S Taker Burst? And is Duelist’s Blow better to keep over Swift Life?

I like Hinata, he's a silly guy with an adorable voice :)

Build kinda explains itself, lots of flat DR for bulk, Potent goodness, big stats, yadda yadda.

Not winning any utility awards, but he's a THICC fucking beatstick.

Really want Instruct and would change his seal to A/D/R +4 if I had it. Not the best instructor of S/R, but being able to buff units with 61/59 S/R is imo a pretty friggin good threshold regardless.

i just don't see how dagr's supposed to be the roaring knight