ThroughoutFire Emblem: Three Houses, time is spent becoming familiar with students, teachers, friends, and foes, as the game’s epic narrative tells a tale of war segmented into two chapters. Along the way, players will become accustomed to the houses at Garreg Mach Monastery, with the Black Eagles from the Adrestian Empire to the west, Blue Lions from the Kingdom of Faerghus to the north, andGolden Deer from the Leicester Alliance to the east. These houses are at the center of the story, but they are not the only organizations that have a place.
With Garreg Mach being a monastery, it has a strong religious presence alongside the Officers Academy in which students train for the heat of battle. The Church of Seiros becomes known to the player in the game’s opening hours, providing a compelling wrinkle through any of the three possible paths. There are plenty of narrative threads that make upFire Emblem: Three Houses, and while the Church of Seiros' has a strong presence from start to finish, it’s one that often goes overlooked.
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The Church of Seiros' Rich History
Having a power over the entire continent using several regional branches, the Church of Seiros' reach is wide, with origins dating back to before the Adrestian Empire. Named afterits founder, Saint Seiros, the church found a home when the construction of Garreg Mach was completed in the Imperial Year 185, long before the events ofFire Emblem: Three Houses. The church exerted its influence over the land when Faerghus seceded from the Adrestian Empire, as the organization granted the Kingdom its right to self-govern, ushering in a future where Fodlan was ruled by more than one entity.
Hundreds of years passed with relative harmony until the southern branch of the church started an unsuccessful uprising, resulting in the Ministry of Religion being formed. Since then, the Church of Seiros became the continent’s leader in keeping peace amongst warring factions, expanding its reach and continuing to house the Officers Academy, in whichthe students and teachers of Garreg Machcan train in any number of disciplines.
The Church In Modern Fodlan
The Church of Seiros is led by the archbishop, Lady Rhea, and its headquarters are at the monastery. With the location being in the very heart of the continent of Fodlan, it has no alliance to any one of the nations that make up the land, and as such its meddling in affairs of the Kingdom, Empire, or Alliance are minimal. That’s not to say it doesn’t experience its fair share of domestic affairs, as the branches of the church in each nation have been known to have disagreements, especially on matters relating to power. The Knights of Seiros, a military organization that serves the church, are deployed all over the land and often engage in foreign affairs to keep peace.
Depending on the direction the player takes at the game’s halfway point, a number of events can occur that radically alter the way in which the Church of Seiros is presented. Should the Black Eagles path be taken, the church will become an enemy asnow-Emperor of the Adrestian nation, Edelgard, declares war and Rhea flees to the Kingdom of Faerghus. By siding with Edelgard, players are shown a secretive side of the church that keeps the Holy Tomb and Holy Mausoleum private from the public, strictly governing the content that can be found in the monastery’s library - including its illicit experiments.
Though the Church of Seiros' motivations change, its presence does not, aseven with the Blue Lionsand Golden Deer routes, it is seen to be secretive, powerful, and often overwhelming. Its first priority is to serve the people of Fodlan and maintain peace, but when peace becomes an impossible feat, Rhea’s stoic, all-seeing wisdom begins to falter, and the church’s intentions take a backseat. It’s clear that the Church of Seiros plays an essential part in theFire Emblem: Three Housesstory, and knowing its quirks will make the experience far more memorable.
Fire Emblem: Three Housesis available now on Nintendo Switch.
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