—Seliph asking Robin about their mark in Fire Emblem Awakening
The Brand (聖痕 Seikon lit. Stigma in the Japanese version) is a plot point recurring throughout the Fire Emblem series, originating as an in-universe explanation for the Holy Blood mechanic introduced in Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War, though has been adopted in various forms in other games.
Profile[]
Though they vary between games, Brands play an integral part in explaining the heritage of certain individuals. More often than not, they signal that an individual descends from those blessed by a Divine Dragon or other powerful beings. Another common feature is that Brands allow the usage of special weapons and unique combat abilities exclusive to those who bear said particular Brands.
Genealogy of the Holy War/Thracia 776[]
The Brand is introduced in Genealogy of the Holy War as a sign of descendants of either Galle or the Twelve Crusaders that have inherited an large amount of Holy Blood from their ancestors. Within both games, Brands play a large role on what individuals can wield certain weapons.
Tellius Series[]
The union of a Beorc and Laguz results in children that are born with a Brand on their body, a sign of this merge. Due to the religion of Tellius, these Branded individuals are considered an abomination of the Goddess Ashera and are ostracized as a result by both Beorc and Laguz. The Brand on these individuals do not signify anything special other than a sign that they descend from individuals of this type of union, persisting through several generations of children.
There also exist Spirit Charmers, or people that forge agreements with spirits in exchange for magical power. Such a pact is signified by a mark on the Spirit Charmer's body similar enough to a Brand that it is not uncommon for a Branded to be confused for a Spirit Charmer, or for a Spirit Charmer to be mistaken for a Branded.
Awakening[]
Two types of Brands exist in Awakening. The primary Brand featured heavily through out Awakening is the Brand of the Exalt, a holy symbol that mark the descendants of the First Exalt, a legendary warrior who enacted a holy covenant with the Divine Dragon Naga. During the events of Awakening, only those who are tied to the Ylissean royal family bear this mark. Chrom, Emmeryn, Lucina, and Owain have acknowledged, visible Brands on their body. Though a member of the Ylissean royal family, Lissa has no known Brand, but is later confirmed to be a legitimate heir to the Brand when Owain was confirmed to have it. Of all of Chrom's potential children, only Inigo is confirmed to have the Brand of the Exalt if Chrom is his father.
Only those with lineage of the Ylissean royal family can potentially wield Falchion and its future variant. If a non-family member attempts to wield the sword, the blade remains dull. Even among the royal family itself, the sword still chooses which individual can wield it. During gameplay, only Chrom can wield the normal Falchion and Exalted Falchion while only Lucina can wield the Parallel Falchion. However, at the end of Lucina's support with her sibling, the Falchion deems Lucina's younger sibling as a potential wielder of the sword.
A special Brand appears on the right hand of Robin, signifying their ties to the Fell Dragon Grima. Unlike the Brand of the Exalt, it appears to be more akin to a sigil than a birthmark as the brand disappears once Grima's influence on Robin is dispelled.
Fates[]
When Owain is brought to Valla by Anankos, the Brand of the Exalt is hidden to help conceal his identity. Later, should he father his determinate child Ophelia, she reveals that she inherited the Brand of the Exalt, though due to Owain's promise of secrecy, he cannot fully divulge the significance of the mark to her. In the Hoshidan Festival of Bonds, it is confirmed that Shigure inherits the Brand of the Exalt if Owain is his father while female Kana similarly inherits the Brand if she is the daughter of Ophelia.
Shadows of Valentia[]
The Divine Dragons Duma and Mila created the countries of Rigel and Zofia respectively on the continent of Valentia. Though the countries flourished under their respective Divine Dragon's vision, a prophecy was made that a Rigelian prince and a Zophia princess holding Brands of their respective country's Divine Dragon would signal the end of the Divine Dragon's rule. Alm was born with the Brand of Duma on the back of his left hand as he is the secret son of Emperor Rudolf and Celica was born with the Brand of Mila on the palm of her right hand as she is the lost princess of Zofia. The Valentia Accordion would reveal that Alm's father Rudolf also has the Brand and that holding of the Brand of Duma allows the wielder to wield Falchion.
Three Houses/Three Hopes[]
Though not explicitly the same, Crests bear similar function to Brands as they imbue those who inherited them with special powers and are descended from those who received power from the Ten Elites, Four Apostles, and the Four Saints who in turn originally received their power from the Nabateans. Crests do not appear on their wielder's body like Brands normally do, however the do flash in battle as a magical sigil whenever they activate.
Other Series Appearances[]
TearRing Saga Series[]
In Utna Heroes Saga, Utna and Garlon's four daughters are the progenitors of the royal dynasties and priestly families of Reeve, Leda, Salia, and Canaan. Among these descendants, certain women called shamans (巫女 miko) occasionally arise, who, have inherited the power to shapeshift into one of the Guardian Dragons (Muse, Kranion, Neuron, and Rachis). These powers indirectly derive from the emiyu Miradona, who gave Utna some of her blood to drink to fight against Kalbazan, who had also drunk her blood. The shamans are capable of utilizing special bracelets that help them control their draconic power and awaken the sleeping fragments of Garlon's blade, which had also been blessed by Utna.
In Berwick Saga, descent from ancient Lazberians (that is, Zoans) is considered divine, as they were called the Sons of Gods (神の子ら kami no kora). In the Kingdom of Veria, the most honored bloodline is that of High Priest Aramgraz's granddaughter Valentia, the first Apostle. Generally, only well-learned individuals with Lazberian ancestry are entrusted with the secrets of using magic, and it is said that only those of such ancestry are even capable of using it.