Character Name(s): Claude von Riegan, Duke Riegan; these are aliases and his former title in the Leiciester Alliance, and his current position/real name is King Khalid of Almyra. Also known as the King of Unification. Nicknamed the Master Tactician. Series: Fire Emblem: Three Houses Wiki Link: Here
THE GOOD
How far would they go to accomplish their goals or fulfill their desires? Do they have lines they wouldn't cross? Claude's life is dedicated to his dream to remake the world and tear down its borders, and he is willing to go to radical lengths to do so. As a teenager, he fled home both to escape the abuse he had experienced throughout his childhood, and to realise his ambitions by gaining power. He made a dangerous journey across the border from Almyra to Fódlan to take his place as his grandfather's heir, and in doing so, would receive the future mantle of leader of the Leicester Alliance, one of the three major powers of Fódlan, inventing the name "Claude von Riegan" for himself and disguising his true origins to avoid discrimination.
He then enlisted at the Officer's Academy, which was a ruse to try to steal the Sword of the Creator, a sword he had heard was powerful enough to cut down mountains -- something he could use to tear down the geographical barrier between Fódlan and Almyra. It's also a sword that happens to be sacred to an entire religion... not that it stopped him. When that didn't work, he decided to get close to Byleth to manipulate him, as the wielder of the sword, for his own ends. In short, he's willing to use most tools at his disposal to achieve his goals, and that goes for people as well as weapons. He does, however, abhor unnecessary loss of life, so while political power is one of his goals, and he will wage war to defend his borders, using military aggression against a neighbouring country unprovoked, as Edelgard does in declaring war on Fódlan, is a line he refuses to cross.
What is something they treasure? Knowledge. Claude prizes it above almost anything, because knowledge is power. He has an insatiable curiosity, and constantly strives to learn more about the world and people around him.
What do they consider to be their best or most positive qualities? If someone asked him, he'd joke and say it was his handsome good looks. In seriousness, he thinks his intelligence and cunnning are his best traits, because he uses them as his survival tools.
What is this character's best memory? Defeating Nemesis and bringing peace to Fódlan. It signalled the end of the war after six years of conflict, as well as beginning the process of unshackling Fódlan from a false history that had held it prisoner for a thousand years, and Claude embarking on his own personal political ambitions to shape the world.
Is there anyone they have highly positive feelings towards? Byleth. Regardless of whether the player chooses to romance Claude or not, Claude has deep respect for Byleth and sees their bond as two people brought together by fate or some kind of miracle, because he was the perfect person to come into his life at his greatest hour of need. He relates to him as a fellow outsider who doesn't fit in with any part of Fódlan society, but who also has a brilliant tactical mind like his own. He says they have ties deeper than blood and that no matter what happens, he'll always be on Byleth's side. He's the one lord who never stops believing Byleth will come back during his five-year disappearance, proving that despite his previously distrustful nature, he has an unwavering sense of faith and loyalty to him.
As of the Iconoclast Oracle event, Claude also confessed his feelings to Hayame, which had been developing for some time, but the apparent end of the world in that scenario made him blurt out that he loved her before it was too late. Eventually, Hayame came around and has gradually begun to accept his feelings. He promised that even if they don't always see eye-to-eye when it comes to events in Kenos, he'll always be there to support her, and he's been encouraging her to be more open with her thoughts and emotions.
THE BAD
What could or would tempt your character to compromise their principles? If he's backed into a corner and desperate, Claude might compromise his beliefs if it means saving himself or his friends. He values survival more than anything, so he'll play dirty and ditch some of his loftier ideals where pragmatism demands it.
What do they desire above all else? To create a peaceful world where everyone is treated equally and free to live as they please, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, social class, birthplace, etc. Since confessing his feelings to Hayame, he wants her world to be peaceful as well, so jinba no longer have to face persecution and enslavement at the hands of humans. If he can find a way to help with that after achieving Meridian's goal of restoring their worlds, he will.
What are their biggest fear and/or insecurities? Claude is exceptionally paranoid, and in constant fear for his life due to a lifetime of looking over his shoulder after assassins. His trust issues have abated a little thanks to canon events and the close friends and allies he's made, but he's still very guarded, and can be distrustful of strangers. He's also deeply insecure about rejection because of his experiences, and much of what drives him to end discrimination and make the world a more equal place is so others don't have to go through the things he has.
What is this character's worst memory? The racist abuse, both physical and verbal, as well as the attempts on his life, he recieved throughout his childhood, from his half-siblings but also from many Almyrans generally. Despite growing up a prince, he doesn't consider his upbringing to be one of luxury, and largely, because of Almyra's warrior culture, his parents left him to fend for himself against his aggressors. The situation became so severe he eventually fled the country.
Is there anyone they have highly negative feelings towards? In Kenos, he has yet to develop any significantly negative CR. He is open-minded generally even about Zenith, and will try to befriend people over choosing conflict with them. He's most cautious of characters with a known reputation for hostility, like Sebastian and Silco, but will be outwardly amicable -- or at least polite -- towards them for his own convenience. edit: just kidding he's privately scheming sebastian's downfall
In canon, he has highly negative feelings towards Rhea; Claude believed she and the Church of Seiros were holding Fódlan captive in the thrall of a false dogma that bound people by social class and Crests, and which promoted xenophobia and isolationism, while hiding the continent's true history. He also knows Rhea conducted horrific experiments on Byleth as a baby to further her own agenda, besides generally meddling with political affairs, and using the military force of her knights to "chastise" her believers. While Claude never agreed with Edelgard's war, if she had not started it, it's implied Claude would have had Rhea assassinated (in another route, he does in fact go to war against her alongside Edelgard, ultimately slaying her to free the Kingdom from the grip of the Church and to bring peace to Fódlan). In Kenos, he thinks Yima reminds him of Rhea which makes him cautious of her, but he still doesn't know enough about her to fully piece together her motives yet.
THE ET CETERA
What kinds of gifts does your character like? From canon: Riding boots, lore-heavy books, exotic spices, board games, pine needle or chamomile tea
What item(s) would your character be pleased to receive as a reward? Poison ingredients, potions, a high-quality bow, food
What item(s) would your character never ask for, but you, the player, would want to give them? His bow, the Hero's Relic Failnaught. The in-universe fanfic someone wrote about his parents. He totally needs to get it so Byleth can add it to his romance novel collection.
OOC, what are your goals with this character? What would you enjoy seeing them getting involved in or would enjoy as a potential character arc? Claude's a politician more than anything, so he'll want to steer the course of political events in Kenos between the two factions to outcomes favourable to him/Meridian, so he can fulfil his duty to Almyra and Fódlan back home and restore his world. He does, however, have an idealistic side too, and would prefer if the two factions learned to cooperate together despite their differences, rather than become embroiled in further conflict. He'll ultimately favour diplomacy and peaceful reconciliation wherever possible.
As of the first ambassador meeting he's been able to start an attempt at more peaceful relations between the two factions, and he'll keep offering to be the face of the program as needed to deescalate tensions.
no subject
Series: Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Wiki Link: Here
THE GOOD
How far would they go to accomplish their goals or fulfill their desires? Do they have lines they wouldn't cross?
Claude's life is dedicated to his dream to remake the world and tear down its borders, and he is willing to go to radical lengths to do so. As a teenager, he fled home both to escape the abuse he had experienced throughout his childhood, and to realise his ambitions by gaining power. He made a dangerous journey across the border from Almyra to Fódlan to take his place as his grandfather's heir, and in doing so, would receive the future mantle of leader of the Leicester Alliance, one of the three major powers of Fódlan, inventing the name "Claude von Riegan" for himself and disguising his true origins to avoid discrimination.
He then enlisted at the Officer's Academy, which was a ruse to try to steal the Sword of the Creator, a sword he had heard was powerful enough to cut down mountains -- something he could use to tear down the geographical barrier between Fódlan and Almyra. It's also a sword that happens to be sacred to an entire religion... not that it stopped him. When that didn't work, he decided to get close to Byleth to manipulate him, as the wielder of the sword, for his own ends. In short, he's willing to use most tools at his disposal to achieve his goals, and that goes for people as well as weapons. He does, however, abhor unnecessary loss of life, so while political power is one of his goals, and he will wage war to defend his borders, using military aggression against a neighbouring country unprovoked, as Edelgard does in declaring war on Fódlan, is a line he refuses to cross.
What is something they treasure?
Knowledge. Claude prizes it above almost anything, because knowledge is power. He has an insatiable curiosity, and constantly strives to learn more about the world and people around him.
What do they consider to be their best or most positive qualities?
If someone asked him, he'd joke and say it was his handsome good looks. In seriousness, he thinks his intelligence and cunnning are his best traits, because he uses them as his survival tools.
What is this character's best memory?
Defeating Nemesis and bringing peace to Fódlan. It signalled the end of the war after six years of conflict, as well as beginning the process of unshackling Fódlan from a false history that had held it prisoner for a thousand years, and Claude embarking on his own personal political ambitions to shape the world.
Is there anyone they have highly positive feelings towards?
Byleth. Regardless of whether the player chooses to romance Claude or not, Claude has deep respect for Byleth and sees their bond as two people brought together by fate or some kind of miracle, because he was the perfect person to come into his life at his greatest hour of need. He relates to him as a fellow outsider who doesn't fit in with any part of Fódlan society, but who also has a brilliant tactical mind like his own. He says they have ties deeper than blood and that no matter what happens, he'll always be on Byleth's side. He's the one lord who never stops believing Byleth will come back during his five-year disappearance, proving that despite his previously distrustful nature, he has an unwavering sense of faith and loyalty to him.
As of the Iconoclast Oracle event, Claude also confessed his feelings to Hayame, which had been developing for some time, but the apparent end of the world in that scenario made him blurt out that he loved her before it was too late. Eventually, Hayame came around and has gradually begun to accept his feelings. He promised that even if they don't always see eye-to-eye when it comes to events in Kenos, he'll always be there to support her, and he's been encouraging her to be more open with her thoughts and emotions.
THE BAD
What could or would tempt your character to compromise their principles?
If he's backed into a corner and desperate, Claude might compromise his beliefs if it means saving himself or his friends. He values survival more than anything, so he'll play dirty and ditch some of his loftier ideals where pragmatism demands it.
What do they desire above all else?
To create a peaceful world where everyone is treated equally and free to live as they please, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, social class, birthplace, etc.
Since confessing his feelings to Hayame, he wants her world to be peaceful as well, so jinba no longer have to face persecution and enslavement at the hands of humans. If he can find a way to help with that after achieving Meridian's goal of restoring their worlds, he will.
What are their biggest fear and/or insecurities?
Claude is exceptionally paranoid, and in constant fear for his life due to a lifetime of looking over his shoulder after assassins. His trust issues have abated a little thanks to canon events and the close friends and allies he's made, but he's still very guarded, and can be distrustful of strangers. He's also deeply insecure about rejection because of his experiences, and much of what drives him to end discrimination and make the world a more equal place is so others don't have to go through the things he has.
What is this character's worst memory?
The racist abuse, both physical and verbal, as well as the attempts on his life, he recieved throughout his childhood, from his half-siblings but also from many Almyrans generally. Despite growing up a prince, he doesn't consider his upbringing to be one of luxury, and largely, because of Almyra's warrior culture, his parents left him to fend for himself against his aggressors. The situation became so severe he eventually fled the country.
Is there anyone they have highly negative feelings towards?
In Kenos, he has yet to develop any significantly negative CR. He is open-minded generally even about Zenith, and will try to befriend people over choosing conflict with them. He's most cautious of characters with a known reputation for hostility, like Sebastian and Silco, but will be outwardly amicable -- or at least polite -- towards them for his own convenience. edit: just kidding he's privately scheming sebastian's downfall
In canon, he has highly negative feelings towards Rhea; Claude believed she and the Church of Seiros were holding Fódlan captive in the thrall of a false dogma that bound people by social class and Crests, and which promoted xenophobia and isolationism, while hiding the continent's true history. He also knows Rhea conducted horrific experiments on Byleth as a baby to further her own agenda, besides generally meddling with political affairs, and using the military force of her knights to "chastise" her believers. While Claude never agreed with Edelgard's war, if she had not started it, it's implied Claude would have had Rhea assassinated (in another route, he does in fact go to war against her alongside Edelgard, ultimately slaying her to free the Kingdom from the grip of the Church and to bring peace to Fódlan).
In Kenos, he thinks Yima reminds him of Rhea which makes him cautious of her, but he still doesn't know enough about her to fully piece together her motives yet.
THE ET CETERA
What kinds of gifts does your character like?
From canon:
Riding boots, lore-heavy books, exotic spices, board games,pine needle or chamomile teaWhat item(s) would your character be pleased to receive as a reward?
Poison ingredients, potions, a high-quality bow, food
What item(s) would your character never ask for, but you, the player, would want to give them?
His bow, the Hero's Relic Failnaught.The in-universe fanfic someone wrote about his parents. He totally needs to get it so Byleth can add it to his romance novel collection.OOC, what are your goals with this character? What would you enjoy seeing them getting involved in or would enjoy as a potential character arc?
Claude's a politician more than anything, so he'll want to steer the course of political events in Kenos between the two factions to outcomes favourable to him/Meridian, so he can fulfil his duty to Almyra and Fódlan back home and restore his world. He does, however, have an idealistic side too, and would prefer if the two factions learned to cooperate together despite their differences, rather than become embroiled in further conflict. He'll ultimately favour diplomacy and peaceful reconciliation wherever possible.
As of the first ambassador meeting he's been able to start an attempt at more peaceful relations between the two factions, and he'll keep offering to be the face of the program as needed to deescalate tensions.