Skasaher
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Ayra (Japanese: アイラ) is a young fictional insane, but nice female myrmidon from the Fire Emblem series, more specifically Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu. She is called Ira (even though the name of Ira is an established male name) in the book Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu: TREASURE and in Fire Emblem Trading Card Game. She has been highly credited by most Fire Emblem fans, especially those who played Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu through console emulation in the United States. Therefore, Ayra is one of the most popular Fire Emblem characters. She is the first popular female swordfighter in Fire Emblem history. She is the Nabarl of Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu. Some fans of the Fire Emblem series consider her as symbolizing punishment due to her iron will, such as saying "Or else I'll have Ayra beat you up." Ayra is sometimes called "The Original Swordmaster", since she started the Myrmidon and Swordmaster classes, which are very popular Fire Emblem classes, and she is also called "The Original Sword Demon" of Fire Emblem, and the "Isaacian Sword Demon." Another "Sword Demon" is called Karel, a male Swordmaster from Fire Emblem: Fuuin no Tsurugi and Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken.
Brief Bio
Princess Ayra, daughter of King Mananan, a descendant of Odo, one of the 12 Jugdral Crusaders, was born and raised in the Kingdom of Isaac, the northeasternmost country in the continent of Judgral. In the Gran Calendar year 757, Prince Kult made the decision to have Sigurd's Kingdom of Grandbell to subdue the Kingdom Isaac. That conflict forced Ayra and her nephew Shanan, son of her older brother Mariccle, to flee to the Kingdom of Verdane, the kingdom on the exact opposite side of Jugdral, and ended up working for Kinbois as a mercenary. She also has an iron will to protect Shanan. Despite her strict exterior, she is really very nice. Therefore, behind her strict and tough exterior is a smooth, soft, and caring heart.
Her Story
Just before the Introduction of Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu, Prince Kult from Barhara Castle, Grandbell, made the decision that the Grandbellian army invades Ayra's country the Kingdom of Isaac, because of public outcry involving the Isaacian barbarians from Rivough subduing Darna. Ayra flees with Shanan from Isaac to Verdane, through Manster and then through Miletos, in order to escape Isaac's war with Grandbell. Ayra and Shanan spent three weeks in Miletos. Then they sneaked through the south tip of Grandbell near Jungby and then arrived to Verdane. Upon arrival to Verdane, she ended up working for Kinbois, son of King Bator and brother of Jamka as a mercenary. Ayra shows up with Kinbois in Chapter 1 of Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu, taking place in the Kingdom of Verdane, the southwesternmost country in Jugdral. Then she talks with Shanan. After that, talking to Kinbois again, Ayra says no to double-crossing. In order to avoid threat to have Shanan cut off, she was forced to do as Kinbois wishes, which is to guard Genoa Castle and fight against her will. She stands there with three Axefighters. When Sigurd and his forces come too close to her, she says that she would kill anyone coming near her, and then she begans to fight against her will. Sigurd has to kill the Axefighter guarding Genoa Castle, and then conquered the castle, rescuing Shanan. Shanan says to Sigurd that Ayra was fighting against her iron will and tells him to help and recruit her. Immediately, Ayra comes and talks to Sigurd, and then she joins Sigurds party. Sigurd tells her that her nephew Shanan said that she would be hostile towards him and his people since he is from Grandbell. Later, she talks with Cuan about the political situation between Isaac and Grandbell. She knew Cuan before she knew Sigurd. Cuan's father King Lenster had a high opinion of Ayra's father Mananan. Mananan was assassinated by Reptor, father of Tiltyu (or Tailto), on the Grandbellian front during Isaac's war with Grandbell about five or six years before the time of the game. Ayra's brother Mariccle entrusted Shanan to her, because Mariccle was prepared for death during Isaac's conflict with Grandbell. Even after she joins Sigurd's party, Ayra still views Grandbell as her sworn enemy, but Sigurd tells her that he does not want to split sides with her.
In Chapter 2, Ayra beats Holyn in the arena, and then he joins her and Sigurd's army. In Chapter 3, either Lex or Holyn would give her the Yuusha (or Heroes) Sword, since things are going to harder as the player advances through the game. Most players give her a class promotion, from Swordfighter to Swordmaster, either in Chapter 3 or 4. In Chapter 5, after Sigurd conquers Lubeck Castle, Ayra's children flee with Shanan, Oifey, and Celice to her kingdom Isaac, but to Tilnanogue Castle. After that Ayra talks with Sigurd again, and informs him that she has finished her duties to raise Shanan. The game Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu is unclear on Ayra's situation concerning the tragedy of the Battle of Barhara at the end of Chapter 5. Ayra was not mentioned in Fire Emblem: Thracia 776.
Joining Sigurd
Getting Ayra to join Sigurd's forces is difficult, but she is worth it. First, Sigurd and his forces already in his army have to lure her westward to the forest west of Marpha castle. It is not recommended to lure Ayra near Evans Castle, which may result in a "Game Over" message.
Related Characters
- Sigurd: He saved Ayra's nephew Shanan and talked Ayra into joining his army after conquer Genoa castle.
- Lex: Some players of Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu pair up Ayra with Lex. Lex is also the uncle of Johan and Johalva.
- Shanan: He is Mariccle's son and Ayra's nephew. He was rescued by Sigurd from the clutches of Ayra's former master Kinbois. He is the only one allowed to wield Odo's Holy Weapon the Balmunk. Mariccle, Ayra's older brother, was prepared for death when he entrusted Shanan to Ayra. Shanan fled with Ayra to Verdane to escape Isaac's war with Grandbell, and in Chapter 5, he fled with Oifey, Celice, and Ayra's children Lakche and Skasaher back to Isaac. In Chapter 3, while Sigurd was away and Diadora was abducted by Manfroy, Celice was in Shanan's arms.
- Holyn: Also known as Holin, Holyn is Ayra's male counterpart and very distant relative, as a descendant of Odo. He is from Sophara castle in the Kingdom of Isaac. He is very protective of Ayra, and he knew her when he was a boy and has romantic love, just like Lex. He moved to Agustria and became a gladiator. Holyn spent his life in the arena of Evans castle as a professional gladiator until he was beaten by Sigurd Army. Cash was his motivator all those years in the arena. Immediately thereafter, Holyn decided joined Sigurd's army and fight for a greater cause instead of cash. Ayra is traditionally paired up with Holyn.
- Lakche: Ayra's daughter. Lakche takes much after Ayra. She hates the Granbellian Empire, run by Emperor Alvis, very much. Johan and Johalva are obsessed with her, but she would love only one of them in return. Lakche and her brother Skasaher were raised by their cousin Shanan in Tilnanogue Castle.
- Skasaher: Ayra's son. Skasaher is very protective of his sister Lakche.
- Johan: He is obsessed with Lakche, wanting to be Ayra's son-in-law. He cannot join Celice's army if his brother Johalva has already joined. Lakche must choose between Johan and Johalva, and must kill the other one.
- Johalva: He is Johan's brother having the same feelings for Lakche. He cannot join Celice's army if Johan has already joined.
Name Controversy
The use of the Treasure name of Ayra, that is Ira, stirs some mild controversy. Ira is actually an established male Hebrew name, meaning "watchful" or "vigilant." The practice of naming a female character using an established male name is done not only in Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu, but also in Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo, which has a female character named Cecil. It has been believed that Ira and Levin are named after Ira Levin, as influenced by a male Fire Emblem character Levin bearing the last name of the playwright. According to Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu: TREASURE, the character and the name of Ira are actually a reference to Polynesian mythology (See Ira (mythology)).
External Link
- She is called Aila at Saphiria.net.
