This discussion will be filled with spoilers. So, if you’ve not played both FE9 and FE10, close this discussion unless you want to be spoiled.
The question is very simple, but I’m sure many people asked this in their head. I have a theory of my own but let’s hear more perspectives from people.
I think Sepiran order the BK to kill Greil … BK and Greil somehow base on Darth Vader and Obi Wan …
Sephiran didn’t order BK to kill Greil.
I never played FE10, so I only work off what I saw in FE9, but I always thought he just did it for the love of the game. They fought, he wanted to surpass his master, and you’re expected to die in a duel like this.
Because Greil brought an Axe to a sword duel and the Black Knight took that very personally.
It’s okay because Ike avenged his father by using a hammer in Radiant Dawn.
I know these replies aren’t serious but maybe I wasn’t clear enough. I want to know what was the motivation behind Greil’s death ? What made Black Knight kill Greil ? If you know Black Knight’s true identity then you’ll understand why I’m asking this question.
Idk but RIP Greil. Went too soon and the games suffered because of it.
It’s impressive how Sephiran & Zelgius were able to completely destroy two of the coolest Tellius characters (Greil & the Black Knight) while also being two of the most insufferable characters I’ve encountered in gaming. They retroactively ruin the Tellius games. I hate them.
Bad writing was the Burger King’s motivation to kill Greil.
Well, IIRC the reason the Black Knight killed Greil was because he wanted to challenge him and see if he has surpassed him. Of course, since both Greil was a bit old at this point (not to mention, the BK being actually a branded, therefore having the potential to be stronger) and him cutting the tendons of his sword arm, it was obvious he wouldn’t be able to really beat Greil at his prime anymore. Like he said, there was no challenge, no resistance in that duel.
And after his master’s death, he of course set his sights on his son, Ike, and see if he was going to be a better challenge. Needless to say, he was a better challenge indeed.
All of this would’ve been valid if Zelgius never existed.
Yeah, kind of a fickle there.
My reply was serious.
Not entirely sure why this is a thread/how zelgius complicates anything.
The in-game explanation is that he wanted to duel greil and he’s lowkey a psychopath (no sense of morality) (or at the very least a “might makes right” view of morality)
Edit: no really, after a third time reading this thread my question is: How does bk being zelgius have any impact on the answers given? Like why should it? Do you (op) think zelgius is a good person or something?
If we take Black Knight from PoR, then yes he’s a psychopath.
It’s not that simple to call Zelgius “good” or “bad”. If it was, then this thread wouldn’t exist. Regardless, if we take Zelgius’ role in Begnion Imperial army then he’s far from a psychopath. That’s what complicates things. Zelgius could’ve killed Skirmir, in fact, he should’ve if he was psychopathic.
There’s also another way to look at this : Sephiran is a psychopath too because he wants to end the world and purge everyone, and to follow someone like him, you must be evil as well. And to some extent, Zelgius was an evil puppet.
When we get to see his own actions while leading an army against Laguz alliance, he actually cares about his men and has a sense of honour. If Zelgius wanted, he could’ve killed Ike, Ranulf and everyone when he had the chance (while battling Skirmir). But he didn’t. He might not have killed them because Apostle forbade it. But he wouldn’t have faced much consequence either, because Senators wanted Zelgius to exterminate everyone. Would that stop the war ? No. Caineghis and Tibarn would still press on, regardless.
But let’s say, he, as the loyal puppet of Sephiran wishes to wage war and awaken Yune. Then he should’ve been more aggressive instead of resolving conflicts via duel and prevent death on both sides. That would’ve awakened the God faster. But he didn’t. That’s because when he’s leading the army, Sephiran isn’t there to dictate his every actions. Zelgius would do whatever he thinks is best for his men.
Zelgius is also far away from your typical villain “might makes right”. If that was the case, then he wouldn’t be so touched by Elincia dropping her sword to ground. Black Knight from PoR would’ve laughed maniacally and stomped her out of existence.
I can go on but if you’re observant enough, then you will notice that there’s a stark difference between PoR Black Knight and Zelgius from FE10.
If Zelgius could spare someone like Skirmir because of his philosophy then he should’ve certainly spared his master whom he admired and idolized all his life. It’s not like he killed Greil to motivate Ike because Ike was nothing to him at the beginning.
Thanks!
This makes sense & I’d never given that level of thought to the character.
The one thing I had thought was odd was how the bk interacts with micaiah (he feels like a different person than fe9 and zelgius)
My only thought as to why he didn’t kill everyone in the laguz alliance is that he hadn’t recieved the green light from sephran for whatever reason. (I know that’s not a satisfactory answer)
Edit: after a few minutes reflection, this may be a bit extreme, but:
If you come at fe10 with the perspective that the entire thing is a setup to awaken ashera then a good chunk of the plot feels pretty contrived. It feels like zelgius & sephran could’ve been a whole lot more sloppy and quick and arrived at the same conclusion. It makes one wonder the need for all the weird secrecy and calculated advances and such. I know they’re doing some emperor palpatine stuff, but I do agree it’s one of the weaker aspects of 9/10’s story.
The idea of the story was actually pretty solid but maybe the execution could’ve been better. For example, what if Sephiran really didn’t want the world to end ? What if this entire thing was a test planned by him to see, if beorc and laguz are worthy of existing ? Maybe he wanted all living creatures to end but he may have also wanted to see if he had erred in his judgement and humanity is truly worthy of survivng. That’s why Sephiran is a conflicting and deep character.
If you take a look at Sephiran’s speech at FE9’s epilogue, then it’ll make sense. “Your trials are just beginning, my gallant, young hero”. This might all have been a test from Sephiran.
He was closely observing Ike’s progress in Mad King’s war and he saw how Ike united beorc and laguz under his leadership and he had no resentment towards the branded. That’s why Sephiran didn’t want Ike to be killed and he was right in a sense that Ike’s tale in Mad King’s war would awake ugly appetite among nobles like Luvdeck and Senators.
If we look at it with this perspective then it makes a lot of sense. Sephiran was also against the complete extermination of Laguz at Begnion’s hand which is why Senators strip his title and imprison him on false charges. (See Sigurn and Zelgius’ conversation) Because this would go against any possible unity of beorc and Laguz.
Deep down he was still the Lehran he used to be.
Edit : To Sephiran, Ike was the “dying hope of salvation”.