Micaiah

"If that’s what it takes to be just, then I want nothing to do with justice. I’d rather be hated and feared like Mad King Ashnard. I’d rather the dark god take my soul. I’m going to save my people, Sothe. If the rest of the world paints me as a beast to be reviled and hated, so be it."

- Micaiah, to Sothe in Radiant Dawn

Micaiah (ミカヤ Mikaya), also known as the Silver-Haired Maiden, is a playable character, primary protagonist of the first part of Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, and one of the two main protagonists in the overall story. She is a wielder of Light Magic and the de facto leader of the Dawn Brigade. She has the unique skill, Sacrifice, which allows her to give up some of her HP to heal a selected unit. Micaiah is the first main character since Celica from Fire Emblem Gaiden to fight with magic, and the first main character in the series to use it almost exclusively.

She is voiced by Lani Minella in the English version and Kuwatani Natsuko (桑谷 夏子) in the Japanese version.

Before The Mad King's War
Before Mad King Ashnard declared war on Crimea, Micaiah's early occupation was that of a fortune teller in Daein. During this time, she met a young boy named Sothe, where they promised to look after each other forever. However, due to the fact that Micaiah was Branded, the prospect of Sothe traveling with her and catching the backlash of the prejudice she would receive was unthinkable, and with that, she left him. They were reunited after the war, whereupon she promised never to leave him again.

Occupation of Daein
After the Mad King's War, the Begnion occupation forces took control of Daein. During this time Micaiah reunited with Sothe, who was one of the Crimean soldiers serving under Ike during the Mad King's War.

Micaiah and Sothe then proceed to join up with Nolan, Edward, and Leonardo and form the Dawn Brigade, a group of freedom fighters officially led by Nolan to fight for a free Daein. Micaiah greatly distrusts Ike, blaming him for Daein's plight, despite never having fought alongside him during the Mad King's War.

The Liberation Army
The Dawn Brigade unearth a rumor that the son of Mad King Ashnard, Prince Pelleas, is secretly raising a liberation army in Daein's Desert of Death. The Dawn Brigade finds an abandoned fort in the desert where Pelleas is supposedly hiding out, helping the then small Liberation Army defend against the attacking Begnion soldiers.

Once the soldiers have retreated from the area, the Dawn Brigade meet up with Prince Pelleas and his assistant, Izuka. Pelleas recognized Micaiah instantly as the Silver-Haired Maiden, and immediately appoints her as the vice-commander of the Daein Liberation Army. At first, Micaiah and Sothe are reluctant to accept the role Pelleas is imposing upon them, but eventually decide to comply.

Once Daein is freed from Begnion's rule, Pelleas promotes Micaiah as the supreme commander of Daein's armies. With Sothe and Volug, she resolves to restore Daein to its former glory, giving farewell to some of her allies as they left for other lands, and reflecting with Muarim on what her brand had meant to her life.

War with the Laguz
When the Laguz Alliance learns that Begnion has committed the unforgivable crime of killing an innocent Laguz messenger, alongside being responsible for the destruction of Serenes Forest, it then declares war upon said country. King Pelleas then proceeds to order Micaiah to lead Daein's armies into battle - On the side of the Begnion empire. At first, no one could come to an understanding as to why Pelleas has chosen to make such a decision, but it is later revealed that the King had unknowingly signed a blood pact with the Begnion Senate during his coronation ceremony after Daein's abdication from Begnion's rule. This essentially means that Daein is placed under full control of the Begnion Senate, to which it was ordered to eradicate the Laguz Alliance.

Ashera and Yune
When the goddess Ashera is interrupted from her thousand-year slumber and awakens, she petrifies everyone on the continent of Tellius, including the vast majority of Micaiah and Ike's armies. The only non-petrified people are known as the "Chosen Ones", all of whom have been placed under the protection of Yune, the Goddess of Chaos. Yune intends to undo the petrification imposed upon the afflicted, but is unable to do it herself, as she lacks the power to do so. She then possesses Micaiah's body to explain that the only way to undo the petrification is to travel to the Tower of Guidance and defeat Ashera. Their first battle in its walls was with Lekain, still holding the Daein blood pact; after his defeat, Micaiah destroyed the pact and set Daein free from its yoke. During this time, it is revealed that Micaiah is Empress Sanaki's long-lost older sister, and the true apostle of Begnion. She fought in the final battle against Ashera, still as Yune's vessel, and through her Yune channeled all of her power to Ike to deal the final blow to Ashera.

After
After Ashera falls to the forces of the Chosen Ones, Sanaki implored her to stay in Begnion, but Micaiah declined, still dedicated to her true home of Daein, all the while confident in Sanaki's ability to restore Begnion. The two sisters resolved to work to bring their countries closer than ever, this time on equal terms. Micaiah will become the 15th Queen Of Daein at her subjects' entreaty, ushering a new era of peace and prosperity after Pelleas. If the automatic A-rank support Micaiah shares with Sothe is retained till the end of the game, she will marry him.

Personality
Micaiah is a very caring individual, but tends to be somewhat bitter at times, a result of both her treatment as a Branded prior to the story and the abuse of Daein and its citizens by the Begnion Occupational Army.Throughout her life she has been guided by her visions, and although she often wished she didn't have them and felt as if they were a burden, she nonetheless trusted in them to keep her life on the right path, and when her foresight ability weakened during the Laguz Alliance war she felt lost without them. Micaiah has little interest in or taste for finery, and as a result in the days before the Laguz Alliance war, she eschewed using her lavish quarters in Daein Keep in favour of living among the people while assisting in the reconstruction of Nevassa. She is particularly resentful towards Ike, whom she blames for the state of affairs in Daein, and expresses this distaste whenever Sothe speaks fondly of him.

Micaiah is extremely loyal to Daein and Pelleas, to the point of fighting the Laguz Alliance even when she sees no reason to do so, and refusing to give up when faced by the Greil Mercenaries.

Availability
◎=Forced　○=Available　□=Available for selected　△=Reinforcement
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Growth Rates

 * 40%
 * 15%
 * 80%
 * 40%
 * 35%
 * 80%
 * 20%
 * 90%
 * }

Promotional Gains
Promotion to Light Sage * Only if Light mastery rank is at D.
 * HP: +2
 * Strength: +3
 * Magic: +1
 * Skill: +1
 * Speed: +1
 * Defense: +3
 * Resistance: +1
 * Con: +1
 * Move: +1
 * C FE10 Light Magic.gif Rank*
 * C FE10 Staff.gif Rank

Promotion to Light Priestess ** Only if Light mastery rank is at B or lower. *** Only if Staff mastery rank is at C or lower.
 * HP: +4
 * Strength: +5
 * Magic: +2
 * Skill: +2
 * Speed: +2
 * Defense: +5
 * Resistance: +2
 * Con: --
 * Move: --
 * A FE10 Light Magic.gif Rank**
 * B FE10 Staff.gif Rank***

Overview
Micaiah can be said to be a magical glass cannon, where her high growths in her key stats of Magic, Luck, and Resistance are offset by low Defense, Speed, and HP. While this initially severely hinders her physical defensive capabilities, and will seldom perform Double Attacks on opponents, alongside being double attacked by enemies with average or above average speed. Magic attacks will do little, if any damage to her thanks to her near unparalleled Resistance growth rate. Even after gaining enough Speed to avoid double attacks, Micaiah must generally be protected when enemies are near, as her avoid is usually not enough to consistently dodge attacks. Her forced promotion times may also leave her under-leveled, especially when she promotes into a Light Priestess.

However, Micaiah's personal Light Tome, Thani, is very useful, as it deals bonus damage to Paladins and Generals, frequently allowing her to kill them in one shot. Her high Magic also makes her useful for attacking many enemy units as most will have generally low Resistance, alongside her decent Skill and Light Tome's naturally high accuracy she will almost always land powerful and accurate hits. Her high Magic makes her useful with Staves, often resulting in her unique Sacrifice skill being overlooked once she promotes into a Light Sage. However, this skill can still be used to cure status conditions, a plus point in part 1 of the final few chapters, when the boss units are capable of inflicting Silence spells on everyone if Ena is not adjacent to the player's magic users.

On the whole, Micaiah may have certain flaws of her own, but can still prove to be a force to be reckoned with if properly trained.

To increase her usefulness with healing, one may give her a Seraph Robe, which will give her greater durability as well.

Also if one is not using Nephenee or Edward in their final team, or decided to bench them early, Micaiah makes a great candidate for Wrath, as using Micaiah's unique ability; sacrifice can safely bring her HP below 30% from the back lines. This essentially giving her a permanent +50% Critical Rate. One can also combine this with the Purge tome given to her in 3-13, making Micaiah an extremely deadly long range unit, enough so that one might consider using Hammerne and/or blessing the Purge tome.

However if you do use this tactic be very wary of where you place Micaiah as she will not survive anything outside of very weak magic attacks with only 30% of her hp, on the flip side that 50% critical can allow her to take out large threats that Thani would not cover. One should also consider giving her miracle as a means of last resort insurance.

Alternatively giving her gamble with wrath ensures that she will have 100% critical rate, for reasonable accuracy. A forged Light tome with extra accuracy and might can be used to fully exploit this setup.

On higher difficulties, if survivability is an issue, give her Fortune and Resolve to survive fatal blows and prevent being doubled, respectively. Resolve will even allow her to double many enemies, on Normal. If Miracle and Resolve do not suffice, one must use Shade or use a less aggressive strategy.

Should players have issues leveling her up due to her very low defense and hp, her unique ability; sacrifice can be used on maps with heal scrubs. Applying her to a heal scrub next to a hurt unit is a fantastic way for her to gain levels as sacrifice always rewards 10 experience points.

If, by Part 1 endgame, Micaiah is underleveled, you can buy her a weak light tome or two, and have her continuously attack one of the two priests wielding physic. This works well because the priests regenerate 20 hp every turn, and intrinsically have high resistance. If necessary give Micaiah Paragon to speed up the process.

Death Quotes
Part 1 Prologue Micaiah: Ah... This can't be... Forgive me... Sothe... Edward: M-Micaiah?! No... You can't die! We need you! Hold on! No! Wake up, Micaiah!

Part 1 Chapter 1 Micaiah: I'm sorry... I can't... go on... Sothe... Leonardo: Micaiah?! No! You can't die, not in a place like this! Please, listen to me... Micaiah!

Part 1 Chapter 3 Micaiah: Everyone... Quick... outside... Sothe... I'm... sor...ry...... Kurth: Micaiah! No! This is my fault! If I had fought, this would never have happened...

Part 1 Chapter 4 Micaiah: ...Wait... That voice...it's still...calling... Sothe... Sothe: Micaiah! No! You can't... Open your eyes! Micaiah!!

Part 1 Chapter 6 Micaiah: Forgive me...I knew...I couldn't... ...Sothe... Tauroneo: Lady Micaiah! If only we hadn't asked you so much...... Forgive us.

Part 1 Chapter 7 Micaiah: Ah... I... I can't... Sothe... Save Daein... ...Save... every one... Tormod: H-hey! Hang on! A little wound like this, you'll be up again in... in no time! So... just open your eyes...

Part 1 Chapter 8 Micaiah: Forgive me... I dragged...everyone into this... Sothe... Rafiel: Micaiah... Why you? Why? Why?

Part 1 Chapter 9 Micaiah: Even if...I die...Daein...will surely...For...give me... Sothe... Black Knight: The maiden is lost, and her miracles have run dry... Shall Daein's dreams also dissolve into dust?

Part 1 Endgame Micaiah: ...Please...please, Sir Knight... Save...Daein... Ahh... Sothe... Black Knight: Maiden...

Retreat Quote
"My wounds... they're nothing! They're nothing compared to what my people have suffered! We won't lose! We'll never give up!"

- Part 3

Battle Conversations
Part 3 Chapter 13 vs Ike Ike: Micaiah, we have to talk. This is insane. Micaiah: What's insane about a person fighting for their country? Ike: There's got to be something we can do! Let us help, please! Micaiah: Why would you want to help us, after everything we've done? No, after everything I've done... Ike: We know you don't want this fight. Isn't there any way for us to avoid it? Micaiah: ...No. No, I'm afraid there isn't. Ike: Just talk to me! We can find a way! Micaiah: You don't understand. We can't stop. I'm sorry, but I can't explain it more clearly than that. Ike: Micaiah, I don't want you to die. I don't want all of your soldiers to die. You have to let me help you. Micaiah: Ike... Now I see it. Now it makes sense. Ike: What make sense? Micaiah: Sothe always spoke so highly of you. Now I know the reason. You truly are a good person. It's a shame... Ike: Why is that a shame? Micaiah: Because it makes what I have to do even harder. Please prepare yourself. Let's put an end to this. Ike: As you wish. Good-bye, Micaiah. Micaiah: (The light of life! Shine a ray upon my path and) ...strike my enemy!

Epilogue
Crowned 15th queen of Daein at her subjects' entreaty. Micaiah ushered in a new era of prosperity and peace.
 * Priestess of Dawn Micaiah (暁の乙女 Akatsuki no otome)

Crowned 15th queen of Daein at prior King Pelleas' entreaty, Micaiah ushered in a new era of prosperity.
 * (Pelleas survived)

Fire Emblem: Awakening

 * -|SpotPass=

*Enemy only; joins unequipped
 * -|DLC=


 * -|Xenologue 7=

Etymology
The name Micaiah is a variant of the name Michael, meaning "Who Is Like God". In Jewish and Christian tradition, Michael the Archangel is the field commander of God's army. In Judeo-Christian tradition there is also a prophet named Micah, also called Micaiah, after whom a book in the Christian Old Testament is named. There was also a prophet late in "1 Kings" named Micaiah. Furthermore, in Chronicles, it is stated that the mother of the second king of Judah, Abijah, was Micaiah.

Trivia

 * Micaiah's artwork design could have been based on one of Shiida's many artworks from Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, particularly that they both have birds featured and have a hand out to catch them.
 * Micaiah also has the distinction of being one of few playable characters who can obtain SS rank in more than one weapon: Light and Staff.
 * On a minor note, Micaiah, a Light Mage/Sage/Priestess, is of the Dark affinity. This is extremely ironic, as her weapon of choice and her title, the Priestess of Dawn, which are associated with Dawn, Day, and Light are offset by the implications her affinity brings, particularly that of darkness and perhaps, by extension, Dusk and Night.
 * At 90%, Micaiah has the second highest Resistance growth of any playable unit in the series to date, second only to Fire Emblem: Binding Blade ' s Karel, who has 100%.
 * If she is recruited via DLC, Micaiah will start as a Dark Mage with the Shadowgift skill. Since Dark Mages can already wield dark magic, Shadowgift is only useful if the player changes Micaiah's class.
 * Her Fire Emblem: Awakening artwork depicts her, in Dark Mage attire, holding Micaiah's Pyre.
 * Micaiah is one of the few units whose status screen portrait changes at some point of the game, a trait she shares with Marth, Alm, Celica, Ike, Volke, Sothe, Avatar (Shin Monshō no Nazo) and Lucina. Her change happens when she promotes at the end of Chapter 1-E and when she promotes for the second time at the beginning of Chapter 4-E-1 in Radiant Dawn.

Gallery
Micaiah