Blood pact



For the chapter of the same name see Blood Contract

The Blood Pact also known as a blood contract, is a device that exists in Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, (and thus is considered to also exist in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, the prequel.). The Begnion Senate often use these in forms of trickery, greed, and other skulduggery.

The Blood Pact is a contract signed by two different parties. The first party possesses the contract and writes it. A second party will then sign the Blood Contract, usually the second party is tricked or forced into signing. The one who is in possession of the contract can invoke a curse to the other party's nation, if the other party does not do as the holder wishes. As a symbol of the agreement a mark similar to the one designating a Branded (or apparently also a Spirit Charmer) appears on the wrist of the pact makers, and some times others who are in authority in the nation. If the effect of a Blood Pact is not ended, the mark will be passed to the children of those marked.

The curse in which the Blood Contract evokes on the country it targets is simple. On the first day after the Blood Contract's effect is activated, 1 citizen of the targeted country will die from the Blood Contract's effects. On the second day, 2 people of the targeted country will die. On the third day, 3 will die, and the number will continue to increase in proportion to the number of days the curse has been in effect until either the Blood Contract is destroyed or all the targeted countries citizens are dead. However the way in which the people die is unknown.

It has also been speculated that the person who signed the Blood Contract from the country it targets can not be killed by its effects. This is supported by the fact Ashnard killed his own Father instead of letting the activated Blood Contract kill him (more on that in 'Ashnard's Blood pact'). It is also assumed that the activator of the Blood Contract can not die of its effect, even if he is a citizen of the country it targets (which Ashnard technically was).

The Blood Pact can be undone only if the scroll which holds the contract is destroyed and one of the two signers is killed. This means to gain their independence the party that signed the Blood Contract must see to it that the Blood Contract is destroyed.

Three events involving Blood Contracts are revealed in Radiant Dawn:

Ashnard's Blood Pact
Ashnard used a Blood Contract to become the King of Daein before the events of Path of Radiance and its sequel Radiant Dawn. This is revealed by Almedha, the late Ashnard's former wife in Radiant Dawn.

Ashnard somehow convinced his father, the 12th King of Daein to sign a Blood Contract. How he did this is unknown. But once he had the Blood Contract signed by his father Ashnard immediately caused its effects to activate.

The citizens of Daein began to mysteriously die off. At the time the deaths were considered part of some unknown plague of disease that was sweeping across the country. On the first day 1 citizen died (and probably went rather unnoticed) but with each passing day the number of those who died increased exponentially from the previous day.

Ashnard, who had several others ahead of himself for inheriting the throne waited until the Blood Contract's effects killed every person between himself and being the Daein throne's next successor. Ashnard then personally killed his own father, who had signed the Blood Contract. After killing his father Ashnard tore apart the Blood Contract to put an end to the deaths in Daein. Not long afterward Ashnard was crowned the 13th King Of Daein.

The Kilvas Contract
It is revealed near the end of Radiant Dawn that the King of the Raven Laguz country Kilvas who preceded Naesala had once signed a Blood Contract. When he became King, Naesala then inherited the problem of the Blood Contract.

The Kilvas Blood Contract had been made by the Duke of Gaddos, Lekain. Lekain was a high ranking member of the Begnion Senate and controlled most of the country through his political power. Apparently at one point Lekain had tricked the former Raven King to sign a Blood Contract.

When the Laguz Alliance declared war on Begnion Lekain used the Kilvas Blood Contract to force Naesala to betray the alliance. Naesala was made to inform Duke Gaddos of the plans of the Laguz Alliance which eventually lead to a massacre of Laguz soldiers.

After the end of Part 3 when Ashera turns most of Tellius's population to stone the Blood Contract is considered useless (as people who are turned to stone can't die). Naesala then rejoins the other Laguz, Ike's forces, and the Daein force, with his explanation and apology.

Naesala then follows the group to the Tower Of Guidance in the hopes of finding Duke Gaddos and the Blood Contract. At the end of Part 4's Endgame Part 1 Naesala (along with Daein) finds the Blood Contract in the possession of Lekain, who had been killed in the battle. He then destroys it so that it can not be used again. If he is not in the endgame party, Sanaki will keep the contract for Naesala to destroy when they return.

Pelleas's Blood Pact
The Blood Contract signed by Pelleas has the most influence on the storyline then any other incident of a Blood Contract that is mentioned.

Pelleas is the supposed son of the late King Ashnard and thus the apparent heir to the Daein throne. Because he is a kind man much unlike his dead father, the Daein Liberation Army helps him win back Daein in Part 1 of Radiant Dawn.

At the beginning of Part 3 of Radiant Dawn Pelleas, unexpectedly orders his forces out against the Laguz Alliance with no real reason. It is later revealed that he was tricked into signing a Blood Contract. After he had become Daein's 14th King, Pelleas was approached by Lekain, Begnion's Duke of Gaddos, who filled in for the Duke of Persis also known as Sephiran as the inspection party that was to check on how Jarod and Duke Numida were running Daein. Prior to this, Jarod had been killed by the Liberation forces and Numida had fled for Begnion. Lekain asked Pelleas to sign a treaty that would confirm a peace agreement between Daein and Begnion. Pelleas with advice from his advisor Izuka (who apparently was in cahoots with Lekain) signed it.

The supposed treaty turned out to be a Blood Contract. As a result Pelleas and Micaiah are marked. Lekain then uses the Blood Contract Pelleas has signed to make his forces fight the Laguz Alliance for Begnion. Later in Part 3 Pelleas reads something that suggest that if he, the signer of the Blood Contract were to die it's effects would be revoked. In a player's first play through of Radiant Dawn Pelleas will ask Micaiah to kill him, if she declines Tauroneo will fulfill the request. From the second play through onwards though the player can deny the request altogether and Pelleas will remain alive. It is later revealed by Kurthnaga that if the other party (Lekain) is killed, then the effect will end. If Pelleas dies the Blood Contract will not be revoked though since to destroy it the actual contract must be destroyed in addition to one of the parties.

At the end of Part 3 when the majority of Tellius's population is turned to stone, the Daein forces (and Pelleas if he is alive) will join the Laguz Alliance in their march on the Tower Of Guidance. After the battle that is Part 4 Endgame Part 1 the Daein Blood Contract will be taken from the dead Lekain and Micaiah will destroy the contract, freeing Daein from the Blood Contract.