The Eternal Stairway is a location in Fire Emblem Fates. It serves as a pathway to the Wind Tribe.
Profile[]
Birthright[]
The Eternal Stairway is first visited in Chapter 8, where the Corrin and the Hoshidians cross though it to get through the Wind Tribe. Corrin complains about how long the staircase is and groans when they are notified that they're only halfway through it. Suddenly, Faceless ambush the Hoshidans. Corrin and Kaze kill the Faceless, only for the magic to drop and reveal them as Wind Tribe members. Iago teleports in, mocks Corrin, knowing he can plot against them with Corrin on the Hoshido side and then teleports out to prevent the Wind Tribe from finding out that it was a ruse.
Conquest[]
The Eternal Stairway is visited late in Chapter 21, where Corrin and the Nohrian siblings cross though it to get to Hoshido. Jacob and Felicia reveals to the group that all the Hoshidan soldiers, guarded to halt the Nohrians' advance, are all dead, much to the group's relieve, thinking they've been spared a tiring battle. Suddenly, a large horde of Faceless, summoned by Iago, ambushes them at the Eternal Staircase, revealing they were the ones that killed the Hoshidan soldiers. Camilla, somehow aware that Garon is responsible for the ambush, airily wonders why he has sent them to attack Corrin's army, Xander is also confused, as he knows Garon wouldn't send that much Faceless. but don't have time to process as they must fight through the horde. The Nohrain royals barely manage to escape the Faceless horde and Lilith sacrifice herself to save Corrin from the Faceless. Although disappointed by the fact that his scheme has failed, Iago expresses content through Lilith's death.
Revelation[]
Like in Birthright and Conquest, the Eternal Stairway is visited in Chapter 9, where Corrin and their allies cross though it to get through the Wind Tribe. Suddenly, like in Birthright, Faceless ambush the army. Corrin, Gunter and Kaze kill the Faceless, only for the magic to drop and reveal them as Wind Tribe members. Iago doesn't reveal himself this time and quietly warps out of the scene, pleased with the success of his deceit.
Trivia[]
- This is one of only few locations to be visited in all three routes, the other one being Fort Jinya and Sevenfold Sanctuary. However, unlike the last two, it is only playable in Conquest, while in Birthright and Revelation, it appears only in cutscenes.
- The path in the Eternal Stairway is rather unusual in Conquest because in both Birthright and Revelation, the stairway leads up into the Wind Tribe. In Conquest, Corrin and his/her army visit the Wind Tribe first, and travel up the Eternal Stairway to reach Hoshido, instead of going down.