—Linus, shortly before attacking Eliwood in Rekka no Ken
Linus (ライナス Rainasu), full name Linus Reed (ライナス • リーダス, Rainasu Rīdasu lit. Linus Reedus), is a non-playable character in Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken. He is the younger son of Brendan Reed and brother of Lloyd. Linus' title is "The Mad Dog" (also translated as "The Rabid Hound"), and is one the Four Fangs. He does not trust Sonia and her influence in the Black Fang, though he is very fond of her daughter, his step-sister Nino. The official players' guide for Rekka no Ken says that Linus is the more level-headed between him and Lloyd, when he is actually the brasher one.
Profile
Not much is known of his childhood, though what is known is that, when his father, Brendan Reed, formed and became head of the Black Fang, an assassin guild situated in Bern, he and his brother, the White Wolf Lloyd, quickly flew through the ranks and became one of the legendary Four Fangs. Despite being skilled, he is also rash and impulsive, tending to misjudge his opponents before charging into battle. Because of this, he and Lloyd were nearly inseparable as the latter usually watched over the former. He and Lloyd were quickly joined by the Valkyrie, Ursula, who is cold and ruthless, and the Assassin, Jerme, who was obsessed with his craft. Later, when Nergal and Sonia began to take ahold of the Black Fang, Jerme was replaced with Jaffar. Shortly after Nergal is gravely wounded by Lord Elbert of Pherae, he orders Sonia to bring together the Four Fangs to hunt down the Lycian lords, Eliwood, Hector, and Lyndis. She complies, but, after she gives her orders, Linus, Lloyd, and Ursula remain suspicious of the Sage. Nevertheless, they carry out their orders.
If the total level of the lords is above 50, then Linus will confront them in a town in Bern. Accusing them of their crimes, he summons a contingent of Black Fang assassins and engages the lords inside the town. After a brief but intense skirmish, Linus is defeated by the lords, but finally hears them out and learns that they are good-natured and not what Sonia had depicted them as. Before he could relay this information to Lloyd, though, he is confronted by the morph Limstella and killed.
If the total level of the lords is below 50, then Lloyd will have confronted the lords in a foggy valley and be killed by Limstella after being spared by the lords. Linus, after encountering the body of his slain brother, goes into a bloodthirsty rage and swears vengeance on the lords and their companions. He is later seen guarding the Bern shrine, attempting to kill any of the lords or their companions, including his beloved step-sister Nino and former acquaintance Legault. He is killed after the struggle.
Regardless of whether he is killed in the town or in the shrine, he is resurrected as a morph by Nergal along with, his father, his brother, Uhai, Kenneth, Jerme, Darin, and Ursula.
Personality
Linus is best described as rash, impulsive, and extremely loyal to his siblings and loved ones. He shows deep respect to his brother, abiding his orders, though seems to be wrought with grief after his death and loses the ability to reason, as he attempts to kill his step-sister, Nino, even when they had gotten along so easily before. However, with his brother's reasoning, he can be shown to be a caring and compassionate individual, changing his beliefs of the lord before if he is defeated early in the game and offering to make amends with his brother and to tell him of the lords' serenity, which would have converted both had Limstella not killed him. Before the conflict with the lords, he and his brother got along well with several of the Black Fang members, including all of the Four Fangs and several other high-ranking members, such as Uhai. He also doted on his younger step-sister, Nino.
In Game
Rekka no Ken
In Four-Fanged Offense
Normal Modes and Eliwood Hard Mode
| Starting Class | Affinity | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero |  Thunder | ||||||||
| Level | HP | Str | Skl | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Con | Mov |
| 12 | 45 | 21 | 18 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 6 |
| Weapon | Starting Items | ||||||||
 Sword - A Axe - A |  Silver Blade Hand Axe | ||||||||
Hector Hard Mode
| Starting Class | Affinity | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero | Thunder | ||||||||
| Level | HP | Str | Skl | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Con | Mov |
| 12 | 49 | 23 | 20 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 6 |
| Weapon | Starting Items | ||||||||
| Sword - A Axe - A | Silver BladeHand Axe | ||||||||
In Cog of Destiny
Normal Modes and Eliwood Hard Mode
| Starting Class | Affinity | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero | Thunder | ||||||||
| Level | HP | Str | Skl | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Con | Mov |
| 18 | 58 | 24 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 6 |
| Weapon | Starting Items | ||||||||
| Sword - S Axe - A |  Light Brand Iron Rune* | ||||||||
* Dropped when defeated
Hector Hard Mode
| Starting Class | Affinity | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero | Thunder | ||||||||
| Level | HP | Str | Skl | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Con | Mov |
| 18 | 62 | 25 | 22 | 16 | 14 | 20 | 16 | 14 | 6 |
| Weapon | Starting Items | ||||||||
| Sword - S Axe - A | Light BrandIron Rune* | ||||||||
* Dropped when defeated
In Light
Normal Modes and Eliwood Hard Mode
| Starting Class | Affinity | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero | Thunder | ||||||||
| Level | HP | Str | Skl | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Con | Mov |
| 20 | 60 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 0 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 6 |
| Weapon | Starting Items | ||||||||
| Sword - S Axe - A |  Brave Sword Tomahawk | ||||||||
Hector Hard Mode
| Starting Class | Affinity | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero | Thunder | ||||||||
| Level | HP | Str | Skl | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Con | Mov |
| 20 | 64 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 0 | 22 | 20 | 14 | 6 |
| Weapon | Starting Items | ||||||||
| Sword - S Axe - A | Brave SwordTomahawk | ||||||||
Overview
If the level of the lords combined is above 50, then Linus will be the boss of Four-Fanged Offense.
If the level of the lords combined is under 50, then Linus will be the boss of Cog of Destiny. It is recommended not to confront the Hero with Nino, as he, unlike his brother, will show no hesitation and slay his step-sister.
Linus also appears in Light with an A support with his resurrected brother. He should not be taken lightly as, due to his Brave Sword, he is able to double any party member and, if the party member has low speed, such as a General, then Linus has the potential to strike up to four times. However, he is considered the weakest of the Reed family and should be taken down first.
Awakening
SpotPass
| Starting Class | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hero | |||||||||
| Level | HP | Str | Mag | Skl | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Mov |
| 20 | 68 | 37 | 7 | 38 | 34 | 18 | 28 | 15 | 6 |
| Skills | Weapon | Starting Items | |||||||
 Armsthrift Prescience Sol Axebreaker Counter |  Sword - A Axe - B |  Brave Sword* | |||||||
*Enemy only, joins unequipped
Special Conversations
Chapter 23
Eliwood vs Linus
Linus: Hey! You're Eliwood, right?
Eliwood: ...Are you the leader of this group?
Linus: I am.
Eliwood: I've a question for you... I heard that the Black Fang possessed strong convictions. If so, then why do you follow a man like Nergal?
Linus: ...Nergal? Oh, that eerie man Sonia introduced my father to. This has nothing to do with him. I merely complete the missions given me!
Eliwood: And you never question the justness of your missions?
Linus: Question? What's to question? Neither my father nor my brother makes mistakes!
Eliwood: Yet, the...
Linus: Will you stop yammering! I don't need my brother to finish you off. I will crush you myself, in the name of the Fang!
Eliwood: Ah!!
Hector vs Linus
Hector: Hey! You the leader of this pack of curs?
Linus: I am Linus Reed! Son of Brendan Reed, head of the Black Fang! Evildoers! Prepare to receive the Fang's justice!
Hector: Evildoers? You've no room to speak! You're a bunch of murderers serving Nergal's every whim!
Linus: Are you so base that you bandy insults with your foe? Or are you frightened, knowing you face your doom? We are the Black Fang! You do not insult my family so!
Chapter 27
Nino talks to Linus
Nino: Linus! Stop!! Please listen to me!!
Linus: I will kill anyone who aids my brother's killers! Nino, that includes you!!!
Nino: No!! ...My...brother...
Jaffar vs Linus
Linus: Jaffar!! You traitorous scum!
Jaffar: ......
Linus: Repent your sins, Jaffar! I bring you the Fang's justice!
Legault vs Linus
Legault: Hello... Linus.
Linus: Legault!? You... You disloyal filth! You of all people...siding with them!?
Legault: Calm down. Your brother's murder... It wasn't by our hands... Hey!!
Linus: Draw your sword. I won't miss again.
Legault: Remember how good the old days were? Your father, old Jan, Uhai, you, and me and your brother. When did the Black Fang lose its honor?
Linus: Be quiet!!! Stop your pathetic whimpering and fight!!
Legault: I knew this would happen. Nothing's going to change. I knew it, and yet here I am. I couldn't leave well enough alone... I'm a fool.
Eliwood vs Linus
Linus: You're Eliwood, right?! I've been looking for you!
Eliwood: Hey!! Hold on! We need to talk about things...
Linus: I am Linus Reed, son of Brendan Reed. I am the vengeance of Lloyd, whose life you stole! Prepare yourself! I'm coming for you!!!
Eliwood: Wait!!!
Hector vs Linus
Linus: Hey, you! You think you're tough, don't you?
Hector: Tough enough to cleave you in two.
Linus: I am Linus Reed, son of Brendan Reed. You killed my brother, Lloyd! Take this! Rrraahh!!!
Hector: I am Marquess Ostia's brother, Hector!! And I don't know about Lloyd, but I'll sure kill you!
Linus vs ... (depending which character defeated Lloyd on Chapter 23)
—Linus
Etymology
'Linus' means 'flax' in Greek. Flax is a greyish-yellow color. See also Lloyd, whose name also means 'grey.'
Trivia
- In the game, Linus is also mentioned as the Rabid Hound based on his help screen information, but he is never addressed as that name in the game (his true honorific being "Mad Dog").
- Despite the fact that he avoids attacking innocents in villages as it goes against his honorable nature (to the point he drew Eliwood's army to the center of town not to harm the villagers), the Black Fang units he leads seem to have no problem doing so.
- Linus, Raven, and Ekhidna are the only characters in any GBA Fire Emblem game to have unique battle sprites as the Hero Class. As opposed to the breastplate and spiked shoulder plates, Linus and Raven both wear knee-length jackets resembling their clothes in their respective official art.
- In the official art, he is shown wearing dark-brown trousers while in his battle sprites, he is shown wearing a white pair.
Gallery
.gif "Linus Hero Sprite (FE7).gif (72 KB)"){kind=icon}