—Zephia
Zephia is a character from Fire Emblem Engage. She is a descendant of the Mage Dragons and is the leader of the Four Hounds, a quartet of Fell Dragon worshippers that seek to revive the Fell Dragon Sombron. An alternate universe counterpart of her exists known as Zelestia.
Profile[]
Not much is known of Zephia's past before joining Sombron. According to Zelestia's supports with Mauvier, her magical power is said to be great even by the standards of Mage Dragons, and rumor has it that she destroyed her own home village through an uncontrolled surge of magical energy.
Zephia worked in service to Sombron in the war a thousand years prior to the beginning of Engage. In the intervening years after Sombron was defeated and sealed away, she came upon a group of Fell Dragon sympathizers caring for a sleeping Veyle, Sombron's youngest child. She eventually took in Griss, Marni, and Mauvier, who collectively became known as the Four Hounds, and whom Zephia darkly refers to as a family.
After Veyle awoke, Zephia considered the gentle girl a defect and began using her magic to amplify Veyle's draconic power, forcing a darker, more wicked personality to emerge. Though this alternate Veyle could only be awake for limited spans of time, she is wholly loyal to Sombron, and thus Zephia follows the Fell Princess' orders.
Zephia is first encountered by Alear in Firene Castle, when she and Elusian forces invade in an attempt to claim Firene's Emblem Ring. She departs quickly, leaving matters to the Elusian officer Nelucce. When Nelucce, a coward, fails in his task and flees the castle, Zephia executes him.
After Veyle steals the Emblem Rings and the Draconic Time Crystal that were in Alear's possession, Zephia begins wearing the Ring of the Holy Knight and wields the power of Dark Emblem Sigurd in battle. However, she is unable to prevent Ivy and her retainers from stealing back the Time Crystal and two other Emblem Rings.
Later, Zephia uses her power to control Hortensia, making Ivy's sister a pawn in an effort to acquire the Emblem Ring in the possession of the Solmic royal family. However, this scheme fails, and Hortensia is freed from Zephia's control.
Zephia and the rest of the Hounds, along with Veyle and a Corrupted Hyacinth, later sail from Solm to Firene and confront Alear's forces while laying siege to Florra Port. After the Hounds are routed and begin their retreat by ship, Zephia is tricked by Veyle, who while pretending to be her darker self, convinces Zephia to hand her the Ring of the Holy Knight. Zephia is only able to watch in anger as Veyle throws the ring to Alear.
In a consultation with Sombron, Zephia is given a special helmet meant for Veyle that will amplify Zephia's magic further, effectively kill Veyle's true, gentle self, and let the darker Veyle awaken permanently. Though Mauvier requests that Zephia not resort to its use until after he and Marni return from their next mission, Zephia goes through with the plan while he and Marni are away.
When Mauvier and Marni return, escorting Alear and their forces to confront Sombron, Zephia reveals what she has done, driving a wedge between herself and her fellow Hounds. After Marni attempts and fails to free Veyle from the helmet's control, Zephia approaches Marni and runs her through with a dagger, killing her. However, Zephia is shocked to watch as the true Veyle is able to awaken, as Marni's attack did just enough damage to the helmet to crack it.
After Sombron arrives, and Alear takes a mortal blow protecting Veyle, Zephia departs under the belief that Alear is dead. She and Griss take up a position to protect one of the Fell Dragon Shards that power a barrier erected by Sombron, and is surprised when Alear arrives, not only alive, but having become an Emblem. Determined to protect the shard, she and Griss confront Alear and Veyle in battle, and are cut down.
With her defeat, Zephia uses the last of her lifeforce to create a magic crystal which she gives to Alear as the key to reaching the second of the Fell Dragon Shards. She is able to do this because she is among the most powerful of Mage Dragons, and has such great power that before she was mature enough to control it, it resulted in the unintended deaths of her family and many others. She states that with the end near, she wanted to do something good, and to part ways with Alear and Veyle with a clean slate.
After Alear's forces depart, the dying Zephia and Griss spend their remaining moments baring their hearts to each other. Zephia reveals that the only reason that she sided with Sombron was in the ultimately vain hope that he would father her own children, as her deepest desire was a family's love. Griss points out that the Hounds really were more of a family than she realized, and that he loved her as a mother, or an older sister with the way that she had taken him in and cared for him. With this realization, and reassurance, Zephia passes away, with Griss following her moments after, turning his dying body so that he can hold her hand.
Personality[]
Zephia is devoted to aiding Sombron, putting his needs above all else, and willing to exert extreme measures when she feels it necessary. However, this loyalty is born from her hope that Sombron, the father of many children by an unknown number of mothers, might also give her children of her own and relieve her loneliness.
Her statements claiming the idea that the Four Hounds are a family are a twisted image of such a relationship, as she is alternately affectionate and cruel toward the other Hounds, rewarding them with what they desire when they do well, but is cold and merciless when they fail her. Similarly, Zephia has no love for the true Veyle, seeing her as a defect, but holds deep reverence for Veyle's darker personality, as she is very much like her father in this state. Only as she is dying does she realize that her unwillingness to seek connections with anyone other than Sombron (who had no intention of ever reciprocating her desires) blinded her to the truth that the other members of the Four Hounds already cared for her.
In-Game[]
Fire Emblem Engage[]
Base Stats[]
Chapter 11: Retreat[]
- The leader of the Four Hounds. She is descended from mage dragons and has lived thousands of years.
| Starting Class | Battle Style | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Melusine | Flying | ||||||||
| Level | HP | Str | Mag | Dex | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Bld |
| 23 | 36 | 16 (14+2) | 15 | 18 (15+3) | 24 (21+3) | 7 | 12 | 16 | 8 |
| Emblem | Skills | Weapon | Starting Items | ||||||
 Marth |  Unyielding+* Divine Speed* |  Sword - S Tome - A |  Levin Sword Rapier* | ||||||
Chapter 14: The Battle for Solm[]
| Starting Class | Battle Style | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melusine | Flying | ||||||||
| Level | HP | Str | Mag | Dex | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Bld |
| 24 | 39 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 22 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 8 |
| Emblem | Skills | Weapon | Starting Items | ||||||
| - | - | Sword - STome - A |  Thoron | ||||||
Chapter 17: Serenity in Ruin[]
| Starting Class | Battle Style | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melusine | Flying | ||||||||
| Level | HP | Str | Mag | Dex | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Bld |
| 29 | 51 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 17 (13+4) | 17 (14+3) | 23 (21+2) | 9 |
| Emblem | Skills | Weapon | Starting Items | ||||||
 Sigurd |  Canter+* Momentum+* Gallop* Override* Headlong Rush* | Sword - STome - A |  Ridersbane*Levin Sword Tyrfing* | ||||||
Zephia gains access to Tyrfing and Headlong Rush after her Revival Stone is broken.
Chapter 21: The Return[]
| Starting Class | Battle Style | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melusine | Flying | ||||||||
| Level | HP | Str | Mag | Dex | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Bld |
| 34 | 60 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 28 | 10 | 19 | 24 | 9 |
| Emblem | Skills | Weapon | Starting Items | ||||||
| - | - | Sword - STome - A |  Caladbolg*Thoron | ||||||
Chapter 23: The Four Hounds[]
| Starting Class | Battle Style | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melusine | Flying | ||||||||
| Level | HP | Str | Mag | Dex | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Bld |
| 37 | 55 | 23 | 27 | 25 | 35 | 10 | 27 | 27 | 10 |
| Emblem | Skills | Weapon | Starting Items | ||||||
| - | - | Sword - STome - A |  Georgios*Thoron | ||||||
Fire Emblem Heroes[]
- Scheming Dragon
- Servant of the Fell Dragon Sombron and leader of the Four Hounds. She is a Mage Dragon who has lived thousands of years. Appears in Fire Emblem Engage.
Base Stats[]
Rarity:
 | Title | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheming Dragon | |||||
| Group | |||||
 Flying | |||||
| Level | HP | Atk | Spd | Def | Res |
| 1 40 | 15/16/17 34/37/40 | 8/9/10 33/36/39 | 9/10/11 36/39/42 | 4/5/6 17/20/23 | 3/4/5 19/21/24 |
| Skills | Weapon | ||||
 Elfire |  Tome | ||||
| Title | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheming Dragon | |||||
| Group | |||||
| Flying | |||||
| Level | HP | Atk | Spd | Def | Res |
| 1 40 | 15/16/17 35/38/41 | 9/10/11 35/38/42 | 10/11/12 38/42/45 | 4/5/6 18/21/24 | 3/4/5 19/22/25 |
| Skills | Weapon | ||||
Bolganone Dragon Gaze | Tome | ||||
Skills[]
| Type | Name | Prerequisite | Default | Unlocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Fire | - | - | - |
| Elfire | - | - | - | |
| Bolganone | - |  |  | |
| Packleader Tome | - |  | | |
 | Dragon Gaze | - | | |
| Dragon Fang | - | - | | |
| A |  Atk/Spd Catch 1 | - | - | |
 Atk/Spd Catch 2 | Atk/Spd Catch 1 | - | ||
 Atk/Spd Catch 3 | Atk/Spd Catch 2 | | ||
| B |  Windsweep 1 | - | | |
 Windsweep 2 | Windsweep 1 | | ||
 Windsweep 3 | Windsweep 2 | |
Overall[]
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Subjective: The following part of this article is based upon the editor's personal experiences and opinions, and therefore may not be applicable for all readers.
|
Base Kit[]
Counters[]
Skill Inheritance[]
Meet Some of the Heroes[]
| Scheming Dragon Zephia | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Zephia is a servant of Sombron, the Fell Dragon who was sealed away by the Divine Dragon Monarch and the Emblems after he nearly brought Elyos to ruin. | ||
|
As a Mage Dragon, Zephia has lived for millennia, and she has pledged her loyal devotion to Sombron for most of that time. That's why, a thousand years after Sombron was sealed away, she set a plot in motion from the shadows. | ||
|
As the leader of the Four Hounds, Zephia seeks the Emblem Rings in Sombron's name. Her machinations have sparked war across the continent of Elyos. | ||
|
She continues to fight for him in the hopes that he might one day return her feelings. | ||
| Closely Associated Characters | |||
| Alear | Successor to the Divine Dragon, awoken from a long sleep. Summons Emblems to lead the world to peace. Opposes Zephia. | ||
Quotes[]
Engage[]
Battle Conversations[]
Vs. Zelestia
- Zelestia: Is that the "me" of this world?!
- Zephia: You have my face? I don't know what manner of illusion that is, but I dislike it. Away with you!
- Zelestia: Such incredible power. Is this world's version of me really the Divine Dragon's enemy? If she pledged to serve Sombron, then I said some naive things to the Divine Dragon...
Chapter 11[]
—Zephia's pre-battle quote
Chapter 14[]
—Zephia's pre-battle quote
Vs. Alear
- Zephia: Well, if it isn't my favorite lizard! How's Solm treating you? Don't you worry, your friends are safe with me. Sigurd, Celica, Micaiah... Marth.
- Alear: You...
- Zephia: Oh, did you want to see them? Shame. I didn't bring them with me. Couldn't have you taking them, could I?
Chapter 17[]
—Zephia's pre-battle quote
Chapter 21[]
—Zephia's pre-battle quote
Vs. Mauvier
- Zephia: It is a sad day that I must fight you, Mauvier. And here I thought we were family...
- Mauvier: Family?! You killed Marni! I should have stepped in sooner. Then Lady Veyle and Marni might have had a chance...
Chapter 23[]
Vs. Alear
- Zephia: My dear, sweet Divine Dragon. We've been though a lot together, haven't we?
- Alear: Zephia... You must have known who I was a thousand years ago.
- Zephia: Yes, I believe we met. But the details are hazy. Lord Sombron had so many children, you see. A bug would have had more luck getting my attention.
- Alear: Oh? Am I that forgettable?
- Zephia: Oh, not at all. You're the Divine Dragon now. But in due time, you'll be me. One tends to lose count of the lives that pass by. You'll understand one day.
- Alear: I will never be like you.
- Zephia: Haha. Well, it barely matters anyway. You aren't leaving this place. You're going to die right now.
Vs. Mauvier
- Zephia: You're going to kill me, Mauvier? After everything?
- Mauvier: At one time, I would not have imagined it myself. I believed our path to be just. That we were family.
- Zephia: Family... I'm surprised to hear that from you.
- Mauvier: I am, I admit, solitary by nature. But I felt a true bond with the Hounds. I let our "family" distract me too long. Until you took Marni from us.
- Zephia: You know, Mauvier... You can turn your back on all this. You can leave.
- Mauvier: I left you, Zephia, after you made a wreckage of the Hounds. I don't have any last sentiments. You see... I learned something from you in the end.
Vs. Veyle
- Zephia: Ah, Lady Veyle. You mean to kill me, do you?
- Veyle: That's right.
- Zephia: Those eyes... So like your father's. You really resemble him, you know. Far more than the other Lady Veyle did.
- Veyle: You don't see me, do you, Zephia? You see me and you think of Papa. Or that other me. When we met, you seemed so kind. I really liked you.
- Zephia: Really? I hated you. No, that's not right... I was indifferent to you.
- Veyle: ...
- Zephia: Lord Sombron's puppet. That's all you were. A thing to be used and cast off. Yet somehow...I knew this day would come.
- Veyle: The day I would kill you? No wonder you didn't like me.
- Zephia: Well... You finally have my undivided attention.
Critical[]
- "No quarter."
- "You've been naughty!"
- "That's enough out of you."
- "Want a reward? Here it is!"
Misses[]
- "Too bad!"
- "So close!"
- "What a shame!"
- "Such a chore!"
Engage Attack[]
- "The Hounds are victorious!"
Defeated Enemy (unused)[]
- "The Hounds are victorious!"
- "Finished already?"
- "Aww... did I break you?"
- "You poor thing."
- "If only you'd stayed out of my way."
Taken high damage or weapon break[]
- "Impudent!"
Defeated[]
- "You're... quite strong..."
Heroes[]
Choose Your Legends Placement History[]
| Round | Placement | Character Version | Votes |
|---|
| CYL1-CYL7 | N/A | ||||
| CYL8 | 292 |  Engage |
158 |
Etymology[]
Zephia's English name is a corruption of Sepia. Sepia, her Japanese name, is a reddish-brown color.
Trivia[]
- Zephia shares her English voice actress, Elizabeth Maxwell, with Petrine from Path of Radiance as she appears in Heroes.
- Zephia is the first member of the Four Hounds to become playable in Heroes.
Gallery[]
- See main article: Zephia/Gallery.