Ylisstol (イーリス城, Īrisu-jō, Iris Castle in Japanese) is a location from Fire Emblem Awakening. It is the capital city of the Halidom of Ylisse, from which the Exalt rules.
Profile
Ylisstol is located in central Ylisse, a country which shares its name with the continent it is found on. More specifically, the capital city rests near the southern shore of a large lake. While it is surrounded by fields, the city itself has at least one cliff, atop which the royal palace sits. It is the largest city in the kingdom and home to House Ylisse, the ruling family of Ylisse. Though, it is unclear whether Ylisstol is part of a greater territory belonging to House Ylisse, or whether it acts as an internal autonomous city within Ylisse.
Ylisstol's political and economic importance is marked by its position on The Northroad, which leads from the northern border through Ylisstol to the southern coast of the kingdom. Unfortunately, its accessibility means it is susceptible to attack should diplomatic relations fail. It is also the judicial seat of power of Ylisse, being the home of the royal magistrate. While Ylisse is divided into territories governed by lords, these lords vow fealty to the royal family and must obey the legal decisions made in Ylisstol.
Story
Ylisstol first appears during Chapter Two of Awakening. After stopping a Plegian raid on a nearby town and overcoming a Risen attack, Chrom and the Shepherds lead Robin to Ylisstol to introduce him to the Exalt, Emmeryn. Introductions and information about the recent attacks are shared. On Emmeryn's orders, the Shepherds leave Ylisstol to seek the aid of neighboring Regna Ferox.
After acquiring the help of Ferox to fight the Plegians and the Risen, Chrom and the Shepherds return to Ylisstol, only to hear the news of a village under attack and of Maribelle being kidnapped. Emmeryn tries to parley with Gangrel, the Mad-King of Plegia, but Gangrel plots to invade Ylisse and eventually conquer the continent. Negotiations fall apart and war comes upon Ylisse. The Shepherds rally back to Ylisstol to make preparations. While they are there, a masked figure called "Marth" enters the castle through a secret passage Chrom made years ago to warn him of the impending threat on Emmeryn's life. To prove this claim, Marth kills an assassin that had infiltrated the castle to kill Chrom. A second assassin manages to break Marth's mask, revealing her to be a woman. After killing that assassin himself, Chrom rushes to save Emmeryn, succeeding by defeating Validar.
Yet it is not long before Plegian troops personally led by Gangrel besiege the capital, killing nearly all of the renowned pegasus knights. Despite having evacuated, Emmeryn decides to return to the city to show that she stands with her people. Knowing how dangerous it would be, she forces Chrom, Lissa, and the other Shepherds to flee. Indeed, Gangrel captures Emmeryn and the last of her guards, moving her to Plegia Castle for execution.
Eventually, Chrom defeats Gangrel, liberating Ylisstol and the rest of the Halidom from Plegian control. With the war reaching its conclusion, Chrom returns to Ylisstol and inherits the role of the Exalt, though he does not yet assume the title. He marries and soon has a daughter named Lucina.
Alternate Timeline
In Lucina's ruined future, the assassination attempts in Ylisstol are a success. Emmeryn is killed and Chrom is gravely injured, beginning a chain of events that result in Grima's ressurection and the world facing certain doom. Ylisstol becomes one of the last areas that has not yet fallen into the Fell Dragon's control.
Lucina has her friends, children of her father's loyal companions, recover the Fire Emblem and the 5 Gemstones from Plegia. While they initially succeed, one of the Gemstones is lost. Lucina is only able to perform a partial Awakening at Mount Prism. She returns to Ylisstol with Naga's advice.
"Just a minute! The following section contains spoilers. Viewing it will cost a lot. Are you prepared to pay for it?"
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Lucina reveals to her friends that their only chance to save the future is to return to the past. As the group argues to the point of severing ties, a large earthquake occurs releasing a massive hoard of Risen who begin an assault on Ylisstol. Though the children fight valiantly along with the other soldiers in Ylisstol, hope is lost when Grima himself appears. With Ylisstol in flames, only the children survive. Ylisstol's destruction ultimately secured Grima's victory over Ylisse, his presence now so strong that it began to affect Mount Prism.
As revealed in Hidden Truths, Anankos uses his powers to renew this alternate timeline world in exchange for the aid of Inigo, Severa, and Owain in his own world. As Ylisstol was made beautiful once more, all the people that perished during Grima's attacks were able to be interred there.
The Future Past
Following a similar timeline to Lucina's alternate future, Ylisstol is one of the few areas that Grima does not yet control and Lucina sends her friends out to recover the Gemstones. Then Tiki arrives and tells her that Grima and the Risen have seized Mount Prism; she alone managed to escape. Putting two and two together, Tiki realizes that Lucina is attempting to perform the Awakening to kill Grima.
A mysterious man attempts to kill Lucina, but Tiki intercepts his attack, taking a fatal blow. The man is revealed to be Grima himself, who is annoyed that he did not kill Lucina, the only significant threat to his rule. Lucina races to the top of the royal castle, reuiniting with Laurent, Gerome and Severa, who have brought back the Fire Emblem and the Gemstone Vert. Following after her, Grima taunts Lucina, before weakening her and her friends with a powerful spell. At that moment, Chrom and his army from the present timeline warp in with their Naga's aid, surprising both groups. Grima summons a large group of Risen, but he is eventually struck down by Chrom, Lucina, and the Shepherds.
Despite this, Grima sneers that Lucina cannot truly defeat him: she does not have the other Gemstones and cannot perform the Awakening. Just as Grima finishes saying this, he is surprised by extra voices coming from afar. Noire, Kjelle, Nah and Cynthia arrive with Argent and Sable, followed by Inigo, Brady, Owain and Yarne with Azure and Gules. Lucina points out that because Grima defiled the sacred mountain, Naga's energy searched for the next holiest place in the world, which was Tiki's body, here in Ylisstol. She then performs the Awakening. Grima, trying to stop it, is restrained by Robin, allowing Lucina to strike a fatal blow. With the death of Grima, Ylisstol returns to normal alongside the rest of the world.
Armory
Mend 1000 G
Vulnerary 300 G
Magic Tonic 150 G
Resistance Tonic 150 G
Notable people from Ylisstol
- Emmeryn - A pacifist and idealist with a good heart. Exalt of Ylisse at the start of Awakening.
- Chrom - The firm yet fair Captain of the Shepherds and Prince of Ylisse; Emmeryn's younger brother and her successor to the throne.
- Lissa - Emmeryn and Chrom's little sister, eager to prove herself as a Shepherd and a Princess.
- Frederick - The Shepherds' stern and sarcastic second in command.
- Lucina - An enigmatic woman who thirsts for a better world.
Trivia
- "Ylisstol" is a portmanteau of "Ylisse" and "capitol".
- When comparing the world map of Awakening with the world map of the original Archanea Series titles, Ylisstol is fittingly located roughly in the same location as Pales, the capital of Archanea.
Gallery
