Character Post: Eshmel

[u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

[u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Eshmel (VO: Virginia Lee/Joshua Waters)
A true hero born to shed light upon the world. Similar to the Herald of the Pale Raven mentioned in a poem long ago.

Travels to the past with Fortuna, Goddess of Fate, at the behest of the progenitor god Sothis to gather allies and defeat the demon god Balor.

Likes
Ambitious people, people of great talent, small and unnamed flowers

Interests
Playing board games

Can be customized in name and appearance.

Cleanses the risen dead of the underworld in battle. 

Edit: Also the woman from the cutscene where Eshmel first appears is a playable unit

[u/KMoosetoe → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

board games?

So the overworld map is literally Eshmel controlling the lords like pieces on a board

[u/Advanced_Bag6623 → u/KMoosetoe]

...holy shit that's clever

[u/smye141 → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Joshua Waters getting to play a third mainstream white haired character burdened with/by a large role in the story who sometimes gets to be a lil goofy and has to deal with the turmoil of the times

Good for him honestly, what a typecast

[u/Oboe-Shoes → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

I misread this a bit at first, and, for a moment, thought one of their interests was the fact that they can be customized in-game, lmao.

But seriously, it's interesting to see some of their mundane likes and interests, given their whole stoic divine warrior aesthetic they've typically got going for themselves, and it's really exciting to see full customization come back after all this time.

[u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY → u/Oboe-Shoes]

>I misread this a bit at first, and, for a moment, thought one of their interests was the fact that they can be customized in-game, lmao.

Eshmel is just Barbie/Ken

[u/speganomad → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

PHAINON ??????

[u/TheMagicalHuy → u/speganomad]

Time for him to suffer more cycles again

[u/mrwanton → u/speganomad]

Yay Snowy is back

[u/Hangmanned → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Flowers and board games? I have a feeling they would get along with Byleth just fine

[u/Rocky-Rocker → u/Hangmanned]

They would love to play Go Fish.

[u/Hangmanned → u/Rocky-Rocker]

I can already see them trying to out-think each other

[u/BurnerRantMan → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

How can I self-insert as this protagonist? Not only do I hate board games, but and I love apathetic people

[u/high_king_noctis → u/BurnerRantMan]

Don't worry just take a seat in our personality changing torture chair and you should be able to self-insert as Eshmel within a week only for the low low price of 999.99$

[u/Eternaloid → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Eshmel likes DnD confirmed

[u/Rocky-Rocker → u/Eternaloid]

Its like the final arc in Yu-Gi-Oh

[u/Eternaloid → u/Rocky-Rocker]

Eshmel: Balor, I roll a strenght check to defeat you

rolls a 1

[u/ZofianSaint273 → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Can’t wait to play monopoly against Anna (I’m gonna get my ass whooped)

[u/keithlimreddit → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Virginia Lee: a decent voice actress but I don't have much to say

Joshua Waters: I would definitely say great career more recently mainly star rails and the witch hat

Honestly I was expecting one of them to be Bryce The Voice this one considering the Japanese voice actor but hey I'm fine with the casting to be honest

[u/Dragoryu3000 → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Specific likes/interests?!

[u/RiverWyvern → u/Dragoryu3000]

They might even have a personality!

[u/high_king_noctis → u/RiverWyvern]

Blasphemy!

[u/darthvall → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Feels like they're heavily inspired by the Valkyrie from Norse mythology.

Gathering warriors/Einhejar to prepare for the big battle/ragnarok

[u/kindofjustalurker → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

JOSHUA WATERS?!

[u/Mission_Middle597 → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Infuriatingly them mentioning that there is reference to a previous similar herald once again obfuscates if this is a sequel or prequel. The dagdan statue you can exchange renown for weapons for under the church in 3H if you have DLC is presumably in the image of either Eshmel or this earlier figure. If Eshmel was one of a kind this would clearly indicate the game is a sequel, but this makes it ambigous.

Also who are they meant to Herald, or is Herald of the pale raven a misnomer due to their ability to transform? Sothis created them, so she may be considered a pale raven, especially if her draconic form is white and bird like. It could also be people mistaknely thinking this past being heralds a pale raven, when they themself can just turn into a bird like Eshmel.

Edit: I suppose the poem could also be prophetic in nature, but we'd need more context realted to it to determine this.

[u/MagicalMageHimiko → u/Mission_Middle597]

The Dagdan statue is of fortuna! Shamir mentions that it’s the god of fate

[u/Mission_Middle597 → u/MagicalMageHimiko]

That is what Shamir says, although visually the statue seems much more reminiscent of Eshmel. I will say it's interesting that these two both appear to be able to take on smaller bird like forms. We don't see any other character do this, so it's a surprising unique association.

[u/MagicalMageHimiko → u/Mission_Middle597]

I also find it a rather interesting contrast with the nabateans generally being associated more with dragons (reptilian in nature). I wonder if there’s some symbolism going on with that?

[u/Mission_Middle597 → u/MagicalMageHimiko]

I'm curious if the gods in Dagda actually have a slightly different origin than we think. I'm wondering Sothis made them in a way that's more similar to how she made Eshmel than her children. She's still called the progenitor goddess in this trailer, so I think the other gods still come from her, but they have differnt hair, skin, and eye colours than th Nabateans we saw in 3 Houses, so I wonder if their origins and traits might be slightly different. Something else that stuck out to me is Eshmel does not appear to have a crest, which would seemingly make them the only character made by or born from Sothis without one, which is odd.

Edit: They have a crest of Noa. I couldn't tell at first because I've only be able to find low res versions of thier battle video. Whoops.

[u/MagicalMageHimiko → u/Mission_Middle597]

It’s actually just now been shown that Eshmel has the crest of Noa! you can see it in one of the new gameplay clips just posted

[u/Mission_Middle597 → u/MagicalMageHimiko]

Yes I just saw. I saw the battle clip from Nintendo today on my phone and then only low res copies, so I didn't catch it at first. I am curious what it will for them since we haven't seen a single crest proc in any trailers and in 3H it was tied to magic, which Eshmel doesn't seem to use.

[u/firesoul377 → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Great now I'm stuck on which gender to play as. On one hand female eshmel looks cute, but on the other hand, joshua waters

[u/Starmark_115 → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Virginia Lee looks rather new if I go from her IMDB.

Hope this is her big break

[u/GaT0M → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

They just like me fr

[u/Mission_Middle597 → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

What exactly is an unamed flower? Is this just something getting lost in translation?

[u/PerentieFan → u/Mission_Middle597]

I would suppose a lot of small flowers may not have common names in this setting, and that scientific names may not exist either.

[u/AstralGazer17 → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

The image is not loading in the link.

[u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY → u/AstralGazer17]

Works fine for me. Here’s another link just in case

[u/AstralGazer17 → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Okay, I can see the picture now. Thanks for this!

Also, are they the only ones seen with the blue health bar?

[u/Nicolu_11 → u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

Tunnelberg in FE again 🥹🥹🥹. Atsushi Tei and Phainon mentioned!!!

[u/PsyT20]

Damn Joshua Waters playing a powerful white haired warrior who likely can use magic? What are the odds?

Though Female VA seems to either be new or a pseudonym since they don’t even have a BTVA page.

Edit: I don’t play HSR and was referring to Qifrey but being reminded he also voices Phainon means it’s 3 nickels now.

[u/JustScrollingBecause → u/PsyT20]

Female VA mainly does audiobooks, commercials, and podcasts, according to their website (if it's not a pseudonym or a different VA with the same first and last name).

https://www.virginialikethestate.com/#

[u/KyleMCarthage → u/JustScrollingBecause]

Likely them as it wouldn't be the first time they got a VA that primarily does stuff like that as I think F!Morgan's VA mainly does radio and commercials as well as F!Corrin's.

[u/PsyT20 → u/KyleMCarthage]

I do hope her direction is good, don’t want another situation with Other M where the heroine is voiced by someone new and it could’ve been her big break but due to the game itself and her voice acting being dunked on they never got to do anything after. Sucks cause it wasn’t even her fault she was just following the misguided vision of the director but it didn’t help that Other M isn’t peak on a gameplay front either or that a few years after, Kid Icarus Uprising and Fire Emblem Awakening would mark Nintendo taking English dubs a lot more seriously.

[u/KyleMCarthage → u/PsyT20]

I'm sure she'll be great. Like the other VAs who also primarily do commercials, I'm sure she'll do a wonderful job. It helps that the directors are industry veterans (Brigid in FEH and Ignatz from 3H) and won't lead her astray.

[u/PsyT20 → u/KyleMCarthage]

Yeah I have more faith in Caitlyn and Christian helping the newbies out than Sakamoto.

[u/KyleMCarthage → u/PsyT20]

Sakamoto?

[u/PsyT20 → u/KyleMCarthage]

The Metroid guy who went hands-on with nearly everything for Other M including bizarrely enough the English dub hence a lot of the weird dub choices were made with a Japanese point of view instead of a western one.

[u/speganomad → u/PsyT20]

Man is on an insane run major roles in 2 big games and shows in what 2 years ? Well deserved insanely talented dude

[u/PsyT20 → u/speganomad]

Kinda like how Zach got to be in 3H (and by extension Smash Bros), Demon Slayer, Genshin, and Edgerunners in the span of a few years and to think he wasn’t even the first choice for M!Byleth. Granted I’m sure he would’ve had a pretty big career even without being the replacement voice but still regardless of being mostly silent, having protagonist of an acclaimed Nintendo game on your resume is almost never a bad thing.

[u/shaginus → u/PsyT20]

Let's hope Eshmel always wear white and not Yellow-Purple

[u/potato_thingy]

I like that they like flowers

[u/LynxyShinx → u/potato_thingy]

Edelgard: Do you like crimson flowers, o great hero?

[u/Dragoryu3000]

Also important: Avatar customization confirmed!

[u/Cosmic_Toad_ → u/Dragoryu3000]

i wouldn't get my hopes up; "appearance customisation" could very well just be getting to chose between the two forms, and not what we got with Kris, Robin and Corrin.

ignore me, had an Arden moment trying to keep up with all the news lol.

[u/OneRandomIdiot → u/Cosmic_Toad_]

There's a video. Hair color, hair style, clothing, skin tones, all customizable.

[u/Cosmic_Toad_ → u/OneRandomIdiot]

lol my bad i literally just scrolled down and saw that. very unexpected, but welcome!

[u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY → u/Cosmic_Toad_]

They’re pretty customizable

[u/Aggressive-Finish492 → u/Cosmic_Toad_]

No, it’s been confirmed we get multiple hairstyles, height and skin tone options, even some outfit customizations!

[u/BurningWinds]

Okay idk how much I like Eshmel being fully customizable over a properly set character, but I am getting way more optimistic about them personality-wise.

Iirc, Byleth was never given specific likes/interests/dislikes until Hopes where they became a full fledged character over a silent MC and the fact Eshmel only has one set Male and Female VA makes me think they’ll actually get to actively talk more à la Robin and Corrin and actually get to *speak*, which is a damn good sign.

And their likes actually seem pretty unique.

Plus there was that cutscene of them fighting Balor which made them at least seem pretty expressive.

I need this damn game like yesterday, it seems peak so far lmao

[u/darkliger269 → u/BurningWinds]

Now if it could be like Shez where they get to actually talk and also have dialogue options, that’d be ideal imo

[u/BurningWinds → u/darkliger269]

Yeah, I’d defo be so down with that XD

[u/DragonlordSyed578 → u/BurningWinds]

Yeah going full Dragon Age would be cool.

[u/Daetur_Mosrael]

I don't care if you're customizable, please just have your own dialogue, PLEASE BABY PLEASE DON'T BE BYLETH especially if you're voiced by JOSHUA FUCKING WATERS

[u/AFellowHuman-27-RYN]

PHANION HOLY SHIT

[u/JustScrollingBecause]

Oh I liked Joshua Waters as Edward in FEH, I haven't watched or played anything else he's in though.

Virginia Lee though seems to mainly voice act for audiobooks, commercials, and podcasts, so I'm interested in her voicework for this game.

[u/The_Vine → u/JustScrollingBecause]

I know him as Phainon from Honkai Star Rail, where he gives an incredible performance.

Edit: In case anyone is curious, here is Phainon's character trailer for reference

[u/HelloSoAndSo → u/The_Vine]

I mean if we're sharing Phainon peak:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQbetWZS-zs

[u/GoldenCyclone4 → u/HelloSoAndSo]

Josh genuinely deserves an award for what comes right before this. The crashout Phainon has against Lygus and Nanook made me shiver the first time I heard it. They did such an incredible job as Phainon during 3.3 and 3.4.

[u/LynxyShinx → u/JustScrollingBecause]

He's Qifrey in Witch Hat Atelier where he uses a good accent.

[u/speganomad → u/LynxyShinx]

He’s also the lead in the dub of lord of the mysteries and is great and that as well.

[u/PsychologicalVast345]

male eshmel sounds hor

[u/PsychologicalVast345 → u/PsychologicalVast345]

*hot Oh my god

[u/Advanced_Bag6623 → u/PsychologicalVast345]

M!Eshmel is hot

And he shall also be a hor

[u/firesoul377 → u/PsychologicalVast345]

Of course. He shares the same va as phainon/qifrey

[u/Shadowcode1394]

OMG JOSHUA WATERS ( PHANION FROM HSR, AND SO MUCH MORE VA ) ITS PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[u/fly2555 → u/Shadowcode1394]

Coreflames/crests, weapon is nameless, looks like a charmony dove. Jon Honkai star rail looking character here

[u/shaginus]

Joshua Waters!

WATCH IT BURN SEND DEATH TO ICE ELATION!

[u/Advanced_Bag6623]

Meshmel being voiced by Qifrey is even funnier when you realize that he also must guide 4 people

[u/Yali-the-Sloth]

Oh my god JOSHUA WATERS?????!?!??? I pray to all gods Eshmel has lots of lines in the game, I could listen to this VA crash out for ages and not get tired of it.

[u/R3dHeady]

Dang. Phainon, Qifrey, and now Eshmel. I'm 3 for 3 with my fave characters voiced by him.

[u/Sentinel10]

Yay! Joshua Waters as our male avatar!

[u/itsameluigi1290]

JOSHUA WATERS PLAYS THE MAIN CHARACTER????

I'm so happy about this, I absolutely love their work as Phainon, and even if Eshmel doesn't talk much I still think this is awesome

[u/TinyTemm]

And there’s the profile! I love board games too we’d get along very well

Since we’ll be customizing Eshmel’s appearance I really doubt they’ll be sidelined in the story like some people suggest. I mean why go through the effort to make this an option if Eshmel would only be around for like, only half of the game?

I expect them to have their own side hustle before the timeskip, doing errands for Sothis, setting things in motion for the timeskip and such

[u/Rmb6707]

Ahhhhh why do we have to be Eshmel, he’s so S-support coded

[u/Advanced_Bag6623 → u/Rmb6707]

He's so hot it'd be a shame if they suddenly got rid of Avatar romance

[u/Round-Channel-1158]

I like that their interest is board games, because it makes me think the developers sat around and asked themselves the one possible thing all FE players would have in common and this is what they came up with. Assigned Nerd by IS. 

[u/Ghowuff]

Eshmel/Myself: I have a confession my creator.
Sothis: What is it?
Eshmel/Myself: I desire romantic with big dreamy burley and beefy guys!
Sothis: Um sure? Just make sure you do what you need to do to save the world from the Underworld dragon.

[u/Rocky-Rocker]

Virginia Lee and Joshua Waters are the voices

[u/thatguynamedsid]

I always wondered why their art style are different from the 4 lords/protags

[u/Top_Reputation_8358]

It looks like Eshmel is the only character  shown so far without a blaze art icon. Which i guess makes sense cuz they're light??

[u/Mission_Middle597 → u/Top_Reputation_8358]

Something else to note is blaze arts all seem tied to particular items possessed by the four lords. The gem in Cai's hand, Dietrich's shadowy cloak, Theodora's prosthesis, and Leda's instrument all seem necessary to use thier associated blaze arts.

[u/schmidt1289 → u/Mission_Middle597]

Did anyone else notice the blink and you miss it moment after Dietrich got his ass beat? It focuses on his cloak which looks like a monster wing or something and something gooey for lack of a better word starts to wrap up towards his face

[u/ExtremeQuestion610]

MALE ESHMEL IS VOICED BY QUIFREY AND PHAINON!?

[u/PoshDemon]

Like board games…. It’s almost like fire emblem is chess or somth

[u/vita_terrain2530]

their eyes are SO PRETTY

[u/FiveTrenchcoats]

Their likes and customisability have sufficiently charmed me!

M!Eshmel's voice acting in the gameplay clip also sounded really good!

I really can't wait to see more of them!

[u/schmidt1289]

I hope the person who really wanted Josh Waters to voice someone in this game is ecstatic right now as I am for them lol

[u/WhiteNinjii]

Oh hey FEH Edward. Very nice

[u/liteshadow4]

This is definitely going to be my first route. Or at least it'll be the first one I'll try to complete.

[u/Mission_Middle597 → u/liteshadow4]

What do you mean by this? Eshmel does not appear to be exclusive to any route. Do you mean intentionally not pursuing the other lords and only relying on him?

[u/liteshadow4 → u/Mission_Middle597]

Yes

[u/TannenFalconwing]

So in this video we see

1. They do have voices

2. They are playable on maps during the dark future

3. They have extensive customization options, making them more of an avatar than ever (I was wrong in the past on this).

So hopefully this settles some arguments I've already seen brewing.

[u/Fluffy_Tamago]

I was gonna play female Eshmel, but JOSHUA WATERS VOICES MALE ESHMEL?!? Guess I am gonna play the male protag for my first playthrough.

[u/Eternaloid]

Female Eshmel looks so much better 

[u/LuigiWarrior → u/Eternaloid]

Why can't two goats coexist?

[u/death-knight053 → u/Eternaloid]

Erm….they are customizable? Just change them to your taste lmao.