I'm pretty sure I'm not the first person to notice this, but does it get on anyone else's nerves how freaking perfect all the lords from the Fire Emblem games are? It seems to me that the creators are always trying to cast their main characters off as the absolute moral paragons for humanity as though they(lords) were righteousness incarnate. For once, I wish Intelligent System would make a game where the main character wasn't such a wishy-washy, idealistic, compassionate pansy.

What I'd really love to see(not going to happen) is a real hardass lord. One who doesn't buy into this nurturement bullshit about encouraging the troops through this positive reinforcement. I can tell you and everyone else who's ever been in the military or even ROTC that whenever you dick-up your D.I. or commanding officer will most likely A) Scream obscenities at you until he turns blue in the face B) Tell you what a worthless piece of trash you are C) Blackball you D) Make you do the most humiliating and degrading job within the company E) Punish the entire unit instead of you so they'll hate your guts and have it in for you or F)All of the above.

An example of what I'm talking about....

(Note: I do not recall this exact base conversation, but am certain it's the chapter in Path of Radiance where you're on Nasir's ship seeking passage to Begnion. I'll also do some improv).

Ike: "Errrm, Illyana, you don't look so well."

Illyana: "Yeah, ships make me seasick *hiccup*."

Ike: "You know what? That's okay because you're a very unique and special person who has alot going for them. So turn that frown upside down! Whenever you feel sick just look at the horizon, mmkay?"

No, Ike, you did it all wrong. This is how it's supposed to go if you actually had a pair.......

Ike: "Errrm, Illyana, you don't look so well."

Illyana: "Yeah, ships make me seasick *hiccup*."

Ike: "Well tough luck, soldier, this is war! You think this is some kind of God damn pleasure cruise?! Either toughen up or we'll throw your worthless carcass overboard! You think I actually give a shit about your problems, WRONG BITCH! What value do you have for me on the battlefield if you get sick at the drop of a hat?! Do you think your comrades will appreciate it when they get axed from behind because your sorry ass was too busy getting sick to watch their back?! You have alot of God damn nerve showing your face infront of me! Get out of my sight!"

*Illyana runs off crying*

Well, not exactly like that but you get what I mean. I guarantee you this: that EVERY successful military campaign was waged by officers who cracked the skulls of their subordinates and not by being "nice" to their underlings. Officers who give their soldiers free-reign and are too afraid to bust their balls are left with an undisciplined, ineffective, and unprepared arm both physically and psychologically. The consensus is if you can't handle your superior chewing you out how will fare under fire?

And don't get me started on the idealism. Well golly gee gosh! This is a game based in a Middle Age timeframe, and yet here's ol' Eliwood espousing late 19th Century equalitarian political theory and there's Lyn talking about purging all the evils from the world as though she were the thirteenth Apostle!

I don't know, perhaps I'm overreacting, but a lord who's more mundane and not afraid to cut-loose. A dude or duddette willing to flip the bad guy the bird or tell their belly-aching soldier to stfu. A leader who's more like General Patton and not Mary Poppins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDecLiA_Qbw

Aiie! Point taken! We surrender!

I would, however, mention that it was imperative that the Lords be liked in the games. While the way that they lead their army is admittedly namby-pamby, the creators had to make it absolutely clear that these were nice people who deserved to rule the country, and would make much better candidates than the Count Von Evil being overthrown by said lords.

However, looking at one or two supports with some of the more gruffer characters- here's looking at you, Marcus- I'd always envisioned a scenario in which the Lords are the philosophical leaders of the party, and they do things like gaze loftily into the sunset, smile at their troops, and decide whether you will (a) Brave the Ocean Monsters or (b) Take the Mountain Route. They are the generals of the group, and they make the big decisions. It's the people like Marcus, or Dorcas, or... oh, it's been so long... Seth or Garcia or Gilliam, who act as the drill sergeants and shouty people to whip whimpering idiots like Florina or Neimi into shape.

-Sage

P.S. Apparently the definition of "rant" has changed since I was a boy. In my day, if the post filled a whole page and ended in a YouTube link, and fulfilled certain emotional parameters, it was called a rant. Now we have this dagummed thing called a "quasi-rant". Kids these days.

I agree with you that it probably isn't realistic, but then what about the entire Fire Emblem series IS realistic? Personally I don't know anybody who can sling fire with their minds, turn into pretty birdies, or hack dragons apart with a single slash (though the sword apparently moves on its own, so you'd have some help there I suppose).

From a marketing perspective, as was mentioned, the main characters have to be likable or who wants to play them? Personally I wouldn't mind so much, but quite a few people would turn away from the franchise if they can't stand the characters they're stuck with watching/reading about constantly. Even the more realistic and hardened characters end up getting idealized in fanfiction and the "realistic" factor they'd portray is removed in favor of something...not realistic. I'd take Soren as an example: for all his lecturing in the games that this is WAR and you have to be merciless, take no pity on enemy's people, completely eliminate enemy troops, etc, he suddenly becomes quite an angsty romantic little thing when he hits a fanfiction near you.

A few of the lords aren't COMPLETELY idealistic however. I can definitely see where you're coming from for characters like Eirika or Eliwood, who clearly REALLY don't belong on a battlefield. But characters like Hector or Ike tend to be a little gruffer and act less lordly. That's probably the closest you'll get to your main characters acting as anything other than philosophical and idealistic.

~Velkyn Karma

All good points and taken into consideration.

Yes, Grammar, the title is a bit of misnomer now. I originally planned to have half of my first post as a rant and the second as other things, but I omitted that leaving mostly the rant. I got sloppy and didn't bother changing the title.

Also, yes, I am aware that there are the drill sarge types amon the group, but they're basically marginalized and the lord's happy-go-easy demeanor outweighs any gruffness they exude. I see your point, but I also believe if they're not willing to make a brusque lord then at least give the task-masters more say and spotlight within the main plotline.

Fire Emblem MewMew: In olden times leaders wouldn't of yelled curse words at their troops, but would of been what others consider "mean." As I said earlier, no military campaign in history has ever been waged without officers who systematically got on their soldiers.

Velkyn, I concede that to you. Fire Emblem has always been more about aesthetic over realism.

Soren is hardcore in strategem and his dealings with others(almost bordering on manipulative), but certain demographs like to portray him as an angst bucket with romantic feelings toward Ike. I disagree when I say it's not necessarily his no-nonsense personality which prompts people to write these stories, but his non-nonsense personality in conjunction with what he wears. Afterall, very few people pick on the fact that both Innes and Raven have near-identical personalities.

Yeah, reading Eirika's dialogue triggered my gag-reflex. I am stupidified as to how such a "flower" as Eirika is even able to lift a sword - let alone strike down an enemy when the game makes it so obviously clear she's such a pacifist and goody-goody-twoshoes.

Hector and Ike are my favorites, but Ike tends to get under my skin sometimes with his melodrama. I believe they both make fine rough drafts for my ideal main character, but perhaps when FE DS comes out Marth will proves to us all he can also be made out of badass and masculinity(despite his effeminate look).

Haha, Mary Poppins was terrifying in the books. You seriously could not go against that woman.

I think early game dialogue has Eirika saying something along the lines of "is this war? expression of repulsion but acknowledgment that it is necessary to regain my country." I believe that Eirika is supposed to be a character who, in her heart and soul, wishes for peace and hates the consequences of her actions but possesses some manner of iron in her that allows her to continue to kill for the sake of Renais. Personally, I find that sort of resolve to be interesting to see in both the game and in fanfiction. Ephraim, I feel, is more boring than his sister, just because he doesn't have any interesting conflicts. War is rote to him. He's a better commander, but Eirika I think makes a better protagonist. Elincia is another, but more interesting, version of that sort of character: the pacifist who must fight. Especially since she has to find the strength to quell a rebellion and kill her own people.

Ike is pretty flat with everyone and he only got more brusque with age. I can recall some exceptions ("Ranulf, you can talk to me if you're feeling down!!") but the people in question were all his friends outside of combat.

I'm surprised you haven't mentioned Micaiah yet! She's very very very guilty of that sort of kind sweet love-everybody lord character, much much much more than Ike could ever be (although this is tempered by the fact that she will kill her enemies without too much mercy.) It seems by logic she would not be able to be a capable commander at all but she ends up on par with Ike. Maybe even more because she manages to take back Daein with nearly nothing and Ike had support from Begnion, Gallia and Phoenicis. (I guess she had the Black Knight, but only sporadically.)

I agree with you on Ephraim there. He had some potential for conflict, a bit similar to a mix of Hector and Ike. He enjoys battle and a mercenary-esque life more than being a prince, and probably a lot could have been done with that. But he still edged a bit too closely to the princely side and princely life, and did everything he did for the glory of Renais and all that jazz. In the end, the opposing sides didn't do much more than leave him balancing on the fence, so it never really went anywhere. That was a little disappointing, especially since a lot of duty vs. desire conflicts could have been thrown in there.

And I agree with you that Ike is pretty flat with most characters. In fact, if you recall the discovery of Sothe, Sothe yells something to the effect of "quit glaring at me like that!" and Nasir responds with what's basically "that's his usual expression." I get the feeling that Ike doesn't exactly look appproachable, but looks out for his men well. And it's only in rare instances when he starts getting to know people that he'll be a little more friendly or concerned sounding. Mostly in his supports.

As for Michaiah, while I haven't played FE10 every review or character overview I've ever read about her makes her sound like a canon Mary-Sue.

~Velkyn Karma

The game's lords don't act like medieval lords, but the game is only medieval-esque, at best. Certainly the clothing isn't authentic. There are ideals that weren't accepted back then (i.e. gender equality.) The soldiers appear clean, not a single one of the disfigured by smallpox. They all appear bright. Teenage marriages are love matches that occur post-game if you get an A support level. So is any of it realistic? No. Is it accurate? No. But does it appeal to the right audiences? Yes.

Idealism=/=perfection. The only time idealism gets on my nerves is when it's accompianied by a sense of great nobility and goodness and wonderfulliness that makes you know the lord is a true hero at heart. To me, this sums up Eliwood, Micaiah, and Elincia. I don't think all the lords are perfect, and if they starting cursing and saying things like "you're nothing but a puny, useless whelp! Now go out there and kill those bastards!", no one would like them.

I rather have likable if anachronous characters than characters who are forced to be cruel all in the name of accuracy. I feel that there are several main characters that are not pansies. Hector and Ike, as mentioned. Even Lyn, who is idealistic but also vengeful and sharp when challenged.

I think early game dialogue has Eirika saying something along the lines of "is this war? expression of repulsion but acknowledgment that it is necessary to regain my country."

Actually, when you said this, I was reminded of Karla. She hates fighting and killing, but realizes that it's the only to get to her brother. Perhaps if the lords had something more of that Eirika/Karla attitude, (and if it was actually written into their dialouges instead of a passing reference) it would make their idealizm/pacifizim/girly-man act easier to swallow.

Personally I don't know anybody who can sling fire with their minds, turn into pretty birdies, or hack dragons apart with a single slash

You don't? How depressing...

I'm pretty sure I'm not the first person to notice this, but does it get on anyone else's nerves how freaking perfect all the lords from the Fire Emblem games are? It seems to me that the creators are always trying to cast their main characters off as the absolute moral paragons for humanity as though they(lords) were righteousness incarnate. For once, I wish Intelligent System would make a game where the main character wasn't such a wishy-washy, idealistic, compassionate pansy.

No, you're not the only person.

And Konami's got the market on that.

I don't know, perhaps I'm overreacting, but a lord who's more mundane and not afraid to cut-loose. A dude or duddette willing to flip the bad guy the bird or tell their belly-aching soldier to stfu. A leader who's more like General Patton and not Mary Poppins.

I second the motion.

Soren is hardcore in strategem and his dealings with others(almost bordering on manipulative), but certain demographs like to portray him as an angst bucket with romantic feelings toward Ike.

This makes me sad. Well, the "angst bucket" part does. Ironically, I have no problem with the other thing. Meaning I'm SOL trying to find something to read.

This topic reminds me of a time I clashed with a friend of mine, who is a Zelda fan. My take on the princess in that series is that of a cunning and manipulative ruler beneath the holier-than-thou act, who, although truly having the best interests of her people at heart, has to be politically ruthless for the sake of her kingdom and to achieve her ends (I mean, she does manipulate the main character into risking his life for her cause, doesn't she?). But my friend disagreed vehemently. Then the conversation went to Fire Emblem and the early scene in Path of Radiance when Daein invades Crimea and the mercenaries are discussing whether or not to take action. Titania wants to lend aid to Crimea (understandable because she is a former Crimean knight), but Soren says no on the basis that no one has paid them. Later on, he wants to dump Elincia for similar reasons.

My friend seemed to find this rather deplorable. I was laughing while I read Soren's lines because, well, the creepy little bastard has a point. It takes money and resources to wage a war, even a defensive one. You can't eat morals and ideology, you know. But my friend did not agree.

Machiavelli once said that, for a ruler, over being admired, respected or loved, it is better to be feared. Sun Tzu may have written something about a good commander being hard but fair. You're not likely to see these themes in a videogame though. Especially a T rated fantasy game. Not saying it wouldn't be interesting, but we're probably just obsessing about the details because we're part of the fanfic writing crowd.

Edit: Have to say, also, that my friend's take on Zelda is probably the correct and intended one. I'm the one trying to impose real world values onto a game, and that just makes me one of those fanfic writers who try to reconstruct canon into something more in line with personal preference.

I would disagree about seeing thematic elements in a videogame--videogames have a lot of potential for theme-throwing and often they do. FE8 was killer on duty vs. desire. FE9 obviously has a couple things on racism but also the struggle between different types of government and ways of living, darwinism, and revenge. This is totally expanded more in FE10, which throws in extra things like misinformation and institutions and beliefs being based on lies and etc. The moral struggle figures in pretty strongly in both.

It does make a case for the moralistic way (help Elincia) over the practical way (dump Elincia), since in the end it worked out well for Ike. (I suppose this is also a case for risk big, win big?)

Soren is hardcore in strategem and his dealings with others(almost bordering on manipulative), but certain demographs like to portray him as an angst bucket with romantic feelings toward Ike.

This makes me sad. Well, the "angst bucket" part does. Ironically, I have no problem with the other thing. Meaning I'm SOL trying to find something to read.

The angst-bucket thing always annoys me with Soren--in FANFICTION. He DOES have some pretty emotional moments--one can't deny that his history does suck pretty bad. BUT people don't know how to approach them effectively. Has anybody noticed that Soren HATES talking about his past? He dislikes mentioning anything about his history--the only person he talks to about it is Ike, and even then you need to make a few supports before you get anywhere with even that. In most Soren-related fanfiction, however, he's usually weeping all over the place, bawling about his unfortunate history. That isn't Soren, and that's what really gets to me. If somebody could write him accurately in everything else, I honestly think I wouldn't even mind the 'romantic' aspect, but when people write Soren they seem to completely forget his cold and practical manner.

~Velkyn Karma

I would disagree about seeing thematic elements in a videogame--videogames have a lot of potential for theme-throwing and often they do.

They do. I guess I phrased that statement wrong. I meant that the themes get toned down if they might get in the way of a player enjoying the game.

In most Soren-related fanfiction, however, he's usually weeping all over the place, bawling about his unfortunate history. That isn't Soren, and that's what really gets to me. If somebody could write him accurately in everything else, I honestly think I wouldn't even mind the 'romantic' aspect, but when people write Soren they seem to completely forget his cold and practical manner.

What some writers also may not understand is that Soren getting emotional or having a breakdown is significant mostly because he's Soren and he doesn't normally do that. But angst sticks to fandom the way white sticks to rice. What I don't get is why this character? I don't see it happening to other characters nearly as much (at least out of the PoR cast).

One more thing on the weak commander issue. I think Ike's actions in PoR can probably be explained on account of youth and inexperience. The way he handles people would be all right if they were his peers. They're not though; they're his subordinates, and that's the problem. I don't know how he is in RD, but in the beginning, he's just been thrown into a position of authority all of a sudden, so it's not unusual that he may not know how to handle it well. In any case, Greil seems to be a believable commander, though he's only in it for a short time.

If your looking for a gruff hardass of a lord who doesnt pussyfoot around and isnt afraid to tell you when you suck, consider the precedent set. We had a lord like that back in FE7. His name was Hector, and he was awesome incarnate. Nintendo has the formula down. For some reason they chose not to use it the last 3 games. I'm with you though, I want to see more hardass lords like Hector who will chew you out if you make a mistake and flat out insult you to your face when he feels like it. No more of this Ephraim garbage.

Hector's always been one of my favourite FE characters, let alone lords, and I've never really thought about why until now, but I think Hellfire nailed it. Hector, for once, is what I expect from a militarily-minded medieval ruler: axe first, questions later, and the best way of 'using your head' is to break noses or doors. And yet he doesn't come across as completely callous, either, or even remotely unlikeable, even next to Everyone's Bestest Friend EVERS, Eliwood. Apparently the FE writers - with or without knowing it - managed to create a character with actual depth, which is probably why he's stuck with me.

You know... that or the Wolf Beil carving through generals like baguettes.

You know... that or the Wolf Beil carving through generals like baguettes.

I always found that attractive, myself. :)

Hector also had the ability to be badass, but then turn around and show compassion without being completely out of character. Like when they're traveling in the desert and he gives Nils a shoulder-ride when the poor kid can't walk. Of course, everyone ridicules him for it, but all the same, it's not impossible for him to be nice either. I found that especially interesting.

~Velkyn Karma

I'm sorry, but anyone who is a hardass is someone I won't like. If they can't be a nice person, too, they can forget being a character I like. People are only human, you know? Eliwood was born into his position, and he's trying to be someone he's not by fighting a war most people don't even know is going on. (How sad is that?) Hector probably doesn't want to be there either. I'm sure he'd rather be fighting in the arena having fun instead of fighting for his life AND the life of a bunch of others who are, by the way, fighting for a cause most people don't even know about. ;)

Don't get me wrong...you have to be a strong person to fight in a war. But there will always be people who aren't as gung-ho to go chop some heads off as others. For example, they have women in their army. Now. The heck? Back then women DID NOT fight in armies. It just didn't happen. They didn't wear riding armor and go frolicking on horseback into battle to stab a lance into a soldier's eye.

So Fire Emblem isn't going to get realistic. You can try to make it as realistic as possible, but with little girls riding pegasi gutting enemy soldiers and kids playing with fire (literally), it'll be hard to do. Especially when you factor in dragons and kids in the army and everybody seemingly getting alone (though we all know everyone doesn't).

I don't know, perhaps I'm overreacting, but a lord who's more mundane and not afraid to cut-loose. A dude or duddette willing to flip the bad guy the bird or tell their belly-aching soldier to stfu. A leader who's more like General Patton and not Mary Poppins.

Dude. That's Vaida. She might not be a "lord", but she might as well be. She's the most badass character ever. She'll eat all you bloody moppets for breakfast. (But we all know she's really not THAT bad.)

Edit 10000: Ugh, I couldn't figure out how to quote, so I made myself look stupid about a zillion times. Sorry about that! Everything on here changes every single time I blink...

The thing about Hector that makes him likable is that his character is blatantly built around his flaws- making them very pronounced, easy to pick up on, and even easier to identify with. He's really got quite many if you think about it.

Point 1: He's the youngest of his siblings who has always gotten his way, and therefore was able to neglect his station and studies all throughout his childhood. Now that he's of age, he struggles with that because he has no patience for the duties and societies that his station demands, and constantly skips out on them. However, he's not calloused to it, he does feel some guilt about his reputation and actions.

Point 2: A byproduct of having his own way and such is that he's coarser than the others. He hasn't been trained to moderate his feelings for the sake of politics or to control his reactions for the sake of a 'greater good'; this leads to a second hurdle he has to cross because he also struggles in conversation. His feelings and thoughts on matters do come out, and that doesn't help him any. In his supports, he talks about how oftentimes he means one thing and something else comes out of his mouth.

Point 3: He is a bit hot-tempered by nature. If you hit him, then rest assured that his first reaction will be to hit you back; he doesn't do well to people pushing him or his friends around and flies off the handle because of it. But in contrast, that's not all there is to him. Hector gets away with doing the things that we would do in his situation, which is a large part of his appeal.

And Point 4: He's not hopeless. He does have a more considerate side to him and he is aware of how bad his actions make him and his brother look. It takes him some time and effort, but he is trying to overcome his flaws and ease his guilt. Evidently, this does eventually play out since FE6 Hector has a different personality and reputation than his FE7 counterpart.

Point 5: Since Hector has the reputation of a military genius in FE6, then this leads me to believe that he is the mysterious 'tactician' seen throughout FE7 and that he was leading a double-life that entire time, fooling everyone into believing that there were, in fact, two seperate people, when, in fact, there is just one. (I'm joking, I'm joking)

I don't think its the fact that Hector's a jerk that makes him popular, but the fact that he has a more human reaction to the situation than the others do. Its like when Jaffar and Nino join the party, Eliwood and Lyn don't even bat an eyelash while Hector's (and the player's) first reaction is "Are you people crazy!?". He even follows that up by promising Jaffar that if Jaffar ever does turn on Eliwood, then Hector will personally see to it that he regrets his decision.

And the fact that he's a sherman tank on the battlefield doesn't hurt his popularity either.

I'm sorry, but anyone who is a hardass is someone I won't like. If they can't be a nice person, too, they can forget being a character I like.

Realistically though, a harsh military commander isn't harsh just to be a bastard. It's the whole, "I'm cruel to be kind," type of thing. A commander has to push his/her troops to the breaking point and beyond in order to prepare them for battle. And once on the battlefield, they'll have to rely on snap decisions based on their training. Pampering them is a good way to get them killed. Also, it takes a lot of psychological bullying/warfare to get most people to overcome their natural aversion to killing other human beings.

There's no denying that.

But the big thing about Fire Emblem is that...none of the lords are commanders or military leaders of anything. Kent is. Marcus is. Oswin is. Vaida is. (FE7) But Eliwood, Lyndis, and Hector are not. So it wouldn't make sense for them to be hardasses towards anyone, anyway. (Marcus is kind of a hardass towards Lowen, haha.)

Basically though, Fire Emblem armies are made up of a zillion individual mercenaries (already know what they're doing) and mercenary wannabes. It's not very realistic, but hey. There's dragons and pegasi.

Must be one of those things where realism kills the fun. Or something.

Must be one of those things where realism kills the fun. Or something.

As I said earlier. Yeah. Fire Emblem is there for the fun of it and all the fantasy STUFF, not for the realistic aspects of war. If I want to play a wargame, I'll go pick up any of the million and a half FPS's out there.

~Velkyn Karma

It's not very realistic, but hey. There's dragons and pegasi.

I had to smile when I read this. It's true too. Fire Emblem is a fantasy, as many have said, one where the good guys always win, the bad guys always die (or see the error of their ways), and when you kill someone they conveniently disappear from screen and don't leave a bloody mess for you to clean up. Fantasy. And I'd rather play in this world than in the gritty, painful reality of war.

Hardass is more applicable during the recruit stage. By the time you are in the military unit proper, you will be looking at positive reinforcements. Not quite at the level of FE niceties, but not as 'badass' as you seem to want it to be.

Speaking from experience, the 'hardasses' in general are usually those in the middle of the command chain, the Captains and Corporals and Sergeants. By the time you go high enough to reach Warrant Officer, they're pretty relaxed people who won't give you a hard time beyond a couple of snarky comments when you mess up (unless you really mess up - like pointing a weapon at an squadmate on accident, in which case they throw the book at you.)

Agreed.

In general, rulers are almost never hopeless idealists, nor are they reckless hardasses (in both cases they would be doomed.) Usually, they fall somewhere in the middle, and largely, rulers were only generous when it benefited him/her or his/her country politically. IMO, Ephraim seems the most believable of the lords overall, although he puts himself on the front lines far more than any important ruler would (Caesar commanded legions and warred everywhere, but before he became a dictator perpetuus, etc.)

I agree that the idealistic perfection of most of the "lords" (Hector, Lyn, and Ephraim excepted) is very annoying. I almost think the lords would be more sympathetic if they were less sympathetic. A lot of great rulers had large egos or short tempers. And Henry VIII was an infamous egotist, but I wouldn't call him a "great ruler". XD

Speaking from experience, the 'hardasses' in general are usually those in the middle of the command chain, the Captains and Corporals and Sergeants.

Good to know.

Talking about fantasy, you would see that Zephiel's genocide would be just like a gentle pat on the back compared to his opposite number in Nazi Germany.

One word: Innes. The awesome bastard can't even talk to his SISTER without screwing up what he means at first, and virtually all of his supports make him come off as snarky, impatient, arrogant, and sometimes all three at once. (Unless you count Vanessa's supports with him, where he turns into a good-natured piece of awesome.)

Why do people like him, though?

Because he's not being a hardass just for the sake of it. He's genuinely concerned about Eirika and Tana's well-being, since Eirika is morally opposed to fighting and Tana is his little sister. For those two, he isn't thinking, "I'm going to verbally beat them down because it's fun!", but "If I can make them go home, they'll hate me for treating them like defenseless children but they won't die a bloody, painful death."

Not to mention that they're ROYALTY. Even if they were experts in warfare, their entire country would be pretty damn demoralized to hear that their ruler/crown prince died on the battlefield. As good as they are in battle, they're far more important as leaders, and that is what many of the lords have been groomed to be--leaders, not fighters.

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