The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion

The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion
Developer(s)	Falcom, MiCROViSion (PSP)
Publisher(s)	Bandai
Series	The Legend of Heroes
Platform(s)	NEC PC-9801, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Portable
Release date(s)	NEC PC-9801 JP May 24, 1996 PlayStation JP August 27, 1998 Microsoft Windows JP December 7, 2000 PSP JP June 2, 2005 NA November 15, 2005
Genre(s)	Role-playing game
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	CERO: A ESRB: Teen
Media/distribution	1x UMD

The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion, known as Eiyū Densetsu IV Akai Shizuku (英雄伝説IV 朱紅い雫, Eiyū Densetsu Fō Akai Shizuku^?) in Japan is a role-playing game originally developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It is the fourth game in the The Legend of Heroes series, and the second in the "Gagharv Trilogy". This game is a remake of the original game released for the NEC PC-9801 in 1996. It was also released in 1998 for the PlayStation and a 1999 release for Microsoft Windows PCs. This game was the first US-released Legend of Heroes game since Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes for the TurboGrafx-16. The US release dropped the number from the title, and was known as simply "The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion".

Some confusion was caused by the US release of this game. While the remake of The Legend of Heroes IV was the first to be released in the US, the PSP remake of its predecessor, The Legend of Heroes III, had been released several months before it in Japan. The Legend of Heroes III was eventually released in the US in 2006, with its title changed to The Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch.

The Story

Opening

The setting for the fourth of the Legend of Heroes and the first in the Gagharv Trilogy takes place in the fictional land El Phildin, fifty-six years before "Moonlight Witch". The story begins with an insight to the past. Avin and Eimelle are orphaned children living in Cathedral. Avin was 8 while Eimelle was 7. Avin retrieves milk for the cat Eimelle brought into the chapel. They both watch the kitten drink to its content. Before long, Oracle Ollesia yells at them to take cover. Cathedral is under attack.

Lord Bellias and his minions attack the chapel. He is after Eimelle who he calls "Durga's Daughter." He is stopped by Supreme Priest Esperius. Both have a conversation of how Bellias used to be destined to lead the Bardus Church someday and how Bellias became traitorous. The two wizards fight each other. Esperius dies after being attacked with a rising spell.

The two kids and their oracle attempt an escape before being captured by Bellias. Gawaine, the "Sage of power," fights to fend off the attack. The rest make an exit to the monster cart. The cat screeches after hearing the spell cast. Avin tried to rescue the cat, but is left in Gawaine's care. Ollesia and Eimelle escape to another place.

Prologue

Avin wakes up in the "Sage of Mercy's" house. Avin feels sick that he couldn't save Eimelle. Lemuras, the Sage of Mercy, tells him that he heard about the situation from Gawaine. He tells him that he couldn't do anything. Avin asks about Eimille only to hear that he doesn't know. Lemuras tells him that there will be a grave situation if he knew about her existence. He tells Avin to deliver a letter to someone in Ourt Village. There, he learns about his home. After getting the letter, someone chases him. That person is Mile. He gets a red marble and then goes back. Sage Lemuras tells him of the Festival of Nepthys, the town deity. Avin joins Mile in finding the two charms and throws them into the pond going the Nepthys' shrine to grant the wish. Avin wishes to see his sister again.

Main Characters

Avin (Age 17): The main protagonist. He sets out on a journey to find his sister Eimelle who has been separated from him for years. He has a short temper and is very impetuous, but is usually kept in check by his calm best friend Mile.

Eimelle (Age 15): A kindhearted and modest girl. Avin's young sister and only family. Her kindness extends even to those who would hurt her, as she treats the wounds of one bested enemy. She is known as "Durga's Daughter", an important figure in the plans of Octum's Apostles.

Rutice (Age 16): The main heroine, at least the for the latter half of the game. A member of the heretics under Bellias, but later reneges when their methods prove too cruel. Plagued with self-doubt about her path in life, she gradually falls in love with Avin as he supports her.

Mile (Age 18): Avin's close friend. He is concerned about Avin, and travels together with him. His calm demeanor allows him to defuse his friend's anger, protecting him from making mistakes.

Shannon (Age 17): A pure and innocent girl. She is rescued by Avin and his party and instantly falls for Mile when she wakes up and sees him. Her outspoken love and affection for her "prince" perturbs Mile greatly.

Martie (Age 19): A young adventurer who is training to become a minister for the Royal Family. He uses the bounties he earns adventuring to pay for his tuition. He is the first character that joins Avin and Mile on their quest.

Muse (Age 18): A mysterious and confident young woman who uses a whip and helps the party fight the Syamseal Gang, who are threatening the kingdom. MUSE is an acronym of her true name.

Douglas (Age 28): One of the Adventurer's Guild's most prolific adventurers, "Lightning Sword" Douglas is a skilled swordsman who befriends Avin and Mile. He is training himself to one day use the Thunder Sword, a keepsake from his deceased master.

Lucias (Age 21): Another renowned adventurer and Douglas' eternal rival, "Sapphire Eyes" Lucias is an exceptionally fast swordswoman who also trained with Douglas' master. Her relationship with Douglas is prickly at best, though she helps the party regardless of his presence.

Archem (Age 16): A young girl from Spirit Forest who is good friends with the friendly Meefa creatures that inhabit it. She helps the party stop the Meefa hunts and develops a crush on Avin.

Baron Conrad (Age late 20s): The benevolent leader of Balloa, who takes it upon himself to protect his land alongside his soldiers. This tends to worry his wife Theresa.

Rael (Age 13): An exceptionally talented sorcery student who often cuts class. His teachers worry about his mischievous attitude, especially considering his potential for spellcraft.

Professor Elenoa (Age Unknown (20s)): A talented sorcery instructor who takes it upon herself to reel in her errant student Rael. She and Rael usually help the party as a pair.

Michel De Lap Heaven (Age Unknown): A mysterious sorcerer who helps Avin, Rutice & Gawaine on their journey. You originally meet him on Truth Island. He also appears in The Legend Of Heroes: Song of the Ocean and The Legend Of Heroes: Prochecy Of The Moonlight Witch as an old man by the name of Grandpa Lap.

Thomas (Age 18):A young sailor with blue eyes and dark brown hair. He is the owner of the Planetos (originally Gawaine's) and wants nothing more than to navigate across the ocean to new lands.

Rouca (Age 13): A young teenager who is actually Rutice's brother. He is an able young engineer who works in Guia, an industrial city. At the end of the game, he upgrades the Planetos and it evantually becomes the Planetos II.

Madram (Age ~30s) : A powerful warrior who trained under Gawaine. He seeks revenge for the death of Dominique, the previous Daughter of Durga. He is aligned to neither God, resenting that the war between them cost him the love of his life.

Dominique (Age Unknown) : She was the "Durga's Daughter" before Eimelle. Octum's Apostles murdered her before the game begins.

Major Bardus Church Officials

Professor Ollesia: One of the clerics that cared for Avin and Eimelle before the Cathedral was attacked. She runs the Benequia Monastery near New Borun. She knows where Eimelle is because she took Eimelle to safety when Cathedral was attacked.

High Priest Croir: The successor to Supreme Priest Esperius. He is plagued with problems from the Octum Apostles. Though meek, he is very kind and resourceful, helping the party get to where they need to go on several occasions.

Abbott/Oracle Avarice: The ringleader of corrupt Bardus Church officials. He cares for nothing but money. He uses connections with amoral merchants like Garcia to fund his corruption. When he arrives at Benequia Monastery, he lifts the ban on Meefa hunting. He is pursued endlessly by Madram and fears him greatly. For more information, read below.

Sage Gawaine: Also known as "Sage of Power". He brought Avin to Sage Lemuras after the fall of cathedral. He later appears to assist Avin and his party in battle. Despite his age, he is one of the most gifted warriors in the world.

Sage Lemuras: Also known as "Sage of Mercy". He trains and takes care of Avin until the day he dies. His advice and wisdom continues to help Avin throughout the game. He is the guardian of the spirit Nephtys.

Sage Dinerken: Also known as "Sage of Wisdom". Dinerken lives a hermit's life in the Prayer Woods, though he is able to assist Avin's party several times.

Bardus: The God of Light and counterpart to Octum, the God of Darkness. The main goal of the latter half of the game is to infuse Avin's sword with his remains to break through the barrier around the Octum Apostles' lair.

Major Octum Apostles

Lord Belias: The ruler of Octum Apostles. He defected from the Bardus Church after witnessing a revelation about mankind on Truth Island. He plans to revive Octum and rebuild the world.

Borgeid: The right-hand man of Lord Belias. He is exceptionally powerful and delights in tormenting those he sees as weak. He is responsible for corrupting the great Spirits.

Bernard: Rutice's former partner. He and Rutice were on a mission to get Kabessa, or Bardus' Head, from Avin. He relies on brute force and lacks Rutice's subtlety.

Octum: The God of Darkness and also of Rebirth, at least in the eyes of his Apostles. He is the final boss of the game. He is revived through the powers of the Book of Life and Durga's Daughter.

The Two Warring Religions

Bardus Church

These are priests and nuns committed to serving the god of light. They rule over most of El Phildin. During Supreme Priest Esperius' rule, the capital was Cathedral. It was moved to Valkd, because he feared something evil would happen. The organization is based in the region of Dusis. There is a monastery in Boreas, where they rule over the Spirit Forest. It is the religion for most people

It should be noted that there is corruption in the Church. Oracle Avarice was in charge of a situation in Kanaphia Island, when he was Abbot of Brizahc. The Octum Apostles attacked Kanaphia. He turned the paladin back to Valkd. Because there was no assistance, Durga's Daughter 15 years ago died and an assassin formed. Also, Oracle Avarice lifted the ancient ban on the Meefa, the endangered sacred animals of the Spirit Forest. He wanted Meefa skin. Avin, Mile, Archem, and Douglas asked him to lift the ban. Soon after the confrontation, the town's air became poisonous. Only after rescuing the Meefa did Oracle Avarice confess his crimes. Professor Ollesia regained power and restored the ban on Meefa.

Octum Apostles

The occult group originated in, ironically, Dusis. They seek to revive Octum to rebuild the Earth. They have attacked the Church, but few records exist of them. There are a series of books in the fiction section. The Royal Family have recorded incidents against the Church. Those records are not available to the public.

The leader is the traitor Lord Bellias. He is a very powerful warlock. He has created an entrance to the Sealed Land. Their power comes from the forbidden Book of Life. They seek Durga's Daughter to help in the revival process. They made a big mistake once by killing the former Durga's Daughter.

External links

• The Legend of Heroes Wikia
• The Legend of Heroes IV: A Tear of Vermillion Home Page
• Official Falcom Website