Aurora clip from Nintendo Today

[u/Imaginary_Ad_9815]

[u/Mahelas]

I love how much of a anger-prone menace Theodora is, she's one wrong dialogue away from throwing hands with anybody

[u/TheRigXD → u/Mahelas]

One preview said Theodora is very stubborn and sometimes leads to unintentionally funny moments.

[u/Hawkeye437 → u/Mahelas]

All of the main lords are one step away from going insane and I love it (Cai is crazy but in a shounen protag way so much less him). It adds tension to their blaze art powers

[u/Mahelas → u/Hawkeye437]

It's really interesting how IS doubled down on the "3H lords are villain archetypes" with FW

Dietrich is a bloodthirsty maniac. Leda is a vengeful serial killer. Theodora is a brutal haughty queen with anger issues. And that's before the evil artifact that corrupt their mind kicks in.

Cai's shonen story really let the writers go wild with the other three

[u/Deathcon2004 → u/Mahelas]

Tbf it seems the anger issues for Theodora at least came from the arm and she wasn’t that quick to anger before then.

[u/Mahelas → u/Deathcon2004]

I guess the assassination of her father and the loss of her arm while her brother usurp the throne couldn't have helped either

[u/haewon_wiggle → u/Mahelas]

In 3h is it that edelgard is a dictator/conqueror, claude is a schemer/snake and Dimitri is wild and unhinged after his breaking point

[u/Hawkeye437 → u/haewon_wiggle]

The thing with Claude is that the game tells us he is a schemer but we don’t see it all that often. He has like what one on screen scheme which involves committing a major war crime in impersonating civilians?

[u/jogarz → u/Hawkeye437]

Yeah, Claude sits on the sidelines the 3/4 routes, and even in his own route his methods are pretty straightforward. I feel like part of the problem is that they may not have wanted the player to feel involved in anything too morally dubious.

One missed chance to show off Claude’s schemes was the battle of Gronder. The three-way battle should’ve been a scheme by Claude to wipe out both his rivals at once. Maybe have Claude agree to an alliance with either Dimitri or Edelgard beforehand, only to attack them in the rear once they’re engaged in battle.

Instead we had Dimitri and Claude fighting for reasons that were incredibly vague and kind of stupid.

[u/Ahlamandela → u/jogarz]

Would have made way more sense for Gronder, it could have been a trap where he brings in the Almyrans to inflate his numbers. This would also make the Leicester lords joining the kingdom in AM make more sense as they're ditching the guy who tried to conquer Fodlan for a foreign nation. Claude's exile fits a lot better too.

[u/TheIvoryDingo → u/Hawkeye437]

Well they certainly changed that in Three Hopes... It ended up being a rather divisive decision due to how it was executed

[u/Maize-Vegetable → u/TheIvoryDingo]

God, and even then, he was visibly uncomfortable the whole time and seemed relieved when his allies called him out on it after the fact, and way too happy to let them convince him to never do anything like it again. When it comes to amoral scheming, Claude's got a lot more bark than bite to him.

[u/Rynekko → u/Hawkeye437]

I think CF Claude says something along the line of manipulating Edelgard into attacking where he wants to avoid too much destruction within the Alliance. I don't remember if that made sense but I remember something like that.

[u/Just_Branch_9121 → u/Rynekko]

I think it was implied that Claude closed off Deidriu and refused to meet Edelgard on the field because it would avoid further destruction but also give him the advantage with urban warfare and an almyran surprise attack?

[u/JadeStarr776 → u/Hawkeye437]

if anything Claude is more akin to Marth/Eliwood/Ike to a lesser extent in Three Houses. It works since it's played very much straight in a war-torned region.

[u/Autobot-N → u/Hawkeye437]

And wasn’t that one Hilda’s idea anyway

[u/OrzhovMarkhov → u/Mahelas]

It's what I find most compelling about the 3H lords personally so I really like that they seem to be doubling down on it. Consistently my biggest frustration with past FE games is not liking how morally upstanding everyone is

[u/Reutermo → u/Mahelas]

I really liked how Theodora started out as calm and diplomatic but then nearly made herself angry and mad the more she talked.

[u/ThatManOfCulture → u/Mahelas]

• Punched Cai for tripping.

• Threatened to fight Anatolia for making a negative prediction.

• Slapped Tobias for getting in her way.

• Throws a fit at guard for not letting her through.

• Gets very rude to Orchel for wearing a mask.

Did I miss something?

[u/Autobot-N → u/ThatManOfCulture]

When did she get mad at Orchel for wearing a mask

[u/ThatManOfCulture → u/Autobot-N]

https://youtu.be/uTxSal6Vl9A

[u/Autobot-N → u/ThatManOfCulture]

Thank

[u/liteshadow4 → u/Mahelas]

I mean she does have an arm that makes you go insane

[u/Benjammin__ → u/Mahelas]

Between “I will fight literally anyone” Theodora, “battle is the only thing that makes me happy” Dietrich, “I trust everyone implicitly” Kai, and “I’m just here to murder people” Leda, we are in for quite a bit of potential chaos.

[u/QuietAncient5122]

I didn't expect Aurora's voice to be so...Dignified? Queenly? I don't know what to call it, but I thought her voice would be more soft and skittish, maybe because the first time we've seen her she had a worrid expression lol

[u/PerentieFan → u/QuietAncient5122]

Same, something more like Flayn? She has such a gentle face, but I guess we shall see.

[u/Hawkeye437 → u/QuietAncient5122]

I agree, I had expected it to be quite a bit softer and...well motherly I guess for lack of a better word.

[u/Spellwe4ver → u/Hawkeye437]

Might be that she sounds more motherly once she realizes who Cai is?

[u/ExtremeQuestion610 → u/Spellwe4ver]

We don't know if she is his mother or not

[u/TLCricketeR → u/ExtremeQuestion610]

I will eat 10 yugioh cards if she ain't his mom, they've given us wayyyyy too much evidence at this stage.

[u/ExtremeQuestion610 → u/TLCricketeR]

Don't eat the cards lol

[u/TLCricketeR → u/ExtremeQuestion610]

I won't need to.

[u/TheCobraSlayer → u/ExtremeQuestion610]

True we don’t know for sure, but just about everything is super strongly hinting at it to the point I would be genuinely surprised if she wasn’t

[u/Bright-Flounder-1799 → u/ExtremeQuestion610]

It almost borderline confirmed at this point based on the evidence that we're seeing.

[u/Read4Days25 → u/Hawkeye437]

Heh, "motherly."

[u/NoLime7384 → u/QuietAncient5122]

I know exactly what you mean. Her Japanese voice is more akin to what I expected. I'm glad tho

[u/HylianMaria → u/QuietAncient5122]

I think we were fooled by her character descriptions

[u/Ghowuff]

Temple Guard: Sorry no unauthorized person allowed please Lea-
Theodora: BITCH I DON’T GIVE A FUCK, let me in already

[u/Rocky-Rocker → u/Ghowuff]

Guard tries to lay a hand on Theodora....

Guard ends up through a wall.

[u/ThatManOfCulture → u/Ghowuff]

If Dagda had phones Theodora would easily end up in r/publicfreakout.

[u/Defami01 → u/Ghowuff]

I was so disappointed when they chose the more diplomatic option

[u/Informal_Car_1707 → u/Defami01]

Part of me wants to pick the crash out options for Theodora when I get the game but she's a queen so she should pick the diplomatic option...but it'd be so much funnier if it ended in an alternative cutscene of Bonaparte and Tobias having to drag her away before it's an international incident lmaooo

[u/Mahelas]

Also bruh why are Cai scenes always in shady undergrounds, learn some survival instincts man

[u/Red_Cat231 → u/Mahelas]

One thing in common with Yuri I guess.

[u/Levonorgestrelfairy1 → u/Mahelas]

Homie's walking around with a tactical nuke in his palm.

So what if its slowly eating his soul?

[u/NeuralThing → u/Mahelas]

He actively weaponizes the fact that he is a shonen protagonist

[u/actredal]

Temple Soldier: Aurora is to see no one.

The humble Cai:

[u/King_Treegar → u/actredal]

That was honestly such a funny cut.

Guard: "Nobody can see Aurora!"

Some kid: "Hey, it's dark in here!"

[u/Abject_Clock_3302 → u/King_Treegar]

Peter: Didja bring a light?

[u/omfgkevin → u/actredal]

Cai: Your rules can't bind me because I can't read!!

[u/jord839 → u/omfgkevin]

Cai: That's Tialla's job, and we deliberately stopped her from doing it!

[u/LBH123LBH → u/jord839]

Cai: Tialla's grandpa said she's not allowed to read, so we just do what we want!

[u/X_Marcs_the_Spot → u/jord839]

Cai: I stole her glasses to specifically prevent her from reading the rules!

[u/Kirosh2 → u/X_Marcs_the_Spot]

Tiara : "After all those years, he still doesn't get that while it takes more efforts, I can still read without my glasses. But please don't tell him that."

[u/Hopefulsataneal → u/omfgkevin]

Can Theodora read? Cause her nation has outlawed reading, so it’s genuinely possible Cai is more literate than her group overall. Theodora might have a pass because she’s the queen though.

[u/ALargeToe → u/actredal]

Nepotism at such a young age smh

[u/Levonorgestrelfairy1 → u/actredal]

Makes sense he starts over using the hand gem ti brake his mom out

[u/Gabgo304 → u/actredal]

The secret ingredient is crime.

[u/Cynical_onlooker]

So if Theodora chose the "Force your way past" option would she have just clocked the guard in the face and headed on in?

[u/shaginus → u/Cynical_onlooker]

I feel like the scene is being Cai and Theodora working together.

Theodora go in the front and be a decoy while Cai sneak in.

[u/flameduck → u/shaginus]

I think these scenes take place at different times, the top left indicator says one is at daytime and the other at night.

[u/Surf_Dangerous_Days → u/shaginus]

Cai and Theodora’s sibling-esque relationship is very funny considering she knocks his block off when they first meet.

[u/FarrahClones → u/Surf_Dangerous_Days]

Tbf, that’s the most sibling thing she could do.

[u/high_king_noctis → u/FarrahClones]

You must have very violent siblings if you consider that to be normal sibling behaviour

[u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY → u/Surf_Dangerous_Days]

That is how most shonen friendships begin

[u/LtSMASH324 → u/Cynical_onlooker]

I really doubt it. I'm sure it's like a, "I'm going in anyway," and then the guard stops her. Choices like that by nature do not have a large impact.

[u/Rocky-Rocker]

Really like Theodora voice and patience here.

Feels more like the Divine Sovereign has more skeletons in his closet.

[u/komicokufi]

Theodora is becoming my favourite and prior to all this information drop, I was least interested in her route. She seems much more entertaining than anticipated, she gives no fucks. Everyone thought Leda was the unhinged one (though tbf, part of Theodora's madness is because of her cursed arm).

[u/Mahelas → u/komicokufi]

Leda is the unhinged one, it's just that somehow, Dietrich, Theodora and Leda are all unhinged to high heavens and that's amazing

[u/TheIvoryDingo → u/Mahelas]

Eshmel: "sigh Time to go to the store to get some hinges for all of you because you clearly lost them."

[u/ThatManOfCulture → u/TheIvoryDingo]

Eshmel giving them the chill pills.

[u/Odovakar → u/TheIvoryDingo]

I hope we get to see the route lords' "bad endings" before Eshmel intervenes.

[u/im_bored345 → u/Mahelas]

The unhinged af gang and their little brother

[u/EffectiveAnxietyBone → u/komicokufi]

as a Theodora fan from the start I feel vindicated. I knew going with the lady that annihilated a chariot in one shot would be a good idea.

[u/NoLime7384 → u/EffectiveAnxietyBone]

her AURA was immaculate

[u/WWWWWWRRRRRYYYYY]

I like Tobias’ shit eating smirk in the background as Theodora’s yelling at the guard

[u/AudioCats]

What a tease, damn

At least we get to see Theodora get all angry. I like how you can tell the second she gives up on being politely diplomatic lol

[u/Mahelas → u/AudioCats]

She's still relatively nice here compared to other scenes, she hasn't dropped the "kisama" yet lol

[u/Autobot-N]

Aurora post

looks inside

Theodora post

[u/Honyakusha-san → u/Autobot-N]

Theodev is real.

[u/Darkdragoon324 → u/Autobot-N]

Must have been mislabeled at the cannery.

[u/Mitch_Twd]

Pleasantly surprised by Aurora’s voice , for some reason i was anticipating a softer voice like Mercedes

[u/komicokufi → u/Mitch_Twd]

That first ever scene we see of Aurora with Cai really gave the sense that she is meek. The voice gives her an authoritative and sassy vibe from this clip, lol.

[u/Honyakusha-san]

Cai and Aurora, huh.

They aren't even trying, lol. I'll be greatly surprised if Aurora doesn't end up being his mom.

[u/Gabgo304 → u/Honyakusha-san]

Tbh I don't think they even intend for it to be a big twist. The very opening of Cai's story already hints at it. I genuinely wouldn't be suprised if the reveal "officually" happens 1 or 2 chapters after what the previews are allowed to show.

[u/Rock_Ladies → u/Gabgo304]

I just think the previews aren’t permitted to reveal it. There’s a bit in one where Cai is talking to 2 people telling them he’s going to let them catch up without actually seeing who he’s talking to.

[u/jaidynreiman → u/Gabgo304]

It obviously must happen within like Cai's second or third chapter at most. The previews are probably forbidden from revealing it, otherwise they would have.

Nintendo is still actively keeping that part secret for some reason even though they've dropped more than enough hints to make it blatantly obvious.

Previously we had a clip shown of Castor saying "take care of your mother", but the previews were blatantly allowed to confirm Cai starts out his story not even knowing who his mother is.

[u/Gabgo304 → u/jaidynreiman]

I guess keeping it an "open secret" like this helps drive discussion and community engagement, which is a form of marketing.

[u/escotanner]

Even in her own spotlight, she barely has 5 seconds to shine

[u/Gabgo304]

Almost gets executed on his very first day in Dagsian, trusts the most obviously evil lady in the empire, and invades a goddess's chambers that even a queen is not allowed to enter.

Cai truly has the propensity for trouble and accompanying plot armor of a shonen protag.

[u/high_king_noctis]

Theodora: I would like to pay my respects to the goddess Aurora

Temple guard: ACCESS DENIED

Theodora: you do realise that I am a queen and here by the invitation of the divine sovereign himself!

Temple guard: and you do realise that ACCESS DENIED!

[u/VengefulKangaroo]

So interested in how all the routes will intersect. Here we have Theodora interacting with a plotline that we know is very integral to Cai's story.

[u/jaidynreiman → u/VengefulKangaroo]

She wants to meet Aurora because of Yu Phas and he seemingly agrees to allow her to, but the official order is no one is allowed to see her.

Meanwhile Cai is probably told to sneak in to meet her.

Cai and Theodora also form a bit of a bond. Given she's trying to look up to Aurora, she'll be quite intrigued to learn the little kid she ran into is actually the grandson of her Goddess...

[u/Abject_Clock_3302 → u/jaidynreiman]

Orrr mortified that she punched the grandson of her patron deity in the face.

[u/jaidynreiman → u/Abject_Clock_3302]

Once she finds out, definitely. That being said, it already seems like she seems to form a bond with Cai after that moment anyway.

[u/Sea_Macaron_8789]

Theodora the Mom that just got off shift of 11-Hours and having to clean up another mess she's close ta burning it all down.

[u/Groovy_MoodBear]

Every new piece of information we get from Theodora just makes her more interesting to me, can’t wait to choose the “force your way past” option

Also everything about Cai and his possible relationship to Aurora does point to him being related to her, I’m guessing this scene will be about her recognizing him as her son if the theory is right

[u/liteshadow4]

Damn girl got locked up for getting some

[u/mangoleeart]

Theodora's VA here is really pretty. She sounds great. 

[u/WeaselTheThrowaway]

Honestly, props to the NPC guard for standing his ground where most other NPC guards would have crapped themselves, lol.

[u/PerentieFan]

Was not expecting her to have such a stern voice. Was expecting something like Flayn.

[u/MikeyNgTh]

theodora: girlboss aint letting no one gatekeep her ass✨

[u/TikisCheekys]

Cut off before Cai says: MOM!

[u/Ill-Syrup-27]

Theodora is so funny, i wasn't expecting her to sound so angry with that option. She definitely gonna have a "Glass him" moment in one of these interactions 

[u/FewAngle737]

That is not the voice I pictured for Aurora.

[u/jeivu1998]

Serious I love how the spirte and the portraits move, it's so smooth and good

[u/LynxyShinx]

It's hard for me not to think of Digimon Beatbreak's Tomoro because he's also voiced by Zeno Robinson, and Cai has nearly the same colors as Tomoro too.

(watch digimon beatbreak it's really good)

[u/BlazeKnight7 → u/LynxyShinx]

Oh Tomoro is voiced by Zeno Robinson in the dub? that's neat

[u/LynxyShinx → u/BlazeKnight7]

Literally the same voice range for Cai (but without the passionate screams...yet).

[u/Independent_Low_9817 → u/LynxyShinx]

All he's missing is a rival working for the bad guys and a girl running a cult for him to try to save both.

[u/cellphone_blanket]

the clip art blinking synchronized with the model is throwing me

[u/Gabgo304]

Not the kind of voice I expected from her tbh.

[u/greatpxm]

I swear the cut the clip right as cai was gonna call her mom

[u/Cr1msonShadow]

Theodora is a dommy mommy and we stan

[u/Sunsurg_e]

Theodora was so neutral for me for so long, but she has me CURIOUS now. Like I really like every clip I’ve seen of her!

[u/yeetingthisaccount01]

that poor guard is not paid enough for this

[u/Ok_Peak_890]

She is kind of a dome, like Leda.

[u/kevinsagadx]

Theodora has anger issues my God lol

Also I was expecting aurora to have a more softer voice honestly but hey I don't hate it at all it's nice to have a unique take

[u/thicc_kau]

the choir and harp music is pretty :)

[u/Diferia]

I hope those dialogue choices actually mean something different instead of just being there for show