Stefan

Lion-Blooded
Stefan
Species	Beorc/Laguz
Class	FE 9 Swordmaster FE 10 Marshall
Hair color	Green
Weaponry	Vague Katti
Base	Grann Desert
Relatives	Soan (possible ancestor)
Debut	Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Stefan is a playable unit in Path of Radiance and its sequel, Radiant Dawn.

Background

Stefan was one of The Branded. He was not sure when (since his parents were both beorcs), but at some point in his family tree one of his ancestors was a laguz. Despite this being the work of his ancestors, Stefan was the first known member of his family to bear the mark of The Branded. This caused him to be shunned by society due to the Mark, as beorc-laguz procreation was considered a greatest of sins under the laws of the goddess. He also had great power from his laguz blood, but he overcame the temptations that urged him to use his power for revenge against those who shunned him. Stefan found other Branded people, and they started a colony hidden in the Grann Desert where they could live in peace.

Path of Radiance

In "Chapter 15: The Feral Frontier", Stefan appeared when Mordecai or Lethe visited a certain square from the desert (if someone else visited, they would gain the Vague Katti but Stefan himself would not appear). Stefan saw that they were from Gallia’s beast tribes and decided to join their group in hopes of learning more about Gallia and whether or not they were more accepting of The Branded. He was also intrigued by the fighting style of Ike, the company’s leader, and offered to help train him and improve his style. If Ike agreed, Stefan granted him an Occult Scroll.

After the war ended, Stefan returned to the desert colony and invited Ike to visit so they could talk under more peaceful circumstances.

Radiant Dawn

In Radiant Dawn, Stefan was similarly found hidden in the desert in "Chapter 3: Distortions" of "Part 4: Of Countries and Kings", this time appearing if Micaiah stepped on a certain square of the desert. He recognized her as a fellow Branded and so decided to help her. He would also join if Lethe or Mordecai came to that spot. During the base conversation of "Endgame: Rebirth", even if he had not been recruited, he had a conversation with The Goddess Yune and explained to her the concept of the Branded. He also came to learn that Ashera had never forbidden beorc-laguz procreation, causing Stefan to laugh off all the years of persecution and isolation the Branded had suffered now that he knew there was no reason behind the prejudice against them.

After the war ended, Stefan gathered various "like-minded people" to form their own small and independent settlement which eventually grew into a powerful country.

Support Conversation Summaries

In Path of Radiance, Stefan is capable of having Support conversations with two other characters.

• Mordecai- Stefan asks Mordecai about Gallia, and he in turn asks Stefan what he thinks about Begnion, but Mordecai does not understand some of Stefan's words, such as when he says he "detests" Begnion and that Mordecai is lucky to be "ignorant". In the second conversation, Mordecai had studied the meaning of the words and thought them insults, so he confronted Stefan, who told him to look up The Branded and he would then understand Stefan's feelings. In the the third conversation, they discuss the Branded and the prejudice against them by both beorc and laguz. Stefan explains why he detests Gallia and and the laguz for considering him a non-entity. But Mordecai decides to acknowledge Stefan, saying that if the laws of Ashera made him unwanted then Mordecai wanted nothing to do with her. Conversely, Stefan then becomes thankful to the goddess, saying that if someone like him could become so sincere a friend, then she might not be to blame and her laws may not be what they think.
• Soren- Stefan confronts Soren several times, recognizing him as one of the Branded, and invites him to join with a colony of Branded living in the Grann Desert, but Soren refuses to leave the mercenaries. Stefan tries telling him that his laguz heritage will become evident soon enough, and they age differently from beorc. Soren insists that he will not leave Ike's side, but Stefan tells him that he will eventually be rejected from society, at which point Stefan will be waiting for him in the Grann Desert.

Trivia

• Stefan's description of "Lion-Blooded" indicates he has the blood of a lion laguz. This is used to support speculation that Stefan is a descendant of Soan, one of the three legendary heroes who fought off Yune in Tellius's history. This theory is further supported by Stefan's Japanese name having Soan's name in it.
• Unused Path of Radiance data shows that at one point he was intended to have support conversations with Tauroneo and Muarim.