What happened to Rean (spoilers)

[Leewaffle]

When I finished the divertissement, I couldnt help but realized that Rean’s personality somewhat changed when encountering those two. With how he developed as a character, I would have never expected him to talk or act like the way he did here. It’s like he became a whole new person, especially with what he said to introduce himself. Any leads? Thanks.

[Wilq]

Keep playing.

[13F of Greatness]

With the Blood and Iron Chancellor alive, he uses Rean's status as a national hero that ended the civil war to go fight and take over Crossbell. To Crossbell State, Rean and the other Erebonians seem like the aggressors.

Rean regrets this entire ordeal and did not want to be associated with the Blood and Iron Chancellor, so he acts despondent and distant when Lecther mentions that Rean and the Chancellor can meet up after the mission is over.

[ZWabbit]

Your question is a legitimate one, because the timeskip that Falcom did would have covered the timeframe wherein Rean and the rest of the class for that matter would have spent coming to terms and making decisions. Falcom didn't show us this however, which made everything after the Battle of Heimdallr extremely jarring and borderline nonsensical.

[Wilq]

Hmm ... I wanted to avoid spoilers ;)

Putting it as simple as possible - Rean is being manipulated by Chancellor. Of course this is a little more complex.

[Leewaffle]

Originally posted by Wilq:

Hmm ... I wanted to avoid spoilers ;)

Putting it as simple as possible - Rean is being manipulated by Chancellor. Of course this is a little more complex.

I got that much. More so, I want to know how he was manipulated so easily. I don’t wanna say it was effortless, given the time skip, but after what happened with crow, I find it hard to believe Rean would change in this amount of time.

[That's ich!]

Originally posted by Leewaffle:

Originally posted by Wilq:

Hmm ... I wanted to avoid spoilers ;)

Putting it as simple as possible - Rean is being manipulated by Chancellor. Of course this is a little more complex.

I got that much. More so, I want to know how he was manipulated so easily..

Because Rean has a ''desire to belong somewhere & find a purpose'' and ol' Ozzy is giving him exactly that.

[Val the Moofia Boss]

Originally posted by Leewaffle:

Originally posted by Wilq:

Hmm ... I wanted to avoid spoilers ;)

Putting it as simple as possible - Rean is being manipulated by Chancellor. Of course this is a little more complex.

I got that much. More so, I want to know how he was manipulated so easily. I don’t wanna say it was effortless, given the time skip, but after what happened with crow, I find it hard to believe Rean would change in this amount of time.

He has given in to the reality of the situation: that everything he did was meaningless. Osborne was in control of the situation the entire time. Everything Rean did was orchestrated by and to Osborne's benefit. Rean was inadvertently instrumental in bringing about a civil war that killed hundreds, of people, ruined the lives of many, and aided the rise of a detestable man. Osborne is playing 4th dimensional chess and WILL get what he wants. Rean is inextricably tied to the only operational Divine Knight in Erebonia, and has name recognition. Osborne wants to turn him into yet another enforcer of his will, and there's nothing Rean can do to stop this. If Rean refuses, who knows what Osborne would do. Resistance is futile, and now he has to serve a man he utterly hates, helping him conquer a city of 600,000 people and other neighboring states. Furthermore, Rean's friends have been taken away, and he has no one to counsel or support him. Dark times ahead for him indeed...

[Leewaffle]

Originally posted by Val the Moofia Boss:

Originally posted by Leewaffle:

I got that much. More so, I want to know how he was manipulated so easily. I don’t wanna say it was effortless, given the time skip, but after what happened with crow, I find it hard to believe Rean would change in this amount of time.

He has given in to the reality of the situation: that everything he did was meaningless. Osborne was in control of the situation the entire time. Everything Rean did was orchestrated by and to Osborne's benefit. Rean was inadvertently instrumental in bringing about a civil war that killed hundreds, of people, ruined the lives of many, and aided the rise of a detestable man. Osborne is playing 4th dimensional chess and WILL get what he wants. Rean is inextricably tied to the only operational Divine Knight in Erebonia, and has name recognition. Osborne wants to

turn him into yet another enforcer of his will, and there's nothing Rean can do to stop this. If Rean refuses, who knows what Osborne would do. Resistance is futile, and now he has to serve a man he utterly hates, helping him conquer a city of 600,000 people and other neighboring states. Furthermore, Rean's friends have been taken away, and he has no one to counsel or support him. Dark times ahead for him indeed...

That’s a response if I ever saw one, but it makes sense. Albeit I’m reluctant to accept some of the things stated like how Osborne knew pretty much everything, maybe some things will be cleared up in the next game (I’m dying for it’s release but o well). Thanks for the response.

[The Tempted Man]

Originally posted by Val the Moofia Boss:

He has given in to the reality of the situation: that everything he did was meaningless. Osborne was in control of the situation the entire time. Everything Rean did was orchestrated by and to Osborne's benefit. Rean was inadvertently instrumental in bringing about a civil war that killed hundreds, of people, ruined the lives of many, and aided the rise of a detestable man. Osborne is playing 4th dimensional chess and WILL get what he wants. Rean is inextricably tied to the only operational Divine Knight in Erebonia, and has name recognition. Osborne wants to turn him into yet another enforcer of his will, and there's nothing Rean can do to stop this. If Rean refuses, who knows what Osborne would do. Resistance is futile, and now he has to serve a man he utterly hates, helping him conquer a city of 600,000 people and other neighboring states. Furthermore, Rean's friends have been taken away, and he has no one to counsel or support him. Dark times ahead for him indeed...

Few things:

1. When was this stated that Rean has his old man? I dont remember that scene from the game or any mentions. He thinks his methods are effective, maybe harsh, but he gets ♥♥♥♥ done.

2. Casualties number are hard to picture, because this game is reall bad in narrative, but according to intel the player is given, only 3 people truly die in civil war. Otto, Vulcan and Crow. So as you can see, all 3 are side characters. Nobody else, considering that Barehard looks exactly the same as in CS1, civil war isn't a big deal. Not big enough to change the background, and place fortifications, checkpoints etc, apparently, same goes for any other city in the game.

3. Why shouldn't he be proud to serve the leader of his nation? He was awarded position and trust it would take years to achieve and still there is no 100% certainty that he would get this close to the government for it to trust him.

4. If he refuses, then it changes very little. Crow states that divine knights arent omnipotent and won't destroy fortresses and such. All Rean accomplished is because of talk no jutsu or straight up deus ex machina, therefore if he ever became a real problem, he could be easily stopped by people the likes of Lechter or Claire or the biggest badass of this game, Rufus. His friends wouldn't get hurt, because srsly, whats the point of that? It would only make him mad, therefore cutting short any form of negotiation anyway.

[Wilq]

There is a lot to discuss in this area but we probably won't get any definite answers before CS3. We don't want to spoil you the ending of CS2 so I will stop here. All you can do is to observe Rean, maybe you'll draw your own conclusion.

I also have a little bonus. Maybe some people forget about drama CD. There is something similar for those who finished beginning of Act II in TOCS2.

http://www.trailsofcoldsteel.com/cs2/memoirs2.html

PS Sometimes I wonder how many people start playing zero after this divertissement chapter (and after they finish CS2)

[Val the Moofia Boss]

Originally posted by The Tempted Man:

1. When was this stated that Rean has his old man? I dont remember that scene from the game or any mentions. He thinks his methods are effective, maybe harsh, but he gets ♥♥♥♥ done.

2. Casualties number are hard to picture, because this game is reall bad in narrative, but according to intel the player is given, only 3 people truly die in civil war. Otto, Vulcan and Crow. So as you can see, all 3 are side characters. Nobody else, considering that Barehard looks exactly the same as in CS1, civil war isn't a big deal. Not big enough to change the background, and place fortifications, checkpoints etc, apparently, same goes for any other city in the game.

3. Why shouldn't he be proud to serve the leader of his nation? He was awarded position and trust it would take years to achieve and still there is no 100% certainty that he would get this close to the government for it to trust him.

4. If he refuses, then it changes very little. Crow states that divine knights arent omnipotent and won't destroy fortresses and such. All Rean accomplished is because of talk no jutsu or straight up deus ex machina, therefore if he ever became a real problem, he could be easily stopped by people the likes of Lechter or Claire or the biggest badass of this game, Rufus. His friends wouldn't get hurt, because srsly, whats the point of that? It would only make him mad, therefore cutting short any form of negotiation anyway.

1. Rean isn't fond of Osborne's passive-aggressive nature, as shown at Valflame Palace and Celdic in CS1. Rean agrees with the nobles of Bareahard and Cayenne's argument that Osborne was desecrating Erebonian culture and values, as well as forcibly absorbing neighboring states at the expense of the people already inside Erebonia. CS2 was the final nail in the coffin, as Rean bears witness firsthand how this all goes down. Rean is even further disturbed when he realizes that Osborne - as Olivier said - stirred up the people into a revolution so that he could purge anyone who stood in his way and solidify his power, himself and Crow being victims of this.

2. There was little conflict along the Eastern front because the NA already held all of Erebonia from Heimdallr to the Twin Dragons Bridge in the East and Roer in the North. The 4th Armored Division was held up in Garrelia, and the 3rd in Zender gate. Both divisions were dwindling with supplies and heavily outnumbered, so they held their ground. The NA was also engaged in fierce combat against the steamrolling 9th Armored Division in the West, and concentrated it's forces there. This is also due to Rufus deliberately having moved NA forces out of the East aside from a few key installations such as Aurochs Fort, the Schwarze Drache Barrier, the TDB, and Heimdallr. This was to allow the remaining forces some respite so that they could regroup and eventually push back towards the West. As a result, there were minimal casualties along the Eastern Front.

We do know for a fact that the Western Front was absolutely brutal; IC issues 3 and 4 report a deadlock in the Lamare Province, with the 9th Armored Division having held steadfast against the NA. The Sutherland Province was in shambles, with Marquis Hyarms having to take a back seat and focus on providing for his dislocated and starving people. Parm had become a fullblown holdout for the Loyalists, requiring the NA to send their most renowned champions - General Le Guin, Brigadier General Bardias, and the Azure Chevalier - to Eastern front. After a week long engagement, they only barely managed to push the 9th Armored Division back. Then the Red Wings returned to Eastern Front, and the NA's Western Front began to break. Rebellions broke out across the Lamare Province, the territory in which Ordis, the capital of the NA, resided. This was bad. I need not describe the implied death toll. Just because the game was set in the Eastern Front and we only see a couple of small skirmishes, does not mean that a bloody insurrection did not occur, because we know it did.

3 & 4. "To serve one's country" implies that one had chosen to give their life for said country of their own volition. Rean was blackmailed by Osborne on the spot. Osborne publicly declared Rean as the "hero of the Imperial Army", having liberated TDB, Celdic, Bareahard, Roer, and Heimdallr in the name of the Empire. His deads are in every newspaper and on every radio in Erebonia. His name in the history books. He has been established as a new key figure in the Erebonian cultural mythos. Rean cannot escape this; and his public identity as the Ashen Chevalier has now become permanently fixed as the "daring, loyal young man who took it upon himself to put down the rebellion and restore the government in exile to power." If he were to try to disassociate himself from this, he'd be chastised for having apparently abandoned his country in their time of greatest need (the impending war with Calvard), and his actions questioned.

Rean didn't "earn" his hero status; he was arbitrarily made one by Osborne, who had orchestrated the entire sequence of events. Rean was simply unlucky enough to have been chosen by Valimar to become it's Awakener, and therefore the one who would become Osborne's missing piece: a public hero.

Rean he is currently the only known Awakener in Zemuria capable of piloting a Divine Knight, an unparalleled and invincible weapon that was able to (NG+
questline spoilers) singlehandedly decimate Prince Albert's and Gunnar's combined armies in a single day, nearly annihilated Driechel's combined Eisenritter-Nord-Lucius-Driechels mega army, and nearly destroyed the 9th armored division and won the war in the West. The fact that Crow claimed Ordine couldn't wipe out Garrelia is irrelevant; the DKs are an unparalleled advantage in warfare. Nobody like Erebonia, and with Calvard and Liberl already quite hostile towards the Empire, there is the risk of an alliance of nations in Zemuria sprouting up to defeat Erebonia. Osborne will need every advantage he can get his hands on, and he is certainly capable of making the Ashen Knight one of his trump cards in the upcoming war. He has already put a tremendous pressure on Rean to act as his hand, with the Imperial Army prepared to outright offer him a position a status as an officer (skipping several years, nice big paycheck, personal liberties). If Rean tries to resist, Osborne would simply start applying even more pressure, starting with his close friends and family. In CS3, Osborne has already tasked the Ironbloods with watching Rean for any sign of rebellion, with Altina outright following him everywhere he goes...

Furthermore, Rean is well aware that Osborne is going to continue conquering states as Olivier predicted, with or without Rean. Rean's moral conscience prevents him from ignoring this. Valimar can turn the tide of battles and win against 1-10000 odds. If he ignores Osborne's conquests, than thousands of people will perish in the conquests and subsequent riots. If he helps conquer (like he did in Crossbell and (CS3 spoilers) North Ambria, than relatively far fewer people will die. Guess which one he'll pick.

[The Tempted Man]

Originally posted by Val the Moofia Boss:

1. Rean isn't fond of Osborne's passive-aggressive nature, as shown at Valflame Palace and Celdic in CS1. Rean agrees with the nobles of Bareahard and Cayenne's argument that Osborne was desecrating Erebonian culture and values, as well as forcibly absorbing neighboring states at the expense of the people already inside Erebonia. CS2 was the final nail in the coffin, as Rean bears witness firsthand how this all goes down. Rean is even further disturbed when he realizes that Osborne - as Olivier said - stirred up the people into a revolution so that he could purge anyone who stood in his way and solidify his power, himself and Crow being victims of this.

Ok, he isn't fond of him for some reason, but Osborne made the country stronger and logically therefore the wealth of people in the empire as well after his return to power in what I assume CS3 will show. I still wait for smth solid, why Rean wouldn't work with him, since it's very stupid decision to be honest and apart from morality, which let's be honest is a human construct, as easily changeable as liquid, thats not good enough. Moreover, Rean wants to help the empire. His own people, so conquering others to strenghten the might of his nation is the best thing to do it.

2. There was (..)

This sounds fantastic, too bad the devs were too lazy to properly illustrate it. Your description is intruiging as it gives a lot of to imagine.

3 & 4. "To serve one's country" implies that one had chosen to give their life for said country of their own volition. Rean was blackmailed by Osborne on the spot. Osborne publicly declared Rean as the "hero of the Imperial Army", having liberated TDB, Celdic, Bareahard, Roer, and Heimdallr in the name of the Empire. His deads are in every newspaper and on every radio in Erebonia. His name in the history books. He has been established as a new key figure in the Erebonian cultural mythos. Rean cannot escape this; and his public identity as the Ashen Chevalier has now become permanently fixed as the "daring, loyal young man who took it upon himself to put down the rebellion and restore the government in exile to power." If he were to try to disassociate himself from this, he'd be chastised for having apparently abandoned his country in their time of greatest need (the impending war with Calvard), and his actions questioned.

Sorry, but we are talking about the same guy who after friendly cheers for 50th time, decided to wage war against the regular armed forces with nothing but his classmates powered by deus ex machina. The same guy who is a noob at his fighting style and who didn't spend a single day in the game, actively learning to master his super saiyan white form with red eyes to tap into the power at will, knowing that his normal form isn't going to cut it, lol. I am sorry, but this doesn't add up. Sara even offered to be a punching bag so that he could unleash all of that strenght and control it at will, thats even if you don't romance her, Rean didn't do it, neither against her or any other opponent who's strenght was beyond his, it makes no sense. Besides, He now has 1 enemy instead of multiple unknowns. Also, realistically, people would whine for a month or two, papers would call him a coward, then everyone would forget about him. That's how this works.

Rean didn't "earn" his hero status; he was arbitrarily made one by Osborne, who had orchestrated the entire sequence of events. Rean was simply unlucky enough to have been chosen by Valimar to become it's Awakener, and therefore the one who would become Osborne's missing piece: a public hero.

Valimar to be frank is another piece of this story that could be deleted and it wouldn't change anything. He does not have anything remotely useful to add apart from being there to bail Rean's ass out of the fire, it's like Superman and Lois Lane, but more of Gundam is involved. I can appreciate Osborne looking after his own kid, like I said, he gave him a bright future, an opportunity that he would likely never reach with his own hands.

Rean he is currently the only known Awakener in Zemuria (..)

Yeah sure, let's forget for convenience of your theory, the words of a guy who spent 3 years mastering the powers of his knight lmao. Dude, do you hear yourself? If Osborne pushed him too far, Rean would simply annihilate his dumb ass in a minute, if we go by your logic. Rean is simply a weak nobody, therefore he is easily manipulated.

Furthermore, Rean is well aware that Osborne is going to continue conquering states as Olivier predicted, with or without Rean. Rean's moral conscience prevents him from ignoring this. Valimar can turn the tide of battles and win against 1-10000 odds. If he ignores Osborne's conquests, than thousands of people will perish in the conquests and subsequent riots. If he helps conquer (like he did in Crossbell and (CS3 spoilers) North Ambria, than relatively far fewer people will die. Guess which one he'll pick.

If this story had any sort of realism, he wouldn't really care if a milion people will die. But this is shonen, so you can expect in CS3 some unreasonable emotional nonsense. Truth is, Rean could always join the unfamous society. If his father will take his little game too far. Osborne has no leverage on him, what so ever.

[spectre199]

the thing here is this, Rean wants to belong somewhere and have a purpose and the chancellor is giving Rean what he desires - a place that he belongs and a purpose