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The Battle Begins

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
The Battle Begins

Cm fe09 1.png

Location

Caldea

New units

Titania, Oscar, Boyd

Boss(es)

Zawana

The Battle Begins is the first chapter of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. After officially becoming a full-fledged member of the Greil Mercenaries, Ike sets out on his first mission with Titania, Oscar and Boyd. As they rescue the bandit-ravaged Caldea, the more experienced mercenaries teach Ike some of the intricacies of battle and encourage him to rely on them for assistance.

Plot

The chapter begins in the Mercenary Fort, with Ike finally getting out of bed, late on his first day as a real mercenary. Greil and Titania conference about the day’s missions, dividing up the mercenaries to properly take care of each job. Titania takes Oscar, Boyd and Ike with her to inspect Caldea, a town complaining of bandits, while Greil takes Shinon and Gatrie to work the other two jobs of the day. Boyd, for the first time, is ready to depart for their mission early, intent on being an “absolute model of perfection”, and setting the example for Ike.

When the party of four arrives in Caldea, Titania explains to Ike what the symbols on the map mean, and the importance of the Weapon Triangle in combat. She also encourages Ike to speak to the villagers, using the Visit option. She tells the party that their main mission is to remove Zawana from guarding the main building of the town.

At the end of the first Player Phase, Zawana gives his comrades a motivating speech, telling them to kill the mercenaries, or else they'll be pursued by sellswords until the ends of their days. One particular bandit takes it upon himself to burn down one of Caldea’s buildings, encouraging the rest to do the same.

Whoever visits the Southeast house will speak to a man who tells the visitor that Caldea is a town of farmers, not fighters. He will give the visitor a Steel Sword. Whoever visits the Northwest house will be greeted by a young woman who complains that the villagers haven't been able to sleep since the bandits moved in. She gives the visitor a Seraph Robe, asking the visitor to rid their village of the Bandit's tyranny.

The party regroups at the end of the battle, checking in on each other and making sure everyone made it safely through the battle. They each commend Ike for a job well done during his first mission, and then head back to the mercenary fort in hopes of a good meal cooked by Mist.

Chapter data

Chapter Data
Conditions
Unit Data
Victory: Seize Player Partner Other Enemy
Defeat: Ike dies 4 0 0 7
Characters
New units
Titania
Small portrait titania fe09.png
Paladin
HP
33
Inventory
--
Level
1
Automatically from the start
Oscar
Small portrait oscar fe09.png
Lance Knight
HP
26
Inventory
--
Level
3
Automatically from the start
Boyd
Small portrait boyd fe09.png
Fighter
HP
30
Inventory
--
Level
2
Automatically from the start
Available characters
Ike ranger 01 ​
Items
Name Obtainment Method
Is gcn steel sword.png Steel Sword Southeast Village
Is gcn seraph robe.png Seraph Robe Northwest Village
Is gcn iron sword.png Iron Sword Enemy Myrmidon
Is gcn iron axe.png Iron Axe Zawana
Bonus EXP
Requirement Easy Normal Hard
Clear in 4 turns or fewer 300 200 200

Boss data

Zawana
Bandit
Level 5
Attribute Is gcn earthaffin.png
Build 13

Stats Growth Rates

Inventory Skills
Is gcn iron axe.png Iron Axe
Weapon Levels
Swords -- Lances -- Axes D Bows --
Fire magic -- Thunder magic -- Wind magic -- Staves --

Strategy

This section details unofficial strategies that may help with completion of the chapter. This may not work for everybody.

Trivia

  • As Ike leaves the mercenary fort on the way to Caldea, Rolf can be seen talking to Mist in the courtyard and Shinon and Gatrie can be seen standing guard at the doors to the fort.

Gallery


← Mercenaries • The Battle Begins •  Rescue →


Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Playable characters AstridBastianBoydBromCalillDevdanElinciaEnaGatrieGiffcaGeoffreyHaarIkeIlyanaJanaffJillKieranLargoLetheLuciaMakalovMarciaMiaMistMordecaiMuarimNaesalaNasirNepheneeOscarRanulfReysonRhysRolfShinonSorenSotheStefanTanithTauroneoTibarnTitaniaTormodUlkiVolkeZihark
Trial Map characters AshnardBryceOliverPetrineShiharam
Non-playable characters AimeeCaineghisDanielDeghinseaGarethGreilHetzelIzukaJorgeKurthnagaLeanneLekainLotzMustonNealuchiRajaionSanakiSephiranSigrunZelgius
Bosses AshnardBalmerBertramBlack KnightBoydBryceDakovaDanomillEmilEnaGashilamaGreilGromellHafeddHavettiHeddwynHomasaIkanauKamuraKasataiKayacheyKimaarsiKotaffMackoyaMaijinMuarimNaesalaNedataNorrisOliverPetrineRikardSchaefferSeekerShiharamTomenamiZawana
Background characters AltinaAsheraElenaLilliaLoraziehRamonRenning
Regalia and personal weapons AlonditeAmitiAshera StaffDouble BowGurgurantRagnellRegal SwordRexauraRexboltRexcaliburRexflameRolf's BowUrvanVague KattiWishblade
Chapters P: Mercenaries • 1: The Battle Begins • 2: Rescue • 3: Pirates Aground • 4: Roadside Battle • 5: Flight! • 6: A Brief Diversion • 7: Shades of Evil • 8: Despair and Hope • 9: Gallia • 10: Prisoner Release • 11: Blood Runs Red • 12: A Strange Land • 13: A Guiding Wind • 14: Training • 15: The Feral Frontier • 16: The Atonement • 17: Day Breaks (stage 1stage 2stage 3stage 4) • 18: Crimea Marches • 19: Entrusted • 20: Defending Talrega • 21: Without a King • 22: Solo • 23: The Great Bridge • 24: Battle Reunion • 25: Strange Lands • 26: Clash! • 27: Moment of Fate (stage 1stage 2) • 28: Twisted TowerE: Repatriation
Trial Maps Hillside BattleLonely IsleStrange TurnDesperationEscapeTrapped
Locations TelliusBegnion (SienneTower of Guidance) • CrimeaDaein (NevassaTalrega) • GalliaGoldoaGrann DesertGritnea TowerKilvasPhoenicisSerenes Forest
Groups, objects and events Ancient languageGreat FloodGreil MercenariesLehran's MedallionMad King's War • Races (BeorcBrandedLaguz) • Serenes MassacreWarp Powder
Lists Base conversationsChaptersCharactersClasses (Class change) • Hidden treasureItemsScriptsSkillsSupportsWeapons
Related topics Data transferList of version differences (Name chart) • Other games (Radiant Dawn) • Pre-release information (Unused content) • Sound RoomTimeline